Proposed Revised Forest Plan
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Guest
Okay, it's going to be ready shortly - I just checked the site
Proposed Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(Available after 10 am May 8, 2003)
News Release (NOTE MEETING SCHEDULE BELOW):
Winchester – May 8, 2003
For Immediate Release
The framework for future management direction for the Daniel Boone National Forest was announced by Forest Supervisor Ben Worthington as he made the Proposed Revised Forest Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement available for public review today.
The Forest Plan provides the overall guidance that is usedfor each project that occurs on a national forest. National Forests are managed to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. The 700,000-acre Daniel Boone National Forest stretches across Eastern Kentucky.
The current Forest Plan was signed in 1985. In 1996, the Forest Service notified the public of the need to revise the 1985 Plan in response to changes in agency policy and recreation use patterns. New scientific information and forest health threats also provided reasons to revise the 1985 Plan.
“Throughout the revision process we have continually asked the public what they wanted the Daniel Boone to be for present and future generations,” stated Worthington. “We feel the scientific analysis contained in these draft documents recommends the alternative that would provide the best mix of conditions and uses to meet the diverse needs of people while protecting the resources.”
Forest Service personnel analyzed six alternatives and documented the analysis in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. A preferred alternative was chosen and the Proposed Revised Forest Plan wasdeveloped. “We chose Alternative C-1 as the preferred alternative because it emphasizes the maintenance and restoration of ecological processes and functions while also emphasizing recreation opportunities,” said Worthington.
Alternative C-1:
Provides a greater emphasis on desired conditions - or outcomes - from the Forest, focusing on what is left behind not what is taken out.
Utilizes the best available science to reduce the risk of wildfire, insect infestation, plant diseases, and other forest health concerns.
Provides a wide array of recreational opportunities with special emphasis on enhancing dispersed recreation management such as trail use.
Restores and protects habitats for 4,000 plant and animals with special emphasis on rare species.
Provides a different role for timber harvesting. Trees would be cut to manage for habitat diversity and to restore ecosystem health; however, the estimated level of harvest would be lower than the 1985 Plan.
Allows for an increased role of prescribed fire to manage for habitat diversity and to restore ecosystem health.
Protects Wilderness and other special areas that provide wild and natural features of the forests.
Provides riparian areas and domestic water sources with special management emphasis.
“The preferred alternative would provide the framework to reduceforest health threats resulting from ice and snow storms, southern pine beetle attacks and future threats from gypsy moth,” said Worthington.
Now the public has an opportunity to provide comments onthese proposals. The public comment period will run 90 days from the date the release is published in the Federal Register, which is anticipated to be May 16, 2003. The Forest Service will hold nine open house sessions at the following locations to answer questions about the proposed planning documents.
Meeting locations and dates are as follows:
May 19 Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, 4-7 pm
May 20 Leslie County Cooperative Extension Office, Hyden, 4-7 pm
May 22 London Community Center, London, 4-7 pm
May 28 Hurstbourne Hotel, Louisville, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm
May 29 Carl Perkins Center, Morehead, 4-7 pm
May 31 Carl Perkins Building, EKU, Richmond, 12-3 pm
June 2 Boone County Cooperative Extension Office, Burlington, 4-7 pm
June 3 Somerset Community College McCreary County Center, Whitley City, 4-7 pm
June 4 Fayette County Cooperative Extension Office, Lexington, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm
“We are not locked into the preferred alternative; however,we see Alternative C-1 as providing the best balance between the variety of public uses and protecting the Forest resources,” added Worthington. “We are looking for substantive comments that will help us make the final decision on how to manage the Daniel Boone National Forest for present and future generations.”
A special Forest Service team will analyze all comments. Comments should be postmarked or received by the Forest Service no later than the last day of the comment period. Comments should be sent to:
Daniel Boone National Forest
Content Analysis Team
P.O. Box 221150
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
Fax: 801-517-1015
E-Mail: danielboone@fs.fed.us
For more information on the public meetings or to access the draft planning documents electronically visit the Daniel Boone National Forest web site at: http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/boone/planning or contact the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 859-745-3100 for paper copies or a compact disc.
Proposed Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(Available after 10 am May 8, 2003)
News Release (NOTE MEETING SCHEDULE BELOW):
Winchester – May 8, 2003
For Immediate Release
The framework for future management direction for the Daniel Boone National Forest was announced by Forest Supervisor Ben Worthington as he made the Proposed Revised Forest Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement available for public review today.
The Forest Plan provides the overall guidance that is usedfor each project that occurs on a national forest. National Forests are managed to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. The 700,000-acre Daniel Boone National Forest stretches across Eastern Kentucky.
The current Forest Plan was signed in 1985. In 1996, the Forest Service notified the public of the need to revise the 1985 Plan in response to changes in agency policy and recreation use patterns. New scientific information and forest health threats also provided reasons to revise the 1985 Plan.
“Throughout the revision process we have continually asked the public what they wanted the Daniel Boone to be for present and future generations,” stated Worthington. “We feel the scientific analysis contained in these draft documents recommends the alternative that would provide the best mix of conditions and uses to meet the diverse needs of people while protecting the resources.”
