1996
"Management Guidelines
for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
on Army Installations"

30 October 1996

Management Guidelines
for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
on Army Installations

Table of Contents
(References to paragraphs)

I. General
A. Purpose
B. Applicability
C. Revision
D. Mission
E. Existing Biological Opinions

II. Consultation

III. Army Policies Applicable to RCW Management
A. Conservation
B. Mission Requirements
C. Cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
D. Ecosystem Management
E. Staffing and Funding
F. Conservation on Adjacent Lands
G. Regional Conservation
H. Management Strategy

IV. Definitions

V. Guidelines for Installation RCW ESMPs
A. RCW ESMP Development Process
B. RCW Population Goal
C. Surveys, Inspections, and Monitoring Programs
D. RCW Habitat Management Units (HMUs)

E. HMU Management Practices

F. Timber Harvesting and Management in HMUs
G. Pine Straw Harvesting within HMUs
H. Restoration and Construction of Cavities
I. Protection of Clusters

J. Augmentation and Translocation

Appendix 1 - Training Activity within Marked Buffer Zones

Appendix 2 - Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) Data Update

Appendix 2a - Recruitment Cluster Inspection, Monitoring & Training Data

Appendix 2b - Active Cluster Inspection & Monitoring Data

I. General

A. Purpose. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide standard RCW management guidance to Army installations for developing installation endangered species management plans (ESMPs) for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW). Installation RCW ESMPs will be prepared according to these guidelines and chapter 11, AR 200-3, Natural Resources - Land, Forest, and Wildlife Management. These guidelines establish the baseline standards for Army installations in managing the RCW and its habitat. Installation RCW ESMPs will supplement these guidelines with detailed measures to meet installation-specific RCW conservation needs. The requirements in RCW ESMPs will apply to all activities on the installation.

B. Applicability. The guidelines are applicable to Army installations where the RCW is present and to installations with inactive clusters that the installation, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), continues to manage in an effort to promote reactivation.

C. Revision. These guidelines will be revised as necessary to be consistent with the latest RCW recovery plan and to incorporate the latest and best scientific data available.

D. Goal. The Army's goal is to implement management guidelines which will allow the Army to train for assigned combat and other missions while concurrently developing and implementing methods to assist in the recovery and delisting of the RCW.

E. Existing Biological Opinions. Installations will continue to comply with the requirements of existing biological opinions until RCW ESMPs are prepared in accordance with these management guidelines and chapter 11, AR 200-3 and are approved through consultation with the FWS. RCW ESMPs should be drafted to incorporate the requirements of existing biological opinions, as modified to conform to these management Guidelines through consultation with the FWS.

II. Consultation

A. In preparing RCW ESMPs and taking action that may affect the RCW, installations will comply with the consultation requirements of section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA); the implementing FWS regulations at 50 CFR part 402; and chapter 11, AR 200-3.

B. Early entry into informal consultation with the FWS is key to resolving potential problems and establishing the foundation to address issues in a proactive and positive manner. If, through informal consultation, the FWS concurs in writing that the RCW ESMP or other action is not likely to adversely affect any endangered or threatened species, formal consultation is not required. Issue resolution through informal consultation is the preferred method of consultation.

C. When consulting with the FWS on RCW ESMPs and other actions that may affect the RCW, the opinions of the FWS will normally be consistent with these guidelines. In exceptional cases, however, FWS opinions may require installations to take measures inconsistent with these guidelines. After every effort has been made at the installation and MACOM levels to resolve inconsistencies, installations will report, through MACOM channels, to the Office of the Director of Environmental Programs (ODEP), Headquarters, Department of the Army, FWS opinions that are not consistent with these Guidelines. ODEP will expeditiously review these reports and determine if HQDA-level action is necessary. If feasible, installations should delay implementation of measures recommended by the FWS that are inconsistent with these guidelines until after the ODEP review is completed.

III. Army Policies Applicable to RCW Management.

A. Conservation. Implementation of RCW ESMPs. prepared in accordance with these guidelines, will meet the Army's responsibility under the ESA to assist in conservation of the RCW. Conservation, as defined by the ESA, means the use of all methods and procedures which are necessary for endangered and threatened species survival and to brine, such species to the point of recovery where measures provided by the ESA are no longer necessary.

B. Mission Requirements. Installation and tenant unit mission requirements do not justify violating the ESA. Mission considerations are necessary in determining the installation management and recovery goals. The keys to successfully balancing mission and conservation requirements are long-term planning and effective RCW management to prevent conflicts between these interests. In consultations with the FWS, installations will preserve the ability to maintain training readiness, while meeting ESA conservation requirements.

C. Cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Army will work closely and cooperatively with the FWS on RCW conservation. Installations should routinely engage in informal consultation with the FWS to ensure that proposed actions are consistent with the ESA requirements.

D. Ecosystem Management. Conservation of the RCW and other species is part of a broader goal to conserve biological diversity on Army lands consistent with the Army's mission. Biological diversity and the long-term survival of individual species, such as the RCW, ultimately depend upon the health of the sustaining ecosystem. Therefore, RCW ESMPs should promote ecosystem integrity. Maintenance of ecosystem integrity and health also benefit the Army by preserving and restoring training lands for long-term use.

E. Staffing and Funding. Installation commanders are responsible for ensuring that adequate professional personnel and funds are provided for the conservation measures prescribed by these Guidelines and RCW ESMPs. Commanders are responsible for accurately identifying the funding needed to meet the requirements of these Guidelines. RCW conservation projects are funded through environmental channels and will be identified in the Environmental, Pollution Prevention, Control and Abatement Report (RCS 1383).

