Chapter 3 - Part 2 - Management Area Guidance

Management Area 2.4

Desired Condition of Management Area

This management area protects and enhances water-based recreation opportunities, visual quality, and riparian values.  This management area is associated with canoeable and fishable streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.  Maintain riparian corridors to protect, enhance, or restore channel stability, water flow, and habitat quality.  The desired condition includes forested shorelines or corridors up to 1 mile or more in width, with an unbroken canopy in large-diameter trees of a variety of species.  Human activities are evident but do not dominate the landscape.  There is frequent interaction among visitors. 

This management area generally features natural succession.  Habitat is best suited to plants and animals of closed-canopied, hardwood forests with large trees, including bottomland species.  A variety of tree species are present, including mixed bottomland hardwoods along rivers, streams, and lakes.  Limited vegetation management is appropriate to create and improve habitat for wildlife and plant species within riparian corridors.  Limited vegetation management includes maintenance of forest openings, wildlife habitat improvement for riparian dependent species, prescribed fire, or salvage and sanitation harvest when it is compatible with overall objectives.

Emphasize water based recreation opportunities such as canoeing, boating, fishing, waterfowl hunting, trapping, and nature watching.  Viewing scenery, hunting, trapping, fishing, canoeing, boating, and trail use are key recreation activities.  The Forest is generally accessible by canoe (on canoeable streams or lakes), foot travel, and vehicles on State and county roads.

The visual character of these areas emphasizes long corridors of big trees along rivers.  In backwater areas of lakes and rivers, the areas have a big-tree character of bottomland hardwoods and riparian vegetation.

The Forest has portions of two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir shorelines included in the boundaries of this management area -- Monroe and Patoka. 

Private lands in Management Area 2.4 are a high priority for acquisition on a "willing seller" basis as funds are available, or through the land exchange program.

Desired Condition for Eligible Wild and Scenic River Areas:

The Lost River and Little Blue River have been determined eligible for Wild and Scenic Rivers.  This description applies to Federal lands within each river's corridor, and is designed to protect the potential classification and outstanding values of each river during this planning period. 

The Lost River and Little Blue River will be protected from activities that could diminish or change the free-flowing character, water quality and recreational, scenic, heritage, wildlife, and other values. 

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

Allow limited management of vegetative communities to maintain suitable early successional habitat for wildlife.

Maintain some existing forest openings that have value for wildlife, vegetation, or recreation and are adjacent to roads or have administrative access.

As needed, conduct activities to reduce the spread and potential of insect and disease infestations. 

Maintain and Restore Watershed Health

Avoid vegetation management or removal of trees on banks or in associated riparian areas except as necessary to manage threatened, endangered, sensitive, and management indicator species, restore natural wetlands, stabilize banks, develop and maintain access sites for recreation, or restore natural riparian vegetation, which provides shade or nutrients for aquatic communities.

When constructing aquatic habitat structures, allow for safe passage of canoes.

Limit new structures or roads, and avoid management activities on NFS lands within a river's corridor that might degrade rivers.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Limit average cumulative trail density to 2.0 miles per square mile or less.  The density limit is a cumulative figure for the total Forest acreage for this management area. The density may be exceeded on any given piece of ground as long as it is not exceeded for that management area overall. These density limits are not intended to be a target for miles of a trail in a management area.

Construction of river or lake access points with parking, toilet facilities, garbage pickup, camping, and information boards and other amenities is permitted.  Design access points to provide vehicle parking, protect the bank, screen vehicles from the view of river travelers, and facilitate authorized uses.

When possible, locate sanitary facilities outside of riparian corridors and provide drainage from parking lots away from the watercourse. 

Dispersed or developed trailheads for mountain bicycle, hiking, and canoe access are permitted. 

Trails for horses may pass through this management area but no trailhead specifically designed for horse use will be provided. 

Eligible Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River Guidance

These additional Standards and Guidelines provide further protection to the eligible corridors.

*       Water supply dams and diversions are prohibited.  Water quality is to be protected at its current level, or improved where possible.

*       Issuance of licenses or exploratory permits for hydroelectric power development will be opposed until a wild and scenic river suitability study is completed.

*       Development of any activity that would diminish the free-flowing character, including but not limited to flood control dams, levees, or channelization, is prohibited within the river's corridors.

*       Recreation developments within the scenic and recreational corridors will not be easily viewed from the river.

