Opinion ID: 793549
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Threatened and endangered species: Mexican spotted owl

Text: 40 UEC finally contends that the Forest Service did not properly monitor the Mexican spotted owl, a threatened and endangered species. 2 The Forest Plan mandates that the Forest Service annually monitor by visual reconnaissance any threatened, endangered, and sensitive animals in the Fishlake National Forest to ensure no decrease attributed to management activities. 1 AR 000157 (Forest Plan at V-6). 41 The Forest Service conducted a Thousand Lakes Mountain survey for the Mexican spotted owl between 1991 and 1994, and no breeding pairs were documented at that time. Id. at 000070. Surveyors detected a single female in June and July 1991. Because only single birds were detected, the Forest Service concluded that incidental use by non-breeding individuals was occurring. Id. Due to the incidental use, the EA reported that [e]ffects to the Mexican spotted owl as a result of the Proposed Action [are] expected to be minimal. Id. at 000071. However, without more regular and complete quantitative data to monitor population trends, the Forest Service has not satisfied the monitoring provisions of the Forest Plan with respect to the Mexican spotted owl. See 16 U.S.C. § 1604(i).