100 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.6 Alaska Region Threatened, 

Endangered, Candidate, and Sensitive 

Species 

Federally listed threatened and endangered species are those plant and 

animal species formally listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) under 

authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Under 

the Endangered Species Act, an endangered species is defined as one 

that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of 

its range. A threatened species is defined as one that is likely to 

become an endangered species within the foreseeable future 

throughout all or a significant portion of its range. USFWS defines a 

candidate species as a species for which there is on file sufficient 

information on biological vulnerability and threat(s) to support 

proposals as threatened or endangered. 

The Regional Forester of the USDA Forest Service has the authority to 

designate species as “sensitive.” Sensitive species are those plant and 

animal species for which population viability is a concern, as 

evidenced by significant current or predicted downward trends in 

population numbers or density, or significant current or predicted 

downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species’ 

existing distribution. Information on threatened, endangered, 

candidate, and sensitive species distributions and occurrences in the 

Project Area was obtained from agency contacts, a review of the 

available literature on these species in Southeast Alaska, and field 

review by interdisciplinary survey teams. 

A Biological Evaluation (BE) was completed to determine whether the 

Kuiu Timber Sale may affect federally listed or sensitive species. The 

document was prepared in accordance with legal requirements set 

under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (19 U.S.C. 

1536 (c)), and follows standards established in Forest Service Manual 

(FSM) direction (2672.42) and the Code of Federal Regulations (50 

CFR 402). The BE is available from the Kuiu Timber Sale planning 

record. Findings are summarized below. 

3.6.2.1 Wildlife Species 

Alaska Region threatened endangered, candidate, and 

sensitive species wildlife species 

Table 3-41 displays the potential habitat for the Alaska Region’s 

threatened, endangered, candidate, and sensitive wildlife species 

within the Project Area. The Forest Service consulted with the 

3.6.1 

Introduction 

3.6.2 

Threatened, 

Endangered 

and Candidate 

Species 
TES Species3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 101 

USFWS and the NMFS as part of this analysis. No terrestrial species 

listed by the USFWS as threatened, endangered, or candidate species 

are known to occur within the Project Area. 

Table 3-41. Federally listed threatened, endangered, and candidate wildlife species, 

and Alaska Region sensitive wildlife species potential habitat within the 

Kuiu Timber Sale Project Area 

US Fish & Wildlife Service and 

National Marine Fisheries Listed 

Species (T, E, & C) 

Potential Habitat 

in Project Area 

Carried Forward For Analysis 

Humpback Whale (Endangered)a NO NO. Waters adjacent to the Project 

Area are outside known concentration 

areas. No effects are expected. 

Snake River Sockeye (Endangered) NO NO. Habitat or individuals do not occur 

in Project Area. Compliance with TLMP 

standards and guidelines. No effects 

are expected.

Steller’s Sea Lion (Threatened)a NO NO. There is no critical habitat within 

or near the Project Area. No effects are 

expected.

Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook 

(Threatened) 

NO NO. Habitat or individuals do not occur 

in Project Area. Compliance with TLMP 

standards and guidelines. No effects 

are expected.

Snake River Fall Chinook 

(Threatened)

NO NO. Habitat or individuals do not occur 

in the Project Area. Compliance with 

TLMP standards and guidelines. No 

effects are expected.

Kittlitz’s Murrelet (Brachyramphus 

brevirostris) (Candidate)

NO NO. Habitat or individuals do not occur 

in the Project Area. 

Alaska Region Sensitive Species Potential Habitat 

in Project Area 

Carried Forward for Analysis 

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter 

gentilis)

YES YES. 

Trumpeter Swan (Olor buccinator) NO NO. Habitat does not occur in the 

Project Area. 

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) YES NO. Habitat is not affected by 

proposed activities. 

Peale’s Peregrine Falcon (Falco 

peregrinus pealei)

NO NO. Habitat does not occur in the 

Project Area. 

a

Appendix J of the 1997 Forest Plan Final EIS includes a Biological Assessment for the humpback whale and Steller’s sea 

lion that are found in waters of Southeast Alaska. The Forest Plan includes appropriate standards and guidelines for

management operations within the waters of Southeast Alaska when these species could be affected, such as in the vicinity 

of sea lion haul outs.
3 Environment and Effects

102 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

No federally listed threatened or endangered animal species would be 

adversely affected by the proposed actions. The Forest Service has 

prepared a complete Biological Evaluation for these species located in 

the Kuiu Timber Sale planning record (see the Wildlife Biological 

Evaluation available in the Kuiu Timber Sale planning record for more 

information). 