*       New recreation facilities that maintain or enhance river values (such as primitive campsites) are permitted within the scenic and recreational segments.

New transmission lines, gas lines, and water lines are discouraged.  Where no reasonable alternative exists, additional or new facilities shall be restricted to existing rights-of-way. 

MANAGEMENT AREA 2.8

Desired Condition of Management Area

The area is general forest with large areas of old forests and scattered openings associated with a variety of forest plant communities.  A variety of tree species is present, but shade-tolerant species may dominate some forest communities over time.  A natural variety of other tree species intermediate in shade tolerance is perpetuated, and in other forest communities they may dominate.  This area provides a variety of forest types, reflecting different ecological sites and management activities.  Openings in the canopy result in different canopy levels and animal communities associated with vertically diverse, shade-tolerant vegetation, as well as different successional stages of vegetation.  There is a higher percentage of edge habitat in this management area than in most of the forest.  Site-specific decisions result in many variations within this management area. 

These areas include scattered blocks of NFS land.  There is ample evidence of human activities, most of which blends well with the natural environment.  Visual quality and recreation opportunities are protected and enhanced.  Interaction among visitors is frequent.

Habitat in these areas is best suited to wildlife that uses large hardwood trees and a mosaic of different-aged hardwood forests.  The desired condition of this area is to maintain 4 to 12 percent of the area in young forest habitat and up to an additional 3 percent as openings.  The Forest manages the area primarily for plant and animal habitat diversity and timber harvest is an appropriate tool for use in this area.

Viewing scenery, hunting, fishing, dispersed camping, gathering forest products, horseback and mountain bike riding, and hiking are key recreation activities.  Due to the diversity provided by the area, bird watching, berry picking, and mushroom gathering and other forest products are also common uses of this management area.  Some of the areas are surrounded by private lands, but most are generally accessible by foot travel and State and county roads.

Large trees with a continuous canopy characterize much of this area.  This area allows a wide variety of management techniques, each resulting in a slightly different visual character. 

In areas of fragmented ownership, the visual character is that of islands of large diameter trees.  There is often a visual distinction between private and NFS lands.

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

*       Limit temporary opening size in a group selection harvest to no larger than 3 acres.

*       Limit temporary openings created by clearcut and shelterwood harvests to 10 acres. 

A timber harvest can occur when the adjacent certified re-established stand has reached a height that is greater than 20 percent of the height of the surrounding vegetation.

Provide a variety of opening sizes in character with the landscape.

Blend openings created by harvest with the surrounding area.  Distribute openings across the landscape to provide for biological diversity as well as visual and site considerations.     

As needed, treat stand understories prior to harvest to promote advanced regeneration of desired plant species.

Consider crop tree release in young hardwood stands to promote oak survival, earlier mast production, forage production, and additional growth on desirable species.

Control grape, ivy, and other vines as necessary to ensure satisfactory regeneration and growth of the desired species.  Perpetuate some vines to meet wildlife needs.

Retain a variety of hardwood species in timber stand improvement and thinning operations.  

Conduct thinning, improvement cuts, and timber stand improvements.

Establish forest openings on newly acquired land as necessary to meet management area objectives.

Maintain and Restore Watershed Health

Restoring natural wetlands will be the highest priority to maintain and restore watershed health.

Provide for a Visually Pleasing Landscape

Woody debris resulting from vegetative management and prescribed burning should receive special treatment along the visual foreground of frequently traveled roads, trails, and streams to meet the visual quality objective.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Limit the average cumulative trail density to 2.5 miles per square mile or less.  See the definition of cumulative trail density in Glossary (Appendix A).

Trails and trailheads for horses, mountain bicycles, and hiking are permitted.

Provide for Human and Community Development

Provide fuelwood to the public to better use wood left on the site after project implementation.

Allow for mineral development with no surface occupancy or disturbance in the Crawford Upland and Brown County Hills Ecological subsections. 
 

MANAGEMENT AREA 3.3

Desired Condition of Management Area

This management area emphasizes diversity for wildlife species requiring a mix of early and late successional vegetative types and age classes.  It is associated with a mosaic of forest conditions dominated by hardwood trees and their associated understory habitat.  Horizontal and vertical diversity are present in the forest.  Generally early and late successional stands are found in close proximity to each other to provide for those non-migratory species that require a mix of both of these habitats.  Management is more intensive than in other management areas, but blends with the natural environment.  There is a higher percentage of edge habitat created in this management area compared to other areas on the Forest.  Site-specific decisions result in many variations within this management area. 

