Revised Land and Resource Management Plan

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest Service

Southern Region

Pineville, Louisiana

August 1999

RevisedLand and ResourceManagement PlanKisatchie National Forest

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K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T P L A N T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N T O C – 1

Table of Contents for the RevisedLand & Resource Management Plan

Chapter 1: Introduction

PURPOSE OF THE FOREST PLAN .................................................................................. 1–1RELATIONSHIP OF THE FOREST PLAN TO OTHER DOCUMENTS ................................. 1–1PLAN STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................... 1–2FOREST DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 1–2ANALYSIS OF THE MANAGEMENT SITUATION SUMMARY .......................................... 1–4

RECREATION AND WILDLIFE .......................................................................... 1–4RANGE ........................................................................................................... 1–5TIMBER .......................................................................................................... 1–6MINERALS ...................................................................................................... 1–7RESEARCH NEEDS .......................................................................................... 1–7

PLAN RESPONSE TO THE ISSUES ................................................................................. 1–9

Chapter 2: Forestwide Direction

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 2–1FORESTWIDE GOALS ................................................................................................... 2–1FORESTWIDE DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ............................................................... 2–2FORESTWIDE OBJECTIVES............................................................................................ 2–3FORESTWIDE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .............................................................. 2–7

PROJECT-LEVEL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS .................................................... 2–7COOPERATION / COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES ........................ 2–10RESOURCE ELEMENTS .................................................................................. 2–10

AIR QUALITY ................................................................................... 2–10FIRE MANAGEMENT ....................................................................... 2–11FISH AND AQUATIC ORGANISMS ................................................... 2–14FOREST HEALTH.............................................................................. 2–15FOREST PRODUCTS ........................................................................ 2–17HEALTH AND SAFETY ...................................................................... 2–18HERITAGE RESOURCES .................................................................... 2–19INTERPRETIVE SERVICES .................................................................. 2–20LAND ADJUSTMENT ....................................................................... 2–21MILITARY USE LANDS — INACTIVE ................................................. 2–23MINERALS — LEASABLE .................................................................. 2–24MINERALS — SALABLE .................................................................... 2–26OLD-GROWTH FORESTS ................................................................. 2–26RANGE ALLOTMENTS ..................................................................... 2–30RECREATION MANAGEMENT.......................................................... 2–30REGISTRY NATURAL AREAS ............................................................. 2–35RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS ............................................................ 2–35RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITIONS ....................................................... 2–36RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE .................................................. 2–36SCENERY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .............................................. 2–36SOIL AND WATER ........................................................................... 2–39SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS ................................................................ 2–40SPECIAL USES ................................................................................. 2–41STATE NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS ............................................. 2–42

Chapter 1:Introduction

Chapter 2:Forestwide

Direction

T O C – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

P L A N T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

STREAMSIDE HABITATS, RIPARIAN AREAS, AND WETLANDS ............ 2–42STRUCTURES .................................................................................. 2–45STUART GENETIC RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT AREA (seed orchard) ........................................ 2–46TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ............................................................ 2–46VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ......................................................... 2–49WILDLIFE ........................................................................................ 2–60

Chapter 3: Management Area Direction

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3–1MANAGEMENT AREA 1: FOREST PRODUCTS .............................................................. 3–1

DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................ 3–1MANAGEMENT GOALS .................................................................................. 3–1DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ....................................................................... 3–1STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ...................................................................... 3–2SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 1C ........................................................................ 3–3

MANAGEMENT AREA 2: AMENITY VALUES .................................................................. 3–4DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................ 3–4MANAGEMENT GOALS .................................................................................. 3–4DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ....................................................................... 3–4STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ...................................................................... 3–4SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 2AL ....................................................................... 3–5SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 2AS ...................................................................... 3–5SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 2AM ..................................................................... 3–6

MANAGEMENT AREA 3: NATIVE COMMUNITY RESTORATION .................................... 3–7DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................ 3–7MANAGEMENT GOALS .................................................................................. 3–7DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ....................................................................... 3–7STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ...................................................................... 3–7SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 3BL ....................................................................... 3–8SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 3BS ....................................................................... 3–9SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 3BM ................................................................... 3–10SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 3CL .................................................................... 3–11SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 3CS .................................................................... 3–12SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 3CM ................................................................... 3–13

MANAGEMENT AREA 5: RCW AND NATIVE COMMUNITY RESTORATION ................. 3–15DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–15MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–15DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–15STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–15SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 5CL .................................................................... 3–16SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 5CS .................................................................... 3–18SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 5CM ................................................................... 3–19

MANAGEMENT AREA 6: RCW AND WILDLIFE HABITATS ............................................ 3–21DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–21MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–21DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–21STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–21SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 6BL ..................................................................... 3–22

MANAGEMENT AREA 7: HARDWOODS ..................................................................... 3–25DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–25MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–25DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–25STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–26

MANAGEMENT AREA 9: MILITARY INTENSIVE USE .................................................... 3–27DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–27

Chapter 2:ForestwideDirection

Chapter 3:ManagementArea Direction

K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T P L A N T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N T O C – 3

MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–27DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–27STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–27SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 9DL .................................................................... 3–28SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 9E ....................................................................... 3–30

MANAGEMENT AREA 10: NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERS ................................................ 3–32DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–32MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–32DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–32STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–32SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 10DM................................................................. 3–35SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 10EM ................................................................. 3–36

MANAGEMENT AREA 11: NATIONAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PRESERVES .............. 3–37DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–37MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–37DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–37STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–37SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 11DL .................................................................. 3–38SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 11DS .................................................................. 3–40SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 11DM................................................................. 3–42SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 11E ..................................................................... 3–44

MANAGEMENT AREA 12: PALUSTRIS EXPERIMENTAL FOREST ................................... 3–45DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–45MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–45DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–45STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–45SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 12D .................................................................... 3–46SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 12E ..................................................................... 3–47

MANAGEMENT AREA 13: KISATCHIE HILLS WILDERNESS .......................................... 3–48DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 3–48MANAGEMENT GOALS ................................................................................ 3–48DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION ..................................................................... 3–48STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .................................................................... 3–49

Chapter 4: Implementation of theRevised Forest Plan

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 4–1PLAN IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTION .......................................................................... 4–1

FOREST PLAN DECISIONS .............................................................................. 4–1PROJECT-LEVEL DECISIONS ............................................................................ 4–1IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE ......................................................... 4–1BUDGET PROPOSALS ..................................................................................... 4–2

PLAN AMENDMENT AND REVISION ........................................................................... 4–2AMENDMENTS .............................................................................................. 4–2REVISIONS ..................................................................................................... 4–3

Chapter 5: Monitoring and Evaluation

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 5–1PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION .............................. 5–1TYPES OF FOREST PLAN MONITORING ....................................................................... 5–3MONITORING PROCESS FRAMEWORK........................................................................ 5–3MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES ........................................................................... 5–5ANNUAL REPORTING PROCEDURES ............................................................................ 5–6

Chapter 3:Management

Area Direction

Chapter 4:Implementation

of the RevisedForest Plan

Chapter 5:Monitoring

and Evaluation

T O C – 4 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

P L A N T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

Appendix A: Estimated Outputs and Activities

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... A–1OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................... A–1

Appendix B: Timber Suitability Analysis

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... B–1STAGE 1: PHYSICAL SUITABILITY .................................................................................. B–1STAGE 2: FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ................................................................................... B–1STAGE 3: IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE ACRES .......................................................... B–2

Appendix C: Forest Plan Budget

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... C–1ESTIMATED ANNUAL BUDGET .................................................................................... C–2

Appendix D: Mineral Operations

INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................D–1MINERAL OPERATIONS CLAUSES WITH ATTACHMENTS ..............................................D–1LEASING STIPULATIONS ............................................................................................D–14

Appendix E: Old-Growth DesiredFuture Conditions

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... E–1ATTRIBUTES OF UPLAND LONGLEAF PINE-DOMINATED PATCHES .............................. E–1ATTRIBUTES OF SHORTLEAF PINE / OAK-HICKORY-DOMINATED PATCHES .................. E–2ATTRIBUTES OF MIXED HARDWOOD-LOBLOLLY PINE-DOMINATED PATCHES ............ E–3ATTRIBUTES OF RIPARIAN FOREST-DOMINATED PATCHES ........................................... E–4

Appendix F: Monitoring Summary Tables

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... F–1SUMMARY OF MONITORING TASK SHEETS ................................................................ F–2

Appendix G: Glossary of Terms, CommonlyUsed Acronyms, and Abbreviations

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..............................................................................G–1COMMONLY USED TERMS .........................................................................................G–3

Appendix A:EstimatedOutputs andActivities

Appendix B:TimberSuitabilityAnalysis

Appendix C:Forest PlanBudget

Appendix D:MineralOperations

Appendix E:Old-GrowthDesiredFutureConditions

Appendix F:MonitoringSummaryTables

Appendix G:Glossary ofTerms,CommonlyUsedAcronyms, andAbbreviations

K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T C H A P T E R 1

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N 1 – 1

Introduction Chap

ter

PURPOSE OFTHE FOREST

PLAN

RELATIONSHIPOF THE FOREST

PLAN TO OTHERDOCUMENTS

PURPOSE OFTHE FOREST PLAN

National Forest land and resource manage-ment planning is a process for developing,adopting, and revising forest plans for eachnational forest. Forest plans are required bythe Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-sources Planning Act of 1974 (RPA), asamended by the National Forest Manage-ment Act of 1976 (NFMA). The national forestplanning process is described at title 36, part219, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

This Revised Forest Land and ResourceManagement Plan (Forest Plan) guides allnatural resource management activities onthe Kisatchie National Forest for the next 10to 15 years. It establishes management stan-dards and guidelines, describes resourcemanagement practices, levels of resourceproduction and management, and the avail-ability and suitability of lands for resourcemanagement.

The revised Forest Plan establishes:

� Forestwide multiple-use goals and objec-tives, 36 CFR 219.11(b).

� Forestwide management requirements(standards and guidelines), 36 CFR 219.27.

� Management areas and managementarea direction, including desired futurecondition statements, 36 CFR 219.11(c).

� Lands which are suitable for timber pro-duction, 36 CFR 219.14.

� The allowable sale quantity (ASQ) for tim-ber, 36 CFR 219.16.

� Recommendations for wilderness status,36 CFR 219.17.

� Recommendations for wild and scenicriver status.

� The lands available for oil and gas leasing,and the leasing decision on specific landsnominated to the Bureau of Land Man-agement, 36 CFR 228.102 (d) and (e).

� Monitoring and evaluation requirements,36 CFR 219.11(d) and 219.12(k).

The Forest Plan embodies the provisionsof NFMA, the implementing regulations, andother guiding documents. It provides theprogrammatic direction and guidance forfuture decisions of site-specific projects andactions, at which point the irreversible andirretrievable commitment of resources isusually made (40 CFR 1502.20). While land usedeterminations, prescriptions, and standardsand guidelines constitute a statement of thePlan’s management direction, it should benoted that projected outputs, services andrates of implementation are dependent onthe annual budgeting process.

RELATIONSHIP OFTHE FOREST PLAN TOOTHER DOCUMENTS

This revised Forest Plan presents the pre-ferred alternative for managing the land andresources of the Kisatchie National Forest.Documentation of the Forest Plan’s environ-mental impacts is required by the NationalEnvironmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) andthe implementing regulations of NFMA. Thedocumentation of environmental impacts iscontained in the accompanying final envi-ronmental impact statement (FEIS).

The revised Forest Plan results from ex-tensive analysis and considerations addressedin the accompanying FEIS. The planning pro-cess, analysis procedures used, and otheralternatives considered in the developmentof the Forest Plan are also described orreferenced in the FEIS.

The Regional Guide for the Southern Re-gion, as amended, was utilized for nationaland regional direction to facilitate the forestplanning process.

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1 – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

C H A P T E R 1 K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

Also, this document incorporates by ref-erence (40 CFR 1502.21) the management di-rection and environmental analysis from thefollowing regional programmatic decisions:

� The Final Environmental Impact Statement(FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for Sup-pression of Southern Pine Beetle, April 1987,as amended.

� The FEIS and ROD for Vegetation Manage-ment in the Coastal Plain / Piedmont, Janu-ary 1989, as amended.

� The FEIS and ROD for the Management of theRed-cockaded Woodpecker and its Habitaton National Forests in the Southern Region,April 1995.

Activities and projects will be plannedand implemented using the direction con-tained in this revised Forest Plan. These site-specific projects will require smaller-scaleenvironmental analyses that employ newForest Plan direction and tiers to the larger-scale FEIS.

PLAN STRUCTURE

The revised Forest Plan is divided into thefollowing five chapters and various appendi-ces:

Chapter 1, Introduction: Describes the pur-pose of the Forest Plan, its relationship toother documents, and its structure. It con-tains a description of the Forest, a summaryof the analysis of the management situation,and Plan responses to the significant issuesidentified during the planning process.

Chapter 2, Forestwide Direction: DefinesForestwide goals, desired future conditions,objectives, and standards and guidelines.

Chapter 3, Management Area Direction: De-fines management area and sub-manage-ment area goals, desired future conditions,and standards and guidelines.

Chapter 4, Implementation of the Forest Plan:Contains information on how the revisedForest Plan will be implemented and howamendments and / or revisions will occur.

Chapter 5, Monitoring and Evaluation: Chap-ter 5 details the requirements for monitoringand evaluating the implementation of therevised Forest Plan.

Appendices: The following appendices con-tain additional detailed information relatingto the revised Forest Plan:

� Appendix A, Estimated Outputs andActivities

� Appendix B, Timber Suitability Analysis� Appendix C, Forest Plan Budget� Appendix D, Mineral Operations� Appendix E, Old-growth Desired Future

Conditions� Appendix F, Monitoring Summary Tables� Appendix G, Glossary of Terms, Commonly

Used Acronyms, and Abbreviations

FOREST DESCRIPTION

The boundary of the Kisatchie National For-est encompasses approximately 1,024,659acres, of which 603,769 acres are nationalforest land. The Forest consists of five rangerdistricts located within Claiborne, Grant,Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, Webster, andWinn Parishes of west-central and north-western Louisiana.

The Forest headquarters is the ForestSupervisor’s office in Pineville. District officesare located in Bentley, Boyce, Homer, Natchi-toches, and Winnfield. Please see figure 1–1.

The area is predominately rural in charac-ter. The Forest is generally within a 2.5-hourdrive of Shreveport and Baton Rouge, andwithin 4 hours of New Orleans.

Louisiana is generally considered typicalcoastal plain. The Forest’s topography rangesfrom hilly to undulating on the uplands, tolevel on stream terraces and floodplains.Elevations range from 80 feet above sea levelin floodplains and undulate from 200 to 425feet above sea level in the Kisatchie Hills. Thegeneral slope of the area is southward to theGulf of Mexico.

Most soils in the Forest area are highlyweathered and acidic, with low nutrients.Their productivity, however, is generally highbecause they are generally deep with abun-dant plant-available moisture.

The climate of the area is subtropical.Weather is highly variable. Annual rainfallaverages 59 inches. Summer temperaturesrange from 85° to 95° Fahrenheit (F.) in theafternoons and 65° to 75° F. in the early

RELATIONSHIPOF THE FORESTPLAN TO OTHERDOCUMENTS

PLANSTRUCTURE

FORESTDESCRIPTION



FIGURE 1–1, FOREST VICINITY MAP

US

79

US

167US

71

US

84

US

71

I-49

I-55

US

171

I-10

US

190

I-10

ShreveportMonroe

Alexandria

BatonRouge

LakeCharles

NewOrleans

I-12

Lafayette

I-49

KisatchieNationalForest

WinnDistrict

CatahoulaDistrict

KisatchieDistrict

CalcasieuDistrict

CaneyDistrict

Louisiana

US

165

US

165

I-20

Winn-CatahoulaBoundary

The Kisatchie National Forest, unlike manynational forests, is comprised of separate tracts ofland instead of one contiguous area. Its five administrativeunits, called ranger districts, are clustered in central Louisiana, withone ranger district composed of three small units located at the northern end of the state. TheForest’s districts are located in the following parishes and municipalities: Caney – Claiborne / Webster, Homer;Catahoula – Grant / Rapides, Bentley; Calcasieu – Rapides / Vernon, Boyce; Kisatchie – Natchitoches, Natchi-toches; Winn – Winn / Grant / Natchitoches, Winnfield.

Showing KisatchieNational Forest’sRanger Districts

morning hours. Winter temperatures rangefrom 55° to 65° F. in the afternoons and 40°to 50° F. in the early morning hours. Theaverage annual temperature is 68° F. and theaverage humidity is 74 percent.

Located within the Forest boundaries to-day are four broad historically present plantor vegetation communities: longleaf pine,shortleaf pine / oak-hickory, mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine, and riparian. These com-

munities are situated within nine landtypeassociations, which will be referred to as LTAS:high terrace rolling uplands, Kisatchie sand-stone hills, undulating clayey uplands, allu-vial floodplains and stream terraces, Winnrolling uplands, Fort Polk rolling uplands,Red River alluvial plains, Caney Lakes loamyuplands, and north Louisiana clayey hills.



ANALYSIS OF THEMANAGEMENT SITUATIONSUMMARY

An analysis of the management situation (AMS)is a determination of the ability of a nationalforest to supply goods and services in re-sponse to the demands of society. It includessupply and demand conditions for resourcecommodities and services, production po-tentials, and use and development opportu-nities for the forest to which it pertains (36 CFR

219.11 (a)).Abstracts of the supply and demand rela-

tionships for recreation and wildlife, range,timber, and minerals are provided below.Also provided are research needs identifiedfor the Forest. This information is taken fromthe summaries contained in the accompa-nying FEIS and from the documents compris-ing the Kisatchie AMS which are located in theplanning records.

RECREATION AND WILDLIFE

The Kisatchie National Forest is the secondlargest supplier of public recreation landswithin the Forest’s 32-parish recreation andwildlife market area. More than 561,000acres are open for dispersed recreation ac-tivities. The Louisiana Department of Wild-life and Fisheries manages the bulk of thelands available for public recreation in themarket area, with 24 wildlife managementareas (WMAS) totaling 608,539 acres.

Approximately 40,000 acres of the109,855-acre Fort Polk WMA are nationalforest. These lands are not counted in the561,000 acres of the Kisatchie open fordispersed recreation.

In the recent past, private landownersand timber companies provided largeamounts of forested acreage for public out-door recreation. However, as more privatelands are being leased by private clubs, theamount of acreage available for public recre-ation is decreasing, thereby increasing de-mands on public lands for outdoor recre-ation activities, not only for hunting, but forcamping, off-road riding, and other recre-ational uses.

The Kisatchie’s developed recreation rolewithin the market area is less significant thanfor dispersed recreation. The Forest man-ages 274 developed camping units or 5.5percent of the total offered within the mar-ket area. The Forest also manages 14 boat

ramps or 4.3 percent, 5 swim sites or 7.8percent, 10 group shelters or 42.8 percent,and 218 family picnic tables or 5.5 percentof the total number of units within themarket area. Although the Kisatchie’s devel-oped recreation opportunities seem less sig-nificant than dispersed recreation, the For-est is unique as one of few places in the Stateoffering developed recreation sites withinlarge undeveloped areas that are availablefor dispersed recreation.

The Forest provides a wide variety ofoutdoor recreation opportunities and expe-riences. Historically hunting, camping, driv-ing for pleasure, swimming, and fishinghave been the five most popular outdoorrecreation activities.

National forests are expected to receiveincreased participation in all recreationalactivities. Non-consumptive uses and recre-ational fishing are expected to increase atthe greatest rates over the planning period(Flather and Hoekstra, 1989). Flather and Hoekstraalso state that comparison of relative rates ofparticipation for national forest with thoseacross all ownerships shows that nationalforest are expected to become relativelymore significant in providing opportunitiesto hunt big game and small game species.

According to estimates (English, et. al, 1993;

Flather and Hoekstra, 1990), demand for bicy-cling, fishing, hiking / walking, sailing, horse-back riding, developed camping, and driv-ing for pleasure opportunities will increasemost on the Kisatchie during the next 50-year period. The Forest is capable of provid-ing such recreation activities through im-provements to existing facilities and thedevelopment of new areas.

National forest lands are expected to be-come more important in the management ofwildlife and fish habitats, and in providing forquality wildlife and fish recreational opportu-nities (Flather and Hoekstra, 1989). Although theregional demand for big and small gamehunting is expected to stay relatively constantor increase slightly, hunting pressure on pub-lic lands in Louisiana is expected to increasesignificantly. This increased hunting pressurecan be attributed to the increase in leasinglarge tracts of private lands to a relativelysmall number of hunters.

ANALYSIS OF THEMANAGEMENTSITUATIONSUMMARY

RECREATIONAND WILDLIFE



Demand for off-road vehicle (ORV) ridingopportunities is another activity that is ex-pected to increase slightly over the next 50years. However, like hunting, as more pri-vate lands are leased, public lands will beone of the few remaining areas that the ORV

enthusiast will be able to pursue their sport.Most dispersed recreation activities will beimpacted to some extent by the increasedamount of private lands being leased. Thiscould ultimately increase the importance ofpublic lands for all types of dispersed recre-ation opportunities.

RANGE

Rapides, Grant, Natchitoches, Winn, andVernon Parishes define the market area orcompetitive zone within which the KisatchieNational Forest participates in the supply oflivestock forage. Range allotment programsare active only on the Calcasieu, Catahoulaand Kisatchie Districts. The Winn District hasissued no grazing permits since 1985. TheCaney District is considered to offer no man-ageable range resource.

Within the market area, the forage avail-able for livestock consumption predomi-nantly occurs in three settings — forestland,pasture, and cropland. On the Kisatchie,livestock forage is produced exclusively inforested settings; either under relatively openpine canopies or in large canopy openings— usually regeneration areas. Traditionally,Forest cattle grazing has been confined pri-marily to longleaf and slash pine standsregularly thinned and burned by prescrip-tion. Native bluestem grasses are theKisatchie’s dominant forage species.

Forage production is only one compo-nent of providing forage for livestock con-sumption. The other aspect requires ad-equate structural improvements (fences,stock watering facilities, etc.) to facilitateherd management and resource protection.Regulated grazing allotments were estab-lished on the Forest in 1967. Earlier, domes-tic livestock were grazed on all districts ex-cept the Caney on an open range basis.

Between 1967 and 1981, dozens of allot-ments became vacant and were eventuallyclosed to grazing. Since open range lawsremained in effect long after 1967 on landssurrounding national forest land, trespasslivestock, including cattle, horses, and hogshave intermittently occurred on the Forest.

The large decrease in permitted use andthe number of active allotments during thisperiod generally resulted from stock reduc-tions on overgrazed allotments, local live-stock ordinances, and strict grazing permitrequirements. By 1981, 54 allotments con-taining approximately 240,000 acres wereestablished across the Forest, except on theCaney District, to provide forage for livestockgrazing. This number of grazing allotmentswas recognized in the 1985 Forest Plan.

Many of the 54 allotments have seen nograzing for many years. Structural improve-ments on a majority of allotments inactivefor extended periods have fallen into disre-pair. As the number of permittees continuedto elect to waive their permits and permitteefence maintenance ceased, control of tres-pass livestock, especially in areas where openrange laws were in effect on private landsadjoining the Forest, has been an ongoingproblem.

The quantity and quality of livestock for-age available may vary considerably fromallotment to allotment due to prescribed firefrequency and timber management prac-tices over the past several years. Therefore theforage production and the livestock carryingcapacity on those allotments managed forloblolly or shortleaf pine or mixed pine-hard-wood stands has declined, while productionand capacity on those managed for longleafor slash pine has remained relatively high.

The total number of permitted livestockgrazing on the Kisatchie has declined 90percent since regulated grazing allotmentswere established. Today, 16 livestock own-ers hold grazing permits allowing 853 cattleto graze on 14 allotments covering 78,000acres. This represents approximately one-third of the acres allocated to livestock graz-ing in all 54 allotments. Clearly, the currentpermitted livestock use on the Forest is wellbelow its capacity.

The market area trend outside the Foresthas been to graze cattle more on improvedpastures, especially within the Red Riverfloodplain; less on grazable woodlands. Al-though the Kisatchie can supply consider-able forage, less than two percent of live-stock producers in the market area utilize theForest. Consequently, the Kisatchie’s supplyof beef cattle within the market area is lessthan two percent as well.

ANALYSIS OF THEMANAGEMENT

SITUATIONSUMMARY

RECREATIONAND WILDLIFE

RANGE



TIMBER

Information on the ownership, growth, re-movals, and productivity of timberland inthe Kisatchie’s timber market area was de-rived principally from the 1991 forest inven-tory and analysis (FIA) survey done by ForestService research. This is the most recent FIA

survey for the state.The Kisatchie provides timber products

to a 30-parish market area within central andnorthern Louisiana. Within that area, na-tional forest timber supply competes withtimber from private ownerships.

Land classed as forest occupies 9.6 mil-lion acres, or 62 percent, of the 30-parishmarket area’s 15.3 million-acre total landbase. Private landowners hold 88.5 percentof all the timberland in the Kisatchie’s mar-ket area. Nonindustrial private timberlandowners hold the largest share — 51 percent,or 4.9 million acres. Public ownership ac-counts for 11 percent of all timberland.Slightly more than half of all publicly ownedacreage is represented by the Kisatchie. In1991 the Forest accounted for 5.9 percent ofall timberland acreage, 7.6 percent of allsoftwood acreage, and 4.6 percent of allhardwood acreage in the market area.

The majority of softwood forest types in1991 were on forest industry lands, account-ing for 47 percent of all softwood acreage inthe market area, or about 2 million acres.Nonindustrial private lands held roughly 59percent, or 3.1 million acres, of all hardwoodacreage in 1991. Forest industry lands ac-counted for 29 percent, or 1.5 million acres,of all hardwoods.

In 1991 the volume of growing stock inthe market area was 12,327.3 million cubicfeet. Softwoods represented 61.2 percent of

this total; hardwoods 38.8 percent. TheKisatchie accounted for 8.3 percent of allgrowing stock and 9.7 percent of softwoods.Other public lands accounted for 5.8 per-cent of all growing stock. Forest industrylands accounted for 32.3 percent of all grow-ing stock and 35.9 percent of all softwoods;while nonindustrial private forest land ac-counted for 53.5 percent of all growingstock and 50.9 percent of all softwoods.

The Kisatchie contributes a small percent-age to the total timber supply produced inthe market area. In 1982, a low harvest year,timber from the Forest accounted for 3.0percent of the market area’s total timberproduction. In 1986, when total timber har-vest from the Forest was at an all-time high(230,771 MBF) , this represented a 6.76 percentof the total market area production. From1978 to 1997 the Forest averaged 5.0 per-cent of all sawtimber in the market area.From 1978 to 1997 in the pulpwood market,the Forest accounted for 3.2 percent ofmarket area production.

Since World War II demand for woodproducts in central Louisiana and the Southhas risen steadily. Current demand for woodsubstantially exceeds supplies, as indicatedby stumpage prices and the number ofbidders for most timber sales. Second-growthpine stands provided sufficient supply untilthe 1990’s. At this writing, the majority ofsecond-growth is on national forest, whileprivate holdings are primarily plantationwood.

Since 1986, the beginning year of imple-mentation for the original Forest Plan, foresttypes have changed across the lands consid-ered suitable for timber. Table 1-1 showschanges since the original, or base acres, tothe present.

A combination of milling facilities, rela-tively low logging costs, fiber growth capac-ity, and access to growing Texas and south-eastern markets have produced strong, con-sistent demand for all wood products fromthe Forest. Nationwide timber supply anddemand projections indicate an increasingrole for nonindustrial timberlands as sup-plies from national forests decrease.


TIMBER

MINERALS

TABLE 1–1, Forest Type Changes

Forest Type Base Acres Current Acres

Yellow pine ..................................................................................... 333,380 ...................................... 310,908Longleaf pine .................................................................................... 84,190 ........................................ 78,276Mixed pine/hardwood ........................................................................ 35,330 ........................................ 49,943Upland hardwood .............................................................................. 23,950 ........................................ 30,019Bottomland hardwood ....................................................................... 22,770 ........................................ 29,840Total ............................................................................................... 499,620 ...................................... 499,326



MINERALS

While providing for the conservation andprotection of surface resources, the Forestencourages, facilitates, and administers theexploration, development, and productionof mineral resources.

Locatable minerals include gold, silver,platinum, copper, and other minerals hav-ing unique and special values. No knowndeposits of locatable minerals lie within theForest.

Leasable minerals include fossil fuels —primarily coal, oil, natural gas, oil shale —and geothermal resources. The Kisatchie hasa long history of oil and gas exploration,development, and production. In recent yearsthe acreage leased for oil and gas develop-ment has steadily increased and incomefrom this commodity has increased concur-rently. In fiscal year 1995 revenues fromproduction and oil and gas leases totaledapproximately $726,500 for the Forest. The1998 receipts were about $1,612,000.

The United States claims ownership of allmineral rights on approximately 469,500acres of the Forest, and mineral rights areoutstanding in third parties on 113,800 acres.Since 1987 the Forest has shown a steadyincrease in acreage leased for oil and gasdevelopment. In 1992 approximately187,000 acres were under lease for oil andgas. Currently, approximately 341,000 acresare leased for oil and gas exploration anddevelopment.

The largest increase in acreage occurredin 1991. This is attributed to the speculationthat the Austin Chalk formation, a knownproducer, extends into central Louisiana —underlying the Vernon and Evangeline Unitsof the Calcasieu District, and the southernpart of the Kisatchie District. There are a totalof 42 producing wells: the Caney with 7, theWinn with 15, and 20 on the Vernon Unit.There has been recent interest in leasing onthe Winn and Catahoula Districts in additionto the Calcasieu District. The total antici-pated number of wells to be drilled withinthe next twelve months on the Forest is 7; 5on the Winn and 2 on the Vernon Unit of theCalcasieu District. However, with the risinginterest in leasing, the Catahoula Districtmay anticipate 3 wells or more, and theremay also be an increase in drilling on theCalcasieu and Winn Districts. There has beenno recent drilling or leasing interest in theKisatchie or Caney Districts.

As crude oil prices rise because of in-creased demands for petroleum-based prod-ucts, development may again increase. How-ever, oil production in the United Statesshould decline as oil imports increase. Thesedevelopments are attributed to higher-profitnondomestic sources. The decline of do-mestic development also results from dimin-ished acreage available for exploration; manyareas are being withdrawn from availability.

The production outlook for domesticnatural gas is considerably better than thatof domestic crude oil. Gas production andprices should increase gradually for thedecade as electric utilities prefer gas togenerate electric power. Another factor in-fluencing future oil and gas development iseconomic growth. Using the reference casepresented in the 1992 Annual Energy Out-look as a mid-level growth rate, total energydemand increases at a 2.2 percent annualrate. Measured by changes in gross na-tional product, increases in the growth ratereflect rising energy demand.

Salable minerals — also called mineralsmaterials — are common varieties of stone,gravel, sand, and clay, as defined by theMinerals Act of 1947 and Public Law 167 ofJuly 23, 1955. Common-variety mineralsknown to exist on the Forest are sand, gravel,low-grade iron ore, clay, and salt. Althoughsand and gravel deposits exist on the Vernonand Evangeline Units of the Calcasieu Dis-trict, and the Catahoula District, the Forest’sgravel reserves are limited.

While extensive iron ore deposits lie inWebster and Claiborne Parishes, only smallerscattered deposits are located on the CaneyDistrict. Because of its high phosphorus con-tent, iron ore in the larger deposits has notbeen historically competitive with other ironore sources. High-phosphorus iron ore pro-duces brittle steel. Although technology isavailable to remove phosphorus, it is notconsidered cost-effective.

Clay and salt deposits are also locatedwithin the Forest. They have historically notbeen commercially operable because abun-dant reserves exist in other areas. In 1998 theForest administered a total of 20 permits forthe removal of common-variety minerals.

RESEARCH NEEDS

Research needs have been identified for theForest. These needs recognize gaps in dataor scientific knowledge that would be desir-


SITUATIONSUMMARY

MINERALS

RESEARCH NEEDS



able to fill prior to preparation of the nextForest Plan. This is not intended to be acomplete listing; it may expand as changingconditions, monitoring, and evaluation indi-cate additional needs.

The 1985 Forest Plan included the follow-ing needs:

� Improved timber growth and yield data,especially for mixed and hardwood foresttypes.

� Information on the feasibility or desirabil-ity of fertilization for timber stands.

� Effects of erosion and compaction on soilproductivity.

� The cumulative effect of a group of activi-ties upon water yield and the effect uponthe transport, erosion and deposition ofchannel sediment.

� An economical, efficient method to artifi-cially regenerate hardwood timber.

� Management indicator species habitatdefinitions, and limits of acceptablehabitat.

� Definitions of minimum sustainable wild-life population levels and habitat needsfor these levels.

� The range of compatible timber manage-ment for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

The 1990 5-Year Review and Recommen-dations Report recommended these researchneeds:

� A study of yellow pine and longleaf pineold-growth management, includingways to recognize and maintain thesecommunities.

� The effects of various mechanical activi-ties on the long-term productivity of se-verely eroding Kisatchie soils.

� Validation of soil and water protectionstandards and guidelines, especially theeffects of forest management practiceson water quality, drifting and benthicmacroinvertebrates, and fishes in Louisi-ana streams.

� Habitat requirements and managementneeds for the threatened Louisianapearlshell mussel.

� The effects of prescribed burning duringthe growing season, as well as the opti-mal timing for prescribed burning of localbog communities.

� The short- and long-term effects of pine-straw harvesting on local flora and fauna.

� The long-term effects of off-road vehicles

on local flora and fauna.� The long-term effects of uneven-aged

silvicultural systems at an operational scale— especially the logistics and economicsof management practices.

� The effects on sensitive plant species fromvarious timber and wildlife managementactivities, as well as inventories and rangedeterminations.

� Studies to determine the effects of Red-cockaded Woodpecker managementpractices on other wildlife species, espe-cially those dependent upon hard mast.

Along with those listed above, the cur-rent Forest Plan revision process identifiedthese additional research or inventory needs:

� The number of snags expected to oc-cur naturally within forest communi-ties, the benefits they provide, and thepossible increases in insect and diseasepopulations.

� Ways to effectively mimic historic firepatterns that occurred at the landscapelevel, to reestablish fire-maintained plantand animal communities.

� The historic range of longleaf pine com-munities on the Kisatchie, to validateassumptions made during formulation oflandtype associations for the ecologicalclassification system.

� A study to determine foraging require-ments for the Red-cockaded Woodpeckerpopulations that occur on the KisatchieNational Forest.

� Continued research on how silviculturalpractices influence long-term soil pro-ductivity.

� The effect of prescribed burning on thelong-term productivity of various soiltypes, and monitoring methods that canbe used to measure soil productivity.

� The effects of increased rotation ages forpine and hardwoods, and the impacts ofimplementing uneven-aged manage-ment on forest health.

� Studies to validate and expand interpre-tations of ecological units at the land-scape and land unit planning and analysisscales of the National Hierarchical Frame-work of Ecological Units.

� A complete floristic inventory (withvoucher specimens) of the plants occur-ring on each district of the Forest.

� An inventory of the community types oneach district, including their frequency


RESEARCH NEEDS



and distribution.� Studies of the autecology (life history,

distribution) of the Forest’s threatened,endangered, sensitive, and conservationspecies.

PLAN RESPONSETO THE ISSUES

The forest planning process is guided bypublic issues and management concernsreflecting the differing preferences of indi-viduals and groups; and the physical, bio-logical, and legal limits on forest manage-ment. By identifying issues and concerns,the Forest Service can determine what thepublic wants in goods, services, uses, andenvironmental conditions.

The scoping process used to determineissues and concerns resulted in the identifi-cation of 13 significant issues. The follow-ing brief discussion addresses how the re-vised Forest Plan responds to the significantissues. The scoping process and more de-tailed discussions regarding the significantissues raised during the planning processare described in Chapter 1 and Appendix Aof the FEIS, the affected environment is de-scribed in Chapter 3, and the disclosure ofeffects is in Chapter 4.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

ISSUE # 1: TIMBER SUPPLY

How will the needs for other resources affecttimber harvest levels on the Forest and how willthe change in allowable sale quantity (ASQ)affect local economies?

Timber supply concerns focused on:

� Determining which lands would not besuitable for timber production;

� Determining the Forest’s allowable salequantity (ASQ) and how it would be af-fected by coordination for other resources;and,

� Disclosing effects on the local economyfrom changes in harvest levels.

Concern about the amount of timberproduction from the Forest remains high.Public opinion continues to be divided onthis issue. Many recognize that forestry is aleading industry in the State, and timber

production has significant economic im-pacts in Louisiana and to local communities.Many also recognize increased benefits tothe economy from management for re-sources such as recreation, tourism, andwildlife.

The revised Forest Plan identifies approxi-mately 308,889 acres as suitable for timberproduction. The average annual portion ofthe allowable sale quantity (ASQ) will be 9.69MMCF for the first decade, and is estimated torise to 11.4 MMCF by the 5th decade in theplanning horizon. The Forest will provide asustainable flow of forest products to add tothe local economy and contribute towardscommunity stability while providing highlevels of amenity resource outputs.

ISSUE #2: BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

What forest management direction and stan-dards and guidelines should be implementedto maintain or improve biological diversity?

The Forest’s overall biological diversity isrepresented by its vegetation, wildlife, fish,and aquatic organisms. Concerns regardingthis issue focused on:

� Developing standards and guidelines toconserve and maintain rare or sensitiveplant and animal communities; to main-tain research natural areas; and to re-cover, restore, and conserve threatened,endangered sensitive, and conservationspecies on the Forest;

� Determining the appropriate level of res-toration of naturally occurring forestedlandscapes and communities of centralLouisiana;

� Identifying and developing an old-growthforest component; and,

� Determining an appropriate level ofpinestraw collection on the Forest, andthe use of desirable nonnative vegeta-tion.

The revised Forest Plan emphasizes therestoration of naturally occurring forestedlandscapes and communities. The use of theNational Hierarchical Framework of Ecologi-cal Units in future project-level decision-making will provide land managers with acritical tool for assessing biological diversityat multiple scales.


SITUATIONSUMMARY

RESEARCH NEEDS

PLANRESPONSE

TO THE ISSUES

SIGNIFICANTISSUES

ISSUE # 1:TIMBERSUPPLY

ISSUE #2:BIOLOGICAL

DIVERSITY

1 – 1 0 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N


Land allocations and management direc-tion (standards and guidelines) will ensurethe maintenance or improvement of theForest’s native biological diversity at ecosys-tem, landscape, and community levels. Firefrequency, season of use, and intensity willbe used to shape landscape vegetation com-position and patterns on up to 105,000acres per year.

Vegetation management will maintain anappropriate mixture of seral stages within theForest’s four major landscape communities.Approximately 81,000 acres of the Forest willbe designated and managed as old-growthforest patches. An additional 215,000 for-ested acres, containing attributes character-istic of unmanaged old-growth, will exist onlands not appropriate for timber produc-tion.

Five new botanical special interest areas(SIAS)(Cooter’s Bog, Drakes Creek, KeifferPrairie, Tancock Prairie, Whiskey Chitto),one scenic SIA (Malaudos Glen), and onegeological SIA (Bayou Luce), will be desig-nated; and, one existing scenic SIA (CastorCreek) will be expanded.

The use of native, or short-lived desirablenonnative plant species is emphasized. Landallocation and management direction (stan-dards and guidelines) will allow limitedpinestraw collection while protecting soil pro-ductivity and biological diversity.

ISSUE #3: LAND USE

What are appropriate uses of national forestlands with respect to special uses, militarytraining, landfills, large land exchanges andacquisitions, and easements?

Concerns regarding this issue revolvedaround:

� Establishing priorities for land acquisi-tions involving wetlands, rare or sensitivenatural communities or species;

� Management direction for former mili-tary camps;

� Coordinating special uses with other re-sources; and,

� Increased military intensive use on theVernon Unit of the Calcasieu District.

Guidelines in the revised Forest Plan es-tablish three priority levels for land acquisi-

tions. Management direction (standards andguidelines) is included for the former mili-tary camps and special-uses coordinationwith other resources.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) signedby the Secretaries of Agriculture and Armydirected the preparation of appropriate en-vironmental analyses examining more in-tensive use on some or all of the 45,000 acresof military limited use lands in the VernonUnit of the Calcasieu District. The publicscoping and environmental analysis processis underway, and potential impacts to theenvironment will be disclosed in a separateenvironmental document. That documentwill consider the effects to the revised Plan’smanagement direction and changes to theenvironmental effects expected in the FEIS forthe Plan, along with site-specific environ-mental effects to the areas being affected.That decision is not expected to occur untilthe latter part of 1999.

ISSUE #4: MINERALS DEVELOPMENT

To what extent should the Forest provide op-portunities for mineral development? Shouldthe Forest modify its direction on oil, gas, andcommon variety minerals, including ForestService use?

Increased interest in this issue, due tosuccessful producers occurring in the AustinChalk formation, occurred during the devel-opment of the revised Forest Plan.

All federal lands except Kisatchie HillsWilderness would be available for leasing.Exploration and development will be al-lowed in most management areas. A NoSurface Occupancy (NSO) lease stipulationwould be required on all leases involvingareas in the following categories where thearea to be protected is larger than 40 acres:administrative sites, Research Natural Areas,State Registry Natural Areas, Special InterestAreas, the Johnson Tract experimental for-est, the Air Force Bombing and GunneryRange, the Breezy Hill No-Entry Area, scenicareas, within 600 feet of the Saline BayouNational Scenic River, cultural resource sites,the Stuart Seed Orchard, jurisdictional wet-lands, and developed recreation areas. Ahighly restrictive Controlled Surface Use(CSU1) stipulation would be applied to allStreamside Habitat Protection Zones (SHPZS)on the Forest (varying in width from 50 feetto 150 feet, depending upon the adjacentmanagement area theme), to the extent of

PLANRESPONSETO THE ISSUES

SIGNIFICANTISSUES

ISSUE #2:BIOLOGICALDIVERSITY

ISSUE #3: LAND USE

ISSUE #4:MINERALSDEVELOPMENT


R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N 1 – 1 1

the Riparian Area Protection Zones (RAPZS)within Louisiana pearlshell mussel sub-wa-tersheds, and to the extent of RAPZS withinmanagement area 2 (amenity emphasis). Amoderately restrictive Controlled Surface Use(CSU2) stipulation would be applied to areasoutside of SHPZS within the Breezy Hill No-Ground-Penetration area, the remainder ofmanagement area 2, the remainder of For-est RAPZS, within 2,000 feet of the LongleafTrail Scenic Byway, the U.S. Marshall ServiceUse Area, the Longleaf Tract experimentalforest, and inside the Claiborne Safety Fanarea.

Management direction (standards andguidelines) will ensure an efficient and effec-tive leasing process while minimizing poten-tial effects to other resources.

ISSUE #5: RANGE / GRAZING

How much of the Forest should be allocatedand managed for livestock forage in light ofdeclining use trends?

Range / grazing concerns focused on:

� Determining impacts of the potentialelimination of the range program;

� Determining how much of the Forestshould be allocated to range develop-ment; and,

� Determining impacts of livestock on plantand animal communities.

Trends indicate the continuation of asteady decline in grazing on the Forest. Inthe revised Forest Plan 86,000 acres will beavailable for domestic livestock grazing.Management direction (standards and guide-lines) will minimize impacts to other re-sources from grazing.

ISSUE #6: RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER

Consistent with regional direction, how shouldthe Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and itshabitat be managed to provide for long-termviable RCW populations on the Forest?

Concerns regarding management for theRCW revolved around:

� Determining how much of the Forestshould be allocated to RCW management;

� Determining what habitat improvement

and management practices best meetthe needs of the RCW;

� Determining management direction forWilderness clusters; and,

� Determining appropriate southern pinebeetle suppression activities within RCW

habitat.

The Forest will be managing for the RCW inaccordance with direction provided by theFinal Environmental Impact Statement andRecord of Decision for the Management of theRed-cockaded Woodpecker and Its Habitat onNational Forests in the Southern Region (June1995). Five Habitat Management Areas(HMAS), encompassing approximately303,000 acres of pine and pine-hardwoodstands have been established. The Forest’spopulation objective will be 1,405 activeRCW clusters. The present population con-tains 363 active clusters. Wilderness clustersare not included within an HMA; however,Wilderness clusters will indirectly benefit fromprescribed natural fire and management-ignited prescribed fire within the Wilder-ness. Land allocations and management di-rection (standards and guidelines) will pro-vide land managers with a range of activitiesand practices designed to aid in the recoveryof the RCW while allowing management forother resources, including the restoration ofnaturally occurring forested landscapes. Thismanagement strategy will result in a mosaicof habitats for a wide variety of vegetationand wildlife communities.

ISSUE #7: RECREATION

What variety of outdoor recreation experiencesshould the Forest provide and how will theyaffect other forest resources and the localeconomy?

Recreation concerns focused on:

� Determining off-road vehicle (ORV) man-agement direction to provide recreationopportunities and to protect other re-sources;

� Determining additional recreation oppor-tunities across the Forest;

� Providing management direction to pro-tect visual corridors along trails;

PLANRESPONSE

TO THE ISSUES

SIGNIFICANTISSUES

ISSUE #4:MINERALS

DEVELOPMENT

ISSUE #5:RANGE / GRAZING

ISSUE #6:RED-COCKADED

WOODPECKER

ISSUE #7:RECREATION



� Determining the need for additional wil-derness and national wild and scenic riverdesignations; and,

� Determining the effects of recreation onlocal economies.

Land allocations and management direc-tion (standards and guidelines) will providea balance of high quality developed anddispersed recreation opportunities across theForest. They also focus on coordinating rec-reation activities with other resources toenhance recreation experiences while mini-mizing impacts to other management ac-tivities or resources. A variety of recreationopportunity spectrum (ROS) classes will beavailable; with greatest emphasis on roadednatural and semiprimitive motorized oppor-tunities. Seventy-eight percent of the Forestwill be open to ORVS; while 22 percent will beclosed year-round, seasonally, or due tomilitary use. No new wilderness or nationalwild and scenic river designations are pro-posed. The Forest will focus on improvingexisting facilities while allowing for the de-velopment of new facilities as determined bypublic demand and funding constraints.

ISSUE #8: RIPARIAN

What measures are needed to designate andprotect riparian / wetland areas and stream-side management zone resources?

Riparian concerns focused on:

� Determining the width of riparian man-agement zones;

� Determining measures to protect resourcevalues within riparian areas;

� Determining management directionalong State Natural and Scenic Rivers;and,

� Determining protection measures for theLouisiana pearlshell mussel.

Streamside and riparian protection zones(SHPZS and RAPZS) and appropriate manage-ment practices within them, have been es-tablished for the Forest to protect or en-hance riparian associated resource valuesand characteristics. These zones provide:

� Important wildlife habitat components

(key areas) such as hard and soft mastproducers, water, snags and den trees,edge, and a variety of foods and cover;

� Unique habitats for a broad diversity ofplants, some of which are rare, uncom-mon, sensitive, or restricted to a moremoist, cooler environment;

� Vegetative cover for aquatic habitats;

� Corridors between habitat componentswithin the home range of some species ofwildlife and serve as important travel routesfor nongame birds during migration; and,

� Genetic flow between potentially isolatedpopulations in adjacent mature stands,thereby helping to maintain populationgenetic viability.

Dependent upon individual managementarea goals and objectives, assigned mini-mum SHPZ width will be 50, 100, or 150 feeton each side of stream channels. Streamsideprotection areas will encompass about183,800 acres. Land allocations and man-agement direction (standards and guide-lines) provide coordination requirements foractivities along State Natural and ScenicRivers, and protection measures for the Loui-siana pearlshell mussel.

ISSUE #9: FOREST ROADS

How should the Forest’s road system be man-aged to meet resource needs and provide ad-equate public access?

Concerns over Forest roads focused on:

� Determining a minimum density of localroads to provide permanent effective ac-cess to national forest lands, and whatpercentage should be managed as openfor dispersed recreation use; and,

� Determining the effects of road construc-tion/reconstruction on other resources.

Road density across the Forest varies,with the Forestwide average at approxi-mately 3.5 miles of road per square mile. TheForest has the authority to control 2.4 milesof road per square mile. The Forest’s collec-tor road system is in place and there are noplans to add additional collector roads. Localroads will be developed, improved, main-


SIGNIFICANTISSUES

ISSUE #7:RECREATION

ISSUE #8:RIPARIAN

ISSUE #9:FOREST ROADS



tained and managed to meet the demandfor limited or intermittent access, and mini-mum design-standard roads will be con-structed. The Forest will stress using or im-proving existing corridors to minimize themiles of new road construction. Road clo-sures will be used to meet management areaand sub-management area goals and objec-tives including wildlife, soil, and water pro-tection or other resource needs. Manage-ment direction (standards and guidelines)will provide land managers with planningand inventory, construction and reconstruc-tion, and operations and maintenance strat-egies to provide effective access to the Forestwhile protecting other resources.

ISSUE #10: PRESCRIBED BURNING

What will be the role of prescribed fire inachieving forest management goals and ob-jectives?

Prescribed burning concerns revolvedaround:

� Determining the extent, season of use,and frequency of prescribed fire;

� Determining direction for prescribedburning on sensitive Kisatchie soils;

� Determining whether prescribed firewould be used in managing the KisatchieHills Wilderness;

� Determining the effects of prescribedburning on plants and animals; and,

� Determining the extent of using plowlines.

Over the past 5 years the Forest appliedprescribed fire on about 72,119 acres annu-ally. In the revised Forest Plan, prescribed firewill be allowed on approximately 105,000acres each year. Management-ignited firewill be conducted during dormant and grow-ing seasons. The use of growing seasonburns will be emphasized in upland longleafpine landscapes, and will be allowed onapproximately 21,000 acres each year. Pre-scribed fire frequencies will vary dependingupon management area and sub-manage-ment area goals and objectives, and willgenerally range from 2–5 years in longleafpine, 5–10 years in shortleaf pine / oak-hickory, and 10–20 years in mixed hard-

wood-loblolly pine landscapes. No fire fre-quency is established for riparian forest land-scapes. The use of plow lines will be lessenedwith increased emphasis given to natural firebreaks, existing roads, disced lines, and otheralternate methods. Prescribed natural fireand management-ignited prescribed fire willbe utilized within the Kisatchie Hills Wilder-ness. Land allocations and management di-rection (standards and guidelines) providefor the protection of Forest resources whilemeeting ecosystem restoration objectives.

ISSUE #11: SILVICULTURE

How will the application of various silviculturalsystems and management practices affect thecondition of other forest resources andsustainability of overall forest health?

Concerns over this issue focused on:

� Determining the effects of two-aged anduneven-aged management on timber andnon-timber resources;

� Determining the effects of two-aged andeven-aged management on habitat, vi-sual diversity, and timber productivity;

� Determining the effects of current timberharvest and site preparation on foresthealth and resources;

� Determining management direction forecosystem management;

� Determining appropriate practices tomanage bottomland hardwoods;

� Determining the role of herbicide use;and,

� Determining direction for managing hard-woods within pine stands and the extentof mixed management types.

The revised Forest Plan will allow the useof even-aged, two-aged, and uneven-agedsilvicultural systems. Approximately 32,000acres of the Forest will be managed in desig-nated patches at the landscape level, usingthe uneven-aged system. Land allocationsand management direction (standards andguidelines) will provide land managers witha range of regeneration methods and veg-etation management methods to achieve amixture of desired future conditions.

PLANRESPONSE

TO THE ISSUES

SIGNIFICANTISSUES

ISSUE #9:FOREST ROADS

ISSUE #10:PRESCRIBED

BURNING

ISSUE #11:SILVICULTURE




SIGNIFICANTISSUES

ISSUE #12:WILDLIFEAND FISH

ISSUE #13:FORESTHEALTH

ISSUE #12: WILDLIFE AND FISH

How much and what kinds of wildlife and fishhabitats should the Forest provide for a diversewildlife program?

Wildlife and fish concerns revolvedaround:

� Determining direction for the two na-tional wildlife management preserves;

� Determining the program direction forwildlife and fisheries;

� Determining direction for managementof upland hardwood species; and,

� Determining appropriate managementindicators to monitor habitat health andresponse to management.

A goal of the revised Forest Plan is toprovide for biologically diverse ecosystemswhich support viable populations of all na-tive and desirable nonnative wildlife and fishspecies and to conserve threatened, endan-gered, and rare species. Management areaand sub-management area direction (stan-dards and guidelines) will be used to createand manage habitat mosaics, conditions,and attributes most beneficial to native wild-life communities and to provide conditionswhich sustain healthy, huntable populationsof game species within the two preserves.Management indicators have been identi-fied and will be used to monitor implemen-tation of the revised Forest Plan.

ISSUE #13: FOREST HEALTH

What forest management practices are neces-sary to maintain or improve forest health,especially protection from insects and diseases?

Concerns over this issue focused on de-termining appropriate practices to maintainor improve forest health.

Through the implementation of manage-ment direction (standards and guidelines)the revised Forest Plan seeks to manage forproductive and healthy forest ecosystems byusing comprehensive integrated approachesto prevent and minimize resource losses ordamage due to insects and disease.



Forestwide Direction Chap

ter

INTRODUCTION

FORESTWIDEGOALS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 2 presents the forestwide directionfor the Kisatchie National Forest. It is dividedinto four major sections:

� Forestwide goals� Forestwide desired future condition� Forestwide objectives� Forestwide standards and guidelines

FORESTWIDE GOALS

Goals are concise statements describing de-sired conditions to be achieved in the future.They are often expressed in broad generalterms and are timeless, having no firm ac-complishment date (36 CFR 219.3). Goal state-ments are the first step to making Forestwidedesired future conditions (DFCS) operational.

The Kisatchie’s forestwide goals are broad,strategic management statements writtento provide a framework for balanced andintegrated resource management designedto achieve the forestwide DFC. In the nextchapter, Management Area Direction, goalsare established for each management area(MA) and sub-management area (SMA). Theattainment of forestwide goals largely de-pends on attainment of MA and SMA goals.

Goal 1: Ensure that healthy, sustainable forestecosystems endure for future generations bymanaging with the highest standards of stew-ardship. Protect or conserve basic soil, water,air, and land resources and incorporate inte-grated pest management principles.

Goal 2: Manage to provide for a variety of lifeby maintaining biologically diverse ecosys-tems and viable populations of all native anddesirable nonnative plant, wildlife, fish andaquatic species. Conserve threatened, en-dangered, and rare species; restore and main-tain ecosystems and ecological processes;identify and manage old-growth forests; andprotect riparian and streamside habitat areas.

Goal 3: Contribute to local community sta-bility by providing an even flow of commod-ity resources in an environmentally accept-able manner. Allow for timber harvest tomeet multiple-use goals and provide forstand regeneration; a limited amount ofdomestic livestock grazing; continued ex-ploration and extraction of leasable andsalable minerals; and provide a transporta-tion system to meet multiple-use goals. Pro-mote rural development and human re-source programs.

Goal 4: Provide for scenic quality and out-door experiences which respond to the needsof forest users and local communities. Pro-vide access to a wide variety of recreationalopportunities and facilities.

Goal 5: Manage to protect and perpetuatenatural and cultural values associated withunique, rare, or irreplaceable resources. Rec-ognize and protect historical areas, culturalsites, and areas which are of special interestbecause of unique geological, botanical, orzoological features.

Goal 6: Apply vegetation management ac-tivities and treatments best suited to achievea mixture of desired future conditions or tomimic natural processes. Implement anduse a variety of silvicultural systems, regen-eration methods, prescribed fire applica-tions, and vegetation management treat-ments needed to achieve objectives.

Goal 7: Monitor to provide feedback regard-ing progress toward accomplishing Forestgoals and objectives; and adapt manage-ment according to new information.

Goal 8: Promote collaboration between re-searchers and land managers to incorpo-rate new technologies, information, andscientific methods into the decision-mak-ing process.

22



Goal 9: Promote cooperation and coordina-tion with other federal and State agencies,Native American tribes, organizations, andindividuals. Actively seek public involvementduring project planning, implementationand monitoring.

FORESTWIDE DESIREDFUTURE CONDITION

A DFC is defined as a narrative description ofthe condition of land and resources ex-pected to occur when goals and objectivesand their associated standards and guide-lines for an area are fully achieved.

The forestwide DFC presented here em-phasizes the significant differences betweenthe future Forest and the present. The MA

and SMA DFCS in Chapter 3 provide a moredetailed description of individual landscapes.

GENERALENVIRONMENTALSETTING

The Forest’s fundamental resources are con-served and protected. They continue to pro-vide the basic elements for healthy, func-tioning ecosystems. Long-term soil produc-tivity, for example, has been maintained orimproved. The effects of management prac-tices on soils are within allowable limits andtemporary in nature. Water quality on theForest is maintained at a high level for aquaticecosystems, aquifer recharge, and domesticuse. Class II air quality is maintained. Smokefrom prescribed fire occurs frequently andmay temporarily affect air quality in local-ized areas. Mitigating smoke managementpractices, however, provide for effectivesmoke dispersal.

FOREST APPEARANCE

Most Forest landscapes keep a somewhatnatural appearance. They provide a varietyof forested conditions ranging from closedcanopied stands with a sparse understory toopen stands with a continuous herbaceousunderstory. The maintenance or restorationof natural communities on much of theForest has produced vegetation patternsrepresenting the four major landscape com-munities known to occur here prior to Euro-pean settlement — longleaf pine forest, short-leaf pine / oak-hickory forest, mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine forest, and riparian for-

est. The composition and structure of for-ested stands reflect the landform they oc-cupy and the disturbance they receive.

The area dominated by the longleaf pineecosystem has increased significantly. Thereis also a substantial increase in the area of theForest containing stands with mixtures ofpines and hardwoods, as well as hardwoodstands.

A majority of the Forest consists of maturestands occupied by larger, older trees. Old-growth forests representing each of the fourmajor landscape communities occur as me-dium-sized patches scattered throughoutthe Forest.

Improved protection and managementof streamside and riparian areas has resultedin natural transition zones between uplandstands and streams. Many small inclusionalcommunities such as hillside bogs, sand-stone glades and barrens, sandylands andcalcareous prairies benefit from landscape-wide management strategies.

LANDSCAPE ALTERATION

Alterations to the Forest are implemented tomimic natural ecological processes. Visiblechanges result primarily from stand regen-eration, stand improvement practices, andthe periodic use of prescribed fire.

Even-aged management is still the pre-dominant silvicultural system; however, thereis a significant increase in the area of theForest managed under the uneven-aged sys-tem. Seed-tree, shelterwood, and group se-lection are the primary regeneration meth-ods used to promote the regeneration ofupland stands. Stands of trees vary fromuniform heights and ages to a wide range ofheights and ages.

Stand improvement practices and pre-scribed fire are used to mold stand compo-sition and structure to meet desired futureconditions. Prescribed fire is a common prac-tice and occurs on a large majority of theForest. It is used to mimic natural fire re-gimes required to maintain the Forest’s fire-dependent ecosystems. Growing seasonburning is a common practice within longleafpine landscapes.

Insects and diseases continue to play im-portant ecological roles in the Forest’s eco-systems. Due to older forest stand condi-tions, tree mortality caused by insects anddisease may occur more frequently. Therestoration of native longleaf pine commu-

FORESTWIDEGOALS

FORESTWIDEDESIREDFUTURECONDITION

GENERALENVIRONMENTALSETTING

FORESTAPPEARANCE

LANDSCAPEALTERATION



nities to sites they historically occupied andthe use of integrated pest managementstrategies minimizes the losses.

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Biological diversity, although variable at thelandscape and stand levels, is essentially main-tained at the Forest level. Forest managementstrategies aimed at the landscape level anddesigned to restore or maintain the naturaldiversity of forest composition, structure, andfunction provide habitat conditions neces-sary to maintain viable populations of allnative and desirable nonnative wildlife, fishand other aquatic species, and plant speciesoccurring on the Kisatchie.

Habitat conditions and wildlife species as-sociated with older forest stands are morecommon. In particular, those wildlife com-munities associated with open longleaf pineforests and mixed forests of pines and hard-woods find large areas of suitable habitat.Forest conditions provide effective breedinghabitats for neotropical migratory birds thatnest on the Forest or important stopoverhabitat for those migrating through. Wetlandecosystems provide improved habitat for avariety of waterfowl and other wetland wild-life. The Forest continues to provide huntablepopulations of all important game species.

The Forest provides one recovered popu-lation and four support populations to theoverall Red-cockaded Woodpecker recov-ery. Other species formerly listed as rarebecause of unfavorable habitat conditionsnow find suitable habitat and are no longerat risk.

As a result of improved streamside andriparian area protection and watershed im-provement, the Forest’s aquatic ecosystemsare healthy and function as habitats for avariety of fish, aquatic invertebrates, andplants. Fish and other aquatic species previ-ously declining in numbers are no longer atrisk of extirpation from the Forest.

HUMAN EXPERIENCE

The Forest provides visitors a full range ofdispersed and developed recreation oppor-tunities. Hunting, fishing, camping, moun-tain biking, hiking and walking, off-roadvehicle riding, nature study, horseback riding,and driving for pleasure continue as themost popular forest recreation activities.Landscapes appear shaped mainly by eco-

logical processes rather than managementactivities, and they have high scenic diver-sity. Significant heritage resources are pro-tected, managed, and interpreted to pro-vide visitors an understanding of the culturalheritage of the Forest.

The Forest’s transportation system pro-vides a broad spectrum of facility types andservice levels to all users and visitors. Forestroads provide convenient access to devel-oped recreation sites, trail heads, scenic ar-eas, wilderness, lakes and streams, and wild-life management areas; and basic accessrequirements for management and protec-tion. Few new roads are constructed. Un-needed ones may be permanently closed orobliterated. Others may be seasonally closed.

A sustainable flow of commodities suchas forest products, minerals development,or range forage, add to the local economyand contribute towards community stabil-ity. Local communities continue to increasetheir economic diversity.

FORESTWIDE OBJECTIVES

Objectives are concise statements describ-ing a specific result or condition desired thatwill contribute to goal achievement. Eachgoal has one or more objectives associatedwith it, defining how that goal will be ac-complished. Objectives are the second stepin making the forestwide DFC narrative de-scription operational.

Each objective is numbered in such a waythat you can associate it with the appropri-ate goal. For example, objectives 1–1 through1–6 contribute to the accomplishment ofgoal 1; objectives 2–1 through 2–8 contrib-ute to goal 2, and so on.

Objective 1–1: Maintain or improve theForest’s long-term soil productivity. This isaccomplished through land managementpractices designed to meet requirements forminimizing soil erosion and compaction, bynot exceeding allowable soil loss for anygiven soil, by revegetating disturbed areas,and by restoring degraded areas to a naturalcondition.

Objective 1–2: Maintain or improve the integ-rity of aquatic ecosystems to provide for highwater quality, stream-channel stability, natu-ral flow regimes, water yield, and aquaticresources by managing in accordance withthe Clean Water Act and by meeting all State

FORESTWIDEDESIREDFUTURE

CONDITION

LANDSCAPEALTERATION

BIOLOGICALDIVERSITY

HUMANEXPERIENCE

FORESTWIDEOBJECTIVES



and federal water quality standards.

Objective 1–3: Manage for air quality consis-tent with the Clean Air Act by implementingpractices which are designed to meet Stateair quality standards and are consistent withmaintaining the general forest area in ClassII air quality.

Objective 1–4: Provide a level of wildfire pro-tection which emphasizes cost effective wild-fire prevention and suppression while mini-mizing loss of resources.

Objective 1–5: Manage for productive andhealthy forest ecosystems by utilizing com-prehensive integrated approaches designedto prevent and minimize resource losses ordamage due to insects and diseases.

Objective 1–6: Manage national forest landsin an efficient manner to provide for thefuture needs of society by pursuing opportu-nities to make land ownership adjustmentsthat improve management effectiveness andenhance public benefits through land con-solidation; acquiring rights-of-way that fa-cilitate efficient management; issuing landuse authorizations necessary to meet publicand private needs only when no viable alter-native to long-term commitments on Forestland exists; and establishing and maintain-ing all landline boundaries.

Objective 2–1: Manage to restore or maintainthe structure, composition, and processes ofthe four major landscape forest ecosystemsknown to occur on the Forest, and unique orunder-represented inclusional communitiesembedded within them. Long-term objec-tives for each major forest community are asfollows:

� Longleaf pine forest: 263,000 acres.� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest: 62,000

acres.� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forest: 27,800

acres.� Riparian forest: 181,000 acres.

Objective 2–2: Provide for healthy popula-tions of all existing native and desirablenonnative wildlife, fish, and plants by man-aging major forest ecosystems at the scaleand distribution appropriate to maintainspecies viability. In the next ten years, man-agement indicator habitat objectives are as

follows, noting that there will be some over-lap of riparian habitat and mixed hardwood-loblolly pine, mid-late stages:

� Longleaf pine, all stages: 121,000 acres.� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory, early stages: 0

acres.� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory, mid-late stages:

16,000 acres.� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine, early stages:

42,000 acres.� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine, mid-late

stages: 252,000 acres.� Riparian, small streams: 85,000 acres.� Riparian, large streams: 92,000 acres.

Objective 2–3: Manage to protect, improve,and maintain habitat conditions for all threat-ened, endangered, sensitive, and conserva-tion species occurring on the Forest. Man-age habitat conditions on 303,000 acres ofpine and pine-hardwood within 5 estab-lished Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) habi-tat management areas to achieve a long-term forestwide RCW population of 1,405active clusters.

Objective 2–4: Develop or maintain old-growth forest attributes, for their contribu-tion to biological and visual diversity, habi-tats for plant and animal species, and main-tenance of a natural gene pool, within des-ignated patches on approximately 13 per-cent of the Forest based upon representa-tion of the major forest ecosystems and old-growth community types. Long-term old-growth forest objectives are as follows:

� Longleaf pine forest-dominated patches:48,800 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood:2,550 acres.• Upland longleaf, woodland, and sa-vanna: 45,350 acres.• Southern wet pine forest, woodland,and savanna: 780 acres.• Dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, andsavanna: 120 acres.

� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest-domi-nated patches: 13,500 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood:1,290 acres.• Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest:11,630 acres.• Dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, andsavanna: 60 acres.




• Xeric pine and pine-oak forest andwoodland: 50 acres.• Seasonally wet oak-hardwood wood-land: 350 acres.• River floodplain hardwood forest: 120acres.

� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forest-domi-nated patches: 6,100 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood:700 acres.• Seasonally wet oak-hardwood wood-land: 300 acres.• Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest:4,650 acres.• River floodplain hardwood forest: 450acres.

� Riparian forest-dominated patches:12,700 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood:1,820 acres.• River floodplain hardwood forest: 1,180acres.• Cypress-tupelo swamp forest: 1,400acres.• Eastern riverfront forest: 6,400 acres.• Seasonally wet oak-hardwood wood-land: 1,400 acres.• Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest: 500acres.

Objective 2–5: Manage to protect or enhancethe unique plant and animal communities,special habitat features, habitat linkages andcorridors, and aquatic ecosystems associ-ated with streamside habitat and riparianareas.

Objective 2–6: Manage perennial and inter-mittent streams as well as natural and man-made lakes, reservoirs, and ponds for nativeand desirable nonnative fish species andaquatic communities.

Objective 2–7: Provide quality habitat forgame and fish populations.

Objective 2–8: Protect, restore, maintain, ac-quire, and improve habitat on the Forest forwaterfowl and wetland wildlife, as stated inthe North American Waterfowl Manage-ment Plan.

Objective 3–1: Provide for long-term sustain-able production of commodities for econo-mies, local community stability, and people.

Objective 3–2: Offer for competitive bid anaverage of 9.69 million cubic feet of timbersale volume on an annual basis for the firstdecade of the Plan.

Objective 3–3: Make all U.S. minerals avail-able for lease except in areas where consenthas been legislatively or administrativelywithdrawn. Development of federal miner-als will be allowed within the constraints ofthe lease and accompanying stipulationsand restrictions. To the extent legally pos-sible, manage surface occupancy to avoid orminimize environmental effects where re-served and outstanding mineral rights exist.As allowed by State and federal law, andunder the terms of the severance deed,ensure that surface resources will not beadversely affected to an unacceptable de-gree by the exercise of reserved and out-standing mineral rights.

Objective 3–4: Maintain or improve forageresources for domestic livestock grazing on86,000 acres within designated grazing al-lotments to meet the needs of local demand.

Objective 3–5: Provide other forest productssuch as firewood and pinestraw as available,as long as their use does not impair ecosys-tem health or the achievement of otherresource objectives.

Objective 3–6: Assist local Forest communi-ties in diversifying and enhancing existingeconomies with an emphasis on the conser-vation of natural, cultural, and recreationalresources of the Forest and the State.

Objective 3–7: Manage the transportationsystem to ensure that any roads constructedare designed according to standards appro-priate to the planned uses.

Objective 4–1: Manage the Forest to createand maintain landscapes having high scenicdiversity, harmony, and unity for the benefitof society through the application of theScenery Management System, and consis-tent with assigned scenic integrity objec-tives (SIO). The SIOS are as follows:

� Very high: 8,699 acres.� High: 93,980 acres.� Medium: 89,155 acres.� Low: 415,020 acres.� Very low: 1,278 acres.




Objective 4–2: Provide visitors the opportu-nity to pursue a wide variety of developedand dispersed recreation activities, with aminimum amount of regulation, consistentwith the assigned recreation opportunityspectrum (ROS) class. The Forest’s ROS classobjectives are as follows:

� Primitive: 8,700 acres.� Semiprimitive nonmotorized: 57,269

acres.� Semiprimitive motorized: 89,963 acres.� Roaded natural-appearing: 217,152 acres.� Roaded natural modified: 191,671 acres.� Rural 6,162 acres

Objective 4–3: Develop, maintain, and pro-tect existing and potential developed anddispersed recreation sites and trails consis-tent with public use and demand throughconstruction, operation, maintenance, andrehabilitation activities.

Objective 5–1: Manage the nonrenewableheritage resources of the Forest in a spirit ofstewardship for the American public. In-clude the Louisiana State Historic Preserva-tion Officer (SHPO) and interested federallyrecognized tribes as the primary partners inmanaging the Forest’s heritage resources.

Objective 5–2: Provide protection for heri-tage resource sites which preserves the in-tegrity of scientific data that they contain,for the benefit of the public and scientificcommunities.

Objective 5–3: Reduce the existing backlog ofheritage sites needing formal evaluation, sothat the overall number decreases each year.

Objective 5–4: Enhance and interpret appro-priate sites and heritage values to the Ameri-can public.

Objective 5–5: Provide an ongoing interpre-tive services program that accurately andadequately develops an interest in and un-derstanding for the natural and cultural en-vironment of the Forest and the mission ofthe Forest Service in managing it.

Objective 5–6: Manage each special interestarea (SIA) as an integral part of the Forest,with emphasis on protecting, enhancing, orinterpreting its unique values.

Objective 5–7: Manage the Kisatchie HillsWilderness to enhance and perpetuate wil-derness as a resource. Avoid resource dam-age resulting from overuse.

Objective 6–1: Manage the Forest to achievea mixture of desired future conditions usingeven-aged, two-aged, and uneven-aged sil-vicultural systems and regeneration meth-ods; and a variety of manual, mechanical,prescribed fire, and herbicide vegetationmanagement treatments. Apply the uneven-aged silvicultural system on a minimum of32,000 acres.

Objective 6–2: Utilize prescribed fire in fire-dependent ecosystems — including theKisatchie Hills Wilderness, to maintain natu-ral plant communities by varying the tim-ing, frequency, and intensity of fire. Applyprescribed fire on 80,000–105,000 acresannually, with 10–20 percent of the areaburned during the growing season. Focusgrowing season burning on longleaf pinelandscapes.

Objective 7–1: Monitor and document theannual progress towards accomplishmentof Forest goals, objectives, and desired fu-ture conditions.

Objective 7–2: Evaluate new informationand monitoring results; adapt manage-ment accordingly.

Objective 8–1: Benefit from research informa-tion, technical assistance and technologydevelopment by maintaining a close, con-tinuous working relationship with scientistsat the Southern Research Station, academicinstitutions, and Forest Health Protection units.

Objective 8–2: Continue to identify researchneeds as the Forest implements the Plan.

Objective 9–1: Continue coordination andcooperation efforts with other federal andState agencies, such as the U.S. Departmentof Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, the Loui-siana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,the Louisiana Department of EnvironmentalQuality, Louisiana Department of Agricul-ture and Forestry, and the Louisiana SHPO onissues of mutual concern.




Objective 9–2: Seek to increase the participa-tion of other federal and State agencies,academic institutions, federally recognizedNative American tribes, organizations andindividuals in the accomplishment of Forestgoals and objectives through the use ofmemorandums of understanding, coopera-tive agreements, partnerships, and challengecost-share agreements.

FORESTWIDE STANDARDSAND GUIDELINES

While goals and objectives define where weare headed for a particular area, standardsand guidelines define the decision spacewithin which we can operate to work to-wards achieving goals and objectives. Stan-dards and guidelines are the specific techni-cal resource management directions gener-ated for a DFC. They provide the last link inmaking that DFC narrative description opera-tional.

Standards are a definite rule, principle, ormeasurement. Standards define the opera-tional space for achievement of Forest Plangoals and objectives, and assure compliancewith laws, regulations, executive orders, andpolicy direction. Deviation from a standardrequires a forest plan amendment.

Guidelines are used as a steering or pre-ferred course of action. They promote theachievement of Forest Plan goals and objec-tives in a manner that permits necessaryoperational flexibility to respond to varia-tions over time. Deviation from a guidelinewill usually not require an amendment to aforest plan, but the rationale will be docu-mented in the project decision document.

The standards and guidelines in this sec-tion apply Forestwide, providing the basicfoundation for all resource management.They constitute the bulk of the directionnecessary to meet Forestwide goals, desiredfuture condition, and objectives. Additionalspecific direction pertaining to a particularmanagement area is in Chapter 3.

Each standard and guideline is precededby an alphanumeric identifier. The 2- or 3-letter prefix identifies its applicability asForestwide (FW), a management area (MA), ora sub-management area (SMA) standard orguideline. Each category begins with thenumber 001 and is numbered consecutively.

Immediately following each numberedstandard or guideline are two referencesshown in separate parentheses. The first

identifies the source of the standard or guide-line and the second identifies it as either astandard or a guideline.

The four sources used originated from: theKisatchie National Forest (shown as KNF); theRecord of Decision (ROD) for Suppression of theSouthern Pine Beetle (shown as SPB), the ROD forVegetation Management in the Coastal Plain /Piedmont (shown as VM), or from the ROD forthe Management of the Red-Cockaded Wood-pecker and Its Habitat on National Forests in theSouthern Region (shown as RCW).

This section is divided into three parts:

� Project-level planning and analysis;� Cooperation / coordination with other

agencies; and,� Resource elements.

