FISCAL YEAR 2016

for the greatest good

United States Department of Agriculture

WILDLIFE, THREATENED AND

ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAMS

accomplishments
© 2009

British Columbia

CANADA

Vancouver

Island

GARFIELD

C OLUMBIA

WHITMAN

SPOKAN E

STEVEN S

PEN D

OREILL E

FERR Y

LINCOL N

ADAMS

BENTO N

GRANT

DOUGLA S

OKANOGA N

WHATCO M

SKAGI T

SNOHOMIS H

CHELA N

KITTITAS

KING

PIERCE

YAKIM A

LEWI S

THURSTON

MASO N

KITSAP

I SLAN D

SAN JUAN

CLALLA M

JEFFERSON

GRAYS

HARBO R

PACIFIC

FRANKLI N

Yakima

Spokane River

COLUMBIA RIVER

Lake Chelan

Yakima

Spokane River

COLUMBIA RIVER

Lake Chelan

River

Snake

River

Potholes Reservoir

Banks

Lake

CLATSO P

COLUMBIA

TILLAMOO K

WASHINGTO N

Y AMHIL L

POL K

LINCOL N

B ENTON

L ANE

D ESCHUTE S

D OUGLA S

COO S

C URR Y

JOSEPHINE

JACKSO N

KLAMAT H

LIN N

JEFFERSO N

MARION

CLACKAMA S

MULTNOMAH

HOOD

 RIVE R

WASC O

SHERMAN

GILLIAM

WHEELER

CROO K

MORROW UNIO N

WALLOW A

BAKER

GRAN T

MALHEU R

HARNE Y

LAKE

UMATILLA

PA

C I F I C

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N

Rogue

River

Rogue

River

Willamette

River

COLUMBIA

Willamette

River

COLUMBIA RIVER COLUMBIA RIVER

RIVER

COLUMBIA

RIVER

Goose

Lake

Lake

Albert

Summer

Lake

Upper

Klamath

Lake

Malheur

Lake

Harney

Lake

Deschutes River

John

Day

River

John

Day

River

River

Snake RiverSnake River

River

Owyhee

River

Owyhee

Deschutes

River

California Nevada

Idaho

C O L U M B I A R I V E R

Pomeroy RD

Walla Walla RD

Hells Canyon NRA

Clarkston Office

Chelan RD

Entiat RD

Naches RD

Fort Simcoe

Job Corps Center

Newport RD

Tonasket RD

Republic RD

Cle Elum RD

Three Rivers RD

Sullivan Lake RD

Colville National

Forest - SO

Methow Valley RD

North Cascades

Smokejumper Base

Okanogan Valley Office

Columbia Basin

Job Corps Center

Wenatchee River RD

Okanogan & Wenatchee

National Forest SO

Lake Wenatchee RD

Darrington RD

Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie

National Forest SO

Skykomish RD

Snoqualmie RD

North Bend Office

Snoqualmie RD

Enumclaw Office

Olympic National

Forest SO

Hood Canal RD

Pacific RD

Quinault Office

Pacific RD

Forks Office

Mt.Baker RD

Cascades Job Corps Center

Mt. Adams RD

Cowlitz Valley RD

Gifford-Pinchot National 

Forest SO

Mt. St. Helens 

Visitors Center

Mt. St. Helens National

Volcanic Monument HQ

Wind River Work Center

Curlew Job Corps Center

Pomeroy RD

Walla Walla RD

Hells Canyon NRA

Clarkston Office

Chelan RD

Entiat RD

Naches RD

Fort Simcoe

Job Corps Center

Newport RD

Tonasket RD

Republic RD

Cle Elum RD

Three Rivers RD

Sullivan Lake RD

Colville National

Forest - SO

Methow Valley RD

North Cascades

Smokejumper Base

Okanogan Valley Office

Columbia Basin

Job Corps Center

Wenatchee River RD

Okanogan & Wenatchee

National Forest SO

Lake Wenatchee RD

Darrington RD

Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie

National Forest SO

Skykomish RD

Snoqualmie RD

North Bend Office

Snoqualmie RD

Enumclaw Office

Olympic National

Forest SO

Hood Canal RD

Pacific RD

Quinault Office

Pacific RD

Forks Office

Mt.Baker RD

Cascades Job Corps Center

Mt. Adams RD

Cowlitz Valley RD

Gifford-Pinchot National 

Forest SO

Mt. St. Helens 

Visitors Center

Mt. St. Helens National

Volcanic Monument HQ

Wind River Work Center

Curlew Job Corps Center

Hells Canyon NRA

Riggins Office

Whitman RD

Baker City - BLM

La Grande RD

Blue Mountain RD

Wallowa Valley RD /

North Fork John Day RD

Pine RS

Unity RS

Heppner RD

Prairie City RD

Emigrant Creek RD

Burns - BLM

Vale - BLM

Malheur National

Forest SO

Umatilla National

Forest SO

Wallowa-Whitman

National Forest SO

Wallowa Mountains

Visitor Center

Ochoco National

Forest SO

Timberlake Job Corps Center

Northwest Interagency

Coordination Center

Pivot Job Corps Center

Springdale Job Corps Center

Zigzag RD

Hood River RD

Columbia River

Gorge NSA

Clackamas River RD

Pacific Northwest Region 6 Office

Mt. Hood

National Forest SO

Klamath RD

Klamath Falls Interagency

Fire Center 

Klamath Falls - BLM

Lakeview - BLM

Lakeview

Interagency

Fire Center Fremont-Winema

National Forest SO

Sisters RD

Crescent RD

Lava Lands

Visitor Center

Deschutes National

Forest SO

Barlow RD

Coos Bay - BLM

Medford - BLM Grants Pass - BLM

Interagency Office

Roseburg - BLM

Eugene - BLM

Eugene Interagency

Communication Center

Alsea Fire Center Sweet Home RD

Central Coast RD

Florence Office

Oregon Dunes National

Recreation Area

Salem - BLM

Prineville

 - BLM

Willamette National

Forest SO

Umpqua National

Forest SO

Powers RD

Siuslaw National

Forest SO

Cottage Grove RD

Dorena Genetic

Resource Center

North Umpqua RD

Wolf Creek Job Corps Center

Redmond Interagency

 Air Center

Lookout 

Mountain RD

Crooked River

National Grassland

Paulina RD

Bend/

Ft. Rock RD

Middle Fork RD

McKenzie River RD

Tiller RD

Diamond Lake RD

Gold Beach RD

Crissey Field

Welcome Center

Wild Rivers RD

Cave Junction Office

Rogue River-Siskiyou

National Forest SO

Merlin Interagency Fire Center

J. Herbert Stone Nursery

Siskiyou Mountains RD

Ashland Office Siskiyou Mountains RD

Jacksonville Office

NE OR Interagency

Fire Center

Paisley RD

Bly RD

High Cascades RD

Butte Falls Office

Wild Rivers RD

Grants Pass Office

High Cascades RD

Prospect Office

Lakeview RD

Hebo RD

Tongue Creek Job

Corps Center

Central Coast RD

Waldport Office

Yachats Job Corps Center

Detroit RD

Chemult RD

Chiloquin RD

Silver Lake RD

Eagle Cap RD /

Hells Canyon NRA

Whitman RD

Baker City - BLM

La Grande RD

Blue Mountain RD

Wallowa Valley RD /

North Fork John Day RD

Pine RS

Unity RS

Heppner RD

Prairie City RD

Emigrant Creek RD

Burns - BLM

Vale - BLM

Malheur National

Forest SO

Umatilla National

Forest SO

Wallowa-Whitman

National Forest SO

Wallowa Mountains

Visitor Center

Ochoco National

Forest SO

Timberlake Job Corps Center

Northwest Interagency

Coordination Center

Pivot Job Corps Center

Springdale Job Corps Center

Zigzag RD

Hood River RD

Columbia River

Gorge NSA

Clackamas River RD

Pacific Northwest 

Region 6 Office

Mt. Hood

National Forest SO

Klamath RD

Klamath Falls Interagency

Fire Center 

Klamath Falls - BLM

Lakeview - BLM

Lakeview

Interagency

Fire Center Fremont-Winema

National Forest SO

Sisters RD

Crescent RD

Lava Lands

Visitor Center

Deschutes National

Forest SO

Barlow RD

Coos Bay - BLM

Medford - BLM Grants Pass - BLM

Interagency Office

Roseburg - BLM

Eugene - BLM

Eugene Interagency

Communication Center

Alsea Fire Center Sweet Home RD

Central Coast RD

Florence Office

Oregon Dunes National

Recreation Area

Salem - BLM

Prineville

 - BLM

Willamette National

Forest SO

Umpqua National

Forest SO

Powers RD

Siuslaw National

Forest SO

Cottage Grove RD

Dorena Genetic

Resource Center

North Umpqua RD

Wolf Creek Job Corps Center

Redmond Interagency

 Air Center

Lookout 

Mountain RD

Crooked River

National Grassland

Paulina RD

Bend/

Ft. Rock RD

Middle Fork RD

McKenzie River RD

Tiller RD

Diamond Lake RD

Gold Beach RD

Crissey Field

Welcome Center

Wild Rivers RD

Cave Junction Office

Rogue River-Siskiyou

National Forest SO

Merlin Interagency Fire Center

J. Herbert Stone Nursery

Siskiyou Mountains RD

Ashland Office Siskiyou Mountains RD

Jacksonville Office

NE OR Interagency

Fire Center

Paisley RD

Bly RD

High Cascades RD

Butte Falls Office

Wild Rivers RD

Grants Pass Office

High Cascades RD

Prospect Office

Lakeview RD

Hebo RD

Tongue Creek Job

Corps Center

Central Coast RD

Waldport Office

Yachats Job Corps Center

Detroit RD

Chemult RD

Chiloquin RD

Silver Lake RD

Eagle Cap RD /

Hells Canyon NRA

C A S C A D E R A N G E

C A S C A D E

R A N G E

Steens Mountain

C O A S T R A N G E

Bellingham

Everett

Seattle

Tacoma

Olympia

Longview

Vancouver

Yakima

Kennewick

Pasco Richland

Walla Walla

Spokane

Wentachee

Port Angeles

Amboy

Astoria

Tillamook

Portland

Salem

Newport

Lincoln City

Florence Eugene

Corvallis

Albany

Coos

Bay

Reedsport

Cottage Grove

North Bend

Roseburg

Grants Pass

Brookings

Gold Beach

Medford

Klamath Falls

Lakeview

Burns

Hines

Vale

Ontario

John Day

Baker City

La Grande

Pendleton

Hermiston

Madras

Prineville

Bend

Hood

River TheDalles

Enterprise

Clarkston

WALL O W A -

WHITMA N

MALHEU R

U M AT I LLA

OCHOCO

MOUN T

HOOD

F R E M O N T

S I U S

L A

W

WILLAMETTE

SISKIYO

U

D E S C H U T E

S

ROGUE

RIVE

R

UMPQUA

WINEMA

Crooked River

 Nat ional Grassland

Oregon Dunes NRA

 Hells

Canyon

 National

 Recreation Area

 Newber ry

NVM

G O R G E N S A

OKANOGAN

UMATILLA

C O LV ILLE

O LYMPI C

GIFFOR D

P INCHO T

W E

N A

T

C H E

E

M T . B

A K E R -

S N O Q

U A

L M I E

Mt. St. Helens

NVM
for the greatest good

his documents represents highlights from the work done by Forests in Region 6 during Fiscal 

Year 2016 on behalf of wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation in Oregon and Washington. 

The Region has just over 100 dedicated wildlife biologists and wildlife technicians who tirelessly 

work to build partnerships, educate the public while also planning, implementing and monitoring 

wildlife habitat restoration activities across the 16 National Forests, one grassland and one 

national scenic area in Region 6.

This report is organized to highlight regional accomplishments as well as individual Forest 

accomplishments which include a focused narrative on a specific project each Forest selected to 

highlight. The last section of this report showcases the work being done by each of our Regional 

Centers of Excellence which are comprised of District or Forest level biologists who serve as 

Regional resources for specific species wildlife species or groups of species. 

Please feel free and share this report with partners, other federal agencies, or any other interested 

publics. On the bottom of most slides are contacts for the individual biologists who are available 

to provide more information if desired. It is our hope that this report can be used to emphasize 

and celebrate the critical role National Forests in Oregon and Washington play in wildlife habitat 

conservation in the Pacific Northwest. 

WILDLIFE PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Regional Office

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments 

Contacts: Josh Chapman, 503‐808‐2901 

Regional Wildlife Program Manager 

Kim Mellen McLean, 503‐808‐2677 

Regional Wildlife Ecologist 

Pacific Northwest Regional Office 

1220 SW Third Avenue 

Portland, OR 97201 
for the greatest good

Highlights of the 2016 Regional Office accomplishments 

include: 

• Coordinated the Wildlife, Botany and Native Plant program 

managers meeting in Everett, WA with a special session 

on pollinator conservation, a field trip to the I-90 wildlife 

connectivity project, and a wildlife PM session with Mark 

Skinner, Vicky Erickson and Jesse Plumage.

• Reviewed and made recommendations for WO 

Supplemental Fuels, Challenge Cost Share, Land and Water 

Conservation Fund, Joint Chiefs and WO Supplemental 

Fuels Programs.

• In response to the detection of white-nose syndrome in 

Washington State, worked with Rob Huff, Kelli Van Norman, 

Shawna Bautista and Jocelyn Biro to strategize and establish 

a regional response in conjunction with the Washington 

Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and National Park Service. Also worked with PNW 

and PSW Research, Northern and Southern Research 

Stations on developing research proposals related to pacific 

northwest bat ecology and WNS distribution in the PNW. 

• Held a free bat box building workshop at the Beaverton 

Home Depot

• Completed the first Good Neighbor Authority Agreement 

with ODFW to conduct environmental samples for WNS.

• Finalized Master Participating Agreement with WDFW along 

with an SPA to conduct environmental sampling for WNS.

