In FY04, the Gulf of Maine Rivers Ecoteam (GOMR Ecoteam) continued to implement landscape level conservation projects in the Gulf of Maine Ecosystem focused on the Resource Priorities identified in their Gulf of Maine Rivers Ecosystem Plan. Over the years, individual projects receiving Flex Funds have contributed to landscape level conservation of areas identified as GOMR Ecoteam Resource Priorities. In FY04, the GOMR Ecoteam selected 3 projects under 2 landscape initiatives (Gulf of Maine Coast, and Northern Forests) to receive funding. Two projects, "Libby River Tidal Restriction Project" and "Habitat Restoration, Research, and Monitoring for Plymouth Red-bellied Cooters" received funds under the Gulf of Maine Coast landscape initiative. One project, "Canada Lynx Surveys" received funds under the Northern Forest landscape initiative. These 3 projects contribute to the continuing landscape level conservation projects of the GOMR Ecoteam.

The FY04 Flex Funding projects listed below represent a fraction of the GOMR Ecoteam's overall accomplishments for this past year. Projects funded by the GOMR Ecoteam in previous years continue as do many projects which while not funded with Flex Funds have been undertaken because of Resource Priorities determined by the GOMR Ecoteam. Please refer to ARS annual summary reports for the individual offices for a more complete record of the accomplishments of the GOMR Ecoteam. For more information on the Gulf of Maine Rivers Ecosystem Plan and the Gulf of Maine Rivers Ecosystem Team visit http://gulfofmaine.fws.gov/ecoteam/ecoteam.html. 1. Libby River Tidal Restriction Project - The Gulf of Maine Rivers Ecosystem Team awarded $5,000 in Flex Funds to the Libby River Tidal Restriction Project in FY 04. Libby River upstream of the Black Point Rd. is a 100-acre (est.) section of the 3,100-acre Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area, owned and managed by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The Libby River area has been degraded by an undersized culvert at the Black Point Road and excessive freshwater run-off from a relatively recent residential development. As a result, invasive Phragmites is rapidly spreading in this section of the Libby River Tributary. Restoration plans are to replace the existing culvert with a culvert of the size of the natural stream channel to restore the natural hydrology and associated ecological function of the marsh, supporting native salt marsh vegetation, marine invertebrates, fish, and wildlife. Pre-restoration monitoring was initiated in FY04 and project construction is expected to take place in FY05. Post-restoration monitoring will occur in years 1, 3, and 5 following the completion of the construction phase. The Gulf of Maine Coastal Program has played an active role in the restoration design plans, monitoring plan, partner coordination, fund raising, site assessment (data collection and compilation) and providing technical and biological support. Key partners involved in planning and implementing the restoration project to-date include Natural Resources Conservation Service, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Dept. of Transportation, and Friends of Scarborough Marsh, a locally based coalition of organizations committed to protecting and restoring the Marsh. 2. Habitat Restoration, Research, and Monitoring for Plymouth Red-bellied Cooters - Eastern Massachusetts Refuge Complex was awarded $8,000 in FY 04 for habitat restoration, research and monitoring for the Federally Endangered Plymouth red-bellied cooters at Massasoit NWR and Federal Furnace Cranberry Company. The Plymouth population of the red-bellied cooter is restricted to about 17 ponds and one river site in Plymouth County, MA. The number of breeding age individuals is believed to be about 300. The species? Recovery Plan notes that ?reclassification to threatened status will be considered when numbers increase to 600 or more breeding-age turtles distributed among 15 or more self-sustaining populations. The initial objectives of the grant were to: 1) Create additional nesting habitat on Refuge lands by removing vegetation and turning soil; 2) Monitor potential nesting areas, protect nests using predator guards and monitor for hatching; 3) Monitor nesting activity at Federal Furnace Cranberry Company, protect nests using predator guards and monitor for hatching; and 4) Collect hatchlings to be distributed by the State for the ?headstart program?. Accomplishments in 2004 include the following: 1) In April, predator guard material was purchased, and 9 volunteers assisted with building 20 new exclosures. 2) On June 8, Refuge staff and 2 volunteers removed vegetation from two previously established turtle nesting areas at Crooked Pond on Massasoit NWR. A third potential nesting area was also established. Although there were a few nest starts that were initiated on the Refuge, no Plymouth red-bellied turtles nested successfully. 3) In July, Refuge staff designed, purchased, and erected symbolic signage to prevent disturbance to these turtle nesting areas. 4) A contractor was hired jointly with MassWildlife to monitor nesting activity at Federal Furnace Cranberry Company. The contractor began work in mid June, exclosed nests, and monitored hatching through early October. A few nests still haven?t hatched and data is still being analyzed. In total, 54 nests were exclosed, 3 nests were depredated prior to being exclosed, and an additional 10 nests that were not found until after hatching were tallied, for a total of at least 67 nests initiated in 2004. Refuge interns and staff assisted with the monitoring. About 150 hatchlings were collected for the State-wide head-start program. 5) Vegetation manipulation equipment (roto-tiller) and supplies for headstarting turtles were purchased for 2005. 3. Canada lynx surveys - The Maine Field Office received $16,500 to fund a third winter snow track surveys in western Maine. This will complete an initial stratified survey of about 60 townships located throughout the lynx range in Maine. Flex Funds will be used by MDIFW to hire two technicians to survey approximately 20 townships from Millinocket to the White Mountain region. Funds will also be used to conduct a pilot study of the utility of remote-controlled cameras to survey for lynx. Flex Funds will be used by Dr. Clay Nielson, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, who is a national expert at using camera techniques to detect rare felids (cats). Matching funds for the camera study are being sought from National Wildlife Federation and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. In the summer of 2005, Dr. Nielson will hire a technician to deploy 36 cameras for several months in one township on the Clayton Lake lynx study area having a population of radio-tagged lynx with known movements. Data collected from the study will be used to assess the cost effectiveness and feasibility of using this technique to conduct late summer/fall surveys for Canada lynx.