Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Vestal <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong> Chapter 1<br />
Table 2. Management Area Direction in the Vestal Project Area-on National Forest System<br />
Lands Only (60% of total lands within the project boundary)<br />
Percent<br />
Acres in (%) of<br />
Management Project Project<br />
Management Emphasis and<br />
Area Area Area<br />
Management Theme<br />
Big Game Winter Range: These areas are managed<br />
5.4 10,723 42%<br />
to provide high-quality winter and transitional habitat<br />
for deer and elk, high-quality turkey habitat, habitat for<br />
other species, and a variety of multiple uses.<br />
Resource Production: These areas are managed for<br />
wood products, water yield, and forage production,<br />
5.1 10,325 40% while providing other commercial products, visual<br />
quality, diversity of wildlife and a variety of other<br />
goods and services.<br />
Limited Motorized Use and Forest Products<br />
(Buckhorn Mountain): These areas are managed for<br />
non-motorized recreation, while providing for timber<br />
4.1 4,472 17% production, forage production, visual quality and a<br />
diversity of wildlife. Roads provide intermittent<br />
commercial access, but are normally closed to other<br />
than administrative use.<br />
Developed Recreation Complex (Bismarck Lake):<br />
8.2 303 1%<br />
These areas are managed for recreational opportunities<br />
and visual qualities adjacent to developed recreation<br />
sites and bodies of water.<br />
Forest Plan Goals and Objectives<br />
The Forest Plan establishes eleven multiple use goals and associated objectives for<br />
management of the Forest. The goals and objectives, applicable to specific resource<br />
management issues needing resolution, provide the basic direction for defining the<br />
purpose and need and subsequently developing the project proposal. The eleven Forest<br />
Plan goals are discussed in Chapter I of the Forest Plan. The Responsible Official for the<br />
Vestal Project has chosen to propose resource management actions that respond to Forest<br />
Plan Goals 2, 4, and 10.<br />
Goal 2: Provide for a variety of life through management of biologically diverse<br />
ecosystems.<br />
Objective 201: Manage for a minimum of 92,000 acres of aspen, and<br />
16,000 acres of bur oak during the life of the Plan. The highest priority<br />
for hardwood restoration is where conifers (e.g., spruce and pine) have<br />
out-competed aspen adjacent to riparian systems that once supported<br />
beaver.<br />
• Opportunity exists to increase/maintain hardwood communities by<br />
reducing pine competition within these stands. In addition,<br />
opportunities exist to enhance and expand hardwood inclusions by<br />
opening stand canopies and removing conifers.<br />
5