upper white river integrated resource...

Upper White River Upper White River Integrated Integrated

Resource ProjectResource Project

Rochester Ranger District, Rochester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Green Mountain National

ForestForest

November 2007November 2007

Format for Tonight’s MeetingFormat for Tonight’s Meeting

Tables representing varied resources (wildlife, recreation, vegetation…) available to:

Share information: What possible activities is the Forest Service considering?Gather information: What do you think about our activities?Answer questions

““Integrated Resource Projects”Integrated Resource Projects”

Integrated Resource Projects (IRPs) include a range of opportunities for multiple resources.The mix of possible activities are proposed to meet goals, objectives, and desired future conditions established in the 2006 Forest Plan.

““Integrated Resource Projects”Integrated Resource Projects”Continued…Continued…

IRPs are aligned with the Ecosystem Management approach: viewing various resources as interrelated components of a larger system rather than individual parts to be managed separately.

Public Tour of Uneven-Aged Stand

Integrated Resource ProjectsIntegrated Resource Projectson the Green Mountain NFon the Green Mountain NF

Natural TurnpikeTowns of Ripton and Lincoln, VT

Upper White River Primarily in Towns of Granville and Hancock, VT

Dorset-Peru Landscape AssessmentTowns of Dorset and Peru, VT

Upper White River IRP:Upper White River IRP:Goals of CollaborationGoals of Collaboration

Develop a project that extends opportunities across federal boundaries. Connect people to the land and provide potential opportunities for stewardship contracts or agreements and partnerships.

Develop recommendations and “Possible Activities” for the project.

Upper White River IRP:Upper White River IRP:Collaboration To DateCollaboration To Date

The Forest Service is utilizing information and recommendations from the Upper White River Watershed Assessments (2000/2001)We are continuing to work with the White River Partnership and will be reviewing their ideas/plans for management of the Upper White River.

Upper White River IRP:Upper White River IRP:Collaboration To DateCollaboration To Date

The Forest Service has gathered input from a variety of interests and incorporated the feedback into our list of “possible activities.”Communication is ongoing with: towns; Regional Planning Commissions; State Representatives and Senators; members of the local public; Federal, State and County Agencies and Counterparts; and Special Interest Groups

Upper White River IRP:Upper White River IRP:CollaborationCollaboration

Former USFS Chief Dale Bosworth said*:

“We need to treat our publics as equals. Instead of educating the public we should work with them, involving them at every step of the way in our decision making. Our role at the Forest Service has changed: we still have an obligation to lead, but as organizers and facilitators rather than as experts who have all the answers, because we don’t.”

*Dale Bosworth, Centennial Congress Report Out, 1/6/05


We Want to Know!

How would you like to be engaged in this project (public meetings, field trips, volunteering with field work, partnering, informal meetings)?What kind of time do you have to work with us (are you looking for lots of back and forth dialogue or just to be kept in the loop as the project progresses)?


We Want to Know Continued…

What activities should we be considering and moving forward in this project?Do you have recommendations for other organizations or people we should contact?

Project Area HistoryProject Area History

1941 Rob Ford Farm

There is a long and deep history of multiple land-use management in the area, including utilization of the area as a “working landscape.” We can build on past experiences and the knowledge gained as we develop our management strategies.

Project Area TodayProject Area TodayWhy a project in the Upper White River area ?:

Build off of work completed in 2000/2001 Upper White River Watershed AssessmentsPublic and local towns expressed desire for more active management in the areaManagement areas allowing a wide range of opportunities to work towards desired future conditions established in Forest Plan

What Are Possible Activities?What Are Possible Activities?

Possible Activities are opportunities for management identified by the Forest Service and by members of the public.Possible Activities provide a means of narrowing the gap between existing conditions witnessed on the ground today and the future conditions desired for the project area (Forest Plan “desired future conditions”).We are still developing the Upper White River Project…and want to hear what Possible Activities we should add or remove from our list!

Possible Activities: FisheriesPossible Activities: Fisheries

Improve and restore stream (aquatic) habitat.

Restore natural quantities of large woody debris (LWD).

Improve fish passage at road crossings where culverts have created migration barriers.

Maple Tree Cover Log

Possible Activities: FisheriesPossible Activities: Fisheries

Improve fish populations and provide high quality recreational trout fishing opportunities

Implement activities identified in Upper White River Corridor Plan (such as stream-side plantings)

Wild Brook Trout

Possible Activities: WildlifePossible Activities: WildlifePublic contribution: Expand size and number of openings. Include opportunities through plantation removal and openings in inventoried roadless areas.

Forest opening maintenance discussion during public field trip

Possible Activities: WildlifePossible Activities: Wildlife

Maintain (and contribute to maintaining or improving) reproducing populations for all native plant and animal species.

Increase amount of accessible deer browse.

