COEUR D'ALENE SALAMANDER CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 1 E. Frances Cassirer and Craig R. Groves Idaho Conservation Data Center Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game P.O. Box 25 Boise, ID 83707 m w^ David L, Genter Montana Natural Heritage Program 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620 August 1994 c^-vv * •• s 597.85 NllCDASCA 1994 1 <^>xut.(k-- Monlan.1 stale Library llllllllllllUlllilllllllllllllllUIIMIIII 3 0864 1004 7129 4 Cover art courtesy of Erica H. Craig, Tendoy, ID 83468 COEUR D'ALENE SALAMANDER CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT U.S.D.A. Forest Service Region 1 E. Frances Cassirer and Craig R. Groves^ Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game P.O. Box 25 Boise, ID 83707 David L. Genter Montana Natural Heritage Program 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620 August 1994 Preaeat addreu: Tlie Nature Conaervincy, Weaieni Heril^e Taak Fonx, 2060 BrcMdway, Suite 230, Bouldei, CX> 80302 FOREWORD Planning regulations 36 CFR 219.19 and 219.27 for the National Forest Management Act require that National Forest lands be managed to maintain viable populations of all existing native and desired non-native wildlife, fish, and plant species (USDA Forest Service, FSM 2601.2). Forest Service policy defines a viable population as one that has the estimated numbers and distribution of reproductive individuals to ensure persistence of the species throughout its existing range in the planning area, which is one or more identified national forests. Species recognized by the Forest Service as needing special management in order to meet this objective are those designated under the Endangered Species Act as threatened or endangered, candidate species under consideration for such designation, and sensitive species. Sensitive species are plants and animals identified by the Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern as evidenced by a significant current or predicted downward trend in population numbers or habitat capability that would reduce existing distribution (USDA Forest Service, FSM 2670.5). The Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) was designated a sensitive species in Region 1 of the Forest Service in 1987. Forest Service policy on sensitive species indicates that programs and activities are to be reviewed as part of the NEPA process to determine their potential effects. Management 11 objectives are to be established in conjunction with states when projects on National Forests may have a significant effect on sensitive species populations. This conservation assessment has been written to provide guidance needed to better achieve the goals of U.S. Forest Service sensitive species policy. Its purpose is to provide background information on the biology and ecology of the Coeur d'Alene salamander, recommend a monitoring strategy and management guidelines, and suggest areas where research is needed in order to implement more sound management practices. This assessment will be updated periodically as new information becomes available. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD i LIST OF TABLES V BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION 1 Species description 1 Status 2 Taxonomy 2 Range and distribution 3 Life history 5 Habitat use 6 Conservation genetics 8 MANAGEMENT 10 Potential threats and management concerns 10 Timber harvest 11 Road and trail construction 11 Fire 12 Water diversion 12 Pollution 12 Exotic species 12 Illegal collections 13 Management guidelines 13 Timber harvest 14 Timing 14 Protection zones 14 Watershed management 16 IV TABLE OF CONTEKTS (cont'd.) Management guidelines (cont'd) Road and trail construction 18 Fire 18 Chemical applications 19 Water diversion 19 MONITORING 19 RESEARCH 23 Population size estimation 25 Effects of timber harvest 27 Movements and dispersal 29 IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW 31 DELISTING AS SENSITIVE SPECIES 3 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 34 LITERATURE CITED 35 APPENDICES A. Occurrences of Coeur d'Alene salamander in Idaho and Montana, 1992 41 B. Location and status of known Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992 4 3 C. Location and status of known Coeur d'Alene salamander populations in Montana, 1992 52 D. Coeur d'Alene salamander Survey /Monitoring report form... 54 V List of Tiibles 1. Site management guidelines for Coeur d'Alene salamander sites on National Forest lands 16 2. Sites to be monitored annually (nonintrusively) for Coeur d'Alene salamanders 2 0 3. Monitoring schedule and guidelines for the Coeur d'Alene salamander sites 24 4. Partial list of Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat in scheduled timber sale areas 28 5. Known Coeur d'Alene salamander sites that have been logged 29 1 BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION Species description The Coeur d'Alene salamander was first described in 1939 from the northeastern end of Lake Coeur d'Alene in Kootenai County, Idaho (Slater and Slipp 1940) . It is one of only four salamander species known to occur in Idaho and Montana, and is the only lungless salamander (Plethodontidae) known from the northern Rocky Mountains (Nussbaum et al. 1983) . The salamander is black with a yellowish throat patch and a yellow, orange, green, or red stripe down the middle of the back. The stripe usually has scalloped edges but may have even edges in some animals. It is small, with a maxim;im snout-vent length (SVL) (body length without tail) of 62 mm (about 2.4 in). Coeur d'Alene salamanders have relatively long legs and short, slightly webbed toes. Females are usually slightly larger than males. Individuals under 44 mm (1.75 in) SVL are sexually immature (Lynch 1984). The Coeur d'Alene salamander is most easily confused with the long-toed salamander (Amby stoma macrodactvlum) by inexperienced observers. The long-toed salamander is the most common salamander in the northern Rockies. It is found in a variety of habitats from sagebrush deserts to alpine meadows often in and around ponds and lakes. Besides occupying different habitats than the Coeur d'Alene salamander, the long-toed salamander lacks a light throat patch and, as its name implies, has longer toes. Pictvires of both species can be found in Groves (1989b) (color) and Nussbaum et al. 1983 (black and white) . 2 Status Based on information suggesting vulnerability due to limited distribution and small population size, the Coeur d'Alene salamander was listed as a Category 2 candidate for threatened or endangered status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1983 (Federal Register 1984). Two ecological studies (Lynch 1984, Lynch and Wallace 1987, Wilson and Larsen 1988), and a number of field surveys (Diller and Wallace 1985; Wilson and Simon 1987; Center et al. 1988; Groves 1988, 1989a; Groves and Cassirer 1989; Wilson 1990, 1991, 1992) were conducted to provide further information on the biology and distribution of the species. As a consequence of interim surveys, the species was down-listed to Category 3 in 1989 (3C - more widespread or abundant than previously believed) (Federal Register 1989) , and subsequently removed from the candidate list in 1991. The Coeur d'Alene salamander is cxirrently listed as a sensitive species by Region 1 of the U.S. Forest Service and the Idaho state office of the Bureau of Land Management, because of its limited range (it is known only from northern Idaho, northwestern Montana and southern British Columbia) , and its specific habitat association (seeps, streams and waterfalls) . It is also a state Species of Special Concern in Idaho and Montana (Moseley and Groves 1992, Center 1992). Taxonomy The Coeur d'Alene salamander has been the subject of taxonomic controversy nearly since its initial discovery. Upon first 3 identification, Slater and Slipp (1940) classified it as a new species, Plethodon idahoensis. Lowe (1950) later reclassified it as a subspecies (idahoensis) of a western Washington Plethodon. Van Dyke's salamander (P. vandykei) . Some experts cited biochemical evidence that indicates the Coeur d'Alene salamander is a separate species (Highton and Larson 1979, Wallace 1986) , whereas others held that the biochemical evidence is weak, and that insufficient morphological variation exists to justify specific designation (Brodie 1970, Nussbaiim et al. 1983) . However, whether considered a species or a subspecies, the Coeur d'Alene salamander represents a unique genetic resource in Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia and should be managed as such (Wallace 1986) . We follow the most recent classif iction of Collins (1990) which is the species designation (P. idahoensis) . Range and distribution The Coeur d'Alene salamander is a remnant of a once diverse plethodontid salamander fauna in the northern Rocky Mountains that was likely reduced by climatic changes over the last 10-14 million years (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Tihen