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Thanks for joining us. We’ll be starting soon. To join the teleconference, dial 1-888-858-2144, passcode 1517341# To download handouts : Click the Handouts button at the top of the screen, right hand side. The Handouts button looks like this: To ask a question: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Thanks for joining us. We’ll be starting soon.
• To join the teleconference, dial 1-888-858-2144, passcode 1517341#• To download handouts:
• Click the Handouts button at the top of the screen, right hand side.• The Handouts button looks like this:
• To ask a question:• We’ll stop periodically and ask if anyone on the phone or in the room has a
question.• You can also ask your question online
• Click the ‘Q&A’ tab at the top of the screen, type your question in the dialog box, then click ‘Ask’.
• If you need to provide feedback during the presentation, please click on the drop-down arrow next to the Feedback tool.
FOREST PLAN REVISION
INYO NATIONAL FORESTMARCH 11 AND 13, 2013
Meeting Goals
• Review the forest plan revision process
• Gather information on:• Current forest conditions • Trends in conditions • Drivers of forest change
What is a Forest Plan?• Required for all national
forests/grasslands• Provides broad, integrated
management direction• Programmatic, not site-
specific
• Ten to fifteen year planning period
• All uses of the forest need to conform with plan direction
The Inyo’s Forest Plan• Inyo’s Forest Plan was completed in
1988; multiple amendments • Established management direction
for forest resources such as wildlife, recreation, and timber
• Delineated geographic management areas and prescriptions
• All forest projects and activities need to conform with 1988 plan direction
Why is the Plan being revised?• A lot has changed since 1988!• Need to develop improved
management direction based on new information and changing conditions
• Use results of 24 years of project implementation, other information• Carry forward management direction
that is still effective / valid; revise what is not
What will the revised Plan include?• Five required plan components:
• Desired Conditions• Objectives• Suitability of Uses• Standards • Guidelines
• Other plan content such as:• Distinctive Roles and Contributions• Management Areas - Zones - Geographic Areas• Recommended Areas (e.g., Wilderness, Wild &
Scenic Rivers)• Priority Watersheds• Monitoring Program
What won’t the Plan include?• Site-specific decisions or
actions, such as: • Construct 5 miles of new trail
from Bluebird Lake to Feather Falls
• Close Road #12S34 to motor vehicle use from April 1 – June 1 each year
• Conduct forest thinning on 125 acres immediately adjacent to the community of Forest Hill
Assessment
Plan Revision
Monitoring
Three Phases to Revise a Forest Plan
Multi-year process
2012• Develop
Inyo NF Collabor-ation Plan
2013
• Bioregional Assessment
• Inyo NF Assessment
• Begin identifying Need for Change
2014
• Complete Need for Change
• Develop and analyze Proposed Plan
2015 to 2016
• Public review of draft Plan and EIS
• Approve revised Plan
• Monitoring
First Phase: Assessment
Social Conditions
Economic Conditions
Ecological Conditions
Assessment Report• What is an assessment?
• Provides a source of information and context for plan revision
• To be conducted rapidly, using readily available information and existing data
• Identify knowledge or information gaps
• Conducted at two scales: forest-level and bioregional• Draft Bioregional assessment to be available May 2013, final by
August 2013
• Draft Forest-level assessment by October 2013, final by December 2013
Assessment Topic Papers• Resource “topic paper” chapters will form the foundation
of the Inyo NF Assessment ReportCh. 1: Ecosystem Condition (Terrestrial, Aquatic, Riparian Ecosystems)
Ch. 2: Air, Soil, and Water Resources
Ch. 3: System Drivers and Stressors (wildfire, climate change, insects and disease, etc.)
Ch. 4: Carbon stocks
Ch. 5: At-risk wildlife and plant species
Ch. 6: Social, Cultural, and Economic Conditions
Ch. 7: Ecosystem Services and Benefits (introduction only)
Ch. 8: Multiple Uses (Water, Range, Timber, Hunting/Fishing/Plant Collection)
Ch. 9: Recreation and Scenic Character
Ch. 10: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy and Mineral Resources
Ch. 11: Infrastructure (roads, recreation facilities, public utilities, etc.)
Ch. 12: Areas of Tribal Importance
Ch. 13: Cultural & Historic Resources
Ch. 14: Land Status and Ownership
Ch. 15: Designated Areas (wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, research natural areas, inventoried roadless areas)
Next Steps• Spring 2013: Gather information on resource conditions
and trends; prepare topic papers for the assessment.• Follow-up meeting/webinar April 4th, 2 - 4 pm and 5 – 7 pm• Initial input on content of assessment topic papers due April 5th• Public review of draft topic papers May-June (with some chapters
available even sooner)
• October 2013: Draft Assessment Report released for public review
• December 2013: Final Assessment Report published• Winter 2013: Initiate NEPA, identify need for change in
current management direction.