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SECTIONFIVE Piping Plever I I I I ,t I I 5.2.1 Habitat Alteration and Destruction Loss of sandy beaches and other littoral habitats due to. recreational/commercial developments and dune stabilization on the Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast, and Gulf of Mexico are partially responsible for the decline of the species. Also in the Great Lakes, historical nesting sites have been destroyed by high water levels, flooding, or eroding beaches (Russel 1983). Where breeding does occur on Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast sites, reproductive success can be curtailed by human disturbances. Vehicular and foot traffic destroy chicks and eggs. Channelization, water withdrawals (primarily for irrigation), and the construction of reservoirs and pools have contributed to the elimination of much of the piping plover sandbar nesting habitat in the interior of the United States. Before regulation of river flows, summer flow patterns were relatively predictable. Peak flows occurred in May and June and then declined the rest of the summer. Spring flows covered some sandbars, but piping plovers were able to nest as water levels dropped and sandbars became available. Currently, regulated flows are now more common long into the nesting period, thus reducing the potential for optimum nest sites, and forcing piping plovers to nest in less desirable locations, or not at all. Water development within the Platte River system has been extensive which has significantly reduced the annual instream flow volumes in the Platte River basin (Williams 1978). Reduced water and sediment discharge has resulted in the transformation of wide, open channels to multiple narrow channels separated by wooded islands (Eschner et al. 1983; Williams 1978). This vegetation encroachment has eliminated much of the sandbar habitat utilized by the piping plovers (Currier et al. 1985; Sidle et aL 1989; FWS 1981). Water depletions also reduce the width and/or depth of water surrounding riverine nest sites, which may increase predation and human disturbance and reduce the amount of available foraging habitat. The loss of open river channel has been greatest along the Platte River from the confluence of the North Platte and South Platte rivers to Lexington (Sidle et al. 1989). Piping plovers no longer nest on this reach of the river except at a few artificial sites created by sand and gravel mining. Extensive vegetation encroachment has also occurred in the Central Platte Valley study area, and oniy a few riverine sites are slili used [OJ nesting. Commercial sand and gravel mining operations along the river have created sandy spoil piles that may be used for nest sites. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predation and human disturbance from pit operations and adjacent housing projects. Eventually, nesting habitat is lost to vegetation encroachment and/or housing and recreational development (FWS 1988). Winter habitats are threatened by industrial and/or urban expansion that can result in wholesale destruction of wintering areas. The quality of sites may be threatened by increased human use of beaches for recreational purposes. On occasion, habitat quality may be adversely affected by pollution such as oil spills. Stabilization of barrier island sand flats has also been identified as a threat to piping plover habitat because the stabilization encourages encroachment of vegetation. 5-2 68FOO97286OO1r1.doc 6I2/1999(9:52AM)lURSGNCFS/2 IJIIB SIeiDeT MIIlIIwanf /lfJde FetIrnI Sentl:es