The boreal toad, Anaxyrus boreas boreas, was once common across the Southern Rocky Mountains between elevations of 5,000 and 12,000 feet, but has experienced serious population declines during the past two decades. Primary species threats include: the spread of chytrid fungus, water mismanagement, infrastructure development paired with insufficient mitigation measures, increased livestock grazing pressure, increased recreation, timber harvest, urbanization, pollutants, energy development, population isolation and drought/climate change. For these reasons, the boreal toad is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Utah's 2015-2025 Wildlife Action Plan and is a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) sensitive species. The Eastern Population of boreal toads (Colorado, southeastern Idaho, northern New Mexico, most of Utah and Wyoming) species status assessment resulted in a decision not to list boreal toad under the Endangered Species Act in October 2017 in part due to the fact that some toad populations in Utah appear to be more resistant to chytrid fungus than other populations. Nonetheless, many threats remain, and the species status assessment cited uncertainty in how climate change may affect the future condition of the boreal toad The uncertain effects of climate change could include changes in water and overall habitat availability, earlier snowmelt, loss of breeding habitat, increased active season days, changes of late season freezing temperatures, and increased distribution of chytrid. The outcome of these potential effects on the species is uncertain as we have limited data on long-term or widespread effects on particular life stages or the broader distribution of boreal toads. It is therefore crucial to continue monitoring boreal toad populations and evaluating breeding success in Utah to ensure early detection of further declines from the effects of climate change or other habitat stressors, and to prevent a future need for listing, should they be petitioned again. UHZ and WUP have coordinated with the UDWR, UGS and USFS for the past seven years to leverage the power of community science based programs to coordinate the collection of field data on boreal toad populations and their habitat for multiple organizations through the development of a uniform field form and management of resulting data. Over the last five years this program has added, at least, an additional 6250 person hours to boreal toad monitoring and surveying. This added manpower in the field resulted in the additional detection of boreal toad breeding, confirmed toad sightings in two areas of Big Cottonwood Canyon, and the discovery of a new breeding site in the Uintas. This year, 2021, the biologist at UHZ will again apply for a Certificate of Registration allowing PIT tagging activities to take place without a UDWR representative present. This will further add to population estimates, movement data and growth data. Importantly, the statewide boreal toad conservation team and the partners putting forth this proposal are open to re-evaluating priority sites and modifying activities for monitoring boreal toad to be nimble and adaptive under the new Conservation Agreement and potential shifts in wildlife agency needs and objectives. This community science program allows DWR biologists to effectively use community scientists to collect data on a state sensitive species. We are at a stage where regional biologists trust this program to monitor populations and collect data independently and rigorously, opening up time for DWR biologists to focus efforts on other WAP species, with no detriment to the boreal toad.

The objective of this project is to continue an existing community science program to support UDWR (in coordination with USFS and USFWS) to meet species monitoring needs regarding boreal toad distribution, population estimates, and aquatic habitat conditions across Utah. This project has four major tasks associated with it: Task 1: Recruit and train citizen scientists Recruitment of community scientists will be through various channels including but not limited to: current WUP and UHZ volunteers, previous years community scientists, Universities, and social media posts in relevant groups (for example Utah Frogs and Toads, Utah FrogWatch). A formal community scientist training event will be held virtually by WUP and UHZ on May 6th 2021 . Community scientists will be trained in the use of the standardized field methods and habitat assessment/survey forms (the same methods and forms currently used by UDWR biologists statewide), boreal toad identification and life history and disinfection methods. Task 2: Collect data throughout 2021/2022 We plan to continue surveying and monitoring efforts, including more community scientists and continuing to work closely with regional biologists. Through coordination with Drew Dittmer and regional biologists from the northern, central and southern and south eastern regions UHZ and WUP have established priority sites where community scientists will monitor, led by UHZ or WUP biologists, either independently or alongside UDWR staff, on both single and multi-day survey efforts. Additionally, independent aquatic habitat assessments and surveys will continue in areas where the distribution of current breeding habitats remains undocumented but where adjacent suitable habitat is supporting or has recently supported boreal toads. Data collected will include; water quality, habitat assessment, boreal toad presence including number, lifestage and PIT tag number. Biometrics will be taken of metamorphosed toads We have the capacity to prioritize large scale sweeps of chytrid testing throughout 2021 should the agency see a need. Task 3: Manage and present data The collection of habitat data (including parameters such as pH, turbidity, water levels, disturbance) using the standardized form will continue by partner biologists and community scientists. This data will be collated at the end of the season. UHZ will disseminate data to each regional biologist in a spreadsheet, for ease of reporting. Data will continue to be presented at boreal toad state meetings, such as number of community scientists, field hours contributed over the season, toad presence, lifestage, breeding, and habitat data and Arc GIS mapping efforts. Task 4: Coordinate interagency meetings and communications UHZ and WUP will coordinate with agency biologists and habitat managers to facilitate communication on recommendations on future collection of habitat data and long-term management of the associated data. The partners will also actively participate in meetings, present results, update partners on the ex-situ assurance population and assist in the development of the Conservation Agreement where needed. Along with facilitating meetings to help in the development of a plan for future statewide database management, we will analyze how we can best use community science methods to address future monitoring needs.

