Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT
Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT
The BLM Spokane (Washington) District office manages approximately 3,000acres of forestlands within the range of the spotted owl. Owl management hasbeen limited to project clearance, surveys, and protection of suitable habitatwithin known owl activity areas. No nest sites are currently known.Present Status of Habitat and TrendThe ISC and the 1990 status review (USDI 1990) both referred to the majorfactors influencing the amount and distribution of owl habitat on BLM land.The major factors identified include scattered and checkerboard land patterns;past land management activities (primarily timber harvest): and naturaloccurrences such as forest succession, wildfire, and windstorms. This hascreated a mosaic patchwork of stands more than 80 years old as habitat forspotted owls. These stand sizes range primarily from 50 to 500 acres, withsome exceptions of 2,000 to 5,000 acres. The remainder of the landscape is inrecent clear-cuts or forest stands ranging from 5 to 80 years old. Clear-cuttingis the predominant harvest practice used by the BLM on lands in westernOregon. Both clear-cutting and selective harvesting have been used on landsin southwestern Oregon and northern California. Only limited use of silviculturalpractices has been experimented with to create or maintain spotted owlhabitat.In past years, the BLM has classified forest stands older than 80 years asspotted owl habitat, using forest age classes, size, and crown closure as themain criteria. Because these attributes may not provide an adequate characterizationof suitable owl habitat, the BLM refined its habitat figures usingforest operations inventory data combined with a quality check by resourcearea biologists. Table 2.6 illustrates spotted owl habitat on BLM lands inwestern Oregon with two habitat component levels identified representinglevels of habitat quality.BLM lands in the Ukiah District, Arcata Resource Area, consist of isolatedblocks generally 40 to 3,000 acres in size imbedded in a private landscape.The private lands have been subjected to extensive harvest during the lastdecade and contrast with the older timber stands on the adjacent public lands,where most of the remaining owl territories are found.Clear-cutting has not been practiced in the Ukiah District since 1981. Startingin 1982, the BLM has practiced the managed old-growth concept of forestlandmanagement on all timber sales. These guidelines provide for at least 10percent of the site's potential basal area to be occupied by trees that havesurvived at least two 100-year rotation cuttings. These superdominant treesprovide a base for future recruitment of snags and down debris. The structuralelements of old-growth management include 1) large trees for shade andreproduction, 2) large snags for nesting, 3) large debris for nitrogen fixationand carbon recycling, and 4) coarse woody debris in the headwater areas ofdrainages for erosion control.Estimates were made in the 1990 status review (USDI 1990) predicting the rateof decline of habitat during the next 10 to 50 years on BLM-administered land.Historic data showed a loss of approximately 475,000 acres during the last 20years. Assuming the harvest rates prior to the listing of the owl, habitat wouldhave been extremely limited within 30 years. However, since the 1990 listing,the actual timber sale level has been reduced to approximately 40 percent of72
ecent historical levels. This change is based on congressional direction andFWS biological opinions on BLM timber sales. Future figures could be reducedto even lower levels. However, BLM forestlands harvested in the late 1960sand early 1970s could be expected to begin providing limited spotted owlhabitat in the next 50 to 60 years.Inventory and MonitoringThe BLM in Oregon has been surveying its lands for spotted owls since theearly 1970s. The percentage of BLM lands that have been inventoried bydistrict ranges from 50 to 90 percent. Early inventories were neither completenor uniform, although data were accumulated on historic locations of owlsacross the land base. After the completion of land use plans in 1983, a comprehensivemonitoring plan was developed for Oregon and was put into operationin 1986. This has resulted in more