Projects & Plans

Planning

Each forest in the National Forest System operates under a Forest Plan. A forest plan, like a local city zoning plan, gives general direction as to where certain activities can occur. The Forest Plan is intended to be an adaptable framework for guiding future management decisions and actions. The Forest Plan for the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests (OSFNFs) was signed in September 2005. To learn more about Forest Plans, go to the National Forest Service web site.

Forest Management

Forest management is complex and requires considerations for a multitude of reasons and desired outcomes. There are four main steps in our decision-making processes: Implementation, Monitoring, Assessment, and Revision/Development/Amendment. We consider the public a valued partner in our decision-making process and encourage you to get involved! 

Learn more about Forest Management here.

Plan Amendments

The Forest Plan is designed to be adaptable and can be amended at any time. Amendments are intended to be used to keep plans current and help the Forests adapt to new information or changing conditions.

  • 2023 Update to the Vegetation Management Practices Described in Appendix F of the 2005 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan - This is a programmatic plan amendment updating vegetation management practices described in Appendix F of the Forest Plan. It includes a comprehensive list of vegetation treatments needed to manage the diverse ecological conditions and management areas on the Forest thus replacing the current list of prescriptions. This amendment follows direction in the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219). The plan amendment can be found here.

  • 2019 Bat Conservation Plan Amendment - Since the Forest Plan was signed in 2005, there have been changes in the science applicable to the management of bat habitat and protective measures on the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests are proposing to amend the 2005 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) according to direction in the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219). The plan amendment can be found here.

  • Barber Ridge Project - This amendment changes land allocations for Management Areas 1.G, Special Interest Area, and 2.B, State Parks. At the time of Forest Plan revision, an area containing an approved off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail was assigned to the 2.B State Park Management Area designation. However, according to the Forest Plan as revised in 2005, no OHV routes are allowed in the 2.B, State Park Management Area. This relocation of 5.75 acres from 2.B, State Parks, to 1.G., Special Interest Areas, eliminates non-compliance with the Forest Plan regarding the OHV trail in the Barber Ridge project area. The Plan Amendment can be found here.

  • Wildcat Restoration and Vegetation Management Project - This amendment corrects an adminstrative error at the time of the Forest Plan Revision in 2005 in land allocations on the Wedington Unit of the Boston Mountain Ranger District. The amendment shifts 556 acres from Management Area 3.J, Pasture and Large Wildlife Openings to Management Area 2.E, Wedington Unit Urban Recreation Area. The plan amendment can be found here.

  • 2008 Mississippi River State Park Amendment - This amendment adjusted management area acreages to accommodate the Mississippi River State Park.

Plan Administrative Changes

  • 2016 Plan Administrative Change - This Administrative Change to the 2005 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests was necessary to meet the monitoring requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule, 36 CFR 219.12. The 2012 Planning Rule allows non-substantive corrections or adjustments to the revised Forest Plan using a process called "Administrative Changes," defined as "any change to a plan that is not a plan amendment or revision." You can find it here. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Forest Plan is intended to be dynamic over time in response to feed back from monitoring and evaluation. Monitoring and evaluation focuses on accomplishments of desired conditions and plan objectives, activity levels and outputs, and implementation and effectiveness of designed criteria at the project level. Results of monitoring and evaluation have been reported annually in the past, but starting in Fiscal Year 2016, they are now completed on a biennial (2-year) cycle. Visit Monitoring and Evaluation for more information.

Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)

The Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) lists various projects proposed on the Forest which require environmental analysis. More