Planning
Land Management Planning
Land Management Plans
Each National Forest and Grassland is governed by a Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) in accordance with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). Forest Plans set desired conditions, standards, and guidelines for management, protection, and use of the Forest. Monitoring conditions on the Forest ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction and determines effects that might require a change in the Forest Plan.
2015 Forest Plan
The Record of Decision, 2015 Forest Plan, and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were finalized on January 5, 2015 (News Release). The Federal Register Notice of Plan Approval was published January 15, 2015. The effective date of the plan is February 17, 2015.
- If you commented on the draft Forest Plan and Draft EIS, responses to your substantive comments may be found in Appendix G of the FEIS and errata.
- If you participated in the Objection Process, your objection and the reviewing officer’s response to objections are located on the Objections to the Revised Forest Plan webpage.
Plan Documents
- Record of Decision [PDF, 450KB]
- 2015 Forest Plan [PDF, 5.2MB](with updated monitoring program per Administrative Change #1 - see below)
- Errata to Pre-decisional Review Forest Plan (2013 Version) [PDF, 485KB] (1/12/15 technical correction) (This document is for informational purposes. The errata changes from the 2013 pre-decisional review version of the forest plan have been incorporated in the 2015 Forest Plan.)
- Final EIS [PDF, 10.7MB]
Maps
Supporting Documentation
The Northern Region Office of the Forest Service amended the land management plan for the Kootenai National Forest to be responsive to direction from the District Court of Montana regarding the designation of National Forest System lands as lands supporting grizzly bears outside the Cabinet-Yaak Recovery Zone (BORZ). View the BORZ Amendment Webpage.
The Forest Service is amending the land management plans (forest plans) of the Helena, Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to incorporate relevant direction from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy (GBCS) to support a recovered grizzly bear population in the NCDE. More information can be found on the Amendment Proposed Action webpage.
The purpose of monitoring is to determine if a change in plan components or other plan content that guide management of resources on the Kootenai NF may be needed. The first biennial monitoring report for the 2015 Forest Plan will be available in 2018.
- 2015 Forest Plan Monitoring Guide V.3 [PDF, 1.9MB] - May 2023
- 2015 Forest Plan Monitoring Program [PDF, 1.2MB] - updated June 23, 2016, per Administrative Change #1
- 2015 Forest Plan Monitoring Guide V.2 [PDF, 2MB]
Monitoring Reports
The Kootenai National Forest has completed a Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report (BMER) as required of the 2012 Planning Rule. It evaluates monitoring questions and indicators presented in the Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP) monitoring plan chapter, in relation to management actions carried out in the plan area. Monitoring reports for the 2015 Forest Plan can be found at the following links:
- Monitoring Guide Administrative Change Transmittal Letter [PDF, 433KB] - 05/23/2022
- 2021 Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report [PDF, 3.7MB]
Monitoring reports for the 1987 Forest Plan can be found at the following links:
Administrative Change #1 - Monitoring Program Transition
As described below, the Kootenai National Forest Plan was revised in 2015. It was developed under the authority of the 1982 Planning Rule. In 2012, the US Forest Service adopted a new planning rule that will direct future forest plan revisions. The 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) [PDF, 157KB] required us to modify our forest monitoring program consistent with the requirements at 36 CFR 219.12. We completed this transition on June 23, 2016.
- Administrative Change Transmittal Letter [PDF, 192KB]
- Monitoring Program Transition - Letter to the Public [PDF, 111KB]
- Proposed Transition Information [PDF, 115KB]
Administrative Change #2 - Forest Plan Winter Range Admin Change
The following letter is intended to document an administrative change to a Forest Wide Guideline in the Kootenai National Forest 2015 Forest Plan.
Administrative Change #3 - Linear Road Miles in BORZ
This letter documents the administrative change to Table 26 of Appendix B of the revised 2015 KNF Land Management Plan to correct errors contained in the environmental baseline of road miles in the Clark Fork, Cabinet Face, West Kootenai, and Tobacco BORZ areas.
Administrative Change #4 - Designated Communication Sites
The Kootenai National Forest is making an administrative change to Appendix D – Table 28 Designated Communication Sites on the KNF (page 169-170) of the 2015 Kootenai National Forest Land Management Plan.
Administrative Change #5 - Forest Plan Timber Standard Admin Change
The following letter is intended to document an administrative change to a Forest Wide Standard in the Kootenai National Forest 2015 Forest Plan.
Travel Management Planning
Travel Management Rule
In 2005, the Forest Service developed a roads management strategy when the Travel Management Rule (36 CFR part 212) [PDF, 219KB] was published. The goal was to identify a transportation system that is environmentally and financially sustainable while meeting public needs. Under the travel management rule, each National Forest is required to identify the minimum road system (MRS) needed for safe and efficient travel and for administration, utilization, and protection of NFS lands.
Travel Analysis Report
As part of the 2005 Travel Management Rule each Forest was required to complete Travel Analysis Report (TAR) that documents the travel analysis process. The travel analysis report is a summary of the science-based transportation analysis the Kootenai National Forest completed to ensure that additions to the National Forest System network of roads are those deemed essential for resource management and use; that construction, reconstruction and maintenance of roads minimize adverse environmental impacts; and that unneeded roads are decommissioned, and restoration of ecological processes is initiated.
Kootenai National Forest Travel Analysis Report [PDF, 66.8MB] - 2015
Motor Vehicle Use Maps
The Travel Management Rule also required each national forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicles. Designation would include class of vehicle and, if appropriate, time of year for motor vehicle use (a given route, for example, could be designated for use by motorcycles, ATVs, or street-legal vehicles). Designations must be shown on a motor vehicle use map (MVUM) and use inconsistent with the designations is prohibited.
Kootenai MVUM Maps
Kootenai MVUM maps display National Forest System routes including roads, trails and areas designated open to motorized use. If the route or area is not shown on the MVUM, the route or area is closed to motor vehicles. The maps can be found on our Visitor Maps and Guides webpage (expand the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) section to view available maps).