15 



FOREST HEALTH 



The Umatilla, Malheur, Wallowa-Whitman, and Ochoco National Forests within 

 the Blue Mountains in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington have developed 

 a strategy of large scale, integrated treatments to restore the health of the 

 ecosystems. Forest scientists estimate that 3.1 million acres, or 51 percent, of the 

 four National Forests are "out of ecological balance." The past six years' drought has 

 stressed the forests to the point that insects, disease, and wildfire kill thousands 

 of acres of trees each year. Streamside areas, soils, forage, and fish habitat also 

 need improvement throughout the Blue Mountains. Preventative work is necessary 

 now to reverse this trend. Part of this strategy to restore the health of the Blue 

 Mountains will include reforestation, restoring fish and wildlife habitat, 

 revegetating riparian areas, thinning, and prescribed burning. 



RECREATION MANAGEMENT 



The recreation activities in the Pacific Northwest continue to increase at a rapid 

 pace. In 1992, visitors spent over 38 million recreation visitor days in the region's 

 national forests compared to 3 million in 1930. This comes at a time when recre- 

 ation facilities are deteriorating due to backlog of recreation maintenance and reha- 

 bilitation and a greater demand for more law enforcement at recreation sites. 



The Forest Service has plans to restore and rehabilitate existing recreation facili- 

 ties to correct resource damage, improve sites receiving heavy use, and showcase na- 

 tionally designated recreation areas. 



WILDERNESS 



The Forest Service manages wilderness areas for the public's use and enjoyment 

 while maintaining their natural condition. The Region has opportunities to increase 

 rehabilitation of heavily used or damaged areas, monitor ecological change, and im- 

 prove wilderness management. 



TRAIL MAINTENANCE 



Because of the rising demand for recreation, the Pacific Northwest Region faces 

 a high level of public use on trails. In addition, with the increase of dead and dying 

 timber associated with the forest health issue, more maintenance is needed to open 

 up and maintain trails in the forests most affected. 



The Forest Service could focus on labor-intensive projects to provide maintenance 

 and to arrest further deterioration of our trail system. These projects will include 

 clearing the pathways of encroaching vegetation, correcting safety hazards, and 

 maintenance on trail tread, drainage structures, bridges, and signs. M^or restora- 

 tion will be a priority on many of our trails, including National Scenic Trails. 



RANGE MANAGEMENT 



Eleven million acres, or 45 percent of the Region, primarily on the east side of 

 the Cascades, are located within grazing allotments. Increasingly, the concern oyer 

 the anadromous fisheries in the Columbia River Basin requires the Region to review 

 existing range allotments. 



The Region will amend or develop the necessary allotment management plans to 

 meet forest plan objectives and NEPA requirements. The Forest Service is also 

 working with the State Governments in Oregon and Washington on their concern 

 over the level of noxious weeds and our response to infestations. 



TRAIL CONSTRUCTION 



Emphasis will be placed on the reconstruction and relocation of substandard exist- 

 ing trails resulting fix)m age, heavy use, location, or lack of maintenance. The Forest 

 Service will also respond to the changing needs of recreationists and increase access 

 for persons with disabilities. New connector trails to link National Forests trails and 

 other non-National Forest System trail systems to enhance customer service and 

 satisfaction are in greater demand and will be addressed. 



Attention will also be given to trails and trailheads located in high unemployment 

 areas, in Congressionally-designated areas such as National Recreation Areas and 

 National Scenic Areas, and on National Scenic Trails. 



