Objective: Provide a desired plant community that supports the integrity of the ecological processes (water cycle, energy cycle, and nutrient cycle) provided by the vegetative community.
The RMP will address the management of vegetative resources to provide forage for livestock use while providing for other multiple uses (i.e. habitat for wildlife, native vegetation, recreation, etc.)
Objective: Provide a desired plant community that supports the integrity of the ecological processes provided by the vegetative community.
Forestry planning issues include supporting private industry needs, determining when and where firewood cutting and biomass utilization is appropriate, and determining Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) for forest areas. In addition, there is the issue of managing forested areas that are not accessible.
Special Status Species
How will public lands be managed to conserve and recover threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive species and their habitats?
In the planning area there are six species currently listed as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. RMP strategies to manage these and other Special Status Species include analyzing current habitat and population data and determining desired conditions.
Water Quality/Quantity/Aquatic Species
Objective: Ensure that waters are of sufficient quality to support the integrity of ecological processes which rely on them, that all identified beneficial uses of waters are protected, and that water quality standards are met, and to ensure that flow volumes are sufficient to support the aquatic life and wildlife which depend on them.
The RMP will outline federal and state mandated procedures for permitting practices. Water quality planning will consider studies on impaired streams, riparian conditions, land jurisdiction, fisheries, water quality, and water quantity.
Special Management Area Designation
What public lands require special management attention to protect resource values?
The land in the planning area will be evaluated to determine if any part qualifies for special designation. The plan will discuss management goals and objectives for these areas.
What public lands will be available for commercial activities and how will those activities be managed?
The RMP will review the forage allocation for grazing livestock while considering the maintenance of wildlife habitat and native plant species. The leasing, exploration, and development of oil, gas, and coal will be addressed and areas open to these uses will be identified. In addition, the RMP will examine right-of-way corridor planning and the competition between commercial and non-commercial recreational use in the planning area.
Update Land Tenure Adjustment Information and Access Needs
What criteria will be used to make public land tenure adjustments, including disposal of public land and acquisition of non-public lands, and what public lands may be available for future adjustment activities?
The RMP will review all lands in the planning area for retention or disposal, and determine criteria for the disposal or acquisition of land.