• Co-lead the Integrated Vegetation Group with Laura Mayer 

to set up forest reviews of fuels/veg on the Malheur and 

Deschutes NF. 

• Developed a single proposal form to satisfy applications for 

Challenge Cost Share, WO Supplemental Fuels and Joint 

Chiefs project proposals to streamline applications for 

competitive funding.

•Developed a regional interagency carnivore working group 

to prioritize carnivore conservation species and research 

activities for Region 6.

Pacific Northwest Regional Office 

1220 SW Third Avenue

Portland, OR 97204 

Pacific Northwest

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments 

Figure 1. From left to right, Greg Schroer, Nicole Zimmerman, Cheryl Carrothers, 

Josh Chapman, FS Chief Tom Tidwell, Tammy Fletcher, Leakhena Au, Brian Logan 

and Mark Penninger in front of Gifford Pinchot’s desk at the WO during National 

Wildlife Program Managers meeting in May of 2016.Photograph by Mark Penninger.

Figure 2. Michele Jusino and Dr. Dan Lindner, both from the Northern Research 

Station at providing a training on collecting environmental samples for the presence 

of white-nose syndrome at the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. They are 

demonstrating full decontamination gear necessary for sampling.

Partners/Cooperators

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington 

Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pacific Northwest and Northern 

Research Stations, Conservation Northwest, Rocky Mountain Elk 

Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Oregon Hunters 

Association, Oregon and Washington Wildlife Societies, Blue 

Mountain Elk Initiative, Xerces Society, Oregon Zoo, Home Depot

Contacts:

Josh Chapman, Regional Wildlife Program Leader

joshuachapman@fs.fed.us, 503-808-2901

Kim Mellen McLean, Regional Wildlife Ecologist

kmellenmclean@fs.fed.us, 503-808-2677

Barb Bresson, Regional Avian Conservation Program Manager, 

bbresson@fs.fed.us, 503-808-2307
TERRESTRIAL HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

• Forests in Region 6 

accomplished over 290,000 

acres of Terrestrial Habitat 

Enhancement, exceeding our 

regional target by 20,000 acres.

• 55 different partners 

contributed to this work, 

contributing over $1.5 million 

dollars of funds and in kind 

labor

Types of Terrestrial Habitat Enhancement Activities that 

occurred in Region 6 in FY 2016

Pacific Northwest Region

Terrestrial Habitat Enhancement

1,530 

17,076 

34,840 

23,248 

8,226 

28,098 

3,541 

1,917 

21,586 

61,881 

3,530 

20,094 

9,452 

18,306 

10,630 

11,513 17,209 

ACRES OF TERRESTRIAL HABITAT ENHANCEMENT IN FY16

Vegetation Treatments Acres

Aspen Restoration 51 

Forage Enhancement 588 

Increase Large Wood 113 

Cavity Creation 2,324 

Meadow Restoration 826 

Non-native Plant Treatment 16,376 

Nutrient Enrichment 5,010 

Thinning 34,010 

Native Plant Restoration 1,931 

Pollinator Habitat 

Improvement 21 

Rare Plant Protection 4 

Soil Improvement 3 

Wetland Restoration 119 

Wildlife Hab Improved 47,188 

Riparian Improvement 1,991 

Revegetation 3,777 

 114,331 

Habitat, Species Management 

and Risk Reduction Treatments Acres

Trail Decommission 10 

Road Decomissioning 36,677 

Facility Maintenance 20 

Fence-Exclosure 983 

Fence-Removal 120 

Garbage Removal 364 

Guzzler Development 1,100 

Spring Development 1,984 

Ingress-Egress Ramps 269 

Beaver Reintroduction 1,982 

Lake-Pond Development 2,263 

Mine-Cave Protection 13,231 

Nest-Roosting Structure 2,951 

Pipe Capping-Removal 2,033 

Barred Owl Removal 47,065 

Road Improvement 1,266 

Invasive Species Mgmt-Plant 5,512 

Structure Maintenance-Wildlife 725 

 118,555 

Fire and Fuels Acres

Prescribed Fire 27,886 

Other Fuel Treatment 636 

Wildfire Natural 31,259 

 59,781 

Types of Terrestrial Habitat Enhancement Activities that 

occurred in Region 6 in FY 2016

Regional Office

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments 

• Forests in Region 6 

accomplished over 290,000 

acres of Terrestrial Habitat 

Enhancement, exceeding our 

regional target by 20,000 acres.

• 55 different partners 

contributed to this work, 

contributing over $1.5 million 

dollars of funds and in kind 

labor
for the greatest good

2016 INTERAGENCY SPECIAL STATUS/SENSITIVE

SPECIES PROGRAM AND SURVEY & MANAGE

Guided and improved species management and 

strengthened NEPA analysis through Regional 

direction, oversight and editing of many valuable 

conservation tools and inventory efforts:

• 4 conservation assessments

• 8 species fact sheets

• 2 site management plans

• 39 inventory and monitoring projects

• 9 USFS personnel participation on the Fungi 

 and Bat work groups

Improved Mardon skipper butterfly conservation by guiding 

the development of management plans covering 15 sites, 

and providing funding for implementation of plan actions 

associated with 5 sites.

Completed year 3 of distance sampling monitoring enabling 

estimates of Mardon skipper populations at four sentinel sites 

in Oregon and Washington.

Through the efficiency of an R6 botanical survey contract, 

37,000 acres and 350 miles of road surveyed for vascular and 

non-vascular plans, fungi, or invasive plants on FS and BLM 

lands.

Contributed to rare species genetics knowledge (GenBank 

database) by sequencing 530 fungal and 52 mollusk 

specimens.

Empowered agency biologists and botanists to conduct 

surveys for rare pollinating bumble bees by co-sponsoring 

Bumble bee workshops with The Xerces Society on the 

species life history, threats, identification and survey 

methodology.

Provided specimen identification services for field units, 

processing more than 1000 vouchers of lichens, bryophytes, 

fungi and invertebrate species (for both FS and BLM).

Developed a proactive approach to red tree vole conservation 

(high priority site management recommendations).

Facilitated and funded the publication of one manuscript in a 

peer-reviewed journal:

• Liu, H.P., Marceau, D. and Hershler, R., 2016. Taxonomic 

identity of two amnicolid gastropods of conservation concern 

in lakes of the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Journal of 

Molluscan Studies.

 

Partners/Cooperators

ORBIC, WNHP, The Xerces Society, Smithsonian Institution, 

Oregon Wildlife Institute, USGS, PNW, OSU, University of 

Washington 

Contacts:

 John Chatel, 503-808-2972

 Rob Huff, 503-808-6479

 Carol Hughes, 503-808-2661

 Darci Rivers-Pankratz, 503-808-2688

 Mark Skinner, 503-808-2150

 Kelli Van Norman, 503-808-6606

Mardon skipper-Joan St. Hilaire

Boletus pulcherrimus-Wikipedia

Pacific Northwest

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments 

Pacific Northwest Regional Office 

1220 SW Third Avenue 

Portland, OR 97201 
for the greatest good

WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME RESPONSE

Successfully coordinated and collaborated with the Pacific 

Northwest-wide interagency group comprised of other 

federal, state and tribal entities. This cooperative work 

provided for a consistent approach to white nose syndrome 

response associated with the March 2016 discovery of 

white-nose syndrome in bats in Washington State.

	Provided FS and BLM leadership, along with R6 

Wildlife Program lead and R6 Invasive Species 

coordinator, in formulating the response, 

information sharing, and surveillance needs.

	Compiled bat location data for FS and BLM lands.

	Provided funding for increased staffing and tools for 

“show cave” management.

	Worked cooperatively with ODFW and WDFW on 

surveillance opportunities.

	Developed public information tools, including 

environmental education signs, and distributed to field 

units.

	Participate on national white-nose syndrome teams 

dealing with surveillance, communication, and 

decontamination/cleaning.

Contacts:

 Rob Huff, 503-808-6479

 Kelli Van Norman, 503-808-6606

 Josh Chapman, 503-808-2901

 Shawna Bautista, 503-808-2697

Regional Office - ISSSSP / S&M

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments 

Pacific Northwest Regional Office 

1220 SW Third Avenue 

Portland, OR 97201 
for the greatest good

2016 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Pacific Northwest

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments 

T&E program goals are to: (1) recover threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate (TEPC) species; (2) coordinate and 

collaborate with states, federal agencies and non-governmental organizations to conserve and restore TEPC species habitat 

and populations; and (3) provide technical assistance concerning the Endangered Species Act and its implementation and 

Forest Service T&E policy and procedures. 

Accomplishments include:

• Continued to take proactive steps in species conservation 

by making focused investments ($1.4 million in Challenge 

Cost Share and T&E monitoring funds) on monitoring and 

integrated restoration projects on all national forests within 

the region. 

• Prepared letters to the field on Service’s proposed listings 

and other ESA rule changes. 

• Reviewed and commented on draft NEPA documents 

through the Environmental Review Committee process.

• Allocated funding for forests to participate in anadromous 

fish recovery planning.

• Worked on Northern Spotted Owl territory density model 

(estimation of habitat based carrying capacity for territorial 

species) paper submitted to Landscape Ecology.

• Assisted Blue Mountains and Colville NFs Forest Plan 

revision aquatic conservation strategies and ESA 

consultation.

• Led regional aerial fire retardant webinar to increase 

understanding of the 2011 guidance and ESA compliance 

with specific biological opinions. 

• Organized and lead the interagency Oregon Spotted Frog 

coordination meeting. 

• Assisted forests and regional staff with CERCLA and ESA 

guidance. 

• Coordinated Western Oregon programmatic with the 

Forests, BLM, and Services.

• Worked on revisions of the regional Aquatic Riparian 

Conservation Strategy.

• Participated on NEPA and ESA reviews on the Umpqua and 

Colville NFs.

• Assisted WO’s evaluation of the adequacy of existing Forest 

Service aquatic conservation strategies as a result of the 

Cottonwood Environmental Law Center NOI regarding the 

bull trout CH designation.

• Completed evaluation of Land and Water Conservation 

acquisition projects for TES species. 

• Strengthened relationships with Washington and Oregon 

FWS state offices through annual coordination meetings.

• Continue to manage MOU, Interagency Agreement, and 

Annual Operating Plan for Barred Owl Removal project; 

continue to coordinate project with the Siuslaw and 

Okanogan Wenatchee NFs. 

• Completed an interagency training on specialists analysis 

and biological evaluations/assessments on the Deschutes 

and Olympic NFs.

• Worked to develop an interagency inland survey protocol 

for Marbled Murrelets.

• Lead SCOAP (Deschutes, Ochoco, and Fremont Winema 

NFs) Climate Change vulnerability assessment on listed and 

sensitive fish species. 

Contacts: John Chatel, 503-808-2972

Scott Woltering, 503-808-2669

Anne Poopatanapong, 503-808-2663

Pacific Northwest Regional Office 

1220 SW Third Avenue 

Portland, OR 97201 
2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

for the greatest good

FOREST

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
for the greatest good

Colville

In 2016, the Colville National Forest had a variety of projects 

and natural events that contributed to wildlife habitat 

enhancement.

Accomplishment highlights include:

Through partnerships with Defenders of Wildlife, 

Conservation Northwest, Pend Oreille County PUD, 

Seattle City Light, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and Selkirk 

Conservation Alliance, placed 23 food storage lockers in 

East Sullivan, Gypsy Meadows, Noisy Creek Campgrounds 

to reduce the likelihood of grizzly bear / forest users 

conflicts

Increased wildlife habitat on acres with road closure 

improvements (423 acres), unauthorized OHV trail 

closure, and road decommissioning (67 acres)

Improved habitat for migratory birds through harvest 

activities

Wildfires improved big game winter and summer range 

and woodpecker habitat for a total of 12,976 acres. 

Used prescribed fires to improve 2,861 acres of big game 

habitat.

Road closure enhancements

Installed 8 vent caps and 23 water development escape 

ramps to reduce wildlife mortality.

Presented numerous environmental education programs.

Riparian exclosures and improvement, (Middle Fork 

Calispel, Pierre Creek, Tacoma Creek).

Western Bumblebee training for 90 people

Monitoring Habitats and Populations:

1. Continued projects to determine effects of harvest 

activities on:

• Forage for white‐tailed and mule deer with WSU and 

WDFW

• Goshawk territories and post‐fledging areas with 

Conservation Canines, Conservation Northwest, Hinman – 

Collecting genetics, RMRS genetics, ISSSSP, WDFW, PNW

• Moths, which provide food for several sensitive species – 

OSU, Western Washington University

2. Conducted surveys for:

• Mammals: woodland caribou/winter recreation

• Insects: Western bumblebees Citizen Science Project

• Birds: goshawks, North American breeding birds, loon 

nesting, white‐headed woodpeckers

3. Monitored for:

• Grizzly bear core habitat/open and total road densities.

• Closed road effectiveness.

• Visitor Contact Patrols in Grizzly Bear Recovery Area

4. Supported efforts to monitor for:

• Wolf/livestock interactions (WSU, WDFW)

• Caribou mortality (WDFW, IDFG, FWS, BC Min Envir, IPNF)

• Moose Sight Ability Model – WDFW, UM

Common loon wintering areas (Biodiversity Research Inst.)

Monarch Citizen Science Project

Acres Fund Code Activity

1374 BDBD Prescribed Fire

389 CFLN Prescribed Fire, Riparian Improvement

88 CWKV Prescribed Fire

114 NFRG Ingress-Egress Ramps

581 NFWF

Road decommissioning and storage, Ingress-Egress Ramps, 

Pipe Capping, Soil Improvement, Wildlife Hab Improved, 

Wildlife Hab Improved-NonGame

100 NFXN Prescribed Fire

663 PTNR

Road decommissioning and storage, Prescribed Fire, StorageLevel 1, Wildlife Hab Improved-NonGame

150 SSCC Fence-Exclosure, Prescribed Fire, Storage-Level 1

640 WFHF Prescribed Fire

12976 WFSU Wildfire Natural

17,075 Total

Wolf pups captured on camera during the Grizzly Bear Monitoring.

