Proposed Action
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The Rio Grande United States Department of Agriculture National Forest Plan: Forest Service Proposed Action Rio Grande National Forest In developing a proposed revised plan, the responsible September 2016 official “shall engage the public… early and throughout the planning process.” (36 CFR 219.4 (a)). RIO GRANDE PYRAMID IN THE WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS. 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. 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, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] (link sends e-mail). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Proposed Action—Rio Grande National Forest Plan Revision Rio Grande National Forest Proposed Action Lead agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible official: Dan Dallas, Forest Supervisor Rio Grande National Forest For information, Erin Minks, Planning Team Leader contact: 1803 W. Highway 160 Monte Vista, CO 81144 719-852-6215 Email comments or [email protected] questions to: Documents are posted: Forest Plan Revision webpage Abstract: The Forest Service has identified the preliminary purpose and need and proposed action to revise the 1996 Rio Grande National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan in accordance with the 2012 National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Assessments documenting existing information about relevant ecological, economic, and social conditions, trends, and sustainability and their relationship to the land management plan within the context of the broader landscape were published during the spring of 2016. Relevant information from the assessments, applicable laws and policies, and public comment were considered in determining the need to change and proposed action. i USDA Forest Service UPPER EAST WILLOW CREEK, PART OF THE WASON PARK CRA. ii Proposed Action—Rio Grande National Forest Plan Revision Contents Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 1 Strategic Framework ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Forest-wide Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Roles & Contributions ............................................................................................................................... 4 Forest-wide Goals ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Goal 1: Protect and restore watershed health, water resources, and the systems that rely on them .. 7 Goal 2: Maintain and restore sustainable, resilient ecosystems ........................................................... 8 Goal 3: Actively contribute to social and economic sustainability in the broader landscape and connect citizens to the land ................................................................................................................... 8 Strategic Domain ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Forest-wide Desired Conditions ................................................................................................................ 9 Objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Geographic Areas ................................................................................................................................... 13 Fire Management Zones ..................................................................................................................... 15 Fire for Resource Benefit - Maintenance zone (FRB-M) ................................................................ 15 Fire for Resource Benefit - Restoration and Protection (FRB-RP) zone ........................................ 15 Resource Protection (Wildland Urban Interface) zone (RP) ........................................................... 16 General Forest Geographic Area ........................................................................................................ 16 Primitive Wilderness Geographic Area ............................................................................................... 18 Roadless Geographic Area ................................................................................................................. 19 Specially Designated Geographic Area .............................................................................................. 21 Tactical Domain .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Management Areas ................................................................................................................................. 23 Proposed Management Area 1.1 – Designated Wilderness ........................................................... 23 Management Area 1.5 – Eligible Wild Rivers.................................................................................. 24 Management Area 2.2 – Research Natural Areas .......................................................................... 24 Management Area 3.1 – Special Interest Area—Use and Interpretation Emphasis....................... 25 Management Area 3.3 – Backcountry ............................................................................................. 25 Management Area 3.4 – Designated and Eligible Scenic Rivers ................................................... 26 Proposed Management Area 3.5 – Colorado Roadless Area ......................................................... 26 Proposed Management Area 3.6 – Upper Tier Colorado Roadless Area ...................................... 28 Management Area 4.3 – Dispersed and Developed Recreation .................................................... 29 Management Area 5.11 – General Forest and Intermingled Rangelands ...................................... 29 Management Area 5.13 – Forest Products ..................................................................................... 30 Management Area 5.41 – Deer and Elk Winter Range .................................................................. 31 Management Area 5.42 – Special Wildlife Areas – Bighorn Sheep ............................................... 31 Management Area 6.6 – Grassland Resource Production ............................................................. 32 Management Area 4.21 – Scenic Byways and Scenic Railroads ................................................... 32 Management Area 4.4 – Designated and Eligible Recreational Rivers .......................................... 33 Management Area 8.22 – Ski-based Resorts ................................................................................. 33 Adaptive Management Domain ............................................................................................................... 36 Monitoring Domain .................................................................................................................................. 36 iii USDA Forest Service WATERFALL BELOW LAKE ANN, SOUTH SAN JUAN WILDERNESS. iv Proposed Action—Rio Grande National Forest Plan Revision Introduction This document lays out the strategy that the Rio Grande National Forest (Fig. 1) will use to proceed into the formal Forest Plan Revision process, which will result in an Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision as well as a revised Forest Plan. The strategic framework presented below is organized by levels starting with overarching goals. The goals help focus the strategic, tactical,