FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 1

Final 

Environmental 

Impact 

Statement

for the 

Revised 

Land and 

Resource 

Management 

Plan 

for the 

Croatan National 

Forest 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service 

Southern Region
2 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communications of program information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write 

USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-

9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice Or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

Management Bulletin Number R8-MB-108C December 2002 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 3

Final Enviromental Impact Statement 

for the 

Revised Land and Resource Management Plan 

Croatan National Forest 

December 2002

Carteret, Craven, and Jones Counties of North Carolina 

Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service 

Responsible Official: Bob Jacobs 

Regional Forester 

Southern Region 

1720 Peachtree Road, NW 

Atlanta, GA 30367-9102

For More Information: John Ramey 

Forest Supervisor 

USDA Forest Service 

National Forests in North Carolina 

P.O. Box 2750 

Asheville, NC 28802 

828-257-4200 

Abstract: 

 Six alternatives for revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Croatan National Forest 

are described and compared in this Final Environmental Impact Statement. The alternatives are labeled 

A, B, C, C-modified, D and E. Alternative E is the alternative preferred by the Forest Service. 

The Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Croatan National Forest is a companion 

document that provides the detailed direction of the preferred alternative. The Record of Decision for the 

Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Croatan National Forest is also a companion 

document that gives the rationale for the preferred alternative. 
4 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 5

Table of Contents 

SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................................. 11 

ISSUES ADDRESSED............................................................................................................................ 11 

1. Biological Diversity.................................................................................................................. 11 

2. Recreation Opportunities. ......................................................................................................... 12 

3. Special Land Allocation............................................................................................................ 12 

4. Silviculture, Forest Products and Forest Health. ...................................................................... 12 

5. Fire Management. ..................................................................................................................... 12 

6. Access. ...................................................................................................................................... 13 

7. Local Communities................................................................................................................... 13 

RESPONDING TO ISSUES..................................................................................................................... 13 

Alternative A---Current Management Direction .......................................................................... 13 

Alternative B................................................................................................................................. 13 

Alternative C................................................................................................................................. 14 

Alternative C-Modified................................................................................................................. 14 

Alternative D................................................................................................................................. 14 

Alternative E (Preferred)............................................................................................................... 14 

COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL................................................................ 14 

1. Biological Diversity.................................................................................................................. 14 

2. Recreation Opportunities .......................................................................................................... 16 

3. Special Land Allocations .......................................................................................................... 17 

4. Forest Products and Forest Health ............................................................................................ 18 

5. Fire Management ...................................................................................................................... 19 

6. Access ....................................................................................................................................... 21 

7. Local Communities................................................................................................................... 21 

CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED ......................................................................................................... 23 

1.1: Proposed Action.................................................................................................................... 23 

1.2: Purpose and Need for the Forest Plan Revision ................................................................... 23 

1.3: Public Participation............................................................................................................... 24 

CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES FOR MANAGING THE CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST................................ 27 

2.1: AN ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERED BUT NOT STUDIED IN DETAIL.................................................. 27 

2.2: ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND STUDIED IN DETAIL ............................................................. 27 

2.2.1: Alternative A---Current Management Direction ............................................................... 28 

2.2.2: Alternative B...................................................................................................................... 29 

2.2.3: Alternative C...................................................................................................................... 31 

2.2.4: Alternative C- Modified..................................................................................................... 33 

2.2.5: Alternative D...................................................................................................................... 34 

2.2.6: Alternative E (preferred).................................................................................................... 36 

2.3: COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES BY ISSUE ................................................................................ 38 

2.3.1: Biological Diversity........................................................................................................... 38 

2.3.2: Recreation Opportunities ................................................................................................... 42 

2.3 3: Special Land Allocations................................................................................................... 45 

2.3.4: Forest Products and Forest Health..................................................................................... 47 

2.3.5: Fire Management ............................................................................................................... 49 

2.3.6: Access ................................................................................................................................ 51 

2.3.7: Local Communities............................................................................................................ 52 
6 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

2.4: COMPARISON OF MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION BY ALTERNATIVE ........................................... 54 

CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................. 69 

3.1: PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.......................................................................................................... 69 

3.1.1: AIR QUALITY.......................................................................................................................... 69 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................... 69 

Environmental Effects of Alternatives.......................................................................................... 76 

3.1.2. SOILS ...................................................................................................................................... 78 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................... 78 

Environmental Consequences....................................................................................................... 79 

Effects of Alternatives .................................................................................................................. 82 

Effects to Landtypes Least Affected............................................................................................. 84 

3.1.3. WATER RESOURCES................................................................................................................ 85 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................... 85 

Environmental Consequences By Alternative .............................................................................. 89 

3.1.4. FIRE/FUELS/WILDFIRE RISK ................................................................................................... 90 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................... 90 

Environmental Consequences....................................................................................................... 95 

3.2: BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................... 103 

3.2.1. PLANT COMMUNITY.............................................................................................................. 103 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 103 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 117 

3.2.2. FOREST HEALTH/INSECTS AND DISEASES............................................................................. 135 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 135 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 137 

3.2.3. WILDLIFE AND RARE ANIMALS............................................................................................ 140 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 140 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 146 

3.2.4. FISHERIES ............................................................................................................................. 159 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 159 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 161 

3.3: CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................ 162 

3.3.1. RECREATION......................................................................................................................... 162 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 162 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 164 

3.3.2. RIVER CORRIDORS ELIGIBLE FOR WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STATUS................................... 167 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 167 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 167 

3.3.3. SCENERY MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................... 168 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 168 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 170 

3.3.4. WILDERNESS AND ROADLESS AREAS ................................................................................... 173 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 173 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 175 

3.3.5. FOREST PRODUCTS ............................................................................................................... 178 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 178 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 182 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 7

3.4. HUMAN RESOURCES ................................................................................................................ 188 

3.4.1. SOCIOLOGICAL...................................................................................................................... 188 

Affected Environment................................................................................................................. 188 

