Actions Designed to Reduce Risk to Cove Areas

"Core areas" are stream reaches that have been identified as having "good" populations of salmonids, "good" habitat or both. These reaches have been identified to provide information that can help agencies, watershed councils, SWCDs and landowners prioritize their actions for coho protection and restoration.

Core area maps have been developed for each coastal basin showing core areas for various species of salmonids, including coho, chinook, chum and steelhead. These maps represent a first cut toward identification of core areas, but the maps will evolve as new and better information is gathered.

Maps have been, or will be, provided to all watershed councils, SWCDs, agencies and major landowners. As watershed councils, SWCDs and landowners implement watershed assessment and analysis, core areas will receive emphasis.

Core area maps will be reviewed annually by ODFW and appropriate changes will be made. Updated maps will be distributed to the appropriate watershed councils, SWCDs, agencies and landowners.

Under ODFWIVB1, a key strategy for directing restoration actions will be to work "out" from core areas to assure project proximity to local wild stocks to allow rapid expansion into restored habitat. ODFW biologists working with watershed councils and the various "initiatives" will utilize this strategy whenever possible.

A number of significant agency actions/measures have been either prioritized toward or specifically directed at habitat within Core Areas. These are described below.

Actions/Measures Specific to Core Areas:

ODF 8: RIPARIAN HARDWOOD CONVERSIONS

Hardwood conversions allowed under the FPA will require an additional review process before implementation within core areas.

ODF 19: ADDITIONAL CONIFER RETENTION ALONG FISH-BEARING STREAMS IN CORE AREAS

OFIC members have voluntarily agreed to harvest no more than 25 percent of the conifer that are in excess of the standard basal area target in those situations when the actual stocking in the RMA exceeds the standard target.

ODF 20: LIMITED RMA FOR SMALL TYPE N STREAMS IN CORE AREAS

OFIC members will establish limited RMAs of 20 feet for small type N streams for the purpose or retaining snags and downed wood.

ODF 22: 25 PERCENT IN-UNIT LEAVE TREE PLACEMENT AND ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY RETENTION

This is a voluntary measure to retain up to 100 percent of the in-unit trees along Type N or F streams. OFIC members will voluntarily change the ratio of 50% conifer and 50% hardwood to 75% conifer and 25% hardwood when requested on a site-specific basis.

Priority given to implementation within Core Areas:

DSL: Will review scattered tracts of State Land Board lands to evaluate their coho habitat potential with priority to parcels within core areas.

ODF 1: ROAD EROSION AND RISK PROJECT

Industrial forest landowners have agreed to implement a voluntary program to identify risks from roads and to address those risks.

ODF 2: STATE FOREST LANDS ROAD EROSION AND RISK PROJECT

State forest landowners have agreed to implement a voluntary program on state-owned lands to identify risks from roads and to address those risks.

ODFWIB2 and ODF 4: STREAM HABITAT ASSESSMENTS

For the last three years, industrial forest landowners and state forest lands have contracted with ODFW to complete stream habitat surveys following modified Hankin and Reeves protocol (ODFW protocol).