Welcome to the WFW Planning Web Page!
The USDA Forest Service WFW Planning Program assists with strategic and land management planning and efficient use of data and technology to restore, sustain, and enhance our nation’s National Forests and Grasslands. This program aids biologists, ecologists, and other resource managers in the field with planning efforts that involve watersheds, wildlife, fish, air, or rare plants. Because planning is not limited to these resource management programs, the WFW Planning Program Leader works in close coordination with other resource programs.
This area of our web site is designed to provide you access to planning information related to WFW resource management programs and includes information about national level planning efforts.
USDA Forest Service National Planning Efforts
Current information such as planning regulations and National planning and decision making processes is available on the Forest Service Washington Office Ecosystem Management Coordination web site.
You can view policy, technical guides, analysis models, evaluation methods, and additional forest planning information on the Technical Information for Planning Systems (TIPS) web site.
Find out about planning efforts on individual National Forests and National Grasslands. For more information visit the Forest Service web site and search by forest or grassland name (see the drop down menu in the header).
Planning News
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Law, Regulation, and Policy
Forest planning and project activities that involve watershed, wildlife, fisheries, air, and rare plants must comply with specific laws, regulations, and policies. While not exhaustive, we have listed the major statutory requirements for these resource programs. Specific laws, regulations and policies for individual resources are found within the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations and Forest Service Directive System.
Recommended References:
The Principal Laws Relating to Forest Service Activities. 1993. 1191 p. Printed by Government Printing Office. ISBN: 0-16-041927-1 Currently out of print. Look for at used book stores.
The Principal Laws Relating to USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Programs. Revised October 2005. 62 p. USDA Forest Service; FS-758.
Statutory Requirements:
Bald Eagle Protection Act
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (Amended 1989)
Wildlife Game Refuges Act of August 11, 1916
- Threatened and Endangered Species
Endangered Species Act of (December 28,) 1973 as amended
http://laws.fws.gov/lawsdigest/esact.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/16/ch35.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/16/ch35.html
Clean Water Act
Magnuson-Stevenson Fisheries Management and Conservation Act of 1996
CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980); commonly known as Superfund
CERCLA was amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) on October 17, 1986.
Clean Air Act of August 7, 1977, as amended (1977 and 1990)
http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg_caa//pegcaain.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/unframed/42/ch85.html
- Soil and Water
Includes the areas of Watershed Restoration, Water Rights, Water Quality, Hydrology, Ground Water, Riparian, and Wetlands
Clean Water Act - formerly the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended
http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/cwa.htm
http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg/33cfr323.htm
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/fact24.html
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, July 22, 1937
Domestic Water Supply Act of May 28, 1940