NWFP MARBLED MURRELET AT-SEA POPULATION MONITORING FOR CONSERVATION ZONE 4 IN OREGON, 2025″

Project ID: F24AC02645

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $57,804

Total Funding: $57,804

Principal Investigator: Creighton, Jennifer

Agreement Technical Representative: Creighton, Jennifer

Abstract: AS PART OF THE NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN (NWFP) EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING, ANNUAL AT SEA SURVEYS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MURRELETS AND OF FOREST HEALTH OVER THE PAST NEARLY 25 YEARS. THESE SURVEYS NOT ONLY PROVIDE MONITORING FOR THE NWFP BUT PROVIDE THE BASELINE INFORMATION THE SERVICE USES IN CONSULTATIONS UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE ESA. THIS SURVEY EFFORT ENCOMPASSES THE PORTION OF CONSERVATION ZONE 4 LOCATED WITHIN SOUTHERN OREGON FROM COOS BAY TO BROOKINGS. KEY OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE THE COLLECTION OF SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AN ONGOING, LONG-TERM, RANGEWIDE EVALUATION OF MURRELET POPULATION STATUS AND TRENDS BY ESTIMATING OFFSHORE MURRELETS POPULATIONS, AS CALLED FOR BY THE NWFP. THE COMBINED SUITE OF POPULATION AND NESTING HABITAT MONITORING (COMPLETED THROUGH A SEPARATE ANALYSIS) HELPS INFORM PACIFIC NORTHWEST LAND MANAGERS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NWFP IN MEETING ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. CONTINUED MONITORING WILL FACILITATE THE UNDERSTANDING OF POPULATION STATUS AND TRENDS AS WELL AS TRACKING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSERVATION ACTIONS IN MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING MURRELET HABITAT AND POPULATIONS AND WHETHER THE NWFP IS SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDING NESTING HABITAT TO SUPPORT A STABLE AND WELL-DISTRIBUTED MURRELET POPULATIONS.