PROJECT-LEVELPLANNING AND ANALYSIS

FW–001: Base any decisions on projects toimplement the revised Plan on site-specificanalysis in compliance with the NationalEnvironmental Policy Act (NEPA). Documentthe environmental analysis appropriately,based on direction in the Council of Environ-mental Quality Regulations for Implementingthe Procedural Provisions of the National Envi-ronmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1500–1508) and theEnvironmental Policy and Procedures Hand-book (FSH 1909.15). (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–002: Evaluate projects to determine ifthey are consistent with the managementdirection in the revised Plan. Incorporate thisevaluation of consistency with revised Plandirection in the project-level environmentaldocument. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–003: During project planning, considerthe impacts to biological diversity param-eters at stand and landscape levels. Appli-cable aspects of composition, structure andfunction should be considered within eachenvironmental analysis. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–004: During project planning, use se-lected vegetation, aquatic and wildlife man-agement indicators assigned to individualmanagement areas / sub-management areasto assess and quantify habitat changes andanalyze management effects on plant, aquatic,and wildlife communities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

AND GUIDELINES

PROJECT-LEVELPLANNING AND

ANALYSIS



FW–005: Use the interdisciplinary team (IDT)process to provide decision-making officialsquality information from which they canmake informed decisions (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–006: Follow the NEPA, Forest Service Manual(FSM), and Forest processes to fully involveinterested public groups, individuals, andorganizations in project-level decision-mak-ing, and to determine whether a projectmay proceed under a categorical exclusion,or will require documentation in an environ-mental assessment (EA) or environmental im-pact statement (EIS). (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–007: All management area (MA) and somesub-management area (SMA) boundaries wereestablished using specific locations such asproperty and compartment boundary lines,roads, or streams. Establish SMA boundariesbased upon landtype association (LTA) linesduring site-specific project analysis utilizingsoil types, landform, existing vegetation,and vegetation in the surrounding area.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–008: Prepare site-specific environmentalanalyses which include biological evalua-tions (BES) or assessments (BAS) of a project’seffects on species federally listed as threat-ened, endangered, or proposed; or thoseidentified by the Forest Service as sensitive orconservation species. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–009: A biological evaluation of whether aproject could affect any species federallylisted as threatened, endangered, or pro-posed, or identified by the Forest Service assensitive (i.e., PETS species), is done as part ofsite-specific forest plan implementation andproject preparation. This evaluation identi-fies PETS species occurring in the project areaor with high likelihood of occurring in theproject area. The type and amount of infor-mation used to determine effects will varyaccording to our knowledge of species/habi-tat relationships, risk to the species fromproposed actions, and risk to species range-wide viability or persistence on the Forest.Appropriate project-level inventory/surveysfor a PETS species are the following:

� Gathering and summarizing populationoccurrence data from the Forest Serviceand other sources such as the State Natu-ral Heritage Program.

� Collecting information on the amountand distribution of suitable habitat.

� For some PETS species expected to occurin the vicinity of the project, additionalfield surveys done in suitable habitat po-tentially affected by the proposed projectis desireable to document the presence orabsence of these species. These field sur-veys would be most appropriate if pastfield surveys are not available for suchareas and if they would provide moredefinitive information to improve thedetermination of effects for PETS species.However, there are some PETS species andsituations where the information to de-termine potential effects to PETS speciesmay not require population surveys. Thesesituations occur when: (1) there is a lowlikelihood of detecting a species, the fieldsurvey would probably not provide de-finitive information for excluding a spe-cies from further consideration, (2) estab-lished Plan direction or mitigation, thateffectively protect PETS species expectedto occur in suitable habitat in the projectvicinity, are already in place and are partof the proposed action, or (3) a PETS

species habitat requirements are wellknown and there is sufficient evidencethat the proposed activities will have short-or long-term beneficial effects or no ef-fects to PETS species, or to the range-wideviability of sensitive species expected tooccur in the area. For all three previoussituations, the PETS species in questionwould be assumed to occur in the areaand effects to it would be addressed inthe effects analysis.

Use the appropriate information discussedabove to analyze, disclose, and documenteffects on PETS species. In addition, conductEndangered Species Act Section 7 consulta-tion with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicefor PET species, as specified in FSM 2671.4.

Requirements and measures for actionsaffecting threatened, endangered, or pro-posed species are detailed in species recov-ery plans and FSH 2609.23R. Recovery planshave been prepared for the Southern BaldEagle, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Louisi-ana black bear, and Louisiana pearlshellmussel. Chapters in FSH 2609.23R have beenprepared for Red-cockaded Woodpecker,Southern Bald Eagle, and American alliga-tor.

FORESTWIDESTANDARDSANDGUIDELINES

PROJECT-LEVELPLANNING ANDANALYSIS



If it is determined that the project maypositively or negatively affect threatened,endangered, or proposed species, initiateconsultation with the Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice. If, during informal consultation, it isdetermined that the project is not likely toadversely affect listed species and the Fishand Wildlife Service concurs in writing, con-sultation is terminated. However, if it is de-termined that the project is likely to ad-versely affect listed species, formal consulta-tion is initiated — or the project is changedor dropped from consideration. When theevaluation indicates that a project may havean adverse effect on a sensitive or conserva-tion species or its habitat, appropriate Statewildlife agencies, natural heritage commis-sions, and other cooperators or species au-thorities are contacted to identify coordina-tion measures. These measures are directedtowards ensuring species viability and pre-venting negative population trends thatwould result in Federal listing. (KNF) (STAN-DARD)

FW–010: Use integrated pest management(IPM) principles during site-specific analysis.The IPM decision-making and action processincludes biological, economic, and environ-mental evaluation of pest-host systems tomanage pest populations. Strategies basedon IPM apply a comprehensive systems ap-proach to silvicultural, wildlife, range, recre-ation and corridor management practicesthat emphasizes prevention of pest prob-lems. These strategies consist of a range ofpractices that include prescribed fire, manual,mechanical, biological, and chemical toolsthat may be used alone or in combination.Risk rating systems and pest incidence sur-veys are used during site-specific analysis.Further IPM direction is provided in FSM 3400,FSH 3409.11. (VM-3) (GUIDELINE)

FW–011: Protect water quality in each projectfrom nonpoint-source pollution through useof preventive best management practices(BMPS). Implementation of BMPS, monitoringand evaluation of their application and ef-fectiveness, and adjustment of practices asneeded are done to protect beneficial wateruses and comply with state water qualitylaws. They are applied to all activities. Ineach project, site-specific conditions mustbe assessed, and the BMPS needed to meetstate water quality standards must be em-ployed. Streamside habitat protection zones

will be established on all streams to protectwater quality and the biological, chemical,and physical integrity of aquatic resources.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–012: Complete heritage resource inven-tory and necessary consultation prior tomaking decisions about projects which mayaffect historic properties. Inventory may in-clude field survey, following assessment ofpredicted site probability for the project areaand project effects. Emphasize inventorypriorities in high resource sensitivity zonesand for projects of potential high impact.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–013: Provide evidence of compliance withthe National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA),36 CFR 800, and other heritage-related regula-tions within decision documents (record ofdecision, decision notice, or decision memo),as appropriate. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–014: The Southern Region ProgrammaticAgreement (PA) recognizes that many ac-tions, or classes of actions, may go forwardwithout full review procedures under 36 CFR

800 and section 106 of the NHPA. Use cat-egorical exclusion checklist for heritage re-sources, pursuant to the regional PA andfurther negotiated with the SHPO, for projecttypes not requiring field survey. Districtmanagers consult with HRM staff for appro-priate use of checklist prior to decision. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–015: Determine the significance of in-ventoried resources in relation to criteria ofthe National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)and research themes identified in Louisiana’sComprehensive Archaeological Plan. In con-sultation with the SHPO, do not manageproperties evaluated as not significant (classIII, FSM 2360) under the Forest Heritage Pro-gram. Manage properties found significant(class I, FSM 2360) or potentially significant(class II, FSM 2360) as if they were listed on theNRHP. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–016: Establish and maintain government-to-governmment relations with federallyrecognized tribes having an interest in theForest’s landbase and resources, in accor-dance with the Presidential Memorandumon Government-to-Government Relationswith Native American Tribal Governments(April, 1994). The Forest will consult with

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PROJECT-LEVELPLANNING AND

ANALYSIS



federally recognized Native American tribeshaving geographic or cultural ties to na-tional forest land — for proposed actionsthat may affect sites or areas of specialsignificance to those tribes. This will complywith provisions in the Archeological Re-sources Protection Act (ARPA), American In-dian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA), NationalHistoric Preservation Act (NHPA), Native Ameri-can Graves Protection and Repatriation Act(NAGPRA), as well as the Presidential Memo-randum on Government-to-GovernmentRelations. Forest heritage staff will developmechanisms for consultation. Provide fortraditional use or collection of forest re-sources by Native Americans. (KNF) (STAN-DARD)

COOPERATION /COORDINATIONWITH OTHER AGENCIES

FW–017: Manage Federally listed threatened,endangered, or proposed species in cooper-ation with the U.S. Department of Interior,Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Follow therequirements for consultation and confer-encing with the USFWS when threatened andendangered species, species proposed forlisting, or critical habitat are found in projectareas. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–018: Cooperate with the Louisiana De-partment of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) andthe Louisiana Natural Heritage Program inidentification, documentation, protection,and management of animal or plant speciesrecognized by the Forest Service as sensitiveor conservation species, and in the manage-ment of State Registry Natural Areas. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–019: Cooperate with the LDWF. Key areasof cooperation include: formulation andapplication of land management plans, res-toration and management of wildlife andfisheries resources, state natural and scenicrivers, management of the National Cata-houla and Red Dirt Wildlife ManagementPreserves, law enforcement, information andeducation programs, cooperative studies,wildlife surveys, and hunting, fishing, andtrapping seasons. As needed, review andupdate the memorandum of understanding(MOU) between the Forest and the LDWF. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–020: Meet on an annual basis with theUSFWS, the Louisiana Department of Wildlifeand Fisheries, and the Louisiana NaturalHeritage Program to discuss current issues ofmutual concern. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–021: Cooperate with the Louisiana De-partment of Environmental Quality and theLouisiana Department of Agriculture andForestry. Key areas of cooperation include:water quality monitoring, nonpoint sourcepollution control, and best managementpractices. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–022: Provide watershed managementexpertise to Natural Resource ConservationService plans and programs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–023: Cooperate with the Department ofDefense to ensure that the Forest Serviceand the military may meet their respectivemissions by coordinating their activities andmitigating any resultant environmental ef-fects. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–024: Cooperate with the Department ofInterior, Bureau of Land Management forminerals activity in the Forest. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–025: Cooperate with the Department ofTransportation and the Federal Highway Ad-ministration on authorizing the constructionand reconstruction of public roads that arepart of the federal aid system or constructedwithin the Forest boundary under Chapter 2of the Highway Act. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–026: Cooperate with the Louisiana De-partment of Agriculture and Forestry. Keyareas of coordination include: cooperativefire detection and suppression agreements,joint selection and monitoring of rural devel-opment economic assistance grants, stew-ardship incentive program, and forestry cost-share practices. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–027: Meet on an annual basis with theU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the NationalPark Service, and the Louisiana Office ofForestry to discuss current fire presuppres-sion, suppression, and training issues in theState. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–028: Coordinate inventory, evaluation,nomination, protection, enhancement, andinterpretation procedures with the Louisi-ana SHPO, interested federally recognized


PROJECT-LEVELPLANNING ANDANALYSIS

COOPERATION /COORDINATIONWITH OTHERAGENCIES



tribes, and the Advisory Council on HistoricPreservation, if necessary, before project de-cisions. (KNF) (STANDARD)

RESOURCE ELEMENTS

AIR QUALITY

FW–029: Manage for air quality consistentwith the Clean Air Act. Maintain the area asgeneral forest Class II air quality and manageto meet State air quality standards. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–030: Incorporate performance require-ments concerning air quality in permittedactivities such as minerals, oil and gas orother developments on national forest landsthat could affect air quality. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FIRE MANAGEMENT

Fire prevention

FW–031: Emphasize wildland fire preven-tion. Conduct fire prevention activities andutilize maps and brochures to carry fireprevention messages. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Fire suppression

FW–032: Identify the most efficient level (MEL)of budget for wildfire protection commen-surate with the threat to life and propertyand the potential for resource and environ-mental damage based on hazard, risk, andmanagement objectives, using the NationalFire Management Analysis System (NFMAS).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–033: Provide a level of wildfire protectionthat minimizes the sum of the fire programcost, plus the net change in the value ofplanned resource outputs due to fire. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–034: Develop a fire management actionplan to carry out the fire program budgetidentified by NFMAS and documented on theR8-5100-2 form (Fire Organization and Financial

Plan). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–035: Classify a fire burning on nationalforest land as either a wildfire or a prescribedfire. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–036: Recognize three kinds of ignition— management, natural, and other. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–037: Classify management ignitions asprescribed fires as long as prescription con-ditions are met. If prescription conditionsare exceeded, classify the ignition a wildfireand apply an appropriate suppression re-sponse. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–038: Classify a natural ignition as a pre-scribed fire if it meets prescription criteriadescribed in the Fire Management ActionPlan. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–039: Recognize all ignitions not resultingfrom management actions or natural occur-rences as “other” and classify as wildfiresrequiring an appropriate suppression re-sponse. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–040: Use an immediate control suppres-sion response where life, public safety, pri-vate property, or management objectivesdictate. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–041: Consider the impact of smoke onpublic health and welfare when choosingthe suppression response. Also considersmoke dissipation standards and the possi-bility of fog formation when determiningsuppression tactics and mop-up standardsfor fire suppression. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–042: The incident commander will sizeup and analyze each wildfire and take themost appropriate suppression strategy tomeet management direction. Strategies mayrange from direct control, minimizing acre-age burned, to indirect methods of contain-ment and confinement. Use surveillancewhen the fire is expected to be self-confinedwithin a defined area. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–043: Do not use wildfires to attain re-source objectives. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–044: Initial action response must meetfire management direction of the fire man-agement action plan. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–045: Conduct a fire situation analysis(FSA) evaluating initial suppression action oneach uncontrolled wildfire following the firstburning period. (KNF) (STANDARD)

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WITH OTHERAGENCIES

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AIR QUALITY

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FW–046: Conduct an escaped fire situationanalysis (EFSA) when the initial action failsand containment is not expected before thesecond burning period and the fire is de-clared an escaped fire. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–047: Make a timely decision to managea lightning-caused ignition as a prescribedfire. If a delay would result in increasedsuppression costs plus resource loss, declarethe ignition a wildfire and take immediatesuppression action. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–048: Follow the direction in the Healthand Safety Code Handbook and the FirelineHandbook during all fire management activi-ties. (KNF) (STANDARD)

Prescribed fire

Site-specific planning

FW–049: Site-specific planning for all pre-scribed burns is done by trained resourcespecialists and approved by the appropriateForest Service line officer prior to projectimplementation. This planning includes de-scription of treatment area, burn objectives,weather factors and fuel moisture condi-tions, and resource coordination require-ments. Coordination requirements includeprovisions for public and worker safety, burnday notification of appropriate agencies andpersons, smoke management to comply withair quality regulations and protect visibilityin Class I areas, protection of sensitive fea-tures, as well as fireline placement, specificfiring patterns, ignition methods, and mop-up and patrol procedures. A post-burn evalu-ation compares treatment results with planobjectives. (VM-27) (GUIDELINE)

FW–050: Approval of natural ignitions asprescribed natural fires rests with the ForestSupervisor. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–051: Conduct each prescribed naturalfire according to a burn plan prepared andapproved upon declaration of a natural igni-tion as a prescribed fire. Comply with therequirements of FSM 5142.23 for the prepara-tion of the prescribed natural fire burn plan.(KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–052: Allow prescribed natural fires in MAS

5, 6, 11, and 13. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–053: Conduct each management ignitedprescribed fire according to a burn planprepared before ignition. The appropriateline officer must approve the burn planbefore carrying out a management ignitedfire, or to continue with a prescribed naturalfire. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–054: Approval of management ignitionsis delegated to district rangers by the ForestSupervisor, contingent upon the experienceand qualifications of the individual ranger.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–055: All prescribed fires must contributeto resource management objectives and befunded by the benefitting function(s). (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–056: Use only trained and qualified per-sonnel to execute each prescribed fire. Con-duct each prescribed fire under the directsupervision of a type 1 or 2 burn boss consis-tent with the project size, complexity, andrisk level. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–057: Critical values of fuel moisture, rela-tive humidity, wind speed, and Keetch-BryamDrought Code are set for growing seasonand dormant season burns. Allow burningonly on those days when measured valuesare within the range of prescribed values asset forth in the KNF supplement to FSM 5140.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–058: A prescribed fire that exceeds, or isanticipated to exceed, one or more prescrip-tion parameter and / or holding capabilityand cannot be maintained within prescrip-tion with project funds, is a wildfire andrequires an appropriate suppression re-sponse. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–059: Once a prescribed fire is declared awildfire, it may not be redesignated as aprescribed fire. (KNF) (STANDARD)

Air quality protection

FW–060: Do not conduct prescribed burningwhen the predicted atmospheric dispersion(mixing height and transport wind speed) doesnot meet criteria outlined in A Guide for PrescribedFire in the Southern Forests, the KNF supplement toFSM 5140, or State regulations and guidelines, orwhen predictions indicate that smoke might driftinto highways, airports, hospitals, populated


RESOURCEELEMENTS

FIRE MANAGEMENT



areas, or other sensitive areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Fuel, wildlife, andvegetation management

FW–061: Use prescribed fire to consume por-tions of fuel profiles in a safe, carefully con-trolled, environmentally acceptable way toreduce wildfire hazard. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–062: Space or distribute prescribed burnsover the Forest to achieve desirable distribu-tions of wildlife habitat, forage production,ecosystem diversity, and to break up large,continuous fuel types. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–063: Use prescribed fire in fire-depen-dant plant communities as biologically nec-essary to maintain ecosystems by varyingthe timing, frequency, and intensity of fire tocause the change required to perpetuatetheir existence. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–064: Conduct management ignited burnsduring both dormant and growing seasons.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–065: Growing season burns are thosewhich are conducted from mid-March tomid-September. As much as possible, dis-tribute annual growing season burned acre-age equally throughout this period. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–066: In general, do not schedule under-story burns during the nesting season, toavoid disrupting reproductive activities. For-est managers may, however, use burns tomeet specific objectives — for example,protecting threatened and endangered spe-cies such as the RCW, reestablishing naturalecosystems, controlling brown-spot diseaseand promoting longleaf height growth, andsite preparation. Plan and execute burns toavoid damage to habitat of any threatened,endangered, proposed, or sensitive species,such as destruction of Bald Eagle nest trees.(VM-39) (GUIDELINE)

FW–067: Prescribed fire frequencies in theForest’s four major landscapes are as follows:

� Longleaf pine: 2–5 years� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory: 5–10 years� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine: 10–20 years� Riparian: none

More or less frequency may be requiredin certain plant communities as prescribedby MA and SMA direction or by site-specificenvironmental analysis. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–068: Use prescribed burns to control theamount and density of understory and mid-story canopy layers in upland hardwoodsites to promote the establishment andmaintenance of advanced oak and hickoryreproduction. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–069: Allow prescribed burning within thelongleaf pine plant communities when theroot collars of grass stage longleaf seedlingsreach a size of 0.3 inches. (VM-28) (GUIDELINE)

FW–070: Allow prescribed fire in loblolly,shortleaf, and slash pine when stems reach 3to 4 inches diameter at ground level or 10 to15 feet of height. (VM-28) (GUIDELINE)

FW–071: Utilize natural barriers such asstreams, lakes, and roads when prescribe-burning at the landscape scale. Where pos-sible, use low-impact disced fire lines insteadof those created by a fire plow. If plowedlines are needed, reuse old ones for eachsuccessive burn, where practical. Avoid plow-ing through known rare plant sites andLouisiana pearlshell mussel streamside habi-tat protection zones. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Recreation and scenery management

FW–072: Do not use plowed firelines for pre-scribed burning within developed recreationareas, special interest areas, or within 300 feetof the travelway in areas with high scenicintegrity objectives (SIOS). Use the least ground-disturbing method of fireline construction inthese areas, including (in order of preference)wet lines, hand-built lines, and disced orbladed lines. Plowed firelines may be used inareas with moderate, low, or very low SIOS.Rehabilitate and reseed all ground-disturbingfirelines with native or desirable nonnativevegetation as soon as possible after construc-tion. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Soil and water protection

FW–073: Follow prescribed burning param-eters and soil exposure standards to mini-mize soil exposure as specified in the KNF

supplement to FSM 5140. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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FW–074: Conduct slash burns so they do notconsume all litter and duff and alter struc-ture and color of mineral soil on more than20 percent of the area. Steps taken to limitsoil heating include use of backing fires onsteep slopes, scattering slash piles, and burn-ing heavy fuel pockets separately. (VM-29)(GUIDELINE)

FW–075: On severely eroded forest soils anyarea with a litter-duff depth averaging lessthan 1/2 inch is not burned. (VM-30) (GUIDELINE)

FW–076: Growing season underburns arenot allowed on the same site more thantwice in succession without an interveningdormant season burn. (VM-31) (GUIDELINE)

FW–077: Waterbars on slopes, and a diver-sion berm 50 feet from the stream channel,are required on firelines. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–078: Install waterbars and diversionditches on firelines during their construc-tion. Revegetate firelines as soon as possibleafter the burn project has been completed.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–079: Locate plowed firelines outside fil-ter strips along lakes, perennial or intermit-tent streams, wetlands, or water-source seepsexcept at designated points. Minimize soildisturbance by using the firelines only as atie-in with natural barriers. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–080: Allow fire to burn into moist land-forms and filter strips to create a transitionzone or ecotone between the uplands andbottomlands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–081: Plan the frequency at which a site isburned to prevent potential adverse effectson soil productivity and soil loss. Burn soilswith poor productivity less frequently. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–082: Plan the intensity of slash burns toprevent adverse effects on soil erosion andtake into account soil erosion hazard. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Streamside, riparian andwetland habitat protection

FW–083: When wetlands need to be pro-tected from fire, blade, disc, or plow firelinesaround them only when the water table is so

low that the prescribed fire might otherwisedamage wetland vegetation or organic mat-ter. Reuse previous firelines as much as pos-sible. Use the least-disturbing method afford-ing adequate fire protection. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–084: If a fireline is required next to awetland, it is not plowed in the transitionzone between upland and wetland vegeta-tion except to tie into a natural firebreak.(VM-35) (GUIDELINE)

FISH AND AQUATIC ORGANISMS

Lakes

FW–085: Manage natural lakes for nativespecies and communities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–086: Management emphasis for man-made reservoirs, lakes and ponds capable ofsustaining a recreational fishery include thefollowing: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Emphasize native game fisheries.� Maintain approximately 30 percent of

the shoreline of ponds in emergent aquaticvegetation for bank protection and forfish and waterfowl habitat.

� Allow the construction and placement ofhabitat improvements such as gravelspawning beds, brush structures, spawn-ing structures, etc.

FW–087: Allow water withdrawals where nec-essary to rid lakes of undesirable fish species,to control excessive aquatic vegetation, andto deepen shorelines. Do not permit waterwithdrawals from lakes if aquatic ecosystemsor adjacent riparian dependent resourceswould be adversely affected. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–088: Permit aquatic weed control, in-cluding the use of water withdrawals, EPA-approved aquatic pesticides, biologicalagents, and fisheries habitat improvementsafter appropriate site-specific environmen-tal analysis. All pesticide applications will besupervised by a certified pesticide applica-tor. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–089: Fish may be stocked to meet sportsfisheries management objectives if viablenative fish populations can be maintained.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)


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FISH AND AQUATICORGANISMS



FW–090: Conduct fish population balancechecks at least every third year in recreationlakes under Forest Service jurisdiction. Ifnecessary, institute tailored special regula-tions in coordination with the LDWF basedupon results of balance checks. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–091: Maintain water pH generally be-tween 6.2 and 8.3, and except when due tonatural causes, not below 5.0 or more than9.0. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–092: Where largemouth bass manage-ment is emphasized, augment lake fertilitywith the application of lime and/or fertilizeras long as water quality remains in compli-ance with State standards and section 404regulations. Fertilized water clarity shouldbe such that a Secchi disk is visible at 18inches or greater depth unless the lack ofclarity is attributable to natural causes. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Streams

FW–093: Manage perennial and intermittentstreams for native species and communities.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–094: Construct sediment traps or streamstabilization structures, or plant or manipu-late vegetation to protect and improveaquatic and streamside habitat, or wheremanagement activity is causing or may causedeterioration of the streamside environmentor impair water quality. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–095: Conduct inventories to identifyaquatic species. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–096: Report fish kills to the appropriateState authorities for investigation and docu-mentation to determine the cause and themeasures needed to prevent future kills.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–097: Stock fish in streams only whennecessary to restore native populations. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–098: When site-specific analysis deter-mines there has been a loss of habitat such aslogs, undercut banks, trees, and pools, main-tain or construct these natural features toenhance in-stream habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–099: Construct bridges so as not to con-strict clearly defined stream channels: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

� Consider the economic feasibility of con-structing permanent bridges for 100-yearflood levels.

� Construct bridge approaches to preventerosion.

FW–100: As determined by site-specific analy-sis, require appropriate structures at all streamcrossings of designated trails and perma-nent and temporary roads: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Design structures so that crossings do notimpede fish passage.

� Consider the feasibility of using bridgesas drainage structures on all perennialstreams.

� At intermittent and ephemeral streamsconsider crossing alternatives includingculverts, bridges, aggregate and / or con-crete fords.

� Minimize crossings for roads and trailswith deeply incised stream banks.

� Construct crossings at right angles to thestream.

FW–101: Protect road approaches at peren-nial streams with aggregate, concrete, orasphalt for a minimum distance of 20 feetfrom the edge of the stream channel. Deter-mine on a case-by-case basis the need forreinforced bridge approaches. Protection maybe required to extend to the gradient break toinclude nearby transitions between the streamfloodplain and other landforms. Constructwing ditches to buffer stream channels fromdirect road runoff. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–102: Design and engineer the construc-tion of physical structures within streamchannels considering physical stream sys-tems, including fish habitat improvementstructures, and through coordination withother resource specialists. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FOREST HEALTH

FW–103: Use the Forest Health Decision Sup-port System for National Forests in Region 8 toidentify risk of insect and disease problems.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–104: In pine stands adjacent to wilder-ness, where spot spread from wilderness is

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ANDGUIDELINES

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FOREST HEALTH



possible, priority will be given to reducing oreliminating potential SPB losses. (SPB-2, General

Forest Area) (GUIDELINE)

FW–105: Existing landscape form, line, color,and texture will be used to mitigate effects onvisually-sensitive areas that result from SPB

control. This is accomplished by adjusting theshape of managed sites to be more naturaland by feathering edge lines between dis-turbed and undisturbed areas. Visual effectsare further mitigated by debris disposal, andby reducing the apparent size of the work site.(SPB-7, General Forest Area) (GUIDELINE)

FW–106: Use existing roads or access wayswhenever possible for control activities. (SPB-

9, General Forest Area) (GUIDELINE)

FW–107: Retain selected hardwoods in anuncut or untreated state for wildlife and plantdiversity. (SPB-10, General Forest Area) (GUIDELINE)

FW–108: Use control methods that will mini-mize soil disturbance. (SPB-2, General Forest Area

and Wilderness—General) (GUIDELINE)

FW–109: Use erosion control measures assoon as possible after the ground-disturbingSPB suppression activities are completed, toprevent or minimize erosion, sedimentationand long-term site deterioration. (SPB-3, Gen-

eral Forest Area and Wilderness—General) (GUIDELINE)

FW–110: The cut-and-hand-spray techniquemust only be used according to generaldirection set forth in the Forest ServiceManual, chapter 2150, pesticide-use man-agement. Label instructions for insecticidesregistered for beetle control must be fol-lowed. (SPB-5, General Forest Area and Wilderness—

General) (STANDARD)

FW–111: Standing trees will not be sprayedwith insecticides. (SPB-6, General Forest Area and

Wilderness—General) (GUIDELINE)

FW–112: Insecticides will not be used in amanner that would adversely affect threat-ened or endangered species. (SPB-7, General

Forest Area and Wilderness—General) (STANDARD)

FW–113: Risk to humans and the environmentwill be minimized by applying insecticidesonly according to label instructions, ForestService policies and other federal regulations.Use will be supervised by a certified pesticideapplicator. Treated areas will be signed andclosed to firewood collection. (SPB-8, General

Forest Area and Wilderness—General) (GUIDELINE)

FW–114: Workers who apply insecticides willbe trained to ensure minimum impact andmaximum effect. Only methods assuringproper application of insecticides on the in-fested tree bole would be used. (SPB-9, General

Forest Area and Wilderness—General) (GUIDELINE)

FW–115: Allow the application of behavioralchemicals approved by the EPA for opera-tional or experimental use for SPB suppres-sion, pending appropriate site-specificanalysis. When practical, available behav-ioral chemicals should get top priority inspecial management areas or activities. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–116: Make SPB and other pest problemtreatments compatible with objectives anddesired future condition of managementareas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–117: Fall trees away from stream coursesduring SPB suppression. Where this is notpossible, exclude those trees from treatmentunless needed to achieve effective spot sup-pression. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


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TABLE 2–1, FOREST PRODUCTSUTILIZATION STANDARDS

Minimum Tree Minimum Piece SpecificationsSpecifications (includes 1 1/2 minimum pieces for sawtimber,

and 2 for small roundwood)

Piece Net asDBH Length Small End % of

Species Product (inches)A (feet) Gross

Softwood ....................... sawtimber ............................... 11.0 ....................... 8 .................... 7.0 (DIB)B .................... 30Hardwood ..................... sawtimber ............................... 13.0 ....................... 8 .................... 10.0 (DIB) .................... 30Pine ............................... small roundwood ...................... 5.0 ....................... 5 ..................... 4 (DOB)C

Hardwood ..................... small roundwood ...................... 6.0 ....................... 5 ...................... 4 (DOB)Pine ............................... topwood .................................................................. 5 ...................... 4 (DOB)Hardwood ..................... topwood .................................................................. 5 ...................... 4 (DOB)

A Diameter at breast height. B Diameter inside bark. C Diameter outside bark.



FW–118: Unless specifically prohibited, applythe following methods for controlling SPB toall management areas: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Cut and remove� Cut and leave� Cut and hand spray� Pile and burn

FOREST PRODUCTS

Timber sales

FW–119: Conduct sustained-yield timber har-vest only on lands classified as suitable fortimber production. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–120: Timber harvest may occur on landsclassified as unsuitable for timber produc-tion only when such harvesting is necessaryfor salvage or to protect or enhance mul-tiple-use values other than timber produc-tion and such harvesting is consistent withthe appropriate management area direc-tion. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–121: The sale and disposal of all timberwill comply with the applicable directioncontained in FSM 2400 and FSH 2409. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–122: Administer the timber sale programin accordance with the Region 8 Timber TheftPrevention Plan to prevent timber theft, waste,fraud, and abuse. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–123: Minimum operability harvest yieldsfor regeneration cutting will be 1 CCF per acrefor roundwood and 1.4 CCF per acre forsawtimber; for intermediate cuttings, 2 CCF

per acre roundwood and 1.4 CCF per acresawtimber. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–124: Include appropriate recreation, scen-ery management, heritage resources, wildlifeand fisheries, botanical, soil and water qual-ity, streamside habitat, and riparian area pro-tection measures in contracts and enforceduring sales administration. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–125: Use the utilization standards dis-played in table 2–1 until technology or mar-kets require modification. (KNF) (STANDARD)

Miscellaneous forest products

FW–126: Miscellaneous forest products per-mits may be sold authorizing the collectionof things such as mushrooms, vines, and / orplants with cultural or economic value. De-velop harvest strategies and implementa-tion schedules for species of high commer-cial or personal-use interest. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Pinestraw collection

FW–127: Permit pinestraw collection only inManagement Area 1 and stands in othermanagement areas which have not beenrestored to their native forest types (i.e. slashor off-site loblolly pine plantations). Permitpinestraw collection only once in 10 yearson any specific site. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–128: Use of motorized or heavy equip-ment, and concentrated human use withinpinestraw raking areas must be consistentwith the requirements of the Regional Guidefor Management of the RCW (RCW EIS, 1994) andany other Regional guide or conservationstrategy that may be developed for otherrare, sensitive, or conservation species. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–129: Permit fertilization based on therecommendation of an interdisciplinaryteam. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–130: Make available no more than 10percent of the total pinestraw acreage annu-ally on a district-wide basis. Pinestraw acre-age is defined as all acres suitable for timberproduction with a longleaf or slash foresttype where raking is not prohibited. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–131: Pine forest types other than longleafand slash pine may be considered forpinestraw collection on a case-by-case basis,but limit the maximum allowable acreage tothat specified in FW–130. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–132: Allow pinestraw collection only onslopes less than 12 percent. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–133: Permit hand raking or single-passtractor raking with a rear-mounted, drag-type rake or a combination of hand andtractor raking (as described above). Allow noground scarification. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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FW–134: Permit burning of pinestraw collec-tion areas only as frequently as is needed tomaintain or enhance the surrounding land-scape ecosystem. Allow mowing and / orburning for site preparation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–135: Do not permit pinestraw collec-tion on severe erosion hazard soils. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–136: Permit pinestraw collection onlyduring dry periods when soils have highcompaction or rutting hazards. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–137: Do not permit pinestraw collectionon cultural / historical sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–138: Do not permit pinestraw collectionin research natural areas, registry naturalareas, special interest areas, bogs, glades, orold-growth forest patches. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–139: Do not permit motorized pinestrawraking or baling equipment or any othermotorized pinestraw collection equipmentwithin 50 feet of an RCW cavity tree. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–140: Do not permit raking, baling orother collection activities in RCW cluster sitesduring the nesting season. Other than thisspecific time / location, raking / baling maybe conducted year round, except whereprohibited by FW–139. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Salvage

FW–141: Retain all trees uninfested by SPB orvacated by SPB within approximately 100feet of intermittent or perennial streams.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–142: Retain two larger vacated SPB treesper SPB spot where available, in SPB spots lessthan one acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–143: In SPB spots greater than or equal toone acre, retain six vacated SPB trees per acrewhere available, two of which should be thelarger vacated pines. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–144: Salvage dead or dying trees creat-ing a potential hazard to life or propertywithin developed recreation areas, adjacentto roads, trails, or utility corridors, or inprescribed burn units. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–145: Allow the salvage harvesting of singledead trees only within 300 feet of a level Dor higher system road which is in travelabletimber hauling condition. In general, do notuse closed or gated roads or roads retainedfor other use for single tree salvage hauling.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Firewood gathering

FW–146: Where compatible with manage-ment area and sub-management area de-sired future conditions, allow the sale offirewood and lighter-wood for personal andcommercial use when and where an ad-equate supply of live, dead, or down trees ofspecies desirable for firewood purposes ex-ist. Except for occasional, scattered, indi-vidual dead or down trees, these conditionswill usually exist in conjunction with anothersilvicultural or other resource projects. Theseprojects would normally include regenera-tion areas, storm or insect salvage areas, andwildlife stand improvement projects such asmidstory removal. In all instances, take careto ensure the protection of trees or groups oftrees or areas previously designated for re-tention or protection. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–147: Do not provide free-use firewood tothe public except in rare, well-documentedcases where a significant economic or re-source benefit can be shown to accrue to theGovernment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–148: Give priority to the issuance ofpersonal-use permits over commercial per-mits where demand exceeds the availablesupply of firewood. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

HEALTH AND SAFETY

FW–149: Promote visitor safety and protectForest resources and facilities. Inform visitorsof rules and regulations governing NationalForest System lands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–150: Enforce safety regulations, bothState and Federal. Inform visitors throughwritten information and personal contact.Prepare Supervisor’s Orders setting out rulesand regulations. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–151: Safety equipment for Forest Serviceworkers (such as hard hats, eye and earprotection, chaps, and fire retardant clothes)


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is [to be] worn as determined by a job hazardanalysis specified in the Health and SafetyCode Handbook (FSH 6709.11). This analysis esti-mates risks to specific body parts and pre-scribes needed protection. (VM-13) (STANDARD)

FW–152: Forest Service workers must complywith dress and safety standards specified inthe Health and Safety Code Handbook (FSH

6709.11). (VM-86) (STANDARD)

FW–153: Forest Service equipment operatorsmust demonstrate proficiency with the equip-ment and be licensed to operate it. A helpermust direct the operator where safety iscompromised by terrain or limited sightdistance. (VM-53) (STANDARD)

FW–154: Chainsaw operators must be peri-odically certified and demonstrate proficiencywith chainsaws. (VM-85) (STANDARD)

HERITAGE RESOURCES

Program management

FW–155: Manage heritage resources in ac-cordance with applicable federal laws, regu-lations, policy, agreements, and in the pub-lic interest. Emphasize the protection of sig-nificant heritage properties, completion ofthe Forestwide inventory, and assessing thesignificance of inventoried properties. Iden-tify opportunities for appropriate use andinterpretation of heritage properties. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–156: Tier all coordination relating to theNational Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) andits implementing regulations (36 CFR 800) tothe Southern Regional Programmatic Agree-ment (PA) and MOU or other agreementsbetween the Forest and SHPO. All provisionsof the PA between the Southern Region ofthe Forest Service, Advisory Council on His-toric Preservation, and the SHPOS of the South-ern Region are incorporated by reference.The Forest heritage program serves as theForest / SHPO point of contact. (KNF) (STAN-DARD)

Inventory

FW–157: Priority for heritage resource inven-tory is as follows:1. Lands proposed for exchange or dimin-

ishing of federal jurisdiction.

2. Lands proposed for new borrow pits orsurface minerals extraction.

3. Areas proposed for site preparation (if notpreviously field surveyed).

4. Areas proposed for EAM.5. Areas proposed for UEAM.6. Other Forest areas proposed for projects7. Other Forest areas, no project proposed,

including wilderness. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–158: Use the Kisatchie predictive modelto stratify survey intensity within each prioritycategory. The three recognized resource prob-ability zones are subject to periodic refine-ment based on previous and ongoing inven-tory, using conventional analysis techniquesand GIS technology. Parameters defining thesezones generally include distance from water,degree of surface topographic dissection,stream rank, soil types, and proximity toknown heritage properties. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–159: Use certified heritage resourcetechnicians to assist project inventoriesunder direct guidance of heritage resourcestaff. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Internal coordination

FW–160: Consult HRM status atlas, GIS HRM

database, and Forest Heritage Program man-ager in the planning stages of projects in-volving ground disturbance, diminished ju-risdiction, or increased public use of, oraccess to, an area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–161: Using Forest survey request form,request survey or status of compliance withsection 106 of the National Historic Preser-vation Act (NHPA) and NEPA. Coordinateprojects containing known heritage proper-ties mitigation or protection with Forestheritage program manager. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–162: Responsible officials will stop grounddisturbing actions that impact known ornewly discovered heritage properties untilsuch time as site significance can be evalu-ated by Forest heritage staff in consultationwith the SHPO, and Council if necessary. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–163: Ensure that section 106 complianceclauses are inserted in timber sale contractsand sales documents, and that clauses arediscussed in pre-work conferences. (KNF)(STANDARD)

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Evaluation

FW–164: Establish a schedule for propertiesneeding evaluation. Consult with the SHPO toreduce the untested site backlog by mutualagreement, regarding sites considered re-dundant or otherwise expected to contain noreasonable research potential. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–165: Place properties determined as sig-nificant under National Register of HistoricPlaces criteria on a list of potential nomina-tions. Nominate significant heritage proper-ties to the Register, with management plansfor each nominated property. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–166: Reevaluate a “not significant” prop-erty if additional evidence or informationabout it becomes available. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Protection and monitoring

FW–167: Maintain appropriate site confiden-tiality and include site monitoring as part ofoverall project planning. Ensure that protec-tive measures, if required, are implementedduring project action. Conduct law enforce-ment investigations on vandalized protectedproperties. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–168: Pursuant to 36 CFR 296.18, site locationsare exempt from provisions of the Freedom ofInformation Act. Do not disclose site locationsin documents available to the public, includ-ing heritage GIS data, unless agreed to by allparties, including Native American tribes asappropriate. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–169: Heritage specialists will mark on theground properties designated through con-sultation as “protected”. Protected areas willinclude buffers, determined on a case-by-case basis, considering landform, vegetativecover, and access, but in no case less than 25meters beyond known site limits. Stipulateprotective measures in project plans for in-ternal coordination. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–170: Document in the annual ForestMonitoring and Evaluation Report disturbancedue to either internal or external activity ornatural events, and corrective measurestaken, as appropriate. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–171: Law enforcement will lead investiga-tions conducted by a team of LE officials andheritage specialists. Necessary surveillancewill be conducted by LE. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Enhancement

FW–172: Publicly interpret heritage proper-ties as components of the Forest recreationprogram, for recreational use and educa-tional benefits. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–173: Criteria for interpretive suitabilitywill include, but are not necessarily confinedto: accessibility; property condition; protec-tive considerations; compatibility with otherresource activities, primarily recreation; andpublic interest or values. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–174: Offer public interpretation of Heri-tage properties and values through WindowsOn The Past, Passport In Time, and LouisianaArchaeology Week Programs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–175: Use cooperative programs, agree-ments, and other partnerships to furtherhistoric preservation goals on the Forest andthroughout the State. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–176: Seek to expand or enhance partner-ships with State or local agencies, institu-tions, and other federal agencies, or developadditional partnerships. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

INTERPRETIVE SERVICES

FW–177: Provide an ongoing InterpretiveServices Program that accurately and ad-equately develops an interest in and under-standing for the natural and cultural envi-ronment of the Kisatchie National Forest,and the mission of the Forest Service inmanaging it. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–178: Assist visitors and users to under-stand the role of the Forest’s resources in thedevelopment of industry, heritage and cul-ture in Louisiana. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–179: Promote visitor understanding ofthe National Forest System, Forest Research,and State & Private Forestry programs. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–180: Emphasize an appreciation of pro-fessional forest management, including bal-anced use of natural resources, as a neces-


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sary component of a stewardship ethic forpublic lands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–181: Develop interpretive services for allprincipal resource management programs.Information should emphasize the integra-tion of resource activities within an interdis-ciplinary framework of ecosystem manage-ment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–182: Inform visitors of the distribution,differences, and roles of the Federal, Stateand private lands found in Louisiana and therange of recreation and cultural interestopportunities and facilities available. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–183: Continue to pursue cooperative in-terpretive partnerships with other Federaland State land management agencies con-sistent with the principal travel routes andactivity centers used by Forest visitors. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–184: Provide a variety of media types bywhich interpretive messages are made avail-able to the visitor. Use media and presenta-tion designs that are appealing, appropriatefor the setting, easily understood by theintended audience, and reflect the ForestService as a professional land managementagency. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–185: Continue supporting informationcenters throughout the State so they caninclude accurate and timely informationabout the Kisatchie National Forest. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–186: Continue to improve existing inter-pretive services programs and facilities. Sup-port shall include identification of currentissues and events of interest to Forest visitors,adequate staffing to meet program objec-tives, and objective evaluation of programs toassure accurate and positive coverage of thenatural and cultural resources on the Ki-satchie National Forest. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–187: Expand the use of the interpretiveassociation as an interpretive partner to pro-vide Forest visitors with a broad range ofinterpretive media. These may include, butare not limited to, publications, video andaudio tapes, and other media that feature thenatural and cultural resources of the KisatchieNational Forest. Encourage support and do-

nations to the interpretive association whichcan be used to develop additional materialsand programs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–188: Provide a coordinated program ofawareness and training for all employees,and partners (including outfitter and guidesand other public service permittees) to en-sure a consistent program of public service.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–189: Encourage other agency participa-tion in Forest interpretive services trainingprograms. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–190: The Forest Service mission and im-age shall remain predominantly visible at allForest Service facilities through the use ofuniformed Forest Service personnel whenappropriate, the Forest Service shield, andother media. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

LAND ADJUSTMENT

FW–191: Prepare and maintain a landowner-ship adjustment map based on the goals andobjectives for a given area. The Forest Super-visor may approve changes to the map aslong as Forest Plan objectives are met. Notifythe Regional Office and ranger districts ofany changes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–192: Use the following criteria for landacquisitions (purchases, exchanges, anddonations): (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Priority 1 acquisitions(not listed in any order of priority)

� Lands within the Saline Bayou NationalScenic River corridor.

� Lands and associated riparian ecosystemson water frontage such as lakes and majorstreams.

� Critical habitat lands for federally listedendangered or threatened fish, wildlife orplant species.

� Lands having unique historical or culturalresources, when these resources arethreatened by change of use or whenmanagement may be enhanced by pub-lic ownership.

� Lands primarily of value for outdoor rec-reation purposes and lands needing pro-tection for aesthetic purposes.

� Lands needed for protection and man-agement of administratively and Con-

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gressionally designated areas.� Lands needed to enhance or promote

watershed improvements that affect themanagement of national forest riparianareas.

� Environmentally sensitive lands such aswetlands, interior salt flats, and old growthforests.

� Buffer lands needed for protection oflands acquired for specific purposes listedabove.

Priority 2 acquisitions(not listed in any order of priority)

� Key tracts of an ecosystem that are noturgently needed but will promote moreeffective management of the ecosystemand will meet specific needs for vegeta-tive management, valuable watershedmanagement, research, public recreationor other defined management objec-tives, including consolidation objectives.

� Lands needed to protect resource valuesby eliminating or reducing fire risks, soilerosion and occupancy trespass cases.

� Lands needed to reduce expenses of boththe Forest Service and the public in ad-ministration and utilization of NationalForest land. This includes energy expen-ditures, as well as other common efficien-cies. This also supports consolidationobjectives.

Priority 3 acquisition(all other lands desirable forinclusion in the National Forest System)

In the case of conflict between these priori-ties and any land acquisition actions neededto meet the overall goals and objectivesestablished in the Forest Plan, the ForestSupervisor may recommend variations tothe Regional Forester. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–193: Land conveyances by exchange orother specific authority will be guided by thefollowing criteria (not listed in any order ofpriority)

� Lands inside or adjacent to communitiesor intensively developed private land, andchiefly valuable for non-national forestpurposes.

� Small parcels intermingled with privatelands.

� Parcels that serve a greater public need in

state, county, city, or other federal agencyownership.

� Parcels isolated from other NFS lands.� Lands under special-use authorizations

and occupied by substantial structuralimprovements.

� Occupancy trespass cases involving highlyvaluable structural improvements.

� Parcels within major blocks of privateland, the use of which is substantially fornon-forest purpose.

� Parcels having boundaries or portions ofboundaries with inefficient configurations,such as projecting necks or long, narrowstrips of land.

In the case of a conflict between thesecriteria and any land acquisition actionsneeded to meet the overall goals and objec-tives established in the Forest Plan, the For-est Supervisor may recommend variations tothe Regional Forester. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–194: Confine any purchases and landexchanges to areas meeting the land adjust-ment criteria. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–195: Focus acquisition with Land andWater Conservation Funds on Saline Bayou,Kisatchie Bayou, high value wildlife habitatand endangered species, sensitive plants,inholdings, and other unique areas (priori-ties 1 and 2). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–196: In land adjustment cases, acquirefee title unencumbered by outstanding orreserved mineral rights whenever possible.Do not allow the grantor to reserve themineral rights in perpetuity. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–197: Acquire lands with mineral rightsreserved or outstanding only if the presenceof those rights does not interfere with themanagement or protection of the resourcefor which the acquisition is made. Mineralrights will not be reserved in perpetuity.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–198: All new acquisitions will be on awilling seller / willing buyer basis unless apublic need exists for a particular tract. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–199: When compatible, manage futureacquired lands according to the manage-ment area direction within which the newlyacquired lands are located. When not com-


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patible, conduct an environmental analysisand prepare the appropriate decision docu-ment/Plan amendment on the suitability ofthose acquired lands. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–200: Prior to disposing of federal land,contact other resource management special-ists to ensure that the disposition is in accor-dance with laws and regulations of eachspecialty area. Complete this as part of theenvironmental analysis process. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–201: Whenever determined to be in thepublic interest, retain lands identified ashaving a high potential for gravel. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–202: Dispose of all Saline recreation resi-dence areas by means of land exchange asopportunities arise. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–203: Where appropriate and as opportu-nities occur, dispose of administrative sitesthat are no longer needed, by land ex-change. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MILITARY USE LANDS — INACTIVE

FW–204: Continue to enlist the cooperationof the Department of Defense (DOD) in theidentification of restoration needs and fund-ing estimates for restoring all inactive mili-tary use lands. Of special concern are areasneeding immediate action to protect theenvironment and to provide for public safety.Develop and maintain a restoration plan forall inactive military use lands. Apply all otherForestwide and appropriate MA and SMA di-rection to all inactive military use lands ex-cept in FW–205 through FW–218, as listedbelow: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Breezy Hill no-entry

FW–205: Clearly mark all areas with two 6-inch wide orange bands painted on trees atapproximately 50-foot intervals. Post “Noentry” warning signs at approximately 250-foot intervals. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–206: Continue to enlist the cooperationof the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) inreclassifying the areas to no ground penetra-tion designation and eventually to completedeclassification. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–207: Do not allow the following activi-ties within designated no-entry areas: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

� Heritage resource work� Dispersed recreation� Wildlife or fish habitat improvements� Timber harvest� Soil and water practices� Federal minerals exploration and devel-

opment� Common variety mineral extraction� Special-use permits� Road construction, reconstruction, or

maintenance� Plowing firelines

FW–208: Classify the area as not suitable fortimber production. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–209: Issue oil and gas leases with a nosurface occupancy stipulation. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–210: When contacted by a private min-erals owner or operator, warn of potentialsafety hazard and advise no entry. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–211: Confine all wildfires to the bound-ary of the no-entry area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Breezy Hill no groundpenetration area

FW–212: Clearly mark the area by paintingtrees at approximate 50-foot intervals withone 6-inch wide orange band. Post warningsigns at about 250-foot intervals. (KNF) (STAN-DARD)

FW–213: Continue to enlist the cooperationof the COE in declassifying the area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–214: Restrict the following activities; how-ever, activities may occur on a case-by-casebasis with adequate mitigation. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

� Tree seedling planting� Mechanical site preparation� Federal minerals exploration� Leasing or sale of common variety miner-

als (gravel)� Special uses involving ground penetra-

tion activity

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FW–215: Issue oil and gas leases with a CSU2stipulation prohibiting on-site placement ofmineral extraction equipment, buildings,ponds, and wellpads. Allow roads and theclearing of pipeline right-of-way vegetationproviding that a site-specific environmentalanalysis results in a finding that the miti-gated environmental effects would not besignificant. The CSU2 stipulation will alsorequire the lessee to execute an indemnifica-tion and release of liability statement. Whereasany required decontamination of the area isthe responsibility of the COE, the operatormay choose to perform necessary mitigationor decontamination to expedite the project.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–216: When contacted by a private min-erals owner or operator, warn of the poten-tial safety hazard in writing and advise theuse of a metal detector prior to any groundpenetration activities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–217: Permit the following activities afterclearance of each site or corridor with metaldetectors: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Development of in-service gravel pits.� Road construction or improvement that

requires ground penetration.� Plow lines for wildfire suppression or ap-

plying prescribed fire.

Old Camp Claiborne andCamp Livingston areas

FW–218: Prohibit uses in old military useareas where such authorizations would con-stitute a safety hazard. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MINERALS — LEASABLE

FW–219: The Regional Forester, or delegatedofficial, will provide a consent to lease to theBureau of Land Management (BLM) for spe-cific lands. This consent will be valid until theForest Service provides BLM written notifica-tion that consent is being withdrawn oramended. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–220: Review consents on a regular sched-ule to insure that all available lands are in-cluded and the stipulations which are a con-dition of the consent remain sufficient toprotect the surface resources. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–221: Review minerals availability on aquarterly basis. Prepare an updated reportwhen changes occur in availability or un-availability of lands resulting from acquisi-tion, disposal, or reversion of mineral rights.Also submit an updated report when a morerestrictive stipulation is needed to protectthe surface resources of a specific area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–222: Review issued oil and gas leases toensure inclusion of two basic stipulations.One notice to lessee (NTL) from the Depart-ment of Interior, BLM, states that any entityholding a coal lease cannot qualify for an oiland gas lease unless the coal lease is operat-ing properly. The other stipulation applies toall National Forest System lands under thejurisdiction of the Department of Agricultureand ensures general compliance with rulesand regulations of the Secretary of Agricul-ture when not inconsistent with the rightsgranted in the lease. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–223: Four stipulations are available foruse as conditions of consent to lease on anas-needed basis. These are: no surface occu-pancy (NSO); highly restrictive controlled sur-face use stipulation (CSU1); moderately re-strictive controlled surface use stipulation(CSU2);and timing limitation stipulation (TL).The CSU1 stipulation would prohibit place-ment of mineral extraction equipment, build-ings, roads, ponds, and wellpads and theclearing of pipeline right-of-way vegetation.A CSU2 stipulation would be similar to CSU1except that it would allow roads and clear-ing of right-of-way vegetation to occur if asite-specific environmental analysis deter-mines that the mitigated environmental ef-fects would not be significant. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–224: Issue oil and gas leases with a nosurface occupancy (NSO) stipulation on alladministrative sites, Research Natural Areas(RNAS), State Registry Natural Areas, SpecialInterest Areas, the Johnson Tract experimen-tal forest, the Air Force Bombing and Gun-nery Range, the Breezy Hill No-Entry Area,scenic areas, within 600 feet of the SalineBayou National Scenic River, cultural re-source sites, the Stuart Seed Orchard, juris-dictional wetlands, and developed recre-ation areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


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FW–225: Issue oil and gas leases with a highlyrestrictive controlled surface use (CSU1) stipu-lation on all Streamside Habitat ProtectionZones (SHPZS) on the Forest, varying in widthfrom 50 feet to 150 feet depending on theadjacent management area theme, and tothe extent of the Riparian Area ProtectionZones (RAPZS) inside Louisiana pearlshellmussel sub-watersheds. Also, within Man-agement Area 2 (amenity emphasis), assigna CSU1 stipulation out to the extent of theRAPZS, and a CSU2 stipulation to the remain-der of the management area. On the rest ofthe Forest’s RAPZS, within 2,000 feet of theLongleaf Trail Scenic Byway, within the U.S.Marshall Service Use Area, on the LongleafTract experimental forest, within the BreezyHill No-Ground Penetration (NGP) area, andinside the Claiborne Safety Fan area, assigna CSU2 stipulation. Develop and use otherlocal stipulations when special needs, be-yond the scope of existing stipulations areidentified for a specifc lease proposal. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–226: Require lined pits or portable liquidtanks where federal mineral operations arelocated in soils susceptible to seepage andgroundwater contamination. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–227: Two regionally approved lease no-tices that will be used consistently on theForest are:

1. Lease notice #3, which will be incorpo-rated into all sale notices and issuedleases. It serves notice to interested par-ties or lessees of the possible occurrenceof threatened, endangered and sensitivespecies within the leasehold, assuringtheir protection.

2. Lease notice #4, which will be used whenall or part of the lands may be classified aswetlands or a floodplain. This also servesas notice to interested parties or lessees ofthe statutory and regulatory requirementswhen the leasehold includes these areas.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–228: Discourage to the extent allowedunder state law and federal laws and regula-tions, requests to develop private (reservedand outstanding) mineral rights whereground disturbing activities would occur inareas where federal minerals are leased withan NSO stipulation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–229: Permit surface exploration for oiland gas by seismic methods except in areaswhere it is not permitted. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–230: Review new leases issued to ensurecompliance with Forest Service consent andconditions of that consent. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–231: Review area-by-area (ABA) availabil-ity reports at least twice annually to ensurechanges or updates are reported to theRegional Office and subsequently to the BLM.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–232: Coordinate all minerals leasing andexploration activity with BLM in accordancewith the interagency agreements betweenthe Forest Service and the BLM (dated 11/91)and the most current memorandum of un-derstanding between the BLM’S Jackson Dis-trict and the Kisatchie National Forest. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–233: Respond to inquiries about avail-ability of minerals from BLM or the public ina timely manner. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–234: Review U.S. mineral ownership inaccordance with the State of Louisiana min-eral prescription statutes, the Office of Gen-eral Counsel’s legal opinions, and applicablecourt rulings. Update mineral ownershiprecords to reflect those minerals which haveprescribed to the U.S. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–235: Upon notification that a notice ofstaking (NOS) or an application for permit todrill (APD) is being processed, prepare a site-specific environmental analysis with appro-priate decision document for each proposedwellsite location and furnish BLM a copy ofthe analysis and decision documents withthe mitigation measures or conditions ofapproval necessary to protect the surfaceresources. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–236: Process and issue required per-mits for off-lease areas and permit stipula-tions upon receipt of required plans. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–237: Manage oil and gas well sites to:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Prevent excessive off-site movement ofpollutants. Upon completion of operations,

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reclaim the site according to the approvedreclamation plan.� Minimize cut and fill for wellsites andaccess roads as much as possible. Locateroads and wellsites on wide flat uplands andavoid drainages when possible.

FW–238: Any employee , who could as partof their job come in contact with hydrogensulfide (H2S) will receive training in the safeand proper procedures for dealing with H2S.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–239: In mineral operations adjacent tobogs and riparian areas, require construc-tion of berms or dikes as necessary to pre-vent sedimentation to streams. To protectaquatic habitat, require the sealing and dik-ing around drilling mud pits to preventleakage into streams or other water sources.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–240: When minerals are privately owned,encourage the location of mining or drillingactivity outside the riparian area or stream-side habitat protection zones. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–241: Exercise in accordance with theapplicable state and federal laws, and theSecretary’s rules and regulations, any min-eral operation undertaken on national forestland where minerals have been reserved.(KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–242: Administer in strict accordance withterms of the deed of separation and appro-priate State and federal laws, the operationsof outstanding rights. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–243: Mineral leaseholders may conductgeophysical exploration activities within theirleased area without charge. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MINERALS — SALABLE

FW–244: Continue exploratory operations forsalable minerals on areas of the EvangelineUnit and Catahoula District and initiate in-ventory work on all other districts. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–245: Compile data on salable mineralsfor all districts as information becomes avail-able. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–246: Issue prospecting permits for theexploration of common variety mineral

materials except in areas where explorationis not permitted and in areas where depositshave been located and are reserved for fu-ture in-service use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–247: Issue prospecting permits for com-mon variety materials for areas no largerthan 640 acres for a maximum of 2 years, inareas where gravel pits can be developed inan environmentally acceptable manner. See36 CFR 228.60. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–248: Issue preference rights negotiatedsales for the production of mineral materialsin accordance with an approved operatingplan with acceptable mitigation measures tominimize environmental effects to public orprivate land and resources. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–249: Prohibit gravel mining in environ-mentally sensitive areas where adverse im-pacts cannot be adequately mitigated orwhere a safety hazard is constituted. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–250: Prior to approval of a new gravel orsand pit, develop an operating plan which,at a minimum, shows progressive removal ofgravel and sand and contains provisions forrehabilitation including stockpiling of topsoil. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–251: Do not issue new mineral materialpermits to public agencies unless it is deter-mined that existing permits will not supplytheir indicated needs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

OLD-GROWTH FORESTS

General

FW–252: Classify areas allocated to old-growth forest as not suitable for timberproduction. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–253: Develop old-growth communitytypes within designated old-growth patchesin accordance with established objectivesfor each landscape community. Inventoryfuture old-growth stands within thesepatches to determine best site choices fordeveloping old-growth communities. Old-growth patches should be managed to con-serve and maintain appropriate understoryspecies as well as overstory species. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)


RESOURCEELEMENTS



OLD-GROWTH FORESTS



FW–254: Minimize mechanical damage fromrutting, fireline construction, and road con-struction to protect ground cover, hydrol-ogy, and soils. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–255: Normally do not permit salvage offire, lightning, disease, or insect-killed tim-ber. Allow snags and down woody materialto develop natural patterns after fire or othernatural disturbance. Use spot-growth pre-dictive models during SPB epidemics to evalu-ate the need for control measures that couldinvolve large numbers of trees and threatenthe integrity of the unit. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–256: Most high-quality (A and AB) natu-ral community sites identified through achallenge cost-share with The Nature Con-servancy and the Louisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries Natural Heritage Pro-gram were included in old-growth patchesor streamside habitat protection zones. Thesesites should take on the management direc-tion of areas in which they are located andcease to be separately tracked.

Track remaining high-quality (A and AB)natural community sites not within areashaving special protection, through at leastthe next stand examination and silviculturalprescription period. At that time examinethese sites and determine whether to con-tinue tracking and offering special protec-tion or to release them for management inaccordance with the management prescrip-tion for that particular management area.Do not track or apply special managementfor sites ranked below AB quality. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

Longleaf pine forest-dominated patches

FW–257: Within designated longleaf pinepatches permit the following managementpractices in order to develop or maintainold-growth attributes (see also, AppendixE). Consider on a case-by-case basis prac-tices listed as permitted with restrictions, ornormally not permitted. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Normally permitted

� Prescribed burning� Thinning� Midstory removal� Single-tree selection� Shelterwood with reserves� Group selection

� Irregular plantings� Low impact, disced firelines� Oil and gas leasing

Permitted with restrictions

� Clearcutting with reserves� Fire plow lines� Mechanical site preparation� Herbicide use� Oil and gas development

Normally not permitted

� Seed-tree / shelterwood� Clearcutting� Salvage of dead timber� Pinestraw collection� Livestock grazing� Permanent open road construction� Permanent special-use structures or rights-

of-way

FW–258: Burn upland stands once every 2–5years. Vary timing, duration and intensity ofburning to maximize the diversity of eco-logical conditions, and to mimic the role ofnatural fire events. Allow fire to burn downinto embedded riparian areas to maintaintransition zones. Emphasize growing seasonburns. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–259: Allow thinning treatments to pro-mote old-growth attributes and to moldoverstory composition. Leave-tree basal ar-eas (BA) and tree spacing should be irregularto more closely approximate natural distur-bance events. Generally, maintain 50–90square feet per acre BA of pine on uplandstands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–260: Allow midstory control to move up-lands toward an open condition and to main-tain active RCW cluster sites and recruitmentstands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–261: Encourage a variety of age and sizeclasses to create a mosaic of variable stem densi-ties throughout the patch using single-tree selec-tion, group selection, and shelterwood withreserves regeneration methods. Limit maximumopening size for groups to 2 acres; andshelterwood with reserves to 10 acres. Avoidremoving any overstory from within communitytypes that are under-represented on the Forest.Utilize existing openings and rights-of-way asmuch as possible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

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OLD-GROWTH FORESTS



FW–262: Normally do not permit seed-tree,shelterwood and clearcutting regenerationmethods. When restoring longleaf pine tothose upland sites that are currently occu-pied by off-site species — such as loblolly orslash pine, use clearcutting with longleafreserves. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–263: During regeneration or restorationensure that at least 75 percent of a desig-nated old-growth patch be occupied bytrees 50 years old or older. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–264: Use irregular plantings to establishlongleaf pine seedlings in open areas whichare too large for successful natural regenera-tion. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–265: Permit mechanical site preparationand herbicide use only when needed toachieve restoration objectives. Encouragethe use of prescribed fire prior to restorationharvests to achieve adequate site prepara-tion conditions. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest-dominated patches

FW–266: Within designated shortleaf pine/oak-hickory patches permit the followingmanagement practices in order to developor maintain old-growth attributes (See also,Appendix E). Individually consider practicesnormally not permitted, or those listed aspermitted with restrictions. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Normally permitted

� Prescribed burning� Thinning� Midstory removal� Single-tree selection� Group selection� Irregular plantings� Oil and gas leasing


� Fire plow lines� Oil and gas development


� Salvage of dead timber� Seed-tree / shelterwood� Shelterwood with reserves

� Clearcutting� Mechanical site preparation� Livestock grazing� Herbicide use� Permanent open road construction� Permanent special-use structures or rights-

of-way

FW–267: Burn upland stands once every 5–10 years. Vary timing, duration and intensityof burning to maximize the diversity of eco-logical conditions, and to mimic the role ofnatural fire events. Allow fire to burn downinto embedded riparian areas to maintaintransition zones. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–268: Allow thinning treatments to pro-mote old-growth attributes and to moldoverstory composition. Leave-tree basal ar-eas (BA) and tree spacing should be irregularto more closely approximate natural distur-bance events. Generally, maintain a com-bined BA for pine and hardwood between80–110 square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–269: Allow midstory control to maintainRCW cluster sites and recruitment stands.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–270: Encourage a variety of age and sizeclasses to create a mosaic of variable stemdensities throughout the patch using single-tree and group selection regeneration meth-ods. Limit maximum opening size for groupsto 2 acres. Avoid removing any overstoryfrom within community types that are un-der-represented on the Forest. Utilize exist-ing openings and rights-of-way as much aspossible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–271: During regeneration or restorationensure that at least 75 percent of a desig-nated old-growth patch be occupied bytrees 50 years old or older. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–272: Use irregular plantings to establishshortleaf pine or hardwood seedlings in ar-eas with an inadequate species mixture.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Mixed hardwood-loblollypine forest dominated patches

FW–273: Within designated mixed hardwood-loblolly pine patches, permit the followingmanagement practices for developing ormaintaining old-growth attributes (See also,


RESOURCEELEMENTS

OLD-GROWTH FORESTS



Appendix E). Consider individual practiceslisted as permitted with restrictions, or nor-mally not permitted. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Normally permitted

� Single-tree selection� Shelterwood with reserves� Group selection� Irregular plantings� Midstory removal� Oil and gas leasing


� Prescribed burning� Thinning� Fire plow lines� Oil and gas development


� Salvage of dead timber� Herbicide use� Mechanical site preparation� Livestock grazing� Permanent open road construction� Seed-tree, shelterwood, and clearcutting� Permanent special-use structures or rights-

of-way

FW–274: Encourage a variety of age and sizeclasses, and promote a mixture of hard-woods within the forest canopy using single-tree selection, group selection, and shelter-wood with reserves regeneration methods.Limit maximum opening size for groups to 2acres; and shelterwoods with reserves to 10acres. Avoid removing any overstory fromwithin community types that are under-represented on the Forest. Utilize existingopenings and rights-of-way as much as pos-sible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–275: Use intermediate treatments to aidin molding stand composition or to createfavorable hardwood regeneration conditions.Allow crown thinning in stands less than 40years old if needed to improve overstoryhardwood composition. Leave-tree basal ar-eas (BA) and tree spacing should be irregularto more closely approximate natural distur-bance events. Generally, maintain a com-bined BA for hardwood and pine between100–150 square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–276: Normally do not permit landscapelevel prescribed burning. However, thehigher, drier uplands within the area may beburned on an infrequent basis (10–20 years).Allow fire to burn down into embeddedriparian areas and wetlands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–277: Allow midstory control to maintainred-cockaded woodpecker cluster sites andrecruitment stands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–278: During regeneration or restorationensure that at least 75 percent of a designatedold-growth patch be occupied by trees 50years old or older. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–279: Allow irregular plantings to establishhardwood seedlings in areas with inadequatehardwood component. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Riparian forest-dominated patches

FW–280: Within designated riparian forestpatches, permit the following managementpractices in order to develop or maintainold-growth attributes (See also, AppendixE). Consider on a case-by-case basis prac-tices listed as permitted with restrictions, ornormally not permitted. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Normally permitted

� Single-tree selection� Group selection� Irregular plantings� Oil and gas leasing


� Oil and gas development


� Salvage of dead timber� Herbicide use� Mechanical site preparation� Permanent open road construction� Livestock grazing� Seed-tree, shelterwood, and clearcutting� Prescribed burning� Thinning� Fire plow lines� Permanent special-use structures or rights-

of-way

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS

OLD-GROWTH FORESTS



FW–281: Encourage variety in hardwood treespecies using single-tree and group selec-tion regeneration methods. Avoid removingany overstory from within community typesthat are under-represented on the Forest.Utilize existing openings and rights-of-wayas much as possible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–282: Allow irregular plantings to estab-lish hardwood seedlings in areas with aninadequate hardwood species component.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–283: Normally do not permit landscapelevel prescribed burning. Allow fire to burndown into embedded riparian areas andwetlands from adjacent upland sites whenweather and fuel conditions are acceptable.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RANGE ALLOTMENTS

FW–284: Prevent unauthorized livestock useand any associated impacts or damages.Control or impound and dispose of unau-thorized livestock in accordance with 36 CFR

222.8 and 262.10. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–285: Develop forage resources on suit-able range within designated allotments totheir reasonable potential (mid to late seralecological condition) and manage them ona sustained yield basis. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–286: Improve and maintain productivityfor grazing consistent with production effi-ciency. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–287: Maintain a seasonal grazing pro-gram (April–October). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–288: When managing for range foragespecies, wildlife and livestock use should notexceed 50 percent of current annual growthof key grass species, 20 percent of totalannual production of key forb species, and20 percent of current annual growth of keyshrub species. (VM-24) (GUIDELINE)

FW–289: Protect regeneration areas fromunacceptable grazing damage until they aresuccessfully reforested. Protection may re-quire construction of animal controls orimplementation of other protection meth-ods. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–290: Complete, implement, and annu-ally update allotment management plansfor all active allotments. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–291: Complete and update range analy-ses annually for all active allotments. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–292: Prescribe burn active range allot-ments at the same frequency specified forthe management area within which theyoccur. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–293: Require permittees to distribute por-table feeding troughs and periodically ro-tate livestock feeding between troughs. Movetroughs as needed. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–294: Place salt and mineral blocks strate-gically throughout the grazing units and ata sufficient distance away from former loca-tions to minimize vegetation or soil damage.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–295: Protect riparian area resources byplacing feeding troughs, salt, and mineralblocks outside of streamside and riparianarea protection zones. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–296: On areas not allocated for grazing,close and drop existing allotments from theinventory when current permittees waivetheir grazing permits. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–297: Remove structural improvementson those allotments dropped from the in-ventory as opportunities and funding allow.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RECREATION MANAGEMENT

Developed recreation

FW–298: Plan and develop recreation sitesand expansions as demand warrants andfunding permits. When selecting sites fordevelopment, expansion, or major improve-ment consider: health and safety, stage ofcompletion, user demand, cost effective-ness, environmental effects, long-term need,ability to generate fees, and current level ofaccessibility for persons with disabilities. As-sure that future improvements are consis-tent with the finding of the Recreation andWildlife Supply and Demand Analysis, KisatchieNational Forest, July 1995. Base future recre-ation facility construction or reconstruction


RESOURCEELEMENTS

OLD-GROWTH FORESTS

RANGE ALLOTMENTS

RECREATIONMANAGEMENT



on user demand and site suitability. Toppriority will be reconstruction and improve-ment of existing sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–299: Manage developed recreation sitesin accordance with the Recreation Opportu-nity Spectrum system. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–300: Assign developed recreation sitesa scenic integrity objective of high. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–301: Manage recreation sites to provideand enhance wildlife and fish viewing op-portunities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–302: Provide recreational fishing oppor-tunities in all suitable ponds, lakes, andstreams within developed recreation sites.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–303: Prepare comprehensive, detailedsite plans prior to recreation facility and siteconstruction or reconstruction in accordancewith FSM 2330. All site plans and revisionsrequire Forest Supervisor approval. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–304: Site plans will show the specificlocation and design requirements of all rec-reation facilities. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–305: Use only native or desirable non-native plant landscaping materials. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–306: Make access needs for persons withdisabilities a top priority in the preparationof all site plans. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–307: Design recreation sites to minimizemaintenance requirements and maximizevandalism resistance. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–308: Administration of public use at de-veloped recreation sites shall include: inspec-tion for hazards to public health and safety,compliance with applicable regulations, pre-vention of resource damage, and collectionof fees when appropriate. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–309: Operate and maintain potable wa-ter sources in accordance with federal, Stateand local regulations. Close water systemsuntil repaired if testing indicates a humanhealth hazard. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–310: Operate and maintain toilet vaults,septic tanks, and waste-water systems inaccordance with federal, State, and localregulations. Close, modify or repair any sys-tem deemed dysfunctional or threatening tohuman health, wildlife, or water sources.(KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–311: Operate developed recreation sitesunder the Meaningful Measures system toinsure the highest quality of managementpossible within budget restraints. Prepareoperation and maintenance (O&M) plansannually for each site. Include a fee compli-ance plan for all fee sites in the O&M plan.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–312: Encourage the use of volunteercampground hosts. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–313: Operate and maintain swim sitesin accordance with State regulations. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–314: Classify developed recreation areasas not suitable for timber production. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–315: Manage understory and overstoryvegetation for biological diversity, long termhealth and scenic quality in developed recre-ation areas. Prepare a vegetation manage-ment plan for each recreation site. Use pre-scribed fire for vegetative manipulation ifplanned in the vegetation management plan.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–316: Clearly mark and sign the bound-aries of all developed recreation sites. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–317: Prohibit hunting and / or shootingwithin developed recreation area bound-aries. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–318: Do not allow livestock grazing indeveloped recreation sites. Construct bound-ary fences where needed to exclude live-stock. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–319: Immediately control wildfire in rec-reation sites at the smallest possible acreagewith techniques that cause minimal resourceimpact. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS




FW–320: Immediately control insect and dis-ease infestations in recreation areas. Onlyinsecticides approved by EPA may be used.(KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–321: Do not lease, sell, or develop com-mon variety minerals in developed recre-ation areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–322: Permit oil and gas leasing with a nosurface occupancy stipulation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–323: Regulate use and occupancy ofdeveloped sites in accordance with 36 CFR 261.Limit regulation, constraint, and supervisionof recreation use to the minimum necessaryfor resource protection, visitor satisfaction,and safety. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–324: Clearly notify the public of thenecessary conditions of occupancy and useat each individual site. Signs must be posi-tive in tone and explain the reasons forregulations. Initiate firm action against thosewho knowingly willfully, or persistently vio-late conditions of the occupancy and usecontained in 36 CFR 261. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–325: Collect recreation use fees at sitesthat meet the Land and Water ConservationFund Act (as amended) fee site designationcriteria. (KNF) (STANDARD)

Dispersed recreation

General

FW–326: Provide visitors the opportunity topursue a wide variety of recreation activitieswith a minimum of regulation. Manage usewith information rather than regulation whenpossible. Post required regulations as neededto insure visitors are aware of them. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–327: Manage dispersed recreation activi-ties equitably with other activities and usesof Forest resources. Give recreation consid-eration comparable to other activities andForest uses during site specific environmen-tal analysis. Actively manage ORV, eques-trian, hunting, and other dispersed activi-ties. Promote a diversity of recreation uses.Minimize barriers to dispersed use such asrange fences and closed roads, unless appro-priate in assigned ROS class. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–328: Respond to the changing needs ofrecreation users by providing for differenttypes of recreation as funding and resourceconstraints permit. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–329: Allow enhancement of specializedrecreation opportunties with strong support-ing partnership agreements. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–330: Manage dispersed recreation op-portunities and use under the MeaningfulMeasures system. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–331: Strive to determine accurately, lev-els of use of dispersed areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–332: Use the Infrastructure, Oracle-basedcomputer application for management ofrecreation data. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–333: Promote Pack-It-In-Pack-It-Out andLeave No Trace use concepts in dispersedareas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–334: Allow camping in the general Forestarea, except in areas specifically closed orrestricted such as the national wildlife man-agement preserves. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–335: Strive to make all recreation oppor-tunities and activities universally accessible,and to provide non-traditional opportunitiesfor persons with disabilities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–336: Produce and keep current publica-tions needed to facilitate quality recreationvisits on the Forest. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–337: Consider the use of Forest lands fororganized recreation events, developments,or uses when there is potential to accommo-date the proposed use and when it is com-patible with other resource activities. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–338: Manage recreation settings in ac-cordance with the ROS. Recognize the ROS

system is flexible; activities and improve-ments inconsistent with the assigned classmay be appropriate and desirable. Strive toprovide recreation opportunities in differentROS class settings, including rural, roadednatural and semiprimitive. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–339: Remove user-constructed improve-ments not consistent with managementobjectives. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


RESOURCEELEMENTS




FW–340: Schedule law enforcement patrolsto insure reasonable safety and security oflife and property from criminal acts. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–341: Routinely inspect heavily used dis-persed sites for health and safety hazards ona schedule comparable to the developedrecreation site inspection schedule. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–342: Provide off-road vehicle (ORV) recre-ation opportunities that are compatible withthe environmental setting, minimize off-road vehicle effects on the land and re-sources, promote public safety, and mini-mize conflicts with other uses of the Forest.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–343: Designate Kisatchie National Forestlands as open, restricted, or closed to ORV useas follows: (KNF) (STANDARD)

� Open — Areas on which all types of mo-torized vehicles may be operated off roadswithout restrictions.

