CHAPTER I FOREST-WIDE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STANDARDS, AND GUIDELINES

Introduction

This Chapter describes the forest-wide goals, objectives, standards and guidelines that are being considered as part of the Travel Management Plan for amendment into the Gallatin National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan).

Forest-wide Direction

GOAL A. Recreation and Public Use. Provide for a variety of recreation opportunities on the road and trail system that allows for the enjoyment of the Forest’s backcountry, wilderness, rivers, lakes, topography, wildlife, snow and historical assets.

OBJ. A-1. Recreation and Public Use. Manage the road and trail system to provide for the following types of recreation use.

Table I – 1. Summary of Summer Opportunities by Miles – (all mileages are approximate).

e e k k

i i

le g k B B n

c Recreation i n n o k i i t i a a

Opportunity S Stock t t Hiking H ATV n n u u o o Motorcyc Roads (4x4) Backcountry Pack and Saddle Pack and Saddle (Use Allowed) (Use Allowed) (Use Allowed) M M Pleasure Driving (Use Emphasized) (Use Emphasized) (Use Emphasized) Miles of Road 402 337 411 17 554 1,357 - - - - Miles of Trail - - 143 278 769 397 1747 347** 2,004 152* Total Miles 402 337 554 295 1,323 1,754 1747 347** 2,004 152*

*Use for this activity is not prohibited on any trails; use is either emphasized or allowed. ** Use for this activity is prohibited on some trails.

Table I – 2. Summary of Winter Opportunities in Miles – (all mileages are approximate). Pleasure Driving Cross-country Recreation Opportunity Snowmobiling (Plowed Road) Skiing Miles of Plowed Road 169 - - Miles of Groomed Trail - 346 57 Miles of Marked Trail - 122 174 Total Miles 169 468 231

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-1

OBJ. A-2. Facilities. Backcountry 4x4 roads shall be hardened to prevent resource damage.

OBJ. A-3. Wilderness Trails. Manage the pristine zones (opportunity class I) in wilderness to preserve the trail-less condition for cross country travel.

OBJ. A-4. Wilderness Trails. Manage the primitive zones (opportunity class II) in wilderness for a minimum number (low density) of trails on the low end of the development scale.

OBJ. A-5. Wilderness Trails. Manage the transition zones (opportunity class III) in wilderness for a well developed trail system that facilitates transition into more primitive areas. Trail classes are typically of a higher management class, and may be managed to accommodate a higher volume of use.

OBJ. A-6. Backcountry Airstrips. Consider proposals to authorize locations for public recreational landing/take-off of backcountry aircraft (airplanes and helicopters). Landing/take-off locations that are authorized will be constructed and maintained by site users. Proposals will be processed in accordance with regulations for occupancy and use of National Forest System (NFS) lands. Use would be regulated by special use authorization. Backcountry airstrips for public recreational use will not be considered in designated wilderness, the Hyalite/Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area, the Cabin Creek Recreation Wildlife Management Area, the Lionhead and Republic Mountain Recommended Wilderness Areas, or within the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone.

STANDARD A-7. Backcountry Air Travel. Public recreational aircraft landing/take- off shall not be allowed except at designated and authorized sites.

STANDARD A-8. Off-Route Travel. Wheeled motorized vehicle travel shall be prohibited off of designated routes with the following exceptions:

- Wheeled motorized cross-country travel may be allowed in designated firewood gathering areas. - Wheeled motorized cross-country travel may be allowed for any military, fire, search and rescue or law enforcement vehicle for emergency operations subject to authorization from a line officer. - Wheeled motorized vehicle travel will be allowed to access a campsite within 300 feet of a designated road or trail unless specifically restricted or unless such use would result in damage or unreasonable disturbance to soil, water, wildlife or vegetative resources. - Wheeled motorized cross-country travel for lessees and permittees may be allowed but limited to the administration of a federal lease or permit. Authorization by a line officer is required. - Wheeled motorized cross-country travel is allowed for Forest Service employees and contractors conducting official authorized business.

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-2

- Motorized wheeled cross-country travel may be allowed for other government entities and contractors on official administrative business subject to authorization from a line officer.

