2020 Land Management Plan for the Custer Gallatin National Forest
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United States Department of Agriculture 2020 Land Management Plan Custer Gallatin National Forest Forest Service Northern Region Publication No. R1-19-07 July 2020 Custer Gallatin National Forest Title Page: Photo Credit – Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan. Top left, going clockwise – Coneflower, Echinacea, native wildflowers, Sioux Ranger District; American Flag and U.S. Forest Service Flag displayed in winter on the Hebgen Ranger District; Log Deck from East Short Pines Project, Sioux Ranger District, photo by Kurt Hansen; Bison grazing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with Arrowleaf Balsamroot in background; Elk Grazing on the Gardiner R.D. with sagebrush in background, foreground; Center - Close up of Indian Paintbrush, Bozeman R.D; Calf nursing from Mother (Cow), Grazing permittees are a large part of the Ashland and Sioux Ranger Districts; Close-up of native alpine wildflowers in early spring on the Beartooth R.D., Beartooth Pass; View looking into the Rock Creek drainage and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness atop Beartooth Pass, Beartooth R.D; Aspen trees blowing in light breeze on the Yellowstone Ranger District, Suce Creek Trail. 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. 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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. Note: We make every effort to create documents that are accessible to individuals of all abilities; however, limitations with our word processing programs may prevent some parts of this document from being readable by computer-assisted reading devices. If you need assistance with this document, please contact the Custer Gallatin National Forest at (406) 587-6701. 2020 Land Management Plan Custer Gallatin National Forest Lead Agency: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Responsible Official: Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor 10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-6701 For Information Contact: Virginia Kelly, Plan Revision Team Leader 10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-6701 Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................5 About the Custer Gallatin National Forest ............................................................................................... 5 Purpose of this Land Management Plan................................................................................................... 6 Plan Structure ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Plan Content ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Plan Components .................................................................................................................................. 8 Additional Required Plan Content .......................................................................................................... 10 Distinctive Roles and Contributions within the Broader Landscape ................................................... 10 Priority Watersheds ............................................................................................................................ 13 Plan Monitoring Program .................................................................................................................... 14 Proposed and Possible Actions ........................................................................................................... 14 Project and Activity Consistency with the Plan ...................................................................................... 14 Determining Consistency .................................................................................................................... 15 Relationship to Other Strategic Guidance .............................................................................................. 15 Rights and Interests ................................................................................................................................ 16 Use of Best Available Scientific Information .......................................................................................... 16 Maintaining the Plan and Adapting to New Information ....................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. Forestwide Direction ....................................................................................................... 17 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Vision for the Custer Gallatin National Forest ........................................................................................ 17 Ecosystems ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Air Quality (AQ) ................................................................................................................................... 18 Soils (SOIL) ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Watershed, Aquatic, and Riparian Ecosystems .................................................................................. 21 Watershed and Aquatics (WTR) .......................................................................................................... 21 Riparian Management Zones (RMZ) ................................................................................................... 24 Conservation Watershed Network (CWN) .......................................................................................... 28 Terrestrial Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 29 At-Risk Plant Species (PRISK) ............................................................................................................... 30 Forested Vegetation (VEGF) ................................................................................................................ 31 Grassland, Shrubland, Woodland, Riparian, Alpine and Sparse Vegetation (VEGNF) ........................ 40 Fire and Fuels (FIRE) ............................................................................................................................ 47 Carbon Storage and Sequestration (CARB) ......................................................................................... 49 Invasive Species (INV) ......................................................................................................................... 49 Wildlife (WL) ....................................................................................................................................... 51 Benefits to People: Multiple Uses and Ecosystem Services ................................................................... 68 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 68 General Contributions to Social and Economic Sustainability (SUS) .................................................. 68 Areas of Tribal Importance (American Indian Rights and Interests) (TRIBAL) .................................... 69 Cultural and Historic Resources (CR) .................................................................................................. 71 Permitted Livestock Grazing (GRAZ) ..................................................................................................