Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

centers for 30 to 35 spotted owl territories are located on state or private landson the Olympic Peninsula, although additional owls with activity centers onfederal lands likely utilize state and private lands. Most of the spotted owl siteslocated on nonfederal lands occur in the western portion of the province, northof the Quinault Indian Reservation.Because of the roadless nature of Olympic National Park, spotted owl surveysare extremely difficult and only a portion of the park has been surveyed. Pastpopulation estimates for the park have been based largely on densities of owlsin demographic study areas in adjacent Forest Service lands and Landsatanalysis of amounts and distribution of suitable habitat within the park(Thomas et al. 1990). Estimates vary between 60 and 80 pairs in OlympicNational Park. Approximately 45 distinct territories have been located in theinterior portion of the park, with an additional eight territories in the narrowcoastal portion.The current estimated population of 200 pairs on the peninsula has a lowlikelihood of persistence during the next 100 years unless measures are takento resolve the existing threats.Declining Populations. High rates of habitat loss on nonfederal and nationalforest lands undoubtedly are reflected in spotted owl population declines.Since World War II, old-growth forest in Olympic National Forest has declined76 percent (Morrison 1990). Large areas of habitat loss on the Olympic Peninsulainclude the Olympic National Forest Shelton Sustained Yield Unit, theQuinault Indian Nation, and the area of state and private ownership west ofForks and north to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Northern spotted owls onceinhabited these lower elevation areas, likely in high densities. Reproductivesuccess has been highly variable in past years, and continued monitoring willbe required for adequate trend assessment. However, populations in theOlympic Peninsula demographic study area are declining nearly 12 percentannually (Appendix C.).Limited Habitat. Suitable habitat is highly fragmented at lower elevations onthe Olympic Peninsula. Past habitat loss has likely resulted in low numbers ofspotted owls on Indian, state, and private lands. Many owl sites on nationalforest lands are located in highly fragmented areas, especially along the southemportions of the Quinault and Hood Canal Ranger Districts. Habitat withinOlympic National Park is found in relatively large, intact drainages broken byhigh, rocky, and snow-covered mountains. Individual owl pairs along theOlympic National Park coastal strip have become relatively isolated from theremaining spotted owls in the interior peninsula. Effects of habitat loss onspotted owl productivity, dispersal, and turnover on the peninsula are not wellknown.Declining Habitat. In the near future, the expected net rate of habitat lossunder current management will jeopardize significantly the potential forrecovery on nonfederal lands. Habitat has been reduced to critical levels onnational forest lands and is declining. Habitat is unchanged and in goodcondition on suitable portions of national park lands.Distribution of Habitat and Population. Suitable habitat in the interiorpeninsula is shaped largely like a doughnut, with the center or 'hole" consistingof high-elevation, nonforested areas of unsuitable habitat. Remaininghabitat and owls on the Olympic Peninsula are located centrally around this"doughnut hole" within the higher-elevation areas of Olympic National Parkand Olympic National Forest. Large areas of recently logged, low-elevationlands are occupied by scattered, relatively isolated pairs of spotted owls inremaining patches of older forest. This central clustering restricts the distribu-42