STANDARD A-9. Trail Vehicles. Motorized vehicle use on designated trails shall be limited to the vehicles described below:

ATV: Any motorized, off-highway vehicle 50 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of 600 pounds or less that travels on three or more low-pressure tires with a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. Low-pressure tires are 6 inches or more in width and designed for use on wheel rim diameters of 12 inches or less, utilizing an operating pressure of 10 pounds per square inch (psi) or less as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. [FSH 2309.18(05.5)]

Motorcycle: A motorized vehicle 50 inches or less in width, with two wheels in- line with the direction of travel. In addition to conventional trail motorcycles, this class of vehicle also includes scooters and mini-bikes.

Snowmobile: A motorized vehicle 50 inches or less in width, designed for use over snow, runs on a track and uses one or more skis for steering.

STANDARD A-10. Winter Wheeled Vehicle Restriction. All wheeled vehicles shall be prohibited from traveling on groomed or marked snowmobile or ski trails from December 1st to April 15th annually.

STANDARD A-11. Snowmobile Prohibition on Ski Trails. Snowmobiles shall be prohibited from traveling on groomed cross-country ski trails unless the machine is being used for authorized grooming activities.

GUIDELINE A-12. Implementation. Newly designated routes for passenger cars, 4x4’s, and ATV’s, may remain closed to such uses until the facilities meet applicable engineering design standards.

GOAL B. Access. Provide and maintain reasonable, legal access to Gallatin National Forest lands to provide for human use and enjoyment and to protect and manage Forest resources and values.

OBJ. B-1. Acquire Perpetual Easements. Acquire, across non-National Forest System (NFS) lands, perpetual road and trail easements needed to assure adequate protection, administration and management of National Forest resources and values.

OBJ. B-2. Acquire All Rights Needed. Acquire all interests and rights needed to meet the objectives and future uses of the National Forest System.

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-3

OBJ. B-3. Access Locations. Obtain and protect public and/or administrative access rights in locations as identified in attached Table I-3.

Table I-3. Forest Access Objectives

n-1 al n rnal te

ter Table I-3 Forest Access Objectives x n

signatio e es E es I v v p D a

M Resol Access Needs Resol Access Needs Description of Access Needs AB Wilderness TPA – Absaroka/Beartooth Range Perfect trail access across private in-holdings within the Wilderness near Palmer A2 YES Mountain. Includes existing trails: Low Specimen #84, Pine Creek #627. Bangtails TPA – Bangtail Range Acquire administrative road access on existing Miles Creek Road #1740 into NFSL A3 YES section 30 in the Grouse Creek area. A2 Acquire administrative road and public trail access across private in-holding in section 4 YES A3 within the Bangtail Creek area. Perfect Trail access across private land for the final constructed location on the Bangtail A2 YES Divide Trail #504. Bear Canyon TPA – Gallatin Range Perfect trail and trailhead access across private in-holdings and State DNRC lands. A2 YES Includes existing trails: Bear Loop #440 and the Bear Loop Divide #441. Acquire administrative road access from Newman County Road to NFSL on an existing A3 YES alternate route. Acquire trail and trailhead access to the rock climbing area north of I-90 in section 19 A2 YES near the Trail Creek Exit. Acquire trail and trailhead access into NFSL from Trail Creek County Road near I-90. A2 YES Connect to Chestnut Mountain Trail #458. Acquire administrative road access into the Chestnut Mountain area south of I-90 A3 YES through private lands in sections 28 and 29 from the Trail Creek County Road. Big Sky TPA – Madison Range Perfect trail and trailhead access across private lands to NFSL from NFSR #166B. A2 YES Includes existing Trail: North Fork Ridge #403. Perfect trail access across private lands in the Beehive Basin area. Includes portions of A2 YES existing Trails: North Fork Ridge #403, North Fork Tie #402, and Beehive Basin #40. Perfect Trail access across private land for the final constructed location on the First A2 YES Yellowmule Trail #162 and the Second Yellowmule Trail #42. Bozeman Creek TPA – Gallatin Range Perfect trail access across City of Bozeman in-holdings. Includes existing trails: A2 YES Bozeman Creek #454, Hood Lick #436. Perfect trail access across State DNRC Lands into the New World Gulch area. Includes A2 YES existing trails: New World Gulch #50, Moonshine #438. Bridger Canyon TPA – Bridger Range A1 YES Acquire road access from Bridger Bowl parking area south into NFSL section 30. Perfect trail access across private in-holdings in the Bridger Bowl area. Includes existing A2 YES trail: #528.

