Dames & Moore, 1999 - USDA Forest Service

Other forest communities surrounding the Site are not currently as suitable for spotted owls as the valley
bottom forest. The south aspect slope north of the Site is an open ponderosa pineDouglas fir forest from
about 3,200 to 4,200 feet. Spotted owls are not usually found in open forests at higher elevations (Smith et
al., 1997). The north aspect slope surrounding the old mine workings is a more moist, dense forest, with a
rich mix of conifer species. Tall snags are present which attract cavity dwellers like pileated woodpeckers.
This forest is still maturing, only a few large trees remain at higher elevations (>4,800t) due to a fire in the
early 1900s. The north aspect forest should become better spotted owl habitat as it matures.
Spotted owl surveys in the Railroad Creek Watershed Basin have been limited due to the rugged terrain and
the noise of Railroad Creek. However, a female spotted owl was followed to the upper Railroad Creek area
during radiotelemetry monitoring work in 1993. This female owl was reportedly a subadult and was
observed with a male. This subadult pair was not likely a breeding pair, and no nest was found in 1993, or
in 1988 when another survey was conducted in an attempt to find spotted owls at this location. No spotted
owls were observed during the 1988 survey. A male currently resides near Domke Lake (Personal
communication with Mallory Lenz, Forest Service). This male owl has an established territory surrounding
Domke Lake. within a 0.5 mile south of Railroad Creek. This territory is represented on the Washington
State Priority Habitat and Species: Lucerne Quad as a spotted owl management circle (WNHP, 1997).
Ute Ladies-Tresses (Spiranfhes diluvialis)
- Status '
Ute ladies-tresses is listed by the USFWS as threatened.
Backeround Information
Ute ladies-tresses is an orchid which before 1997 was known only from northern and eastern Utah; central
Colorado, and along the Snake River in southern Idaho. In 1999, a small populaiion was discovered in
Okanogan County. It is generally found in open shrub or grassy wet.:cizd and rifi~.t.l~;i areas.
Po~ulations in Vicinitv of the Site
No populations are known in the area except for the population in Qkanogan County. Habitat for this
species is found in the riparian and wetland areas of Railroad Creek, especially near the Creek where
there are some open grassy springs and ponds.
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentis)
- Status
The bull trout populations in the Columbia Basin are listed by the USFWS as threatened.
Backeround Information
The bull trout is found in Western North America from Southern Oregon to Alaska and as far East as
Montana and Alberta (Wydoski, 1979). Bull trout are closely related to dolly varden trout &d belong to the
Arctic Char complex of species. This species occurs throughout Washington with both resident and
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17693-005-0 19Uuly 19, 1999;4:5 1 PM;DRAFT FINAL RI REPORT