Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl - DRAFT

or undertake any project that may result in significant environmental impacts.they must review and disclose the potential impacts, adopt feasible mitigationmeasures, and adopt findings regarding the impacts of the proposed project.California Endangered Species Act. The California Endangered Species Actof 1984 established a process whereby the public or the Department of Fishand Game may submit a petition to the Fish and Game Commission with arecommendation to list (or delist) as threatened or endangered, any nativespecies or subspecies of plant or animal.If a species is considered a candidate for listing, restrictions on import, export,take, possession, purchase, or sale go into effect. If the species is listed,additional restrictions regarding jeopardy, consultation with California leadagencies, required mitigation measures and commitment to conservation,protection, and enhancement go into effect. The northern spotted owl is notcurrently listed as a threatened or endangered species under this act.Land ManagementState Parks. Lands within state parks are administered by the CaliforniaDepartment of Parks and Recreation to protect and perpetuate natural resourcesystems and values. Commercial resource development, includingtimber harvesting, is not permitted in state park units. There are 27 state parksystem units in the northern coastal portions of the owl's range. Eighteen ofthe units are known to support at least one owl territory. The Department ofParks and Recreation is participating in the California habitat conservationplan efforts for the northern spotted owl.State Forests. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protectionadministers the state forest system in accordance with a management planapproved by the state forestry board. The Jackson Demonstration State Forestis within the range of the northern spotted owl. It encompasses 50,000 acresthat are used for demonstration and research experiments addressing fish andwildlife conservation needs, watershed protection measures, recreational usesand commercial timber harvesting. The state forest is completing a spotted owland small mammal survey. Harvesting operations fall under the Forest PracticesAct and must comply with all forest practices rules, including thoseprescribing protection for northern spotted owls under that act.Protectionfrom Fire. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protectionhas primary responsibility for fire prevention and protection for the 32million acres of state-responsibility lands. The department is respondingaggressively to growing fire risks associated with prolonged drought and themovement of a significantly larger number of people to rural California. Thedepartment is particularly aware of the need to reduce the risk of large, catastrophicfires, such as those likely to affect conservation measures for thenorthern spotted owl.Forestry Assistance. A number of forestry assistance programs for privatelandowners is coordinated through the Department of Forestry and FireProtection, including the California Forest Improvement Program and theFederal Forest Improvement Program. These programs share costs of treeplanting and forest management on nonindustrial forestland ownerships.These programs benefit the northern spotted owl by providing another meansof establishing habitat over time on lands that might otherwise not be restoredor might be converted to nonforest uses.81