File Code: 1900 Date: June 14, Dear Interested Parties,

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1 Logo Department Name Agency Organization Organization Address Information United States Forest National Forests in North Carolina 632 Manor Road Department of Service Appalachian Ranger District Mars Hill, NC Agriculture FAX: File Code: 1900 Date: June 14, 2016 Dear Interested Parties, The Appalachian Ranger District of the National Forests of North Carolina would like to invite you and/or your affiliate organization to be a part of a collaborative effort to design, analyze, and implement a landscape level project titled Twelve Mile. The area of interest is the southwestern most part of the Appalachian Ranger District adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Interstate 40. This is the Long Arm Mountain and Hurricane Mountain area in Haywood County, NC. See the vicinity map (Figure 1) below: Figure 1. Vicinity map for the area of interest for the Twelve Mile Project. The purpose of this project is to implement Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) direction and the Management Area (MA) objectives within the planning area boundary. The following map (Figure 2) represents the current management areas within the potential project area. In addition, the management areas are overlaid by Riparian Areas (MA18), which are not shown on this map. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper

2 2 Figure 2. Management areas of the potential Twelve Mile project area. Forest Plan Management Areas (MA) within the potential project area include MA 1B, MA 4C, MA 4D, and MA 18. Below is a summary of each MA direction. For more details, please refer to the Forest Plan available at:

3 3 MA 1B Emphasize a sustainable supply of timber and providing motorized access into the forest for traditional forest uses such as hunting and gathering, firewood cutting, fishing, and recreational activities including ORV [off-road vehicle] use and camping. These areas have open roads, and the visitor is likely to encounter other forest users and vehicles of all types. A sustainable supply of timber is achieved through regulating the growth and removal of trees through time. Although a regulated forest is desired, natural forest settings will be present. The visitor may encounter forest management activities in progress, including timber harvest, road building, and timber stand improvement. Wildlife compatible with or that benefit from these conditions, such as grouse, deer and songbirds are likely to be present. Timber production is permitted within this management area. (USDA, 1994, pp. III-75). MA 4C Emphasize visually pleasing scenery and habitats for wildlife requiring older forests. This land is not suitable for timber production at this time in order to meet visual quality objectives, or the lands are not cost efficient for timber production (USDA, 1994, pp. III-77). MA 4D - In Management Area 4D, emphasize high quality habitats for wildlife requiring older forests and freedom from disturbance from motorized vehicles. Allow small widely dispersed openings throughout the management area. Close most roads to private motorized vehicles. Early successional habitat is provided in conjunction with managing suitable timber land in these areas (USDA, 1994, pp. III-78). MA 18 The Riparian Management Area, embedded in other management areas, consists of the aquatic ecosystem, riparian ecosystem, and closely associated plant and animal communities. This area includes at a minimum: perennial streams and perennial waterbodies, wetlands, 100-year flood plains, and a zone on each side of all perennial streams and lakes. The area will be actively managed to protect and enhance, where possible, the distinctive resource values and characteristics dependent on, or associated with, these systems. For example, timber management can only occur in this area if needed to maintain or enhance riparian habitat values (USDA, 1994, pp. III-179) An Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) has been convened made up of Forest Service resource specialists from a range of resource areas including wildlife, timber, recreation and others to assist in developing the project proposal. Initial discussions with the IDT identified additional focus areas that are consistent with current Forest Plan objectives, standards, and guidelines. They include: 1) creating a range of habitat conditions appropriate for an Elk population expanding from Great Smoky Mountains National Park; 2) providing a sustainable output of timber products to support local economies; 3) emphasizing ecological restoration; and 4) enhancing recreational opportunities. These focus areas Elk grazing in Big Cataloochee should serve well as sideboards for the project s