The most recent priorities listed in the Boreal Toad Statewide Monitoring and Conservation Summary 2019 have provided guidance and parameters for planning our 2021/2022 field work: 1. Develop a plan and evaluation of assurance colonies/repatriation efforts for Boreal Toad on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and maintain the Wahweap Assurance Colony 2. Finish the evaluation of population viability criteria dataset 3. Coordinate with citizen science efforts to monitor and survey for toads in all regions 4. Develop Translocation and Repatriation protocols 5. Translocate Boreal Toads in the Little West Fork of the Duchesne to achieve a true "metapopulation" Our work also supports: Boreal Toad Conservation Plan (Hogrefe, 2005) objectives 1-6: 1. Defining current distribution and status 2. Monitoring distribution, population, and habitat trends 3. Identifying and reduce threats from habitat loss and degradation 4. Identifying and reduce treats from pathogens 5. Increasing understanding of boreal toad ecology, life history, and threats 6. Restoring populations in suitable historic and potential habitat The data collected through this program is also helping shape the new Boreal Toad Conservation Agreement (in progress).

No ground disturbing activities will take place in the implementation of this data gathering project. All community scientists will be traveling on foot and no motorized equipment will be used at any field sites. The biologist at the UHZ will have a renewed Certificate of Registration allowing her to pit tag boreal toads; no other participants in the community science program will be allowed to pit tag toads. AIS protocols adhered to.

In 2020, in response to COVID-19 safety requirements, WUP and UHZ pivoted very quickly in advance of the previously scheduled in-person training event to an online training, providing volunteers with the opportunity to safely participate in a live and/or recorded webinar. During the onset of the pandemic and in March and April the partners developed new training and instructional videos, online availability of printable field materials, waivers, additional live interactive webinar events, and safe equipment pick-up options. Due to the innovative and speedy adaptations made by WUP and UHZ communications and volunteer coordinator and ecologist, participation was maintained and even increased in some areas during this unprecedented time of community science during a pandemic. We hope to take what we have learned from this into the coming year. Task 1: Recruit and train community scientists Winter/Early Spring: Prepare training materials and recruit volunteers to attend a virtual community science training event and develop a site list based on previous seasons' data, as well as a coordinated site visit calendar for the field season with volunteers and agency biologists. Spring/ Early Summer : Implement community science training event and coordinate with volunteers on preferred site visits and dates as well as prepare aquatic habitat equipment to allow individuals doing independent aquatic habitat assessments and surveys to check out/in field equipment kits. Training agenda includes life history of boreal toads, an overview of their threats and decline, the work conducted by the DWR and the purpose of data collection. Training is then given on use of field equipment, amphibian ID, chytrid disinfection protocols, and filling out the data sheet correctly. We encourage community scientists to take part in biologist led surveys but there is opportunity to conduct independent surveys, for which we give extra training. Task 2: Collect data on boreal toads May-September 2021 Coordinate groups of volunteers participating in UHZ and WUP led site visits with UDWR, including multi-day large-scale survey efforts. Coordinate with community scientists checking in/out equipment independently and review completed data sheets for independent surveyors, Use the field protocol and form we developed alongside UDWR, USFS, and UGS; the standardized methods allowed community scientists and agencies alike to collect aquatic habitat condition data in a consistent fashion that has been streamlined for entry into a statewide database for several years. Task 3: Manage and present interagency data on boreal toads Presentation of previous year's data, both boreal toad occurrences and habitat condition metrics as well as community scientist participation, number of site visits, and number volunteer hours accrued. Disseminate results as needed. We will provide summary information at the Boreal Toad Conservation Team meeting in December as well as custom exports of the data to interested stakeholders. September-December: Data entry and analyses, presentation of data to statewide boreal toad conservation team, evaluation of the project success and/or any adjustments that need to be made in the next field season based on shifting survey needs or agency objectives. Interns will continue working on compiling statewide data over the last decade in a streamline format which can be used to map occurrence and change as well as run through data analysis platforms such as R studio to help answer biological questions. Winter/Early Spring: Prepare training material, recruit volunteers, and develop site priority list for following year, as needed. Task 4: Manage interagency meetings and communications We plan to facilitate meetings to evaluate priority sites, current habitat data collection protocol, and develop recommendations on future use of habitat protocol, as well as to develop a plan for long-term management of boreal toad data, including both habitat and species data. As partners we will participate in and contribute to other meetings as appropriate, including the Conservation Team meeting in December, assurance colony meetings, and planning meetings for the development of the update to the Conservation Agreement. Additionally we plan to coordinate with students to complete mapping and statistical efforts with a cleaned dataset over the last decade with labs at both U of U and USU, to help address more complex ecological questions.