� Restricted — Areas on which motorizedvehicle use is restricted by times or seasonof use, types of vehicles, vehicle equip-ment, or types of activity specified inorders issued under authority of 36 CFR 261.

� Closed — Areas on which all motorizedvehicle use is prohibited, except by per-mit, under authority of 36 CFR 261.

FW–344: Allow the use of ORVS off of roadsand trails except where specifically restrictedor prohibited by law, regulation, Forest Plan,or Forest Supervisor order. Use of ORVS isrestricted or prohibited in developed recre-ation sites; research natural areas; specialinterest areas; Saline Bayou National ScenicRiver corridor; Kisatchie Hills Wilderness;designated walk-in hunting areas; StuartSeed Orchard; Breezy Hill no-entry artilleryrange; Fort Polk Intensive Use Area; PeasonRidge Intensive Use Area; U.S. Air ForceReserve Claiborne Bombing & GunneryRange and safety fan; segments of special-use utility rights-of-way on the EvangelineUnit and Kisatchie District; Louisianapearlshell mussel habitat; RCW cluster sitesand certain sensitive plant communities. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–345: Prohibit or restrict the use of ORVS inaccordance with 36 CFR 295 on additional areaswhen unacceptable effects from ORV use oc-curs to other resources or Forest visitors.Examples of additional areas where ORV usemay be prohibited or restricted include butare not limited to: recently rehabilitated areasand utility rights-of-way subject to unaccept-able soil and water impacts. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–346: As stated in 36 CFR 295, provide thepublic an opportunity to participate in theprocess of allowing, restricting, or prohibit-ing use of areas and trails to one or morespecific vehicle types off of Forest develop-ment roads. Provide 60 days advance noticeto allow for public review of proposed orrevised designations. In emergency situations,temporary designations up to 1 year in lengthmay be made or revised without public par-ticipation if needed to protect the resourcesand / or to provide for public safety. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–347: Develop and distribute maps illus-trating the permitted ORV use designations(see FW–343) — open, restricted, or closed.Use signing to identify on-the-ground areaswhere ORV use is prohibited or restricted.Post signs and maps in locations that areobvious and convenient to Forest visitors.Distribute maps at all Forest Service offices,developed recreation sites, and at areas ofconcentrated ORV use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–348: Promote public safety by providingORV users information on hazards and en-couraging safe riding techniques and theuse of protective riding gear. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Trails

FW–349: Avoid displacement or relocation ofForest system trails by new roads wheneverpossible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–350: Address the potential effects of man-agement activities adjacent to system trailsduring site-specific analysis. Require appro-priate techniques to mitigate the effects ofmanagement activities. Measures to miti-gate the effects of activities may includevegetative screening, avoidance, reclama-tion, and timing of project implementationto reduce impacts during high use periods.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS




FW–351: Manage the trail system to serve theneeds of the recreationists at appropriatechallenge levels, in a condition that protectsthe resource and meets health and safetystandards. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–352: Base the intensity of trail mainte-nance activities on existing trail conditionsand the level of use of the trail. The prioritiesfor performing trail maintenance activitiesare to correct unsafe conditions, preventresource and trail damage from occurring,and fully restore trail to the planned designstandard. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–353: Maintain trail markers or blazes toprovide the public with clear trail routeidentification. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–354: For trails management and newconstruction, emphasize multiple-use trailsthat are open to a variety of modes of travelincluding foot, horses, mountain bikes, andoff-road vehicles (ORVS). Allow single or re-stricted-use trails where appropriate. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–355: Give priority for new trail construc-tion to loop trails. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–356: When feasible and consistent withother management activities, providetrailhead parking at intersections of openroads and system trails. Adequately signthese intersections. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–357: Identify and define a network ofroads and old travelways that may be used astrails for such activities as horseback riding,all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, and 4X4 use. Ingeneral, users of these travelways will en-counter a full variety of management activi-ties and locations may change as resourceactivities are implemented and completed.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–358: Develop trail management objec-tives for all trails on the Forest. Regularlyinspect all trail and associated structures,such as bridges. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–359: Promote partnerships with usergroups to aid in such activities as trail main-tenance, construction and providing visitorinformation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–360: Obliterate user-constructed trailsnot consistent with management objectives.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–361: Divert water runoff from trails toreduce soil erosion. Contour trails or con-struct drain dips or switchbacks to avoidchanneling water down long slopes. Con-struct waterbars on long pitches with greaterthan five percent slopes. If possible, avoidimpacting soil with a severe erosion hazard.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–362: Minimize the number of streamcrossings as much as possible. Constructcrossings at right angles to the stream.Harden crossings or use bridges on largerstreams to reduce sedimentation. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–363: Vegetation along trails is treated tomaintenance levels identified in the publica-tion Trails South. Priority is given to correct-ing unsafe conditions, preventing resourcedamage, and providing for intended recre-ation experience level. (VM-23) (GUIDELINE)

Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway

FW–364: Assign the corridor a high scenicintegrity objective (SIO) under the new Scen-ery Management System. Measures taken toprotect and enhance scenic conditions ofthe landscape visible from the Byway mayexceed requirements of the high SIO

Forestwide standards and guidelines. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–365: Include the Forest landscape archi-tect on ID teams for proposals within areasvisible from the Byway. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–366: Allow regeneration harvests alongcorridor. Evaluate such proposals using an IDteam, to consider the potential impact of eachharvest unit on the overall sequential experi-ence of traveling the corridor. Special require-ments for residue management and disposalmay be imposed. Where appropriate, retain aminimum of 40 square feet of basal area peracre of mature pine or hardwood trees within200 feet of the edge of the Byway right-of-wayedge, to maintain an aesthetic continuity oflarge trees. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–367: Minimize log landings and exits thatare visible from the Byway. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


RESOURCEELEMENTS




FW–368: Develop a district plan for prescribeburning along the Byway with input fromthe Forest landscape architect, indentifyingspecific locations of significant species andspecial areas. Include direction for incorpo-ration in prescribed burning plans that ad-dress season of burn (considering heavyvisitation periods on the Byway), and con-tain specific measures to protect floweringspecies and hardwoods that display attrac-tive fall color. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–369: Develop an aesthetic mowing planthat varies the mowed zone width, andmaintains spatial diversity. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–370: Schedule right-of-way mowingdates to promote wildflower growth. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–371: Strive to establish a rich variety ofnative wildflower species in the mowed right-of-way corridor and in adjacent timber stands.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–372: Establish permanent openings or“meadows” that add to spatial diversity andcontribute to wildlife viewing opportunitiesat selected Byway locations. Encourage wild-flowers in the openings, which will be lo-cated, where possible, to create distant viewsand vistas. Retain mature foreground treesas described above for regeneration cuts.Openings or meadows will be viewedthrough these trees. Maintain lower vegeta-tion at levels ensuring meadow or openingviewability. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–373: Protect and encourage small flower-ing trees, such as dogwood. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–374: Protect and encourage hardwoodswith good fall color. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–375: Manage for diverse midstory andunderstory that includes areas of dense“brush” such as yaupon. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–376: Do not permit mineral explorationwithin the right-of-way. Permit oil and gasleasing with a no surface occupancy stipulationwithin the road right-of-way corridor; apply amoderately restrictive controlled surface use(CSU2) stipulation, extending out 2,000 feetfrom the road right-of-way, on the remainderof the Byway corridor. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–377: Do not lease or sell common varietyminerals (sand, gravel, iron ore) within thecorridor. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–378: Continue implementation of theexisting Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway Inter-pretation Plan. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–379: Strive to develop partnerships withtourism related entities to promote use ofthe Byway. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

REGISTRY NATURAL AREAS

FW–380: Apply the following managementpractices to all Louisiana registry naturalareas occurring on the Forest to protect thebiologically unique characteristics for whichthey were designed: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Classify registry natural areas as not suit-able for timber production.

� Sign and maintain boundaries when prac-tical.

� Prohibit off-road vehicle use.� Prohibit livestock grazing. Use fencing if

necessary to prevent unacceptable dam-age from livestock. Control feral hogs ifunacceptable damage occurs.

� Prohibit pinestraw collection.� Prohibit mechanical site preparation.� Use prescribed fire at the season and

frequency that applies to the manage-ment area or sub-management area withinwhich the area is located.

� Issue oil and gas leases with a no surfaceoccupancy stipulation.

� Consider vegetation management on acase-by-case basis when needed to pro-tect, restore, or maintain an area’s uniquecharacteristics.

FW–381: Apply the guidance found in FW-380, and FW–677 through FW–689 to SteepHill, North Bayou L’Ivrogne, Middle Branch,and Leo’s Bogs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS

FW–382: Allow recreational use of researchnatural areas (RNAS) as long as it does notcontribute to their modification. Discourageor prohibit recreation uses that may harmthe featured communities or impair researchand educational values. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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FW–383: Close RNAS year-round to motorizedtravel off-roads and trails. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–384: Do not allow direct wildlife habitatimprovement in RNAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–385: Do not allow livestock grazing inRNAS. Use fencing if necessary to preventlivestock damage. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–386: Prohibit pinestraw collection in RNAS.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–387: Classify RNAS as not suitable fortimber production. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–388: Do not fell or remove trees killed asa result of endemic insect or disease activityin RNAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–389: Do not use even-aged regenerationmethods in RNAS except for epidemic insectand disease control. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–390: Issue oil and gas leases with a nosurface occupancy stipulation in RNAS. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–391: Do not lease or sell common-varietyminerals in RNAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–392: Do not issue special-use permits inRNAS, except for research projects that areconsistent with an RNA’S establishment recordand management plan. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–393: Allow road and trail constructionand reconstruction if necessary to meet RNA

objectives. Close or obliterate existing roadsor trails that do not contribute to RNA objec-tives. Use natural vegetation for obliterationunless more intensive measures are requiredto mitigate adverse environmental conse-quences. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–394: Maintain roads at maintenance lev-els 2 or 3 in RNAS. Provide traffic managementcontrols as necessary. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–395: Use the direct control suppressionstrategy in RNAS for all wildfires to minimizeacres burned. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–396: Do not allow prescribed fire unlessprovided for in an RNA’S establishment recordand management plan. (KNF) (STANDARD)

RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITIONS

FW–397: Acquire rights-of-way where needsare identified by means of purchase, donation,agreement or condemnation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–398: Acquire rights-of-way for existingand proposed Forest development roadsand trails. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–399: Acquire or exchange access withother agencies, states, counties, and privateinterests to assure management objectivesare met for all ownerships. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–400: Acquire permanent, exclusive ease-ments for all rights-of-way unless temporaryneed can be justified and proper approvalobtained. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

FW–401: Identify eligible communities orgroups and assist them in developing actionplans for ecologically sound projects whichpromote sustainable rural development andincrease the quality of life in rural Louisiana.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–402: Ensure that communities and projectproposals meet criteria for selection as di-rected by the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-tion and Trade Act of 1990 (PL 101-624; National

Forest-Dependent Communities Economic Diversification

Act of 1990). (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–403: Coordinate Action Team develop-ment and project proposals with the Louisi-ana Department of Agriculture and Forestryand with Resource Conservation and Devel-opment Councils (RC&D), so that proposalsmeet local and Statewide needs and inter-ests. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–404: Conduct or assist in project moni-toring of action plan implementation. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SCENERY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

FW–405: All Kisatchie lands are assigned ascenic integrity objective (SIO) in accordancewith the SMS process described in AppendixF of the FEIS. The SIOS are very high, high,moderate, low and very low. See map inAppendix F of the FEIS. All managementactions will comply with assigned SIOS. In-


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clude scenic resources in site-specific analy-ses of all proposed projects, regardless ofassigned SIO. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Very high SIO

FW–406: In very high SIO areas, with fewexceptions, allow ecological changes only.Prohibit human alteration and managementactivities such as road construction and tim-ber harvest. Only allow alterations that arelow-scenic-impact recreation facilities, suchas hiking and horse trails. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

High SIO

FW–407: In high SIO areas, human activitymay only repeat the form, line, color, andtexture found in the natural or natural-ap-pearing landscape. The high SIO allows hu-man alteration and managment activity thatis not visually evident. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–408: Uneven-aged regeneration is gen-erally preferred over even-aged in high SIO

areas. Allow even-aged regeneration to af-fect spatial diversity, mimic natural processes,or facilitate restoration of natural plant com-munities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–409: Shelterwood is the preferred even-aged regeneration method in high SIO areas.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–410: Retain shelterwood trees for a pe-riod not to exceed 3 years after seedlingestablishment if 15 or more contiguous acresof the stand are visible from the travelwayand it does not conflict with other resourcerequirements. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–411: Shelterwood regeneration areas witha residual basal area of 20 square feet peracre or more have no scenery-based sizerestriction if leave trees are retained for aperiod of at least 3 years after seedlingestablishment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–412: No more than 30 contiguous acresof a seed-tree regeneration area with a leavetree BA between 10 and 20 square feet peracre may be visible from the travelway.Adjacent stands less than 8 years old must beconsidered a part of the opening whendetermining compliance with this 30-acrerestriction. Stands less than 8 years old sepa-rated by less than 330 feet must be consid-

ered part of the opening when determiningcompliance. Regeneration areas on oppo-site sides of a road, but otherwise adjacent,will be considered a contiguous opening.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–413: No more than 15 contiguous acresof a clearcut or seed-tree regeneration areawith a leave-tree BA of less than 10 square feetper acre may be visible from the travelway.Adjacent stands less than 8 years old must beconsidered a part of the opening when deter-mining compliance with this 15-acre restric-tion. Stands less than 8 years old separated byless than 330 feet must be considered part ofthe opening when determining compliance.Deviations from the 15-acre restriction maybe approved on a case-by-case basis on landswith a DFC theme of restoration. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–414: Strive to avoid numerous even-agedregeneration areas in close proximity duringthe same planning cycle. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–415: Strive to establish irregular standshapes that are based on or mimic naturalboundaries such as changes in vegetation,soil type, or topography. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–416: Retain groups of trees or large singletrees within cutting unit boundaries. Em-phasis on trees to be retained should be inaccordance with the DFC. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–417: Retain and protect midstory andunderstory species with desirable floweringcharacteristics. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–418: Use feathering as an edge treat-ment. Feathering is the partial cutting oftrees along the cutting unit boundary tocreate transition in vegetation height and /or density between the opening and adja-cent forest canopy. Feathering is appropri-ate in all high SIO zones and is required in allconcern level 1 areas. Feathering is accom-plished by using several different techniquessingly or in combination. Possible techniquesare, leaving the existing understory just in-side the cutting unit boundary, thinning theoverstory canopy along the interior edge ofthe cutting unit boundary, or leaving veg-etation of progressively greater height fromthe interior of the cutting unit to the bound-ary. The technique used depends heavily onsite conditions. The width of the feathered

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edge should at a minimum equal the heightof the adjacent uncut stand. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–419: Treat slash resulting from harvest orother management activity so it is no higherthan 2 feet above the surface of the ground,by lopping, chopping, crushing, burning,chipping or removal from zone or a combina-tion of the preceding methods. Do not pile orwindrow slash adjacent to the treatmentzone. The treated zone should extend 200–600 feet beyond the edge of the clearedright-of-way of the travelway; the actual widthis determined on a case-by-case basis by or inconsultation with the Forest landscape archi-tect. Treatment must be accomplished within1 year of slash production. In the most sensi-tive areas, such as within developed recre-ation sites, more intense treatment may berequired, such as chipping and scattering oroutright removal. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–420: Within the boundaries of devel-oped recreation sites and other highly sensi-tive locations, use cut-tree marking. If leave-tree marking must be used, obliterate byover-painting with dark gray paint withinone year after the timber sale is closed. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–421: Locate all log landings out of sightin the high SIO travelway. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–422: Minimize construction or improve-ment of roads that join the travelway. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–423: Do not use windrowing as a sitepreparation method within high SIO areas.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–424: For all proposed herbicide treat-ments in high SIO areas, the Forest Landscapearchitect must be consulted. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–425: Stumps that result from harvestoperations may be ground down to or be-low natural grade in the most sensitive areas,such as within recreation site boundaries.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Moderate SIO

FW–426: In moderate SIO zones, human ac-tivities may repeat form, line, color, andtexture of landscape elements normally foundin the natural-appearing landscape charac-

ter being viewed. Activities may also intro-duce form, line, color and texture that arefound infrequently or not at all in the land-scape character, but these new scenic at-tributes should remain subordinate to thevisual strength of the natural or natural-appearing landscape character being viewedand consistent with the landscape charactergoal. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–427: Uneven-aged regeneration meth-ods are generally preferred over even-agedmethods in moderate SIO areas, but even-aged methods, with some restrictions, arefully acceptable. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–428: Shelterwood regeneration is the pre-ferred even-aged method in moderate SIO

areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–429: Retain shelterwood trees for a pe-riod not to exceed 3 years after seedlingestablishment if 30 or more contiguous acresof the stand is visible from the travelway andit does not conflict with other resource re-quirements. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–430: Shelterwood regeneration with aresidual basal area of 10 square feet per acreor more have no scenery-based size restric-tion if leave trees are retained for at least aperiod of 3 years after seedling establish-ment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–431: No more than 40 contiguous acresof a clearcut or seed-tree regeneration areawith a leave tree BA of less than 10 square feetper acre, may be visible from the travelway.Adjacent stands less than 8 years of age mustbe considered a part of the opening whendetermining compliance with this 40-acrerestriction. Stands less than 8 years of ageseparated by less than 330 feet must beconsidered part of the opening when deter-mining compliance. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–432: Avoid numerous even-aged regen-eration areas in close proximity during thesame planning cycle. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–433: Establish irregular stand shapes thatare based on or mimic natural boundariessuch as changes in vegetation, soil type ortopography. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–434: Retain groups of trees or large singletrees within cutting unit boundaries. Em-


RESOURCEELEMENTS




phasis on trees to be retained should be inaccordance with the DFC. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–435: Retain and protect midstory andunderstory species with desirable floweringcharacteristics. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–436: Use feathering as an edge treatment.Feathering is removal of some trees along thecutting unit boundary to create a transition invegetation height and / or density betweenthe opening and adjacent forest canopy. It isappropriate in all moderate SIO zones but isrequired in all concern level 1 areas. Feather-ing is accomplished by using several tech-niques singly or in combination. Possibletechniques are: leaving the existing under-story just inside the cutting unit boundary,thinning the overstory canopy along the inte-rior edge of the cutting unit boundary, orleaving vegetation of progressively greaterheight from the interior of the cutting unit tothe boundary. The technique used dependsheavily on site conditions. The width of thefeathered edge should at minimum equal theheight of the adjacent uncut stand. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–437: Treat slash that results from harvestor other management activities so it is nohigher than 2 feet above the surface of theground, by lopping, chopping, crushing,burning, chipping or removal from zone ora combination of the preceding methods.Slash is not piled or windrowed adjacent tothe treatment zone. The treated zone shouldextend at least 150 feet beyond the edge ofthe cleared right-of-way of the travelway.Treatment must be accomplished within 1year of the slash-producing activity. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–438: Within developed recreation sitesand other highly sensitive locations, use cut-tree marking. If leave-tree marking must beused, obliterate by overpainting with darkgray paint within one year after the timbersale is closed. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–439: Minimize number of log landingsvisible from the travelway. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–440: Minimize construction or improve-ment of roads that join the travelway. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–441: Do not use windrowing as a sitepreparation method within moderate SIO

areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Low SIO

FW–442: In lands with the low SIO humanalterations and management activities domi-nate the original scenic attributes of thenatural or natural appearing landscape char-acter being viewed. They borrow from natu-rally established design attributes — form,line color, and texture — so completely andat such a scale that the scenic attributes arethose of natural occurances with the sur-rounding area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–443: Establish irregular stand shapes thatare based on or mimic natural boundariessuch as changes in vegetation, soil type ortopography. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–444: Treat slash that results from harvestor other management activities so it is nohigher than 2 feet above the surface of theground, by lopping, chopping, crushing,burning, chipping, or removal from zone; ora combination of the preceding methods.Slash should not be piled or windrowedadjacent to the treatment zone. The treatedzone should extend at least 50 feet beyondthe edge of the cleared right-of-way of thetravelway. Treatment must be accomplishedwithin one year of the slash producing activ-ity. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–445: Minimize number of log landingsvisible from the travelway. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–446: Do not use windrowing as a sitepreparation method within low SIO areas.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SOIL AND WATER

Fragile soils

FW–447: Obtain ID team input, including soiland water staff before burning in sub-water-sheds containing fragile Kisatchie (KT) or Betis(BF) soils. Small areas of these soils may beburned if protecting them would produceexcessive soil resource damage. If any ofthese soils are burned it is preferable to burnduring the growing season. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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FW–448: Obtain ID team and soil and waterstaff input before planning any surface dis-turbance on slopes greater than five percentin areas of fragile soils. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Soil productivity,erosion, and sedimentation

FW–449: Manage soils to maintain or im-prove productivity and to minimize erosionand compaction (refer to FSH 2509.18 and R8 Supple-

ment, FSM 2500, FSH 2509.11 17 and 3509.12). (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–450: Include erosion control measuresand maintenance in all program and projectplans. Implement erosion control measuresat the time of ground-disturbing activities.Revegetate areas as promptly as practical.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–451: Design and implement land man-agement practices so that soil loss does notreduce soil productivity by exceeding allow-able loss for any given soil. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–452: Maintain or improve water qualityin accordance with State and federal stan-dards. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–453: Return degraded areas to their natu-ral condition to produce multiple resourcebenefits. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–454: Implement soil and water resourceimprovements using the following priority,as referenced in FSM 2522: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Protection of public health and safety� Reduction of sedimentation and erosion� Restoration of natural ecosystems� Maintenance of previous capital invest-

ments and improvements in the produc-tion of market goods and services

SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS

FW–455: Manage each special interest area(SIA) as an integral part of the KisatchieNational Forest with emphasis on its uniquevalues. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–456: Manage other values or resourcesin SIAS to a level compatible with each area’sprimary special values. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–457: Do not construct campgrounds orother overnight recreation development inSIAS. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–458: If provided, locate trails, structures,picnic grounds and other facilities withoutdisturbing the special features of the SIA.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–459: Permit no resorts or other high-im-pact special-uses within SIAS. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–460: Keep developments such as roads,trails, and other facilities to the minimumnecessary for public enjoyment of the SIA.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–461: Encourage public use and enjoy-ment of each SIA up to the level that willensure protection of the special values forwhich established. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–462: Provide interpretive services to en-hance visitors’ understanding and apprecia-tion of an SIA’S special features. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–463: Allow other occupancy and use ofthe SIA’S resources to the extent they neitherinterfere with the primary values for whichestablished nor negatively affect the visitor’sexperience. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–464: Assign SIAS the high SIO. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–465: Manage SIAS under the requirementof the ROS class of semi-primitive non-motor-ized. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–466: Allow dispersed recreation activi-ties such as hiking, picnicking and naturestudy in SIAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–467: Prohibit military activity in SIAS. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–468: Do not allow direct wildlife habitatimprovement in SIAS. Encourage natural suc-cession while protecting the attributes forwhich the area was designated. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–469: Do not permit grazing in SIAS. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)


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FW–470: Do not permit pinestraw collectionin SIAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–471: Classify SIAS as not suitable for tim-ber production. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–472: Permit oil and gas leasing with a nosurface occupancy (NSO) stipulation in SIAS.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–473: Do not construct new roads in SIAS;maintain existing roads as needed. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–474: Use direct control, containment, orconfinement fire suppression strategies inSIAS. Surveillance can be appropriate whenthe fire is expected to be self-confined withina defined area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–475: Use prescribed fire in SIAS to main-tain ecological integrity. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–476: Schedule prescribed burning in SIAS

when adjoining areas are burned. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–477: Control active SPB infestations in SIAS

in accordance with the management re-quirements and mitigation measures fromthe Record of Decision for the Final EIS onSuppression of the Southern Pine Beetle. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–478: Do not allow exploration for com-mon variety minerals (sand, gravel, and ironore) in SIAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–479: Do not allow regeneration or tim-ber stand improvement practices in SIAS.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–480: When needed, use only salvage,sanitation, and improvement cutting in alltimber types in SIAS. Cutting may be used forhazard tree removal, insect and disease con-trol, aesthetics, and wildlife stand improve-ment to enhance soft and hard mast devel-opment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–481: Prepare Supervisor’s Orders settingout rules and regulations for SIAS. Informvisitors through written information andpersonal contact. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–482: Provide bulletin boards at primaryaccess points into SIAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–483: Do not permit competitive trailrides, survival exercises, or other similar eventsin SIAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–484: Survey, mark and post the exteriorboundary of each SIA. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SPECIAL USES

General

FW–485: Permit special-uses of national for-est land, including those for the military,only after appropriate site-specific environ-mental analysis and public involvement asdirected by the Project-Level Planning andAnalysis and Cooperation/Coordination withOther Agencies sections of Chapter 2 of thisPlan. Closely administer the conditions ofapproval of all permits. Review permits andestablish termination dates on special-useswith recognized conflicts with higher pub-lic use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–486: When appropriate, amend permitsto reflect changes in standards by the ForestService, new technology, or congressionaldirection. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–487: Charge occupancy and use fees com-mensurate with charges for similar uses onprivate lands. Fees should reflect fair marketvalue for the use of national forest lands andimprovements as determined by an appraisal,market survey, or other sound business man-agement principle. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–488: Do not issue special-use permits toresolve occupancy trespass unless it can bedemonstrated that the public interest is notcompromised. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–489: Minimize special-uses on lands iden-tified for exchange which would hinder dis-posal of the land. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–490: The Forest Supervisor must approvemaintenance of special-use rights-of-way bypesticides / herbicides in advance, and ap-proval is contingent upon meeting EPA stan-dards. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–491: Work with utility special-use per-mittees to establish vegetation managementobjectives such as wildlife, watershed, recre-ation, and visual quality for location of new

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SPECIAL USES



utility lines and maintenance of existingones. These objectives determine mainte-nance techniques and strategies. (VM-19)(GUIDELINE)

FW–492: Where feasible, low-growing shrubsand grasses are established and maintainedalong utility lines where wildlife and aestheticobjectives are dominant. (VM-20) (GUIDELINE)

FW–493: Approve new utility corridors onlyafter an analysis of public need and anassessment of alternatives is made. Corri-dors will meet scenic integrity objectiveswherever possible. Use existing corridors tothe extent possible where the uses are com-patible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–494: When needed to meet environ-mental concerns identified in environmen-tal analysis, bury new telephone lines andelectrical power lines less than 34.5 KV. Allowexceptions when: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� It is not feasible because of geologic haz-ard or unfavorable geologic conditions;

� Greater long-term site disturbance wouldresult; or

� It is not technologically or economicallyfeasible.

FW–495: Authorize new communication /electronic facilities on existing sites whereappropriate. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Recreation

FW–496: Do not permit any new recreationresidence sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–497: Terminate existing permits and donot issue any new permits for isolated cabinswhen opportunities occur. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–498: Authorize recreation events on na-tional forest lands in accordance with direc-tions in 36 CFR 251, FSM 2721, and FSM 2300 if useis compatible with other uses based on envi-ronmental analysis. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–499: Authorize outfitter and guide permitswhere the use does not conflict with othermanagement objectives. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Road right-of-way grants

FW–500: Issue letters of consent for the ap-propriation and transfer of land for ease-ment to the Department of Transportation(DOT), Federal Highway Administration un-less the proposal is contrary to the publicinterest or inconsistent with the purposes forwhich such lands have been reserved. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–501: Respond to requests for DOT ease-ments in a timely manner. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–502: To qualify for DOT easements theproject must be a part of the Federal AidSystem. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–503: Where road rights-of-way are au-thorized to parish or State by special-usepermit, encourage permittees to apply foran easement to replace the permit. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–504: Grant easements for all parish andState system roads. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–505: Utilize existing corridors for futureadditions as needed where uses are compat-ible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–506: Permit only one access across na-tional forest land per private subdivision ortract, when the route is environmentally ac-ceptable and where no other readily availableor historical access exists. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

STATE NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS

FW–507: Coordinate management of Louisi-ana State Natural and Scenic Rivers with theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisher-ies. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–508: Along State natural and scenic riv-ers, the width of the streamside habitatprotection zone (SHPZ) will be at least 100feet from the channel on each side of theriver. In addition, prohibit the following useswithin these zones: (KNF) (STANDARD)

� Channelization� Clearing and snagging� Channel realignment� Reservoir construction


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STATE NATURALAND SCENIC RIVERS



FW–509: Along State natural and scenic riv-ers, obtain approval from the LDWF for thefollowing activities: (KNF) (STANDARD)

� Crossings by roads, bridges, railroads,pipelines or utilities

� Sharing of land and airspace by suchroads, railroads, pipelines and utilities

� Point source discharge of any pollutant� Prospecting, drilling and mining for non-

renewable natural resources� Structures and buildings of any kind or size� Piers, boat slips, bulkheads and landings� Commercial uses, activities and access� Commercial signs or other forms of out-

door advertising that are visible from thewaters within a natural and scenic river

� Water withdrawals, except for withdraw-als made by an individual, adjacent prop-erty owner solely for residential purposes

STREAMSIDE HABITATS,RIPARIAN AREAS, AND WETLANDS

Streamside habitat protection

FW–510: Within a zone at least 50 feet from ascour channel and extending at least 50 feetfrom the end of the channel, plan and con-duct forest management activities to protector enhance riparian associated resource val-ues and characteristics. Riparian associatedresources are defined as the plant and animalhabitats and mesic sideslope communitiesthat are found within or adjacent to riparianareas or scour channels. Within this zone,which shall be called a streamside habitatprotection zone (SHPZ), prohibit the followingpractices: (KNF) (STANDARD)

� Clearcutting, seed-tree, and shelterwoodregeneration methods

� Salvage of single / double trees� Removal of overstory or understory veg-

etation within 5 feet of the scour channel� Mechanical site preparation� Log decks or landings� Extraction of common variety minerals

FW–511: Classify the area within SHPZS asnot suitable for timber production. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–512: In SHPZS, allow group or single-treeselection regeneration techniques designedonly to improve fisheries and wildlife habitat,the plant community structure or composi-

tion, or other amenity value. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–513: Within SHPZS do not allow the fol-lowing practices: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Roads, multiple-use trails, plow lines, andskid trails that run parallel to the scourchannel, if feasible

� Stream crossings, unless they 1) run atright angles to the scour channel, 2) aresite-designated to minimize soil and wa-ter impacts, and 3) do not impede fishpassage

� Timber harvest treatments, unless they 1)remove less than 4.5 CCF per acre, 2) occuronly when soils are dry, and 3) are in-tended to improve wildlife habitat, main-tain or restore specific vegetation com-munities, or improve old growth struc-ture

� Harvesting and site preparation methodsthat expose bare soil on more than 10percent of the site

� Tractor-plow firelines unless they are: 1)used only for wildfire suppression; or 2)are more than 33 feet from the scourchannel for prescribed fire and used onlyfor tie-in. For wildfires, revegetate plowlines as soon as possible. For prescribedfire, hand rake and subsequently reveg-etate the fireline between the end of thetractor-plow line and the edge of thescour channel

FW–514: Permit oil and gas leasing withrestrictions in SHPZS — apply CSU1 stipula-tion. (See also FW–223 and FW–225). (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Riparian area protection

FW–515: Within a zone that may extend be-yond the SHPZ to at least the extent of the flat,level area or alluvial floodplain landform, planand conduct forest management activities toprotect or enhance those distinctive resourcevalues and characteristics that comprise theaquatic and riparian ecosystems. Within thiszone, which shall be called the riparian areaprotection zone (RAPZ), prohibit the followingpractices: (KNF) (STANDARD)

� Shearing and windrowing for sitepreparation

� Extraction of common variety minerals

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ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS

STATE NATURALAND SCENIC RIVERS

STREAMSIDE HABITATS,RIPARIAN AREAS, AND

WETLANDS



FW–516: Classify the area within RAPZS asnot suitable for timber production. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–517: In RAPZS allow group selection orsingle-tree selection regeneration tech-niques designed only to improve fisheriesand wildlife habitat, the plant communitystructure or composition, or other ame-nity value. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–518: Within RAPZS do not allow the fol-lowing practices: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Roads, plow lines, and skid trails that runparallel to the scour channel, if feasible

� Log decks or landings, unless they cannotbe effectively placed elsewhere

� Even-aged regeneration, temporary roads,skid trails, and mechanical site prepara-tion, unless 1) needed to restore or im-prove riparian vegetation communities,2) the actions can occur without frag-menting riparian habitat linkages, and 3)soil rutting and compaction impacts canbe adequately mitigated. Adequate miti-gation may consist of one or a combina-tion of the following:• Schedule treatments to occur duringseasonally dry periods.• Designate on-site locations that can /cannot be treated.• Limit the size of even-aged regenera-tion harvests to less than 20 acres.

� Harvesting and site preparation methodsthat expose bare soil on more than 10percent of the site

� Tractor-plow firelines unless they are: 1)used only for wildfire suppression; or 2)are more than 33 feet from the scourchannel for prescribed fire and used onlyfor tie-in. For wildfires, revegetate plowlines as soon as possible. For prescribedfire, hand rake and subsequently reveg-etate the fireline between the end of thetractor-plow line and the edge of thescour channel

FW–519: Permit oil and gas leasing with thefollowing stipulation restrictions: (See alsoFW–223 and FW–225). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� CSU1- RAPZS inside pearlshell mussel sub-watersheds, and within Management Area 2� CSU2 - inside RAPZS on the remainder of theForest

Water quality

FW–520: No herbicide shall be aerially ap-plied within 100 horizontal feet or ground-applied within 30 horizontal feet of lakes,wetlands, or perennial or intermittent springsand streams; or applied within 100 horizon-tal feet of any public or domestic watersource. Selective treatments (requiring addedsite-specific analysis and use of aquatic-la-beled herbicides) may occur within thesebuffers only to prevent significant environ-mental damage such as noxious weed infes-tations. Buffers are clearly marked beforetreatment so applicators can see and avoidthem. (VM-77) (STANDARD)

FW–521: Do not allow ground application ofherbicides by broadcast methods withinSHPZS and RAPZS. Allow selective treatmentsonly if all of the following conditions aremet: (KNF) (STANDARD)

� Additional site-specific analysis is per-formed

� Herbicides labeled for aquatic use areutilized

� Significant environmental damage, suchas noxious weed infestations, is beingprevented

FW–522: Do not obstruct water flow onstreams, unless needed to provide structuralwildlife or fish habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–523: Channel stability of perennial andintermittent streams is protected by retain-ing all woody understory vegetation withinat least 5 feet of the bank and by keepingslash accumulations out of the stream. (VM-

10) (GUIDELINE)

FW–524: Within SHPZS leave at least 75 percentof crown cover along perennial streams receiv-ing timber harvest treatments. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–525: Within the SHPZ and RAPZ: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Locate roads and multiple-use trails outside ofSHPZ zones as much as possible;

� Minimize vegetation clearing widths for roadsand road-stream crossings;

� Minimize clearing and ground disturbance atstream crossings;

� Locate crossings at points of low bank slopeand firm surfaces, at right angles to thestream; and,


RESOURCEELEMENTS

STREAMSIDE HABITATS,RIPARIAN AREAS, ANDWETLANDS



� Design roads, trails, and crossings to mini-mize impacts on riparian zones.

FW–526: Treat eroding areas (such as gulliesor degraded areas) that are contributingsediment directly to streams and bodies ofwater so that sediment yield is reduced tothe natural rate as soon as possible. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–527: Utilize rip-rap, plants, mats or othermethods to stabilize fill around road cross-ings and culverts to prevent erosion. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–528: Install barriers, fences, or other meth-ods to create artificial sediment trap buffers.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–529: Limit the use of construction equip-ment in streams to the amount of timeabsolutely essential for completion of theproject. Request input from the Forest Fish-eries Biologist. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–530: Establish fords only under condi-tions which will not cause significantstreambank erosion. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–531: Construct and maintain roads andtrails to minimize sedimentation and protectriparian and aquatic habitats. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Floodplains and wetlands

FW–532: Locate facilities (roads, camp-grounds, buildings) outside floodplainboundaries for the 100-year floodplain (Ex-

ecutive Order 11988), unless no practicable alter-native location exists. Where present andfuture facilities cannot be located out of the100-year floodplain, use structural mitiga-tion such as deflection structures or rip-rap.(KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–533: Locate critical facilities outside the500-year floodplain. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–534: Post the location of facilities thatoccur within the 100-year floodplain as perFSM 2527.6. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–535: If floodplains or wetlands occur onfederal land considered for exchange, evalu-ate intended use of the land being exchangedand the trade-offs of both properties. Complywith E.O. 11988 and E.O. 11990. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–536: Within jurisdictional wetlands per-mit oil and gas leasing with a no surfaceoccupancy stipulation. (See Appendix D).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

STRUCTURES

FW–537: Classify agency administrative sitesas not suitable for timber production. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–538: Do not permit oil and gas explora-tion within administrative sites. Permit oiland gas leasing with a no surface occupancystipulation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–539: Do not lease or sell common varietyminerals within administrative sites. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–540: Construct new facilities or replace-ment facilities, including offices, work cen-ters, residences, recreation facilities, and look-out towers, on a timely schedule as the end ofthe service life approaches. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–541: Monitor quality of potable and wastewater within administrative sites as requiredby the Environmental Protection Agency,the State of Louisiana, and FSM 7411, 7430, andE.O. 12088. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–542: Annually inspect all facilities. Correctsafety items detected during annual inspec-tions, and repair major building deficiencies.Provide accessible buildings in accordancewith current direction. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–543: Sample and test all sewage treat-ment systems and Forest Service potablewater systems in accordance with currentregulations. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–544: Review the need for the four resi-dences on the Forest as they become vacantand consider not retaining unless justified.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–545: Be environmentally alert to hazard-ous materials direction and regulations forcurrent and future activities on the Forest. Uselicensed contractors for any hazardous mate-rials disposal necessary. Pursue any reports ofhazardous materials located on the Forestusing approved and standard methods fordiscovery. The Forest HAZMAT coordinator is to

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS

STREAMSIDE HABITATS,RIPARIAN AREAS, AND

WETLANDS

STRUCTURES



continue to inform staff and rangers of guide-lines, direction, and regulations for hazard-ous materials. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

STUART GENETIC RESOURCEMANAGEMENT AREA (seed orchard)

FW–546: Prohibit or limit public use in StuartGenetic Resource Management Area (GRMA).Allow dispersed recreation, such as hunting,in the isolation strip. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–547: Do not allow grazing in the StuartGRMA. Allow grazing in the isolation strip.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–548: Classify Stuart GRMA as not suitablefor timber production. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–549: Manage the seed orchard in accor-dance with the Tree Improvement Handbook,FSH 247 and FSM 2475. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–550: Maintain soil fertility and water qual-ity within the Stuart GRMA. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–551: Issue oil and gas leases with a nosurface occupancy stipulation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–552: Do not lease or sell common varietyminerals in Stuart GRMA. (KNF) (STANDARD)

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Planning and inventory

FW–553: Plan, locate, design, and construct/ reconstruct Forest development roads withconsideration for the following: resourcemanagement objectives, environmentalneeds, safety, traffic requirements, trafficservice levels, vehicle characteristics, roadusers, season(s) of use, and economics. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–554: Provide a road system suitable forland and resource management activitiesand Forest administration. Evaluate alltravelways not inventoried in the Forest Trans-portation System as they are encounteredduring project environmental analysis.Travelways subsequently determined to beneeded as part of the Forest road systemshall be added to the system and invento-ried. Travelways determined not be neededas part of the road system should be consid-ered for addition to the Forest trail system.

Reclaim travelways no longer needed toprovide access to the land and manage fornatural resource purposes. Classify these asplanned for obliteration and reclaim within areasonable period of time, not to exceed 10years after termination of a contract, lease orpermit. Use natural revegetation or scheduleas part of a more intensive resource activity.Until reclaimed, mitigate or correct unac-ceptable impacts to the adjacent land orresources. Do not include these travelwaysin the Forest Development Road SystemPlan. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Construction and reconstruction

FW–555: Allow development, improvement,or permitting of operational activities onshort-term (temporary) facilities only whenboth of the following conditions are met:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� There is a one-time need for access utiliz-ing either an existing or planned corridor.

� An obliteration opportunity exists, imme-diately upon completion of the activityrequiring access, to reclaim and managethe corridor for natural resource purposes.

FW–556: Minimize the miles of new roadconstruction through use or improvementof existing corridors. Develop roads for re-source management according to the fol-lowing priorities: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Use existing facilities, with no improve-ment, for year-round service.

� If the existing facility is not adequate foryear-round service, restrict use to accept-able seasons or conditions.

� If the existing facility is not adequate forthe intended use under any condition,improve to a standard capable of provid-ing service with control relative to theseason or soil conditions.

� If seasonal or other part-time service isunacceptable, improve the facility to pro-vide adequate year-round use.

� If no existing facility is available to serverequired access needs, construct the mini-mum facility adequate to provide neededservices under controlled seasonal or part-time use.

� If the existing road is causing unaccept-able resource damage that cannot bemitigated in a cost effective manner andthere is need for the road for resource


RESOURCEELEMENTS

STRUCTURES

STUARTGENETIC RESOURCEMANAGEMENT AREA(a seed orchard)

TRANSPORTATIONSYSTEM



management, obliterate and constructthe minimum standard road needed in amore acceptable location.

� If year-round use is needed for a docu-mented purpose, construct the minimumall-weather road.

FW–557: Use collector roads to collect trafficfrom local roads and connect with Forestarterial roads, serving multi-resource activi-ties. Reconstruct collector roads to the mini-mum service level that is consistent with theuse and purpose and that will safely accom-modate projected traffic during design life.Specific standards for road reconstructionare located in the Road Preconstruction Hand-book, FSH 7709.56. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–558: Provide local road access for re-source activities such as timber sales, rangeallotments, and campgrounds at the mini-mum acceptable service level. Favor recon-struction over construction. Specific stan-dards for local road construction and recon-struction are in the Road Preconstruction Hand-book, FSH 7709.56. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–559: Follow road development and main-tenance best management practices (BMPS)within wetlands and at stream crossings, asstated in section 404, Corps of Engineers PermitRequirements, and 40 CFR 233.22. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–560: Reduce short-term impacts of roadconstruction / reconstruction on water qual-ity by: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Monitoring and controlling construction/ reconstruction activities within and im-mediately adjacent to water courses toperiods of low flow; and

� Ensuring that effective erosion controlmeasures are used during construction /reconstruction of major drainage struc-tures and approaches.

FW–561: Reduce long-term impact of roadconstruction and reconstruction on erosionand sedimentation of adjacent land, and pro-tect the road investment by: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Providing adequate, timely temporaryerosion control during construction / re-construction in highly erodible soil areas;

� Requiring permanent vegetation on cutand fill slopes for all roads;

� Requiring permanent vegetation on en-

tire roadway width, including road prism,for all local roads managed as intermit-tent service; and

� Restricting or prohibiting use as warrantedto reduce unacceptable soil / water im-pacts and protect road investments.

FW–562: Reduce impacts on botanical sensi-tive or inclusional areas which may occurdue to road location and road construction/ reconstruction. Whenever possible locateroads away from these areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–563: Reduce impacts on wildlife habitatresulting from road location and road con-struction / reconstruction. Where optionsexist, choose a road location which mini-mizes loss of mast-producing vegetation.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–564: Reduce conflict of road users andcattle in range allotment areas by using right-of-way fencing along roadways where appro-priate. At fence crossings on traffic servicelevel C and D local roads, install gates or otherappropriate devices. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Operations and maintenance

FW–565: Develop, maintain, and managethe Forest road system as needed to respondto resource management objectives. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–566: Constructed transportation routesinventoried in the Forest Transportation sys-tem (roads and trails) should remain openfor public travel unless any of the followingoccurs: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� The road is unsafe for motorized publictravel.

� There is unacceptable resource damage.� Closures or restrictions are needed to

meet other resource needs.

FW–567: Prepare a site-specific analysis forproposed travelway closures or restrictionsbased upon the criteria in FW–569. If theanalysis indicates closure or restriction wouldbe appropriate, the district ranger shouldsubmit recommendations and draft a roadclosure order for the Forest Supervisor’s ap-proval. Only after Forest Supervisor’s closureorder is signed can access to travelways berestricted by physical barriers or signing.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS




FW–568: Site-specific analyses for travel re-strictions shall analyze the effects on devel-oped and dispersed recreation, the needs ofpeople with disabilities, and the effects onother resources. Analyses that propose ac-cess restrictions will consider season of use,alternate routes, and availability of similarexperiences. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–569: Use travelway restrictions or clo-sures as described below: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Travelways open for limited use: Travelwayis open for seasonal use or for specificvehicle types. Traffic is restricted by a gateor sign. Use of a ‘let-down’ wire gate isnot permitted.

� Travelways closed to all motorized vehicu-lar use: Travelways are closed to all motor-ized vehicular traffic for periods greaterthan one year. Traffic is blocked with anearthen mound or other similar physicalbarrier. A gate is not a recommendedclosure device. Administrative use wouldbe permitted only in performance ofemergency duties.

� Travelways permanently closed (obliter-ated): After site specific analysis thetravelway is determined not to be neededagain. It will be obliterated, revegetated,and removed from the Forest transporta-tion system.

FW–570: In the Forest transportation system,provide developed and dispersed recreationaccess to people with disabilities. The Reha-bilitation Act of 1973 (section 504) and theAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990 re-quire that programs and facilities must, to thehighest degree feasible, be readily accessibleto and usable by all with mobility impair-ment. Provide equal access to all for Forestdispersed recreation opportunities. Personswith mobility impairment may be authorizedto use closed roads. Coordinate requests on acase-by-case basis through the Forest acces-sibility coordinator. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–571: Close and obliterate temporary roadsplanned and constructed as part of a project.Use methods, timing, and mitigation mea-sures in accordance with the site-specificproject plan and with FSM 2432.35(b), FSH 2409.15,

FSH 2409.18 (Chapter 40). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–572: Reduce cost of road maintenanceby: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Applying appropriate traffic control regu-lations to ensure compatibility with typeof facility offered;

� Controlling and scheduling resourcemanagement activities to seasons or con-ditions that favor perpetuation of roadserviceability; and

� Applying road use restrictions and prohi-bitions where warranted.

FW–573: Maintain all roads to the followingrequirements: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Local roads closed between resource ac-tivities — maintenance level 1

� Local roads currently needed for man-agement activities and open to high-clearance vehicles — maintenance level 2

� Local roads currently needed for manage-ment activities and open to low-clearancevehicles — maintenance levels 3, 4, 5

� Local roads serving developed recreationsites — maintenance levels 4, 5

� Collector roads — maintenance levels 3, 4,5. On a project basis, continue coopera-tion with parishes for roads identified inthe Forest Development Road CooperativeAgreement.

� Arterial roads under the jurisdiction of theState — maintenance level 4, 5. Maintaincooperation through memorandum ofunderstanding.

FW–574: Provide user safety and traffic efficiencycommensurate with types of activity allowedand road service level using the following guides:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Utilize design criteria for Forest collector roadsthat will insure user safety and travel effi-ciency.

� Incorporate safety features in design of Forestlocal roads to service level (standard) offered.

� Normally, do not consider travel efficiency inForest local road design.

� Provide and maintain signing as warrantedby the Manual on Uniform Traffic ControlDevices and FSH 7109.31 according to the fol-lowing, decreasing, priorities:• Hazard markers and warning• Regulatory and route markers• Directional and destination• Informational


RESOURCEELEMENTS




FW–575: Share cost of road developmentand operation with commercial users ofForest development roads. Prohibit com-mercial use of all Forest development roadswithin an administrative unit without a per-mit or authorization. ‘Commercial Use’ willbe managed as follows: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Issue a blanket road order (all Forest de-velopment roads in a district) by theForest Supervisor to prohibit commercialhauling without a permit (36 CFR 261.54).

� Post the road order in accordance with 36

CFR 261.51.� The district ranger will be responsible for

issuing road use permits to authorize com-mercial use of Forest development roads.

� Include appropriate road maintenancerequirements in the road use permit.

� Require commercial users to perform ormake deposits for maintenance commen-surate with their use.

FW–576: Maintain bridges, cattle guards,and other structures to be structurally soundand safe for use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–577: Ensure that those bridges subject tothe National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS)are identified, inventoried and inspected inaccordance with FSM 7736. Ensure that struc-tural load rating analyses are performed on allroad bridges and, where needed, the safeload carrying capacities of all restricted bridgesare posted. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–578: Permanent vegetation is establishedand maintained on intermittent service roadswhen they are closed and on cut and fillslopes of all roads. (VM-21) (GUIDELINE)

FW–579: Where practical, native floweringspecies are established, maintained, and en-hanced on intermittent service roads whenthey are closed and on cut and fill slopes ofall roads. (VM-22) (GUIDELINE)

FW–580: All trails, roads, ditches, and otherimprovements in the project area are keptfree of logs, slash, and debris. Any road, trail,ditch, or other improvement damaged byoperations is promptly repaired. (VM-52)(GUIDELINE)

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

General

FW–581: The Kisatchie NF will include veg-etation management in its managementreview process. The Forest supervisor willconduct periodic vegetation managementactivity reviews. At a minimum, reviews willevaluate adequacy of vegetation manage-ment mitigation and monitoring. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–582: Using existing reporting systems, theKisatchie NF will report implementation of itsvegetation management program annually.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–583: Utilize a 10-year entry cycle forstand examination and prescription. Projectplanning shall address both site and land-scape conditions and shall include a state-ment on land management and resourceobjectives as well as the desired future con-dition (DFC) of the area. Consult Forest Ser-vice Handbook FSH 2409.26d for the pro-cess used to examine stands and prescribetreatments. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–584: Create and sustain the diverse For-est plant communities by managing towardsdesired future conditions that meet habitatobjectives for selected management indica-tors within appropriate management andsub-management areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–585: Except in areas where establish-ment and maintenance of a ground cover toprotect soil and water qualities (such asfirelines and Kisatchie soil restoration projects)is necessary, do not fertilize more frequentlythan once every 10 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–586: Use native species in revegetationprojects and include native species in seedmixtures depending on soil conditions anderosion hazard. Non-native species may beused when native species would not beexpected to provide adequate revegetationpromptly; if non-native species are used,select desirable species that do not persist inthe environment. Invasive, persistent, non-native species (kudzu, crown vetch, andothers) should not be used for revegetation.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS


VEGETATIONMANAGEMENT



Even-aged and two-aged management

FW–587: Use even-aged management as thepredominant silvicultural system on landssuited for timber production. Even-aged,two-aged, and uneven-aged regenerationmethods are also available. Specific guid-ance pertaining to uneven-aged manage-ment and uneven-aged regeneration meth-ods is found on pages 2–52 to 2–53 of thissection. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–588: Establish rotation length of 50 to120 years for pines and 100 to 150 years forhardwoods on lands suited for timber pro-duction in order to attain an average diam-eter at breast height (DBH) of 16-20 inches.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Regeneration and site preparation

FW–589: Do not use regeneration harvestmethods on any area suitable for timberproduction until its growth reaches the cul-mination of mean annual increment, exceptwhen harvesting damaged or sparse stands,or sites in imminent danger from insect ordisease attack. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–590: The size of an opening created by atimber sale entry for the purpose of regen-eration will depend on the MA within whichit is located. Within even-aged and two-aged systems, limit the opening size from 10to 80 acres. Do not exceed size limits with-out review and approval by the Forest Super-visor. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–591: Do not apply size limits to areasresulting from catastrophic disturbances suchas fire, insect, disease, or wind. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–592: Use soil types, moisture regimes,and landform patterns found on the land-scape to shape regeneration openings. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–593: Separate regeneration openingsfrom each other by a minimum distance of330 feet. Residual areas between regenera-tion openings should be at least of sufficientsize to qualify as a manageable stand from amulti-resource perspective. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–594: Do not create reentry openingsadjacent to regeneration openings until ei-ther minimum acceptable stocking has beenestablished or desired regeneration has at-tained a height approximately 20 percent ofthe average height of adjacent trees. If heightis the criteria being used, then base it on theaverage height of dominant and codomi-nant trees in adjacent stands. Make heightdeterminations at the time of field examina-tion to show whether the appropriate standheight condition has been reached orwhether the appropriate height condition isprojected to be reached by the time oftreatment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–595: For natural regeneration by theshelterwood method, utilize the followingguidelines for residual BA per acre: longleafpine, 25–40 square feet; other pines andpine-hardwood, 10–40 square feet; and hard-woods, 20–40 square feet. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–596: For natural regeneration using theseed-tree method, retain 6-10 residual stemsper acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–597: Use the clearcutting regenerationmethod only in the following circumstances:(KNF) (STANDARD)

� To restore native plant communities� To establish, enhance or maintain habitat

for threatened, endangered, or sensitivespecies

� To enhance wildlife habitat, or to providefor recreation, scenic vistas, utility lines,road corridors, facility sites, reservoirs, orsimilar development


RESOURCEELEMENTS


TABLE 2–2, STOCKING GUIDES FOR STANDREESTABLISHMENT

Stems Per Acre

Species Minimum Desired Maximum

Mixed* .............................................. 150 ................................... 250–350 ................................... 500Longleaf ........................................... 300 ................................... 500–700 .................................. 1200Loblolly ............................................. 300 ................................... 500–700 ................................... 900Shortleaf .......................................... 300 ................................... 500–700 ................................... 900Hardwood ........................................ 150 ................................... 250–350 ................................... 500

* Stocking within mixed forest types will consist of both desired pine and hardwood species.



� To rehabilitate lands adversely impactedby events such as fires, windstorms, orinsect or disease infestations

� To preclude or minimize adverse impactsof insect or disease infestations, wind-throw, logging damage, or other factorsaffecting forest health

� To provide for the establishment andgrowth of desired trees or other vegeta-tive species that are shade intolerant wherean adequate seed source is not available;

� To rehabilitate poorly stocked stands dueto past management practices or naturalevents

� To meet research needs

FW–598: Assure that adequate advance hard-wood reproduction is present prior to imple-menting a regeneration cut within a land-scape which has an objective of a mixed orhardwood management type. Adequateadvance reproduction will consist of at least150 existing, or expected, desirable hard-wood stump sprouts per acre, at least 3 feetin height. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–599: Do not allow mechanical site prepa-ration on slopes greater than 20 percent.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–600: To limit soil compaction and rut-ting, mechanical equipment should be usedon soils with a severe compaction hazard orsevere rutting hazard during dry conditionsonly. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–601: At least 85 percent of an activityarea should be left in a condition of acceptiblepotential soil productivity following silvicul-tural or other land management activities.No more than 15 percent of an area (includ-ing landings and skid trails) may be rutted,compacted, eroded, displaced, puddled, etc.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–602: Mechanical equipment is operatedso that furrows and soil indentations arealigned on the contour (with grades under 5percent). (VM-47) (GUIDELINE)

FW–603: Windrows and piles are spaced nomore than 200 feet apart to limit soil expo-sure, soil compaction, and nutrient loss frompiling and raking. Windrows are aligned onthe contour. (VM-49) (GUIDELINE)

FW–604: When piling, at least 80 percent ofthe area must retain some ground cover oflitter and duff, and soil must not be dis-placed by piling rakes. (VM-50) (GUIDELINE)

FW–605: Prompt revegetation is done if treat-ments leave insufficient ground cover tocontrol erosion by the end of the first grow-ing season. (VM-43) (GUIDELINE)

Stand establishment and improvement

FW–606: Use release and weeding treatmentswithin areas to obtain desired growth rates,stocking levels, species composition, groundcover establishment and / or wildlife habitatconditions. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–607: Use silvicultural methods whichmaintain stocking levels of desired species(stems per acre) and improve growth rates.Forest stocking guidelines are as displayed intable 2–2. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–608: Certify that sites meet desirableminimum stocking levels by the end of thethird growing season after artificial regen-eration (planting or seeding), and by theend of the fifth growing season after treat-ment for natural regeneration. If establish-ment has not been achieved, conduct a fieldexamination to determine future treatmentneeds. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–609: Within 3 years of stand establish-ment in a longleaf pine plant community,the combined cover of ruderal (weedy) plantspecies should not exceed 20 percent inrandom samples taken within the stand.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–610: Stands on timber-suitable lands mustbe regenerated (meet minimum stockingstandards) within 5 years after final harvest(clearcut, final overstory removal in seed-tree and shelterwood, and after selectionharvests). (KNF) (STANDARD)

FW–611: Consider precommercial thinningtreatments when stem density exceeds thestocking guide’s maximum number of stemsper acre. Complete treatment normally be-fore age 3 in pines; and after the expressionof stem dominance in hardwoods, whichnormally occurs once stem height reachesabout 25 feet. Existing older stagnant standsmay also receive treatment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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FW–619: Allow parts of several stands previ-ously mapped under an even-aged silvicul-tural system to be combined into a singlearea if they are on similar sites and meet theabove age criteria for initiating UEAM regen-eration methods. Similar sites are those withsimilar landform, soils, and overstory veg-etation capable of producing the desiredmanagement type through UEAM regenera-tion methods. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–620: Use stand improvement practiceswithin younger stands prior to initiatingregeneration methods and in the area(s)surrounding group openings in those standscurrently undergoing UEAM regeneration.Schedule these practices to occur at the timeof regeneration methods. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–621: Use stand-tending practices to moldstand composition and structure towardthe desired future condition (DFC) of the man-agement area / sub-management areawithin which a particular UEAM patch islocated; to promote advanced regenera-tion establishment of the desired manage-ment type; to release established advancedregeneration; and to maintain den trees,relicts and potential cavity trees betweengroups. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–622: Adequate regeneration for longleafpine exists when the number of seedlingsper acre is 300 or more and seedlings haveattained a diameter of 1/2 inch at the rootcollar. Determine stocking levels for otherspecies by following table 2–2, stockingguides.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–623: Utilize guidance on leave basal ar-eas, tree spacing, canopy composition, andpriority trees to retain presented in the man-agement area / sub-management area di-rection in which a particular UEAM patch islocated. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–624: Use group selection (GS) as the pri-mary regeneration method for shade intol-erant and moderately shade tolerant spe-cies, such as, pines, oaks and hickories. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–625: Establish group openings (canopygaps) that range in size from 1/4 acre to 2acres. Ideally, group openings should be lessthan twice the height of the surroundingcanopy. Determine size, shape and orienta-

FW–612: Unless otherwise prohibited, utilizeearly growing season prescribed burns forrelease and height growth initiation withinlongleaf pine plantations 1 to 7 years old.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–613: Throughout the life of the stand,create and maintain light conditions favor-able for oak regeneration on sites where oakis present, and are suited and managed forhardwood composition. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–614: Apply thinning and salvage / sanita-tion harvests to immature stands to moldspecies composition and obtain optimumgrowth rate, maintain vigor, and capturemortality. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Uneven-aged management

FW–615: On lands suitable for timber pro-duction, use the uneven-aged management(UEAM) system only within designated UEAM

patches. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–616: On lands not suitable for timberproduction, use uneven-aged managementregeneration techniques within designatedUEAM patches to achieve desired non-timberresource objectives. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–617: Do not prescribe existing even-aged stands for UEAM regeneration harvestsuntil the area is capable of providing anadequate seed or sprout source and / orcontains adequate advanced regenerationof the desired species at the time of harvest.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–618: Minimum stand age for initiatingan UEAM regeneration method within an areawill be dependent upon the canopy speciesinvolved and the resource objectives for thearea. Generally, do not initiate UEAM regen-eration methods within an existing even-aged stand to achieve the desired forestcover types until stands have reached thefollowing ages: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Longleaf pine — 50 years� Mixed pine-hardwood and upland hard-

wood — 60 years� Mixed hardwood-pine and bottomland

hardwood — 60 years


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tion of group openings using the vegetationobjectives for the MA or SMA in which a particu-lar UEAM patch is located. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–626: Locate group openings during ini-tial entries as follows: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Where groups of advanced regenerationof the desired management type occurs

� In areas with potential to produce seedand advanced regeneration

� In clumps of mature or high-risk trees� Adjacent to canopy gaps of 10 acres or

less where adequate regeneration exists

FW–627: Locate subsequent group openingsadjacent to previously established groups.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–628: Determine the maximum percentof the area in group openings aged 10 yearsor less based upon the percentage allowedunder the area / rotation regulation for themanagement area in which a particular UEAM

patch is located. Include all canopy gapsgreater than 1/4 acre created by naturalmortality such as insects, disease, and windin this percentage. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–629: Do not include the existing area inthe 0–10 year age class when determiningthe area needed for new group openingsunder the area / rotation regulation for themanagement area in which a particular UEAM

patch is located. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–630: Within group openings, retain anoverstory of trees — to the extent thatestablishment and development of regen-eration of the following desirable species willnot be unduly inhibited: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Where longleaf pine is the predominantmanagement type, retain all longleaf relicts.

� Where mixed pine-hardwood, hard-wood-pine, or hardwood is the predomi-nant management type, retain all desir-able hardwoods such as oaks, hickories,beech, magnolia, ash, pecan, blackgum,or walnut greater than 10 inches DBH,not to exceed 40 square feet of basalarea per acre (exception: do not exceed 20square feet of basal area of hardwoods inpine-hardwood managment types withinRCW HMAS).

FW–631: Use the single-tree selection regen-eration method for promoting shade-toler-ant species. Determine leave basal areas,maximum diameter limits and the constantratio (q) factor at the site level based uponresource objectives and upon current siteconditions, characteristics, and inventory.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–632: Allow even-aged regeneration tech-niques in UEAM patches if necessary to meetsite-specific resource or management areaobjectives, such as restoration. Limit maxi-mum size of regeneration openings to thoseallowed within the MA or SMA within which theUEAM patch is located. Acreage in the 0–10year age class in even-aged openings willcontribute to the percentage in that age classfor the management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Herbicide Use

Labeling

FW–633: Herbicides are applied according tolabeling information and project site-spe-cific analyses which are used to choose theherbicide, rate, and application method forthe site. They are also used to select mea-sures to protect human and wildlife health,non-target vegetation, water, soil, and threat-ened, endangered, proposed, and sensitivespecies. Site conditions may require stricterconstraints than the label, but label stan-dards are never relaxed. (VM-54) (GUIDELINE)

Choice of herbicide

FW–634: Only herbicide formulations (activeand inert ingredients) and additives regis-tered by EPA and approved by the ForestService are applied. (VM-55) (GUIDELINE)

FW–635: Herbicides and application meth-ods are chosen to minimize risk to humanand wildlife health and the environment.The following criteria apply to informationin table II-1 (page II-42 in the VegetationManagement FEIS): (VM-56) (GUIDELINE)

� Class A herbicide / method combinationsare first choice.

� Class B combinations are used only if noclass A herbicide can meet project objec-tives, and then only if adverse effects aremitigated to acceptable levels.

� Class C combinations are used only if no




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class A or B herbicide can meet projectobjectives, and then only if adverse ef-fects are mitigated to acceptable levels.

� Class D combinations are never used.

Note: The Regional Forester has in this recordof decision strengthened mitigation as fol-lows: No class B or C chemical may be usedon any project except with Regional Foresterapproval, which will be granted only if site-specific analysis shows that no other treat-ment would be effective and that all adversehealth and environmental effects will be fullymitigated.

Application Rate

FW–636: Herbicides are applied at the lowestrate effective in meeting project objectivesand according to guidelines for protectinghuman (NRC 1983) and wildlife health (EPA

1986a). Application rate and work time mustnot exceed typical levels unless supplemen-tary risk assessment shows that this will notincrease risk to human or wildlife health orthe environment beyond standards. Inpounds per acre, the typical applicationrates of active ingredient are as shown intable 2–3. (VM-57) (GUIDELINE)

Application method

FW–637: Method and timing of applicationare chosen to achieve project objectiveswhile minimizing effects on non-target veg-etation and other environmental elements.Selective treatment is preferred over broad-cast treatment. Public safety during outdooractivity on the Forest is a priority concern.Application methods from most to leastselective are: (VM-58) (GUIDELINE)

� Cut surface treatments� Basal stem treatments� Directed foliar treatments� Soil spot (around) treatments� Soil spot (grid) treatments� Manual granular treatments� Manual and / or mechanical broadcast

treatments� Helicopter treatments

Prescribed burning of treated areas

FW–638: Areas are not prescribed burned forat least 30 days after herbicide treatment.(VM-59) (GUIDELINE)

Drift control

FW–639: Weather is monitored and theproject is suspended if temperature, humid-ity, or wind become unfavorable as shown intable 2–4. (VM-60) (GUIDELINE)

FW–640: Nozzles that produce large dropletsor streams of herbicides are used. Nozzlesthat produce fine droplets are used only forhand treatment where distance from nozzleto target does not exceed 8 feet. (VM-61)(GUIDELINE)

Supervision and training

FW–641: A certified pesticide applicator su-pervises each Forest Service application crewand trains crew members in personal safety,proper handling, and application of herbi-cides, and proper disposal of empty contain-ers. (VM-62) (GUIDELINE)

FW–642: Each Contracting Officer’s Repre-sentative (COR), who must ensure compli-ance on contracted herbicide projects, is acertified pesticide applicator. Contract in-spectors are trained in herbicide use, han-dling, and application. (VM-63) (GUIDELINE)

Protection of workers

FW–643: Forest Service workers handling her-bicides must wear long-sleeve shirts and trou-sers made of tightly woven cloth which mustbe cleaned daily. They must wear a hardhatwith plastic liner, waterproof boots and gloves,and other label-required safety clothing andequipment. They must bring a change ofclothes to the field in case their clothes be-come contaminated. (VM-64) (GUIDELINE)

FW–644: Each Forest Service crew must takesoap, wash water separate from drinkingwater, eyewash bottles, and first aid equip-ment to the field. (VM-65) (GUIDELINE)

FW–645: Contractors ensure that workers useproper protective clothing and safety equip-ment required by labeling for the herbicideand application method. (VM-66) (GUIDELINE)

FW–646: Workers must not walk throughareas treated by broadcast foliar methods onthe day of application. (VM-67) (GUIDELINE)



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TABLE 2–3, HERBICIDES & APPLICATION RATES

In Pounds per Acre of Active Ingredient

2,4-D/a 2,4-D/e 2,4-DP Dicam Fosa Glyph

AL ...................................... 2.0 ....................... 2.5 ...................... 3.0 ..................... 10.0 ...................... 1.5ML ...................................... 2.5 ....................... 4.0 ...................... 4.0 ...................... 2.0 ....................... 7.8 ...................... 1.5HF ...................................... 2.0 ....................... 2.0 ...................... 1.0 ...................... 2.0 ....................... 1.0HB ...................................... 1.7 ....................... 1.2HC ...................................... 2.0 ....................... 1.5 ...................... 1.3

Hexaz Imaz Fuel Limon Piclo Sulf

AL ...................................... 1.5 ...................... 0.75 ..................... 0.5 ...................... 0.9 ....................... 0.5 ..................... 0.13AG ...................................... 1.7ML ...................................... 1.7 ...................... 0.75 ..................... 2.0 ...................... 0.9 ....................... 0.7 ..................... 0.17MG ..................................... 1.7HG ..................................... 1.7 ...................... 0.75HF ...................................... 1.7 ....................... 1.5 ...................... 0.9 ...................... 0.4 ...................... 0.06HB ...................................... 0.5 ....................... 1.0 ...................... 0.9HS ..................................... 0.75HC ...................................... 0.3

Tebut Triclo/a Triclo/e

AL ...................................... 1.0 ....................... 3.0 ...................... 4.0AG ...................................... 1.0ML ...................................... 1.0 ....................... 4.0 ...................... 4.0MG ..................................... 1.0HF ...................................... 4.0 ....................... 1.4 ...................... 1.0HB ...................................... 1.9HS ...................................... 4.0HC ...................................... 1.0

KEY

AL = aerial liquid treatment Glyph = glyphosateAG = aerial granular treatment Hexaz = hexazinoneML = mech. liquid treatment Sulf = sulfometuron methylMG = mech. granular treatment Tebut = tebuthiuronHG = man. (hand) granular treatment Dicam = dicambaHF = man. foliar broadcast treatment Fosa = fosamineHB = man. basal treatment Triclo = TriclopyrHS = man. soil-spot treatment Imaz = ImazapyrHC = man. cut-surface treatment /a = amine formulationLimon = Limonene /e = ester formulationPiclo = Picloram Fuel = Fuel oil



FW–647: Supervisors must ensure that moni-toring is adequate to prevent adverse healtheffects. Workers displaying unusual sensitiv-ity to the herbicide in use are medicallyevaluated and, if tested as sensitive to theherbicide in use, are reassigned to otheractivities. (VM-68) (GUIDELINE)

Protection of the generalpublic and private land

FW–648: Notice signs (FSH 7109.11) are clearlyposted, with special care taken in areas ofanticipated visitor use. People living withinone-fourth mile of an area to be treatedaerially are notified during project planningand shortly before treatment. (VM-69) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–649: No herbicide is broadcast within100 feet of private land or 300 feet of aprivate residence, unless the landowneragrees to closer treatment. Buffers are clearlymarked before treatment so applicators caneasily see and avoid them. (VM-70) (GUIDELINE)

Protection of non-target vegetation

FW–650: No soil-active herbicide is appliedwithin 30 feet of the drip line of non-targetvegetation such as den trees, hardwood inclu-sions, adjacent stands within or next to thetreated area. Side pruning is allowed, butmovement of herbicide to the root systems ofnon-target plants must be avoided. Buffers are

clearly marked before treatment so applicatorscan see and avoid them. (VM-71) (GUIDELINE)

Protection of threatened, endangered,proposed, sensitive, and conservation species

FW–651: Obtain ID team input before herbi-cide applications in SHPZS and RAPZS to ensureprotection of any threatened, endangered,sensitive, and other rare aquatic species.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–652: Do not aerially apply TRICLOPYR

within 300 feet, nor ground-apply within60 feet, of any occupied habitat of theRafinesque’s big-eared bat. Clearly markbuffers before treatment so applicators caneasily see and avoid them. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–653: No herbicide is aerially applied within300 feet or ground-applied within 60 feet ofany threatened, endangered, proposed, orsensitive plant. Buffers are clearly markedbefore treatment so applicators can easilysee and avoid them. (VM-73) (GUIDELINE)

Protection of water and soil

FW–654: Application equipment, empty her-bicide containers, clothes worn during treat-ment, and skin are not cleaned in openwater or wells. Mixing and cleaning watermust come from a public water supply andbe transported in separate labeled contain-ers. (VM-74) (GUIDELINE)

FW–655: Aquifers and public water sourcesare identified and protected. States are con-sulted to ensure compliance with theirground water protection strategies. (VM-75)(GUIDELINE)

FW–656: No herbicide is broadcast on rockoutcrops or sinkholes. No soil-active herbi-cide with a half-life longer than 3 months isbroadcast on slopes over 45 percent, erod-ible soils, or aquifer recharge zones. Suchareas are clearly marked before treatment soapplicators can easily see and avoid them.(VM-76) (GUIDELINE)

Aerial application operations plan

FW–657: Each aerial herbicide applicationproject must have an operations plan ap-proved by the Forest’s air safety officer, whoensures that: 1) precautions are taken to


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TABLE 2–4, WIND, TEMPS & HUMIDITY

Unfavorable Conditions at the Target

Temp RH WindHigher Less Greaterthan than than

GroundHand (cut surface) .............................. N/A ....................................... N/A ....................................... N/AHand (other) ........................................ 98F ...................................... 20% ................................... 15 mphMechanical (liquid) .............................. 95F ...................................... 30% ................................... 10 mphMechanical (granular) ......................... N/A ....................................... N/A .................................... 10 mph

AerialLiquid .................................................. 90F ...................................... 50% .................................... 5 mphGranular .............................................. N/A ....................................... N/A ..................................... 8 mph



protect the crew, including equipment cer-tification and hazard identification; 2) areasto be treated are clearly marked; and 3)methods of avoiding buffers and other sen-sitive areas are safe and effective. (VM-78)(GUIDELINE)

Control of Spills

FW–658: To prevent tipping or excess jarringduring transport, herbicides, additives, andapplication equipment are secured in thepart of a vehicle totally isolated from people,food, clothing, and livestock feed. (VM-79)(GUIDELINE)

FW–659: Only the amount of herbicideneeded for the day’s use is brought to thesite. At day’s end, all leftover herbicide isreturned to storage. (VM-80) (GUIDELINE)

FW–660: Herbicide mixing, loading, or clean-ing areas in the field are not located within200 feet of private land, open water or wells,or other sensitive areas. (VM-81) (GUIDELINE)

FW–661: During use, equipment to store,transport, mix, or apply herbicides is in-spected daily for leaks. (VM-82) (GUIDELINE)

FW–662: Containers are reused only for theirdesignated purpose. Empty herbicide con-tainers are disposed of according to Group I& II Containers, 40 CFR 165.9. (VM-83) (GUIDELINE)

FW–663: Accident preplanning is done ineach site-specific analysis. Emergency spillplans (Chapter 30, FSM 2109.12) are prepared.Although unlikely, spills are quickly con-tained and cleaned up. Appropriate agen-cies and persons are promptly notified. (VM-

84) (GUIDELINE)

Threatened, endangered,sensitive, and other rare plant species

General

FW–664: Protect and manage rare or sensi-tive communities to maintain their contribu-tion to the overall biological diversity of theForest. Avoid the elimination of an undis-turbed or recovered plant community orsite. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–665: Manage known sites and habitatsof listed rare plant species. Management instands with documented rare plant sitesshould be consistent with existing conserva-tion assessments and agreements, and bereviewed by a botanist. Monitor areas withexisting rare plant sites or historic rare plantsites to help assure the continued existenceof rare species on the Forest. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–666: Avoid disturbance to sensitive plantpopulations and occupied habitat. Includeproject-level mitigation measures in indi-vidual projects which may impact knownrare plant populations. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–667: Maintain data on rare plant sites inthe Forest’s geographic information system(GIS). Keep original data to provide detailsnot available in GIS, and for future reference.Share data with the State heritage program.Otherwise, restrict data as necessary to pro-tect sensitive areas from human-caused dam-age resulting from collection or other distur-bances. Review and analyze data as neededfor: species status on the Forest; changesoccurring or needed in the habitat, or in thepopulations of individual species; and dis-covery of new rare plant sites and habitatduring surveys. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–668: Survey for Forest-listed plant spe-cies and embedded communities, as well asfor rare plants new to the Forest prior toground-disturbing activities. Surveys shouldbe done during the field examination andprescription process, preferably during thegrowing season. Concentrate surveys onareas of highest risk, driven by a combina-tion of the likelihood of new Forest-listedplant locations in an area and the level ofdisturbance planned. Surveys for listed spe-cies which occur in areas seldom disturbedby Forest Service activities should documentthe plant’s continued existence on the For-est. Other species may be more widespread,but are at risk because they occur in habitatsmost likely to be disturbed. If surveys cannotbe conducted, assess project areas for thepresence and condition of sensitive specieshabitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–669: Surveyors, or the botanist choosingareas for survey, will decide which species aremost likely in certain areas and concentrateefforts accordingly. To the degree possible,design surveys to minimize the number of site

