Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

and are less restrictive under state forest practices laws than under federalmanagement guidances. Regulations in the states range from retention of asfew as 21 conifers per 1,000 feet of stream in one state to 50 trees in another.None of the three states' laws addresses full floodplain function.Not all riparian policies address small upper watershed tributaries, full floodplainfunction, and small wetland areas within the terrestrial forest matrix.The result is a landscape with various widths of protection along streamsystems that allow varying degrees of harvest. This buffer strip conceptappears to be inherently unstable, biologically and physically (Gregory et al.1988). Changes in natural patterns and composition of streamside vegetationhave major short- and long-term consequences to channel characteristics andmorphology, streambed and channel stability, ecosystem functioning, wildlifehabitat, and the biological productivity of streams and wetlands (Beschta1989).Riparian areas and wetlands provide some of the most important wildlifehabitat in the forest lands of the western states. Their use as habitat generallyis greater than that of surrounding areas because the major life requirementsfor many species are present (Oakley et al. 1985). They are used for foragingand watering, breeding and rearing, hiding and resting, and thermal cover. Ofthe 414 wildlife species in Oregon and Washington, 359 (87 percent) useriparian zones or wetlands during some season(s) or part(s) of their life cycle.Of these, 318 species use one or more of the plant communities directlyassociated with riparian zones and wetlands (Oakley et al. 1985). Use issimilar in California. Riparian areas support a diverse arthropod fauna, andmany of these species are important food items for vertebrate animals (J.Latlin, Oregon State University, pers. comm.). In addition to wildlife speciesdirectly dependent on riparian areas, populations in adjacent areas are influencedstrongly by the riparian community (Stevens et al. 1977). Managementaimed at maintenance or protection of riparian zones is extremely importantbecause of the many species that use these areas (Carothers 1977).Riparian areas are more common than wetlands in the forested systems of thewest. Oakley et al. (1985) identified six major reasons that riparian andwetland areas are important for wildlife:1. They contain the three critical habitat components: food, cover, and water.2. They contain a greater diversity of plant species and vegetative structurethan adjacent uplands.3. The elongated shape of most riparian zones maximizes edge effect with thesurrounding forest as well as with water.4. They have different microclimates from surrounding coniferous forests dueto increased humidity, a higher rate of transpiration, and greater air movement.5. They serve as natural migration routes and travel corridors.6. They play a major role in maintaining water quality and quantity.Riparian and wetland areas also are important for many other types of landuses. Highly productive timber sites frequently occur along or around theseareas. Recreation, road locations, mining activities, road building material,and home sites also are among the many other important uses. For thesereasons and many others, riparian and wetland areas are recognized as criticalareas in multiple-use management and planning.370