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Annual Meeting Embassy Suites Las Vegas

4315 Swenson Street Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

(702) 795-2800 24-27 October 2012

ENERGY DEVELOPMENT & HERPETOFAUNA CONSERVATION

2012 Meeting Planning Committee Polly Conrad Jessie Stegmeier Bryan Hamilton Allen Calvert Jen Germano Alison Cockrum ML Robinson Bob McKeever Kim & Ken Foos Jason Jones Nathan Lenon Justin Meitz Tom O’Toole Denise Parsons Teri Slatauski Larry Jones

2011-2012 Steering Committee Larry Jones, Sr. Co-Chair Jason Jones, Jr. Co-Chair Brian Aucone Rob Lovich Tom Giermakowski Esther Nelson Kary Schlick ML Robinson Clint Henke Michelle Christman

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday, October 23rd 1600-2000: Registration Check-in and T-shirts Sales (cash or check only)

Wednesday speakers please drop off your powerpoint presentation at the registration table. Field workshop vehicle space coordination sign-up sheets located at the registration table. [Outside Flamingo Room]

1700-1800: SW PARC Regional Steering Committee Meeting 1730-1930: Embassy Suites Managers Social w/ Appetizers and Drinks [Coconuts

Lounge] Wednesday, October 24th

0700-1800: Registration Check-in and T-shirts Sales (cash or check only) Thursday speakers please drop off your powerpoint presentation at the registration table before 1730. Field workshop vehicle space coordination sign-up sheets located at the registration table. [Outside Flamingo Room]

0700-0745: Poster, Vendor, Exhibitor & Auction Item Set Up [Stardust Room] 0800-1700: Meeting & Presentations [Flamingo Room] 0800: Welcome, Larry Jones, SW PARC Sr. Co-Chair 0815: What is PARC? Terry Riley 0900: Keynote Address– Renewable Energy Development and Terrestrial

and Aquatic Wildlife Conservation: The New Frontier - Jeff Lovich

1000: Break [Stardust Room] Session 1: In the face of energy development throughout the Southwest, what questions do we need answered relative to amphibian and reptile conservation? Moderator Rob Lovich

1030: Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Areas - Randy Jennings 1050: Automated Pattern Recognition Program for Leopard Frogs – David S. Pilliod 1110: Modeling Effects and Mitigation: Solar Energy Development and the Mojave Desert Tortoise – Roy Averill-Murray

1130: Lunch [On your own – see map of local options]

Session 2: Tools Available for Addressing Energy Development and Herpetofauna Conservation, Moderator Jason Jones

1300: Western Governors’ Association’s Critical Habitat Assessment Tool - Chet VanDellen 1320: Water Development, Ranching, and the Northern Leopard Frog – Aaron Ambos 1340: SW PARC Habitat Management Guidelines - Rob Lovich

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1400: Conservation Corridors for Desert Tortoises – Ken Nussear

1420: Existing Mitigation Proposed for Amphibians and Reptiles Impacted by Energy Development Projects - Brad Hardenbrook 1440:Desert Tortoise Line Distance Sampling- Linda Allison

1500: Break [Stardust Room]

Session 3: Current Projects Assessing Energy Development and Herpetofauna Conservation in the Southwest, Moderator Michelle R. Christman

1530: Flat-tailed horned lizard - Rob Lovich 1550: Nevada Amphibian conservation efforts - Jon Sjöberg

1610: Solar Energy Development and the Relocation of Desert Tortoises- Kim Field 1630: Midget-faded Rattlesnakes and Energy Development in Colorado - Stephen Spear

1730-1930: Embassy Suites Managers Social w/ Appetizers and Drinks [Coconuts Lounge]

Field Trip Sign up [Outside Flamingo Room] 1800-2200: Poster Social and Cash Bar [Stardust Room] 1930: Live Auction and Cash Bar, - ML Robison auctioneer [Stardust Room] Thursday, October 25th 0730-1330: Registration Check-in and T-shirts Sales(cash or check only) [Outside Flamingo Room]

0800-1700: Meeting & Presentations [Flamingo Room]

Session 4: 2012 Year of the Lizard, Moderator Larry Jones 0800: Dissecting the genetic structure of the chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) at two spatial scales- Dick Tracy 0820: Year of the Lizard - Larry Jones 0840: Distribution and phylogeographic structure of Greater and Pygmy Short-Horned

Lizards (Genus: Phrynosoma) in the Great Basin with focus on Nevada – Tereza Jezkova

0900: Will future climates promote range expansions or extirpations of New Mexico’s lizards? – Tom Giermakowski 0915: 2013 Year of the Snake - Polly Conrad

0930: Break [Stardust Room] Session 5: SW PARC Business, Moderator Larry Jones and Jason Jones 1000: SW PARC Working Group Updates

Southwest Priority Herpetofauna Species List - Larry Jones Outreach to Mexico - Rob Lovich

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Outreach to Enthusiasts - Jason Jones Outreach to Tribes – Esther Nelson