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visits needed to acquire credible information.Incorporate survey protocols and proposedsite management into interagency conserva-tion strategies. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–670: Conduct general plant surveys alongwith sensitive plant surveys in order to dis-cover any rare species not known to theForest. These surveys should include higher(vascular) plants, as well as mosses, liver-worts, and fungi. Add newly discoveredspecies, which meet regional and Forestguidelines for listing, to the rare species list.Delete listed species, with concurrence ofthe State heritage program, if data revealthat they occur commonly enough that theyno longer meet requirements for listing.Make a list for all vascular plants, mosses,liverworts, and fungi known on the Forest,with habitat and frequency, to assure thatthe biological diversity of the Forest is docu-mented and maintained. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–671: Enhance sensitive plant speciespopulations and habitats to maintain repro-ducing, self-sustaining populations. Conductassessments to determine which listed rarespecies are at higher risk. Develop conserva-tion assessments and strategies for higher-risk listed rare plant species first, with theintent of preventing the need for federallisting as T&E species. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–672: Coordinate species maintenance andenhancement goals with other managementactivities on a site. Management activitiesshould imitate the natural ecological pro-cesses that created the sensitive species’ habi-tat. Use fire, timber management, grazing, orother activities as tools for soil disturbanceand removal of competing vegetation ifneeded in managing the habitat. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–673: Use conservation assessments andconservation strategies to provide manage-ment direction for rare plant species andtheir habitat as they become available. Usedrafts of these documents for managementdirection in consultation with Forest or zonebotanists until the final products are pre-pared. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–674: Avoid mechanical disturbance torare listed plant sites, especially during thegrowing season. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–675: If federally listed T&E plants arefound on the Forest in the future, issuecollecting permits only after the collectorhas obtained a permit from the USFWS, andthen at the discretion of the district ranger inconsultation with the Forest botanist. Forsensitive and conservation species, no per-sonal use permits should be issued, butpermits for scientific research may be issuedat the discretion of the district ranger inconsultation with the Forest botanist. Dis-courage digging or physically removingplants in favor of collecting seeds and cut-tings. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–676: Normally exclude off-road vehicles,roads, trails, skid trails, and other ground-disturbing activities from bogs, bayheadswamps, prairies, sandy woodlands, andglades and barrens. Generally limit such useto existing trails and to special trails fordemonstration areas. New horse trails withinthese habitats should be avoided to limit theintroduction of noxious weeds. Plan newtrails and roads to avoid crossing these habi-tats. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Sites with Forest-listedrare plants of bogs

FW–677: Bogs that have not been registeredwith the Louisiana Natural Areas RegistryProgram qualify for management as bogs ifthey are at least one-half acre in extent orsupport one or more PETS species. Effects toqualifying bogs, including Registry programbogs, should be addressed in the environ-mental analysis for the appropriate com-partment prescriptions. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–678: A bog management zone shouldinclude the bog and its immediate surround-ings as well as a buffer zone. The outer bufferboundary should extend out to 200 feetfrom the edge of the natural seep edge.Along larger streams the buffer may be aslittle as 100 feet on the downhill side of a bogin order to follow the contour of the stream.Active seep boundaries should be deter-mined by vegetation assessment in the latewinter/early spring, at which time the waterflow is greatest, and after fires have removedwoody vegetation and litter. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–679: Where trees have encroached intothe bog and are shading out herbaceousvegetation, use chainsaw felling and/or indi-


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vidual stem selective herbicide methods.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–680: Prohibit mechanical equipmentfrom entering bogs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–681: Maintain an average basal area of40-60 square feet per acre, preferably inlongleaf pine, in ecotones and buffer stripssurrounding bogs. Do not allow basal areato exceed 90. Remove loblolly and slash pineand leave longleaf pine, when possible, whenlogging occurs. Do not replant these areas;allow to reseed naturally. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–682: Require directional felling so thattrees do not land in bogs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–683: Allow logging equipment only inbuffer strips around bogs and only duringdry periods. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–684: Locate log landing areas outside ofbogs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–685: Apply prescribed fire, at minimum,when surrounding areas are burned, unlessburning of bogs is not practical. When fea-sible, include bogs within larger burn areas.Use prescribed fire at the season and fre-quency that applies to the managementarea or sub-management area within whichthe area is located. Generally, apply pre-scribed fire during the growing season on a2- to 3-year frequency. Prohibit plowlineswithin the bogs. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–686: Use natural fire breaks or wetlineswhere possible — or disked lines outside theperimeter of the buffer strips. Avoid usingplowed firelines within bogs whenever pos-sible. They may be used when needed toprotect private lands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–687: Allow dormant season fires to re-duce fuels in bogs prior to growing seasonburns. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–688: Exclude cattle grazing and otherlivestock from bogs. If stocking numbers arelow, animals can be attracted away frombogs by salting or feeding; in a few casesfencing may be required to prevent damageto sensitive resources. Control feral hogs ifunacceptable damage occurs to bogs. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–689: Discourage foot traffic in bogs. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Sites with Forest-listedrare plants of bayhead swamps

FW–690: Apply prescribed fire, at minimum,when surrounding areas are burned, unlessburning of bayhead swamps is not practical.When feasible, include bayhead swampswithin larger burn areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–691: Allow dormant season fire to re-duce fuels in bayhead swamps prior to grow-ing season burns. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–692: Use natural fire breaks or wetlineswhere possible; alternatively, use disked linesoutside the perimeter of buffer strips. Avoidplowed firelines within bayhead swampswhenever possible. They may be used, how-ever, when needed to protect private lands.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Sites with Forest-listedrare plants of calcareous prairiesand calcareous-streamside forests

FW–693: Manage calcareous prairies to main-tain prairie character and species composi-tion. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–694: Use prescribed fire at the seasonand frequency that applies to the manage-ment area or sub-management area withinwhich the calcareous prairie and forest arelocated. Avoid fireplow lines in prairies asmuch as possible and allow fires to burndown toward streams without firelines iffeasible. Alternatively, control woody en-croachment by bush-hogging, cutting, orherbicide injection. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–695: Exclude cattle grazing from prairiesexcept on an experimental basis. Controlferal hogs if unacceptable damage occurs toprairies. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–696: Exclude logging equipment fromprairies, and do not use prairies for skid trailsor log landings. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Sites with Forest-listedrare plants of sandy woodlands

FW–697: Consult the Forest botanist/ecolo-gist when planning to thin or harvest timber

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in sites with listed plants in sandy wood-lands. Some areas may need complete pro-tection from mechanical disturbance, whileother sites may benefit from partial canopyremoval to allow sunlight to penetrate thecanopy, thus benefitting these plants. Mini-mize ground disturbance within these areasand eliminate use of skidders where patchesof rare plants are present. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–698: Use prescribed fire at the seasonand frequency that applies to the manage-ment area or sub-management area withinwhich the sandy woodlands are located.Allow fires to burn down toward streamswithout firelines if feasible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Sites with Forest-listedrare plants of glades and barrens

FW–699: Exclude cattle from glades and bar-rens. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–700: Prescribe burn during compartmentburning when feasible, but if possible allowfire to burn into glades and barrens withoutdirect introduction by drip torch or otherignition. Instead allow fire to invade and goout on its own. Allow fires to burn downtoward streams without firelines, if feasible.Alternatively, control woody encroachmentby bush-hogging, cutting, or by the injec-tion of herbicides. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Exotic pest plants

FW–701: Identify and map exotic pest plantspecies infestations as they are located. Useappropriate control methods as funding al-lows, including, but not limited to, pre-scribed fire, herbicides, manual removal,and mowing. Monitor after control treat-ments and re-treat as needed to controlinfestations. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

General

FW–702: Create and sustain diverse Forestwildlife habitats by managing towards de-sired future conditions that meet habitatobjectives for selected management indica-tors within appropriate management andsub-management areas. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–703: Wildlife stand improvement (WSI)seeks to improve vegetation species compo-sition in timber stands and to develop wild-life habitat areas for game and nongamespecies. A variety of woody and herbaceousspecies suited to site conditions and burningregime are maintained to assure year-roundquality habitat. Exceptions that may reduceplant species variety include treatments toimprove habitat for species such as Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. (VM-16) (GUIDELINE)

FW–704: For understory species WSI, propermanagement allows full sunlight on 30 per-cent of the forest floor. For hardwood over-story WSI, thinning encourages full crowndevelopment, vigorous growth, and soft orhard mast production. When thinning standsolder than 30 years, stems are favored whichshow positive indication of bearing soft- orhard-mast. (VM-17) (GUIDELINE)

FW–705: During TSI, WSI, and site prepara-tion, selected groups of overstory and un-derstory vegetation are protected and man-aged to assure a variety of soft-mast, hard-mast, and cover species. During site prepa-ration, active and potential den trees areretained in clumps (at least 1/2 acre per 20acres) if they are not provided in adjacentstands unsuitable for timber production,inclusions, or streamside management zones.During TSI and WSI, all recognized den treesare protected. In addition, during TSI, WSI,and site preparation, an average of at least 2standing snags are retained per acre — largehardwoods greater than 12 inches whenpossible. Appropriate treatments are used tocreate snags where they are lacking. (VM-18)(GUIDELINE)

FW–706: Maintain SHPZS and RAPZS to providemigration corridors, using suitable habitatlinks, for all species. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–707: The Louisiana Department of Wild-life and Fisheries will regulate fishing, trap-ping, hunting season, and bag limits. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–708: Consider trapping for beaver dam-age control on a case-by-case basis whenresource damage becomes apparent. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–709: Within the goals and objectivesstated in the North American Waterfowl


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Management Plan and the Lower Missis-sippi Valley Joint Venture, design, promote,and implement wetland restoration, en-hancement, and protection projects in asso-ciation with other partners. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–710: By agreement with special-use per-mittees, maintain or develop wildlife foodplots. Use prescribed burning, discing, fertil-izing, and planting with wildlife seed mix-tures, separately or in combination, whensite-specific analysis indicates a need, andfunding allows. Use native species whenpractical and feasible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Red-cockaded woodpecker

General

FW–711: Management direction for the RCW

is based upon the Final Environmental ImpactStatement and Record Of Decision For theManagement of the Red-cockaded Woodpeckerand Its Habitat on National Forests in theSouthern Region (RCW FEIS). Reference thesedocuments for additional background infor-mation, analysis, rationale and discussion.Obtain Regional Forester approval of anythinning or restoration project which re-duces foraging below the standards andguidelines presented in this Forest Plan. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–712: Manage RCW populations and suit-able habitat within established habitat man-agement areas (HMAS) to achieve the popula-tion objectives shown in table 2–5. (KNF)(STANDARD)

FW–713: Manage the Catahoula, Evange-line, Kisatchie, and Winn HMAS under man-agement intensity level (MIL) 4. Manage theVernon HMA under MIL 2. Proposed changesto the MIL for an individual HMA will beanalyzed during the 5-Year Review processof the Forest Plan. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–714: The established HMA delineationsand resulting RCW population objectives willremain stable. Analyze proposed adjustmentsto individual HMA boundaries and popula-tion objectives during the 5-Year Reviewprocess of the Forest Plan. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Management of Clusters, Replacement, andRecruitment Stands inside HMAs

FW–715: There is no set rotation for clusters,replacement, or recruitment stands, andthey will remain in place until they can nolonger provide suitable nesting habitat; forexample, until all cavity trees are gone andhabitat has deteriorated to a point beyondwhich a cluster can be supported. Bound-aries of these stands could change as newcavities are excavated or artificial cavities areinstalled. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–716: Maintain clusters, replacement andrecruitment stands in an open park-like con-dition with a basal area ranging from 60 to80 square feet per acre. Minimum tree spac-ing of 20 to 25 feet to reduce SPB risk is moreimportant than actual BA, especially in non-longleaf forest types. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–717: Permanently mark all active andinactive cavity trees for easy recognition andtag with a cluster-cavity tree identificationnumber. Check as part of the monitoringprocess, and update cavity tree markings, ifneeded. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–718: Mark the boundaries of clusters,and recruitment stands that contain cavities,when any project that would alter the habi-tat, such as timber harvest or road construc-tion, is planned within 1/4 mile of the clusteror recruitment stand. The marking of suchboundaries may be temporary (signs or flag-ging tape) or permanent (painted bands).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

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TABLE 2–5, RCW HMAPOPULATION OBJECTIVES

ObjectiveActive

HMA Clusters

Catahoula .......................................................... 317Evangeline ......................................................... 231Kisatchie ............................................................ 292Winn ................................................................... 263Vernon ............................................................... 302



FW–719: The boundary of active and inactiveclusters must be at least 200 feet from allcavity trees in the cluster, and encompass astand not less than 10 acres in size. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–720: Replacement stands shall be estab-lished for all active clusters. The selectioncriteria include: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

� At least 10 acres in size.� Nesting suitability considering stand age,

forest type, availability of relicts. Inactiveclusters may be designated as replace-ment stands.

� Distance to a cluster: replacement standshould be adjacent to the cluster if pos-sible, and no more than 1/2 mile from it.

� Replacement stands should ideally be 20to 30 years younger than the cavity treesin the cluster.

� Clusters on private land: replacementstands would not be established adjacentto clusters on private lands until the grouphas moved onto national forest land.

FW–721: Recruitment stands shall be estab-lished in each HMA where the population objec-tive exceeds the current RCW population. Thenumber of recruitment stands shall, at a mini-mum, equal the HMA population objectiveminus the current number of groups in thatHMA. The selection criteria include: (RCW) (GUIDE-LINE)

� At least 10 acres in size.� Nesting suitability considering stand age,

forest type, and availability of relicts.� The oldest available stands or younger stands

with sufficient relicts shall be selected. Inac-tive clusters may also be designated asrecruitment stands. Midstory control shallbe completed. Recruitment stands may beimproved by installing artificial cavities.

� Distance to a cluster: recruitment standsshould lie within 1/4 mile to 3/4 mile from acluster or other recruitment stands to en-sure good spatial distribution and increaseprobability of colonization.

� Must have adequate foraging habitat con-nected to the cluster or recruitment stand.

� Clusters on private land: recruitmentstand(s) shall be established for RCW groupsliving on adjacent private lands within 3/4

mile of national forest lands. These standsshall be located on national forest lands asclose to the cluster as possible.

FW–722: Determine the number of recruit-ment stands to be established within com-partments, or portions of compartments,inside an HMA, based upon one cluster site orrecruitment stand per: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� 200 acres of pine and pine-hardwood onlandtype associations (LTAS) historicallydominated by longleaf pine forests, LTAS

1,2,5,6.� 250 acres of pine and pine hardwood on

the Fort Polk Military Intensive Use Area.� 300 acres of pine and pine hardwood on

LTAS historically dominated by shortleafpine / oak-hickory forests, LTA 3.

� 400 acres of pine and pine hardwood onLTAS historically dominated by mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine forests, LTA 4.

FW–723: Possible recruitment stand loca-tions have been identified within each HMA

to meet the population objective. Establishfinal permanent recruitment stands annu-ally at a rate equal to the estimated popula-tion growth potential (14 per year) duringthe compartment prescription process. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Cutting of Trees

FW–724: Timber harvest, other cutting, orkilling of trees is prohibited within clusters orreplacement or recruitment stands, exceptwhere such actions as thinning, SPB control,or midstory removal would protect or im-prove RCW habitat. Only snags or dead treesposing threats to public safety may be re-moved. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–725: Cutting of living or dead cavitytrees in active or inactive clusters, includinginactive clusters identified as replacement orrecruitment stands, is prohibited except tomaintain public safety or to protect a clusteror replacement / recruitment stand frominsect attack. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Servicemust be contacted and issue concurrencebefore any cavity tree is cut. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Midstory vegetation control

FW–726: Use midstory removal and controlin all clusters, replacement and recruitmentstands outside of Kisatchie Hills Wilderness.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)


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FW–727: Prioritize midstory control in thoseclusters, replacement, and recruitment standswithin 1.5 miles of existing active clustersites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–728: Prescribed burning on a two- to five-year rotation is preferred for midstory vegeta-tion control. In stands with dense but small(less than two inches diameter) hardwoodmidstory, more frequent burning may benecessary to achieve control. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–729: In clusters, replacement or recruit-ment stands where hardwood midstory istoo large to be killed by prescribed burning(greater than two inches diameter), the fol-lowing methods may be used to removemidstory: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

� Mechanical methods such as a feller-buncher, hydro-ax, drum chopper,mulcher, or shearing blade.

� Manual methods such as chainsaws, orbrush hooks.

� Herbicides applied by injection, hypo-hatchet, or hand-sprayer.

� Or a combination of these methods.

FW–730: Midstory removal / control will oc-cur over the entire stand (10-acre minimum)designated as a cluster, replacement or re-cruitment stand. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–731: All hardwood midstory trees withina 50-foot radius of active and inactive cavitytrees will be removed. On average, 3 se-lected midstory hardwoods per acre canremain throughout the rest of the stand.Examples of desirable species to leave aredogwood, redbud, or other showy flower-ing species. However, no midstory treat-ment shall occur in natural hardwood ar-eas, such as stream bottoms, which arewithin cluster boundaries unless essentialto maintain the viability of the RCW group.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–732: Pine midstory shall be controlledbefore the trees (usually saplings and polesize trees) block access to cavity trees, poten-tial cavity trees and line-of-sight betweenthem. Pine regeneration should be retainedwhere it does not interfere with cavity treesas previously described. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–733: No more than 10 within-canopyhardwoods per acre can be retained in thesestands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–734: Maintenance burns for clusters, re-placement and recruitment stands whichhave already had midstory removed willreceive priority. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–735: Emphasize growing season burns inthose habitats that were naturally main-tained by growing season fire. After mid-story is controlled and the native herba-ceous vegetation re-established, burningduring other seasons may also be used if itwill prevent and control midstory encroach-ment. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Artificial Cavities

FW–736: Artificial cavities shall be used in anyRCW population, regardless of MIL, if suitablecavity trees are limited; for example, fewerthan four functional cavities per cluster. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–737: Three types of cavities (drilled, in-serts, or start holes) will be used, dependingon the characteristics of available trees andthe needs of a particular RCW group. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–738: The procedures and methods speci-fied by Taylor and Hooper (1991) and Allen(1991) will be used to construct or installcavities. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–739: Only individuals experienced in therespective techniques may install artificialcavities. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–740: Midstory vegetation must be con-trolled in conjunction with installation ofartificial cavities. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–741: The following priorities will be fol-lowed to schedule installation of artificialcavities: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

1. Active clusters with a single cavity.2. When needed to support augmentation

of single bird groups.3. Active clusters with fewer than 4 usable

cavities.4. Recruitment stands, which may be inac-

tive clusters, with fewer than 4 usablecavities, within 1 mile of an active cluster.

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5. Recruitment stands, which may be inac-tive clusters, with fewer than 4 usablecavities, within 3 miles of an active cluster.

6. Inactive clusters or recruitment standsmore than 3 miles from an active cluster.

FW–742: Artificial cavities are required in MILS

2, 3, and 4. In addition to completed drilledcavities or cavity inserts, 3 or more drilledstart holes are recommended in MILS 3 and 4.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–743: Cavity restrictors will be used whereneeded to minimize cavity competition, andin conjunction with artificial cavities, to en-sure that each RCW group has at least fourfunctional cavities. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–744: Restrictors should be placed onenlarged cavities and unenlarged cavitieswhere experience shows cavity enlarge-ment is likely. Use the following priorities toschedule installation of restrictors: (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

1. Active clusters with a single usable cavity.2. Single bird groups with fewer than 4

usable cavities.3. Active clusters with 2 to 4 usable cavities.4. Inactive clusters with fewer than 4 usable

cavities.5. Active clusters with 5 to 8 usable cavities.

FW–745: Restrictors shall not be installed oncavities that have been enlarged internallyto the point of being unusable by RCW. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–746: Monitor restrictors to ensure properinstallation and acceptance by RCW. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–747: Maintain adequate levels of mid-story control to create unsuitable habitatconditions for cavity competitors. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–748: Install non-lethal snake and squirrelexcluder devices as needed. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–749: Install nest boxes for competitors ifanalysis indicate they may reduce competi-tion for RCW cavities. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–750: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW clus-ters and inactive clusters or recruitmentstands that have been made suitable for

translocation, retain single dead trees, in-cluding vacated SPB trees, but not in an SPB

spot. Within 1/4 mile of inactive RCW clustersunsuitable for translocation, retain singledead trees, including vacated SPB trees.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–751: In SPB spots one acre or larger in size,retain six vacated SPB sawtimber size treesper acre if available, two of which should bethe largest trees. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–752: In SPB spots less than one acre,retain two of the larger vacated SPB trees, ifavailable. These guidelines do not precludesalvage of dead trees from large areas result-ing from insect outbreaks, hurricanes, torna-does, or other catastrophic occurrences. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

Translocation

FW–753: Translocation of RCWs will be usedto expand existing populations and to re-establish RCW to areas where extirpated. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–754: Prior to any translocation, at least 4suitable cavities must be available in thecluster, midstory control shall be completed,and adequate foraging (at least 2/3 of theUSFWS’ Blue Book standards) must be avail-able. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–755: The following priorities will be usedwhen planning augmentation of any singlebird group; however, single bird groups inpopulations with 50 or less active clusterswill have priority over single bird groups inpopulations with more than 50 active clus-ters: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

1. A single bird group located a mile or morefrom another group containing a breed-ing pair.

2. A single bird group with 1 or 2 breedingpairs within a mile.

3. A single bird group with 3 to 4 breedingpairs within a mile.

4. A single bird group with 5 or more breed-ing pairs within a mile.

FW–756: Priorities for reestablishing RCW

groups (translocation of a male and femalebird) vary by management objective. If ex-panding an existing group, the above priori-ties for augmentation would be used. Rees-


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tablishment may be used to expand existingpopulations even though all single-birdgroups may not have been successfully aug-mented. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–757: Give priority for re-establishing RCW

groups within the Forest’s HMAS to inactiveclusters and recruitment stands within 1mile of active clusters. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–758: Translocation of RCW within popula-tions / subpopulations is encouraged. Anypopulation with reproduction, regardless ofsize, and single bird groups should be acandidate for such intrapopulation translo-cations. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–759: Prioritize translocation of RCW withinand among the Kisatchie’s populations toHMA populations with the greatest risk ofextirpation or greatest population decline.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–760: If translocations between popula-tions are necessary, it is desirable to movebirds between areas of similar latitude, el-evation, and forest type. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Motorized, heavy equipment,and concentrated human use areas

FW–761: Projects to improve RCW habitatwithin or adjacent to clusters, replacementor recruitment stands which involve motor-ized or heavy equipment must include suffi-cient project administration and / or con-tract language to protect these stands, espe-cially cavity trees and potential cavity trees.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–762: The development of new concen-trated equipment use or concentrated hu-man use areas such as log decks, off-roadvehicle trails, trail heads and camp sites isprohibited within clusters, replacement andrecruitment stands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–763: Short-term uses, for example, pinestraw baling, may be allowed in recruitmentstands if a site-specific analysis indicates theywill have no long-term adverse effect on thestand’s suitability as potential nesting habi-tat. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–764: Existing uses shall be modified orrelocated if they are found to adversely affectthe RCW. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Cavity tree protection duringprescribed burning operations

FW–765: Burning prescriptions and cycles mustminimize risk to cavity trees. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–766: Protect all active cavity trees fromfire during prescribed burning operations.Protection may involve any number of meth-ods including, but not limited to: (1) rakingaround or back firing from the base of thetree, (2) using a “wet” line or foam linearound the tree or entire cluster, and (3)mechanically removing vegetation. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–767: Plow lines will be kept 200 or morefeet from cavity trees unless an emergencyor site-specific circumstance such as locationof a property boundary, etc., dictate theneed to locate them closer. If conditionsdictate plow lines be placed within 200 feetof cavity trees, use of a dozer blade to lightlyscrape away fuels is preferable to using adeep cutting plow. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Nesting season disturbance

FW–768: All potentially disturbing activitieswithin clusters shall be scheduled before orafter the nesting season. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–769: Such activities include RCW habitatimprovement, except as necessary for thecontinued survival of the group; for example,installation of artificial cavities to replace cavi-ties lost to natural causes. Another exceptionis prescribed burning, allowed during nestingseason. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–770: The general nesting season dates ofMarch 1-July 31 will be respected unless thespecific RCW population’s nesting season isdetermined through monitoring to be dif-ferent. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Construction of rights-of-way

FW–771: Construction of linear rights-of-way,such as roads, powerlines, or pipelines isprohibited within clusters, replacement orrecruitment stands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

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Existing rights-of-wayreconstruction and maintenance

FW–772: Reconstruction or maintenance ofexisting roads, powerlines, or pipelinesthrough clusters, replacement or recruit-ment stands is allowed if activity is sched-uled outside the nesting season. Activitiesshall be closely monitored to ensure protec-tion of current and potential cavity trees.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–773: Light maintenance of high-standardopen roads, such as road grading or right-of-way mowing, and emergency maintenanceof powerlines and pipelines, may be allowedduring the nesting season. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Southern pine beetle suppression

FW–774: Minimize the potential impact ofsouthern pine beetle (SPB) through thinningand prompt control actions. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–775: For protecting cavity trees and RCW

during SPB control actions, the following SPBRecord of Decision standards apply in activeclusters: (RCW) (STANDARD)

� Cutting of trees already vacated by SPB isprohibited unless they pose a threat topublic safety.

� Cutting of SPB infested inactive cavity orrelict trees is allowed within a designatedtreatment buffer zone only to protect therest of the cluster.

� Cutting of any infested tree within 200feet of a cavity tree is allowed only toprotect the cavity tree.

� Cut-and-remove SPB control operationsare prohibited during nesting season.

� Only minimal disturbance, such as cut-ting or chemical treatment, is allowed toprotect cavity trees during the nestingseason.

� The pile and burn SPB control technique isprohibited within clusters.

Cluster status and database management

FW–776: A database will be maintained andupdated annually. It will include the statuscategory of all RCW clusters within the HMAS.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–777: Six cluster status categories — ac-tive, inactive, abandoned, historic, destroyed,and invalid — shall be recognized and tracked.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–778: Cavity trees shall be preserved in allbut the invalid category. No special man-agement is required for an abandoned, his-toric, or destroyed cluster unless identifiedas a replacement or recruitment stand. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–779: Active clusters may be declaredinactive if no RCW or signs of RCW are present.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–780: Inactive clusters in MIL 2 and 3 withdeclining populations and all MIL 4 popula-tions cannot be declared abandoned. Site-specific conditions may allow declaring acluster abandoned. Such situations will beevaluated on an individual basis and requireinformal consultation with and concurrenceby the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

Management of RCW cluster sites locatedoutside the HMAs.

FW–781: For active clusters, apply all man-agement strategies and habitat improve-ment practices applicable to the HMA to the200–400 acres of suitable habitat aroundactive cluster site(s) discovered outside es-tablished HMAS. The objective is to maintainthe viability of the group. All offspring, withthe possible exception of one juvenile malehelper, would be relocated to augment singlebirds or to establish new active cluster siteswithin the HMA. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–782: Protect all existing cavity trees withininactive cluster sites located outside estab-lished HMAS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RCW habitat managementwithin 1.5 Miles of active clusters

FW–783: Emphasize immediate populationstabilization and expansion. Give priority todirect habitat improvements within clustersites, recruitment stands and replacementstands (midstory removal and maintenance,restrictor installation, artificial cavity creation,predator / competitor control); to popula-tion augmentation efforts; on maintainingadequate foraging substrate; and to overall


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habitat improvement through the use ofprescribed fire. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Foraging habitatmanagement — general

FW–784: Adequate levels of foraging habitatshall be provided for all active clusters andrecruitment stands (both the establishedrecruitment stands and the tentatively iden-tified recruitment stand locations). (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–785: Available foraging habitat includesthe cluster, recruitment and replacementstands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–786: Foraging habitat is not required forinactive clusters unless identified as recruit-ment stands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–787: Additional foraging habitat is notrequired for replacement stands, as they arealways associated with active clusters thatshould have adequate foraging habitat. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–788: Adequate foraging habitat will beprovided according to USFWS guidelines forpreparation of biological assessments andevaluations for the RCW (Blue Book stan-dards), whenever pine tree removal isplanned within 1/2 mile of clusters or recruit-ment stands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–789: The following foraging habitat re-quirements must be met for all active clustersand recruitment stands: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

� At least 8,490 square feet of BA in pinestems larger than 5 inches DBH.

� At least 6,350 pine stems 10 inches DBH orlarger and 30 years old or older.

� Must be within 1/2 mile of the geometriccenter of the cluster or recruitment stand.If existing foraging within 1/2 mile radiuscircle is inadequate, stands beyond 1/2

mile must be included to meet foragingrequirements.

� Must be continuous and contiguous withthe cluster or recruitment stand.

� Include only pine or pine-hardwoodstands.

FW–790: Foraging habitat stands should bemaintained at 70–110 square feet of pine BA,depending on site and stand condition.

However, stands with 30 or more square feetof pine may be considered suitable foraginghabitat; for example, mixed stands and pineshelterwood cuts. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–791: Where foraging is limited, makethinning of young stands less than 10 inchesDBH within 1/2 mile of active clusters a prior-ity. Thin such stands using standard silvicul-tural prescriptions. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–792: Provide 100 percent of forage forRCW groups whose 1/2-mile foraging zoneextends into another ownership, unless anagreement exists with the private landownerto ensure provision of a proportional share offoraging habitat. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–793: Provide the Forest Service propor-tional share of foraging for RCW groups onadjacent non-Forest Service land when agroup’s 1/2-mile foraging zone extends ontoNational Forest, even if no cooperative agree-ment exists. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Reduced foraging habitat

FW–794: Foraging habitat may be providedat a level up to one-third below that givenabove if the following situations occur, andprovided there is a finding that RCW popula-tions would benefit in the long term: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

� Thinning to reduce risk of SPB outbreaksper the SPB EIS and ROD, even if foraging islimited. Such thinning must be supportedby a SPB hazard analysis showing a mod-erate or high risk of infestation.

� Thinning of dense immature sawtimberstands (greater than 110–120 sq. feet peracre BA) to improve their suitability asforaging habitat, even if foraging is lim-ited. Such stands may be reduced to a BA

of 90 sq. feet per acre.˛ To expedite the restoration of pine spe-

cies (e.g., regeneration of off-site species)preferred by RCW, foraging habitat forrecruitment stands 1.5 miles or morefrom an active cluster can be reduced 50percent below USFWS requirements (BlueBook standards). This would require ap-proximately 3,175 pine stems equal to orgreater than 10 inches DBH and at least 30years old, and 4,245 square feet of pine BA

in stems 5 inches DBH and larger. Theforaging habitat must be contiguous and

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continuous with the recruitment stand.If such a recruitment stand is activated or anew active cluster is found closer than 1.5miles, a full complement of foraging must beprovided, if available, for the new cluster andany recruitment stands within 1.5 miles of it.If a full complement of foraging is not avail-able all foraging within 1/2 mile will beretained.

Providing future nesting habitat

FW–795: Retain, by compartment or por-tions of compartment within a HMA, theoldest 1/3 of existing pine acres which maybe potentially suitable nesting habitat (up-land stands) until they reach rotation age,through the first rotation. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–796: It may be desirable to regenerate aportion of the oldest 1/3 before it reachesrotation age to facilitate achieving regula-tion in areas managed with even-aged sys-tems. In such cases regeneration within theoldest 1/3 may occur if the oldest 1/3 is within10–20 years of rotation. Any regenerationmust occur in the youngest end of the oldest1/3. This is not a blanket exception to retain-ing the oldest 1/3 and would only be allowedin specific situations. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–797: Do not remove relicts in thinningoperations in HMAS classified as MIL 2–4. Apossible exception is non-longleaf relicts soclosely spaced that potential for SPB infesta-tion is increased. In such situations therelicts may be thinned to a minimum spac-ing of 20–25 feet. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–798: Stands approaching an age ofproviding potential nesting habitat, gen-erally 70–100 years depending on pinespecies, should be managed as follows:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Maintain a pine BA of 60–80 square feetand maintain a minimum spacing of 20–25 feet between dominant and codomi-nant trees. Spacing is especially critical inthe non-longleaf types. An exception tothis would be allowing a minimum of 50square feet of pine basal area in mixedpine-hardwood management types.

� Maintain an open, park-like structurethrough regular prescribed burning.

Prescribed burning

FW–799: Establish a burning cycle of two tofive years HMA-wide. In stands where fire hasbeen excluded for many years, annual burn-ing may be necessary to significantly reducemidstory. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–800: Emphasize use of growing seasonburns in ecologically appropriate areas. Rec-ognize, however, that habitat goals mayrequire burning whenever conditions per-mit. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–801: All burning prescriptions will be basedon site specific conditions, including vegeta-tion, site and weather conditions, and RCW

management priorities. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–802: Use natural firebreaks (streams,roads, swamps, etc.) whenever possible toreduce impacts of constructing firelines. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

SPB Hazard Reduction

FW–803: In stands where SPB hazard is ratedas moderate or higher, thin to achieve aminimum spacing of 20–25 feet betweentrees while retaining at least 70 square feet ofoverstory pine BA. An exception to this wouldbe allowing a minimum of 50 square feet ofpine BA in mixed pine-hardwood manage-ment types. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–804: Give priority to thinning stands within1/4 mile of active clusters. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Clearing for non-timber management purposes

FW–805: Where initial oil and gas explorationactivities cannot occur outside RCW HMAS,prioritize exploration within a HMA as follows:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

1. Beyond 11/2 miles of an active cluster site2. Beyond 1 mile of an active cluster site3. Beyond 1/2 mile of an active cluster site4. Beyond 1/4 mile of an active cluster site

FW–806: Minimize to the greatest extentpossible the amount of pine tree removalneeded to locate all oil and gas facilities ona well site. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE



FW–807: Permanent clearings for non-tim-ber purposes may not occur if the loss ofhabitat would reduce the capability of theHMA to support its identified RCW populationobjective. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–808: In MILs 3 and 4, clearings are notallowed within 1/4 mile of RCW groups. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–809: Clearings are not allowed if forag-ing habitat is limited, or if the clearing com-pletely severs a cluster or recruitment standfrom its foraging habitat. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–810: The size and longevity of clearingsfor oil and gas well sites should be minimizedto the greatest extent practicable. Clearingfor these purposes should be no greater than5–8 acres for horizontal drilling and 2–4acres for vertical drilling. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–811: Require immediate reforestation ofall unneeded or abandoned well site areas,access roads, or pipeline rights-of-way. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FW–812: Fit well site dimensions to the siteand resource needs to the greatest extentpossible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–813: Do not allow timber harvesting foroil and gas facilities until immediately beforedrilling operations. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–814: Where well site locations cannotbe placed on other ownerships, prioritizelocations within RCW HMAS as follows: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

1. Existing permanent openings or non-for-est land.

2. Unsuitable RCW habitat (hardwood-pine,hardwood).

3. Off-site loblolly and slash plantations.4. Off-site loblolly and slash < 30 years old.5. Pine-hardwood < 30 years old.6. Pine-hardwood > 30 years old.7. Longleaf pine < 30 years old.8. Longleaf pine > 30 years old.

FW–815: When locating well sites in pine orpine-hardwood types greater than 30 yearsold, select areas with the least number ofrelicts or suitable cavity trees and lowestbasal area of pine. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–816: Use existing road corridors, otherexisting rights-of-way, and other non-forestland wherever possible for well site accessroutes, production facilities, and pipelinecorridors. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–817: Specify clearing limits for all accessroads and pipeline corridors within HMAS tobe no more than 30 feet wherever possible.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–818: In situations where mineral rightsare privately-owned, limit or prohibit clear-ings for the exploration / development ofthese resources to the extent legally pos-sible. Consult with OGC. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Thinning

FW–819: Thinning of stands considered un-suitable as foraging habitat (average DBH ofless than 10 inches) is encouraged and maytake place at any time. Standard silviculturalguidelines apply. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–820: Provide for the following in standsthat are equal to or greater than 10 inchesDBH: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Maintain pine BA of 70–110 square feet,depending on site and stand location. Anexception would be allowing a minimumof 50 square feet of pine BA in mixed pine-hardwood management types.

� Do not remove more than 30 square feetof BA in the dominant or codominants inany single thinning operation.

� Use the following priority to select pinetrees to retain:• Relict trees• Other potential cavity trees• Trees greater than 10 inches DBH that arenot potential cavity trees• Trees less than 10 inches DBH.

Even-aged and two-aged silviculture for RCW habitat

FW–821: Rotation age for pine-hardwoodforest types will be set by the pine speciesbeing managed. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE



FW–822: Table 2–6 shows the minimum ro-tation ages prescribed for the various pinespecies and the acreage that may besustainably regenerated per decade. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

FW–823: Calculate the appropriate even-agedand two-aged regeneration method acreswithin an HMA based on: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� The MIL of the particular RCW population.� The acres of suitable RCW habitat (pine

and pine-hardwood forest types with po-tential to produce foraging habitat) withinthe HMA regardless of their suitability fortimber production.

� The rotation applicable to each manage-ment type represented.

� The existing acreage of each manage-ment type which is in the 0–10 and 0–30age classes. Existing acres resulting fromcatastrophic events such as insect out-breaks, fire, weather, etc. must be in-cluded in the appropriate age class acres.Openings made to control SPB must alsobe included.

Uneven-agedsilviculture for RCW habitat

FW–824: Utilize the guidance for the use ofthe uneven-aged management (UEAM) sys-tem or uneven-aged regeneration techniqueswithin RCW HMAS contained in the forestwidedirection given for UEAM, with additionalguidance found in the appropriate MA / SMA

standards and guidelines. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Minimizing Habitat Fragmentation

FW–825: No pine stands within 1/4 mile of anactive cluster in an HMA classified as MIL 3 or 4may be regenerated using even-aged (EAM) ortwo-aged systems. This prohibition includescuttings to restore desirable pine species.Only intermediate treatments to enhanceRCW habitat or UEAM is allowed, if other appli-cable guidelines including required foraginghabitat are met. An exception would be theplanting or seeding of stands destroyed bycatastrophic events such as hurricanes andtornadoes. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

FW–826: Limit regeneration patch size (even-aged or two-aged systems) to 40 acres inMILs 1 and 2 and 25 acres in MILs 3 and 4. Anexception to this is the restoration of longleafpine beyond 1.5 miles of an active cluster,where the maximum opening size will be 40acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–827: Do not create openings greaterthan 330 feet in width, that completely severclusters / recruitment stands from their for-aging habitat, or that sever corridors linkingsub-populations and isolated clusters. (RCW)(GUIDELINE)

Pine restoration — general

FW–828: The rate of longleaf and shortleafpine restoration is based on regenerating 8.3percent of the total management type acresbeing managed to provide suitable RCW habi-tat within each individual HMA. Managementtype acres are those acres of the existingspecies being restored plus the acres of off-site species to be replaced. Include manage-ment type acres identified as unsuitable fortimber production or managed under anuneven-aged system within the total man-agement type acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–829: The following apply to all restora-tion efforts, including accelerated pine res-toration: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� In a population classed as MIL 3 or 4,restoration using an even-aged or two-aged system may not occur within 1/4

mile of an active cluster.� Plan restoration to avoid excessive age

class bulges, especially if the new standsare to be managed with an even-agedsystem.


RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE

TABLE 2–6, MINIMUM PINE ROTATIONAGES AND SUSTAINABLE ACREAGES

Percentage toPine Type Rotation Regenerate in

Age 10-Yr Period

Longleaf Pine ................................................... 120 Years ........................................................... 8.3%Shortleaf Pine .................................................. 120 Years ........................................................... 8.3%Loblolly Pine .................................................... 100 Years .......................................................... 10.0%Slash Pine ........................................................ 100 Years .......................................................... 10.0%

Acreage



� No existing stands of the desired pinetype (species being restored) may beregenerated until they reach rotation age,although thinning may occur.

� Do not create openings greater than 330feet in width which completely sever clus-ters or recruitment stands from their for-aging habitat or that sever corridors link-ing sub-populations or isolated clusters.

� During restoration, all existing trees ofthe desired species shall be retained, withtwo exceptions. Clumps of desired spe-cies that are dominant or codominantwith a basal area of greater than 70square feet [per acre] can be thinned toimprove RCW habitat conditions. Clumpsof desired species less than 10 inches DBH

and less than 30 years old can be thinnedto promote growth and vigor.

� Conversion of longleaf pine to anotherpine species within an HMA requires con-sultation with the USFWS.

RCW habitat managementbeyond 1.5 miles of active clusters

FW–830: Emphasize creating and maintain-ing long-term RCW habitat. Give priority torestoration of preferred RCW forest types(longleaf and shortleaf pine); to maintainingstand health through thinning; and to over-all habitat improvement through the use ofprescribed fire. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–831: During the first 10–20 years ofForest Plan implementation, prioritize re-generation within a HMA beyond 1.5 miles ofactive RCW cluster sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Accelerated pine restoration

FW–832: Emphasize HMAS with sparse or scat-tered RCW populations. In order to expediterestoration in portions of an HMA that are 1.5miles or more from an active cluster the 0-10and 0-30 guidelines may be exceeded and areduced level of foraging habitat may beprovided for recruitment stands providedthat: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

� During the first 20 years of RCW strategyimplementation the area in the 0-10 ageclasses cannot exceed 15 percent, andthe area in the 0-30 age classes cannotexceed 40 percent.

� Foraging habitat for recruitment standscan be reduced to 3,175 pine stems > 10inches DBH and at least 30 years old and4,245 square feet of pine BA in stems > 5"DBH.

Regenerating longleaf pine

Clearcutting with reserves

FW–833: Allow the use of clearcutting withlongleaf reserves in all MILS to restore longleafpine to longleaf sites currently occupied byanother species. Retain all existing longleafpines within the regeneration area duringharvest and site preparation activities, exceptas noted in MA or SMA guidance. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

FW–834: In MIL 1, clearcutting may be used toregenerate very sparse (less than 24 pinesper acre that are 10" DBH or larger) or dam-aged stands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Shelterwood cutting with reserves

FW–835: MIL 1 (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

� Reduce stand to 25–30 square feet ofpine BA [per acre] at first cut.

� Seed trees should be vigorous, well formedand show signs of past seed production.

� Once a new stand of seedlings is estab-lished, the seed trees can be removed.

� Retention of 10 square feet of BA but notless than 6 longleaf trees per acre (longleafreserve trees) is optional, but encour-aged. If retained, they should be clumped.

FW–836: MIL 2 and 3: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Same as MIL 1, except retention of longleafreserve trees is mandatory. The priorities forselecting the reserve trees are:� Relict trees� Other potential cavity trees� Other trees larger than 10 inches DBH that

meet requirements as seed producers� Reserve trees would remain until the HMA

is classified as MIL 1.

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE



FW–837: MIL 4: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Same as MILs 2 and 3 except leave 40 squarefeet pine BA [per acre] at first cut.

Group and single-tree selection

FW–838: The group and single-tree selectionmethods may be used to regenerate longleafpine in all MILS, unless foraging habitat islimited. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Regenerating shortleaf,loblolly, and slash pine

Clearcutting with reserves

FW–839: Allow the use of clearcutting withreserves in all MILS to restore shortleaf pine toshortleaf sites currently occupied by anotherspecies. Retain all existing shortleaf pineswithin the regeneration area during harvestand site preparation activities, except asnoted in MA or SMA guidance. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–840: In MIL 1, clearcutting may be used toregenerate very sparse (less than 24 pinesper acre 10" DBH or larger) or damagedstands. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Shelterwood with reserves


� Reduce stand to 25–30 square feet ofpine BA [per acre] at first cut.

� Seed trees should be vigorous, well formedand show signs of past seed production.

� Once a new stand of seedlings is estab-lished the seed trees can be removed.

� Retention of 6 trees per acre (reservetrees) is optional, but encouraged.

� Distribution of reserve trees, if retained, isat the discretion of the manager.


Same as MIL 1, except retention of reservetrees is mandatory. The priorities for select-ing the reserve trees are:� Relict trees� Other potential cavity trees� Other trees larger than 10 inches DBH that

meet requirements as seed producers Reserve trees would remain until the HMA

is classified as MIL 1.


Reduce stand to 25–30 square feet of pine BA

[per acre] at first cut. All these trees are toremain until the HMA moves into MIL 2. Priori-ties for selecting trees to be retained asshelterwood are:� Relict trees� Other potential cavity trees� Other trees larger than 10 inches DBH that

meet requirements as seed producers� When the HMA moves into MIL 2 the shel-

terwood trees may be removed, exceptfor 6 trees per acre.

FW–844: MIL 4: (RCW) (GUIDELINE)Reduce stand to 40 square feet of pine BA

[per acre] at first cut. Priorities for selectingtrees to be retained as shelterwood are:� Relict trees� Other potential cavity trees� Other trees larger than 10 inches DBH that

meet requirements as seed producers� All these trees are to remain until the HMA

moves into MIL 3.� When the HMA moves into MIL 3 the shel-

terwood trees may be reduced to 25–30square feet of pine BA [per acre].

Group Selection and Single-Tree Selection

FW–845: The group and single-tree selectionmethods may be used to regenerate longleafpine in all MILS, unless foraging habitat islimited. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

Monitoring

FW–846: Monitoring requirements for RCW

populations and habitat is in accordancewith that given in the RCW FEIS Record of Decision

and can be found in Chapter 5 and Appen-dix F. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Consultation requirements

FW–847: Ensure all active cavity trees lost orany active cavities destroyed by prescribedfire will be replaced within 48 hours byinstalling the appropriate number of artifi-cial cavities within suitable trees, weatherpermitting. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–848: Conduct post-burn evaluationswithin 48 hours of a prescribed burn toinspect for damage to RCW cavity trees. Withintwo weeks of that evaluation, provide the


RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE



USFWS’S Lafayette Field Office with a writtenreport of any cavity trees or cavities dam-aged, any known losses of nest cavities,eggs, nestlings, and/or adults, andremediation actions taken. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–849: By January 31 of each year, report tothe USFWS’S Lafayette Field Office the totalnumber of active clusters affected by theprescribed burn by Unit and/or District. Thenumber of active cavity trees and activecavities destroyed by prescribed burningwill also be reported, along with any knownlosses of nest cavities, eggs, nestlings, and/or adults. The number of artificial cavitiesinstalled to replace the losses will also bereported. If all of the above-mentioned dataare contained within the annual monitoringreport the Kisatchie National Forest suppliesto the USFWS’S RCW recovery coordinator eachyear, a copy of that report could be for-warded to the Lafayette Field Office in lieu ofa separate report. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FW–850: Upon locating a dead, injured, orsick individual of an endangered or threat-ened species, initial notification must bemade to the USFWS according to the termsoutlined in the Kisatchie National Forest’smost current Endangered Species Act Sec-tion 10(a)(1)(A) permit. Care should be takenin handling sick or injured individuals and inthe preservation of specimens in the bestpossible state for later analysis of cause ofdeath or injury. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Other threatened, endangered,sensitive, and rare wildlife

General

FW–851: Enhance sensitive and conservationanimal species’ populations and habitats tomaintain reproducing, self-sustaining popu-lations. Conduct assessments to determinewhich listed rare species are at higher risk.Develop conservation assessments and strat-egies for higher-risk listed rare animal spe-cies first, with the intent of preventing theneed for federal listing as T&E species. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FORESTWIDESTANDARDS

ANDGUIDELINES

RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE

Bald Eagle

FW–852: Manage Bald Eagle nest and roostsites as described in the USFWS Habitat Manage-

ment Guidelines for the for the Bald Eagle in the Southeast

Region, January 1987, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Louisiana black bear

FW–853: Within the constraints of the otherForestwide and Management Area goals,desired future conditions, and standards andguidelines, comply with the conservationmeasures presented in the 1995 LouisianaBlack Bear Recovery Plan including: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

� Maintaining a diverse, productive forestthat provides preferred bear foods (hard-mast producers and soft-mast producers)and cover (thickets).

� Using single-tree, group selection, patchclearcuts, or a combination of these inuneven-aged or even-aged hardwoodmanagement.

� Creating SHPZS, forested hardwood corri-dors (as wide as possible) along majordrainages in hardwood forests and pineforests — to provide habitat diversity,mast production, den sites, and travellanes for bears.

� Preserving present and potential cavitytrees as denning sites.

� Favoring cypress stands, escape thickets,food sources, and travel corridors con-necting forested areas.

� Optimizing diversity in hardwood andpine plantations — in considering thesize, shape, and arrangement of harvestcuts, as well as the proximity and age ofnearby harvested areas.

� Favoring hard-mast producing speciessuch as oaks and pecans on suitable sites.

� Thinning natural hardwood stands whenfeasible, preferably at 5-15 year intervals.

� Burning pine stands on a 3-5 year rota-tion, always protecting SHPZS.

� Limiting construction of permanent all-weather roads into forested areas andgating or closing such roads when not inuse.



Louisiana pearlshell mussel

FW–854: Manage habitat for the Louisianapearlshell mussel by complying with conser-vation measures addressed in the LouisianaPearlshell Recovery Plan (1989), including:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Maintaining the beaver control programwithin the known range of this mussel.

� Restricting the use of off-road vehiclesnear known pearlshell populations.

� Ensuring that cattle and cattle grazingpose no threat to existing mussel beds.

� Maintaining high water quality in streamswhere this species is known to occur.

FW–855: Protect the Louisiana pearlshell mus-sel habitat by reducing the delivery of sedi-ment into the stream channel. Use the fol-lowing guidance: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Provide improved roadway ditch relief byincreasing the number of lead-off ditches.

� Construct lead-off ditches so that they donot discharge directly into streams.

� Provide for temporary erosion controlmeasures during construction and / orreconstruction; hay-bale ditch checks, in-clusion of annual grass seed (rye) into thepermanent seed mix, and placing siltfences along the road ROW where needed(toe of fills, in natural drains downstreamof culvert outlets, and at the ends of lead-off ditches).

� Ensure that roads to be constructed /reconstructed are located as far from thestreambeds as practical (preferably alongridges).

� Issue oil and gas leases with a highlyrestrictive controlled surface use (CSU1)stipulation within all SHPZS and RAPZS insideLouisiana pearlshell mussel sub-water-sheds.

� Avoid plowing through Louisianapearlshell mussel SHPZS when prescribeburning. See also, FW–071.

� Plan and conduct other forest manage-ment activities within Louisiana pearlshellmussel SHPZS and RAPZS to protect or en-hance the habitat of the mussel. See FW–510 through FW-519 for limitations onmanagement activities within SHPZS andRAPZS .


RESOURCEELEMENTS

WILDLIFE



Management Area Direction Chap

ter

INTRODUCTION

MANAGEMENTAREA 1: FOREST

PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS

DESIRED FUTURECONDITION

33INTRODUCTION

Chapter 3 defines management area andsub-management area goals, desired futureconditions, and standards and guidelines.Forestwide goals, desired future condition(DFC), and standards and guidelines are de-fined in Chapter 2, Forestwide Direction.

Management area (MA) and sub-man-agement area (SMA) goals describe the pri-mary resource emphasis on a more specificlandscape. Provisions are made for otherresources at varying levels.

The DFCS in MAS and SMAS address theecological legacy and condition of such ar-eas along with their potential for human useand experience. Each DFC includes a descrip-tion of the landscape alterations, forest ap-pearance, associated wildlife, and possiblehuman experiences and interactions.

The standards and guidelines in MAS andSMAS provide additional guidance supple-menting Forestwide standards and guide-lines. Taken together, the combination ofForestwide, management area, and sub-management area standards and guidelinesprovide the overall direction for a specificlandscape.

MANAGEMENT AREA 1:FOREST PRODUCTS

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 31,000 acres on the Forest. Itoccurs on the Catahoula District (32 per-cent); the Evangeline Unit of the CalcasieuDistrict (46 percent); and the Winn District(22 percent).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize high levels of commodity out-puts while meeting all minimum manage-ment requirements.

Focus forest management activities andpractices to produce vigorously growingstands of pine sawtimber. Produce addi-tional wood fiber products through periodicstand tending activities and the salvaging ofdead and dying trees.


The natural landscape in this area has beenmodified to a high degree due to past man-agement activities. Vegetation patterns areprimarily a product of frequent timber har-vests resulting in numerous large openings.Evidence of prescribed fire activities (plowlines, blackened tree trunks, vegetation) canbe seen on a limited amount of the area. Thelandscape is frequently intersected by nar-row road corridors.

The overstory vegetation on a majority ofthe area consists primarily of pine stands.The pine stands are frequently dissected bynarrow bands of mixed hardwood and pineforest associated with perennial and inter-mittent stream channels. These narrow buff-ers provide the minimum protection neces-sary to maintain water quality and associ-ated terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Withinany given stand, trees are essentially thesame age; however, tree ages vary between



stands. The amount of younger, intermedi-ate, and older stands results in a fairly bal-anced age class distribution. Evidence ofintermediate harvesting (thinning) is appar-ent throughout the entire area. Manage-ment maintains a relatively closed forestcanopy resulting in a sparse patchy under-story and midstory dominated by shrubsand saplings.

There are numerous, moderate-sized pineregeneration areas scattered throughout thelandscape. The character of these openingsranges from those that were recently har-vested to those that are well-stocked withvigorously growing pine seedlings and sap-lings. Those areas that were recently har-vested may still exhibit evidence of chop-ping and burning.

Wildlife that prefer openings and early tomid-successional forest habitats are com-mon. Species finding favorable habitatswithin this landscape include white-taileddeer, eastern cottontail, Mourning Dove,Northern Cardinal, Prairie Warbler, Red-tailedHawk, and Pine Warbler. Some cavity nest-ing wildlife may be observed; however, dueto the lack of snags and hardwood den trees,they are not common. Any threatened, en-dangered or sensitive plant or animal specieswould be afforded minimum protection.

For people using the area, there is a veryhigh probability of experiencing the sightsand sounds of other people or viewing theevidence of management activities. Only avery few designated hiking trails and dis-persed recreation facilities exist.

STANDARDS ANDGUIDELINES

FIRE MANAGEMENT

Wildfire suppression

MA–1–01: Use a suppression strategy of di-rect control to minimize acreage burned.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire

MA–1–02: Do not allow prescribed naturalfires. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MANAGEMENTAREA 1: FORESTPRODUCTS



MA–1–03: Use prescribed fire where neces-sary to meet specific tree establishment andmaximum growth objectives or to maintainsafe levels of fuel loadings to reduce damagefrom wildfire. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FOREST PRODUCTS

MA–1–04: Classify this management area assuitable for timber production except inareas specifically classified unsuitable byForestwide standards and guidelines. (KNF)(STANDARD)


MA–1–05: Management type for all stream-side habitat protection zones (SHPZ) and ripar-ian area protection zones (RAPZ) will be hard-wood forest types. See Forestwide standardsand guidelines for appropriate managementpractices within SHPZ and RAPZ. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–1–06: Plan and develop the transporta-tion system to provide access to within 1/4

mile of all products. Typically, access withinthe compartment will be by dead-end local(traffic service level D) roads. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–1–07: Depending upon stand densityand product operability, initiate thinningsnear age 20 for loblolly and shortleaf pine,and age 30 for all other forest types. Deter-mine target residual basal areas and sched-uling of subsequent thinnings based uponthose needed to optimize timber produc-tion. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–1–08: Mixed pine-hardwood and hard-wood pine are not appropriate manage-ment types within this management area.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)



SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 1C

PRIMARY MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize producing and sustaining a highlevel of a mixture of commodity outputs.Provide other resources a moderate level ofprotection during management activities.

DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION

The overstory vegetation on a large majorityof the area consists primarily of pine standswhich may contain up to 30 percent hard-woods. In the older managed stands, treesare typically 90–100 feet tall, 18–20 inchesin diameter, and roughly 70–80 years old. Inthese older areas the trees are evenly spaced.Standing dead trees and downed logs arescattered throughout a majority of the area.

There are numerous pine regenerationareas, up to 40 acres in size, scatteredthroughout the landscape. These areas areprimarily seed-trees and shelterwoods wherea variable amount of overstory pine is ini-tially maintained to provide a seed source forthe regenerating stand. After the regenerat-ing stand is established, most of the pineoverstory is removed. Some live pine orhardwood trees and standing snags are leftscattered or clumped throughout the standindefinitely. Approximately 15 percent ofthe area is in stand-sized openings less than10 years old.

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

Vegetation

SMA–1C–01: Use seed-tree and shelterwoodas the primary even-aged regeneration meth-ods to regenerate all upland forest types.Maximum size of a regeneration opening is40 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–1C–02: Set rotation age for slash pinemanagement type at 50 years; for remainingpine types, 70 years; for upland hardwood,100 years; and for bottomland hardwoods,120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–1C–03: Set earliest entry age for regen-eration purposes for pine management typesat 35 years; and for upland hardwood, 90years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 1: FOREST

PRODUCTS

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 1C

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS





MANAGEMENT AREA 2:AMENITY VALUES

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 16,000 acres on the Forest. Itoccurs on the Evangeline Unit of the CalcasieuDistrict (48 percent) and the Caney District(52 percent).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize protection and enhancementof non-market resources and values. Con-sider commodity outputs to be secondaryand occur as by-products of managementpractices.

Focus forest management practices andactivities on protecting, maintaining or en-hancing amenity values, such as recreation,visual quality, wildlife and plant habitats.Offer the highest level of recreational oppor-tunities and experiences in a relatively undis-turbed or natural setting. Do not requiresustained production of forest products. Al-low some cutting of trees to improve overallstand characteristics for amenity reasons orto salvage or control large natural mortalityevents such as wildfire, windthrow, andsouthern pine beetle (SPB).


The landscape in this area maintains a highlynatural appearance. Small openings occurfrequently as a result of either natural mor-tality or stand improvement practices. Largeopenings occur on an infrequent basis as aresult of insect infestations, disease, windstorms, etc. The landscape is frequently in-tersected by narrow road corridors.

The uplands are frequently dissected byperennial and intermittent streams. Bufferson these stream channels provide for theprotection of water quality and associatedterrestrial and aquatic habitats. A majority ofthe forest consists of larger older trees inter-spersed with small patches of variable-sizedyounger trees, saplings, seedlings or smallopenings. The forest canopy ranges fromsparse to dense, with old trees greater than100 years old occurring commonly as indi-viduals, in groups or on large areas. Stand-ing dead trees and down logs are abundantas a result of natural mortality. Management

activities eventually result in old-growth for-est over the entire area. Threatened, endan-gered and sensitive species associated withthese habitat conditions receive the maxi-mum level of protection and management.Rare, unique or sensitive communities areidentified, protected, and actively managed.

For people using the area, the probabilityof experiencing the sights, sounds and evi-dence of other people is common. The high-est amount and variety of developed anddispersed recreation facilities, opportunitiesand experiences are provided to meet theneeds of local demand.


FIRE MANAGEMENT


MA–2–01: Use a suppression strategy thatmay range from direct control to more indi-rect methods of containment and confine-ment, including surveillance where appro-priate. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire


FOREST PRODUCTS

MA–2–03: Classify this management areaas unsuitable for timber production. (KNF)(STANDARD)


MA–2–04: Along all streams where the areaimmediately adjacent to the scour channel iscomposed of mixed pine and hardwoodhabitats, extend the streamside habitat pro-tection zone (SHPZ) out to a minimum of 100feet. Mixed pine and hardwood habitats aredefined as areas where more than 30 per-cent of the total overstory basal area iscomposed of hardwood tree species. SeeForestwide standards and guidelines for ap-propriate management practices within SHPZ

and RAPZ. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 2:AMENITYVALUES

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS






MA–2–05: Do not manage using a silvicul-tural system. No rotation lengths are estab-lished. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–2–06: Allow uneven-aged regenerationmethod techniques and stand improvementcuts to meet specific amenity resource ob-jectives, such as improving old-growth char-acteristics, wildlife habitats, scenic quality,or plant community composition and struc-ture. See Forestwide direction for specificuneven-aged regeneration methods guid-ance. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–2–07: Allow periodic stand improvementcuts for upland stands outside SHPZ and RAPZ

, beginning when a stand nears age 30 andcontinuing as long as needed to meet spe-cific amenity resource objectives. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

MA–2–08: Restrict even-aged regenerationmethod techniques to regeneration of dam-aged stands or for insect and disease control.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 2AL


Emphasize protection and enhancement ofnon-market resources and values associatedwith longleaf pine-dominated landscapes.Allow the highest level of landscape-widealteration.


Alterations to the area are done so as tomimic natural processes. Prescribed fire isthe primary tool used to alter the landscapeand is used at the frequency, intensity andtime of year which occurred prior to Euro-pean settlement. Evidence of fire occursacross the landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively openpine stands eventually dominated by native,fire dependent longleaf pine communities.These areas are open in aspect, typically withlong scenic vistas, and broken only by hard-wood-lined slopes, creeks and river bot-toms. Other than longleaf, there are fewshrubs and mid-story trees on the uplands.

The ground cover is a continuous swath ofherbaceous plants dominated by grasses,composites, legumes and other forbs.

Wildlife associated with open, frequentlyburned old-growth conifer communities findfavorable habitat conditions. Species expectedto be inhabiting the area include: Red-headedWoodpeckers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey,Eastern Bluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisianapine snake, Bachman’s Sparrow, fox squirrel,Prairie Warbler, and red bat.


Fire management

SMA–2AL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–2AL–02: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly forlongleaf pine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleafpine are not appropriate management typeswithin this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–2AL–03: Favor the retention of longleafpine during stand improvement cuts in up-land stands. Manage for an open canopywith variable tree densities having an aver-age pine basal area of 70 square feet peracre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 2AS


Emphasize protection and enhancement ofnon-market resources and values associatedwith shortleaf pine / oak-hickory (SOH) domi-nated landscapes. Allow the highest level oflandscape-wide alteration.


Alterations to the area are done so as tomimic natural processes. Prescribed fire isthe primary tool used to alter the landscapeand is used at the frequency, intensity andtime of year which occurred prior to Euro-pean settlement. Evidence of recent fire oc-curs on a limited amount of the landscape.

MANAGEMENTAREA 2:

AMENITYVALUES


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 2AL

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS



SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 2AS

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS




Because of infrequent prescribed firemixed communities of shortleaf pine, oaks,and hickories dominate the landscape. Theoverstory canopy is more or less open; mod-erately to densely stocked with all sizes ofshortleaf pines and hardwoods. Variousshrubs and saplings form fairly thick mid-story and understory components. Herba-ceous ground cover is sparse to moderate.

Wildlife associated with mixed pine andhardwood old-growth communities find fa-vorable habitat conditions. Species expectedto inhabit the area include: Red-bellied Wood-pecker, Cooper s Hawk, Eastern ScreechOwl, Summer Tanager, Black-and-white War-bler, Field Sparrow, Wild Turkey, fox squir-rel, gray fox, golden mouse, and white-tailed deer.


Fire management

SMA–2AS–01: Apply prescribed fire every 7–10 years at the landscape scale. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

Vegetation

SMA–2AS–02: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly formixed pine-hardwood. Longleaf, slash, andloblolly pine are not appropriate manage-ment types within this sub-managementarea. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–2AS–03: Favor the retention of shortleafpine, oaks, and hickories during stand im-provement cuts in upland stands. Managefor a relatively open canopy with variabletree densities having an average combined,pine and hardwood, basal area of 80 squarefeet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 2AM


Emphasize protection and enhancement ofnon-market resources and values associatedwith mixed hardwood-loblolly pine (MHL)dominated landscapes. Allow the highestlevel of landscape-wide alteration.


Alterations to the area are done so as tomimic natural processes. Forest successionplays a major role in shaping the landscapevegetation.

This landscape is dominated by commu-nities composed primarily of various hard-woods, with loblolly pine as a major associ-ate. The overstory is relatively closed, multi-layered, and moderately to densely stocked.The midstory is a diverse multi-layering ofshrubs, vines and overstory saplings. Herba-ceous ground cover is sparse. Leaf litter anddown woody material in various stages ofdecay cover the ground.

Wildlife associated with mixed hardwoodand pine old growth communities find fa-vorable habitat conditions. Species expectedto be inhabiting the area include: PileatedWoodpecker, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnat-catcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyedVireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, spring peeper,eastern narrow-mouthed toad, gray squir-rel, Barred Owl, small-mouthed salamander,and white-tailed deer.


Fire management

SMA–2AM–01: Apply prescribed fire at land-scape scale every 15–20 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–2AM–02: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed hardwood-pine or hard-wood. Longleaf, slash, and shortleaf pine arenot appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–2AM–03: Favor the retention of oaks,hickories, and other desirable hardwoodsduring stand improvement cuts. Manage fora relatively closed canopy with variable treedensities having an average combined, hard-wood and pine, basal area of 100 square feetper acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 2:AMENITYVALUES

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 2AS



SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 2AM

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT GOALS





MANAGEMENT AREA 3:NATIVE COMMUNITYRESTORATION

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 142,000 acres on the Forest. Itoccurs on the Catahoula District (23 per-cent); the Evangeline Unit of the CalcasieuDistrict (7 percent); the Kisatchie District;(15 percent); the Winn District (37 percent);the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu District (lessthan 1 percent); and the Caney District (17percent).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize restoration of the historical land-scape vegetation to those landtype associa-tions on which they once occurred.

Focus forest management activities andpractices on restoring and maintaining thecomposition, structure and processes thatformed the major landscape plant commu-nities on those landforms where they oc-curred prior to the large-scale logging of thelate 19th and early 20th centuries. Providebenefit for rare and unique embedded com-munities associated with these landscapesthrough management activities.


The natural landscape is modified throughmanagement activities during restoration.This includes maintaining areas of existingnative plant communities and the associ-ated understory while restoring those areascurrently dominated by off-site species. Veg-etation patterns are primarily a product ofprescribed fire frequency, restoration har-vests, and stand improvement practices.Prescribed fire is used at the frequency,intensity, and time of year which occurredhistorically. The landscape is frequently in-tersected by narrow road corridors.

Perennial and intermittent streams fre-quently dissect the uplands. Buffers alongthese stream channels protect water qualityand associated terrestrial and aquatic habi-tats. A large portion of the forest is in areaswith trees of essentially the same age, al-though ages do vary. In the older managedstands, trees are typically 90-100 feet talland 18-20 inches in diameter. Evidence of

stand improvement practices is apparentthroughout an entire area. Standing deadtrees and down logs are common due tonatural mortality.

Restoration areas are scattered through-out the landscape, ranging from clearcutswhere few if any live trees remain standingto those where a variable amount of treesremain indefinitely scattered or clumpedthroughout. The character of these open-ings ranges from recently harvested to well-stocked with tree seedlings. Areas recentlyharvested may still exhibit evidence of sitepreparation, burning or planting.

Threatened, endangered and sensitivespecies are afforded a moderate level ofprotection. Additional rare, unique or sensi-tive communities have been identified, pro-tected and are actively managed.

For people using the area, there is a highprobability of experiencing the sights andsounds of other people or viewing the evi-dence of management activities. The high-est amount and variety of dispersed anddeveloped recreation facilities, opportuni-ties and experiences are provided to meetthe needs of local demand.


FIRE MANAGEMENT



Prescribed fire


FOREST PRODUCTS

MA–3–03: Classify this management areaas suitable for timber production except inareas specifically classified unsuitable byForestwide standards and guidelines. (KNF)(STANDARD)

MANAGEMENTAREA 3:NATIVE

COMMUNITYRESTORATION

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS






MA–3–04: Along all streams where the areaimmediately adjacent to the scour channel iscomposed of mixed pine and hardwoodhabitats, extend the streamside habitat pro-tection zone (SHPZ) out to a minimum of 100feet. Mixed pine and hardwood habitats aredefined as areas where more than 30 per-cent of the total overstory basal area iscomposed of hardwood tree species. SeeForest-Wide standards and guidelines forappropriate management practices withinSHPZ and RAPZ. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–3–05: Pursue restoration or maintenanceof native plant communities on all sitesthrough the re-establishment of natural com-munity composition, structure, and ecologi-cal processes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3BL


Emphasize restoration of native, fire depen-dent longleaf pine communities in an inter-mediate time period while providing a mod-erate level of protection of other resources.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a product offrequent prescribed fire, longleaf restorationharvests and longleaf stand improvementpractices which result in many large openingsin an open pine canopy. Restoration includesmaintaining areas of existing longleaf pineand associated ground cover while restoringthose areas currently dominated by off-sitespecies back to longleaf pine communities.Off-site species are those other than longleafcurrently existing on sites historically occu-pied by longleaf pine. Longleaf restorationharvests result in many large openings scat-tered throughout the area. Small openingsoccur as a result of prescribed fire. Evidence ofprescribed fire activities (plowlines, black-ened tree trunks and vegetation) is commonand occurs across the landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively openpark-like pine stands eventually dominated

by native, fire dependent longleaf pine com-munities. The forest canopy ranges from sparseto moderately stocked. The forest typicallyhas long scenic vistas broken only by hard-wood-lined slopes, creeks, and river bottoms.Other than longleaf pine, there are few shrubsand mid-story trees on the uplands. Thenative ground cover is a continuous carpet ofherbaceous plants dominated by grasses,composites, legumes, and other forbs. Oldtrees greater than 100 years of age occur asindividuals or in small groups.

Many large longleaf restoration areas ofup to 80 acres are scattered throughout thelandscape. About 15 percent of the area is instand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with open, frequentlyburned conifer communities find favorablehabitat conditions. Species expected to beinhabiting the area include: Red-headedWoodpeckers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey,Eastern Bluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisi-ana pine snake, Bachman’s Sparrow, foxsquirrel, Prairie Warbler, and red bat.


Fire management

SMA–3BL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–3BL–02: Prescribe dormant season andearly growing season burns to reduce im-pacts of brown-spot needle blight on high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites; and torelease longleaf seedlings from competition.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–3BL–03: Manage upland stands outsidethe SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly for longleafpine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleaf pine arenot appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BL–04: Use clearcutting as the primaryeven-aged regeneration method to restorelongleaf pine forest to uplands dominatedby off-site pine (loblolly, slash). Maximumregeneration openings are 80 acres. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 3:NATIVECOMMUNITYRESTORATION



PRIMARYMANAGEMENTGOALS


STANDARDSAND GUIDELINES



SMA–3BL–05: Set rotation age for longleafpine management type at 70 years; formixed pine-hardwood, 70 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 100years; and for bottomland hardwood, 120years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BL–06: Set earliest entry age for regen-eration purposes for off-site pines on longleafsites at 35 years; for longleaf pine and mixedpine-hardwood, 60 years; and for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 90years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BL–07: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,focus even-aged regeneration harvests onoff-site pine species occupying longleaf pinesites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BL–08: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10-yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for loblollyand age 30 for longleaf, and continue asneeded for the life of the stand. Favor theretention of longleaf pine. Manage for anopen canopy with variable tree densitieshaving an average pine basal area of 70square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3BS


Emphasize restoration of native shortleafpine / oak-hickory (SOH) communities in anintermediate time period while providing amoderate level of protection of other re-sources.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof infrequent prescribed fire, restoration har-vests and stand improvement practices whichresult in many large openings in the forestcanopy. Restoration includes maintainingareas of existing SOH and associated under-story while restoring those areas currentlydominated by off-site species back to SOH

communities. Off-site species are those otherthan SOH currently existing on a site histori-cally occupied by SOH. Harvests to restore SOH

result in many large openings scatteredthroughout the area. Small openings may

occur as a result of prescribed fire. Evidenceof recent prescribed fire (plowlines, black-ened tree trunks and vegetation) occurs ona limited amount of the landscape.

As a result of infrequent prescribed fire,the landscape is dominated by mixtures ofshortleaf pine, oaks and hickories. The over-story has a more or less open canopy whichis moderately to densely stocked with vari-able-sized shortleaf pines and hardwoods.Various shrubs are present, and in combina-tion with saplings of overstory species, forma fairly thick midstory and understory com-ponent. The herbaceous ground cover issparse to moderate. A portion of the forestconsists of areas where larger older trees areinterspersed with small patches of variable-sized younger trees, saplings, seedlings, orsmall openings. Old trees greater than 100years of age occur as individuals or in smallgroups.

Scattered throughout the landscape aremany large SOH restoration areas of up to 80acres. Approximately 15 percent of an areais in stand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mixed pine andhardwood communities find favorable habi-tat conditions. Species expected to be in-habiting the area include Red-bellied Wood-pecker, Cooper’s Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl,Summer Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler,Field Sparrow, white-tailed deer, Wild Tur-key, fox squirrel, gray fox, and golden mouse.


Fire management

SMA–3BS–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 7–10 years. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–3BS–02: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly formixed pine-hardwood. Longleaf, slash, andloblolly pine are not appropriate manage-ment types within this sub-managementarea. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BS–03: Use clearcutting as the pri-mary even-aged regeneration method torestore shortleaf pine/oak-hickory forest toupland areas. Maximum size of a regenera-tion opening is 80 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 3BL


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 3BS

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS





SMA–3BS–04: Set rotation age for shortleafpine management type at 70; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 70 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 100years; and for bottomland hardwoods, 120years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BS–05: Set the earliest entry age forregeneration purposes for sites identified forrestoration at 60 years; for shortleaf pine andmixed pine-hardwood at 60 years; and formixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 90 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BS–06: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,focus even-aged regeneration harvests onoff-site pine species occupying shortleaf pine/ oak-hickory sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BS–07: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for short-leaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for all otherforest types, and continue as needed for thelife of the stand. Favor the retention ofshortleaf pine, oaks, and hickories. Managefor a relatively open canopy with variabletree densities having an average combined,pine and hardwood, basal area of 80 squarefeet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3BM


Emphasize restoration of native mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine (MHL) communities inan intermediate time period while provid-ing a moderate level of protection of otherresources.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof restoration harvests, stand improvementpractices, and the lack of prescribed firewhich result in many large openings in theforest canopy. Restoration includes main-taining areas of MHL while restoring thoseareas currently dominated by off-site speciesback to MHL communities. Off-site speciesare those other than MHL currently existingon sites historically occupied by MHL.

The forest is dominated by communitiescomposed primarily of various hardwoods,

with loblolly pine as a major associate. Theoverstory is relatively closed, multi-layeredand moderately to densely stocked. Themidstory is also multi-layered, composed ofa diversity of shrubs, vines and overstorysaplings. The herbaceous ground cover issparse. The ground is covered with leaf litterand down woody material. Old trees greaterthan 100 years of age occur as individuals orin small groups.

There are many large MHL restorationareas of up to 80 acres in size, scatteredthroughout the landscape. Approximately15 percent of the area is in stand-sizedopenings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mixed hardwoodand pine communities find favorable habitatconditions. Species expected to be inhabit-ing the area include: Pileated Woodpecker,Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yel-low-throated Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Yel-low-billed Cuckoo, spring peeper, easternnarrow-mouthed toad, gray squirrel, white-tailed deer, Barred Owl, and small-mouthedsalamander.


Fire management

SMA–3BM–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 15–20 years. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–3BM–02: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed hardwood-pine or hard-wood. Longleaf, slash, and shortleaf pine arenot appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BM–03: Use clearcutting as the pri-mary even-aged regeneration method torestore mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forestto upland areas. Maximum size of a regen-eration opening is 80 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BM–04: Set rotation age for loblollypine management type at 70; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 70 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 100years; and for bottomland hardwood, 120years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BM–05: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for sites identified for


SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3BS


SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3BM






restoration at 60 years; for mixed pine-hard-wood at 60 years; and for mixed hardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 90 years. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BM–06: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,focus even-aged regeneration harvests onoff-site pine species occupying mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3BM–07: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for short-leaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for all otherforest types, and continue as needed for thelife of the stand. Favor the retention of oaks,hickories, and other desirable hardwoods.Manage for a relatively closed canopy withvariable tree densities having an averagecombined, hardwood and pine, basal areaof 100 square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3CL


Emphasize restoration of native, fire depen-dent longleaf pine communities in an ex-tended time period while providing a mod-erate to maximum level of protection ofother resources.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof frequent prescribed fire, longleaf pinerestoration harvests, and longleaf stand im-provement practices which result in scat-tered, moderate-sized openings in an openpine canopy. Restoration entails maintain-ing areas of existing longleaf and associatedground cover while restoring those areascurrently dominated by off-site species backto longleaf communities over an extendedperiod of time. Off-site species are thoseother than longleaf currently on sites that ithas historically occupied. Longleaf restora-tion harvests result in moderate-sized open-ings scattered throughout the area. Smallopenings may be caused by prescribed fire.Evidence of prescribed fire activities(plowlines, blackened tree trunks and veg-etation) is common across the landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively open,

park-like pine stands eventually dominatedby native, fire-dependent longleaf pine com-munities. The forest canopy ranges from sparseto moderately stocked. The forest typicallyhas long scenic vistas broken only by hard-wood-lined slopes, creeks and river bottoms.Other than longleaf pine, there are few shrubsand mid-story trees on the uplands. Thenative ground cover is a continuous carpet ofherbaceous plants dominated by grasses,composites, legumes and other forbs.

