Biodiversity of Wildlife in the Watershed TOPIC/ISSUE: The HCP addresses 72 non-fish taxa (or wildlife). The HCP identifies and discusses the species according to three key habitats: aquatic and riparian; old growth forest; and special habitats. Connectivity of forest habitats is critical to the movement, dispersal and gene flow of species across the landscape. Habitat can become isolated and threatened through large scale removal of habitat (timber harvest), construction of long, linear projects (e.g. roads and powerlines) that bisect contiguous patches of forest, and encroachment of human activity. The Watershed is an important link in the north/south and east/west connectivity of habitats in the central Washington Cascades. KEY COMMUNTIES OF CONCERN: Aquatic and Riparian (27000 acres): Thirty eight wildlife species of concern are associated with this community including 16 taxa of aquatic invertebrates, 12 species of amphibians and 6 species of birds. Aquatic Invertebrates: Northwestern Salamander, Long Toed Salamander, Pacific Giant Salamander, Western Redback Salamander and Roughskin Newt are all known to present and/or breed in the Watershed. Frogs and toads including the Western Toad, Tailed Frog, Red-legged Frog and Cascades Frog are all federal species of concern and known to be present and/or breed in the Watershed. Birds: Common Loon, Harlequin Duck, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Northern Water Shrew and Bald Eagles all occur in the Watershed at various population levels. For example, three mated pairs of the Common Loon have been present on Chester Morse Lake during the last nine annual nesting seasons. Old Growth Forest (14,000 acres): found mostly in the upper municipal watershed and is between 190 – 350 years old. There are a few scattered stands in the Upper Rex River basin with trees up to 850 years old. Landscape of lower municipal watershed is almost complete with homogeneous, unbroken canopy of second growth coniferous forest. Douglas fur and western hemlock throughout lower watershed. Among these trees live 24 wildlife species, dominated by 11 species of bats and 8 species of birds. Bats: Hoary bat, Big Brown Bat and Silver-haired bat live in habitat like that found in the Watershed. Birds: Marbled murrelets and Northern Goshawk are both federal threatened species and a Washington state threatened species. One breeding pair of the Northern Spotted Owls is known to occur in the Watershed. Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided flycatcher, Brown Creeper, Vaux’s Swift are all present in the Watershed. Special habitats (1800 acres): Eleven species including 7 species of birds, 3 mammals and one amphibian. Mammals: Although its occurrence in the Watershed is unknown, the Grizzly Bear, Gray Wolf and Wolverine, all either designated endangered or species of concern at the local or federal level. All naturally nonforested habitats, meadows, riparian areas like those found in the Watershed are key habitats for these mammals. Birds: Band tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Merlin and Blackswift are all present in the Watershed. STAKEHOLDERS: Environmental Groups City of Seattle