consistent and complete data collectionamong districts. When surveys found and verified new locations, thesewere added to the list of sites to be monitored. The process is based primarilyon locating and tracking owls over time. Oregon data from the period of 1988through 1990 showed that 518 pairs were verified on BLM lands in westernOregon. Single owls or unconfirmed pairs were present at an additional 110locations during this same period. More than 60 percent of the owls foundwere in the Roseburg and Medford Districts.The BLM also implemented an intensive banding program in 1985 to markindividual owls. Through 1990, more than 1,800 owls were banded, nearly athird of them were juveniles. Results from the banding information will provideinsights into longevity, movement, survival, and age at first breeding.Inventories of northern spotted owl habitat in California since 1977 have beenconducted as needed to survey timber harvest plans or other major land useactions. Complete documented survey data have been maintained only since1988. With about 25 percent of the habitat surveyed in the Ukiah District, 20pairs of owls (17 in the Arcata Resource Area and three on the Redding ResourceArea) have been detected on BLM lands in California since 1988. Thirtypercent of known spotted owl territories (7 of 17) in the Arcata Resource Areahave been monitored continuously since 1987 by researchers from HumboldtState University, but no comprehensive monitoring program has been developedyet for California.Applicable LawThe principal legislative mandates guiding management of these lands arederived from the O&C Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act(FLPMA). The O&C Act applies exclusively to lands in western Oregon, generallyconfigured in an alternate-section checkerboard pattern. The O&C Actdirects management of these lands for sustained-yield permanent forestproduction that contributes to economic stability of local communities andindustries. In addition, other management requirements are for permanenttimber supply, protection of watersheds, regulating stream flows, and providingrecreation facilities. FLPMA provides multiple-use management direction andoverall resource-management planning requirements for all lands administeredby the BLM.73
- Page 38 and 39: Home Range SizeHome range is define
- Page 40 and 41: Table 2.2. Median amounts of old-gr
- Page 42 and 43: 3. Life Historycannot reject the hy
- Page 44 and 45: Dispersal1984, Thomas et al. 1990,
- Page 46 and 47: 4. ConclusionOur knowledge of the n
- Page 48 and 49: Ca n a d aEastern Washington Cascad
- Page 50 and 51: Table 2.3. Estimated spotted owl ha
- Page 52 and 53: Table 2.4. Significant threats to t
- Page 54 and 55: Table 2.5. Results of surveys for s
- Page 56 and 57: isolated. In these provinces, small
- Page 58 and 59: centers for 30 to 35 spotted owl te
- Page 60 and 61: Southwest Washington occupies a key
- Page 62 and 63: Distribution of Habitat and Populat
- Page 64 and 65: Province Isolation. The eastern Was
- Page 66 and 67: were in suitable habitat condition.
- Page 68 and 69: Estimated acres of forest landbase:
- Page 70 and 71: owned and contain little suitable h
- Page 72 and 73: Vulnerability to Natural Disturbanc
- Page 74 and 75: Douglas-fir/hardwood types, the lat
- Page 76 and 77: miles from the contiguous populatio
- Page 78 and 79: In comparison, the southern part of
- Page 80 and 81: Sacramento River Canyon now provide
- Page 82 and 83: On January 11, 1980, there was an a
- Page 84 and 85: vation Strategy for the Northern Sp
- Page 86 and 87: transfer of one area to the Grand R
- Page 90 and 91: 3. National Park ServiceThe followi
- Page 92 and 93: The results of a consultation are s
- Page 94 and 95: - Since landowners already face cut
- Page 96 and 97: 4. Cumulative Effects AssessmentThe
- Page 98 and 99: Assessment, Planning, and Monitorin
- Page 100 and 101: Spotted owl nesting sites and activ
- Page 102 and 103: Coastal Oregon Productivity Enhance
- Page 104 and 105: including wildlife. In other cases,
- Page 106 and 107: Currently, the Yakima Indian Nation
- Page 108 and 109: where timber harvest is limited to
- Page 111 and 112: III.A. Recovery Objective and Delis
- Page 113: 4. The population is unlikely to ne
- Page 116 and 117: Needs of other species should be co
