Draft Revised Forest Plan for the Flathead National Forest
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United States Department of Draft Revised Forest Plan Agriculture Forest Service Flathead National Forest May 2016 “…the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.” Gifford Pinchot, 1st Chief of the Forest Service, 1905 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Flathead National Forest photo captions (clockwise from upper left): • South Fork of the Flathead River, Spotted Bear Ranger District • Forwarder working on the Paint Emery Resource Mgt. Project, Hungry Horse –Glacier View Ranger District • Two hikers • Snowmobile • View taken on the way to Pentagon Cabin in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (photo by Peter Borgesen) • Fireweed • Whitetail deer (photo by John Littlefield) Page Intentionally Blank Flathead National Forest Draft Revised Forest Plan Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Chip Weber –Forest Supervisor 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 406-758-5204 For Information Contact: Joe Krueger – Forest Plan Revision Planning Team Leader 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 406-7585243 Abstract: The Flathead National Forest has developed this draft revised forest plan, in accordance with the 2012 National Forest System land management planning rule adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Flathead National Forest Draft Revised Forest Plan Table of Contents Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of this Land and Resource Management Plan ............................................................................................. 1 Plan Structure ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Plan Elements ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Plan components .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Management, geographic, and designated areas ............................................................................................ 3 Desired conditions ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Objectives ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Standards .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Guidelines ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Suitability of lands ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Other required plan content ................................................................................................................................. 5 Summary of the use of best available scientific information ............................................................................... 5 Differences by action alternative .......................................................................................................................... 7 Description of key modifications to the proposed action..................................................................................... 7 Project and Activity Consistency with the Plan .......................................................................................................... 8 Determining consistency ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Monitoring Program ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Relationship to Other Strategic Guidance ................................................................................................................. 9 Rights and Interests ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Distinctive roles and contributions of the Flathead National Forest ......................................................................... 9 Ecological resources ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Social and economic resources ........................................................................................................................... 12 Cultural and historical resources ........................................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 2. Proposed Forestwide Direction......................................................................................................... 15 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 15 Physical and Biological ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Aquatic Ecosystems ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 15 Watersheds (WTR) .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Desired conditions (FW-DC-WTR) ................................................................................................................... 17 Objectives (FW-OBJ-WTR) .............................................................................................................................. 19 Standards (FW-STD-WTR) ............................................................................................................................... 19 Guidelines (FW-GDL-WTR) .............................................................................................................................. 20 Conservation Watershed Network (CWN) .......................................................................................................... 20 Desired Conditions (FW-DC-CWN) .................................................................................................................. 21 Objectives (FW-OBJ-CWN) .............................................................................................................................