Forest Service personnel analyzed six alternatives and documented the analysis in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. A preferred alternative was chosen and the Proposed Revised Forest Plan wasdeveloped. “We chose Alternative C-1 as the preferred alternative because it emphasizes the maintenance and restoration of ecological processes and functions while also emphasizing recreation opportunities,” said Worthington.
Alternative C-1:
Provides a greater emphasis on desired conditions - or outcomes - from the Forest, focusing on what is left behind not what is taken out.
Utilizes the best available science to reduce the risk of wildfire, insect infestation, plant diseases, and other forest health concerns.
Provides a wide array of recreational opportunities with special emphasis on enhancing dispersed recreation management such as trail use.
Restores and protects habitats for 4,000 plant and animals with special emphasis on rare species.
Provides a different role for timber harvesting. Trees would be cut to manage for habitat diversity and to restore ecosystem health; however, the estimated level of harvest would be lower than the 1985 Plan.
Allows for an increased role of prescribed fire to manage for habitat diversity and to restore ecosystem health.
Protects Wilderness and other special areas that provide wild and natural features of the forests.
Provides riparian areas and domestic water sources with special management emphasis.
“The preferred alternative would provide the framework to reduceforest health threats resulting from ice and snow storms, southern pine beetle attacks and future threats from gypsy moth,” said Worthington.
Now the public has an opportunity to provide comments onthese proposals. The public comment period will run 90 days from the date the release is published in the Federal Register, which is anticipated to be May 16, 2003. The Forest Service will hold nine open house sessions at the following locations to answer questions about the proposed planning documents.
Meeting locations and dates are as follows:
May 19 Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade, 4-7 pm
May 20 Leslie County Cooperative Extension Office, Hyden, 4-7 pm
May 22 London Community Center, London, 4-7 pm
May 28 Hurstbourne Hotel, Louisville, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm
May 29 Carl Perkins Center, Morehead, 4-7 pm
May 31 Carl Perkins Building, EKU, Richmond, 12-3 pm
June 2 Boone County Cooperative Extension Office, Burlington, 4-7 pm
June 3 Somerset Community College McCreary County Center, Whitley City, 4-7 pm
June 4 Fayette County Cooperative Extension Office, Lexington, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm
“We are not locked into the preferred alternative; however,we see Alternative C-1 as providing the best balance between the variety of public uses and protecting the Forest resources,” added Worthington. “We are looking for substantive comments that will help us make the final decision on how to manage the Daniel Boone National Forest for present and future generations.”
A special Forest Service team will analyze all comments. Comments should be postmarked or received by the Forest Service no later than the last day of the comment period. Comments should be sent to:
Daniel Boone National Forest
Content Analysis Team
P.O. Box 221150
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
Fax: 801-517-1015
E-Mail: danielboone@fs.fed.us
For more information on the public meetings or to access the draft planning documents electronically visit the Daniel Boone National Forest web site at: http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/boone/planning or contact the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 859-745-3100 for paper copies or a compact disc.
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Guest
Some might loose their home, but the FS whats to create habitat by logging. I just got back from their press confrence and my head hurts. I watched Worthington dance around the logging questions, lets face it kids logging is a big part of this thing. They want to 'open up' more areas of the forest to provide habitat for various species, like grouse, who need more open areas and smaller, younger stands of trees and growth. Seems that OHVs aren't getting a lot under the new plan. They seemed to be VERY vocal in the public comment period, but there is nothing earth shattering in the form of new OHV trails under this plan. They can continue to use what htey are given (about 117 miles I think), and the opportunity exsists to create mnore trails if the trails meet the criteria. Now for the rock climbing. I haven't poured over the plan like some, but it appears they have taken that '96 Rock Climbing Management Guide and put it into the plan with some changes. You still need approval for new routes that might require bolts, cutting of vegitation, or building trails. There might be some more changes in the wording, but I haven't studied the document yet. In chatting with Worthington he tlod me that one of their folks spotted some cliffline in an other area of the forest. He was somewhat excited, well as about as excited as he gets, when telling me about this. So anyway watch good ole channel 36 tonight at 6 PM for the story, and watch the mail for the draft plan as they went out this week from the printers. As climbers we are small fish in the pond, but we have been vocal (in the right ways) in the past so lets do it again in this next phase of public comment.ynot wrote:There is no way to do it right. Lots of critters will loose thier homes regardless of how its done.
I see they are still lopping off mountains in Eastern Kentucky. Electricity isn't cheap.
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Guest
Thanks, Steve. I wish I could get your local news! Hopefully Louisville news was also there.
So far what little I've read is balanced and I haven't seen any red flags. The electronic copy is now available, but I don't have enough hard drive space to download the entire document and have requested a paper copy to be sent. Folks, get your copies!
I am anxious to hear Johnny and Shannon's feedback on this. When will this be discussed in a RRGCC meeting?
So far what little I've read is balanced and I haven't seen any red flags. The electronic copy is now available, but I don't have enough hard drive space to download the entire document and have requested a paper copy to be sent. Folks, get your copies!
I am anxious to hear Johnny and Shannon's feedback on this. When will this be discussed in a RRGCC meeting?
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Guest