and Wake 1983). The species maintains a disjunct distribution at elevations up to 1,524 m (5,000 ft) in northern Idaho, northwestern Montana and southeastern British Columbia. The North Fork of the Clearwater and the St. Joe drainages in Idaho and the lower Clark Fork and Kootenai rivers in Montana comprise the core of the species distribution (Wilson and Simon 1987, Center et al. 1988; Groves 1988) (Appendix A) . The Selway drainage comprises the southern 4 limit of known range in Idaho (Wilson 1990) and Copper Creek on the Moyie River drainage the northern limit (Wilson et al. 1989) (Appendix B) . In Montana, the southern limit of known distribution is Sweathouse Creek in the Bitterroot River drainage (Wilson and Simon 1987) and the northernmost population is along the South Fork of the Yaak River (Appendix C) . Coeur d'Alene salamanders are currently known from only three locations in the British Columbia, all along the southeastern corner of Kootenay Lake (49°21'N, 116°44'W) (Holmberg et al. 1984, Orchard 1990, Char land 1992) . A falls, seep, or location along a stream where the species has been observed is considered a Coeur d'Alene salamander site. The Idaho Conservation Data Center catalogs each site separately. The Montana Natural Heritage Program combines groups of sites occurring within 1-3 km (0.6-1.9 mi) that appear to be interconnected by suitable habitat as distinct populations and classifies them as small, medium or large (Appendix C) . Keeping in mind these differences in definitions, 192 sites of occurrence have been documented in the U.S., 28 in Montana and 164 in Idaho, (Appendices A, B, C) . Ninety-five percent (183) were extant in the latest survey (most were surveyed in 1987 or later by the Montana Natural Heritage Program or the Idaho Conservation Data Center) (Appendices B and C) . Nine (5%) are of unknown status (no salamanders found in most recent survey, possibly due to suboptimal survey conditions, or difficulty in finding historical locations) . Most known sites or populations (87%) occur on lands 5 administered by the U.S. Forest Service, but these data are biased by the fact that most surveys have been conducted on National Forest system lands. Although not all localities of occurrence have been identified, the southern, eastern, and western edges of distribution are likely limited by lack of moisture, discontinuous geologic formations, and high temperatures. Few surveys have been conducted in British Columbia, but the species was likely eliminated from most of the province during the last ice age. The northern limit of current distribution probably represents the extent of successful recolonization of suitable habitat (Lynch 1984) . Life history Coeur d'Alene salamanders are adapted to a severe environment. The salamanders are usually only above ground at night during moist weather in the spring and fall (Nussbaum et al. 1983) , although at some sites salamanders exhibit nocturnal surface activity throughout the summer. Summer surface activity in seeps is negatively correlated with high daytime temperatures and days since last rain (Wilson and Larsen 1988) . Overall, the salamanders may spend up to seven months of the year underground in cool, moist interstitial spaces between rocks to avoid desiccation in summer and freezing in winter. This extensive underground activity presents a major challenge to research and monitoring. When above ground, Coeur d'Alene salamanders feed primarily on 6 insects and other invertebrates (Wilson and Larson 1988) . They appear to be opportunistic feeders and generally restrict foraging activities to moist spray zones, seeps, or streamside rocks and vegetation although they may venture beyond these areas during rainy periods. Coeur d'Alene salamanders mate above ground in late summer and fall (August-October) and, to a lesser extent, in spring (April and May) (Lynch 1984) . After a courtship ritual of an hour or more, the male deposits a spermatophore with a sperm cap which the female picks up with the cloaca (Lynch and Wallace 1987) . Females store sperm up to nine months before fertilizing eggs. An average of six eggs are deposited in April or May, presumably in underground rock crevices, although no nest sites have been found in the wild. The young emerge in mid-September (Lynch 1984). Neonates apparently grow more slowly than other Plethodon. Growth probably occurs in spurts associated with wet weather in the spring and fall. Male Coeur d'Alene salamanders reach sexual maturity at 3.5 years of age and females at 4.5 years, but some individuals may delay breeding. Males mate every year, while females mate in alternate years (Lynch 1984) . Habitat use All plethodontid salamanders respire through their skin and lose water to the environment through evaporation and are therefore restricted to cool, damp environments. Because Coeur d'Alene salamanders may live in the harshest climate of any 7 northwestern Plethodon (Nussbaum et al. 1983) , they are highly dependent on the thermal and hydric stability provided by wet habitats in otherwise inhospitable svirroundings . For this reason, Coeur d'Alene and Van Dyke's salamanders are closely tied to water and are considered among the most aquatic Plethodon (Brodie and Storm 197 0) . Coeur d'Alene salamanders have been found in three major types of habitat: springs or seeps, waterfall spray zones and edges of streams. Seventy-six percent of known locations are classified as seeps, 6% as waterfalls, and 17% as streams. One percent (two sites) are in abandoned mine shafts (Appendices B and C) . However, the relative nvunber of locations in each type is biased by differences in survey efficiency and probably does not reflect the importance of the different habitats. The abundance of seep locations is at least partly due to the relative ease of surveying roadside seeps. Streams and waterfalls are often less accessible, particularly at night. Salamanders are most difficult to find in streamside habitat, where they are usually observed underneath moist rocks on the banks adjacent to the water. Searches of 30 minutes to find a salamander at a stream site dviring daylight are not uncommon (Groves 1988) . Coexir d'Alene salamander sites are generally located in coniferous forest, but are not restricted to a particular overstory species or aspect. Populations have been found in areas with ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) , Douglas-fir fPseudotsuqa menziezii) , western larch (Larix occidentalism , 8 western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and western hemlock (Tsuqa heterophyl la ) overstories (Groves 1988) at all aspects. Ninety percent of 99 Idaho sites where habitat data have been collected were in areas of greater than 25% canopy cover and only two (both seeps) were in an area with 10% cover or less. Forest cover may be more important near stream sites than seep sites. Average cover at streamside sites (83% + 15%) was significantly greater (Mann-Whitney U, P = 0.005) than at seep locations (57% + 5%) , although only seven stream sites were measured. Minimum canopy cover measured at stream sites was 42%. Terrain at sites was typically steep, with average slopes of 62% (range 10 - 90%) (Groves 1988, Wilson 1991). Known populations occur in association with sharply fractured rock formations (used for underground refugia) from 488 m (1,600 ft) to 1,524 m (5,000 ft) in elevation. This fractured rock is often found in the Belt Rock formation but can also occur in talus and in other geologic types (Wilson and Simon 1987; Groves and Cassirer 1989) . The species is found in conjunction with both persistent and inteirmittent surface water. Thus, it is possible to locate salamanders at a wet site in the spring, yet be unable to find any animals at the same site later in the summer when the site is dry on the surface. Conseirvation genetics Genetic evidence indicates there is little, if any exchange between widely separated (> 100 km; 62 mi) Coeur d'Alene salamander populations (Wallace 1986) . However, the extent of 9 dispersal between adjacent sites is unknown. Because Coeur d'Alene salamanders are typically aquatic, they are restricted in movements over terrestrial habitats, particularly in arid forests or areas with little canopy cover. Small, isolated populations are at risk of extinction from four categories of stochastic events: genetic, demographic, environmental, and natural catastrophes. Allendorf and Leary (1986) provide an extensive review of the literature linking heterozygosity and fitness, both in species and populations. Small populations tend to lose variation by genetic drift more rapidly than larger populations (Lacy 1987) . Similarly, they are more susceptible to catastrophic events (e.g., fire, floods) which eliminate or alter habitat and kill individuals. Inbreeding in small populations has been shown to contribute to inbreeding depression and lead to numerous deleterious effects (Ralls et al. 1986) . That Coeur d'Alene salamander populations are