LAND USE ALLOCATIONS AND MANAGEMENT GOALS for POLALLIE-COOPER PLANNING AREA. Mt. Hood Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan)

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1 LAND USE ALLOCATIONS AND MANAGEMENT GOALS for POLALLIE-COOPER PLANNING AREA Mt. Hood Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) Primary Land Use Allocations within Planning Area: B2-Scenic Viewshed (Forest Plan page to 4-220) 58% of Planning Area Highway 35, N. Bennett Pass Viewer Positions = OR Highway 35, Recreation Sites Foreground Retention; Middleground and Background Partial Retention Goal: Provide attractive, visually appealing forest scenery with a wide variety of natural appearing landscape features. Utilize vegetation management activities to create and maintain a long term desired landscape character. The visual character of the landscape results from prescribed, visual quality objectives within distance zones from selected viewer positions. Visual management intensities, a combination of visual quality objective and distance zone, provide the following visual character from selected viewer positions. Foreground Retention This visual management intensity applies to lands visible up to a distance of 0.5 mile from selected travelways, water bodies or public use areas. Vegetation is composed primarily of multi-age, multi-species stands with a diverse understory of natural plant associations. Numerous large diameter, old trees area a major component of the stands. Small, natural appearing openings provide diversity and a sense of depth. The ground is generally free of unnatural forms and patterns of debris and litter. Seasonal changes in vegetation color and texture are noticeable. The target tree diameters for mature trees with follow vegetation types are: o grand fir (Ponderosa pine), 24 inches dbh (diameter at breast height) o Pacific silver fir, 26 inches dbh o western hemlock, 32 inches dbh o Mountain hemlock, 24 inches dbh Middleground and Background Partial Retention This visual management intensity applies to lands visible for distances from 0.5 mile to 5.0 miles from the selected travelways, water bodies, or public use areas. Natural appearing forest landscape, with little evidence of human alteration. Dominant visual impression is mostly continuous tree canopies, with diversity in occasional natural appearing openings. Mosaic of species and age classes add texture and color contrast in natural patterns. Management activities repeat form, line, color, and texture common to the characteristic landscape. 1

2 Polallie-Cooper Land Use Allocations 2 A11-Winter Recreation Area (Forest Plan page to 4-195) 18% of Planning Area Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Permit Area Goal: Provide areas for high quality winter recreation (and associated summer) opportunities including: downhill skiing, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, and snowplay within a natural appearing forest environment. High quality winter recreation activities such as downhill skiing, Nordic skiing, crosscounty skiing, snowmobiling, and snowplay. Opportunities exist for summer recreation activities such as hiking, mountain bicycling, and horseback riding. Winter recreation activities occur in natural-appearing forest environment. Winter recreation improvements may be designed for year round use. Accessed by improved Forest Roads suitable for passenger cars. Snow covered trees and meadows during the winter, and alpine forests, rock outcrops, and flower carpeted meadows during the summer. Ski lodges and chair lifts. A4-Special Interest Area (Forest Plan page to 4-156) 15% of Planning Area Cloud Cap-Tilly Jane (1,486 acres) Emphasis = Historic Goal: Protect and, where appropriate, foster public recreational use and enjoyment of important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage. Preserve and provide interpretation of unique geological, biological, and cultural areas for education, scientific, and public enjoyment purposes. Each area is uniquely formed by natural forces or historic human achievement. Each area is unique by itself, and presents its own special set of values and experiences. Provides interpretative opportunities. Predominately natural appearing environment. Dispersed natural setting for recreation, learning, and reflection. Special characteristics, such as: o Massive lava flows. o Glacial cirque basins. o High elevation meadows and forests. o Hot springs. o Outstanding view of majestic mountains. o Old growth forests. o Unique plant communities. o Unique combinations of geology, ecology, and hydrology. o Interpretative trails and visitor points. o Historic buildings and travel routes.

3 Polallie-Cooper Land Use Allocations 3 C1-Wood Product Emphasis (Forest Plan page to 4-290) 8% of Planning Area Goal: Provide lumber, wood, fiber, and other forest products on a fully regulated basis, based on the capability and sustainability of the land. A secondary goal is to enhance other resource uses and values that are compatible with timber production. Motor vehicle access is available to most areas. Primary road system is suitable for passenger cars. Local roads are suitable for high clearance vehicles. Some roads may be closed part of the year or for several years at a time. Areas inaccessible by roads are open to aerial logging and foot travel. Extensive stands of trees at various stages of development, arranged in a mosaic pattern that is somewhat random but shows the clear influence of landform, productivity and management objectives. On intensively managed areas that will be an even distribution of stand age classes up to approximately 120 years, running form seedlings to mature timber. Non-stocked recently harvested areas are in preparation for natural or planted regeneration. Understory vegetation consistent with ecological and Successional stage of individual areas. Many stands have some mature trees held over from previous stands. These trees have specific biological functions. Diversity of plant and animal communities featuring species dependent on open habitat conditions. Smallest created openings area about one or two acres; largest are rarely more than 100 acres; average created opening size is 20 to 40 acres. Special sites such as campsites and overlooks are scattered throughout the area. Roaded-modified dispersed recreation settings exist. B10-Deer and Elk Winter Range (Forest Plan page 4-272) <1% of Planning Area Goal: Provide high quality deer and elk habitat for use during most winters. Provide for stable population of mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk on the eastside... Secondary goals are to maintain a healthy forest condition through a variety of timber management practices and to provide dispersed summer and developed recreation opportunities. At least 50 percent of area is maintained in thermal and optimal cover. High production of berries, acorns, nuts and seeds is typical. Evidence of fire occurrence is prevalent. Low interactions between people and deer-elk during critical winter stress periods are expected. Corridor for winter recreational use will be designated for higher elevation snow area access. Visual diversity of vegetation is evident. Evidence of timber harvest activities is prevalent. Scattered openings.

