Planning
Each National Forest and Grassland is governed by a management plan in accordance with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). These plans set management, protection, use goals and guidelines. Monitoring conditions on the Grassland ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction and determine effects that might require a change in management.
Prairie Management Plan
Paper copies of these documents are also available for review in local libraries.
2002 Prairie Plan (PDFs)
Contents
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Decisions Made in this Plan
1.3. Relationship of the Plan to Other Documents
1.4. Relationship to Other National and Regional Plans
1.5. Relationship to New Forest Service Planning Rule
1.6. Integration with Forest Service Directives System
1.7. Plan Organization
1.8. Management Areas
1.9. Management Direction
1.10. Location
1.11. Description of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
1.12. Summary of the “Analysis of Management Situation”
1.13. Management Challenges
1.14. Management Opportunities
1.15. Summary of Potential Opportunities for Key Resources
1.16. Basic Principles of Management at Midewin
Contents
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Development of Midewin Goals and Objectives
2.3. A Vision For The Future
2.4. Ecological Sustainability
- Desired Condition
- Dry/Mesic Upland Prairie & Wet/Prairie Sedge Meadow
- Grassland Habitat
- Savanna Restoration
- Forest/Woodland Restoration
- Goals & Objectives
2.5. Recreation and Interpretation
- Desired Condition
- Goals & Objectives
2.6. Heritage Resources
- Desired Condition
- Goals & Objectives
2.7. Facilities and Transportation
- Desired Condition
- Goals & Objectives
2.8. Lands and Special Uses
- Desired Condition
- Goals & Objectives
2.9. Fire Management
- Desired Condition
- Goals & Objectives
2.10. Air Quality and Smoke Management
- Desired Condition
- Goals & Objectives
Contents
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Management Area 1: Prairie Ecosystem Restoration
- Desired Condition
- Sensitive Species Prescriptions by Habitat Type
3.3. Management Area 2: Administrative & Developed Recreation Sites
Contents
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Prairie Wide Standards and Guidelines
- Ecological Sustainability
- Ecosystem Restoration Priorities
- Threatened and Endangered Species
- Habitat Restoration
- Provenance and Seed Production
- Plant Collecting
- Restoration Procedures for Native Vegetation
- Riparian Restoration
- Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species
- Soil and Watershed Resource Management
- Planning and Restoration
- Riparian Management
- Soil and Watershed Resource Protection
- Recreation
- General
- Interpretive Services
- Trails
- Scenery Management
- Heritage Resources
- Identification and Evaluation
- Protection and Monitoring
- Preservation
- Promote Heritage Values
- Lands and Special Uses
- Special Use Administration
- For New Utilities Under Special Uses
- Right-of-Way Grants
- Land Survey and Landline Location and Maintenance
- Acquisition and Conveyance of Lands
- Facilities and Transportation
- Facilities
- Former Joliet Arsenal Infrastructure
- Transportation
- Fire Management
- Fire Suppression
- Prescribed Fire
- Air Quality and Smoke Management
- Mineral Resources
4.3. Management Area 1: Prairie Ecosystem Restoration
- Ecological Sustainability
- Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species
- Sensitive Species
- State Listed Species
- Restoration of Species of Conservation Concern
- Native Vegetation Remnants
- Habitat Restoration
- Wildlife
- Recreation and Interpretation
- General Recreation
- Trails
- Lands and Special Uses
- Agriculture Use
4.4. Management Area 2: Administrative and Developed Sites
- Recreation and Interpretation
- Facilities and Transportation
- Facility Construction and Maintenance
- Lands and Special Uses
Contents
5.1. Implementing the Plan
- Decisions Made at the Prairie Plan Level
- Decisions Made at the Project Level
- Operational Activities Exempt From NEPA
- Additional Analysis
5.2. Plan Amendments
5.3. Adaptive Management
5.4. Plan Revisions
5.5. Integration with Forest Service Directives System
5.6. Hierarchy of Management Direction
Contents
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Roles and Responsibilities
6.3. Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Program
6.4. Monitoring and Evaluation Items
6.5. Monitoring Questions
6.6. Monitoring Priority
6.7. Monitoring Drivers
6.8. Unit of Measure
