State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan
Implementation Monitoring
Implementation monitoring, also known as compliance monitoring, determines whether our habitat conservation strategies are being implemented as written. It is one of three major types of monitoring required under our trust lands HCP. The data we gather from this monitoring is used to help us determine how well we are doing, as well as to help us modify our management strategies as needed to better protect and enhance habitat. The implementation monitoring team is responsible for the following activities:
- Documenting the types, amounts, and locations of forest management activities in each HCP planning unit on a yearly basis. This helps us decide what and how to monitor, while also providing a record of our activities.
- Monitoring and reporting on selected conservation strategies or components each year. We use what we learn to modify and improve our monitoring and reporting methods as well as our strategy implementation.
- Producing annual reports on forest management activities on lands managed under the HCP.
- Providing periodic comprehensive reviews on implementation of the HCP (e.g. the HCP 5-Year Comprehensive Review).
Monitoring Reports
2007 Implementation Monitoring Report (886KB PDF)
This report details our monitoring of the stream typing and buffering portion of the riparian conservation strategy for the Olympic Experimental State Forest. It also covers results from monitoring uncommon habitats (cliffs, balds, and oak woodlands) in western Washington.
2006 Implementation Monitoring Report (1,046KB PDF)
Errata Sheet (87KB PDF)
This report details our monitoring of the stream typing and buffering portion of the riparian conservation strategy for westside HCP planning units.
2005 Implementation Monitoring Report (906KB PDF)
This report details our monitoring of the rain-on-snow and northern spotted owl conservation strategies. This was the first year we monitored the amended spotted owl strategy for the Klickitat Planning Unit.
2004 Implementation Monitoring Report (668KB PDF)
In 2004, we monitored three major conservation strategies: wetlands; wind buffers (on riparian management zones); and legacy trees (those left following regeneration harvests to provide structure and a seed source). We also monitored several infrequently implemented strategies, including cliffs and bald eagles.
2003 Implementation Monitoring Report (1,116KB PDF)
In 2003, the team monitored two major conservation strategies: northern spotted owl and stream types anf buffers (riparian management zones). These strategies were monitored in timber sales, silvicultural management activities (e.g. herbicide application; hand cutting), and non-timber management activities (e.g. building bridges in recreation areas).
2002 Implementation Monitoring Pilot Project (2,283KB PDF)
This report details our first year of centralized, field-based implementation monitoring. Two HCP planning units were selected, with a percentage of the timber sales, silvicultural activities, and non-timber management activities in each monitored. In each activity, we assessed all applicable conservation strategies (riparian, northern spotted owl, unstable slopes, etc.). For planning purposes, we also calculated the time and costs to do such monitoring.
Unstable Slopes Implementation and Effectiveness Monitoring Pilot Project for State Lands (403KB PDF)
This project was designed to evaluate how agency staff assess slope stability on timber sales. Areas assessed included the consistency and accuracy of unstable slope identification, how mitigation measures are applied, and post-harvest ground conditions. These sites can be monitored over time to see if the protection measures successfully prevented landslides.