Gopher Tortoise Initiative - WHIP (Upland Wildlife Habitat Management) S. C. Practice Job Sheet 645 Prepared for: Prepared by: Farm: Tract: Date: ensure implementation does not adversely impact those burrows. DEFINITION Restoring and maintaining a native longleaf A 13 foot buffer must be established pine ecosystem as well as the ecological around all gopher tortoise burrows where maintenance processes to conserve biodiversity heavy equipment, including mowers will within the historic range of the gopher tortoise be excluded. (Gopherus polyphemus). Invasive species and noxious weeds shall be PURPOSE controlled. When possible, control will be done Improve habitat for the gopher tortoise within on a “spot” basis to protect native forbs and their historic range in the longleaf pine longleaf legumes that benefit native pollinators and pine ecosystem. other wildlife. Use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals CONDITON WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES shall not compromise the intended purpose of this practice. Sites within the sandhills and inner coastal plain ecoregions of South Carolina where xeric Species and seeding rate specifications will be longleaf pine habitat would occur. prepared to achieve desired habitat condition. Only high quality and ecologically adapted plant CRITERIA materials will be used. When feasible, only Upland wildlife habitat management will be local ecotypes will be used. accomplished by utilizing a combination of the Site preparation, planting dates and methods, following Conservation Practices: and plant material care and handling shall optimize vegetation survival and growth. Herbaceous Weed Control (315) Brush Management (314) A pretreatment assessment of the targeted Conservation Cover (327) habitat will be documented to provide a Prescribed Burning (338) baseline for comparison with post-treatment Firebreak (394) Tree and Shrub Site Preparation (490) habitat assessment. Tree and Shrub Establishment (612) Restoration and Management of Rare and Raking of pine straw is prohibited throughout Declining Habitats (643)-plant local the life of the contract and for lifespan of the ecotype seed or plants practice due to negative impacts upon the plant Forest Stand Improvement (666) community and wildlife habitats. Prior to the installation of any planned OPERATION AND MAINENTANCE conservation practices ALL gopher tortoise Vegetation management and maintenance burrows MUST be identified and flagged to activities shall not be conducted during the nesting season (April 1 – September 1) except
Gopher Tortoise Initiative - WHIP (Upland Wildlife Habitat Management) S. C. Practice Job Sheet 645 Prepared for: Prepared by: Farm: Tract: Date: DEFINITION Restoring and maintaining a native longleaf pine ecosystem as well as the ecological maintenance processes to conserve biodiversity within the historic range of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). PURPOSE Improve habitat for the gopher tortoise within their historic range in the longleaf pine longleaf pine ecosystem. CONDITON WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES Sites within the sandhills and inner coastal plain ecoregions of South Carolina where xeric longleaf pine habitat would occur. CRITERIA Upland wildlife habitat management will be accomplished by utilizing a combination of the following Conservation Practices: Herbaceous Weed Control (315) Brush Management (314) Conservation Cover (327) Prescribed Burning (338) Firebreak (394) Tree and Shrub Site Preparation (490) Tree and Shrub Establishment (612) Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats (643)-plant local ecotype seed or plants Forest Stand Improvement (666) Prior to the installation of any planned conservation practices ALL gopher tortoise burrows MUST be identified and flagged to ensure implementation does not adversely impact those burrows. A 13 foot buffer must be established around all gopher tortoise burrows where heavy equipment, including mowers will be excluded. Invasive species and noxious weeds shall be controlled. When possible, control will be done on a “spot” basis to protect native forbs and legumes that benefit native pollinators and other wildlife. Use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals shall not compromise the intended purpose of this practice. Species and seeding rate specifications will be prepared to achieve desired habitat condition. Only high quality and ecologically adapted plant materials will be used. When feasible, only local ecotypes will be used. Site preparation, planting dates and methods, and plant material care and handling shall optimize vegetation survival and growth. A pretreatment assessment of the targeted habitat will be documented to provide a baseline for comparison with post-treatment habitat assessment. Raking of pine straw is prohibited throughout the life of the contract and for lifespan of the practice due to negative impacts upon the plant community and wildlife habitats. OPERATION AND MAINENTANCE Vegetation management and maintenance activities shall not be conducted during the nesting season (April 1 – September 1) except
645_Upland_Wildlife_Habitat__Gopher_Tortoise_Job_Sheet_12_14_16_Final.docx