often small and and apparently isolated (apparently because dispersal capacity is unknown) is of concern for their continued viability. Long-term survival of the species will require preserving the genetic diversity found throughout its range. It is neither feasible nor likely necessary to preserve every population to meet this objective. However, adequate management will require a better understanding of how genetic variation is distributed, within and among populations (Allendorf and Leary 1986) . Recent investigations of geographic variation in the Olympic 10 salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus) indicate that it is highly fragmented throughout its range in isolated populations with little or no gene flow among the populations (Good et al. 1987) . If such a situation is revealed by genetic analyses of the Coeur d'Alene salamander, the current conservation strategy may need revision to reflect the added significance of unique populations. Of primary concern is that the species retain sufficient genetic variability to allow future evolution. This is particularly true for a relict species which may be limited by several environmental-physiological barriers. Reducing the present genetic variation could restrict the species' ability to respond to changing environmental conditions. MANAGEMENT Potential threats and management concerns There is rising global concern about declining amphibian populations. Amphibians are thought to be sensitive bioindicators of environmental change because of their highly permeable skin, central trophic position, and occurrence in fragmented but interconnected populations (Wake and Horowitz 1990, Wyman 1990) . Therefore, status of salamander populations is one indicator of the overall health of an ecosystem. Specific threats to the Coeur d'Alene salamander include: timber harvest, road and trail construction, water diversion projects, pollution, introduction of exotic species, fire, and illegal collecting. Impacts to the salamander should be assessed when any of these activities occur in Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 11 Timber harvest Timber harvest could potentially affect Coeur d'Alene salamanders in a number of ways including increasing sedimentation, removal of shading, and altering groundwater flow. Sedimentation from logged areas may fill interstitial habitat in and adjacent to streams (Corn and Bury 1989) and render those habitats inaccessible to Coeur d'Alene salamanders or aquatic insects, their primary food (Roby et al. 1977) . Removal of overstory canopy could modify water temperature and affect salamanders or their prey (Brown and Krygier 1970) . Elimination of canopy cover between salamander sites could reduce or terminate movement of salamanders between sites, increase fragmentation of populations, and, consequently, increase the likelihood of localized extinctions. Finally, on a landscape level, logging (and reading) alter watershed functions by increasing total water yield, increasing peak spring flows, and reducing low summer flows. Post-logging changes in the water table could flood or dry up Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat, even if no activities occur in the immediate vicinity of sites. Road and trail construction Sedimentation and watershed alterations caused by road construction could have effects similar to or even worse than that of timber harvest. Blasting or quarrying talus for road construction near seeps can also eliminate habitat and kill salamanders. For salamanders foraging at roadside seeps, traffic mortality may be a factor, although no data are available. 12 Fire Although Coeur d'Alene salamanders have evolved in an environment that has periodically burned, elimination of canopy cover between sites by prescribed fire, compounded with logging, could unnaturally terminate exchange of individuals between sites and increase fragmentation and the likelihood of extinction. Prescribed burns in fall and early spring could also disturb breeding activities. Fires may also affect water quality through sedimentation, and chemical changes such as increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorous (Belt et al. 1992) . Water diversion Alteration of stream flows by dams or diversions may drown salamanders and flood habitat, or dry up downstream sites. Wells could lower the water table and dry up salamander habitat. Blasting associated with water diversion projects could directly kill salamanders and could potentially eliminate subterranean habitat. Pollution Salamanders are vulnerable to mortality from pollution such as acid rain and pesticides, herbicides, slurry air drops for fire suppression, or other toxic chemicals, including those in roadside runoff. Exotic species Introduction of exotic amphibian, fish or other species could reduce salamander populations if they prey on salamanders (Collins et al. 1988), or compete for food or space. 13 Illegal collections Idaho Department of Fish and Game regulations prohibit collecting of Coeur d'Alene salamanders except by permit. In Montana, the salamander is classified as an unprotected nongame species and may be collected without a permit. There appears to be no problem associated with over-collecting or illegal capture of Coeur d'Alene salamanders at this time. However, individual sites may not withstand extensive collecting; this activity will have to be closely monitored by the Forest Service and state wildlife agencies. Management Guidelines Although the Coeur d'Alene salamander is locally abundant, it is limited in range and ecological amplitude. Restricted mobility and increasing habitat fragmentation make the Coeur d'Alene salamander susceptible to local extirpation. Sites located off Forest Service land receive little, if any, protection from land management activities. Therefore, special management and attention are necessary to maintain viable populations on National Forest lands. All Coeur d'Alene salamander sites on National Forest system lands, except for those used in research, will be completely protected from activities which have been listed above as potential threats to the population. To ensure adequate protection, all potential habitat in areas scheduled for timber harvest, road construction, prescribed burns, chemical applications, or stream flow alterations within the known range 14 of occurrence will be surveyed using methods outlined in this guide prior to project implementation. The following cruidelines will be implemented when salamanders are present. Timber harvest Timing Timing of timber harvest around salamander sites will be planned to avoid periods of above-ground salamander activities. Timber harvest will be conducted from November - March. Harvest could also occur during July and August if salamanders are not active above ground at the affected site during this period. Protection zones Streamside protection zones can buffer streams from sedimentation, nutrient flow, temperature modifications and flooding caused by timber harvest (Newbold et al. 1980, Murphy et al. 1986, Beschta et al. 1987, Hartman et al. 1987, Belt et al. 1992) . Both Idaho and Montana have mandated stream protection zones, as do some Forests. However, the seeps and small, high gradient and intermittent streams that provide most of the known Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat receive minimal protection under these guidelines that are based primarily on protecting downstream water quality, rather than on maintaining high quality on-site habitat in these areas. For instance, the Idaho Forest Practices Act (Title 38, Ch. 13, Idaho Code) denotes a stream protection zone of 1.5 m (5 feet) along headwater or minor drainages (class II streams) . The Kootenai Forest Plan (USDA Forest Service 1991) requires streamside management zones of 7.6 15 m (25 feet) or more on smaller intermittent or ephemeral 33333streans (Class IIIB) . The maximum protection approach (Belt et al. 1992, p. 24) would be best for designing buffer strips at salamander sites. This approach involves calculating the optimum buffer strip characteristics necessary to satisfy each goal of the stream protection zone: elimination of sediment and nutrient flow, maintaining moderate water temperatvires , sustaining aquatic invertebrate commvmities, and conserving groundwater storage. The buffer strip with characteristics which would accomplish all goals is then chosen for the site. Geology, slope, aspect, type of logging and extent of previous logging and reading upstream of the site all influence the size of buffer strip required to accomplish these objectives. In absence of data on the relationships between these factors, a minimvm protection zone of 30 m (100 ft) (Newbold et al. 1980) will be maintained around all Coeur d'Alene salamander sites (Table 1) . At least 60% canopy cover will be retained in the protection zone over seep sites (Table 1) . If 60% canopy cover or less is currently present at a seep then no trees may be removed. Stream and waterfall sites