F. Conservation on Adjacent Lands. Necessary habitat for the RCW includes nesting and foraging areas. Both of these RCW habitat components may be located entirely on installation lands. There may be instances, however, where one of these components is located on installation land, while a portion of the other is located on adjacent or nearby non-Army land. The FWS and installations should initiate cooperative management efforts with these landowners, if such efforts would compliment installation RCW conservation initiatives.

G. Regional Conservation. The interests of the Army and the RCW are best served by encouraging conservation measures in areas off the installation. The FWS and installations should participate in promoting cooperative RCW conservation plans, solutions, and efforts with other federal, state, and private landowners in the surrounding area.

H. Management Strategy. These guidelines require installations to adopt a long-term approach to RCW management consistent with the military mission and the Endangered Species Act. First, installations are required to establish installation RCW population goals in consultation with the FWS using the methodology described in para V.B below. Once established, the installation must designate sufficient nesting and foraging habitat to attain and sustain the goals. The goals will also dictate the required management intensity level. Next, installations must develop an ESMP to attain and sustain the installation RCW population goals in accordance with chapter 11, AR 200-3. Fourth, installations are required to ensure that all units and personnel that conduct training and other activities at the installation comply with the requirements of the installation RCW ESMP.

IV. Definitions

Augmentation - Relocation of an RCW, normally a juvenile female, from one active cluster to another active cluster.

Basal area (BA) - The cross-sectional area (in square feet) of trees per acre measured at approximately four and one-half feet from the ground.

Biological diversity - The variety of life and its processes. It includes the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur.

Buffer zone - The zone extending outward 200 feet from a cavity tree or cavity start tree in an active or primary recruitment cluster.

Cavity - An excavation in a tree made, or artificially created, for roosting and nesting by RCWs.

Cavity restrictor - A metal plate that is placed around an RCW cavity to prevent access by larger species. A restrictor also prevents a cavity from being enlarged, or if already enlarged, shrinks the cavity entrance diameter to a size that prevents access by larger competing species.

Cavity start - An incomplete cavity excavated by, or artificially created for, RCWs.

Cavity tree - A tree containing one or more active or inactive RCW cavities or cavity starts.

Cluster - (formerly called "colony") - The aggregate area encompassing cavity trees occupied or formerly occupied by an RCW group plus a 200 foot buffer area.

Effective breeding pairs - Groups that successfully fledge young.

Group - (formerly called "clan") - A social unit of one or more RCWs that inhabits a cluster. A group may include a solitary, territorial male; a mated pair; or a pair with helpers (offspring from previous years).

Habitat Management Unit (HMU) - Designated area(s) managed for RCW nesting and foraging, including clusters and areas determined to be appropriate for recruitment and replacement stands.

Impact areas - The ground within the training complex used to contain fired or launched ammunition or explosives and the resulting fragments, debris, and components from various weapons systems.

Population - A RCW population is the aggregate of groups which are close enough together so that the dispersal of individuals maintains genetic diversity and all the groups are capable of genetic interchange. Population delineations should be made irrespective of land ownership.

Population goals - A desired RCW population. For purposes of these guidelines, terms for three types of population goals may be relevant to developing an installation's ESMP:

1. Recovery population goal - The number of groups required in a physiographic region to ensure recovery of the RCW in that region.
2. Installation Regional Recovery Goal - The number of groups which FWS identifies as the installation's potential contribution toward meeting the recovery population goal.
3. Installation Mission Compatible Goal - The number of training-restricted clusters which the installation identifies as currently compatible with the installation's on-going operations, suitable habitat, and missions considering its conservation responsibilities.

Provisioning - The artificial construction of cavities or cavity starts.

Recovery population - A total of 250 or more effective breeding pairs annually, for a five year period.

Recruitment - The designation and management of habitat for the purpose of attracting a new breeding group to that habitat.

Recruitment stand - A stand of trees, minimum of 10 acres in size, with sufficient suitable RCW nesting habitat identified to support a new RCW group. Stand and supporting foraging area should be located 3/8 mile to 3/4 mile from a cluster or other recruitment stand.

Recruitment cluster - A cluster site designated and managed for the purpose of attracting a new breeding group to that habitat. Installations may have two types of recruitment clusters:

1. Primary recruitment cluster - A recruitment cluster managed for the purpose of attracting the growth of additional RCW groups toward meeting the Installation Mission Compatible Goal; generally applicable training restrictions will apply to recruitment clusters.
2. Supplemental recruitment cluster - A recruitment cluster managed for the purpose of attracting the growth of additional RCW groups over and above the Mission Compatible Goal needed for the installation to reach the Installation Regional Recovery Goal; training restrictions will never apply to supplemental recruitment clusters.

Relict tree - a pine tree usually more than 100 years old having characteristics making it attractive to the RCW for cavity excavation.

Replacement stand - a stand of trees, minimum of 10 acres in size, identified to provide suitable nesting habitat for colonization when the current cluster becomes unsuitable. The stand should be approximately 20 - 30 years younger than the active cluster. While it is preferable for replacement stands to be contiguous to the active colony, at no time should they be more than 1/4 mile from the cluster, unless there is no suitable alternative.

Stand - an aggregation of trees occupying a specific area and sufficiently uniform in species composition, age, arrangement, and condition so as to be distinguishable from the forest on adjoining areas.

Sub-population - the aggregate of groups which are close enough together to allow for demographic interchange between groups. A sub-population does not have a significant demographic influence on adjacent sub-populations, but there is sufficient genetic interchange between the sub-populations to be considered one population.

