Mojave National Preserve Grant for Wildlife Water Source Pilot Study Analysis

Unfortunately, information is limited on how to evaluate the retention or dismantling of developed waters for impacts to sensitive birds and bats. With such an evaluation criterion, MOJA could identify means to mitigate management actions toward SGGs so as to protect wildlife resources. Of particular interest is birds and bats. MOJA hosts some 230 bird species, 12 which are listed as a threatened or endangered species by the State of California or are considered sensitive. In addition, there is a rich diversity of bats that include ten documented species with potentially seven more that could occur. Of these 17 total bats, five are considered species of special concern by the state of California and one, Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), was recently a candidate for listing under the California Endangered Species Act.

MOJA initiated a pilot Before-After Control-Impact study (BACI) to obtain information on wildlife use of SGGs and the response to water becoming unavailable. Twelve SGGs isolated by at least 3.2 km from other known water sources were selected. Bat and Bird recorders were set up at specific intervals. Remote cameras recorded wildlife presence and quail were trapped in attempts to obtain age ratios and a few were fitted with solar GPS loggers. In 2020, six of the twelve SGGs were drained and blocked and monitoring continued. This impact portion will continue through 2021.

However, MOJA does not have the capacity to analyze and summarize the data needed to assess the impact study on wildlife and to 1) develop a full study, 2) develop evaluation criteria on the status of SGGs, and 3) propose mitigation regarding the SGGs towards wilderness laws and climate change.

This NOFO is requesting assistance of university faculty and student programs to synthesize, analyze and summarize the data collected through 2021 and provide recommendations for interpreting and future study design. Specifically, the request is to:
1) analyze bat and bird recordings to derive species presence, diversity indices and other potential parameters for analysis,
2) analyze and derive species presence, frequencies of detection and timing from camera information compiled in spreadsheets,
3) synthesize and preview limited quail age ratios and GPS location data,
4) assess differences between SGGs based on climate, vegetation cover, and absence or presence of water,
5) based on the above data, provide recommendations on further study design, propose evaluation criterions to rank SGG status and need as mitigation on climate.