Project Summary

1. Project Identification

Name	Harlequin Duck Habitat Contamination Studies
Region	Alaska
State	Alaska
Location	Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, AK
Date of this update	March 5, 1998

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk		Harlequin Duck
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)		Beaches are the habitat, but restoration was not funded as part of this effort. The project this was a study, and will ultimately provide information for upcoming management decisions for protection/restoration.

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

To understand and manage Harlequin Duck populations by gathering information on their wintering and foraging ecology and potential impacts from exposure to oil contamination. Determine if the Harlequin Ducks wintering at Shemya Island are being exposed to oil contamination, and if so, in what quantities. Identify habitats used by wintering Harlequin Ducks for feeding and maintenance behaviors. Determine the feeding behaviors of wintering Harlequin Ducks and prey utilized. Identify the occurrence of oil contamination on the coastline. It was determined by the study that the oil contamination found on the ducks was not life threatening. The origin of the oil is not certain, it is not the type of oil used at the Eareckson Air Station. It is possible that oil may be washing in from the adjacent ocean, possibly from a sunken ship.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list)

1. Examination for exposure to oil contamination.
2. Determine population size, behavior ecology and characterize the habitats used.

Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

No, successes (cost benefits) are not quantified.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

• Federal

  Lead - U.S. Air Force, 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, Natural Resource Management - Project Management & Funding
  Others - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (Principal Investigator)

• Non-Federal

  State government
  Local government
  Private industry
  Public interest groups
  Educational Facility - University of Western Ontario (laboratory assistance), University of Massachusetts (laboratory and research assistance)
  Other partnerships

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

• Cash

  Federal		$51,000
  Non Federal	State government
  	Local government
  	Private industry
  	Public interest groups
  Total		$51,000

• In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)
  1. USFWS valued at approximately $10,000 for paid staff, office space, materials, supplies, and tools
  2. University of Western Ontario, University of Massachusetts no estimate currently available, used laboratory and office space, materials, supplies and tools
• Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

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7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

None Specified

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

Incomplete, an applicable example was not available

9. Project Status

Initiation date	September 25, 1995
Completion date
Current stage	Initiated

10. Contacts

• Project Manager

  Mr. Gene V. Augustine, USAF, 611 CES/CEVPN

• Participating Agency/Organization Contacts: (e.g. volunteer groups, conservation groups, state agencies, and other federal agency contacts)

  Principle Investigator:
  Mr. Julian B. Fischer, USFWS, AMNWR

  Refuge Assistant Manager:
  Mr. Jeff Williams, USFWS, AMNWR

11. Any additional information/comments

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