I Unltod Stator Dopaffmont of ''1 Agll~~ltum Wj forest Plan Helena National Forest April 86 The Forest Plan is in compliance with the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (m);the regulations for National Forest Land and Resource Management Planning (36 CFB Part 219); and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), including the Record of Decision for the Environmental Impact Statement covering the Forest Plan. Further information about the Forest Plan can be obtained from: Foxes t Supervisor, Robert S. Gibson Helena National Forest 301 South Park Drawer 10014 Helena, MT 59626 Phone: (406)449-5201 Townsend Ranger District 415 S. Front Box 29 Townsend, MT 59644 Phone: (406)266-3425 Helena Ranger District 2001 Poplar St. Helena, MT 59601 Phone: (406)449-5490 Lincoln Ranger District Highway 200, 1 mile east of Lincoln Box 234 Lincoln, MT 59639 Phone : ( 406) 362-4265 Chapter X . Introduction A . Purpose ................................................. 1-1 B . Management Direction.................................... 1-1 C . Relationship to Other aocuments ......................... 1-1 Chapter I1 . Forestaide ffinagenent Direction A . Goals .................................................. 1 1-1 B . Objectives ............................................. 11-2 Resource/Activity Summaries .......................... 11-2 Projected Outputs and Activities.................... .II-6 Research Natural Area Objectives ..................... 11-8 Additional Data Requirements ......................... 11 -10 C . Research Needs ......................................... 11 -11 D . Desired Future Condition of the Forest .................11 -11 E . Forest-Wide Standards .................................. 11 -14 Recreation ........................................... 11-14 Visual ............................................... 11 -15 Cultural Resources .................... .............. 11-15 Wildlife and Fisheries ................ ........%.....I 1 -17 Big Game ......................... ..............11 -17 Threatened and Endangered Species ..............11 -19 Old Growth ....................... ..............1 1 -20 Snags ............................ .............. 11-21 Fisheries ........................ ..............11-22 Range ................................................ 11-22 Noxious Weeds ........................................ 11 -22 Revegetation ......................................... 11-23 Timber ............................................... 11 -23 Firewood ............................................. 11 -24 Water. Soil. and Air................................. 11 -24 Municipal Watershed ............................. 11 -24 General Watershed ............................... 11 -25 Airshed ......................................... 11-26 Soil............................................ 11 -26 Minerals .............................................. 1-26 General ......................................... 11-26 Locatable ................ ...................... 11-27 Saleable................. ...................... 11-27 Leasable ................. ...................... 11-28 Seismic .................. ...................... 11-28 Lands ......................... ...................... 11-29 Land Uses ................ ...................... 11-29 Land Ownership Adjustment ...................... 11-30 Facilities........................................... 11 -30 Administration Facilities ....................... 11 -30 Road Standards .................................. I 1-30 Road Management ................................. 11-31 Road Maintenance .............................. ..I 1-32 Trails .......................................... 11-32 Protection........................................... I 1-33 Insect and Disease .............................. i 1-33 Wildfire ........................................ ii-33 Law Enforcement ................................. i 1-33 Prescribed Fire...................................... 1I-.3 General ......................................... 11 -33 Timber .......................................... 11 -34 Range and Wildlife.............................. 11-34 Riparian ............................................. 11 -34 Chapter 111. Management Area Direction 1nt.oduction ............................................ 111-1 A-1 .................................................... 111-3 M-1 .................................................... 111-5 N-I .................................................... 11.1-,8 L-1 .................................................... ~II-11 L-2 .................................................... 111-14 H-1 .................................................... I11.-17 H-2 .................................................... 111-20 R-l .................................................... 111.-24 R-2 .................................................... 111-27 T-1 .................................................... 111-30 T-2 .................................................... 111-34 T-3 .................................................... 111-38 T-4 .................................................... 111-42 T-5 .................................................... 1,I1 -46 W-1 .................................................... 111-50 W-2 .................................................... 111-53 P-1 .................................................... III-56 P-2 .................................................... 111-66 P-3 .................................................... 111-73 Elkhorn Wi,Ml,ife Management Unit ........................ I11 -78 Elkhorn-Wide Management Direction.. ..................... I11 -79 Elkhorn-1 .............................................. 111-81 Elkhorn-2 ................................................. I- 84 Elkhorn-3 .............................................. 111-87 Elkhorn-4 .............................................. 111-90 Chapter Tp . Implementation A . Introduction ..........................................IV -1 B . Influence of Past Management on Future Conditions .....IS'- 1 C . Project Planning ...................................... IV-2 D . Monitoring and Evaluation .............................IV -3 E . Amendment and Revision ................................IV -5 Chapter V . Analysis of the Management Situation Summary A . Introduction ........................................... V-1 B . Resource and Support Program Elements ..................V.1 . Chapter VI- Glossary Tables and Figurea : Table 11-1 Projected Outputs and Bctivities ........... i 1-7 Table 11-2 Research Natural Area Objectives ......... ..I 1-9 Table 11-3 Additional Data Requirements ............... 11.10 Table 111-1 Management Areas and Net Acres ............I1 1-2 Table 111-2 Resource Outputs by Management Area ....... I1 1-94 Table 111-3 Monitoring Items by Management Area ...... .III.. 96 Table IV-I Monitoring Action Plan .....................IV .6 Figure 1-1 Vicinity Map ................................ 1-2 Figure 111-1 Elkhorn Travel Plan ....................... I1 1-93 Figure IV-l Decision Flow Diagram ...................... 1v-20 . \ Appendices A. Resolution of Issues and Concerns B. Sensitive Viewing Areas C. Montana Cooperative Elk-Logging Study D. Guidelines for Management of Grizzly Bear Habitat E. Grizzly Bear Management Outside of Recovery Areas F. Seeding Guide1 ines G. Land Classification Summary H. Silvicultural Practices by Habitat Types I. Timber Productivity Classification K. Present and Future Forest Conditions L. Display of Long-Term Sustained Yield and Allowable Sale Quantity M. Vegetation Management Practices N. Oil and Gas Leasing 0. Guidelines for Special Uses and Subdivisions P. Corridor Planning Q. Withdrawals from Mineral Entry R. Fire Management S. Wilderness Recreation Opportunity Class Descriptions and Guidelines T. Watershed Improvement Schedule U. Prescribed Burning Schedule V. Ten-Year Timb’er Sale Schedule w. Criteria and Schedule for Fisheries Improvement X. Noxious Weed Control Y. Projected Budget Required to Implement the Forest Plan A. PWPOSE i The Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities and establishes management standards for the Helena National Forest. It describes resource management practices, levels of resource production and management, and availability and suitability of lands for resource management. B. MANAGHBNT DIBgCTIOH The goals, objectives, standards, schedule of management practices and monitoring and evaluation requirements comprise the Plan's management direction. Bowever, the projected outputs, services, and rates of implementation are dependent on the annual budgeting process. C. RXUTIOHSHIP TO OTBEB DOCIMEWl'S Environmental Impact Statement--The Forest Plan is based on the various considerations which have been addressed in the accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and represents the proposed action in that EIS (modified as required by the Record of Decision). The planning process and the analysis procedure used in developing this Plan, as well as tbe other alternatives that were considered, are described or referenced in the EIS. Project level activities will be planned and implemented to carry out the y management direction in this Plan. The NEPA requirements will be followed as the site specific issues and impacts are addressed during project development. Regional Guide--The Regional Guide displays the Northern Regions's portion of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) Program among the National Forests, provides