Forest Service Releases Final Rule for Forest Planning

Earlier today, the Forest Service released a Final Rule for National Forest System Land Management Planning. The Planning Rule guides the development of management plans for our National Forests and the rivers that flow through them. These planning efforts are important because they provide guidance for recreational use of rivers, outline goals for watershed restoration and conservation, and evaluate rivers for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

 

American Whitewater's National Stewardship Director Kevin Colburn issued the following statement on todays rule: "The National Forest System is a haven for Americans seeking a stronger connection with their families and nature through healthy outdoor recreational pursuits. The Final Rule will support these sustainable recreational experiences, and will increase the involvement of the public in planning efforts. We expect this new collaborative process to result in better, more broadly supported outcomes for these treasured public lands and their enjoyment. We look forward to working with the US Forest Service on the first plan revisions carried out under a new rule when it is finalized in the near future." 

 

The first Forests to begin planning under the new rule include the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, the Chugach National Forest in Alaska, the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico and California’s Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests will begin revising their plans shortly after a final rule is selected. These Forests include iconic whitewater rivers such as the Clearwater and Selway in Idaho, Copper River and Sixmile Creek in Alaska, and the San Joaquin, Kings, and Kern Rivers in California. U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has made the commitment that "people will see that under a new rule, public engagement increases and process decreases, all while providing stronger protections for our lands and water." American Whitewater looks forward to engaging in this collaborative approach as the process is introduced to these first Forests identified for early adoption of the new rule.

 

While the new Planning Rule will guide management of National Forests, it will do so in a landscape and watershed context. American Whitewater's Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director Thomas O'Keefe notes that "one of the most exciting elements of the new rule is the fact that the responsible official will consider the landscape-scale context for management and will look across boundaries throughout the planning process. We all know that rivers cross jurisdictional boundaries, and embracing the all lands approach recognizes this."