Monongahela National Forest United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Land and Resource Sept. 2006 Management Plan Updated 2011 Cover Photo of Seneca Rocks by David Ede The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its program 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. Monongahela National Forest 2006 Land and Resource Management Plan Table of Contents Page No. Chapter I – The Forest Plan Purpose of the Forest Plan ............................................................................................. I-1 Relationship of the Forest Plan to other Documents ...................................................... I-2 Organization and Structure of the Forest Plan ............................................................... I-4 Location and Description of the Forest .......................................................................... I-5 Management Direction and Prescriptions ...................................................................... I-9 Implementing the Forest Plan ...................................................................................... I-10 Chapter II - Forest-wide Management Direction Introduction .................................................................................................................. II-1 Legal and Administrative Framework ......................................................................... II-1 Consultation, Cooperation, and Coordination .............................................................. II-2 Definitions .................................................................................................................... II-4 Timeframes .................................................................................................................. II-5 Management Direction Integration .............................................................................. II-5 Forest Integrated Desired Conditions .......................................................................... II-6 Air Quality ................................................................................................................... II-8 Soil and Water Resources ............................................................................................ II-9 Fire Management ....................................................................................................... II-15 Vegetation .................................................................................................................. II-17 Threatened, Endangered, and Proposed Species ........................................................ II-22 Wildlife and Fish ........................................................................................................ II-29 Recreation .................................................................................................................. II-32 Scenery Management ................................................................................................. II-35 Wild and Scenic Rivers .............................................................................................. II-37 Heritage Resources .................................................................................................... II-38 Timber Resources ...................................................................................................... II-40 Range Resources ........................................................................................................ II-43 Mineral and Geology Resources ................................................................................ II-45 Lands and Special Uses .............................................................................................. II-49 Roads and Facilities ................................................................................................... II-54 Chapter III- Management Prescriptions Introduction ................................................................................................................. III-1 Management Prescription 3.0 - Vegetation Diversity ................................................. III-4 Management Prescription 4.1 - Spruce and Spruce-Hardwood Restoration ............... III-9 Management Prescription 5.0 – Designated Wilderness........................................... III-17 Management Prescription 6.1 - Wildlife Habitat Emphasis...................................... III-25 Management Prescription 6.2 – Backcountry Recreation ......................................... III-34 i Management Prescription 8.0 – Special Areas ......................................................... III-40 Management Prescription 8.1 – Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks NRA .................... III-46 Management Prescription 8.2 – National Natural Landmarks ............................. III-52 Management Prescription 8.3 – Scenic Areas ...................................................... III-54 Management Prescription 8.4 – Botanical & Geological Areas .......................... III-55 Management Prescription 8.5 – Research Areas .................................................. III-57 Management Prescription 8.6 – Grouse Management Areas ............................... III-60 Chapter IV – Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation Overview ......................................................................... IV-1 Legal and Regulatory Requirements ........................................................................... IV-2 Monitoring Framework and Components ................................................................... IV-2 The Monitoring Matrix ............................................................................................... IV-5 Chapter V – Glossary ................................................................................................ V-1 Acronyms ................................................................................................................... V-19 Appendix A – Vegetation Management Practices Introduction .................................................................................................................. A-1 Silvicultural Systems .................................................................................................... A-1 Basis for the Allocation of Silvicultural Systems ........................................................ A-3 Management Prescriptions ........................................................................................... A-5 Harvest Systems for the Forest Timber Types ............................................................. A-6 Silvicultural Treatments ............................................................................................. A-15 Appendix B – Old Growth Introduction .................................................................................................................. B-1 Old Growth Definitions and Criteria ........................................................................... B-2 Existing and Potential Old Growth on the MNF .......................................................... B-4 Identification and Distribution of Old Growth Areas .................................................. B-7 References .................................................................................................................... B-9 Appendix C – Analysis of the Management Situation Summary Introduction .................................................................................................................. C-1 Recreation and Wilderness ........................................................................................... C-1 Vegetation Diversity and Management ........................................................................ C-3 Timber Management and Supply ............................................................................... C-10 Soil, Water, and Air ................................................................................................... C-21 Benchmarks ................................................................................................................ C-24 References .................................................................................................................. C-26 Appendix D – Management Indicator Species ........................................................ D-1 Appendix E – Communication Sites ........................................................................... E-1 Appendix F – Climate Change and the Forest Plan ................................................. F-1 ii Chapter I The Forest Plan Table of Contents Page No. Purpose of the Forest Plan .......................................................................................... I-1 Relationship of the Forest Plan to other Documents ................................................... I-2 Organization and