Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

- Initiate long-range planning efforts to develop conservation measures for thenorthern spotted owl.- Consider the needs of other species in designs for clusters.Western Washington Cascades ProvinceProvince descriptionThe western Washington Cascades province lies along the western slope of theCascade Range, from the Columbia River to the Canadian border. Approximately197 spotted owl activity centers, including 166 confirmed pairs, occurin the province. Of these, 179 activity centers and 150 pairs are on federalland. Significant topographic differences occur between the northern andsouthern portions of the province. The northern area is dominated by highelevation mountains and ridges unsuitable for spotted owls, restricting thesuitable spotted owl habitat to lower elevations. The southern portion is muchless dominated by mountainous areas, and spotted owl habitat is potentiallymore continuous. However, it is still highly fragmented by past timber harvest.Threats to spotted owls in the province include low rates of reproduction in thenorthern portion and loss of habitat throughout the province. During the past20 years the checkerboard lands in the Interstate 90 corridor and the MineralBlock in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest have been heavily harvested. (TheMineral Block is a disjunct portion of the forest north of Highway 12 and westof Highway 17). These lands currently support low densities of spotted owls.Five areas of special management emphasis have been identified and these arereflected in the nonfederal province objectives and recommendations.Northern half of the province (north of Interstate 90). Habitat in this areais naturally fragmented because of the mountainous terrain, and thefragmentation has been worsened by timber harvest. Spotted owls andtheir habitat are now poorly distributed in this area. No large clusters ofowls currently occur here.Interstate 90 corridor. Timber harvest in this area of checkerboardownership has resulted in limited nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat.Low amounts and poor distribution of habitat in this area are seriousconcerns because they limit opportunities for dispersal between the northand south halves of the western Washington Cascades and between thewestern and eastern Washington Cascades through the area ofSnoqualmie pass.The Columbia Gorge. Spotted owl populations in Oregon and Washingtonare separated by the Columbia River. The historic and current levels ofinteractions between populations in the two states are unknown, butthere has been a significant reduction in habitat in the Gorge due to bothtimber harvest and urban development.T7he Mineral Block. This area is key to the potential for populationconnectivity between the western Washington Cascades and the OlympicPeninsula. Habitat and owls in this area are limited by the pattern oftimber harvest within checkerboard ownership.Siouxon Creek. This area is located southwest of the Mt. St. HelensNational Volcanic Monument. It provides opportunities to manage forowls in lower elevation habitat on the west side of the Cascades, withpotential benefits to population connectivity with the Oregon Cascadesand the Olympic Peninsula.152