sequoia & sierra forest plan revision webinar slideshow

United States Department of Agriculture

Pacific Southwest Region July 2019 1

Forest Plan RevisionSequoia & Sierra National Forests

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Sequoia & Sierra National Forests

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Comments, questions, or technical difficulties?

Send a question to organizers through WebEx or email [email protected] at any time. • If you are calling in only, you may contact Alice to

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mailto:[email protected]

• Welcome!

• Meeting Agenda:

• Overview of Forest Plan Revision Process

• Public Participation Opportunities

• Overview of Alternatives Analyzed & Key Concepts in Draft Plans

• Navigate the documents and project website

http://tinyurl.com/USFS-r5planrevision

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2014

2013

201620152019

2020

2012

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Where are we in the forest plan revision process?

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Documents for public review and comment

Comment period closes September 26, 11:59pm Pacific.

• Web-site (links to Comment Form): http://tinyurl.com/USFS-r5planrevision

• Postal mail: Planning Team Leader, Forest Plan Revision, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592

• E-mail: [email protected]

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Ways to provide public comments



The most helpful comments provide: • Modifications or corrections to the

information in the revised draft environmental impact statement (EIS) or draft forest plan

• Missing environmental or socioeconomic information not already listed in the draft EIS or draft forest plan

• New information about laws, regulations, or guidance that apply to forest management

• Missing scientific research or errors in the Forest Service’s analysis

• Points in the analysis that are confusing or hard to understand

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Forest Plan Revision ~ 90-day public comment and review

Web-site: http://tinyurl.com/USFS-r5planrevision

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Project Homepage


Forest Plan Revision Project Documents (PALS)

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Forest Plan Revision ~ PALS Project Page

Date Activity

July 1012-1:30

Forest Plan Revision Update Public Webinar

July 31 & August 1411-1

Virtual Office HoursQ&A session

August 205:30-8:30

Public WorkshopBakersfield, CA

August 215:30-8:30

Public Workshop, Clovis, CA

Ongoing Fact Sheets & FAQs, as needed

E-mail: [email protected] Participation Opportunities

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Forest Plan Revision ~ External engagement


• An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)• Explains proposed revisions

• Presents range of alternatives for managing the national forests

• Analyzes environmental, social and economic effects

• 1 EIS → 2 unique forest plans and 2 Records of Decision

• “Revision Topics”

• Ecological Integrity, Fire Management, Sustainable Recreation and Designated Areas

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

• Alternative A: No Action • Existing Management Direction

• Alternative B: Active Restoration• Preferred Alternative – Draft Plans• Focus on restoring fire-adapted ecosystems

• Alternative C: Passive Restoration

• Full incorporation of direction for fisher, California Spotted Owl, and complex early seral habitat

• Focus on avoiding short-term impacts to at-risk species habitat through non-mechanical treatment

• Alternative D: Maximum Active Restoration

• Maximum pace & scale of restoration treatments • Focus on long-term benefits of resiliency to disturbances

• Alternative E: Diverse Recreation

• Backcountry Management Area

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Five Draft EIS Alternatives

State of Southern Sierra

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Reason for revising the draft EIS

• Vegetation data

• Fire Zones

• Wildlife management direction

• Recreation management framework

• Aquatic and Riparian Strategy & Conservation Watersheds

Key changes between Draft and Revised Draft EIS:

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Differences between draft and revised draft

The Plans

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• Managing for resilient forests, wildlife and communities

• Emphasis on heterogeneity

• Increases reliance on stewardship contracting and collaborative partnerships

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Plan Content by Revision Topic – Ecological Integrity

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• Aquatic Conservation Strategy

• Emphasizes beneficial uses of water

• Restores role of fire in riparian areas

• Restores and maintains habitat connectivity for aquatic species

Aquatic Ecosystems

Plan Content by Revision Topic – Ecological Integrity

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• Implements National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy

• All-lands fire management zoning architecture

• Emphasizes community and firefighter safety

• Uses risk and values-based framework

Plan Content by Revision Topic – Fire Management

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• Establishes modern recreation framework through three management areas

• Complementary to the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum

• PCT management area corridor

Plan Content by Revision Topic – Sustainable Recreation

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• Sequoia NF: 51 segments (~328.3 mi)

• Sierra NF: 13 segments (~48.2 mi)