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 194 

3.4.2. ECONOMIC ............................................................................................................................ 197

Environmental Consequences..................................................................................................... 206 

CHAPTER 4: LIST OF PREPARERS ........................................................................................................ 209 

CHAPTER 5: AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING EIS................................................................. 211 

5.1. Elected Officials.................................................................................................................. 211 

5.2. Federal Agencies................................................................................................................. 211 

5.3. Indian Tribes ....................................................................................................................... 211 

5.4. State Agencies..................................................................................................................... 211 

5.5. Regional/Local.................................................................................................................... 211 

5.6. Schools/Institutions............................................................................................................. 211 

5.7. Libraries ............................................................................................................................. 212 

5.8. Individuals........................................................................................................................... 212 

CHAPTER 6: GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................... 215 

CHAPTER 7: INDEX.............................................................................................................................. 237 

FEIS APPENDIX A: RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND COMMENTS ............................................ 241 

A.1. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.......................................................................................................... 241 

A. RCW....................................................................................................................................... 243 

B. Special Interest Areas (Natural Areas)................................................................................... 249

C. Wildlife and Fish Habitats...................................................................................................... 265 

D. Hydrological Function and Aquatic Systems......................................................................... 274 

A.2. RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES .................................................................................................. 275 

A. Increase Recreation Opportunities......................................................................................... 275 

B. Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Related Recreation Opportunities........................................ 280 

A.3 SPECIAL LAND ALLOCATIONS.................................................................................................. 281 

A. Wilderness.............................................................................................................................. 281 

B. River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status ................................................... 284 

A.4. SILVICULTURE, FOREST HEALTH, AND FOREST PRODUCTS .................................................... 287 

A. Restore longleaf and regenerate mixed pines ........................................................................ 287 

B. Sustain pine straw production ................................................................................................ 295 

A.5. FIRE MANAGEMENT................................................................................................................ 296 

A. Expand the role of prescribed fire.......................................................................................... 299 

B. Maintain Air Quality .............................................................................................................. 303 

A.6. ACCESS ................................................................................................................................... 303 

A. Providing access while protecting natural resources ............................................................. 303 

A.7. LOCAL COMMUNITIES............................................................................................................. 306 

A. Adjust land ownership ........................................................................................................... 306 

B. Special Uses ........................................................................................................................... 311 

A.8 MONITORING AND EVALUATION ............................................................................................. 313 

A. Management Indicator Species (............................................................................................ 313 

B. Monitoring.............................................................................................................................. 315 

A.9. DRAFT EIS/BE/BA................................................................................................................. 316 

A.10. OTHER COMMENTS ............................................................................................................... 327 
8 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

A.11 STATE AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY COMMENT LETTERS ...................................................... 337 

FEIS APPENDIX B: DESCRIPTION OF THE ANALYSIS PROCESS .......................................................... 373 

B.1 OVERVIEW OF THE TEN STEP PROCESS ................................................................................... 374 

B.1.1 Identification of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................... 374 

B.1.2. Development of Planning Criteria................................................................................... 374 

B.1.3 Inventory Data and Information Collection ...................................................................... 374 

B.1.4. Analysis of the Management Situation (AMS)............................................................... 374 

B.1.5. Formulation of Alternatives ............................................................................................ 375 

B.1.6. Estimation of Effects of Alternatives.............................................................................. 375 

B.1.7. Evaluation of Alternatives............................................................................................... 375 

B.1.8. Recommendation of Preferred Alternative ..................................................................... 375 

B.1.9. Implementation of the Plan ............................................................................................. 375 

B.1.10. Monitoring and Evaluation............................................................................................ 376 

B.2. BENCHMARKS .......................................................................................................................... 376 

B.2.1. Minimum Level................................................................................................................ 376 

B.2.2. Current Level................................................................................................................... 376 

B.2.3. Maximum Present Net Value (PNV) .............................................................................. 376 

B.2.4. Maximum Timber ........................................................................................................... 376 

B.3. ANALYSIS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND...................................................................................... 376 

B.3.1. Timber Supply and Demand ........................................................................................... 376 

B.3.2. Recreation Supply and Demand...................................................................................... 381 

B.3.3. Minerals Supply and Demand......................................................................................... 395 

B.4. ANALYSIS TOOLS .................................................................................................................... 397 

B.4.1. Timber Scheduling Model............................................................................................... 397 

B.4.2. The IMPLAN Model....................................................................................................... 404 

B.4.3. Ecological Classification Methods.................................................................................. 409 

B.4.4. Fuel Models..................................................................................................................... 418 

B.4.5. Scenery Management System ......................................................................................... 419 

FEIS APPENDIX C: EVALUATION OF ROADLESS AREAS ON THE CROATAN NATIONAL FOREST........ 423 

C.1. PURPOSE FOR STUDY .............................................................................................................. 423 

C.2. DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................................ 423

C.3. INVENTORY .............................................................................................................................. 424 

C.4. EVALUATION............................................................................................................................ 425

FEIS APPENDIX D: PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF BRICE CREEK AND WHITE OAK RIVER ................... 431 

D.1: PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF BRICE CREEK INCLUDING WEST AND EAST PRONG CREEKS ...... 431 

D.1.1. PURPOSE FOR STUDY ........................................................................................................ 431 

D.1.2. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ................................................................................................... 431 

D.1.3. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA ............................................................... 431 

D.1.4. FINDINGS OF ELIGIBILITY ................................................................................................. 432 

D.1.5. POTENTIAL CLASSIFICATION............................................................................................. 435 

D.2: WHITE OAK RIVER SYSTEM.................................................................................................... 439 

D.2.1. PURPOSE FOR STUDY ........................................................................................................ 439 

D.2.2. Summary Of Findings...................................................................................................... 440 

D.2.3. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA ............................................................... 440 

D.2.4. FINDINGS OF ELIGIBILITY ................................................................................................. 440 

D.2.5. POTENTIAL CLASSIFICATION............................................................................................. 443 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 9

