Thursday, May 14, 2015
Issue Paper: Wildlife
Resource Management Plans for Western Oregon
Background:
More than 200 wildlife species were considered in the Draft Resource Management
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. Within the planning area, there are currently 16 wildlife
species listed, proposed, or candidates under the Endangered Species Act. We captured a few of the
results below.
Key Points:
Gray Wolf: The amount of habitat for gray wolves will not change among the alternatives given their
resiliency to adapt to different landscapes. The opportunities for wolf-livestock conflict would
remain the same as under current conditions, and there would be no discernable difference in
impacts among the Alternatives A, B, C, or the No Action alternative. Under Alternative D, the wolflivestock conflict would be minimized in the absence of livestock grazing on BLM lands.
Marbled Murrelet: All alternatives would result in an increase in the amount of marbled murrelet
high-quality nesting habitat and total nesting habitat in 50 years. Alternatives A, B, and C would
result in the loss of 9 percent (96 sites), 1 percent (12 sites), and 20 percent (210 sites) of future
marbled murrelet sites, respectively, as a result of timber harvest.
Oregon Silverspot Butterfly: All action alternatives would increase the potential for habitat loss for
the silverspot butterflies compared to the No Action alternative due to increased access for offhighway vehicles.
Oregon Spotted Frog: There would be little discernable difference among the alternatives with
regards to impacts from livestock grazing on Oregon spotted frog habitat. All alternatives would
control reed canary grass infestations and avoid development in wetlands.
Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp: Under all action alternatives, the increase in human recreation would
have negative impacts on vernal pool fairy shrimp habitat through trampling or additional trail
development and maintenance.
Western Snowy Plover: The action alternatives would increase human recreational opportunities in
snowy plover habitat through changes in off-highway vehicle designations, which would have
negative impacts on plover habitat through additional trail development.
Fisher: The No Action alternative would lead to a loss of fisher habitat over 50 years. Alternatives A,
B, C, and D would have a slight loss of fisher habitat in the first decade or two, but additional habitat
would develop in subsequent decades that would eventually surpass current conditions.
Greater Sage-grouse: There would be no discernable difference in impacts to sage-grouse among
the Alternatives A, B, C, or the No Action alternative, and impacts from grazing would remain the
same. Alternative D would eliminate grazing and impacts on sage-grouse from livestock grazing are
mixed. Livestock grazing can benefit sage-grouse habitat by reducing fuel loading but heavy livestock
grazing can reduce cover or disrupt nesting birds.
North Oregon Coast Distinct Population Segment of the Oregon Red Tree Vole: All alternatives
would lead to an increase in habitat for red tree voles within the North Oregon Coast DPS in 50 years.
The lack of pre-disturbance surveys and known site protection under Alternatives A and C would
negatively affect the species through loss of sites. Alternatives B and D and the No Action alternative
would include direction to conduct pre-disturbance surveys and known site management, which
would protect red tree voles in the North Oregon Coast DPS.
Bald Eagle & Golden Eagle: All action alternatives would lead to an increase in bald eagle and
golden eagle nesting habitat in 50 years.
Black-tailed Deer & Roosevelt Elk: Alternatives A, B, C, and the No Action alternative would
increase the amount of higher quality forage habitat for deer and elk on BLM lands in 50 years, but
there would be an overall decrease in forage habitat in the planning area.
The Resource Management Plans (RMP) for Western Oregon will determine how the BLM-administered lands in western
Oregon will be managed to further the recovery of threatened and endangered species, to provide for clean water, to
restore fire-adapted ecosystems, to produce a sustained yield of timber products, to coordinate management of lands
surrounding the Coquille Forest with the Coquille Tribe, and to provide for recreation opportunities.
For more information, please visit the BLM’s Resource Management Plans of western Oregon website
at http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/index.php.