Notes on the National Forests Land Resource Management Plan Revision
by Larry Winslett
The US Forest Service has put out for comment the ninth alternative (or theme) for a management plan in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Called Alternative I, the Rolling Alternative, this appears to be the most acceptable alternative to conserving the natural resources in our forests. A review of existing alternatives includes:
A = Goods & Services, B = Restoration and wildlife habitat management, C = Custodial management & existing recreation, D = Timber / Commodity, E = Recreation, F = Current LRMP, G = Landscape linkage / movement corridors, H = Multiple use management - all suitable for timber (this alternative may be dropped), I = Rolling / Preferred
Rolling alternative for all Southern Appalachian Forests (including Chattahoochee) will likely be Alternatives E+B with some A. Rolling alternative for Coastal Plain Forests (e.g., Oconee) will likely be Alternatives A+E with some B. Rolling alternative socially driven, not timber driven. All riparian areas will be protected, but buffer zone still not settled. Demand for OHV and horse trails is high and must be met. Road system to remain the same for transportation; NO new timber roads. Old growth forests will be mapped to receive management prescription to protect them. Wilderness areas is proposed to be expanded by approximately 7,000 acres by including adjacent acreage. All rare communities are to be protected. Wood products will not be a goal of the plan; in the mountains wood will be a by-product of achieving other goals, while there may be some exceptions in the coastal plains forests. Likely suitable timbering areas may drop from current 645,000 acres in the Chattahoochee to 316,000 acres (option E) to 404,000 acres (option B). Wild & Scenic Rivers will be recommended in Alternative B, and others will be managed as if designated Wild & Scenic. Creeks/Rivers include: Conasauga/Jacks R, Ocmulgee R, Chattahoochee R, Panther/Davidson Cr, Tallulah/Coleman R, Murder Cr, Overflow Cr, Dukes/Dodd/Davis Cr. New planning regulations due to be out mid-September. Four percent (4%) of forests currently not in wilderness must be maintained as viable for native terrestrial plants and animals (early v. late successional - very controversial). Budget constraints force this plan alternative to be within +/- 10% of current budget $12,800,000 (an average over last 6 years). Constraints translate to a range of $11.5M - $14.0M.
Dates: 01 Oct 99 Public involvement to begin around mid-October with common ground meetings. These meetings will probably be day-long and in Gainesville GA, probably 4-5 during the week and 1 on Saturday. Common ground meetings will cover all 16 issues, but most time will be spent on areas where common ground may be possible and little time spent on areas where agreement is either likely or very unlikely. 01 Jan 00 More ID meetings possible. Jul-Dec 00 Draft Environmental Impact Statement due out for comment.
Last updated: 30 Nov 99