Moderate-sized longleaf restoration areasof up to 40 acres are scattered throughout thelandscape. About 10 percent of the area is instand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with open, frequentlyburned conifer communities find favorablehabitat conditions. Species expected to beinhabiting the area include: Red-headedWoodpecker, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey,Eastern Bluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisi-ana pine snake, Bachman’s Sparrow, foxsquirrel, Prairie Warbler, and red bat.


Fire management

SMA–3CL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–3CL–02: Prescribe dormant season andearly growing season burns to reduce im-pacts of brown-spot needle blight on high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites; and torelease longleaf seedlings from competition.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–3CL–03: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly forlongleaf pine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleafpine are not appropriate management typeswithin this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CL–04: Use clearcutting as the pri-mary even-aged regeneration method forrestoring longleaf pine to upland forest ar-eas dominated by off-site pines such asloblolly and slash. Maximum size of a regen-eration opening is 40 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 3BM


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 3CL

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS





SMA–3CL–05: Set rotation age for longleafpine management type at 100 years; formixed pine-hardwood, 100 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwood, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CL–06: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for off-site pines onlongleaf sites at 35 years; for longleaf pineand mixed pine-hardwood, 90 years; andfor mixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CL–07: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,focus even-aged regeneration harvests onoff-site pine species occupying longleaf pinesites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CL–08: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10-yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for loblollyand age 30 for longleaf, and continue asneeded for the life of the stand. Favor theretention of longleaf pine. Manage for anopen canopy with variable tree densitieshaving an average pine basal area of 70square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3CS


Emphasize restoration of native shortleafpine / oak-hickory (SOH) communities in anextended time period while protecting otherresources at a moderate-to-maximum level.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a product ofinfrequent prescribed fire, SOH restorationharvests and stand improvement practiceswhich result in scattered, moderate-sizedopenings in the forest canopy. Restorationincludes maintaining areas of existing SOH

while restoring those areas currently domi-nated by off-site species back to SOH commu-nities over an extended time. Off-site speciesare those other than SOH currently on siteshistorically occupied by SOH. Restoration har-vests for SOH result in moderate-sized open-ings scattered throughout the area. Smallopenings are caused by prescribed fire. Evi-dence of recent prescribed fire (plowlines,blackened tree trunks, and vegetation) oc-curs on a limited amount of the landscape.

As a result of infrequent prescribed fire,the landscape is dominated by mixtures ofshortleaf pine, oaks and hickories. The over-story has a more or less open canopy whichis moderately to densely stocked with vari-able-sized shortleaf pines and hardwoods.Various shrubs are present and, in combina-tion with regenerating overstory species,form a fairly thick midstory and understorycomponent. The herbaceous ground coveris sparse to moderate.

Moderate-sized SOH restoration areas ofup to 40 acres are scattered throughout thelandscape. About 10 percent of the area is instand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mixed pine andhardwood communities find favorable habi-tat. Species expected to inhabit the areainclude Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cooper’sHawk, Eastern Screech Owl, Summer Tana-ger, Black-and-white Warbler, Field Spar-row, white-tailed deer, Wild Turkey, fox squir-rel, gray fox, and golden mouse.










Fire management

SMA–3CS–01: Apply prescribed fire at land-scape scale every 7–10 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–3CS–02: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly formixed pine-hardwood. Longleaf, slash, andloblolly pine are not appropriate manage-ment types within this sub-managementarea. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CS–03: Use clearcutting as the pri-mary even-aged regeneration method torestore shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest toupland areas. Maximum size of a regenera-tion opening is 40 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CS–04: Set rotation age for shortleafpine management type at 100; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 100 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwood, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CS–05: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for sites identified forrestoration at 60 years; for shortleaf pine andmixed pine-hardwood at 90 years; and formixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CS–06: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,focus even-aged regeneration harvests onoff-site pine species occupying shortleaf pine/ oak-hickory sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CS–07: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for short-leaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for all otherforest types, and continue as needed for thelife of the stand. Favor the retention ofshortleaf pine, oaks, and hickories. Managefor a relatively open canopy with variabletree densities having an average combined,pine and hardwood, basal area of 80 squarefeet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 3CM


Emphasize restoration of native mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine (MHL) communities in anextended time period while providing amoderate to maximum level of protection ofother resources.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof MHL restoration harvests, stand improve-ment practices and the lack of prescribed firewhich result in scattered, moderate-sizedopenings in the forest canopy. Restorationincludes maintaining areas of existing MHL

while restoring those areas currently domi-nated by off-site species back to MHL over anextended period of time. Off-site species arethose other than MHL currently existing onsites historically occupied by MHL.

The forest is dominated by communitiescomposed primarily of various hardwoods,with loblolly pine as a major associate. Theoverstory is relatively closed, multi-layeredand moderately to densely stocked. Themidstory is also multi-layered composed of adiversity of shrubs, vines and overstory sap-lings. The herbaceous ground cover is sparse.The ground is covered with leaf litter anddown woody material.

There are moderate-sized MHL restorationareas of up to 40 acres scattered throughoutthe landscape. About 10 percent of the areais in stand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mature mixedhardwood and pine communities find favor-able habitat conditions. Species expected tobe inhabiting the area include: PileatedWoodpecker, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnat-catcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyedVireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, spring peeper,eastern narrow-mouthed toad, gray squir-rel, white-tailed deer, Barred Owl, and small-mouthed salamander.



SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 3CS


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 3CM

PRIMARY MANAGEMENTGOALS





Fire management

SMA–3CM–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 15–20 years. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

MA–3CM–02: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed hardwood-pine or hard-wood. Longleaf, slash, and shortleaf pine arenot appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CM–03: Use clearcutting as the pri-mary even-aged regeneration method torestore mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forestto upland areas. Maximum size of a regen-eration opening is 40 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CM–04: Set rotation age for loblollypine management type at 100; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 100 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwoods, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)




SMA–3CM–05: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for sites identified forrestoration at 60 years; for mixed pine-hard-wood at 90 years; and for mixed hardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 120 years. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CM–06: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,focus even-aged regeneration harvests onoff-site pine species occupying mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine sites. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–3CM–07: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for short-leaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for all otherforest types, and continue as needed for thelife of the stand. Favor the retention of oaks,hickories, and other desirable hardwoods.Manage for a relatively closed canopy withvariable tree densities having an averagecombined, hardwood and pine, basal areaof 100 square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



MANAGEMENT AREA 5:RCW AND NATIVECOMMUNITYRESTORATION

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 228,000 acres on the Forest. Itoccurs on the Catahoula District (29 per-cent); the Evangeline Unit of the CalcasieuDistrict (23 percent); the Kisatchie District(17 percent); and the Winn District (31percent). All acres occur within establishedRed-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) habitatmanagement areas (HMAS).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize management of Red-cockadedWoodpecker (RCW) habitat and on the resto-ration of the historical landscape vegetationto those landtype associations on which itoccurred. Provide other resources a moder-ate to maximum level of protection.

Focus activities and practices on achiev-ing established population objectives andon restoring and maintaining the composi-tion, structure and processes that formedthe major landscape plant communities onthose landforms where they occurred priorto the large-scale logging that occurred inthe late 19th and early 20th centuries. Pro-vide benefit to rare and unique embeddedcommunities associated with frequentlyburned landscapes.


The natural landscape is modified throughmanagement activities during the restora-tion period. Alterations to the area are doneto produce and sustain suitable habitat forthe immediate and long-term needs of theRCW. Restoration includes maintaining areasof existing native plant communities and theassociated understory while restoring thoseareas currently dominated by off-site spe-cies. Vegetation patterns are primarily a prod-uct of prescribed fire frequency, restorationharvests and habitat improvement practices.Prescribed fire is used at the frequency,intensity and time of year which occurredhistorically. The landscape is frequently in-tersected by narrow road corridors.

The uplands are frequently dissected by

perennial and intermittent streams. Thebuffers along these stream channels providefor the protection of water quality and asso-ciated terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Alarge portion of the forest occurs as areaswithin which trees are essentially the sameage. Tree ages vary from area to area. In theolder managed stands, trees are typically 90-100 feet tall and 18-20 inches in diameter.Evidence of habitat improvement practicesis apparent throughout the entire area. Oldtrees greater than 100 years of age occur asindividuals, in groups, or on large areas.Standing dead trees and down logs arecommon as a result of natural mortality.Threatened, endangered and sensitive spe-cies associated with these areas are affordedthe maximum level of protection and man-agement. Additional rare, unique or sensi-tive communities have been identified, pro-tected and are actively managed.

There are restoration areas scatteredthroughout the landscape. The appearanceof these areas ranges from clearcuts wherefew if any live trees remain standing to thosewhere a variable amount of trees remainscattered or clumped throughout the areaindefinitely. The character of these openingsranges from those that were recently har-vested to those that are well-stocked withtree seedlings. The areas that were recentlyharvested may still exhibit evidence of sitepreparation, burning, or planting.

For people using the area, there is a highprobability of experiencing the sights andsounds of other people or viewing the evi-dence of management activities. The high-est amount and variety of dispersed anddeveloped recreation facilities, opportuni-ties and experiences are provided to meetthe needs of local demand.


FIRE MANAGEMENT



MANAGEMENTAREA 5: RCWAND NATIVECOMMUNITY

RESTORATION

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS





Prescribed fire

MA–5–02: Allow prescribed natural fires toburn if prescribed conditions are met. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

FOREST PRODUCTS


MA–5–04: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW clus-ters and inactive RCW clusters or recruitmentstands that have been made suitable fortranslocation, salvage only to control SPB,retaining SPB-vacated trees. Within 1/4 mileof inactive clusters not suitable for transloca-tion, salvage only to control SPB, retainingSPB-vacated trees. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)





MA–5–06: Restore or maintain native plantcommunities for all sites through the re-establishment of natural community com-position, structure, and ecological processes.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–5–07: Concentrate restoration efforts be-yond 1.5 miles of active RCW cluster sites forthe first 10–20 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–5–08: Adhere to guidance presented inthe Record of Decision and the Final Environ-mental Impact Statement for the Manage-ment of the RCW and its Habitat on National

Forests in the Southern Region. See Forest-wide standards and guidelines for directionon vegetation management, habitat im-provement, and other practices pertainingto the RCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize the management of RCW habi-tat and restoring native, fire dependentlongleaf pine communities in an extendedtime period.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a product offrequent prescribed fire, longleaf pine resto-ration harvests and RCW habitat improvementpractices producing scattered, moderateopenings in an open pine canopy. Restora-tion entails maintaining longleaf and its asso-ciated ground cover, while restoring areasnow dominated by off-site species to longleafcommunities over an extended period. Off-site species are those other than longleafcurrently on sites that it historically occupied.Longleaf restoration harvests produce scat-tered, moderate openings throughout anarea. Small openings may result from pre-scribed fire. Evidence of prescribed fire activi-ties (plowlines, blackened tree trunks andvegetation) is common across the landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively open,park-like pine stands eventually dominatedby native, fire dependent longleaf commu-nities. The forest canopy ranges from sparse-to-moderate stocking. The forest typicallyhas long scenic vistas broken by hardwood-lined slopes, creeks and river bottoms. Otherthan longleaf, few shrubs and mid-storytrees grow on the uplands. The native groundcover is continuous: herbaceous plants domi-nated by grasses, composites, legumes andother forbs. Portions of the forest are areaswhere larger, older trees are interspersedwith small, variable patches of younger trees,saplings, seedlings, or small openings.

Moderate longleaf restoration areas up to40 acres are scattered throughout the land-scape. About 8 percent of the area is instand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with open, frequentlyburned conifer communities find favorable

MANAGEMENTAREA 5: RCWAND NATIVECOMMUNITYRESTORATION







habitat. Species expected to inhabit the areainclude: Red-cockaded and Red-headedWoodpeckers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey,Eastern Bluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisi-ana pine snake, Bachman’s Sparrow, foxsquirrel, Prairie Warbler, and red bat.


Fire management

SMA–5CL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–5CL–02: Prescribe dormant season andearly growing season burns to reduce im-pacts of brown-spot needle blight on high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites; and torelease longleaf seedlings from competition.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–5CL–03: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly forlongleaf pine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleafpine are not appropriate management typeswithin this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–04: Use clearcutting with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to restore longleaf pine forestto upland areas dominated by off-site pines(loblolly, slash). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–05: During restoration, retainall longleaf pine except as follows: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

� To improve RCW habitat conditions withinrestoration areas, allow thinning whereclumps of retained dominant or codomi-nant longleaf pine exceed 70 square feetof basal area per acre.

� To promote growth and vigor of retainedlongleaf pine, allow thinning whereclumps of longleaf are less than 10 inchesDBH and are less than 30 years old.

SMA–5CL–06: Maximum size of a regenera-tion opening is 40 acres if it occurs beyond1.5 miles of an active RCW cluster site and 25

acres if it occurs within 1.5 miles of an activecluster site. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–07: Set rotation age for longleafpine management type at 120 years; formixed pine-hardwood, 120 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwood, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–08: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the longleaf management type withinthis sub-management area in the 0–10 ageclass per HMA. Longleaf management typeacres are considered as all acres being man-aged toward longleaf pine regardless ofcurrent forest type (other southern pines) orsuitability for timber production (old-growth,RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands, etc).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–09: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for off-site pines onlongleaf sites at 35 years; for longleaf pineand mixed pine-hardwood, 110 years; andfor mixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–10: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,avoid applying regeneration harvests withinexisting longleaf pine stands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CL–11: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for loblollyand age 30 for longleaf, and continue asneeded for the life of the stand. Favor theretention of longleaf pine. Manage for anopen canopy with variable tree densitieshaving an average pine basal area of 70square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–5CL–12: Establish one RCW cluster site orrecruitment stand per 200 acres of pine andpine-hardwood forest type in this sub-man-agement area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


RESTORATION

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 5CL







Emphasize management of RCW habitat andrestoring native shortleaf pine / oak-hickory(SOH) communities in an extended timeperiod.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof infrequent prescribed fire, SOH restorationharvests and RCW habitat improvement prac-tices which result in scattered, moderate-sized openings in the forest canopy. Restora-tion includes maintaining areas of existingSOH while restoring those areas currentlydominated by off-site species back to SOH

communities over an extended period oftime. Off-site species are those other thanSOH currently existing on sites historicallyoccupied by SOH. Harvests for SOH restorationresult in moderate-sized openings scatteredthroughout the area. Small openings mayoccur as a result of prescribed fire. Firefrequency is increased on those areas pro-viding RCW cluster site and foraging habitat.Evidence of recent prescribed fire (plowlines,blackened tree trunks and vegetation) oc-curs on a limited amount of the landscape.

As a result of prescribed fire, the land-scape is dominated by mixtures of shortleafpine, oaks and hickories. The overstory has amore or less open canopy which is moder-ately to densely stocked with variable-sizedshortleaf pines and hardwoods. Variousshrubs are present, and in combination withregenerating overstory species, form a sparseto moderate midstory and understory com-ponent. The herbaceous ground cover issparse to moderate.

There are moderate-sized SOH restorationareas of up to 25 acres scattered throughoutthe landscape. About 8 percent of the area isin stand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mixed pine andhardwood communities find favorable hab-itat conditions. Species expected to be in-habiting the area include: Red-cockadedWoodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Coo-per’s Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl, SummerTanager, Black-and-white Warbler, FieldSparrow, white-tailed deer, Wild Turkey, foxsquirrel, gray fox, and golden mouse.


Fire management

SMA–5CS–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 5–10 years. Use pre-scribed fire more frequently on areas sup-porting suitable RCW habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–5CS–02: Manage upland stands outsidethe SHPZ and RAPZ primarily for mixed pine-hardwood. Longleaf, slash, and loblolly pineare not appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CS–03: Use clearcutting with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to restore shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest to upland areas. Maximumsize of a regeneration opening is 25 acres.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CS–04: During restoration, retainall shortleaf pine except as follows: (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

� To improve RCW habitat conditions withinrestoration areas, allow thinning whereclumps of retained dominant or codomi-nant shortleaf pine exceed 70 square feetof basal area per acre.

� To promote growth and vigor of retainedshortleaf pine, allow thinning whereclumps of shortleaf are less than 10 inchesDBH and are less than 30 years old.

SMA–5CS–05: Set rotation age for shortleafpine management type at 120; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 120 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwood, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CS–06: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the shortleaf pine and pine-hard-wood management types within this sub-management area in the 0–10 age class perHMA. Shortleaf pine or pine hardwood man-agement type acres are considered to be allacres being managed for shortleaf pine orpine-hardwood regardless of current foresttype (other pines) or suitability for timberproduction (old growth, RCW sites, recruit-ment stands, etc). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)








SMA–5CS–07: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for sites identified forrestoration at 60 years; for shortleaf pine andmixed pine-hardwood at 110 years; and formixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CS–08: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,avoid applying regeneration harvests withinexisting shortleaf pine / oak-hickory types.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CS–09: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for short-leaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for all otherforest types, and continue as needed for thelife of the stand. Favor the retention ofshortleaf pine, oaks, and hickories. Managefor a relatively open canopy with variabletree densities having an average combined,pine and hardwood, basal area of 90 squarefeet per acre, with a minimum of 50 squarefeet of pine per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–5CS–10: Establish one RCW cluster site orrecruitment stand per 300 acres of pine andpine-hardwood forest type in this sub-man-agement area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize management of RCW habitat andrestoring native mixed hardwood-loblollypine (MHL) communities in an extended timeperiod.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a product ofMHL restoration harvests, RCW habitat improve-ment practices and the minimal effects ofprescribed fire which result in scattered, mod-erate-sized openings in the forest canopy.Restoration includes maintaining areas ofexisting MHL while restoring those areas cur-rently dominated by off-site species back toMHL over an extended period of time. Off-sitespecies are those other than MHL currentlyexisting on sites occupied by MHL prior toEuropean settlement. Although prescribed

fire is a primary tool used to develop andmaintain suitable RCW habitat, it has a minimaleffect in altering and maintaining the land-scape in this area. Fire frequency is increasedin those areas providing RCW cluster sites andforaging habitat. Evidence of recent prescribedfire occurs on a limited amount of the land-scape. Forest succession plays a major role inshaping the landscape vegetation.

The forest is dominated by communitiescomposed primarily of various hardwoods,with loblolly pine as a major associate. Theoverstory is relatively closed, multi-layered,and moderately to densely stocked. Themidstory is also multi-layered composed of adiversity of shrubs, vines and overstory sap-lings. The herbaceous ground cover is sparse.The ground is covered with leaf litter anddown woody material.

Moderate-sized MHL restoration areas ofup to 25 acres are scattered throughout thelandscape. About 10 percent of the area is instand-sized openings at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mature mixedhardwood and pine communities find favor-able habitat conditions. Species expected tobe inhabiting the area include: PileatedWoodpecker, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnat-catcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyedVireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, spring peeper,eastern narrow-mouthed toad, gray squir-rel, white-tailed deer, Barred Owl, and small-mouthed salamander. Suitable RCW habitatexists on a limited portion of the area.


Fire management

SMA–5CM–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 10–15 years. Use pre-scribed fire more frequently on areas sup-porting suitable RCW habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–5CM–02: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed pine-hardwood, hardwood-pine or hardwood. Longleaf, slash, and short-leaf pine are inappropriate managementtypes within this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)


RESTORATION

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 5CS


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 5CM

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS





SMA–5CM–03: Use shelterwood with reservesas the primary two-aged regenerationmethod to regenerate pine and pine-hard-wood forest types within this sub-manage-ment area. Retain 40 square feet of pinebasal area per acre during initial cut. Inaddition to the pine, retain desirable over-story hardwoods, up to 20 square feet ofbasal area per acre. All residual pine treesand hardwoods are to be retained until theRCW HMA improves to the next managementintensity level. Priorities for selecting trees tobe retained as shelterwood are:

1. Relict trees2. Other potential cavity trees3. Other trees larger than 10 inches DBH that

meet requirements as seed producers

Maximum size of a regeneration openingis 25 acres. See Forestwide standards andguidelines for additional RCW shelterwoodwith reserves direction. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CM–04: Use shelterwood with reservesas the primary two-aged regenerationmethod to regenerate upland mixed hard-wood-pine and hardwood areas. Retain over-story hardwoods up to 40 square feet ofbasal area per acre during regeneration.Twenty to 40 square feet of hardwood re-sidual basal area per acre may be retainedindefinitely to allow establishment of ad-vanced hardwood reproduction and allowadditional time for seedlings to grow. Maxi-mum size of a regeneration opening is 25acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CM–05: Set rotation age for loblollypine management type at 100; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 100 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwood, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CM–06: Allow no more than 10 per-cent of the loblolly pine and pine-hardwoodmanagement types within this sub-manage-ment area in the 0–10 age class per HMA.Loblolly pine or pine-hardwood manage-ment type acres are considered to be allacres being managed towards loblolly pineor pine-hardwood regardless of current for-est type (longleaf, shortleaf, or slash pine) orsuitability for timber production (old growth,RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands, etc).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CM–07: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for all pine types at 60years; for mixed pine-hardwood at 90 years;and for mixed hardwood-pine and uplandhardwood, 120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CM–08: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,avoid applying regeneration harvests withinexisting mixed hardwood-loblolly pinestands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–5CM–09: Schedule upland stand im-provement cuts to occur at 10–20 year inter-vals, beginning near age 20 for shortleaf andloblolly pine, and age 30 for all other foresttypes, and continue as needed for the life ofthe stand. Favor the retention of oaks, hicko-ries, and other desirable hardwoods. Man-age for a relatively closed canopy with vari-able tree densities having an average com-bined, hardwood and pine, basal area of 100square feet per acre. Maintain a 50-square-foot pine minimum basal area per acre wherepossible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–5CM–10: Establish one RCW cluster siteor recruitment stand per 400 acres on pineand pine-hardwood forest type in this sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)






MANAGEMENT AREA 6:RCW AND WILDLIFEHABITATS

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 45,000 acres on the Forest. Itoccurs on the Vernon Unit of the CalcasieuDistrict and consists of military limited useareas under permit to Fort Polk. All acresoccur within an established Red-cockadedWoodpecker (RCW) habitat management area(HMA).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize management of RCW habitat andproviding a wide range of favorable habitatsfor all native wildlife. Provide other resourcesa moderate to maximum level of protection.

Focus forest management activities andpractices on achieving established popula-tion objectives while creating and manag-ing those habitat mosaics, conditions andattributes most beneficial to indigenouswildlife communities.


The landscape in this area maintains a some-what natural appearance. Alterations to thearea are done to produce and sustain suit-able habitat for the immediate and longterm needs of the RCW as well as optimalhabitat conditions for associated wildlifecommunities. Vegetation patterns are pri-marily a product of prescribed fire frequency,habitat improvement practices and standregeneration harvests. Prescribed fire is usedat the frequency, intensity and time of yearwhich occurred prior to European settle-ment. The landscape is frequently inter-sected by narrow road corridors.

The uplands are frequently dissected byperennial and intermittent streams. The buff-ers along these stream channels providemaximum protection and enhancement ofwater quality, aquatic habitats, riparian veg-etation and those additional resources tiedto stream channels. A large majority of theforest consists of areas within which trees areessentially the same age. Tree ages vary fromarea to area; and the mix of younger, inter-mediate and older stands results in a varietyof successional habitats. In the older man-

aged stands, trees are typically 90-100 feettall and 18-20 inches in diameter. Evidenceof stand improvement practices for wildlifehabitat purposes is apparent throughout theentire area. Standing dead trees and downedlogs are common as a result of natural mor-tality. Threatened, endangered and sensi-tive species associated with these habitatconditions receive the maximum level ofprotection and management. Additional rare,unique or sensitive communities are identi-fied, protected and actively managed.

There are small regeneration areas of upto 25 acres and moderate-sized longleafrestoration areas of up to 40 acres scatteredthroughout the landscape. The appearanceof these areas ranges from clearcuts wherefew if any live trees remain standing to thosewhere a variable amount of trees remainsscattered or clumped throughout the areaindefinitely. The character of these openingsranges from those that recently received theinitial regeneration harvest to those thatcontain various levels of pine and hardwoodseedlings. The areas that were recently har-vested may still exhibit evidence of site prepa-ration and burning.

For people using the area, the probabilityof experiencing the sights, sounds and evi-dence of other people is common. Somedesignated hiking trails and dispersed recre-ation facilities are provided.


FIRE MANAGEMENT



Prescribed fire


MANAGEMENTAREA 6: RCW

AND WILDLIFEHABITATS

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS





FOREST PRODUCTS


MA–6–04: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW clus-ters and inactive RCW clusters or recruitmentstands that have been made suitable fortranslocation, salvage only to control SPB,retaining SPB-vacated trees. Within 1/4 mileof inactive RCW clusters not suitable for trans-location, salvage only to control SPB, retain-ing SPB-vacated trees. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)





MA–6–06: Restore or maintain native plantcommunities for all upland sites through there-establishment of natural community com-position, structure, and ecological processes.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–6–07: Concentrate restoration and re-generation efforts beyond 1.5 miles of activeRCW cluster sites for the first 10–20 years.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–6–08: Adhere to guidance presented inthe Record of Decision and the Final Environ-mental Impact Statement for the Manage-ment of the RCW and its Habitat on NationalForests in the Southern Region. See Forest-wide standards and guidelines for directionon vegetation management, habitat im-provement, and other practices pertainingto the RCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize management of RCW habitat andproducing high quality wildlife habitats cre-ated within an open, frequently burnedlandscape.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof frequent prescribed fire, stand regenera-tion harvests and RCW and other wildlifehabitat improvement practices. Small open-ings may occur frequently as a result ofprescribed fire. Evidence of prescribed fireoccurs commonly across the landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively openpark-like pine stands eventually dominatedby native, fire dependent longleaf pine com-munities. The forest canopy ranges fromsparse to moderately stocked. The foresttypically has long scenic vistas broken onlyby hardwood-lined slopes, creeks and riverbottoms. There are few shrubs and mid-story trees on the uplands. The ground coveris a continuous swath of herbaceous plantsdominated by grasses, composites, legumesand other forbs. A portion of the forestconsists of areas where larger older trees areinterspersed with small patches of variable-sized younger trees, saplings, seedlings orsmall openings. Old trees greater than 100years of age occur as individuals, in groupsor on large areas.

Small regeneration areas of up to 25acres, and moderate sized restoration areasup to 40 acres are widely scattered through-out the landscape. These are primarilylongleaf restoration harvests and longleafshelterwoods. During shelterwood harvests,a portion of the overstory (hardwoods andpines) is initially left to provide a seed sourcefor the regenerating stand. After the regen-erating stand is established, most of the pineoverstory is removed. Some of the canopypines and all the remaining hardwoods areleft (scattered and clumped) throughout thestand indefinitely. These reserve trees are leftto provide some level of continuous canopyduring regeneration and to become impor-tant habitat attributes in the next stand. Lessthan 10 percent of the area occurs as stand-

MANAGEMENTAREA 6: RCWAND WILDLIFEHABITATS







sized openings (greater than 10 acres) at anygiven time.

Wildlife associated with mature open,frequently burned conifer communities findfavorable habitat conditions. Species ex-pected to be inhabiting the area include:Red-cockaded and Red-headed Woodpeck-ers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, EasternBluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisiana pinesnake, Bachman’s Sparrow, fox squirrel, Prai-rie Warbler, and red bat.


Fire management

SMA–6BL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–6BL–02: Prescribe dormant season andearly growing season burns to reduce im-pacts of brown-spot needle blight on high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites; and torelease longleaf seedlings from competition.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–6BL–03: Manage upland stands outsidethe SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly for longleafpine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleaf pine arenot appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–04: Use clearcutting with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to restore longleaf pine forestto upland areas dominated by off-site pines(loblolly, slash). Maximum size of a restora-tion opening is 40 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–05: During restoration, retain alllongleaf pine except as follows:


� To promote growth and vigor of retainedlongleaf pine, allow thinning whereclumps of longleaf are less than 10 inchesDBH and are less than 30 years old. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–06: Use shelterwood with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to regenerate longleaf pineforest type within this sub-management area.During the initial cut, retain 25–30 squarefeet of pine basal area per acre within theVernon HMA; and 40 square feet of pine basalarea within all other HMAS. Retain 10 squarefeet of pine basal area but not less than 6longleaf trees per acre (longleaf reserve trees)clumped through the area indefinitely oruntil the HMA achieves management inten-sity level I. Priorities for selecting trees to beretained as seed sources are:



Maximum size of a regeneration openingis 25 acres. See Forestwide standards andguidelines for additional direction pertain-ing to regeneration of longleaf pine within aHMA. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–07: Set rotation age for longleafpine management type at 120 years; formixed pine-hardwood, 120 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 130years; and for bottomland hardwood, 150years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–08: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the longleaf management type withinthis sub-management area in the 0–10 ageclass per HMA. Longleaf management typeacres are considered as all acres being man-aged toward longleaf pine regardless ofcurrent forest type (other southern pines) orsuitability for timber production (old-growth,RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands, etc).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 6: RCW

AND WILDLIFEHABITATS

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 6BL





SMA–6BL–09: Set earliest entry age for regen-eration purposes for off-site pines on longleafsites at 35 years; for longleaf pine and mixedpine-hardwood, 110 years; and for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 120years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–10: Until restoration efforts in thissub-management area are nearly complete,avoid applying regeneration harvests withinexisting longleaf pine stands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–6BL–11: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10-yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for loblollyand age 30 for longleaf, continuing as neededfor the life of the stand, favoring longleafpine retention. Manage for an open canopywith variable tree densities and average pinebasal area of 70 square feet per acre. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–6BL–12: Establish one RCW cluster site orrecruitment stand per 200 acres on pine andpine-hardwood forest type in this sub-man-agement area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 6: RCWAND WILDLIFEHABITATS





MANAGEMENT AREA 7:HARDWOODS

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 10,000 acres on the WinnDistrict.

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize providing high levels of hard-wood composition, featuring hardmastproducers.

Focus forest practices and activities onimproving the composition of hardwoods inall forested stands. Manage a large majorityof the area as hardwood or mixed stands ofhardwoods and pines. Provide benefits tothose wildlife species that are associatedwith habitats containing an increased com-ponent of hardwood, especially hard mastproducers.


The landscape in this area maintains a rela-tively natural appearance and is dominatedby communities comprised of mixtures ofhardwoods and pines. Vegetation patternsare primarily a product of forest regenera-tion harvests, stand improvement practices,and infrequent prescribed fire that protectand promote increased hardwood compo-sition across the entire area. The landscapeis frequently intersected by narrow roadcorridors.

The uplands are frequently dissected byperennial and intermittent streams. The over-story is relatively closed, multi-layered, andmoderately to densely stocked. The canopyconsists of a variety of hardwood trees, withpine being a major associate. The midstoryis also multi-layered composed of a diversityof shrubs, vines and overstory saplings. Her-baceous understory vegetation is sparse.The ground is covered with leaf litter anddown woody material in various stages ofdecay. A majority of the forest occurs asareas within which trees are essentially thesame age. Tree ages vary from area to area.In the older managed stands, trees are typi-cally 90-100 feet tall and 18-20 inches indiameter. A portion of the forest consists ofareas where larger older overstory trees areinterspersed with small patches of variable-sized mixtures of younger hardwoods and

pine trees, saplings, seedlings, or small open-ings. Old hardwood trees greater than 100years of age occur commonly as individuals,groups, or large areas. Evidence of standimprovement practices is apparent through-out the entire area. Standing dead trees anddown logs are common as a result of naturalmortality.

There are small regeneration harvest ar-eas of up to 25 acres in size, scatteredthroughout the landscape. These are prima-rily shelterwoods where a significant portionof the overstory (hardwoods and pines) isinitially left to provide a seed source and abeneficial environment for the regeneratingstand. A maximum amount of canopy hard-wood trees are retained during the initialcut. A large majority of these canopy hard-woods and standing snags are left (scatteredor clumped) throughout the stand indefi-nitely. The character of these areas rangesfrom those that recently received a shelter-wood harvest to those that contain hard-wood or pine seedlings. The areas that wererecently harvested may still exhibit evidenceof minimal site preparation. Less than 10percent of the area occurs as stand-sizedopenings (greater than 10 acres) at anygiven time.

Wildlife associated with mature hardwoodor mixed pine and hardwood communitiesfind favorable habitat conditions. Speciesexpected to be inhabiting the area include:Pileated and Red-bellied Woodpecker, BarredOwl, Wood Thrush, raccoon, gray and foxsquirrel, Wild Turkey, Cooper’s Hawk, grayfox and white-tailed deer. Habitats contain-ing any known threatened, endangered orsensitive plant or animal species associatedwith these habitat conditions receive pro-tection and active management.

For people using the area, the probabilityof experiencing the sights, sounds and evi-dence of other people is not common. Somedesignated hiking trails and dispersed recre-ation facilities are provided.

MANAGEMENTAREA 7:

HARDWOODS

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS





FIRE MANAGEMENT


MA–7–01: Use a suppression strategy of di-rect control to minimize acreage burned.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire

MA–7–02: Use prescribed fire rarely, but al-low it at the multi-stand level when neededfor upland hardwood establishment. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–7–03: Do not allow prescribed naturalfire. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FOREST PRODUCTS






MA–7–06: Manage all stands predominantlyfor mixed pine-hardwood, hardwood-pine,or hardwood. Longleaf and slash are notappropriate management types within thismanagement area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–7–07: Use shelterwood with reserves asthe primary two-aged regeneration methodto regenerate upland areas. Retain overstoryhardwoods up to 40 square feet basal areaper acre during regeneration harvests. Maxi-mum size of a regeneration opening is 25acres. Twenty to 40 square feet of hardwoodresidual basal area per acre may be retainedindefinitely to allow establishment of ad-vanced hardwood reproduction and allowadditional time for seedlings to grow. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–7–08: Set rotation age for all pine andmixed pine-hardwood management typesat 100; for mixed hardwood-pine and up-land hardwood, 130 years; and for bottom-land hardwood, 150 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–7–09: Set earliest entry age for regenera-tion purposes for pines at 60 years; for mixedpine-hardwood at 90 years; and for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 120years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–7–10: Schedule stand improvement cutsneeded to establish and promote advancedhardwood reproduction to occur at 10–20year intervals, beginning near age 20 forshortleaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 forall other forest types, and continue asneeded for the life of the stand. Favor theretention of oaks, hickories, and other de-sirable hardwoods. Manage for a relativelyclosed canopy with variable tree densitieshaving an average combined, hardwoodand pine, basal area of 100 square feet peracre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 7:HARDWOODS




MANAGEMENT AREA 9:MILITARY INTENSIVE USE

DESCRIPTION

This management area consists of the FortPolk and Peason Ridge military intensive useareas, the Claiborne U.S. Air Force ReserveBombing and Gunnery Range impact areaand safety fan. It is allocated to approxi-mately 40,000 acres on the Forest, on theEvangeline Unit of the Calcasieu District (14percent); the Kisatchie District (1 percent);and the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu District(85 percent).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Maintain intensive military use — small armsfiring ranges, tank firing ranges, artillery rangeimpact areas, bombing range, maneuver ar-eas, and other related military facilities. Ac-complish Forest Service management activi-ties in coordination with the military.

Focus Forest management practices andactivities on allowing near-normal operationsin coordination with the military. Protect andmaintain the basic resource values to limit off-site impacts. Allow hunting and other recre-ation to occur when not precluded by mili-tary actions. Do not require sustained pro-duction of timber products. Carry out silvicul-tural practices for stand health, wildlife habi-tat improvement, salvage, or other non-mar-ket resource purposes.


The natural landscape in this area has beenmodified to a high degree through humanintervention. Vegetation patterns are prima-rily a product of clearing and maintainingpermanent openings, explosives, fire, andhabitat improvement practices. Evidence ofprescribed fire activities (plowlines, black-ened tree trunks, vegetation) are common.Much of the landscape is dissected by nar-row road corridors.

Overstory vegetation on most of the areaconsists primarily of pine stands. The uplandsare frequently dissected by perennial andintermittent streams. A majority of the forestconsists of areas within which trees are essen-tially the same age. Tree ages vary from areato area. Evidence of stand improvement prac-tices is apparent throughout the entire area.

Small to moderate-sized regeneration ar-

eas are scattered throughout the landscape.Their character ranges from recently har-vested to well-stocked with pine seedlings.

Although public use of the area will belimited, there remains a high probability ofhearing or seeing other people or viewingevidence of management and military ac-tivities.


FIRE MANAGEMENT


MA–9–01: Use a suppression strategy of di-rect control. The Forest Service role in thismanagement area is secondary to militaryrole, and the military is responsible for wild-fire protection under the memoranda ofagreement with the Department of Defense.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–9–02: When it is safe to enter, assist themilitary with fire suppression or take initialaction in the intensive-use areas. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire


FOREST PRODUCTS

MA–9–04: Classify the area as unsuitable fortimber production. Timber may be sold toaccomplish other non-market resource objec-tives including forest health, wildlife habitatimprovement, and threatened and endan-gered species management. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–9–05: Keep timber sales within this areasmall to allow logging within the contractterm, recognizing short-duration loggingopportunities due to scheduling of militaryactivities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

HERITAGE RESOURCES

MA–9–06: Cooperate with the U.S. militaryauthorities and the Louisiana SHPO, in accor-dance with the programmatic agreementamong the U.S. Army, Forest Service, Louisi-ana SHPO, and the Advisory Council on His-toric Preservation. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MANAGEMENTAREA 9:

MILITARYINTENSIVE USE

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS






MA–9–07: Request input from the military atFort Polk prior to making lands at Fort Polk orPeason Ridge available for oil and gas leas-ing. Within the Claiborne safety fan area,assign a moderately restrictive controlledsurface use (CSU2) stipulation to oil and gasleases. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–9–08: Coordinate oil and gas explora-tion activities with the Army at Fort Polk andPeason Ridge, and with the U.S. Air ForceReserves at the Claiborne range safety fan.Activities must occur outside the impactarea at the Claiborne range. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–9–09: Coordinate with the military onany applications for common variety miner-als exploration permits. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SPECIAL-USES

MA–9–10: Do not authorize new special-usesunless they are compatible with militaryobjectives. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

U.S. Air Force Reserve Bombingand Gunnery Range safety fan

MA–9–11: For safety, all resource manage-ment within the 2,535 acres shall be coordi-nated with the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Con-ditions of use will be in accordance with thespecial-use permit. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–9–12: Limit resource management ac-tivities, permits, and public use within thearea to 90 days a year, to be scheduledaccording to conditions in the special-usepermit. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–9–13: Post notices when the area is to beopen to the public. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

U.S. Air Force Reserves Bombingand Gunnery Range Impact Area

MA–9–14: Use of this 672 acres by the mili-tary is authorized by a special-use permit.Coordinate resource management activitieswith the Air Force. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–9–15: Along all streams where the areaimmediately adjacent to the scour channelis composed of mixed pine and hardwoodhabitats, extend the streamside habitat pro-tection zone (SHPZ) to a minimum of 100feet. Mixed pine and hardwood habitatsare defined as areas where more than 30percent of the overstory basal area is com-posed of hardwood tree species. SeeForestwide standards and guidelines forappropriate management practices withinSHPZ and RAPZ. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



MA–9–17: Allow even-aged, two-aged, anduneven-aged regeneration method tech-niques for stand health, restoration, wildlifehabitat improvement, salvage, or other non-market resource purposes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–9–18: Cooperate with U.S. military au-thorities and the Louisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries in accordance withexisting agreements. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–9–19: Coordinate habitat improvementwith military use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 9DL


Emphasize management of RCW habitat andproducing the highest quality wildlife habi-tats created within an open, frequentlyburned landscape.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof frequent prescribed fire, RCW and otherwildlife habitat improvement, salvage, orother practices to maintain forest health.Small openings may occur frequently as aresult of prescribed fire. Evidence of fire iscommon and occurs across the landscape.

MANAGEMENTAREA 9:MILITARYINTENSIVE USE







As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively openpark-like pine stands eventually dominatedby native, fire dependent longleaf pine com-munities. The forest canopy ranges from sparseto moderately stocked. The forest typicallyhas long scenic vistas broken only by hard-wood-lined slopes, creeks and river bottoms.The buffers along these stream channels pro-vide maximum protection and enhancementof water quality, aquatic habitats, riparianvegetation, and those additional resourcestied to stream channels. Other than longleafpine, there are few shrubs and mid-story treeson the uplands. The native ground cover is acontinuous carpet of herbaceous plants domi-nated by grasses, composites, legumes andother forbs. Old trees greater than 100 yearsof age occur as individuals, in groups, or onlarge areas.

There are small regeneration areas of upto 25 acres widely scattered throughout thelandscape. These are primarily longleaf res-toration harvests and longleaf shelterwoods.All existing longleaf pine and standing snagsas well as some desirable hardwoods areprotected during restoration harvests. Dur-ing shelterwood harvests, a portion of theoverstory (hardwoods and pines) is initiallyleft to provide a seed source for the regener-ating stand. After the regenerating stand isestablished, most of the pine overstory isremoved. Some of the canopy pines and allthe remaining hardwoods are left (scatteredand clumped) throughout the stand indefi-nitely. These reserve trees are left to providesome level of continuous canopy duringregeneration and to become important habi-tat attributes in the next stand. Approxi-mately 8 percent of the area occurs as stand-sized openings (greater than 10 acres) at anygiven time.

Wildlife associated with mature open,frequently burned conifer communities findfavorable habitat conditions. Species ex-pected to be inhabiting the area include:Red-cockaded and Red-headed Woodpeck-ers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, EasternBluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisiana pinesnake, Bachman’s Sparrow, fox squirrel, Prai-rie Warbler, and red bat. Threatened, en-dangered and sensitive species associatedwith these habitat conditions receive themaximum level of protection and manage-ment. Rare, unique or sensitive communitiesare identified, protected, and managed.


Fire management

SMA–9DL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–9DL–02: Prescribe dormant season andearly growing season burns to reduce im-pacts of brown-spot needle blight on high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites; and torelease longleaf seedlings from competition.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest products

SMA–9DL–03: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW

clusters and inactive RCW clusters or recruit-ment stands that have been made suitablefor translocation, salvage only to control SPB,retaining SPB-vacated trees. Within 1/4 mileof inactive RCW clusters not suitable for trans-location, salvage only to control SPB, retain-ing SPB-vacated trees. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–9DL–04: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly forlongleaf pine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleafpine are not appropriate management typeswithin this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–05: Use clearcutting with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method technique to restore longleafpine forest to upland areas dominated byoff-site pines (loblolly, slash). Retain alllongleaf pine stems, regardless of size, dur-ing restoration harvests. In addition, retainup to 10 square feet of basal area per acre ofdesirable overstory hardwoods scattered andclumped throughout the area indefinitely.Maximum size of a restoration opening is 25acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–06: Use shelterwood with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method technique to regenerate longleafpine forest type within this sub-managementarea. During the initial cut, retain 25–30square feet of pine basal area per acre. In

MANAGEMENTAREA 9:


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 9DL





addition, retain up to 10 square feet of basalarea of desirable overstory hardwoods scat-tered and clumped throughout the area in-definitely. Retain 10 square feet of pine basalarea but not less than 6 longleaf trees per acre(longleaf reserve trees) clumped throughoutthe area indefinitely or until the HMA achievesmanagement intensity level I. Priorities forselecting trees to be retained as shelterwoodare:



Maximum size of a regeneration opening is25 acres. See Forestwide standards and guide-lines for additional direction pertaining toregeneration of longleaf pine within a HMA.(RCW) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–07: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the longleaf management type withinthis sub-management area in the 0–10 ageclass. Longleaf management type acres areconsidered to be all acres being managedtowards longleaf pine regardless of currentforest type (shortleaf, loblolly, or slash pine).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–08: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for off-site pines onlongleaf sites at 35 years; for longleaf pineand mixed pine-hardwood, 110 years; andfor mixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 120 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–09: Until restoration in this sub-management area is nearly complete, avoidapplying regeneration harvest techniqueswithin existing longleaf pine stands. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–10: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for loblollyand age 30 for longleaf, and continue asneeded for the life of the stand. Favor theretention of longleaf pine. Manage for anopen canopy with variable tree densitieshaving an average pine basal area of 70square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–9DL–11: Adhere to guidance presentedin the Record of Decision and the Final Environ-mental Impact Statement for the Manage-ment of the RCW and its Habitat on NationalForests in the Southern Region. See Forest-wide standards and guidelines for directionon vegetation management, habitat im-provement, and other practices pertainingto the RCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9DL–12: Establish one RCW cluster site orrecruitment stand per 250 acres of pine andpine-hardwood forest type in this sub-man-agement area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENT AREA 9E


Emphasize producing and sustaining a mix-ture of non-market resources.


The overstory vegetation on a large majorityof the area consists primarily of pine standswhich may contain up to 30 percent hard-woods. In the older managed stands, treesare typically 90–100 feet tall, 18–20 inchesin diameter, and approximately 70–80 yearsold. In these older areas the trees are evenlyspaced. Standing dead trees and downedlogs are scattered throughout a majority ofthe area.

Numerous pine regeneration areas of upto 40 acres are scattered throughout thelandscape. These areas are primarily seed-trees and shelterwoods where a variableamount of overstory pine is initially main-tained to provide a seed source for theregenerating stand. After the new stand isestablished, most of the pine overstory isremoved. Some live pine or hardwood treesand standing snags are indefinitely left scat-tered or clumped throughout the stand.Approximately 15 percent of the area is instand-sized openings less than 10 years old.

MANAGEMENTAREA 9:MILITARYINTENSIVE USE



SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 9E






Vegetation

SMA–9E–01: Manage upland stands outsidethe SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly for pine.Mixed pine-hardwood and hardwood-pineare generally not appropriate managementtypes for upland stands within this sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9E–02: Use seed-tree and shelterwoodas the primary even-aged regenerationmethod techniques to regenerate all uplandforest types. Maximum regeneration open-ing is 40 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–9E–03: Allow no more than 15 percentof all pine management types and no morethan 10 percent of all upland hardwoodmanagement types in the 0–10 age classwithin this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–9E–04: Set earliest entry age for regen-eration purposes for pine management typesat 35 years; and for upland hardwood, 90years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 9:


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 9E




MANAGEMENT AREA 10:NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERS

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 5,800 acres on the Forest andcontains Saline Bayou National Scenic Riverand corridor. It occurs only on the WinnDistrict.

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize providing a variety of recreationaland other public uses.

Focus forest management activities onprotecting and enhancing the values forwhich Saline Bayou was designated a na-tional scenic river. Do not require sustainedproduction of timber products.


The landscape in this area maintains a natu-ral appearance. Vegetation patterns are pri-marily a product of periodic flooding, infre-quent prescribed fire, forest succession, andlimited stand improvement practices.

The landscape is dominated by cypressswamps, bottomland hardwoods, and mixedhardwood-loblolly pine stands. The over-story is relatively closed, multilayered, andmoderately to densely stocked. Canopy gapsproduce midstory vegetation that is multi-layered and composed of a diversity of shrubs,vines and overstory saplings. Trees greaterthan 100 years old occur commonly as indi-viduals, in groups, or on large areas. Stand-ing dead trees and down logs are abundantas a result of natural mortality. Managementactivities eventually result in old-growth for-est over the entire area.

Evidence of stand improvement practicesand prescribed fire is rare throughout theentire area.

Wildlife associated with mature bottom-land hardwoods, cypress swamps or mixedpine and hardwood communities find favor-able habitat conditions. Species expected toinhabit the area include Pileated Wood-pecker, Barred Owl, Great Blue Heron, Ken-tucky Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, North-ern Parula, Wood Duck, raccoon, gray squir-rel, Wild Turkey, river otter, Red-shoulderedHawk, gray fox and white-tailed deer. Habi-tats containing any known threatened, en-dangered or sensitive plant or animal species

associated with these habitat conditions re-ceive protection and active management.

The river environment is maintained in anatural free-flowing state while providingfor recreational opportunities. The river areaappears largely primitive and shorelineslargely undeveloped. The shorelines do notshow substantial evidence of human activ-ity, although some discernible developmentsmay be present. Recreation users will occa-sionally meet other individuals.


FIRE MANAGEMENT


MA–10–01: Use a suppression strategy ofdirect control to minimize acres burned.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire

MA–10–02: Allow infrequent prescribed firewhen needed to maintain or enhance de-sired conditions and to reduce natural fuelsin the river corridor, thus reducing wildfirehazard and promoting the safety of riverusers. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–03: Schedule prescribed fires to oc-cur when adjoining areas are burned andduring periods of low recreation use. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)


FOREST HEALTH

MA–10–05: Control active SPB infestations inthe river corridor in accordance with man-agement requirements and mitigation mea-sures from the Record of Decision for the FinalEIS on suppression of the Southern Pine Beetle.See Forestwide direction for more specific SPB

infestation control. (KNF) (STANDARD)

FOREST PRODUCTS

MA–10–06: Classify this management areaas unsuitable for timber production. (KNF)(STANDARD)

MANAGEMENTAREA 10:SALINE BAYOUNATIONALSCENIC RIVER

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS





HEALTH AND SAFETY

MA–10–07: With USGS advice, set depth gaugesat selected locations where users launchboats. Relate river depth to safety hazardsand difficulty of trip. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

LAND ADJUSTMENT

MA–10–08: Condemnation is authorized,when necessary to clear title or to acquirescenic easements or other such easementsas are reasonably necessary to give access tothe river. However, based upon prior andexisting land uses, it is not anticipated therewould be a need for either voluntary convey-ance of such easements nor the exercise ofcondemnation authority. Pursue fee title tolands within and adjacent to the corridor.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MINERALS

MA–10–09: Do not sell or lease commonvariety minerals — sand, gravel, iron ore.(KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–10–10: Permit oil and gas leasing with ano surface occupancy stipulation within 600feet of the bayou. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–11: Exercise reserved mineral rightsin accordance with Secretary’s Rules andRegulations attached to the deed of convey-ance. Encourage owners to locate well sitesoutside of riparian areas and to conductseismic surveys when suitable ground condi-tions exist. Determine future managementwhen minerals revert to the U.S. under thesame guidelines currently in effect for U.S.minerals. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–12: Do not issue a permit for surfaceoccupancy of outstanding oil and gas rights.Review the proposed plan of operation fordevelopment of private mineral rights anddetermine an agreed-upon access routeand source of water. Exercise of these rightsare governed by conditions in the sever-ance deed and State and federal laws andState regulations. Encourage mineral own-ers / lessors to locate well sites outside ofriparian areas and conduct seismic surveyswhere suitable ground conditions exist. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)


General

MA–10–13: Manage the area for non-degra-dation and enhancement of activities thatprotect and enhance the values for whichthe river was designated. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–10–14: Manage river use levels to main-tain the scenic experience quality in coop-eration with the Louisiana Natural and Sce-nic River System. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–10–15: Manage the river and river corri-dor north of Forest Service Road 513 assemiprimitive-nonmotorized ROS class. Closeland in the corridor north of Forest ServiceRoad 513 to all vehicles, both on and offroads. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–16: Do not allow boats with motors(gasoline or electric) north of Louisiana High-way 126. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–17: Manage the river and river corri-dor south of Forest Service Road 513 as semi-primitive-motorized ROS class. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–18: Do not allow boats with gasolinemotors larger than 25 horsepower to oper-ate between the Louisiana Highway 126bridge and the Louisiana Highway 156bridge. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–19: Allow boats to operate with norestriction on motor size south of LouisianaHighway 156. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–20: Provide interpretation on theunique qualities of the corridor and therange of recreation opportunities available.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–21: Monitor recreation use to ensurethat the experiences available are consistentwith the assigned ROS classes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–22: Do not restrict picnicking or camp-ing in the corridor. Encourage pack-in, pack-out concept to maintain a clean area. Pro-mote no-trace camping. Monitor campingnear the bayou. Develop camping restric-tions if adverse impacts to resources developor use conflicts occur from camping near thebayou. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 10:

SALINE BAYOUNATIONAL

SCENIC RIVER





MA–10–23: Construct additional hiking trailswithin the river corridor if recreation de-mand warrants. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–24: Maintain the river periodically toremove sections of fallen trees to facilitatecanoeing or boating. Remove sections ofdebris only wide enough to allow the passageof small boats or canoes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–25: Maintain signs along Saline BayouCanoe Trail to adequately mark the course.Destination and distance information maybe included on trail identification signs. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–10–26: Provide bulletin boards at majorriver access points. Provide recreation infor-mation, regulations, emergency phone num-bers, and recommended safety precautionsat minimum, on bulletin boards at boataccess points. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Scenery resource management

MA–10–27: Assign the river corridor a scenicintegrity objective (SIO) of high. Place specialemphasis on the scenic qualities along theriver with scenic values. (KNF) (STANDARD)

SOIL AND WATER

MA–10–28: Evaluate proposed projects thathave the potential to affect the free flowingcondition and / or outstandingly remarkablevalues of the river according to the imple-menting regulations for Section 7 of theWild & Scenic Rivers Act and 36 CFR 297 asoutlined in FSM 2354.7. (KNF) (STANDARD)

Projects likely to be subject to Section 7analysis include, but are not limited to:

� Fisheries habitat and watershed restora-tion and enhancement.

� Bridge and other roadway constructionand reconstruction.

� Bank stabilization.� Recreation facilities such as boat ramps

and fishing piers.� Activities that require 404 permits from

the Corps of Engineers.

SPECIAL-USES

MA–10–29: Allow a maximum of two permit-ted outfitters on the river. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–30: For special-uses, permit linearrights-of-way, which cannot be reasonablylocated outside the corridor. Use existingcorridors if possible. If not possible, approveminimum width necessary for the special-use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–31: For utility rights-of-way, requireburied installation where economically fea-sible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–32: Consider on a case-by-case basisother proposed special-uses. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

STATE NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS

MA–10–33: In accordance with the LouisianaNatural and Scenic Rivers System, activitiesthat may have a direct significant ecologicalimpact on the river must acquire a permitfrom the Department of Wildlife and Fisher-ies. (KNF) (STANDARD)





Planning and inventory

MA–10–35: Plan, coordinate, construct, orreconstruct roads as needed in connectionwith planned boat access, launch sites, oradditional camping or picnicking sites. Donot plan road construction or reconstructionfor timber purposes. If needed, use tempo-rary roads for insect and disease control orother salvage activities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)





Operations and maintenance

MA–10–36: Except for FS Roads 508, W003F,and W003L, which access private property,close to vehicular traffic level D roads on thetransportation system north of FS Road 513.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–37: Permit vehicle use only on opensystem roads and designated trails south ofFS Road 513. Permit off-road vehicles (ORVs)only on designated trails. Do not permitcross-country travel. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



MA–10–39: Manage the river corridor to re-tain scenic conditions, maintain vigorousforest stands, provide for plant and animaldiversity, and visual variety. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–10–40: Allow uneven-aged regenerationmethod techniques and stand improvementcuts when needed for hazard tree removal,insect and disease control, or to improveold-growth characteristics, wildlife habitats,scenic quality, or plant community compo-sition and structure. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–41: Allow periodic stand improve-ment cuts for upland stands outside SHPZ andRAPZ , beginning when a stand nears age 30and continuing as long as needed to meetspecific amenity resource objectives. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–10–42: Restrict the use of even-agedregeneration method techniques. Use onlyfor regeneration of damaged stands or forinsect and disease control. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–10–43: Design all tree harvesting projectswith the aid of a district wildlife biologist,silviculturist, and the Forest landscape archi-tect. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–10–44: Use prescribed fire and wildlifestand improvement for the development ofhard and soft mast in mixed and hardwoodforest types. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 10DM


Emphasize management of the scenic rivercorridor while providing some areas of mar-ginal RCW habitat.


Alterations to the area are done so as toproduce suitable RCW habitat conditions wherepossible. Although prescribed fire is a primarytool used to develop and maintain suitableRCW habitat, it has a minimal effect in alteringand maintaining the landscape in this area.Fire frequency is increased on those areasproviding RCW cluster site and foraging habi-tat. Evidence of recent prescribed fire occurson a limited amount of the landscape. Forestsuccession plays a major role in shaping thelandscape vegetation.


Fire management

SMA–10DM–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 10–15 years. Use pre-scribed fire more frequently on areas sup-porting suitable RCW habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest products

SMA–10DM–02: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW


MANAGEMENTAREA 10:

SALINE BAYOUNATIONAL

SCENIC RIVER


SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 10DM

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS





Vegetation

SMA–10DM–03: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed pine-hardwood, hardwood-pine, or hardwood. Longleaf, slash, andshortleaf pine are not appropriate manage-ment types within this sub-managementarea. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–10DM–04: Favor retention of oaks,hickories, and other desirable hardwoods instand improvement cuts. Manage for a rela-tively closed canopy with varying tree den-sities of combined hardwood and pine basalarea averaging 100 square feet per acre.Maintain 50 square feet of pine basal areaper acre minimum where possible. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–10DM–05: Adhere to guidance pre-sented in the Record of Decision and the FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement for the Man-agement of the RCW and its Habitat on Na-tional Forests in the Southern Region. SeeForestwide standards and guidelines for di-rection on vegetation management, habitatimprovement, and other practices pertain-ing to RCWS. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–10DM–06: Establish one RCW cluster siteor recruitment stand per 400 acres of pineand pine-hardwood forest types in this sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 10EM


Emphasize management of the wild andscenic river corridor.


Alterations to the area are done on an ex-tremely limited basis and only under specialcircumstances. Forest succession and peri-odic flooding play major roles in shaping thelandscape vegetation.


Fire management

SMA–10EM–01: Apply prescribed fire rarelyand only on a case-by-case, site-specific ba-sis. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–10EM–02: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed hardwood-pine or hard-wood. Longleaf, slash, and shortleaf pine arenot appropriate management types withinthis sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–10EM–03: Favor the retention of oaks,hickories, and other desirable hardwoods instand improvement cuts. Manage for a rela-tively closed canopy with variable tree den-sities having an average combined, hard-wood and pine, basal area of 100 square feetper acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)




SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 10EM






MANAGEMENT AREA 11:NATIONAL WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT PRESERVES

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 70,000 acres on the Forest. Itconsists of the National Catahoula and RedDirt Wildlife Management Preserves andoccurs on the Catahoula District (21 per-cent); the Winn District (30 percent); andthe Kisatchie District (49 percent).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize managing wildlife habitats andproviding dispersed recreation opportunities.

Focus forest management activities andpractices on creating and managing thosehabitat mosaics, conditions, and attributesmost beneficial to native wildlife communi-ties. Provide conditions which sustain healthy,huntable populations of indigenous gamespecies.


The landscape in this area maintains a some-what natural appearance. Alterations to thearea are done to produce and sustain optimalhabitat conditions for associated wildlife com-munities. Vegetation patterns are primarily aproduct of prescribed fire frequency, habitatimprovement practices, and stand regenera-tion harvests. The landscape is frequentlyintersected by narrow road corridors most ofwhich are closed or restricted by type ofvehicle yearlong or on a seasonal basis.

The uplands are frequently dissected byperennial and intermittent streams. The buff-ers along these stream channels providemaximum protection and enhancement ofwater quality, aquatic habitats, riparian veg-etation and those additional resources tiedto stream channels. Much of the forest con-tains areas within which trees are essentiallythe same age. In the older managed stands,trees are typically 90-100 feet tall and 18-20inches in diameter. Tree ages vary from areato area, and the mix of ages results in avariety of successional habitats. The remain-ing portions of the forest consists of areaswhere larger older trees are interspersedwith small patches of variable-sized youngertrees, saplings, seedlings or small openings.

Evidence of stand improvement practicesfor wildlife habitat purposes is apparentthroughout the entire area. Old trees greaterthan 100 years of age occur commonly asindividuals, groups, or large areas. Standingdead trees and down logs are common as aresult of natural mortality. Threatened, en-dangered and sensitive species associatedwith these areas receive the maximum levelof protection and management. Rare, uniqueor sensitive communities are identified, pro-tected, and actively managed.

There are small regeneration areas of upto 25 acres widely scattered throughout thelandscape. These areas are primarily restora-tion harvests and shelterwoods. The appear-ance of these areas ranges from clearcutswhere few if any live trees remain standing,to those where a variable amount of treesremains scattered or clumped throughoutthe area indefinitely. The character of theseopenings ranges from those that recentlyreceived the initial regeneration harvest tothose that contain various levels of pine andhardwood seedlings. The areas that wererecently harvested may still exhibit evidenceof site preparation and burning.

For people using the area, the probabilityof experiencing the sights, sounds, and evi-dence of other people is not common. Somedesignated trails and dispersed recreationfacilities are provided.


FIRE MANAGEMENT



Prescribed fire

MA–11–02: Manipulate vegetation with pre-scribed fire to enhance wildlife habitat byincreasing fruit and seed production, yieldand quality of herbage, legumes, and browsefrom hardwood sprouts; and creating open-ings for feeding, travel, and dusting. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 11:

NATIONALWILDLIFE

MANAGEMENTPRESERVES

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS






FOREST PRODUCTS


RECREATION

MA–11–05: Restrict camping for public safetyand to ensure better hunter distribution inareas of high quality habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–11–06: Permit camping only in desig-nated areas from October 1 through April30. These areas will be mutually agreed to bythe Forest Service and the Louisiana Depart-ment of Wildlife and Fisheries, and will bedelineated on the applicable maps for publicdistribution. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–11–07: Require a Forest Service seasonpermit in addition to applicable state li-censes and permits for hunting, fishing, andtrapping. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–11–08: Along all streams where the areaimmediately adjacent to the scour channel iscomposed of mixed pine and hardwoodhabitats, extend the streamside habitat pro-tection zone (SHPZ) to a minimum of 150feet. Mixed pine and hardwood habitats aredefined as areas where more than 30 per-cent of the total overstory basal area iscomposed of hardwood tree species. SeeForestwide standards and guidelines for ap-propriate management practices within SHPZ



MA–11–09: To maintain habitat effective-ness, manage road use (including road clo-sures and area closures) to provide for theneeds of management indicators and gamespecies. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–11–10: Close local and collector roadsthat are not essential. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–11–11: Manage the majority of localdead-end roads as either closed yearlong toall vehicle use, closed on a seasonal basis, oropen yearlong to low-psi vehicles only.Jointly decide road closures with the Louisi-ana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–11–12: Manage the National WildlifeManagement Preserves under the terms ofthe cooperative agreement with the Louisi-ana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize management of optimal RCW habi-tat and producing high quality wildlife habi-tats created within an open, frequentlyburned landscape.

Focus forest management practices andactivities on achieving established RCW popu-lation objectives and on creating and man-aging those habitat mosaics, conditions andattributes most beneficial to the wildlife com-munities reliant upon frequently burned,mature pine habitats.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof frequent prescribed fire, RCW and otherwildlife habitat improvement practices, andstand regeneration harvests. Small openingsmay occur frequently as a result of pre-scribed fire. Evidence of fire is common andoccurs across the landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively openpark-like pine stands dominated by native,fire dependent longleaf pine communities.The forest canopy ranges from sparse tomoderately stocked. The forest typically haslong scenic vistas broken only by hardwood-lined slopes, creeks and river bottoms. Otherthan longleaf pine, there are few shrubs andmid-story trees on the uplands. The nativeground cover is a continuous carpet of her-baceous plants dominated by grasses, com-posites, legumes and other forbs.

MANAGEMENTAREA 11:NATIONALWILDLIFEMANAGEMENTPRESERVES







There are small regeneration areas widelyscattered throughout the landscape. Theseare primarily longleaf restoration harvestsand longleaf shelterwoods. All existinglongleaf pine and standing snags as well assome desirable hardwoods are protectedduring restoration harvests. During shelter-wood harvests, a portion of the overstory(hardwoods and pines) is initially left toprovide a seed source for the regeneratingstand. After the regenerating stand is estab-lished, most of the pine overstory is re-moved. Some of the canopy pines and all theremaining hardwoods are left (scattered andclumped) throughout the stand indefinitely.These reserve trees are left to provide somelevel of continuous canopy during regenera-tion and to become important habitat at-tributes in the next stand. Approximately 8percent of the area occurs as stand-sizedopenings (greater than 10 acres) at anygiven time.

Wildlife associated with mature open,frequently burned conifer communities findfavorable habitat conditions. Species ex-pected to be inhabiting the area include:Red-cockaded and Red-headed Woodpeck-ers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, EasternBluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisiana pinesnake, Bachman’s Sparrow, Prairie Warbler,red bat, and fox squirrel.

For people using the area, the probabil-ity of experiencing the sights, sounds andevidence of other people is not common.Some designated hiking trails and dispersedrecreation facilities are provided.


Fire management

SMA–11DL–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 2–5 years, with in-creased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–11DL–02: Prescribe dormant season andearly growing season burns to reduce im-pacts of brown-spot needle blight on high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites; and torelease longleaf seedlings from competition.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest products

SMA–11DL–03: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW


Vegetation

SMA–11DL–04: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly forlongleaf pine. Slash, loblolly, and shortleafpine are not appropriate management typeswithin this sub-management area. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–05: Use clearcutting with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to restore longleaf pine forestto upland areas dominated by off-site pines(loblolly, slash). Maximum size of a restora-tion opening is 25 acres. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–06: During restoration, retain alllongleaf pine and some desirable hardwoodsexcept as follows:


� To promote growth and vigor of retainedlongleaf pine, allow thinning whereclumps of longleaf pine are less than 10inches DBH and are less than 30 years old.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–07: Use shelterwood with longleafreserves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to regenerate longleaf pineforest type within this sub-management area.During the initial cut, retain 40 square feet ofpine basal area per acre. Retain 10 squarefeet of pine basal area, but not less than 6longleaf trees per acre (longleaf reserve trees)clumped through the area indefinitely oruntil the HMA achieves management inten-sity level I. Priorities for selecting trees to beretained as a seed source are:

1. Relict trees2. Other potential cavity trees

MANAGEMENTAREA 11:

NATIONALWILDLIFE

MANAGEMENTPRESERVES

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 11DL





3. Other trees larger than 10 inches DBH thatmeet requirements as seed producers

Maximum size of a regeneration openingis 25 acres. See Forestwide standards andguidelines for additional direction pertain-ing to regeneration of longleaf pine within aHMA. (RCW) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–08: Set rotation age for longleafpine management type at 120 years; formixed pine-hardwood, 120 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 150years; and for bottomland hardwood, 170years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–09: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the longleaf management type withinthis sub-management area in the 0–10 ageclass per HMA. Longleaf management type isconsidered to be all acres being managedtowards longleaf pine regardless of currentforest type (shortleaf, loblolly, or slash pine)or suitability for timber production (old-growth, RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands,etc). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–10: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for off-site pines onlongleaf sites at 35 years; for longleaf pineand mixed pine-hardwood, 110 years; andfor mixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 140 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–11: Until restoration efforts inthis sub-management area are nearly com-plete, avoid applying regeneration harvestswithin existing longleaf pine stands. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–12: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for loblollyand slash pine and age 30 for longleaf, andcontinue as needed for the life of the stand.Favor the retention of longleaf pine. Managefor an open canopy with variable tree densi-ties having an average pine basal area of 70square feet per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–11DL–13: Adhere to guidance presentedin the Record of Decision and the Final Environ-mental Impact Statement for the Manage-ment of the RCW and its Habitat on NationalForests in the Southern Region. See Forestwide

standards and guidelines for direction onvegetation management, habitat improve-ment, and other practices pertaining to theRCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DL–14: Establish one RCW cluster siteor recruitment stand per 200 acres of pineand pine-hardwood forest type in this sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 11DS


Emphasize management of suitable RCW habi-tat and producing high quality wildlife habi-tats created within a mixed pine-hardwoodlandscape.

Focus forest management practices andactivities on achieving established RCW popu-lation objectives and on creating and man-aging those habitat mosaics, conditions,and attributes most beneficial to the wildlifecommunities reliant upon mature mixedpine-hardwood habitats.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof RCW and other wildlife habitat improve-ment practices, stand regeneration harvests,and infrequent prescribed fire. Small open-ings may occur frequently as a result ofprescribed fire. Evidence of recent prescribedfire occurs on a limited amount of the area.

As a result of infrequent prescribed fire,the landscape is dominated by mixtures ofpines, oaks, and hickories. Uplands are fre-quently dissected by perennial and intermit-tent streams. The overstory has a more orless open canopy which is moderately todensely stocked with variable-sized pinesand hardwoods. Various shrubs are presentand, in combination with regenerating over-story species, form a fairly thick midstoryand understory component. The herbaceousground cover is sparse to moderate.

There are small regeneration areas widelyscattered throughout the landscape. Theseare primarily shortleaf pine / oak-hickoryrestoration harvests and shelterwoods. Allexisting shortleaf pines, desirable overstoryhardwoods and standing snags are pro-tected during restoration harvests. Duringshelterwood harvests, a portion of the over-story (hardwoods and pines) is initially left to









provide a seed source for the regeneratingstand. All canopy pines and hardwoods areleft (scattered or clumped) throughout thestand indefinitely. These reserve trees are leftto provide some level of continuous canopyduring regeneration and to become impor-tant habitat attributes in the next stand.Approximately 8 percent of the area occursas stand-sized openings (greater than 10acres) at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mixed pine andhardwood communities find favorable habi-tat conditions. Species expected to be in-habiting the area include: Red-cockadedWoodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker,Cooper’s Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl, Sum-mer Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler, FieldSparrow, white-tailed deer, Wild Turkey, foxsquirrel, gray fox, and golden mouse.


Fire management

SMA–11DS–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 5–10 years. Use pre-scribed fire more frequently on areas sup-porting suitable RCW habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest products

SMA–11DS–02: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW


Vegetation

SMA–11DS–03: Manage upland stands out-side the SHPZ and RAPZ predominantly formixed pine-hardwood. Longleaf, slash, andloblolly pine are not appropriate manage-ment types within this sub-managementarea. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–04: Use clearcutting with reservesas the primary two-aged regenerationmethod to restore shortleaf pine / oak-hickoryforest to upland areas. Maximum size of aregeneration opening is 25 acres. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

SMA–11DS–05: During restoration, retain allshortleaf pine and some desirable hardwoodsexcept as follows:

� To improve RCW habitat conditions withinrestoration areas, allow thinning whereclumps of retained dominant or codomi-nant shortleaf pine exceed 70 square feetof basal area per acre.

� To promote growth and vigor of retainedshortleaf pine, allow thinning whereclumps of shortleaf pine are less than 10inches DBH and are less than 30 years old.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–06: Use shelterwood with reservesas the primary two-aged regenerationmethod to regenerate shortleaf pine andpine-hardwood forest types within this sub-management area. During the initial cut,retain 40 square feet of pine basal area peracre. In addition to the pine, retain desirableoverstory hardwoods up to 20 square feet ofbasal area per acre indefinitely. Retain allresidual pines until the RCW HMA improves tothe next management intensity level. Priori-ties for selecting trees to be retained as seedsources are:



Maximum size of a regeneration openingis 25 acres. See Forestwide standards andguidelines for additional direction pertainingto regeneration of shortleaf pine and pine-hardwood within a HMA. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–07: Set rotation age for shortleafpine management type at 120; for mixedpine-hardwood types, at 120 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 150years; and for bottomland hardwood, 170years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–08: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the shortleaf pine and pine-hard-wood management types in the 0–10 ageclass within this sub-management area perHMA. Shortleaf pine or pine-hardwood man-agement type acres are considered to be allacres being managed towards shortleaf pineor pine-hardwood regardless of current for-est type (longleaf, loblolly, or slash pine) orsuitability for timber production (old-growth,

MANAGEMENTAREA 11:

NATIONALWILDLIFE

MANAGEMENTPRESERVES

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 11DS





RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands, etc).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–09: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for sites identified forrestoration at 60 years; for shortleaf pine andmixed pine-hardwood, at 110 years; and formixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 140 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–10: Until restoration efforts inthis sub-management area are nearly com-plete, avoid applying regeneration harvestswithin existing shortleaf pine / oak-hickorytypes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–11: Schedule stand improvementcuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 yearintervals, beginning near age 20 for short-leaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for all otherforest types, and continue as needed for thelife of the stand. Favor the retention ofshortleaf pine, oaks, and hickories. Managefor a relatively open canopy with variabletree densities having an average combined,pine and hardwood, basal area of 90 squarefeet per acre, with a minimum of 50 squarefeet of pine per acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–11DS–12: Adhere to guidance presentedin the Record of Decision and the Final Environ-mental Impact Statement for the Manage-ment of the RCW and its Habitat on NationalForests in the Southern Region. See Forestwidestandards and guidelines for direction onvegetation management, habitat improve-ment, and other practices pertaining to theRCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DS–13: Establish one RCW cluster siteor recruitment stand per 300 acres on pineand pine-hardwood forest type in this sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize management of RCW habitat andproduction of high quality wildlife habitatswithin a mixed hardwood-pine landscape.Focus forest management practices and ac-tivities on achieving established RCW popu-lation objectives and on creating and man-

aging those habitat mosaics, conditions andattributes most beneficial to the wildlife com-munities reliant upon mature mixed hard-wood-pine habitats.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof RCW and other wildlife habitat improve-ment practices, stand regeneration and thelack of prescribed fire. Although prescribedfire is a primary tool used to develop andmaintain suitable RCW habitat, it has a mini-mal effect in altering and maintaining thelandscape in this area. Fire frequency is in-creased in those areas providing RCW clustersites and foraging habitat.

The forest is dominated by communitiescomposed primarily of various hardwoods,with loblolly pine as a major associate. Theuplands are frequently dissected by peren-nial and intermittent streams. The overstoryis multi-layered and moderately to denselystocked. The midstory is also multi-layeredcomposed of a diversity of shrubs, vines andoverstory saplings. The herbaceous groundcover is sparse. The ground is covered withleaf litter and down woody material.

Small regeneration areas are widely scat-tered throughout the landscape. These areprimarily mixed hardwood-loblolly pinerestoration harvests and shelterwoods. Allexisting desirable overstory hardwoods andstanding snags are protected during resto-ration harvests. During shelterwood har-vests, a portion of the overstory (hard-woods and pines) is initially left to providea seed source for the regenerating stand. Allcanopy pines and hardwoods are left (scat-tered and clumped) throughout the standindefinitely. These reserve trees are left toprovide some level of continuous canopyduring regeneration and to become impor-tant habitat attributes in the next stand.Approximately 10 percent of the area oc-curs as stand-sized openings (greater than10 acres) at any given time.

Wildlife associated with mature mixedhardwood and pine communities find favor-able habitat conditions. Species expected tobe inhabiting the area include: PileatedWoodpecker, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnat-catcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyedVireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, spring peeper,eastern narrow-mouthed toad, gray squir-rel, white-tailed deer, Barred Owl, and small-mouthed salamander.