4 Polallie-Cooper Land Use Allocations 4 Areas of dense heavy vegetation occur for cover. Occurrence of wildlife is evident and prevalent. B1-Designated Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River (Forest Plan page to 4-217) East Fork Hood River (recreational river) Goal: Protect and enhance the resource values for which a river was designated itno the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The specific goals for Wild, Scenic, and Recreational classified river segments are: Wild: Perpetuate a primitive recreational experience and protect the river corridor to maintain an essentially unmodified environment. Scenic: Maintain or enhance quality scenery and protect the essentially undeveloped character of the shoreline. Recreational: Provide opportunities for recreation activities and maintain visual quality of the river corridors. Congressional designated areas of National significance. River corridors divided into wild, scenic, and recreational segments with each providing difference opportunities. Significant examples of the following features are often located in the river corridors: o Deep, incised canyons and gorges. o Old growth forests. o Glacier-fed headwaters. o Outstanding views of majestic mountains and river canyons. o Alpine and sub-alpine meadows. Desired Future Condition (Recreational Segments): Visible public roads parallel the river. Developments such as campground are closeby. Access is by roads and trails. Opportunities exist for a wide variety of river related recreation activities. Characterized by a predominately natural-appearing environment. Dispersed motorized recreation activities such as car camping, motorcycle use, boating, and snowmobiling occur. Motorized boats may be present. Secondary Land Use Allocations within Planning Area: A8-Northern Spotted Owl Habitat Area (Forest Plan page to 4-178) Goal: Protect and manage old growth and mature forest habitat to maintain a viable population of northern spotted owls well distributed across the Forest. Large, mostly contiguous tracts of at least 1,500 acres of old growth/mature foredst, much of it in a pristine state. Evidence of human activities may be present, but are subordinate to the other characterisics of the stand.

5 Polallie-Cooper Land Use Allocations 5 Opportunity for a high degree of interaction with the natural environment and wildlife. Climax vegetation is prevalent. Abundance snags in a variety of sizes and decay stages are present. A variety of tree sizes exist; large trees are abundant. Multiple canopy layers are evident. B5-Pileated Woodpecker/Pine Marten Habitat Area (Forest Plan page to 4-241) Goal: Provide Forestwide mature or old growth forest habitat blocks of sufficient quality, quantity and distribution to sustain viable populations of pileated woodpecker and pine marten. A secondary goal is to maintain a healthy forest condition through a variety of timber management practices. Predominant stand condition is mature and over-mature forest. Pileated woodpecked Management Areas provide at least 300 acres of contiguous habitat within a 600-acre managed area. Pine marten Management Areas provide at least 160 acres of contiguous habitat within a 320-acre management area. High density of high quality den and nest snags and defective green trees. Prevalence of dead and down woody material. Limited recreation access and motorized vehicle traffic encouraged to use designated routes. Healthy, older forest with a mid-level canopy reaching maturity. Northwest Forest Plan Land (NWFP) Use Allocation Congressionally Reserved Areas (NWFP ROD page 6) These lands have been reserved by act of Congress for specific land allocation purposes. This decision cannot and does not alter any of these congressionally mandated land allocations. Included in this category are National Parks and Monuments, Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic River, National Wildlife Refuges, Department of Defense lands, and other lands with congressional designations. Late Successional Reserves (NWFP ROD page 6) These reserves in combination with the other alllocations and standsards and guidelines, will maintain a functional, interactive, late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystem. They are designed to serve as habitat for late-successional and old-growth related species including the northern spotted owl. Administratively Withdrwan Areas (NWFP page 7) These areas are identified in current forest and district plans or draft plan preferred alternatives and include recreation and visual areas, back country, and other areas not scheduled for timber harvest.

6 Polallie-Cooper Land Use Allocations 6 Riparian Reserve (NWFP ROD page 7) This land allocation includes areas along rivers, streams, wetlands, ponds, lakes, and unstable or potentially unstable areas where the conservation of aquatic and riparian-dependent terrestrial resources receives primary emphasis. The main purpose of the reserves is to protect the health of aquatic system and its dependent species; the reserves also provide incidental benefits to upland species. These reserves will help maintain and restore riparian structures and functions, benefit fish and riparian-dependent non-fish species, enhance habitat conservation for organisms dependent on the transition zone between upslope and riparian areas, improve travel and dispersal corridors for terrestrial animals and plants, and provide for greater connectivity of late-successional forest habitat. Matrix (NWFP ROD page 7) This land allocation manages area consists of Forest Service lands outside of designated areas (i.e., Congressionally Reserved Areas, Late-Successional Reserves, Adaptive Management Areas, Administratively Withdrawn Areas, and Riparian Reserves). Most timber harvest and other silvicultural activities are conducted in portions of matrix with suitable forest lands. Other Land Use Allocations Hood River Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Cooper Spur Wildland Urban Interface (CWPP page 85, map page 86) The Cooper Collaborative work group is currently formulating and discussing efforts for the unincorporated area south of Parkdale Rural Fire Protection District. As of this printing no clear consensus has been reached on the placement of a WUI boundary. Displayed on the WUI boundary map for the Cooper area is a Planning Boundary that may become the WUI boundary. By default, until such times as the Cooper collaborative group reaches a clear consensus it is the opinion of this group that the State designated WUI boundary be accepted. Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 Crystal Springs Watershed Special Resources Management Unit (Section 1205) The purposes of the Management Unit are (A) to ensure the protection of the quality and quantity of the Crystal Springs watershed as a clean drinking water source for the residents of Hood River County, Oregon; and (B) to allow visitors to enjoy the special scenic, natural, cultural, and wildlife values of the Crystal Springs watershed.