Revised United States Land and Resource Department of Agriculture Forest Service Management Plan Southern Region Jefferson National Forest Management Bulletin R8-MB 115A January 2004 Jefferson National Forest Offices Supervisor’s Office 5162 Valleypointe Parkway Roanoke, Virginia 24019 Toll Free 888-265-0019 540-265-5100 Clinch Ranger District Glenwood/Pedlar Ranger District 9416 Darden Drive 27 Ranger Lane Wise, VA 24293 Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 (276) 328-2931 (540) 291-2188 Mount Rogers National Recreation Area New Castle Ranger District 3714 Highway 16 P.O. Box 246 Marion, VA 24354 New Castle, VA 24127 (276) 783-5196 (540) 864-5195 New River Valley Ranger District New River Valley Ranger District Blacksburg Office Wytheville Office 110 Southpark Drive 155 Sherwood Forest Road Blacksburg, VA 24060 Wytheville, VA 24382 (540) 552-4641 (276) 228-5551 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 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, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Revised Land and Resource Management Plan Jefferson National Forest Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe Counties in Virginia. Monroe County, West Virginia. Letcher and Pike Counties, Kentucky. Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Robert Jacobs, Regional Forester Southern Region 1720 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30309 Cooperating Agencies: USDI Bureau of Land Management Eastern States Office, Deputy State Director Division of Resources Planning, Use and Protection 7450 Boston Boulevard Springfield, VA 22153 USDI Fish and Wildlife Service Karen Mayne Virginia Field Office 6669 Short Lane Gloucester, VA 23061-4410 For Information Contact: William E. Damon, Jr., Forest Supervisor George Washington & Jefferson NFs 5162 Valleypointe Parkway Roanoke, VA 24019-3050 The Jefferson National Forest provides clean water, clean air, abundant wildlife and beautiful landscapes. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Purpose of Forest Plan ...................................................................................................................1-1 Relationship to the Environmental Impact Statement .................................................................1-2 Summary of the Analysis of the Management Situation ..............................................................1-2 Summary of Significant Issues ...................................................................................................... 1-3 Relationship to Other Plans ...........................................................................................................1-5 Structure of the Forest Plan ...........................................................................................................1-6 Forest Information ..........................................................................................................................1-6 Vicinity Map .................................................................................................................................... 1-7 Chapter 2 Forest-wide Direction Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2-1 Watersheds – Water, Soil, Air, and Aquatic Species .....................................................................2-2 Wildlife and Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Habitat ......................................2-10 Rare Communities .......................................................................................................................2-18 Vegetation, Old Growth, and Forest Health .................................................................................2-20 Timber Management ....................................................................................................................2-30 Fire Management .........................................................................................................................2-35 Recreation – Developed, Dispersed, and Backcountry ..............................................................2-40 Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers ..........................................................................................2-43 Scenery .........................................................................................................................................2-46 Heritage Resources ......................................................................................................................2-49 Rangeland Resources ..................................................................................................................2-51 Minerals and Geologic Resources ...............................................................................................2-52 Facilities, Roads, and Access ......................................................................................................2-55 Lands and Special Uses ...............................................................................................................2-59 REVISED LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN i Chapter 3 Management Prescriptions Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3-1 0B Custodial Management ............................................................................................................ 3-3 1A Designated Wilderness ............................................................................................................ 3-4 1B Recommended Wilderness Study Area ................................................................................. 3-10 2C1 Eligible Wild River ................................................................................................................. 3-12 2C3 Eligible Recreational River ................................................................................................... 3-15 4A Appalachian Trail .................................................................................................................... 3-19 4C1 Geologic Areas ..................................................................................................................... 3-24 4D Botanical-Zoological Area ...................................................................................................... 3-27 4E Cultural-Heritage Area ............................................................................................................ 3-30 4F Scenic Area ............................................................................................................................. 3-34 4J Urban-Suburban Interface Area .............................................................................................. 3-37 4K1 North Creek Special Area .................................................................................................... 3-39 4K2 Hoop Hole Special Area ....................................................................................................... 3-46 4K3 Mount Rogers Crest Zone Special Area .............................................................................. 3-50 4K4 Whitetop Mountain Special Area ......................................................................................... 3-55 4K5 Whitetop Laurel Special Area .............................................................................................. 3-60 4K6 North Fork Pound Special Area ........................................................................................... 3-65 5A Administrative Sites ................................................................................................................ 3-69 5B Designated Communication Sites ......................................................................................... 3-70 5C Designated Utility Corridors ................................................................................................... 3-72 6A Old-Growth Forest – Communities not associated with disturbance ................................... 3-73 6B Old-Growth Forest – Communities dependent on fire .......................................................... 3-77 6C Old-Growth Forest – Communities associated with disturbance ......................................... 3-81 7A Scenic Byway Corridors .......................................................................................................... 3-84 ii REVISED LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 7B Scenic Corridors .....................................................................................................................3-88