D.2.6. FURTHER STUDY OF SUITABILITY..................................................................................... 444 

FEIS APPENDIX E: BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................... 449 

E.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 449 

E.2 Consultation History............................................................................................................. 449 

E.3. Proposed Action .................................................................................................................. 451 

E.4. Species Considered And Species Evaluated....................................................................... 452 

E.5. Evaluated Species Survey Information .............................................................................. 453 

E.6. Environmental Baseline For Species Evaluated................................................................. 453 

E.7. Effects Of Proposed Management Actions On Species ..................................................... 456 

E.8. Conclusion And Determination Of Effect........................................................................... 465 

E.9. Letter of Concurrence from Fish and Wildlife Service...................................................... 467 

FEIS APPENDIX F: BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION ................................................................................... 473 

F.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 473 

F.2. Proposed Action.................................................................................................................. 473 

F.3. Effects On Habitat And Species ......................................................................................... 473 

F.4. Conclusion And Determination Of Effect .......................................................................... 482 

Attachment F-1. Status and Rank of Sensitive and locally rare species on the CNF. ............... 484 

Attachment F-2. Definitions of Status and Rank........................................................................ 488 

FEIS APPENDIX G: Selection of Management Indicator Species ...................................................... 493 

Habitat Delineation ..................................................................................................................... 493 

Management Activities and Habitat............................................................................................ 495 

Selection of Management Indicator Species............................................................................... 497 

FEIS APPENDIX H: Species Viability Evaluation For EIS Alternatives ............................................ 501 

H.1. Purpose............................................................................................................................... 501 

H.2. Methods.............................................................................................................................. 502 

H.3. Identifying Species at risk.................................................................................................. 503 

H.4. Data Acquisition, Synthesis, and Summary....................................................................... 503 

H.5. Comparing Historic, Current and Future Patterns of Biological Distribution ................... 504 

H.6. Evaluating Management Effects on Future Species Stability and Distribution................. 505 

H.7. Results and Discussion....................................................................................................... 507 

Attachment H-1: Species Experts – Review and Input of Assessment Results.......................... 511 

Attachment H-2: Species at Risk and Habitat Relationships...................................................... 512 

Attachment H-3: Species Range-wide Distribution and State Rarity......................................... 513 

Attachment H-4: Habitat Factors, Regional and Local Population, and Habitat Protection ...... 515 

Attachment H-5: Habitat Fragmentation on the CNF: Pine Savannas and Flatwoods............. 517 

Attachment H-6: Current, Historic, Future Distribution of Species at risk ................................ 518 

Attachment H-7: Guidelines (KEY) for Determining Species Outcomes .................................. 519 

Attachment H-8: Outcomes of Management Alternatives......................................................... 520 

Attachment H-9: Additional Species at Risk Identified by Species Experts & Results of Analysis

..................................................................................................................................................... 521 

Attachment H-10: Population Monitoring and Viability Analysis for the RCW ....................... 523 

Attachment H-11: Comparison of Management Alternatives .................................................... 531 
10 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 11 

SSUUUMMMMMMAAARRRYYY

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), prepared by the USDA Forest Service, describes six 

alternatives for managing the land and resources of the Croatan National Forest. It describes the 

affected environment, and discloses environmental effects of the alternatives considered. 

Proposed Action 

The USDA Forest Service proposes to revise the Land and Resource Management Plan (1986) for the 

Croatan National Forest. The proposal updates the management goals, objectives, standards, and 

monitoring requirements for the planning period 1998-2012. In addition, the proposal includes new 

management areas and management prescriptions. New management direction is developed for 

recovering red-cockaded woodpecker populations, developing recreation sites, restoring longleaf pine, 

increasing the use of fire, and managing the road system. 

 

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Recovering red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) populations. The RCW was listed as endangered in 1970. 

A recovery plan identifies the CNF, Camp Lejeune and Holly Shelter as restoring one viable population. 

Recovery of the RCW depends on restoring the longleaf pine ecosystem and the role of prescribed fire 

in its maintenance. The CNF is capable of supporting about 30,000 acres of longleaf pine savannas. 

There are currently 6,000 acres of mature longleaf pine. Various levels of restoration are examined in 

the alternatives which result in different population objectives for RCW. 

Natural Communities. Fifty-one rare species currently exist on the CNF. Their likelihood of survival is 

enhanced when natural systems are functioning properly. There are several ways of restoring and 

managing natural communities. One way is to designate natural areas and limit human disturbance. 

Several ways of providing natural community structure and function are explored, including old growth 

communities. 

Wildlife and Fish Habitats. In the southeastern wetlands, black bear habitats have been fragmented by 

rapid development. Providing black bear habitat on the CNF is crucial to sustaining the population of 

bears in this area. Any designation for bear habitat may conflict with resource objectives that require 

development, especially open roads. Advocates for widespread, open access to the CNF are concerned 

about how and where bear habitat would be provided in this plan. 

Hardwood Cypress Wetlands. Decline of neotropical migratory bird (NMB) habitat has occurred over 

the last 30 years. Of 45 million acres in the southeast about 30 million acres remained in 1985. This 

trend continues today. Much of the habitat for neotropical migratory birds on the CNF is found in 

hardwood cypress wetlands. One strategy is to establish a special zone for hardwood wetlands and 

guide activities to maintain these habitats. Some people may object to restricted activities in these areas, 

especially for access to streams. 
12 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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There are several types of recreation on the Croatan where demand is not being met by existing 

opportunities – water-based day use, water-based dispersed camping, and non-motorized trails. There is 

also high demand for additional motorized recreation, but opportunities to provide this activity on the 

Croatan are very limited by physical factors. Several types and amounts of water-based day use and 

dispersed camping opportunities are explored in the alternatives. 

There is a low density of trails on the Croatan, owing to the high percentage of the area that is unsuitable 

for trail development. A range of additional trails will be discussed in this analysis, with varying 

opportunities for horseback riding, mountain biking, as well as for hiking. Several options for motorized 

routes are also explored. Limiting factors for various types of additional trails will continue to be soil 

composition as well as potential user conflicts with other forest activities. 

