Habitat Conservation on State Trust Lands
What is the State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan?
Washington’s State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is an ecosystem-based forest management plan that helps DNR develop and protect habitat for at-risk species while carrying out forest management and other activities on the state trust lands it manages for revenue to build public schools, universities, and other state institutions. This long-term plan outlines how DNR will provide habitat for species such as the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, and riparian-dependent species like salmon and bull trout, which are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Although the conservation plan applies to Washington’s forested state trust lands within the range of the northern spotted owl, it is designed as a multi-species plan because in protecting habitats needed by listed species, we also provide habitat for other species that depend on the same habitats — species that also may be declining in numbers. The plan also includes several thousand acres of conservation lands managed by DNR for their natural values, research opportunities, and low-impact recreation.
What does the State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan protect?
The core of the State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan is its four detailed conservation strategies for marbled murrelets; northern spotted owls; riparian areas, wetlands and salmon; and other species of concern and uncommon habitats. Through these conservation strategies, we provide protection for:
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Habitat for northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, and riparian-dependent species such as salmon
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Habitat for other animal and plant species listed as threatened or endangered by federal or state governments
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Habitat for unlisted plant or animal species that might be declining in numbers or that could be listed at some time in the future
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Uncommon habitats and habitat elements (talus fields, caves, cliffs, oak woodlands, large snags, balds, mineral springs, and large, structurally unique trees) that support the various species that depend on them
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Old-growth forests in the five habitat conservation planning units in western Washington
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Unstable slopes
Learn more about the Habitat Conservation Plan, its conservation strategies, and adaptive management
Final State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan 1997
The HCP guides DNR’s management of forested state trust lands west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains and those on the eastern slopes of the Cascades, from the Canadian border to the Columbia River. To manage these areas more efficiently and effectively, the lands have been broken into nine planning units based primarily on large watersheds. The HCP enables us to comply with federal Endangered Species Act requirements by providing conservation objectives and strategies that provide habitat for listed and unlisted species. The HCP also provides DNR with greater certainty, flexibility, and stability in meeting its trust responsibilities to generate revenue for trust beneficiaries through activities such as harvesting timber and other forest products.
Chapters
- Table Of Contents
- Ch 1. Introduction
- Ch 2. Planning Context
- Ch 3. Biological Data For Species Covered By The HCP
- Chapter 4. The Habitat Conservation Plan
- Ch 4A. Minimization and Mitigation for the Northern Spotted Owl
in the Five West-Side and All East-Side Planning Units - Ch 4B. Minimization and Mitigation for the Marbled Murrelet
In The Five West-Side and the OESF Planning Units - Ch 4C. Minimization and Mitigation for Other Federally Listed Species
in all Planning Units - Ch 4D. Riparian Conservation Strategy for the Five West-Side
Planning Units - Ch. 4E. Olympic Experimental State Forest Planning Unit
- Ch. 4F. Multispecies Conservation Strategy for Unlisted Species
in the Five West-Side Planning Units - Ch. 4G. Conservation Assessments for Federally Listed Plant Species,
Candidate Plant Species, and Plant Species Of Concern - Ch. 4H. Forest Land Management Activities
- Ch 4A. Minimization and Mitigation for the Northern Spotted Owl
- Ch 5. Plan Implementation
- Ch 6. Alternatives to the HCP that Would Avoid Take
- Appendix A. Geographic Analysis
- Appendix B. Implementation Agreement
- References
- Glossary
- Maps
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Merged Final EIS)
The HCP “merged” Final Environmental Impact Statement (Merged Final EIS) combines the Draft EIS and the Final EIS. This combination enables readers to identify where and why changes were made to the Draft EIS — in response to public comment and new information — to create the Final EIS. The merged Final EIS summarizes the comments received, by topic area, and details how DNR responded to them in making changes to the document.
