Logan Cave Gate Rebuild
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Project ID: 4687
Status: Completed
Fiscal Year: 2018
Submitted By:
210
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Project Manager: Adam Brewerton
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: U.S. Forest Service
WRI Region: Northern
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Description:
Remove parts of the old and rebuild the gate at Logan Cave to reduce break-ins and better protect the Townsend's big-eared bat colony.
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Location:
Logan Cave, Logan Canyon, Cache Co
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Project Need
Need For Project:
The Logan Cave Gate was constructed in 1994 as part of the cave closure to protect breeding and hibernating Townsend's big-eared bats (Corynorhynus townsendii). Townsend's big-eared bats are a sensitive to disturbance and will abandon roost locations disrupting hibernation or posing a risk of loss of young of year. Since the closure, the hibernating colony has grown from a low of 20 at the time of closure up to near 400 in the last couple of years. Illegal break-ins have been a problem since the original construction of the gate. Even so the bat population has responded and grown. But with new concerns about the potential spread of White Nose Syndrome (fungal disease that has caused up to 90% mortality of some species) more control cave access is necessary to prevent accidental introduction. Currently, the only reasonable management available for WNS is prevention, no eradication has been possible. Additionally, recent break-ins have increased in frequency and in impact. Previous break-ins left little vandalism, most recent incidences have shown new graffiti on walls, dramatic increase in litter, and even fired bottle-rockets. Law enforcement has received reports of trespass and of individuals seeking rabies vaccination with the intent of catching bats. But enforcement has been difficult and as yet has not been able to issue any citations.
Objectives:
Rebuild a more secure cave gate to minimize disturbance to the bat population, reduce the risk of introduction of the White Nose Syndrome fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, and reduce vandalism of the cave.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Disturbance to hibernating bat colony, risk of introduction of WNS.
Relation To Management Plan:
Wildlife Action Plan - identified threats to Townsend's big-eared bats
Cave closure and associated EA.
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
N/A
Compliance:
Rebuild is to be done as maintenance of the original EA, the forest Archeologist will clear
Methods:
Cutting, hauling and welding steel
Monitoring:
Acoustic monitoring of bat activity throughout all seasons, annual hibernaculum survey and sampling for early WNS detection.
Partners:
UDWR, USFS, UBCC (Utah Bat Conservation Cooperative)
Future Management:
Continued enforcement, maintenance and monitoring by UDWR and USFS
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Cows won't get lost in the cave
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $3,500.00 | $0.00 | $3,500.00 | $12,000.00 | $15,500.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials and Supplies | Steel, and welding supplies | $3,500.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2018 |
| Personal Services (permanent employee) | Construction crew | $0.00 | $0.00 | $12,000.00 | 2019 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $3,708.00 | $0.00 | $3,708.00 | $12,000.00 | $15,708.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Forest Service (USFS) | Construction to be done October 2018 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $12,000.00 | 2019 | |
| DNR Watershed | N3622 | materials purchase ahead of construction | $3,708.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 2019 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank | ||||
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| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | N3 | |||||
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| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | N3 | |||||
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Habitats
| Habitat |
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Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
10/15/2018
End Date:
10/19/2018
FY Implemented:
2019
Final Methods:
Horizontal bars of the old gate was removed. The new gate was built about 10 feet from the old gate using angle iron bars.
Project Narrative:
The new gate was built during the week of October 15, 2018. Jason Ringenberg, Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) closure specialist with the USFS Washington Office led the construction. Logan Hotshot, Weber Basin Job Corps, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Logan and Ogden Ranger Districts Employees helped carry in heavy steel tubes, angle iron, and angle iron bars and carry out old gate materials.
Future Management:
Acoustic monitoring of bat activity throughout all seasons, annual hibernaculum survey and sampling for early WNS detection.
Continued enforcement, maintenance and monitoring by USFS and UDWR.
Map Features
| ID | Feature Category | Action | Treatement/Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1649 | Other point feature |
Project Map
