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Planning

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires the development management direction for each National Forest. This "direction" is to be expressed through goals, objectives, standards, guidelines, management prescriptions, desired future conditions, and monitoring and evaluation requirements for the forest. Projected activities, services, and rate of implementation are dependent on the annual appropriations and budgeting process. Direction is guided by the six primary decisions made in a Forest Plan.

The six decisions made in a Forest Plan are:

  1. Forest-wide goals and objectives
  2. Forest-wide standards and guidelines
  3. Management area delineations and associated prescriptions
  4. Identification of lands not suited for timber production
  5. Monitoring and evaluation techniques
  6. Recommendation for official designation of Wilderness

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Revised Forest Plans were completed in 2003 with considerable environmental analysis and public involvement. They provide broad program-level direction for management of the land and its resources. This direction is carried out in future projects. The Forest Plans do not, however, contain commitments to implement specific projects. An environmental analysis is conducted for these projects as they are proposed.

In addition to direction found in the Forest Plans, projects are also implemented through direction found in the Forest Service directive system (manuals and handbooks) and other guides.

Selected information from the 2003 Revised Forest Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement can be downloaded below. The entire document and map set can be obtained on CD-ROM by contacting:

Forest Environmental Coordinator
bethany.nickison@usda.gov

Last updated May 5th, 2025