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Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers are allocations of land to specific uses that require 

Congressional designation. Special allocations of land may limit timber and wildlife management, and 

recreational access. While many want to see more of these designations, many others oppose additional 

restrictions on land management. Some even desire reductions in the amount of land devoted to these 

specific uses. The alternatives explore a range of Wilderness to recommend for Congressional 

designation. The alternatives also explore how to address river corridors that are potentially eligible for 

designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Due to limited CNF ownership of these river corridors, the state 

of North Carolina may be more appropriate to conduct further analysis of suitability and to recommend 

designation. 

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The current plan emphasizes loblolly pine regeneration using the combination of clear-cut, bedding and 

planting. To provide RCW habitat, mature loblolly stands would be converted to longleaf pine. The 

methods used to convert varies according to site characteristics. In stands where loblolly and longleaf 

coexist, then two-aged regeneration or shelterwood can successfully regenerate longleaf. Where only 

loblolly exists, then no longleaf seed source is available and this requires a clear-cut and planting of 

longleaf. The amount, type and location of regeneration can adversely affect scenery and recreational 

experiences, along with wildlife species dependent on older age classes. However, the lack of 

conversion to longleaf pine could slow the recovery of RCW populations. A range of silvicultural 

methods are explored in the alternatives. 

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Fire is the primary disturbance factor on the Croatan; it has a vital role in the management of this coastal 

ecosystem. Fire also poses great risks to adjacent human communities, homes, and industrial 

timberlands in the form of wildfire. One management action, prescribed fire, has been devised to limit 

hazardous fuel buildup while maintaining natural communities that depend on fire, especially longleaf 

pine savannas. But prescribed fire creates smoke and leaves a blackened landscape that can be 

aesthetically displeasing. Different amounts of prescribed fire are evaluated in the alternatives. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 13

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Public access to enter or pass through the forest has become increasingly controversial as local 

populations have grown and uses of private land adjacent to the forest have changed. Serious concerns 

have arisen about the impact on forest resources. For example, illegal trash dumping, unregulated 

shooting from roads, and degrading of wildlife habitat that require freedom from motorized disturbance 

are widespread occurrences on the forest. Of special concern is the use from off-highway vehicles 

(OHV). This activity is demanded on the CNF, where sandy soils provide challenging riding conditions. 

However, this area has the highest occurrence of rare plants, which are damaged from OHV use. The 

alternatives explore different strategies for access and accommodating OHV users while protecting rare 

plant communities. 

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As local communities grow, the pressure increases to accommodate a variety of uses of the CNF. 

While these uses should blend with the multiplexes of the national forest, there is often conflict among 

the various uses. The alternatives explore how human use of the CNF can be managed to be compatible 

with the physical and biological environment. Some examples of special uses suggested by the public 

include pine straw raking, firewood collecting, setting aside areas for research and nature study, building 

an educational center, and providing opportunities for guide services. To conserve the natural attributes 

that make this area a special place, collaboration with local communities and agencies is important. 

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Six alternatives were considered. Each alternative explored a different theme for addressing groups of 

similar issues. The alternatives are described below in terms of the key issues that were identified. In 

all alternatives except A, the RCW Management Standards and Guidelines (1995 RCW FEIS), as well 

as the RCW Recovery Plan, direct RCW management. 

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This alternative represents a continuation of the 1986 Land and Resource Management Plan and its 

amendments. Few acres are restored to longleaf pine, and loblolly plantations would continue to be 

planted. RCW expansion would be slow. Widespread, open access to the forest would continue. 

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This alternative was developed to address a number of public comments asking for low-impact timber 

management to restore natural communities, increased emphasis on nature-based, recreation activities in 

remote settings, generally a lighter human hand on the land. Alternative B emphasizes low-impact 

activities and restoration of natural communities at a slow rate. Natural communities would be restored 

through uneven-aged management, using the potential natural vegetation predicted by the ecological 

classification as a basis for desired condition. RCW augmentation efforts would stimulate very slow 

expansion of the population. Prescribed fire would be used primarily to reduce hazardous fuel loads. 

Recreation activities would have low impacts. 
14 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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This alternative addresses public comments desiring active longleaf pine restoration, expansion of the 

existing RCW population, more habitat for black bears, neotropical birds, and wild turkey, and more 

fuels management in wildland-urban interfaces. Alternative C provides for restoration of natural 

communities, using a combination of even- and two-aged silvicultural systems. Emphasis is on 

restoring longleaf pine to sites currently occupied by loblolly pine, with a longleaf pine ecological type. 

Expansion of RCW populations would be actively pursued. Fuel loadings would be reduced in 

wildland-urban interfaces and pocosins. Recreation would be primarily nature-based and further 

development would emphasize the Croatan as a unique natural setting for a variety of recreation 

opportunities. 

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In this modification, Pond Pine Addition B is proposed for wilderness designation. All other actions and 

effects are as described above for Alternative C. This new wilderness enlarges the Pond Pine 

Wilderness to the east and provides linkage around Great Lake to the Sheep Ridge Wilderness to the 

north and the Pocosin Wilderness to the south. A quarter mile non-wilderness buffer is provided on the 

north side of the Camp Lejeune Railroad. 

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This alternative addresses public desires for more human accessibility to and use of national forest lands. 

In Alternative D, current timber management types would be the basis for regeneration, and longleaf 

pine and hardwoods would not be actively restored. The level of RCW population expansion would be 

slow. Fuels management would be aggressive, and emphasis on habitat improvement would be less than 

in other alternatives. Recreation management would emphasize a full range of opportunities. A wide 

variety of special uses would be accommodated throughout the forest, and local community 

development would be highlighted where possible. 