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-4

Galla Fairy Lak East Cra East BoulderTPA–BeartoothRange Deer CreeksTPA–BeartoothRange Cooke CityTPA–Bear Cherry CreekTPA–MadisonRange Gallatin National ForestTravelPlan Decision A A1 A A2 A1 A3 A A A3 A2 A A2 A A A A A A1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 Map Designation-1

tin Cr YES YES Y Y Y Y Y Y E E E E E E Resolves External

z S S S S S S ies TPA–Cr e

Access Needs TPA–Brid est TPA–Galla YES YES YES YES YES Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y E E E E E E E E E Resolves Internal

S S S S S S S S S

Access Needs Acquire Acqu Resolve acc Perfect Perfect t Acq Bridge d the s the Swam the Sweetgrass Sp Creek #401,Cherry Lak # Ei ex Per Sm Acquire T Perfect trailaccessacross Acquire Acquire Acquire G Perfect/Resol Provi Perfect trailac lands Acquire trailaccessfrom Acquire a Cherry Cree 119 r r ai ght istin an een e f n e u ect tr ller Lak out #1 , ish a intoNFSLint ire snowm d ire m Mtn#94. g Sun e pe g r M a ger Range i e road ac tooth Range heast portion t adm l r 97 z r Creek s. Inclu e roa roa roa ail accessacross o y Mounta #13 ail accessacr p Creeka r ligh d o . r ad ails: Po rm ail accesstoRoc m unt ess d d d e k a tin Ra i a a a a

ve trailaccess i nistrative roada a on 2, M t nistrative roadandpublictra # n ccess tot Lak a area. cess across issues cess across ccess tothe ccess tothe ccess tothe r o ins ent ea. 446 Sm b d ile trailac e u Table I-3ForestAccessObjectives r near t e roa s ex , Little d le ea. nge h eller Lak #27 La of theC e BearT Lake #4 i on ns d Gu h Description ofAccessNeeds oss pr acce isting ke t h e 3, Tr pat pat h

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w C ke e u een Big r n ding r n ea. e ad #6 eek #4 rboard l Creek#406, , d theAm Trail (BLM)acrossprivateandStateDNRC Fo claim #1 a Mid claim i n .

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. nwo cl n n n #241 nd t g g g For u err s i s i s i d b o h e e k d n n n k y o e s r , Main BoulderTPA-Absaroka/BeartoothRange Hyalite TPA–Gallat Ibex TPA– Hebgen LakeBasinT Gardiner B Galla Galla Mill CreekTPA–Absaroka Range Gallatin National ForestTravelPlan Decision A A A A1 A A A A A2 A1 A A A A A A 1 1 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 Map Designation-1

tin RiverTPA–Galla tin Ro YES Y Y Y Y YES E E E E Resolves External

S S S S

Access Needs Cra a aded TPA–Galla Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y sin TPA–AbsarokaRange E E E E E E E E E E E E Resolves Internal

S S S S S S S S S S S S z

Access Needs y Mou Acq Acquire roadortra A Sh Cr In t area. area. Mo coope trail: Gro Perfect t A G Perfect/Resol Perfect t Perfect traila Acquire Mo Perfect roa C Bear Perfect trailac Acquire Incl Perfect trailac Perfect roa Co Acqu Bo h r c c r e s cl eek eek ield een qu qu und nn on un u udes u i out Cr d P n Range ire ire ad ir ir ects with r Tie#269 sh tain Mtn#94. e s Low # ar ative agreem e tr e ro A –HenryMountains s ex n heast 3 eek r adm in r t y. roa r 0 tains ail accessacross o ail accessacross area. r u e #43 ail accessfr 2 ai ad ad m d se

