Rocky Mountain Region August 2021 Draft Revised Land Management Plan Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Mineral, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties, Colorado The Collegiate Peaks in the Gunnison Ranger District on a beautiful bluebird day. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Draft Revised Land Management Plan Draft Revised Land Management Plan Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Mineral, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties, Colorado Lead agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible official: Chad Stewart, Forest Supervisor 2250 South Main Street Delta, Colorado 81416 For more information, contact: Samantha Staley, Forest Planner 2250 South Main Street Delta, Colorado 81416 (970) 852-9812 and (970) 874-6649 Planning documents are posted at: Forest Plan Revision Webpage i USDA Forest Service In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] (link sends e-mail). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. ii Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Draft Revised Land Management Plan Contents Contents .............................................................................................................................................. iii Chapter 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 What is a Forest Plan? ................................................................................................................... 1 Implementing the Forest Plan ........................................................................................................ 2 Plan Components........................................................................................................................... 4 Plan Component Numbering Protocol and Cross-Referencing ..................................................... 6 Forest Plan Vision, Roles, and Contributions .................................................................................... 7 The Big Picture: A Vision of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests.... 7 Why the GMUG Matters: Distinctive Roles and Contributions in the Larger Landscape .............. 7 Chapter 2. Forestwide Direction ...................................................................................................... 10 Part I: Social and Economic Environment ....................................................................................... 10 Socioeconomics (SCEC) ............................................................................................................. 10 Partnerships and Coordination (PART) ....................................................................................... 10 Educational and Interpretive Programs (EDU) ............................................................................ 11 Part II: Ecological Sustainability ...................................................................................................... 11 Air Quality (AQ) ............................................................................................................................ 11 Key Ecosystem Characteristics (ECO) ........................................................................................ 12 Riparian Management Zones and Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems (RMGD) .................... 17 Aquatic Ecosystems (AQTC) ....................................................................................................... 20 Invasive Species (IVSP) .............................................................................................................. 22 Fire and Fuels Management (FFM) ............................................................................................. 24 Native Species Diversity (SPEC) ................................................................................................. 26 Paleontology (PLEO) ................................................................................................................... 39 Soil Resources (SOIL) ................................................................................................................. 40 Watersheds and Water Resources (WTR) .................................................................................. 40 Part III: Ecosystem Services and Multiple Uses of the National Forests ........................................ 42 Cultural and Historic Resources (CHR) ....................................................................................... 42 Designated Trails (DTRL) ............................................................................................................ 43 Energy and Mineral Resources (ENMI) ....................................................................................... 47 Infrastructure (INFR) .................................................................................................................... 50 Lands and Special Uses (LSU) .................................................................................................... 53 Rangelands, Forage, and Grazing (RNG) ................................................................................... 57 Recreation (REC) ......................................................................................................................... 59 Scenery (SCNY)........................................................................................................................... 72 Scenic Byways (SBWY) ............................................................................................................... 74 Timber and Other Forest Products (TMBR) ................................................................................. 74 Trails (TRLS) ................................................................................................................................ 77 Transportation System (TSTN) .................................................................................................... 78 Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) ....................................................................................... 79 Chapter 3. Management Area Direction .......................................................................................... 80 Wilderness and Areas Where Natural Processes Dominate (MA 1) ............................................... 81 Designated Wilderness – MA 1.1 (WLDN) .................................................................................. 81 iii USDA Forest Service Recommended Wilderness – MA 1.2 (RECWLD) ....................................................................... 90 Tabeguache and Roubideau Areas (MA 1.3) .............................................................................. 90 Special Areas and Designations (MA 2) .......................................................................................... 91 Special Interest Areas – MA 2.1 (SIA) ......................................................................................... 91 Research Natural Areas – MA 2.2 (RNA) .................................................................................... 92 Fossil Ridge Special Recreation Area (MA 2.3) .......................................................................... 92 Natural Areas with Focused Management (MA 3) .......................................................................... 92 Colorado Roadless Areas – MA 3.1 (CRA) ................................................................................. 92 Wildlife Management Area – MA 3.2 (WLDF) ............................................................................. 93 Special