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This alternative addresses public comments about the preferred Alternative C in the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement and the Proposed CNF Revised Plan. The theme of this alternative is 

similar to Alternative C: strive to restore longleaf pine, expansion of the existing RCW population, 

enhance habitat for black bears, neotropical birds, and wild turkey, and more fuels management in 

wildland-urban interfaces. However, the way of restoring longleaf pine and increasing RCW clusters 

would change between the alternatives. Alternative E emphasizes two-aged regeneration systems over 

clearcutting in order to retain mature longleaf pine trees for RCW. One OHV area provides 

opportunities to meet demands for all terrain vehicles. 

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RCW Management 

In all alternatives, activities needed to protect and promote the RCW and its habitat is balanced with 

other biological and social needs unique to the CNF. Alternatives B, C, D, and E follow management 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 15

direction found in the final EIS for the Management of the RCW and Its Habitat on National Forests in 

the Southern Region (June 1995). This management direction emphasizes establishing suitable habitat 

for the recruitment of new RCW clusters. Table S.1 displays RCW Management objectives by 

alternative. 

Table S.1: RCW management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C/ 

 C-Modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

Growing season 

burning in HMA 

200 ac. / year 1,000 ac. / year 2,000 ac. / year 1,000 ac. / year 2000 ac/year 

Average annual 

burning in CNF 

15,000 acres 12,000 acres 25,000 acres 24,000 acres 25,000 ac./ year 

Longleaf pine 

restoration (acres) 

 600 0 4,000 230 2,650-3,600 

Size of the RCW 

HMA (acres) 

 37,845 46,656 46,656 43,424 69,000 

New recruitment 

stands in 10 yrs 

15-20 15-20 25-30 15-20 20-26 

Cavity augmentation 

(box, cavity) 

 cavity none cavity and box box cavity and box 

# of RCW clusters in 

10 years 

 68-75 68-75 85-93 70-78 83-89 

Long-term population 

objective 

 126-139 151-169 151-169 136-151 137-169 

Risks of not achieving population goals are higher in Alternatives A and B compared to the other 

alternatives, due to the lack of foraging habitat caused by a low level fire program. Additional risk in 

Alternative B is the likelihood of not restoring longleaf pine due to the exclusive use of uneven aged 

management. Alternative D would likely reach population goals due to the high level fire program that 

maintains foraging habitat, but has the likelihood of lower nesting potentials due to the lack of longleaf 

restoration. Alternatives C/C-modified and E were designed to restore the long term nesting potentials 

through longleaf restoration and maintain foraging habitat through the high level fire program. 

Alternative E places greater emphasis on short-term conditions of potential nesting sites and understory 

conditions. In Alternative E, large trees would be retained as potential nesting sites during longleaf 

restoration where two-aged methods are used, and, wiregrasses would be favored in the understory by 

using alternatives to bedding as site preparation methods. 

Rare Communities and Rare Species Management 

All alternatives would protect and enhance rare species and rare communities by providing the natural 

community structure and function to support their survival. The alternatives differ in the rate at which 

these goals are met and the need for future mitigation measures in sensitive habitats. Alternatives B, C, 

and E establish a network of natural areas, wilderness areas, and the RCW habitat management area as 
16 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

core areas for rare species protection and enhancement. Impacts on sites outside of these core areas 

would be less critical because core populations of rare species would always be maintained. 

Alternatives A and D rely more heavily on future site-specific evaluation to determine the probable 

effects of proposed activities on populations of rare species. A comparison of management objectives in 

each alternative reflects these different philosophies (Table S.2). 

Table S.2: Rare communities and rare species management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C/ 

C-Modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

# of designated Special 

Interest Areas (Natural 

Areas) 

11 28 18 11 18 

Total acres in SIAs (Natural 

Areas) 

42,452 63,924 47,730 42,452 47,730 

% CNF rare spp. protected 1 37% 72% 70% 37% 70% 

Rare community restoration 

(ac.) 

600 50 4,570 230 3,220 to 4,170 

Average annual burning in 

CNF 

15,000 acres 12,000 acres 25,000 acres 24,000 acres 25,000 acres 

# of new rare species 

populations 

0 2 11 0 11 

# of old growth longleaf 

sites 

0 0 21-54 21-54 21-54 

Old growth suitable for 

timber 

yes yes no yes no 

1

 species are considered protected in Natural Areas, old growth management areas, RCW nest areas, and Wilderness areas 

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Recreation and Scenery 

Recreation use on the CNF occurs year round, with seasonal variations for different uses. One feature--

water, including the ocean, rivers, and streams offers unique public recreation opportunities. Recreation 

use is discussed in terms of capacity or numbers of people a site can accommodate, and the experience 

visitors might have. These range from a remote, rustic campground experience to a highly developed 

campground with many amenities and where visitors may see lots of other people recreating in the area. 

The alternatives provide for an increase in recreation opportunities to meet growing demand for more 

rustic experiences and facilities, and trail systems for a variety of users. Potential degradation of natural 

resources and archeological sites, and conflicts between user groups are resolved to varying degrees in 

the alternatives. Developed recreation capacities and projected amount of trail opportunities by 

alternative are shown in Table S.3. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 17

Table S.3. Recreation management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified 

D E 

Developed Rec. PAOT1 Capacity by ROS Class

-Rural 1,050 1,050 1,208 1,312 1,208 

-Roaded Natural 450 500 638 638 638 

-Semi-primitive Motorized 175 217 394 394 394 

Trail Miles 

-OHV 36 8 - 10 20 - 30 20 - 30 8-10 

-Mountain bike 0 10 - 15 20 - 40 20 - 40 20-40 

-Horseback 0 10 - 15 10 - 20 10 - 20 10-20 

-Hiking 31 31 31 31 31 

-Canoe 0 8 16 16 16 

Other Recreation Site Opportunities

-Fishing Ponds 0 3 5 5 5 

-Wildlife Viewing Opportunities 0 0 4 4 4 

1 People at One Time 

Rustic camping areas would increase by more than 40 percent in Alternatives C/C-mod, D and E, and, 

highly developed sites would increase by about 15 to 20 percent to accommodate demands by visitors. 

These programs have less emphasis in Alternatives A and B. 