No additional post-season field monitoring is required to determine the project success but both organizations and agency partners plan to continue conducting annual boreal toad surveys and water quality monitoring in order to maintain a robust set of data for understanding the distribution of this SGCN and USFS-sensitive species and the habitat conditions for aquatic breeding sites.

2021 marks the eighth year of WUP and UHZ partnerships with UDWR (main contacts over the years have included: Chris Crockett; Sarah Seegert, Jake Mecham, Cody Edwards, Chante Lundskog, Daniel Keller, Drew Dittmer, Kevin Wheeler, Keith Lawrence, Jordan Holcomb), UGS (Diane Menuz), and U.S. Forest Service (Pam Manders, Justin Robinson, Jens Swensen and Mike Golden). Each year of the project WUP and UHZ have had two or more partner planning meetings/calls to discuss data gaps and survey needs and to develop or refine standardized field forms and protocols in advance of the formal community science training that occurs in late April/early May of each year.

This project will continue to be applicable to statewide planning efforts to prioritize aquatic habitat improvements/maintenance, future repatriation efforts to suitable/potentially suitable habitat based on condition assessments, and species distribution and habitat data collected through interagency collaboration. WUP and UHZ will continue to fill critical data gaps in our understanding of this SGCN and USFS sensitive species. In particular, data generated from this program have been fed into a statewide boreal toad UGS database that could be used in the future to develop more robust predictive models for boreal toad occupancy and habitat suitability in Utah. The proposed work will result in a long-term plan for efficiently, cost effectively and sustainably continuing to collect and manage boreal toad and associated habitat data across the state. We plan to continue to coordinate with UDWR at the beginning and end of each field season in order to adapt our efforts and strategies as needed and ensure we take the most appropriate methods and strategies to assist with filling critical data gaps and agency needs regarding boreal toad conservation efforts. This program has created a baseline example that can in the future be expanded to other species.

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

Utah's Hogle Zoo (UHZ) and Sageland Collaborative (previously Wild Utah Project) worked together to collect, manage, and analyze data on boreal toads throughout the survey seasons of 2021 and 2022 using the help of community scientists from throughout Utah. We traveled to multiple areas throughout the state and conducted inventory and opportunistic surveys for boreal toad both independently and alongside the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Between July 1st 2021 and June 30th 2022 we conducted around 100 biologist-led surveys, and trained community scientists conducted over 30 independent toad surveys using our boreal toad backpacks.

