Ottawa National Forest
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0614spj1 Ottawa National Forest United States Department of Agriculture Record of Decision Forest Service Eastern Region Final Environmental Impact Statement March 2006 To accompany the Land and Resource Management Plan Cover Photo: Burned Dam, Watersmeet Ranger District, Ottawa National Forest Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette, and Ontonagon Counties Responsible Official: Randy Moore, Regional Forester USDA Forest Service Eastern Region 626 E. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-297-3428 For Further Information Contact: Ottawa National Forest Forest Supervisor E6248 US Hwy. 2 Ironwood, MI 49938 Phone: 906-932-1330 Fax: 906-932-0122 TTY: 906-932-0301 Table of Contents PREFACE......................................................................................................................................................I RECORD OF DECISION ........................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 1 THE OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST .............................................................................................................. 2 A VISION OF THE FUTURE........................................................................................................................... 3 DECISION AND RATIONALE.................................................................................................................. 4 NEED FOR CHANGE .................................................................................................................................... 4 DECISION OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................. 5 DECISION SUMMARY AND RATIONALE....................................................................................................... 7 Sustaining Ecosystems, Conditions, and Uses....................................................................................................7 Invasive Species .......................................................................................................................................................7 Management Indicator Species .................................................................................................................................8 Vegetative Management ...........................................................................................................................................8 Research Natural Areas ..........................................................................................................................................10 Threatened and Endangered and Sensitive Species..................................................................................................10 Off-Highway Vehicle Management............................................................................................................................11 Roadless Area Inventory and Wilderness Recommendations..........................................................................13 Special Designations...........................................................................................................................................13 Water Resources................................................................................................................................................14 TRIBAL RIGHTS ........................................................................................................................................ 14 CHANGES BETWEEN THE DRAFT AND FINAL EIS....................................................................... 14 OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................. 15 HARDWOOD MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................................... 16 Management Areas 2.1 and 2.2 ........................................................................................................................16 ASPEN MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................. 16 Management Areas 1.1a and 3.1a....................................................................................................................16 SHORT-LIVED CONIFER MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................... 17 Management Areas 4.1a and 4.2a....................................................................................................................17 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .............................................................................................................. 17 ALLOWABLE SALE QUANTITY (ASQ) ...................................................................................................... 18 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 18 MEETINGS AND OPEN HOUSES ................................................................................................................. 18 Special Meetings Requested by Groups ............................................................................................................20 INFORMATION SHARING ........................................................................................................................... 20 Formal Correspondence/Personal Contacts .....................................................................................................20 Revision Newsletters/Briefing Papers ...............................................................................................................21 Ottawa National Forest Website.........................................................................................................................21 News Releases ....................................................................................................................................................21 Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) ...............................................................................................................21 CONSULTATION WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ...................................... 21 LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS .......................................................................................................................... 21 CONSULTATION WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS......................................................................................... 22 ALTERNATIVES ...................................................................................................................................... 22 ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT.................................................................................................................. 22 ALTERNATIVES NOT CONSIDERED IN DETAIL .......................................................................................... 23 No Harvest Alternative ........................................................................................................................................23 Wilderness Alternative ........................................................................................................................................23 National Recreation Area Alternative.................................................................................................................24 No OHV Alternative..............................................................................................................................................24 Aspen Alternative ................................................................................................................................................25 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL .................................................................................................. 25 Alternative 1 ........................................................................................................................................................25 Alternative 2 ........................................................................................................................................................26 Alternative 3—Modified (The Selected Alternative) ...........................................................................................27 Alternative 4 ........................................................................................................................................................28 THE ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE............................................................................... 29 CONSISTENCY WITH NATIONAL POLICIES, LAWS AND AUTHORITIES .............................. 29 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT............................................................................................... 30 NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT................................................................................................... 30 Net Present Value and Net Public Benefit .........................................................................................................31 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA)..........................................................................................................