Higher amounts and kinds of trails would be offered in Alternatives C/C-mod, D, and E, with exception 

to OHV trails. More open access for OHV would exist in Alternative A and D, due to higher designated 

trails and a low emphasis on closing out unauthorized trails. Alternative C/C-modified would limit 

OHVs to 2 areas, whereas Alternatives B and E would designate one OHV area and close out 

unauthorized trails. OHV areas would require substantial investments to assure user preferences are met 

and natural resources are protected. 

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lllllooocccaaatttiiiooonnnsss

Wilderness and Roadless Areas 

There are 31,221 acres of Wilderness on the CNF. An additional 20,801 acres of Roadless Areas are 

suitable for Wilderness designation. The alternatives vary by the number of acres (Table S.4) that would 

be proposed to Congress for recommendation to the wilderness system. 
18 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table S.4. Wilderness management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A B C C-Modified D E 

Acres 31,221 51,992 31,912 34,892 31,912 31,912 

 

Alternatives C, D and E propose only boundary adjustments to the existing wilderness areas. The 

adjustments are due to acquisitions of land that are within wilderness boundaries. The low level of 

wilderness recommendations in these alternatives respond to concerns about the difficulty of managing a 

landscape with many urban interfaces and which requires an active prescribed fire program to maintain 

plant communities. Alternative B would recommend most of the roadless inventory for wilderness 

designation. Alternative C modified would recommend an expansion of the Pond Pine Wilderness area. 

River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status 

The White Oak River and Brice Creek including West and East Prong Creeks are eligible for Wild and 

Scenic River designation. Table S.5 shows the amount of CNF land in interim management as Wild and 

Scenic Rivers until further studies are completed. 

Table S-.5. CNF land managed as Wild and Scenic Rivers until studies are completed. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified 

D E 

CNF managed as Wild and Scenic 

Rivers until studies are completed 

3,351 3,351 0 3,351 

Alternatives B, C/C-Modified, and E would recommend further study of these rivers for their suitability 

as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Due to the limited CNF ownership within the river corridors, the State of 

North Carolina is the appropriate agency to carry forward a recommendation for designation to 

Congress. Alternative A would only recommend the White Oak River for further study. Alternative D 

would recommend that both rivers not be studied further. 

Alternatives B, C/C-Modified, and E: Brice Creek and White Oak River corridor on CNF would be 

managed to protect the outstandingly remarkable values of these rivers on CNF land. Historic and 

archeological sites, riparian zones, and wildlife and aquatic habitats would also be protected. Clean up 

after catastrophic events would be more difficult because of restrictions within the corridors. 

444.

.. FFFooorrreeesssttt PPPrrroooddduuuccctttsssaaannndddFFFooorrreeesssttt HHHeeeaaalllttthhh

Management for timber production goals would simultaneously support longleaf restoration goals for 

RCW habitat objectives. As shown in Table S-6, timber production activities would focus on lands 

suitable and scheduled for harvest and regeneration over the 160 year planning horizon. The allowable 

sale quantity is upper limit of harvest from lands suitable and scheduled for timber production. The 

capacity to produce timber over the long term varies due to the silvicultural methods proposed and the 

projected harvest amounts over the planning horizon. The expected regeneration methods by alternative 

are shown in Table S-7. All alternatives have positive financial returns. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 19

Table S-6. The allowable sale quantity, land suitable for timber production, sustained yield, and present net values by 

alternative. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified D E 

Acres suitable and scheduled for timber 

production 

24,985 10,890 26,774 21,546 25,723 

Allowable Sale Quantity MCF/Year (1st period) 497 260 2,093 1,484 876 

Long Term Sustained Yield Capacity MCF/Year 1,625 442 1,247 1,573 1303 

Maximum PresentNet Value (MM $) $23.2 $4.4 $29.3 $26.2 $20.9 

Table S-7. Acres probable longleaf restoration and regeneration methods by alternative over the next ten years. 

Alternative A B C/ Cmodified D E 

Total Longleaf Restoration 600 0 4000 230 2500 

Clearcut 530 0 2730 4400 1000 

Seed-tree/ Shelterwood 620 0 2000 0 

Two Aged Shelterwood 0 0 1500 0 1500 

Group Selection 50 1040 0 0 0 

Total Regeneration Acres/Year (1st period) 1200 1040 6230 4630 2500 

In the current suitable timber base (Alternative A), more than two-thirds are occupied by loblolly pine 

forest types. Alternatives A, B, and D would nearly sustain that mix of forest composition over the long 

term. Alternatives C/C-modified and E would shift the composition to favor longleaf forest types, with 

more than two thirds of the overstory in longleaf over the long term. High risks are assumed for longleaf 

restoration in Alternative B due to the exclusive reliance on group selection. 

Alternative C/C-modified has higher amounts of suitable lands than A, D, and E, but lower sustained 

yield capacities. This is due, in part, to the harvest in Alternative C/C-modified in the first 10-year 

planning period that is higher than sustainable levels in subsequent planning periods. Alternatives A, B, 

D, and E would follow a non-declining, sustainable yield schedule of timber outputs for each 10-year 

planning period. 

555... FFFiiirrreeeMMMaaannnaaagggeeemmmeeennnttt

Fuels on the CNF have been mapped and analyzed based on landtype, forest type, soils, and disturbance 

history. Fuel models (Anderson, 1982) are used to describe fuel conditions and identify wildfire risk 

based on predicted fire behavior. In all alternatives, wildfire risk is expected to increase with the 
20 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

increase in future development outside the CNF. Wildfire and prescribed fire management are expected 

to become more difficult and expensive as populations increase. Problems associated with smoke 

management may also become more difficult to address. The alternatives vary by the amount of land 

that would be treated to reduce fuels. The degree of wildfire risk reduction is reflected in the 

distribution of fuel models by alternative (Table S.8). Wildland urban interfaces have been identified in 

alternatives C, D, and E. 

Table S.8. Acres by fuel type and alternative. 

