United States Department of Revised Agriculture Land and Resource Forest Management Plan Service September 2005 Ouachita National Forest Arkansas and Oklahoma 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 a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 – VISION ........................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................. 1 ORGANIZATION OF THE REVISED FOREST PLAN................................................................................................ 1 PURPOSE OF THE REVISED FOREST PLAN ....................................................................................................... 2 FOREST ROLES, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND VISION................................................................................................. 3 DESIRED CONDITION OF THE OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST............................................................................... 6 TERRESTRIAL, RIPARIAN, AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ...................................................................................... 6 Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest...................................................................................................... 7 Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Woodland................................................................................................ 8 Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem (includes Red-cockaded Woodpecker Habitat)............................... 9 West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest...................................................................................10 Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest ...........................................................................................................11 Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest ........................................................................................................12 Ouachita Montane Oak Forest .............................................................................................................12 Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland................................................................................................................13 Ouachita Novaculite Glade and Woodland...........................................................................................14 Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens.....................................................................15 Central Interior Acidic Cliff and Talus ...................................................................................................16 Calcareous Prairie................................................................................................................................16 Ouachita Mountain Forested Seep.......................................................................................................17 Ouachita Riparian.................................................................................................................................17 West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest......................................................................18 South-Central Interior Large Floodplain................................................................................................18 West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Hardwood Flatwoods (Red Slough)........................................................18 Ouachita Rivers and Streams...............................................................................................................19 Ouachita Ponds, Lakes, and Waterholes .............................................................................................19 WATERSHED FUNCTION ................................................................................................................................20 WILDLIFE AND FISH HABITAT .........................................................................................................................20 PROPOSED, ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND SENSITIVE (PETS) SPECIES HABITAT ........................................20 GEOLOGIC RESOURCES................................................................................................................................21 LANDOWNERSHIP PATTERN...........................................................................................................................21 Land Administration..............................................................................................................................21 HERITAGE RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................21 Heritage Stewardship ...........................................................................................................................21 Tribal and Native American Interests....................................................................................................22 PUBLIC USE AND ENJOYMENT .......................................................................................................................22 Recreation Participation .......................................................................................................................22 Conservation Education and Stewardship............................................................................................22 Landscape Management ......................................................................................................................23 Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................................23 FACILITY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .......................................................................................................23 Facility Administration...........................................................................................................................23 Transportation System .........................................................................................................................24 COMMODITY, COMMERCIAL, AND SPECIAL USES .............................................................................................24 Minerals and Energy Development.......................................................................................................24 Livestock Grazing.................................................................................................................................25 Lands and Special Uses (Non-recreation)............................................................................................25 FIRE (COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND SAFETY) ................................................................................................25 MANAGEMENT AREAS (MAS) ........................................................................................................................26 PART 2 – STRATEGY...................................................................................................................................27 FOREST PLAN STRATEGIES...........................................................................................................................27 LAND ALLOCATION STRATEGY (MANAGEMENT AREAS).....................................................................................27 MANAGEMENT AREA 1. WILDERNESS .............................................................................................................28 1a. Designated Wilderness...................................................................................................................28 1b. Poteau Mountain Management Area..............................................................................................28 1c. Recommended Wilderness Additions.............................................................................................29 iii MANAGEMENT AREA 2. SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS ..........................................................................................29 MANAGEMENT AREA 3. DEVELOPED RECREATION AREAS ................................................................................31 MANAGEMENT AREA 4. RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS AND NATIONAL NATURAL LANDMARKS ................................31 MANAGEMENT AREA 5. EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS............................................................................................32 MANAGEMENT AREA 6. RARE UPLAND COMMUNITIES ......................................................................................32 MANAGEMENT AREA 7. OUACHITA