- Page 118 and 119: years. The strategy of managing for
- Page 120 and 121: 't0
- Page 122 and 123: Finally, the plan recommends mainta
- Page 124 and 125: A total of 1,181 pairs of owls has
- Page 126 and 127: DKnown owlsin the OregonprovincesKn
- Page 128 and 129: mologists, and representatives of o
- Page 130 and 131: this prey species is an appropriate
- Page 132 and 133: After 100 years residual snags will
- Page 134 and 135: 2. Fuelwood Gathering. If allowed,
- Page 136 and 137: The application of prescriptions A,
ecent historical levels. This change is based on congressional direction andFWS biological opinions on BLM timber sales. Future figures could be reducedto even lower levels. However, BLM <strong>for</strong>estlands harvested in <strong>the</strong> late 1960sand early 1970s could be expected to begin providing limited spotted owlhabitat in <strong>the</strong> next 50 to 60 years.Inventory and MonitoringThe BLM in Oregon has been surveying its lands <strong>for</strong> spotted owls since <strong>the</strong>early 1970s. The percentage of BLM lands that have been inventoried bydistrict ranges from 50 to 90 percent. Early inventories were nei<strong>the</strong>r completenor uni<strong>for</strong>m, although data were accumulated on historic locations of owlsacross <strong>the</strong> land base. After <strong>the</strong> completion of land use plans in 1983, a comprehensivemonitoring plan was developed <strong>for</strong> Oregon and was put into operationin 1986. This has resulted in more consistent and complete data collectionamong districts. When surveys found and verified new locations, <strong>the</strong>sewere added to <strong>the</strong> list of sites to be monitored. The process is based primarilyon locating and tracking owls over time. Oregon data from <strong>the</strong> period of 1988through 1990 showed that 518 pairs were verified on BLM lands in westernOregon. Single owls or unconfirmed pairs were present at an additional 110locations during this same period. More than 60 percent of <strong>the</strong> owls foundwere in <strong>the</strong> Roseburg and Med<strong>for</strong>d Districts.The BLM also implemented an intensive banding program in 1985 to markindividual owls. Through 1990, more than 1,800 owls were banded, nearly athird of <strong>the</strong>m were juveniles. Results from <strong>the</strong> banding in<strong>for</strong>mation will provideinsights into longevity, movement, survival, and age at first breeding.Inventories of nor<strong>the</strong>rn spotted owl habitat in Cali<strong>for</strong>nia since 1977 have beenconducted as needed to survey timber harvest plans or o<strong>the</strong>r major land useactions. Complete documented survey data have been maintained only since1988. With about 25 percent of <strong>the</strong> habitat surveyed in <strong>the</strong> Ukiah District, 20pairs of owls (17 in <strong>the</strong> Arcata Resource Area and three on <strong>the</strong> Redding ResourceArea) have been detected on BLM lands in Cali<strong>for</strong>nia since 1988. Thirtypercent of known spotted owl territories (7 of 17) in <strong>the</strong> Arcata Resource Areahave been monitored continuously since 1987 by researchers from HumboldtState University, but no comprehensive monitoring program has been developedyet <strong>for</strong> Cali<strong>for</strong>nia.Applicable LawThe principal legislative mandates guiding management of <strong>the</strong>se lands arederived from <strong>the</strong> O&C Act and <strong>the</strong> Federal Land Policy and Management Act(FLPMA). The O&C Act applies exclusively to lands in western Oregon, generallyconfigured in an alternate-section checkerboard pattern. The O&C Actdirects management of <strong>the</strong>se lands <strong>for</strong> sustained-yield permanent <strong>for</strong>estproduction that contributes to economic stability of local communities andindustries. In addition, o<strong>the</strong>r management requirements are <strong>for</strong> permanenttimber supply, protection of watersheds, regulating stream flows, and providingrecreation facilities. FLPMA provides multiple-use management direction andoverall resource-management planning requirements <strong>for</strong> all lands administeredby <strong>the</strong> BLM.73
Change language