Guiding Principles of the Forest Plan

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is currently revising the 1988 Land and Resource Management Plan (1988 Forest Plan).

What is the land and resource management plan?
Why do we have Plans? What are the rules?
Who is involved?
Why do we revise Plans
Where can I provide my feedback and ask questions?

What is a land and resource management plan?

• Like roadmaps, Land and resource management plans (Forest Plans) set the groundwork for how the resources of a national forest are managed. They translate national laws, policies, and regulations into guidance for activities that occur on National Forest System Lands.
• Plans provide direction, which guides activities conducted on the national forest. Under the 1976 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and subsequent planning rules, Plans are to be updated every 10-15 years.
• Forest Plans must consider current scientific information, follow specific procedures and regulations, and incorporate decisions made at higher levels. Plans are developed in collaboration with stakeholders (the public, individuals, Tribal governments, agencies, etc.) and approved by the Forest Supervisor.
• Forest Plans describe the desired conditions of a U.S. Forest Service unit, and guide how resources on that unit are managed.
• The scope of a Plan is broad; that is, it is generally long-term, geographically covering all National Forest System Lands managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. This is different from the site-specific or project-level planning that the Forest Service carries out (such as fuels reduction, meadow restoration, and noxious weed treatments). The Forest Plan provides the guidance needed for project decisions that are made on a case-by-case basis.

Why do we have Plans? What are the rules?

• The resources and values of National Forest System Lands are of ecological, economic, and social importance. These resources are managed for multiple uses, by using sound environmental principles and the best available science.
• In 1974, the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to (among other things)
  • To prepare a renewable resource assessment every ten years, and to develop, maintain, and (as appropriate) revise Plans for Forest Service units.
• The RPA was amended and expanded when Congress enacted NFMA in 1976. Regulations for implementing NFMA; additionally, the primary statute that governs the administration of national forests, grasslands, and prairies, were developed in 1979 updated in 1982, and again in 2008.
• The National Forests System Land Management Planning Rule (2008 Planning Rule) was released in April 2008 (36 CFR 219). It reflects consideration of public comments on the 2008 Proposed Planning Rule environmental impact statement, released for review and public comment in October, 2007.
• Agency directives associated with the 2008 Planning Rule are being crafted with a target release date in September, 2008. The 2008 Rule, Record of Decision, news releases, and other related information is available online at
  www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/index.htm

Who is involved?

• Development of the proposed Forest Plan is initiated by an interdisciplinary planning team, who are Forest Service resource specialists in recreation forestry, wildlife & fish biology, soils science, hydrology, silviculture, fire ecology, and social science. The team evaluates existing Plan guidance with management priorities and new science to determine a need for change.
• The revision of the LTBMU's (amended) 1988 Plan is informed by the recent Pathway planning efforts of the Forest Service and Lake Tahoe Basin partner agencies.
• Public collaboration involves planning team engagement with interested agencies, individuals, and organizations - who work together with the team in the development of the proposed Plan. This may occur in many forms, including public meetings, field visits, public surveys, or review of draft Plan documents.
• Tribal government consultation occurs, ensuring adequate access and use of culturally significant resources and places support the maintenance of social networks and related cultural and economic values.
• The Forest Supervisor is the authority responsible for the preparation, decision, and implementation of the Plan.

Why do we revise Plans?

NFMA requires that we revise, or update Plans every 10-15 years. This ensures that Plans better accommodate changing contexts (conditions, needs, policies, resources, science). This is accomplished through an adaptive management process of annual monitoring and comprehensive evaluation - need for change - reporting.

Members of the LTBMU Planning Team at Inspiration Point overlook, Emerald Bay, May 2006.

Where can I provide my feedback and ask questions?

To provide suggestions, comments, and ideas:

Contact the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) planning team by postal service mail, e-mail, phone:

LTBMU Forest Plan Revision Team
35 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

E-mail:
comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us

Phone:
Bob King (530) 543-2619