National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report National Forests in Alabama Fiscal Years 2018 & 2019 National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 USDA Non-discrimination Policy Statement 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). 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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. i National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 Contents Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report ...................................................................................................................... i USDA Non-discrimination Policy Statement .............................................................................................................. i Forest Supervisor’s Certification ............................................................................................................................. iii Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................................................. - 1 - Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... - 1 - Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. - 2 - Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................................................. - 5 - Monitoring Results and Findings ......................................................................................................................... - 5 - I. Ecosystem Health, Condition, and Sustainability .............................................................................- 5 - A. Biodiversity .................................................................................................................................................. - 5 - B. Forest Health /Stressors ................................................................................................................................. 11 C. Watershed Condition ...................................................................................................................................... 15 II. Sustainable Multiple Forest and Range Benefits ................................................................................ 16 A. Recreation/Facilities/Infrastructure ............................................................................................................... 16 B. Roadless Areas/Wilderness/Wild & Scenic Rivers ........................................................................................... 17 C. Heritage/Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................... 17 D. Outputs – Timber/Minerals/Others ................................................................................................................ 19 III. Organizational Effectiveness ............................................................................................................. 22 A. Meeting Forest Plan Standards and Objectives .............................................................................................. 22 B. Economics/Social ............................................................................................................................................ 22 C. Evaluating New Information ........................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 I. Evaluation of Outcomes on the Land – (Summaries of Specific District Projects implementing the Forest Plan) .............................................................................................................................................. 24 II. 2020/21 Action Plan ......................................................................................................................... 25 ii National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 Forest Supervisor’s Certification I have evaluated the monitoring results and recommendations in this report. I am directing that the Action Plan developed to respond to these recommendations be implemented according to the time frames indicated, unless new information or changed resource conditions warrant otherwise. I have considered the funding requirements in the budget that are necessary to implement these actions. With these actions, the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan is sufficient to guide future management unless ongoing monitoring and evaluation identify further needs for change. Any amendments or revisions to the Forest Plan will be made using the appropriate NEPA Process. 09/21/2020 CHERIE HAMILTON Date Forest Supervisor iii National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 Intentionally blank iv National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 Chapter 1 Introduction The National Forests in Alabama annually monitors and evaluates the programs and projects to determine whether these activities are meeting the management direction in the Forest Plan. The purpose of this report is to document the results of the Forest Plan monitoring evaluation program for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Monitoring evaluation is an ongoing process that is documented through reviews made by the individual resource specialists, Forest Leadership Team and District Rangers. The information from these reviews, individual inventory reports, reports and information from cooperators and research are compiled into one comprehensive report biennially in accordance with the 2012 Planning rule (36 CFR 219.12(d). The Forest Interdisciplinary and Leadership Teams complete the evaluation and final report. The biennial monitoring evaluation report that follows is presented in three chapters and five Appendices. Chapter 1 is primarily an introduction and executive summary of the report findings and recommendations. Chapter 2 details monitoring processes, actions, and findings of the monitoring completed. Chapter 3 highlights some of the outcomes of actual projects implementing the Forest Plan that led to the findings and recommendations in Chapter 2. It also contains the Action Plan. Appendix A is the list of contributors to this report. Appendix B is a summary of the field reviews and other administrative activities completed in connection with the monitoring and evaluation efforts. Appendix C is the status of the previous action plan. Appendix D is a list of the significant research findings, reports, or needs that have been identified for the National Forests in Alabama. Appendix E displays the locations of Ecosystem Restoration and Maintenance activities on each district. - 1 - National Forests in Alabama – Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report FY 2018 and FY 2019 Executive Summary This section includes a brief summary of the process used to develop this report and the important findings and results for this period. The National Forests in Alabama (NFsAL) periodically monitors and evaluates programs and projects to determine whether these activities are meeting the management direction shown in the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Monitoring evaluation is specifically designed to insure: 1) Forest Plan goals and