Forest Service Issues Record of Decision for Olympic National Park Mountain Goat

Release Date: Dec 14, 2018

Media Contacts:

• Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Colton Whitworth: (425) 783-6050
• Olympic National Forest, Susan Garner: (360) 956-2390
• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Deborah Kelly: (509) 664-9247

Everett, Wash. — December 14, 2018 — The Forest Supervisors of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Olympic and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Olympic National Park Mountain Goat Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Olympic National Park Mountain Goat Management Plan / EIS evaluated the impacts of a range of alternatives for managing exotic mountain goats on the Olympic Peninsula in a manner that reduces impacts on park resources while decreasing potential public safety issues associated with the presence of mountain goats. 

The National Park Service (park) is the lead agency for the plan/EIS and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) are cooperating agencies. The Forest Service is responsible for the management of most mountain goat habitat outside of the park on both the Olympic Peninsula and within the North Cascades. For the park and WDFW to engage in mountain goat management related activities within wilderness or restricted areas of the National Forest System lands, both agencies were required to obtain authorization from the Forest Service.

The decision authorizes activities which were found necessary for the successful removal of mountain goats from federal land within the Olympic Mountains and their relocation to the North Cascades beginning in the summer of 2019. 

The actions authorized under the decision include:

• Helicopter landings, temporary fencing, and salt blocks within wilderness areas. 
• The preparation and closure of capture sites and/or staging areas.
• Access to closed or gated areas as needed.

Mountain goat management activities completed in September 2018 did not require Forest Service authorization as the capture operations took place in Olympic National Park and relocation of goats by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife took place outside wilderness areas within National Forest System lands.

“Mountain goat relocation will give these animals the opportunity to thrive in their habitat of the Northern Cascades”, said Tracy O’Toole, USDA Forest Service Community Engagement Staff Officer.        

This signed record of decision outlines all activities authorized and how to implement causing the least environmental impact. This ROD can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49816

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 30 percent of the nation’s surface drinking water to cities and rural communities and approximately 66 million Americans rely on drinking water that originated from the National Forest System.  The agency also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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