19 CWMP 2013-2014 Winter Field Season Report
DISCUSSION
Interstate 90 Transects
This season's snow tracking transects showed very similar wildlife activity in the study
area compared to years past. Trailing data documented the use of the interstate
corridor by four carnivore species, including road crossings by two species and use of
the recently completed undercrossing at Gold Creek.
Observer reliability
Despite documenting our first error in field identification, results this winter continue to
suggest that observer reliability by our team leaders is very high. In four years of
collecting data on observer reliability, we have documented a single error of field
identification by team leaders (n=86). However, as with the previous two years, it was
not possible to definitively confirm or reject the field observer's species identification
for a significant number of data points. The percentage of ambiguous points this year
was similar to previous years (22% in 2013-2014, versus 25% in 2012-2013). In the three
years of data collection, the majority of these ambiguous or non-definitive designations
(60%, n=25) were classified as "likely correct but photo is inconclusive" by reviewers.
Many of these data points reflect challenging field conditions and the need to discern
between species whose tracks and signs are difficult to distinguish in the field even
under good conditions. Conversely, the fact that the majority of them were deemed
"likely correct" by validators (the rest were classified as "indiscernible based on photo"),
along with the fact that the definitive error rate is so low (less than 2% currently),
suggests that it is unlikely there are many errors in this part of the sample.
Remote Cameras
This season further indicates that maintaining a winter remote camera monitoring
program can provide valuable data on the presence and movement of key focal wildlife.
In addition to providing continuity year around at some of our sites, winter monitoring
also allows us unique opportunities not afforded during our larger workforce spring-fall
season. This winter provided the first opportunity to monitor directly under the large
Gold Creek underpass in its post-construction phase. In more remote habitats, we are
able to use the scarcity of available food and our ability to clearly see tracks on snow to
improve our documentation of species such as wolverine. This season's results from our
remote camera sites added to our knowledge of wolverine presence in the Highway 2
corridor of the Cascades and documented a range of more common species throughout
our coverage area. Monitoring this winter also shed insight on site placement for our
2014 spring-fall monitoring season in the Blue Lake and Cispus River areas of the
Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