Wild & Scenic River Eligibility

• Sequoia NF: 4,906 acres in Giant Sequoia National Monument

• Sierra NF: No recommended wilderness

Recommended Wilderness

Plan Content by Revision Topic – Sustainable Recreation

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Sierra National Forest: 65Sequoia National Forest: 75

Plants Mammals

Birds Amphibians

Fish Terrestrial Invertebrates

Aquatic Invertebrates

• Approximately 2,000 species considered for SCC determination

• Species of Conservation Concern lists by Forest:

Species of Conservation Concern (SCC)

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• Summary

• Volume 1: Draft EIS• Chapter 1: Purpose and Need and Issues

• Chapter 2*: The Alternatives and Quick Comparison

• Chapter 3*: Affected Environment and Consequences

• Chapter 4: Preparers, Consultation, Coordination

• Glossary, References, Index

* More detail on following slides24

Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft EIS Chapters

Alternatives and Comparison Tables• How we developed the alternatives

• Features in common across alternatives

• Details of the main elements of each alternative• Focus on the major things that differ and

that respond to the issues

• Organized by the 3 revision topics

• Other alternatives were considered

• Comparison tables

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft EIS Chapter 2

Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences1. Agents of Change provides context

2. Revision Topic #1: Fire Management (fire and air)

3. Revision Topic #2: Ecological Integrity(terrestrial, aquatic, wildlife, fish and plants)

4. Revision Topic #3: Recreation (wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, Pacific Crest Trail and more)

5. Tribal Relations and Uses

6. Benefits to People (forest products, economic, social)

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft EIS Chapter 3

Each Chapter 3 section is organized similarly:

• Background

• Analysis and Methods

• Affected Environment

• Environmental Consequences• Common consequences

• By alternative or by consequence

• Cumulative Effects

• Analytical Conclusions

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft EIS Analysis

Volume 2: Appendices(Required by the Planning Rule)

• A: Comparison of Plan Components

• B: Wilderness Recommendation Process

• C: Wild and Scenic Rivers Study Process

• D: Species of Conservation Concern Persistence Analysis

• E: Rangeland Management

• F: Timber Suitability & Management

• G: Consistency with Other Planning Efforts

Volume 3: Maps

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft EIS Appendices

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3 & 4

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1Start with the Summary

1. Online, use the bookmarks to navigate

2. Collapse to simplify list

3. Use the “find” feature to look for keywords

4. Use the “Advanced search” feature to look for phrases

5. Print selected sections of the PDFs (right-click)

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Draft EIS Navigation

A forest plan: • Sets the long-term, overall vision for a

national forest

• Guides decision-making for projects and activities

• Recognizes the need to be responsive to changing conditions

• Provides only one source of direction that guides national forest management.

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Forest Plan Revision ~ What is a forest plan?

We are revising the current forest plans because:

• Existing plans are more than 20 years old

• Social, economic, and environmental conditions have changed

• New regulations and policies are in place

• New information is available

Needed changes:• Wildfire planning and management

• Restoration of ecosystems

• Sustainable and diverse recreation

• Benefits to local communities

• Tribal relations and uses

• Language and categorization of plan components

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Forest Plan Revision ~ Why are we revising the forest plans?

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2: Forestwide Direction

• Desired conditions

• Management Direction

Chapter 3. Area-Specific Direction

• Management Areas

• Designated Areas

Chapter 4. Monitoring

Appendices• Maps

• Proposed and Possible actions

• Strategies for working with partners

• Strategies for resolving recreation conflicts

• Timber suitability and management

• Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy

Glossary

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Forest Plan Revision ~ What’s in a draft forest plan?

Desired Conditions – aspirations for what the

future looks like

Objectives – desired rate of progress toward

desired conditions

Standards – strict constraints on the design of projects and activities

Guidelines – constraints that allow for departure if purpose is met

Suitability – determination of whether activities or uses are suitable or not on specific lands

Goals – broad statements of intent (optional)33

Forest Plan Revision ~ Forest Plan Components

Date Activity

July 1012-1:30

Forest Plan Revision Update Public Webinar

July 31 & August 1411-1

Virtual Office HoursQ&A session

August 205:30-8:30

Public WorkshopBakersfield, CA

August 215:30-8:30

Public Workshop, Clovis, CA

Ongoing Fact Sheets & FAQs, as needed

90-day Comment Period External Engagement Activities

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Forest Plan Revision ~ External engagement

United States Department of Agriculture

Pacific Southwest Region June 2019

For more information visit our project website:


End of Webinar
