Welcome to the Eastern Region

The Eastern Region is rich in water. More than 10,000 lakes (with nearly half on national forests), 15,000 miles of streams, and two million acres of wetlands provide clean drinking water for communities, healthy habitat for fish and wildlife, and recreation opportunities for millions of visitors. Almost half the nation's 45 million anglers fish the waters of the 20-state Eastern Region each year. Yet, when the East was first settled, rivers were straightened and dammed, and wetlands were drained. Today the region works hard with neighbors and partners to restore these watersheds.

Spotlight

Applicants Sought for Recreation Resource Advisory Committee

Milwaukee, WI The US Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill 6 positions on the 11 member Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC). The RRAC provides recommendations on recreation fees to the agency for public lands within the Eastern Region.

Nominations for the following positions will be accepted through September 30, 2008. 1) Summer Motorized Recreation, 2) Hunting/Fishing, 3) Outfitters/Guides, 4) Local Environmental Groups, 5) Affected Indian Tribes, 6) Affected Local Governments.

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The Eastern Region Celebrates National Get Outdoors Day

The Eastern Region held four successful events, including two signature events, for the first National Get Outdoors Day on June 14, 2008.

Partnering with organizations and agencies such as The Henry Ford, Chapman State Park, Coleman Company, and Fort Snelling State Park, our representatives captured visitors' attention with hands-on demonstrations of hiking and camping techniques, and outdoor recreation activities.

While the purpose of the day was to encourage people to “get outdoors,” it also increased public awareness of the United States Forest Service and the splendor of our National Forests.

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Forest Service Volunteer Opportunities Are Available

Public involvement plays an important part in managing our national forest lands. The USDA Forest Service Volunteer Program has something for almost everyone: retirees, professionals, housewives, students and young people, as well as service clubs and organizations. If you like people and care about our country's natural resources, the Forest Service needs your time and talents.

To find out how you can volunteer, please contact each Forest, Grassland or Prairie individually. We appreciate your willingness to donate your services.

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An Invitation to Ride

Off-highway vehicles (OHV) are welcome on the National Forests when traveling on designated routes or areas. However, increased use of OHVs has caused resource damage. For this reason, the Travel Management Rule was developed to create a sustainable system of designated routes and areas for increasing number of OHV riders.

Each National Forest will provide a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that defines the routes developed to provide OHV visitors with some great riding adventures. These MVUMs will be developed by 2009 for each National Forest in the Eastern Region.

Remember to be responsible towards the land so as to preserve the recreational opportunities for generations to come. For your own safety as well as the protection of the land, please stay on the trail.

Midwest Natural Resource Group Takes on Invasive Species

Senior leaders of the Midwest Natural Resource Group have adopted a "Plan for Action for Terrestrial Invasive Species within the Great Lakes Basin." The Plan sets priorities to focus "existing resources....to effectively coordinate inventories, mapping and treatment of terrestrial invasive species for the Great Lakes Basin."

Regional Forester Randy Moore, along with senior executives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Highway Administration, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, approved the plan at their annual meeting on July 19, 2006.

This multi-agency collaboration will strengthen actions to combat invasive species in the Eastern Region, as well as, contribute towards one of the Forest Service Eastern Region's Courageous Conservation goals of "protecting ecosystems across boundaries."

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