able 1. Interior Least Tern Monitoring Working Group1

ERDC TN-DOER-E17

September 2004

whose primary function is to achieve a final document that outlines a standardized monitoring

protocol for the ILT. The process will begin with the designation of an overall coordinator who

will develop a monitoring plan under the direction of the EWG. Version 1 of the plan will

accomplish the following:

Consolidate and present all current information on ILT monitoring efforts range-wide.

Document site-specific survey protocols.

Identify high-priority tasks for monitoring ILTs.

Propose a schedule for regular analyses and presentations of range-wide monitoring data.

Table 1

Interior Least Tern Monitoring Working Group1

Eileen Kirsch USGS (Chair)

Christopher Brantley USACE New Orleans

David Pashley American Bird Conservancy

Maryetta Smith USACE MVD

Rich Fischer USACE ERDC-EL

Sandy Stiles USACE Tulsa

Casey Kruse USACE Omaha

Mike Larson USGS

Greg Pavelka USACE Omaha

Jane Ledwin USFWS Region 3

Mark Harberg USACE SW Division

Erika Wilson USFWS Region 6

Michael Guilfoyle USACE ERDC-EL

Kevin Stubbs USFWS Region 2

Dan Erickson USACE St. Louis

Carol Aron USFWS Region 6

Champe Green USACE Albuquerque

John Dinan Nebraska (State Rep.)

David Hoover USACE Kansas City

Rochelle Renkin Missouri (State Rep.)

John Rumancik USACE Memphis

Mark Howry Oklahoma Dept. Wildlife

Mark Doles USACE Fort Worth

Ken Jones Dyersburg St. Comm. College

Bob VanHoff USACE Louisville

Roger Boyd Baker University

Support Staff:

Dr. Jonathan Bart Technical Advisor, USGS

Casey Lott Interior Least Tern Monitoring Program Coordinator, American Bird Conservancy

Bruce Vanderlee - Database and GIS technical support, USACE Yankton

Working group established during the Interior Least Tern Research and Monitoring Workshop, April 15-16, 2004, The Mariana

Inn, South Sioux City, NE.

Those noted in bold represent the ILT Executive Working Group focused on finishing this document.

For example, reports on range-wide ILT monitoring efforts will be distributed each year, with

major analyses of trends and progress toward recovery every five years. Version 1 of the plan

will allow all WG and EC members to look at ILT monitoring data comprehensively. This plan

will create several mechanisms for the coordinator to interact with agencies and individuals

involved in monitoring ILTs at a large spatial scale. This will be an important outreach role of

the coordinator. The plan will need periodic updating to reflect increased participation and

insights gained through analyses. Thus, the plan will be an evolving document with several

versions.

During preparation of the plan, a centralized database for all current monitoring data will be

developed to incorporate existing data on tern numbers and productivity. This database will be

integrated with the USACE Omaha District's existing ILT and Piping Plover monitoring data-

base (housed in Yankton, SD). Centralized data storage will allow regular analyses of ILT num-

bers and productivity data at various spatial scales. This database and a number of built-in sum-

mary routines will be accessible via the Internet (with password protection) to all members of the

working group.