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Defenders of Wildlife, Conservation Northwest, and Washington 

State University, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Idaho 

Fish and Game, US Fish and Wildlife Service, British Columbia 

Ministry of the Environment, Biodiversity Research Institute, 

Slow Foods Upper Columbia Chapter, Seattle City Light, Rocky 

Mountain Elk Foundation, Selkirk Conservation Alliance, Kalispel 

Tribe, Kootenay Tribe, North Idaho College, Colville Tribe, various 

individuals.

Colville National Forest

765 South Main Street

Colville, WA 99114

Contact: Karen Honeycutt 509-684-7224

khoneycutt@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

Colville National Forest

12641 Sullivan Lake Road

Metaline Falls, WA 99153

Contact: Michael A. Borysewicz 509-446-7532 

mborysewicz@fs.fed.us

HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS

Road Closure Enhancements

In 2016 we installed several boulders on one road and a gate 

on another to enhance seclusion in the Forest’s portion of the 

Selkirk Mountains Grizzly Bear Recovery Area. 

Animal Resistant Containers

All developed (fee) campgrounds on the Forest presently 

have animal-resistant trash cans. We continue to install 

metal, food storage lockers in campgrounds adjacent to the 

recovery area, and in heavily used dispersed campsites within 

the recovery area. These lockers are intended to provide 

campers with a secure place to store food, beverages and 

other wildlife attractants when their camp is unoccupied, and 

when they are sleeping at night. The devices have been wellreceived / used by the public. 

In 2016 we installed 23 food 

storage lockers on poured 

cement pads. Various partners 

provided funding for the 

purchase of these structures.

RESEARCH AND MONITORING

Cooperative Selkirk Ecosystem 

Grizzly Bear Study

• Multi-year (2012-2017) 

interagency effort.

• Objectives: Determine grizzly 

bear survival rates, population 

trend, and causes of death. 

Develop habitat use models for 

the ecosystem.

• Techniques: Install hair snag 

corrals and rub posts to collect 

hair samples for DNA testing. 

Record bear presence with 

remote cameras. Assist with 

funding a USFWS bear trapping 

crew.

Closed Road Monitoring

The CNF maintains and monitors 

58 gates on closed roads in our 

portion of the grizzly recovery area. 

INFORMATION / EDUCATION / ENFORCEMENT

Signage / Brochures - We maintain about 20 informational 

boards in the recovery area and 18 boards in developed 

campgrounds directly adjacent to the recovery area. 

Presentations - on proper food storage / large carnivore safety, 

and grizzly bear management and large carnivore safety.

Visitor Contact Patrols to inform / educate Forest visitors 

about camping and hunting safely in grizzly bear occupied 

habitat. 

Partners

Conservation Northwest, Defenders of Wildlife,

Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Pend Oreille County Public Utility 

District, Scenic Canyons Recreational Services Inc, Seattle City 

Light, Selkirk Conservation Alliance, BC Min. of Forests, Lands, 

& NR Ops, USFWS, IDFG, Idaho Department of Lands, IPNF, 

Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, WDFW

Grizzly bear being measured and fitted with a radio collar in the Selkirk Mountains. 

Grizzly bear using a rub tree.

National Forest
for the greatest good

Columbia River Gorge NSA

902 Wasco, Suite 200

Hood River, OR 97031

Contact: Brett Carré 541-308-1718,

btcarre@fs.fed.us

Columbia River Gorge

In 2016, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 

participated in several projects that benefitted wildlife. 

Accomplishment highlights include:

• Prescribed burned and native seeded to improve oak 

savannah habitat at Courtney, near White Salmon, WA.

• Treated invasive plants, planted pollinator attracting plants 

(e.g. milkweed) near Mosier, OR (see Figure 1). 

• At Sandy River Delta: treated invasive plants, planted native 

riparian vegetation (east side); continued building buck and 

rail fence at SRD to protect east-side wetland/ riparian area 

for wildlife and fish (see Figure 2); started pollinator hedge 

along that fence; installed purple martin nest structures.

• Maintained nesting habitat for western pond turtles in the 

Collins Creek area (Skamania Co.) through mowing.

• Thinned encroaching fir amongst OR white oak habitat 

(benefitting Western Gray Squirrel), created wildlife brush 

piles and snags, and topped/slit selected snags for bats at 

Catherine Creek area, Klickitat Co., WA.

• Gorge-wide renewal of pasture permits, benefiting wildlife 

species that utilize open space/agricultural land.

• Peregrine falcon and bald eagle nest site monitoring.

• Interpretation/Education (I&E) - Outreach to children, 

students, and adults through: campground programs; 

county fairs; environmental events (e.g. Water Jam, EcoBlitz); and programs like CGEI’s SECRETS, the OR Zoo’s 

Urban Nature Overnight, Salmon Watch and CRGNSA’s 

Eagle View.

2016 Accomplishments

1,530 acres terrestrial habitat enhancement

(core/integrated/partner)

$341,200 partner contributions

148 I&E Presentations

Partners/Cooperators

OR Dept. Fish and Wildlife, WA Dept. Fish and Wildlife, 

WA Conservation Corps, Skamania and Klickitat Co. 

Noxious Weed Control Boards, Youth Education and 

Sports Services, WA Dept. Natural Resources, Ash Creek 

Restoration, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, Sandy River Watershed Council, 

Klickitat Rails to Trails, Cape Horn Conservancy, Columbia 

Gorge Ecology Institute (CGEI), Friends of Sandy River 

Delta, Skamania Co. Youth Corps, Portland Water Bureau, 

OR Dept. of State Lands, Friends of Columbia Gorge, 

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, National Wild 

Turkey Federation, East Multnomah Soil and Water 

Conservation District, Friends of Trees, National Forest 

Foundation, World Salmon Council, commercial river 

outfitters, local schools. 

Figure 1. Planting Asclepias (milkweed) to promote Monarch butterflies and other 

pollinators at Moorhead Fischer, near Mosier, OR

Figure 2. Multi-year building of resource protection fence by Youth Education and 

Support Services volunteers at Sandy River Delta, near Troutdale, OR 
for the greatest good

 National Scenic Area

Columbia River Gorge NSA

902 Wasco, Suite 200

Hood River, OR 97031

Contact: Brett Carré 541-308-1718,

btcarre@fs.fed.us

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION PARTNERSHIP

The eastern side of the Columbia River Gorge is characterized 

by oak savannah and oak/pine woodland. In the absence of 

a natural regime of frequent fire, fir is encroaching into these 

historic habitats. CRGNSA fire and natural resource staff have 

joined efforts to both improve fire resiliency in this Wildland 

Urban Interface (WUI) area, and improve wildlife foraging 

habitat for such species as deer, elk, turkeys and western gray 

squirrels. CRGNSA has also partnered over the past 5 years 

with outside organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk 

Foundation, the Oregon Hunter’s Association, the Oregon 

and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife, and the 

National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to improve this 

habitat type through projects that combine underburning, 

invasive plant treatment and native plant seeding.

Since 2011, the NWTF has contributed each year to CRGNSA 

underburn projects. These projects include (on the OR 

side of the eastern Gorge) Wagon Road (2011, 2014), East 

Marsh Cutoff (2012) and McCall (2013). Most recently (on 

the WA side of the eastern Gorge), areas of Courtney (2016, 

2016/2017) were burned and seeded. Note the turkeys 

checking out the post-burn area!
for the greatest good

Deschutes

In 2016, the Deschutes National Forest accomplishment 

highlights include:

• Hosted the 2nd annual Batacular event.

• Worked in partnership with ODFW to monitor caves and 

bats for WNS.

• Removed conifers within aspen stands and planted mtn. 

mahogany to enhance wildlife habitat.

• Partnered with East Cascades Audubon Society to install 

toilet vent caps to reduce wildlife mortality.

• Rebuilt one guzzler and performed guzzler maintenance on 

several others

• Completed lodgepole thinning in stringer meadows and 

riparian areas for big game.

• Decommissioned approximately 20 miles of illegal 

motorcycle trails and 4 miles of road as well as closed 5.7 

miles of road enhancing wildlife core habitat.

• White-nose syndrome response planning

• Worked with partners to run 2 MAPS stations

• With partners, monitored/inventoried for a variety of 

wildlife species

• Presented numerous environmental education programs to 

local schools and organizations.

Acres Fund Code Activity

3679 SSCC Stewardship

5423 WFHF Thinning/Burning

1789 RTRT Planting/Burning

6452 CFLN Invasive Treatments

2639 NFWF Habitat Enhancement

5290 NFVW Invasive Treatments

34,773 TOTAL Not all fund codes 

shown

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

RMEF, High Desert Museum, ODFW, OHA, Discover Your 

Forest, East Cascades Audubon Society, Miller Lumber, 

Bend-LaPine Schools, Volunteers

Escape Ramps

Swabbing for WNS

Deschutes National Forest

63095 Deschutes Market Road

Bend, OR 97701

Contact: Lauri Turner 541-383-5640

lturner@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

Deschutes National Forest

63095 Deschutes Market Road

Bend, OR 97701

Contact: Lauri Turner 541-383-5640

lturner@fs.fed.us

MOUNTAIN GOAT RE-INTRODUCTION

ODFW developed a Rocky Mtn. goat reintroduction and 

monitoring plan for the central OR Cascades in cooperation 

with Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon State 

Police, Oregon Hunters Association, and FNAWS. The goal 

of the plan was to reintroduce mtn. goats to their native 

habitats in the central OR Cascades and to have a healthy, 

well distributed, and self sustaining population of mtn. goats.

Three separate releases were conducted over the past 6 

years. Mtn. goats were captured from the Elkhorn Mtns. 

in Baker County. The first two releases occurred on the 

Warm Springs Reservation and consisted of 11 billies, 40 

nannies, 6 yearling nannies, and 12 kids for a total of 69 

goats. Subsequent monitoring by ODFW and the FS in the 

fall of 2015 estimated the population at 100 animals in the 

Cascades. In 2016, the third and final release was completed 

with 21 more goats released at the base of Three-fingered 

Jack on the Sisters RD. Fall monitoring has estimated 125 

animals now in the central Cascades. Through our continued 

partnership with ODFW, we will continue to monitor the 

success of these reintroductions with the hope of having a 

stable population and a future hunting opportunity.
for the greatest good

Fremont-Winema

In 2016, the Fremont-Winema National Forest Wildlife 

Program completed several projects. Accomplishment 

highlights include:

• Thinned conifers within 1,585 acres of aspen and meadow 

habitat to improve riparian habitat.

• Hand piled heavy fuels on 47 acres around an osprey nest 

in a future prescribed fire unit.

• Partnered with 13 private landowners, OSU Extension, 

NRCS, ODF, and the Lake County Watershed Council to 

inventory forest, aspen, noxious weeds, and meadow 

condition on 32,100 acres of private land in the North 

Warner Multi-Ownership Forest Health Project area.

• Partnered with BLM and OSU on the Southwest Oregon 

fisher study.

• Monitored for white-headed woodpeckers within the 

Crooked Mud Honey Project in partnership with the Rocky 

Mountain Research Station. 

• Surveyed for western bumble bee at 27 historic observation 

sites.

• Surveyed for fisher on the Bly, Klamath and Chiloquin 

Ranger Districts using baited cameras.

• Partnered with Klamath Bird Observatory to conduct 

landbird monitoring on the Forest.

• Monitored several bald eagle nests.

• Completed project level surveys for spotted owl, goshawk, 

and aspen.

Acres Fund Code

200 BDBD

2341 CFLN

1233 CWKV

3343 NFTM

236 NFVW

26 NFWF

13 NFXN

3558 RTRT

75 SRS2

7516 SSCC

4707 WFHF

23,248 Total

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Klamath Bird Observatory, Klamath Tribes, Bureau of Land 

Management, OR Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Oregon Hunter Association, Rocky Mountain 

Elk Foundation, Oregon State University, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, The Mule Deer Foundation, Lakeview 

Stewardship Group, Lake County Resource Initiative, Chewaucan 

Biophysical Monitoring Group, Lake County Watershed Council, 

Warner Creek Correctional Facility, Lakeview Elementary School, 

OSU Extension, Oregon Department of Forestry. 

Fremont-Winema National Forest

1301 S. G Street Lakeview, OR

Contact: Amy Markus @ 541-947-6256

amarkus@fs.fed.us Great grey nest in aspen restoration unit

Black bears detected in carnivore surveys
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

Fremont-Winema National Forest

1301 S. G Street Lakeview, OR

Contact: Cheran Cavanaugh @ 541-947-6365 Unit SWA 2000 Before Treatment

Unit SWA 2000 After Treatment

SOUTH WARNER ASPEN MEADOW RESTORATION PROJECT

The South Warner Aspen Meadow Restoration Project was 

designed to restore aspen and meadows across a 23,000 

acre landscape. 

• Between 2010 to 2016, 3,062 acres of aspen and meadow 

were treated in the South Warner Mountains of the 

Lakeview Ranger District. 

• Aspen and meadow stands were treated by hand falling all 

conifers less than 12” DBH and all non-old growth juniper 

less than 21” DBH. Trees were cut, limbed, and in most of 

the project area, all material less than 6-8” was hand piled 

to reduce heavy fuel loads for prescribed burning. 

• In addition to acres treated on FS lands, 263 acres of 

aspen on adjacent private land were treated by the Lake 

County Watershed Council. Private land treatments were 

often aspen stands crossing land ownership boundaries, 

so continuous stands were given the same treatment, 

regardless of ownership. 

• Approximately 90% of all aspen stands in the South Warner 

area received treatment. 

• Hand felling treatments will be followed by piling and/or 

prescribed burning. 

• With the completion of the South Warner Project, the 

District will be focusing future aspen restoration efforts in 

the North Warner area.

