For the purposes of OAR
635-140-0000: Technical terms
used in these sections are further defined in the glossary of the "Greater
Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon" adopted by the
Commission on April 22, 2011 (copies of the plan are available through the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife).
(1) "Areas of High Population Richness" are
mapped areas of breeding and nesting habitat within core habitat that support
the 75th percentile of breeding bird densities (i.e., the top 25%).
(2) "Core areas" are mapped sagebrush types
or other habitats that support greater sage-grouse annual life history
requirements that are encompassed by areas:
a) of very high, high, and moderate lek
density strata;
b) where low lek
density strata overlap local connectivity corridors; or
c) where winter habitat use polygons overlap
with either low lek density strata, connectivity corridors, or occupied
habitat." Core area maps are maintained by the Department.
(3) "Development action" means any human
activity subject to regulation by local, state, or federal agencies that could
result in the loss of sage-grouse habitat. Development actions may include but
are not limited to, construction, and operational activities authorized or
conducted by local, state, and federal agencies. Development actions also
include subsequent re-permitting of existing activities proposing new impacts
beyond current conditions.
(4)
"Direct impact" means an adverse effect of a development action upon
sage-grouse habitat which is proximal to the physical footprint of the
development action in time and place.
(5) "Functionality" is the ability of habitat
to meet sage-grouse seasonal and/or year round life history needs (e.g.
breeding, early rearing, wintering, migratory) and sustain sage-grouse
populations.
(6) "Indirect
impacts" are adverse effects to sage-grouse and their habitat that are caused
by or will ultimately result from implementation of a development action, with
such effects usually occurring later in time or more removed in distance as
compared to direct effects.
(7)
"Low density" areas are mapped sagebrush types or other habitats that support
greater sage-grouse that are encompassed by areas where:
a) low lek density strata overlapped with
seasonal connectivity corridors;
b) local corridors occur outside of all lek
density strata;
c) low lek density
strata occur outside of connectivity corridors; or
d) seasonal connectivity corridors occur
outside of all lek density strata." Low density area maps are maintained by the
Department.
(8) "General
habitat" is occupied (seasonal or year-round) sage-grouse habitat outside core
and low density habitats.
(9)
"Priority Areas for Conservation (PACs)" are key habitats identified by state
sage-grouse conservation plans or through other sage-grouse conservation
efforts (e.g., federal Bureau of Land Management plans or U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service efforts). In Oregon, core area habitats are PACs.