FY 2016 Annual Monitoring Report and Ten-Year Review of the 2005 Forest Plan Arkansas and Oklahoma Fiscal Years 2006-2016 October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2016 United States Department of Agriculture FY 2016 Annual Forest Service Monitoring Report and 10-year Review of the 2005 Forest Plan Ouachita National Forest Arkansas and Oklahoma Arkansas Counties: Ashley, Garland, Hot Spring, Howard, Logan, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Polk, Saline, Scott, Sebastian, Yell Oklahoma Counties: LeFlore, McCurtain 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 How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Table of Contents Findings of the 10-year Review ...................................................................................... i Summary Including Priorities, Recommendations, and Focus Areas ................... S-1 Commodity and Commercial Uses ............................................................................ S-2 Forest Regeneration ................................................................................................. S-3 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. S-3 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Habitat ...................................................................... S-3 Vegetation Management ........................................................................................... S-4 National Forest's Restoration Partnership................................................................. S-4 Soils .......................................................................................................................... S-5 Fire Influences and Fuels .......................................................................................... S-5 Terrestrial Non-native Invasive Species (NNIS) ........................................................ S-5 Insects and Disease .................................................................................................. S-5 Terrestrial Habitats - Seral Stages ............................................................................ S-5 Other Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Components .......................................................... S-6 Habitat Capability Monitoring .................................................................................... S-6 Terrestrial Management Indicator Species and Wildlife Habitat Management ......... S-6 R8 Sensitive Species and Terrestrial Species of Viability Concern .......................... S-7 Terrestrial Poposed, Endangered, and Threatened Species Habitat ....................... S-8 Wildlife Management Considerations ........................................................................ S-9 Riparian and Aquatic Ecosystems and Habitat .................................................. S-10 Aquatic Management Indicator Species (MIS) ........................................................ S-10 R8 Sensitive and Other Aquatic Species of Viability Concern ................................ S-12 Aquatic Dependent Proposed, Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Species and Habitat ..................................................................................................................... S-12 Other Aquatic Habitat Considerations ..................................................................... S-13 Watershed Function and Public Water Supply ........................................................ S-13 Herbicide Monitoring ............................................................................................... S-13 Recreation ............................................................................................................... S-13 Public and Agency Safety ....................................................................................... S-13 Heritage Resources and Tribal Relationships ......................................................... S-13 Contributions to Social and Economic Stability ....................................................... S-13 The Ouachita National Forest ........................................................................................ 1 The 2005 Forest Plan ...................................................................................................... 2 Purpose of the 10-year Review ...................................................................................... 3 Implementation of the 2005 Plan ...................................................................................... 3 Implementation Monitoring Reviews ................................................................................. 6 Desired Conditions and Plan Objectives ...................................................................... 7 Land Ownership and Land Administration ........................................................................ 7 Transportation System, Access Management, and Facility Administration .................... 10 Special Uses ................................................................................................................... 16 Commodity/Commercial Uses ......................................................................................... 18 Forest Regeneration ....................................................................................................... 26 Air Quality........................................................................................................................ 29 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Habitat ............................................................................ 33 Vegetation Management ............................................................................................. 33 National Forest’s Restoration Partnership .................................................................. 36 Soils ............................................................................................................................ 38 Fire Influences and Fuels ............................................................................................ 40 10-Year Forest Plan Review Table of Contents Terrestrial Non-native Invasive Species (NNIS) .......................................................... 44 Insects and Disease .................................................................................................... 46 Terrestrial Habitats – Seral Stages ............................................................................. 46 Other Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Components ............................................................ 53 Terrestrial Management Indicator Species and Wildlife Habitat Management ........... 56 Habitat Capability Monitoring ...................................................................................... 59 R8 Sensitive Species and Terrestrial Species of Viability Concern ............................ 70 Terrestrial Proposed, Endangered, and Threatened Species Habitat ........................ 76 Wildlife Management Considerations .......................................................................... 85 Aquatic and Riparian Ecosystems and Habitat ........................................................... 88 Aquatic and Fisheries Habitats and Elements ............................................................ 88 Aquatic Management Indicator Species (MIS) ............................................................ 88 Basin Area Stream Surveys ...................................................................................... 103 Aquatic Dependent Proposed, Endangered, and Threatened Species Habitat ........ 114 R8 Sensitive Species and Other Aquatic Species of Viability Concern .................... 118 Other Riparian and Aquatic Management Considerations ........................................ 119 Riparian and Aquatic