2006 "Volunteers Working With Invasives"
Grants Report Form
Display Report
PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Project Title:
Protecting endangered sea turtle nesting habitat through invasive vegetation removal, St. Croix USVI
Region:
4
Station:
Sandy Point NWR
Contact Person:
Name and Phone Number
Claudia D. Lombard 340.690.8325
Project Description:
(Up to 250 words)
Three species of endangered and threatened sea turtles utilize beach habitat at Sandy Point NWR for nesting. Although most native vegetation plays an important role in beach stabilization and therefore sea turtle nesting, certain invasive vegetation can negatively impact sea turtle nesting and hatch success of sea turtle nests. Four species of invasive vegetation (Sanseviera zeylanica, Leucaena leucocephala, Sesbania sericea, and Cuscuta sps.) have become established in certain areas of the beach at Sandy Point NWR. These species have negatively impacted sea turtle nesting in the five following ways: 1. Access to some preferred hawksbill sea turtle nesting habitat has been eliminated by the establishment of thick stands of S. zeylanica 2. Access to nesting habitat for all three species of sea turtles in upper beach areas has been eliminated by the establishment of stands of L. leucocphala and S. sericea in mid beach areas. Consequently nests laid in the lower beach area are often too close to the high water mark and are washed away during heavy seas or because of natural beach erosion cycles. 3. Roots from these invasive species can infiltrate nests decreasing nest moisture levels causing unnaturally low hatch success. 4. Roots entrap hatchlings within nests preventing them from exiting the nest during emergences. 5. Excessive vegetation also causes disorientation of emerged hatchlings and entrapment of hatchlings in vegetation preventing them from entering the ocean after emergence.
List of Invasives Species Targeted:
Common Name
Scientific Name
Snake plant / Mother-in-law's tongue
Sanseviera zeylanica
Tantan
Leucaena leucocephala
Sesbania sericea
Love vine / Dodder
Cuscuta sps.
Project Status:
InProgress
Project Completion Date
or Estimated Completion Date:
(mm/dd/yyyy)
12/31/2006
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
Volunteer Affiliation:
(Check all that apply)
VA_SchoolGrp VA_Other
Volunteer Involvement:
Describe the type of work the volunteers performed. (Up to 150 words)
Volunteers are working together to mechanically remove the aforementioned invasive species in order to restore the availability of optimal sea turtle nesting habitat at Sandy Point NWR.
Total Number of Volunteers:
8
Total Number of Volunteer Hours:
40
Partnerships:
List both new and existing partnerships utilized in this project. (Up to 150 words).
The St. Croix Environmental Association The National Park Service Various public school groups
PROJECT RESULTS
Project Results:
Give an overview of the results of the project. Include quantifiable measure of success, such as maps produced, efficacy of control measures, number of sites where invasions were detected early and responded to, number of community contacts, etc. (Up to 250 words).
The volunteer coordinator has been trained by USFWS staff and together we have designed a fact sheet that provides volunteers with the project background and details on the target invasives. The first volunteer day was successful. Hundreds of invasives were removed from the beach by eight volunteers! More volunteer days are currently being scheduled.
Number of Acres Treated:
3
Number of Acres Inventoried and/or Mapped:
3
Number of Acres Restored:
3
BUDGET INFORMATION
Budget:
Account for funds in broad categories such as equipment, volunteer stipends, travel, coordinator salary/contract, etc.
Total Grant Amount:
$
$1700
Breakdown of Expenditures:
Category
Total $ Spent
% of Total Grant
Equipment / Supplies
$200
11%
Chemical
Biocontrol Agents
Travel
Volunteer Stipends
Volunteer Coordinator Salary/Contract
$0
89%
Restoration Materials
Other
TOTAL
$1700
%100
Recommendations:
(OPTIONAL)
How useful was this program for meeting refuge invasive species objectives and how can it be improved?
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