Sequoia Forest among first to revise management plan

Sequoia National Forest will be one of eight national forests that will be the first to revise their land management plans using a new National Forest System Planning Rule.

Of the nation’s 155 forests, Sequoia is at the top of the list and SNF Supervisor Kevin Elliott said it is a “tremendous opportunity” for his staff.

The Planning Rule is still being formulated and is expected to be finalized this year, but Elliott said work on the Sequoia plan could begin later this year.

Besides Sequoia National Forest, also on the list are Sierra National Forest to the immediate north and Inyo National Forest to the immediate east.

The announcement follows Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s release last week of the agency’s intended course of action for finalizing a planning rule, included as the “preferred alternative” in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. Elliott expects an announcement on the selected alternative within a month.

The last time the Sequoia National Forest plan was revised was in 1988.

“These forests (selected) will demonstrate straight out of the gate what we’ve been talking about in terms of collaboration,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “People will see that under a new rule, public engagement increases and process decreases, all while provide stronger protections for our lands and water.”

The eight national forests were selected because of their urgent need for plan revisions, the importance of the benefits they provide, and the strong collaborative networks already in place, said the USFS in a release.

Elliott agreed, saying the SNF has already demonstrated a willingness to reach out to the public.

“This forest already has a good foundation and experience with collaborative approaches involving the public,” said the supervisor.

The Sequoia National Forest covers 1.2 million acres from Fresno County to Kern County, but Elliott said the planning revision will be limited to just the forest, not the Sequoia National Monument nor wilderness areas, although the plan will serve to direct planning in the wilderness areas long-term. A Monument plan is expected to be released this summer.

Elliott said the Sequoia National Forest faces many challenges. Among those area a “hazardous fuel buildup that brings the threat of uncontrolled wildfire”, the need to restore water quality threatened by deteriorating roads and trails, insets and disease that have attack the hillsides and invasive species like noxious weeds.

“Our selection as an early adopter of this planning regulations will set the pace and scale of restoration work. We need to accelerate our restoration work to mitigate threats and disturbances such as fires, insets and others,” he added.

Elliott expects the process to take two to three years. He revised the management plan on another forest in less than three years and that was under the old planning rule. The new planning rule is expected to streamline the process, saving time and money.

He said the first year of the process will be an assessment of the forest, from recreation to forest health. “And, I think we’ll spend time asking people how they value the forest.”

Elliott admits it will be a challenge to merge all the different views of how the forest should be managed, especially over how the forest service will improve forest health.

“Most agree there is a forest health problem. The question is what do you do about it,” he said.

“There are 14 million acres of national forest at risk of fire in California, so this new approach to forest planning is vital,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). “I am encouraged that a new planning rule will build on existing efforts like the one in the Sierra National Forest that bring together scientists, timber harvesters and environmental groups to reduce hazardous fuels. We need more of that type of cooperation to reduce fire risks and prevent harm to people and property.”

The planning rule provides the framework for U.S. Forest Service land management plans for the 155 forests and 20 grasslands. The USDA will issue a record of decision selecting a final planning rule no less than 30 days following publication of the PEIS in the Federal Register on Friday. Early adopter forests will begin the plan revision process in the months following a final decision.