Phase 2 – Develop the Revised Plan Cities and Counties have land use plans – so do national...
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- Slide 1
- Slide 2
- Phase 2 Develop the Revised Plan
- Slide 3
- Cities and Counties have land use plans so do national forests
Cities and counties may have residential areas, commercial areas,
mixed-use areas national forests ALSO have areas for different
mixes of uses
- Slide 4
- Slide 5
- Slide 6
- What Happened in 2013 the Assessment Phase February-March 2013
6 public meetings to get ideas for the Assessment May 2013 2 public
meetings to discuss high interest topics: WWWWildlife habitats, and
especially the lack of young forest (a.k.a. early successional,
ESH, previously called 0-10 year old forest ) RRRRecreation and
access DDDDesignated Areas what should be designated and what
should NOT be designated November-December 2013 6 public meetings
to hear ideas about how the current plan needs to change.
- Slide 7
- Whats happening in 2014 the Plan Development Phase WW hat do we
want these national forests to be like in the future? HH ow much
and what kinds of management will need to happen for us to get
there? WW hat sideboards or limitations on activities are
necessary? WW hich portions of the national forests are suitable
for various mixes of the multiple uses?
- Slide 8
- National Forests are managed for Multiple Use and Sustained
Yield Outdoor Recreation Experimental Forests Threatened and
Endangered Species Wildlife and Fish Wilderness Timber Research
Natural Areas Special Interest Areas Water Wild and Scenic
Rivers
- Slide 9
- National Forests are managed for Multiple Use and Sustained
Yield Outdoor Recreation Experimental Forests Threatened and
Endangered Species Wildlife and Fish Wilderness Timber Research
Natural Areas Special Interest Areas Water Wild and Scenic
Rivers
- Slide 10
- Inventory of Potential Additions to Wilderness WHY ? It is
required as a part of the process for revising the land management
plan
- Slide 11
- (v) Identify and evaluate lands that may be suitable for
inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System and
determine whether to recommend any such lands for wilderness
designation. FEDERAL REGULATION: As part of the plan development
process....
- Slide 12
- Share the range of perspectives about wilderness Share the
range of perspectives about wilderness Share the purpose of the
inventory Share the purpose of the inventory Share and discuss the
inventory process and identity concerns and potential solutions
Share and discuss the inventory process and identity concerns and
potential solutions Establish a path forward to a final inventory
most people can live with Establish a path forward to a final
inventory most people can live with Objectives for this
morning:
- Slide 13
- Ideas and comments collected in November and December 2013...
including comments about wilderness... Sorting Comments
- Slide 14
- What have we heard from participants so far? No Wilderness
Reduce Wilderness Increase Wilderness Keep the Same Amount
Everything is Wilderness
- Slide 15
- where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by
man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remainan area of
undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and
influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation,
which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural
conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected
primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work
substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for
solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation;. What is
wilderness?
- Slide 16
- Existing wilderness areas of the Nantahala and Pisgah National
Forests Shining Rock Shining Rock Middle Prong Middle Prong
Linville Gorge Linville Gorge Southern Nantahala Southern Nantahala
Ellicott Rock Ellicott Rock Joyce Kilmer-Slick Rock Joyce
Kilmer-Slick Rock 66,550 acres 6.4% of Nantahala and Pisgah
NFs
- Slide 17
- Existing wilderness study areas of the Nantahala and Pisgah
National Forests Harper Creek (recommended) Harper Creek
(recommended) Lost Cove (recommended) Lost Cove (recommended)
Craggy Mountain (recommended) Craggy Mountain (recommended)
Snowbird (not recommended) Snowbird (not recommended) Overflow (not
recommended) Overflow (not recommended) 26,920 acres 2.6% of
Nantahala and Pisgah NFs
- Slide 18
- Potential Additions to Wilderness 1. Inventory the starting
point 2. Evaluate for wilderness characteristics 4. Determine
whether to recommend for wilderness We are Here 3. Determine which
areas to include in the draft plan (and analyze in the DEIS)
- Slide 19
- Potential Additions to Wilderness 1. Inventory 2. Evaluate for
wilderness characteristics (WC) 4. Determine whether to recommend
for wilderness We are Here 3. Determine which areas to include in
the draft plan (and analyze in the DEIS)
- Slide 20
- Potential Additions to Wilderness 1. Inventory 2. Evaluate for
wilderness characteristics (WC) 4. Determine whether to recommend
