IP Comment Guidelines 4-09-r1 2

Rwelty

Informations

• Publié par: Essu
• Nombre de lectures: 22
• Langue: English

Extrait

Guidelines on How to Provide Useful Comments

on Oregon Department of Forestry

Draft Implementation Plans for

Astoria, Tillamook & Forest Grove Districts

April 2009

When to comment?

In April and May, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) invites public comments on

revisions to its draft implementation plans and Forest Land Management Classification (FLMC)

maps for Astoria, Tillamook and Forest Grove districts.

Comment period: March 30 to May 13.

After considering comments, the State Forester approves the district implementation plans and

they go into effect on July 1.

Who can comment?

Any interested individual, group or business can comment on any one of the district

implementation plans or on all three, as well as the FLMC maps. These three ODF districts are

responsible for managing the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests – about 500,000 acres – in

northwest Oregon

How to comment?

Comments must be in writing and they must be received during the comment period. An online

survey also may be used to submit comments. Comments also will be collected at open house

meetings in Tillamook, Astoria and Forest Grove.

Written comments may be hand-delivered or sent by mail, e-mail or fax to districts or to the State

Forests Division (Planning Specialist, State Forests Program, Oregon Department of Forestry,

2600 State St., Salem 97310; fax [phone]; e-mail

Planning

Specialist

).

They must be

received by 5 p.m. at the end of the comment period.

During this same comment period, districts’ Annual Operations Plans also will receive public

review. In your written comments, please indicate where they are directed (IP, FLMC or AOP).

What are Implementation Plans?

These plans “implement” the general direction of the Northwest Oregon State Forests

Management Plan (FMP) at the district level. They apply the over-arching long-range principles

and strategies of the FMP to each district’s landscape.

Implementation plans provide an assessment of current forest conditions (a starting point) and

project a “desired future condition” that extends out several decades. The diverse stand types –

ranging from open spaces to complex structure (old-growth characteristics) – called for in the

FMP guide the district implementation plans.

Districts identify the types of management activities (thinning, partial cuts, clearcuts and

reforestation), and show how and why they will be used to move basins toward their desired future

condition.

Implementation plans address the construction, improvement, maintenance and closure of roads –

with the goal of meeting district transportation needs without significantly impacting water

quality.

Other components of implementation plans include stream enhancement projects, cultural site

identification and protection, and recreation management projects.

Implementation plans provide guidance for developing annual operations plans. Annual plans

describe on-the-ground operations, such as timber sales, road building, reforestation, stream

enhancement projects and trail building for each fiscal year.

What are Forest Land Management Classification maps?

The land management classification system describes the management emphasis for parcels of land. The

classifications vary from general stewardship (actively managed), to focused stewardship (requires

additional allowances) to special stewardship (restrictions apply).

Where can Implementation Plans and Forest Land Management Classification

maps be found?

The draft plans are available at district offices and on the ODF website

(

http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_FORESTS/District_Implementation_Plan_Revisio

ns_2009.shtml

). ODF contact in Salem:

Planning Specialist

, 503-945-7258.

•

For the Clatsop State Forest, contact: Astoria District, 503-325-5451. Fax: [phone].

•

For the Tillamook State Forest (western two-thirds), contact: Tillamook District, 503-842-

2545. Fax: [phone].

•

For the Tillamook State Forest (eastern one-third), contact Forest Grove District, 503-357-

2191. Fax: [phone].

Why would someone comment?

Comments should be recommended to improve the implementation plans. The following

guidelines identify key parts of the plans; comments in these areas would be most helpful.

Accurate current condition

. The current condition of these forests is accurately captured in the

maps and descriptions.

Example: I recommend changing the structure designation in the

northwest part of XYZ basin from layered to understory.

Desired future condition achieves balance

. The desired future condition for these forests

provides the diversity (different types of stand structures) to achieve an appropriate balance of

resource management goals.

Example: I recommend changing the complex structure target to xx%

to provide more (habitat/revenue) to balance the forest’s management.

Management develops desired future condition

. The described management activities will

develop the desired future condition of stand structures.

Example: I recommend changing the

harvest prescription at (specify location) from (specify prescription) to (specify prescription) to

improve its progression to its desired condition.

Reasons for complex structure locations

. The rationale for the locations of the complex

structures (older forest types) are described clearly in the landscape design overview.

Example: I

recommend changing the location of complex structure in (identify area) to be re-located in

(identify area) to improve (cite reason).

Revisions provide diverse benefits

. The revisions to the implementation plan(s) strike an

appropriate balance of economic, environmental and social benefits.

Example: I recommend

changing the revisions to have xx% complex structure to (increase revenue/increase habitat) and

better provide an appropriate balance of benefits.

Roads and water

. The road system meets the transportation needs of the district without

significantly impacting water quality.

Example: I recommend changing the roads by doing ABC to

reduce the number of stream crossings and meet transportation needs.

Recreation meets needs

. The level of recreation management is appropriate for meeting the needs

of visitors to the forest.

Example: I recommend changing recreation management to build

(more/less) (motorized/non-motorized) trails.

Elements provide context

. The physical elements (geology, soils, topography, water, climate),

biological elements (vegetation, insects and disease, fish and wildlife resources), and human

elements (forest management) provide enough context for the implementation plan.

Example: I

recommend changing (identify elements section) to XYZ to more accurately reflect the condition

and provide better context.

Land classification appropriate

. The appropriate amounts and locations of general stewardship,

focused stewardship and special stewardship are identified and clearly mapped.

Example: I

recommend changing the land classification for (identify specific location) from (identify specific

classification) to (identify specific classification) because of (identify reason).

Why does ODF seek comments?

The purpose of the comment period is to share the implementation plans and FLMC maps with the

public and to provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and offer comments on the

plans. Comments have the potential to improve plans.

As a public agency, ODF operates in the best interest of Oregonians. Conducting business in an

open way with opportunities for scrutiny helps maintain public confidence that ODF operations

are benefiting Oregonians.

How are comments used?

Comments related to a district’s implementation plan receive that district’s attention; comments

that extend beyond single-district issues are considered by regional area staff and statewide

division staff. Responses to comments are posted on the ODF website. All public comments

submitted in writing will be forwarded to the State Forester, along with the revised

implementation plan.

Implementation plans must be consistent with the goals, strategies and objectives found in the

Northwest Oregon State Forest Management Plan

.