Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Currently, the Yakima Indian Nation employs 14 full-time biologists andwildlife technicians on northern spotted owl inventory, monitoring, and habitatutilization studies. Data from these studies will yield valuable insights into thecompatibility of uneven-aged forest management techniques in maintainingspotted owl habitat suitability.Quinault Indian Reservation, WashingtonUnder the Indian Allotment Act the 208,000-acre reservation was allotted toindividual Indians in 40- and 80-acre parcels. In order to obtain quick cashmany of the allottees either obtained fee patents and sold the land to non-Indian timber interests or demanded that their timber be harvested at anaccelerated rate. By 1987 the Quinault Indian Nation owned less than 15,000acres of its 208,000-acre reservation. By 1991 this ownership had increased tonearly 54,000 acres. The Nation's aggressive reacquisition of its reservationwas enhanced by the passage of Public Law 100-638. This law returned aportion of the northern boundary of the reservation to the Nation because of aprevious survey error (12,000 acres of actual ownership and 5,400 acres alongthe eastern boundary of the reservation in which 45 percent of the revenuesare pledged to the Nation). A prime stipulation in P.L. 100-638 was thatrevenues generated from the harvest of timber from the north boundary areamust be used by the Nation for consolidating land ownership within theQuinault Reservation. This Act is proving to be very successful and will enablethe Nation, in the long term, to better manage wildlife and fisheries throughoutthe reservation.Spotted owl surveys have been completed on all suitable habitat within thereservation. Only one activity center has been located. This center is in thenorth boundary area. Harvest within this area will be adjusted to protect thisactivity center core as long as it remains occupied. This activity center isadjacent to the Olympic National Park, which provides the majority of suitablehabitat in the area.It should be noted that the Quinault River valley (approximately 50 squaremiles on the reservation) and the river's many tributaries form the mostimportant reservation resource to the Quinault people. Preservation andconservation of five species of salmon, two species of trout, and others alwayswill be a main Quinault objective. All other wildlife in this area also are consideredin the management scheme. Because the Quinault Reservation originallywas allotted to individual Indians in 40- and 80-acre parcels, management ofthe area as a single unit historically has been difficult. To protect this resource,the Quinault Nation has placed a high priority on consolidation of theriver valley into Tribal ownership through land purchase. With consolidatedownership, the Tribe will effect a more consistent and improved riparian zonemanagement. The valley will continue to offer wildlife and fish protection asthe primary management objective.Warm Springs Indian Reservation, OregonCurrently, 40 percent of the habitat suitable for northern spotted owls hasbeen surveyed on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Seventeen activitycenters have been located, primarily in the northwest portion of the Reservation.90The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs voluntarily have acknowledged thedesignation of 18,722 acres to be managed for owls as a 'Warm SpringsSpecial Habitat Preservation Area" in the southern end of the Reservation.