This species inhabits moist Douglas fir and mixed maple, hemlock, and red cedar woodlands. It is dependent on mature and old-growth stands as it is commonly found in large downed logs and other well-decayed woody debris. These downed wood structures help to reduce desiccation, provide escape cover, and enhance dispersal (Vesely 1999, Garcia et al. 2020). Individuals are often found under rocks, log, bark and moss, rotting logs, in holes and crevices in the ground, and in termite burrows. This species is active after snowmelt in the spring, and for the rest of the year individuals inhabit underground burrows or sites deep within large logs (Green et al. 2014). Nests that have been located were found under bark and in rotten logs (Nussbaum et al. 1983). This species lays eggs on land that hatch directly without a larval stage.

This species is strongly associated with coarse woody debris, as it is thought to be necessary for foraging and rearing young. Therefore, the presence of coarse woody debris is likely necessary for this species to persist in managed and second growth areas (Homyack and Kroll 2014, Kroll et al. 2015, Garcia et al. 2020). Bury and Corn (1988a) found that fewer individuals were observed in logged areas than in mature forests, and it is rare or at least difficult to detect in recent clear-cuts (Bury and Corn 1988, Vesely 1999). This species was found to be common in second growth forest stands during a study conducted by Homyack and Kroll (2014), suggesting that it is either able to persist in harvested areas or can recolonize areas as they regenerate over time.

This species is known from Western Oregon, where it occurs from the south side of the Columbia River Gorge southward in the Cascade Mountains to the vicinity of Odell Lake (Green et al. 2014). Most of its range is distributed across the western slopes of the Cascades, however it also occurs at several sites on the eastern slope in Hood River and Wasco counties (Kirk 1991, Kirk and Forbes 1991, Stebbins 2003, Jones et al. 2005). This species' elevational range extends from 15 m in the Columbia River Gorge to around 1,340 m (Green et al. 2014). This salamander occurs in scattered and often widely separated colonies (Stebbins 2003). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 20,695 km². It likely occurs in ten or fewer threat-defined locations due to the differing frequency and severity of fire across its range. Due to the synergistic threats of changes in forest management and fire events

Conservation Actions In-Place
Most occurrences are on lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service or BLM, but these are not necessarily protected from all disturbance (NatureServe 2020). In the Oregon Cascade Mountains, steep terrain is often not subject to intensive timber harvest, so populations are somewhat protected in these areas. This species is listed as a "Sensitive" species in Oregon and is currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act (USFWS 2015). 

Conservation Needed
This species would likely benefit from improved habitat protection and restoration at sites where it is known to occur. A shift in logging practices towards partial harvesting and retention of down wood, as well as a shift in the timing of harvest towards periods of the year when the species is not active above ground, may aid in the long-term conservation of this species. The presence of woody debris may contribute strongly to this species' conservation and ability to persist in managed landscapes (Garcia et al. 2020). It is also recommended that education and awareness programs be implemented for this species.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Further research on the response of this species to contemporary management prescriptions is needed to better determine threat severity and inform conservation decisions. Population monitoring is recommended.