Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

this prey species is an appropriate strategy for DCAs. Therefore, snagslarger than 20-inch dbh will be retained.This guideline may need to be refined for application in some physiographicprovinces. However, retention of all stems larger than 20-inchdbh is likely to provide the highest probability of long-term retention ofsnags throughout the owl's range. Management planning in areas suchas northern California may require specific guidance for hardwood snagretention, and to provide habitat for woodrats, a prey species. In allareas, however, the primary focus should be on long-term planning.4. Coarse woody debris (CWD) biomass (i.e., snags and down logs) provideshabitat for organisms that are important food of several owl prey species,as well as having other habitat-enhancing characteristics. In the first 100years after a stand-replacing disturbance, the amount of CWD added bythe new stand is not significant, so retaining remnant CWD from theprevious stand during this time is important. Following a stand-replacingdisturbance, management will provide for CWD quantities in the newstand which, after 100 years, would be similar to amounts in naturallyregenerated stands at that age. As in the case of snags, province-levelspecifications must be provided for this guideline. Since decay rates andbiomass naturally remaining at 100 years undoubtedly will vary amongprovinces and forest types, the specifications also will vary.5. Some salvage that does not meet the preceding guidelines will be allowedwhen salvage is essential to reduce the risk of fire or insect damage tosuitable owl habitat. This circumstance is most likely to occur in theeastern Oregon and eastern Washington Cascades and California Cascadesprovinces, and somewhat less likely in the Oregon and CaliforniaKlamath provinces. It is important to understand that some risk associatedwith fire and insects is acceptable because they are natural forcesinfluencing forest development where owls occur. Consequently, salvageto reduce such risks should be minimal, and considered as an exceptionalpractice.6. Small-scale removal of snags and logs may be necessary to reducehazards to humans along roads and trails and in or adjacent to campgrounds.Where materials must be removed from the site, as in a campground,a salvage sale is appropriate. In other areas, such as alongroads, leaving material on site should be considered. Also, material willbe left where available CWD is inadequate.7. Where green trees, snags, and logs are present following disturbance, theabove green tree and snag guidelines (discussed earlier in this section)will be applied first, and completely satisfied where possible. The biomassleft in snags can be credited toward the amount of CWD biomass neededto achieve management objectives.8. Since remnant CWD may be relatively small after disturbances in youngerstands, diameter and biomass retention guidelines should be consistentwith silvicultural programs designed to regenerate suitable owl habitat.9. Logs present on the forest floor before a disturbance event provide habitatbenefits which are likely to continue. It seldom will be appropriate toremove them. In addition, these logs will not be credited toward objectivesfor CWD retention developed after a disturbance event.10. The CWD retained will approximate the species composition of theoriginal stand, to help replicate preexisting suitable habitat conditions.114