i d d istin #36 accessacross l line #2 tin/M n i p ortrailaccessonthe i a s accesstoth a ve trailaccess n nistrative roada Mtn :

ex ccess across Sage sect ccess to cess across o i cess acrosspri ccess tothe tin R strativ 8. 4, Pi , Po rt g istin i trails:Ro #14 o i il accesstothe Table I-3ForestAccessObjectives ons 58 n a ent (FS/MS r C n c dison Ranges of g a e ro e , and o up . r C nge m NF ee 2 t Trail: Description ofAccessNeeds in 2 h H r k e ad a e C eek #6 SL in private in-holdi e Lo pri C private in-holdi NF bou #1 i n NF accessto private in-holdi MSU La gh ck d o r v issues acrosspri

ccess toNFSL 1 a v North Fork tto azi ate in-holdings w 23 boundaryandacrossc Creek ate in-holding w U). In a the Jack/Ral n n 27 lin es bet nea y w d NF nd S , Palm #2 e oo nds i r k ar th #2 87 boundary int t No d Lak y w y and h Dudley l cl e Fore 67 t i e P ee n TrailCreek ud o er ngs n e rt , n ngs,

H to Cr a ngs h Po e es ex #1 Tr

ph rk ac across privatein-hol #1 s in #27 e intheSa in the st Bo bg esp 5 v t Li incl eek #67 CreekRoad#2502 in rc h Cree ros 1 ate in-holdings 97 e en th . upi isting ne. a th 0, Co . Kirk s ss h Lak udi und Grouse

e area.In ne C k Area e pri

e #26 # Davi h ng, butnotlim , Low 443 trails:New v ar ge south ec e tton Hill area.C at i r y 8, N e kerb n e i Creek a . e s Mountainarea. in . th Creekarea k a w n Sp w th cl oo e RedCr o - oar est co h n . Include r u e No ol t ecim d d d h

dings d R Low e di Fo n

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n C areas #1 s #50 ev g Fl r s i ee 95 ice r s m a n k e e s t . . . , , West Bridg Tom Miner/Rock Taylor ForkTPA–MadisonRange Sa Porcupine/Buffalo HornTPA–G North BridgersTPA–BridgerRange Mission TP Gallatin National ForestTravelPlan Decision A A A A A A2 A1 A2 A1 A A2 A3 A A A1 A3 A A A w 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Map Designation-1

t ooth TPA–GallatinRange YES YES YES Y Y Y YES E E E Resolves External

S S S

Access Needs A –AbsarokaRange ers NorthTPA–Bridger Range YES YES YES Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y YES E E E E E E E E E Resolves Internal

S S S S S S S S S

Access Needs TPA–GallatinRange Acquire Acqu Acqu Acquire Acquire roadortrail A Perfect # # Elk N Acqu NFSL Acquire In Perfect a In Perfect traila In Perfect t Dal R C Perfect t exi Perfect trailaccessacrossStateFW&Pla Acqu Perfect trailaccessacrossc Perfect trailaccessacross in trail: Dav 466 521 r a c o -h cl cl cl eek, m qu r s h y u u u t o t h Co s o i Pass , . d d d l ire trailan ire ad ng t ire trailan ire ad ir hor d r sect Sou e e e n e easemen i s ex s ex s ex up road ac ng roada adm traila Ridg r r n Lak ail accessacross d tton r i ail ac pe t s C ai s thro # ditional trailacces i h For m m o isti isti isti 5 l r El n s i i 7 i w r e areas.In nistrative roada n : n eek , 2. Hi n n n ccess across ccess across i Teepee e cess across o i ccess across cess across strativ d trailh g g g strativ ugh #1 d trailh k o kh Trail:Cinn Trail: Trail:Tayl ts for Six d

# d

or Table I-3ForestAccessObjectives 60 Tr 3 ou d a 8 n C access tothe en La t ail #54 e ro , Up e ro een . llatin Range t th Saw

