Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Vulnerability to Natural Disturbances. The potential for large-scale loss ofowl habitat to fire is higher here than it is for any other Oregon province.There is a low probability that any conservation area created in the easternCascades of Oregon will avoid a stand-replacing fire over a significant portionof its landscape during the next century (Appendix F).Klamath (Oregon Portion)The Klamath province covers large portions of southwestern Oregon andnorthern California. The Oregon portion lies south of the Coquille River andRoseburg, and west of Medford. Land ownership in the Oregon portion is 35percent Forest Service, 30 percent BLM, 33 percent private, and 3 percentstate (Figure 2.6a). Forest Service ownership includes the Siskiyou and partsof the Rogue and Klamath National Forests. BLM ownership includes much ofthe Medford District with lesser amounts of the Roseburg and Coos BayDistricts. The Oregon portion of the province is characterized by generallymountainous terrain (e.g., the Siskiyou and Klamath Mountains), a highdiversity of forest tree species, often occurring in mixed stands, and large areasof serpentine soils, which generally are incapable of supporting forest conditions.Unforested talus slopes are common. Threats to the owl populationinclude continued loss and fragmentation of habitat from timber harvest, amajor threat of habitat loss from fires (see Appendix F), and a declining population.Low Populations. Numbers and density of spotted owls are moderate in thisprovince, and the population generally is well distributed. Approximately 390pairs have been found in the province from 1987 through 1991. However,demographic data indicate that the owl population is in significant decline.Poor habitat conditions (due largely to serpentine soils and high elevation) andlow owl numbers occur within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. Unlike theCalifornia portion of the province, few owl sites are known on private lands.Declining Populations. Based on demographic data gathered from 1985through 1991 in the Medford study area (Appendix A), owls in this area areexperiencing the highest annual rate of decline (16 percent) in Oregon. Thenesting success of owl pairs varies annually within all portions of the owl'srange, but has been particularly low for this area (and for the Oregon CoastRange as well). In only 3 of the last 7 years has the percent of pairs producingyoung exceeded 50 percent (of the pairs present), with the highest being 60percent in 1986 (the lowest was 14 percent in 1987).Limited Habitat. Approximately 38 percent of the 3,102,000 acres of forestedland in this province contains habitat suitable for owls (Figure 2.6a). Thishabitat is primarily on federal lands and is extensively fragmented, due totimber harvest patterns on the checkerboard and mixed land ownerships, aswell as natural vegetation patterns.Declining Habitat. The overall estimated rate of habitat decline for all ownershipswithin the province has been 1.3 percent per year for the period of 1950through 1990. The rate of decline has accelerated in the last decade to approximately3 percent annually, primarily reflecting a continued high level ofharvest on private land and an increased level of harvest on federal lands(Figure 2.6b).Distribution of Habitat and Populations. In general, owls and owl habitatare reasonably well distributed within the province. Low owl numbers and/orpoor habitat conditions exist in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area, on privatelands, and within the areas of checkerboard BLM/private lands.56