Sierra Water Workgroup Summit 2013Kings Beach, CA

Don YasudaRegional Analyst

USDA Forest ServicePacific Southwest Region

dyasuda@fs.fed.us

*National Forest PlanningOpportunities for Integration

* CALIFORNIA’S NATIONAL FORESTS

* 18 National Forest units in the Pacific Southwest Region

* 21 million acres* Headwaters of most major

rivers* About 50% of the runoff

in the state* Affected by climate

change

*2012 National Forest Planning Rule

Replaces 1982 Planning Rule after many attempts to update (1995, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008)* Streamlined, adaptive planning process* Strengthened public and agency involvement* Best-Available Scientific Information AND local, national, native knowledge* Landscape context to Forest Plans* Focus on restoration and resilience* Two-tier monitoring strategy

*National Forest Plans

Land Management Plans provide for:*Long-term health & productivity of land*Multiple-use of renewable resources in perpetuity*Sustainable, integrated resource management*Watersheds with ecological integrity*Capacity to provide ecosystem services* These services include… clean water ….

*Compliance with Clean Water Act

Assessment

Plan Revision

Monitoring

Three Phase Planning Process that is Continuous….

* Planning process

Implementation

Assessment

Plan Revision

Monitoring

Simplified process for Plan Amendments – essential for adaptive management

* Planning process

Implementation

PlanAmendments

*Planning process

The 2012 Planning Rule directs that forest plans provide for social, economic, and ecological sustainability within Forest Service authority and consistent with the inherent capability of the plan area.

*Planning process

Sustainability is the capability to meet the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

*PLANNING PROCESS

*Plan Revisions are programmatic in nature and do not make site specific decisions.

*Forest Plans consist of one decision that includes five Plan Components: * Desired Conditions* Objectives* Suitability of Uses* Standards* Guidelines

*Planning process

And other plan content such as:*Management Area’s /Zones / Places /

Geographic Areas*Recommended Area’s (Wilderness, Wild

&Scenic, etc.)*Priority Watersheds*Distinctive Roles and Contributions*Monitoring Plans

*PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

*Required for all phases of plan development

*Outreach required to tribes, Federal and State agencies, local governments, individuals, public and private organizations

*Consultation with tribes if requested* Incorporation of native knowledge and

land ethics*Coordination with other

planning efforts

*REGIONAL LEADERSHIP INTENT, ECOLOGICAL

RESTORATION“From this point forward, Ecological Restoration will be the central driver of wildland and forest stewardship in the Pacific Southwest Region, across all program areas and activities. Future Land and Resource Management Plans, other strategic plans and project plans will identify Ecological Restoration as a core objective. Our Ecological Restoration work will include coordination and support for all wildlands and forests in the Region to promote an “all lands” approach to restoration. It will lead to a new way of doing business with our partners and neighbors, to coordinate work and priorities across forests and wildlands regardless of ownership.”

*CA Biodiversity CouncilResolution

* CBC Resolution on Strengthening Agency Alignment for Natural Resource Collaboration.

* Establishes Interagency committee to identify opportunities, and coordinate: * Alignment activities* Use of common terminology and metrics* Portability and usability of data/documents

across agencies* Inventory and sharing of natural resource data* Streamlining public involvement processes