USDA Forest Service

USDA Forest Service

FS owns 8.5% of the total land area in United States

Organization of USFS

Four main program components: National Forest System Forest Service Research &

Development State and Private Forestry International Forestry

Organization of National Forest System

Under Secretary of the Dept. of Agriculture

Chief of FS

Regional Foresters (9)

Forest Supervisors

District Rangers & staff

State & Private Forestry

Research & Development

International Programs



Chief of FS


Forest Supervisors





Research Stations (Regions) North Central Northeastern Pacific Southwest Rocky Mountain Pacific Northwest Southern

Northeastern Research Station



Chief of FS


Forest Supervisors





International Programs Promotes sustainable forest

management internationally through: Disaster Assistance Support Program Technical Cooperation Program Policy Program


Asian Longhorned beetle

Beetle exit holes



Chief of FS


Forest Supervisors





Forest Service Regions (9) Northern Rocky Mountain Southwestern Intermountain Pacific Southwest Pacific Northwest Southern Eastern Alaska

State & Private Forestry Conservation Education Cooperative Forestry Fire and Aviation

Management Forest Health

Management



Chief of FS


Forest Supervisors





National Forest System National Forests National Grasslands National Wilderness Areas National Forest Roadless Areas

National Forests A large forest

ecosystem used for recreation, timber, wildlife, range, and watershed purposes.

Designated by Secretary of Agriculture.

155 NFs.

Finger Lakes National Forest

National Grasslands A large grassland

ecosystem used for recreation, range, wildlife, timber, and watershed purposes.

Designated by Secretary of Agriculture.

20 NGs.

Little Missouri National Grassland, ND

Prairie dogs

Sharp-tailed grouse

Little Missouri National Grassland, ND

Oil drilling

Herding cattle

National Wilderness Areas Large, primitive areas

preserved in their natural, untouched condition.

Non-mechanical recreation permitted as long as wilderness character is not harmed.

Designated by Congress.

Pack trip on wilderness area in Shoshone NF

NF Roadless Areas Large, primitive areas located

in NFs & NGs (85.5 million acres).

While most RAs are roadless, some may have roads.

Designated by Secretary of Agriculture or Chief of the Forest Service.

Evolution of the FS

Creation Act of 1891

Allowed the President to set aside forest reserve lands from the national public domain.

Shoshone NF (original Yellowstone Timber Reserve)

Organic Administrative Act of 1897Created the Division of Forests in the USDI for timber and water purposes.

Gifford Pinchot, First FS Director

Transfer Act of 1905

Transferred the USDI Division of Forests to USDA.

Created USDA Forest Service.

Weeks Act of 1911 Made it possible for

the FS to purchase lands to protect navigable streams.

Most of the forest reserve land in the east was purchased through this act.

Nantahala River, Nantahala NF

Multiple-use Sustained-yield Act of 1960

Changed the purposes of the USFS to:RecreationWaterWildlifeTimberRange

Campground, Shoshone NF

Forest & Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 Mandated periodic

assessment of forest and rangeland resources.

Mandated long-range planning by the Forest Service.

National Forest Management Act of 1976

Required the USFS to create a management plan for each national forest.

Made public input in the planning process mandatory.

Challenges for the USFS Increasing demand for recreation

about 286 million recreational visits/year

Federal budget problems Proposed 2004: $4.8 billion

$96.5 million increase (uncontrollable costs) $24.4 million increase (other activities)

$8.4 billion backlog in repairs & maintenance

Challenges for the USFS

Necessity of increasing user fees

Managing areas for multiple use

Impacts of use on natural resources

CASE STUDY:Shoshone NF, Wyoming

Rocky Mountain Region

2.5 million acres

Annual budget $8.3 million

5 districts within the National Forest

Wildlife Management

Culvert removal ON Squaw Creek to enable fish movement.

Wildlife Management

Grizzly bear monitoring

Visitor education about bears

Land Management Timber sales Fuel reduction harvests Grazing permits Prescribed burns

Fire Management & monitoring

Visitor Recreation

Campground at Shoshone NF

•Trailer & tent camping permitted

•164,000 visitor days spent camping (1997)

Visitor recreation

Dispersed camping in 5 wilderness areas within Shoshone

1.4 million acres of wilderness

Beartooth Mountains Wilderness Area

Visitor recreation

• Scenic driving on the Buffalo Bill Cody National Scenic Byway

• About 21,000 visitor days/year

Visitor Recreation

Fishing platform

Visitor Recreation

1,388 miles of trails

Popo Agie Wilderness Area

Visitor Recreation

Pack trips

Visitor Recreation

Many sites with the forest are on the National Register of Historic Places

Wapiti Ranger Station

Many sites with the forest are on the National Register of Historic Places

Mine shafts

Visitor Recreation

Interpretation Limited to trailhead signs and

several guidebooks

Cooperating with Local Business Owners

Brooks Lake Lodge, Shoshone NF

Cooperating with Local Business Owners

Sleeping Giant Ski Area, Shoshone NF

Documents

USDA Forest Service