Suitable acreage - installation acreage determined to be currently suitable for occupation by RCWs based upon vegetation and dominant land uses and acreage potentially suitable for occupation by RCWs through reasonable and practicable management practices - for example, acreage with severe mid-story encroachment would be considered as potentially suitable acreage and therefore suitable acreage; however, urban-type areas, the cantonment, impact areas, or areas free of vegetation, such as drop-zones, field landing strips, or gun positions, would not be considered suitable or potentially suitable acreage.

Translocation - the relocation of one or more RCWs from an active cluster to an inactive cluster or recruitment stand that contains artificially constructed cavities.

V. Guidelines for Installation RCW ESMPs.

Installations will prepare RCW ESMPs and manage RCW populations according to the following Guidelines. Installations will update ESMPs every five years or when circumstances dictate.

A. RCW ESMP Development Process.

Preparation of installation RCW ESMPs requires a systematic, step-by-step approach. RCW populations (current and goal), RCW habitat (current and potential), and training and other mission requirements (present and future) must be identified. Detailed analysis of these factors and their interrelated impacts are required as a first step in the development of an ESMP. Installations should use the following or a similar methodology in conducting this analysis:

1. Identify the current RCW population and its distribution on the installation.
2. Identify areas on the installation currently and potentially suitable for RCW nesting and foraging habitat.
3. Establish the installation RCW population goal(s) with the FWS according to the guidance in B below.
4. Identify installation and tenant unit mission requirements. Overlay these requirements on the RCW distribution scheme.
5. Identify mission requirements that are incompatible with the conservation of RCW habitat.
6. Identify areas on the installation where conflicting mission requirements could be relocated to avoid RCW habitat.
7. Identify critical mission areas where activities cannot reasonably be relocated.
8. Identify areas which could support RCW augmentation or translocation.
9. Identify areas suitable for RCW habitat and free of conflicting present and projected mission activities. These are prime areas for designation as recruitment stands.
10. Analyze the information developed above using the guidance contained in these guidelines.
11. Prepare the RCW ESMP to implement the best combination of options, consistent with meeting the established RCW population goals, while minimizing adverse impacts to training readiness and other mission requirements.
    

B. RCW Population Goals.

1. The first step in RCW management is to determine the Installation Regional Recovery Goal and Installation Mission Compatible Goal in accordance with paragraph V.B.2 below. Once the goals are established, they will be used to designate the amount of land needed for RCW HMUs and the appropriate level of management intensity. Goals should be considered long-term but are subject to change, through consultation with the FWS, based upon changing circumstances, changing missions, or new scientific information. In conjunction with the 5 year review of ESMPs, installations will reexamine population goals to reflect changing conditions.

2. ESMPs must clearly state the installation RCW population goals. The goals will be established through informal or formal consultation with FWS using the following methodology:

a. Installation Regional Recovery Goal. Through consultation with FWS determine the installation "share" of the recovery population goal.

1. Determine the number of active clusters required in the population to achieve recovery.
2. Count RCW groups on other federal, state or private lands that are demographically functioning as part of the regional population as contributing to the overall regional recovery goal.
3. Determine the installation's carrying capacity to support RCWs based upon suitable acreage and known ecosystem attributes..
4. Any deficit between steps (1) and (2), considering the limitations of step (3), will be considered the installation's potential contribution toward the overall recovery goal and will be termed, for ESMP purposes, the Installation Regional Recovery Goal.

b. Installation Mission Compatible Goal. The installation will determine its known capacity to integrate RCW management with on-going and planned mission requirements and dominant land uses. During this process, the installation will seek input from FWS.

1. Determine suitable acreage.
2. Determine the installation carrying capacity to support RCWs the calculation of suitable acreage, known ecosystem attributes, and acreage required as exempt for critical and essential mission requirements. Installations may only exempt acreage as essential for mission requirements when, considering their conservation responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, they determine that imposing Generally applicable training restrictions upon such certain specific lands would unacceptably hinder mission accomplishment. The Mission Compatible Goal should be carefully calculated considering the current and future installation and tenant unit missions, the amount and distribution of suitable habitat on the installation, the quality of the habitat, the distribution of clusters, the configuration of subpopulations, the recovery potential and the RCW Recovery Plan objectives, etc. The Installation Mission Compatible Goal should strike a reasonable balance between the present and future installation and tenant unit missions and the installation's duty to conserve the endangered species.

c. ESMP goals. If the Installation Regional Recovery Goal is less than the Installation Mission Compatible Goal, then the installation will use the Installation Regional Recovery Goal as the ESMP Goal. If the Installation Regional Recovery Goal is greater than the Installation Mission Compatible Goal, then the installation will use both goals in the ESMP. The installation ESMP will include maps for planning and future reference which show the configuration of all active clusters and primary recruitment clusters required to reach the Installation Regional Recovery Goal. These maps will also show the supplemental recruitment clusters scheduled for management in the 5-year planning period. These maps will be updated during the 5-year revision process. If the number of recruitment sites identified in the initial 5 year plan falls short of the Installation Regional Recovery Goal, the installation will also identify the additional habitat management areas where supplemental recruitment clusters will be added to meet this goal. Installations will identify and manage a minimum of 200 acres of suitable habitat for each identified recruitment cluster.

d. Maintenance of ESMP goals. A population that has achieved the Installation Regional Recovery Goal need only be maintained at that level; however, installations should continue to encourage population growth where feasible and compatible with the military mission. A maintenance strategy is also appropriate for populations which have attained the maximum population that can be supported by available suitable habitat, irrespective of population size. Maintenance activities will, however, also vary according to the population size. For example, smaller, nonviable populations may require occasional augmentation, predator control, etc.

