Stanislaus National Forest Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Forest Plan Direction Stanislaus National Forest April 2010
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United States Department of Agriculture Stanislaus National Forest Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Forest Plan Direction Stanislaus National Forest April 2010 April 2010 Stanislaus National Forest Forest Plan Direction April 2010 Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, California Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Stanislaus National Forest 19777 Greenley Road Sonora, CA 95370 (209) 532-3671 Information Contact: John J. Maschi, Forest Planner Stanislaus National Forest 19777 Greenley Road Sonora, CA 95370 (209) 532-3671 Cover Photo: Fahey Cabin by Jerry Snyder Abstract The Forest Service completed the Stanislaus National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on October 28, 1991. This document, the Stanislaus National Forest “Forest Plan Direction” presents the current Forest Plan management direction, based on the original Forest Plan as modified through the Forest Plan amendment process. 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, 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, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Forest Plan Amendments ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Management Direction ................................................................................................................................ 3 Forest Goals ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Forest Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... 8 Management Goals and Strategies ................................................................................................................... 11 Old Forest Ecosystems and Associated Species ......................................................................................... 11 Aquatic, Riparian, and Meadow Ecosystems and Associated Species ....................................................... 11 Fire and Fuels Management .......................................................................................................................... 13 Lower Westside Hardwood Ecosystems ...................................................................................................... 15 Noxious Weed Management ......................................................................................................................... 15 Management Practices ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Forestwide Standards and Guidelines ............................................................................................................. 33 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 33 Diversity .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Fire and Fuels ................................................................................................................................................. 35 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Forest Pests ................................................................................................................................................... 45 Geology and Minerals .................................................................................................................................... 45 Lands .............................................................................................................................................................. 47 Range ............................................................................................................................................................. 49 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................................... 53 Sensitive Plants .............................................................................................................................................. 60 Soils ................................................................................................................................................................ 60 Special Areas ................................................................................................................................................. 61 Transportation and Facilities .......................................................................................................................... 62 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................................................... 62 Water .............................................................................................................................................................. 64 Management Area Direction ............................................................................................................................... 65 Wilderness and Proposed Wilderness .......................................................................................................... 67 Wild and Scenic Rivers and Proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers ................................................................. 111 Near Natural ................................................................................................................................................. 119 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................................... 123 Special Interest Areas .................................................................................................................................. 129 Research Natural Areas............................................................................................................................... 147 Experimental Forest ..................................................................................................................................... 153 Scenic Corridor ............................................................................................................................................. 155 General Forest (GF91) ................................................................................................................................. 161 Developed Recreation Sites ........................................................................................................................ 165 Winter Sports Sites ....................................................................................................................................... 177 Developed (Non-Recreation) Sites .............................................................................................................. 181 Land Allocations ................................................................................................................................................ 183 Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers ..................................................................................................... 183 California Spotted Owl and Northern Goshawk Protected Activity Centers .............................................. 183 Great Gray Owl Protected Activity Centers (PACs) .................................................................................... 187 Forest Carnivore Den Site Buffers ............................................................................................................... 187 California Spotted Owl Home Range Core Areas (HRCAs) ...................................................................... 188 Wildland Urban Intermix: Defense Zones .................................................................................................. 189 Wildland Urban Intermix: Threat Zones...................................................................................................... 189 Old Forest Emphasis Areas 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