Approximately 175,000 acres
total with 110,000 acres
within the range of the NSO
Uneven-age management
until early 2000’s, then
transitioned to even-aged
management
Location of Roseburg’s CA timberlands
Surveys started in early 1990’sVery few historic Activity Centers in NSO
Database on or adjacent to RRC ownershipMany have been determined to be unoccupied
or not valid by USFWS (not all of these are correctly represented in the CNDDB)
Sacramento Canyon noted for not having NSOCurrently there are less than a dozen
occupied AC’s on or adjacent (within 1.3 miles) to RRC lands.
History and Current Status of NSO Surveys
Of these, there are three that have been surveyed and been found to be unoccupied for 3-4 years that we are awaiting new site abandonment protocols.
All the AC’s on RRC are in areas not generally considered good habitat (however, one site has fledged two in each of the last 4 years)
History and Current Status of NSO Surveys
Of the six, three that have been surveyed and been found to be unoccupied for 3-4 years that we are awaiting new site abandonment protocols.
All the AC’s on RRC are in areas not generally considered good habitat (however, one site has fledged two in each of the last 4 years)
Adjacent sites include FS LSR sites
History and Current Status of NSO Surveys
We currently have a Survey Waiver (based on Zabel, et al and extensive survey history) issued by USFWS that states we do not have to survey for spotted owls in the Sacramento River Canyon and Trinity County ownership.
NSO Regulatory Compliance
Graph of Best Fit Model from Zabel, et al. 2003 as presented by Woodbridge 2006http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/ExternalAffairs/Topics/DryForestWorkshop/Documents/2006/PowerPoints/Woodbridge.pdf
0.00
0.15
0.30
0.45
0.60
0.75
0.90
0
25
50
75
100
125150
175200
025
5075
100125
150175
Pro
bab
ility
of
NS
O O
ccu
pan
cy
Hecta
res
of N
R Hab
itat
Hectares of F Habitat
Other areas get USFWS endorsed protocol surveys which are reviewed through the THP approval process
We frequently use Take Avoidance Scenarios 2 and 3 due to a lack of high quality habitat. We occasionally use Scenario 1.
NSO Regulatory Compliance
Less than 5% of the ownership is Nesting-Roosting or High Quality Nesting Roosting habitat
The huge majority is foraging/low quality foraging with a some non habitat
Heavy snow usually prevents early season activities/disturbance
Owl Protections
Survey protocolUSFWS endorsed protocol used in non-waiver
areasAddition BO surveys conducted where historic
NSO are not detectedSurvey effort
RRC designs all surveys based on habitat/topography
Contractor used to conduct surveysAnnual effort depends on THP demandsThe few historic AC’s are checked annually
either by RRC or contractors
Owl Surveys
Due to low number sites and early season access issues (snow) we do not monitor demography
Owl Population Data
We’ve detected BO on two tracts but they don’t seem to have established territories (they may have temporarily displaced one AC)
Some illegal marijuana grows but not to the extent as in other regions
Unregulated Threats to NSO
We have very few owlsPast uneven aged management may not have
been good for owls (little nesting roosting habitat at present time)
We continue to conduct NSO surveys in non-survey areas
We are working with USFWS to extend survey waiver.
We have not seen BO colonize this area like they have in other areas.
Take Home Message