Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

In considering the needs of other species in the recovery plan for the owl, theRecovery Team took advantage of opportunities to benefit other species andecosystem function without increasing the cost of the plan. This was done byaltering the size, shape, and location of DCAs to attain maximum benefit forowls and incorporate other species to the extent possible. Information on otherspecies was used in several ways in the development of the recovery plan.First, in development of the overall strategy for the plan, the team evaluatedthe overlap between possible owl conservation areas and the geographic rangesof the list of priority species. Second, in developing recommendations forspecific management practices in DCAs and the forest matrix surroundingDCAs, the Recovery Team attempted to look beyond the habitat needs ofspotted owls. The Recovery Team used the characteristics of older forests,wherever possible, in developing guidelines for management recommendations.This insured that other species would benefit and not be inadvertently harmed.As a result of these activities, the Recovery Team was able to locate DCAs sothat they include approximately 500 locations (nest or occupied sites) of otherspecies, namely 228 occupied murrelet sites, 120 goshawk nest sites, 56marten locations, 37 fisher locations, and 37 bald eagle nest sites. The greatestbenefits to other species were achieved for marbled murrelets in the OregonCoast Range where 151 occupied sites were included in DCAs. The DCAs alsoinclude 2,047 miles of streams with fish stocks that are considered at risk.The greatest benefits to fish stocks were achieved in the Klamath province andthe Oregon Coast Range where 696 and 314 miles of stream, respectively, wereincluded in DCAs. Inclusion of streams and of other species sites in DCAs,along with the conservation of older forests for owl habitat, will provide significantbenefits to other species within the range of the spotted owl. However, themarbled murrelet and the numerous fish stocks will likely require furtherconservation efforts in the future by another group, as is the case for most ofthe other priority species. The conservation needs of arthropods and molluscsare particularly elusive at the present time, because we do not know enoughabout the geographic distributions or the habitat associations of many of theseorganisms. In addition, there are many species yet to be described and namedwithin these two groups.Management guidelines for DCAs were designed to maintain suitable habitatfor spotted owls and to develop suitable habitat in stands that are currentlyunsuitable (see section III.C.2. on silviculture, salvage, and catastrophic risk).These guidelines are written to conserve owl habitat and the characteristics ofolder forests. As a result, the forests within DCAs will provide habitat for awide array of other species. For example, the guidelines for salvage of treesafter catastrophic events (primarily wind and fire) are designed to providecoarse woody debris (snags and down logs) over a 100-year period. Thismanagement will contribute to the habitat requirements of a number of cavitydwellers including cavity-nesting birds and flying squirrels which make extensiveuse of snags. The recommendations will also promote suitable habitatconditions for marten, salamanders, numerous arthropods, fungi, and smallmammals by providing coarse woody debris on the forest floor. The retentionof coarse woody debris in riparian areas will provide habitat for fish and otheraquatic organisms. In addition, the forest matrix on federal lands will bemanaged to protect residual habitat areas, reserved pair areas, and managedpairareas for owls where the DCA network is deficient or there is a risk ofcatastrophic disturbance. These guidelines will provide habitat for manyspecies that are associated with older forests. Habitat around managed-pairareas will provide habitat for other species if management strategies includelong rotations and uneven-aged management with the goal of providing largetrees, snags, and coarse woody debris.398