Revised Land and Resource Management Plan
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Revised Land and Resource United States Department of Management Plan Agriculture Forest Service Chugach National Forest Alaska Region Chugach National Forest R10-MB-480c May 2002 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, or 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. REVISED LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN for the CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST Lead agency: USDA Forest Service Chugach National Forest 3301 C Street, Suite 300 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Responsible official: Dennis E. Bschor, Regional Forester USDA Forest Service PO Box 21628 Juneau, Alaska 99802 For further information contact: Dave R. Gibbons, Forest Supervisor Chugach National Forest 3301 C Street, Suite 300 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 (907) 743-9500 WEB SITE for the Revised Forest Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Chugach Revision Web Page: http://agdc.usgs.gov/cnf Chugach National Forest – Revised Land and Resource Management Plan ABSTRACT This Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Revised Forest Plan) was prepared according to Department of Agriculture regulations (36 CFR 219) which are based on the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA). This Revised Forest Plan also was developed in accordance with regulations (40 CFR 1500) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Because this Revised Forest Plan is considered a major federal action significantly affecting the environment, a Final Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared as required by NEPA and 36 CFR 219. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of 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 communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the 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. Please recycle this document when it is ready to be discarded. Chugach National Forest – Revised Land and Resource Management Plan ii Revised Land and Resource Management Plan Table of Contents Abstract................................................................................................ii Table of Contents................................................................................iii List of Tables.......................................................................................ix List of Figures .................................................................................... xii Chapter 1 - Introduction Understanding the Revised Forest Plan........................................... 1-1 Introduction .................................................................................. 1-1 Purpose of the Revised Forest Plan ............................................ 1-1 Summary of Changes Made Between the Proposed Revised Forest Plan and the Revised Forest Plan.................. 1-2 Relationship of the Revised Forest Plan to Other Laws, Regulations and Policies......................................................... 1-3 Chronology of Major Documents Related to the Revised Forest Plan................................................................ 1-5 Implementing the Revised Forest Plan ........................................ 1-7 Project-level Decisions................................................................. 1-7 Forest Plan Amendments............................................................. 1-7 Forest Plan Review and Revision ................................................ 1-9 Organization of this Document..................................................... 1-9 Chugach National Forest – Revised Land and Resource Management Plan iii Chapter 2 – Summary of the Analysis of the Management Situation Introduction ...................................................................................... 2-1 Current Management Plan............................................................... 2-1 Outputs and Activities ...................................................................... 2-2 Benchmarks (Maximums/Minimums) ............................................... 2-5 Preliminary Revision Issues............................................................. 2-9 Summary of the Current Management Situation ..............................2-9 Chapter 3 – Forestwide Direction Introduction ...................................................................................... 3-1 Goals and Objectives of the Revised Forest Plan............................ 3-1 Air Quality .................................................................................... 3-1 Soil Resources............................................................................. 3-2 Water, Wetland and Riparian Areas............................................. 3-2 Ecological Systems Management ................................................3-3 Management of Fish and Wildlife Habitat..................................... 3-4 Forest Products............................................................................ 3-6 Minerals ....................................................................................... 3-6 Heritage Resources ..................................................................... 3-7 Recreational Opportunities, Access and Facilities ....................... 3-7 Scenic Quality .............................................................................. 3-9 Land Ownership........................................................................... 3-9 Fire Protection, Fuels Management and Insect and Disease Treatment......................................................... 3-10 Wild and Scenic Rivers .............................................................. 3-11 Wilderness ................................................................................. 3-11 Kenai Mountains – Turnagain Arm Heritage Corridor ................ 3-12 Research.................................................................................... 3-12 Chugach National Forest – Revised Land and Resource Management Plan iv Desired Condition .......................................................................... 3-13 Forestwide ................................................................................. 3-13 Kenai Peninsula Geographic Area .............................................3-14 Prince William Sound Geographic Area..................................... 3-16 Copper River Delta Geographic Area ........................................3-18 Forestwide Standards and Guidelines ........................................... 3-20 Basic Principles of Forest Management..................................... 3-20 Key Definitions used in Standards and Guidelines .................... 3-20 Standards and Guidelines.......................................................... 3-22 Air Quality ............................................................................. 3-22 Soils ...................................................................................... 3-22 Fish, Water and Riparian Areas ............................................ 3-23 Vegetation Management ....................................................... 3-25 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plant Species......... 3-27 General Wildlife.....................................................................3-28 Brown Bear Habitat Management .........................................3-29 Mountain Goat and Dall Sheep Habitat Management........... 3-30 Raptor Nest Protection Management....................................3-31 Seabird Rookeries Habitat Management .............................. 3-31 Waterfowl and Shorebird Habitats Management...................3-32 Threatened and Endangered Species...................................3-33 Special Forest Products........................................................ 3-33 Mining Plans of Operations/Minerals Management Area ......3-33 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Licensing or Relicensing .................................................................. 3-33 Heritage Resources .............................................................. 3-34 Recreation and Tourism........................................................ 3-35 Recreational Gold Panning ...................................................3-41 Emergency Motorized Access............................................... 3-41 Fixed-wing Aircraft ...............................................................