Partner/Contributor - 2009 to 2016 Funds

Lane County High School $67,000 

ODFW/Mule Deer Initiative $43,728 

Lake County Watershed Council $15,300 

OHA $500 

Federal/USFS Funds –

NFWF/WFHF/CFLR/Title II $626,500 

R6 Competitive Challenge Cost Share Funds $90,000 

Ruby Pipeline Mitigation Funds $126,288 

National Forest Foundation and LCRI $50,000 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation $60,000 

Northwest Youth Corps Matching Funds $88,189 

Mule Deer Foundation $10,000 

Private Landowners $4,000

Lakeview Chapter RMEF $5,000

Total $1,186,505 

The South Warner Aspen Meadow Restoration Project area 

is identified as a:

• High priority for aspen habitat in the Region 6 Terrestrial 

Restoration and Conservation Strategy. 

• Conservation Opportunity Area in the Oregon Conservation 

Strategy.

• ODFW Mule Deer Initiative Priority Unit. 
for the greatest good

Gifford Pinchot

Supported NEPA process for a variety of district projects and 

completed Biological evaluation and assessments for 2 large 

vegetation projects and ERFO flood road damage. 

• Supported the WDFW South Cascades Fisher 

Reintroduction project. 

• Conducted field surveys and identified restoration 

opportunities in the 2 large vegetation management 

projects; Iron/Crystal Planning area and Upper White 

Salmon area. 

• Finalized NEPA for 7a Meadow Mardon Skipper Habitat 

Restoration, winter 2016. 

• Complete KV wildlife habitat improvement and invasive 

treatments on the forest, creation of 380 snags in the 

Upper Cispus Timber Sale and 1210 acres of invasive 

treatment.

• Managed forest wildlife winter gate closure program for 

winter range protection. 

• Maintained 41 wood duck boxes on the Cowlitz Valley 

Ranger District. 

• Successfully competed for 2 RMEF habitat improvement 

projects, to treat invasive weeds in valuable elk winter 

range near Packwood and MSHNVM. With RMEF funding, 

treated 110 acres for mouseeared hawkweed, knapweed 

and scotch broom in Mount St Helens National Volcanic 

Monument (MSHNVM).

• Completed 308 acres of young stand thinning with the 

Puyallup Tribe grant to increase quality elk forage. 

• Completed a draft invasive treatment strategy, survey for 

egg masses and 5 acres of treatment at the Trout Creek 

Oregon spotted frog site. No egg masses were found.

• Collected samples from winter hibernaculum for 

Townsend’s big-eared bat to check for presence of WNS. 

Installed boot brushes and WNS prevention information at 

Ape Cave, MSHNVM.

• Participated with the regional Bat Working Group.

• Coordinated with the Cascade Carnivore project and 

Consevation Northwest. 

• Conducted wintering bald eagle surveys, peregrine falcon 

surveys and mardon skipper surveys. Assisted Xerces with 

survey at Peterson Prairie permanent transects.

• Forest biologist is the Regional WA RMEF Liaison.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

501 E. 5th St, #400

Vancouver, WA 98661

Contact: Carol Chandler @ 360-891-5106 

cachandler@fs.fed.us

Mitch Wainwright @360-495-7857

John Jakubowski @360-497-1131

2016 Accomplishments

Acres Fund Code Activity

 1600 CWKV Snag and invasive Trt

150 RMEF Invasive Treatments

2000 NFVW

5 NFIM OSF habitat treatment, survey and 

draft strategy

2000 NFTM Elk habitat Improv.

NFWF WDFW fisher coordination, 

308 Puyallup Elk Habitat improv.

6063 Total

Partners/Cooperators

 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Cowlitz Tribe, Puyallup Tribe, 

Mount St Helens Institute, Washington Department of Fish and 

Wildlife, Conservation Northwest, Cascade Carnivore Project, 

Cascade Forest Conservancy, Lewis, Cowlitz, Skamania and 

Klickitat County Weed Boards, 

Fisher being Released on the CVRD, December 2016.
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

LANDSCAPE LEVEL WILDLIFE PROJECT

Prior to the eruption of Mt St Helens, few people realized 

there were mountain goats living in the area.

• While that population was likely wiped out by the blast, 

anecdotal sightings of these high-climbing, sure-footed 

mammals began to crop up in the 1990s. In 2014, Gifford 

Pinchot National Forest biologist Mitch Wainwright put 

together the first official mountain goat survey. 65 were 

counted by volunteer teams in the Mt St Helens/Mt 

Margaret area

• For the third year in a row a team of biologists and others 

from the Washington Department of Wildlife, Cowlitz 

Indian Tribe, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and the 

Mount St. Helens Institute have inventoried mountain 

goats on Mount St. Helens and in the Mount Margaret 

Backcountry.

• The inventory was first conducted in 2014 to document the 

return of this iconic species to the area. It was assumed 

that the small mountain goat population on Mount 

St. Helens at the time was wiped out during the 1980 

eruption.

• The inventory used trails around the mountain and in the 

Mount Margaret Backcountry. The survey is completed 

in a five hour period on the first Sunday in August. Teams 

of surveyors were assigned specific trail sections and 

viewpoints from which the goats can be seen and counted.

The inventory method is easily repeatable from year to 

year, but is not meant to survey all of the suitable mountain 

goat habitat in the area.

• In August 2014 surveyors counted a total of 65 mountain 

goats. In 2015, a few additional survey routes were added 

to cover the south side of Mount St. Helens. In that year a 

total of 152 mountain goats were counted, with almost a 

third of them being kids.

• In 2016 the weather was windy and overcast, and many of 

the vistas were periodically obscured as clouds blew in and 

out. Even so, a total of 151 were counted, with 45 being 

kids.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

501 E. 5th St, #400

Vancouver, WA 98661

Contact: Carol Chandler @ 360-891-5106 

cachandler@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

Malheur

Accomplishment highlights include:

• Specialist reports completed for Canyon Creek salvage, 

Magone, Camp Lick, Wolf and Summit projects addressing 

143,780 acres of restoration planning.

• Renewed a cooperative agreement with ODFW in reference 

to 6 (green dot) Travel Mgt. Areas on the Malheur.

• Initiated an agreement with ODFW for the use of Mule 

Deer Initiative funding for habitat enhancement work.

• Continued volunteer workdays in cooperation with OHA 

and the RMEF Regional Rendezvous.

• Established pollinator gardens at the Prairie City District 

office and Humboldt elementary school.

• Participated in Free Fishing day at McHaley pond attended 

by 67 adults and 97 children.

• Restored 4 guzzlers to working order.

• Assisted ODFW with Bighorn sheep, Mtn. goat surveys and 

turkey trapping.

Acres Fund Code Activity

5907 

3273 

3516

1575

14271

NFXN

CFLN

RMEF

NFWF

Total

Mule Deer Initiative, 

guzzler repair

OYCC crew, fence 

maint., road closure

Aspen restoration, 

juniper removal, 

road closure

Road closure

Malheur National Forest

431 Patterson Bridge Rd. Box 909

John Day, OR 97845

Contact: Clark Reames @ 541-575-3474, 

creames@fs.fed.us

Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators: RMEF, OHA, OYCC, ODFW, BMEI

Guzzler apron construction

Teaching the salmon life cycle at McHaley Pond.
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

MULE DEER INITIATIVE PROJECT

Malheur National Forest

431 Patterson Bridge Rd. Box 909

John Day, OR 97845

Contact: Clark Reames @ 541-575-3474, 

creames@fs.fed.us

Aspen enhancement and meadow restoration

Before lodgepole removal

After lodgepole removal

Funding was provided by the Mule Deer Foundation to ODFW 

to be used for mule deer habitat enhancement that was 

earmarked for use in the Malheur wildlife management unit. 

The Malheur N.F. entered into an agreement with ODFW for 

use of that funding for habitat enhancement on the Malheur 

N.F. Projects include Mt. Mahogany enhancement, aspen and 

juniper treatments.

Emigrant Creek Ranger District conducted approximately 650 

acres of aspen enhancement and juniper removal. Prairie 

City Ranger District completed 86 acres of conifer removal for 

aspen enhancement. Project will be completed in Spring of 

2017.

Photos show the removal of encroaching lodgepole pine from 

riparian areas and meadows to promote and enhance the 

restoration of aspen.
for the greatest good

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie

In 2016 the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest 

successfully improved wildlife habitat and provided wildlife 

information to the public.

Accomplishment highlights include:

3,543 acres of wildlife habitat improvement through conifer 

thinning to promote huckleberry growth, installing a bat 

friendly mine closure, and decommissioning roads to increase 

grizzly core and wolf security habitat.

Wildlife information shared with approximately 10,800 

individuals at public events: Skagit River Salmon Festival, 

Stillaguamish Festival of the River, and Issaquah Salmon Days.

Darrington STEM program – curriculum developed with 2 

middle school student groups/evening presentation by all 

students at school.

Conducted Bumblebee inventory at 7 sites. 

Cooperated with National Park Service and US Fish and 

Wildlife Service on North Cascades Ecosystem Grizzly 

Recovery Plan/EIS.

Cooperated with National Park Service and Washington 

Department of Wildlife on the Mountain Goat Management 

Plan/EIS for Olympic National Park. 

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Swinomish Tribal Community, 

Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Skagit River 

System Cooperative, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, 

Acres Fund 

Code

Activity

1,505 CMLG Grizzly Core Habitat 

Improvement –

Road 

Decommissioning

2,000 NFMG Bat Friendly Mine 

Closure

38 NFVW/ 

NFWF

Huckleberry Habitat 

Improvement

3,543 TOTAL

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

2930 Wetmore Ave, Suite 3A

Everett, WA 98201

Contact: Jesse J Plumage 425-873-6031

Figure 2. Phyllis Reed, District Wildlife Biologist, with pollinator display at the 

Stillaguamish Festival of the River. 

Figure 1. Todd Griffin, Forest Geologist, at Damon Mine bat–friendly closure.
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

MEADOW AND HUCKLEBERRY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

2930 Wetmore Ave, Suite 3A

Everett, WA 98201

Contact: Jesse J Plumage 425-873-6031

The Swinomish Tribal Community and Sauk-Suiattle Indian 

Tribe partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to enhance 38 

acres of huckleberry fields for tribal gathering in the Mt. 

Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Huckleberries are valued by western Washington Tribes as 

a subsistence ceremonial and cultural resource, and most 

recently, as a traditional food that is believed to aid in the 

prevention of adult onset diabetes. 

Wild mountain huckleberries are sacred to northwest 

tribes, but traditional gathering areas have suffered from 

generations of fire suppression and forest management 

activities favoring old growth forests that don’t support 

mountain huckleberry species.

This huckleberry enhancement project was developed and 

was made possible through regional challenge cost share 

funds. The purpose of the project was to remove competing 

vegetation (trees) from around Big-leaf huckleberry so as 

to promote greater berry production. Project design was 

informed by the previous Segelson Ridge Huckleberry 

Enhancement CCS Project whose monitoring results indicate 

treatments have been effective in increasing huckleberry 

production.

Forest Service personnel worked together to identify 

ecological treatment criteria: areas that had a high diversity 

but low abundance of flowering species, LSR allocation, 

occurred in the upper montane zone, and had a moderate 

to gentle slope. In the areas identified, it was observed that 

meadows were typically dominated by huckleberry species 

with a fireweed association, and were visited by a diversity 

and abundance of pollinators during the flowering season. 

The tribes identified project sites that met the ecological 

criteria, and were also historic huckleberry collection sites 

identified by tribal elders. 

This project also enhances terrestrial habitat for various 

wildlife species including bears, coyotes, chipmunks, ground 

squirrels, grouse and other birds. For example, huckleberry 

enhances food sources for pollinators such as butterflies 

and Western bumblebee (R6 Sensitive); bears utilize all 

huckleberry parts (berries, stems, leaves and roots); elk 

and deer feed on young leaves, and the berries provide an 

important food source for ruffed grouse. Huckleberry shrubs 

also provide hiding and resting cover for many smaller birds 

and mammals. 

Partner Contribution

Swinomish Tribal Community $25,000

Sauk-Suiattle Tribe $27,000

Forest Service $26,000

Figure 3. Meadow and Huckleberry Enhancement project, Iron Mountain site.
for the greatest good

Mt. Hood

Accomplishment highlights include:

• Completed Northern spotted owl surveys for 2 large 

planning areas: Polallie Cooper & Crystal Clear Restoration. 

• Surveyed 22 sites for Western Bumblebee.

• Completed 5,185 acres of mollusk surveys.

• Camera surveys for potential Fisher reintroduction in 

partnership with PNW Research Station and OSU.

• Continued to partner with Hawkwatch International at 

Bonnie Butte.

• Collected native plant seeds for pollinators.

• Presented several wildlife themed education programs in 

the David Douglas School District.

• Adjusted range allotment procedures for protection of 

Oregon Spotted Frog.

• Contributed to a streamlining strategy for consultation 

documents for the North Coast & Willamette Level 1 

Wildlife Teams. A detailer supported by shared funding will 

help develop programmatic NLAA disturbance and habitat 

documents with no expiration date. 

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Hawkwatch International, Cascadia Wild, Oregon Hunters 

Association, PGE, NW Ecological Research Institute, Clackamas 

Stewardship Partners, ODFW, Portland Water Bureau, BARK, OSU

Acres Fund Code Activity

494 SSCC OHV Trail Closures

794 SSCC & KV Snags/Downed Wood

320 CMRD Road Decommission

4141 TM,WF,H

F,VW

Thinning & Haz Fuels 

reduction

6600 NFVW Range improvement

1678 VW,SSCC Invasive Plant Control

Mt. Hood National Forest

16400 Champion Way

Sandy, OR 97055
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

LANDSCAPE LEVEL WILDLIFE PROJECT

Hunter Planning Area

Integrated Resource Project

• The Hunter Planning Area is an Integrated Resource 

Planning Area on the Clackamas River Ranger District and 

is comprised of the entire Upper Clackamas River 5th field 

watershed of 100,557 acres. It includes 34,200 acres of LSR 

of which 58% is in Critical Habitat for the Northern spotted 

owl with 47 historical NSO territories.

