Protecting Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument: Status, Threats and Management Recommendations Compiled and Edited by Dennis C. Odion Odion Botanical Consulting and University of California, Santa Barbara and Evan J. Frost Wildwood Environmental Consulting Ashland, OR December 2002 1 Protecting Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument: Status, Threats and Management Recommendations Compiled and Edited by Dennis C. Odion Odion Botanical Consulting, and University of California, Santa Barbara and Evan J. Frost Wildwood Environmental Consulting Ashland, OR Prepared for the World Wildlife Fund Klamath-Siskiyou Regional Program Ashland, OR This project was supported by funds generously provided to the World Wildlife Fund from the Wyss Foundation, Bullitt Foundation, and Wilburforce Foundation Protecting Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . .3 Summary Table . 5 I. Plant Species and Communities Vegetation Patterns, Rare Plants and Plant Associations, by Richard Brock . 8 Mixed Conifer Forests, with an Emphasis on Late-Successional / Old-Growth Conditions, by Dominick A. DellaSala . 25 Chaparral and Other Shrub-Dominated Vegetation, by Dennis C. Odion . 38 II. Fish and Wildlife Species Birds of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, by Pepper W. Trail . 42 Peregrine Falcons, by Joel E. Pagel . 53 Butterflies and Moths, by Erik Runquist . 57 Aquatic Environments and Associated Fauna, by Michael S. Parker . 69 III. Key Ecosystem Processes Fire as an Object of Scientific Interest and Implications for Forest Management, by Evan J. Frost and Dennis C. Odion . 76 Landscape and Habitat Connectivity as an Object of Scientific Interest, by Dominick A. DellaSala . 92 IV. Appendices I. Presidential Proclamation, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument . 114 II. Contributor Biographies . 117 Protecting Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument 3 Introduction The primary objective of this document is to supply the USDI, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with outside expertise with regard to managing the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (hereafter referred to as “the monument” or “CSNM” by various authors). This expertise is provided by the most knowledgeable independent authorities who have considerable expertise with the monument’s unique attributes and biological resources. As explained in this report, the proposed management needs to be ecologically-based, and there is some new information regarding the “Objects of Scientific Interest” for which the monument was designated to protect. The specific objectives of this document are: 1. To provide a brief overview and state-of-knowledge on selected “Objects of Scientific Interest” (OSI) as identified in the Presidential Proclamation that established the monument (Appendix I); 2. To describe the status and condition of the OSIs in relation to ecological integrity on the monument and surrounding area; 3. To provide management recommendations consistent with protecting and restoring ecological integrity in the monument. 4. Offer evidence from independent researchers. The Bureau of Land Management has established the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) to help protect some of the nation's most remarkable and biologically diverse landscapes. This report is consistent with the mission of this new entity and providing assistance in achieving goals in common. The management guidelines herein follow directly from the intent of the Presidential Proclamation (Appendix I) and its mandate that preserving the OSIs shall take precedence over any other considerations (i.e. “shall be the dominant reservation”). The biological objects of interest specifically identified include: • A spectacular variety of rare and beautiful species of plants and animals • the rich mosaic of grass and shrublands • Garry and California black oak woodlands • Juniper scablands • Mixed conifer and white fir forests • Wet meadows, and riparian forests • The exceptional range of fauna • One of the highest diversities of butterfly species in the United States • Center of diversity for freshwater snails • Three endemic fish species • Important populations of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and ungulates • Important winter habitat for deer • Old-growth habitat crucial to the threatened northern spotted owl These OSIs occur in an area of unique geology, biology, climate and topography set in the interface of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou ecoregions, a true “biological crossroads.” Protecting Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument 4 In order to ensure the mandate to protect this “rich enclave of natural resources,” it is vital that management is ecosystem-based; that is, a balanced approach emphasizing interconnectedness and integrity of all species and communities across the landscape and the processes that have sustained them. Ecological integrity may be succinctly defined as, “A system’s wholeness, including presence of all appropriate elements and occurrence of all processes at appropriate rates” (Angermeier and Karr 1994). Indicators of ecological integrity include: 1) maintenance of native species, or lack of species extirpation 2) occurrence of natural processes, and 3) complex biophysical structure resulting from these processes. We believe that it is necessary for an agency such as BLM to have outside scientific assistance to best assure that the language in the Presidential Proclamation is strictly adhered. To protect OSIs, it is requisite for BLM to have independent scientific support for any management activities, demonstrating consistency with ecological integrity principles, BLM’s NLCS program and the mandate set forth in the Proclamation language, i.e. “activities that maintain or enhance the monument’s objects of interest shall be permitted.” Moreover, this support must necessarily come from experts on the ecology and systematics of the objects of interest. The local experts that contributed to this report should be considered in a scientific capacity for assisting BLM in implementing management approaches for the monument. The best strategy for maintaining the diverse array of biological objects of interest in the monument would be to provide the same processes and conditions that shaped and sustained the ecosystem over evolutionary time. This is not entirely possible due to lack of understanding and the realities, and, at the present time managing for human safety around homes interspersed in the monument landscape. For example, it is unclear what the monument area will be like once it adjusts to the present climate, which is warmer than most of the last millennia, and which is warming further (Millar and Wolfenden 1999). Despite these constraints, management can be improved by being more compatible with evolutionary history as best we know. The most significant threats to the ecological integrity of the monument are the accumulation of direct and indirect human disturbances that have occurred and are still occurring, in and immediately adjacent to the monument. Preventing additional human disturbance (and reducing the effects of past disturbance) generally will provide the best approach to maintenance of the objects of scientific interest. A common theme among the management recommendations included here is that the impacts of proposed treatments, especially those that are unprecedented in the evolutionary history of the flora and fauna, are not adequately considered or understood. Therefore, we applaud the idea of rigorously experimenting with treatments as mentioned in the preferred alternative. However, more specifics and scientific guidance are needed to ensure that experiments are designed, undertaken, and analyzed with sufficient rigor and proper hypothesis testing at the appropriate spatio-temporal scales. This guidance would also be invaluable to applying the results of experiments through the adaptive management process. Literature Cited Angermeier, P.L. and J.R. Karr. 1994. Biological integrity versus biological diversity as policy directives. Bioscience 44: 690-697. Millar, C. I. And W. B. Woolfenden. 1999. The role of climate change in interpreting historical variability. Ecological Applications 9: 1207-1216. Protecting Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument 5 Summary Table of Objects of Scientific Interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument addressed by authors in this report, with existing threats and recommended management actions for addressing these threats. Object of Scientific Interest Existing Threats Management Recommendations Rare/endemic plant species Habitat degradation from non- Enhance habitats and populations of rare species by (R. Brock) native weeds. containing the spread of invasive weeds and controlling weed populations where feasible. This will require increased restriction of vehicles and livestock grazing, as well as a well-funded weed eradication program. Initial focus should be on key problem areas, including the I-5 corridor. Rare/unique vegetation Active management activities (e.g. Adopt a three-tiered approach to management based on types and naturally diverse fuel reduction) that disturb level of available knowledge and risks of adverse impacts: vegetation mosaic vegetation types and patterns. • Ecological knowledge is unavailable: delay (R. Brock) management activities until research generates an understanding of community