for wilderness 3. Determine which areas to consider for the revised
plan (and analyze in the DEIS) Less WC More WC
- Slide 21
- Appears primarily affected by the forces of nature
(naturalness) Outstanding opportunities for solitude and a
primitive or unconfined type of recreation. Presence of ecological,
geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic,
or historical value. Can it be managed to preserve wilderness
character Shape and configuration Shape and configuration Presence
of non-Federal land Presence of non-Federal land Management of
adjacent land Management of adjacent land Wilderness
Characteristics:
- Slide 22
- Potential Additions to Wilderness 1. Inventory 2. Evaluate for
wilderness characteristics (WC) 4. Determine whether to recommend
for wilderness ?? 3. Determine which areas to consider for the
revised plan (and analyze in the DEIS)
- Slide 23
- If an area in the inventory isnt recommended as an addition to
wilderness, what happens post-revision? Inclusion in the inventory
of potential additions to wilderness IS NOT a designation that
conveys or requires a particular kind of management. - Propose
directive FS 1909.12, Version 02/14/2013 - Propose directive FS
1909.12, Version 02/14/2013
- Slide 24
- Potential Additions to Wilderness What has been recommended
recently in other southern national forest revisions? Uwharrie
National Forest (2012) 2 parcels adjacent to existing wilderness
totaling 7.1 acres Ouachita National Forest (2005) 3 parcels
adjacent to existing wilderness totaling 1,793 acres George
Washington DRAFT revised plan (2014) 4 parcels totaling 62,670
acres (three adjacent to existing wilderness plus one stand-alone
area) National Forests in Mississippi DRAFT revised plan (2014) no
areas recommended for wilderness
- Slide 25
- Inventory Process what to look for IDEALLY a large block of
forest land with little or no evidence of human development or
human management other than trails, with only primitive, out-of-use
roads (Level 1 roads), or with no roads.
- Slide 26
- Inventory Process what to consider The inventory is intended to
be reasonably broad and inclusive The inventory is intended to be
reasonably broad and inclusive SO WHERE DO YOU START LOOKING? Start
with information from the assessment, including information about
designated areas (e.g. Inventoried Roadless Areas) and
transportation infrastructure. There are over 150,000 acres of IRA.
Start with information from the assessment, including information
about designated areas (e.g. Inventoried Roadless Areas) and
transportation infrastructure. There are over 150,000 acres of IRA.
Also areas that have been proposed for consideration as recommended
wilderness through public involvement during the assessment or
previous forest planning processes. Also areas that have been
proposed for consideration as recommended wilderness through public
involvement during the assessment or previous forest planning
processes.
- Slide 27
- What are I nventoried R oadless A reas? Established by Federal
Regulation in early 2001 Established by Federal Regulation in early
2001 There are 33 IRAs across Nantahala and Pisgah National
Forests, totaling over 150,000 acres There are 33 IRAs across
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, totaling over 150,000 acres
IRA status can only be changed through another federal regulation
or by congressional action. However, dual designation as IRA and
recommended wilderness is possible. IRA status can only be changed
through another federal regulation or by congressional action.
However, dual designation as IRA and recommended wilderness is
possible.
- Slide 28
- What are I nventoried R oadless A reas? In general, road
construction, road reconstruction, is NOT permitted in IRAs. Road
maintenance is permitted. In general, road construction, road
reconstruction, is NOT permitted in IRAs. Road maintenance is
permitted. Timber production is NOT permitted. However some tree
cutting incidental to permitted management activities (such as
prescribed burning) IS permitted. Timber production is NOT
permitted. However some tree cutting incidental to permitted
management activities (such as prescribed burning) IS permitted.
Motorized equipment (such as chainsaws) ARE allowed in IRAs and
mechanical transport (such as mountain bikes) may be allowed.
Motorized equipment (such as chainsaws) ARE allowed in IRAs and
mechanical transport (such as mountain bikes) may be allowed.
- Slide 29
- Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) Other areas recommended
during the assessment often were in part coincident with IRAs
- Slide 30
- Inventory Process what to consider MUST meet one of the
following: The area contains 5,000 acres or more. Less than 5,000
acres but practical to preserve in an unimpaired condition, such as
a self-contained island or canyon. Areas contiguous with existing
wilderness, primitive areas, administratively recommended
wilderness, or wilderness inventories of Federal ownership,
regardless of size.