6.9. Sampling Methods
6.10. Scale
6.11. Frequency
6.12. Monitoring and Evaluation Items for Midewin
Record of Decision (PDF)
Final Environmental Impact Statement (PDFs)
Appendix A - Summary of Population Viability Assessment Process
Appendix B - Existing Vegetation
Appendix D - Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
Appendix E - Documentation of Analysis
Appendix F - Response to Public Comments & Copies of Comments from Public Agencies
Appendix G - Biological Assessment for Midewin Plan
Appendix H - Biological Opinion from US Fish and Wildlife Service
Figure 1: Map of Midewin NTP and Prairie Parklands
Figure 2: Map of Alternative 1 No Action Existing Conditions
Figure 3: Map of Alternative 2 Habitat Restoration Allocation
Figure 4: Map of Alternative 2 Transportation and Trail Corridors
Figure 5: Map of Alternative 3 Habitat Restoration Allocation
Figure 6: Map of Alternative 3 Transportation and Trail Corridors
Figure 7: Map of Alternative 4 Habitat Restoration Allocation
Figure 8: Map of Alternative 4 Transportation and Trail Corridors
Figure 9: Map of Alternative 5 Habitat Restoration Allocation
Figure 10: Map of Alternative 5 Transportation and Trail Corridors
Figure 11: Map of Alternative 6 Habitat Restoration Allocation
Figure 12: Map of Alternative 6 Transportation and Trails Corridors
Figure 13: Map of Midewin NTP and Prairie Parklands Watersheds
Figure 14: Map of Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
Figure 15: Map of Proposed Scenic Integrity Objectives
2008 Prairie Plan Amendment (PDFs)
2016 Changes to the Prairie Plan Monitoring Program (PDFs)
Prairie Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Reports
The Prairie Plan requires that a Monitoring and Evaluation Report be completed each year. The purpose of this report is to determine how the Midewin is doing in meeting the goals outlined in the Prairie Plan.
Fiscal year (FY) 2019 - 2020 Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Fiscal year (FY) 2016 - 2018 Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-2014 Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Fiscal Year (FY) 2010-2011 Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Travel Analysis
The U.S. Forest Service is committed to balancing your needs for access to the National Forests & Prairie with the responsibility to sustain a productive, diverse, and healthy forest/prairie. As part of this commitment, the Forest Service performed a forest-by-forest road analysis (also known as Travel Analysis – Subpart A) intended to guide future road management planning and address concerns about the future sustainability of the National Forest/Prairie road system. This analysis was not a decision but was intended to recommend a minimum road system that takes into consideration access for the public and forest management activities, environmental impacts, public input, and budget constraints. Currently, all road analyses are being reviewed and then will be made available. This website will continue to be updated with any new information.
Road Study Update – Travel Analysis Report Now Available
Thank you to all who contributed to the road study (also known as the Travel Analysis). The Forest Service has released all the Travel Analysis Reports that analyze the existing roads systems and identify opportunities to achieve a more sustainable road system for each National Forest and Prairie. These reports are part of a nationwide requirement and are not decision documents—instead, they provide an analysis of the road system as it exists today. All future proposed actions and decisions will involve further opportunities for public input and engagement at the project-level under National Environmental Policy Act processes.
Appendix A – Existing System Roads Risk and Benefit Assessment Questions
Appendix B
- Existing Midewin Roads
- Road Analysis Maps 1-8
- Road Analysis Maps 9-16
- Road Analysis Maps 17-24
- Road Analysis Maps 25-32
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Appendix C – Results of Risk and Benefit Assessment Questions
Appendix D – Public Involvement and Collaboration Information
Appendix E – Financial Analysis
Appendix A – Existing System Roads Risk and Benefit Assessment Questions
Appendix B
- Existing Midewin Roads
- Road Analysis Maps 1-8
- Road Analysis Maps 9-16
- Road Analysis Maps 17-24
- Road Analysis Maps 25-32
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Appendix C – Results of Risk and Benefit Assessment Questions
Appendix D – Public Involvement and Collaboration Information
Appendix E – Financial Analysis