Wildlife related activities include:

• LSR Variable Density Thinning in stands 40-70 years old to 

enhance NSO habitat.

• Forage Creation and Enhancement – creation of early seral 

habitat within Deer & Elk summer range.

• Thinning in 80-120 year old fire originated stands for NSO 

suitable habitat.

• Road Management

• Aquatic Habitat Restoration

• Evaluation Plantation Fence Removal

Mt. Hood National Forest

16400 Champion Way

Sandy, OR 97055
for the greatest good

Ochoco

Accomplishment highlights include:

In fiscal year 2016, the Ochoco NF exceeded it’s HBT-ENHTERR target by accomplishing 21,587 acres.

A few of the program highlights include:

Milkweed for Monarchs – Five Monarch butterfly 

waystations were created across the Ochoco NF and Crooked 

River National Grassland by planting nearly 1,100 rooted 

plugs of locally collected milkweed (Asclepias speciosa). 

Planting was completed with the assistance of volunteers 

from the Monarch Advocates of Central Oregon (MACO), 

Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Friends and Neighbors of 

Deschutes Canyon (FANS), and students in the Crook County 

High School Natural Resources Program. 

Carnivore Surveys – The Ochoco NF assisted ODFW biologists 

with the implementation of annual Bear Bait Stations which 

included assisting in setup and take down of remote sensor 

camera traps and bear bait at over 30 stations across the 

Forest. 

Conservation Education, Interpretation, and Community 

Engagement – Biologists continue to engage students and 

connect people to nature and public lands through a variety 

of events including the annual Fur, Fin, Fire and Feather 

event, Eagle Watch, and field and classroom presentations. 

More than 1,200 K-12 students were reached in FY’16.

Partnership Work – The Ochoco NF was successful with 

numerous grant applications including to the Regional 

Challenge Cost Share program, Blue Mountains Elk Initiative, 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey 

Federation, and Western Hummingbird Project, bringing in 

$90,250 for wildlife habitat enhancement work. A successful 

supplemental fuels proposal yielded additional wildlife habitat 

restoration work, benefitting the Greater sage grouse. 

Ochoco National Forest

3160 NE 3rd St

Prineville, OR 97754

Contact: Kevin Keown@541-416-6605

kkeown@fs.fed.us

Figure 1. District Biologist and project leader, Dede Steele, and MACO volunteers 

planting milkweed for Monarchs.

Figure 2. OHA Volunteers working on the Mud Springs Meadow Protection and 

Enhancement Project. 

OHA Volunteer Projects – Volunteers from the Oregon 

Hunters Association determined the condition and 

maintenance needs of 207 of 484 exclosures; rebuilt 

and removed post-settlement juniper within two guzzler 

exclosures. On a weekend work party, 28 volunteers from five 

OHA chapters thinned 2 acres of encroaching conifers, rebuilt 

a 5-acre exclosure around a large upland meadow, and rebuilt 

a burned-over wildlife guzzler.

Figure 3. Acres HBT-ENH_TERR accomplished by type.

Partners/Cooperators - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 

Oregon Hunters Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Blue 

Mountains Elk Initiative, National Wild Turkey Federation, Portland 

General Electric, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon 

State Police, Youth Conservation Corps, Monarch Advocates of 

Central Oregon, Friends and Neighbors of Deschutes Canyon, Great 

Old Broads for Wilderness, Dorena Genetic Resource Center
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

OCHOCO NF & OREGON HUNTERS ASSOCIATION IN PARTNERSHIP

Ochoco National Forest and the Oregon Hunters Association 

entered into a partnership in 2004 to enhance wildlife 

habitat. This partnership, located in Central Oregon, has led 

to numerous habitat improvement projects on the Ochoco 

National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. 

Annually, volunteers from OHA Chapters across the state 

come to complete a variety of wildlife enhancement projects. 

Ochoco National Forest

3160 NE 3rd St

Prineville, OR 97754

Contact: Kevin Keown@541-416-6605

kkeown@fs.fed.us

2016 Accomplishments:

• Enhanced 7 acres of meadow and aspen habitat at Mud 

Springs

• Maintained 11 guzzlers, all of 

which were originally built by 

OHA

• Rebuilt Dry Corner Guzzler after 

2015’s Corner Creek Fire

• Determined the condition and 

maintenance needs of 207 of 484 

exclosures

• Maintained and performed 

routine maintenance on a dozen 

fences across the forest that 

protect critical wildlife habitat

• Removed post-settlement juniper 

within two guzzler exclosures

• Felled 25 acres of western juniper 

to improve shrub and herbaceous 

vegetation on mule deer and 

pronghorn winter range

Three generations of volunteers (above) work to put up wildlifefriendly fencing. Fencing includes a smooth bottom wire, 

appropriate wire spacing and a top wire height of 42”. These 

specifications were implemented to reduce wildlife injuries and 

decrease fence damage.

A variety of projects and a great location 

ensures there is something for everyone 

to participate in.

Rebuilding the Dry Corner Guzzler (above) that was consumed in 2015’s Corner 

Creek Fire. OHA volunteers from Bend and Capitol Chapters finished rebuilding the 

guzzler just before the rains came, a welcomed sight for a dry guzzler. 

By removing old dilapidated barbed wire, OHA volunteers helped prevent deer and 

elk entanglements and fence-related mortalities.
for the greatest good

Okanogan-Wenatchee

Accomplishment highlights include:

In 2016 the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest working 

cooperatively with other resources & external partners 

accomplished over 61,800 acres of wildlife habitat 

improvement. Projects included: 

• Non-native wildlife removal (STVA), Thinning, Road 

decommissioning, Weed treatment, Natural wildfire, 

Beaver reintroduction, Prescribed fire, Revegetation 

and plant restoration, Fencing, Bear-resistant garbage 

containers, Vault bird screens, Shrub planting, Meadow 

rest., Nesting/cavity structures, Pollinator seed collection, & 

many others (see chart).

Biologists continued on going & began several new inventory 

& monitoring efforts that resulted in some new & exciting 

information. 

• All districts participated in rare carnivore survey. Wolverine 

were documented south of I90 on the Naches District 

for the first time in 30 years. Recorded pictures & scat 

detections of Cascade red fox. 

• Highlights of habitat & known site surveys for raptors 

include: one new peregrine falcon eyrie; documenting two 

peregrine & three bald eagle fledged on the forest. 

• Biologists monitored WA’s largest myotis maternity roost 

& Townsend’s hibernacula documenting 1,324 & 150 ind. 

respectively. We also tested & provided input on WDFW’s 

draft maternity exit count protocol.

In 2016 the forest again facilitated numerous research 

projects & provided environmental education opportunities/

event to numerous interest groups. 

• To combat the potential spread of White Nose Syndrome in 

bats the forest installed signs & decontamination measures 

targeting the approximately 30,000 yearly visitors to 

Boulder Cave.

• The forest also hosted the Leavenworth Spring Bird Festival 

(1,500 people), Bonaparte Lake National Fishing Day (125 

kids), & numerous smaller presentations to school & 

communities.

• Biologists assisted with research/studies involving 

carnivores, climate change, survey detection 

methodologies, listed species management questions, & 

sensitive species status. 

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

215 Melody Lane

Wenatchee, WA 98801

Contact:Monte Kuk @ 509-664-9320, 

mkuk@fs.fed.us

Survey & habitat enhancement 

continued for the Mardon Skipper 

pictured above. To the right is one of 

the 18 species & 1,285 individual hawks 

counted in 2016 at Chelan Ridge. This 

partnership with Hawk Watch & others 

has been counting & bands fall migrants 

for 19 years. 

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Access Fund, Cascades Carnivore Project, Conservation NW, CWU, 

EcoTrust, GEAR UP, Hawkwatch, Icicle Arts, Lake Chelan Sportsmen, 

Loon Lake Loon Assoc., Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation, National 

Audobon Society, National Forest Foundation, Oroville Sportsmen, 

TMDF, NWTF, Nature Conservancy, RMEF, Ruffed Grouse Society, Seattle 

City Light, Team Naturaleza, Upper Basin Birders, UW, UI, WSU, WA 

Conservation Science Institute, WA Women’s Foundation, WA Climbers 

Coalition, Wenatchee River Institute, Wolverine Foundation, Yakama 

Nation, and many local government agencies.
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

BEAVER REINTRODUCTION PROJECT

Year ten of an ongoing, multi-partner project. To date we 

have trapped and relocated over 300 nuisance beavers to 60+ 

sites and created 48 new establishments.

• In 2016 we trapped and relocated 73 nuisance beavers to 

27 sites creating 11 new establishments.

• Collected temperature data from over 100 stream loggers, 

as part of our long-term scientific study to document the 

effects of beaver establishments on water temperature.

• Reached 2785 visitors this year at the Winthrop National 

Fish Hatchery (where trapped beavers are housed 

temporarily prior to release). While viewing beavers, they 

learned about beaver restoration and benefits to streams, 

fish, other wildlife, fire recovery, and climate adaptation. 

Showed beavers at the annual Kids Fishing Day at the 

Hatchery (515 participants in one day).

• Mentored 3 college interns and taught students from 

elementary to grad school about beaver ecology, ecosystem 

process, benefits of this keystone species to forest and 

riparian health, and climate adaptation. (1470 students)

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

215 Melody Lane

Wenatchee, WA 98801

Contact:Monte Kuk @ 509-664-9320, 

mkuk@fs.fed.us

Major Project Partners and Supporters:

• Bonneville Environmental Foundation

• Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

• Douglas PUD Tributary Committee

• Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation

• RCO-Salmon Recovery Funding Board

• WA Fish & WL, Ecology, & Natural Resources Depts.

• Wildlife Conservation Society-Climate Adaptation Fund 

• US Bureau of Reclamation

• USFWS 
for the greatest good

Olympic

In 2016 the Olympic National Forest completed several 

habitat restoration and wildlife inventory projects, and 

continued to engage with our partners and the public. 

Accomplishment highlights include:

• Collaborated with other federal and state agencies to 

inventory for Pacific marten (Martes caurina). 193 camera 

stations monitored across Olympic National Forest and Park 

and 397,049 photographs obtained; 1 marten documented.

• Participated in the multi-partner, Peninsula-wide fisher 

(Pekania pennanti) monitoring effort. >150 camera stations 

monitored across several ownerships and >50 survey 

polygons; fishers detected in at least 11 polygons.

• Continued recovery actions for Taylor’s checkerspot 

butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori): 50 acres habitat 

improvement and 60 acres surveyed.

• Completed 20 acres of early seral pollinator habitat 

improvement.

• Installed 2 bee houses, benefitting 190 acres.

• Partnered with Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) 

and ONF recreation program in annual mountain goat 

(Oreamnos americanus) public outreach: 1,684 visitors 

contacted.

• Participated in public outreach: Dungeness River Festival, 

KPTZ “Nature Now” radio program.

• Continued snag creation in commercially-thinned stands. 

Created 150 snags by girdling and topping.

• Continued working with partners to improve elk forage in 

pre-commercially thinned stands (113 acres).

Olympic National Forest

1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW

Olympia, WA 98512

Contact: Susan Piper, 360-956-2435

spiper@fs.fed.us

Figure 2. Eyes in the Woods volunteers during the April elk habitat improvement 

work partty. Photo: Betsy Howell

Figure 1. Volunteers planting host and nectar plants for Taylor’s checkerspot 

butterflies. Photo: Karen Holtrop

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish & 

Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Eyes in the Woods, The 

Mountaineers, Olympic National Park, U.S. Geological Survey, 

Oregon State University, PNW Research Station, Washington 

Conservation Corps
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Taylor’s Checkerspot: Inventory and Habitat Enhancement

In 2016, ONF and the Washington Conservation Corps 

(WCC), with funds from a USFWS recovery grant, USFS 

TES monitoring funds, and WDFW monies, accomplished 

Taylor’s checkerspot habitat enhancement and monitoring. 

The habitat enhancement, consisting of cutting and 

piling encroaching vegetation, benefited 50 acres of 

butterfly habitat. Adult and larvae surveys resulted in the 

documentation of occupancy throughout the project sites. 

Pre-diapause larval urveys revealed 28 oviposition sites, of 

which 18 were in habitat restoration areas. 

Pacific Marten: Distribution Study

In 2016, ONF received regional ISSSSP funds to work with 

Olympic National Park (ONP), U.S. Geological Survey, the 

PNW Research Station, and WDFW on a marten distribution 

study. A total of 108 camera stations were monitored for five 

months in ONP in coastal habitats, none of which detected 

any martens. However, 48 stations on the coast did detect 

fisher. For three months during the summer, an additional 

85 camera stations were installed at high elevations in ONP 

and ONF. One station in the Upper Hoh watershed in ONP 

documented one marten. Numerous other species were also 

detected during both winter and summer efforts. Olympic National Forest

1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW

Olympia, WA 98512

Contact: Susan Piper, 360-956-2435

spiper@fs.fed.us

Figure 3. WCC crew cutting and piling vegetation. Photo: Darrell Borden

Figure 4. Young mountain goat pawing at urine along Mt. Ellinor trail. Photo: Kurt 

Aluzas

Figure 5. Pacific marten photographed in August in ONP. Photo: ONF

Mountain Goat: Public Outreach and Safety

In 2016, ONF continued to provide information on how to 

minimize human-mountain goat conflicts across the Forest 

and to other units. ONF staff contacted approximately 2000 

hikers, revised signs, leveraged internet and social media, 

observed and interacted with mountain goats directly, and 

provided input to the ONP Mountain Goat Translocation EIS. 

ONF also partnered with recreational groups to spread the 

message to the public. 
for the greatest good

Rogue River-Siskiyou

Accomplishment highlights include:

• In 2016, the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest 

accomplished many threatened, endangered, and special 

status species species inventories, as well as habitat 

improvement work across the Forest with our many 

internal and external partners. Our focus in the terrestrial 

wildlife program continues to be maintenance and 

restoration of both early and late seral habitats, as well 

as the conservation and recovery of listed and sensitive 

species that occur on the Forest.

