Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT
Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT
(Owl pairs140 - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Lii 120 -Known owlsin the province 100-80-_i. s, 60- _ I lli _ 16Known owls 40-,in DCAs20-_ |Nonfederal landFederal landFigure 3.13. Known owl pairs in the eastern Washington Cascades provinceand in DCAs within the province.Acres (thousands)3,500-3,000- _ = .Lii 2,500- _ _ _ _Total acresin the province 2,000--1,500- _XX0r7'71,000- _Acres in DCAs 500-Nonfederal land' Federal land NRF habitat 2Figure 3.14. Acres in the eastern Washington Cascades province and in DCAs within the province.'Management of nonfederal lands within the perimeter of designated conservation areas is discussed in the narrative.2 NRF habitat = nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat. This information is available only for federal land.160
seven areas have been identified as needing prescription B or C. In most casesthese federal matrix prescription areas correspond with areas of special managementemphasis discussed for nonfederal lands.In the Interstate 90 corridor, reserved pair areas are required to compensatefor deficiencies in the DCA network (section III.C.2.). Population deficienciesin DCAs require reserved pair areas totaling 16,643 acres and five known owlactivity centers. Habitat for these reserved pair areas also will alleviate thethreat of impaired owl dispersal through this checkerboard ownership, andshould be coordinated with nonfederal landowners.Managed pair areas (prescription C matrix management) are located on federalland within high fire-risk mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests of theprovince. Five areas are delineated where managed pair areas are recommendedfor all currently known spotted owls on federal land, and those discoveredin the future. These areas are:- Between WD- 1 and WD- IN: three known activity centers to be protected,- Among WD-16, WD-15, WD-12 and WD-14: seven known activity centers,- Between WD-5 and WD-6: two known activity centers,- Among WD-6, WD-21 and the eastern province boundary: three knownactivity centers,- Among WD-7, WD-21 and WD-22: four known activity centers.Based on these known owl activity centers, a total of 19 known activity centersand 108,176 acres would be included in prescription C managed pair areas.Biological goals and implementation on nonfederal landsThree areas are identified for special management emphasis on nonfederallands. In all three cases, recommendations are made for nonfederal lands toaugment federal management in addressing threats to owl populations.In the Interstate 90 corridor area of checkerboard ownership. Habitat lossand north-to-south connectivity among DCAs are the main concerns. Itis recommended that nonfederal lands provide nesting, roosting, andforaging habitat for spotted owls within or directly adjacent to federalDCAs WD-5, WD-6, WD-7, and WD-16. It is recommended that dispersalhabitat be provided among these DCAs. The goal is to contribute to owlpopulation stability within the DCAs. Managed suitable habitat isexpected to provide characteristics necessary for roosting and foraging,but not necessarily for nesting. Some nesting habitat may be needed inthe short term, especially since the DCAs are deficient in owl pairs.Endangered Species Act prohibition of take currently is contributing tothe objective of augmenting checkerboard DCAs in the Interstate 90corridor. Nonfederal landowners currently are affected by prohibitions ontake involving many owl sites in the general area identified for specialmanagement emphasis. Protective management as described in sectionIII.C.3. could lead to more efficient conservation measures and improveachievement of recovery objectives. New forestry techniques already arepracticed by some landowners in this area, and should contribute toachieving objectives within DCAs. State forest practices rules could beused to ensure protection of known owls. In some areas where there isadequate federal nexus, federal critical habitat designation could provideprotection beyond that available through other means. Land exchangealso may be a useful and accepted mechanism in these checkerboardownership areas. Land purchase may be needed for small acreagelandowners.An additional recommendation to alleviate threats in the Interstate 90corridor is to develop habitat on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area to supporta large cluster of owl pairs (more than 20 pairs) in conjunction with161
- Page 126 and 127: DKnown owlsin the OregonprovincesKn
- Page 128 and 129: mologists, and representatives of o
- Page 130 and 131: this prey species is an appropriate
- Page 132 and 133: After 100 years residual snags will
