Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

Douglas-fir/hardwood types, the latter often interspersed with chaparral andgrasslands. Land is predominantly in industrial and nonindustrial privateownership. Federal lands are represented by scattered small blocks of publicland and four National Park Service areas, including Redwood National Park,P.J. Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods National Monument, and GoldenGate National Recreation Area. State lands include a state forest, and fourlarge and numerous smaller state parks.Low Populations. Population levels are relatively high, with almost one-third(370) of the known activity centers for northern spotted owls in Californiafound in this province. About 155 sites have had verified pairs from 1986through 1990. There is an average of 2.3 known owl sites per township expectedto contain suitable owl habitat.Declining Populations. Spotted owls generally are widespread in the province,having been found in 56 percent of the townships in the province, or in71 percent of the townships where suitable habitat exists and thus where theywould be expected to occur. One known or no owl sites have been found in 50percent of the townships where the owl would be expected to occur. More thannine sites each are known from three townships, indicating that some habitatconditions can support high densities. One township on heavily harvested,commercial redwood forestland supports at least 18 sites.Demographic information indicates that owls in this area are occupying sitesand reproducing at rates similar to owls in other areas. Survival information islimited so estimates of population stability are not possible.2500V)1)C-)L_4-0coCU)0-C200015001000500…00.............. 00. ..1940 1950 1960 1970Year…............................................................,-1980 1990 2000........... All ownerships_______ BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)- - - - FS (U.S. Forest Service)0000000 Private........ ..StateSources: Mellen (pers. comm.),Neitro (pers. comm.), Johnson(pers. comm.), Bruce (pers.comm.), Starkey (pers. comm.),Greber et al. (1990).11.11 ......... I... . I I - 11 ... I............- ... 1.11- IfAFigure 2.6b. Trend in northern spotted owl habitat, Klamath province (Oregon portion).58