• Over 35,000 acres of wildlife habitat enhanced using both 

appropriated monies as well as successfully integrating 

with other resources, in particular fire and fuels resources. 

A large portion of the Forest’s target also came from the 

installation of bat gates across the Forest which has proven 

to be an effective mitigation measure for loss of natural 

roosting habitat. 

• A multi-Forest seed collection effort continues on the 

Forest in conjunction with other Forests in the Region for 

early seral pollinators including bumblebees and butterflies 

such as the Monarch butterfly and Mardon Skipper. 

Seed stock is grown at the local USFS nursery and used 

for outplanting for various pollinator species. The Wild 

River RD also received a 50,000 Grant to propagate both 

milkweed and Monarch butterflies for outplanting and 

release.

• The Forest continues a fisher and small mammal 

monitoring effort with PSW/PNW, the Nature Conservancy, 

and the City of Ashland to study the response of fisher 

and their prey species to fuels reduction activities in the 

Ashland Watershed.

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

3040 Biddle Road

Medford Oregon

Contact: David Clayton @ 541-618-2054

dclayton@fs.fed.us Pallid Bat. (photo by David Clayton) 2016

Black Salamander (Aneides Flavipunctatus). Photo by David Clayton 2016

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

ODA, TNC, City of Ashland, OHA, RMEF, PNW, PSW, OSU, Native 

Plant Society.

To date, 39 fisher have been captured, 15 dens have been 

located, all but 2 in hardwoods. We will continue to monitor 

how these animals respond to the treatments in FY 2017 

and 2018. The PNW small mammal trapping effort has 

had 2 years of pre-treatment sampling and 3 years of posttreatment sampling completed and a manuscript is being 

written at this time. Initial results seem to show a positive 

response by some species to the fuels work. 
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

MARDON SKIPPER DISTANCE SAMPLING PROJECT

Rachael Vaughn, Gold Beach and Powers, wildlife biologist 

Windy Valley, in SW Oregon, is a small meadow surrounded 

by intact coniferous forests as well as remnants of the 2002 

Biscuit Fire, which burned adjacent forests but not the 

meadow itself. This site hosts the largest known mardon 

skipper population in the coastal Oregon region. Prior to this 

project’s launch in 2014, the highest one-day count at this 

site was 226 mardon skippers on June 13, 2013. In 2016, 

Xerces staff and Forest Service biologists were on site June 1 

to retrain Forest Service Biologists in the Distance Sampling 

protocol. Surveys began May 11 and ran through July 11, 

2016. 

• Throughout the season, 58 skippers were observed at the 

Windy Valley site. The peak count for 2016 was on June 

2, with 31 individuals counted. In the sampled occupied 

habitat, there is an estimated 333.47 mardon skippers 

per hectare (22.19 % CV), with a population estimate of 

296 mardon skippers within the meadow (22.19 % CV, the 

habitat was 0.887 HA).

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

3040 Biddle Road

Medford Oregon

Contact: David Clayton @ 541-618-2054

dclayton@fs.fed.us

• Counts this year were significantly down from either of 

the past two years. While at first glance this would appear 

to be concerning, closer inspection of the survey data 

indicates that very few–if any–surveys were conducted 

during the peak of the flight season. The maximum count 

was on June 2, 2016 (31 butterflies), but additional surveys 

were not conducted over the next 18 days – likely missing 

the bulk of the flight season, and perhaps the true peak. 

As such, the low counts from this year should be tempered 

until additional years of survey data are collected. 

• (Excerpted From the 2016 Xerces Society Report, photos 

by the Xerces Society) 
for the greatest good

Siuslaw

In 2016 the Siuslaw National Forest successfully re-analyzed 

all timber sales utilizing current owl survey data. Protections 

for nesting owls were implemented while thinning and 

restoration projects continued forward.

Other accomplishment highlights include:

• Successfully fledging plover chicks in a year when many 

other units experienced high predation losses. 

• Initiated an education and outreach program designed to 

highlight our unique coastal species and habitats. 

• Marten resting site study completed and a new denning 

study initiated.

• Managed Oregon silverspot butterfly habitat with a variety 

of treatments, conducted violet surveys for baseline 

data, and complied 30 years of historic management into 

database to be used for adaptive management strategy. 

• NSO prey studies have continued to lead us toward 

adaptive management of our plantation thinning.

• Created snag habitat in plantations and mature stands by 

topping, girdling, and felling for down woody debris.

• Pollinator specific plants were identified and collected from 

the forest and utilized in large-scale restoration efforts.

Siuslaw National Forest

3200 SW Jefferson Way

Corvallis, OR 97331

Contact: Deanna Williams @ 541-750-7013, 

Maintaining coastal meadows. deannawilliams@fs.fed.us

Cindy Burns and Crystal Mullins. Ready to deploy thousands of feet of ropes and 

signs for plover protection during the nesting season.

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Watershed Councils-Salmon Drift Creek, Siuslaw; RMEF, ORBIC, 

APHIS, FWS, OPRD, TNC, ODF&W, Cascade Pacific RC&D, Oregon 

Zoo, Institute for Applied Ecology, PNW Research Station
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

MARTENS ON THE DUNES

The Siuslaw National Forest and the Pacific Northwest 

Research station partnered together to document 

a unique population of martens living in the shrub 

and shorepine system of the Oregon Dunes National 

Recreation Area. This population appears to be limited 

to young forest (<60 years old) with diverse shrub and 

tree species, and only seems to be established on the 

coastal sand dunes west of highway 101. 

In October 2015, we initiated a project to examine 

natural history characteristics of martens in dune 

forest. The study estimated density, home range size, 

rest site use, and movements (gap crossing of open 

sand). Remote cameras, live-trapping, and GPS and 

VHF collars, as well as ground based telemetry were 

used to re-locate collared martens. Crews collected 

data between October 1, 2015 and continued until 

March 31, 2016. In that time, 7 female and 4 male 

martens were live-trapped and radio-collared. 

This data revealed that the dunes martens have the 

smallest territory size for marten in North America. 

Population sizes are estimated within the forested 

coastal dunes to be 30—60 females. The primary cause 

of mortality was vehicle strikes with one additional 

mortality of a radio-collared female attributed to greathorned owl.

Siuslaw National Forest

3200 SW Jefferson Way

Corvallis, OR 97331

Contact: Deanna Williams @ 541-750-7013, 

deannawilliams@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

Umatilla

In 2016 the Umatilla National Forest successfully 

implemented several integrated projects that provided 

benefits to wildlife and completed wildlife surveys and 

monitoring.

Accomplishment highlights include:

• Assisted ODFW with wolf monitoring

• Bald and golden eagle monitoring

• Mid-winter bald eagle surveys

• American marten monitoring (2 camera traps)

• Enhanced habitat for big game forage and other wildlife 

on 1,464 acres through prescribed fire and fuels 

reduction projects

• Improved wildlife habitat by treating approximately 6,050 

acres of noxious weeds

• Improved 704 acres of wildlife habitat through precommercial thinning and hazardous fuels reduction

• Built wildlife friendly fences around riparian habitat to 

exclude cattle; affecting 32 acres

• Built fence around 1 acre of mountain mahogany and 4 

acres of aspen

• Installed 7 escape ramps on water developments

Thinned stand on the Walla Walla RD. A good example of “light touch” management 

– opening up the stand and reducing the risk of crown fire but leaving ample 

wildlife habitat and fire resistant species (larch) in place.

Umatilla National Forest

72510 Coyote Rd

Pendleton, OR 97801

Contact: Lizzy Berkley @ 541-278-3814 

elizabethberkley@fs.fed.us

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

ODFW, WDFW, USFWS, Blue Mountain Elk Initiative, Rocky 

Mountain Elk Foundation, CTUIR, Hells Canyon Initiative (big 

horn sheep).
for the greatest good

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

RIPARIAN FENCE MAINTENANCE PROJECT

• Integrated habitat management project between wildlife, 

fish, hydro, and range

• Partnered with CTUIR to reconstruct 2 miles of fence to 

protect riparian habitat

• Excluded livestock on 32 acres and 1 mile along two 

streams

• Photos (below) from 1987 to 2016 displays recovery of 

riparian habitat and the value of the fences

• Benefits include: improved water quality and enhances 

habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species

• Total Project Cost = $10,000 (50% match by CTUIR)

1987 2016

National Forest

Steelhead; this project benefits steelhead and other aquatic species by reducing 

erosion and run-off, decreasing water temperatures, and improving overall water 

quality.

Yellow warbler; one 

of many wildlife 

species that benefits 

from riparian 

restoration efforts 

which provides 

cover, forage, quality 

water, and breeding 

habitat for many 

species.

Umatilla National Forest

72510 Coyote Rd

Pendleton, OR 97801

Contact: Lizzy Berkley @ 541-278-3814 

elizabethberkley@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

Wallowa-Whitman

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

1550 Dewey Ave, Suite A

Baker City, OR 97814

Contact: Mark Penninger 541 523-1285

mapenninger@fs.fed.us

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife; Blue Mountain Elk Initiative; 

Oregon Hunters Association; Hells Canyon Preservation Council; 

Blue Mountain Conservancy; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; 

Wallowa Resources; Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep Restoration 

Initiative; Friends of Ladd Marsh.

In 2016 the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest completed the 

following terrestrial wildlife habitat enhancement/restoration 

work: 

• 4,440 acres of non-commercial, variable spacing thinning 

to enhance forage for deer and elk;

• Partnered with ODFW on implementation and 

enforcement of cooperative travel management areas;

• Applied prescribed fire to 5,500 acres to benefit elk, deer, 

and mature pine associated wildlife species;

• Beneficial results for wildlife were realized on 87 acres of 

wildfires;

• Surveyed 30 acres for western bumblebees;

• Maintained and monitored 24 great gray owl nest 

platforms;

• Monitored numerous nest sites of golden eagle, 

peregrine falcon, and goshawk;

• Surveyed for marten, wolverine, and montane fox at 8 

remote camera sites;

• Provided education and outreach to numerous schools 

and community groups;

• Moved a gate in compliance with the settlement 

agreement for the Sled Springs OHV project, increasing 

security habitat on 133 acres; and 

• Enhanced a spring for wildlife while providing upslope 

water for permitted cattle.

Bombus occidentalis, Union County, Oregon

Forage enhancement through prescribed burning is focused on improving the 

seasonal distribution of elk within the Chesnimnus Wildlife Management Unit. 

Acres BLI Activity

4,440 NFVW/WFHF Non-commercial 

thinning for WL

133 CMRD/NFWF Gate install, elk security

 87 NFSU Wildfire enhancement 

from wildfire

5,500 NFWF/WFHF Prescribed fire

1,800 NFWF Owl platforms, 

aspen exclosure, 

water devel.

11,960 Total
for the greatest good

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

STARKEY WILDLIFE THINNING PROJECT

National Forest

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

1550 Dewey Ave, Suite A

Baker City, OR 97814

Contact: Mark Penninger 541 523-1285

mapenninger@fs.fed.us

Thinning complete, slash hand piled and ready to burn.

Dense, young conifers allow little sunlight to reach the forest floor. Grasses, forbs, 

and shrubs are largely shaded out. 

Many species of migratory songbirds use the unthinned cover patches for nesting. 

The Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) and Wildlife programs 

have partnered to enhance young conifer stands through 

non-commercial thinning in the southern portion of the 

Starkey Wildlife Management Unit. Large numbers of elk 

have become accustomed to remaining on their lower 

elevation winter ranges on private lands throughout the year. 

This has led to increases in damage complaints from ranchers 

and decreased opportunity for the public who wish to see or 

hunt elk on public lands. 

Over the past three years more than 5,000 acres have 

been thinned to improve forage for deer and elk, and shift 

stands toward a more resilient species composition. The 

enhanced forage is largely within existing cooperative travel 

management areas where elk have access to improved forage 

in a setting with low disturbance from motorized vehicles. 

Prescriptions are focused in stands with a high capability 

to produce quality forage. Variable spacing and unthinned 

hiding cover patches create a high degree of cover and forage 

interspersion. Slash is treated in a variety of ways, including 

mastication, broadcast burning, pile and burn, and lop and 

scatter. 

Funding for this work has been provided by the WallowaWhitman TSI and Wildlife programs in partnership with 

the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and through the Blue 

Mountain Elk Initiative. 
for the greatest good

Willamette

Willamette National Forest

3108 Pierce Parkway

Springfield, OR 97477

Contact: Joe Doerr @ 541-225-6433

jdoerr@fs.fed.us

2016 Accomplishments

*NFTM includes several fund codes for timber sale prep

Partners/Cooperators

Boy/Girl Scouts of America, BPA, PGE, RMEF, NWTF, ODFW, 

OHA, NWTF, Northwest Youth Corps, North American Butterfly 

Association, USFWS, BLM, numerous watershed councils, 

schools & businesses

In 2016 the Willamette National Forest exceeded planned 

wildlife targets. Highlights include:

• With RMEF, OHA, and other partners, completed 4750 

acres of elk and deer enhancement by road closures, 

weed treatments, and forage improvement.

• Completed 1996 acres of snag creation and 1034 acres of 

downed wood creation. 

• Commercially thinned 907 acres of second growth and 

planted trees in 351 acres of burned LSR to improve 

future habitat for northern spotted owls.

• With ODFW enhanced 6040 acres of anadromous 

habitat benefitting bald eagles, bears, and other riparianassociated wildlife.

• Surveyed for bats, bees, butterflies, Oregon spotted frogs, 

red tree voles, Sierra Nevada red fox, mollusks, spotted 

owls and other rare wildlife species. 

• Conducted numerous environmental education 

presentations and hosted an International Visiting 

Biologist on the MRRD.

• With USFWS and BLM, completed ESA consultation on 

numerous projects utilizing the Level 1 Team process.

