Below is a news release from the U.S. Forest Service. The Blue Mountains are home to an elk population that continues to decline with shrinking calf-to-cow ratios. Many Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation members were involved in previous forest plan discussions that did not lead to a resolution. RMEF encourages its members to become informed and weigh in on the plan revision.
The Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman (Blue Mountains) National Forests are providing an opportunity for the public to participate in public meetings through April 2024.
The Blue Mountains National Forests are in the process of revising the Land Management Plans (Forest Plans), which provide the overall strategic management direction and guidance for the Blue Mountains National Forests. Revising these Forest Plans represents a commitment to managing productive and sustainable forests for the American people.
The Blue Mountains National Forests are currently in the Assessment Phase, which is the second phase of ten steps of the Forest Plan Revision process under the 2012 Planning Rule. The purpose of the Assessment Phase is to gather existing relevant information on Forest conditions and trends and use this information to rapidly evaluate the sustainability of existing ecological, economic, and social conditions and trends within the context of the broader landscape.
The Forest Service is eager to hear input on individual and community values. Public involvement will help the Forest Service gain local knowledge about existing forest conditions to help shape the draft Assessment. A formal public comment period will occur later in the ten-step process.
A draft assessment will be made available before the public meetings in April. More information is coming soon. See meeting dates and locations below.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)