Two national forests begin revision of management plans

The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests, in a joint effort, are revising their forest plans.
The project will conclude with a new management plan for an area of nearly 5 million acres of National Forest lands. The forests stretch from the eastern foothills of Mount Rainier north to the Pasayten Wilderness at the Canadian border and east to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness in the far northeast corner of the state.

The National Forest Management Act requires each national forests to update their land management plans every 15 years. The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests introduced their land management plans in 1989-90. Managers from the two forests released a plan revision proposed action on June 30, which began a 60-day comment period that ends Aug. 29.

Comments will help in the development of alternatives for a draft environmental impact statement which should be released in June 2012. A final environmental impact statement and Record of Decision is planned for fall 2013.

Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/03/1731010/two-national-forests-begin-revision.html#ixzz1R8ld1tPE