Pinegrass Restoration Project on the Middle Fork Ranger District has promoted 

pine savannah development in dry mixed-conifer plantations. The project has been 

heavily supported by numerous partners, including Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 

Oregon Hunters Association, Northwest Youth Corps and Oregon Department of 

Fish and Wildlife.

McKenzie School’s Eagle Pride Cooperative Nursery students planting berryproducing shrubs to enhance pollinator and elk foraging habitat, McKenzie River 

Ranger District.
for the greatest good

National Forest

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 

GRAY-BLUE BUTTERFLY SURVEY PARTNERSHIP

Willamette National Forest

3108 Pierce Parkway

Springfield, OR 97477

Contact: Joe Doerr @ 541-225-6433

jdoerr@fs.fed.us

Tanya Harvey. NABA member, botanist and long-time FS volunteer. Tanya and other 

NABA volunteers were invaluable to this project. Tanya has spent years surveying 

and photographing rare plants and other species in the Calapooya Mountains 

and surrounding areas. You can follow her adventures on her blog at http://

westerncascades.com. She provided the photos below of a female GBB on western 

bistort and its habitat.

In 2016, the Willamette National Forest surveyed for grayblue butterfly (GBB) (Plebejus podarce klamathensis), a 

Forest Service sensitive species, in partnership with the North 

American Butterfly Association (NABA), Springfield/Eugene 

Chapter. This long-standing NABA chapter is an important 

source for butterfly detections on the Forest. Recent surveys 

on the Umpqua NF had expanded the northern range of 

the butterfly to near the southern boundary of the Forest 

and, in 2015, Tanya Harvey found a single individual on the 

Willamette. In 2016, working with several NABA volunteers 

and one species expert (Dana Ross), we documented 5 sites 

of GBB on the Willamette NF and 2 on the adjacent Umpqua 

NF. Numerous negative surveys to the north and east of the 

detections helped identify the likely occupied range of the 

butterfly on the forest. It is unknown if the recent findings 

of the species on the Willamette are due to range expansion 

possibly related to climate change or long-established, but 

previously undetected populations. The 2016 surveys provide 

a baseline for future monitoring the species on the Forest.
for the greatest good
CENTERS OF

EXCELLENCE

for the greatest good

2016 WL / TES Program Accomplishments 
for the greatest good

R6 National Forests & BLM Districts

Avian Conservation Program Accomplishments

The FS/BLM Avian Conservation 

Program was initiated as part of 

the “Service First” Initiative to 

develop a consistent, integrated 

migratory bird program between 

the agencies.

• Participated on the Species of Conservation Concern 

Work Group for the 2012 Planning Rule, collaborated 

with the Ecosystem Integrity Work Group to incorporate 

Avifauna as indicators of habitat types and the Monitoring 

Work Group advocate for integrated bird monitoring 

throughout the region.

• Co-wrote, and received funding for the second year of the 

Regional Pollinator Seed Collection Challenge Cost Share 

proposal. Secured funding from outside organizations 

totaling 15k in contributions.

• Continue to work with the Klamath Bird Observatory to 

produce DST’s to aid in habitat management for priority 

avifauna on FS and BLM lands. Projects include using 

avifauna as indicators of ecosystem health, species centric 

modeling and informative webex’s. 

• Chair of the FS, WHP Committee a national cadre of 

individuals interested in hummingbirds. I schedule and 

facilitate quarterly conference calls to discuss ongoing 

hummingbird issues.

• Work with partners to develop and incorporate Avian 

Knowledge Network (AKN) priority avian species and 

assessment tools into our forest planning efforts. I 

participate on the team to develop a national node of the 

Avian Knowledge Network.

• Active participant on the Partners in Flight (PIF), National 

Steering Committee. We make recommendations to 

the Council for the Conservation of Mig. Birds regarding 

priorities for avian conservation nationally.

• Manage assistance agreements with Klamath Bird 

Observatory, the American Bird Conservancy, NW Wildlife 

Science, USGS, and the OR Eagle Foundation.

• Chair of the Western Working Group of PIF. The mission 

is to develop science based tools for bird conservation 

throughout the west. Our recent meeting focused on how 

partners can assist in the new 2012 Planning Rule.

• Suggested, co-wrote and received funding for a pollinator 

garden grant with the Antfarm, a local non-profit group in 

Sandy OR. 

• Worked with USGS to write a ISSSSP grant for monitoring 

Purple Martins in the Willamette Valley to determine if 

there is a wild, snag nesting population.

• Worked with the American Bird Conservancy and BLM 

biologists to complete a OR Vesper Sparrow Conservation 

Assessment.

• Worked with the American Bird Conservancy to complete 

the re-write of the N. Rocky Mountain Bird Conservation 

Plan, applicable to the W-W, OCH, and UMA NF’s.

• Received 150k in BLM funds to develop Species Centric 

Habitat Models for Avifauna working with the Klamath 

Bird Observatory.

• Presented PIF “species centric habitat model” information 

at the Silviculturalist Certification Workshop.

Barb Bresson,FS-BLM

Aviation Conservation Program

Contact: Barb Bresson @ 503-808-2307

bbresson@fs.fed.us

Handont out education materials at an IMBD event. Photo by Mike Green, USFWS 
for the greatest good

Region 6 Pacific Northwest

2016 DecAID Center of Excellence Accomplishments

Organization:

Steve Acker joined the team as another COE focusing on the 

vegetation portion of DecAID (data integrity and updates). 

Barbara Webb has taken on more implementation duties and Q & A, 

as well as helping with the website update and wildlife data portion.

Kim Mellen-McLean has been instrumental in overseeing and 

managing the DecAID Version 3.0 update. Working with DRM for 

the website platform and reconvening the original team for the 

inventory and information updates.

Accomplishments

• Wildfire Salvage RAT Team participation on WallowaWhitman, Umatilla, Gifford Pinchot, and Malheur

• Worked towards Version 3.0 with original DecAID team 

members 

• Support to project level biologists and other users on 

DecAID implementation

• Presentation of DecAID Distribution Analysis process to 

Deschutes/Ochoco Forest NEPA Team

• Updated examples on current website

• Updated DecAID GNN rasters into SDE layerfile: 

T:\FS\Reference\GIS\r06\LayerFile\Wildlife\

WildlifeHabitatMaps\DecAIDRasters.lyr

• DecAID analysis using the Distribution Analysis templates 

for salvage successfully prevailed through all stages of 

objection process 

• Worked with PNW, RO, and OSU colleagues to incorporate 

temporal trends in snag density in new tool based on 

GNN, and developed outline for paper on temporal 

trends in snag densities across the region;

Version 3.0 will be available FY17 

with new vegetation inventory data, a 

new web platform and updated look.

Stay tuned for Version 3.0 roll-out 

and scheduling of training sessions 

with this new platform

Barbara Webb

541-383-4788

bswebb@fs.fed.us

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District

Deschutes National Forest

Steve Acker

541-225-6447

steveacker@fs.fed.us

Northwest Oregon Ecology Group

Willamette National Forest

Kim Mellen-McLean 

503-808-2677

kmellenmclean@fs.fed.us

Regional Office
for the greatest good

Ochoco National Forest

2016 Blue Mountains Elk Initiative & Rocky Mountain

Elk Foundation Center of Excellence Accomplishments

$2,337,736 was spent on Elk habitat enhancement and 

research projects in Oregon in FY’16. 

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, through their banquet 

and fundraising efforts, provided $260,000, funding 20 

projects across the state, 

The Blue Mountains Elk Initiative, a cooperative effort to 

improve habitat and management of elk and other wildlife 

in the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington, had 

$125,000 available from the USFS ($95K), ODFW ($10K), 

and Blue Mountains Habitat Restoration Council railroad 

mitigation funds ($20K). 

In FY’16, Kevin Keown, the Forest Wildlife Biologist on the 

Ochoco NF and Region 6 Center of Excellence for Elk and Blue 

Mountain Elk Initiative Coordinator, received the national 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Elk Country Partnership 

Award.

Figure 1. 2016 RMEF/BMEI Projects and Funding Summary of BMEI/RMEF Center of Excellence Duties and 

Accomplishments

• Solicited RMEF project proposals from Forest Service 

units in Oregon and BMEI proposals from the four 

Forests in the BMEI area – Ochoco, Malheur, Umatilla, 

and Wallowa-Whitman – and State, Tribal, and private 

cooperators.

• Assisted project proponents in the development of 

habitat restoration projects and project proposals. 

• Conducted site visits to 4 BMEI/RMEF projects.

• Served as the Forest Service liaison and voting member 

of the both the OR and WA RMEF project advisory 

committees (PAC); represented the BMEI at the both the 

Oregon and Washington PAC meetings.

• Reviewed, evaluated, and ranked 45 proposals

• Assisted the OR RMEF PAC in the prioritization and 

selection of the projects to be funded.

• Facilitated the distribution of BMEI funds to successful 

applicants.

Ochoco National Forest

3160 NE 3rd St

Prineville, OR 97754

Contact: Kevin Keown@541-416-6605

kkeown@fs.fed.us

Figure 2. Senior RMEF Regional Director, Bob Bastian, presenting Kevin Keown, 

Blue Mountains Elk Initiative Coordinator, with the National Elk Country Partnership 

Award.
for the greatest good

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

2016 Duties and accomplishments

• Solicited RMEF project proposals from the Washington 

forests including Gifford Pinchot, Colville, Olympic, Mt 

Baker-Snoqualmie.

• Assisted project proponents in the development of 

habitat restoration projects and project proposals

• Served as Forest Service liaison and voting member of 

the WA RMEF project advisory committee (PAC) and 

represented the region at the WA PAC meeting.

• Reviewed and ranked proposals

The following proposals were recommended and funded in 

2016.

Paradise 90 RX Fire – Colville NF

$5,000 619 Acres

Cook Creek / West Fork Humptulips Understory Thinning - 

Olympic NF

$25,000 400 Acres

Cowlitz Valley Elk Habitat Invasive Plant Treatment – Gifford 

Pinchot NF

$4,000 30 Acres

Mt St Helens Wildlife Area and Mount St Helens National 

Volcanic National Monument, Toutle River Invasive Weed 

Management – Gifford Pinchot NF

$15,000 150 acres

Toutle River mouseeared hawkweed treatment 2016 Gifford Pinchot NF

Wildlife seasonal gate closure Mt Baker-Snoqualmie NF

2016 Accomplishments

Partners/Cooperators

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Lewis, Skamania, Cowlitz 

County Weed Boards, WDFW, Retained Receipts.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

501 E. 5th St, #400

Vancouver, WA 98661

Contact: Carol Chandler @ 360-891-5106 

cachandler@fs.fed.us

2016 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 

Center of Excellence Accomplishments
for the greatest good

Mollusk Center of Excellence

2016 Accomplishments

Tiffany Young (Umpqua National Forest) functions as the 

"Center of Excellence" for mollusk conservation in Oregon 

and Washington for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land 

Management.

Primary services include:

• Serves as a liaison with the Smithsonian Institute, 

Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Oregon State 

Arthropod Collection (OSAC), the Xerces Society and the 

Siskiyou Field Institute.

• Field consultant on mollusk habitat and species 

identification.

• Provides training for mollusk identification and survey 

techniques.

• Provides identification services for mollusk vouchers.

• Curates mollusk specimens for permanent collections 

stored at OSAC, the Smithsonian and Carnegie Museum 

of Natural History.

• Circulates current conservation information on mollusks 

to the field units.

• Provides peer-reviews for research papers and journal 

articles.

Photo 1: Mystery Challenge – any guesses?

Photo 2: Wallowa-Whitman NF Mollusk Training Fall 2015.

2016 Accomplishments Include:

• Provided three Mollusk Identification Workshops 

serving the Deschutes, Wallowa-Whitman, Willamette, 

Umpqua, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests and 

Roseburg & Medford BLM Districts. These workshops 

provided biologists with an overview of mollusk anatomy, 

identification techniques and field survey techniques.

• 45 people total were trained.

• Provided field consultation to the Rogue River-Siskiyou, 

Umpqua & Willamette National Forests, along with 

Roseburg and Medford BLM. Services included assisting 

biologists in determining suitable mollusk habitat, survey 

techniques and species identification.

• Provided species identification services for Forest Service 

and BLM field units. Services included identifying 35 snail 

and slug specimens collected in the field, reviewing 46 

vouchers & providing feedback on identification results.

Umpque National Forest

2900 NW Steward Parkway

Roseburg, OR 97470

Contact: Tiffany Young, 541-947-3260

tayoung@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

2016 Carnivore Center of Excellence Accomplishments

2016 Accomplishments

• Provided partial funding for 5 projects:

• Support for and coordination with WDFW during fisher 

reintroduction on the Gifford Pinchot NF. 

• Baited camera station survey for fisher/marten/fox in 

project area on west side of Fremont Winema NF.

• Baited camera station surveys for fisher and fox on the 

Willamette NF.

• Live-trapping and radio-collaring of marten in the I-90 

corridor on the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF.

• Humboldt marten connectivity evaluation in Highway 101 

corridor on the Siuslaw NF.

In addition:

• Fisher reintroduction to the Southern Cascades included 

23 fishers released at the Cispus Center on the Gifford 

Pinchot NF. More planned for 2017. 

• The installation of 27 food storage lockers was completed 

in developed campgrounds in the Selkirk Grizzly Bear 

Recovery Zone on the Colville NF.

• Provided support for final year of the WSU Wolf/Livestock 

Interaction research project on the Okanogan-Wenatchee 

and Colville NFs.

• Provided support for the North Cascades Grizzly Bear 

Restoration EIS. The OkaWen and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie 

NFs make up 75% of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear 

Recovery Zone. Draft EIS due out for public review in 

January 2017.

Partners/Cooperators

WDFW, ODFW, WSDOT, USFWS, PNW Research, Univ. Calif. Davis, 

Wildlife Ecology Institute, Cascade Carnivore Project, Wenatchee 

Fire Sciences Lab, Conservation NW, Cascadia Wild, BLM, OSU, PSW 

Research, Weyerhauser, Hancock, Plum Creek, WSU, Defenders of 

Wildlife, Kalispel Tribe, Pend Oreille County PUD, Scenic Canyons 

Recreational Services, Seattle City Light, Selkirk Conservation 

Alliance. 