- Page 134 and 135: 2. Fuelwood Gathering. If allowed,
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- Page 138 and 139: owls. (Refer to tables in section I
- Page 140 and 141: PRESCRIPTION D -RETAIN OWLS IN MANA
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- Page 144 and 145: DCA Management Plans.The recovery p
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- Page 192 and 193: sites on federal lands (figure 3.21
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seven areas have been identified as needing prescription B or C. In most cases<strong>the</strong>se federal matrix prescription areas correspond with areas of special managementemphasis discussed <strong>for</strong> nonfederal lands.In <strong>the</strong> Interstate 90 corridor, reserved pair areas are required to compensate<strong>for</strong> deficiencies in <strong>the</strong> DCA network (section III.C.2.). Population deficienciesin DCAs require reserved pair areas totaling 16,643 acres and five known owlactivity centers. Habitat <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>se reserved pair areas also will alleviate <strong>the</strong>threat of impaired owl dispersal through this checkerboard ownership, andshould be coordinated with nonfederal landowners.Managed pair areas (prescription C matrix management) are located on federalland within high fire-risk mixed conifer and ponderosa pine <strong>for</strong>ests of <strong>the</strong>province. Five areas are delineated where managed pair areas are recommended<strong>for</strong> all currently known spotted owls on federal land, and those discoveredin <strong>the</strong> future. These areas are:- Between WD- 1 and WD- IN: three known activity centers to be protected,- Among WD-16, WD-15, WD-12 and WD-14: seven known activity centers,- Between WD-5 and WD-6: two known activity centers,- Among WD-6, WD-21 and <strong>the</strong> eastern province boundary: three knownactivity centers,- Among WD-7, WD-21 and WD-22: four known activity centers.Based on <strong>the</strong>se known owl activity centers, a total of 19 known activity centersand 108,176 acres would be included in prescription C managed pair areas.Biological goals and implementation on nonfederal landsThree areas are identified <strong>for</strong> special management emphasis on nonfederallands. In all three cases, recommendations are made <strong>for</strong> nonfederal lands toaugment federal management in addressing threats to owl populations.In <strong>the</strong> Interstate 90 corridor area of checkerboard ownership. Habitat lossand north-to-south connectivity among DCAs are <strong>the</strong> main concerns. Itis recommended that nonfederal lands provide nesting, roosting, and<strong>for</strong>aging habitat <strong>for</strong> spotted owls within or directly adjacent to federalDCAs WD-5, WD-6, WD-7, and WD-16. It is recommended that dispersalhabitat be provided among <strong>the</strong>se DCAs. The goal is to contribute to owlpopulation stability within <strong>the</strong> DCAs. Managed suitable habitat isexpected to provide characteristics necessary <strong>for</strong> roosting and <strong>for</strong>aging,but not necessarily <strong>for</strong> nesting. Some nesting habitat may be needed in<strong>the</strong> short term, especially since <strong>the</strong> DCAs are deficient in owl pairs.Endangered Species Act prohibition of take currently is contributing to<strong>the</strong> objective of augmenting checkerboard DCAs in <strong>the</strong> Interstate 90corridor. Nonfederal landowners currently are affected by prohibitions ontake involving many owl sites in <strong>the</strong> general area identified <strong>for</strong> specialmanagement emphasis. Protective management as described in sectionIII.C.3. could lead to more efficient conservation measures and improveachievement of recovery objectives. New <strong>for</strong>estry techniques already arepracticed by some landowners in this area, and should contribute toachieving objectives within DCAs. State <strong>for</strong>est practices rules could beused to ensure protection of known owls. In some areas where <strong>the</strong>re isadequate federal nexus, federal critical habitat designation could provideprotection beyond that available through o<strong>the</strong>r means. Land exchangealso may be a useful and accepted mechanism in <strong>the</strong>se checkerboardownership areas. Land purchase may be needed <strong>for</strong> small acreagelandowners.An additional recommendation to alleviate threats in <strong>the</strong> Interstate 90corridor is to develop habitat on <strong>the</strong> L.T. Murray Wildlife Area to supporta large cluster of owl pairs (more than 20 pairs) in conjunction with161