Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program Boasts Successful Site CleanupCattail Lake Restoration: From Freshwater Lake to Tidal EstuaryNavy Marks Significant Milestones in Energy & Environmental Management

Program Promotes Species & HabitatManagement & Conservation

MISSION READINESS DoD PARC Program Sustains

Amphibians&ReptilesWhile Protecting

2013NAVY EARTH DAYPOSTERINSIDE

6 Currents spring 2013

Black-necked Garter Snakes, found in secure populations on military lands, are among the species being addressed by members of the DoD PARC program. Robert Lovich

embers of a Depart-

ment of Defense

(DoD) program are working

hard to balance the Depart-

ment’s national security mission

with the preservation of amphibian

and reptile species and their habitats on

nearly 29 million acres of military land.

m

Program Promotes Species & HabitatManagement & Conservation

MISSION READINESS DoD PARC Program Sustains

Amphibians&ReptilesWhile Protecting

DoD PARC is dedicated to sustaining the nation’s mission readinesswhile managing, conserving, & studying amphibians & reptiles & their habitats.

3. Provide strategies, tools, and information for amphibian andreptile protection, conservation, and consideration to beincorporated into existing natural resources and landmanagement programs.

4.. Provide sound, science-based management and conserva-tion guidelines, priorities, and objectives for reptiles andamphibians residing on DoD installations.

5.. Promote communication and coordination amongnational and local experts to achieve DoD mission andstewardship goals.

6. Provide outreach tools to the military community, thegeneral public, natural resources managers, and non-govern-mental organization partners to promote collaborativeefforts and increase understanding of mission and conserva-tion compatibility.

Now led by Robert Lovich and Chris Petersen of theNaval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), theDepartment of Defense Partners in Amphibian andReptile Conservation (DoD PARC) program was origi-nally formed in 2009 to provide leadership, guid-ance, and support for the conservation andmanagement of amphibians and reptiles on militarylands. An open-membership organization, DoDPARC is dedicated to sustaining the nation’s missionreadiness while managing, conserving, and studyingamphibians and reptiles and their habitats, espe-cially with respect to military operations and landmanagement practices.

DOD PARC MISSION & PROGRAM GOALSIn support of military readiness, the DoD PARCstrives to sustain amphibianand reptile populations andtheir habitats throughproactive management,conservation, stewardship,outreach, and partnerships.To achieve this mission, theprogram has establishedthe following goals:

1. Support the militarymission by managingamphibians and reptiles.

2. Reduce populationdeclines of commonand at-risk species,thus avoiding or mini-mizing the need toEndangered SpeciesAct-listed species anddesignate critical habi-tats that could impactmilitary missions.

8 Currents spring 2013

This Ensatina Salamander was discovered under a fallen log at Naval Radio Station Jim Creek. Paul Block

This Northwestern Garter Snake was observed during an amphibian and reptile species survey at Naval Radio Station Jim Creek.

Conserving and caring for these species helps ensure unrestricted access to essentialmilitary training and testing lands by avoiding species-protection related restrictions.

10 Currents spring 2013

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILESAmphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians)and reptiles (snakes, lizards, land and sea turtles, croc-odilians, and tuataras) represent ancient groups ofvertebrates that have existed for 400 million years.Although they are ancient and relatively poorlystudied, amphibians and reptiles account for a consid-erable portion of the earth’s biodiversity with approxi-mately 17,000 species worldwide.

The nearly 29 million acres of DoD landsand waters provide significant habitat fornumerous species and populations ofamphibians and reptiles. For the DoD,these species represent many things—arich legacy of America’s natural andcultural heritage, fundamental compo-nents of robust ecosystems, and indica-tors of global ecological balance.Conserving and caring for these specieshelps ensure unrestricted access to essen-tial military training and testing lands byavoiding species-protection related restric-tions. Even as early as 1775, the UnitedStates military recognized the importanceof reptiles when the First ContinentalMarines used the Gadsden Flag depictinga rattlesnake alongside “Don’t Tread on Me” astheir motto flag.

At present, amphibians and reptiles are experi-encing unprecedented declines. Globally, approx-imately 20 percent of all amphibians and nearly50 percent of all turtles are threatened withextinction. In fact, amphibians are declining atthe fastest rate of any organisms since theextinction of the dinosaurs. At present, 30 of the59 species of amphibians and reptiles listed asthreatened or endangered by the United StatesFish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and 19 addi- Gadsden Flag depicting a rattlesnake alongside “Don’t Tread on Me.”

tional species considered as species-at-risk for listing can befound on DoD lands. The management of these listed reptilesand amphibians is already a significant part of the naturalresource management on military lands. DoD expendituresfrom 1991–2011 included approximately $15 million on theconservation and management of listed amphibian speciesand $128 million on listed reptile species.

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DoD lands support the populations of many interesting species of amphibians and reptiles including the Reef Gecko at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Chris Petersen

A common species on many military installations in the eastern United States, the American Toad is

relatively large and commonly encountered species in wildlands and along the urban-interface.

Robert Lovich

The military has contributed valuable support for the

Texas Horned Lizard, resulting in new scientific discoveries about

its movements and ecology. Robert Lovich

DOD PARC BENEFITS TO THE MILITARY MISSIONThe DoD PARC program enhances militaryreadiness by promoting healthy landscapes tosupport long-term military testing and trainingrequirements. In addition, the programincreases the effectiveness of resource manage-ment on DoD lands by developing proactive,science-based conservation and managementstrategies and tools. Additional benefits to themilitary mission include supporting ecosystem-based management, and increasing communi-cation, information, and partnerships withinand outside the DoD.