3. The population goal established for an installation will dictate the required RCW management intensity level. An installation which has not achieved its population goals requires an active recruitment/augmentation strategy. Annually, the installation will determine the number of recruitment clusters to provision with artificial cavities, cavity restrictors, etc., and concurrently manage those recruitment clusters using the following methodology:

a. Primary recruitment clusters. In order to increase the current population, the installation will annually add recruitment clusters within the limitations of available nesting and foraging habitat of at least the optimum rate of growth of the RCW to meet the Mission Compatible Goal (or the Installation Regional Recovery Goal if it is less than the Mission Compatible Goal). The optimum rate of growth of an installation's RCW population will be determined by the installation's population size and population distribution and will be detailed in the installation's ESMP.

b. Supplemental recruitment clusters. If the Installation Regional Recovery Goal is greater than the Installation Mission Compatible Goal, the installation will annually add supplemental recruitment clusters within the limitations of available nesting and foraging habitat. These supplemental will be added over and above the recruitment clusters described in paragraph V.B.3.a above, at the rate of at least one-half of the rate of growth to attain the Installation Regional Recovery Goal. The installation will identify and subsequently manage these supplemental recruitment clusters in areas not already selected by the installation as a recruitment cluster in paragraph V.B.3.a above. Installations will manage these supplemental clusters concurrently and in addition to recruitment clusters managed for the purpose of meeting the Installation Mission Compatible Goal.

1. Management of these supplemental recruitment clusters will be closely coordinated with FWS. FWS will provide incidental take provisions for supplemental recruitment clusters occupied as part of the authorized program to exceed the Mission Compatible Goal in order to reach the Installation Regional Recovery Goal. Training or other land use restrictions will never apply to recruitment clusters managed under this approach; however, this does not authorize installations to engage in non-training related construction activities in occupied supplemental recruitment clusters absent consultation with FWS.
2. The installation will separately manage and track the supplemental recruitment clusters as contributing to the Installation Regional Recovery Goal. As with other recruitment clusters, the supplemental recruitment clusters will be provisioned and managed in woodpecker-suitable habitat. The installation will give priority to adding supplemental recruitment clusters in training area acreage previously exempted from consideration as RCW habitat because of critical or essential mission requirements under paragraph V.B.2.b. Installations may elect to count as either supplemental recruitment clusters or primary recruitment clusters, those clusters where RCWs voluntarily move into a stand which has not been designated previously as a recruitment cluster.

c. During the development of the installation's ESMP, and at the 5-year review, if a cluster or recruitment cluster identified previously as active has no RCW activity for a period of five consecutive years, the installation may cease actively managing that cluster.

C. Surveys, Inspections, Monitoring and Reporting Programs.

1. Installations will conduct the following surveys and monitoring programs.

a. Five-Year installation-wide RCW surveys. Effective management of the RCW requires an accurate survey of installation land for RCW cavity and cavity-start trees. The survey must document the location of RCW cavity and cavity-start trees as accurately and precisely as possible (using Global Positioning System and Geographic Information System, if available) and the activity within all clusters. An installation-wide survey will be conducted every five years. Installations may conduct the survey over the five year period, annually surveying one-fifth of the installation.

b. Project surveys. Prior to any timber harvesting operations, construction, or other significant land-disturbing activities, excluding burning, a 100-percent survey of the affected area will be conducted by natural resources personnel trained and experienced in RCW survey techniques and supervised by a RCW biologist, if such survey has not occurred within the preceding year. Installations will conduct project surveys in accordance with the survey guidance in V. Henry, Guidelines for Preparation of Biological Assessments and Evaluations for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Atlanta, Georgia (September 1989). When conducting project assessments, installations may, through informal consultation with FWS, reduce the forage habitat requirements from the Henry guidelines by one-third, or as specified in paragraph V.D.2.d below. In the case of range construction, the survey will also include the surface danger zone for the weapons to be used on that range except for new ranges which use existing dedicated impact areas.

c. Inspections. Clusters that have not been deleted from management in accordance with paragraph V.D.2.b below must be inspected annually (consistent with safety considerations at paragraph V.E.5.a). Recruitment clusters must be inspected twice per year (fall and pre-breeding dispersal periods) to document RCWs occupancy; once occupied, use monitoring criteria in paragraph V.C.1.e. These are prescriptive inspections, used to develop treatments and modifications of treatments to maintain suitable nesting habitat. At a minimum, installations will inspect and record data for:

1. density and height of hardwood encroachment;
2. height of RCW cavities;
3. condition of cavity trees and cavities;
4. a description of damage from training (to include: damage to cavity and cavity start trees requiring remedial measures if any, soil disturbance adjacent to cavity and cavity start trees requiring remedial measures if any, and general condition of the forage habitat of the cluster being monitored if impacted by training activities), fires (prescribed or wild), etc.; and
5. evidence of RCW activity for each cavity tree (includes each cavity in the tree) within the cluster. See 2a below for guidance on the maintenance of survey and monitoring records.

d. Ten-year forest survey. In addition to the RCW survey required in la above, installations will conduct, as required by AR 200-3, an installation-wide forest survey at least every ten years. In conducting the forest survey, data will be gathered to determine accurately the quantity and quality of available foraging and nesting habitat for the RCW. Alternately, installations may survey over the 10 year period, e.g., ten percent of the installation annually. Forest surveys will be conducted using a recognized plot sampling technique, such as the random line plot cruise, the random point sample cruise, or the line strip cruise method. Forest surveys in impact areas may be conducted using scientifically accepted, aerial photography interpretation methods.