Significant Carnivore Events in 2016:

• USFWS finds the west coast population of fisher does not 

require protection under the ESA; withdraws proposal to 

list as threatened.. 

• District Court vacates the USFWS withdrawal of proposed 

rule to list wolverine as threatened under ESA and 

remands for further consideration putting wolverine back 

in “proposed” status.

• USFWS finds the Sierra Nevada red fox to have 2 distinct 

population segments; the southern Cascades DPS which 

includes Oregon and northern CA, and the Sierra Nevada 

DPS. Determines listing the Southern Cascades DPS not 

warranted. 

• Gray wolves continue to expand in eastern WA and OR 

with each state having approx. 20 packs/groups and 100 

individuals. Lethal control of wolves following livestock 

depredation continues to make the news in both states. 

Fisher being released on Gifford Pinchot NF. 

Collared gray wolf on the Umatilla NF.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

24 West Chewuch

Winthrop, WA

Contact: John Rohrer, 541-996-4001

jrohrer@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

NRIS Wildlife

2016 Wildlife Program Accomplishments

In 2016, R6 Forests made slow but steady gains in NRIS 

Wildlife data entry, with several Forests concentrating on 

clean-up of legacy data and schema issues. Almost 4,000 

records were added to R6 NRIS Wildlife in 2016. Among the 

large datasets is the R6 white-headed woodpecker data. The 

2013 and 2014 data was added this summer, and the 2015-

2016 will be headed this winter. 

Still on the horizon is a new version of the database. 

Originally expected to be introduced in June 2016, the new 

version is now scheduled for release sometime this winter. 

The new release will change NRIS Wildlife from individual 

Forest schemas to a National schema. It will also add a cave 

flag, to protect sensitive cave data from accidental release in 

the event of a FOIA request, and fix some bugs.

One classroom training was held this year, and I would like 

to schedule another for winter 2016 or spring 2017, if the 

need is there. The Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area has 

graciously offered to host. 

I will be working on quality control for the dataset this winter, 

checking Forest’s records for draft/ready status, schema 

issues, etc. If you haven’t reviewed data that was entered 

or migrated from off-forest sources (like the WHWO, bat or 

eagle data), it would be good to clean that up- Thanks! 

Ann Glidden

R6 NRIS Wildlife Center of Excellence

Contact: aglidden @ 555-541-553,

aglidden@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

Olympic National Forest

2016 Amphibian and Reptile Center of Excellence

Betsy Howell on the Olympic National Forest functions as the 

"Center of Excellence" for amphibian and reptile conservation 

in Oregon and Washington. The primary duties under this 

position include:

• Serving as a liaison with the Northwest affiliate of 

Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC);

• Serving as the co-chair for NW PARC (2-year term begun 

in February 2015);

• Disseminating current conservation information on 

amphibian and reptile species to Region 6 National 

Forests.

• Participating in regular conference calls with the PARC 

Joint National Steering Committee and also with the USFS 

COEs from other regions.

PRODUCTS/PROJECTS

• Organized the 9th Annual Northwest PARC Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: “Conservation Across Borders.” This 

one-day symposium explored several themes and case studies pertaining to transboundary conservation and restoration 

mechanisms, examined current threats and policies surrounding legal and illegal wildlife trade, and highlighted the 

current knowledge on the spread of endemic and exotic pathogens. Presenters included individuals from the National 

Invasive Species Council, Idaho Fish & Game, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, San Francisco Zoo, Green Mountain College, U.S. 

Forest Service, Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Idaho Treasure Valley Herpetology Society, and Alberta Conservation 

Association. Fifty people attended the workshop. 

• Continued to serve as co-chair for NW PARC, which includes being a member of PARC’s Joint National Steering Committee, 

organizing quarterly NW PARC Steering Committee calls, coordinating the annual meeting, and managing the NW PARC 

website.

• Wrote an information sheet on Bsal, the salamander chytrid fungus, for National Forest websites: “Emerging Fungal 

Pathogens Threaten Wild Salamanders.”

Long-time PARC member Chuck Peterson of Idaho State University with Keynote 

Speaker Jamie Reaser of the National Invasive Species Council. Photo: Jamie Reaser

2016 NW PARC Annual Meeting, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Photo: Chuck Peterson

Olympic National Forest

1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW

Olympia, WA 98512

Contact: Betsy Howell, 360-956-2292

blhowell@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

 Full Curl Program & R6 Mountain Goat

Center of Excellence 2016 Accomplishments

Mark Penninger performed the duties of Full Curl Program 

Lead and Field Biologist throughout FY16.

Highlights of the Full Curl Program include:

• Assisted updating the MOU for the Hells Canyon Bighorn 

Sheep Restoration Initiative, secured signatures and 

delivered to all members of the Initiative;

• Technical assistance to the California Dept. of Fish & 

Game regarding mechanized work in wilderness areas;

• Technical assistance to the Umatilla NF, the Blue Mt 

Forest Plan Revision Team, and Shoshone NF regarding 

the state of the science on disease risks from pack goats;

• Technical assistance on a special use permit for the 

annual Rendezvous of the North American Pack Goat 

Association, and attended the event;

• Involved in the collaboration with APHIS-ARS on disease 

risks at wildlife/livestock interface;

• Provided updates from the Forest Service to the Bighorn 

Sheep Advocates group;

• Coordinated updating occupied bighorn/domestic sheep 

allotment maps;

• Provided guidance and consistency in the application 

of national direction from Aug. 19, 2011 and June 2012 

national memos;

• Provided technical assistance and support to a variety of 

planning activities using the risk of contact tool, including 

a public meeting on the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF;

• Continued involvement with the WAFWA Bighorn Sheep 

Working Group, including attendance at the summer 

WAFWA meeting in Reno, NV, and North American in 

Pittsburg, PA;

• Attended the Northern Wild Sheep & Goat Council 

symposium in Moscow, ID; 

• Keynote speaker at the Joint Annual Meeting of the 

Washington & Idaho Chapters of The Wildlife Society 

on the subject of collaboration in bighorn sheep 

conservation;

• Provided input for R-6 and from a national perspective for 

inclusion in a response to a Congressional request;

• Represented the FS on the Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep 

Restoration Initiative;

• Organized and staffed state-of-the-art booth at the 

Wild Sheep Foundation’s annual convention, providing 

exposure to >8,500 exhibit hall attendees; and

• Developed a program of work and proposed budget for 

the Full Curl Program for FY17.

Mountain Goat, Center of Excellence, summary of 

services:

• Technical contact for a National Park Service team 

conducting an EIS to address non-native goats on the OLY 

peninsula;

• Tracked reports of nuisance goats in Elkhorn Mountains, 

Oregon;

• Assisted with the annual mountain goat census in the 

Elkhorn Mountains with ODFW;

• Responded to inquiries about mountain goats from 

hunters and hikers; 

• Technical assistance on reintroduction of goats, and goat 

surveys on the Willamette and Deschutes NFs; and 

• Provided technical guidance on mountain goat issues to 

the RO and other FS units on request. 

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

1550 Dewey Ave, Suite A

Baker City, OR 97814

Contact: Mark Penninger 541 523-1285

mapenninger@fs.fed.us

Rocky Mountain bighorn ram in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon. 
for the greatest good

Upland Game Bird

2016 Wildlife Program Center of Excellence Accomplishments

The Sisters Ranger District Wildlife Biologist on the Deschutes 

National Forest functions as a "Center of Excellence" for 

upland game bird related partnerships within Oregon and 

Washington. The primary duties and accomplishments 

include:

National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) 

NWTF National Convention: Enhancing Collaboration 

Through Conservation Success – Presented on R6 

Collaborative Landscape Restoration Efforts, specifically the 

Blue Mountain Elk Initiative.

State Agency / USFS Save the Habitat Partnership 

Workshop - Partnership Tools & Success StoriesParticipated in a panel discussion on Stewardship 

Agreement Success in Region 6, Chief Tidwell opened the 

discussion.

Regional Update Presentation – Presented on Regional 

Accomplishments associated with NWTF/FS initiatives.

Making Tracks Steering Committee Member: Quarterly 

Meetings - Organized by Making Tracks National 

Coordinator Tracy Grazia. For FY 16 assisted with 

information requests from other steering committee 

members on various partnership agreements. Assist with 

the development “Right Tool Right Place” direction on FS 

initiatives and streamlining habitat restoration in the west.

Partnership Development

Support the NWTF Regional Biologist with stewardship 

projects. Assisted the Umatilla National Forest with the 

Popple Aspen Stewardship Project.

NWTF’s Superfund habitat enhancement process:

Developed a new process to supplement project funding with 

ODFW Turkey Tag funds. In FY 2016 projects were funded on 

the Ochoco, CRGNSA, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman (2). Acres 

improved; Direct 149 Indirect 890.

Other Upland Game Bird Coordination:

• Coordinate with Director of Conservation at Ruffed 

Grouse Society (RGS) National Headquarters to promote 

partnership projects in the Region. 

• Work with local FS Wildlife Bios to provide RGS with 

potential volunteer projects that assist with habitat 

improvement.

• Work with Dave Budeau ODFW Game Bird Program 

Coordinator on upland game bird census.

• Provide region specific wing bee data from harvested 

grouse and mt. quail in Oregon to FS biologists.

• Working with the new WDFW upland game bird 

coordinator to facilitate work between FS and WDFW.

Courtney Prescribed Burn, CRGNSA. Photo by Brett Carre.

Courtney Prescribed Burn, CRGNSA. Photo by Brett Carre

Deschutes National Forest

63095 Deschutes Market Road

Bend, OR 97701

Contact: Monty Gregg 541-549-7724

mgregg@fs.fed.us
for the greatest good

Ochoco National Forest

2016 R6 Greater Sage-grouse 

Center of Excellence Accomplishments

In FY2016 the Ochoco National Forest hosted the 

"Center of Excellence" (COE) for National Forests in 

Region 6 with greater sage-grouse and their habitat. 

Sage-grouse habitat occurs on 5 National Forests within 

the state of Oregon.

 

During the fall of 2016 the sage-grouse COE was 

transferred to Malheur National Forest. During this 

transition period representatives from both Forests 

participated in:

• Representation of the Forest Service at the Oregon 

SageCon Partnership meeting.

• Assisting other National Forests in Oregon with sagegrouse by distributing relevant information.

• Engaging in interagency communication and support 

to implementation of habitat conservation actions

• Preparation for the 2020 status review. SageCon Partnership Cooperators

Oregon Office of the Governor

Oregon Solutions

National Policy Consensus Center (PSU)

Burns-Paiute Tribe

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

BLM

NRCS

ODFW

USFWS

ODF/RFPAs

OWEB

Oregon Cattlemen’s Association

Association of Oregon Counties

Harney County

Lake County

Crook County

Baker County

Deschutes County

Union County

Malheur County

Oregon LCDC

TNC

Defenders of Wildlife

ONDA

ODOT

Audubon Society and many, many more partners

Ochoco National Forest

3160 NE 3rd St

Prineville, OR 97754

Contact: Dede Steele – 541-416-6605

dsteele@fs.fed.us

Photos from Upper Beaver 

Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project, 

Ochoco National Forest

By reducing the density of western juniper through thinning of conifers and burning 

of resulting fine fuels, forage and nesting resources for a multitude of wildlife 

species will greatly benefit.

Jackpot burning with low fire intensity and duration results in rapid recovery of 

vegetation
for the greatest good

Colville National Forest

2016 Woodland Caribou Center of Excellence

SNOW PATROLS: As in past winters, Forest Protection 

Officers (FPOs) completed weekend visitor contact patrols on 

snowmobile in the Colville National Forest (CNF) portion of 

the Selkirk Mountains Woodland Caribou Recovery Area. We 

completed 3 patrols in the winter of 2015-2016. 

As in recent years, we detected a small number of illegal 

entries by snowmobile riders onto Molybdenite Ridge, via a 

closed road. There were no other known incursions on high 

ridges in the Forest’s portion of the recovery area.

HUNTER CONTACT PATROLS: In Fiscal Year 2016, the 

East Zone Biologist and 3 other FPOs completed about 20 

weekend hunter contact patrols in the recovery areas for 

grizzly bears and caribou (which overlap). A primary objective 

of these patrols is to inform hunters about proper species 

identification, so a threatened or endangered species is not 

mistaken for a game animal. We also provide information 

(including brochures) on caribou ecology and recovery efforts.

CARIBOU MONITORING: The winter census conducted by 

biologists in British Columbia (BC) found that 12 caribou 

remained in the South Selkirk Mountains herd. BC continued 

to monitor satellite collared caribou in an attempt to 

determine causes of mortality. The CNF contributed $2,500 

towards monitoring flight time. 

PREDATOR MANAGEMENT: Methods to boost the caribou 

population are being discussed among the agencies and 

tribes involved with managing the herd. BC biologists 

continue to remove wolves to reduce predation pressure. 

Increasing the harvest of cougars in the ecosystem is being 

debated.

MATERNAL PENNING: This action would involve capturing 

and holding breeding females and their offspring until the 

calves are better able to escape predators. Some years ago 

the CNF assisted with the installation of a roughly 10 feet high 

by 200 feet long section of heavy fabric fencing hung from 

trees in Stagleap Provincial Park, BC. That project was a field 

test of fencing design, construction, and winter maintenance 

needs. If a maternal pen operation is initiated in 2017, we 

would assist with fence construction, lichen collection and / 

or other tasks as needed.

Colville National Forest

765 South Main Street

Colville, WA 99114

Contact: Mike Borysewicz – 509-448-7532 

Contact: Karen Honeycutt – 509-684-7224

Figure 2. Snow patroller. 

Figure 1: Informational materials related to caribou.
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Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online 

at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide 

in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit 

your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program. 

intake@usda.gov . 

for the greatest good