White Nose Syndrome Education and Secondary Impact Assessment

Description

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This project will help with the conservation and restoration of native wildlife habitat and ecosystems, and will enhance the science-based natural resource stewardship at BUFF. The project will require close cooperation between NPS and Recipient and will require the BUFF Natural Resource Program Manager, or his staff, to be involved in site selection, protocol development, and dissemination of the interim and final results of the project. NPS will provide equipment dedicated to caves at BUFF as well as decontamination facilities, equipment, needed to ensure that no equipment with WNS fungus is spread to park caves, or leaves the park. The WNS has devastated the cave hibernating bats of North America since it first appeared in the United States in 2006. WNS was first detected at BUFF in the winter of 2014-2015. Since then, we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of cave dwelling bats, particularly Tri-color bats (Perimyotis subflavus) in the caves of BUFF. With approximately 500 documented caves, BUFF is among the top tier of cave rich National Park units. These caves provide hibernation roosts to four species of bats listed as Threatened or Endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (US-ESA), several Arkansas Species of Greatest Conservation Need (AR-SGCN), and one species currently under review for listing under the ESA. STATEMENT OF WORK: The purpose of this project is to conduct detailed biological inventory trancets and guano deposit transects in specific areas of Fitton Cave to develop a model of secondary and cumulative impacts of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) on cave obligate fauna. The unique scenic and scientific features found in Fitton Cave resulted in an unusual bump out of the Buffalo National River (BUFF) boundary when first drawn. The purpose of this bump out was to protect the cave and as much of its ontributing watershed as possible so the cave resources could be protected. The Recipient and BUFF will collaborate to develop the studied locations, sampling methods, and protocols for the project and disseminate the results of the project to a wider audience through numerous outlets including scientific journal articles, press releases, social media and presentations to scientific and general interest audiences. RECIPIENT AGREES TO: TNC will: (1) Conduct a detailed biological survey and annual monitoring in Fitton Cave to determine species presence and approximate populations; (2) Conduct a bat dropping survey to estimate numbers of droppings per square meter of cave floor each year; (3) Provide two cave biology trainings to park staff, cooperators, and caver groups during each year of the project; (4) Develop analyses and reports to inform park management about likely consequences of WNS on non-bat cave adapted species; (5) Decontaminate all clothing, equipment, and other items used in caves as required by the WNS Decontamination Protocols; (6) Develop monitoring and survey reports on a per-trip basis; (7) Assist NPS with developing WNS materials for the 2017 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO: NPS is substantially involved with this agreement and agrees to: (1) Participate and collaborate jointly with the Recipient in carrying out the scope of work; (2) Provide a NPS technical representative to assist with specifics of the project as needed; (3) Provide facilities and supplies to decontaminate caving equipment; (4) Provide equipment to conduct the work; (5) Direct or redirect the work because of interrelationships with other projects; (6) Immediately halt an activity if performance specifications are not met; (7) Work directly with TNC on particularly difficult issues. SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) and National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 requires a written justification, which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications. Other entities could perform the work are located further distance from BUFF, and are not as familiar with the Fitton Cave. This would require significantly higher mobilization/demobilization costs as well as longer orientation time to establish the survey transects needed for this project.

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