Fire management

SMA–11DM–01: Apply prescribed fire at thelandscape scale every 10–15 years. Use pre-scribed fire more frequently on areas sup-porting suitable RCW habitat. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest products

SMA–11DM–02: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW


Vegetation

SMA–11DM–03: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed pine-hardwood, hardwood-pine or hardwood. Longleaf, slash, and short-leaf pine are not appropriate managementtypes within this sub-management area.(GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–04: Use shelterwood with re-serves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to regenerate pine and pine-hardwood forest types within this sub-man-agement area. Retain 40 square feet of pinebasal area per acre during initial cut, andretain desirable overstory hardwoods, up to20 square feet of basal area per acre. Retainall residual pines and hardwoods until theRCW HMA improves to the next managementintensity level. Priorities for selecting trees tobe retained as seed sources are:



Maximum size of a regeneration openingis 25 acres. See Forestwide standards andguidelines for additional RCW shelterwoodwith reserves direction. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–05: Use shelterwood with re-serves as the primary two-aged regenera-tion method to regenerate upland mixedhardwood-pine and hardwood areas. Retain

overstory hardwoods during regenerationharvests. Retain 20 to 40 square feet ofhardwood residual basal area per acre indefi-nitely to allow establishment of advancedhardwood reproduction and allow additionaltime for seedlings to grow. Maximum size ofa regeneration opening is 25 acres. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–06: Set rotation age for loblollypine management type at 100; for mixedpine-hardwood types at 100 years; for mixedhardwood-pine and upland hardwood, 150years; and for bottomland hardwood, 170years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–07: Allow no more than 10 per-cent of the loblolly pine and pine-hardwoodmanagement types within this sub-manage-ment area in the 0–10 age class per HMA.Loblolly pine or pine-hardwood manage-ment type acres are considered to be allacres being managed towards loblolly pineor pine-hardwood regardless of current for-est type (longleaf, shortleaf, or slash pine) orsuitability for timber production (old growth,RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands, etc).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–08: Set earliest entry age for re-generation purposes for all pine types at 60years; for mixed pine-hardwood at 90 years;and for mixed hardwood-pine and uplandhardwood, 140 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–09: Until restoration efforts inthis sub-management area are nearly com-plete, avoid applying regeneration harvestswithin existing mixed hardwood-loblolly pinestands. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–10: Schedule stand improve-ment cuts in upland stands to occur at 10–20 year intervals, beginning near age 20 forshortleaf and loblolly pine, and age 30 for allother forest types, continuing as needed forthe life of the stand. Favor the retention ofoaks, hickories, and other desirable hard-woods. Manage for a relatively closed canopywith variable tree densities having an aver-age combined hardwood and pine basalarea per acre of 100 square feet. Maintain 50square feet of pine basal area per acre mini-mum where possible. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 11:

NATIONALWILDLIFE

MANAGEMENTPRESERVES

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 11DM




Wildlife

SMA–11DM–11: Adhere to guidance pre-sented in the Record of Decision and the FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement for the Man-agement of the RCW and its Habitat on Na-tional Forests in the Southern Region. SeeForestwide standards and guidelines for di-rection on vegetation management, habitatimprovement, and other practices pertain-ing to the RCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11DM–12: Establish one RCW cluster siteor recruitment stand per 400 acres of pineand pine-hardwood forest type in this sub-management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize providing the highest levels ofhardwood stands and mixed stands of hard-woods and pines. Feature hardwoods thatproduce hard mast.


Vegetation patterns are primarily producedby infrequent prescribed fire and forest re-generation harvests that protect and pro-mote maximum hardwood compositionacross the entire area. Regeneration harvestsresult in small stand-sized openings scat-tered throughout the area.

Much of the forest consists of larger, olderoverstory trees interspersed with small patch-es of variable-sized mixtures of hardwoodsand pines, or small openings. On the remain-ing portion, small regeneration harvests arescattered throughout the landscape, primari-ly shelterwoods, where a significant portionof overstory hardwoods and pines are initiallyleft to provide a seed source and a beneficialenvironment for the new stand. A maximalcanopy of hardwood trees is retained duringthe initial cut, and a large majority of theseand standing snags are left indefinitely scat-tered or clumped throughout the stand. Atany given time, less than 10 percent of thearea is in openings (greater than 10 acres).

Wildlife associated with mature hardwoodor mixed pine and hardwood communitiesfind favorable habitat conditions. Speciesexpected to be inhabiting the area include:Pileated and Red-bellied Woodpecker, Barred

Owl, Wood Thrush, raccoon, gray and foxsquirrel, Wild Turkey, Cooper’s Hawk, grayfox and white-tailed deer.


Fire management

SMA–11E–01: Use prescribed fire rarely, butallow it at the multi-stand level when neededfor upland hardwood establishment. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Vegetation management

SMA–11E–02: Manage all stands predomi-nantly for mixed pine-hardwood, hardwood-pine, or hardwood. Longleaf and slash arenot appropriate management types withinthis management area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11E–03: Use shelterwood with reservesas the primary two-aged regeneration methodto regenerate uplands. Retain overstory hard-woods up to 40 square feet of basal area peracre during regeneration. Maximum size of aregeneration opening is 25 acres. Twenty to40 square feet of hardwood residual basalarea per acre may be retained indefinitely, toallow advanced hardwood reproduction es-tablishment and permit more time for seed-ling growth. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11E–04: Set rotation age for all pine andmixed pine-hardwood management types at100; for mixed hardwood-pine and uplandhardwood, 150 years; and for bottomlandhardwoods, 170 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11E–05: Set earliest entry age for regen-eration purposes for pines at 60 years; formixed pine-hardwood at 90 years; and formixed hardwood-pine and upland hard-wood, 140 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–11E–06: At 10- to 20-year intervals, sched-ule stand improvement cuts to establish andpromote advanced hardwood reproduction,beginning near age 20 for shortleaf andloblolly pine, and age 30 for all other foresttypes. Continue as needed for the life of thestand. Favor retention of oaks, hickories, andother desirable hardwoods. Manage for arelatively closed canopy with variable treedensities having an average combined, hard-wood and pine, basal area of 100 square feetper acre. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)










MANAGEMENT AREA 12:PALUSTRISEXPERIMENTAL FOREST

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to ap-proximately 7,200 Forest acres. It occursonly on the Evangeline Unit of the CalcasieuDistrict, and consists of the Johnson andLongleaf Tracts administered by the South-ern Research Station (SRS).

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize use for research to improve south-ern pine regeneration through improvedgrowth and yield procedures and other for-est management techniques which enhancevalues of water, timber, and related forestresources.

Do not require sustained production oftimber products. Carry out silvicultural prac-tices for experimental purposes, stand health,regeneration, or salvage purposes.


The natural landscape in this area has beenmodified by past management activities. Veg-etation patterns are similar to those outsideexcept that there is evidence of experimentalplot replications of varying forest manage-ment techniques. Management action, pre-scribed burning, and habitat improvementpractices are the primary tools used to alterthe landscape. The landscape is frequentlyintersected by narrow road corridors.

The overstory vegetation on a majority ofthe area consists primarily of pine stands.The uplands are frequently dissected byperennial and intermittent streams. Bufferson these stream channels provide for theprotection of water quality and associatedterrestrial and aquatic habitats. The forestconsists of areas within which trees are es-sentially the same age. Tree ages vary fromarea to area. Evidence of stand improvementpractices is apparent throughout the entirearea. Threatened, endangered and sensitivespecies are afforded a moderate level ofprotection. Additional rare, unique or sensi-tive communities have been identified, pro-tected and are actively managed.

There are small to moderate-sized re-generation areas scattered throughout the

landscape. The character of these openingsranges from those that were recently har-vested to those that are well-stocked withpine seedlings.

For people using the area, there is a goodprobability of experiencing the sights, sounds,and evidence of other people. Minimal dis-persed recreational facilities are provided.


FIRE MANAGEMENT


MA–12–01: Use a suppression strategy ofdirect control to minimize acres burned.Modify mechanical control methods to mini-mize impact on study plots. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–12–02: Use preconstructed fuel and firebreaks, wet or foam lines, and handtoolswhen practical, instead of plowed lines. Mini-mize the amount of plowed lines, whichmight damage study plots. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire

MA–12–03: Apply prescribed fire within thenormal regional and Forest guidelines underthe direction of a qualified burn boss. Theobjective will be set by the SRS and the burnplans approved by the Forest Supervisor ordelegated to the district ranger where ap-propriate. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FOREST HEALTH

MA–12–04: Evaluate SPB spots and apply treat-ments compatible with long- and short-term research objectives. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FOREST PRODUCTS

Timber sales

MA–12–05: Classify this management area asunsuitable for timber production. (KNF) (STAN-DARD)

MA–12–06: Allow non-chargeable timberyield derived from research practices. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–12–07: Timber sale activities will be ad-ministered by the Kisatchie National Forest.

MANAGEMENTAREA 12:

PALUSTRISEXPERIMENTAL

FOREST

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS





(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Pinestraw collection

MA–12–08: Prohibit pine straw collection un-less compatible with research needs. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Firewood gathering

MA–12–09: Prohibit firewood gathering un-less compatible with research needs. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MINERALS

MA–12–10: Allow mineral exploration, leas-ing, and development that do not haveadverse effects on research activities or con-flict with them. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–12–11: Request input from SRS prior tomaking lands available for lease. Use the nosurface occupancy stipulation to protect in-vestment in research projects on the JohnsonTract. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–12–12: Use a moderately restrictive (CSU2)stipulation in oil and gas leases on the LongleafTract. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–12–13: Coordinate with SRS any applica-tions for oil and gas development. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–12–14: Do not lease or sell commonvariety minerals. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RANGE MANAGEMENT

MA–12–15: Coordinate allotment planning,inventory, analysis, administration, andmanagement between the SRS and theCalcasieu District on the Longleaf Tract.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RECREATION

MA–12–16: Allow dispersed recreation activi-ties that do not conflict with research activi-ties on the area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SPECIAL-USES

MA–12–17: Do not allow new special-usepermits that will adversely affect researchprojects. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)





MA–12–19: Do not use a specific silviculturalsystem. No rotation lengths are established.(KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–12–20: Allow even-aged, two-aged, anduneven-aged regeneration methods for re-search purposes, stand health, restoration,regeneration, habitat improvement, or sal-vage. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–12–21: Coordinate with the SRS in ac-complishing wildlife habitat improvementprojects and practices. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 12D


Maintain habitat for the RCW while continuingresearch activities for southern pine forests.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof research management practices, pre-scribed fire, regeneration harvests, and RCW

habitat improvement practices. Small open-ings may occur as a result of prescribed fireand research activities. Evidence of prescribedfire activities (plowlines, blackened tree trunksand vegetation) is common and occurs acrossthe landscape.

As a result of frequent prescribed fire, thelandscape is composed of relatively open,park-like pine stands. The forest canopy

MANAGEMENTAREA 12:PALUSTRISEXPERIMENTALFOREST


SUB-MANAGEMENTAREA 12D





ranges from sparse to moderately stocked.The forest typically has long scenic vistasbroken only by hardwood-lined slopes, creeksand river bottoms. There are few shrubs andmid-story trees on the uplands. The nativeground cover is a continuous carpet of her-baceous plants dominated by grasses, com-posites, legumes and other forbs.

Wildlife associated with open, frequentlyburned conifer communities find favorablehabitat conditions. Species expected to beinhabiting the area include: Red-cockadedand Red-headed Woodpeckers, BobwhiteQuail, Wild Turkey, Eastern Bluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisiana pine snake, Bachman’sSparrow, fox squirrel, Prairie Warbler, andred bat.


Fire management

SMA–12D–01: Encourage prescribed fire atthe landscape scale every 2–5 years, withincreased emphasis on growing season burns.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest health

SMA–12D–02: Encourage prescribed dormantseason and early growing season burns toreduce impacts of brown-spot needle blighton high-blight-risk longleaf restoration sites;and to release longleaf seedlings from com-petition. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Forest products

SMA–12D–03: Within 1/2 mile of active RCW

clusters and inactive RCW clusters or recruit-ment stands that have been made suitablefor translocation, encourage salvage only tocontrol SPB, retaining SPB-vacated trees. Within1/4 mile of inactive RCW clusters not suitablefor translocation, encourage salvage only tocontrol SPB, retaining SPB-vacated trees. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

Vegetation

SMA–12D–04: Encourage continued manage-ment of upland stands outside the SHPZ andRAPZ predominantly for pine. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–12D–05: Allow no more than 8.3 per-cent of the longleaf management type withinthis sub-management area in the 0–10 age

class. Longleaf management type acres areconsidered to be all acres being managedtowards longleaf pine regardless of currentforest type (shortleaf, loblolly, or slash pine)or suitability for timber production (old-growth, RCW cluster sites, recruitment stands).(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Wildlife

SMA–12D–06: Establish 1 RCW cluster site orrecruitment stand per 200 acres of pine andpine-hardwood forest type in this sub-man-agement area. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SMA–12D–07: Adhere to guidance presentedin the Record of Decision and the Final Environ-mental Impact Statement for the Manage-ment of the RCW and its Habitat on NationalForests in the Southern Region. See Forest-wide standards and guidelines for directionon vegetation management, habitat im-provement, and other practices pertainingto the RCW. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)



Emphasize continuing research activities forsouthern pine forests.


Vegetation patterns are primarily a productof research activities, regeneration harvests,and limited use of prescribed fire. Smallopenings may occur as a result of researchactivities.

Wildlife that prefer openings and early tomid-successional forest habitats are common.Species finding favorable habitats within thislandscape include white-tailed deer, easterncottontail, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardi-nal, Prairie Warbler, Red-tailed Hawk, andPine Warbler.


Fire management

SMA–12E–01: Use prescribed fire where nec-essary to meet research objectives or tomaintain safe levels of fuel loadings to re-duce damage from wildfire. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 12:

PALUSTRISEXPERIMENTAL

FOREST

SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 12D



SUB-MANAGEMENT

AREA 12E

PRIMARYMANAGEMENT

GOALS





MANAGEMENT AREA 13:KISATCHIE HILLSWILDERNESS

DESCRIPTION

This management area is allocated to 8,700acres on the Forest. It lies within the Ki-satchie District.

MANAGEMENT GOALS

Emphasize maintaining and protecting theenduring resource of wilderness as one ofthe multiple uses of Kisatchie National Forestwhile providing a wide range of suitablewildlife habitats for all native wildlife. Focusmanagement activities and practices on per-petuating wilderness character and publicvalues including, but not limited to, oppor-tunities for scientific study, education, soli-tude, physical and mental challenge andstimulation, inspiration, and primitive recre-ation experiences. Do not manage for sus-tained production of timber products.


The landscape in this area maintains a highlynatural appearance. The effects of naturaldisturbances such as tornados, windstorms,fire, insects, and disease may be evident overportions of the Wilderness. Evidence of south-ern pine beetle (SPB) control may be evidentnear the Wilderness boundary.

Fire and succession play the primary rolesin shaping the landscape. Blackened treetrunks and vegetation reflect evidence offrequent periodic fire across the landscape.Use of motorized equipment may be visiblefor short times around recent wildfires, butare not visible elsewhere. There may beevidence of a permanently maintained fireline around the perimeter of the Wilderness.

As a result of periodic fire, the landscapeis composed of areas of relatively open pinestands eventually dominated by native, firedependent longleaf pine communities. Theseareas are open in aspect, typically with longscenic vistas, and broken only by hardwood-lined slopes and creeks. Other than longleaf,there are few shrubs and midstory trees onthe uplands with yaupon and wax myrtle theprimary components. The ground covervaries from being dominated by grasses,composites, legumes, and other forbs toareas that are highly eroded with scattered

clumps of grasses. Seasonal variation in ap-pearance of the area is associated with thenative ground cover and the hardwoodsassociated with the stream channels.

The forest canopy ranges from sparse todense, with old pine trees greater than 100years of age occurring commonly as indi-viduals, groups, or large areas. The advance-ment of forest succession eventually resultsin old-growth forest over the entire area.Standing dead trees and down logs areabundant as a result of natural mortality.

Wildlife associated with open frequentlyburned old-growth conifer communities findfavorable habitat conditions. Species ex-pected to be inhabiting the area include:Red-cockaded and Red-headed Woodpeck-ers, Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey, EasternBluebird, white-tailed deer, Louisiana pinesnake, Bachman’s Sparrow, fox squirrel, Prai-rie Warbler, and red bat.

The Kisatchie Hills Wilderness is excludedfrom the Kisatchie District HMA. No activehabitat management occurs for existing RCW

cluster sites located inside the Wilderness.Additional rare, unique, or sensitive animalor plant communities are protected, but notactively managed.

The majority of trail system within theWilderness is maintained to support hikingand equestrian uses. For hiking, the traildifficulty level is considered easiest and forequestrian use, more difficult. These trailsaccommodate a variety of users and highuse rates. Encounters with other wildernessvisitors are fairly common on the trail. Theremainder of the trail system contains low-standard hiking trails, which are open forequestrian use. These trails are consideredmore difficult with narrow tread widths andsteeper grades which require a moderatedegree of skill and challenge to negotiate.Encounters with other wilderness visitorsmay occur along the trails, but probably donot happen while off the trail or camped.The frequency of human contact decreasesthe further users travel from the maintrailheads. Additional trails are constructedfor human foot travel only.

MANAGEMENTAREA 13:KISATCHIEHILLSWILDERNESS

DESCRIPTION

MANAGEMENTGOALS





FIRE MANAGEMENT


MA–13–01: Use a suppression strategy ofdirect control to minimize acreage burned.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–13–03: Use primarily non-motorized firefighting tools such as rakes, axes, shovels,flaps, and pulaskies. Favor suppression meth-ods and equipment that cause the least:(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Alteration of the landscape;� Disturbance of the land surface;� Disturbance to visitor solitude;� Reduction of visibility during periods of

visitor use; and� Effects on other air quality-related values.

MA–13–04: Use appropriate motorized firefighting equipment with Forest Supervisor’sapproval if there is an unacceptable risk toprivate property / life or proposed, threat-ened, or endangered species. Use chainsaws,ATVS, blowers, fireline explosives, and aircraftwhere needed for suppression of the targetfire at the smallest possible size. With Re-gional Forester’s approval, use tractor plowunits within the boundary of the Wildernessafter other techniques have proven to beunsuccessful. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

Prescribed fire

MA–13–05: In the absence of prescribed natu-ral fire, use management-ignited fire at thelandscape level or within specific areas tomaintain fuel loads, reducing to acceptablelevels the risk and consequences of wildfireoccurring within or escaping from the Wil-derness. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–06: Maintain natural fuels at 8 to 12tons per acre. Monitor fuel loadings andplan burning treatments based on actualmeasured fuels. The estimated burning fre-quency needed to maintain fuels below 12tons per acre is 5 to 8 years. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–07: Use natural features as fire breakswhen possible. If fireline construction isneeded, construct the line to the minimumlevel necessary to achieve the goals andobjectives. Use hand tools or plows drawnby draft animals. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FOREST HEALTH

MA–13–08: Take no SPB control action in theWilderness unless the infestation occurswithin 1/4 mile of susceptible host on Stateand private lands, or high value forest re-sources on federal land; or unless the infes-tation occurs within 1/4 mile of active RCW

clusters/foraging that are immediately adja-cent to (within 1/4 mile) the Kisatchie HillsWilderness and is predicted to spread, caus-ing unacceptable damage. Before takingaction, complete and document a site-spe-cific analysis of the infestation and surround-ing site conditions. The site-specific analysismust indicate that successful control can beexpected, given: a) the intensity of the infes-tation; b) the constraints applied to thecontrol methods for use in wilderness; and c)the resources available to control the spot.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–09: Use the following modified Inte-grated Pest Management (IPM) control meth-ods for SPB in the Wilderness: (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

� Cut-and-remove — use helicopter, draftanimals, or cable skidding from publicroads or access to remove infested logs. Invisually sensitive zones such as hiking trails,remove entire tree if feasible or otherwiseremove slash from sight. Helicopter flightlines should avoid trails where possible.

� Cut-and-leave — no modification for usein Wilderness except to cut slash to layclose to the ground or remove slash iffeasible in visual zones to mitigate visualimpact.

� Cut-and-hand spray — same modifica-tions as cut-and-leave method.

MA–13–10: Monitoring, ground checking andtree felling crews will travel to infestations bynon-motorized methods. Only under condi-tions in MA–13–11 will vehicles be allowed.(SPB-4, Wilderness-General) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 13:

KISATCHIEHILLS

WILDERNESS




MA–13–11: In extenuating circumstances,such as intense outbreak or lack of adequateresources to implement the preceding con-trol methods, using motorized ground ve-hicles may be necessary to protect adjacentlands from imminent unacceptable dam-age. However, such use during control workin wilderness would require complete docu-mentation of the extenuating circumstancesand advance Regional Forester’s approval,and only as a last resort.

When the use of motorized ground ve-hicles in wilderness is permitted by the Re-gional Forester, apply the following man-agement requirements:

� Use only existing roads or access. Limitroad improvement only to a level re-quired for safe passage of equipment andworkers, and to protect the soil.

� Return existing roads to as near their pre-use condition as possible once they haveserved their purpose.

� Close to motorized public use all roadsand access needed for SPB control. Allowonly SPB control and administration.

� Use fords (no structure) where possible,but only under conditions that will notvisibly change physical stream character-istics. These conditions are:• Where bedrock stream bottom andlower banks occur;• Where rock or gravel stream bottomand lower banks occur; or• Where temporary stream crossing struc-tures are installed using the largest fillmaterial available. Remove crossings com-pletely following control operations. Re-claim stream banks and bottoms to ap-proximate original conditions.

� To the greatest extent possible, schedulecontrol activities when visitor use is ex-pected to be lightest. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–12: All practical efforts to protecthardwoods will be made when SPB controlactions are implemented. No hardwoodswill be cut unless to insure the safety of crewsor wilderness user (SPB-6, Wilderness-General).(GUIDELINE)

MA–13–13: The affected and interested pub-lic will be informed or involved as appropri-ate in the decision to control in wilderness.(SPB-7, Wilderness-General) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–14: Use aerial detection to identifyand locate for ground checking all infesta-tions in the Wilderness meeting the criteriaof MA–13–08.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–15: Infestations located within 1/4

mile of these lands [wilderness] will be groundchecked as soon as possible (generally twodays) following detection to collect data forinput in a SPB spot growth model and deter-mine the direction of spread (SPB-3, Wilderness-

Protection of Adjacent Lands). (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–16: Spot growth model predictionswill be completed as soon as possible (gener-ally three days) from ground check. ForestHealth Protection personnel will provide theextent of tree kill predicted by the model. Thisinformation will be used to estimate thelocation and extent of damage on adjacentlands from the uncontrolled infestation (SPB-

4, Wilderness-Protection of Adjacent Lands). (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–17: A site-specific analysis will be com-pleted and documented on each infestationpredicted to impact adjacent lands prior toimplementing control action. It will assess thepredicted impacts to adjacent land consider-ing landowners management objectives, ageand condition of trees, and the current threatof SPB impacts from other non-wildernesssources. Direct, indirect, and cumulative im-pacts to the wilderness attributes and otherresources will be assessed and consideredequally in the control decision process (SPB-5,

Wilderness-Protection of Adjacent Lands). (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–18: Whenever possible, allow indig-enous insect and plant diseases to play theirnatural ecological role within the Wilder-ness. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

FOREST PRODUCTS

MA–13–19: Classify this area as unsuitable fortimber production. (KNF) (STANDARD)

MA–13–20: Do not issue permits for the re-moval of any forest product. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

HEALTH AND SAFETY

MA–13–21: Parish and State authorities areresponsible for search and rescue of lost orinjured visitors. Provide assistance to themwhen requested for such things as scoutingservices, detailed maps, aerial photography,





and detailed information about the area. Useof motorized equipment for search and res-cue operations within the Wilderness must beapproved in advance by the Forest Supervi-sor. Refer to the Guidelines for Use of Motorizedand Mechanical Equipment for Search and Res-cue Within Wilderness (4/91). (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

HERITAGE RESOURCES

MA–13–22: Allow shovel tests to be con-ducted during cultural resource surveys. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–13–23: Do not provide interpretive facili-ties at heritage resource sites. Do not restoreor enhance sites for recreational purposes.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MINERALS

MA–13–24: Do not lease or sell commonvariety minerals within the Wilderness. (KNF)(STANDARD)

MA–13–25: As provided by law, do not issuenew leases of U.S. mineral rights in theWilderness. A lease may be issued with a NSO

stipulation where a nearby well, either onprivate rights or in federal minerals with alower royalty rate, is draining oil and gasfrom adjacent U.S. minerals. (KNF) (STANDARD)


Signing

MA–13–26: Survey, mark, and post the exte-rior boundary of the Wilderness in accor-dance with FSM 7153. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–27: Provide signs as necessary toprotect the wilderness resource and for ad-ministrative purposes. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–28: Do not sign geographic featureswithin the Wilderness. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–29: Provide signing for visitor conve-nience or for environmental interpretationonly at trailheads. Permit minimal signing orblazes on trails within the Wilderness. Pro-vide no mileage on signs within the Wilder-ness. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–30: Use regulatory or informationalsigns in situations where control of excessiveresource damage is needed. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–31: Construct signs inside the Wil-derness from natural, native materials withrouted letters mounted on natural coloredor stained posts. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–32: Provide bulletin boards at pri-mary access points into the Wilderness. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)


MA–13–33: Do not allow group sizes to ex-ceed 25 individuals. No permit is needed forovernight use. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–34: Provide for primitive campingand encourage visitors to disperse and prac-tice no-trace camping techniques. Discour-age camping at trailhead and parking areas.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–35: Locate campsites to take advan-tage of vegetative screening and topogra-phy, thus providing a moderate-to-high de-gree of solitude. Where terrain allows, campsshould be separated from each other and setback at least 100 feet from trails, streams, andkey interest features. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–36: Ban campfires during high firedanger periods or when resource impactsare unacceptable. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–37: In opportunity zone I — all wilder-ness beyond 1/8 mile of designated trails — nomore than one previously used campsite persquare mile, with only one fire ring per camp-site, should be evident. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–38: Keep pets under voice controland / or physical restraint. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–39: Assign the Wilderness a primitiverecreation opportunity class. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–40: Allow the use of the Wilderness topersons with disabilities, without special pro-visions or improvements. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–41: Use the limits of acceptablechange (LAC) concept for monitoring theeffects of management and use on the wil-derness resource. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 13:

KISATCHIEHILLS

WILDERNESS




Trails

MA–13–42: Wilderness travel shall be by non-mechanical means consistent with the primi-tive character of wilderness (FSM 2326). Use ofbicycles or motorized equipment shall beprohibited. The Forest Supervisor may ap-prove exceptions for emergencies involvingthreats to life, health, or property. The Re-gional Forester may approve use of mecha-nized equipment for other situations. (KNF)(STANDARD)

MA–13–43: Manage Backbone Trail and cor-ridor from FS Road 339 to intersection withTurpentine Trail and Turpentine Trail andcorridor in accordance with opportunity zoneIII standards:

� Permit human foot travel and eques-trian use.

� Construct trail tread to be no more than24 inches wide, and cleared corridor nomore than 6 feet wide and 10 feet high.

� Permit evidence of up to 1 campsite forevery mile of trail. Two fire rings percampsite may be evident. Denuded area,up to 200 square feet per campsite, maybe present.

� Up to 10 other parties of visitors may beencountered per day. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–44: Manage Backbone Trail from in-tersection with Turpentine Trail to Long-leaf Scenic Byway, Explorer, and High RidgeTrails in accordance with opportunity zone IIstandards:

� Permit only human foot travel use.� Construct trail tread no more than 18

inches wide, and cleared corridor no morethan 4 feet wide and 8 feet high.

� Permit evidence of up to 1 campsite forevery 2 miles of trail. One fire ring percampsite may be evident. Denuded area,up to 100 square feet per campsite maybe present.

� Up to 6 other parties of visitors may beencountered per day. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–45: Use native and local site materialsfor trail construction, reconstruction, andmaintenance. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–46: Protect soil and water resourcesand meet minimum requirements for healthand safety in trail maintenance and recon-struction projects. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–47: Allow additional trail construc-tion if demand warrants. Build all new trailsin accordance with opportunity zone II stan-dards. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RESEARCH

MA–13–48: Allow non-manipulative scien-tific study if compatible with the goals andobjectives of the Wilderness. Approve onlystudies consistent with wilderness manage-ment. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–49: Mark test plots in a temporarymanner, generally not visually evident to theaverage user. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–50: Require a permit and Forest Su-pervisor approval for the collection of speci-mens for research. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SCENERY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

MA–13–51: Assign the Wilderness a very highscenic integrity objective. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

SOIL AND WATER

MA–13–52: Develop soil resource improve-ments to rehabilitate critical areas. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–13–53: Stabilize eroding areas to main-tain or improve soil water resource for statedobjectives for Bayou Cypre watershed. (KNF)(GUIDELINE)

MA–13–54: Implement watershed restora-tion and enhancement projects on areaswhere erosion is due to man-caused activi-ties and is consistent with the wildernessconcept. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION

MA–13–55: Pursue an easement to constructand maintain a permanent fire break adja-cent to the Wilderness on private lands whenfunds are available. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)





SPECIAL-USES

MA–13–56: Allow special-uses consistent withwilderness values on a case-by-case basis.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–57: Do not permit competitive trailrides, survival exercises (including military),or other competitive events of this nature.(KNF) (GUIDELINE)


MA–13–58: Allow natural processes, includ-ing fire, to determine the composition anddistribution of plant species. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–59: Use native materials and speciesto revegetate denuded areas. (KNF) (GUIDE-LINE)

WILDLIFE

MA–13–60: Exclude Kisatchie Hills Wilder-ness from the Kisatchie District HMA. (KNF)(STANDARD)

MA–13–61: Establish replacement stands forall active RCW clusters within the Wilderness asclose to the cluster as possible, but not morethan 3 miles from it, and located outside theWilderness boundary. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MA–13–62: Protect RCW cavity trees withinknown active Wilderness clusters during pre-scribed burning activities. (KNF) (GUIDELINE)

MANAGEMENTAREA 13:

KISATCHIEHILLS

WILDERNESS






Implementation of theRevised Forest Plan Ch

apter

INTRODUCTION

PLANIMPLEMENTATION

DIRECTION

FOREST PLANDECISIONS

PROJECT-LEVELDECISIONS

IMPLEMENTATIONAND COMPLIANCE

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 4 provides information on how therevised Forest Plan will be implemented, andhow it will be kept current as conditionschange and new information becomes avail-able. It is divided into two major sections:

� Plan implementation direction

� Plan amendment and revision

PLANIMPLEMENTATIONDIRECTION

FOREST PLAN DECISIONS

National Forest System planning involvestwo levels of decisions. The first level consistsof the development of a forest plan thatprovides programmatic direction for all re-source management programs, practices,uses, and protection measures. Forest plansconsist of both forestwide and managementarea standards and guidelines that providefor land uses with anticipated resource out-puts under the given set of managementconstraints. Outputs are not hard and fastdecisions within a plan since all conditionsrequired to produce outputs, such as annualbudget appropriations, are not controlledby a forest. The decision approving a forestplan requires full compliance with both theNational Forest Management Act (NFMA) andthe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).(FSM 1922)

Forest plans do not dictate a commit-ment of resources or the selection of anyspecific project; they do determine whattypes of projects are permissible and underwhat conditions they may occur on differentportions of the forest. Detailed, site-specificdecisions and associated impacts are be-yond the scope of the Forest Plan.

PROJECT-LEVEL DECISIONS

The second level of planning involves theanalysis and implementation of manage-ment practices designed to achieve the goalsand objectives of the Forest Plan on a par-ticular, or site-specific, portion of the Forestlandscape. This level involves site-specificanalysis to meet NEPA requirements fordecisionmaking (FSM 1922). Public participa-tion will be an integral part of this decision-making process.

Project-level environmental analysis willtier to the revised Forest Plan and final envi-ronmental impact statement (FEIS). The FEIS

for the revised Forest Plan is an aid to project-level NEPA compliance.

Documentation of project-level analysiswill be consistent with the Council of Envi-ronmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-

1508), and Forest Service Manual (FSM) andHandbook direction. A NEPA document in theform of an environmental impact statement(EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) willoften be prepared; or if the analysis showsneither the activity nor the impacts to besignificant and the activity conforms to thelist of categories in FSM 1950, the analysiscould be categorically excluded from docu-mentation in an EIS or EA.

The NEPA analysis of the proposed actionsshould provide the documentary basis forNFMA findings on consistency, suitability fortimber production, clearcutting and even-aged management, and vegetation manipu-lation (FSH 1909.12, 5.31a). This NEPA analysisand documentation leads to projectdecisionmaking that fully complies with NEPA,NFMA, and all other applicable regulations.


The Forest Supervisor has the overall respon-sibility for implementing the revised ForestPlan. Implementation will occur through theidentification, selection, scheduling, andexecution of practices, projects, or actions

44



designed to meet the management direc-tion of the revised Forest Plan. The ForestPlan implementation process is displayed infigure 4-1.

Implementation will also involve respond-ing to proposals by others for use and / oroccupancy of Forest lands. It is necessary forother plans or instruments, budget propos-als, and environmental analysis required forimplementation of specific managementpractices to be consistent with this revisedForest Plan.

The Kisatchie’s revised Forest Plan super-sedes the 1985 Forest Plan. All outstandingpermits, contracts, cooperative agreementsand other instruments for occupancy and useof lands included in the 1985 Forest Plan willbe brought into agreement with this revisedForest Plan, subject to the valid existing rightsof the parties involved. This will be done assoon as practicable (USC 1604 (i)), and generallywithin three years of the date of the Plan.Subsequent administrative activities affect-ing such lands, including budget proposals,will be based on the revised Forest Plan.

If a proposed practice, project, or actionis determined to be incompatible with thedirection in the revised Forest Plan, one ofthree things will occur. The proposal will berevised to make it compatible with the re-vised Forest Plan, the proposal will be aban-doned, or the proposal will be implementedafter the revised Forest Plan has beenamended to allow for the proposed activity.Recurring conflicts may result in review ofthe relevant Plan direction through themonitoring and evaluation process (Chap-ter 5) to determine whether a Plan amend-ment or revision to the Plan is needed.

BUDGET PROPOSALS

Management programs, practices, and usesscheduled in this revised Forest Plan arelinked to a multi-year program budget pro-posal that identifies funds necessary to imple-ment the Forest Plan (FSM 1930). The budgetproposal is then used to request and allocatefunds needed to carry out the planned man-agement direction. Outputs and activities inindividual years may vary significantly, de-pending on available funds. Upon approvalof the final budget for the Forest, the annualprogram of work is adjusted to the finalbudget and then carried out. Accomplish-ment of the annual program of work resultsin the incremental implementation of the

Forest Plan management direction. The re-vised Forest Plan’s average annual budgetproposal is displayed in Appendix C.

PLAN AMENDMENTAND REVISION

AMENDMENTS

The revised Forest Plan will be kept currentthrough the use of amendments. The needto amend the Forest Plan may arise fromseveral sources, including:

� Recommendations of the Forest interdis-ciplinary team based on findings thatresult from monitoring and evaluatingimplementation of the Forest Plan (36 CFR

219.12 (k) and FSM 1922.7);� Findings that existing or proposed per-

mits, contracts, cooperative agreements,and other instruments authorizing occu-pancy and use are not consistent with theForest Plan but should be approved (36 CFR

219.10 (e));� Changes in proposed implementation

schedules (36 CFR 219.10 (e)) necessary toreflect differences between funding lev-els contemplated in the Forest Plan andfunds actually appropriated;

� Changes necessitated by resolution ofadministrative appeals;

� Changes to correct planning errors;� Changes necessitated by changed physi-

cal, social, or economic conditions; and� Implementation of management prac-

tices outside the scope of the Forest Plan.(FSM 1922.5)

� Changes in law that may occur during theplanning period.

When the need to amend occurs, a deter-mination will be made as to whether theamendment is or is not a significant changeto the Forest Plan. Examples of changes notsignificant to a forest plan include:

� Actions that do not significantly alter themultiple-use goals and objectives for long-term land and resource management;

� Adjustments of management area bound-aries or management prescriptions re-sulting from further site-specific analysiswhen the adjustments do not cause sig-nificant changes in the multiple-use goalsand objectives for long-term land andresource management;

PLANIMPLEMENTATIONDIRECTION


BUDGETPROPOSALS

PLANAMENDMENTAND REVISION

AMENDMENTS



� Minor changes in standards and guide-lines; and

� Opportunities for additional managementpractices that will contribute to achieve-ment of the management prescription.(FSM 1922.51).

For an amendment that is not significant,the Forest Supervisor can implement thechange after completion of NEPA procedures— public involvement, decision documenta-tion, and public notification of the decision.

Significant changes to a forest plan canresult from:

� Changes that would significantly alterthe long-term relationship between lev-els of multiple-use goods and servicesoriginally projected (36 CFR 219.10(e)); and

� Changes that may have an importanteffect on an entire forest plan or affectland and resources throughout a largeportion of the planning area during theplanning period.

PLANAMENDMENTAND REVISION

AMENDMENTS

REVISIONS

For amendments determined to be sig-nificant, the Forest Supervisor will follow thesame procedures that are required for thedevelopment and approval of a forest plan(36 CFR 219.10 (f) and 36 CFR 219.12). Significantamendments will require approval by theRegional Forester.

REVISIONS

The NFMA regulations require forest plans tobe revised on a 10–15 year cycle or sooner forsignificant changes of conditions or demandsin a plan coverage area. The Forest Supervisorwill review the conditions on the lands cov-ered by this Forest Plan at least every fiveyears, to determine whether significantchange has occurred. Revision proceduresare the same as those required for the devel-opment and approval of a forest plan (36 CFR

219.10 (g) and 36 CFR 219.12). While approval ofthe Chief of the Forest Service is required toschedule a forest plan revision, revisions them-selves are approved by the Regional Forester.

FIGURE 4–1, FOREST PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Sour

ce: N

EPA

/ NFM

A Fo

rest

Pla

n Im

plem

enta

tion

Cou

rse

(190

0-1)

FEEDBACK

PLAN T

O PRO

JECT –

NFMA

PROJECT – NEPA

PUBLICPARTICIPATION

Location

Goals, Objectives /Existing Condition

Opportunities

PossibleManagement Practices

Forest PlanConsistency

Adjustment Evaluation Monitoring

Proposed Action /Purpose & Need Scoping

Issue Identification

Alternatives

Effects

NFMA Findings

Significance

DecisionNotification

Implementation





Monitoring and Evaluation Chap

ter 55INTRODUCTION

Chapter 5 provides information on how theimplementation of the revised Forest Planwill be monitored and evaluated. It is di-vided into 5 major sections:

� Purpose and objectives of monitoringand evaluation,

� Types of forest plan monitoring,� Monitoring process framework,� Management indicator species, and� Annual reporting procedures.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVESOF MONITORING ANDEVALUATION

Monitoring and evaluation are separate, se-quential activities that provide informationto determine whether programs and projectsare meeting forest plan direction. Overalldirection for the monitoring and evaluationof forest plans is found in FSM 1922.7; FSH

1909.12,6; and 36 CFR 219.12(k).Monitoring is observing or measuring

results for a specific purpose, such as compli-ance with applicable laws and regulations oraddressing issues. Monitoring:

� Measures progress in forest plan imple-mentation;

� Determines how well forest plan desiredfuture conditions, goals and objectivesare being met;

� Determines if management standards andguidelines are appropriate for meetingthe forest’s outputs and environmentalprotection;

� Determines whether or not we are effec-tively responding to public needs andissues;

� Determines if assumptions used in devel-oping the forest plan reflect actual condi-tions, new information, and / or legalrequirements; and

� Increases and improves our scientificknowledge of effects of our manage-ment in sustaining communities and eco-systems.

Evaluation of monitoring findings andresults is an ongoing activity conductedthroughout the year, so that timely responsesto changed conditions and new informationcan be made. Evaluation includes manage-ment and interdisciplinary resource reviewfindings as well as formal, end of the yearevaluation conducted as part of the publica-tion of the Kisatchie National Forest’s annualMonitoring and Evaluation Action Plan andReport (M& E Report).

Evaluation assesses the significance of theobservations or measured results from moni-toring through analysis or study to deter-mine if changes are needed in the ForestPlan. Evaluation determines if planned con-ditions or results are being attained andwhen they are within the Forest Plan direc-tion. When a situation is identified as beingoutside the limits of acceptable variability,changes to the Forest Plan may need tooccur. Evaluation therefore serves two func-tions:

� It identifies when a change in manage-ment practices is needed; and

� It provides a means to adjust the ForestPlan to keep it dynamic and responsive tochanging conditions.

When we monitor how well we are meet-ing our Forest Plan desired future condi-tions, goals and objectives, and standardsand guidelines we are monitoring how ef-fectively we have addressed the public issuesand management concerns raised duringthe forest planning process. As detailed inChapters 1 and 2 of the FEIS, public issues andmanagement concerns were the foundationupon which desired future conditions, goalsand objectives, and standards and guide-lines were established. New issues that ariseduring the implementation of this revised

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE ANDOBJECTIVES OF

MONITORING &EVALUATION



PURPOSE ANDOBJECTIVES OFMONITORING &EVALUATION

FIGURE 5–1, THE FOREST PLANMONITORING & EVALUATION PROCESS

IMPLEMENTATIONMONITORING

RESULTS

YES

YES

EFFECTIVENESSMONITORING

Consistent withForest Plan?

Issues, concerns, oropportunities exist?

Most effective actiontaken & ICOs resolved?

RESULTS

YES

Document evaluation andcontinue implementationmonitoring or amend the

Plan if more effectiveaction is needed

NO

Is compliancefeasible?

NO

AmendPlan

Ensurecompliance

YES

NO

Continue implementationmonitoring

NO

Do assumptionsand coefficients

appear reasonable? NO

Continue effectivenessmonitoring

RESULTS

Continue validationmonitoring

Assumptions andcoefficients valid and

ICOs resolved?NO

YES

YES

Document evaluation andcontinue effectiveness

monitoring or amend thePlan if change is needed

VALIDATIONMONITORING



Forest Plan may result in additional monitor-ing items being added to our annual moni-toring program.

TYPES OF FOREST PLANMONITORING

The Kisatchie National Forest monitoringprogram includes inventory and data collec-tion, internal reviews, and preparation ofannual reports for the public and for ourRegional and Washington Offices. While allof the above contribute to the Kisatchie’smonitoring program, not all will be moni-tored to the same level, or be identified as aspecific monitoring item in our M& E Report.

Three types of forest plan monitoring willbe conducted:

� Implementation monitoring;� Effectiveness monitoring; and� Validation monitoring.

Implementation monitoring is meant to sat-isfy the question: Did we do what we said wewould do?

It determines if plans, prescriptions,projects, and activities are implemented asdesigned and in compliance with forest planobjectives, requirements, and standards andguidelines. Evaluation of implementationmonitoring may require adjustment of pre-scriptions and targets or changes in plan orproject administration. (FSM 1922.7)

Effectiveness monitoring is meant to satisfythe question: Did what we said we would doaccomplish our goals and objectives — or, didit work?

It determines whether plans, prescrip-tions, projects, and activities are effective inmeeting management direction, objectives,and standards and guidelines. Evaluation ofthe results of effectiveness monitoring isused to adjust forest plan objectives, targets,prescriptions, standards and guidelines, con-servation practices, mitigation measures, andother best management practices and couldresult in change to or amendment of theforest plan. (FSM 1922.7)

Validation monitoring is meant to satisfy thequestion: Are our assumptions valid or arethere better ways of meeting our goals andobjectives?

It is designed to ascertain whether theinitial assumptions and coefficients used indevelopment of a forest plan are correct or ifthere is a better way to meet forest planningregulations, policies, goals, and objectives.Evaluation of this type of monitoring canresult in amendment of forest plans and maybe used to recommend changes in laws,regulations, and policies that affect both theplan and project implementation. (FSM 1922.7)

Figure 5–1 displays the monitoring andevaluation process.

MONITORING PROCESSFRAMEWORK

Considering the types of forest plan moni-toring discussed above, monitoring ques-tions were developed based on the revisedForest Plan desired future conditions, goalsand objectives, and standards and guide-lines. Monitoring questions are those thatneed to be answered to determine whetherthe revised Forest Plan decisions are beingimplemented, and that the decisions areeffective and valid. Table 5–1 displays themonitoring questions developed for theKisatchie’s revised Forest Plan. The ques-tions in table 5–1 along with the level ofmonitoring associated with the question areconsidered a forest plan decision; therefore,any changes to them will require an amend-ment to the Forest Plan.

Monitoring task sheets similar to the ex-ample in figure 5–2 detail how informationwill be acquired to answer each monitoringquestion. Task sheets are used to furtherdevelop the details, priorities and budgetingfor monitoring. They serve as a checklist fororganizing, developing, implementing andmaintaining the monitoring and evaluationprogram. Changes to task sheets do notrequire an amendment of the Forest Plan,unless the desired future conditions, goalsand objectives, or standards and guidelinesbeing monitored change, or the monitoringquestions and/or monitoring level changes;but, they will be updated as part of theKisatchie’s annual M&E Report. The task sheetsare part of the planning records for therevised Forest Plan. A summary of the tasksheets can be found in Appendix F.

PURPOSE ANDOBJECTIVES OF

MONITORING &EVALUATION

TYPES OFFOREST PLANMONITORING

MONITORINGPROCESS

FRAMEWORK



FIGURE 5–2, FACSIMILE OF A MONITORING TASK SHEET

DFC / GOAL:

OBJECTIVE:and / or

STANDARD:

MONITORINGQUESTION:

MONITORINGLEVEL: Implementation ___ Effectiveness ___ Validation ___

MONITORINGITEMS:

Existing data check:Site / location:Range of acceptable results:Who collects data:Data collection

methodology / design:Frequency / duration:Expected precision: L( ) M( ) H( ) Expected reliability: L( ) M( ) H( )Estimated cost of collection:Personnel needed:Data source:Data storage:

ANALYSIS / EVALUATIONOF FINDINGS:

Responsibility /method of analysis:

Estimated cost of analysis:Who evaluates findings: Line: FS( ) DR( ) IDT: RO( ) SO( ) DO( )

Other:Findings:Recommended actions:Date recommended

action implemented:

REPORTING OF FINDINGS:

Responsibility of reporting:Information to be reported:Frequency of reporting:Method of reporting:Target audience of report:Additional comments:



The responsibility for the evaluation ofmonitoring results lies with the personalinvolvement of the Forest Supervisor anddistrict rangers with Forest interdisciplinaryteams. The Forest will also depend uponcontinuing partnerships, relationships, andcollaboration with the Southern ResearchStation, universities, state and local govern-ment agencies, environmental groups, andthe public for quality assurance and involve-ment in the Kisatchie’s monitoring program.

MANAGEMENTINDICATOR SPECIES

Management indicator species are selected,in part, to help ensure that viable popula-tions of plant and animal species are main-tained in the planning area and becausetheir population changes are believed toindicate the effects of management activi-ties. The 36 CFR 219 Planning Regulationsdirects that “Population trends of manage-ment indicator species will be monitoredand relationships to habitat changes deter-mined.” To meet the intent of the regula-tions, table 5-2 identifies the use of manage-ment indicator species (MIS) to monitor theeffectiveness of the Plan direction in meet-ing desired habitat conditions and plant/animal outcomes. Appendix F, table F-1,outlines the monitoring strategy for the MIS

to meet the intent of the 36 CFR 219 PlanningRegulations.

The monitoring strategy for MIS and theirhabitats includes measures for tracking con-ditions and trends for habitats, key habitatparameters, and trends to populations. Con-clusions about population trends and theirrelationship to habitat are developed througha variety of approaches.

MONITORING APPROACHES

Monitoring MIS Habitat Conditions

At the most basic level, conditions and trendsof habitats will be tracked for each MIS . Therelationship of all MIS to forest communities,forest successional classes, rare communi-ties, or other habitat parameters is docu-mented in the process records and EIS. For-est-wide trends for the habitat conditions foreach MIS will be reported and evaluated interms of change over time specific to meet-

ing Forest Plan desired conditions for thatparticular MIS.

Monitoring MIS Population Trends

Conclusions about population trends andtheir relationship to habitat are developedthrough a variety of methods. Because meth-odologies to determine population num-bers and/or estimate trends vary by species,conclusions that relate population trends tohabitat conditions are also reached througha variety of methods. It is appropriate for arange of methods to be used to estimate, orapproximate, population trends for MIS. Thechoice of which one, or combination, ofthese methods to use for a given MIS is basedon: (1) the risk associated with a speciesstatus and (2) the information needed byline officers to make informed decisions. Themethods include:

� Population trends may be inferred usingspecies-habitat relationships information.This approach involves inferring popula-tion trends from trends in amount andcondition of habitat over time, based onknown relationships between species andhabitat. The use of this approach is ap-propriate under the following conditions:(1) the species is relatively common andrisk of local extirpations are low; (2) habi-tat is known to be a primary factor influ-encing populations; and (3) there havebeen valid empirical studies relating thespecies to habitat and these are appli-cable to the area where the approach isbeing applied. When population trendsare inferred from habitat trends, the rela-tionship of species to habitat should beunderstood well enough to interpret howthe population would respond to habitatalterations.

� Population trends can be estimated usingpopulation occurrence data. In addition,this information can improve knowledgeof species distribution and habitat rela-tionships. These measures, repeated overtime, may provide information on trendsin distribution and relative abundance.Examples could include element occur-rence records (EOR), documented changesin occurrences, and an evaluation of thosechanges from established baseline EOR.This approach would be appropriate for aMIS where the risk to local or broad extir-

MONITORINGPROCESS

FRAMEWORK

MANAGEMENTINDICATOR

SPECIES



pations is low to moderate (cost of mak-ing a management decision that wouldadversely affect the species is low to mod-erate) and there is high correlation andunderstanding for a MIS and its associatedhabitat(s) (high likelihood the conclu-sions regarding population trends wouldbe correct).

� Population trends can be estimatedthrough the use of population indices.These indices are not estimates of actualpopulation numbers, but are aimed atreflecting population trends or relativeabundance for a species. Properly de-signed population indices are a well ac-cepted method for assessing populationsfor many taxa. Examples could includeState hunting/fishing information, trackcounts, and bird point counts. Some ofthis information may be useful in validat-ing species/habitat relationships. Thismethod is commonly used in naturalresource management.

� Populations trends can be determinedthrough the use of 100% populationcounts or can be estimated through theuse of population sampling designed toestimate actual population numbers. (Al-though rarely used, 100% populationcounts can be feasible for some species,such as for populations in very restrictedgeographic areas.) In addition, demo-graphic analysis can be used to inferpopulation trends and further provideadditional insight into species populationstatus. These are the most intensive andrigorous methodologies, usually reservedfor some federally-listed species or somehigh risk globally-imperiled species se-lected as MIS. These methods would beappropriate for a MIS where the risk oflocal or broad extirpations is high (cost ofmaking a management decision thatwould adversely affect the species is high)and either there is not strong correlationof an MIS and its associated habitat(s) orthe relationship is poorly understood (highlikelihood the conclusions regardingpopulation trends would be incorrect).

ANNUALREPORTINGPROCEDURES

MANAGEMENTINDICATORSPECIES

ANNUAL REPORTINGPROCEDURES

Each year, in order to keep the revised ForestPlan dynamic and responsive to changingconditions, the results of our Forest Planmonitoring will be published in our M&EReport. The M&E Report will include theimplementation status of the previous fiscalyear monitoring recommendations as wellas the detailed results and action plan of thefiscal year being monitored. The report willalso contain a certification statement fromthe Forest Supervisor indicating that theyhave evaluated the findings and recommen-dations, and have directed that the actionplans developed to respond to the recom-mendations be implemented.

The M&E Report will be available, uponrequest, generally during the second quar-ter of the following year (January-March).Any amendments or revisions made to therevised Forest Plan will be made using theappropriate National Environmental PolicyAct public involvement procedures.



FORESTWIDE DESIRED FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION EFFECTIVENESS VALIDATIONCONDITION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES QUESTIONS QUESTIONS QUESTIONS

TABLE 5–1, MONITORING QUESTIONS

Goal 1: Ensure that healthy, sustainable forest ecosystems endurefor future generations by managing with the highest standards ofstewardship. Protect or conserve basic soil, water, air, and landresources and incorporate integrated pest management principles.

Objective 1–1: Maintain or improve the Forest’s long-term soil produc-tivity. This is accomplished through land management practices de-signed to meet requirements for minimizing soil erosion and compaction,by not exceeding allowable soil loss for any given soil, by revegetatingdisturbed areas, and by restoring degraded areas to a natural condition.

Objective 1–2: Maintain or improve the integrity of aquatic ecosystemsto provide for high water quality, stream-channel stability, natural flowregimes, water yield, and aquatic resources by managing in accordancewith the Clean Water Act and by meeting all State and federal waterquality standards.

Objective 1–3: Manage for air quality consistent with the Clean Air Actby implementing practices which are designed to meet State air qualitystandards and are consistent with maintaining the general forest area inClass II air quality.

Objective 1–4: Provide a level of wildfire protection which emphasizescost-effective wildfire prevention and suppression while minimizing lossof resources.

Objective 1–5: Manage for productive and healthy forest ecosystemsby utilizing comprehensive integrated approaches designed to preventand minimize resource losses or damage due to insects and disease.

Objective 1–6: Manage national forest lands in an efficient manner toprovide for the future needs of society by pursuing opportunities to makeland ownership adjustments that improve management effectivenessand enhance public benefits through land consolidation; acquiringrights-of-way that facilitate efficient management; issuing land useauthorizations necessary to meet public and private needs only when noviable alternative to long-term commitments on Forest land exists; andestablishing and maintaining all landline boundaries.

Are management practices designed to minimizesoil erosion, compaction and loss of soil productivitybeing applied?

Are management practices designed to minimizecontamination, sedimentation, and maintain streamchannel stability being applied?

Are Forest Service and the La. Dept. of Agriculture& Forestry’s smoke management guidelines andregulations being applied? Are performance re-quirements concerning air quality being incorpo-rated in permitted activities?

Is wildfire protection being provided in a cost-effec-tive manner? Are losses to wildfire being minimized?

Do management practices provide for correct site/species selection, reduce overstocked stands tooptimum levels and insure prompt detection andcontrol of insects and diseases?

Are non-federal lands being acquired to enhancepublic benefits and improve management effective-ness? Are acquired rights-of-way achieving betterForest management? Are land use authorizationsbeing issued only after all other alternatives areexplored to provide goods and services? How wellare landline boundaries being established, main-tained, and protected from obliteration?

Is allowable soil loss being ex-ceeded? Are disturbed anddegraded areas being restoredand revegetated to a naturalcondition?

Are State water quality stan-dards and State anti-degrada-tion policies being met? Is wa-ter quality being degraded?

Does air quality meet NAAQS

and State standards?

Are resources identified inNFMAS being made available inaccordance with budget fund-ing levels? Are acres lost towildfire within the range identi-fied by NFMAS for the currentbudget level?

Has management resulted in adecrease of susceptibility ofsouthern pine beetle and otherpests? Are pest incidents de-creasing with applied integratedmanagement?

Are newly acquired lands com-patible with management prac-tices in the Management Areawhere they are located? Areencroachments discouragedby well-defined property lines?

How do timber manage-ment practices, especiallytimber harvesting andconsequent compaction,affect soil productivity?





Goal 2: Manage to provide for a variety of life by maintainingbiologically diverse ecosystems and viable populations of allnative and desirable nonnative plant, wildlife, fish, and aquaticspecies. Conserve threatened, endangered, and rare species;restore and maintain ecosystems and ecological processes; iden-tify and manage old-growth forests; and protect riparian andstreamside habitat areas.

Objective 2–1: Manage to restore or maintain the structure, composi-tion, and processes of the four major landscape forest ecosystemsknown to occur on the Forest, and unique or under-represented inclusionalcommunities embedded within them. Long-term objectives for eachmajor forest community is as follows:

� Longleaf pine forest: 263,000 acres.� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest: 62,000 acres.� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forest: 27,800 acres.� Riparian forest: 181,000 acres

Objective 2–2: Provide for healthy populations of all existing native anddesirable nonnative wildlife, fish, and plants by managing major forestecosystems at the scale and distribution appropriate to maintain speciesviability. In the next 10 years, management indicator habitat objectivesare as follows:

� Longleaf pine, all stages: 121,000 acres.� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory, early stages: 0 acres.� Shortleaf pine / oak-hickory, mid-late stages: 16,000 acres.� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine, early stages: 42,000 acres.� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine, mid-late stages: 252,000 acres.� Riparian, small streams: 85,000 acres� Riparian, large streams: 92,000 acres

Objective 2–3: Manage to protect, improve, and maintain habitatconditions for all threatened, endangered, sensitive, and conservationspecies occurring on the Forest. Manage habitat conditions on 303,000acres of pine and pine-hardwood within 5 established Red-cockadedWoodpecker (RCW) habitat management areas to achieve a long-termforest-wide RCW population of 1,405 active clusters.

Are management practices designed to restore ormaintain the structure, composition, and processesof the four major landscape forest ecosystems andthe embedded plant communities within them beingimplemented?

Are management practices designed to protect,improve, and maintain threatened, endangered,sensitive, and conservation species being imple-mented? Are management strategies designed forRed-cockaded Woodpecker habitat managementbeing implemented within designated habitat man-agement areas?

Are the management practicessuccessfully restoring or main-taining quality forest ecosys-tems; and, the structure, com-position, and processes of thefour major landscape forestecosystems?

Are management practices suc-cessfully expanding quality habi-tats for management indicators?

Are habitat conditions for threat-ened, endangered, sensitive,and conservation species im-proving?

Are the habitat objectivesfor selected managementindicators providing forhealthy populations of allexisting native and desir-able nonnative wildlife,fish, and plants?

Are Red-cockaded Wood-pecker and Louisianapearlshell mussel popu-lation trends respondingpositively to managementstrategies?





Objective 2–4: Develop or maintain old-growth forest attributes, for theircontribution to biological and visual diversity, habitats for plant andanimal species, and maintenance of a natural gene pool, within desig-nated patches on approximately 13 percent of the Forest based uponrepresentation of the major forest ecosystems and old-growth commu-nity types. Long-term old-growth forest objectives are as follows:

� Longleaf pine forest-dominated patches: 48,800 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood: 2,550 acres.• Upland longleaf, woodland, and savanna: 45,350 acres.• Southern wet pine forest, woodland, and savanna: 780 acres.• Dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, and savanna: 120 acres.

� Shortleaf pine/oak-hickory forest-dominated patches: 13,500 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood: 1,290 acres.• Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest: 11,630 acres.• Dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, and savanna: 60 acres.• Xeric pine and pine-oak forest and woodland: 50 acres.• Seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland: 350 acres.• River floodplain hardwood forest: 120 acres.

� Mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forest-dominated patches: 6,100 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood: 700 acres.• Seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland: 300 acres.• Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest: 4,650 acres.• River floodplain hardwood forest: 450 acres.

� Riparian forest-dominated patches: 12,700 acres.• Coastal plain upland mesic hardwood: 1,820 acres.• River floodplain hardwood forest: 1,180 acres.• Cypress-tupelo swamp forest: 1,400 acres.• Eastern riverfront forest: 6,400 acres.• Seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland: 1,400 acres.• Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest: 500 acres.

Objective 2–5: Manage to protect or enhance the unique plant andanimal communities, special habitat features, habitat linkages andcorridors, and aquatic ecosystems associated with streamside habitatand riparian areas.

Objective 2–6: Manage perennial and intermittent streams as well asnatural and man-made lakes, reservoirs, and ponds for native anddesirable nonnative fish species and aquatic communities.

Are management practices designed to developold-growth forest attributes being implemented?

Are streamside habitat protection zones and ripar-ian area protection zones being delineated andmanaged as prescribed?

Are lake predator-prey populations in balance? Aremanagement practices sufficiently protecting streamand lake habitats? Are primary aquatic food chainorganisms being impacted by siltation?

Are the management practicessuccessfully developing ormaintaining forest attributessimilar to those found in old-growth?

Are these zones successfullyprotecting or enhancing uniqueplant and animal communities,special habitat features, habi-tat linkages, and aquatic eco-systems?

Are lake populations healthy?Are nonnatives and / or gener-alist-omnivore natives affect-ing lake biomass and balance?Is lake habitat sufficient?





Objective 2–7: Provide quality habitat for game and fish populations.

Objective 2–8: Protect, restore, maintain, acquire, and improve habitaton the Forest for waterfowl and wetland wildlife, as stated in the NorthAmerican Waterfowl Management Plan.

Goal 3: Contribute to local community stability by providing aneven flow of commodity resources in an environmentally accept-able manner. Allow for timber harvest to meet multiple-use goalsand provide for stand regeneration; a limited amount of domesticlivestock grazing; continued exploration and extraction of leasableand salable minerals; and provide a transportation system to meetmultiple-use goals. Promote rural development and human re-source programs.

Objective 3–1: Provide for long-term sustainable production of com-modities for economies, local community stability, and people.

Objective 3–2: Offer for competitive bid an average of 9.7 million cubicfeet of timber sale volume on an annual basis for the first decade of thePlan.

Objective 3–3: Make all U.S. minerals available for lease except inareas where consent has been legislatively or administratively with-drawn. Development of federal minerals will be allowed within theconstraints of the lease and accompanying stipulations and restrictions.To the extent legally possible, manage surface occupancy to avoid orminimize environmental effects where reserved and outstanding min-eral rights exist. As allowed by State and federal law and under the termsof the severance deed, ensure that surface resources will not beadversely affected to an unacceptable degree by the exercise ofreserved and outstanding mineral rights.

Objective 3–4: Maintain or improve forage resources for domesticlivestock grazing on 86,000 acres within designated grazing allotmentsto meet the needs of local demand.

Are management practices designed to protect,restore, maintain, and improve waterfowl and wet-land wildlife being implemented?

How does the flow of commodity outputs to localeconomies and people compare with the ForestPlan projections?

Is the Forest providing for competitive bid the aver-age annual allowable sale quantity it projected forthe first decade?

Are parcels being made available for lease accord-ing to U.S. ownership and management restric-tions? Are applications for minerals exploration anddevelopment being processed according to direc-tions and in a timely manner? Are operating plansfor exploration of private minerals being reviewedfor compliance with existing State and federal laws?

Are forage resources being maintained or improvedon the designated allotments?

Are management practicessuccessfully expanding qual-ity habitats for game and fishspecies?

Are these management prac-tices successfully providing forwaterfowl and wetland wildlife?

Are active allotments meetingthe needs of the local demandfor forage resources?

Are habitat objectives forselected demand speciesproviding game and fishpopulations sufficient forquality recreational oppor-tunities?





Objective 3–5: Provide other forest products such as firewood andpinestraw as available, as long as their use does not impair ecosystemhealth or the achievement of other resource objectives.

Objective 3–6: Assist local Forest communities in diversifying andenhancing existing economies with an emphasis on the conservation ofnatural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Forest and the State.

Objective 3–7: Manage the transportation system to ensure that anyroads constructed are designed according to standards appropriate tothe planned uses.

Goal 4: Provide for scenic quality and outdoor experiences whichrespond to the needs of forest users and local communities. Provideaccess to a wide variety of recreational opportunities and facilities.

Objective 4–1: Manage the Forest to create and maintain landscapeshaving high scenic diversity, harmony, and unity for the benefit of societythrough the application of the Scenery Management System, and consis-tent with assigned scenic integrity objectives (SIO). The SIOS are as follows:

� Very high: 8,699 acres.� High: 93,980 acres.� Medium: 89,155 acres.� Low: 415,020 acres.� Very low: 1,278 acres.

Objective 4–2: Provide visitors the opportunity to pursue a wide variety ofdeveloped and dispersed recreation activities, with a minimum amount ofregulation, consistent with the assigned recreation opportunity spectrum(ROS) class. The Forest’s ROS class objectives are as follows:

� Primitive: 8,700 acres.� Semiprimitive nonmotorized: 57,269 acres.� Semiprimitive motorized: 89,963 acres.� Roaded natural-appearing: 217,152 acres.� Roaded natural modified: 191,671 acres.� Rural: 6,162 acres.

How does management of these products comparewith Forest Plan direction?

Are programs and opportunities for improving ruraleconomies and social conditions being developed?

Is the Forest being managed in accordance with theassigned SIOS ?

Are programs and opportuni-ties improving sustainable lo-cal economies and social con-ditions?

Is the transportation facilityserviceable by the intendeduser?

Has class eligibility shiftedsignificantly?

Is the Forest providing op-portunities for other spe-cialty forest products with-out negatively impactingforest health or other re-sources?





Objective 4–3: Develop, maintain, and protect existing and potentialdeveloped and dispersed recreation sites and trails consistent withpublic use and demand through construction, operation, maintenance,and rehabilitation activities.

Goal 5: Manage to protect and perpetuate natural and culturalvalues associated with unique, rare, or irreplaceable resources.Recognize and protect historical areas, cultural sites, and areaswhich are of special interest because of unique geological, botani-cal, or zoological features.

Objective 5–1: Manage the nonrenewable heritage resources of theForest in a spirit of stewardship for the American public. Include theLouisiana State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and interestedfederally recognized tribes as primary partners in managing the Forest’sheritage resources.

Objective 5–2: Provide protection for heritage resource sites whichpreserves the integrity of scientific data that they contain, for the benefitof the public and scientific communities.

Objective 5–3: Reduce the existing backlog of heritage sites needingformal evaluation so that the overall number decreases each year.

Objective 5–4: Enhance and interpret appropriate sites and heritagevalues to the American public.

Objective 5–5: Provide an ongoing interpretive services program thataccurately and adequately develops an interest in and understanding forthe natural and cultural environment of the Forest and the mission of theForest Service in managing it.

Objective 5–6: Manage each special interest area (SIA) as an integralpart of the Forest, with emphasis on protecting, enhancing, or interpret-ing its unique values.

How satisfied are our recreation customers? Arerecreation resources managed in a manner that isresponsive to public recreation needs yet as costeffective as possible, in accordance with the nego-tiated recreation program of work based on Mean-ingful Measures standards?

Are significant archeological and historical sitesbeing identified, prior to project decisions, throughinventories conducted in consultation with the Loui-siana State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)according to the National Historic Preservation Act(NHPA), 36 CFR 800, NEPA, and the Southern RegionalHeritage Programmatic Agreements (PA)?

Is law enforcement and heritage support providedat sufficient levels to protect significant heritagesites from internal and/or external activities?

Are sufficient numbers of significant or potentiallysignificant sites being evaluated so that the numberof backlogged properties decreases each year?

Are sites and heritage values being identified forpublic interpretation?

Does the interpretive services program provideusable information to the public about the full scopeof forest management practices and philosophy?

Is Forest Plan SIA direction being applied?

Are protection measures effec-tive at preventing unacceptabledamage?

Has interpretation enhancedawareness of heritage valuesamong the general public?

Has interpretive services in-creased measurable publicsupport of Forest Service re-source management goals andobjectives?





Objective 5–7: Manage the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness to enhance andperpetuate wilderness as a resource. Avoid resource damage resultingfrom overuse.

Goal 6: Apply vegetation management activities and treatments bestsuited to achieve a mixture of desired future conditions or to mimicnatural processes. Implement and use a variety of silviculturalsystems, regeneration methods, prescribed fire applications, andvegetation management treatments needed to achieve objectives.

Objective 6–1: Manage the Forest to achieve a mixture of desired futureconditions using even-aged, two-aged, and uneven-aged silviculturalsystems and regeneration methods; and a variety of manual, mechani-cal, prescribed fire, and herbicide vegetation management treatments.Apply the uneven-aged silvicultural system on a minimum of 32,000acres.

Objective 6–2: Utilize prescribed fire in fire-dependent ecosystems,including Kisatchie Hills Wilderness, to maintain natural plant communi-ties by varying the timing, frequency, and intensity of fire. Apply pre-scribed fire on 80,000–105,000 acres annually, with 10–20 percent ofthe area burned during the growing season. Focus growing seasonburning on longleaf pine landscapes.

Goal 7: Monitor to provide feedback regarding progress towardaccomplishing Forest goals and objectives; and adapt manage-ment according to new information.

Objective 7–1: Monitor and document the annual progress towardsaccomplishment of Forest goals, objectives, and desired future conditions.

Objective 7–2: Evaluate new information and monitoring results; adaptmanagement accordingly.

Goal 8: Promote collaboration between researchers and landmanagers to incorporate new technologies, information, and sci-entific methods into the decision-making process.

Objective 8–1: Benefit from research information, technical assistanceand technology development by maintaining a close, continuous work-ing relationship with scientists at the Southern Research Station, aca-demic institutions, and Forest Health Protection units.

Is Kisatchie Hills Wilderness being managed toenhance and perpetuate wilderness values? Arenatural processes allowed to operate freely? IsForest Plan direction that would ensure the abovebeing applied?

Are management practices designed to achieve amixture of desired future conditions being applied?

Are the prescribed fire regimes being applied to allappropriate landscapes as prescribed, to maintainfire-dependent ecosystems?

Is the Forest preparing and distributing a yearlymonitoring and evaluation report to the public?

Is the Forest Plan being kept current through timelychanges as identified in the annual M&E Report?

Are cooperative relationships being developed andmaintained?

Are the natural plant communi-ties being maintained by theprescribed fire regimes?





Objective 8–2: Continue to identify research needs as the Forestimplements the Plan.

Goal 9: Promote cooperation and coordination with other federaland State agencies, Native American tribes, organizations, andindividuals. Actively seek public involvement during project plan-ning, implementation and monitoring.

Objective 9–1: Continue coordination and cooperation efforts with otherfederal and State agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish& Wildlife Service, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Depart-ment of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana SHPO on issues ofmutual concern.

Objective 9–2: Seek to increase the participation of other federal andState agencies, academic institutions, federally recognized Native Ameri-can tribes, organizations and individuals in the accomplishment ofForest goals and objectives through the use of memorandums ofunderstanding, cooperative agreements, partnerships, and challengecost share agreements.

Are research needs being identified in a timelymanner?

Are coordination and cooperation efforts being con-ducted with federal and State agencies?

Are memorandums of understanding, cooperativeagreements, partnerships, and challenge cost shareagreements being developed? Are we increasing theparticipation of groups and individuals in the accom-plishment of Forest Plan goals and objectives?



TABLE 5–2, MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES FOR LONGLEAF PINE LANDSCAPES

� The major landscape community in these areas is longleaf pine forest. Unique or under-representedinclusional communities include hillside bogs, sandy woodlands, Fleming glade, longleaf pineflatwoods savannah, and sandstone glades and barrens. These landscapes are most closely associatedwith landtype associations 1, 2, 5, and 6.

General habitat characteristics / attributes (compositional, structural and functional components)featured: These areas are dominated by pine communities. The forest canopy for those stands at orapproaching maturity is primarily single-layered and open, with a limited amount of within-canopyhardwoods (generally < 30 percent). The midstory is sparse. The herbaceous ground cover is a thick,continuous swath of grasses, composites, legumes, and other forbs. Snags and down logs arecommon. Prescribed fire is used frequently and is the principal influence in creating and maintainingopen, parklike forest conditions. Generally, 10 percent or less of the landscape is in stand-size (10–40acres) openings < 10 years old. Additional small canopy gaps occur due to natural mortality or as aresult of fire, insects, disease, or wind throw.

� The management indicator species are:

Landscape-wide plantsLongleaf pineNoseburnPinehill bluestemPale purple coneflower

Landscape-wide wildlife habitatsBachman’s Sparrow Red-headed WoodpeckerNorthern Bobwhite Quail Red-cockaded Woodpecker (in HMA)Prairie Warbler



TABLE 5–2, MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES FOR SHORTLEAF PINE /

OAK-HICKORY LANDSCAPES

� The major landscape community in these areas is shortleaf pine / oak-hickory forest. Unique or under-represented inclusional communities include calcareous priaires, and calcareous forests. These land-scapes are most closely associated with landtype associations 3, 8, and 9.

General habitat characteristics / attributes (compositional, structural and functional components)featured: These areas are dominated by mixed pine-hardwood communities. The forest canopy forthose stands at or approaching maturity is multilayered and relatively open with considerable amountsof within-canopy hardwoods (generally 30–50 percent). The midstory is diverse, multilayered, andrelatively open, but may be thick in some areas. The herbaceous ground cover ranges from sparse tothick. Snags, down logs, and den trees are common. Prescribed fire is employed at regular intervals andis an important factor in controlling plant community composition and in maintaining open midstoryconditions. Generally 10 percent or less of the landscape is in stand-sized openings <10 old. Additionalsmall canopy gaps occur due to natural mortality or as a result of insects, disease, fire, or wind throw.


Landscape-wide plantsBlack hickoryFlowering dogwoodMockernut hickoryPartridge peaShortleaf pineWhite oakWild bergamot

Early successional wildlife habitats Mid-to-late successional wildlife habitatsPrairie Warbler Cooper’s Hawk Summer Tanager

Eastern wood-Pewee Red-cockaded Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker (in HMA)



TABLE 5–2, MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES FOR MIXED HARDWOOD-LOBLOLLY PINE LANDSCAPES

� The major landscape community in these areas is mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forest. Unique orunder-represented inclusional communities include sandy woodlands. These landscapes are mostclosely associated with landtype association 4.

General habitat characteristics / attributes (compositional, structural and functional components)featured: These areas are generally moist, rich woods dominated by mixed hardwood-pine andhardwood communities. They may include many temporary ponds. The forest canopy for those standsat or approaching maturity is multilayered and relatively closed with high amounts of within-canopyhardwoods (generally >50 percent). The midstory is also multilayered and contains a variety of trees,shrubs, vines, and overstory saplings. The herbaceous understory is sparse and the ground is generallycovered with leaf litter. Snags, down logs, and den trees are common to abundant. Prescribed fire isemployed infrequently, thus minimally influencing the alteration or maintenance of vegetationpatterns. Generally, 10 percent or less of the landscape is in stand-sized (10–40 acres) openings <10years old. Additional small canopy gaps occur due to natural mortality or as a result of insects, disease,or wind throw.


Landscape-wide plantsBigleaf snowbellBlack snake-rootChristmas fernLoblolly pinePartridge berrySouthern red oakVirginia Dutchman’s pipe

Early successional wildlife habitats Mid-to-late successional wildlife habitatsWhite-eyed Vireo Yellow-billed Cuckoo Hooded Warbler

Pileated Woodpecker Red-cockaded WoodpeckerWood Thrush (in HMA)



BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITYTABLE 5–2, MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES FOR RIPARIAN

LANDSCAPES

� The major landscape community in these areas is riparian forest. This includes cypress swamp,bottomland hardwood forest, and small-stream riparian forest. No unique or under-representedinclusional communities are noted. These areas are embedded within all landtype associations.

General habitat characteristics / attributes (compositional, structural and functional components)featured: These areas are moist, rich woods associated with water and dominated by hardwood andhardwood-pine communities. The forest canopy for those stands at or approaching maturity isgenerally closed and is composed of a variety of oaks, hickories, and other hardwoods. Some pinesmay be present on small-stream communities within the uplands. The midstory is multilayered anddiverse. The herbaceous understory is sparse but may contain a variety of ferns, mosses, sedges, andflowering plants. Snags, down logs, and den trees range from common to abundant. Fire frequencyranges from infrequent to rare. Plant community composition and structure is largely influenced bythe frequency, extent, and duration of annual flooding events. Generally, stand-sized (10–40 acres)openings <10 years old are frequent or rare. Small canopy gaps occur due to natural mortality or asa result of insects, disease, or wind throw.


