Dames & Moore, 1999 - USDA Forest Service

Background Information
Grizzly bears historically occupied most of western North America from Alaska, south through Canada, all
the way down to central Mexico (Hall and Kelson, 1959). Currently, this species is restricted to some areas
in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming in the lower 48 states. In Washington, they are found in the
north and central Cascade Mountains and in the north eastern part of the state.
Populations in Vicinity of the Site
The Site is within the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone which covers about 9,565 square miles
in north-central Washington State. The USFS and wilderness areas surrounding the Site provide suitable
habitat and a large enough area for grizzly bears. Grizzly bear observations evaluated by the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife suggest that a small resident population occupies the North Cascades
(USFWS, 1992). Although there are no recent sightings in the Railroad Creek Watershed, the USFS has
recorded a sighting of a grizzly bear near the southwestern edge of Domke Lake (T3 1N 18E S22) on July 4,
1995. In addition, the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Heritage Database has on record two sightings of
an adult grizzly bear (live animal, photo, tracks, and scat) south of Dole Lakes near the Entiat River (T3 1N
R17E 528). Dole Lakes feed into Dole Creek, a tributary of Railroad Creek.
Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis)
- Status
The northern spotted owl is federally listed as threatened with designated critical habitat. It is listed by the
State of Washington as endangered. This species is also considered a FS sensitive species.
Background Information
Spotted owls occur in mountainous and humid coastal forests from southwestern British Columbia, south
through western Washington and western Oregon, to southern California and possibly northern Baja
California; and in the Rocky Mountains from southern Utah and southwestern Colorado, south to the
mountains of Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas, and south into northern and central Mexico (AOU,
1983). The northern spotted owl occurs in Washington from the Olympic Peninsula east through the
Cascades from Canada south to the Columbia River (Jackson et al., 1995).
Populations in Vicinitv of the Site
The riparian areas adjacent to Railroad Creek generally provide more suitable habitat for spotted owls than
the nearby forested slopes. The riparian and wetland forests along the creek contain mature deciduous and
coniferous trees, some up to 5 feet in diameter. Large, broken topped trees are relatively common. Tree
species in the valley bottom forests include black cottonwood, Englemann spruce, Douglas Fir, western red
cedar, western white pine, and ponderosa pine. According to spotted owl habitat definitions presented in the
Washington Administrative Code (WAC 222-16-085), this forest would be classed as old forest habitat
having the features typically required by spotted owls.
G:\WPDATA\M)5WEPORTS\HOLDEN-ZUUW4,DOC
17693403-019Wuly 19. 1999;4:51 PM;DRAFT FMAL RI REWRT