National Forests in Alabama Land and Resource Management Plan
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Revised Land and Resource Management Plan United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region National Forests in Alabama Management Bulletin R8-MB 112A January 2004 Revised Land and Resource United States Management Plan Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region National Forests in Alabama Bankhead NF – Lawrence • Franklin •Winston Conecuh NF - Covington • Escambia Talladega NF – Cleburne • Clay • Talladega • Calhoun • Hale • Perry • Chilton • Bibb • Dallas • Tuscaloosa Tuskegee NF – Macon Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Robert Jacobs USDA Forest Service 1720 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, GA 33067-9102 For Information Contact: Steve Rickerson, Forest Supervisor National Forests in Alabama 2946 Chestnut Street Montgomery, AL 36107 (334) 832-4470 Management Bulletin R8-MB 112A January 2004 "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, and 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, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer." REVISED LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN JANUARY, 2004(ERRATA # 2 – SEPTEMBER 2005) Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................1 RELATIONSHIP OF THE FOREST PLAN TO OTHER DOCUMENTS ..........................................................2 PLAN STRUCTURE.....................................................................................................................2 FOREST DESCRIPTION ...............................................................................................................3 SUMMARY OF THE AMS ............................................................................................................3 SUMMARY OF ISSUES ................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................................. 1 FOREST-WIDE DIRECTION ...................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................1 FOREST-WIDE GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS ........................................................2 DIRECTION THAT SUPERCEDES MAPPED LAND ALLOCATIONS...................................................................2 RESTORATION AND HEALTH OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS ...........................................................................2 WATERSHEDS – WATER, SOIL, AND AIR ........................................................................................... 14 RIPARIAN AREAS, RIPARIAN CORRIDORS AND STREAMSIDE ZONES BACKGROUND ................................. 22 THREATENED, ENDANGERED AND SENSITIVE SPECIES........................................................................ 28 RARE COMMUNITIES...................................................................................................................... 35 OLD GROWTH............................................................................................................................... 39 TERRESTRIAL PLANT AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES .............................................................................. 48 FIRE MANAGEMENT....................................................................................................................... 51 RECREATION – DEVELOPED, DISPERSED, AND BACKCOUNTRY ............................................................ 55 WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ................................................................................... 58 SCENERY ..................................................................................................................................... 59 HERITAGE RESOURCES .................................................................................................................. 61 MINERALS AND GEOLOGIC RESOURCES ........................................................................................... 63 INFRASTRUCTURE.......................................................................................................................... 67 LAND ACQUISITION ........................................................................................................................ 69 SPECIAL USES .............................................................................................................................. 71 NATURAL RESOURCE INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION ..................................................................... 72 CHAPTER 3 .............................................................................................................. 1 MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS...................................................................................................1 0. CUSTODIAL MANAGEMENT.....................................................................................................3 1. WILDERNESS AREAS ..............................................................................................................4 1.A. DESIGNATED WILDERNESSES/WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS.............................................4 1.B. RECOMMENDED WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS ...................................................................6 2. WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS ......................................................................................................6 2.A.1. WILD RIVERS .....................................................................................................................6 2.A.2. SCENIC RIVERS..................................................................................................................9 2.C. RIVERS ELIGIBLE AS WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS.............................................................. 10 4. SPECIAL AREAS.................................................................................................................... 12 4.B. RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS ............................................................................................ 12 4.B.1. EXISTING RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS......................................................................... 12 4.C. GEOLOGIC AREAS ............................................................................................................. 13 i REVISED LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (ERRATA # 2 – SEPTEMBER 2005)JANUARY, 2004 4.D. BOTANICAL - ZOOLOGICAL AREAS.................................................................................... 15 4.E. CULTURAL/HERITAGE AREAS............................................................................................ 16 4.E.1. CULTURAL/HERITAGE AREAS......................................................................................... 16 4.E.2. NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICTS AS SPECIAL AREAS ................................................... 18 4.I. NATURAL AREAS - FEW OPEN ROADS................................................................................ 18 4.L. CANYON CORRIDORS......................................................................................................... 20 5. SPECIAL USES/ADMINISTRATION SITES ............................................................................. 22 5.A. ADMINISTRATIVE SITES .................................................................................................... 22 5.B. DESIGNATED COMMUNICATION/ELECTRONIC SITES...................................................... 23 7. RECREATION/SCENIC EMPHASIS AREAS............................................................................ 24 7.A. SCENIC BYWAY CORRIDORS............................................................................................. 24 7.B. GATEWAY FOREST. ............................................................................................................ 25 7.C. OHV USE AREAS................................................................................................................. 28 7.D. CONCENTRATED RECREATION ZONE ............................................................................... 29 7.E. DISPERSED RECREATION AREAS...................................................................................... 32 7.E.2. DISPERSED RECREATION AREAS WITH VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.......................... 32 8. LANDSCAPE HABITAT EMPHASIS AREAS.............................................................................. 34 8.B. MIX OF SUCCESSIONAL HABITATS - EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT EMPHASIS........... 34 8.D.1. RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER MANAGEMENT AREAS .............................................. 36 9. ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION/MAINTENANCE AREAS........................................................... 37 9.C.3. SOUTHERN