From Coast Range Forest Watch:
We need you to speak out for the Elliott’s spotted owls, marbled murrelets,
and coho salmon — Please send a comment today!
The draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
<https://coastrangeforestwatch.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7e02c916abafe2cae446ac4b3&id=9211295b3d&e=9693be63cb>
for
the Elliott State Forest outlines what kind of protections will be required
for endangered species, including the Northern Spotted Owl, Marbled
Murrelet, and Oregon Coast Coho salmon. It also states how much “take” is
allowed, or how much for the species’ habitat is allowed to be removed,
assuming that the species will no longer be able to exist in those areas
which are to be drastically altered under “take” allowances. *The current
draft HCP is not sufficient to protect endangered species.* It allows for
take of half of the known spotted owl centers on the Elliott (11 out of
23), and logging in over 4,000 acres of mapped occupied marbled murrelet
habitat. These impacts stated in the draft HCP are far greater than what
was previously indicated by OSU. Based on stakeholder negotiations and the
OSU research proposal we understood that there would be no take of spotted
owls, and a maximum of ~1,400 acres of occupied marbled murrelet habitat
that could be impacted by ecological forestry type management for research
purposes. Stream buffers stop short of the steep, convergent sites at the
top of the stream network that produce landslides, which can be detrimental
for salmon productivity in the streams below.
*Please write to the **Department of State Lands*
<https://coastrangeforestwatch.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7e02c916abafe2cae446ac4b3&id=1fc6b9377d&e=9693be63cb>*
today,
asking that the HCP provide clarity, better thresholds, and public
assurance of the protection of these endangered species by reflecting OSU’s
past commitments regarding Northern Spotted Owls and Marbled Murrelets, and
increasing headwater protections for OR Coast Coho.* Specifically, for the
HCP to adequately protect coho salmon and stream integrity, stream buffers
should be increased to include landslide initiating terrain, and it should
require a substantial reduction of the road network in order to reduce
sedimentation to streams. All spotted owl core use areas should be
protected and not degraded. This should include preserving existing habitat
over the accepted 50% management threshold in core use areas. No more
than 1,400
acres of marbled murrelet nesting habitat should be allowed to by modified
by the HCP, as OSU originally agreed upon — with 80% retention near the
occupied stands of trees, spread out over a long period of time, and for
the purpose of research only. The HCP should also require that all occupied
marbled murrelet habitat receive the 100 meter minimum buffer around
habitat trees recommended by the Pacific Seabird Group. There should be
clear and effective monitoring plans identified, including a measurable
definition of murrelet habitat and requiring habitat to be surveyed. It is
also important that the HCP analyze impacts in the temporal aspect, and how
much currently occupied habitat will see fragmentation. Lastly, the
788-acre East Hakki Ridge parcel on the Elliott State Forest, which was
recently revested by the Oregon Department of State Lands, should be
included in the adjacent Conservation Research Watershed due to its
location and its immense value to imperiled northern spotted owls and
marbled murrelets. *If the HCP does not see major revisions to increase
protections for these species, we cannot support it as a path forward for
the management of the Elliott.*
*Send your email to **elliottproject.dsl@xxxxxxxxxx*
<elliottproject.dsl@xxxxxxxxxx>* no later than Friday, July 2nd, before
5pm.*