C ead ead Description ofAccessNeeds clud Don r r m e area. ad accessacro ee privatein-holdi ee ad pat accessto pe St privatech pri accesstoth ke t i

k oo k l accessto private in-holdi am r R 5. es p a private c e # o , h Di e ate FW&Pc ccess acros v h and #3 s across r ecke th nted m ate in-hol u Falls#17 o 524 a e 9,

o vi n m Tr #18 rtio Bu NF C de s r u ail #297 , t boa hor ppe r Elkh h ns o ow ec i ck #6 3 (sou h # boundary in th neral e ec n Lak 6 rd pri ker e s NF r T n B 6 dings s sectio s . e k-bo f or , NF p ng in

v P priv h NF bo b ex . eep n a

r claim bounda th eck u oar an nds ngs i o t

bo e v istin t e Rid en rc ard la t #1 at d tr e ate in-holdi in theDa ee Cree the d erbo in-hol #9 i u e i n und i d). i g p und s

50 g n n n ailh 2 e i intheE n t trails:MillerGu thelowerPorcup 5, a Upper theB n - ry intheRossC h

5 ard hol nds in - #5 , B ar e C e StrawberryC in h ar dings ead y i ol n 22 k areas.Includes y and land u di t d r di f vis Creekar h ee n , and n t f W e n u al t g h Taylor Forkareainsection ngs i m k # inthe g ck Cree the u s i h rou o H i s i s i l acro igrant p e s n

p on 3 H n N n g t e Dona 4 o n t th o h r h o , a r the h Dra r State

e n ss Wap r DonahueCree s e t Tom # Chapter e upp Gulc eth r h Co k area nd Fi D r ee lch c eek ea. Includesexisting hue 1 w h ine o , Da North Bridge k a i iti area. eckerboard pri

ef na #5 # DN h M tt

area. 1 r er M area.Includes existingTrails: r Creek area hue s o area. insection 6 ea. 20 l t Buf i n y 1 RC Lan C ner a t wo C n . , Tro

C I #52 r - eek C r od r f 7 eek #1 ee a r

ea. l ar y 3. o k a k a Cree d

r an s H ea t int u . v r r t o ea 24. 17. 00 o ate ea rn f o k d o . f . , Yellow Yankee JimCanyonTPA–Ab West BridgersSouthTPA–Bridg

Gallatin National ForestTravelPlan Decision Note 1:

A A A A A3 A A2 A2 A A A A A A A

1 2 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 2 1 Map Designation-1

Y Y Y Y Y s A2 = A3 = A1 = tone TPA–Gallat E E E E E Resolves External

S S S S S

Access Needs Additional Pu Additiona Additional Public/Adm YES YES YES Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y E E E E E E E E Resolves Internal

S S S S S S S S

Access Needs Acqu Acquire Acquire Area to ex Ei ex Perfect trailaccessacrossprivatechec area. Acquire easem th Acquire th Acquire Ro Acquire Acquire a hol Acquire #302 toNFSL Acquire Trai Protect/Perfect area. Acquire Acqu Perfect t th e Po e So ght l istin istin ad &THand di Adm l e B f So n ire atrail ire trailan m blic r le Gu u g g g Trails: om i t s i o

atrail adm atrail l roada roada adm adm ut h r i e roa t stwick nistrative AccessOnly ail andtrailhea r

#13 d n h Dry ails: ei Trail and i m C C n Range lch, Tie d t i i i a i h i o nistrative roada nistrative roada nistrative roa nistrative road nna 2.

Creek er T unt roa near Pipeline nd an access ori Bridg ent onNorth access ori ccess tot ccess tot Po i Can d Trail:Mu n saro t d trailh is ba le Gu y pe r d o Table I-3ForestAccessObjectives trative R R ailh accesstoAldri m Gu r B Trailhead AccessNee yon rfect trailaccessacross /Mill Fo er Range o M e ka/Gallatin Ranges ad ead r Foo lch a lch Description ofAccessNeeds Trail#5 d acc si ead h h i . n ner R n e e n , lh accessto # terconnect and terconnected NFSL d