This area will provide habitat for previously declining populations of wildlife, particularly Neotropical migrants, dependent on or associated with these habitat types.  This management area will have the most concentrated areas of vegetative management activities, providing optimum habitat for many species. 

Hardwood management is by even-aged methods, emphasizing a diversity of species such as ash, cherry, hickory, oak, yellow-poplar, and walnut to provide valuable habitat for wildlife and plant species.  Vegetation management is more intense in this area than elsewhere in the Forest with as much as 16 percent of the forest in the 0-9 age class.  Pine will also be harvested and the sites converted to native hardwoods. 

To better provide specific requirements for a suite of wildlife species represented by species such as the ruffed grouse, yellow-breasted chat and American woodcock, even-aged harvest areas will not exceed 40 acres in size.  The Forest manages the area primarily for plant and animal habitat diversity and timber harvest is an appropriate tool.

Maintained openings for wildlife are of a variety of sizes, well dispersed, and in character with the landscape.  This management area also allows for maintaining and providing fishing lakes, marshes, ponds, and waterholes.

These areas include scattered blocks of NFS land.  There is ample evidence of human activities, most of which blends well with the natural environment.  Visual quality and recreation opportunities are protected and enhanced.  Interaction among visitors is frequent.

Viewing scenery, bird-watching, hunting, and trail use are key recreation activities.  The Forest is generally accessible by trails and a network of roads.

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

*       Limit temporary opening size in harvest areas to 40 acres or less. 

A timber harvest can occur when the adjacent certified re-established stand has reached a height that is greater than 20 percent of the height of the surrounding vegetation.

Provide a variety of opening sizes in character with the landscape.

Blend openings created by harvest with the surrounding area.  Distribute openings across the landscape to provide for biological diversity as well as visual and site considerations.           

As needed, treat stand understories prior to harvest to promote advanced regeneration of desired plant species.

Consider crop tree release for young hardwood stands to promote oak survival, earlier mast production, forage production, and additional growth on desirable species.

Control grape, ivy, and other vines as necessary to ensure satisfactory regeneration and growth of the desired species.  Perpetuate some vines to meet wildlife needs.

Retain a variety of hardwood species in timber stand improvement and thinning operations.

Conduct thinning, improvement cuts, and timber stand improvements.

Establish forest openings on newly acquired land as necessary to meet management area objectives.

Provide for a Visually Pleasing Landscape

Woody debris resulting from vegetative management and prescribed burning should receive special treatment along the visual foreground of frequently traveled roads, trails, and streams to meet the visual quality objective.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Limit the average cumulative trail density to 2.5 miles per square mile or less.  See the definition of cumulative trail density in Glossary (Appendix A).

Trails and trailheads for horses, mountain bicycles, and hiking are permitted.

Provide for Human and Community Development

Provide fuelwood to the public to better use wood left on the site after project implementation.

Allow for mineral development with no surface occupancy or disturbance in the Crawford Upland Ecological subsections. 

MANAGEMENT AREA 5.1

Desired Condition of Management Area

This is the Congressionally designated Charles C. Deam Wilderness. 

The area provides a recreation experience offering a degree of solitude, physical and mental challenge and risk, inspiration, and primitive recreation.  Opportunities exist for non-mechanized recreational activities such as hiking, backpacking, camping, horseback riding, scientific study, hunting, fishing, and nature study. 

There is little evidence of human development except remnants of past human occupation such as old roads, ponds, orchard trees and domestic vegetation, stone foundations, and cellar holes that have been overgrown and dilapidated by natural forces.  Other than trails, designated campsites, user created campsites, and existing cemeteries and the roads to them, there is little evidence of past human activities, and these remnants will soon deteriorate and become overgrown by natural forces.  

Natural succession is the dominant process within the Charles C. Deam Wilderness.  In the future there will be extensive areas of old-growth vegetation.  Some younger trees and openings occur as a result of natural processes.  Timber harvesting is not appropriate in this area.

Interaction with other users is low. 

