Vancouver National Historic Reserve amphibian inventory 2002-2003

Samora, Barbara; Layes, Michael; Lofgren, Rebecca

This document details amphibian inventories conducted in Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (FOVA) and the greater Vancouver National Historic Reserve. The Reserve was established by Congress in 1996 in recognition of its national historic and cultural significance. The Reserve includes 366 acres of lands in federal, State, and the City of Vancouver ownership. It was established as a partnership between the National Park Service (NPS), the City of Vancouver, the US Army Reserve, and the Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation for the management, preservation, and protection of the Historic Reserve. FOVA includes 209 acres. These inventories were part of a larger effort to document species presence at five North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) parks: Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (EBLA), Lewis and Clark National Historical Site (LEWI), FOVA, and San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). Four parks (EBLA, LEWI, FOVA, and SAJH) had incomplete amphibian lists based on limited or undocumented data. Our primary goal was to meet the NPS Inventory and Monitoring program goal to better assess the status of amphibian species expected in the parks and to verify the occurrence of 90% of these species. Species occurrences were documented or verified by written records and photographs; no specimens were collected in this inventory. Prior to this inventory, FOVA had no verified list of amphibians and reptiles occurring in the park. Additional searches of museum specimens and state records have not been completed. Our primary goal for FOVA was to search for the presence of expected species: Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii), western red-backed salamander (Plethodon vehiculum), northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora), Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa), American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Pacific treefrog (Pseudacris regilla), and western toad (Anaxyrus boreas). At the request of the FOVA Superintendent, the inventory was expanded to include the Reserve and three additional species expected to occur within the Reserve were added: northwestern salamander (Ambystoma gracile), long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum), and rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa). Inventories of reptiles were not targeted during this project; however they were documented when encountered. This report provides an updated list of amphibian species present within the Reserve, describes the survey methods and results, and discusses species detected. The results include a summary of species documented at each site, information on species life stage and habitat, and maps of the spatial distributions of amphibians in the park. The appendices include detailed information from the surveys. Thirteen surveys were conducted within the Reserve. Amphibians were detected on the east side of the Reserve near the City of Vancouver Water Resources Education Center Building. No amphibians or reptiles were found within FOVA. Three of ten species (Ensatina, Pacific treefrog, and long-toed salamander) expected to inhabit the Reserve were observed. The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) was also documented in the Reserve. The area between the Fort and the City of Vancouver Water Resources Education Center Building is a highly developed industrial area. Most of the Columbia River front is paved and diked. The river front along the Water Resources Education Center complex has suitable habitat for amphibians but is subject to extreme water level fluctuations from upstream dams on the Columbia River. Species absence is extremely difficult to determine; some species recorded historically or occasionally but not detected during our survey efforts may still be present in the park. Additional surveys of targeted habitats and species should be conducted.

Vancouver National Historic Reserve amphibian inventory 2002-2003

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