Ottawa National Forest

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Ottawa National Forest United States Department of Agriculture Ottawa National Forest Forest Service Eastern Region Monitoring Evaluation Report Fiscal Years 2012‐2016 October 2017 Caring for the Land and Serving People 2012-2016 Monitoring Evaluation Report Citation: USDA Forest Service. 2017. Ottawa National Forest Fiscal Years 2012-2016 Monitoring Evaluation Report. Ironwood, MI. Short name for citations in documents produced on the Ottawa – FY 2012-2016 ME Report Responsible Official Forest Supervisor For More Information Kathleen Atkinson Linda L. Jackson Marlanea French-Pombier Regional Forester Ottawa National Forest Forest Planner USDA Forest Service E6248 US Highway 2 E6248 US Highway 2 Eastern Region Ironwood, MI 49938 Ironwood, MI 49938 626 E. Wisconsin Avenue Phone: 906-932-1330 Phone: 906-932-1330 x303 Milwaukee, WI 53202 [email protected] [email protected] In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are 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, 400 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. i 2012‐2016 Monitoring Evaluation Report The Mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Lake Ste. Kathryn Kenton Ranger District Table of Contents Summary of Findings ...................................................................................................................... v 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements ................................................................................ 1 2.1 Monitoring Program .............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Monitoring Evaluation Implementation Guide (Monitoring Guide) ..................................... 2 2.3 Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report ................................................................................ 2 3.0 History of Monitoring Activities on the Ottawa National Forest ............................................. 3 4.0 Monitoring Activities during the Biennial Reporting Period ................................................... 4 5.0 Monitoring Results.................................................................................................................... 5 Question 1: How do actual outputs and services compare to those outputs and services in the Forest Plan? ................................................................................................................................. 5 Question 2: How close are actual costs compared to projected costs? ...................................... 8 Question 3: Comparison of Projected and Actual Output Levels and the Mix of Sawtimber and Pulpwood ............................................................................................................................ 13 ii 2012‐2016 Monitoring Evaluation Report Question 4: Are insect and disease population levels compatible with objectives for restoring or maintaining healthy forest conditions? ................................................................................. 18 Question 5: What is the status of visitor use and visitor satisfaction? ..................................... 22 Question 6: How effective are forest management practices in managing OHV use for the protection of forest resources? .................................................................................................. 27 Question 7: Are harvested lands adequately restocked after 5 years? ..................................... 32 Status of Suited Lands (Questions 8a and 8b) ........................................................................... 34 Question 8a: To what extent are timber management activities occurring on lands suited for timber production? .................................................................................................................... 34 Question 8b - To what extent have conditions, or information, changed the classification of lands "not suited" for timber production to "suitable" for timber production? ......................... 37 Question 9: Acres of temporary opening, managed to exceed 40 acres in size, by forest type. ................................................................................................................................................... 39 Question 10: Is Forest Plan implementation resulting in impacts that may substantially and permanently impair the productivity of the land? ..................................................................... 43 Question 11: Are northern hardwood forest management activities promoting the regeneration of mid-tolerant tree species, specifically basswood, red oak, white pine and yellow birch? .... 53 Status of Non-native Invasive Species (Questions 12a and 12b) .............................................. 64 Question 12a: To what extent is Forest Plan implementation contributing or responding to non-native invasive plant species? ............................................................................................ 64 Question 12b: To what extent is Forest Plan implementation contributing or responding to non-native invasive animal species? ......................................................................................... 73 Question 13: What amount of road routes and recreation trails are designated open for OHV riding and provide connections to other public trails? .............................................................. 78 Question 14: Is Forest Plan implementation consistent with the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum Objectives and Desired Conditions? ......................................................................... 81 Question 15: Monitor implementation of the Forest Plan with respect to tribal treaty rights applicable on the Ottawa with respect to the tribal MOU. ........................................................ 84 Question 16: Is wilderness management contributing to improvement or preservation of wilderness character and values? .............................................................................................. 88 Question 17: To what extent is Wild and Scenic River (WSR) management contributing to the protection and enhancement of the WSR values? ..................................................................... 93 Question 18: To what extent are forest management activities restoring vegetation composition and spatial landscape patterns and moving toward desired conditions at the Forest, management area and other appropriate landscape scales? ........................................ 108 iii 2012‐2016 Monitoring Evaluation Report Question 19: To what extent are old growth forest conditions being classified consistent with management area objectives? .................................................................................................. 115 Question 20: To what extent are permanent upland openings being created and maintained to move towards desired conditions. ........................................................................................... 120 Question 21: To what extent are northern hardwood forest types being managed to work toward the desired mix of even-aged and uneven-aged stands? ............................................. 124 Question 22: To what extent are aspen forest type acres being maintained through regeneration activities to meet Forestwide and management area objectives? ....................... 126 Question 23: To what extent are long-lived conifer forest types being increased or maintained through regeneration activities to meet Forestwide and management area objectives? ......... 130 Question 24: To what extent are short-lived
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