Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

f. Wilderness.g. Livestock grazing.h. Fuelwood gathering areas.i. Watershed considerations, including existingand proposed impoundments.D. DCA Management Objectives. Based on the recovery plan objectives,owl habitat requirements, and existing habitat conditions within theparticular DCA, describe site-specific management objectives anddesired future conditions, and provide supporting documentation.Objectives are to be specific enough to guide any silvicultural prescriptionsand provide direction for planning other management activities.Examples of the types of management objectives to be included are: 1)identify areas of unsuitable habitat where silvicultural treatment willbe used to facilitate the development of suitable habitat, and thusreduce the fragmentation of habitat in the DCA: 2) identify landexchanges that would provide additional suitable habitat; 3) identifyroads no longer needed that could be closed or rehabilitated; and 4)identify areas of fuels management concerns within and adjacent tothe DCA. Each management objective will include a map showingwhere the management activity will occur in relation to known owlsand habitat.E. Silviculture. A description of the silvicultural prescriptions that areappropriate for the area will be provided. Prescriptions should bedeveloped by silviculturists and wildlife biologists. They will containthe level of detail necessary for field implementation of those projectsthat would be scheduled during a 10-year planning period, and willinclude the following information (easily accessible in permanent files):1. Stand descriptions.2. Stand objectives.3. Silviculture prescriptions and systems.4. Site preparation treatments.5. Planting.6. Release.7. Hardwood management.8. Thinning.F. Risk Assessment. Identify and define the risks to suitable habitat orpotentially suitable habitat through an analysis which includes adiscussion of the following: wildfire, pathogens, wind, insects, andstand density. Based on the analysis, DCA management plan recommendationswill be developed, including prescriptions and implementationplans. These implementation plans will include monitoringstrategies and provide for scientific peer review.To assure effective fuels management within the DCA, significant fuelaccumulations will be identified and managed through prescribedburning or other means, as recommended in the recovery plan.The DCA management plan should take into account conditions onmatrix lands adjacent to DCAs. Silviculturists and fire specialists willevaluate these lands to determine whether such conditions pose a fireor windstorm threat to DCA management, and address them in theDCA management plan. The DCA management planning process alsoshould highlight matrix-related concerns to be addressed through416