In 2021 and 2022, we maintained COVID-19 safety requirements implemented in previous years, Sageland and UHZ hosted an online training, providing volunteers with the opportunity to safely participate. The partners developed updated training and instructional videos, online availability of printable field materials, waivers, additional live interactive webinar events, and safe equipment pick-up options. Due to the innovative and speedy adaptations made by UHZ and Sageland communications and volunteer coordinator and ecologist, participation continues to increased in some areas. We took what we have learned to be most effective for volunteer recruitment and increased participation from this into the 2022 training and field season (e.g. increased frequency of formal email communications with updates on the project, updating recorded training videos, updated ways to view and add to field calendar and participate in field trips as well as independent site visits etc.). For example over 20 formal email communications specific to this project have been sent to the community science listserv to over 300 recipients (you can see an example attached to this project proposal). Over 65 community scientists volunteered over 1,917 hours during the 2021 field season. During the 2022 field season UHZ led 167 surveys, our greatest number yet. We also saw our greatest number of community scientists participate in biologist led surveys during the 2022 season. Independent community science surveys are ongoing into the 2022 field season. See "Round Up" document attached for more detailed metrics on community science participation and engagement from previous years. The objective of this project is to continue an existing community science program to support UDWR (in coordination with USFS and USFWS) to meet species monitoring needs regarding boreal toad distribution, population estimates, and aquatic habitat conditions across Utah. This project consistently has four major tasks associated with it: Task 1: Recruit and train citizen scientists Community scientists were recruited through various channels including but not limited to: current Sageland and UHZ volunteers, previous years community scientists, Universities, and social media posts in relevant groups (for example Utah Frogs and Toads, Utah FrogWatch). A formal community scientist training event was held virtually by Sageland and Hogle Zoo on April 28th 2022 . Community scientists were trained in the use of the standardized field methods and habitat assessment/survey forms (the same methods and forms currently used by UDWR biologists statewide), boreal toad identification and life history and disinfection methods. Task 2: Collected data throughout 2021/2022 We continued surveying and monitoring efforts, including more community scientists and continuing to work closely with regional biologists. Through coordination with Drew Dittmer and regional biologists from the northern, central and southern and southeastern regions UHZ and Sageland have established priority sites where community scientists have monitored, led by biologists and interns, either independently or alongside UDWR staff, on both single and multi-day survey efforts. Additionally, independent aquatic habitat assessments and surveys continued in areas where the distribution of current breeding habitats remains undocumented but where adjacent suitable habitat is supporting or has recently supported boreal toads. Data collected includes water quality, habitat assessment, boreal toad presence including number, lifestage and PIT tag number. Biometrics were also taken of metamorphosed toads. Task 3: Managed and presented data The collection of habitat data (including parameters such as pH, turbidity, water levels, disturbance) using the standardized form was continued by partner biologists and community scientists. This data will be collated at the end of the season. UHZ disseminated data to each regional biologist in a spreadsheet, for ease of reporting. Data presented at boreal toad state meetings included the number of community scientists engaged, field hours contributed over the season, toad presence, lifestage, breeding, and habitat data and ArcGIS mapping efforts. Task 4: Coordinated interagency meetings and communications UHZ biologist coordinated with regional biologists to plan multi-day survey efforts across the state and stepped in to fill in for boreal toad monitoring during staff reassignments throughout the year. The Zoo continues to work alongside the state with the assurance colony and breed and release recommendations. There is a lot of interest to grow the breeding program to include other sites after finding successful toads this summer on the Paunsaugunt from the 2021 release. UHZ and Sageland coordinated with agency biologists and habitat managers to facilitate communication on recommendations on future collection of habitat data and long-term management of the associated data. The partners also actively participated in meetings, presented results, and assisted in the development of the Conservation Agreement where needed. Along with facilitating meetings to help in the development of a plan for future statewide database management, we continued to analyze how we can best use community science methods to address future monitoring needs.

In addition to the discussion and recommendations provided in the previous fiscal year (included below) we recommend additional DWR coordination with UHZ and Sageland on development of a Survey123/ArcGIS phone application that reflects the same data fields as the physical boreal toad survey and habitat assessment form. We may increase the ease of data collection and integration into the Natural Heritage Program database. UHZ and Sageland would be happy to continue to provide support with community science data QA/QC and collation with physical forms and data gathered via phone application. We recommend continuing to advance the non-profit and agency coordination required to utilize community scientists in work relating to this species. Community science programing has the potential to assist UDWR in efforts including habitat improvement work directed by the UDWR, continual monitoring on known populations and investigatory areas for survey expansion next year. A meeting with native aquatic biologists across regions to determine priority data collection for the next season, eg: statewide chytrid sweep, a focus on microhabitat where adult toads are found, any further water quality parameters at breeding sites etc. Data that will be used by the DWR biologists. Surveyors could determine key management questions for their region, such as livestock disturbance, overgrowth of vegetation, or sedimentation of ponds, and create metrics focused on those issues. There could still be some shared metrics across regions, which would be useful for any future statewide analysis. For evaluating exploratory sites, it may be useful to use the boreal toad habitat metrics presented in Menuz (2017) rather than or in addition to the habitat field form, since that study found a threshold of mean metric values associated with boreal toad breeding Biologists should consider recording two additional types of data, hydrologic data and information on management actions; these both may be helpful for tracking important site changes over time and are useful covariates to analyze with species population data. We recommend instituting a common data structure across regions and strategy for logging annual field data gathered on physical forms into a centralized statewide database for ease of inclusion into planning processes and Utah Natural Heritage Program.