FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM ASSESSMENT OF NEED For the State of Nebraska 1 | Page This document was produced in partnership with the US Forest Service. UNL does not discriminate based upon any protected status. Please see http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination 2 | Page Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ 6 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Statement of Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 8 Forest Legacy Background ...................................................................................................................... 8 2. Program Direction .............................................................................................................................. 10 Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 10 Preparation for this Assessment of Need ............................................................................................. 11 Selection Ranking Procedure ................................................................................................................ 13 3. History and Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................................ 14 Cultural Resource Protection ................................................................................................................ 16 4. Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 17 5. Recreation .......................................................................................................................................... 19 6. Geologic Features .............................................................................................................................. 19 7. Aesthetic and Scenic Resources ....................................................................................................... 19 8. Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................................. 20 9. Forest Characteristics ........................................................................................................................ 21 Setting ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Ownership ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Coniferous Forest ................................................................................................................................... 23 Transitional Mixed Forest ...................................................................................................................... 24 Riparian Forests ..................................................................................................................................... 25 10. Forest Health Threats .................................................................................................................... 27 Current & Emerging Insect & Disease Threats..................................................................................... 27 Future Conditions & Trends................................................................................................................... 29 11. Invasive & Aggressive Native Plant Species ................................................................................. 29 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 29 Future Conditions & Trends................................................................................................................... 31 12. Soil Productivity .............................................................................................................................. 31 13. Water Resources ............................................................................................................................ 31 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 32 14. Weather & Climate ......................................................................................................................... 33 Climate .................................................................................................................................................... 33 3 | Page Wildfire- Current Conditions .................................................................................................................. 35 Trends ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 15. Land Use ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 37 Trends ..................................................................................................................................................... 38 Impacts on Nebraska’s Forest Resources............................................................................................ 38 Primary Forest Areas - Trend ................................................................................................................. 40 Fragmentation and Parcelization .......................................................................................................... 40 16. Nebraska’s Forest Products .......................................................................................................... 41 Woody Biomass ...................................................................................................................................... 42 17. Rural Forest Legacy Area Descriptions ......................................................................................... 43 Priority Forest Landscape: Pine Ridge FLA ........................................................................................... 45 Protected Landscapes ....................................................................................................................... 46 Critical Issues: .................................................................................................................................... 46 Forest Legacy Goals: .......................................................................................................................... 47 Priority Forest Landscape: Wildcat Hills FLA ........................................................................................ 47 Protected Landscapes ....................................................................................................................... 48 Critical Issues: .................................................................................................................................... 49 Forest Legacy Goals: .......................................................................................................................... 49 Priority Forest Landscape: Niobrara River Valley FLA .......................................................................... 49 Protected Landscapes ....................................................................................................................... 50 Critical Issues: .................................................................................................................................... 51 Forest Legacy Goals: .......................................................................................................................... 51 Priority Forest Landscape: Missouri River FLA ..................................................................................... 51 Protected Landscapes ....................................................................................................................... 54 Critical Issues: .................................................................................................................................... 54 Forest Legacy Goals: .......................................................................................................................... 55 Priority Forest Landscape: Platte River FLA ......................................................................................... 55 Eastern (Lower) Platte River .................................................................................................................. 56 Protected Landscapes ....................................................................................................................... 57 Critical Issues: .................................................................................................................................... 57 Forest