The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Mill Creek—Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project was released the week of April 2, 2012. These documents are the culmination of a three year collaborative analysis completed by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) for the project. The IDT and decisionmaker considered input received during tribal consultation, from other government agencies, and from members of the public, including the Payette Forest Coalition (PFC). The PFC, formed in June 2009, is a collaborative group convened by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. If interested in more information on the PFC or how to become involved with them, feel free to visit their website at http://www.spatialinterest.info/PayetteForward.html
On July 20, 2010, Forest Supervisor Suzanne Rainville amended the 2003 Forest Plan to identify suitable rangeland for domestic sheep and goat grazing to maintain habitat for viable bighorn sheep populations. The decision was appealed by several appellants and was upheld by Regional Forester Harv Forsgren. The Chief of the Forest Service recently decided to let the Record of Decision stand and will not undertake a review of the Record of Decision. This action constitutes the final administrative determination of the United States Department of Agriculture on this issue.
The 2010 Monitoring and Evaluation Report reflects the seventh full year of implementing the 2003 Forest Plan. It reports monitoring activities and accomplishments for fiscal year 2010.
The Payette National Forest has issued a one year Special Order that modifies the restrictions to over-snow motorized use currently in effect (451,200 acres closed to motorized use).
