Forest Service Land Management Planning
Three-step process
1. Assessment
2. Plan development
3. Monitoring
Required Land Management
Plan components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Desired conditions
Objectives
Management standards and guidelines
Suitability of land for various activities
Monitoring program – questions and
associated indicators
The plan must also identify the area’s distinctive
roles and contributions within the broader
landscape
Wilderness Character:
• Development of desired
condition including area’s
distinctive role
• Monitoring program
Purpose and Need
Is Action Necessary? (poll question #1)
Wildland-urban interface
-- 1,580 private lots within ½ mile of boundary;
-- 42% of area within ¼ mile of residents could
produce 4’ flame lengths
Suppression history
-- 100% suppression, average 4 fires/year
-- Suppression impacts
Proposed Action
• 11,112 acres of prescribed burning
• 19 units
• Implementation over 5-10 years
• 5.8 miles of fire line
Issue: Proposed treatment will impair the
character of wilderness with no clear
benefit to wilderness values.
Alternative
• 6,900 acres of prescribed burning
• 11 units
• Implementation over 5-10 years
• 2.8 miles of fire line
Poll Question #2
Effect on Untrammeled Quality
# of actions to ignite fire
# of actions to suppress fire
No Action
0 actions to ignite fire
100% suppression actions continue
Proposed Action
1 action per year for 5-10 years to ignite fire
45% suppression actions over time
Alternative
1 action per year for 5-10 years to ignite fire
50% suppression actions over time
Effect on Natural Quality
The hidden consequences of
suppressing fire
Acres actually burned versus what
might have burned under different
weather scenarios
4,700 actual acres burned (1970-2011)
119,000 acres estimated burned for 70th
percentile burning index
No Action
5,000 acres burned over 50 years
Proposed Action
65,000 acres burned over 50 acres
Alternative
60,000 acres burned over 50 acres
Effect on Opportunities for Solitude or
Primitive and Unconfined Recreation
Poll question #3
# of days fire crews are present
Duration of temporary closures
No Action
0 days of fire crew presence
No temporary closures
Proposed action and Alternative
20 days of presence
~2 week temporary closure
Findings - Effect on Wilderness Character
Untrammeled: Short-term decline; Long-term improvement
Natural: Short-term stable; Long-term improvement
Undeveloped: Stable in short-term and long-term
Solitude: Short-term decline; Long-term stable
Overall: Temporary decline in wilderness character with
potential for lasting improvement in long-term
Monitoring
# of management actions taken
Change in % fires suppressed
Change in suppression tactics