e. Monitoring. Installations will conduct monitoring programs to scientifically determine demographic trends within the population as a whole. Sample sizes will be determined by the number of clusters and their dispersion on the installation by habitat category (e.g., longleaf pine/scrub oak, pine flatwoods, pine mixed hardwoods) and by category of use (e.g., non-dud producing ranges, mounted and dismounted training areas, cantonment areas, bivouac areas, etc.). Sample sizes will be of sufficient size to have statistical validity and to ensure that population trends and important biological information can be determined for the entire installation. Monitoring activities will be done annually to acquire data to determine the number of adults and fledglings per site, sex of birds, number of breeding groups, number of nests, and number of cavity trees. Monitoring will include color banding of birds. Installations will coordinate with FWS to determine if additional monitoring, in other than impact areas, may be required to address installation specific issues, e.g., fragmented populations or on-going translocation programs. In addition to the monitoring outlined in this paragraph, installations with supplemental recruitment clusters will monitor and record the following information of military training and activities occurring within all training areas containing monitored active clusters and recruitment clusters during the five-year period. whether or not the clusters become active: a) type of training that took place, b) duration of training, c) date of training, d) units and approximate numbers of soldiers involved in the training, e) approximate number and types of vehicles and equipment involved in the training, and f) other relevant information that would contribute to an understanding of the effects of military training upon RCW habitat.

1. Active Clusters. Installations with 25 active clusters or fewer will monitor all sites annually. Installations with more than 25 active clusters will annually monitor sample sizes based on the following: 25 percent of the RCW active clusters located in each habitat and usage category on the installation, with a minimum of three RCW clusters per habitat type or a total of 25 clusters, whichever is greater.
2. Recruitment Clusters. Installations with recruitment clusters designed to attain either the Mission Compatible Goal or the Installation Regional Recovery Goal will monitor all recruitment clusters for at least five years after they become occupied by RCWs. If, after the five-year period, a recruitment cluster is still active, monitoring will be integrated into the active cluster monitoring program outlined in paragraph V.C.1.e.(1).

2. Results from surveys and monitoring will be recorded and reported as follows:

a. Survey/monitoring records. Survey and monitoring results for all clusters will be recorded and retained permanently allowing for trend analysis.

b. Research on compatibility of military training with RCWs. ODEP will ensure that monitoring of population data gathered from all installations with primary recruitment clusters and supplemental recruitment clusters is evaluated for trend analysis and will share this analysis with FWS. Research data will be analyzed at least once every five years for population trends. In consultation with FWS, trend analysis from paragraphs a and b above, and other outside 5 year research programs, will dictate the revision, continuation, or cancellation of military training restrictions for all clusters considered part of the mission compatible goal. Trend analysis will not effect supplemental recruitment clusters.

c. Annual Reporting. Installations will annually report RCW population data to FWS. Along with the population data, installations will report all actions taken to recruit RCWs or improve RCW habitat (see Appendix 2 for content and format of report). A copy of this report will be furnished through command channels to ODEP. The Army will host an annual meeting with FWS and the installations to discuss installation RCW population data. During these meetings, if it becomes clear that an installation is accomplishing less than 50% of its ESMP growth goals over a period of several years, then the installation will informally consult with the FWS to determine if reinitiating formal consultation is desirable.

d. Notification. The installation will immediately notify FWS and their MACOM in the event of incidental take. The installation will notify FWS and their MACOM, and reinitiate consultation with FWS, within 30 days of discovering a 5% population decrease. MACOMs will report either of these occurrences to ODEP. In the event of an incidental take, the installation will also comply with AR 200-3, paragraph 11-9. Upon discovery of a 5% population decrease, the installation will continue to abide by these Guidelines and will conduct a systematic review of available data including regional trends to determine the cause of the decrease within 90 days. If the cause is training related, within 150 days the installation in consultation with FWS will develop and implement a plan to prevent further population decline.

e. RCW maps. Survey data will be used to generate installation RCW maps accurately depicting the location of RCW clusters. RCW-related training restricted areas, HMUs, cavity trees, etc. A copy of these maps will be included in the ESMP. The initial ESMP produced according to these Guidelines will identify the clusters where the area subject to training restrictions have changed as a result of implementation of these guidelines as opposed to the 21 June 1994 Guidelines. Relevant maps will be widely distributed for use by those conducting land use activities on the installation, including military training, construction projects, range maintenance, etc. Maps will be updated at least every five years to coincide with the installation-wide RCW survey or when a 20 percent change in the number of clusters occurs, whichever is sooner.

D. RCW Habitat Management Units.

1. Designation of habitat management units (HMUs). Installation RCW ESMPs will provide for the designation of nesting and foraging areas within HMUs sufficient to attain and sustain the installation RCW population goals. Determination of the installation's population goals is a prerequisite to HMU designation. HMU delineation is an important step in the planning process because it defines the future geographic configuration of the installation RCW population. Areas designated as HMUs for all active and recruitment clusters must be managed according to these Guidelines.