NF Bounda NF Bounda Area o accessb

a erin t Creek i 1 Dry Roa rk hills # ad AccessNee ess across and publicroa ccess ccess from 8 ccess toandac Creek o Frid 2

ad , Neede 36 . #17 Frid o . 5 t dge ley Creek n th h r 3 e ed NFSLalongtheM 5. section t d area. ro 4 t ley h w #2613 d e and ry and ry and u USFWS e Lake

kerboard een NF High g C Lak d h i B s ed d

nna pri M b d

ect from e ross p areas. 22. r e oun

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w idg ac ac ac u # or t betwee v

ba i l a ate landsi on ros h la ross ross 240 in-holdi y d e r B eri theeast nds nearthe r r Ri a r 89 ail/tra 13 s i ry th v n , M privat privat a t at C n theend M si s d o e T g out n o u th rou e

DNR ilhead accessacross u i d Lak Area ngs through #5 n n n u h e N - e chec e chec starting t theM g lh o hol y h 12 R e f th . F C r C “M”. di e . of t SL i in/Cinnabar Ridge. o # La e B u ad a n

kerboard in-hol kerboard in-hol t g u 146 Chapter l h from e s inthe lheri n nds i e Be o r n t Includes portionso La stwi out , Pole d h e n Al theYellowstone ke attie Gulch n Area Co ck area. Includes t dri ReederCree . h Can rw Gu e N I dge - pri . Include in 8 lch o y

Lake dings i dings i v Spr rt o ate in- # n h D are Tra 182 i ngs . r i y n n k a s f l ,

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-9

GUIDELINE. B-4. Mutual Transportation Systems. When there is a recognized need to provide access to intermingled NFS and private lands, cooperate with other landowners to develop a transportation system that serves mutual needs.

GUIDELINE. B-5. Protect Existing Access Rights. In situations where continued use of an historical road or trail access route is challenged or closed, take actions necessary to protect the existing access rights to NFS lands, and to protect the jurisdictional status of roads and trails in cooperation with area counties.

GUIDELINE. B-6. Reciprocity. In evaluating requests from a landowner for reasonable access across National Forest System lands, and especially in areas where public or administrative access needs exist (Table I-3), consider granting such request contingent upon receiving reciprocal access across the private land.

GUIDELINE. B-7. Acquire Assignable Rights. When acquiring road rights-of-way across non-federal lands to access NFS lands, acquire sufficient interests in rights- of-way for roads that are expected to receive residential traffic to enable the future assignment of jurisdiction to an appropriate public road agency.

GUIDELINE. B-8. Temporary Rights. In situations where road access is needed across private land to accomplish management actions on NFS lands, acquire easements that are permanent. Consider the use of temporary agreements, such as permits or rental agreements, for immediate, temporary, or limited access only when it can be demonstrated that full and permanent use is not needed.

GUIDELINE. B-9. Restrictive Rights. In situations where road access is needed across private land to NFS lands, acquire easements that provide for full multiple use, including use by the public. Administrative-only or other restricted use easement to NFS lands should not be accepted unless adequate public and administrative access already exists in the area. In general, adequate access exists when: (a) Public and administrative access to the NFS lands in the area is similar to that of the private landowner, and (b) The Forest Service has adequate means of access to manage NFS lands and resources now and in the future.

GOAL C. Administrative Uses. Retain or establish the means to access Gallatin National Forest lands for the implementation of a variety of administrative and project activities, including but not limited to, law enforcement, timber harvest, reforestation, cultural treatments, prescribed fire, fire suppression, watershed restoration, wildlife and fish habitat improvement, private land access, livestock grazing, and mineral exploration and development.

OBJ. C-1. Administrative Uses. Allow for the construction, opening, and/or reconstruction of roads and trails for administrative and project purposes consistent with future decisions made on such proposals in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-10

GOAL D. Resources (General). Manage a system of roads and trails and associated use that is consistent with Forest Plan goals for water quality; wildlife habitat; fish habitat; threatened and endangered species recovery; and historical resources (Note: Until Forest Plan revision refer to Forest Plan (9/87), pages II-1, II-2, and Amendment 19).

OBJ. D-1. Road Rehabilitation. Close and rehabilitate existing roads that are in excess to administrative, recreation and access needs.

OBJ. D-2. Trail Rehabilitation. Close and rehabilitate existing non-system trail not otherwise designated for public travel.

OBJ. D-3. Road and Trail Maintenance. Develop and maintain a road and trail system to be consistent with Goal D.