The program has made significant progress onmany fronts, including growing the program’smembership to more than 150 members.These members have helped DoD PARCachieve the following goals within theprogram’s draft action plan.

Updating Species Lists

DoD PARC members have been updatingamphibian and reptile species lists for the approx-imately 80 Navy installations that have IntegratedNatural Resource Management Plans (INRMP). Todate, Navy installations within the NAVFAC FieldEngineering Command Washington, Mid-Atlantic,Mid-West, and Northwest areas of responsibilityhave been updated. Once all the updated specieslists are completed, they will be entered into adatabase that will be stored on the Navy Environ-mental Portal (at https://eprportal.cnic.navy.mil/zeprwebnet/logon.aspx). The database will serveto fill numerous needs in the community. Manyof our bases lack an accurate and up-to-date list

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14 Currents spring 2013

of amphibian and reptile species found therein. With data calls, INRMPupdates, and other relevant planning documents needed to support ourprojects and missions, it is essen-tial that we have the most accu-rate species occurrence data onwhich to base our natural resourcemanagement decisions.

Developing a WebResource

DoD PARC members are alsodeveloping what has become a very popular website (athttp://dodparcphotolibrary.shutterfly.com).

Amphibians are declining at the fastest rate of any organisms since the extinction of the dinosaurs.

RIGHT: Chris Petersen has been helpingthe Toledo Zoo conduct a study of thehabitat use and movement patterns of

the Cuban Boa (Epicrates angulifer) at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

BELOW: Robert Lovich holds a Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

while instructing a field course inherpetology near Animas, New Mexico.

Military lands in southern Arizona protect many mountain species including the Rock Rattlesnake.

Robert Lovich

The website’s purpose is to promote the freeexchange of amphibian and reptile images, literature,reports, and publications with DoD biologists, envi-ronmental planners, outreach publishers, and others.The website contains links to other informativeamphibian and reptile sites, an events calendar, anddiscussion forums for members to use in communi-cating across the conservation community. Withnearly 600 images of 50 species from 40 DoD facili-ties, the website has become a “one-stop-shop” forhigh quality amphibian and reptile imagery.Visit the website to request membership.

Initiating a Web-based Lecture Series

The DoD PARC program initiated a monthlyWeb-based lecture series in early 2013 thatmembers are able to join by using DefenseConnect Online (DCO). Lectures are conductedby DoD and contractor biologists and herpetol-ogists. The goal is to help membersstay connected and keep up with themost recent scientific herpetologicalstudies and news. (See http://dodparcphotolibrary.shutterfly.comfor lecture topics and dates.)

Conducting DiseaseSurveys

The DoD PARC program conductedamphibian disease surveys at 30 mili-tary installations in 2009 and 2011 togather baseline data on the generalhealth of amphibians on militarylands, and provide insight into theirvulnerabilities from disease. Notably,the surveys documented the occur-rence of the chytrid fungus Batra-chochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) onresident amphibians, which can have

a lethal effect on individuals, populations, and even species of amphibians. (The final report can be downloaded atwww.denix.osd.mil/nr/upload/Final_Route_66_Bd_Report-with-appendix.pdf.)

The effort will expand in 2013 when the DoD PARC programwill conduct amphibian disease sampling across the DoD land-scape, including bases in other countries, using a ‘citizenscience’ approach. The 2013 effort will include providing instal-lation natural resource staff the field and laboratory materials

16 Currents spring 2013

The results of this study will help to control the spread of dangerous pathogens on the DoD landscape.

Field surveys conducted by DoD PARC members reveal secretive species such as the Slimy Salamander on Naval Support Activity Indian Head. Seth Berry

spring 2013 Currents 17

necessary. Funded by the DoD Legacy Program,the cost of all materials and sample analyses willbe paid for by the DoD PARC program.

This study will be one of the single largestsampling events for amphibian disease (Bd) ina single season ever accomplished. Theresults of this study will help to control thespread of dangerous pathogens on the DoDlandscape, and help to preserve amphibians as vital members of mili-tary installation ecosystems.

The DoD PARC program has already been recognized for its accomplish-ments. In March 2011, the National Military Fish and Wildlife Associationawarded DoD PARC members the Natural Resource ConservationResearch Award for their 2009 amphibian disease project.

LOOKING TO THE FUTUREThe DoD PARC program looks forward toa future of partnerships that will serveboth the military mission and its ever-evolving environmental challenges. Inthis time of dwindling resources, habitats,and species, DoD has an opportunity tolead the way in amphibian and reptilespecies and landscape conservation,defending the nation’s natural wealth forcurrent and future generations.

Please contact Chris Petersen if you areinterested in becoming involved or visitwww.dodnaturalresources.net/DoD-PARC.html for more information. �

CONTACT

Chris Petersen Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic757-322-4560DSN: 262-4560chris.petersen@navy.mil

DoD PARC members receive the Natural Resource Conservation Research Award. Left to right: Dave McNaughton, Chris Petersen, Rob Lovich, Priya Nanjappa, Mike Lannoo.

Amphibian disease surveys conducted by DoD PARC members in 2009 and 2011 help to keep the

Spring Peeper common on Navy installations. Joe Mitchell

One goal of the DoD PARC program is to maintain the health of common species such as the Eastern Snapping Turtle. Seth Berry