The area primarily along the Tower Ridge Road and State Road 446 is not part of the Congressionally designated wilderness and will be managed under other management area guidance.  These areas are:

• Manage the Blackwell Horsecamp and Pond under Management Area 7.1 guidance.
• Manage the 200-foot set-back east of State Road 446, the 100-foot set-back on either side of Tower Ridge Road, the 100-foot set-back along Hunter Creek Road, and other set-backs as identified in the legal description for the Charles C. Deam Wilderness under Management Area 6.2 guidance.

Guidance

Conservation of Endangered and Threatened Species Habitat

Manage habitat when consistent with wilderness management objectives and necessary to meet the needs of Federal endangered and threatened species.

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

*       Suppress wildfires using non-motorized equipment.  The Forest Supervisor may allow the use of motorized equipment.

Emphasize minimum impact fire suppression tactics to minimize short-term and long-term impacts on resources.

Use pesticides as necessary to prevent the loss of significant aspects of the wilderness, or to prevent significant losses to resource values on private or public lands bordering the wilderness.  Pesticide use must be approved by the Regional Forester prior to application.

Emphasize the removal of nonnative invasive plant species, except those associated with heritage resources.

Protect Our Cultural Heritage

*       On-site cultural resource interpretation will not occur. 

Off-site cultural resource interpretation of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area sites may occur.

Consider heritage resources an integral part of the wilderness and inventory, evaluate, retain, and preserve them whenever possible.  These resources are available for scientific study, provided the manner of study is consistent with the concept of wilderness.    

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Motorized use or mechanized transport is prohibited except for emergencies approved by the Forest Supervisor and cemetery maintenance and access.  Non-motorized wheelchairs used by persons with disabilities are permitted.

*       Restrict horses and pack stock to those portions of the trail system specifically designated for their use.  Prohibit off trail riding.

*       Limit the trail system to 40 miles with no connecters to trails outside of the wilderness..

*       Limit group size to no more than 10 people.

*       There will only be five trailheads.

*       Prohibit the use or possession of spray paint, and any paintball activity. 

*       Prohibit the discharge of firearms for target shooting or reasons other than hunting.

*       Prohibit camping within 100 feet of ponds, lakes, trails, or streams except at designated sites.  Camping throughout the rest of the wilderness is not restricted.  Additional designated camping sites may be provided throughout the wilderness.

*       Prohibit roadside parking and camping along Tower Ridge Road except at designated locations.  Provide parking and signs at trailheads as needed.

Emphasize refuse disposal through a pack-it-in and pack-it-out program.

Maintain trails to a standard as low as possible while still protecting the resources and providing for visitor safety.

Use native materials in trail construction to the extent possible.  Generally utilize native and local materials in completing trail construction and reconstruction.  Use nonnative materials if it is determined they are necessary to protect resources.  Trail work includes but is not limited to: tread maintenance, diversion ditches, side-sloping and waterbars to divert water from trails and maintain adequate trail drainage, brushing and removing trees that fall across the trails, and removing and scattering vegetation from the tread area to make the materials unobtrusive.  Make drainage structures look as natural as possible.

Only minimal facilities are provided to prevent site deterioration and protect users from safety hazards.

Design structures such as gates and signs on the periphery of the area according to wilderness policy so that they blend with the wilderness characteristics of the area.

Designated sites may be provided with a wilderness style fire grate and wilderness privy.

Use signs to close trails, protect the environment, and provide direction to help correct environmental damage when needed.

Gathering of fruits, nuts, and mushrooms for private use may occur.

Emphasize educational programs to help potential wilderness visitors understand wilderness philosophy and management and problem behaviors that affect the wilderness resource.

Provide a Useable Landbase

*       Provide public access to cemeteries as stated in the act establishing the wilderness.  Maintain access routes as necessary to prevent damage to adjacent lands and resources.

*       Keep Tower Ridge Road and Hunter Creek Road open.  

Provide for Human and Community Development

*       Prohibit corridors for power projects, transmission lines, and other facilities, except as authorized by the act establishing the wilderness.

*       Do not permit commercial grazing.  Consider other special uses on an individual basis.  Do not issue outfitter guide permits.

*       Do not allow special use permit trails originating from adjacent private lands.  To accommodate adjacent landowners, two of the five allowable trailheads are located for their convenience.

*       Prohibit military maneuvers.

*       The Charles C. Deam Wilderness has been formally withdrawn from mineral leasing. Mineral extraction is prohibited.

Coordinate with the military to restrict flights below 2,000 feet.