4 4 development but are not all-inclusive of the opportunities that may exist or that may be identified through the collaborative planning effort. While the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are in the process of Forest Plan Revision, it is expected that this project will be entirely planned under the current Forest Plan. However, as the revised plan is being developed, potential conflicts in management direction will be avoided to the extent possible. You are being contacted because the IDT identified you as a potential partner that could provide additional expertise, data, and support to develop a successful project that incorporates a variety of values and public perspectives. It is our intent to work together with the public in defining the purpose and need of this project, the project area boundary, assessment needs, and data requirements. The outcome of this work will assist in developing a proposed action and the scope of the analysis. To begin this process, the first public meeting of this effort will be July 14 th, 2016 at the North Carolina Arboretum, from 2:00 5:00 p.m. The Arboretum is located at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC This meeting will focus on capturing the public interests and issues related to this project. Outside targeted interests and organizations identified by the IDT, this meeting is open to the public. Furthermore, the Forest Service will be hosting additional meetings and sharing additional information throughout the planning process. The IDT held a brainstorming session and identified the following potential opportunities for resource management and enhancement. Not all will necessarily be addressed, but serve as a place to start the dialogue. They included: Create young forest habitat Management of the dewatered section of the Pigeon River Improvement of the low water ford crossing on the Pigeon River Brook trout restoration Management of riparian area vegetation (reduce rhododendron, hemlock replacements?) Improve aquatic organism passage Create or expand permanent wildlife openings Identify road access issues, change road management objectives, determine roads suitable for decommissioning, etc. Address illegal Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) activity Daylighting and seasonal road maintenance Non-native invasive plant species treatments Address feral hog populations Restore impaired or declining ecosystems (shortleaf pine, rich cove etc.) Wildland and urban interface fuels reduction treatments Trail development and access Expand recreational opportunities to connect with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Duke power line right-of-way management (integrate wildlife habitat management, address illegal ORV activity)

5 5 Address elk herd security and potential poaching issues Define elk reserve areas for potential relocation from other undesirable areas Modification of elk treatments that would overlap with warbler management Improve warbler habitat Improve habitat for species associated with current management area direction Potential to use small (stand level) prescribed burning as a management tool to meet objectives The IDT also identified the following attributes that could be needed in the initial landscape assessment to define the current conditions of the project area: Old growth, young forests, and forest age class distribution Forest condition class and species distribution Permanent openings Stream/watershed health Current access for recreation including hunting and fishing Current recreation infrastructure and trails Potential data needs associated with the initial landscape assessment include: Common stand exams Coarse wood debris surveys Existing plant community types and/or ecological zones Critical habitats Transportation system Habitat type and distribution related to species of interest Updating aquatic communities Native brook trout distribution Location of non-native invasive species Cultural/Heritage concerns Threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal occurrence Riparian area vegetation and cover type Sites of archaeological significance All of the above data needs and opportunities for resource management have great potential for engaging in mutually beneficial partnerships that leverages the unique skills, information and tools residing in the many individuals, organizations, and communities interested in forest stewardship. This process will seek to maximize those opportunities as well. Furthermore, a note on collaborative planning: Forest management in our nation s forests is a subject that ignites passion and often tension between differing and/or competing viewpoints. This tension is a natural byproduct of the multiple use ethos that, grounded in law, guides national forest management. The intent of bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders early on in project development is to ensure two things: 1) The Forest Service believes bringing together the many different perspectives around forest management early in Collaboration or Collaborative Process - A structured manner in which a collection of people with diverse interests share knowledge, ideas, and resources while working together in an inclusive and cooperative manner toward a common purpose. 36 CFR

6 6 the process will help identify areas of potential conflict as well as areas of potential agreement. This helps sharpen our focus on the key issues and opportunities which helps focus and streamline the overall analysis. 2) Working in a collaborative fashion allows citizens a key role in shaping the project proposal while also empowering citizens to share in the tough challenge of overcoming competing visions for the forest s uses. We are hopeful to include you and/or your affiliated organization in this process. Please respond to Project Lead, Jason Herron at jherron@fs.fed.us as soon as possible and provide the following information: 1) Are you, or your affiliate organization or agency, interested in participating in this collaborative planning process? 2) If interested, who will be the primary contact(s)? name, organization, title, , phone number. 3) Will you, or other representative, be able to attend the first meeting on July 14 th? 4) Recognizing that space at the Arboretum is limited, do you intend to invite additional organizations or individual members of the public to participate? How many additional persons should we expect? This meeting will be most effective if attendees arrive prepared to share any existing knowledge of the area and be ready to engage in meaningful and respectful conversations designed to capture input on the purpose of the project, assessment needs, project area boundary, and data gathering needs (as well as data sharing and the potential for collaborative data collection efforts). Thank you for your commitment to public lands and we hope to see you at the Arboretum on July 14 th. Sincerely, Matthew M. McCombs MATTHEW M. MCCOMBS District Ranger