will be protected with a 30-m (100 ft) no-activity buffer on all sides (including both sides of the stream) . No slash or prescribed burning will occur in the protection zone, and any trees removed from the seep protection zone will be felled away from the site and vmderstory vegetation will be retained. This protection zone shall be increased where necessary due to 16 unstable watershed or riparian conditions, or previous degradation of sites. Adequacy of these protection zones will be evaluated (see research section) and modified as appropriate. Table 1. Site management guidelines for the Coeur d'Alene salamander on National Forest lands. Site type Protection zone requirements Timing restrictions Seep Stream or waterfall 30 m (100 ft) buffer around site, maintain canopy cover of 60%, leave understory vegetation, no heavy equipment in buffer, fell logs away from salamander site and remove with winchlines and cables, no burning in buffer, no pesticide or herbicide application. No roads in buffer, roads above sites located at least 100 m (328 ft) from site, leave talus at base of road cuts. same as seep except no logging to occur in buffer Logging units containing salamander sites harvested in November-March if possible, or in July or August. Prescribed burns or chemical applications in areas surrounding salamander sites scheduled in July or August. same as seep Watershed management Watershed guidelines on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (review draft, Idaho Panhandle National Forests 1992) and the Kootenai National Forest (S. R. Johnson, pers. comm.) include recommendations for limiting increases in peak (spring) flows to 0-20% depending on channel stability using the following guidelines: Harvest: Avoid concentration of harvest activities in headwater subdrainages. 17 Use partial cutting which maintains 85% of pre- harvest canopy cover or greater. Scatter openings and limit size to 0.2 ha (0.5 acres) . Maintain buffers of 30 m (100 ft) along all streams and provide for recruitment and retention of woody debris in the stream and riparian area. Encourage winter logging as well as use of FMC type low ground pressure tracked vehicles. Roads: Minimize road construction, and avoid roads up drainage bottoms, concentrate road systems on mid- slope or ridges. Restrict frequency of stream crossings, provide adverse grades in and out of stream crossing and where feasible, bridge streams instead of using culverts. Provide adequate drainage including frequent relief culverts, capable of passing 50-year flood events with no head in the culvert inlet. Avoid building roads in unstable land types. Maintain roads and use seasonal road closures to prevent deterioration. All watersheds containing Coeur d'Alene salamanders on National Forest system lands should be managed in accordance with these guidelines. Headwater drainages and subdrainages in particular should be protected because these are often where salamander habitat is located and effects of logging activities 18 may be magnified in these areas. Detrimental conditions in headwaters will also affect downstream habitat (Bury et al. 1991a) . Watersheds already showing signs of stress (condition yellow) as determined by an index such as the Riffle Armor Stability Index (RASI) (Idaho Panhandle National Forests 1992) or by professional judgement, should be managed so that increases in normal peak runoff due to management activities will be no greater than 5%. No increases in normal peak runoff as a result of management activities should occur in watersheds out of equilibrium (condition red) . Road and trail construction Forest Service roads will be routed around salamander sites. To minimize sedimentation and disturbance, roads located above salamander sites will be located no closer than 100 m (328 ft) (Ketcheson and Megahan 1990) ; roads located below salamander sites will be located no closer than 30 m (100 ft) . No road widening will be undertaken that might impact current populations or habitat. Talus rubble will be left at the base of road cuts near salamander sites to provide cover and foraging habitat. State and federal agency biologists will work closely with state highway departments to achieve similar management objectives on non-Forest Service lands. Fire Slash burns adjacent to salamander sites will be conducted in July and August to minimize disturbance to habitat, movements, and breeding activities in the spring and fall. Protection zones 19 (30 m; 100 ft) around salamander sites will not be burned. Prescribed burns within watersheds known to contain Coeur d' Alene salamanders should be avoided if possible, particularly in areas upstream to known locations. Chemical applications Toxic chemicals that will enter the surface or ground water at or near known Coeur d' Alene salamander sites should not be applied. Nontoxic chemicals that could potentially reach salamander sites will be applied during dry periods in July and August when salamander above-ground activity is reduced. Forest Service personnel will furnish information on location of roadside salamander sites to county weed control specialists, where applicable, in order to avoid spraying these areas. Water diversion No dams or water diversions shall be constructed which could flood or dessicate Coeur d' Alene salamander sites. MONITORING To assure the maintenance of viable populations of Coeur d'Alene salamanders across their range, a comprehensive monitoring program will be initiated. Regular population and habitat assessment provides valuable information on causal mechanisms and effects of various disturbances. For salamanders, these may be global (climate change) , regional (acid precipitation, air quality) , or local (fire, timber harvest, road or hydro development) . It is particularly important to monitor populations in a managed landscape to assess various impacts of 20 land management activities. Plethodontid salamanders have proven difficult to monitor for population size and trends (Center et al. 1991, Scott and Ramotnik 1992) . Surveys themselves can also be destructive to salamander habitat. We recommend a comprehensive monitoring agenda that addresses trends in habitat condition, presence or absence of salamanders, and possible trends in population size and status, while minimizing monitoring effects on salamander habitat. Monitoring for the overall persistence of the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Table 2) will be accomplished by annually surveying sites in selected, accessible, areas of occurrence distributed Table 2. Sites to monitor annually (nonintrusively) for Coeur d'Alene salzuuanders. Site name Location Forest Ranger District Lochsa River T34N, R8E Clearwater Lochsa Quartz Creek T40N, R8E Clearwater North Fork Quartz Creek, 161 T4 0N, R8E Clearwater North Fork Rock Creek T40N, R6E Clearwater North Fork N . Fk . C 1 earwat er , 159 T41N, R7E Clearwater North Fork N. Fk. Clearwater, 160 T41N, R7E Clearwater North Fork St. Joe River #2 T45N, R4E St. Joe Avery St. Joe River #3 T45N, R4E St. Joe Avery St. Joe River #4 T45N, R5E St. Joe Avery Koocanusa - north T34N, R2 9W Kootenai Rexford Kootenai Falls - east T31N, R32W Kootenai Libby Kootenai Falls - west T31N, R3 3W Kootenai Three Rivers 21 across the species' range. Sites will be located and flagged during daylight, prior to surveys. Flagging will be removed when surveys are completed. During the first year of surveys. Forest Service personnel will take pictures of each survey site, delineate on the pictures the specific area to be surveyed along with a hand-drawn sketch of the site, and provide detailed directions (with map) on how to get to the svirvey site(s) in a permanent file. Surveys will be conducted in the evening (after sunset) during the cool, wet periods of May through June during or one day after rain, when evening air temperatures are above 7°C (48°F) . Searches will be conducted by looking on rocks, moss, woody debris and in rock crevices with illumination within a specific measured area containing the known site of occurrence. Impacts to sites from monitoring will be minimized by not moving rocks, moss and other material dxiring the search. Only animals located on the surface will be counted. Time-constrained sxirveys will be conducted at each site (Corn and Bury 1990) . For small seeps whose total wet area can be seen by one person standing in one place (e.g. < 100 m^; 1,075 ft^) , surveys should be conducted for 20 person-minutes (one person for 20 minutes or two people for 10 minutes) . For larger seeps or sites that might consist of a small cascading stream and adjacent wet areas, searches will be conducted for 40-person minutes (Table 3) . Efforts should be made to svirvey all moist habitat at each site. 22 The following information will be noted for each survey site: site name, location (TRS) , date, time, air temperature (start and finish) , water temperature, area of habitat (measure with tape during daylight if possible) , number of salamanders greater than 44 mm (1.75 