Marbled Murrelet Long-Term Conservation Strategy
The proposal is to amend the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 1997 State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan to include a long-term conservation strategy for the marbled murrelet. DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are serving as co-lead agencies for purposes of environmental review under both the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Visit our free webinar for an overview of the marbled murrelet conservation strategy's proposed alternatives.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
The Long-Term Conservation Strategy for the Marbled Murrelet Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) documents the lead agencies' analysis of the proposal and provides an opportunity for agencies, affected tribes and the public to review the document and provide suggestions for improving the adequacy of the environmental analysis.
Public comments on this proposed DEIS are being accepted between December 2, 2016, and 5:00 p.m. on March 9, 2017. Comments should be submitted to the SEPA Center at sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov or SEPA Center, PO Box 47015, Olympia, WA 98504-7015. Please include the file number "12-042001" on all comments. The subject line of comments send by email should include "SEPA File No. 12-042001."
DEIS - December 2016
Complete Draft EIS (36MB PDF)
Draft EIS in Sections
Opening Pages (Cover, Commissioner's Letter, Fact Sheet, Table of Contents)
Chapter 1, Introduction
Chapter 2, The Alternatives
Chapter 3, Affected Environment
Chapter 4, Environmental Consequences
Chapter 5, Cumulative Effects
Chapter 6, Literature Cited
Chapter 7, Key Definitions
Appendices
Appendix A, Scoping Report
Appendix B, Analytical Framework Focus Paper
Appendix C, Population Viability Analysis (Peery and Jones 2016)
Appendix D, Occupied Sites Focus Paper
Appendix E, P-stage Focus Paper
Appendix F, Maps of Marbled Murrelet Conservation Areas by Alternative
Appendix G, LTFC Focus Paper
Appendix H, Potential Impacts and Mitigation Focus Paper
Appendix I, 2007 and 2009 Concurrence Letters
Appendix J, Fish Distribution in the Analysis Area
Appendix K, Rare Plants in LTCS
Appendix L, Wildlife Species and Associated Habitats in the Analysis Area
Appendix M, Data and Assumptions Used in Socioeconomics Analysis
Appendix N, Distribution List
January 10, 2017 - Sedro Woolley
NW Region Office - NW Conference Center
919 N. Township Street
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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January 17, 2017 - Port Angeles
Port Angeles High School - Commons/Lunch Room
304 E. Park Avenue
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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January 12, 2017 - Seattle
Whitman Middle School - Auditorium
9201 15th Avenue NW
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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January 19, 2017 - Cathlamet
Julius A. Wendt Elementary School - Multipurpose Room
265 S. 3rd Street
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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The following posters were displayed at the public meetings regarding the Long-Term Conservation Strategy for the Marbled Murrelet Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS):
- Marbled Murrelet Long-Term Conservation Strategy posters
- Washington State Trust Lands and DNR’s Fiduciary Responsibilities
The following presentation was shown at the public meetings regarding the Long-Term Conservation Strategy for the Marbled Murrelet Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS):
Marbled Murrelet Webinar
Process
The graphic below outlines the SEPA/NEPA joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process.

Scoping Phases
The planning process for the project began with establishing the scope of the environmental review under both state and federal processes. DNR expanded the scoping process into two phases. The use of expanded scoping is intended to enhance public and agency participation in identifying the scope of an EIS.
Phase One Scoping
The first phase focused on receiving input for the project's need, purpose and objectives, the environmental impacts that should be considered and existing environmental information relevant to analysis.
Public meetings were held in late April and early May 2012 in the four DNR adminstrative regions included in the proposal: Olympia, Sedro-Woolley, Cathlamet and Forks.
Phase One Scoping: Meeting Materials
Phase One Scoping
Phase Two Scoping
Phase Two scoping materials presented alternative concepts that represent distinct conservation approaches to a long-term conservation strategy, each of which would be consistent with the approved Need, Purpose, and Objectives. A No Action concept also was presented. These conceptual alternatives were described in the Phase Two scoping notice.
Phase Two Public Meeting Materials
Framework for Building the Strategy and Conceptual Alternatives
Phase Two PowerPoint Presentation
Washington State Trust Lands & DNR's Trust Mandate
Marbled Murrelet Biology and Conservation
Background on the Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan
Environmental Review
Map of Marbled Murrelet Habitat and Occupied Areas on DNR-managed Forests
Framework for Building the Strategy and Conceptual Alternatives
Phase Two PowerPoint Presentation
Washington State Trust Lands & DNR's Trust Mandate
Marbled Murrelet Biology and Conservation
Background on the Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan
Environmental Review
Map of Marbled Murrelet Habitat and Occupied Areas on DNR-managed Forests
Final EIS
The final EIS will provide decision-makers with environmental information about a proposal to help them decide whether to approve the proposal, approve it with conditions (mitigation), or deny the proposal. It is the lead agency's record of environmental analysis conducted for the proposal.
Publications
- Recommendations and Supporting Analysis of Conservation Opportunities for the Marbled Murrelet Long-Term Conservation Strategy
- Northwest Forest Plan - the first 15 years (1994-2008): Status and Trends of Nesting Habitat for the Marbled Murrelet
- Evaluation Report for the 5-Year Status Review of the Marbled Murrelet in Washington, Oregon and California