Vegetation manipulation occurs in conjunction with trail maintenance, cemetery maintenance, and maintenance of the roads to leading to the cemeteries (including Terrill Ridge Road).

Determine appropriate search and rescue methods for each individual search and rescue, considering primitive means first.  The USDA Forest Service will take the lead in protecting wilderness values.

Allow research activities that comply with and promote wilderness values.

Research projects that would yield the same results inside or outside the wilderness should be conducted outside of the wilderness.

Limit interviews and research contact with visitors unless there is a benefit to the wilderness resource.

MANAGEMENT AREA 6.2

Desired Condition of Management Area

This management area creates a physical setting that provides an opportunity for solitude and a feeling of closeness to nature.  The area is general forest land with the appearance of extensive stands of forest dominating the landscape. 

Over time, extensive stands of natural-appearing forests of shade-tolerant species will characterize the area.  Stands will be dominated by large mature trees and will provide habitat for late-successional species.  Some younger trees and openings will result from natural causes.  Removal of commercial vegetation is not appropriate, other than salvage or sanitation harvest when it is compatible with overall objectives.

Key recreation activities include nature watching, hunting, trail use, and backpacking.  The forest is generally accessible by foot travel, and from county or state roads around the perimeter of these areas.

Roads in the interior of these areas are closed to public motorized vehicles.

Interaction between users is low, and there is only subtle evidence of other users. Tranquility and solitude are probable experiences. 

Though Management Areas 6.2 and 6.4 are very similar, there are some differences between the two.  These differences are:

• In Management Area 6.2 no forest openings, waterholes, or ponds will be created and these existing features will not be maintained and will revert naturally.  

• Visual quality objectives are more restrictive in Management Area 6.2 since some vegetative management is allowed in Management Area 6.4.

• Some management of pine is allowed in Management Area 6.4.

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

Allow identified research plots to remain active until the research study is complete, but only limited vegetation management could occur.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Limit average cumulative trail density to 2.0 miles per square mile or less.  See glossary (Appendix A) for definition of cumulative trail density.

Limit public motorized access to those roads on the periphery of the area, roads accessing active cemeteries, and roads under other jurisdictions.  Use of other Forest roads is limited to resource management, administrative use, and foot travel.

Trails and trailheads for horses, mountain bikes, and hikers are permitted.

Minimize other recreation developments, and provide only those that prevent site deterioration or protect the user from health hazards. 

Provide a Useable Landbase

*       Limit construction of additional roads except for roads associated with development of trailheads, parking lots, and other recreation facilities around the perimeter of these areas.

MANAGEMENT AREA 6.4

Desired Condition of Management Area

This management area creates a physical setting that provides an opportunity for solitude and a feeling of closeness to nature.  The area is general forest land with the appearance of extensive stands of forest dominating the landscape with some openings. 

Over time, extensive stands of natural-appearing forests will characterize the area.  Stands will be dominated by large mature and over-mature trees and will provide habitat for late-successional species. 

Natural barrens, glades, wetlands, and dry forest may be restored and perpetuated.  Some existing forest openings, ponds, and lakes may be retained.  Old roads will grow in and blend with the natural setting.  Commercial removal of vegetation is not appropriate, other than salvage or sanitation harvest when it is compatible with overall objectives.

Key recreation activities include nature watching, hunting, trail use, and backpacking.  The forest is generally accessible by foot travel, and from county or state roads around the perimeter of these areas.  

Roads in the interior of these areas are closed to public motorized vehicles, except seasonal use in Mogan Ridge.

Interaction between users is low, and there is only subtle evidence of other users. Tranquility and solitude are probable experiences. 

Though Management Areas 6.2 and 6.4 are very similar there are some significant differences between the two.  These differences are:

• In Management Area 6.2 no forest openings, waterholes, or ponds will be created and existing features will not be maintained and will revert naturally. 

• Visual quality objectives are more restrictive in Management Area 6.2 since some vegetative management is allowed in Management Area 6.4.

• Some management of pine is allowed in Management Area 6.4. 

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

Retain the currently maintained openings at Mogan Ridge, Lukes Knob, and Felknor Hollow.

Natural barrens, glades, wetlands, and dry forest that contain sensitive plant communities may be restored and perpetuated. 

Allow timber stand improvement to hasten the conversion of pine stands to hardwood stands.

 Maintain and Restore Watershed Health

Maintain existing ponds, lakes, and wetlands.