in.) SVL (adults), number of salamanders less than 44 mm (1.75 in.) SVL (juveniles), area searched (if different than area of habitat) , time spent searching (20 versus 40 minutes) , name(s) of observer(s), and comments on disturbance to site (see Appendix D for survey /monitoring form) . Monitoring forms will be sent to the Montana Natural Heritage Program or the Idaho Conservation Data Center, as appropriate. This monitoring is designed primarily to measure salamander presence/ absence. Although population trend may be suggested based on numbers of salamanders found under controlled conditions during a time- constrained search, this cannot be validated with the current data available and will be the subject of research investigations (described below) . Sites of occurrence where salamanders are not found will be revisited during spring or during late September or early October in similar weather conditions. Searches will be conducted as discreetly as possible. Locations of salamander sites should not be published or widely distributed to avoid potential impacts from indiscriminate collecting or vandalism. In addition to annual surveys at selected sites, all known sites will be monitored every 10 years. Search protocol will be similar to that of annual searches except that searches will also 23 include looking for salamanders under rocks, moss and logs, and stream sites will be surveyed for 40 minutes (Table 3) . If no salamanders are found at a site, searches will be conducted again the following year and each subsequent year until the site is verified, or determined to be extirpated (at least five consecutive years of proper examination) . Survey and monitoring at sites in areas already scheduled for logging or other management activities will be incorporated into the biological evaluation of the management activity. Sites will be monitored at least one year prior to and three consecutive years after activities occur (Table 3) . These sites will then continue to be monitored at 10-year intervals under the extensive monitoring protocol. This monitoring will be incorporated into research on the effects of timber harvest on the salamander. RESEARCH Although much has been learned about the Coeur d'Alene salamander in the last decade, several management questions have yet to be answered. Specific questions critical to effective management of this species by the Forest Service are: 1. methods of reliable population estimation; 2. effects of timber harvest and other management activities; 3 . movements of individuals and genetic variability among sites. This research can be accomplished cooperatively by the National Forests and the Forest Service Research Stations and/ or 24 Table 3. Monitoring schedule and guidelines for Coeur d'Alene salamander sites. Type Interval Criteria Methodology Nonintrusive annually Extensive every 10 years Experimental and control 1 year before and annually for 3 years after management activities occur , then included in extensive surveys selected accessible sites located across the species' range all sites sites potentially affected by logging or other management activities Nocturnal searches of the surface during spring or fall, during or one day after rain, nighttime temperatures above 7°C (48°F) , for 20- 40 minutes per site same environmental conditions as for nonintrusive searches but include moving surface material to look for salamanders under rocks , logs or vegetation, stream sites surveyed for 40 minutes same as extensive surveys 25 through contracting with universities. Natural Heritage Programs, or other qualified organizations. Population size estimation Determining the number of Coeur d'Alene salamanders at a site is not straight forward. Substantial habitat exists underground and not all or even a fixed percentage of salamanders are above ground on any given night. In some cases, underground habitat availability may be more limiting to salamanders than above-ground conditions (Center et al. 1988) . One potential method of population estimation would involve establishing a rarefaction experiment by carefully removing salamanders under controlled conditions from selected sites and holding them (preferably in a facility in the field) until no more salamanders are found at the site (Groves 1989a) . A curve could then be established based on diminishing returns as the salamanders are removed, whereby the actual nxomber of salamanders at a site could eventually be predicted from a few nights of removals. During application of this procedure as a mitigation measure for major highway construction at U.S. Highway 2 near Libby, Montana, during the fall of 1988 (Center 1989) the curve had only a small negative slope over seven nights of collecting. There were two factors that seemed to complicate the population estimate: drought and early, cold temperatures. The combination of these adverse conditions would limit the number of salamanders out foraging or breeding on any given night. Thus, temperature, 26 humidity and rainfall measurements would have to be incorporated into any rarefaction experiment. The characteristics of the site may have also influenced the results in this case. The site is large, with extensive areas of interconnected, potential habitat. This population estimation technique may be more effective in smaller, isolated populations with less possibility of immigration of salamanders from surrounding areas during removal. Mark-recapture by clipping toes has also been used to estimate population size at some sites but has been found to be of limited value (Lynch 1984) . Mark-recapture has been difficult to effectively employ with western Plethodon, largely due to the regeneration of small appendages (B. Bury, pers. comm.). Lynch (pers. comm.) and Groves (unpubl. data) found that marking by clipping feet resulted in apparent high rates of mortality in the Coeur d'Alene salamander. Some other methods that have been successfully used to individually mark eastern Plethodon are subcutaneous injection of acrylic polymer (Woolley 1973, Gergits and Jaeger 1990) and application of powdered flourescent pigment (Nishikawa and Service 1988, Nishikawa 1990). PIT tags may also offer potential for marking adult Coeur d'Alene salamanders, although initial experiments have not been promising (Wilson, unpubl. data) . Experimentation on captive animals and further literature review should be conducted to explore marking techniques. These marking techniques are needed not only for estimating numbers, but also to obtain estimates of annual fecundity and mortality for population viability assessments. 27 Methods of population estimation conducted in the wild should be limited to select, dense populations in the North Fork of the Clearwater and St. Joe River drainages in Idaho and along the Kootenai River drainage in Montana. Effects of timber harvest Studies of the effects of timber harvest on amphibians in the states of Washington, Oregon and California indicate that some species of salamanders are associated with older forests and are absent or less abundant in logged areas (Bury 1983, Bury and Corn 1988a, Herrington and Larsen 1985, Raphael 1988, Welsh 1990, Bury et al. 1991b). Some species, such as the Olympic salamander (Rhvacotriton olympicus) probably cannot persist in clear-cut areas and must recolonize from adjacent forested sites (Bury and Corn 1988b) . The primary immediate habitat changes associated with logging that affect amphibians associated with streams appear to be: changes in water temperature, increased sedimentation, changes in invertebrate populations (Bury and Corn 1988b) and alterations in stream flow and water table. The degree to which these affect amphibian populations varies with stream gradient, geomorphology, climate and the adaptability of the species or population (Hall et al. 1978, Murphy et al. 1981, Good et al. 1987) . Groves (1988) noted that some populations of Coeur d'Alene salamanders appeared to persist after logging activity, at least in the first few years following harvest activities. Different types of populations (seeps, streams and falls) may differ in 28 Table 4. Partial list of Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat in scheduled timber sale areas. Site Name Forest District Cedar Creek St. Joe Avery Kyle Creek St. Joe Avery Siwash Creek St. Joe Avery Blue Grouse St. Joe Avery Sister's Creek St. Joe Avery Beaver Creek Clearwater North Fork Broom Creek Clearwater North Fork Cougar Creek Clearwater North Fork Dog Creek Clearwater North Fork Fix Creek Clearwater North Fork Grizzly Creek Clearwater North Fork Hidden Creek Clearwater North Fork Len Creek Clearwater North Fork Leuty Creek Clearwater North Fork Pear Creek Clearwater North Fork Quartz Creek 1 Clearwater North Fork Raft Creek Clearwater North Fork Rock Creek Clearwater North Fork Salmon Creek Clearwater North Fork Sourdough Creek Clearwater North Fork Sousie Creek Clearwater North Fork Steep Creek Clearwater North Fork Syringa Creek Clearwater North Fork their