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What is a Site-Specific Bald Eagle Management Plan or Custom Bald Eagle Management Plan?

A site-specific plan, also known as a custom plan, is a plan that is tailored to the individual conditions of a particular site (compare to the Standard bald eagle plan).

• Site-Specific Plan Example (Adobe PDF)

A site-specific plan is required for activities that remove trees within Bald Eagle Management Zone 1 (within 400 ft of an eagle nest). A site-specific plan may also be requested by any landowner who feels that the conditions of the Standard Short Plan cannot be met. A site-specific plan is also required for any forest practice application that is within ½ mile of an eagle nest (but see "No Conditions Plan"). A site-specific plan is also required for any activity within ¼ mile of a bald eagle communal roost.

There is no cost to the site-specific plan, but it is more time consuming to obtain. Typically, a site-specific plan can be obtained in 2-6 weeks, depending on the complexity. Landowners may wish to hire a qualified consultant to prepare a bald eagle management plan for WDFW approval. While this is not necessary in most cases, it can help save time by ensuring that all the necessary documents are complete. To request a site-specific bald eagle management plan, provide the following information to the WDFW bald eagle biologist for your area:

1. Landowner name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address

2. Requestor's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if different from above)

3. County in which the activity will occur

4. Parcel number

5. Site address of parcel (if available)

6. Parcel map (available from county) or Forest Practice Base Map (available from DNR) showing the parcel/activity area and the Township, Range, Section, and Quarter Section

7. A site map showing the activity:

1. Forest Practice Activities: the timber harvest boundary and buffer boundaries must be marked, with the location of the eagle nest shown.
2. Subdivisions and short plats: include the plat map and show the location of the eagle nest, and the location of currently forested areas.
3. Building Permits (and related permits, like clearing and grading and septic): show the
1. location of the eagle nest, and the locations of conifer trees greater than or equal to 24" dbh that will be affected by the activity.
2. Also show the locations of conifer trees greater than or equal to 24" dbh that will be protected and retained.
3. Show the proposed locations of house, driveway, garage, septic, and any other clearing activity

Note: if you do not know the location of the eagle nest, contact the WDFW bald eagle biologist for your area.

Once the biologist has received the above information, you may be contacted to arrange a site visit. A site visit is may be required for activities within 400 ft of a nest site. A site visit may not be required for site-specific plans that amend the Standard Plan for sites over 400 ft from a nest site.