Small-stream riparian plantsAmerican beech IronwoodBasswood MayappleCherrybark oak Wild azaleaInland sea-oats

Small-stream riparian wildlife habitats Large-stream riparian wildlife habitatsAcadian Flycatcher Kentucky Warbler Warbling VireoLouisiana Waterthrush Northern Parula White-breasted NuthatchWhite-eyed Vireo (canopy gaps) Pileated Woodpecker Worm-eating WarblerYellow-billed Cuckoo

Large-stream riparian plantsGreen hawthorn Louisiana sedgeInland sea-oats Southern magnoliaLizard’s tail Swamp chestnut oak



TABLE 5–2, FORESTWIDE AQUATIC MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES

� Aquatic management indicators apply forestwide. The group used depends on the aquatic habitatcategory involved.


Swift-flowing — sand / gravel bottomBrown madtomRedfin darterLouisiana pearlshell mussel

Slow-flowing — silt / clay bottomPirate perchBlackspotted topminnow

Impoundments and pondsLargemouth bassSunfish

K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X A

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N A – 1

Estimated Outputs and Activities Appe

ndix

INTRODUCTION

This appendix presents tables depicting theestimated average outputs and activitiesthat the Kisatchie National Forest is ex-pected to provide as the revised Forest Planis implemented. If conditions change as the

INTRODUCTION

OUTPUTS ANDACTIVITIES

AAPlan is implemented, information in thesetables may be updated. Projects may beadded, modified, or deferred as they areidentified during project-level analysis. De-pending upon available funding, projectsmay or may not be completed during thePlan implementation period.

TABLE A–2, ESTIMATED VEGETATION CONDITIONS

Condition Units Per Year

Even-aged management final harvests ............................................................................ ACRES ...................................................... 1,576Even-aged management thinning harvests ...................................................................... ACRES .................................................... 16,836Group selection patch cuts ............................................................................................... ACRES ......................................................... 232Longleaf restoration cuts (EA harvests, GS patch cuts, old growth cuts) ............................ ACRES ...................................................... 1,456Pine-to-mixed restoration (EA harvests, GS patch cuts, old growth cuts) ........................... ACRES ......................................................... 178Final harvests of even-aged high-hazard SPB stands ........................................................ ACRES ...................................................... 1,070

TABLE A–1, ESTIMATED WILDLIFEHABITAT CONDITIONS


Tagged stands for RCW foraging1 ...................................................................................... ACRES .................................................... 80,247Additional non-tagged stands available for RCW foraging within HMA ................................. ACRES .................................................... 42,599Quality habitat for white-tailed deer2 ............................................................................. M-ACRES ......................................................... 266Quality habitat for eastern wild turkey ........................................................................... M-ACRES ......................................................... 385Quality habitat for bobwhite quail .................................................................................. M-ACRES ......................................................... 157Quality habitat for fox squirrel ....................................................................................... M-ACRES ......................................................... 224Quality habitat for gray squirrel ..................................................................................... M-ACRES ......................................................... 181Longleaf pine habitat, all stages ................................................................................... M-ACRES ......................................................... 121Shortleaf / oak-hickory habitat, early stages ................................................................. M-ACRES ............................................................. 0Shortleaf / oak-hickory habitat, mid-late stages ............................................................ M-ACRES ........................................................... 16Mixed hardwood / loblolly habitat, early stages ............................................................ M-ACRES ........................................................... 42Mixed hardwood / loblolly habitat, mid-late stages ....................................................... M-ACRES ......................................................... 252Riparian habitat, small streams .................................................................................... M-ACRES ........................................................... 85Riparian habitat, large streams ..................................................................................... M-ACRES ........................................................... 92

1 Those stands that were reserved in the FORPLAN model to provide foraging habitat meetingthe minimum requirements to sustain the RCW objective within the HMAS.

2 Habitat ranging from marginally suitable to optimal for a particular species, based on HabCap simulation model.

A – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X A K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

OUTPUTS ANDACTIVITIES

TABLE A–4, SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Activity Units Per Year

Planting on prepared sites ................................................................................................ ACRES ...................................................... 1,406Site preparation for planting .............................................................................................. ACRES ...................................................... 1,406Site preparation for natural regeneration .......................................................................... ACRES ............................................................. 8Site preparation — burning ............................................................................................... ACRES ...................................................... 1,420Site preparation — chemical ............................................................................................. ACRES ......................................................... 409Release — burning ........................................................................................................... ACRES .................................................... 73,861Release — chemical ......................................................................................................... ACRES ......................................................... 568Old growth burning ........................................................................................................... ACRES ...................................................... 7,735Amenity DFC burning .......................................................................................................... ACRES ......................................................... 763Precommercial thinning .................................................................................................... ACRES ........................................................... 11

TABLE A–3, TIMBER COMMODITYOUTPUTS AND SALE SCHEDULE

Outputs and Conditions Units Per Year

Long-term sustained yield .................................................................................................... MCF .................................................... 16,360Stand average inventory volume ......................................................................................... MCF .................................................... 77,543Inventory volume, first period ............................................................................................... MCF .................................................... 75,113Inventory volume, last period ............................................................................................... MCF .................................................... 90,964Timber volume — all lands .................................................................................................. MCF .................................................... 13,158Timber volume — timber-suitable lands (average annual ASQ) ............................................ MCF ...................................................... 9,687Timber volume — amenity DFC lands ................................................................................... MCF ......................................................... 150Timber volume — military intensive use lands .................................................................... MCF ......................................................... 117Timber volume — streamside areas .................................................................................... MCF ...................................................... 1,300Timber volume — old-growth patches ................................................................................. MCF ...................................................... 1,904Sawtimber sales .................................................................................................................. MCF ...................................................... 3,754Veneer sales ........................................................................................................................ MCF ...................................................... 3,407Roundwood sales ................................................................................................................ MCF ...................................................... 5,988Even-age volume — suitable lands ..................................................................................... MCF ...................................................... 9,224Uneven-age volume — suitable lands ................................................................................. MCF ......................................................... 665Softwood volume — even-age suitable lands ...................................................................... MCF ...................................................... 8,957Softwood volume — uneven-age suitable lands .................................................................. MCF ......................................................... 608Hardwood volume — even-age suitable lands .................................................................... MCF ........................................................... 97Hardwood volume — uneven-age suitable lands ................................................................ MCF ........................................................... 25No planned volume (experimental forest, wilderness,

Saline Bayou, and unsuitable land class inclusions) ............................................... ACRES .................................................... 43,876



TABLE A–7, SOIL AND WATER EFFECTS

Effect Units Per Year

Final harvests soil loss ....................................................................................................... TONS .................................................... 13,399Intermediate harvests soil loss .......................................................................................... TONS .................................................... 39,952Mechanical site preparation soil loss ................................................................................. TONS .................................................... 17,996Road construction / reconstruction soil loss ...................................................................... TONS ...................................................... 8,946Prescribed burning soil loss ............................................................................................... TONS .................................................. 293,290

OUTPUTS ANDACTIVITIESTABLE A–5, ESTIMATED TIMBER SALE PROGRAM


Timber program expenses ..................................................................................................... M$ ...................................................... 2,783Timber program direct and indirect revenues ........................................................................ M$ .................................................... 25,967Timber-associated jobs to local community ...................................................................... P-YRS ......................................................... 369Timber-associated income to local community .................................................................... MM$ ........................................................ 12.725% contributions to local parish schools and roads ........................................................... MM$ .......................................................... 3.1Timber sale gross receipts ................................................................................................... MM$ ........................................................ 12.3

TABLE A–6, TIMBER SALE ACTIVITIES

Activity Units Per Year

Sales — timber commodity (ASQ) ......................................................................................... MCF ...................................................... 9,687Sales — forest stewardship ................................................................................................. MCF ...................................................... 3,450Sales — personal uses ........................................................................................................ MCF ........................................................... 21Purchaser local road construction ..................................................................................... MILES ............................................................. 6Purchaser local road reconstruction .................................................................................. MILES ......................................................... 121



TABLE A–8, DEVELOPED RECREATION CONSTRUCTIONAND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

District Site Action Priority

Calcasieu, Evangeline Unit Kincaid Complex ...................................................................................... Master plan implementation ............................................................... highKincaid Entrance Road ............................................................................. Existing site reconstruction ................................................................. medLoran Site Campground (in CIP) ................................................................ New site construction .......................................................................... topValentine Lake Complex .......................................................................... Existing site reconstruction ................................................................. med

Calcasieu, Vernon Unit Blue Hole Complex ................................................................................... Master plan Implementation ............................................................... lowEnduro Campground ................................................................................ New site construction ......................................................................... highFullerton Lake Complex ........................................................................... Existing site reconstruction ................................................................. highLittle Cypress Complex ............................................................................ Existing site enhancement .................................................................. medLongleaf Scenic Area ............................................................................... Natural attraction enhancement ......................................................... medVernon Camp .......................................................................................... Existing site enhancement ................................................................... top

Caney Caney Lakes Complex ............................................................................. Master plan implementation ............................................................... medCaney Lakes Complex (in CIP) .................................................................. Existing site reconstruction .................................................................. topCorney Lake Complex .............................................................................. Master plan implementation ............................................................... med

Catahoula Beaver Pond Wildlife Viewing Site ........................................................... New site construction ......................................................................... lowBig Creek Boat Launches ......................................................................... New site construction .......................................................................... topBig Creek Campground ............................................................................ New site construction .......................................................................... topBreezy Hill Enduro Campground .............................................................. New site construction ......................................................................... medCamp Catahoula Horse Camp ................................................................. New site construction ......................................................................... medCamp Livingston Shooting Range ............................................................ New site construction .......................................................................... topCatahoula NWMP Hunter Camps ............................................................ Existing site enhancement .................................................................. highIatt Lake Complex .................................................................................... New site construction ......................................................................... medMosley Hill Fire Tower .............................................................................. Master plan implementation ............................................................... highPearson Camp ......................................................................................... Existing site expansion ....................................................................... highStuart Lake Campground ......................................................................... Existing site reconstruction .................................................................. topStuart Lake Complex Expansion .............................................................. Existing site expansion ....................................................................... med

Kisatchie Anderson Pond Fishing Site ..................................................................... Existing site enhancemen ................................................................... highCane Campground ................................................................................... Existing site reconstruction .................................................................. topKisatchie Bayou Camp (in CIP) ................................................................. Existing site enhancement ................................................................... topLongleaf Trail Interpretation ..................................................................... Master plan implementation ................................................................ topLongleaf Vista Picnic ................................................................................ Existing site reconstruction ................................................................. highLotus Campground ................................................................................... Existing site enhancement .................................................................. highRed Dirt NWMP Hunter Camps ................................................................ Existing site enhancement .................................................................. high

Winn Catahoula NWMP Hunter Camps ............................................................ Existing site enhancement .................................................................. highCloud Crossing Boat Launch .................................................................... Existing site reconstruction ................................................................. medGum Springs Complex ............................................................................. Existing site reconstruction ................................................................. highHwy 126 Boat Launch ) ............................................................................ Existing site enhancement .................................................................. highW-D Equestrian Camp (in CIP) .................................................................. Existing site enhancement ................................................................... topWinn Shooting/Archery Range ................................................................. New site construction .......................................................................... top

Forestwide Primitive Camps (in CIP) ............................................................................ Existing site enhancement ................................................................... top



OUTPUTS ANDACTIVITIESTABLE A–10, ESTIMATED RECREATION PROGRAM


Reasonable dispersed recreation capacity ........................................................................ MRVD ...................................................... 2,354Recreation use, non-hunt / fish only .................................................................................. MRVD ......................................................... 513Hunting, fishing, non-consumptive wildlife use only ........................................................ MWFUD ......................................................... 158Recreation-associated jobs to local community ................................................................ P-YRS ......................................................... 439Recreation-associated income to local community .............................................................. MM$ ........................................................ 10.7Recreation area gross receipts .............................................................................................. M$ ........................................................ 90.2

TABLE A–9, DEVELOPED TRAIL CONSTRUCTIONAND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

District Trail Action Needed Length Uses Priority(Miles)

Calcasieu, Evangeline Unit Claiborne .......................................... Harden problem segments .................... 20 ................... Hiking, biking, horse, ORV ........................ mediumKincaid .............................................. Harden for accessibility ........................... 6 ................... Hiking, biking .............................................. topLakeshore ......................................... Harden problem segments ...................... 5 ................... Hiking, biking .............................................. topValentine .......................................... Addition to an existing trail ...................... 7 ................... Hiking, biking .............................................. topValentine .......................................... Harden for accessibility ........................... 3 ................... Hiking, biking .......................................... mediumWild Azalea NRT .............................. Harden problem segments .................... 15 ................... Hiking, biking .............................................. top

Calcasieu, Vernon Unit Enduro .............................................. Addition to an existing trail .................... 24 ................... Hiking, biking, horse, ORV ............................ topVernon Camp ................................... Construction of new trail ....................... 30 ................... Hiking, biking, horse ................................. highWhiskey Chitto ................................. Reconstruction to standard ................... 10 ................... Hiking, biking .......................................... medium

Caney Corney Lake ..................................... Construction of a new trail .................... 12 ................... Hiking, biking .......................................... mediumCaney Unit ........................................ Construction of a new trail .................... 20 ................... Hiking, biking, horse ................................... topCorney Lake Horse .......................... Construction of a new trail .................... 16 ................... Hiking, biking, horse ................................... topMiddle Fork ....................................... Construction of a new trail .................... 20 ................... Hiking, biking, horse .................................. highSugar Cane NRT .............................. Addition to an existing trail .................... 15 ................... Hiking, biking ............................................. high

Catahoula Breezy Hill ........................................ Construction of a new trail .................... 60 ................... Hiking, biking, horse ............................... mediumCamp Catahoula .............................. Construction of a new trail .................... 10 ................... Hiking, horse ........................................... mediumCatahoula Loop ................................ Construction of a new trail .................... 18 ................... Hiking, biking ............................................. highHickman ........................................... Complete planned trail .......................... 50 ................... Hiking, biking, horse, ORV ............................ topIatt Lake ............................................ Construction of a new trail .................... 18 ................... Hiking, biking .......................................... mediumIatt Lake Pirogue .............................. Construction of a new trail .................... 12 ................... Water craft nonmotorized ........................... top

Kisatchie Kisatchie Bayou Loop ....................... Construction of a new trail ...................... 2 ................... Hiking, biking ............................................. highLL Vista Interpretive ......................... Reconstruction to standard .................. 1.5 ................... Hiking .......................................................... topSandstone ........................................ Harden problem segments .................... 15 ................... Hiking, biking, horse, ORV ............................ topSandstone ........................................ Addition to an existing trail .................... 10 ................... Hiking, biking, horse, ORV ............................ top

Winn Bayou ............................................... Addition to an existing trail .................... 18 ................... Hiking, biking .......................................... mediumGum Springs Horse .......................... Addition to an existing trail .................... 12 ................... Hiking, biking, horse ................................... topGum Springs .................................... Construction of a new trail ...................... 6 ................... Hiking, biking ............................................. highWinn ................................................. Construction of a new trail .................... 60 ................... Hiking, biking, horse, ORV ........................... high



K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X B

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N B – 1

Timber Suitability Analysis Appe

ndix

INTRODUCTION

During forest planning, the Forest Service isrequired to identify lands unsuited for timberproduction (16 USC 1604(k); 36 CFR 219.14). Thisidentification process involves three stages ofanalysis. Stage 1 analysis identifies lands ten-tatively suitable for timber production. Stage2 analysis is designed to explore the financialattractiveness of varying intensities of timbermanagement on lands identified as tenta-tively suitable for timber production. Stage 3analysis identifies lands as unsuited for timberproduction under the alternative selected asthe revised Forest Plan.

STAGE 1:PHYSICALSUITABILITY

The first stage of the timber suitability analy-sis identified lands in these categories:

� Those lands that do not meet the defini-tion of forest land.

� Those lands that have been withdrawnfrom timber production by an act ofCongress, the secretary of agriculture, orthe chief of the Forest Service.

� Those forest lands incapable of produc-ing industrial wood.

� Those lands where technology is not avail-able to ensure timber production fromthe land without irreversible soil and wa-ter resource damage.

� Those lands where there is no reasonableassurance that they can be adequatelyrestocked.

� Those lands where there is inadequateresponse information.

Table B–1 displays the determination ofthose lands on the Kisatchie National Foresttentatively suitable for timber production.

STAGE 2:FINANCIALANALYSIS

The second stage analysis did not identifyany lands as unsuitable for timber produc-tion. The costs and benefits associated witheach management intensity that may beused in the production of timber were as-sessed. Costs exceeded revenues on an in-significant number of acres. Overall, the

INTRODUCTION

STAGE 1:PHYSICAL

SUITABILITY


BB

TABLE B–1, STAGE 1 — ACRES TENTATIVELYSUITABLE FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION

Classification Acres

Total national forest land .......................................................................................................................................................... 606,745Non-forest land ......................................................................................................................................................................... (11,477)Forest land ................................................................................................................................................................................ 595,268Forest land — withdrawn for wilderness, RNAS ................................................................................................................................................. (11,428)Forest land — incapable of producing crops of industrial wood, or inadequate response information ....................................... (4,680)Forest land — irreversible damage likely to occur; not restockable ........................................................................................... (2,000)Tentatively suitable forest land ................................................................................................................................................. 577,160

B – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X B K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

benefits gained by other resources fromtimber management outweighed the costs.Stage 3 analysis considered these results inmaking the final determination of lands suitedfor timber production.

STAGE 3:IDENTIFICATIONOF SUITABLE ACRES

Stage 3 analysis was accomplished duringthe formulation of alternatives. Three crite-ria were used during this stage to identifylands as not suited for timber production:

� Based upon a consideration of multiple-use objectives for the alternative, the landis proposed for resource uses that precludetimber production.


STAGE 3:IDENTIFICATIONOF SUITABLEACRES

� Other management objectives for thealternative limit timber production activi-ties to the point where management re-quirements set forth in 36 CFR 219.27 cannotbe met.

� The lands are not cost efficient, over theplanning horizon, in meeting Forest ob-jectives, which include timber production.

Table B–2 displays lands classified on theKisatchie National Forest as suitable for tim-ber production for the alternative selected asthe revised Forest Plan. Table B-3 shows howthese lands are allocated by managementareas.

TABLE B–2, STAGE 3 — LAND CLASSIFIED ASSUITABLE FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION

Classification Acres

Tentatively suitable forest land — from Stage 1 ....................................................................................................................... 577,160

Land not appropriate for timber productionRecreation sites ................................................................................................................................................................. (6,192)Special interest areas ........................................................................................................................................................ (4,468)Saline Bayou Scenic River corridor ................................................................................................................................... (3,395)Stuart Seed Production Area ................................................................................................................................................ (594)Military Intensive Use Areas ............................................................................................................................................ (27,082)Experimental Forest ........................................................................................................................................................... (7,445)Administrative sites ............................................................................................................................................................... (163)Active and inactive RCW cluster sites .................................................................................................................................. (7,708)RCW recruitment stands ...................................................................................................................................................... (6,074)Louisiana Pearlshell Mussel stands ................................................................................................................................... (1,020) State Registry Natural Areas ............................................................................................................................................ (1,097)Streamside protection areas .......................................................................................................................................... (153,494)Old-growth management patches (net acres) .................................................................................................................. (43,015)Amenity DFC management .................................................................................................................................................. (5,409)Miscellaneous unsuitable acres ......................................................................................................................................... (1,115)

Lands suitable for timber production ......................................................................................................................................... 308,889

K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X B

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N B – 3

TABLE B–3, LANDS CLASSIFIED AS SUITABLEFOR TIMBER PRODUCTION

MANAGEMENT AREA ALLOCATION

Management Area Sub-management Area Timber-suitable Acres

1 ............................................................................ 1C .................................................. 25,7543 .......................................................................... 3BL .................................................. 38,9633 .......................................................................... 3BS .................................................. 33,5423 .......................................................................... 3BM .................................................... 7,7423 .......................................................................... 3CL .................................................... 3,5743 .......................................................................... 3CS .................................................... 1,6213 ......................................................................... 3CM .................................................... 1,2815 .......................................................................... 5CL ................................................ 113,4765 .......................................................................... 5CS .................................................. 10,3455 ......................................................................... 5CM .................................................... 9,4706 .......................................................................... 6BL .................................................. 23,7506 .......................................................................... 6BS ......................................................... 407 ............................................................................ 7C .................................................... 8,06811 ........................................................................ 11DL .................................................. 11,38511 ........................................................................ 11DS .................................................... 5,91611 ....................................................................... 11DM .................................................... 3,30511 .......................................................................... 11E .................................................. 10,657Total ................................................................................................................................... 308,889

STAGE 3:IDENTIFICATION

OF SUITABLEACRES

B – 4 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X B K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X C

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N C – 1

Forest Plan Budget Appe

ndix

INTRODUCTION

Management programs, practices, and usesscheduled in this revised Forest Plan arelinked to a multi-year program budget pro-posal that identifies funds necessary to imple-ment the Forest Plan (FSM 1930). The budgetproposal is then used to request and allocatefunds needed to carry out the planned man-agement direction. Outputs and activities inindividual years may vary significantly, de-pending on available funds.

Upon approval of the final budget for theForest, the annual program of work is ad-justed to the final budget and then carriedout. Accomplishment of the annual pro-gram of work results in the incrementalimplementation of the Forest Plan manage-ment direction.

Table C–1 displays the historic (FY99) an-nual budget and the estimated average an-nual budget that is needed to achieve therevised Forest Plan goals and objectives dur-ing the first decade of implementation. Over-all, the planned budget is approximately33% higher than the historic budget level.Some areas, like minerals and geology man-agement, are expected to be lower; how-ever, most areas are expected to increase inorder to fully implement the revised Planobjectives. If budget levels stay at the cur-rent or historic level, a reduction in Planoutputs can be expected.

INTRODUCTION

CCThe most significant reduction in planned

accomplishments could occur in recreationconstruction projects (a 331% planned in-crease in CNRF from historic level), threat-ened and endangered (T&E) species habitatmanagement (a 217% increase in NFTE ex-pected costs), and heritage resource man-agement (a 150% NFHR increase). If budgetsstay at the current level or decrease, propor-tionately fewer recreation constructionprojects would occur; T&E habitat enhance-ment projects like prescribed burning andmidstory removal would occur less often;and inventory and protection of heritageresources would not be fully implemented.Appendix A, tables A-8 and A-9, of the Planshows the recreation areas and trails plannedfor the Plan period.

The timber management budget (NFTM)is approximately 17% higher than under theFY99 budget. This occurs because the FY99

timber volume output of 9.8 MMCF is lowerthan the average allowable timber sale quan-tity in the Revised Plan, which could be asmuch as 35% more (13.2 MMCF). If timberprogram budgets remain the same or de-crease, less intensive forest managementmethods would be used or possibly de-ferred. This could lower overall forest pro-ductivity, slow down the rate of plannedrestoration, and adversely affect forest health.

C – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X C K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

TABLE C–1, REVISED FOREST PLANESTIMATED ANNUAL BUDGET

BUDGET LINE ITEM EBLI Historic RevisedBudget Plan

Ecosystem planning, inventory, monitoringEcosystem management NFEM $533,000 $ 600,000

Recreation useRecreation management NFRM 463,000 826,000Wilderness management NFWM 33,000 46,000Heritage resources NFHR 80,000 200,000Cooperative work — other CWFS 22,000 30,000

Rangeland managementRange management NFRG 59,000 60,000Range vegetation management NFRV 70,000 140,000Cooperative work — KV CWKV 113,000 200,000

Wildlife and fish managementWildlife habitat operations and improvement NFWL 157,000 219,000Inland fish operations and improvement NFIF 100,000 90,000Threatened and endangered species operations and improvement NFTE 167,000 529,000Cooperative work — KV CWKV 1,001,000 1,777,000Cooperative work — other CWFS 18,000 25,000

Forestland managementTimber management NFTM 2,052,000 2,400,000Forest vegetation management NFFV 445,000 426,000Reforestation trust fund RTRT 231,000 110,000Cooperative work — KV CWKV 1,117,000 1,400,000Timber roads — purchaser election PEPE 50,000 53,000Timber roads — purchaser construction PUCR 972,000 1,200,000Timber salvage sales SSSS 298,000 270,000

Soil, water, and air managementSoil, water, and air operations NFSO 59,000 65,000Soil and water improvement NFSI 67,000 91,000Cooperative work — KV CWKV 25,000 47,000Cooperative work — other CWFS 147,000 200,000

Minerals and geology managementMinerals NFMG 367,000 320,000

Land ownership managementLands — real estate management NFLA 166,000 185,000Landline location NFLL 54,000 140,000

ConstructionRecreation construction/reconstruction CNRF 270,000 1,165,000Trail construction CNTR 76,000 53,000Roads reconstruction and construction CNRD 806,000 940,000

Land acquisitionLand acquisition — Land and Water Conservation Fund LALW 19,000 50,000

Forest Service fire protectionForest fire pre-suppression WFPR 813,000 875,000Forest fuel reduction WFHF 500,000 500,000

Infrastructure managementRoad maintenance CNRM 749,000 811,000Cooperative work — other CWFS 257,000 350,000

General administrationGeneral administration NFGA 995,000 1,254,000Maintenance of facilities NFFA 200,000 204,000Cooperative work — KV CWKV 428,000 760,000Cooperative work — other CWFS 73,000 99,000Timber — salvage sales SSSS 55,000 48,000Operation and maintenance — Forest Service quarters QMQM 21,000 20,000

Total (In 1999 Dollars) $14,128,000 $18,778,000

ESTIMATEDANNUALBUDGET

K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X D

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N D – 1

Mineral Operations Appe

ndix DD

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of Appendix D is to describe theguidance and direction for federal mineralsoperations on the Kisatchie National Forest.All federally-owned lands except those withinthe Kisatchie Hills Wilderness area are avail-able for leasing, subject to the clauses andstipulations in the next two sections:

� Mineral operations clauses with attach-ments; and

� Leasing stipulations.

MINERALOPERATIONS CLAUSESWITH ATTACHMENTS

Conditions of approval (COA), which provideguidance and direction to minerals opera-tors, are determined during site-specific en-vironmental analysis. Those COAS becomepart of the permit and are required formineral operations that utilize lands of theKisatchie National Forest. The Forest recom-mends the same types of clauses for ownersand operators of the private mineral estate.

The following conditions and attachmentsmay be used in part or in their entirety,depending on the recommendations of theauthorized officer following site-specific en-vironmental analysis. They should supple-ment and not duplicate conditions includedin the surface use plan of operations (SUPO) orissued lease. These conditions should be re-viewed and edited to fit each specific project.

TERMS PERTAINING TOSURFACE USE PLAN OFOPERATIONS OR FORMINERAL OPERATIONSPERMIT

� This permit (permit also refers to SUPO) issubject to all valid rights and claims.

� In case of change of address or owner-ship, permittee (also includes the opera-tor for SUPO) shall immediately notify thedistrict ranger.

� The permittee shall comply with all appli-cable federal, state, and local laws, regu-lations, and standards and other relevantenvironmental laws, as well as publichealth and safety laws.

� The permittee shall maintain the improve-ments and permit area to standards ofrepair, orderliness, neatness, sanitation,and safety acceptable to the authorizedForest officer and consistent with otherprovisions of this authorization. If re-quested, the holder shall comply withinspection requirements deemed appro-priate by the authorized officer.

� The permittee has a continuing responsi-bility to identify all hazardous conditionson the permit area which would affect theimprovements, resources, or pose a riskof injury to individuals. Any non-emer-gency actions to abate such hazards shallbe performed after consultation with theauthorized officer. In emergency situa-tions, the permittee shall notify the au-thorized officer of its actions as soon aspossible, but not more than 48 hours,after such actions have been taken.

� The permittee shall be responsible for theprevention and control of soil erosion orother resource damage on the area cov-ered by this permit and lands adjacentthereto, and shall provide preventivemeasures as required by specificationsattached to and made a part of thispermit.

� No waste or by-products shall be dis-charged containing any substances in con-centrations which may result in significantharm to fish and wildlife, or to humanwater supplies. Storage facilities for mate-

INTRODUCTION

MINERALOPERATIONS

CLAUSES WITHATTACHMENTS

D – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X D K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

rials capable of causing water pollution, ifaccidentally discharged, shall be locatedso as to prevent any spillage into waters, orto channels leading into water, that wouldresult in significant harm to fish and wild-life or to human water supplies.

� The permittee shall protect the scenicesthetic values of the area under thispermit, and the adjacent land, associatedwith the authorized use, during construc-tion, operation and maintenance of theimprovements.

� All access roads will be built on locationsand to specifications approved in ad-vance of construction by the Forest of-ficer in charge.

� The authorized operation may be tempo-rarily suspended due to excessively wetsoil conditions when unacceptable re-source damage is anticipated or occur-ring as determined by the authorizedofficer.

� No member or delegate of Congress shallbe admitted to any share or part of thisagreement or to any benefit that mayarise here from unless it is made with acorporation for its general benefit. Thisdoes not apply to outstanding minerals.

� The permittee shall fully and currentlyrepair all damage other than ordinarywear and tear to national forest roadsand trails caused by the permittee in theexercise of the privilege granted by thispermit.

� Pipeline rights-of-way will be authorizedby a special-use permit. Conditions ofuse, including restoration and abandon-ment, will be included in the permit.There will be no charge for occupancy onthe leasehold interest.

� Activities located in an area that has thepotential to contain live ordnance due toits past usage as a military training site willrequire clearing prior to implementingany activity. Ordnance avoidance or de-contamination will be done in accor-dance with the recommendation of theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

� The heritage resource report and LA SHPO

concurrence are on file; however, prior toor during excavation work, items of ar-cheological, paleontological, or historicvalue are reported or discovered, or anunknown deposit of such items is dis-turbed, the permittee will immediatelycease excavation in the area so affected.The holder will then notify the ForestService and will not resume work untilwritten approval is given by the autho-rized officer.

ATTACHMENT #1

Resource protection plan for oil and gasdrilling, production, and storage sites

The permittee or an authorized representa-tive of the permittee will:

� Immediately after site construction andas needed throughout the life of theauthorization, install or construct erosiondevices where appropriate. Also reveg-etate those disturbed areas which will notsustain traffic (see also attachment #3).The following will be accomplished asdirected by the overseeing Forest officer:• Sediment dams in gullies, etc.• Contour terraces on areas which exceedthree percent gradient.• Diversion terraces if the potential existsfor heavy water flow onto or across thesite.• Erosion control blankets on all cut or fillslopes that cannot be shaped to a 3:1gradient or less.• Fences around treated areas on sensi-tive soils until new vegetation is firmlyestablished.

� Locate the well site on the most levelupland location that will accommodatethe intended use, away from drainagesand riparian areas. Site layout will beoriented to conform to the best topo-graphic situation given the geologic tar-get and any safety considerations. Thesite will be staked and reviewed to deter-mine its compliance with environmentalanalysis documentation. Any timber cut-ting will be done in accordance with andunder the direction of the district ranger.

� Prior to drilling associated water well(s),the operator will provide the district ranger

MINERALOPERATIONSCLAUSES WITHATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT #1



with the appropriate approved State per-mits authorizing such a well(s).

� Notify the district ranger at least fiveworking days in advance of all work whichwill result in surface disturbance for apredrill inspection.

� Obtain the district ranger’s approval forany changes in a permitted site planwhich would result in additional surfacedisturbance.

� Notify any subcontractors of requiredpermits for activity not covered under theterms and conditions of this permit.

� Confine all surface-disturbing activities tothe project areas as shown on the siteplans and designated on the ground.

� Fencing the entire drilling site will berequired. The permittee may choose thetype of fencing, but the design and mate-rial must be approved by the Forest of-ficer. Fencing will be done as soon as sitepreparation is completed (trees removed)and will remain in place until pits areconstructed and reclamation is completedin compliance with the restoration plan.

� As specified in attachment #3, stockpilethe surface soil from the entire area to bedisturbed in approved locations. Also, soilstockpiles should be leveled or roundedon top and smoothed on the sides to 3:1slope and vegetated as specified.

� Brush, slash, and other debris may beburned if authorized by Forest officer, orotherwise will be disposed of as directed.See attachment #6. Burning will follow allapplicable Forest Service, Louisiana Of-fice of Forestry, and State of Louisiana airquality regulations and procedures. Seeattachment #7. Stumps and woody ma-terial will not be buried in pits or fill areas.

� Prior to the commencement of the drill-ing operations, the method of disposal ofthe drilling fluids and cuttings must beapproved by the authorized officer.

� The Forest Service recommends a fullycontainerized (closed) drilling system.

� Construct mud pits so that they will notleak, break, or allow any discharge ofliquids. The need for lining production pitsand other types of pits with either animpervious clay material or an artificialliner will be determined by the Forestofficer. If a liner is required, it will beinstalled along the bottom and sides ofpits and be equivalent to 3 continuous feetof recompacted or natural clay having ahydraulic conductivity no greater than 1 x10–7cm / sec. Such liners include:

• Natural liner• Soil mixture liner• Recompacted clay liner• Manufactured liners• Combination liners

Minimum specifications for an artifi-cial pit liner are: tensile grab strength(warp) of 150 pounds and mullen burststrength of 300 pounds. All seams mustbe heat treated.

Pits are not to be located in streamchannels. At least 50 percent of the pitshould be constructed in an excavation(cut) of the pad site. Pit walls shall besmoothed and keyed. Side slopes shallnot exceed 3:1. Outside pit walls shall bevegetated.

� A central collection tank made of imper-vious material will be located in an area tocatch contaminates before overflow intopits. This collection tank will be pumpedroutinely to prevent overflow and con-tents disposed of according to StatewideOrder 29-B.

� Protect pits from surface waters by leveesor walls and by drainage ditches, whereneeded, and no siphons or openings willbe placed in or over levees or walls thatwould permit escaping of contents so asto cause pollution or contamination.

� After drilling operations cease:

• The disposal of fluids and cuttings willbe accomplished within 30 days ofcompletion of the drilling operations.

• Materials may be pumped back downhole only after proper approval from theLouisiana Office of Conservation or Bureauof Land Management (BLM), as applicable,

MINERALOPERATIONS


ATTACHMENT #1



has been presented to the Forest Service.Pit sludge and cuttings may be buried onsite in the existing pit only if an indepen-dent laboratory has tested the materialand provided the Forest Service with proofthat all Federal and State waste disposalrequirements are met. If burial is allowed,only existing pits may be utilized. If burialis not allowed, all drilling sludge and cut-tings will be removed and appropriatelydisposed of. If man-made pit liners areused they will be removed from the pit anddisposed of off of national forest.

• Pits will be backfilled when dry; and sitesmoothed and recontoured as near aspracticable to the original topography,with stockpiled topsoil respread evenly.Pits will remain fenced until backfilled un-less fencing is needed to protect fromcattle or off-road vehicle use. The autho-rized officer will notify the operator whenfencing may be removed, usually after 2growing seasons or when 70 percent cov-erage is achieved, as per attachment #3.

� Pit closure — Pits will be closed in accor-dance with Louisiana Office of Conserva-tion Statewide Order No. 29-B, Section129.B.6 (a–c).

� Follow these sanitation guidelines:

• All litter and garbage deposited on andoff the site as a result of this project will bekept in a container and disposed of asnecessary.

• Portable toilets will be used, and wastewill be hauled to an approved disposalfacility.

• In lieu of portables, flush toilets such asthose in trailers used for office space orcrew quarters may be used — when con-nected to a closed sewage system. Tankswill be pumped prior to reaching systemcapacity. Wastes will be hauled to anapproved disposal facility.

� Coordinate the proposed site surfacing(boards or gravel) with the Forest officerin the planning phase. No changesshould be made without approval of theForest officer.

� Remove all surfacing material (gravel)from the areas not needed for productionoperations; revegetate those areas ac-cording to attachment #3. This will bedone within 30 days unless directed bythe Forest officer.

� Within 90 days of termination of oil or gasproduction, or plugging of the well, re-move the wellhead control device andappurtenances, unless permittee has ap-proval from the BLM not to remove them.Remove gravel or other surfacing,recontour the site and revegetate accord-ing to attachment #3.

� If the activity authorized by this permit is,or may later be found to be within thewatershed of the Louisiana pearlshell mus-sel, then by acceptance of this permit thepermittee agrees to further conditions forprotection from oil and gas activities withinthe pearlshell watershed. All activitieswithin the watershed need prior approvalby the Forest Service and concurrence byU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

ATTACHMENT #2

Road and pad management

Permittees agree to the following provisions:

� Construction and surfacing requirementsfor road access to the project areas will beas stated in the specifications of the envi-ronmental assessment, shown as typicalsection drawings.

� Roads and pads will be adequately main-tained during the life of the authorization.This maintenance shall include bladingand shaping to smooth surfaces and pullsurfacing material back onto roadway,resurfacing, spot graveling, ditch work,and culvert repair or additional work asspecified. This work shall be conducted asneeded or as directed by the Forest officer.

� Except for the driving surface, the roadright-of-way will be revegetated accord-ing to attachment #3.

� The road may be left and maintained forthe operation of a producing well or forthe use of the Forest Service at the districtranger’s discretion.


ATTACHMENT #1

ATTACHMENT #2



� Upon termination of operations, if thedistrict ranger wants the road closed, thepermittee or his authorized representa-tive will:

• Remove all surfacing, bridging and wa-ter-handling materials and unless other-wise authorized by the district ranger,remove from national forest land.

• Recontour the abandoned roadway asnearly as practical to original condition.

• Revegetate the abandoned roadwayaccording to attachment #3.

� Use of roads other than those constructedby the permittee may be subject to addi-tional requirements. Inquiry will be madeto the Forest officer prior to use of preex-isting roads. On all Vernon Unit of theCalcasieu District COAS, replace the abovecondition with the following:• Use of Forest development roads (FDR)other than those constructed by the per-mittee for site access requires separateForest Service authorization in the form ofa road use permit.• Additionally, proposed use of any FDR

within the area permitted to the U.S.Army for intensive use on the Vernon Unitof the Calcasieu District (including Look-out Road, FDR 405) will require a separatejoint use road agreement mutually accept-able to the permittee, the U.S. Army, andthe Forest Service. This agreement willserve to assign road improvement andmaintenance responsibilities, scheduleroad work activities, assign appropriatefinancial obligations and specify cost shar-ing or recovery methods. The agreementwill also designate a process to handleconflict resolution in a timely manner.• Prior to planned use, the permittee shouldcontact the district ranger for informationon obtaining the road use permit. If needed,the Forest Service will facilitate a meetingwith the permittee and Army to developthe joint road use agreement.

ATTACHMENT #3

Restoration of disturbed areas

The permittee agrees to the following provi-sions:

A permanent vegetation cover will be estab-lished on all disturbed areas where baremineral soil is exposed. The following areprocedures recommended and commonlyused to accomplish this reclamation.

Except for those areas needed for accessand / or production, areas where soil hasbeen disturbed shall not ordinarily be leftunseeded for more than 30 days. If it isanticipated the area will be left exposed fora longer period, seeding should occur im-mediately — before 30 days have elapsed.Seeding areas include cut and fill slopes, allditches, shoulders, and any other areas ex-posed by the project. Sites such as pit wallsand topsoil stockpiles, that will be exposedonly one fall growing season, will be seededto a rye grass and wheat mixture at the ratesshown below under seed species, rate, andseason.

� Stockpile soil — During initial clearing forthe project, the topsoil (to a depth deter-mined by the Forest officer at the predrillmeeting) from the site will be removedand stockpiled for later use in restoration.Remove woody material prior to stockpil-ing soil. See attachment #1 for additionalinstructions.

� Waterbars and terraces — During occu-pancy and restoration, slopes or gradi-ents 3 percent or greater will requirewaterbars and / or terraces to be con-structed and maintained. The Forest of-ficer will instruct where these structureswill be placed.

� Baled hay and silt fence for erosion control —Temporary erosion, sediment, and waterpollution control measures will be re-quired as described in the attached speci-fications.

� Seedbed preparation — After returningthe site to its original contour and form-ing any needed terraces, spread stock-piled soil evenly over the site, till thesurface to produce about 2 to 5 inches ofloose soil, fertilize as in item 5 below and

MINERALOPERATIONS


ATTACHMENT #2

ATTACHMENT #3



sow the recommended seed mixture onthe freshly prepared soil bed. Rip subsoilon pads and roads prior to spreadingtopsoil as directed by the Forest officer.

� Fertilization rates — Fertilize all disturbedareas at the following rate: 13-13-13 com-plete fertilizer, to be applied uniformly at500 pounds per acre.

� Seed species, rate, and seasons — Usemixtures of at least two grasses and onelegume. Heavier rates can be used. It isalways cheaper to plant more seed thanto have to replant. These are minimumrates. In case of seeding failure, the per-mittee will reseed following the samerecommendations.

March 1 – June 30:Hulled bermuda, 10 lbs / acrePensacola bahia, 40 lbs / acreCommon lespedeza, 6 lbs / acreKaufmans’ wildlife mix, 50 lbs / acre

July 1 – August 31:Hulled bermuda, 15 lbs / acrePensacola bahia, 35 lbs / acreBrown top millet, 20 lbs / acre

September 1 – January 31:Unhulled bermuda, 10 lbs / acrePensacola bahia, 30 lbs / acreSubterranean clover, 25 lbs / acre

Annuals —Elbon rye, 20 lbs / acre orWinter wheat, 20 lbs / acreCrimson clover, 10 lbs / acre

And, yearlong, a minimum of one of thefollowing native species:

Little bluestem, 8 lbs / acreBig bluestem, 8 lbs / acreSwitch grass, 8 lbs / acrePartridge pea, 10 lbs / acreRound head lespedeza, 10 lbs / acre

� Harrowing — After fertilizing and seedingas recommended above, drag-harrowlightly, taking care not to cover seed toodeeply. About 1/4 inch of soil shouldcover the seed.

Seeding must be repeated if neces-sary until success in establishing cover isachieved.

� Mulching — The use of hay, straw, orcommercial mulch will be necessary whenslopes exceed 3 percent. These areas shouldbe covered with 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 tons per acreof mulch. Mulch will be applied to theentire area during periods of drought (nor-mally June 15–Oct. 1). Mulch should betied down with woven nets, asphalttackifier, synthetics, or disked lightly intothe soil. Erosion control blankets will beused on cut or fill slopes which cannot beshaped to a 3:1 gradient or less.

The utilization of appropriate machin-ery usually results in considerable savingsand produces a more uniform job.

� Reclamation may be approved not earlierthan one year following the successfulestablishment of vegetative cover. Veg-etative cover over at least 70 percent ofthe entire disturbed area will be consid-ered successful establishment, if no gul-lies or other erosion related problemsexist. All drilling / production relatedequipment or rubbish must be removedprior to Forest Service acceptance of thesite as restored.

� The permittee is responsible for success-ful restoration regardless of weather orother natural factors.

� Performance bonds (if applicable) willnot be released until satisfactory reclama-tion is complete.

ATTACHMENT #4

Reports


� Upon completion of pit / pipeline closuretesting, permittee will send the districtranger copies of test results required byLouisiana Department of Natural ResourcesOffice of Conservation Order 29-B.

� A copy of any or all permits required bythe Louisiana Department of Natural Re-sources will be given to the district ranger.

� Produced water disposal information shallbe provided to the district ranger. Thisinformation will include disposal loca-tion, route, and amount of water disposal


ATTACHMENT #3

ATTACHMENT #4



traffic on national forest roads or lands.

� The permittee shall provide a spill preven-tion control and countermeasure plan orsimilar document which conforms to therequirements of 40 CFR 112.

ATTACHMENT #5

Standards for oil and gas productionfacilities on the Kisatchie National Forest

The permittee agrees to the following:

� Petroleum product and water storage tankswill be placed on level ground and sur-rounded by a dike capable of holding 1-1/

2 times the volume of the largest tank. Asump shall be installed inside the dike androutinely pumped to prevent overflow.

� Tanks will be placed on a stable, solidfoundation six inches or more in height toinsure that they remain clear of standingwater. The foundation will be designedso that it will not subside and cause thetanks to sink or lean. Trenching withindiked areas will not be allowed.

� Dikes will not be dug from a level surface.Instead, a level surface will be used as abase with the dike built upon that. Thedike core will be of clay or other similarlyimpermeable material. The top of the dikewill be level and maintained so that it doesnot become beaten down at any point.The top of the dike should be a minimumof 18 inches in width and side slopes of nogreater than 3:1. It is recommended thatthe sides and top of all dikes be coveredwith a thick plastic sheet and washedgravel on top of the plastic. This will helpprevent erosion and sloughing of dikematerial. Also, this will help solve the prob-lem of vegetation growth and fire hazards;spraying or mowing should not be neces-sary. Dikes must be constructed beforeany liquid is stored in the tanks.

� Any liquids collected within dikes, includ-ing liquids that may be rainwater, will notbe drained off the site (outside dike area).Drains will not be installed. Liquids will beremoved by vacuum truck to an approveddisposal or injection facility.

� All lines used to drain oil or salt water willhave well-maintained and sealed valvesto prevent leaks and vandalism. Load-outvalves shall be located within dike area.

� Only that amount of the site that is neededto contain production facilities, a reason-able adjacent work area, and the accessroad will be occupied. The remainingauthorized area will be restored as perattachment #3. Guy wires left on site forwork-over rigging will be well-marked.

� A fence is required to exclude casual foottraffic and cattle. It will enclose all surfaceproduction equipment. Its location will beapproved by the Forest officer. Construc-tion standards will be to specificationssupplied by the Forest officer. These speci-fications, as a minimum, include safetysigns and fencing. Forest Service require-ments for signing gates will be met.

� On-site equipment will be kept well main-tained, neatly arranged, and paintedwhere appropriate. It is the intent that aneat, orderly appearance is presented.Facilities will be painted to blend into thesurrounding environment; specific paint-ing requirements will be determined bythe authorized Forest officer.

� Pesticides, including herbicides, may notbe used to control undesirable woodyand herbaceous vegetation, aquaticplants, insects, rodents, or trash fish with-out prior written approval of the Forestofficer. A request for approval of planneduses and schedule of applications of pes-ticides will be submitted annually by thepermittee. Exceptions to this schedulemay be allowed only when unexpectedoutbreaks of pest require control mea-sures which were not anticipated at thetime the annual report was submitted /required. At that time an emergency re-quest and approval may be made.

Only those materials registered by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agencyfor the specific purpose planned will beconsidered for use on national forest land.Label instructions will be strictly followedin the application of pesticides and dis-posal of excess materials and containers.

MINERALOPERATIONS


ATTACHMENT #4

ATTACHMENT #5



� Any chemicals stored on site will haveprominent labeling and stored off theground out of direct sunlight.

� As required by on-site conditions, mea-sures will be taken to prevent soil erosion.Erosion control specifications are shownin attachment #3.

� Site access roads will be gated only uponthe approval of the Forest officer. Gatespecifications must also be approved bythe Forest officer. Gates shall be signedand comply with the Manual of UniformTraffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

� Signs restricting public access will beplaced only with the approval of thedistrict ranger. All signs will be removedby the permittee at the conclusion ofoperations.

� Upon a spill occurrence, the permitteeshall take immediate containment andcleanup action and notify the Forest of-ficer at the earliest opportunity — notmore than 48 hours. The plan shall in-clude all pipelines.

� Upon plugging and abandonment ofthe well bore, the casing will be cut offbelow ground level as per LDOC and BLM

specifications.

� All nonessential equipment for the pro-duction facility will be removed fromnational forest land within 30 days ofbeing excess.

ATTACHMENT #6

Threatened and endangeredspecies management and protection

If the facility authorized by this permit is, orlater may be found to be, within 1/4 mile of aRed-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) cluster siteor recruitment stand, then by acceptance ofthis permit the permittee agrees to cut notrees for maintenance or improvement with-out the specific advance authorization of theForest officer. In cases where proposed cut-ting of the trees may conflict with the FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement for the Man-agement of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker andIts Habitat in the Southern Region or a plan forRCW management and recovery, the Forest

officer may deny the request to cut trees.The permittee may be required to trench,

bore, or directionally drill pipelines under ornear RCW cavity trees and / or within RCW

cluster sites to prevent or minimize damageto the root systems of cavity trees when layingpipelines on a case-by-case basis, as deemedappropriate by the Forest officer, with U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) concurrence.

The permittee agrees to the following forimpacts within the habitat management area(HMA) for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker(RCW):

Note — Use only the provisions that apply tothe project. Implementation of the identi-fied provisions will not necessarily result in a“no adverse affect” to the species, and con-sultation with the USFWS should be initiatedin those instances.

� For every well site constructed within 1.5miles of an active RCW cluster site in cur-rent suitable habitat of 25 years or olderpine or pine / hardwood, the permitteeshall provide for 3 improved (10 acres ofhardwood understory and midstory re-moval and 4 artificial cavity inserts each)recruitment stands or cluster sites, of suit-able habitat, at location determined bythe Forest Service.

� For every well site within 1.5 miles of anactive RCW cluster site in 0–25 year-oldpine or pine / hardwood, the permitteeshall provide for 1 improved site (10 acresmidstory removal and 4 inserts).

� For every well site constructed beyond1.5 miles from an active RCW cluster sitewith suitable habitat, the permittee shallprovide for one improved recruitmentstand or cluster site at a location deter-mined by the Forest Service.

� For every 5 acres of pine or pine / hard-wood of suitable habitat removed for pro-duction facilities within 1.5 miles of anactive RCW cluster site of suitable habitat,the permittee shall provide for 3 improvedrecruitment stands or cluster sites at loca-tions determined by the Forest Service.

� For every 5 acres of pine or pine / hard-woods of suitable habitat, removed forproduction facilities outside 1.5 miles ofan active RCW cluster site, the permittee


ATTACHMENT #5

ATTACHMENT #6



shall provide for one improved recruit-ment stand or cluster site at locationdetermined by the Forest Service.

� For every 5 acres of suitable pine or pine /hardwood habitat removed for pipelinesor transmission lines within an HMA, apermittee shall provide for one improvedrecruitment stand or cluster site at locationdetermined by the Forest Service.

� If it is determined not to adversely affectRCWS and the road is pre-existing, then forevery active cluster site in which drillingactivity vehicles will have to travel throughduring nesting season (March 1 throughJuly 31), 4 artificial cavity inserts, awayfrom the road, shall be provided for bythe permittee.

� Three times annually, permittee shall pro-vide for monitoring of all active sites within1/2 mile of drilling activities, and monitor-ing of all sites improved by permitteefunding. This will be done during nestingseason (mid-April through mid-June), fall(Sept. through Nov.), and late winter (Feb.through March); and will begin on activesites during the monitoring period follow-ing drilling activity. On improved sites itwill begin during the monitoring periodfollowing improvement of the sites. Moni-toring will continue on all sites for threeyears following completion of construc-tion. The permittee shall provide annualmonitoring results to the Forest Service.

� If well sites are located within 1/4 mile ofan active cluster site, the permittee shallprovide for augmentation of 3 improvedsites with a pair of RCWS (male and female).

� It is the responsibility of the permittee toprovide for the establishment of theseimproved sites within 30 days followinginitiation of site construction. This can beaccomplished by permittee providing co-operative funds to the Forest Service toaccomplish the work, or by permitteeaccomplishing improvement work. If per-mittee performs work, the Forest Servicewill provide permittee with improvementlocation within 30 days of constructioninitiation, and improvement work willbegin 30 days following Forest Serviceproviding improvement locations. Workwill meet Forest Service specifications.

� The Forest Service will have the option torequest funding for dormant season burn-ing and / or growing season burning toimprove habitat for the RCW in lieu ofimproved or augmented sites. With thisoption, the permittee shall provide fund-ing for 250 acres of dormant season burn-ing or 50 acres of growing season burn-ing for every improved site required.

� If the activity authorized by the permit is ormay later be found to be within the water-shed of the Louisiana pearlshell mussel, allactivities within the watershed need priorapproval by the Forest Service and concur-rence by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

ATTACHMENT #7

Fire protection or other hazard plan


� Obtain district ranger’s permission priorto any burning activity.

� Comply with Louisiana State fire laws.

� All vehicles used on the construction siteswill be equipped with a fire extinguisher.

� All gasoline- and diesel-powered equip-ment must have Forest Service approvedspark arrestors/mufflers.

� Take all reasonable action to prevent andsuppress forest fires and require all em-ployees to do likewise.

� Pay for the cost of suppressing forest firesand damages to government propertycaused by fires resulting from acts of thepermittee, his subcontractors, operators,or his employees.

� Notify the district ranger in case of fireand take immediate action to control thefire. The district ranger will provide thepermittee with phone numbers wherefires shall be reported.

� It is the permittee’s responsibility to no-tify the district ranger when flaring of theformation gas is to begin. Prior to flaring,the permittee must have approval from

MINERALOPERATIONS


ATTACHMENT #6

ATTACHMENT #7

D – 1 0 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N


State or BLM as appropriate.

� Maintain a fuel break by mowing aroundall production equipment to reduce firedanger during the months from Maythrough September.

� A list of chemicals (including MSOS sheets)on site will be provided to the districtranger’s office for emergency responseplanning.

� If H2S is encountered during the drillingprocess, the Forest Service must be noti-fied within 12 hours. If the operator isdrilling into a zone known to contain H2S,a safety plan must be prepared and at-tached to the permit. This plan shouldidentify safety equipment to be main-tained on site, how the area will be posted,emergency procedures, and a secondaryexit in case of an emergency.

All H2S wells will be fenced and postedaccordingly. These wells will be moni-tored according to the level of H2S beingemitted.

ATTACHMENT #8

Conditions of use forpipeline authorization, operation,maintenance, and abandonment

Use this attachment only when the pipelinesare being authorized as part of the APD.

� Liability — The holder shall be liable for allinjury, loss, or damage, indirectly or di-rectly resulting from or caused by theholder’s use and occupancy of the areacovered by this authorization, regardlessof whether the holder is negligent, pro-vided that the maximum liability withoutfault shall not exceed $1 million for anyone occurrence. Payment of damages foroccurrence where there is liability with-out fault (strict liability) does not limit theholder’s liability for damages in excess of$1 million where actual negligence isshown or imputed. Liability for injury,loss, or damage in excess of the specifiedmaximum, shall be determined by thelaws governing ordinary negligence.

� Indemnification — The holder shall in-demnify the United States against anyliability for damage to life or propertyarising from the occupancy or use ofnational forest lands under this permit.

� Risks and hazards — Avalanches, risingwaters, high winds, falling limbs or trees,and other hazards are natural phenom-ena in the Forest that present risks whichthe holder assumes. The holder has re-sponsibility of inspecting the site, lot,right-of-way, an immediate adjoining areafor dangerous trees, hanging limbs, andother evidence of hazardous conditionsand, after securing permission from theForest Service, of removing such hazards.

� Construction safety — The holder shallcarry on all operations in a skillful manner,having due regard for the safety of em-ployees; and shall safeguard with fences,barriers, fills, covers, or other effectivedevices, pits, cuts, and other excavationswhich otherwise would unduly imperil thelife, safety, or property of other persons.

� Width of ROW — The width of the right-of-way is limited to _____ feet plus theground occupied by the pipeline.

� Standards and practices — All designs,materials, and construction, operation,maintenance, and termination practicesemployed in connection with this useshall be in accordance with safe andproven engineering practices and shallmeet or exceed the following standards:

1. U.S.A. Standard Code for Pressure Pip-ing, ANSI B 31.4, “Liquid Petroleum Trans-portation Piping System”.1/

2. Department of Transportation Regula-tions, 49 CFR, Part 195, “Transportation ofHazardous Liquids by Pipeline”.1/

3. Department of Transportation Regula-tions, 49 CFR, Part 192, “Transportation ofNatural and Other Gas by Pipelines: Mini-mum Federal Safety Standards”.2/

1/ Not applicable to gas pipelines.2/ Not applicable to oil pipelines.


ATTACHMENT #7

ATTACHMENT #8


R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N D – 1 1

� Oil, gas & related material pipeline stan-dards — Related mechanical facilities suchas pumps, pump stations, and tanks shallbe designed, constructed, operated andmaintained in accordance with safe andproven engineering practice, and meetor exceed recognized engineering stan-dards for the type of facility.

� Survey, land corners — The holder shallprotect, in place, all public land surveymonuments, private property corners, andForest boundary markers. In the event thatany such land markers or monuments aredestroyed in the exercise of the privilegesauthorized by this permit, depending onthe type of monument destroyed, theholder shall see that they are reestablishedor referenced in accordance with (1) theprocedures outlined in the Manual of In-structions for the Survey of the Public Land ofthe United States, (2) the specifications ofthe county surveyor, or (3) the specifica-tions of the Forest Service.

Further, the holder shall cause suchofficial survey records as are affected tobe amended as provided by law. Nothingin this clause shall relieve the holder’sliability for the willful destruction or modi-fication of any Government survey markeras provided at 18 U.S.C. 1858.

� Pipeline drilling and boring — Pipelineswill be drilled or bored from a distance ofat least 50 feet from the stream channeland exit at least 50 feet from the oppositeside of the channel. The pipeline will beinstalled at least 5 feet beneath the chan-nel bottom. The Forest Service will deter-mine whether the drilling or boringmethod will be used. If water is not flow-ing in the stream channel during the timeof construction the Forest Service mayauthorize installation of the pipeline bytrenching. The agency considers any natu-ral drainage with a defined scour channelto be a stream. All streams are to beprotected by a streamside habitat man-agement zone which extends at least 50to 150 feet on either side of the streamchannel. Any clearing or soil disturbancewithin the streamside habitat manage-ment zone will be kept to the absoluteminimum necessary to install the pipe-line. No clearing or soil disturbance withinthe streamside habitat management zonewill be allowed within 50 feet of either

side of the channel when boring or drill-ing is employed to install the pipeline.

� Revegetation, surface restoration of groundcover — The holder shall be responsiblefor the prevention and control of soilerosion and gullying on lands covered bythis permit and adjacent thereto, result-ing from construction, operation, main-tenance, and termination of the permit-ted use. Holder shall so construct permit-ted improvements to avoid the accumu-lation of excessive heads of water and toavoid encroachment on streams. Holdershall revegetate or otherwise stabilize allground where the soil has been exposedand shall construct and maintain neces-sary preventive measures to supplementthe vegetation as indicated in Attach-ment #3 and as directed by the ForestService.

� Pesticide use — Pesticides may not beused to control undesirable woody andherbaceous vegetation, aquatic plants,insects, rodents, trash fish, etc., withoutthe prior written approval of the ForestService. A request for approval of planneduses of pesticides will be submitted an-nually by the holder on the due dateestablished by the authorized officer.The report will cover a 12-month periodof planned use beginning 3 months afterthe reporting date. Information essentialfor review will be provided in the formspecified. Exceptions to this schedulemay be allowed, subject to emergencyrequest and approval, only when unex-pected outbreaks of pests require con-trol measures which were not antici-pated at the time the annual report wassubmitted.

Only those materials registered by theU. S. Environmental Protection Agencyfor the specific purpose planned will beconsidered for use on national forest lands.Label instructions will be strictly followedin the application of pesticides and dis-posal of excess materials and containers.

� Subsistence, local residents — The holdershall use care not to damage any fish,wildlife, or biotic resources in the generalarea of the right-of-way upon which per-sons living in the area rely for subsistencepurposes; and the holder will complypromptly with all requirements and or-

MINERALOPERATIONS


ATTACHMENT #8



ders of the authorized officer to protectthe interests of such persons.

� Resource management plan — The holdershall join the Forest Service in preparing aresource management plan which will beattached hereto and made a part hereof.Holder agrees to perform all of the actsand practices of land management speci-fied therein. The aforesaid plan shall bereviewed periodically, as determined bythe authorized officer.

� Crude oil pipelines — Any domesticallyproduced crude oil transported by thepermitted pipeline except such crude oilwhich is either exchanged in similar quan-tity for convenience or increased effi-ciency of transportation with persons orthe government of an adjacent foreignstate, or which is temporarily exportedfor convenience or increased efficiency oftransportation across parts of an adjacentforeign state and reenters the UnitedStates, shall be subject to all of the limita-tions and licensing requirements of theExport Administration Act of 1969 (Act of

December 30, 1969; 83 Stat. 841) and, in addition,before any crude oil subject to this sectionmay be exported under the limitationand licensing requirements and penaltyand enforcement provisions of the ExportAdministration Act, the President mustmake and publish and express findingthat such exports will not diminish thetotal quantity or quality of petroleumavailable to the United States and are inthe national interest and are in accordwith the provisions of the Export Admin-istration Act.

� Common-carrier operation — Pipelines andrelated facilities authorized herein, shall beconstructed, operated, and maintained ascommon carriers. The holder shall accept,convey, transport, or purchase withoutdiscrimination, all oil or gas delivered tothe pipeline without regard to whetherthe oil or gas was produced from federallands or non-federal lands. In the case of oilor gas produced from federal lands orfrom resources on the federal lands in thevicinity of the pipeline. The Secretary ofthe Interior may, after a full hearing withdue notice thereof to the interested partiesand a proper finding of facts, determine

the proportionate amounts to be accepted,conveyed, transported, or purchased. Pro-vided, that this stipulation shall not applyto any natural gas pipeline operated byany person subject to regulation under theNatural Gas Act or by any public utilitysubject to regulation by a state or munici-pal regulatory agency having jurisdictionto regulate the rates and charges for thesale of natural gas to consumers within thestate or municipality. Where natural gas isnot subject to state regulatory or conser-vation laws governing its purchase bypipelines is offered for, each such pipelineshall purchase without discrimination, anysuch natural gas produced in the vicinity ofthe pipeline.

� Implied permission — Nothing in this per-mit shall be construed to imply permis-sion to build or maintain any structurenot specifically named on the face of thispermit, or approved by the authorizedofficer in the form of a new permit orpermit amendment.

� Area access — The holder agrees to per-mit the free and unrestricted access toand upon the premises at all times for alllawful and proper purposes not inconsis-tent with the intent of the permit or withthe reasonable exercise and enjoymentby the holder of the privileges thereof.

� Improvement relocation — This permit isgranted with the express understandingthat should future location of United StatesGovernment improvements or roadrights-of-way require the relocation ofthe holder’s improvements, such reloca-tion will be done by, and at the expenseof, the holder within a reasonable time asspecified by the authorized officer.

Note: Use only one X-45 or X-46 either/ or R8X-46.

� Partnership representative — (X-45) Theholder shall furnish the authorized officer:

• A copy of the articles of a resolution ofthe partners specifically authorizing oneor more of the partners to represent thepermit holder in dealings with the ForestService if not specified in the articles orpartnership.


ATTACHMENT #8



• A list containing the name and addressof each partner.

� Corporation status notification — (X-46)The following condition shall be includedin all special-use authorizations issued tocorporations.

• The holder shall notify the authorizedofficer within 15 days of the followingchanges:

– Names of officers appointed orterminated.

– Names of stockholders who acquirestock shares causing their owner-ship to exceed 50 percent of sharesissued or who otherwise acquirecontrolling interest in the corpora-tion.

• The holder shall furnish the authorizedofficer:

– A copy of the articles of incorpora-tion and bylaws.

– An authenticated copy of a resolu-tion of the board of directors spe-cifically authorizing a certain indi-vidual or individuals to representthe holder in dealing with the For-est Service.

– A list of officers and directors of thecorporation and their addresses.

• The corporation will also furnish theauthorized officer with names and ad-dresses of shareholders owning three per-cent or more of the shares, and numberand percentage of any class of votingshares of the entity which such share-holder is authorized to vote. (36 CFR 251.54

(e)(1)(iv)).

• The authorized officer may, when nec-essary, require the holder to furnish addi-tional information as set forth in 36 CFR

251.54 (e)(1)(iv).

� Corporate status notification — (R8 X-46)Holder shall provide sufficient informationso that the authorized officer will know thetrue identity of the corporation. Uponrequest by the authorized officer, theHolder will furnish additional informationas set forth under 36 CFR 251.54 (e)(1)(IV). Acertified copy of either the minutes of the

board, or the pertinent excerpts from thecorporate resolutions authorizing the cor-porate official designated to handle itsaffairs with the Forest Service will be fur-nished the authorized officer.

� Nonexclusive use — This permit is notexclusive; that is, the Forest Service re-serves the right to use or permit others touse any part of the permitted area for anypurpose, provided such use does notinterfere with the rights and privilegeshereby authorized.

� Disputes — Appeal of any provisions ofthis authorization or any requirementsthereof shall be subject to the appealregulations at 36 CFR 251, Subpart C (54 FR3362, January 23, 1989), or revisionsthereto.

� Protection of road facilities — Authorizedimprovements shall be placed no closerthan 10 feet from an existing road struc-ture (bridge, culvert, etc.) or buried at asufficient depth, so as not to interferewith the replacement and/or maintenanceof said structure.

� Environmental standards — Holder shallconduct all activities associated with thepipeline in a manner that will avoid orminimize degradation of air, land, andwater quality. In the construction, opera-tion, maintenance, and termination ofthe pipeline, holder shall perform its ac-tivities in accordance with applicable airand water quality standards, related facil-ity siting standards, and related plans ofimplementation, including but not lim-ited to standards adopted pursuant to theClean Air Act, as amended (42 USC 1857)and the Federal Water Pollution ControlAct, as amended (33 USC 1321).

� Purge and test all associated pipelinesalong with the closure of the well site.Testing requirements of the associatedpipelines will be required to meet thesame stated above, in crude oil pipelines(section 129.B.6.c.1-5. LOC). Copies oftest results are to be presented to theForest Service as proof that all federal andState waste disposal requirements aremet. The Forest officer will determine ifthe lines will be allowed to remain buriedas a disposal method.

MINERALOPERATIONS


ATTACHMENT #8



LEASINGSTIPULATIONS

EXHIBIT D–1NOTICE TO LESSEE

Provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) of 1920, as amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendmentsof 1976, affect an entity’s qualifications to obtain an oil and gas lease. Sections 2(a)(2)(A) of the MLA, 30 U.S.C.201(a)(2)(A), requires that any entity that holds and has held a federal coal lease for 10 years beginning onor after August 4, 1976, and who is not producing coal in commercial quantities from each such lease, cannotqualify for the issuance of any other mineral lease granted under the MLA. Compliance by coal lessees withSection 2(a)(2)(A) is explained in 43 CFR 3472.

In accordance with the terms of this oil and gas lease with respect to compliance by the initial lessee withqualifications concerning federal coal lease holdings, all assignees and transferees are hereby notified thatthis oil and gas lease is subject cancellation if: (1) the initial lessee as assignor or as transferor has falselycertified compliance with Section 2(a)(2)(A), or (2) because of a denial or disapproval by a State Office of apending coal action, i.e., arms-length assignment, relinquishment, or logical mining unit, the initial lessee asassignor or as transferor is no longer in compliance with Section 2(a)(2)(A). The assignee, sublessee ortransferee does not qualify as a bona fide purchaser and, thus, has no rights to bona fide purchaser protectionin the event of cancellation of this lease due to noncompliance with Section 2(a)(2)(A).

Information regarding assignor, sublessor or transferor compliance with Section 2(a)(2)(A) is contained in thelease case file as well as in other Bureau of Land Management records available through the state office issuingthis lease.

EXHIBIT D–2, STIPULATION FOR LANDS OFTHE NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM UNDER THE

JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The licensee/permittee / lessee must comply with all the rules and regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture set forth at Title 36, Chapter II,of the Code of Federal Regulations governing the use and management of the National Forest System (NFS) when not inconsistent with therights granted by the Secretary of Interior in the license/prospecting permit/lease. The Secretary of Agriculture’s rules and regulations mustbe complied with for (1) all use and occupancy of the NFS prior to approval of a permit/operation plan by the Secretary of the Interior, (2) usesof all existing improvements, such as forest development roads, within and outside the area licensed, permitted or leased by the Secretary ofthe Interior, and (3) use and occupancy of the NFS not authorized by a permit / operating plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

All matters related to this stipulation are to be addressed to:

Forest SupervisorKisatchie National Forest2500 Shreveport HighwayPineville, LA 71360-2009

Telephone: 318/473-7160

who is the authorized representative of the Secretary of Agriculture.

BLM District Office: Surface Management Agency:

USDI, Bureau of Land Management USDA, Forest Service — Region 8Jackson District Office Room 792S, Lands and Minerals411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404 1720 Peachtree Street, NWJackson, MS 39213 Atlanta, GA 30367

LEASING STIPULATIONS

Examples of leasing stipulations and leasenotices used consistently on the KisatchieNational Forest are illustrated in exhibits D–1 to D–7. A controlled surface use (CSU) stipu-lation in a lease is used when fluid mineraloccupancy and use are generally allowed onall or portions of the lease area year-round,but because of special values, or resourceconcerns, lease activities must be strictlycontrolled. To provide consistency with Planstandards and guidelines, two types of CSU

stipulations are used — one that is highlyrestrictive of the types of activities that canoccur (CSU1) and one that is moderatelyrestrictive (CSU2). The CSU1 stipulation wouldprohibit placement of mineral extractionequipment, buildings, roads, ponds, andwellpads and the clearing of pipeline right-of-way vegetation. A CSU2 stipulation wouldbe similar to CSU1 except it would allowroads and clearing of right-of-way vegeta-tion to occur if a site-specific environmentalanalysis detemines that the mitigated envi-ronmental effects would not be significant.



LEASINGSTIPULATIONSEXHIBIT D–3

NO SURFACE OCCUPANCY STIPULATION

KISATCHIE NATIONAL FORESTSTIPULATION #

Serial No.

NO SURFACE OCCUPANCY STIPULATION

No surface occupancy or use is allowed on the lands described below (legal subdivision or other description).

T-N R-W

For the purpose of:

Any changes to this stipulation will be made in accordance with the land use plan and/or the regulatory provisions for such changes. (Forguidance on the use of this stipulation, see BLM Manual 1624 and 3101 or FS Manual 1950 and 2820.)

EXHIBIT D–4CONTROLLED SURFACE USE STIPULATION

KISATCHIE NATIONAL FORESTSTIPULATION

Serial No.

CONTROLLED SURFACE USE STIPULATION

Surface occupancy or use is subject to the following operating constraints.

T-N R-W

For the purpose of:

Any changes to this stipulation will be made in accordance with the land use plan and/or the regulatory provisions for such changes. (Forguidance on the use of this stipulation, see BLM Manual 1624 and 3101 or FS Manual 1950 and 2820.)

Serial No._______________



EXHIBIT D–5TIMING LIMITATION STIPULATION

No surface use is allowed during the following time period(s). This stipulation does not apply to operation and maintenance of production facilities.

Site-specific proposals for activities within these areas will be analyzed. Such analysis could result in establishment of protective requirements,limitations for the affected site, or possibly require relocation of the activities during the specified time period.

March 1 to June 30

On the lands described below:

T-N, R-W

For the purpose of:

Any changes to this stipulation will be made in accordance with the land use plan and / or the regulatory provisions for such changes. (Forguidance on the use of this stipulation, see BLM Manual 1624 and 3101 or FS Manual 1950 and 2820.)

LEASINGSTIPULATIONS



LEASINGSTIPULATIONSEXHIBIT D–6, LEASE NOTICE #3

All or part of the leased lands may contain animal or plant species classified under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Otherspecies may have been identified as sensitive in accordance with Forest Service Manual 2670 and be listed on the current Regional Forester’slist of sensitive plant and animal species. Further information concerning the classification of these species may be obtained from the authorizedForest officer.

Exploration and development proposals may be limited or modifications required if activity is planned within the boundaries of a threatened,endangered or sensitive plant or animal species location as it then exists. All activities within these areas must be conducted in accordancewith existing laws, regulations and the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan guidelines.

All available land in T_N R_W, Louisiana Meridian

Serial No. __________________

EXHIBIT D–7, LEASE NOTICE #4

All or part of the leased lands may be classified as wetlands in accordance with Executive Order 11990, “Protection of Wetlands” or a floodplainin accordance with Executive Order No. 11988, “Floodplain Management.” Additional management requirements for the protection of riparianareas are contained in 36 CFR 219.27(e) and the National Forest Management Act of 1976.

All activities within these areas may require special measures to mitigate adverse impacts to the resource values. They must comply with theabove referenced executive orders, regulations, laws and be in accordance with the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan guidelines.

Further information concerning the classification and management of these lands may be obtained from the authorized Forest officer.

Lands in T_N R_W, Louisiana Meridian



K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X E

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N E – 1

Old-Growth DesiredFuture Conditions Ap

pend

ix

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of Appendix E is to describe thedesired future conditions (DFCS) of desig-nated old-growth forest patches. The DFCS

for each type of old-growth forest patch areexpressed as a description of composition,structure, and disturbance regime.

Within each landscape community, acresof old-growth community types are given.Each old-growth patch allocation is a con-tiguous parcel of land containing one ormore representatives of old-growth com-munity types. These old-growth communi-ties vary from small-sized areas (1–99 acres)to medium-sized areas (100–2499 acres).The names for the 11 old-growth communi-ties existing on the Kisatchie are based onthe classification and inventory directionfound in the Guidance for Conserving andRestoring Old-Growth Forest Communities onNational Forests in the Southern Region (R-8

Old-Growth Guidance). In the following sections,acres of preliminary, existing, and futureold-growth communities for 9 communitytypes are proposed for the Forest (see tablesE-2 through E-5). Two community types —the dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, andsavanna (type 22), and the xeric pine andpine-oak forest and woodland (type 24) arenot explicitly allocated as existing or futureold growth but should be added if futureinventories locate potential sites within thelarger patches. Existing old growth is de-fined as stands or patches that meet thecriteria for old growth found in the R-8 Old-

Growth Guidance. Future old growth is definedas stands or patches allocated to old growththat do not meet one or more of the criteriafrom the R-8 Old-Growth Guidance, but is ex-pected to develop into old growth throughmanagement. Table E–1 displays the old-growth communities recognized on theKisatchie and the criteria used to identifyexisting old growth.

ATTRIBUTES OF UPLANDLONGLEAF PINE-DOMINATED PATCHES

Composition — The uplands will be almostpure longleaf pine. A variety of oaks, hicko-ries, and gums may also be present as singleindividuals or scattered clumps. Due to afrequent prescribed fire regime, canopy hard-wood composition on upland sites may di-minish over time. On those topographicpositions that burn less intensely or lessfrequently, some shortleaf or loblolly pine aswell as a variety of hardwoods may be present

INTRODUCTION

ATTRIBUTESOF UPLANDLONGLEAF

PINE-DOMINATED

PATCHES

EE

TABLE E–1, CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINEOLD-GROWTH FOREST COMMUNITY TYPES

Ranger Old-Growth Forest Minimum Existing CISC1

District Community Types Age Forest Types

A. Caney 13 – river floodplain hardwood forest ................................... 100 ...... 46, 61, 63, 65, 68, 7527 – seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland ..................... 100 ............... 54, 62, 6424 – xeric pine and pine-oak forest and woodland .............. 100 .................. 12, 3206 – coastal plain upland mesic hardwood .......................... 120 .................. 53, 6914 – cypress-tupelo swamp forest ....................................... 200 .................. 24, 6721 – dry-mesic oak forest ..................................................... 130 ..................... 5122 – dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, and savanna ........ 110 ..................... 5725 – dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest ................................ 120 ............ 13, 31, 44, 4726 – upland longleaf ............................................................. 110 ..................... 2129 – southern wet pine forest, woodland, and savanna ........ 80 ................... 14, 22

B. All 06 – coastal plain upland mesic hardwood .......................... 120 ............... 46, 53, 69Others 14 – cypress-tupelo swamp forest ....................................... 200 ............... 24, 67, 68

21 – dry-mesic oak forest ..................................................... 130 .................. 51, 5422 – dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, and savanna ........ 110 ..................... 5725 – dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest ................................ 120 ...... 12, 13, 31, 32, 44, 4726 – upland longleaf ............................................................. 110 ..................... 2128 – eastern riverfront forest ................................................ 100 ..................... 7529 – southern wet pine forest, woodland, and savanna ........ 80 ................... 14, 22

1 Database for continuous inventory of stand conditions (CISC)

E – 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X E K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

in the overstory composition. This samecanopy species mixture may also occur inrelatively narrow transition zones on slopesbetween the uplands and the riparian areasassociated with perennial and intermittentstreams. Other than longleaf pine, there willbe few midstory trees and shrubs on theuplands. Bluestem grasses, composites, le-gumes and other forbs dominate the under-story. Understory vegetation may vary fromgrasses on xeric sites, to sedges, forbs, andsome woody species in more mesic condi-tions. Understory height will generally beless than 10 feet.

