SIERRA NEVADA FRAMEWORK

On January 12, 2001, former Regional Forester Brad Powell signed the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (“Framework”), which affects 11.5 million acres on 11 national forests in the 430-mile long Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment is a result of 14 years of research, planning and cooperative efforts by the Forest Service, scientists, community activists, business owners, and conservationists.

WILDFIRE AND FUELS

The Framework is the Forest Service's first comprehensive, Sierra-wide plan to reduce the threat of wildfire. Components of the plan's wildfire management strategy include:

§ A fuels reduction program that specifically focuses on small diameter trees, brush and surface fuels

§ Intensive fuels management (brush and tree removal) on more than 2 million acres of forest surrounding communities and residential areas, and the logging of smaller trees in areas of high fire risk

§ Retention of large, fire resistant trees throughout the Sierra

§ Thinning of small trees (up to 20” where needed), brush removal, and prescribed burns in approximately 5 million acres of general forest

§ Prescribed burns and thinning of trees less than 12 inches in diameter on the 4.25 million acres of old growth forest areas

FOREST & HABITAT PROTECTION

The Framework plan includes:

§ A commitment to restoration and protection of 4.25 million acres of old growth forest areas and habitat that will be managed to promote old growth forest conditions

§ Protection of all remaining old growth stands one acre or larger in the Sierra Nevada

§ Protection for large trees (20” diameter or greater) throughout the Sierra, with the exception of the wildland-urban interface “defense zone” where 30” trees can be cut

§ Protections for the California spotted owl, Pacific Fisher, goshawk, marten, and imperiled aquatic species

§ Designation of wide management buffers along rivers and streams

AQUATIC HABITAT CONSERVATION

The Framework establishes for the first time a comprehensive aquatic and riparian habitat conservation strategy for all of the national forest lands in the Sierra Nevada. Key components of this strategy include riparian buffer zones, critical refuges for threatened and endangered aquatic species, special management for large meadows, and a watershed analysis process.

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