GeomorphIS to Conduct Raptor Surveys on the Plumas National Forest

The USDA Forest Service (USFS) has issued GeomorphIS a task order under our Land Management Integrated Resources (LMIR), Blanket Purchase Order (BPA) to conduct raptor surveys for the Plumas National Forest Community Protection Project – Central and West Slope areas. A GeomorphIS-Tanner Environmental Services team will collect field data and report on the presence or absence of Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) and their nests in accordance with applicable Forest documents. The team will conduct the surveys using the following established protocols: California spotted owl, “Protocol for surveying for spotted owls in proposed management activity areas and habitat conservation areas”, US Forest Service, Region March 12, 1991 (Revised February 1993); and northern goshawk: “Survey methodology for Northern goshawks in the Pacific Southwest Region”, U.S. Forest Service. 14 May 2002. These surveys will provide data sufficient for informing management decisions and facilitate the implementation of Plumas National Forest’s Community Protection Project – Central and West Slope. The results of surveys will be used to identify appropriate measures to mitigate disturbance to the scoped species (based on confirmation of nest site or reproductive status) and to determine territory locations for management allocations within the boundaries of the project.