FY 2018 Budget Justification USDA Forest Service 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.) 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, 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. FY 2018 Budget Justification USDA Forest Service FY 2018 Budget Justification Table of Contents Page Annual Performance Report…………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Appropriations Language Changes ............................................................................................................... 25 Forest and Rangeland Research ..................................................................................................................... 35 State and Private Forestry .............................................................................................................................. 43 Landscape Scale Restoration .............................................................................................................. 44 Forest Health Management ................................................................................................................ 45 Forest Health Management – Federal Lands ...................................................................................... 49 Forest Health Management – Cooperative Lands .............................................................................. 53 Forest Stewardship Program .............................................................................................................. 57 Forest Legacy Program ...................................................................................................................... 60 Community Forest and Open Space Conservation ............................................................................. 62 Urban and Community Forestry ......................................................................................................... 64 International Forestry ......................................................................................................................... 66 National Forest System ................................................................................................................................... 69 Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration ...................................................................................... 71 Land Management Planning, Assessment and Monitoring ................................................................ 73 Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness ................................................................................................ 77 Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management ...................................................................................... 82 Hazardous Fuels ................................................................................................................................. 87 Grazing Management ......................................................................................................................... 91 Forest Products ................................................................................................................................... 94 Vegetation and Watershed Management ............................................................................................ 97 Minerals and Geology Management .................................................................................................. 101 Landownership Management ............................................................................................................. 106 Law Enforcement and Operations ...................................................................................................... 109 Capital Improvement and Maintenance ........................................................................................................ 111 Facilities ............................................................................................................................................. 112 Roads .................................................................................................................................................. 118 Trails .................................................................................................................................................. 122 Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Improvement .................................................................... 125 Legacy Roads and Trails .................................................................................................................... 129 Land Acquisition ............................................................................................................................................. 131 Other Appropriations ..................................................................................................................................... 137 Range Betterment Fund ...................................................................................................................... 137 Gifts, Donations, and Bequest to Forest and Rangeland Research ..................................................... 139 Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses ............................................................ 140 Wildland Fire Management............................................................................................................................ 143 Preparedness ....................................................................................................................................... 146 Suppression ........................................................................................................................................ 148 National Fire Plan Research and Development .................................................................................. 152 Joint Fire Science Program ................................................................................................................. 154 State Fire Assistance .......................................................................................................................... 156 Volunteer Fire Assistance .................................................................................................................. 158 Table of Contents i FY 2018 Budget Justification USDA Forest Service FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund .................................................................................... 160 Permanent Appropriations ............................................................................................................................. 164 Brush Disposal ................................................................................................................................... 164 Hardwood Technology Transfer & Applied Research ....................................................................... 165 Timber Salvage Sales ......................................................................................................................... 166 Timber Sale Pipeline Restoration ....................................................................................................... 167 Forest Botanical Products ................................................................................................................... 168 Stewardship Contracting .................................................................................................................... 169 Recreation Fees, Forest Service ......................................................................................................... 170 Timber Purchasing Election Road Construction ................................................................................ 172 Operation & Management of Forest Service Quarters ....................................................................... 173 Roads & Trails for States ................................................................................................................... 174 Land Between the Lakes Management ............................................................................................... 175 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Rental Fees ................................................................................ 176 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Restoration ................................................................................ 177 Quinault Special Management Area Fund.......................................................................................... 178 Restoration of Forest Lands & Improvements ................................................................................... 179 Commercial Filming & Still Photography Land Use Fee Retention