U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Region Uwharrie National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan National Forests in North Carolina R8-MB 140A May 2012 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Uwharrie National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan May 2012 Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Elizabeth Agpaoa Regional Forester 1720 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, GA 30309 404-347-4177 For more information contact: Forest Supervisor National Forests in North Carolina 160A Zillicoa Street Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 257-4200 The Purpose of the Plan This publication explains how the USDA Forest Service proposes to manage the Uwharrie National Forest (Uwharrie NF) over the next 15 years. Information is provided that describes what activities will be implemented, what public benefits are anticipated, and what will be the long-term conditions of the national forest as a result of implementing the plan. Plan Organization Chapter 1 - Introduction provides a summary of the need to change the management direction that has been in place since 1986 when the first Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uwharrie National Forest was implemented. It contains a description of the national forest, its context in the larger landscape, and the unique roles it can play in providing goods and services to the local communities and the North Carolina Piedmont region. A summary of the Analysis of the Management Situation is included in fulfillment of planning regulation 36 CFR 219.11(a). Chapter 2 – Forest-wide Direction provides a brief a description of the goals/desired conditions (36 CFR 219.11(b)) and objectives (36 CFR 219.11 (b)) for the various Uwharrie NF resources, and the standards and guidelines (36 CFR 219.11(c)) for management actions. Goals/desired conditions describe how the national forest is expected to look and function in the future when management direction in the Forest Plan has been successfully implemented. Goals/desired conditions are described using the ecological, economic, and social attributes that characterize or exemplify the outcomes of land management. Goals/desired conditions may be achievable only over the long term. Objectives describe activities the USDA Forest Service will perform in order to move the Uwharrie NF toward the goals/desired conditions. Most objectives are actual outcomes on the land that can be measured over time. The Objectives section of Chapter 2 also includes some of the management approaches to plan implementation. The “management approaches” fulfill in part the planning regulations at 36 CFR 219.11(c) that require “proposed and probable management practices” be included as plan content. Standards and Guidelines are the sideboards that constrain management activities to conserve or protect forest resources. Chapter 3 – Management Area Prescriptions (36 CFR 219.11(c)) identifies the management areas and the suitability of various management areas for different types of uses. It also describes specific places on the national forest that have special management needs, including unique or rare botanical, zoological, historical, scenic and/or recreational values. i Chapter 4 – Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements (CFR 219.11(d)) describes the monitoring program the USDA Forest Service intends to implement to ensure progress is made toward the goals/desired conditions, and to ensure resource protection. Appendix A – Plan Direction Crosswalk, relates each goal/desired condition to its associated objectives and standards and/or guidelines in an easy-to-track table format. Appendix B – Planned Timber Sale Program (CFR 219.11(c)), presents a description of the timber outputs likely to occur in the planning period. It includes a discussion of the appropriateness of regeneration harvest methods, as required by the National Forest Management Act and USDA Forest Service Directives. Appendix C – Species Scientific Names and NatureServe Community References crosswalks common names with scientific species names and community names with NatureServe reference numbers. MAPS – All maps are separate attachments The Forest Plan Map displays the general location of the various Management Areas, and identifies the recommended and designated Special Interest Areas. The Badin Lake Recreation Area Plan Map zooms in on this portion of the Uwharrie NF and displays the general location of Management Areas that overlay the Badin Lake Recreation Area. The Recreation and Scenery Settings Map displays the desired combination of amount of access, amount of use, and scenery values for different parts of the Forest. The Potential Vegetation Map displays the native ecological systems best adapted for various sites, as modeled using environmental factors. Plan Decisions Goals/Desired Conditions: While these are long term expectations that may not be realized during the life of the Plan, management actions that would move the national forest away from the desired conditions (in the long term) would not be permitted without first amending the Plan. Objectives: These usually measureable outcomes on the land are expectations of project activities that will occur over the course of the planning period. They do not represent a complete set of projects that may occur, and activities not identified in the Plan may occur if they support the long term goals/desired conditions, or are required by law, regulation or policy. Management approaches discussed along with the objectives are not considered Plan decisions. Standards and Guidelines: Standards must be followed or the Plan must be amended to allow the activity. Guidelines should be followed unless extenuating circumstances can be documented that would reasonably explain a deviation, and the intent is still met. Management Area Prescriptions: Specific direction (goals/desired conditions, objectives, standards and guidelines) may apply to specific portions of the Uwharrie NF ii depending on its location, its ecological attributes, and/or its importance to the human communities of interest. Some areas may be assigned to more than one management area (for example, a portion of Streamside Forest may also be part of a Special Interest Area). In those cases management activities should meet all applicable management area direction. Lands not Suitable for Timber Production: Law, regulation and policy dictate that certain categories of land are not suitable for timber production. These lands are identified in Chapter 4. Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements: These represent the most important forest management outcomes to be tracked over time, as determined through the collaborative planning process. The requirements in this Plan are linked to the goal/desired condition statements and objectives listed in Chapter 3. The methodology for monitoring and evaluating is not considered a Plan decision, and could change over time if new protocols or technology come into use. iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Introduction ............................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 – Forest-wide Direction .............................................................. 5 GOALS/DESIRED CONDITIONS ......................................................... 5 OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................... 21 FOREST-WIDE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ......................... 31 Chapter 3 –Management Area Prescriptions .......................................... 43 Chapter 4 – Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements ......................... 57 Appendix A - Plan Direction Crosswalk .................................................. 68 Appendix B –Planned Timber Sale Program ......................................... 111 Appendix C – Species Scientific Names and NatureServe Community References .................................................................................................. 125 Attachments to the Forest Plan: 1. Forest Plan Map (11” by 17” format) 2. Badin Lake Recreation Area Plan Map (11” by 17” format) Available On-Line or by CD: (Full-Color 1 Inch to the Mile, 24” by 36” format) 1. Forest Plan Map 2. Recreation and Scenery Settings Map 3. Potential Vegetation Map v Figure 1. Vicinity of the Uwharrie National Forest in Context with the Larger Landscape Chapter 1 – Introduction National Forest Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs or Forest Plans) provide broad guidance and information for project and activity decision making for each national forest. The original Uwharrie Forest Plan was adopted in 1986. The National Forest Management Act calls for plans to be revised from time to