Sensitive Species 

The northern goshawk, trumpeter swan, and Peale’s peregrine falcon 

are Alaska Region sensitive species known to occur on Kuiu Island, 

but only the northern goshawk is documented to occur within the 

Project Area. There is no habitat within or near the Project Area for 

Peale’s peregrine falcon and while Kuiu Island has potential habitat for 

osprey, there is no evidence that this rare migrant to central Southeast 

Alaska uses Kuiu Island. 

The Forest Plan provides standards and guidelines for the protection of 

these species. If sensitive species’ nests are located, the Forest Plan 

Standards and Guidelines will be implemented. 

Northern Goshawk 

Field surveys have been conducted since the 1993 field season. There 

are ten known nesting locations on Kuiu Island. Of the ten nests 

located, two are within the Project Area. 

A nest site in the Rowan Bay drainage was first discovered in 1993. 

The area was surveyed in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2005 and 

no activity was observed during the surveys. In the 2004 and 2005 

surveys, the nest structure was found to be in poor condition. 

A nest site in Security Bay was active starting in 1997. In 2003 and 

2004 it was surveyed for goshawk nesting activity. In 2003 two plucks 

(varied thrush) were found in the vicinity, but no other evidence of 

goshawk activity was observed. In 2004 the nest was found to be 

unoccupied and in poor condition. 

The standards and guidelines applied to the management activities 

meet the requirements of the Forest Plan. The Rowan Bay nest is 

protected by a buffer of suitable habitat greater than 100 acres. The 

Security Bay nest does not require a buffer, as it is located within a 

medium old-growth habitat reserve and is protected from timber 

harvest activities. 
TES Species3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 103 

3.6.2.2 Plant Species 

Federally listed plant species 

In the State of Alaska, one plant species is federally listed: the 

endangered fern Polystichum aleuticum, known only from Adak Island 

in the Aleutians. No federally listed or proposed plant species are 

known or suspected to occur on Kuiu Island. 

Alaska Region listed sensitive plant species 

The Alaska Region lists 19 plant species as sensitive. There are three 

known and nine suspected plant species on the Petersburg Ranger 

District of the Tongass National Forest where the Project Area is 

located (Figure 1-1 and Table 3-42). More information is in the Plant 

Biological Evaluation located in the Kuiu Timber Sale planning 

record. 

All three of sensitive plant species found on the Petersburg Ranger 

District are known to occur on Kuiu Island. Loose-flowered bluegrass 

(Poa laxiflora) has been documented on several upper beaches in the 

wilderness areas 15-20 miles south of the Project Area and along one 

stream on north Kuiu Island within the Project Area. Davy mannagrass 

(Glyceria leptostachya) has been found along a stream bank near the 

Affleck Portage Trail, which is about 25 miles south of the Project 

Area. Wright filmy fern (Hymenophyllum wrightii) was found in Port 

Beauclerc during a wilderness plant survey in early July 2007. Port 

Beauclerc is about 30 miles south of the Project Area. 

Until 2006, the Wright filmy fern had only been found on two sites on 

Mitkof Island in the 1960s. In 2006, new information on how to locate 

the species led to finding the fern at three new sites on Mitkof. The 

fern was also documented on Kupreanof and Etolin Islands in the 

summer of 2006. As of spring 2007, no additional surveys for the fern 

were conducted in the Project Area using the new search knowledge. 

Sensitive plant surveys for the Project Area were conducted in 24 out 

of 38 of the proposed units during the summers of 2003 and 2004 

within habitats and microsites where activities were planned and 

sensitive plants were most likely to be found. These sites included wet 

seeps, wet meadows, stream banks, and rocky areas. Also, dark, damp 

areas on downed logs and at the base of trees were searched for Wright 

filmy fern. Areas with limestone substrates were also targeted in the 

surveys. Approximately 50 percent of the proposed roads were also 

surveyed. Areas outside of the proposed units, but within the Project 

Area, were not surveyed except for the road leading to Units 402 and 

403. One sensitive plant species was found, loose-flowered blue grass 

(Poa laxiflora), along a stream below Unit 307. The population 

consisted of about 25 individual plants on a rocky area near the edge 
3 Environment and Effects

104 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

of the stream. The plants are within the riparian buffer on the stream so 

they are not within a proposed harvest unit. Unit 307 is proposed in 

Alternatives 3, 4 and 5. 

Rare plants were also recorded during the plant surveys. One rare 

plant, Botrichium multifidum, was found near the proposed road 

leading to Unit 419. The unit and road were later dropped due to high 

vulnerability karst in the area. No other rare plants were found. 

