337 



research in Alaska. The policy does not address riparian 

 management in Idaho. 



The possible inclusion of mandatory buffer strips in the 

 National Riparian management Policy has not been addressed 

 by NMFS. 



11. If your answer is "adequate" to Question 9, is the problem 

 that the Forest Service in Region 10 is not following the 

 national riparian habitat requirements, and if so, in what 

 ways are they not following it? 



We believe that additional monitoring is necessary to 



address the USFS's riparian management activities and any 



adverse effects on fishery resources. 



12. Region 10 of the Forest Service has produced an Aquatic 

 Habitat Management unit (AHMU) Handbook describing how 

 riparian habitat is to be managed on the Tongass. Have you 

 seen it? Have you also seen the Region 10 Brochure 

 describing AHMU? 



At page 11, the brochure says: 



The Forest Service approach is to custom-design 

 protection and management measures specific to each 

 stream site using inter-disciplinary teams consisting 

 of: fish and wildlife biologists, hydrologists, soil 

 scientists, foresters and engineers. The Forest 

 Service believes this to be the best professional 

 approach for achieving the objectives of the National 

 Forest Management Act, and resource management goals in 

 the Tongass Land Management Plan. 



Do you agree with the Forest Service? 



NMFS assisted the USFS in their preparation of the AHMU 

 Handbook; however, NMFS has never endorsed the Handbook as 

 the way to manage fish habitat. NMFS has seen the Region 10 

 brochure describing the AHMU. We agree that theoretically 

 the best way to manage riparian habitat is through site- 

 specific prescriptions; however, we believe that such 



5 



