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Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

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central portion of <strong>the</strong> province. They reported an 8.7 percent decrease in <strong>the</strong>amount of natural <strong>for</strong>est (as a result of timber harvest) and a concomitant 18.0percent decrease in <strong>the</strong> amount of interior habitat. The loss of interior habitat,at nearly double <strong>the</strong> rate of timber harvest, reflected <strong>the</strong> harvest of timber in acheckerboard manner during <strong>the</strong> study period.In a different study, Ripple (pers. comm.) used satellite imagery to assess <strong>the</strong>changes in <strong>the</strong> amount of closed-canopy <strong>for</strong>est and closed-canopy interior<strong>for</strong>est from 1972 to 1987 on an 866,950-acre study area in <strong>the</strong> western Cascadesprovince. During this period, <strong>the</strong> proportion of closed-canopy <strong>for</strong>est wasreduced from 71 percent to 58 percent, along with a significant reduction inclosed-canopy interior <strong>for</strong>est. In this study, closed-canopy <strong>for</strong>est was definedas stands 30 to 40 years of age or older with more than 60 percent canopyclosure, and closed-canopy interior <strong>for</strong>est was <strong>the</strong> amount remaining afterremoval of a 330-foot edge zone.Distribution of Habitat and Populations. The north-to-south distribution ofspotted owls through <strong>the</strong> central portion of this province is adequate, with <strong>the</strong>exception of <strong>the</strong> Santiam Pass area where owl sites are separated by 6 to 10miles. <strong>Owl</strong>s are scattered on BLM lands along <strong>the</strong> western portion of <strong>the</strong>province and some owl sites are isolated by intervening private lands withlimited habitat. Few owls are found above 4,500 feet and little suitable habitatexists above 5,000 feet.The <strong>for</strong>ested lands on <strong>the</strong> flanks of <strong>the</strong> western Cascades between <strong>the</strong> national<strong>for</strong>est boundaries and <strong>the</strong> Willamette Valley floor are predominantly privately5U)OnCo0U)0432- - - - - - - t. t. -:. zz* -- ' ' ' ' ' -.- 1. . . . . . . . . . . . ... ........... .. .. .... . . . 1. . . . .*.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .-... . .:l !1940 1950 1960 1970Year1980 1990 2000........... All ownerships_______ BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)- - - - FS (U.S. Forest Service)....... ... Private*------- StateSources: Mellen (pers. comm.),Neitro (pers. comm.), Johnson(pers. comm.), Bruce (pers.comm.), Starkey (pers. comm.),Greber et al. (1990).Figure 2.5b. Trend in nor<strong>the</strong>rn spotted owl habttat, western Oregon Cascades province.53

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