Table 3-42. Current Alaska Region sensitive plant species known or suspected 

to occur on Petersburg Ranger District 

Common Name Scientific Name Habitat description 

Goose-grass sedge Carex lenticularis var. dolia Wet meadows, snowbed 

edges, and lakeshores in 

alpine areas 

Edible thistle Cirsium edule Wet meadows (muskegs) and 

open forests 

Davy mannagrass Glyceria leptostachya Wet areas, usually along 

streams, ponds, and lake 

margins 

Wright filmy fern Hymenophyllum wrightii On the base of trees and rock 

outcrops in damp humid 

woods 

Truncate quillwort Isoetes truncata Immersed in shallow 

freshwater pools 

Calder lovage Ligusticum calderi Alpine and margins of 

subalpine and mixed conifer 

stands, on limestone 

Bog orchid Platanthera gracilis Wet meadows and wet open 

habitats 

Loose-flowered bluegrass Poa laxiflora Moist lowland woods, openforested meadows, upper 

beaches, along streams 

Kamchatka alkali grass Puccinellia kamtschatica Wet areas and sea beaches 

Unalaska mist-maid Romanzoffia unalaschcensis Rock outcrops, along stream 

banks, beach terraces, and 

open rocky areas 

Queen Charlotte 

butterweed 

Senecio moresbiensis Alpine and subalpine with 

open, rocky, or boggy slopes, 

grassy talus slopes, or rocky 

heaths. Usually on limestone 

Circumpolar starwort Stellaria ruscifolia spp. 

aleutica 

Moist, gravelly sites and 

along creeks in mountains 
TES Species3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 105 

3.6.3.1 Direct and Indirect Effects 

Wildlife Species 

There would be no effects on any threatened, endangered, or sensitive 

wildlife species other than the goshawk for any of the alternatives. For 

goshawk, proposed timber harvest and road building activities in the 

Project Area may impact individuals but are not likely to cause a trend 

toward federal listing or a threat to population viability. Goshawk 

nesting and foraging habitat would be reduced in all action 

alternatives. Indirect effects may include reduction of prey species 

habitat for goshawk as a result of old-growth habitat fragmentation. 

Application of Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines will ensure that 

no known goshawk nest sites would be disturbed by any of the 

proposed activities. 

Plant Species 

The proposed timber harvest activities in the Project Area would not 

have any direct effects on threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant 

species. One sensitive plant species, Loose-flowered bluegrass (Poa 

laxiflora), was found within the Project Area. It would not be directly 

affected by the proposed alternatives since it is within a riparian buffer 

along a stream that is outside any proposed harvest units or proposed 

road construction or reconstruction. The nearest proposed units are 

Units 307 and 308 which are across the stream and uphill from the site. 

These units are proposed in Alternatives 3, 4 and 5. 

Poa laxiflora populations have been documented in over 40 locations 

on the Tongass with over 30 of those populations located on Kuiu 

Island. Most populations are in the beach fringe buffer and Wilderness 

areas which would not be affected by timber harvest. Even if the 

population were indirectly affected by blowdown in a riparian buffer, 

individual plants may be adversely impacted, but the event is not likely 

to result in loss of viability or cause a trend to federal listing. Potential 

indirect effects would not significantly add to cumulative impacts for 

the species since it is relatively common and mostly protected from 

adverse activities due to its likely habitat. 

There is a possibility that undocumented sensitive species could be 

impacted by the proposed project. The project may adversely impact 

individual plants, but it is not likely to result in a loss of viability or 

cause a trend to federal listing. 

3.6.3.2 Cumulative Effects 

The Catalog of Events for Kuiu Island was referenced to determine 

cumulative effects. There are no anticipated cumulative effects for all 

3.6.3 

Conclusions 
3 Environment and Effects

106 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

listed wildlife and plant species, with the exception of goshawk, 

including the reasonably foreseeable future harvest of 482 acres from 

the remaining Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber Sales EIS units. 

With the harvest of the reasonably foreseeable future acres, the 

cumulative harvest within the Project Area would be between 31 

percent (No-Action alternative) and 36 percent (Preferred Alternative). 

For goshawk, the Forest Plan projects that VCUs reaching a harvest 

level of at least 47 percent of their original productive old-growth 

(POG) may have an elevated risk of not sustaining goshawks in the 

VCU, unless at least 6,700 acres of POG remain in the VCU. As 

indicated above, the Project Area is still well below the 47 percent 

harvest level, and the while the cumulative effects of all activities 

within the Project Area may impact individuals, it is not expected to 

contribute to a trend towards federal listing or cause a loss of viability 

to the goshawk population.