Manomet, Inc.

We Propose to Conduct a Shorebird Survey of the Coastal Portions of the Npr-a, Including the Tlsa and Portions of the Western Npr-a Below 350 Meters in Elevation, Following Protocols Developed by the Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring (prism). We Propose to Survey the Tlsa and Willow Project Areas in Years 1 and 2, and Western Coastal Areas Including the Kasegaluk Lagoon Special Area in Years 3 and 4. This Survey Will Provide the First Comparison of Changes in Shorebird Populations and Distribution Since Initial Surveys Were Conducted in Npr-a in 2007-8. These Data Will Support Both the Range-wide Population Trend Estimation Goals of Prism, and Also Provide Important Baseline Data on Shorebird Status, Trends, and Distribution Before Planned Oil and Gas Infrastructure Development in the Willow Project Area Occurs. New Population Estimates for the Npr-a Will Help Target Conservation Actions Both Locally and Range-wide If Existing Declines Are Confirmed (or New Ones Are Detected) for One or More Shorebird Species. Up to Date Population Estimates in the Tlsa and Other Coastal Areas of Npr-a Will Allow for Mitigation Measures to Be Designed, Implemented, and Analyzed for Effectiveness by the Land Manager in Order to Mitigate Impacts to Shorebirds From Infrastructure Development of Various Kinds.we Will Also Use Automated Recording Units to Evaluate a Potential New Method to Survey Shorebirds and to Determine How Anthropogenic and Natural Sounds Change as the Willow Master Development Plan (WILLOW) Project Area Is Developed, Providing Information on How Soundscapes Change and How Those Changes May Influence Animals Through Time. Automated Recording Units (ARUS) Will Be Deployed at a Sample of Prism Sites Across the Npr-a to Determine If Arus Could Be a Cost Effective and Less Invasive Approach to Surveying Shorebirds as Compared to Prism Rapid Surveys in the Future. Using Arus Could Dramatically Decrease Costs for Obtaining Data on Status and Trends of Many Wildlife Species. Finally, Arus Will Be Used to Measure Changes in Anthropogenic and Natural Sounds Near the Proposed Willow Project Area Between 2023-2026 as the Area Undergoes Development of Oil and Gas Infrastructure for the Proposed Willow Project.this Project Directly Addresses Three BLM Alaska Wildlife Program Priority Work Areas Through Application of Prism Survey Protocols for Shorebirds, and by Collection of Soundscape Data Through the Use of Automated Recording Units, Including Inventorying Wildlife Populations and Distribution, and Leveraging Resources Through Partnerships. Specific BLM Management Actions the Project Can Help Inform Include Future Iaps, Development of Permits of All Types, and Management and Mitigation Measures Focused on Shorebirds and Waterfowl. Public Benefits From the Project Outcomes Will Include Dissemination of Data Important for Assessing Status and Trends of Declining Shorebird Species, Data for Assessing Whether More Cost Effective Survey Methods Can Be Developed Based on Arus, and Data on Baseline Anthropogenic Soundscapes Prior to and After Development.