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The Rural Community Assistance program of the NEAI helps 

 communities plan for the future. With permanent authority 

 provided in the 1990 Farm Bill, the Forest Service can provide 

 funds and technical assistance to local communities for planning 

 and implementing projects in the plans. Communities find this 

 very helpful in assisting them in local economic diversification 

 efforts. Well planned projects can attract additional sources of 

 funding in both the public and private sectors. It also helps 

 them to identify community development projects that can provide 

 the most good for their communities in the long run. 



Forests 



National Forests are complex ecosystems. Managing them for a 

 sustainable balance requires considerable scientific and 

 technical expertise. The Northwest Forest Plan applies current 

 science to on - the - ground management. This is done in a number of 

 ways in the plan. 



Watershed analysis provides the basic information for managing 

 watersheds. The analysis compares current conditions with 

 potential conditions and identifies management activities needed 

 to maintain or restore the health and capability of watershed 

 ecosystems while producing goods and services. Thus far, the 

 Forest Service has completed 120 watershed analyses (comprising 



