The Bush administration has finally released its plan to save the spotted owl, but conservationists are saying it's a prescription for keeping the bird on life support under the Endangered Species Act. Said Steve Holmer of the American Bird Conservancy:

We are definitely concerned this is not going to be sufficient to recover the owl. It does appear to have some pretty significant loopholes. It could also be detrimental to the marbled murrelet and other species we are concerned about.

This final version includes some important changes, according to this story by Kathie Durban of The Columbian: It reverses a controversial provision that could have allowed local Forest Service managers to muck with the owls' protected territories.

Spotted Owl

But if you listen to what Paul Phifer, leader of the owl recovery that developed the draft plan, it's pretty depressing:

The best we can say with confidence is that in 10 years we will probably be having the same conversation.

Here is a pretty thorough press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Here is the plan itself.