Caribou-Targhee NF Caribou-Targhee NF 1405 Hollipark Dr. Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (208) 557-5760 Curlew National Grassland Plan Caribou-Targhee National Forest Lead Agency: USDA-Forest Service Responsible Official: Jack Troyer, Acting Regional Forester USDA-Forest Service Intermountain Region 324 25th Street Ogden, Utah 84401 Telephone: (801) 625-5605 For further information, contact: Jerry B. Reese, Forest Supervisor Caribou-Targhee National Forest 1405 Hollipark Dr. Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 Telephone: (208) 557-5760 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 and family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE OF THE PLAN................................................................................1-1 Why are we developing a Grassland Plan?............................................................................1-1 What is the Legal Framework of the Grassland Plan?............................................................1-1 What Does the Grassland Plan Do?.......................................................................................1-2 Plant and Animal Diversity and Population Viability.............................................................1-3 Federal Tribal Trust Responsibilities.....................................................................................1-4 Adaptive Management ...........................................................................................................1-4 What Management Direction has been Considered?..............................................................1-4 How is this Grassland Plan Structured?.................................................................................1-6 CHAPTER 2: SUMMARY OF THE AMS...............................................................................2-1 CURRENT RESOURCE CONDITIONS AND TRENDS..........................................................................2-1 Unchanged Management Direction.......................................................................................2-1 OVERVIEW OF THE AMS FINDINGS FOR GRASSLAND RESOURCES ................................................2-2 General Conditions...............................................................................................................2-2 Riparian and Watersheds.......................................................................................................2-2 Vegetation.............................................................................................................................2-3 Wildlife..................................................................................................................................2-4 Human Uses and Values........................................................................................................2-6 Summary of Trends for the Grassland....................................................................................2-7 NEEDS FOR CHANGE...................................................................................................................2-8 Soil........................................................................................................................................2-8 Terrestrial Ecosystems...........................................................................................................2-8 Aquatic Ecosystems...............................................................................................................2-9 Inventory and Research Needs...............................................................................................2-9 ISSUES, CONCERNS AND OPPORTUNITIES...................................................................................2-10 Riparian and Watershed Management .................................................................................2-10 Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat Management......................................................................2-10 Social and Economic Factors..............................................................................................2-12 CHAPTER 3: GRASSLAND-WIDE GUIDANCE...................................................................3-1 DFC’S, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .......................................................3-1 ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND PATTERNS....................................................................................3-2 General Ecological Conditions..............................................................................................3-2 Insects And Disease...............................................................................................................3-3 Fire/Fuels..............................................................................................................................3-3 PHYSICAL ELEMENTS.................................................................................................................3-4 Soils......................................................................................................................................3-4 Air Quality............................................................................................................................3-5 Water Quality........................................................................................................................3-5 Lands ....................................................................................................................................3-6 Minerals And Geology...........................................................................................................3-7 BIOLOGICAL ELEMENTS .............................................................................................................3-8 Terrestrial Ecosystems--Vegetation........................................................................................3-8 Fisheries, Water, And Riparian Resources...........................................................................3-10 Terrestrial Ecosystems—Wildlife Habitat.............................................................................3-11 FOREST USE AND OCCUPATION.................................................................................................3-14 Tribal Coordination.............................................................................................................3-14 Roads, Trails And Access.....................................................................................................3-14 i Recreation ...........................................................................................................................3-15 Heritage Resources .............................................................................................................3-16 PRODUCTION OF COMMODITY RESOURCES ................................................................................3-18 Livestock Manag ement ........................................................................................................3-18 CHAPTER 4: SUBSECTION AND PRESCRIPTION AREAS..............................................4-1 ECOLOGICAL SUBSECTIONS........................................................................................................4-1 Humboldt River High Plateau Subsection (342Ba).................................................................4-1 Curlew Valley Lake Sediments Subsection (342Bb)................................................................4-2 MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS...................................................................................................4-4 Introduction...........................................................................................................................4-4 ô PRESCRIPTION 2.8.8 - RIPARIAN/WETLAND AREAS (RWA)....................................4-6 M PRESCRIPTION 3.4.1 - SPECIAL WILDLIFE AREAS................................................4-10 Q PRESCRIPTION 4.1.2 - DEVELOPED RECREATION SITES.....................................4-12 õ PRESCRIPTION 6.5 – RANGELAND VEGETATION and UPLAND BIRD HABITAT MANAGEMENT..................................................................................................................4-14 ” PRESCRIPTION 8.1.2 - CONCENTRATED DEVELOPMENT AREAS .......................4-18 CHAPTER 5: IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING...................................................5-1 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY .....................................................................................................5-1 MONITORING STRATEGY ............................................................................................................5-3 Monitoring Activities .............................................................................................................5-3 Evaluation.............................................................................................................................5-3