Planning
Each forest in the National Forest System operates under a Land and Resource Management Plan, referred to as the Forest Plan. Forest Plan objectives contribute to maintenance or achievement of desired conditions. Together, desired conditions and objectives describe what actions Forest Service managers intend to implement across the landscapes of Kisatchie National Forest. Long-term planning of this kind is required by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resource Planning Act (RPA) of 1974, as amended by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976.
Consistent with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act (MUSYA) of 1960, the overall goal of managing the National Forest System is to sustain the multiple uses of its renewable resources in perpetuity while maintaining the long-term productivity of the land. Maintaining or restoring the health of the land enables the National Forest System to provide a sustainable flow of uses, benefits, products, services, and visitor opportunities.
Kisatchie National Forest Plan and Appendices
The Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the Kisatchie National Forest was published in August 1999. This Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities on the Kisatchie National Forest for the next 10 to 15 years. It establishes management standards and guidelines, describes resource management practices, levels of resource production and management, and the availability and suitability of lands for resource management. The Kisatchie National Forest is undergoing a Forest Plan revision in the next five years in which a new Forest Plan will be created.
The Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kisatchie National Forest was published in August 1999. This Record of Decision documents the Forest Supervisor's decision and rationale for approving the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kisatchie National Forest (Revised Forest Plan). The Revised Forest Plan will guide all resource management activities on the Forest for the next 10 to 15 years.
The Alternative Modified D was the selection made for the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kisatchie National Forest. This document was published in August 1999. This map details the management areas and special allocations for the Forest.
Seven alternatives for revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kisatchie National Forest (Forest Plan) are described and compared in this final environmental impact statement.
This amendment provides clarification of direction for the preparation of site-specific Biological Evaluations (BEs) including inventory requirements for Proposed, Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive (PETS) species for the Kisatchie National Forest to make the process of conducting BEs more efficient and consistent throughout the Southern Region of the Forest Service and to remove specific current language from a Forest wide standard.
Amendment 1- Clarification regarding direction for Biological Evaluations (Administrative Change)
It is my decision to allocate additional land resources, amend the Revised Land and Resources Management Plan for the Kisatchie National Forest (KNF), and re-issue a Special Use Permit to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for use of Claiborne Range, as described in Alternative 1 of the Environmental Assessment of Increased Utilization and Expansion of the Claiborne Air-to-Ground Weapons Range. Alternative 1 allows for the greatest protection of the public while still enabling the USAF to conduct operations.
Amendment 2 - Utilization and expansion of Claiborne air-to-ground weapons range
The Kisatchie National Forest has proposed improved management of the Sandstone Multiple Use Trail, located within the National Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve Management Area on the Kisatchie Ranger District. The wildlife management area is 38,000 acres in size and includes a portion of the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness and the nonmotorized walk-in area. The existing conditions found on the trail and within the Preserve are out of balance with the Forest Service's ability to restore and protect native ecosystems, protection of our soil, water and vegetative resources, provide quality wildlife habitat and provide dispersed recreation opportunities.
The Forest Service proposed to improve off road vehicle management on the Calcasieu Ranger District to provide recreation opportunities, provide public safety, and achieve ecosystem restoration goals by preventing resource damage. While restoring native ecosystems, the goal of this project is to provide the best trails, facilities, and safe motorized recreation that we can offer. The overall purpose is to provide a better foundation of basic offroad vehicle management on the District. The environmental assessment developed a range of 11 alternatives with 6 alternatives studied in detail to meet this need.
Amendment 4 - Off-road Vehicle Management for the Calcasieu Ranger District
Amend the Kisatchie National Forest's 1999 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) in order to add new direction and modify some of the Forest Plan's current direction for managing the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW). The proposed changes will incorporate the findings presented in the January 2003 Recovery Plan for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis): Second Edition (Recovery Plan) issued by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region. These changes will provide management direction for the remainder of the current Plan period, or until modified by a subsequent amendment or revision.
An interdisciplinary team (IDT) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), which considered four alternatives that were developed to address the purpose of and need for action, issues, and no-action alternative requirements. The EA documenting the site-specific environmental analysis for the Breezy Hill Trail Project on the Catahoula Ranger District is available for public review at the District Ranger’s office in Bentley, Louisiana. The initial proposal for this trail was developed in anticipation of a foreseeable closure of the Forest to cross-country travel. By designating trails and routes before a proposed Forest-wide cross-county travel closure, Off-highway Vehicle users would not be inconvenienced as designated trails and routes would be in place.
My decision is to implement the travel management actions of Modified Alternative 5. My decision results in a motorized transportation network of over 2000 miles of roads and 264 miles of trails open to the public and providing motorized access across forest lands. The majority (238 miles) of the trail system will be designated open year round. This is a two-part decision: Part A specifies compliance with the National Travel Management Rule (36 CFR §212.51). Motor vehicle use off designated roads and trails and outside designated areas is prohibited by 36 CFR §212.13. Part B provides the Kisatchie National Forest travel system, including mileage of roads and trails, seasons of use and vehicle types allowed based on the Forest’s Travel Analysis and public involvement.
Amendment to the Revised Forest Land and Resource Management Plan for the Kisatchie National Forest (Forest Plan) for the Providing Off-Road Vehicle Management Environmental Assessment, Calcasieu Ranger District.
Amendment 8 - Further direction regarding off-road vehicle use on the Calcasieu Ranger District
Based on consideration of the environmental analysis, and on the entirety of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, I have chosen Alternative 2, the proposed action, which prohibits the use of dogs to hunt deer on the entire Kisatchie National Forest. The use of dogs for hunting other wildlife such as squirrel, game bird, raccoon, and rabbit will continue.
Amendment 9 - Prohibits the use of dogs to hunt deer on the Forest
This Administrative Change to the 1999 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) for the Kisatchie National Forest, brings the plan monitoring program into conformance with the requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule. The 2012 Planning Rule allows for corrections or adjustments to the Forest Plan using a process called “Administrative Changes.”
Amendment 10 - Transition to the 2012 Planning Rule (Administrative Change)
This amendment:
• Updates the number of acres to which prescribed fire could be applied on the KNF to an average of 80,000 to 160,000 acres per year;
• Removes restrictions on the percentage of acreage burned during the dormant versus growing season;
• Modifies the guideline on where growing season burns could be used (i.e., growing season burns could be used in any ecosystem based on management objectives); and
• Updates some procedural forest wide management guidelines for the application of prescribed fire.
Forest Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Monitoring and evaluation has been an ongoing process since the forest plan became effective in 1999. It is designed to ensure that forest plan goals and objectives are being achieved, standards and guidelines are being properly implemented, and environmental effects are occurring as predicted. The evaluation of monitoring results allows the Forest Supervisor to initiate actions to improve compliance with management direction and determine if any amendments to the plan are needed to improve resource management. Monitoring is conducted by field reviews of projects, inventory, survey work conducted by forest service resource specialists, research scientists, universities, state resource agencies, and other cooperators.