United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Land Management Plan Northern Region 2015 2015 Revision Idaho Panhandle National Forests Revised Land Management Plan Idaho Panhandle National Forests Responsible Official: FAYE KRUEGER, REGIONAL FORESTER 200 E. Broadway P.O. Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807-7669 For Information Contact: MARY FARNSWORTH, FOREST SUPERVISOR Idaho Panhandle National Forest 3815 Schreiber Way Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 Cover Photo: Orville Mountain 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 part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 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Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................... i Acronyms ..................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1—Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 Purpose of this Land Management Plan.................................................................................................... 1 Plan Elements ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Implementing the Forest Plan ................................................................................................................... 2 Consistency with the Forest Plan .............................................................................................................. 2 Retained Forest Plan Direction ................................................................................................................. 4 Inland Native Fish Strategy .................................................................................................................. 4 Grizzly Bear Access Amendment ......................................................................................................... 5 Northern Rockies Lynx Management Direction ................................................................................... 5 Plan Structure ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Maintaining the Forest Plan and Adapting to New Information ............................................................... 6 Relationship to Other Strategic Guidance ................................................................................................. 6 Rights and Interests ................................................................................................................................... 6 About the Idaho Panhandle National Forests ............................................................................................ 7 Distinctive Features of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests ................................................................. 9 Chapter 2—Forestwide Direction ............................................................................... 11 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Physical and Biological ........................................................................................................................... 11 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Fire ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 Watershed, Soils, Riparian, Aquatic Habitat, and Aquatic Species..................................................... 22 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 33 Human Uses and Designations of the Forest .......................................................................................... 33 Access and Recreation ........................................................................................................................ 33 Inventoried Roadless Areas................................................................................................................. 36 Lands and Special Uses ...................................................................................................................... 37 Cultural Resources .............................................................................................................................. 37 American Indian Rights and Interests ................................................................................................. 38 Production of Natural Resources ............................................................................................................ 39 Timber ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Minerals .............................................................................................................................................. 40 Grazing................................................................................................................................................ 41 Special Forest and Botanical Products ................................................................................................ 41 Economic and Social Environment ......................................................................................................... 41 Social and Economic Systems ............................................................................................................ 41 Cooperation and Community Involvement ......................................................................................... 42 Chapter 3—Management Area Direction ................................................................... 43 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 43 MA1a – Wilderness ................................................................................................................................ 44 Description .......................................................................................................................................... 44 Desired Condition ............................................................................................................................... 44 Standards ............................................................................................................................................. 45 Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................... 46 MA1b—Recommended Wilderness ....................................................................................................... 46 Description .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Desired Condition ............................................................................................................................... 47 Idaho Panhandle National Forests i Contents Standards ............................................................................................................................................. 48 Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................... 48 MA1c—Wilderness Study Areas ............................................................................................................ 49 Description .......................................................................................................................................... 49 Desired Condition ............................................................................................................................... 49 Standards ............................................................................................................................................. 50 Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................... 51 MA1e—Primitive Lands ........................................................................................................................