Provide for a Visually Pleasing Landscape

To the extent feasible, maintain visual quality objectives along most streams, trails or roads at a minimum of retention.   

Provide For Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Limit average cumulative trail density to 2.0 miles per square mile or less.  See glossary (Appendix A) for definition of cumulative trail density.

Limit public motorized access to those roads on the periphery of the area, roads accessing active cemeteries, and roads under other jurisdictions.  Use of other Forest roads is limited to resource management, administrative use, and foot travel.

Trails and trailheads for horses, mountain bikes, and hikers are permitted.

Minimize other recreation developments, and provide only those that prevent site deterioration or protect the user from health hazards. 

Provide a Useable Landbase

*       Construct no new roads unless they would be associated with the development of recreational facilities such as, but not limited to, trailheads, parking lots, or other developments.

*       Retain administrative access to existing forest openings at Lukes Knob and Felknor Hollow.  Continue to keep these roads closed to public access.

Open the main east-west gravel road through Mogan Ridge that begins at Old State Route 37 to public access during fall deer hunting seasons between the approximate dates of October 1 to January 1 for purposes of managing deer populations.

MANAGEMENT AREA 7.1

Desired Condition of the Management Area

These areas provide for recreational facilities and developed sites.  They include campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, swimming beaches, and other areas intended to serve large numbers of people.

These areas vary in size, and the Forest collects user fees at most of them.  Use in these areas is high-density, destination-type use. 

The area contains a variety of forest types, ages, and size of timber stands.  The emphasis is on maintaining large-diameter trees where possible.  These areas provide a small number of shrub and herbaceous openings.  Vegetative management maintains or enhances existing recreation, road and utility corridors, wildlife habitat, education, watershed values, and visitor safety. 

Favor treatment of vegetation on transmission line right-of-ways to improve wildlife habitat and perpetuate a variety of native plant species and communities.  Manage plant and animal habitats, including habitat improvements, to enhance visitor enjoyment and maximize sightings while protecting the habitats and populations. 

Manage vegetation to ensure the long-term viability, safety, and attractiveness of the area.  In these areas, focus vegetative management on hazard tree removal; control of nonnative invasive species; flower, nut, or berry production; scenic enhancement; and specific area objectives.  Mowing is common in high-use areas.

Developments are evident and may dominate the landscape.  Design, building materials, and placement of facilities and structures are such that they are in harmony with the environment.  Accessible facilities are provided.

Management Area 7.1 recreation areas include: Blackwell Horse Camp, Blackwell Pond (Brooks Cabin), Buzzard Roost, Celina Lake, German Ridge, Hardin Ridge, Hickory Ridge Fire Tower, Hickory Ridge Horse Camp, Indian Lake, Mano Point, Saddle Lake, Shirley Creek Horse Camp, Springs Valley, Tipsaw Lake, and Youngs Creek Horse Camp.

The transportation system is designed and constructed to safely and comfortably accommodate both specialized recreation vehicles and associated service vehicles.

The visual character of these areas reflects a higher percentage of open land than is generally found in the Forest, intermingled with trees, trails, roads, powerlines, buildings, and parking lots.  The sights and sounds of humans are acceptable here, and a high degree of interaction between users is expected.

 Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

*       Rehabilitate sites and regulate use, to provide erosion control and minimize soil compaction.

Apply pesticides to control undesirable terrestrial and aquatic vegetation such as but not limited to woody vegetation on dams, poison ivy, Asian milfoil and stinging nettles and to control stinging insects, ticks, or chiggers when needed.   

Maintain vegetation diversity and increase diversity using prescribed fire techniques.

Permit tree removal when appropriate, for purposes such as safety, facility expansion, vista maintenance, and site maintenance.

Trees may be cut to promote growth and vigor and to prevent insect and disease infestation.

Protect Our Cultural Heritage

Encourage on-site interpretation of heritage resources. 

Provide for a Visually Pleasing Landscape

*       Visual quality objectives shall meet modification standards or better, within recreation area boundaries. 

*       Manage visual quality objectives for forested areas adjacent to entrance roads and trails, and around associated lakes as far as the foreground limit as partial retention or better. 

Provide and maintain scenic vistas where appropriate. 

In developed recreation areas, there may be evidence of routine maintenance, such as mowing grass, pruning brush and trees, maintaining scenic vistas, or removing hazard trees.

Provide For Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

Provide trailheads where feasible.

