United States Department of Agriculture 2020 Land Management Plan Custer Gallatin National Forest Forest Service Northern Region Publication No. R1-19-07 July 2020 Custer Gallatin National Forest Title Page: Photo Credit – Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan. Top left, going clockwise – Coneflower, Echinacea, native wildflowers, Sioux Ranger District; American Flag and U.S. Forest Service Flag displayed in winter on the Hebgen Ranger District; Log Deck from East Short Pines Project, Sioux Ranger District, photo by Kurt Hansen; Bison grazing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with Arrowleaf Balsamroot in background; Elk Grazing on the Gardiner R.D. with sagebrush in background, foreground; Center - Close up of Indian Paintbrush, Bozeman R.D; Calf nursing from Mother (Cow), Grazing permittees are a large part of the Ashland and Sioux Ranger Districts; Close-up of native alpine wildflowers in early spring on the Beartooth R.D., Beartooth Pass; View looking into the Rock Creek drainage and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness atop Beartooth Pass, Beartooth R.D; Aspen trees blowing in light breeze on the Yellowstone Ranger District, Suce Creek Trail. 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If you need assistance with this document, please contact the Custer Gallatin National Forest at (406) 587-6701. 2020 Land Management Plan Custer Gallatin National Forest Lead Agency: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Responsible Official: Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor 10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-6701 For Information Contact: Virginia Kelly, Plan Revision Team Leader 10 East Babcock Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-6701 Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................5 About the Custer Gallatin National Forest ............................................................................................... 5 Purpose of this Land Management Plan................................................................................................... 6 Plan Structure ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Plan Content ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Plan Components .................................................................................................................................. 8 Additional Required Plan Content .......................................................................................................... 10 Distinctive Roles and Contributions within the Broader Landscape ................................................... 10 Priority Watersheds ............................................................................................................................ 13 Plan Monitoring Program .................................................................................................................... 14 Proposed and Possible Actions ........................................................................................................... 14 Project and Activity Consistency with the Plan ...................................................................................... 14 Determining Consistency .................................................................................................................... 15 Relationship to Other Strategic Guidance .............................................................................................. 15 Rights and Interests ................................................................................................................................ 16 Use of Best Available Scientific Information .......................................................................................... 16 Maintaining the Plan and Adapting to New Information ....................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. Forestwide Direction ....................................................................................................... 17 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Vision for the Custer Gallatin National Forest ........................................................................................ 17 Ecosystems ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Air Quality (AQ) ................................................................................................................................... 18 Soils (SOIL) ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Watershed, Aquatic, and Riparian Ecosystems .................................................................................. 21 Watershed and Aquatics (WTR) .......................................................................................................... 21 Riparian Management Zones (RMZ) ................................................................................................... 24 Conservation Watershed Network (CWN) .......................................................................................... 28 Terrestrial Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 29 At-Risk Plant Species (PRISK) ............................................................................................................... 30 Forested Vegetation (VEGF) ................................................................................................................ 31 Grassland, Shrubland, Woodland, Riparian, Alpine and Sparse Vegetation (VEGNF) ........................ 40 Fire and Fuels (FIRE) ............................................................................................................................ 47 Carbon Storage and Sequestration (CARB) ......................................................................................... 49 Invasive Species (INV) ......................................................................................................................... 49 Wildlife (WL) ....................................................................................................................................... 51 Benefits to People: Multiple Uses and Ecosystem Services ................................................................... 68 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 68 General Contributions to Social and Economic Sustainability (SUS) .................................................. 68 Areas of Tribal Importance (American Indian Rights and Interests) (TRIBAL) .................................... 69 Cultural and Historic Resources (CR) .................................................................................................. 71 Permitted Livestock Grazing (GRAZ) ..................................................................................................