2. Areas included within HMUs.

a. HMUs will encompass all clusters. areas designated for recruitment and replacement, and adequate foraging areas as specified in d below.

b. During the development of the installation's ESMP, and at the 5-year review, in consultation with the FWS, clusters that have been documented as continuously inactive for a period of five consecutive years or more may be deleted from HMUs. Designated recruitment clusters that have not been occupied for a period of five consecutive years may also be deleted from HMUs. Once deletion of a cluster from management is approved by the FWS, existing cavities may be covered to discourage reactivation.

c. In designating HMUs, fragmentation of nesting habitat will be avoided. Installations will attempt to link HMUs with HMU corridors, allowing for demographic interchange throughout the installation population.

d. Adequate foraging habitat, in size, quality, and location, must be within HMUs. The foraging habitat needed to support active clusters will be calculated and designated according to the range-wide Guidelines in V. Henry, Guidelines for Preparation of Biological Assessments and Evaluations for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Re-Ion, Atlanta, Georgia (September 1989) or other physiographic specific guidelines approved by the FWS. While the Henry Guidelines are used to establish minimum forage acreage requirements, some installations may have data to support forage habitat minima below the Henry standard. If installations can provide data to support forage habitat requirements different from the Henry Guidelines the installation, in consultation with FWS, may establish installation specific forage minima for recruitment sites, project assessments, and habitat management. These forage requirements will apply to all active sites and recruitment sites identified for management in the ESIVIP. Recruitment sites identified to meet long-term population goals will be evaluated with the same criteria used in the goal setting procedure. A minimum of 200 acres of potential/suitable habitat will be identified and managed for recruitment sites to meet the Installation Mission Compatible Goal and the Installation Regional Recovery Goal. The underlying strategy is to identify and actively manage RCW habitat in the short to mid-term with the long-term population goal always in sight. Adhering strictly to the Henry Guidelines or applying forage habitat requirements to areas presently lacking RCW groups, may preclude long-term habitat management. This could increase the time required to reach installation RCW population goals. .

3. Minimization of RCW management impacts on the installation's mission. To the extent consistent with RCW biological opinions. HMUs should be located where there will be a minimum impact upon current and planned installation missions/operations and should be consistent with land usage requirements in the Real Property Master Plan.

4. Demographic and genetic interchange. Installations should delineate HMUs to maximize the linkage between sub-populations on and off the installations and with populations off the installation. Where fragmentation exists. installations should develop plans to link sub-populations on the installation by designating habitat corridors where practical.

E. HMU Management Practices. All HMU management activities and practices will be consistent with the conservation of other candidate and federally listed species.

1. Clusters and recruitment stands within HMUs.

a. Due to RCW biological needs, clusters require a higher management intensity level than other areas within HMUs. Within HMUs, maintenance priority will be given to active clusters over both inactive clusters and recruitment stands.

b. Clusters and recruitment stands will be kept clear of dense midstory. An open, park-like pine stand is optimal. All midstory within 50 feet of cavity trees will be eliminated. Beyond 50 feet, some pine midstory will be retained for regeneration and some selected hardwoods may be retained for foraging by species other than the RCW. Hardwoods will not exceed 10 percent of the area of the canopy cover nor 10 percent of the below canopy cover within the cluster or recruitment stand. Hardwood stocking will be kept below 10 square feet per acre.

c. The priority of forest management in cluster sites and recruitment stands is to maintain and produce potential cavity trees greater than 100 years of age. For this reason, no rotation age shall be set in these areas. In thinning clusters and recruitment stands, dead, dying, or inactive cavity trees will be left for use by competitor species. Thinning should occur only when pine species basal area (BA) exceeds 80 and should not exceed the removal of more than 30 BA to avoid habitat disruption (timber prescriptions within clusters should normally be on a 10 year cycle). Pine species basal areas should be kept within the range of approximately 50 to 80 square feet, maintaining average spacing of 20 to 25 feet between trees, but retaining clumps of trees.

d. Trees within HMUs affected by beetle (e.g., Ips beetle, southern pine beetle) infestation should be evaluated and treated appropriately. Treatment options will be developed in consultation with the FWS. Possible treatments include the use of pheromones or cutting and leaving, cutting and removing, or cutting and burning infected trees. Cavity trees may be cut only with the approval of the FWS. Prior to cutting an infected cavity tree, a suitable replacement cavity tree will be identified and provisioned.

e. Timber cutting, pine straw harvesting, and habitat maintenance activities, with the exception of burning activities. will not be conducted in active sites during the nesting season, occurring from April through July depending upon the installation's location. If a biologist, experienced in RCW management practices, determines that habitat maintenance activities, exclusive of timber cutting and pine straw harvesting, will have no effect on nesting activities, they may be conducted at anytime.

2. Other areas within HMUs. While not requiring the same level of intense management for clusters and recruitment stands, the quality of foraging and replacement stands should be maintained by a prescribed burning program sufficient to control hardwood growth and ground fuel buildup and to eliminate dense midstory. Improving the quality of foraging habitat will reduce the quantity (acreage) required to maintain the installation RCW population.

3. Midstory control. Prescribed burning is normally the most effective means of midstory control and is recommended as the best means of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Prescribed burning will be conducted at least every three years in longleaf. loblolly, slash pine, and shortleaf pine systems. Burning must be conducted in accordance with applicable Federal, state, and local air quality laws and regulations. With the agreement of the FWS, the bum interval may be increased to no more than five years after the hardwood midstory has been brought under control. Mechanical and chemical alternatives should only be used when burning is not feasible or is insufficient to control a well- advanced hardwood midstory. Application of herbicide must be consistent with applicable Federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Cavity trees will be protected from fire damage during burning. Burning should normally be conducted in the growing season since the full benefits of fire are not achieved from non-growing season bums. Winter burns may be appropriate to reduce high fuel loads. Use of fire plows in clusters will be used only in emergency situations.

4. Erosion control. Installations will control excessive erosion and sedimentation in all HMUs. Erosion control measures within clusters will be given priority over other areas within HMUs.

5. Impact and direct fire areas.

a. Impact areas.