Prohibit paintball activity.

Design new recreational developments to minimize health and safety problems, protect the environment, complement recreational opportunities, and provide access.

As needed and feasible, include facilities such as beaches, boat ramps, cabins, electricity, fish cleaning stations, flush toilets, hardened campsites, hot showers, parking lots, roads, picnic shelters, sewer or dump stations, water, and user conveniences at developed sites.

Design developments oriented to pedestrians.  Design trail access to encourage walking between sites. 

Design roads and trails to accommodate the high-density recreation use and related activities associated with the area.

Provide and maintain hiking, horse, mountain bicycle, interpretive trails, and service trails where applicable.

Permit hunting except within the marked recreation area boundaries.  Hunting may be permitted within the boundaries if conditions warrant and line officer approves. 

Fees may be charged.

Provide a Useable Landbase

Roads in certain areas of developed sites may be closed to allow for recreation site rehabilitation or to concentrate use during off-season to provide services more efficiently.

Provide for Human and Community Development

*       Provide and maintain buildings and structures for recreation opportunities.  Emphasize visually appealing facilities and safety.

*       Dispose of solid waste generated from developed sites at approved sanitary landfills.

Recycling may be provided.

Clearly mark developed recreation area boundaries.

Make dead and down wood available for firewood whenever feasible.

Bury utility lines and pipelines when possible.

MANAGEMENT AREA 8.1

Desired Condition of Management Area

These are the Research Natural Areas (RNAs).  This designation allows unique ecosystems to follow natural processes for scientific purposes.  Research may be conducted in these areas to improve understanding of natural processes and to increase the benefits from our forests.

The Hoosier has one Research Natural Area, the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, an 88-acre old growth hardwood forest. 

The RNA program is a cooperative partnership with Forest Service Research.  RNA's require preparation of an Establishment Record, approved by the Forest Supervisor and the Research Station Director.  The Chief of the Forest Service has approval authority to designate these areas.  No RNA's are proposed at this time.  The Forest Supervisor and Station Director have responsibility for record keeping, recommending, reviewing, and approving research and management activities in RNA's.

These nationally significant areas must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Contributes to the diversity of plant communities and wildlife habitat.
• Typifies important forest, shrubland, grassland, alpine, aquatic or geologic types.
• Represents special or unique characteristics of scientific interest and importance.
• Helps carry out provisions of laws, such as providing habitat for endangered species.
• Protects or maintains special aquatic, geologic, or heritage resources or potential natural communities.

The rare or outstanding values of the areas are the primary consideration.  Other resource values and uses are secondary to the protection of the area's special values for public education and enjoyment. 

Each research natural area has a specific management plan developed for management of the area.  Vegetation management occurs if it is compatible with the purpose of the designation and is addressed in the management plan for the specific area.  Commercial timber harvest is not an appropriate tool.

Recreation uses are subject to the regulations that designated the specific areas.  Determine access, road construction, reconstruction or closure needs during specific research natural area management plans.

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

*       Use pesticides if they are compatible with the management plan for the area. 

Protect and preserve to the extent possible the natural condition of the forest or other qualities identified as the reason for its designation, while conducting research within the direction of the management plan written for the area.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

*       Prohibit mountain bike and horse use.

*       Prohibit hunting and trapping.

*       Prohibit camping.

*       Prohibit paintball activity.

Limit developments to prevent site deterioration or protect the user from health hazards.  Developments are subject to the regulations designating the area. 

Permit hiking trails if they are consistent with guidelines established in the RNA management plan.

Provide a Useable Landbase

Limit public motorized access to those roads on the periphery of the area. 

Provide for Human and Community Development

*       Permit only those special uses and utility corridors that meet the intent of the management plan for the area.

MANAGEMENT AREA 8.2

Desired Condition of Management Area

These are designated special areas, which include unique or unusual botanical, ecological, geological, scenic, historic, prehistoric, or zoological values and other areas which merit special recognition and management.  Management of these areas will emphasize the protection, perpetuation, or restoration of their special features and values.  Management of these areas will emphasize management for Federally listed threatened, endangered, and proposed species, as well as Regional Forester sensitive species and State listed species if the species or habitat is present or has the potential to exist in the specific area.