STANDARD D-4. Hunting Access for People with Disabilities. Motorized use by people with disabilities for hunting shall be restricted to those routes designated for public motorized use with the exception that it may also be permitted on administrative or restricted roads by authority of the responsible line officer.

STANDARD D-5. Project Roads. Existing roads that were constructed for project use and not designated for motorized use via the Forest Travel Plan are to remain closed to public (wheeled) motorized use.

STANDARD D-6. Wildlife. There shall be no increase in public motorized routes within any travel planning area beyond those identified through this Travel Management Plan (Plan) without modifying the Plan in accordance with NEPA.

GUIDELINE D-7. Road Construction. Roads constructed for project activity should be designed with minimum engineering standards necessary to accomplish the task safely and with minimal impacts to resources. Project roads should be temporary in nature, and effectively gated to restrict public motorized use. Once the activity is complete, these roads should be permanently and effectively closed and re-vegetated.

GOAL E. Water Quality, Riparian, Fisheries and Aquatic Life. Manage a road and trail system that fully supports the protection of water quality, and habitat for fish, riparian dependent species and other aquatic organisms.

OBJ. E-1. Fisheries. For streams supporting westslope and Yellowstone cutthroat trout or blue ribbon fisheries (Category A), maintain or progress toward providing habitat that is 90% or greater of its inherent habitat capability or reference condition. See travel management area direction for specific objectives.

OBJ. E-2. Fisheries. For all other streams (Category B through D), maintain or progress toward providing habitat that is 75% or greater of its inherent habitat capability or reference condition. See travel management area direction for specific objectives.

Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-11

OBJ. E-3. Fisheries. Bring existing stream crossings to a condition that allows for passage of aquatic organisms, except where passage restriction is desired to isolate genetically pure cutthroat trout populations from exposure to hybridization or competition by non-native salmonids.

STANDARD E-4. Water, Fisheries, and Aquatic Life. Proposals for road and trail construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and other ground disturbing projects (timber sales, fuel treatment projects, mineral activities, etc.) will be designed to not exceed annual sediment delivery levels in excess of those in Table I-4. Sixth- code Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) are the analysis unit for sediment delivery (and other habitat parameters), except where a sixth code HUC artificially bisects a watershed and is therefore inadequate for analysis of impacts to aquatic habitat and aquatic organism metapopulations. In such cases, appropriate larger units will be analyzed (e.g. 5th code HUCs). Within the analysis unit, sediment delivery values in Table I-4 will serve as guidelines; however, sediment delivery values denoted in individual 7th code HUCs may only temporarily exceed sediment delivery rates denoted in Table I-4, in the following circumstances:

1. The 7th code HUC does not contain a fragmented fish population of special management designation;

2. The majority of 7th code HUCs in the analysis unit remain within sediment delivery values listed in Table I-4;

3. Other core stream habitat (e.g. pool frequency, pool quality) or biotic (e.g. macroinvertebrates, fish populations) parameters within the 7th code HUC do not indicate impairment as defined by Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ); and

4. Sediment delivery levels will return to values listed in Table I-4 within 5 years of project completion, and thereby do not lead to stream impairment as defined by Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

Table I-4. Substrate sediment and sediment delivery by Forest stream category. Bold values are provisional pending final analysis of Forest reference data. Category Management % Fine Substrate Annual Objective Sediment % > Reference* (% of reference*) (<6.3mm) Sediment Delivery A Sensitive Species and/or 90% 0 – 26 % 30% Blue Ribbon fisheries B All other streams 75% 0 – 30 % 50% (formerly Classes B, C, D) *% of reference = % similarity to mean reference condition

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STANDARD E-5. Water, Fisheries and Aquatic Life. Proposed roads and trails shall not be located in the floodplains of rivers and streams or in wetlands except where necessary to cross a stream or wetland with appropriate permits.

STANDARD E-6. Water, Fisheries and Aquatic Life. Stream crossing facilities for proposed roads and trails shall allow for passage of aquatic organisms, except where passage restriction is desired to isolate genetically pure cutthroat trout populations from exposure to hybridization or competition by non-native salmonids.