1. Impact areas that contain or likely contain unexploded ordnance or other immediate hazardous materials (radiological or toxic chemicals) can pose danger to personnel. Natural resources conservation benefits to be gained by intensive management in high risk areas generally are not justified. Certain installations may have impact areas or other areas that have been contaminated with improved conventional munitions or submunitions where entry by personnel is forbidden.
2. Designation of impact areas, safety restrictions on human access to impact areas, range operations in impact areas, and the associated effects of these actions on RCW management activities may adversely affect the RCW and other federally listed species within impact areas. These actions may lead to the possibility and necessity of incidental take. FWS will provide incidental take provisions for impact areas where it is not feasible or economical to either relocate or protect the RCW.
3. To the degree practicable, clusters and surrounding foraging area should be designated as "no fire areas" to protect clusters from projectile damage.

b. Direct fire areas.

1. Direct fire, non-dud producing impact areas that do not contain unexploded ordnance or other immediate hazardous materials may be included within HMUs, subject to the guidelines set forth below.
2. In HMUs which are not impacted upon by weapons firing, RCW management will be the same as for HMUs outside of impact areas. In HMUs where there is a significant risk of projectile damage to foraging or nesting habitat, the following Guidelines apply:

F. Timber Harvesting and Management in HMUs.

1. Timber harvesting in HMUs will be permitted if consistent with the conservation of the RCW. If permitted, a harvest method will be implemented that maintains or regenerates the historical pine ecosystem. In most ecosystems inhabited by the RCW, historical conditions are characterized by old-growth longleaf pines in an uneven-age forest, with small (1/4 to 2 acres) even-age patches varying in size. Timber harvesting methods must be carefully designed to achieve and maintain historical conditions through emulation of natural processes.

2. Longleaf sites will not be regenerated to other pine species. Where other species have either replaced longleaf pine (due to fire suppression) or been artificially established on sites historically forested with longleaf, forest management should be directed toward regeneration back to longleaf by natural or artificial methods.

3. At a minimum, sufficient old-growth pine stands will be maintained by: lengthening rotations to 120 years for longleaf pine and 100 years for other species of pine; indefinitely retaining snags, six to ten relict and/or residual trees per acre when doing a seedtree cut, or shelterwood cut; and indefinitely retaining snags, all relicts, and residuals in thinning cuts. No rotation age will be established for cluster sites or replacement stands. The above rotation ages and retention rates do not apply to off-site stands of sand pine, loblolly pine, or slash pine that will be converted back to longleaf.

G. Pine Straw Harvesting within HMUs. Sufficient pine straw must be left in HMUs to allow for effective burning and to maintain soils and herbaceous vegetation. Areas within HMUs will not be raked more than once every three to six years. Baling machinery will not be used or parked within clusters.

H. Restoration and Construction of Cavities,

1. Restoration. Active and inactive cavities found to be in poor condition during periodic inspections will be repaired whenever feasible to prolong their use. Cavity restrictors can be installed on enlarged RCW cavity entrance holes (greater than two inches in diameter) to optimize the availability of suitable cavities. They also may be installed to protect properly-sized cavities where suitable cavities are limited the threat of enlargement is great, or where another species is occupying a cavity. Priorities for the installation of restrictors, in descending order. will be: (a) active single tree clusters, (b) single bird groups, (c) clusters with less than four suitable cavities, and (d) others. Restrictors will be installed according to scientific procedures accepted by the FWS. Restrictors will be closely monitored. especially in active clusters. Adjustments to the positioning of the restrictors will be made to ensure competitors are excluded and RCW access is unimpeded.

2. Construction. Artificial cavities will be constructed in areas designated for recruitment or translocation and in active clusters where the number of suitable cavities is limiting. The objective is to provide at least four suitable cavities per active cluster and two cavities plus three advanced starts for each recruitment stand. Priorities for installation of artificial cavities in descending order will be: (a) single cavity tree active clusters, (b) active clusters with insufficient cavities to support a breeding group (c) inactive clusters designated as and managed for replacement or recruitment stands with an insufficient number of usable cavities within one mile of an active cluster, (d) new replacement/recruitment stands within one mile of an active cluster, (e) inactive clusters designated as and managed for replacement or recruitment stands within three miles of an active cluster, (f) recruitment or potential habitat within three miles of an active cluster, and (g) replacement/recruitment stands beyond three miles of an active cluster. Cavity construction may be by either the drilling or insert techniques. Construction must be according to scientific procedures accepted by the FWS and accomplished by fully trained personnel.

I. Protection of Clusters.

1. Markings. Installations will implement the following marking guidance by 1 Jan 1998.

a. Cavity and cavity-start trees in active and primary recruitment clusters. These trees will be marked with two white bands, approximately four to six inches wide and one foot apart. The bands will be centered approximately four to six feet from the base of the tree. Warning signs (e below) may be posted on or immediately adjacent to the cavity and cavity start trees. A uniquely numbered small metal tag will be affixed to the cavity tree for monitoring and identification purposes.

b. Cavity and cavity-start trees in supplemental recruitment clusters. These trees may be marked with one white band approximately one inch wide. The band will be centered approximately four to six feet from the base of the tree. Warning signs (e below) will not normally be posted. A uniquely numbered small metal tag will be affixed to the cavity tree for monitoring and identification purposes.

c. Buffer zone for cavity and cavity start trees within active clusters and primary recruitment clusters. Warning signs (e below) will be posted at reasonable intervals along the 200 foot perimeter of cavity trees facing to the outside of the buffer zone and along roads, trails, firebreaks, and other likely entry points into the buffer zone.

