Fremont-Winema National Forests

Projects & Plans

Biomass

As a result of fire suppression over the last 100 years, there is more biomass in the forest, living and dead, than is typical of the kinds of forests found here. The Fremont-Winema National Forests have developed a number of projects that are intended to reduce biomass to more sustainable levels and ultimately allow fire to play a more natural role in the forest. It remains difficult to remove certain material because its value for wood products or paper is not high enough for anyone to want to remove it from the forest and budgets have not been high enough to pay for its removal.

Forest Genetics

The Forests' have a genetic resource management program that is designed to produce high quality seed for both planned and unforeseen reforestation needs. High quality seed produces trees with good growth rates, proper stem and crown form, high quality wood, and resistance to pests.

Forest Plans

The Fremont and Winema National Forests are managed under the guidance of Land and Resource Management Plans. The Fremont Plan was published in 1989 and the Winema Plan was published in 1990. The plans have each been amended several times. Both Forests are scheduled to begin the Forest Plan revision process in 2005. That process will result in a single plan that covers both forests.

Watershed Analyses

Watershed Analysis is a process that is used to develop a scientifically-based understanding of the processes and interactions that occur within a watershed area and the effects of management practices. The analyses focus on issues, values and uses specific to the area. The issues form the basis for discussions of the interactions between land-use activities, the physical environment, and its biological components. A detailed outline of the process can be found in Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale - Federal Guide for Watershed Analysis [PDF - 839K]. The Forests have completed a number of these analyses.

Water Quality Planning

It is the obligation of the United States Forest Service to restore water quality limited water bodies under its management to conditions that meet or exceed standards for the protection of designated beneficial uses, and to maintain waters that meet or exceed water quality standards. Water Quality Restoration Plans provide a plan that agencies will use for applying the necessary strategies and actions to restore quality impaired waters

Late Successional Reserve Assessments

The Winema National Forest includes areas designated as Late Successional Reserves. The Forest Plan provides for the development of assessmsents of these areas prior to the design and implementation of habitat manipulation activities. Several of these assessmsents have been completed.

Roads Analysis

The Fremont-Winema National Forests are currently in the process of Roads Analysis at the Forest scale. This is a process that will develop information to help our managers make sound decisions regarding transportation system management. It will consider, not only resource protection, but also social and economic values. From this process, a Forest Roads Analysis document will be produced. These are not decision documents. For any roads to be closed or modified, appropriate environmental analysis with public review would be required on a project-by-project and case-by-case basis.

Schedule of Proposed Actions

Each quarter, the Forests publish a Schedule of Proposed Actions or SOPA. The SOPA is an information guide for public involvement in the management of the Forests' natural resources.

Project Development

Projects that are implemented by the National Forests begin with an idea and proceed through a rigorous analysis and documentation process before a final decision is made and on-the-ground work can begin. There are many projects under development at all times.

Monitoring

Projects and activities that take place on the National Forests are monitored in a variety of ways. An annual Forest Monitoring Report summarizes the results of this monitoring.