Possible Activities: Soil, Water, Possible Activities: Soil, Water, and Airand Air

Rehabilitate areas with eroded or compacted soils.

Locate one or two plots to monitor long-term change in key components of forest ecosystems (for example soil quality and tree health) in response to environmental influences such as acid deposition and climate change.

Possible Activities: Soil, Water, Possible Activities: Soil, Water, and Airand Air

Improve riparian areas by implementing non-native invasive species (NNIS) control actions and eliminating sources of sediment delivery to streams.

Assess the need for, and if appropriate, implement projects to enhance or restore habitat components adjacent to wetlands.

Possible Activities: Vegetation Possible Activities: Vegetation ManagementManagement

Release, prune, and enhance apple trees

Combine and enlarge existing permanent upland openings

Develop demonstration forest management project: establish plots testing harvest methods and resulting vegetation composition

Possible Activities: Vegetation Possible Activities: Vegetation ManagementManagement

Contribute to working towards Forest Plan desired future conditions and Composition and Age Class Objectives

Contribute to Forest Plan Objective to provide a sustainable supply of high-quality sawtimber and other wood products for local and global economies

Establish forested buffer strips where they are currently lacking to help improve function of riparian corridors

Possible Activities: NonPossible Activities: Non--Native Native Invasive Species (NNIS) Invasive Species (NNIS)

Treat NNIS infestations Develop a Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) to address NNIS in the project area. Minimize impacts of NNIS on other Forest resourcesProtect ecosystems across boundaries

Possible Activities: Sensitive Possible Activities: Sensitive SpeciesSpecies

Maintain viability of plants on the Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS) list

Implement actions needed to maintain RFSS on the National Forest

Possible Activities: RecreationPossible Activities: Recreation

Align recreation and trail infrastructure with future needs

Improve maintenance of developed recreation facilities

Improve safety

Possible Activities: Recreation Possible Activities: Recreation and Visual Resourcesand Visual Resources

Provide protection for Texas Falls Ecological Special Area

Maintain or enhance visual quality

Possible Activities: Recreation Possible Activities: Recreation and Visual Resourcesand Visual Resources

Public contribution: Increase diversity of trails in project area.

Public contribution: Improve Childs Mountain Snowmobile Loop Trail from a Class 2 to a Class 4 trail

Possible Activities: WildernessPossible Activities: Wilderness

Implement the New England Wilderness Act (NEWA) of 2006, including: Decommission roads and other non-conforming infrastructure in areas designated as Wilderness

Public contribution: Implement ecological restoration projects in NEWA areas.

Possible Activities: Fire Possible Activities: Fire

Reduce hazardous fuels through fire use, mechanical treatments (such as chainsaw work), and harvest treatments.

Conduct hazardous fuels treatments (mechanical treatments and prescribed fire) to proposed and existing openings.

Possible Activities: Social and Possible Activities: Social and Economic Economic

Support regional and local economies through resource use, production, and protection.

Collaborate with local businesses and contractors to develop contracts and economic opportunities.

Establish, maintain, and enhance partnerships for resource management planning and action.

Possible Activities: Heritage Possible Activities: Heritage and Cultural Resources and Cultural Resources

Enhance the preservation of historic properties (i.e., historically significant structures and archaeological sites)

Address maintenance needs for significant sites and cemeteries – such as: stabilize the remains, remove encroaching vegetation, or clean/repair headstones

Possible Activities: Heritage Possible Activities: Heritage and Cultural Resources and Cultural Resources

Protect and increase knowledge about the location of prehistoric archaeological sites and Native American traditional use sitesSelect a site for the “Passport in Time” (volunteer) site evaluation project

Possible Activities: Possible Activities: Transportation Transportation

Review and update Transportation Analysis for Project Area

Improve safety on NFS Roads

Public contribution: Utilize gravel removed from potential road decommissioning efforts to harden remaining roads and trails

Possible Activities: Possible Activities: Transportation Transportation

Align road infrastructure with current and future predicted transportation needs.

Decommission, retain, or improve system and unauthorized roads within the project area.

Next Steps: Public Field TripNext Steps: Public Field Trip

Want to learn more about what you hear tonight?Want to continue dialogue and provide feedback on specific areas during a field discussion?

Join us for a public field trip this Spring (2008)!

** Fill out an interest card so we know you would like to be contacted!

Next Steps: TimelinesNext Steps: Timelines

Public field trip: Spring 2008Continued gathering of data and public collaboration: November 2007-July 2008Anticipated release of Scoping Letter: October 2008Anticipated release of Preliminary Environmental Assessment: September 2009

HOW TO COMMENTHOW TO COMMENT

Written comments to:Upper White River IRPc/o Holly KnoxGreen Mountain National Forest99 Ranger Rd.Rochester, VT 05767

Email comments to: [email protected]

upper white river integrated resource...

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