d. The installation will mark all cavity and cavity start trees in a managed cluster in accordance with paragraph V.I.1.a and b, above. At a minimum, four suitable cavity or cavity start trees will be marked and protected within each cluster (see paragraph V.H.2). Based on the installation biologist's determination, if more than four cavity trees are required to support the cluster, the required number of trees will be protected.

e. Warning sign. Signs will be posted and will be constructed of durable material, ten inches square (oriented as a diamond), white or yellow in color, and of the design in Figure 1. The RCW graphic and the lettering "Endangered Species Site" and "Red-cockaded Woodpecker" will be printed in black. The lettering "Do Not Disturb" and "Restricted Activity" will be printed in red. All lettering will be 3/8 inches in height.

f. Training on non-Army lands. Installations conducting long-term training on private, state, or other federal lands with RCW habitat will attempt to obtain agreement from the landowners on compliance with these markings guidelines. If a landowner does not agree to comply with these guidelines, even with the installation paying the costs associated with compliance, installations will educate troops training on such lands to help them recognize the markings used by the landowner.

2. Training within RCW clusters.

a. RCW and RCW habitat will be managed biologically by clusters. Training restrictions will apply to marked buffer zones around cavity trees.

b. The training restrictions in this section apply to buffer zones within marked active clusters and primary recruitment clusters. RCW-related training restrictions do not apply to supplemental recruitment clusters, inactive clusters and foraging areas.

c. Standard training guidelines within active clusters and primary recruitment clusters:

1. Military training within marked cavity tree buffer zones is limited to military activities of a transient nature (less than 2 hours occupation) . A list of prohibited and permitted training activities within buffer zones is contained at Appendix 1.
2. Military vehicles are prohibited from occupying a position or traversing within 50 feet of a marked cavity tree, unless on an existing road, trail, or firebreak.

3. Training throughout the installation. Installations will give priority to maintaining and improving the habitat of RCW clusters: however, in addition to the HMU management practices at para. V.E, installations will observe the following measures to maintain and improve potentially suitable habitat for the RCW throughout the installation

a. Military personnel are prohibited from cutting down or intentionally destroying pine trees unless the activity is approved previously by the installation biologist and/or forester and is authorized for tree removal. Hardwoods may be cut and used for camouflage or other military purposes.

b. Units will immediately report to range control known damage to any marked cavity or cavity start tree and/or any known extensive soil disturbance in and around RCW clusters.

c. The installation will immediately (within 48 hours) reprovision a cavity tree if one is destroyed.

d. Installations will as soon as practicable (normally within 72 hours) repair damage to training land within a cluster to prevent degradation of habitat.

e. All digging for military training activities in suitable acreage will be filled within a reasonable time after the completion of training

f. Training Guidelines will be actively enforced through installation training and natural resources enforcement programs. prescribed in chapters 1 and 11, AR 200-3, and installation range regulations.

J. Augmentation and Translocation.

1. Augmentation can be a useful tool to expand and disperse the RCW population into designated HMUs. Augmentation also provides a means to maintain genetic viability in populations with fewer than 250 effective breeding pairs. Installation plans will provide for the augmentation of single-bird groups. Clusters will be made suitable in accordance with the requirements/procedures outlined in paragraph V.H. above before augmentation is attempted.

2. In exceptional situations, installations may translocate RCWs from active clusters to inactive clusters or recruitment/replacement stands where cavities have been artificially constructed. For example. translocation could be used to move RCWs from live fire areas where there is a significant risk of harm to the birds. The current scientific literature indicates serious limitations in successfully translocating adult RCWs, in particular, adult territorial males. Translocation will be accompanied by an intensive monitoring program.

3. In areas to receive RCW, habitat designation and improvement work ensuring that nesting and foraging habitat meet the standards established by these Guidelines (V.E.1.b and c, V.E.2, V.D.2.d) must be completed before augmentation or translocation is attempted.

4. Neither augmentation nor translocation will be undertaken without the approval of and close coordination with the FWS. Installations must obtain an ESA section 10 permit (scientific purposes) or an incidental take statement under ESA section 7 and all applicable marking, banding, and handling permits prior to moving any RCW through augmentation or translocation.

APPENDIX 1

TRAINING ACTIVITY WITHIN MARKED BUFFER ZONES

YES means that activity may be conducted within 200 feet of a marked cavity tree
NO means the activity may not be conducted within 200 feet of a marked cavity tree

MANEUVER AND BIVOUAC

WEAPONS FIRING:

NOISE:

PYROTECHNICS/SMOKE:

DIGGING:

NOTES:

1. Vehicles will not get any closer than 50 feet of a marked cavity tree unless on existing roads, trails or firebreaks.
2. Smoke generators and smoke pots will not be set up within 200 feet of a marked cavity tree, but the smoke may drift through the 200 feet circle around a cavity tree.

NOTE: The above training restrictions apply to RCW cavity trees in training areas but not to 4 cavity trees located in dedicated impact areas.

APPENDIX 2

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) Data Update - FY____

A. RCW Cluster Survey and Inspection Results.

1. Number of clusters managed

2. Number of active clusters

3. Total acres of suitable acreage

4. Acres 100% surveyed for "new" RCW clusters in this FY

5. Number clusters inspected once per year for training impacts

6. Number recruitment clusters inspected twice per year for training impacts

B. Monitoring Results

C. Unit Reports

D. Affirmative RCW Habitat Improvement Measures Carried Out This FY

APPENDIX 2a

Recruitment Cluster Inspection, Monitoring & Training Data

APPENDIX 2b

Active Cluster Inspection, & Monitoring Data

Cluster Number: ____