Fuel Model 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C/ 

C-Modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

2 8200 (5%) 8200 (5%) 9400 (6%) 9400 (6%) 9400 

4 42400 (26%) 5400 (34%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 

6 26100 (16%) 14500 ( 9%) 62700 (39%) 62700 (39%) 62700 

7 36500 (23%) 59600 (37%) 31700 (20%) 31700 (20%) 31700 

9 39300 (23%) 16100 (10%) 48700 (30%) 48700 (30%) 48700 

Not Modeled 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 8600 

Total 161,100 161,100 161,100 161,100 161000 

A relative risk analysis resulting from the desired future condition and probable management activities 

within each alternative is displayed below. This analysis is based on the differences in fuel treatment 

programs, including identification and treatment of wildland urban interfaces. 

Wildfire Risk by alternative 

Lower Risk Higher Risk 

 |__________________________________________________________________| 

 | | | 

 C/C-modified, D, and E A B 

Frequent return intervals (3 to 5 years, see also Table S-1) for prescribed fire are needed to manage risk 

of wildfire. Longer return intervals produce high volumes of fuels that create high risk situations. Risks 

are substantially reduced when high pocosin vegetation (Fuel Model 4) are treated and maintained as 

low pocosin with frequent fire (Fuel Model 6). Alternative C/C modified, D, and E establish a frequent 

return interval due to the high level of prescribed fire. A portion of the prescribed fire program would be 

applied to pocosin landtypes. Without the frequent return intervals, Alternatives A and B assume higher 

risks of catastrophic wildfires. 

Alternative C/C-modified, D, and E further reduce risks by creating urban-interface zones of defensible 

space between CNF land and the private lands, which generally have residential or commercial 

buildings. Alternatives A and B would not initiate programs to reduce risks in those zones. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 21

666... AAAcccccceeessssss

Public access to the CNF has become increasingly controversial as local populations have grown and 

land uses adjacent to the forest have changed. Forest access opportunities are public benefits, but also, 

impact may occur on forest resources including wildlife habitat, fragile plant communities, and the 

opportunity for non-motorized recreation. Secondary impacts include illegal trash dumping and 

unregulated shooting from roads. The CNF has enough existing roads to meet future needs and no new 

road construction is proposed. The alternatives address access through changes (Table S.9) of open FS 

roads, closure of unauthorized trails, and the number of miles and location of OHV trails. 

Table S.9. Access management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A B C 

C-Modified 

D E 

Forest Service Roads - miles 222 222 222 222 222 

Roads Closed - miles 14 50 30 12 15-20 

Seasonal Access - road miles 9 29 17 5 15-20 

OHV Trails - miles 36 8 - 10 20 - 30 20 - 30 8-10 

High levels of access on classified roads are provided in Alternatives A and D, but the level of illegal 

shooting, trash dumping and effects to wildlife species would continue. In Alternatives B, C, and E, 

open classified roads would be closed where the highest probability of illegal events would occur. Open 

roads in these alternatives would likely be maintained in better conditions since road maintenance funds 

would be used on fewer open roads. 

Unauthorized access occurs throughout the forest. Due to level topography, the CNF can be traversed by 

OHVs in many areas. Plant communities, especially rare plants, are adversely affected, as well as 

wildlife species, such as bear and turkey, that require less motorized disturbance for survival. 

Alternatives A and D would not emphasize the closure of unauthorized access. Alternatives B, C/Cmodified, and E would close out unauthorized access. OHV use would be restricted to 2 areas in 

Alternative C/C-modified, and one area in Alternatives B and E. 

777... LLLooocccaaalll CCCooommmmmmuuunnniiittti

iieeesss

The main impacts from management practices on the CNF are changes in employment and income 

levels of the regional population. The two activities that have the most impact are timber harvesting and 

providing recreation opportunities. 

When national forest timber is sold, jobs are created for the harvesters and haulers of the timber, who 

then use their income to buy goods and services in the region. Visitors to the CNF require goods and 

services based on the type of recreation activity pursued and the duration of their visit. These 

expenditures by visitors have a multiplier effect by creating jobs (Table S.10) in the local community. 
22 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table S.10. Economic Impacts by Alternative. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified 

D E 

Timber Employment Number 35 20 126 92 51 

Harvesting Income $ 694,405 349,179 2,799,528 2,004,104 1,834,845 

Recreation Employment Number 582 614 733 738 730 

Recreation Income $ 12,754,359 13,566,742 16,637,482 16,777,863 16,249,782 

More uses of forest products and recreation places create more jobs and income. Therefore, Alternatives 

C/C-modified, D and E, which have more emphases on products and opportunities for use would create 

more employment and income than Alternatives A and B. 

Local communities are also affected by how they use the CNF directly. More emphasis is placed on all 

alternatives to increase opportunities for nature based recreation income. This could be accomplished by 

generating opportunities for outfitters and guides on the forest. Providing opportunities for local 

community awareness of the unique environments on the CNF is a common theme among all 

alternatives. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 23

CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR11:: PPUUURRRPPPOOOSSSEEEAANNNDDDNNEEEEEEDDD

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), prepared by the USDA Forest Service, describes six 

alternatives for managing the land and resources of the Croatan National Forest. It describes the 

affected environment, and discloses environmental effects of the alternatives considered. 

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The USDA Forest Service proposes to revise the Land and Resource Management Plan (1986) for 

the Croatan National Forest. The proposal updates the management goals, objectives, standards, and 

monitoring requirements for the planning period 1998- 2012. In addition, the proposal includes new 

management prescriptions. Specific management direction is needed for the following: 

• To designate habitat management areas, set population objectives, establish management 

direction and location for red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCW) clusters and habitat linkages. 

• To identify rare natural communities, plants and animals and explore strategies for restoring 

them. 

• To determine the need for management direction to enhance neotropical migratory bird 

habitat. 

• To determine what mix of multiple uses, recreation settings, activities, and facilities should 

be offered on the Croatan National Forest, including interpretation of heritage resources. 

