Lewis River Wildlife Habitat Management Program

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Lewis River Wildlife Habitat Management Program

• February 20, 2008

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(No Transcript)
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Habitat Cover-Types

• 8,885 acres (87) of Forestland predominately
  second growth conifer, mixed conifer/deciduous or
  deciduous forest ranging from 240 ft. (msl) to
  2500 ft. (msl).
• 399 acres (4) Riparian habitat (excludes
  shoreline and most upper-order streams)
• 308 acres (3) Conservation Covenant (Riparian
  buffer to protect Bull Trout)
• 207 acres (2) Transmission ROW (115 and 230 kV
  lines)
• 168 acres (lt2) Old Growth Conifer
• 125 acres (1) Wetlands
• 108 acres (lt1) Agricultural Lands (farms, idle
  fields and meadows)
• 108 acres of Unique Habitats (Oak Woodland,
  Lodgepole Pine lava flows, Talus)
• 91 acres (lt1) of Shrub-lands
• 5 acres of old homestead Orchards

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Wildlife Species/Habitats Targeted for
Enhancement ( denotes HEP evaluation
species)

• Yellow warbler (wetlands, shrublands, riparian
  habitat),
• Mink (wetlands, riparian),
• Pond-breeding amphibians Northern red-legged
  frog (wetlands),
• Pileated woodpecker (old growth, forestlands,
  riparian),
• Black-capped chickadee (forestlands, riparian),
• Savannah sparrow (forestlands, ROW, farmland)
• Elk (forestlands, ROW, Ag. Lands, orchards,
  shrublands),
• Raptors (bald eagle, osprey, buteos, accipiters
  and owls),
• Other Species Northern flying squirrel, marten,
  Larch Mountain salamander, bald eagle, black
  bear, black-tailed deer, migratory/upland birds,
  northern spotted owl, Cascade torrent salamander,
  papillose tail-dropper, migratory/upland birds,
  Pacific western big-eared bat, Van Dykes
  salamander, beaver, great blue heron, wood duck.

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Settlement

• (Land FERC Licensing) X Settlement
• Habitat Management Program

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Program Goal

• On company owned lands, protect and/or improve
  terrestrial habitat to the benefit of multiple
  species both animal and culturally significant
  native plants

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Program Objectives

• Prepare management plans for habitat types and
  programs (i.e. noxious weed control) that follow
  individual goals on what plans are intended to
  achieve.
• Identify within each plan, objectives that define
  habitat management actions, schedule, and/or
  desired outcome within a time period.
• Develop, then implement strategies and
  on-the-ground procedures to manipulate habitat
  (or not!)
• Plan and complete annual actions per set budget
  and per Terrestrial Coordination Committee
  oversight

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Program Implementation

• 1.) Form Terrestrial Coordination Committee (TCC)

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Program Implementation

• Representatives of the TCC
• PacifiCorp
• Cowlitz Public Utility District
• Cowlitz Indian Tribe
• Yakama Nation
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Citizen-at-large

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Program Implementation

• 1.) Form Terrestrial Coordination Committee
• 2.) Agree on Committee ground rules

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Program Implementation

• 1.) Form Terrestrial Coordination Committee
• 2.) Agree on Committee ground rules
• 3.) Work collectively to develop the goals and
  objectives for habitat and wildlife resources

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Program Implementation Habitats Programs

• HABITATS
• Old-growth Coniferous Forest
• Wetlands
• Riparian Areas
• Shrublands
• Farmland/Old Field/Meadow
• Orchards
• Transmission Line Right-of-Way
• Unique Areas
• Forestlands
• PROGRAMS
• Invasive Plant Species
• Raptors
• Public Access
• Monitoring

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Program Implementation

• 1.) Form Terrestrial Coordination Committee
• 2.) Agree on Committee ground rules
• 3.) Work collectively to develop goals and
  objectives for habitat and wildlife resources
• 4.) Prepare resource management plans
• 5.) Prepare Annual Plan within specific budget
• 6.) Get Committee approval and go do it!
• 7.) Repeat steps 5 and 6 each year for 50 years

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Lessons Learned To-date

• Planning and consultation takes a great deal of
  time
• Given different viewpoints and interests, hire a
  facilitator with a wildlife background to help
  group identify goals and objectives.
• Know your landscape and resources to best apply
  management actions
• Make an effort to not just manage for a single
  species
• A unified committee is a good thing

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Resources

• Lewis River WHMP Standards and Guidelines
  Document www.pacificorp.com/file/file67047
• Kirk Naylor, PacifiCorp Lead Wildlife Scientist
• [phone]