Revision Process Timeline

From: Ben Johnson, Lolo National Forest Supervisor 
September 3, 2026

Greetings, 

I’m writing to you today with an update on the Lolo National Forest land management plan revision, and I must ask once again for your patience and understanding as we work toward the release of the draft plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Our Forest Service team continues to work diligently on the content, but we will not be prepared for a release in late summer 2026 as we had hoped. As our next steps are solidified, I will be in touch so you can make plans to participate in this process and share feedback on the documents.

With that said, the anticipated date for the release of our draft Record of Decision, final Plan and final EIS in 2027 remains the same.

Though our timeline for releasing the draft plan and DEIS for this project has changed, my dedication to public engagement and dialogue about the Lolo’s future remains the same. There will be a 90-day comment period when the documents are released along with ample opportunities to discuss content with the Forest Service staff who wrote it. 

Thank you once again for your commitment to the Lolo National Forest’s land management plan revision process. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. Questions about the revision process can be sent to SM.FS.LNFRevision@usda.gov.

Kind regards, 
Ben Johnson 
Lolo National Forest Supervisor

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For additional information and supporting documents related to the Revision Process Timeline, please visit our Document Library page.

1. Pre-Assessment (2021-2022)

   Internal preparation to initiate forest plan revision

2. Assessment (winter 2021/22-summer 2023)

   • Evaluate relevant data and information on existing conditions, roles and contributions, and trends
   • Start natural range of variation modeling; wild and scenic river eligibility; species of conservation concern process; recreation opportunity spectrum and scenery management systems mapping; timber suitability and modeling; and wilderness inventory and evaluation
   • Release Draft Assessment (summer 2023)
   • Release Draft Preliminary Need to Change (summer 2023)

3. Plan Development and Scoping the Proposed Action (summer 2023-winter 2023/24)

   • Timber suitability and monitoring
   • Establish desired conditions and other plan components for all resources
   • Map all proposed land allocations, such as geographic areas, management areas, designated areas, desired recreation opportunity spectrum settings and scenic integrity objectives
   • Identify suitabilities across the landscape
   • Develop a proposed plan monitoring program
   • Release Preliminary Need to Change (winter 2024)
   • Scope the Proposed Action (winter 2024)

4. Develop Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Forest Plan (winter 2023/24-summer 2026)

   • Review public comments from scoping
   • Develop alternatives
   • Develop the environmental impact statement and analyze the effects on resources of each of the alternatives.
   • Release the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (summer 2026)

5. Develop Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision (fall 2026-2027)

   • Analyze and respond to public comments from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
   • Select a preferred alternative
   • Develop biological assessment on the selected alternative and consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
   • Release Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision (2027)

6. Objection Process and Final Record of Decision (2028)

   • Objection period, review of objections, and resolution meeting
   • Release final record of decision and revised plan 
   • Begin plan implementation and monitoring!

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