Ely Echo September 1, 1997

National Forests intend to revise forest management plans

The Forest Service has issued a Notice of Intent to revise the Chippewa and Superior National Forests Management Plans which will guide all natural resource management activities for the two National Forests for up to 15 years.

The Notice of Intent proposes changes to the Plans and invites people to comment on the proposal and suggest changes. The 40 page document is designed to continue dialogue on how to revise the Forest Plans. It is NOT an alternative and NOT a decision.

To facilitate this dialogue, the Forest Service is asking for comments on the proposal by October 28. In addition, an open house is planned for September 18, from 4pm to 7pm at the Kawishiwi Ranger District Office to explain the proposal and accept comments. These comments will be used to begin developing alternatives to the proposal. The public will be invited to participate in refining these alternatives at a public workshop this winter.

Issues proposed for change in the revision include biological diversity, ecosystem health, old growth forests, timber harvest levels and harvest methods, fish and wildlife management, fire management, forest age class distribution, habitat fragmentation, riparian management and rare natural resources. some other areas of existing Forest Plans will not change.

For more information, to obtain a copy of the Notice of Intent or to be included on the mailing list for future updates on the Forest Plan revision process, please contact the Superior National Forest, 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808-1102, sbear1@uslink.net. Information is also available on the world wide web at www.fs.fed.us/r9/chippewa/ or www.gis.umn.edu.snf/.