Structure — Mature longleaf forests will gen-erally be open. The density of longleaf pinestems, however, will be highly variable withsome areas supporting relatively densegrowths while other areas may be muchmore open. A wide range of overstory basalareas may be encountered; but in general,upland stands maintain 50–90 square feet ofpine and less than 20 square feet of hard-wood per acre. Tree size will be variable butolder trees, often exceeding 24 inches indiameter, dominate. Longleaf trees over 100years old will often appear flat topped andoccur in a random fashion. Intermingledwithin the predominantly older trees will bepatches of younger growth (less than 50years old) which occupies less than 25 per-cent of the designated old-growth patch.The pattern includes many small gaps, mostwith pine regeneration of various ages andsome remaining treeless for years. Standingdead trees and down logs will be common.

Disturbance regime — Fire will be a frequentnatural disturbance factor within the forest.Overstory trees show evidence of scorch andfire scars. Fires will be frequent enough, andhot enough to suppress much of the woodyunderstory and to occasionally kill individualor small groups of overstory trees. Small-scale disturbances will primarily be the resultof wind, prescribed fire, or stand improve-ment practices aimed at developing oldgrowth attributes. Redheart rot and stand-ing snags will be common. There may bemoderate-sized longleaf restoration areasscattered throughout the landscape.

ATTRIBUTES OFSHORTLEAF PINE / OAK-HICKORY-DOMINATEDPATCHES

Composition — The uplands will be domi-nated by mixed pine-hardwood forest. Short-leaf pine and a variety of oaks, hickories andother hardwoods occur commonly in theoverstory. Hardwoods which may be presentinclude post oak, blackjack oak, southernred oak, black oak, white oak, winged elm,black cherry, blackgum, mockernut hickoryand black hickory. Longleaf pine may occurin those transition zones between uplandlongleaf pine forests and shortleaf / oak-hickory forests. Loblolly pine and other fire-tender hardwoods may be present in theoverstory composition where shortleaf oak /hickory forests grade into mixed hardwood-loblolly pine forests, or on slopes adjacent tointermittent and perennial streams, or onupland sites that have experienced reducedfire frequencies or intensities, or forest typeconversions in the past. The midstory con-tains regenerating overstory species and avariety of shrubs including huckleberries,flowering dogwood, hawthorns, persimmon,viburnums, and French mulberry. The un-derstory contains a variety of grasses, asters,desmodiums, partridge berry, bergamots,and other flowering plants.

Structure — Mature shortleaf / oak-hickoryforests will be relatively open and moder-ately stocked with pines and hardwoods.Overstory tree stocking densities vary fromsite to site; but in general, upland standscarry a combined pine and hardwood basalarea of 80–110 square feet per acre. Short-leaf pine occupies a supercanopy position in

ATTRIBUTESOF UPLANDLONGLEAFPINE-DOMINATEDPATCHES

ATTRIBUTESOF SHORTLEAFPINE / OAK-HICKORY-DOMINATEDPATCHES

TABLE E–2, UPLAND LONGLEAF PINEOLD-GROWTH PATCHES

Old-Growth Preliminary Acres meetingCommunity Type inventory acres (future minimum criteria

& existing old-growth) (existing old-growth)

06 – coastal plain upland mesic hardwood ........................... 2,267 ......................................... 014 – cypress-tupelo swamp forest ........................................ 1,200 ......................................... 021 – dry-mesic oak forest ........................................................ 42 ............................................ 025 – dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest ................................ 5,545 ........................................ 2926 – upland longleaf, woodland, and savanna .................... 39,555 ...................................... 65429 – southern wet pine forest, woodland, and savanna ............... 672 ........................................... 0Needs inventory .................................................................... 2,044 ......................................... 0



the overstory. Tree size will be variable butolder trees, often exceeding 24 inches indiameter, dominate. Shortleaf pines over150 years old and hardwoods more than200 years old occur randomly throughoutthe area. Intermingled within the predomi-nantly older trees may be patches of youngergrowth (less than 50 years old) which occu-pies less than 25 percent of the designatedold-growth patch. The midstory appearsthick to fairly open. The understory vegeta-tion varies from thick in open areas to fairlysparse in heavily stocked sites. Much downwoody material in various stages of decayoccurs on the forest floor. Snags and dentrees will be common.

Disturbance regime — Fire will be a commonnatural disturbance factor within the forest.Because fires tend to be less intense and lessfrequent, overstory trees show little evidenceof scorch and fire scars. Fires will be frequentenough to prevent the establishment ofmany fire-tender species (such as sweet gumand beech) on the drier upland sites. Small-scale disturbances will primarily be the resultof wind, insects, disease, prescribed fire orstand improvement practices aimed at de-veloping old-growth attributes. Insects, es-pecially southern pine beetle, may have asignificant effect on pine mortality in thearea. During epidemic years, southern pinebeetle infestations may affect moderately tofairly large areas.

ATTRIBUTES OF MIXEDHARDWOOD-LOBLOLLYPINE DOMINATEDPATCHES

Composition — The overstory compositionwill be highly variable. A wide variety of oaks(such as white, southern red, post, cow,black, water, laurel, cherrybark, and black-jack) and hickories (such as mockernut, black,and bitternut) as well as loblolly pine, south-ern magnolia, beech, blackgum, sweetgum,American holly, winged-elm and shortleafpine will commonly be observed. Unless thearea has experienced a large blowdown orinsect infestation, the percentage of hard-wood trees tends to increase with stand age;and hardwoods dominate the overstory overmuch of the area. Pine composition may begreater on the higher, drier sites within anarea but pines will generally be replaced bylonger-lived hardwood species. In addition

to regenerating overstory trees, the midsto-ry contains a variety of shrubs and vines.Ironwood, flowering dogwood, hophorn-beam, wild grapes, greenbriers, coral hon-eysuckle and many others will commonly bepresent. The herbaceous understory con-tains a variety of shade-adapted plants, in-cluding ferns, violets, wake-robins and manyother flowering plants as well as a rich as-semblage of grasses, sedges, rushes, moss-es, lichens and liverworts.

Structure — In general, the dominant over-story canopy in an old-growth mixed hard-wood-loblolly pine forest appears closed;however, small gaps in the canopy may becommon. Overstory tree density may bevariable, but most stands will be moderatelyto densely stocked and carry a combinedhardwood and pine basal area of 100–150square feet per acre. Tree size, age, and formwill be variable but older trees, often exceed-ing 24 inches in diameter, will be well repre-sented. Hardwood trees over 200 years oldoccur randomly throughout the area. Inter-mingled within the predominantly older treesmay be patches of younger growth (lessthan 50 years old) which occupies less than25 percent of the designated old-growthpatch. The midstory will be multilayered andcontains many shrubs, vines, and regenerat-ing overstory species. The midstory appearsfairly open, except in or near canopy gapswhere it may be dense. The understoryvegetation will typically be sparse with athick, actively decaying leaf layer and muchdown woody material. Standing snags willbe present in moderate numbers, more so

ATTRIBUTESOF SHORTLEAF

PINE / OAK-HICKORY-

DOMINATEDPATCHES

ATTRIBUTESOF MIXED

HARDWOOD-LOBLOLLY

PINE-DOMINATED

PATCHES

TABLE E–3, SHORTLEAF PINE / OAK-HICKORY OLD-GROWTH PATCHES



06 – coastal plain upland mesic hardwood ........................... 1,204 ......................................... 013– river floodplain hardwood forest ....................................... 123 ........................................... 014 – cypress-tupelo swamp forest .......................................... 82 ........................................... 024 –xeric pine and pine-oak forest and woodland ................... 14 ............................................ 025 – dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest ............................... 10,456 ...................................... 27827 – seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland ........................ 360 ........................................... 0Needs inventory .................................................................... 1,410 ......................................... 0



than in pine old-growth due to the greaterdecay resistance of some of the hardwoodspecies. Down logs are common.

Disturbance regime — Small-scale distur-bances will primarily be the result of wind,insects, disease, prescribed fire, or standimprovement practices aimed at developingold-growth attributes. Old hardwoods withheartrot, visible cavities, and buttrot will becommon. Insects, especially southern pinebeetle, may have a significant effect on thepines in the area. During epidemic years,southern pine beetle infestations may occurover moderate to fairly large areas. Fire willbe infrequent within the forest and occursonly as a result of weather and fuel factorswhich allow fires on adjacent uplands toburn into the area.

ATTRIBUTES OF RIPARIANFOREST-DOMINATEDPATCHES

Composition — The overstory compositionwill be highly variable. A wide variety of oaks(such as willow, cow, water, laurel,cherrybark, white, nuttall, and overcup) andhickories (such as water, black, shagbark,pignut, and bitternut) as well as southernmagnolia, beech, blackgum, sweetgum, sy-camore, water ash, and other hardwoodsmay be observed. Loblolly or shortleaf pinemay be present on small stream communi-ties within the uplands. Rarely, if ever, wouldall these species be observed in a single area.In general, overstory species compositionwill be related to frequency, extent andduration of annual flooding events. In addi-tion to regenerating overstory trees, themidstory contains a variety of shrubs andvines. Midstory composition will also beinfluenced by the natural flooding regime.Depending on the stream, ironwood,hophornbeam, swamp dogwood, wild aza-lea, deciduous holly and many others willcommonly be present. The herbaceous un-derstory will be vary sparse but may containa variety of ferns, mosses, sedges and flow-ering plants.

Structure — In general, the dominant over-story canopy in an old-growth riparian orbottomland forest appears closed; how-ever, small gaps in the canopy are scatteredthroughout the area. Overstory tree den-sity may be variable, but most stands will bemoderately to densely stocked and carry atotal basal area of 100–150 square feet peracre. Tree size, age, and form will be vari-able but older trees, often exceeding 24inches in diameter, will be well represented.Hardwood trees over 200 years old occurrandomly throughout the area. Inter-mingled within the predominantly oldertrees may be patches of younger growth(less than 50 years old) which occupies lessthan 25 percent of the designated old-growth patch. The midstory will be multi-layered and contains many shrubs, vines,and regenerating overstory species. Themidstory appears fairly open, except in ornear canopy gaps where it may be dense.The understory vegetation will typically besparse, with much down woody material.Standing snags and hardwood den treeswill be common-to-abundant.

ATTRIBUTESOF MIXEDHARDWOOD-LOBLOLLYPINE-DOMINATEDPATCHES

ATTRIBUTES OFRIPARIANFOREST-DOMINATEDPATCHES

TABLE E–4, MIXED HARDWOOD-LOBOLLYPINE OLD-GROWTH PATCHES



06 – coastal plain upland mesic hardwood ............................. 514 ........................................... 013 –river floodplain hardwood forest ....................................... 508 ........................................... 021 – dry-mesic oak forest ........................................................ 23 ............................................ 024 –xeric pine and pine-oak forest and woodland .................... 3 ............................................. 025 – dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest ................................ 3,434 ....................................... 42426 – upland longleaf ................................................................ 31 ........................................... 3127– seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland ......................... 248 ........................................... 0Needs inventory .................................................................... 1,519 ......................................... 0



TABLE E–5, RIPARIAN FORESTOLD-GROWTH PATCHES



06 – coastal plain upland mesic hardwood ........................... 1,283 ........................................ 7713 – river floodplain hardwood forest ...................................... 297 ........................................... 014 – cypress-tupelo swamp forest ........................................ 1,465 ......................................... 025 – dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forest ................................ 2,604 ....................................... 13326 – upland longleaf, woodland, and savanna ....................... 595 ........................................... 027 – seasonally wet oak-hardwood woodland ...................... 2,592 ......................................... 828 – eastern riverfront forest ................................................... 206 ........................................... 0Needs inventory .................................................................... 5,280 ......................................... 0

ATTRIBUTES OFRIPARIAN

FOREST-DOMINATED

PATCHES

Disturbance regime — Small scale distur-bances will primarily be the result of wind,insects, or disease. Old hardwoods withheartrot, visible cavities, and buttrot will becommon. Fire will be rare within the forestand occurs only as a result of weather andfuel factors which allow fires on adjacentuplands to burn into the area.



K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X F

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N F – 1

Monitoring Summary Tables Appe

ndix

INTRODUCTION

This appendix contains a table designed toprovide additional information regardingthe Kisatchie National Forest’s program formonitoring this document, the Forest Plan(Plan).

Table F–1 summarizes the informationcontained in the monitoring task sheets.Monitoring task sheets were developed todetail how data will be collected with theobjective of answering each Plan monitor-ing question.

INTRODUCTION

FFThe table will be updated to reflect the

Kisatchie’s annual monitoring and evaluationreport, or as warranted by other new infor-mation. For more information on monitoringrequirements for the Plan, please see Chapter5 of this document.

F – 2 F I N A L L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X F K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

TASK MON MONITORING MONITORING FREQCY / PRECISION / EST. COST OF RESPONSIBILITY /NUM OBJ QUESTION ITEMS DURATION RELIABLTY COLLECTION METHOD OF ANALYSIS

TABLE F–1, MONITORING TASK SHEET SUMMARY

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1–1

1–1

1–1

1–2

1–2

1–2

1–2

Are management practices designedto minimize soil erosion, compaction,and loss of soil productivity beingapplied?

Is allowable soil loss being exceeded?Are disturbed and degraded areasbeing restored and revegetated to anatural condition?

How do timber management practices,especially timber harvesting andconsequent compaction, affect soilproductivity?

Are management practices designedto minimize contamination,sedimentation, and maintain streamchannel stability being applied?

Are State water quality standards andState anti-degradation policies beingmet? Is water quality being degraded?



Management practices designedto minimize soil erosion,compaction, and loss of soilproductivity.

Site prep areas — percent soilcover, estimated amount of soilloss.

Off-road vehicles use areas —occurrences of accelerated soilloss or stream sedimentation.

Restored/revegetated areas —percent of vegetative cover.

Results of the long-term soilproductivity study and otherSouthern Research Stationstudies.

Management practices designedto minimize contamination,sedimentation, and maintainstream channel stability.

Water quality parameters ofselected streams.

Water quality parameters ofselected Louisiana pearlshellmussel streams, Saline BayouNational Scenic River, and otherselected streams.

Fecal coliform levels atswimming recreation sites.

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually oras results

are updated

Annually

Monthly

Quarterly

Twice/weekduring swim

season.

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

High / High

High / Medium

High / High

High / Medium

High / High

$1,000

$1,000

$500

$750

$400

$1,000

$100

$3,000

$3,000

Soil & water staff will compareproject-level decisions with on-site implementation.

Soil scientist / hydrologist willsample and estimate soil loss ona representative portion of theareas.Soil scientist / hydrologist willevaluate selected trail segmentsand make recommendations.

Soil scientist / hydrologist willevaluate percent cover ofrestored/revegetated area

Southern Research Station staffand soil & water staff will reviewfindings.

Supervisor’s Office and soil &water staff will compare project-level decisions with on-siteimplementation.

Dept. of Environmental Qualitywill use surface waterassessment procedures.

Dept. of Environmental Qualitysurface water assessmentprocedures.

Soil scientist/hydrologist willcoordinate on-site sampling bydistrict recreation personnel.


F I N A L L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N F – 3



8

9

10

11

12

13

1–3

1–3

1–4

1–4

1–5

1–5

Are Forest Service and La. Dept. ofAgriculture & Forestry’s smokemanagement guidelines andregulations being applied? Areperformance requirements concerningair quality being incorporated inpermitted activities?

Does air quality meet NAAQS and Statestandards?

Is wildfire protection being provided ina cost-effective manner? Are losses towildfire being minimized?

Are resources identified in NFMAS beingmade available in accordance withbudget funding levels? Are acres lostto wildfire within the range identified byNFMAS for the current budget level?

Do management practices provide forcorrect site / species selection, reduceoverstocked stands to optimum levelsand insure prompt detection andcontrol of insects and diseases?

Has management resulted in adecrease of susceptibility of southernpine beetle and other pests? Are pestincidents decreasing with appliedintegrated management?

Project plans, environmentalassessments.

Concentrations of pollutant notmeeting NAAQS.

Annual work plans.

Fire season readiness, acresburned.

Regeneration of desired species/site selection; restoration acres.

Reduction of stocking levels ifoverstocked stands; acrestreated by precommercialthinning, commercial thinnings,and timber stand improvements.

Promptness of detection andcontrol of southern pine beetleoutbreaks.

Location and population trendsof southern pine beetle.

Ongoing

Ongoing

Annually

Annually

Ongoing

Every 5years

Medium /Medium

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

High / High

Medium /Medium

$500

$3,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,500

Zone air resource specialist andsoil scientist / hydrologist willcompare project-level decisionswith burning plans and permittedactivities.

La. DEQ air quality section, zoneair quality specialist and forestsoil scientist / hydrologist willcompare data with standards.

Fire staff (FMO) will compareresults annually to determine ifwithin range and determinereason if outside range.

Fire staff will compare resourcesplanned to NFMAS and compareacres burned to NFMAS .

Forest silviculturist will reviewannual accomplishments ofrestoration acres, thinning, TSI,and SPBIS documentation.

Forest Health staff will use 5-yearanalysis of southern pine beetlefrom SPBIS records. Lastanalysis 1991-1995, next analysiswill be 1996-2000.





14

15

16

17

18

19

20

1–6

1–6

1–6

1–6

2–1

2–1

2–1

Are non-federal lands being acquiredto enhance public benefits andimprove management effectiveness?Are acquired rights-of-way achievingbetter Forest management? Are land-use authorizations being issued onlyafter all other alternatives are exploredto provide goods and services?

How well are landline boundariesbeing established, maintained, andprotected from obliteration?

Are newly acquired lands compatiblewith management practices in themanagement area where they arelocated?

Are encroachments being discouragedby well defined property lines?

Are management practices designedto restore or maintain the structure,composition, and processes of the fourmajor landscape forest ecosystemsand the embedded plant communitieswithin them being implemented?



Location of tracts acquired andexchanged, location and numberof ROWS acquired, number andkinds of permits issued.

Miles of landline maintained.

Maps of lands acquired.

Number of encroachmentswhere landline identification maybe a factor.

Management practicesdesigned to restore or maintainlongleaf pine and embeddedplant communities in LTAS 1, 2,5, and 6.

Management practices designedto restore or maintain shortleafpine / oak-hickory andembedded plant communities inLTAS 3, 8, and 9.

Management practices designedto restore or maintain mixedhardwood-loblolly and embeddedplant communities in LTA 4.

Annually

Annually

Uponcompletion

of case

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

High / High

Medium /Medium

High / High

Medium /Medium

High / High

High / High

High / High

$4,000

$1,000

$1,500

$1,000

$200 / day

$200 / day

$200 / day

Lands staff and Forest planningunit will compare results withobjectives at end of 5th year.

Lands staff (surveyor) will reviewfor compliance and assess milesof landline maintained.

Lands staff and Forest planningunit will compare suitability ofacquired lands with managementpractices authorized insurrounding lands in amanagement area.

Lands staff (surveyor) willcompare landline maintenanceand encroachment reporting.

Forest silviculturist will compareproject-level decisions with on-site implementation.








Forest silviculturist will compareexisting community acres withdesired acres.




Resource unit (botanists /ecologists) will compare existingcommunity acres with desiredacres.

Resource unit (botanists /ecologists) will compare resultsfrom previous inventory with newinventory.

$200 / day

$200 / year

$200 / year

$200 / year

$200 / year

$4,000 / year

$4,000 / year

High / High

High / High

High / High

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Management practices designedto restore or maintain riparianplant communities in LTA 7 andstreamside and riparian areas.

Acres of longleaf pine foresttype.

Acres of shortleaf pine/oak-hickory forest types.

Acres of mixed hardwood-loblollypine forest type.

Acres of riparian plantcommunities.

Acres of embedded plantcommunities supporting PETS

plants, subjectively ranked forquality of the habitat condition.

Acres of all managementindicator plant species habitat.


Are the management practicessuccessfully restoring or maintainingquality forest ecosystems; and thestructure, composition, and processesof the four major landscape forestecosystems?





Are management practicessuccessfully expanding qualityhabitats for management indicators?

2–1

2–1

2–1

2–1

2–1

2–1

2–2

21

22

23

24

25

26

27





28

29

30

31

32

33

34

2–2

2–2

2–2

2–3

2–3

2–3

2–3

Are management practicessuccessfully expanding qualityhabitats for management indicators?

Are the habitat objectives for selectedmanagement indicators providing forhealthy populations of all existingnative and desirable nonnative wildlife,fish, and plants?

Are the habitat objectives for selectedmanagement indicators providing forhealthy populations of all existingnative and desirable nonnative wildlife,fish, and plants?

Are management practices designedto protect, improve, and maintainthreatened, endangered, sensitive,and conservation species beingimplemented? Are managementstrategies designed for Red-cockadedWoodpecker habitat managementbeing implemented with designatedhabitat management areas?

Are management practices designedto protect, improve, and maintainthreatened, endangered, sensitive,and conservation species beingimplemented? Are managementstrategies designed for Red-cockadedWoodpecker habitat managementbeing implemented with designatedhabitat management areas?

Are habitat conditions for threatened,endangered, sensitive, andconservation species improving?

Are habitat conditions for threatened,endangered, sensitive, andconservation species improving?

Acres in early succession, andmid-late succession, bylandscape.

Population trends of allmanagement indicator plantspecies.

Population trends of allmanagement indicator animalspecies.

Management practices used toprotect, improve, and maintainhabitat conditions for allthreatened, endangered,sensitive, and conservation plantspecies.

Management practices andstrategies designed to protect,improve, and maintainthreatened, endangered,sensitive, and conservation fishand wildlife species.

Acres of embedded plantcommunities supporting PETS

plants, subjectively ranked forquality of the habitat condition.

Acres of longleaf pine and riparianmanagement indicator habitat forthreatened, endangered,sensitive, and conservationwildlife species.

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Low / Low

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Low / Low

$2,500 / year /district

$4,000 / year

$3,000 / year /district

$2,000 / year

$1,000 / year

$4,000 / year

$1,000 / year

Forest wildlife biologist will queryCISC data for stand ages by foresttype by landscape.

Resources unit (botanists /ecologists) will comparefrequency with past frequency ofoccurrence for managementindicator plant species.

Forest wildlife biologist willreview districts survey sheetsbird point counts from “landbird”monitoring program anddetermine population trends.

Botanist / ecologists will compareproject-level decisions with on-site implementation.

Forest fisheries and/or wildlifebiologist will compare project-level decisions with on-siteimplementation.

Botanists / ecologists willcompare acres and site qualityrankings with previous year’sdata.

Forest wildlife biologist will queryCISC database to assess acreageof longleaf pine and riparianmanagement indicator habitats.





35

36

37

38

39

40

2–3

2–3

2–4

2–4

2–5

2–5

Are Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW)population trends respondingpositively to management strategies?

Are La. pearlshell mussel populationlevels responding positively tomanagement strategies?

Are management practices designedto develop old-growth forest attributesbeing implemented?

Are the management practicessuccessfully developing or maintainingforest attributes similar to those foundin old-growth?

Are streamside habitat protectionzones and riparian area protectionzones being delineated and managedas prescribed?

Are these zones successfullyprotecting or enhancing unique plantand animal communities, specialhabitat features, habitat linkages, andaquatic ecosystems?

Population size and trend, groupcheck, nesting success, groupsurvey, problem identification.

Population size and trend,problem identification.

Management practices designedto develop old-growth forestattributes.

Designated old-growth patchessubjectively ranked for quality byrepresentation of the old-growthcommunity types found withinthe major forest ecosystems.

Management practices withinstreamside and riparian zonesdesigned to protect or enhancethe unique plant and animalcommunities, special habitatfeatures, habitat linkages andcorridors, instream habitat, andaquatic ecosystems associatedwith streamside habitat andriparian areas.

Occurrence of Forest-listedstreamside zone species.

Annually

Minimumevery 3years

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

High / High

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

High / High

Medium /Medium

$50 / year /cluster

$1,000 / year /mussel

population

$200 / year

$200 / day

$1,000 / year

$400 / year

Forest wildlife biologist willreview district RCW clustersurveys.

Forest fisheries biologist willreview mussel populationestimates and assess changes topopulation.Forest silviculturist will compareproject-level decisions with on-site implementation needed toachieve old-growth communitytype objectives.

Forest silviculturist will compareexisting conditions of designatedsmall and medium-sized old-growth patches with operationaldefinitions found in Table 2 ofGuidance for Conserving andRestoring Old-Growth ForestCommunities on NationalForests in the Southern Region.

Forest botanist / ecologist,Forest fisheries biologist, andForest hydrologist will compareproject-level decisions with on-site implementation.

Forest botanist will compare fielddata with previous data andassess changes.





41

42

43

44

45

46

47

2–6

2–6

2–6

2–6

2–6

2–6

2–7

Are lake predator-prey populations inbalance? Are management practicessufficiently protecting stream and lakehabitats? Are primary aquatic foodchain organisms being impacted bysiltation?



Are lake populations healthy? Arenonnatives and / or generalist-omnivore natives affecting lakebiomass and balance? Is lake habitatsufficient?



Are management practicessuccessfully expanding qualityhabitats for game and fish species?

Combination of largemouth bass/sunfish species.

Conductivity, pH, dissolvedoxygen, temperature, turbidity,population trends of aquaticmanagement indicator species.

Sediment analysis.

Fish condition (length-weightratios, age and growth, relativeweight) fungal prevalence,disease and deformities.

Presence of forage fish andomnivores.

Growing season conductivity, pHand turbidity, alkalinity, dissolvedoxygen, temperature, depth;presence of aquatic vegetation,fine and coarse structure, andspawning substrate.

Forestwide acres of qualityhabitat for the primary demandspecies.

Minimumonce every 3

years

Minimumevery 3years on

majorperennial orwatershed

Every 3years/majorperennial orwatershed -100 M reach

minimum

Minimumonce every 3

years

Minimumonce every 3

years

Minimumonce every 3

years

Every 5years

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

High / High

Low / Low

$9,000 / year

$500 / sample

$4,500 / year

$4,500 / year

$9,000

$500 / sample

$2,500

Forest fisheries biologist willdetermine proportional stockdensity, length frequencyhistogram.

Forest fisheries biologist willcompare measurements withexpected norms and assessspecies prevalence and rangeintegrity with prior and historicdata.

Forest fisheries biologist willcount and tabulate data.

Forest fisheries biologist willcompare physical indices withnorms.

Forest fisheries biologist willassess effects of presence ofnonnative and / or generalist-omnivore natives on lakebiomass and balance.

Forest fisheries biologist willcompare data collected withnorms for lake habitat.

Forest wildlife biologist will queryCISC data for stand ages by foresttype.





48

49

50

51

52

53

54

2–7

2–8

2–8

3–1

3–2

3–3

3–3

Are habitat objectives for selecteddemand species providing game andfish populations sufficient for qualityrecreation opportunities?

Are management practices designedto protect, restore, maintain, acquire,and improve waterfowl and wetlandwildlife being implemented?

Are these management practicessuccessfully providing for waterfowland wetland wildlife?

How does the flow of commodityoutputs to local economies and peoplecompare with he Forest Planprojections?

Is the Forest providing for competitivebid the average annual allowable salequantity it projected for the firstdecade?

Are parcels being made available forlease according to U.S. ownership andmanagement restrictions? Areapplications for minerals exploration anddevelopment being processed accordingto directions and in a timely manner? Areoperating plans for exploration of privateminerals being reviewed for compliancewith existing State and federal laws?

Are parcels being made available forlease according to U.S. ownership andmanagement restrictions? Areapplications for minerals exploration anddevelopment being processed accordingto directions and in a timely manner? Areoperating plans for exploration of privateminerals being reviewed for compliancewith existing State and federal laws?

Population estimates of white-tailed deer, Northern BobwhiteQuail, Wild Turkey, eastern foxsquirrel and grey squirrel.

Management practices designedto protect, restore, maintain,acquire, and improve waterfowland wetland wildlife habitat.

Acres of wetland and riparianhabitats.

Returns to parishes from 25%funds and effects to local job andincome from Forest commodityproduction.

Timber offered —MAR item 77.2,STARS 33-2, periodic timber saleaccomplishment.

Consents to lease lands coveredin area by area or individualtracts.

Applications to drill, commonvariety minerals permits andoperating plans.

Annually

Annually

Annually

Quarterly

Ongoing

Annually

Annually

Low / Low

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

High / High

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

$200 / year

$1,000 / year

$2,000 / year

$1,000

$2,500

$1,000

$1,500

Forest biologist will comparechanges in population estimatesfrom the Louisiana Departmentof Wildlife and Fisheries.

Forest wildlife biologist willcompare project-level decisionswith on-site implementation.

Forest biologist will query GIS andCISC databases and assesschanges from previousmonitoring results.

Timber sales officer and saleadministration specialist willquery STARS database andevaluate TPIR01 report for inputinto IMPLAN model.

Sales administration specialistwill query STARS database andannually compare results withaverage annual ASQ.

Lands staff will review availablelands and compare with acreswithdrawn.

Lands and minerals staff willreview applications to drill andoperating plans for compliancewith State and federal laws.

F – 1 0 F I N A L L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N




55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

3–4

3–4

3–5

3–5

3–6

3–6

3–7

4–1

Are forage resources beingmaintained or improved on thedesignated allotments?

Are active allotments meeting theneeds of the local demand for forageresources?

How does management of theseproducts compare with Forest Plandirection?

Is the Forest providing opportunitiesfor other specialty forest productswithout negatively impacting foresthealth or other resources?

Are programs and opportunities forimproving rural economies and socialconditions being developed?

Are programs and opportunitiesimproving sustainable local economiesand social conditions?

Is the transportation facilityserviceable by the intended user?

Is the Forest being managed inaccordance with the assigned SIOS?

Management practices designedto maintain or improve rangeresources.

Number of requests receivedfrom public for range permits.

Sale and permits of non-convertible products in timbersale accounting reports.

Results of Southern ResearchStation studies.

Number of community contactsor users; number of grantsawarded, number of requests fortechnical assistance.

Number of jobs, number of newbusinesses, population shift, percapita income.

Frequency and level of roadmaintenance activities.

SIO compliance

Ongoing,annually

Annually

Annually

Annually oras results

are updated

Annually andas needed

Every 5years

Annually/ongoing

Ongoing

High / High

High / High

Low / High

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

High / High

$800 / year

$200 / year

$500

$400 / year

$1,000

$3,000

$1,000

$1,500

Resource unit / rangeconservationist will compareproject-level decisions with on-site implementation.

District ranger staff will monitornumber of requests for rangeuse and compare with available,planned allocations.

Timber sales officer, saleadministration specialist willquery STARS and timber saleaccounting databases andcompare to Plan direction.

Southern Research Station staffand Forest soil scientist andbotanist will review findings.

Cooperative Forestry coordinatorwill compare new proposals withprevious years.

Supervisor’s Office —Cooperative Forestry coordinatorwill compare planned conditionswith current trends.

Supervisor’s Office —transportation systemmanagement engineer willidentify those roads which arenot serviceable by the user orwhich required a significantincrease in maintenance toassure serviceability.

Scenery specialist will compareproject designs with SIO guidance.


F I N A L L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N F – 1 1



63

64

65

66

67

68

4–2

4–3

4–3

5–1

5–2

5–2

Has class eligibility shiftedsignificantly?

How satisfied are our recreationcustomers? Are recreation resourcesmanaged in a manner that isresponsive to public recreation needsyet as cost effective as possible inaccordance with the negotiatedrecreation program of work, based onMeaningful Measures standards?

How satisfied are our recreationcustomers? Are recreation resourcesmanaged in a manner that isresponsive to public recreation needsyet as cost effective as possible inaccordance with the negotiatedrecreation program of work, based onMeaningful Measures standards?

Are significant archeological andhistorical sites being identified, prior toproject decisions, through inventoriesconducted in consultation with theLouisiana State Historic PreservationOfficer (SHPO) according to the NationalHistoric Preservation Act (NHPA) 36CFR 800, NEPA, and the SouthernRegional Heritage programmaticagreements (PA)?

Is law enforcement and heritagesupport provided at sufficient levels toprotect significant heritage sites frominternal and / or external activities?

Are protection measures effective atpreventing unacceptable damage?

ROS class consistency andeligibility shift.

FS comment cards, customerreport cards and comment cards.

Compliance with negotiatedrecreation program of workbased on Meaningful Measuresstandards.

Number of NEPA decisions withappropriate NHPA compliance.

Number of sites protected;number of site revisits; numberof law enforcement incidentreports or case reports.

Number of sites protected, bufferzone definition.

Ongoing

Ongoing

Annually

Ongoing

Ongoing

Annually

Medium /Medium

High / High

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

$1,000

$10,000

$10,000

$1,000

$5,000

$3,000

Recreation staff will compareplanned class objectives withshifts in eligibility.

Forest landscape architect willreview comment cards andsummarize responses.

Forest landscape architect willinspect developed sites, trails,and use areas and compare withMeaningful Measures standards.

Forest archeologist will reviewsummaries and compare withdecision documents.

Heritage staff will examine lawenforcement incident reports andsummarize impacts.

Forest archeologist will comparebuffer zones with monitored sitesand assess damage.

F – 1 2 F I N A L L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N




69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

5–3

5–4

5–4

5–5

5–5

5–6

5–7

6–1

Are sufficient numbers of significant orpotentially significant sites beingevaluated so that the number ofbacklogged properties decreases eachyear?

Are sites and heritage values beingidentified for public interpretation?

Has interpretation enhancedawareness of heritage values amongthe general public?

Does the interpretive services programprovide usable information to thepublic about the full scope of the forestmanagement practices andphilosophy?

Has interpretive services increasedmeasurable public support of ForestService resource management goalsand objectives?

Is Forest Plan SIA direction beingapplied?

Is Kisatchie Hills Wilderness beingmanaged to enhance and perpetuatewilderness values? Are naturalprocesses allowed to operate freely?Is Forest Plan direction that wouldensure the above being applied?

Are management practices designedto achieve a mixture of desired futureconditions being applied?

Number of evaluationsconducted; number of sitesadded to list during current year.

Number of sites interpreted;number of sites available forvisitation or participation.

Number of contacts, feedbackfrom awareness projects,contacts with cooperators.

Number of brochures; number ofpublic-oriented written or videoprojects; number of partnerships.

Number of positive contacts,number of congressionalinquiries, number of appeals.

Compliance with Forest Plan SIA

direction.

Level of compliance withwilderness direction andMeaningful Measures.

Acres of even-aged, two-aged,and uneven-aged regenerationmethods, and intermediatetreatments being accomplished.

Annually

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing -annual

inspection

Annually

Annually

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

Medium /Medium

High / High

High / High

High / High

$15,000

$8,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$5,000

$5,000

$3,000 / year

Forest archeologist willsummarize the number of sitestested and compare with thenumber added to the evaluationlist.

Forest archeologist will reviewprojects and summarize sitesinterpreted.

Forest archeologist will reviewand summarize responses.

Public Affairs Office andInterpretive Services will assesscurrent management practicesand identify new products orupdates as needed.

Public Affairs Office / InterpretiveServices will review andsummarize response.

Recreation staff will reviewproject plans and environmentalassessments and compare toForest Plan direction.

Forest landscape architect willconduct reviews of field reviews,and will review implementationschedules and project plans; andcompare with MeaningfulMeasures standards.

Forest silviculturist will compiledata and then compare toprojected annual averageoutputs.


F I N A L L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N F – 1 3



77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

6–2

6–2

7–1

7–2

8–1

8–2

9–1

9–2

Are the prescribed fire regimes beingapplied to all appropriate landscapesas prescribed to maintain fire-dependent ecosystems?

Are the natural plant communitiesbeing maintained or restored by theprescribed fire regimes?

Is the Forest preparing and distributinga yearly monitoring and evaluationreport to the public?

Is the Forest Plan being kept currentthrough timely changes as identified inthe Annual Monitoring & EvaluationReport?

Are cooperative relationships beingdeveloped and maintained?

Are research needs being identified ina timely manner?

Are coordination and cooperationefforts being conducted with federaland State agencies?

Are Memorandums of Understanding,cooperation agreements, partnerships,and challenge cost share agreementsbeing developed? Are we increasingthe participation of groups andindividuals in the accomplishment ofForest Plan goals and objectives?

Prescribed burning acres bylandscape type and season.

Plant community/speciesresponse to appliedmanagement practices.

Annual Monitoring & EvaluationReport.

Plan amendments.

Number of cooperative studiesundertaken and status.

Research needs identified.

NEPA documentation.

Number of agreements,partnerships, and cooperators.

Ongoing

Annually, oras results

are updated

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

Annually

High / High

Medium /Medium

High / High

High / High

High / High

High / High

Medium /Medium

Medium/Medium

$200 / day

$15,000

$3,000

$500 / year

$200

$200

$500 / year

$4,000

Fire staff will compare actualaccomplishments with prescribedburning objectives.

Forest silviculturist and researchscientists will compare responseto treatments and comparelandscape developments withdesired future conditionstatements.

Planning staff will collateresponses on monitoring items,determine adequacy of findings,and publish recommendations.

Planning staff will review findingsand recommendations anddetermine needs foramendments.

Silviculture / resource unit willevaluate status of studies andrelationships.

Resource unit / silviculture willsummarize the number ofresearch needs identified.

Planning staff will assess project-level NEPA documentation.

Grants / agreements coordinatorwill summarize participation.

F – 1 4 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N


K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T A P P E N D I X G

R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N G– 1

Glossary of Terms, CommonlyUsed Acronyms, and Abbreviations Ap

pend

ix

AC .............. AcresADA ............ Americans with Disabilities ActAMS ............ Analysis of the management

situationAPD ............ Application for permit to drillASQ ............ Allowable sale quantityATV ............ All-terrain vehicleAU .............. Animal unitAUM ........... Animal unit monthBA ............... Basal areaBE ............... Biological evaluationBF ............... Board footBGS ............ Below ground surfaceBLM ............ Bureau of Land ManagementBMP ............ Best management practicesBTU ............ British thermal unitCCC ............ Civilian Conservation CorpsCCF ............. Hundred cubic feetCEQ ............ Council on Environmental

QualityCF ............... Cubic feetCFR ............. Code of Federal RegulationsCISC ........... Continuous inventory of stand

conditionsCMAI .......... Culmination of mean annual

incrementCOR ............ Contracting officer

representativeCSU ............ Controlled surface useDBH ............ Diameter at breast heightDEIS ............ Draft environmental impact

statementDFC ............ Desired future conditionEA ............... Environmental assessmentEAM ............ Even-aged (silvicultural)

managementECS ............. Ecological classification systemEIS .............. Environmental impact

statementEPA ............. Environmental Protection

AgencyFDR ............. Forest development roadsFEIS ............ Final environmental impact

statementFIA .............. Forest inventory analysisFMAP .......... Fire management action planFORPLAN .... Forest planning modelFS ............... Forest Service

FSH ............. Forest Service HandbookFSM ............ Forest Service ManualFY ............... Fiscal yearGIS ............. Geographic information systemGNP ............ Gross national productHABCAP ..... Habitat capability modelHMA ........... Habitat management areas for

RCWHUC ............ Hydrologic unit codeID ............... InterdisciplinaryIDT ............. Interdisciplinary teamIMPLAN ...... Economic input / output

modelIPM ............. Integrated pest managementKHW ........... Kisatchie Hills WildernessKNF ............ Kisatchie National ForestKV ............... Knutson-Vandenberg (Act)LAC ............. Limits of acceptable changeLANG .......... Louisiana Army National GuardLDEQ .......... Louisiana Department of

Environmental QualityLDOTD ....... Louisiana Department of

Transportation andDevelopment

LDWF ......... Louisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries

LNHP .......... Louisiana Natural HeritageProgram

LORP .......... Louisiana Outdoor RecreationPlan

LTA ............. Landtype associationsLTSY ........... Long-term sustained yieldM ................ ThousandMA ............. Management areaMAUM ........ Thousand animal unit monthMBF ............ Thousand board feetMCF ............ Thousand cubic feetMHL ........... Mixed hardwood-loblolly pineMI ............... Management indicatorMIL ............. Management intensity levelMIS ............. Management indicator speciesMM$ .......... Million dollarsMMBF ........ Million board feetMMCF ........ Million cubic feetMOA ........... Memorandum of agreementMOU ........... Memorandum of

understanding

ACRONYMS &ABBREVIATIONS

GG

G– 2 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N

A P P E N D I X G K I S A T C H I E N A T I O N A L F O R E S T

MRVD ......... Thousand recreationvisitor days

MWFUD ..... Thousand wildlife / fishuser days

NDF ............ Nondeclining flowNEPA .......... National Environmental

Policy ActNFMA ......... National Forest

Management ActNFMAS ....... National Fire

Management SystemNHPA ......... National Historic

Preservation ActNFS ............. National Forest SystemNOI ............. Notice of intentNPB ............ Net public benefitsNRCS .......... National Resource

Conservation ServiceNRHP .......... National Register

of Historic PlacesNRI ............. Nationwide Rivers InventoryNSO ............ No surface occupancyNTMB ......... Neotropical migratory birdsNWMP ........ National wildlife

management preserveNWR ........... National wildlife refugeOGC ........... Office of General CounselORV ............ Off-road vehiclePAOT .......... Persons at one timePETS ........... Proposed, endangered,

threatened, sensitive speciesPA ............... Programmatic agreementPL ............... Public lawPNV ............ Present net valueR-8 .............. Region 8 (Southern Region,

USDA Forest Service)RAPZ .......... Riparian area protection zoneRARE ........... Roadless Area Review

and EvaluationRARE II ........ Second Roadless Area

Review and EvaluationRCA ............ Rural community assistanceRCW ........... Red-cockaded WoodpeckerRD .............. Ranger districtRIM ............. Recreation information

managementRM .............. Roaded modifiedRN .............. Roaded naturalRNA ............ Research natural areaROD ............ Record of decisionROR ............ Reserved and outstanding

rightsROS ............ Recreation opportunity

spectrumROW ........... Right-of-wayRPA ............. Forest & Rangeland Renewable

Resources Planning Act

RVD ............ Recreation visitor dayS&G ............ Standards and guidelinesSAF ............. Society of American ForestersSCO ............ Scenic condition objectiveSCORP ........ Statewide Comprehensive

Outdoor Recreation PlanSHPO .......... State Historic

Preservation OfficeSHPZ .......... Streamside habitat

protection zoneSIA .............. Special interest areaSIO ............. Scenic integrity objectiveSMA ............ Sub-management areaSMS ............ Scenery management systemSMZ ............ Streamside management zoneSOH ............ Shortleaf pine / oak-hickorySPB ............. Southern pine beetleSPM ............ Semiprimitive, motorizedSPNM ......... Semiprimitive, nonmotorizedSRI .............. Soil resource inventorySRS ............. Southern Research StationT&E ............ Threatened and endangeredTEA ............. Transaction evidence appraisalTES ............. Threatened, endangered,

and sensitiveTMDL ......... Total maximum daily loadTSI .............. Timber stand improvementTSL ............. Traffic service levelTSPIRS ........ Timber Sale Program

Information Reporting SystemUEAM ......... Uneven-aged (silvicultural)

managementUSDA .......... United States

Department of AgricultureUSDI ........... United States

Department of InteriorUSFWS ....... United States

Fish & Wildlife ServiceUSGS .......... United States

Geological SurveyVM ............. Vegetation managementVQO ........... Visual quality objectiveYACC .......... Young adult conservation

corpsWFUD ......... Wildlife and fish user dayWMAs ........ Wildlife management areasWSR ............ Wild & scenic river

ACRONYMS &ABBREVIATIONS



A

Abiotic. a. The nonliving (as opposed to con-ceptual) material components of the envi-ronment such as air, rocks, soil, water,coal, peat, plant litter; b. Nonliving com-ponents of an ecosystem; basic elementsand compounds of the environment.

Adaptation. A genetically determined char-acteristic that enhances an organism’schances for survival and reproduction.

Adaptive management. Implementing policydecisions as an ongoing process that re-quires monitoring the results. It appliesscientific principles and methods to im-prove resource management activities in-crementally as the managers and scien-tists learn from experience and new sci-entific findings and adapt to social changesand demands.

Advance regeneration (syn: reproduction). Ad-vance growth seedlings or saplings thatdevelop or are present in the forest un-derstory.

Age class (cohort). A distinct aggregation oftrees originating from a single naturaldisturbance or regeneration cutting.

Aquatic ecosystem. a. A water-based ecosys-tem; b. A system of water interactingwith aquatic plants and animals. Also seeecosystem.

Areas of critical environmental concern. A des-ignation coined by the Bureau of LandManagement, where special manage-ment attention is required to protect andprevent irreparable damage to importantvalues, including fish and wildlife resourcesor other natural systems or processes.

Artificial regeneration (syn: reproduction). Cre-ation of a new age class by renewal of atree crop by direct seeding, or by plant-ing seedlings or cuttings.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV). Any motorized, off-highway vehicle 50 inches or less in width,having a maximum dry weight of 800pounds, travels on 3 or more low-pres-sure tires, and has a seat designed to bestraddled by the operator. Low-pressuretires are at least 6 inches in width and

designed for use on wheel rim diametersof 12 inches or less, utilizing an operatingpressure of 10 pounds per square inch(PSI) or less, as recommended by thevehicle manufacturer.

Autecology. Study of the ecology of a singlespecies, its requirements, tolerances, andresponses.

B

Biodiversity. a. Variety of life and its ecologi-cal processes; b. The variety of organismsconsidered at all levels, from genetic vari-ants belonging to the same species,through arrays of genera, families, andstill higher taxonomic levels. Includes thevariety of ecosystems which compriseboth the communities of organisms withinparticular habitats and the physical con-ditions under which they live.

Biomass. The total quantity (weight) of plantsand / or animals per unit area.

Biome. A major biotic unit consisting of plantand animal communities having similari-ties in form and environmental condi-tions, but not including the abiotic por-tion of the environment.

Bioregion. A territory defined by a combina-tion of biological, social, and geographicutilization, and planned management ofliving organisms and their vital processesto prevent their depletion, exploitation,destruction, or waste.

C

Clearcutting. An even-aged regenerationmethod used on stands to develop a newage class in a fully-exposed microclimateby removal in a single harvest of all treesin the previous stand. Regeneration isfrom natural seeding, direct seeding,planted seedlings, and / or advance re-production. Harvesting may be done ingroups or patches (group or patch clear-cutting), or in strips (strip clearcutting).

Clearcutting with reserves. A two-aged re-generation method similar to clearcut-ting except that varying numbers of re-serve trees are not harvested to attaingoals other than regeneration.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

A,B,C



Codominant. Crown class of trees whosecrowns form the general level of the maincanopy in even-aged stands. They re-ceive full light from above and compara-tively little from the sides. Also see domi-nant.

Coppice methods. Methods of regenerating astand in which the majority of regenera-tion is from stump sprouts or root suckers.

Coppice. An even-aged regeneration methodused on stands in which all trees in theprevious stand are harvested and themajority of regeneration develops fromsprouts or root suckers.

Coppice with reserves. A two-aged regenera-tion method similar to coppice exceptthat reserve trees are retained for goalsother than regeneration. The number ofreserve trees retained is sufficient to cre-ate a two-aged stand.

Corridor. a. A route permitting species tospread from one ecoregion or province toanother; b. A linear strip of land offeringecological, technical, economic, social,or similar advantages over other areas forlocation of transportation or utility rights-of-way within its boundaries.

Corridors, landscape. A dissimilar matrix oraggregation of landscape elements serv-ing to connect similar patches.

Crop tree. Any tree selected to become acomponent of a future final harvest.

Crown. The part of a tree or woody plantbearing live branches and foliage.

Crown class. A class of tree based on crownposition relative to the crowns of adja-cent trees.

Cumulative effects analysis. An analysis ofthe effects on the environment resultingfrom the incremental impacts of a pro-posed action when added to other past,present, and reasonably foreseeable fu-ture actions — regardless of what agency(federal or non-federal), or person un-dertakes such other actions.

Crown cover. The ground area covered bythe crowns of trees or woody vegetation

as delimited by the vertical projection ofcrown perimeters and commonly ex-pressed as a percent of total ground areaAlso called canopy cover.

Crown density. The amount, compactness,or depth of foliage of the crowns of treesand / or shrubs.

Cutting cycle. The planned interval betweenpartial harvests in a managed uneven-aged stand. Also see thinning interval.

D

Desired future condition. A portrayal of theland or resource conditions which areexpected to result if goals and objectivesare fully achieved.

Desired future vegetation. The compositionand structural characteristics of the plantcommunity on a site or an ecological unitwhich meets forest plan or other man-agement objectives.

Disturbance. A discrete event, either naturalor human induced, causing change in thecondition of an ecological system.

Diversity. a. The condition of being differ-ent; b. the distribution and abundanceof plant and animal species and commu-nities in an area (26 CFR 219); c. The distri-bution and abundance of different plantsand animal communities within an area.

Diversity, compositional. Variation in typesof landscape elements or vegetationtypes, their relative proportions withinthe landscape, or their degree of rarity orcommonness.

Diversity, process. Relates to the variety oflandscape flows, functions, and processespresent on a given area.

Diversity, structural (syn: heterogeneity). Varia-tion in sizes and shapes of landscapeelements, as well as diversity of pattern.

Dominant. Crown class of trees with crownsextending above the general level of themain canopy of even-aged stands. Theyreceive full light from above and partiallight from the sides.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

C,D



E

Ecological approach. Natural resource plan-ning and management activities that as-sure consideration of the relationship be-tween all organisms (including humans)and their environment.

Ecological classification. A multifactor ap-proach to categorizing and delineat-ing, at different levels of resolution,areas of land and water having similarcharacteristic combinations of the physi-cal environment — such as climate, geo-morphic processes, and hydrologic func-tions of geology and soils; biologicalcommunities — such as plants, animals,microorganisms, and potential naturalcommunities; and the human dimen-sion — such as social, economic, cul-tural, and infrastructure.

Ecological process. The actions or events thatlink organisms (including humans) andtheir environment, such as disturbance,successional development, nutrient cy-cling, carbon sequestration, productiv-ity, and decay.

Ecological site. A specific location on theland, representative of an ecological type.

Ecological status. The degree of similaritybetween the existing vegetation (all com-ponents and their characteristics) andexisting soil conditions compared to thepotential natural community and thedesired soil condition of a site.

Ecological type. A category of land having aunique combination of potential naturalcommunity, soil, landscape features, cli-mate, and differing from other ecologicaltypes in its ability to produce vegetationand respond to management.

Ecological unit. A mapped landscape unitdesigned to meet management objec-tives, comprised of one or more ecologi-cal types.

Ecology. From Greek oikos, meaning “house”or “place to live”; literally, the study oforganisms at home. The science of theinterrelationships or organisms or groupof organisms with their environment.

Ecoregion. A continuous geographic areaover which the macroclimate is suffi-ciently uniform to permit developmentof similar ecosystems on sites with simi-lar properties. Ecoregions contain mul-tiple landscapes with differing ecosys-tem spatial patterns.

Ecosystem. The system formed by the inter-action of a group of organisms and theirenvironment.a. Formal: “Any unit including all of theorganisms (for example, the “commu-nity”), in a given area interacting with thephysical environment so that a flow ofenergy leads to a clearly defined trophicstructure, biotic diversity, and materialcycles within the system” (E.P. Odum, 1971);b. Regional: Large land areas that encom-pass many biological communities andland management regimes and are iden-tifiable by climate, landform, soils, andlandscape patterns; c. The natural com-plex of plant and animal populations andthe particular sets of physical conditionsunder which they exist; d. The organismsof a particular habitat together with thephysical environment in which they live; adynamic complex of plant and animalcommunities and their associated nonliv-ing environment; e. Humans as a part of,not apart from, a life support system com-posed of the atmosphere, water, minerals,soils, plants, animals, and microorganismthat function together to keep the wholeviable.

Ecosystem management. a. The use of anecological approach that blends social,physical, economic and biological needsand values to assure productive, healthy,sustainable ecosystems; b. Using a care-ful and skillful ecological approach toachieve the multiple-use management ofnational forests and grasslands by blend-ing the needs of people and environmen-tal values in such a way that nationalforests and grasslands represent diverse,healthy, productive, and sustainable eco-systems; c. The skillful use of ecological,economic, social, and managerial prin-ciples in managing ecosystems to pro-duce, restore, or sustain ecosystem integ-rity and conditions, uses, products, values,and services over the long term.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

E



Ecosystem functions (syn: processes). The ma-jor processes of ecosystems that regulateor influence structure, composition, andpattern. These include nutrient cycles,energy flows, food chains, diversity pat-terns in time / space development andevolution, hydrologic cycles, and weath-ering processes.

Ecosystem composition. The specific elementsthat make up an interacting system, i.e.,plant and animal species, microorgan-isms, soil type, landform, and climateregimes.

Ecosystem structure. The physical arrange-ment of the various components. Also,trophic structure; measured in standingcrop or energy fixed per unit area per unittime. May be pyramids of numbers, bio-mass, or energy flows.

Ecosystem pattern. The structure that resultsfrom the distribution of organisms in, andtheir interaction with their environment.Includes zonation, stratification, activityor periodicity, food-webs, reproductive,social and stochastic.

Ecotone. a. A transition between two or morebiotic communities or ecotones; b. A tran-sition area between two communities,having characteristics of both kinds ofneighboring vegetation as well as charac-teristics of its own. Varies in width, de-pending on site and climatic factors.

Ecotype. A locally adapted population of aspecies which has a distinctive limit oftolerance to environmental factors; a ge-netically uniform population of a speciesresulting from natural selection by thespecial conditions of a particular habitat.

Edaphic. Pertaining to the soil and its ecologi-cal relationships resulting from or influ-enced by factors inherent in the soil orother substrate, rather than by climaticfactors.

Endemic (n. endemism). Restricted to a speci-fied region or locality.

Environment. a. The complex of climatic,soil and biotic factors that act upon an

organism or ecological community andultimately determine its form and sur-vival; b. The sum of all external condi-tions that affect an organism or com-munity to influence its development orexistence.

Environmentally acceptable commodity pro-duction. The management and produc-tion of desired yields of natural resourceswhile meeting standards for protection ofenvironmental values, including guide-lines for management practices and aes-thetic conditions.

Even-aged stand. A stand of trees containinga single age class in which the range oftree ages is usually less than 20 percent ofthe rotation length. Also see rotation.

Even-aged silvicultural system. A planned se-quence of treatments designed to main-tain and regenerate a stand with one ageclass. The range of tree ages is usuallyless than 20 percent of the rotation.(Also, see clearcutting, seed-tree,shelterwood, coppice).

Exotic species. Species which occur in a givenplace, area, or region as the result ofdirect or indirect, deliberate or accidentalintroduction of the species by humans,and for which introduction has permittedthe species to cross a natural barrier todispersal.

Ex situ. A conservation method that entailsthe removal of germplasm resources(seed, pollen, sperm, individual organ-isms) from their original habitat or naturalenvironment.

Extinct. No longer existing.

Extirpate. To remove all individuals in a popu-lation completely.

F

Food web. The interlocking pattern of foodchains in an ecosystem. A food chain is atransfer of food energy from plantsthrough a series of animals.

Forest canopy. The cover of branches andfoliage formed collectively by tree crowns.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

E,F



Forest health. A condition wherein a foresthas the capacity across the landscape forrenewal, for recovery from a wide rangeof disturbances, and for retention of itsecological resiliency while meeting cur-rent and future needs of people for de-sired levels of values, uses, products, andservices.

Forest management. The practical applica-tion of scientific, economic, and socialprincipals to the administration and work-ing of a forest for specified objectives.

Forest type. A category or class of forestdefined by its vegetation (species com-position) and / or by its locality.

Fragmentation. Breaking up of contiguousareas into progressively smaller patchesof increasing degrees of isolation.

G

Gap analysis. Process to determine distribu-tion and status of biological diversity andassess adequacy of existing managementareas to protect biological diversity.

Gap phase succession. Progressive changes incommunity structure, composition, anddiversity following small-scale forest dis-turbances.

Genotype. The genetic constitution of anorganism as distinguished from its physi-cal appearance, called phenotype, whichis the result of both heredity and environ-ment. Also see phenotype.

Goods and services. Various outputs producedby forest and rangeland renewable re-sources, the tangible and intangible val-ues of which are expressed in market andnonmarket terms.

Group selection. An uneven-aged regenera-tion method used on stands in whichtrees are removed, and new age classesare established, in small groups. Themaximum width of groups is approxi-mately twice the height of the maturetrees, with small openings providing mi-croenvironments suitable for tolerantregeneration and the larger openingsproviding conditions suitable for moreintolerant regeneration. In the group

selection system, the management unitor stand in which regeneration, growth,and yield are regulated consists of alandscape containing an aggregation ofgroups (Also, see clearcutting).

Guild. A group of organisms sharing a com-mon food resource.

H

Habitat. The place within the environment inwhich an organism lives.

Habitat type. The collective land area whichone association occupies, or will come tooccupy, as succession advances.

Habitat connections. A network of habitatpatches linked by areas of similar habitat.For example, the linkages connect habi-tat areas within a watershed to each otherand to areas outside the watershed. Theseconnections include riparian areas, mid-slopes, and ridges. In the case of old-growth forest habitat connections, eachconnection is planned to be sufficientlywide (at least 1,000 feet) to retain interiorold-growth associated species.

Harvesting method. A cutting method bywhich a stand is harvested. Emphasis is onmeeting logging requirements rather thansilvicultural objectives. Also see regenera-tion method.

Healthy ecosystem. An ecosystem in whichstructure and functions allow the mainte-nance of biological diversity, biotic integ-rity, and ecological processes over time.

Home range. The geographic area withinwhich an animal restricts its activities.

Human dimension. An integral component ofecosystem management that recognizespeople as a vital part of ecosystems: theirpursuits of past, present, and future de-sires, needs and values — including per-ceptions, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors— have and will continue to influenceecosystems; and that ecosystem man-agement must include consideration ofthe physical, emotional, mental, spiritual,social, cultural and economic well-beingof people and communities.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

F,G,H



I

Improvement cutting. A cutting made in astand past the sapling stage primarily toimprove composition and quality by re-moving less desirable trees of any species.

Ingrowth. Trees that during a specified pe-riod have grown past an arbitrary lowerlimit of (usually) diameter or height. In-growth is usually measured as basal areaor volume per unit area.

In situ. A conservation method that attemptsto preserve the genetic integrity of bioticresponses by conserving them in theiroriginal habitat or natural environment.

Integrated pest management. A pest man-agement philosophy based on an under-standing of forest growth and develop-ment, forest pest-host dynamics, and theinteraction of the two — which providesthe resource manager with informationfor making decisions.

Integrated resources management. The si-multaneous consideration of ecological,physical, economic, and social aspects oflands, waters, and resources in develop-ing and carrying multiple-use, sustained-yield management.

Intermediate. Crown class of trees whosecrowns extend into the lower portion ofthe main canopy of even-aged stands,but shorter in height than the codomi-nants. They receive little direct light fromabove and none from the sides. Also seedominant.

Intermediate treatments (syn: tending). A col-lective term for any treatment designed toenhance growth, quality, vigor, and com-position of the stand after establishment ofregeneration and prior to final harvest.Also see tending and stand improvement.

Irregular planting. Planting of seedlings inareas as allowed by existing physical con-ditions, rather than rows with regularspacing between seedlings.

L

Landscape. An area composed of interactingecosystems that are repeated because ofgeology, land form, soils, climate, biotaand human influences throughout thearea. Landscapes are generally of a size,shape and pattern which is determinedby interacting ecosystems.

Landscape; scenery. A more or less extensiveview of, or prospect of scenery, such asmay be comprehended within the scopeor vision from a single point of view. Alsoa watershed, basin, or other physiographicfeature viewed from a point.

Landtype association (LTA). An ecological unitranging in size from about 25,000 acresto as much as 500,000 acres. An LTA isfairly uniform in land-surface form, sub-surface geology, soil patterns, and his-torical vegetation.

Linkages. Routes permitting movement ofindividual plants (by dispersal) and ani-mals from a landscape unit or habitattype to another similar landscape unit orhabitat type.

M

Management direction. A statement of mul-tiple-use goals, other goals and objec-tives, management prescriptions, and theassociated standards and guidelines forattaining these.

Management indicator species. a. Any spe-cies, or species habitat element selectedto focus management attention for thepurpose of resource production, popula-tion recovery, maintenance of popula-tion viability, or ecosystem diversity. b. Aspecies whose condition can be used toassess the impacts of management ac-tions on a particular area. c. A specieswhose welfare is presumed to indicatethe welfare of other species using thesame habitat.

Management type. A forest vegetation typethat has been selected as the species thatwill best achieve desired future condi-tions and meet the goals and objectivesof the Forest Plan.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

I,L,M



Mast. Hard mast is the fruit or nuts of oaks,beech, walnuts, chinquapins, and hicko-ries. Soft mast includes the fruits andberries of dogwood, viburnums, elder-berry, huckleberry, crataegus, grape, rasp-berry, and blackberry.

Mature forest. Generally used in an eco-nomic sense to indicate that a forest hasattained harvest age.

Microsite. A rock outcrop, snag, seep, streampool, or other environmental feature, smallin scale but unique in character.

Monitoring. To watch, observe, or check,especially for a specific purpose, such asto keep track of, regulate, or control.

Mosaic. Variable patterns created by vegeta-tion communities on the landscape.

Multiple use. The management of lands andtheir various resource values for use com-binations best meeting present and fu-ture public needs.

Mixed stand. A stand in which there is amixture of tree species.

N

Natural conditions. Plant and animal com-munities where people have not directlyimpacted either those communities ortheir soils by such activities as logging,grazing, or cultivation. Indirect activi-ties, such as fire suppression and airquality are part of the current environ-ment and part of natural succession.

Natural regeneration. An age class createdfrom natural seeding, sprouting, sucker-ing, or layering.

New Perspectives. A Forest Service project tobring about new thinking, new technolo-gies, and new alliances to improve eco-logical management of the National For-est System. Managing ecosystems to sus-tain diversity and productivity for futureresource uses, values, products, and ser-vices. This project was a precursor to theconcept of ecosystem management. Seealso ecosystem management.

Nurse tree (syn: nurse crop). A tree, group orcrop of trees, shrubs, or other plants,either naturally occurring or introduced,used to nurture or improve the form of amore important tree or crop during youthby protecting it from frost, insolation, orwind.

O

Off-road vehicle (ORV). Any motorized vehicledesigned for or capable of cross-countrytravel on or immediately over land, wa-ter, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, orother natural terrain. It includes but is notlimited to four-wheel drive or low-pres-sure-tired vehicles, motorcycles and re-lated two-wheeled vehicles, amphibiousmachines, ground-effect or air-cushionvehicles, and any other means of trans-portation deriving power from any sourceother than muscle or wind; except thatsuch term shall exclude any registeredmotorboat; any military, fire, or law en-forcement vehicle; any farm-type tractorand other self-propelled agriculturalequipment used exclusively for agricul-tural purposes; any self-propelled equip-ment for harvesting and transporting for-est products, or for earth moving or con-struction while being used for these pur-poses on the work site (and self-propelledlawnmowers, snowblowers, garden orlawn tractors, or golf carts while beingused for their designed purpose).

Old-growth forests. An ecosystem distin-guished by old trees and related struc-tural attributes. Old growth encompassesthe later stages of stand developmentthat typically differ from earlier stages ina variety of characteristics including treesize, accumulation of large dead woodymaterial, number of canopy layers, spe-cies composition, and ecosystem func-tion. Old growth is not necessarily virginor primeval. It can develop over timefollowing human disturbances, just as itdoes following natural disturbances. Oldgrowth encompasses both older forestsdominated by early seral species and for-ests in later successional stages domi-nated by shade tolerant species.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

M,N,O

G– 1 0 R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N


Overstory removal. The cutting of trees com-prising an upper canopy layer in order torelease trees or other vegetation in anunderstory.

Overtopped (syn: suppressed). Crown class oftrees with varying levels of vigor whosecrowns are completely covered by crownsof one or more neighboring trees.

P

Precommercial thinning. A thinning that yieldsno trees of commercial value, usually de-signed to improve crop spacing.

Plant association. a. A potential natural plantcommunity of definite floristic compositionand uniform appearance; b. A basic unit ofvegetation classification based on the cli-max plant community; a distinctive combi-nation of vascular plants at climax; c. Standsof vegetation with similar combinationsof species united into abstract types; abasic unit in plant community classifica-tion; d. An arbitrary grouping of plantcommunities into a type within environ-mental gradients and the distribution ofpopulations along the gradients; e. Anassociation is a subdivision of formation, thehighest level of plant community classifica-tion. It is divided into three more lowerunits. The lowest, location, is the basic unitin plant community classification.

Population. A group of individuals with com-mon ancestry that are much more likelyto mate with one another than with indi-viduals from another such group.

Potential natural community. The biotic com-munity that would be established if allsuccessional sequences of its ecosystemwere completed without additional hu-man-caused disturbances under presentenvironmental conditions. Grazing bynative fauna, natural disturbances such asdrought, floods, wildfire, insects, and dis-ease, are inherent in the development ofpotential natural communities which mayinclude naturalized nonnative species.

Province. A continuous geographic areawherein species composition, both plantand animal, is more homogeneous thanbetween adjacent areas.

Pure stand. A stand composed of essentiallya single tree species.

R

Riparian areas. Geographically delineableareas with distinctive resource value andcharacteristics that are comprised of theaquatic and riparian ecosystem.

Riparian-associated resources. The plant andanimal habitats and mesic sideslope com-munities that are found within or adja-cent to riparian areas or scour channels.

Riparian area protection zone (RAPZ). An areathat may extend beyond the SHPZ to atleast the extent of the flat, level area oralluvial floodplain landform. This area isprovided to protect or enhance thosedistinctive resource values and charac-teristics that comprise the aquatic andriparian ecosystems.

Range of variability (syns: natural variability,historic variability). The spectrum of condi-tions possible in ecosystem composition,structure, and function considering bothtemporal and spatial factors.

Regeneration (syn: reproduction) method. Acutting method by which a new age classis created. The major methods are clear-cutting, seed-tree, shelterwood, selection,and coppice.

Release. A treatment designed to free youngtrees from competitive, usually overtop-ping, vegetation.

S

Scour channel. A definable channel of flowwhere water converges showing signs ofsoil movement.

Seed-tree. An even-aged regenerationmethod in which a new age class devel-ops from seedlings that germinate in fullyexposed microenvironments after removalof all the previous stand except a smallnumber of trees left to provide seed. Seedtrees are removed after regeneration isestablished.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

O,P,R,S


R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N G– 1 1

Seed-tree with reserves. A two-aged seed-tree method in which some or all of theseed trees are retained after regenerationhas become established, to attain goalsother than regeneration.

Shelterwood. An even-aged regenerationmethod used on stands in order to de-velop new age classes beneath the par-tially shaped microenvironment providedby residual trees. The sequence of treat-ments can include three distinct types ofcuttings:1. Optional preparatory harvest to en-hance conditions for seed production.2. Establishment harvest to prepare theseed bed and to create a new age class.3. Removal harvest to release establishedregeneration from competition with theoverwood. Harvesting may be done uni-formly throughout the stand — uniformshelterwood, in groups or patches — groupshelterwood, or in strips — strip shelter-wood.

Shelterwood with reserves. A two-aged re-generation method similar to a shelter-wood, except that some or all shelter treesare retained well beyond the normal pe-riod of retention for goals other than re-generation. The resulting stand may betwo-aged or tend towards an uneven-aged condition as a consequence of bothan extended period of regeneration estab-lishment and the retention of reserve treesthat may represent one or more age classes.

Single-tree selection. An uneven-agedmethod of creating new age classes inuneven-aged stands throughout whichindividual trees of all size classes are re-moved more or less uniformly to achievedesired stand structure.

Silviculture. The science of controlling theestablishment, growth, composition,health, and quality of forests and wood-lands. Silviculture entails the manipula-tion of forest and woodland vegetation instands and on landscapes to meet thediverse needs and values of society on asustainable basis.

Silvicultural system. A planned processwhereby a stand is tended, harvested, andreestablished. The system name is basedon the number of age classes, and / or theregeneration method used. See also even-aged, two-aged, uneven-aged, clearcutting,seed-tree, shelterwood, single-tree selection,coppice.

Site. a. Classification of land area based on itsclimate, physiographic (physical geogra-phy), edaphic (soil), and biotic factors thatdetermine its suitability and productivityfor particular species and silvicultural alter-natives; b. In ecology, an area described ordefined by biotic, climatic, and soil condi-tions related to its capacity to producevegetation; an area sufficiently uniform inbiotic, climatic, and soil conditions to pro-duce a particular climax vegetation.

Site class. A classification of site quality, usu-ally expressed in terms of ranges of domi-nant tree height at a given age or potentialmean annual increment at culmination.

Site preparation. A treatment designed tocondition the soil and remove competingvegetation to enhance the survival andgrowth of seedlings or seeds.

Site quality (syn: productivity). The productivecapacity of a site, usually expressed asvolume production of a given species.

Size classes. Tree sizes recognized by distinctranges, usually of diameter or height.

Species. A population or series of popula-tions of organisms that are capable ofinterbreeding freely with each other butnot with members of other species.

Stand. A contiguous group of trees suffi-ciently uniform in age class distribution,composition, and structure, and growingon a site of sufficiently uniform quality, tobe a distinguishable unit.

Stratified mixture. A stand in which differenttree species occupy different strata of thetotal crown canopy.

Stand composition. The representation of treespecies in a forest stand, expressed bysome measure of dominance such as per-cent of volume, number, basal area, cover.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

S



Stand density. A quantitative, absolute mea-sure of tree occupancy per unit of landarea in such terms as numbers of trees,basal area, or volume.

Stand improvement. A term comprising allintermediate cuttings made to improvethe composition, structure, condition,health, and growth of even-aged, two-aged, or uneven-aged stands.

Stewardship. a. Caring for land and associ-ated resources and passing healthy eco-systems to future generations. b. Themanagement of someone else’s property— for example, the Forest Service’s man-agement of the American people’s Na-tional Forest System.

Stocking. An indication of growing-spaceoccupancy relative to a preestablishedstandard. Common indices of stockingare based on percent occupancy, basalarea, relative density, and crown compe-tition factor.

Stratum (canopy layer). A distinct layer ofvegetation within a forest community.

Streamside habitat protection zone (SHPZ).An area adjacent to a stream scour chan-nel provided to protect or enhance ri-parian-associated resource values andcharacteristics.

Stressors. Physical or biotic factors that stressindividual organisms / communities.

Succession. Over time, a. an orderly process ofbiotic community development involvingchanges in species, structure and commu-nity processes. It is reasonably directionaland therefore predictable; b. The succes-sion or progression of plant communitieson a site that previously contained a plantcommunity removed by disturbance suchas fire or logging; c. In an ecological sense,a process of community development in-volving changes in species structure andcommunity processes.

Successional stage. One in a series of usuallytransitory communities or developmen-tal stages that occur on a particular site orarea over a period of time.

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

S,T

Suitability. The appropriateness of applyingcertain resource management practicesto a particular area of land, as determinedby an analysis of the economic and envi-ronmental consequences and the alter-native uses foregone.

Sustainability. The ability of an ecosystem tomaintain ecological processes and func-tions, biological diversity, and productiv-ity over time.

Sustainability; ecosystem. a. The ability to sus-tain diversity, productivity, resilience tostress, health, renewability, and / or yieldsof desired values, resource uses, prod-ucts, or services from an ecosystem whilemaintaining the integrity of the ecosys-tem over time; b. Management of ecosys-tems so that the desired mix of values andresources are tempered to ensure thattheir capabilities and suitabilities are notcompromised for future generations.

T

Tending. See intermediate treatments.

Terrestrial ecosystem. A land based ecosys-tem (see ecosystem). An interacting sys-tem of soil, geology, and topographywith plant and animal communities.

Thinning. Tree cutting to reduce stand den-sity — primarily to improve growth, en-hance forest health, or to recover poten-tial mortality. Four commonly used typesare:

Crown thinning (thinning from above, highthinning). The removal of trees from thedominant and codominant crown classesin even-aged stands, or in even-agedgroups within uneven-aged stands, inorder to favor the best trees of those samecrown classes.

Free thinning. The removal of trees in even-aged, two-aged, or uneven-aged standsto control stand spacing and favor desiredtrees using a combination of thinningcriteria without regard to crown position.

Low thinning. The removal of trees fromthe lower crown classes to favor those inthe upper crown classes.


R E V I S E D L A N D & R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T P L A N G– 1 3

Mechanical thinning (geometric thinning). Thethinning of trees in either even-aged ortwo-aged stands, or in even-aged groupswithin uneven-aged stands, in the domi-nant crown class in order to favor thelower crown classes.

Thinning interval. The period of time be-tween successive thinning entries, usu-ally used in connection with even-agedstands. Also see cutting cycle.

Two-aged stand. A stand composed of twodistinct age classes, separated in age bymore than 20 percent of the rotationlength.

Two-aged silvicultural system. A planned se-quence of treatments designed to main-tain and regenerate a stand with two ageclasses. Also see shelterwood with reserves,coppice with reserves.

Two-aged methods. Methods designed tomaintain and regenerate a stand withtwo age classes.

U

Uneven-aged (selection) methods. Methodsof regenerating a forest stand and main-taining an uneven-aged structure by re-moving some trees in all size classes —singly, in small groups, or in strips.

Undercutting (syn: root pruning). The rootpruning of seedlings in a nursery bed.

Uneven-aged stand. A stand of trees of threeor more distinct age classes, either inti-mately mixed or in small groups.

Uneven-aged silvicultural system. A plannedsequence of treatments designed to main-tain and regenerate a stand with three ormore age classes. Also see single-tree se-lection and group selection.

Unsuitable forest land. Forest land that is notmanaged for timber production becausea) the land has been withdrawn by Con-gress, the Secretary, or the Chief; b) theland is not producing or not capable ofproducing crops of industrial wood; c)technology is not available to preventirreversible damage to soils, productivity,or watershed conditions; d) there is no

COMMONLYUSED TERMS

T, U, V,W

reasonable assurance that lands can beadequately restocked within five yearsafter final harvest, based on existing tech-nology and knowledge, as reflected incurrent research and experience; e) thereis at present a lack of adequate informa-tion in response to timber managementactivities; or f) timber management isinconsistent with or not cost efficient inmeeting the management requirementsand multiple-use objectives specified inthe Forest Plan.

V

Vascular plants. Plants with well-developedvascular systems that transport water,minerals, sugars, and other nutrientsthroughout the plant body. This excludesthe bryophytes: mosses, hornworts, andliverworts.

Viability. The likelihood of continued exist-ence in an area for some specified periodof time.

W

Watershed. An area of land with a character-istic drainage network that contributessurface or ground water to the flow atthat point; a drainage basin or a majorsubdivision of a drainage basin.

Weeding. A release treatment in stands notpast the sapling stage, which eliminatesor suppresses undesirable vegetation re-gardless of crown position.

Wrenching. The disturbance of seedling rootsin a nursery bed — for example, using atractor-drawn blade — with the objectiveof stimulating development of a fibrousroot system.



Documents

Revised Land and Resource Management Plan