Oregon Public Broadcasting

The latest plan for southern Oregon’s Elliott State Forest could result in a significant drop in nesting spots for the threatened Northern Spotted Owl, according to a federal analysis released Thursday. Rob Manning reports.

Federal officials commended Oregon Department of Forestry for thinking ahead, and managing for 15 species that aren’t on the endangered species list, but could be, soon.

But Phil Carroll with U.S. Fish and Wildlife says his agency’s draft environmental impact statement finds that ODF’s Elliott Forest plan could harm more than a third of spotted owl nesting areas.

Phil Carroll: “Seven of the existing 17 Northern Spotted Owl sites are found in the EIS to be of low potential for persistence.”

Persistence means survival. Outside factors could either hurt ot help protect other nesting sites.

That old plan and related environmental studies are the subject of a lawsuit filed last week by conservation groups.

Public comment is open into November.