Forest Service Land Management Planning
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Forest Service Land Management Planning Three-step process 1. Assessment 2. Plan development 3. Monitoring Required Land Management Plan components: 1. Desired conditions 2. Objectives 3. Management standards and guidelines 4. Suitability of land for various activities 5. Monitoring program – questions and associated indicators Wilderness Character: • Development of desired condition including area’s distinctive role • Monitoring program
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Forest Service Land Management Planning. Three-step process Assessment Plan development Monitoring. Required Land Management Plan components: Desired conditions Objectives Management standards and guidelines Suitability of land for various activities - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Forest Service Land Management Planning
Forest Service Land Management Planning
Three-step process1. Assessment2. Plan development3. MonitoringRequired Land Management Plan components: 1. Desired conditions2. Objectives3. Management standards and
guidelines4. Suitability of land for various
activities5. Monitoring program – questions
and associated indicators
The plan must also identify the area’s distinctive roles and contributions within the broader landscape
Wilderness Character:• Development of
desired condition including area’s distinctive role
• Monitoring program
Purpose and NeedIs Action Necessary? (poll question #1)
Wildland-urban interface -- 1,580 private lots within ½ mile of boundary; -- 42% of area within ¼ mile of residents could produce 4’ flame lengths
Suppression history -- 100% suppression, average 4 fires/year-- Suppression impacts
Proposed Action• 11,112 acres of
prescribed burning• 19 units• Implementation over 5-
10 years• 5.8 miles of fire line
Issue: Proposed treatment will impair the character of wilderness with no clear benefit to wilderness values.
Alternative • 6,900 acres of
prescribed burning• 11 units• Implementation over 5-
10 years• 2.8 miles of fire line
Poll Question #2
Effect on Untrammeled Quality
# of actions to ignite fire# of actions to suppress fireNo Action0 actions to ignite fire100% suppression actions continue
Proposed Action1 action per year for 5-10 years to ignite fire45% suppression actions over time
Alternative1 action per year for 5-10 years to ignite fire50% suppression actions over time
Effect on Natural QualityThe hidden consequences of suppressing fire
Acres actually burned versus what might have burned under different weather scenarios
4,700 actual acres burned (1970-2011)119,000 acres estimated burned for 70th percentile burning index
No Action5,000 acres burned over 50 years
Proposed Action65,000 acres burned over 50 acres
Alternative60,000 acres burned over 50 acres
Effect on Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation
Poll question #3
# of days fire crews are present Duration of temporary closures
No Action0 days of fire crew presenceNo temporary closures
Proposed action and Alternative20 days of presence~2 week temporary closure
Findings - Effect on Wilderness Character
Untrammeled: Short-term decline; Long-term improvementNatural: Short-term stable; Long-term improvementUndeveloped: Stable in short-term and long-term Solitude: Short-term decline; Long-term stable
Overall: Temporary decline in wilderness character with potential for lasting improvement in long-term
Monitoring# of management actions takenChange in % fires suppressedChange in suppression tactics