tolerance of logging activity, and various logging practices probably have different effects on salamanders and salamander habitat. Effects of logging should be examined by 29 surveying sites (Table 4) under different harvest regimes for salamander presence before and after scheduled timber sales (Table 3) . Adjacent unlogged populations in similar habitat types should be protected and monitored as controls. Several known Coeur d'Alene salamander populations have already been exposed to logging (Table 5) . These should continue to be regularly monitored. Surveys could also be conducted to examine current salamander presence in logged and unlogged drainages. Concurrent data should be collected on timber management technique (clearcut, select cut, buffer width) , percent of drainage logged, water temperature, ambient temperature, substrate size, cobble embeddedness , canopy cover, slope, stream gradient and aspect. Table 5. Known Coeur d'Alene salamander sites that have been logged . Site Name Type Ownership Bird Creek/ St. Joe River stream ST. JOE N.F. Benton Creek seep ARMY CORPS Benton Butte seep ID DEPT LANDS W. Fork Benton Cr. stream POTLATCH Big Hoodoo Mtn. stream KOOTENAI N.F. Big Hole Peak seep LOLO N.F. Movements and dispersal Determining the extent of movements of salamanders among sites is 30 critical to understanding the population dynamics and stability of the species. For instance, what is the potential for recolonization of impacted sites? How important are habitat conditions between sites (corridors) for dispersal? How does elimination of a site contribute to genetic isolation of adjacent sites? What contribution does each site make to the viability of the metapopulation? These questions could be addressed by a study of the genetic relatedness of salamanders within a site and among sites. Such a study has been initiated by the Montana Natural Heritage Program in cooperation with the University of Montana. Other possible methods include marking and following individuals at sites in close proximity (see population estimation section for discussion of marking) , or attempting to remove all salamanders from selected sites and examining recolonization rates. 31 IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW Nez Perce National Forest ANNUALLY (beginning in 1994) 1. Conduct clearance surveys and implement monitoring for projects in potential Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 1997 2. Begin 10-year monitoring. Clearwater National Forest ANNUALLY (beginning in 1994) 1. Conduct nonintrusive monitoring at selected sites along the North Fork Clearwater River on the North Fork Ranger District and the Lochsa River on the Lochsa District. 2. Conduct clearance surveys and implement monitoring for projects in potential Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 1994 3. Confer with Idaho Conservation Data Center on potential sites for population estimation and movements. 1997 4. Begin 10-year monitoring. Idaho Panhandle National Forests ANNUALLY (beginning in 1994) 1. Conduct nonintrusive monitoring at selected sites along the St. Joe River on the Avery Ranger District. 2. Conduct clearance surveys and implement monitoring for projects in potential Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 32 1994 3 . Confer with Idaho Conservation Data Center on potential sites for population estimation and movements. 1997 4. Begin 10-year monitoring. Kootenai National Forest ANNUALLY (beginning in 1994) 1. Monitor sites along Koocanusa Reservoir on the Rexford Ranger District and Kootenai Falls on the Libby and Three Rivers Ranger Districts. 2 . Conduct clearance surveys and implement monitoring for projects in potential Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 1997 3. Begin 10-year monitoring at all sites. Lolo National Forest ANNUALLY (beginning in 1994) 1. Conduct clearance surveys and implement monitoring for projects in potential Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 1997 2. Begin 10-year monitoring at all sites. Bitterroot National Forest ANNUALLY (beginning in 1994) 1. Conduct clearance surveys and implement monitoring for projects in potential Coeur d'Alene salamander habitat. 1997 2. Begin 10-year monitoring at all sites. 33 Regional Office, MTNHP, IDCDC 1994-1995 1. Organize collection and analysis of data on effects of logging and other management activities. 2. Initiate work on population estimation. 3. Initiate/ continue studies of movements and genetic relatedness among sites. DE-LISTING AS SENSITIVE SPECIES Once the management guidelines outlined in this assessment have been officially accepted (with written documentation) and implemented at the Forest level, consideration could be given to declassifying the Coexor d'Alene salamander as a sensitive species. However, such a declassification should only take place if the salamander appears to be maintaining widely distributed, abundant populations as revealed through population monitoring. Before delisting, the Forest Service should consult with appropriate personnel in the Idaho Conservation Data Center and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. 34 ACKNOWLEDGMEirrS We appreciate the review and comments of A. G. Wilson, R. B. Bury, M. B. Ma j , B. Summerfield, P. Harrington, L. Diller, D. Flath, R. L. Wallace, G. Kappesser, S. Blair, and S. R. Johnson. Funding for this assessment was provided by a U.S. Forest Service Challenge Cost-Share grant to the Idaho CDC, Pittman-Robertson federal aid to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) , the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program of IDFG, and The Nature Conservancy. 35 LITERATURE CITED Allendorf, F.W. and R.F. Leary. 1986. Heterozygosity and fitness in natural populations of animals. Pp. 57-76 in Conservation biology: the science of scarcity and diversity. M. E. Soule, ed. Sinaeur Assoc. , Sunderland, MA. Belt, G.H., J. O'Laughlin and T. Merrill. 1992. 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Summerfield, and M. Hunnicutt. 1991. Results of population monitoring for the Coeur d'Alene salamander 37 (Plethodon idahoensis) in northwestern Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. Gergits, W.F. and R.G. Jaeger. 1990. Site attachment by the Red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus. J. Herpetol. 24:91-93. Good, D.A., G.Z. Wurst and D.B. Wake. 1987. Patterns of geographic variation in allozymes of the Olympic salamander, Rhyacotriton olvmpicus (Caudata: Dicamptodontidae) . Fieldiana Zool. New Ser. 32:1-15. Groves, C.R. 1988. Status and distribution of the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon Vandyke i idahoensis) in Idaho. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog. 59 pp. . 1989a. Status and distribution of the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon vandykei idahoensis) in Idaho - Part II. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog. 19 pp. . 1989b. Idaho's amphibians and reptiles: description, habitat and ecology. 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The current status, habitat requirements, and management of the Larch Mountain salcunander. Biol. Conserv. 34:169-179. Highton, R. and A. Larson. 1979. The genetic relationships of salamanders of the genus Plethodon. Syst. Zool. 28:579-599. 38 Holmberg, R.G., N.P.D. Angerilli and L.J. LaCasse. 1984. Overwintering aggregations of Leiobunum paessleri in caves and mines (Arachnida, Opiliones) . J. Arachnol. 12:195-204. Idaho Panhandle National Forests. 1992. Implementation guidelines and stream channel evaluations for the Forest Plan. Review Draft 9/30/92. Ketcheson, G.L. and W.F. Megahan. 1990. Sediment deposition on slopes below roads in the Idaho batholith. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Sta., Boise, ID 16 pp. Lacy, R.C. 1987. Loss of genetic diversity from managed populations: interacting effects of drift, mutation, selection, and population subdivision. Cons. Biol. 1:14 3- 158. Lowe, C.H. , Jr. 1950. The systematic status of the salamander Plethodon hardii, with a discussion of biogeographical problems in Aneides. Copeia 1950:92-99. Lynch, J.E. 1984. Reproductive ecology of Plethodon idahoensis. M.S. Thesis, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow. 59 pp. and R.L. Wallace. 1987. Field observations of courtship behavior in Rocky Mountain populations of Van Dyke's salamander, Plethodon Vandyke i . with a description of its spermatophore . J. Herp. 21:337-340. Moseley, R. and C. Groves. 1992. Rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals of Idaho. Natural Heritage Sect. Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog., Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game. 38 pp. Murphy, M.L., C.P. Hawkins and N.H. Anderson. 1981. Effects of canopy modification and accumulated sediment on stream communities. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 110:469-478. , J. Heifetz, S.W. Johnson, K.V. Koski and J.K. Thedinga. 1986. Effects of clear-cut logging with and without buffer strips on juvenile salmonids in Alaskan streams. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43:1521-1533. Newbold, J.D., D.C. Erman and K.B. Roby. 1980. Effects of logging on macroinvertebrates in streams with and without buffer strips. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 37:1076-1085. Nishikawa, K.C. 1990. Intraspecif ic spatial relationships of two species of terrestrial salamanders. Copeia 1990:418- 426. 39 and P.M. Service. 1988. A fluorescent marking technique for individual recognition of terrestrial salamanders. J. Herpetol. 22:351-353. Nussbaxom, R.A. , E.D. Brodie and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. Idaho Press, Moscow . 332 pp . Orchard, S.A. 1990. Provincial status report for the Coeur d'Alene salamander Plethodon idahoensis. Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks, Victoria, B.C. Draft report. 12 pp. Ralls, K. , P.H. Harvey and A.M. Lyles. 1986. Inbreeding in natural populations of birds and mammals. Pp. 35-56 in Conservation biology: the science of scarcity and diversity. M.E. Soule, ed. Sinaeur Assoc, Sunderland MA. Raphael, M.G. 1988. Long term trends in abundance of amphibian, reptiles, and small mammals in Douglas-fir forests of northwestern California. Pp. 23-31 in R.C. Szaro, K.E. Sieverson and D.R. Patton, eds. Management of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in North America. Gen. Tech. Rept. RM-166, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Station, Ft. Collins, Co. Roby, K.B., D.C. Erman and J.D. Newbold. 1977. Biological assessment of timber management activity impacts and buffer strip effectiveness on National Forest streams of Northern California. USDA Forest Service Region 5, Monograph 1. Scott, N.J. Jr. and C.A. Ramotnik. 1992. Does the Sacramento salamander require old-growth forests? Pp. 170-178 in Kaufmann, M.R., W.H. Moir and R.L. Bassett, tech. coord. Old-growth forests in the southwest and Rocky mountain regions, proceedings of a workshop. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rept. RM-213. Slater, J.R. and J.W. Slipp. 1940. A new species of Plethodon from northern Idaho. Occas. Papers Dept. Biol. Coll. of the Puget Sound. 8:38-43. Tihen, J.H. and D.B. Wake. 1981. Vertebrae of plethodontid salamanders from the lower Miocene of Montana. J. Herp. 15:35-40. USDA Forest Service. Forest Service Manual, Title 2600 and 2670. Wildlife, Fish, and sensitive plant habitat management. USDA Forest Service, Washington D.C. 1991. Riparian Area Guidelines. Appendix 26 in Kootenai National Forest Plan, Kootenai National Forest, Libby, MT. 40 Wake, D.B. and H.J. Horowitz. 1990, Findings ahd recommendations in Declining amphibian populations - A global phenomenon? National Research Council Workshop, Irvine, CA. Wallace, R.L. 1986. A biochemical genetic study of the Plethodon vandykei complex. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog. 30 pp. Welsh, H.H. 1990. Relictual amphibians and old-growth forests. Cons. Biol. 4:309-319. Wilson, A.G. Jr. 1990. A survey of the Nez Perce National Forest for the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) . Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog. 33 pp. . 1991. A survey of the Avery Ranger District, Panhandle National Forest, for the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) . Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog. 44 pp. . 1992. A survey of the St. Maries and Sandpoint Ranger Districts, Panhandle National Forest, for the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) . Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame and Endang. Wildl. Prog. 28 pp. and J.H. Larsen, Jr. 1988. Activity and diet in seepage- dwelling Coeur d'Alene salamanders (Plethodon vandykei idahoensis). Northwest Sci. 62:211-217. and Simon, E.M. 1987. Status of the Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon vandykei idahoensis) in Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 134 pp. , and J.H. Larsen, Jr. 1989. Range extension for the Coeur d'Alene salamander, Plethodon vandykei idahoensis, to the Canada-United States border. Can. Field-Nat. 103:93-94. Woolley, H. P. 1973. Subcutaneous acrylic polymer injections as marking technique for amphibians. Copeia 2:1973. Wyman, R.L. 1990. What's happening to the amphibians? Cons. Biol. 4:350-352. 41 Appendix A Occurences of Coeur d'Alene saleunanders in Idaho and Montana, 1992 Plethodon idahoensis in Idaho & Montana Salamander Site Scale = 1:1,600,000 0 10 20 30 Miles 43 Appendix B. Location and status of Xnown Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. NEZ PERCE NATIONAL FOREST Site Name Type Status^ Town- ship Range Last year salamanders observed Meadow Creek seep 1 3 IN 9E 1989 Twentymile Bar seep 1 32N 8E 1990 0.2 mi. E. of Glover Creek seep 1 32N 9E 1990 Glover Creek seep 2 32N 9E 1986 Unnamed Creek 1 stream 1 32N 9E 1990 3.5 mi. W. of Glover Creek seep 1 32N 8E 1990 Cache Creek stream 1 32N 8E 1990 Unnamed Creek 3 falls 1 3 IN 9E 1990 Falls Creek stream 1 3 IN 9E 1990 Unnamed Creek 2 stream 1 3 IN 9E 1990 1.5 mi. W. Glover Creek seep 1 32N 9E 1990 Cascade Creek falls CLEARWATER 1 NATIONAL 32N FOREST HE 1990 Lochsa River seep 1 34N 08E 1987 Elk River/Dent Acres seep 1 39N 02E 1991 Elk Creek Falls falls 1 39N 02E 1992 Flat Creek #2 seep 1 39N 07E 1991 Flat Creek #1 seep 1 39N 07E 1987 Kelly Creek Falls falls 1 39N lOE 1985 Pie Creek #2 seep 1 39N lOE 1987 Pie Creek #1 seep 1 39N lOE 1987 Beaver Creek stream 1 39N 6E 1987 Canyon Ranger Stn. stream 2 40N 07E 1959 Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 44 Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of known Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. CLEARWATER NATIONAL FOREST cont'd. Site Name Type Status^ Town- ship Range Last year d salamanders observed Black Canyon #1 Black Canyon #2 Black Canyon #3 N. Fork Clearwater, 158 N. Fork Clearwater, 159 N. Fork Clearwater, 160 Clayton Creek #1 Clayton Creek #2 Clayton Creek #3 Beaver/ Steep/Montana Creeks Aquarius Campground Quartz Creek Quartz Creek, 161 Rock Creek Elizabeth Creek Fix Creek Pete Ott Creek #2 Pete Ott Creek #1 Elizabeth Creek #2 Marquette Creek Dog Creek Fern Creek seep 1 39N lOE 1987 seep 1 39N lOE 1987 falls 1 39N lOE 1987 seep 1 39N 07E 1991 seep 1 4 ON 08E 1991 seep 1 4 ON 08E 1991 seep 1 3 9N lOE 1987 seep 1 39N HE 1987 seep 1 39N HE 1987 falls 1 4 ON 06E 1987 stream 2 4 ON 07E 1980 seep 1 4 ON 08E 1987 seep 1 4 ON 08E 1991 seep 1 4 ON 08E 1987 seep 1 4 ON lOE 1987 seep 1 4 ON lOE 1987 seep 1 4 ON lOE 1987 seep 1 4 ON lOE 1987 seep 1 4 ON lOE 1987 stream 1 4 IN 06E 1987 stream 1 4 IN 07E 1987 stream 1 4 IN 07E 1987 * Conservation Data Center EO nvimber follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 ^ Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 45 Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of Icnovn Coeur d'Alene sal2Uiuinder sites in Idaho, 1992. IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORESTS - ST. JOE N. F. Site Ncune' Type Status^ Town- ship Range Last year salamanders observed Emida Southwest Clarkia Ahrs Gulch Big Creek Big Creek, 126 Big Creek, 127 Big Creek, 128 Big Creek, 129 Big Creek, 130 Big Creek, 131 Big Creek, 132 Big Creek, 133 Big Creek, 134 Big Creek, 135 Big Creek, 13 6 Big Creek, 137 Marble Creek, 138 Marble Creek, 139 Boulder Creek Marble Creek, 141 Marble Creek, 142 seep 2 43N 03E 1955 seep 1 43N OlE 1989 stream 1 46N OlE 1987 seep 1 46N 03E 1987 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 4 6N 03E 1992 stream 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 03E 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 seep 1 45N 04E 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 * Conservation Data Center EO number follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 ^ Status: l=extant, 2=unknown Appendix B. cont'd. Location and status of known Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORESTS - ST. JOE N. F., cont'd. Site Name Type Status' Town- Range ship Last year salamanders observed Marble Creek, 143 Marble Creek, 144 Marble Creek, 14 5 Marble Creek, 14 6 Marble Creek, 147 Marble Creek, 148 Marble Creek, 149 Unnamed trib. Marble Cr. Slate Creek, 095 Slate Creek, 096 Slate Creek, 097 Slate Creek, 098 Slate Cr./Fume Cr. confluence Fishhook Creek Fishhook Creek, 044 Fishhook Creek, 086^ West Fork Fishhook Cr. Lick Cr./Wawa Cr. conf. Fishhook Creek, 085 Fishhook Creek, 086^ Fishhook Creek, 088 seep 1 45N 03W 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 seep 1 45N 03E 1992 seep 1 44N 03E 1992 seep 1 44N 03E 1992 stream 1 44N 03E 1992 seep 1 44N 03E 1992 seep 1 46N 04E 1991 seep 1 46N 04E 1991 seep 1 46N 04E 1991 seep 1 46N 04E 1991 seep 1 46N 04E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 44N 05E 1991 seep 1 44N 05E 1991 seep 1 44N 05E 1991 seep 1 44N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 44N 05E 1991 ' Conservation Data Center EO number follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 ^ Site located partially on Plum Creek Timber Co. Land ' Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 47 Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of Icnown Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORESTS - ST. JOE N. F. , cont'd. Site Name Type Status' Town- Range ship Last year salamanders observed Fishhook Creek, 087 Fishhook Creek, 089 Fishhook Creek, 090 Avery N. Fork St. Joe R. #1 N. Fork St. Joe R. #2 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 100 N. Fork St. Joe R./ Miller Creek N. Fork St. Joe R. , 102 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 103 N. Fork St. Joe R./ Hammond Cr. N. Fork St. Joe R./ Kyle Cr. N. Fork St. Joe R. , 106 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 107 N. Fork St. Joe, 108 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 109 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 110 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 111 N. Fork St. Joe, 112 N. Fork St. Joe R. , 113 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1987 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 46N 05E 1991 seep 1 46N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 46N 05E 1991 seep 1 46N 05E 1991 seep seep seep seep seep seep seep seep seep 46N 05E 1 46N 05E 1 46N 05E 1 46N 05E 1 46N 05E 1 46N 05E 1 46N 05E 1 46N 06E 1 46N 06E 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 ^ Conservation Data Center EO number follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 2 Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 48 Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of Icnovn Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORESTS - ST. JOE N. F. , cont'd, Site Name' Type Status^ Tovm- ship Range Last year salamanders observed Siwash Creek Bird Creek/ St. Joe River Bird Creek Mai in Creek West Quartz Creek, 117 Quartz Creek, 118 Quartz Creek, 119 Bluff Creek, 120 Bluff Creek, 121 Shady Creek Midget Creek St. Joe River #2 St. Joe River #3 St. Joe River #4 St. Joe River, 114 St. Joe River, 115 St. Joe River, 122 Gold Creek Campground Red Ives Ranger Stn. stream 1 45N 06E 1987 seep 1 4 5N 07E 1978 seep 1 45N 07E 1990 seep 1 4 5N 07E 1991 seep 1 45N 07E 1991 seep 1 45N 07E 1991 seep 1 45N 07E 1991 seep 1 44N 08E 1991 seep 1 44N 08E 1991 seep 1 44N 08E 1991 seep 1 44N 09E 1991 seep 1 45N 04E 1991 seep 1 45N 04E 1991 seep 1 45N 05E 1991 seep 1 45N 06E 1991 seep 1 45N 06E 1991 seep 1 44N 08E 1991 seep 1 44N 08E 1991 seep 1 43N 09E 1991 ' Conservation Data Center EG number follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 2 Status: l=extant, 2=unknown Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of known Coeur d'Alene saleunander sites in Idaho, 1992. 49 IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORESTS - - COEUR D'ALENE N. F. Site Name' Type Status^ Town- ship Range Last year salamanders observed Beauty Creek stream 1 49N 03W 1991 Beauty Bay stream 1 49N 03W 198S Fourth of July Creek mine shaft 2 49N OIW 19S7 Marie Creek stream 1 5 ON OIW 1989 Skitwish Creek stream 1 50 OIW 1989 Little N. Fork Coeur d'Alene River seep 1 SON OlE 1987 S. F. Potter Creek stream 1 5 IN OlE 1991 Coeur d'Alene River #1 seep 1 5 IN 03E 1987 Coeur d'Alene River #2 seep 1 5 IN 03E 1987 Cardinal Creek seep 1 52N 03E 1987 Shoshone Creek seep 1 5 IN 04E 1988 Bear Gulch seep 1 49N OSE 1991 East Fork Eagle Cr. seep 1 SON OSE 1991 Levelling Creek falls 1 52N OIW 1992 Falls Creek, 153 seep 1 52N 04E 1991 Falls Creek, 154 seep 1 S2N 04E 1991 IDAHO PANHANDLE 1 NATIONAL FORESTS-KANIKSU NATIONAL FOREST S. Fork Wellington Cr. falls 2 S7N 02E 1965 Frezcat Creek seep 1 S9N 03E 1988 Caboose Creek stream 1 6 IN 03E 1989 Little Hellroaring Falls falls 1 65N 02E 1989 Copper Falls falls 1 65N 02E 1989 ' CDC EO number follows name in multiple sites with the same number ^ Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 50 Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of )cnown Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Site Name^ Type Status^ Town- ship Range Last year salamanders observed Wolf Lodge Bay seep 1 49N 03W 1991 St. Joe River, 078 seep 1 4 5N 04E 1991 St. Joe River, 079 seep 1 45N 04E 1991 St. Joe River, 081 seep 1 45N 04E 1991 Slate Creek, 094 seep STATE OF 1 IDAHO 45N 04E 1991 Chatcolet South stream 2 46N 04W 1957 Benton Butte seep 1 4 ON 05E 1979 Elk River, 157 seep 1 39N 02E 1991 U.S. ARMY CORPS Benton Creek stream 4 ON 05E 1976 POTLATCH CORPORATION W. Fork Benton Cr. stream 1 40N 05E 1987 Marble Creek seep DAW FOREST 1 45N PRODUCTS 03E 1992 St. Joe River #1 seep 1 45N 03E 1987 * Conservation Data Center EO number follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 2 Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 51 Appendix B cont'd. Location and status of known Coeur d'Alene salamander sites in Idaho, 1992. Site Name Type Status' Tovm- Range Last year ship salamanders observed PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY Fishhook Creek, , 091 seep 1 44N 05E 1991 St. Joe River, 082 seep 1 45N 04E 1991 Flemming Cr. seep 1 45N 04E 1991 Olson Gulch seep 1 45N 05E 1991 PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATION Hoyt Creek Driftwood Point seep 1 45N 04E 1991 seep 1 49N 04W 1989 ' Conservation Data Center EO number follows name in multiple sites with the same name e.g. N. Fork Clearwater, 158 2 Status: l=extant, 2=unknown 52 Appendix C. Location and status of Icnotm Coeur d'Alene salamander populations in Montana, 1992. KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST, REXFORD RANGER DISTRICT Site Name Type Status'/ Town- Range Last year Size^ ship salamanders observed Mid-Koocanusa seep/ 1/1 33N 29W 1989 seep/ stream 1/1 seep 1/1 seep 1/s Koocanusa - north seep 1/1 34N 29W 1989 Ziegler Mountain seep 1/s 33N 28W 1988 KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST, LIBBY RANGER DISTRICT Big Hoodoo Mountain stream 1/s 29N 31W 1989 Kootenai Falls - east stream 1/m 3 IN 32W 1989 KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST , THREE RIVERS RANGER DISTRICT Kootenai Falls - west seep 1/1 3 IN 33W 1989 Yaak Falls seep 1/m 33N 33W 1988 Surprise Gulch stream 1/m 3 IN 33W 1989 Koot Creek stream 1/m 3 IN 33W 1988 KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST, CABINET RANGER DISTRICT Big Beaver Creek seep 1/s 22N 31W 1989 Sims Creek/ seep 1/s 24N 3 0W 1988 Vermillion River West of Noxon seep/ stream 1/m 2 6N 33W 1989 White Pine Creek seep 1/s 23N 32W 1988 Status: l=extant, 2=unknown Size: B=SmaIl. Single seeps less than 100 m^, 0-5 salamanders observed per visit under optimum survey conditions. m= Medium. Seeps 100-200 m^ and/or stream reaches of 50 m or less, 6-10 salamanders observed per visit under optimum survey conditions. l=Large. Extensive habitat available, seeps >200 m^ and/or stream reaches >50 m in length, >10 salamanders observed per visit under optimum survey conditions. 53 Appendix C cont'd. Location and status of Icnown Coeur d'Alene salamander populations in Montana, 1992. LOLO NATIONAL FOREST, SUPERIOR RANGER DISTRICT Site Name Type Status'/ Town- Range Last year Size^ ship salamanders observed Trout Creek seep 1/s 15N 27W 1988 LOLO NATIONAL FOREST, PLAINS/THOMPSON FALLS RANGER DISTRICT Cascade Creek Paradise Thompson River/ Barktable Priscilla Gulch Cougar Gulch Big Hole Mountain BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST, STEVENSVILLE RANGER DISTRICT Sweathouse Creek falls 2/s 8N 21W 1987 CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL falls 1/1 seep 1/m seep 1/m stream 1/s stream 1/s seep 2 18N 25W 1988 19N 25W 1988 22N 27W 1989 22N 28W 1989 23N SOW 1988 2 IN 27W 1988 Pipe Creek seep 1/1 34N 31W 1989 Woodman Creek stream 2/s 12N 21W - PRIVATELY OWNED (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE) North of Troy stream 1/s 32N 34W 1987 Cougar Mine mine 1/s 3 ON 23W 1988 Simmons falls 1/1 19N 25W 1988 Weeksville seep 1/S 2 IN 27W 1991 'status: l=extant, 2=unknown ^ Size:s= Small. Single seeps less than 100 m^, 0-5 salamanders observed per visit under optimum survey conditions. m= Medium. Seeps 100-200 m^ and/or stream reaches of 50 m or less, 6-10 salamanders observed per visit under optimum survey conditions. l=Large. Extensive habitat available, seeps >200 m^ and/or stream reaches >50 m in length, >10 salamanders observed per visit under optimum survey conditions. 54 Appendix D Coeur d'Alene Salamander Survey/Monitoring Report Form 55 Coeur d'Alene Salamander Survey/Monitoring Report Fom Location (Site Name) Date Quad Name/ Code TRS_ Area Surveyed (m^^) Time Spent (person minutes) Photo Y N_ Specimen (s) Y N Where Deposited Observations (numbers, size, etc.) Behavioral Notes Elevation Slope (%) Aspect Cover (%) Cover type/habitat description Weather Air Temperature (F) : Start End Water Flow Water Temp Days since last rain Landowner Site Condition/Threats Date(s) of previous visit (s) Observer ( s ) Address Phone Attach a copy of appropriate section of topographic map with site location marked on it if this is a new site. Send copies to the Montana Natural Heritage Program or the Idaho Conservation Data Center.