GUIDELINE E-7. Water, Fisheries, and Aquatic Life. Road materials should not be side-cast into streams or wetlands.

GOAL F. Wildlife Corridors. Provide for wildlife movement and genetic interaction (particularly for wide-ranging species) between and within mountain ranges throughout the Gallatin National Forest and connecting wild lands.

OBJ. F-1. Wildlife Corridors. Provide habitat connectivity consistent with wildlife movement patterns between mountain ranges such as that at Bozeman Pass (linking the Gallatin Range to the Bridger/Bangtails); the North Bridgers (linking the Bridger Range to the Big Belt Mountains); the Lionhead area (linking the Henry’s Lake Mountains to the Gravelly Mountains); the Shields (Crazy Mountains to the Castle and Little Belt Mountains) and any additional linkage or wildlife movement corridors recognized through interagency coordination.

GOAL G. Threatened, Endangered and Species of Special Management Designation. Manage human use of the Forest road and trail system that allows for the recovery of threatened and endangered species and maintains species of special management designation and their habitats.

OBJ. G-1. Grizzly Bear. Provide effective closures on access routes not designated for motorized use. Grizzly bear subunits Gallatin #3, Henry’s Lake #2 and Madison #2 and non-designated routes that are attractive to motorized use within secure grizzly bear habitat should receive high priority.

GUIDELINE G-2. Species of Special Management Designation. Any proposed motorized routes, whether to serve public or administrative needs, should be located to avoid or mitigate for known occupied habitat such as nesting, denning, roosting or key foraging areas for species of special management designation. Mitigation measures may include, but are not limited to: altering route design, timing/volume of use restrictions, temporal and spatial buffers, and/or route/area closures in similar habitat within the home range of the species of concern for the duration of use of the newly designated route.

GUIDELINE G-3. Threatened and Endangered Species. Consider applying temporary localized restrictions to prevent conflicts with threatened and endangered species. Gallatin National Forest Travel Plan Decision Chapter I-13

GOAL H. Wildlife. Protect key habitats such as willow, riparian, wetlands, whitebark pine, old growth, snags and down woody debris, ridgelines, saddles, and forest/non-forest ecotones from damage or depletion associated with forest travel management.

OBJECTIVE H-1. Wildlife. Relocate, reconstruct or take other appropriate action on system roads and trails that are found to have adverse impacts on key habitats.

GUIDELINE H-2. Wildlife. Roads or trails that are constructed for motor vehicle use should be located such that construction and use do not result in adverse impacts to key habitats, or should be designed so as to mitigate for adverse effects in areas where impacts to key habitats cannot be avoided via the route location.

GUIDELINE H-3. Wildlife. Adverse impacts to key habitats will be a priority factor in the scheduling of closure for project roads and undesignated routes.

GOAL I. Wildlife. Provide high quality security habitat in areas important to wildlife reproduction (e.g. calving, fawning, denning and nesting habitat) and wintering areas, including ungulate winter range.

GUIDELINE I-1. Wildlife. Minimize stress factors from human recreation use to species of management concern during calving, fawning, denning and nesting seasons in habitats used for reproduction.

GUIDELINE I-2. Wildlife. In the management of winter travel consider Montana FWP goals for achieving optimal ungulate survival rates on big game winter range.

GOAL J: Wilderness. Preserve the natural integrity of the Lee Metcalf and Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness Areas.

STANDARD J-1. No system trails will be constructed within Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) pristine zones (opportunity class I) for the Lee Metcalf and Absaroka Beartooth. Bridges and structures are not permissible. No trail signing.

GUIDELINE J-2. System trails located within the LAC primitive zones (opportunity class II) will not be developed or managed beyond trail classes 1 through 3. Bridges and structures will be appropriately designed for the trail management objective for that route where necessary to provide safe crossings during the primary use season.

GUIDELINE J-3. System trails located within the LAC transition zones (opportunity class III) will be managed to trail class 2 or 3, with the occasional exception of trail class 4 for short sections where necessary to safely accommodate anticipated use. Bridges and structures will be appropriately designed for the trail management objective for that route where necessary to provide safe crossings during the primary use season.

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