Landscape Recommendations
·
Create a narrow band of
Older Forest that runs along the edge of JDSF from the SE to the North,
continuing along the northern boundary until Camp 3 and Brandon Gulch, and
then going south to connect to the Woodlands Transfer Area. This Older
Forest Structure Zone includes Old Growth Reserves, Late Seral Development
Areas, and Old Forest Development Areas.
·
Designate several
new reserves.
Silvicultural Recommendations
·
In areas of the forest not
allocated to Older Forest Structure Zones, Reserves, or Special Concern
Areas, and not associated with approved research and demonstration
projects, manage using “Matrix Silviculture.”
·
Matrix Silviculture is
essentially single-tree selection with an emphasis on growing and
harvesting trees in larger size classes, enhancing structural diversity,
and maintaining aesthetics, while maintaining or increasing harvest
volumes.
·
Late Seral Development Areas
will be managed for structural
characteristics of older, mature forest, which include large old trees
(greater than 150 years), large snags, large down logs, deformed trees,
multiple canopy layers, and a high level of within-stand variability
including both horizontal and vertical structural diversity.
Silviculture will be single-tree and
limited group selection, commercial thinning. At some point, harvesting
may cease.
·
Old Forest Development Areas
will be managed for structural characteristics of older forest, including
large diameter trees, snags, down wood, multiple canopy layers, and high
level of horizontal and vertical structural diversity. Silviculture will
be managed primarily using single-tree selection.
Research Recommendations
·
Develop a world-class
research program at JDSF based on focused research within three Centers of
Excellence.
·
Develop a Strategic Research
Plan, within a Regional Context, that is compatible with the other
important goals of forest.
·
Develop a Research-Oriented
Landscape Allocation
·
Implement research that
requires non Matrix Silviculture only when the project is within a Center
of Excellence and there is a reasonable expectation that the research will
occur.
·
Convene and support a
Research Planning Team to develop the Strategic Research Plan and
associated Landscape Allocations.
o
The Research Planning Team
would operate in cooperation and coordination with the JAG, the Board’s
Research and Science Committee, JDSF Staff, CALFIRE, and other
stakeholders.
o
The Research Planning Team
would be constrained to honor the recommendations of the JAG in areas
other than research, notably the landscape allocation recommendations.
o
The Strategic Research Plan
should attempt, when consistent with the research objectives, to design
projects that are compatible with Matrix Silviculture. Experiments with
negative impacts should be designed to minimize such impacts, while
providing scientifically valid results.
·
Establish and support an
entity responsible for implementing the research plan.
Recreation Recommendations (Draft)
·
To the extent feasible,
incorporate the recommendations of the Recreation Task Force for expanded
recreation and education in the new Recreation Plan for Jackson Forest.
Taken together, the recommendations of the
Task Force provide a practical vision for long-term future expanded
recreation that is consistent with the recreation goal of the management
plan. The JAG endorses that vision.
Key elements of the Task Force
recommendations are:
o
Provide dedicated funding
and staffing for recreational and educational projects, maintenance and
programs.
o
Designate an experienced,
enthusiastic staff member responsible for education and recreation in the
JDSF.
o
Develop three sets of looped
multi-use trails, each in different areas of the forest.
o
Increase the number of
access points with sufficiently large parking areas to accommodate
equestrian trailers.
o
Expand and modernize
existing camps; provide backpacking camps; make group camps available
throughout the year.
o
Establish a target shooting
range. This range would make it feasible to request legislation to
prohibit target shooting practice outside of the range.
o
Increase promotion of
recreation and education, including development and maintenance of a JDSF
recreation website, contact with public schools throughout the state, and
by establishing and maintaining informational kiosks in the forest for
easy access by visitors.
o
Help establish an
unaffiliated but cooperating non-profit “Friends of Jackson Forest” to
gain grant funds and facilitate volunteer support of recreation
facilities.
o
Consider developing legal
OHV use, with careful attention to potential environmental, potential user
conflicts, and other regulatory issues.
·
Prior to the completion of
Recreation Plan process, proceed with recreation maintenance and
improvements to existing trails and facilities as needed or as recommended
by the Recreation Task Force.
·
Develop and apply measurable
guidelines for protecting recreation resources wherever located in the
forest and for protecting aesthetic resources along highly traveled roads.
·
All trails and roads with
significant recreation use should receive at least the aesthetic
protection measures contained in the JAG’s recommendations for the
2009-2010 Brandon Gulch THP, which had a goal of recovering visual quality
within 3-5 years after harvest. |