- Slide 31
- Inventory Process what NOT to consider Road Improvement
Criteria Exclude areas that contain: Roads that are open any part
of the year or that are maintained by mechanical means Roads with
easements Roads identified for continued public access and use
Roads that have cumulatively degraded wilderness character
- Slide 32
- Inventory Process what NOT to consider Other exclusions: Areas
where vegetation treatments are substantially noticeable Areas of
mining that are substantially noticeable Developed recreation sites
Permanent linear rights-of-way (e.g. a cleared power line,
railroads) Substantially noticeable watershed treatment areas
- Slide 33
- What we have done to jumpstart the inventory
- Slide 34
- STEP 1: Make a map with existing wilderness, wilderness study
areas, inventoried roadless areas, other areas recommended by the
public, roads (other than level 1), wildlife openings, recent
timber regeneration harvest areas, and property boundaries. STEP 2:
Revision team members and district staff using Forest Service data,
satellite imagery, and personal knowledge, consider each area.
- Slide 35
- STEP 3: Eliminate areas clearly less than 5,000 acres unless
they share a border with an existing wilderness or recommended
wilderness study area. STEP 4: Exclude portions of areas that
contain excludable improvements; refer to items a) through d) of
process paper STEP 5: Draw the lines on the maps
- Slide 36
- STEP 6: If the hand drawn area still appears to meets the
minimum size, Digitize the area into the GIS database and calculate
the approximate acres using GIS technology STEP 7: Produce maps of
each district with the VERSION 1 Inventory displayed
- Slide 37
- For each Area Considered: 1.Does it meet the SIZE criteria?
2.Does it contain areas of roads to exclude? 3.Does it contain
areas of substantially noticeable vegetation management? If so,
exclude that portion of the area. 4.Are there easements or
rights-of-way to avoid? If so, exclude that portion of the
area.
- Slide 38
- For each Area Considered: 5.Are there any other substantially
noticeable development? If so, exclude that portion of the area. 6.
Are there portions of the area less than mile wide? If so, exclude
those portions of the area. 7.Does it STILL meet the size
criteria?
- Slide 39
- What we debated: Where do we draw the preliminary boundaries?
What do the words substantially noticeable mean? What portion of an
area do we exclude when there are multiple factors present? What
distance should the boundary back away from an excluded road? How
do we negotiate the reasonably broad and inclusive direction with
what makes sense from a manageability perspective?
- Slide 40
- MAP VIEW A portion of Appalachian and Grandfather Ranger
Districts Just northeast of Black Mountain 5 Inventoried Roadless
Areas Woods Mountain
- Slide 41
- Wilderness Societys proposed Mountain Treasure Area Black
Mountains An area of consideration in the initial inventory. Mt.
Mitchell State Park
- Slide 42
- 12,426 There is a cleared right-of- way that divides the area
Bearwallow 4,115 acres. Does not meet the size criteria for the
inventory Black Mountains area DOES meet inventory criteria Black
Mountains Bear Wallow
- Slide 43
- The area of a road is excluded The area of recent vegetation
management is excluded
- Slide 44
- Slide 45
- Areas considered: 57 After criteria applied: 34 Stand alone
areas: 20 (151,555) Areas adjacent to Wilderness or Recommended
WSA: 14 (46,811) Our Preliminary INVENTORY Results: TOTAL acres
198,366 +/- 19% of Nantahala and Pisgah
- Slide 46
- What happens to the inventory areas that arent recommended for
wilderness? That Depends: If its an IRA (Inventoried Roadless Area)
there are still regulations in place that limit some of our forest
management options. That doesnt change. If it isnt an IRA, the area
will be considered for multiple use management just like the rest
of the national forests. There is no residual impact just from
being in the inventory of potential additions to wilderness.
- Slide 47
- What were asking you to discuss today: Recognizing that
everyone in this room would likely draw the boundaries a bit
differently, even using the same rules we used, to what degree can
you live with the process weve described to identify the inventory
areas ? Part 1: Discussion Questions for each table. Part 2: Take a
look at each of the six maps. Bring up any specific reaction to a
specific area.
- Slide 48
- No Wilderness Reduce Wilderness Increase Wilderness Keep the
Same Amount Everything is Wilderness
- Slide 49
- Slide 50
- Give instructions for small groups