The Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) interagency Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) Work Group reviewed the Grants Pass Area Amendment to the Southwest Oregon Late Successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA). This amendment addresses the Centennial Known Spotted Owl Activity Center (KSOAC) within the Matrix land use allocation adjacent to the Fish Hook/Galice LSR. The amendment proposes to add this KSOAC to the Southwest Oregon Late-Successional Reserve Assessment.

The REO finds the Southwest Oregon LSRA provides a sufficient framework and context for management activities within the Centennial KSOAC. Future silvicultural and salvage activities described in the LSRA that meet the criteria and objectives, and that are consistent with the Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) in the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), and meet the criteria below are exempt from subsequent project-level REO review. The REO found the Southwest Oregon LSRA provides a sufficient framework and context for future projects and activities within the LSR (based on our memorandum dated January 19, 1996, attached).

This review addresses only the Centennial KSOAC, which will, by this amendment, become a part of the Southwest Oregon LSRA. The vegetation community, function, desired future condition, and management objectives for the 100-acre core area are the same as the larger LSR. The best northern spotted owl habitat will be retained as close to the nest site or owl activity center as possible and the retention is intended to preserve an intensively used portion of the breeding season home range.

The objectives of Late-Successional Reserves are to protect and enhance conditions of late-successional and old-growth ecosystems, which serve as habitat for late-successional and old-growth related species including the northern spotted owl (Record of Decision [ROD] C-9). Thinning or other silvicultural treatments inside reserves are subject to review by the REO to ensure that the treatments are beneficial to the creation of late-successional forest conditions. The Southwest Oregon LSRA provides such criteria.

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The Southwest Oregon LSRA under "Other Projects" mentions that "projects such as easements … need evaluation at the project level. If potentially adverse effects on Late-successional Reserves objectives could occur, these projects are subject to review by the Regional Ecosystem Office" (see page 149).

"Multiple-Use Activities Other than Silviculture" including easements, are not subject to REO review (ROD C-16-19). The REO hereby requests that this statement be deleted from this LSRA. Please refer to Rights-of-Way and Easements (ROD C-19) which states: "Access to non-federal lands through Late-Successional Reserves will be considered and existing right-of-way agreements, contracted rights, easements and special use permits in Late-Successional Reserves will be recognized as valid uses. New access proposals may require mitigation measures to reduce adverse effects on Late-Successional Reserves. In these cases, alternative routes that avoid late-successional habitat should be considered. If roads must be routed through a reserve, they will be designed and located to have the least impact on late-successional habitat."

The REO concludes that the Southwest Oregon LSRA is now amended by the Grants Pass Area Amendment to include the Centennial Known Spotted Owl Activity Center. The REO finds the Southwest Oregon LSRA provides a sufficient framework and context for management activities within the Centennial KSOAC. Future silvicultural and salvage activities described in the LSRA that meet the criteria and objectives, and that are consistent with the Standards and Guidelines of the NWFP, as well as the provisions of this memo and the January 19, 1996 review memo are exempt from further review.

Attachment: January 19, 1996 memorandum #587

1933/ShM