Croatan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan
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Croatan National Forest Land And Resource Management Plan United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region Croatan National Forest LRMP 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, 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 communications 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. Management Bulletin Number R8-MB-108A December 2002 Croatan National Forest LRMP 2 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Croatan National Forest Carteret, Craven, and Jones Counties of North Carolina Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Bob Jacobs Regional Forester Southern Region 1720 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30367-9102 For More Information: John Ramey Forest Supervisor USDA Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina P.O. Box 2750 Asheville, NC 28802 828-257-4200 December 2002 Croatan National Forest LRMP 3 This page intentionally left blank Croatan National Forest LRMP 4 TTTaaabbbllleee ooofff CCCooonnnttteeennntttsss Chapter 1: The Need for Change ................................................................................... 9 1.1: Description of the Croatan National Forest ...................................................... 11 1.2: History of Croatan ............................................................................................ 12 1.3: Relationship with Other Plans and Documents ................................................ 14 1.4: Issues Discussed in this Plan ............................................................................ 16 Biological Diversity:............................................................................................. 16 Recreation Opportunities: ..................................................................................... 16 Special Land Allocations:..................................................................................... 16 Silviculture, Forest Health, and Forest Products: ................................................. 17 Fire Management: ................................................................................................. 17 Access: .................................................................................................................. 17 Local Communities:.............................................................................................. 17 1.5: What is not Addressed in the Plan.................................................................... 18 1.6: The Remaining Chapters .................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2: Forestwide Goals and Objectives............................................................... 21 2.1: Biological Diversity.......................................................................................... 21 2.1.1. RECOVER RCW POPULATIONS ................................................................... 22 Background....................................................................................................... 22 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 23 2.1.2: IDENTIFY AND PROTECT SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS..................................... 23 Background....................................................................................................... 23 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 24 2.1.3: RECOVER AND SUSTAIN RARE SPECIES AND COMMUNITIES ........................ 24 Background....................................................................................................... 24 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 25 2.1.4: RESTORE OLD GROWTH FORESTS............................................................... 25 Background....................................................................................................... 25 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 26 2.1.5: MAINTAIN BEAR HABITAT........................................................................... 26 Background....................................................................................................... 26 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 27 2.1.6: MAINTAIN HARDWOOD CYPRESS WETLANDS ............................................. 28 Background....................................................................................................... 28 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 29 2.1.7: RESTORE HARDWOODS ON SUITABLE SITES ............................................... 29 Background....................................................................................................... 29 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 30 2.1.8: RESTORE HYDROLOGIC FUNCTION & SUSTAIN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ...... 30 Background....................................................................................................... 30 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 30 2.2: Recreation Opportunities .................................................................................. 31 2.2.1: INCREASE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES .................................................... 31 Background....................................................................................................... 31 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 31 Croatan National Forest LRMP 5 2.2.2: EXPAND HUNTING, FISHING, & WILDLIFE-RELATED RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ..................................................................................................... 32 Background....................................................................................................... 32 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 32 2.3: Special Land Allocations................................................................................... 32 2.3.1: WILDERNESS............................................................................................... 32 Background....................................................................................................... 32 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 33 2.3.2: RIVER CORRIDORS ELIGIBLE FOR WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STATUS .......... 34 Background....................................................................................................... 34 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 34 2.4: Silviculture, Forest Products, And Forest Health ............................................. 34 2.4.1: RESTORE LONGLEAF PINE .......................................................................... 34 Background....................................................................................................... 34 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 35 2.4.2: SUSTAIN PINE STRAW PRODUCTION ........................................................... 35 Background....................................................................................................... 35 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 36 2.5: Fire Management ............................................................................................... 36 2.5.1: REDUCE WILDFIRE-RELATED RISKS........................................................... 37 Background....................................................................................................... 37 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 37 2.5.2: EXPAND THE ROLE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE ................................................... 38 Background....................................................................................................... 38 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 39 2.5.3: MAINTAIN AIR QUALITY ............................................................................ 39 Background....................................................................................................... 39 Response to the Issue........................................................................................ 40 2.6: Access ..............................................................................................................