Monitoring human-wildlife interactions and disturbance of seabirds and pinnipeds at Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, 1993-1994, Technical Report #97-6-01

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Riemer, Susan D. and Robin F. Brown

Publish Date: 1997

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: Cedric.X.Cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: Concern for disturbance of marine birds and mammals on the National Wildlife Refuges along the Oregon coast has increased with the growing use of the nearshore ocean. In the process of developing a Territorial Sea Plan, Oregon's Ocean Policy Advisory Council directed a cooperative Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service study to assess the level of human-wildlife interactions at Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. From May through September of 1993 and 1994, observations of human activities and wildlife responses were recorded. Observations were made from mainland overlooks using high-powered binoculars and telescopes. Data collected included presence and activities of sport and commercial motorized and non-motorized vessels, and aircraft over-flights. Vessel activities were recorded as occurring within 500 feet of the rocks (zone 1), between 500 and 2,000 feet (zone 2), and beyond 2,000 feet (zone 3). Wildlife disturbance reactions were classified as type A - alerted (aware), type B - agitated (movement), or type C - threatened (flight). Recreational boating, fishing and diving were the most frequently observed activities in the study area. In 1993, a total of 68 and 100 observed disturbance events were related to vessel and aircraft activities, respectively. Over 98% of the disturbances caused by vessels occurred within zone 1. As a result, in 1994 a 500 foot seasonal closure (May 1 to September 15) to vessel traffic was implemented around the refuge. A variety of methods were used to inform the public of this closure, including permanent signs, posters and pamphlets. The purpose of the 1994 study was -to monitor the effectiveness of the 500 foot buffer zone in preventing disturbance to wildlife. Observations conducted in 1994 were centered on weekends and holidays, when human presence in the area was known to be high (87% of all disturbance events observed in 1993 occurred on weekends and holidays). The 1994 observations indicated that most boaters did not enter the 500 foot buffer zone. Observers recorded a total of 23 disturbance events by vessels and 11 by aircraft in 1994, which represented a 39% reduction from 1993 in disturbance events observed on weekends and holidays.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: May through September of 1993 and 1994

Geographic Extent: Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source: Funding support for this project was provided by the Ocean and Coastal Resources Program of the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Nongame Wildlife Programs of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Bibliography Information

Field Name	Value
Biblio ID	5863
Year	1997
Publisher
Request Type	Technical Report
Location	Salem HQ
Date Created	1997 Jan
Date Cataloged	4/5/2001 22:23:31
Date Published	1997
Type	ylw covr
Pages	27 pp
Volume	97-6-01
Status	2
Descriptor	seabirds; pinnipeds; Three Arch Rocks; human-wildlife interactions;
Date Entered	2005-08-18 00:00:00
Location In Clackamas Library	Oregon's Long-Legged Wading Birds
Author	Susan D Riemer; Robin F Brown
Duplicates	0
Number Remaining After Requests
Presumed All Distributed
Back Room Duplicates	1
Author	Brown, R.F.; Riemer, S.D.
Risk
Species
Disposition Of Requests	State Archive: Request filled
Disposition Of Requests	StreamNet Library: Requested, but no copies available

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown