national forests in alabamathe nature conservancy, the conservation fund, the trust for public land....

National Forests in Alabama

Alabama Bibb, Cleburne, Winston Counties

Congressional Districts: 3, 4, 6 Members: Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Spencer Bachus

Location Shoal Creek is 75 miles west of Atlanta,

Oakmulgee is 45 miles south of Tuscaloosa, and Bankhead is 70 miles north of Birmingham.

Acquired to Date

Method Acres Cost ($)

Purchase 1129 $1,977,000 Purpose Restore longleaf pine; protect watersheds,

wetlands, and endangered aquatics; reduce wildfire risk; improve access, recreation, and resilience to climate change; mitigate effects of carbon emissions.

Exchange 0 0 Donation 0 $450,000 Other 0 0 Partners 0 0

President’s Budget FY 2012 Method Acres Cost ($) Purchase Opportunity

International Paper, Soterra LLC, Evergreen Forests LLC, and other large companies have begun divesting large tracts of land, providing an opportunity to protect them from development.

Purchase 497 $1,000,000

Partners The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, The Trust for Public Land. Project Description

The National Forests in Alabama comprise the largest area of publicly owned land in Alabama, covering about 3 percent of all forest acreage in a State where 69 percent of the land is forested, where private owners hold more than 90 percent of forest land, and where forestry is the number one industry. About a quarter of the private forest land in Alabama is in large tracts that can support sensitive species, provide open space for recreation, and mitigate the effects of carbon emissions. The forces that are changing the landscape of the South are also affecting Alabama’s forests. Forest industry owners, who once prided themselves for planting four trees to replace every one harvested, are now selling their land as fast as they can. Metropolitan hot spots are spreading towards public lands at an alarming rate. And as investors eye national forest inholdings for residential development, the State can no longer be confident that the patchwork of ownerships on its public land will remain forested or that critical watersheds and species will be protected. Three large tracts are available for acquisition. The first is a 618-acre tract on the Shoal Creek Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest that is bisected by Terrappin Creek (designated as critical habitat for eight federally listed species). Acquisition of this tract will protect 40 acres of wetlands and streamsides from further development that has recently begun. The tract abuts the 147-mile Pinhoti Trail and offers protection to the Trail’s viewshed. Other available recreation opportunities are the Chief Ladiga Trail, hunting, fishing, canoeing, and camping. The second is a 320-acre tract on the Talledega’s Oakmulgee Ranger District, which is near several active red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) clusters and has been recently clearcut, making this a crucial time to restore the native longleaf pine for recovery of RCW and other species and for increased carbon sequestration. Although the outlook for precipitation in the area is mixed, all predictions forecast warmer temperatures. Because longleaf pine can thrive in warm temperatures on sites ranging from dry ridges to soggy low flatwoods, this species is likely to be well adapted for most future climates. The third, a 180-acre tract on the Bankhead National Forest, will connect two large sections of the Bankhead, increasing management efficiency. This tract drains in the Lower Brushy Creek watershed and Lake Lewis Smith—critical habitat for the threatened flattened musk turtle. All tracts are located inside national forest boundaries and follow the desired future condition described in the forest plan for the National Forests in Alabama. Acquiring them will preserve wetlands and riparian habitat along with associated at-risk species, and will enable restoration of native forests while increasing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gases. Access to recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, camping, biking and hiking will improve, as outlined in the Administration’s “America’s Great Outdoor Initiative”.

USDA Goal Consolidate, protect, restore, sustain and enhance Forest lands, water quality and endangered species by conserving open space and increasing efficiency of management.

Forest Service

Walker

Morgan

Cherokee

Tuscaloosa

PerryAutauga

DallasElmore

Bibb

Chilton

Clay

Coosa

Jefferson

St. Clair

Shelby

Talladega

Chambers

Cleburne

Randolph

Tallapoosa

Lee

Macon

Winston

Lawrence

Calhoun

EtowahBlount

Cullman

DeKalbMarshall

280

231

11

78

431

82

278411

31

459

20

65 759

85

59

Birmingham

Gadsden

Anniston

Auburn

file: c:\(data\lwcd2012\r8\maps\alabam\ Arlene Heap

0 8 164Miles

State of AlabamaForest Service Region 8

Talladega & Bankhead Nat'l Forests

Map Creation Date - 01/03/2011Map Revision Date -

National Forests in Alabama

FY 2012 LWCFThis map depicts USDA Forest Service Land Status Record dataand the approximate location of the proposed purchase parcel.

The USDA Forest Service Makes no warranty, expressed or implied,regarding the data displayed on this map, and reserves the right tocorrect, update, modify, or replace this information without notification.

LegendAdministrative Forest BoundaryNational Forest System Lands

Vicinity Map

Talladega National ForestShoal Creek Ranger District Parcel

Bankhead National ForestWinston County Parcel

Talladega National ForestOakmulgee Ranger District Parcel

Map 1 of 4


0 0.25 0.50.125Miles


Talladega National Forest


National Forests in AlabamaShoal Creek Ranger District



LegendAdministrative Forest BoundaryNational Forest System LandsProposed Acquisition Parcel

Vicinity Map

Talladega National ForestShoal Creek Ranger District Parcel

Map 2 of 4

Ta l l a d e g a Ta l l a d e g a N a t i o n a l F o r e s tN a t i o n a l F o r e s t

MileCr

BRUSHY

BM541 Old Houston

CemBR

USHY

Mile

Creek

Branch

Inman Creek

737

662

644

Cem

BM763

818

735 719Cem

BM699

BarnettChapel

PisgahCem

BM753

NATURAL BRIDGERECREATION AREA


0 0.25 0.50.125Miles


Bankhead National Forest


National Forests in AlabamaWinston County Parcel



LegendNational Forest System LandsProposed Acquisition Parcel

Vicinity Map

Bankhead National ForestWinston County Parcel

Map 3 of 4

B a n k h e a dB a n k h e a dN a t i o n a l F o r e s tN a t i o n a l F o r e s t

Cave

PIPELINE

PERR

Y C

OBI

BB C

O

4WD

Branch

Mountain

Cave

550

366

359

362

390

334 333

356

487

531

491

505

296

419

366

NATIONAL FOREST

407 446 362


0 0.25 0.50.125Miles


Talladega National Forest


National Forests in AlabamaOakmulgee Ranger District



LegendNational Forest System LandsProposed Acquisition Parcel

Vicinity Map

Talladega National ForestOakmulgee Ranger District Parcel

Map 4 of 4

Ta l l a d e g aTa l l a d e g aN a t i o n a l F o r e s tN a t i o n a l F o r e s t

Tract 2 Located on the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega NF, this 320 acre tract is adjacent to several active Red Cockaded Woodpecker clusters and offers excellent opportunity to consolidate future Red Cockaded Woodpecker habitat.

National Forests in Alabama LWCF 2012

Tract 3 Located on the Bankhead NF,

this 180 acre tract offers excellent consolidation. This

tract drains into Brushy Creek and Lake Lewis Smith.

Acquisition of this tract will protect habitat for the

threatened flattened musk turtle.

Tract 1 This tract is a 618 acre parcel located on the Shoal Creek Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest. Terrapin Creek bisects this tract for approximately one mile and has been designated as habitat for eight threatened and endangered species by the USF&WS. Protection of these endangered species from development, which has recently occurred along Terrapin Creek, is of great importance to the National Forests in Alabama.

national forests in alabamathe nature conservancy, the conservation fund, the trust for public land....

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