The special areas included in Management Area 8.2 guidance as of 2006 are:

Beaver Creek	Horse Mill Branch
Browning Hill	Huron Woods
Boone Creek	Luke Knob
Buzzard Roost	Oil Creek
Carnes Mill	Pioneer Mother Memorial Forest*
Clover Lick	Plaster Creek
Deer Creek	Potts Creek
Faucett Chapel	Rockhouse Hollow
Grease Gravy	Stinking Fork Creek
Gypsy Bill Allen	Tar Springs
Harding Flats	Tincher
Hemlock Cliffs	Wesley Chapel

*Not to be confused with the 88-acre RNA (Management Area 8.1) of the same name.

These regionally or locally significant areas must meet one or both of the following criteria:

• Be representative of unique or unusual geological, ecological, cultural, or other scientific values; or

• Have the potential to be a regional or national landmark based on natural or cultural values. 

Special areas occur throughout the forest where there are special characteristics.  They include cultural, historic, scientific, and scenic values as well as a variety of ecosystems and forest conditions.  Plant and animal species and communities vary depending upon the characteristics of each area.

The rare or outstanding values of the areas are the primary consideration.  Other resource values and uses are secondary to the protection, maintenance, and restoration of an area's special values for public education, enjoyment, and study.

Each special area has an establishment record (Appendix H).

A management plan will be prepared for each special area.  Management plans identify special features of each area, area boundaries, desired conditions of the area, and specific management direction to achieve desired conditions.  A special area may be designated an 8.2 Management Area before a management plan is finalized for it.  With appropriate analysis and public involvement, management activities essential for perpetuation of special features, such as unique ecosystems, may take place before final development of an area management plan.

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

Inventory and evaluate biological diversity of special areas and adjoining ecosystems to the extent practical.  Apply information from the inventory and evaluation to refine area management needs and plans.

Restore disturbed sites to native plant communities typical of the area.  Tools applicable in these areas include, but are not limited to, burning, harvesting, seeding, and planting.

Permit research in special areas.  Harvest of trees associated with research plots is acceptable.

Control or eliminate, as practical, invasive species of plants with emphasis on nonnative species.  This includes native species that are degrading the area (for example, Eastern redcedar in barrens communities).  Vegetation control methods include prescribed burning, girdling, cutting, herbicide use, and hand pulling. 

 

 

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

Provide recreational use that is consistent with protecting the area's unique values.  Determine appropriate uses in the management plan for each area based on individual site characteristics and public interest.

Where signs and other developments are used, design and construct them to limit the impacts on significant site features.  Determine the compatibility of trails for hiking, mountain bike, and horse use in the special area management plan.  Allow the continued use of pre-existing designated trails unless monitoring determines unacceptable resource damage is occurring from such use. 

Provide a Useable Landbase

Limit public motorized access to those roads on the periphery of the area.  Limit Forest Service road use to administrative use and foot travel.

May provide parking for access on the periphery of each area.  Keep developments to a minimum.

Provide For Human and Community Development

Prohibit vegetation management unless necessary to maintain the vegetative character or ecosystem for which the area was established.

Permit pre-existing special uses and utility corridors.  Permit new construction of utility corridors and special uses within existing roads and right-of-ways.  Prohibit new development outside of the existing utility or road corridors.

Management Area 8.3

 

Desired Condition of Management Area

This management area provides for research and scientific study of forest ecosystems. 

The only experimental forest on the Forest is the Paoli Experimental Forest, a 632-acre area located southwest of Paoli on the Tell City Ranger District.

The Forest Supervisor, Research Station Director, and Regional Forester may cooperatively establish further areas for research.  The Forest is not considering any additional experimental forests at this time.

Research at the Paoli Experimental Forest takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research problems in the Central Hardwood Forest from the landscape level to individual stand management.

Guidance

Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems

Manage the area as needed to complete the assigned research.  

Provide and maintain wildlife habitat developments.

Provide for Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural Communities

Do not encourage recreational uses, and provide no developments or facilities for recreation use.  Allow foot travel.

Provide a Useable Landbase

Generally, keep this area closed to motorized public vehicles.

Provide for Human and Community Development

Vegetation management will be used to meet research objectives. 

Management Area 9.2

Desired Condition of Management Area

This management area emphasizes the protection and maintenance of environmental values.  This designation serves as a holding category until further study and recommendations on specific designation can be made.  There are currently no Management Area 9.2 areas on the Forest.

Forest-wide guidance will be followed and individual guidance will be developed as needed.