Revised Land and Resource Management Plan United States Department of Agriculture
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Revised Land and Resource Management Plan United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region Cherokee National Forest Management Bulletin R8-MB 114A January, 2004 Supervisor’s Office P.O. Box 2010 Cleveland, TN 37320 2800 N. Ocoee Street. Cleveland, TN 37312 Office: (423) 476-9700 Fax: (423) 339-8650 Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District Nolichucky/UnakaRanger District Rt. 1, Box 348-D 4900 Asheville Highway, SR70 Benton, TN 37307 Greeneville, TN 37743 Office: (423) 338-5201 Office: (423) 638-4109 Fax: (423) 338-6577 Fax: (423) 638-6599 Tellico Ranger District Watauga Ranger District 250 Ranger Station Road P.O. Box 400 (4400 Unicoi Drive) Tellico Plains, TN 37385 Unicoi, TN 37692 Office: (423) 253-2520 Office: (423) 735-1500 Fax: (423) 253-2804 Fax: (423) 735-7306 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................. i LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ v CHAPTER 1 - FOREST PLAN INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE OF THE FOREST PLAN......................................................................................... 1 RELATIONSHIP OF THE FOREST PLAN TO OTHER DOCUMENTS ............................... 2 PLAN STRUCTURE..................................................................................................................2 CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST.......................................................................................... 4 ANALYSIS OF THE MANAGEMENT SITUATION SUMMARY........................................ 6 SUMMARY OF ISSUES ........................................................................................................... 6 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................... 9 FACILITIES ............................................................................................................................. 10 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT............................................................................................ 11 THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT............................................................. 15 RECREATION ......................................................................................................................... 16 WILDERNESS, ROADLESS AREAS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ....................... 18 CHAPTER 2 - FORESTWIDE DIRECTION .............................................................................. 21 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 21 WATERSHEDS – WATER, SOIL, AIR, AND AQUATIC SPECIES ................................... 22 TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE AND THREATENED, ENDANGERED, AND SENSITIVE SPECIES HABITAT ................................................................................................................ 28 RARE COMMUNITIES AND OLD GROWTH ..................................................................... 38 VEGETATION AND FOREST HEALTH .............................................................................. 39 FIRE MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................ 50 INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION............................................................................... 54 RECREATION – DEVELOPED, DISPERSED, AND BACKCOUNTRY ............................ 55 WILDERNESS, ROADLESS AREAS AND WILD & SCENIC RIVERS............................. 59 SCENERY ................................................................................................................................ 61 SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS ................................................................................................ 62 HERITAGE RESOURCES ...................................................................................................... 63 RANGE MANAGEMENT....................................................................................................... 64 MINERALS AND GEOLOGY ................................................................................................ 65 FACILITIES, ROADS AND ACCESS.................................................................................... 66 LANDS AND SPECIAL USES ............................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER 3 - PRESCRIPTION DIRECTION ........................................................................... 73 PRESCRIPTION 1.A - DESIGNATED WILDERNESS......................................................... 73 PRESCRIPTION 1.B - RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS STUDY AREA......................... 80 PRESCRIPTION 2.B.1 – ELIGIBLE WILD RIVER .............................................................. 82 PRESCRIPTION 2.B.2 - ELIGIBLE SCENIC RIVER ........................................................... 86 PRESCRIPTION 2.B.3 - ELIGIBLE RECREATIONAL RIVER........................................... 90 PRESCRIPTION 4.A - APPALACHIAN TRAIL CORRIDOR.............................................. 94 PRESCRIPTION 4.E - CULTURAL/HERITAGE AREAS .................................................... 99 REVISED LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN I TABLE OF CONTENTS CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST PRESCRIPTION 4.F - SCENIC AREAS............................................................................... 103 PRESCRIPTION 4.K - ROAN MOUNTAIN ........................................................................ 106 PRESCRIPTION 5.A - ADMINISTRATIVE SITES ............................................................ 111 PRESCRIPTION 5.B - DESIGNATED COMMUNICATION/ELECTRONIC SITES........ 113 PRESCRIPTION 7.A - SCENIC BYWAY CORRIDORS .................................................... 115 PRESCRIPTION 7.B - SCENIC CORRIDORS/SENSITIVE VIEWSHEDS....................... 119 PRESCRIPTION 7.C - OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE USE AREAS...................................... 124 PRESCRIPTION 7.D - CONCENTRATED RECREATION ZONE .................................... 127 PRESCRIPTION 7.E.2 - DISPERSED RECREATION AREAS --SUITABLE................... 131 PRESCRIPTION 8.A.1 - MIXED SUCCESSIONAL HABITATS....................................... 135 PRESCRIPTION 8.B - EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT EMPHASIS....................... 138 PRESCRIPTION 8.C - BLACK BEAR HABITAT MANAGEMENT................................. 140 PRESCRIPTION 9.F - RARE COMMUNITIES ................................................................... 144 PRESCRIPTION 9.H - MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND RESTORATION OF PLANT ASSOCIATIONS TO THEIR ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL ................................. 157 PRESCRIPTION 11 - RIPARIAN CORRIDORS: STREAMS, LAKES, WETLANDS, AND FLOODPLAINS ..................................................................................................................... 160 PRESCRIPTION 12.A - REMOTE BACKCOUNTRY RECREATION-FEW OPEN ROADS ................................................................................................................................................. 170 PRESCRIPTION 12.B - REMOTE BACKCOUNTRY RECREATION - NONMOTORIZED ................................................................................................................................................. 173 CHAPTER 4 – MANAGEMENT AREA DIRECTION............................................................ 176 MANAGEMENT AREA 1..................................................................................................... 176 MANAGEMENT AREA 2..................................................................................................... 179 MANAGEMENT AREA 3..................................................................................................... 182 MANAGEMENT AREA 4..................................................................................................... 187 MANAGEMENT AREA 5..................................................................................................... 189 MANAGEMENT AREA 6..................................................................................................... 191 MANAGEMENT AREA 7..................................................................................................... 194 MANAGEMENT AREA 8....................................................................................................