United States Department of Agriculture 2005 Land and Resource Forest Service Management Plan Mark Twain National Forest 2005 September 2005 Forest Plan Mark Twain National Forest Abstract This 2005 Land and Resource Management Plan (2005 Forest Plan) was prepared according to Department of Agriculture regulations (36 CFR 219 - 1982 regulations), which are based on the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA), as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA). This plan was also developed in accordance with regulations (40 CFR 1500) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been prepared as required by NEPA and 36CFR219 (1982 Planning Regulations.) The FEIS the analysis of five alternatives developed for management of the Mark Twain NF, and displays the environmental effects at a programmatic level. Alternative 3 is identified in the FEIS as the selected alternative. If any provision of this plan or its application to any person or circumstances is found to be invalid, the remainder of the plan and its applicability to other persons or circumstances will not be affected. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, 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. Cover photo: Bell Mountain Wilderness, Mark Twain National Forest, USDA Forest Service Photographer: Paul Nelson Forest2005 Plan Forest Plan Barry, Bollinger, Boone, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Christian, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Iron, Laclede, Madison, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Saint Francois, Sainte Genevieve, Shannon, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright Counties, Missouri. Eastern Region Milwaukee, Wisconsin September 2005 Responsible Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: RANDY MOORE Eastern Region Office 626 East Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 Information Contact: Forest Planner Mark Twain National Forest Supervisor’s Office 401 Fairgrounds Road Rolla, MO 65401 573-364-4621 Mark Twain National Forest Table of Contents Table of Contents Preface Purpose of the 2005 Forest Plan...................................................................................Preface-1 Relationship of the Forest Plan to Other Documents ...................................................Preface-1 A Reader’s Guide to the Forest Plan ............................................................................Preface-2 Chapter 1—Forestwide Goals and Objectives Introduction ............................................................................................................................1-1 Goal 1 – Promote Ecosystem Health and Sustainability ........................................................1-1 Goal 2 – Provide a Variety of Uses, Values, Products, and Services.....................................1-4 Chapter 2—Forestwide Standards and Guidelines Introduction ............................................................................................................................2-1 Vegetation Management.........................................................................................................2-2 Non-Native Invasive Species (NNIS) Management...............................................................2-2 Water and Soil Resource Management ..................................................................................2-2 Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat Management ........................................................................2-6 Prescribed Fire, Fuels, and Wildland Fire Management ......................................................2-15 Hazardous Materials.............................................................................................................2-19 Pesticide Use ........................................................................................................................2-19 Rangeland Management .......................................................................................................2-20 Recreation Management.......................................................................................................2-21 Visual Management..............................................................................................................2-24 Heritage Resources...............................................................................................................2-26 Timber Management ............................................................................................................2-27 Special Uses Management....................................................................................................2-32 Minerals................................................................................................................................2-34 Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................2-36 Landownership .....................................................................................................................2-36 Transportation System..........................................................................................................2-39 Chapter 3—Management Prescriptions Introduction ............................................................................................................................3-1 Management Prescription 1.1 – Natural Community Restoration, RN ROS .........................3-3 Management Prescription 1.2 – Natural Community Restoration, SPM ROS.......................3-7 Management Prescription 2.1 – General Forest, RN ROS ...................................................3-11 Management Prescription 5.1 – Designated Wilderness ......................................................3-13 Management Prescription 6.1 – Semi-Primitive Non Motorized ROS ................................3-33 Management Prescription 6.2 – Semi-Primitive Motorized ROS ........................................3-37 Management Prescription 6.3 – Candidate Wild, Scenic, Recreation Rivers ......................3-41 Management Prescription 7.1 – Developed Recreation Areas .............................................3-45 Management Prescription 8.1 – Designated “Special Areas” Other than Wilderness..........3-49 Standards and Guidelines Specific to the Eleven Point National Scenic River.............3-54 Standards and Guidelines Specific to Decker Cave.......................................................3-57 Standards and Guidelines Specific to Cupola Pond.......................................................3-58 Standards and Guidelines Specific to National Recreation Trails .................................3-58 Standards and Guidelines Specific to Hayden Bald.......................................................3-59 Standards and Guidelines Specific to the Lower Current River Special Area...............3-60 Standards and Guidelines Specific to the Greer Spring Special Management Area......3-61 Standards and Guidelines Specific to National Forest Scenic Byways .........................3-62 Standards and Guidelines Specific to the Irish Wilderness Excluded Lands.................3-63 Standards and Guidelines Specific to Recommended Wilderness Additions................3-64 Contents - i Mark Twain National Forest—Forest Plan Chapter 4—Monitoring and Evaluation Introduction ............................................................................................................................4-1 Legal and Regulatory Requirements ......................................................................................4-2 Monitoring Guidelines and Components................................................................................4-4 Monitoring Matrix..................................................................................................................4-6 Appendix A—Terrestrial Natural Communities Introduction ...........................................................................................................................A-1 Desired Conditions for Natural Community Types by Management Prescription................A-1 Management Prescription 1.1................................................................................................A-4 Management Prescription 1.2................................................................................................A-9 Appendix B—Soils Introduction ........................................................................................................................... B-1 Riparian Soils ........................................................................................................................ B-1 Highly Compactable Soils..................................................................................................... B-2 Highly Erodible Soils ...........................................................................................................