1030: PARC Awards - Terry Riley 1040: Nominations for Jr. Co-Chair & Steering Committee Members- Larry Jones 1050: Location of 2013 SW PARC Meeting - Jason Jones and Tom Giermakowski 1100: Identify Priority Needs for 2013 working groups - Jason Jones 1130: Lunch [On your own – see attached map of local options]

Session 6: Break Out Session for Working Groups, Moderator Tom Giermakowski 1300: Summary of priority working group needs 1310: Break out to identify working group members and contacts, task(s), end

product(s) and timeline 1410: Working Groups report back

1500: Break [Stardust Room]

Session 7: More on Energy Development & Conservation - Moderator ML Robinson 1530: Integrating Science and Translocations: Improving Tools for Desert Tortoise Conservation - Jen Germano

1550: Western red-tailed Skinks on the Nevada National Security Site – Derek B. Hall 1610: Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program with Emphasis on Covered Herp Species – Allen Calvert 1630: Translocation of Western Rattlesnakes: Valid Management Strategy? – Bryan Hamilton

1650: Meeting Wrap Up - Jason Jones, SW PARC Jr. Co-Chair 1730-1930: Embassy Suites Managers Social w/ Appetizers and Drinks [Coconuts Lounge] 1730-1830: Poster, Vendor, Exhibitor Pack-up

1900-2200: Live Music by the 2 Jacks [Stardust Room] Friday, October 26th Field Workshops

Shark Reef Aquarium is located at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino: This AZA accredited aquarium is home to over 2,000 animals with over 100 different species on display, including 15 species of sharks. Participants will get to tour the entire facility and have a chance to go behind the scenes to look at how the staff maintains their diverse collection. 10:15 AM Meet at Embassy Suites lobby to carpool to Shark Reef 11:00 AM Meet at Shark Reef front gate for a front of house and then a behind the scenes tour ending with observing the feeding of some of the animals

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Lunch afterward; participants are in charge of their own meals but there are lots of nearby options (i.e. Border Grill, Fleur, or Burger Bar) http://www.mandalaybay.com/shark-reef/aquarium/ Desert Tortoise Conservation Center located on the southern outskirts of Las Vegas: Participants will receive a tour of the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center from the experts. Discussions will include information about conservation efforts for the desert tortoise. Additionally, Linda Allison from USFWS will give an introduction to the components of distance sampling and how they are applied when developing regional abundance estimates. Field survey protocol demonstrations will be provided including opportunities for participation. If time allows, we will collect and review data using a training arena populated with polystyrene tortoise models ("styrotorts"). 8:00 AM Meet in the Embassy Suites lobby to carpool to the DTCC 8:45 AM Line distance transect surveys, an overview by Linda Allison (FWS) 9:45 AM Break 10:00 AM Practice on the styrotort lines 12:00 PM Lunch (sandwiches and drinks provided on site) 1:00 PM Tour of the DTCC by Angie Covert 1:45 PM Wrap up of results from the styrotort lines and discussion 2:30 PM Head back to the Embassy Suites Saturday, October 27th Field Workshops Relict leopard frog (Rana onca) habitat south of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River: Relict leopard frog, once thought extinct, has a very limited distribution within southern Nevada. Field workshop attendees will have an up-close and personal look at their habitat and learn about ongoing and future reintroduction efforts. Additional information will also be presented about the history of the species and coordination efforts for conservation between many different agencies. This will be a full-day field trip to the Colorado River below Hoover Dam. We will car-pool from

the hotel in Las Vegas to Willow Beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area where we

will proceed by boat to our hike location. The hike will be in a desert canyon whose riparian

character supports the Relict Leopard Frog. Participants can expect to get wet and are

encouraged to wear suitable footgear, and such footgear must not have been used in another

aquatic environment. Temperatures at this time of year are usually quite comfortable. Dr. Jef

Jaeger will lead the hike and discussion.

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A box lunch will be provided, however, participants should bring water or other replacement

fluids. A sign-up sheet will be maintained at the registration table for lunch selection and for

car-pooling.

Tentative 0830 departure from hotel lobby for Willow Beach on the Colorado River. We'll

arrive at the river at about 0930/0945. As to return time approximately 1700-1800 to hotel

lobby.

The Springs Preserve located in Las Vegas Discover the beauty of a botanical garden right in the middle of Las Vegas! Attendees will enjoy the guided tour from the experts and opportunities for hands on experience. Information will be provided about the Desert Living Center, Origen Museum, sustainable and efficient living and much more. We will car-pool from the hotel to the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas where a staff Zoologist will

conduct a tour of the trails, animal exhibits, and animal care areas. Participants will then be on

their own to tour the museum galleries at the preserve. Lunch (not provided) is available at the

Springs Café. Temperatures at this time of year are usually quite comfortable. A sign-up sheet

will be maintained at the registration table for car-pooling.

Participants will meet in hotel lobby for a 0830 departure --- tour at 0900 to 1030/1100 --- on their own for the remainder. We'll have to do some coordination with participants for the car-pooling return trip. http://www.springspreserve.org