• To determine whether or not to recommend river corridors eligible for Wild and Scenic 

Rivers to Congress for designation and whether or not to recommend additional 

Wildernesses. 

• To assess the extent of longleaf pine restoration, the appropriate rate of restoration efforts, 

and the appropriate regeneration methods. 

• To assess areas where wildland-urban interfaces are a concern and to specify the role 

prescribed fire could play in reducing wildfire risks to these areas. 

• To determine if natural or lightning-caused wildland fire should be used for resource benefit, 

particularly in wilderness, and, if so, under what conditions. 

• To assess what areas should be available for motorized access, especially off-highway 

vehicles. 

• To determine what kinds and extents of special uses to allow for supporting community 

growth within the context of multiple uses of the national forest. 

• To estimate the quantity and distribution of habitat needed to maintain a stable population of 

black bears. 

111...222::: PPPuuurrrpppooossseeeaaannndddNNNeeeeeedddfffooorrr ttthhheeeFFFooorrreeesssttt PPPlllaaannnRRReeevvviiisssiiiooonnn

Natural resource management decisions are made in two stages. First, land and resources are allocated 

to various uses or conditions, appropriate management prescriptions are devised, and the places where 

the prescriptions would be applied are specified for the plan area. These first-stage decisions become 

the Forest Plan, which sets a framework for the second-stage of decisions. Second-stage decisions 

involve approval of the site-specific projects that implement the Forest Plan. 

Forest plans establish goals and objectives to achieve the desired resource conditions for the national 

forests. Forest plans also establish limits on actions (standards) that can be taken to create desired 
24 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

conditions. Planners often use management areas to delineate where management prescriptions and 

their associated goals, objectives, and standards apply in the plan area. 

Integrating multiple-resource conditions and uses are important outcomes of Forest Plans. The decisions 

made in Forest Plans and the related planning regulations are summarized below. 

1. Establishing multiple-use goals, objectives, and desired future conditions for the 

forest, including estimates of goods and services expected -- 36 CFR 219.11(b). 

2. Establishing forestwide management requirements -- 36 CFR 219.13 to 219.27. 

3. Applying multiple-use prescriptions and associated guidance, including selected and 

probable management practices, to each management area on the Forest --36 CFR 

219.11(c). 

4. Identifying land that is and is not suited for timber production -- 36 CFR 219.14. 

5. Determining the allowable sale quantity for timber and the associated sale schedule -- 

36 CFR 219.16. 

6. Recommending roadless areas for potential wilderness designation -- 36 CFR 219.17. 

7. Determining monitoring and evaluation requirements -- 36 CFR 219.11 (d). 

111...333::: PPPuuubbbllliiicccPPPaaarrrt

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Public involvement is an important component of the land management planning process. The purpose 

of identifying issues and concerns is to determine the public desires for goods, services and 

environmental conditions on the Forest. 

The identification of issues for consideration began in July 1996, during the analysis of the management 

situation. This analysis provided the interdisciplinary team with a basis for formulating a preliminary 

list of issues in planning. A notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement was filed in 

the Federal Register on October 17, 1996. A planning newsletter published in November of 1996 

notified the local public of identified issues and provided the opportunity to comment. We also 

conducted open houses at three locations during December 1996. Approximately 70 people attended 

these meetings. The forest planning interdisciplinary team received 77 letters containing approximately 

375 individual comments during this scoping period. 

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released on December 20, 1999. Its availability was 

published in the Federal Register on December 30, 1999. Approximately 27 letters were received. 

Responses to comments are included in Appendix A. 

Issues addressed in this analysis follow: 

1.3.1: Biological Diversity 

Recovering red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) populations. The RCW was listed as endangered in 

1970. A recovery plan identifies the CNF, Camp Lejeune and Holly Shelter as restoring one viable 

population. Recovery of the RCW depends on restoring and maintaining the longleaf pine ecosystem, 

including the use of fire. The CNF is capable of supporting about 30,000 acres of longleaf pine 

savannas. There are currently 6,000 acres of mature longleaf. Rapid restoration of RCW habitat would 

greatly increase the probability of recovering the population over the long term. Since restoration 

includes timber harvesting and planting, people are concerned how widespread the activity would be, as 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 25

it affects scenery, recreation experiences and other plant and animal species. Various levels of 

restoration are examined in the alternatives, which result in different population objectives for RCW. 

Natural Communities. Fifty-one rare species currently exist on the CNF. Likelihood of survival is 

enhanced when the natural community structure and function prevails. There are several ways of 

restoring and managing natural communities. One way is to designate natural areas and limit human 

disturbance. There are concerns about where natural areas would be designated and how restrictive 

activities would be. Several ways of providing natural community structure and function are explored, 

including old growth communities. 

Wildlife and Fish Habitats. In the southeastern wetlands, black bear habitats have been fragmented by 

rapid development. Maintaining and improving black bear habitat on the CNF is crucial to sustaining 

the population of bears in this area. Because bear range widely over the landscape, protective zones 

require large areas. Any designation for bear habitat may conflict with resource objectives that require 

development, especially open roads. Advocates for widespread, open access to the CNF are concerned 

about how and where bear habitat would be provided in this plan. 

Decline of neotropical migratory bird (NMB) habitat had occurred over last 30 years. Of 45 million 

acres in the southeast about 30 million acres remained in 1985. This declining trend continues today. 

Most of the NMB habitat on the CNF is hardwood wetlands. One strategy is to establish a special zone 

for hardwood wetlands and guide activities to maintain these habitats. Some people may object to 

restricted activities in these areas, especially for access to streams here. 

1.3.2: Recreation Opportunities. 

There are several types of recreation on the Croatan where demand is not being met by existing 

opportunities – water-based day use, water-based dispersed camping, and non-motorized trails. There is 

also high demand for additional motorized recreation, but opportunities to provide this activity on the 

Croatan are very limited by physical factors. Several types and amounts of water-based day use and 

dispersed camping opportunities are explored in the alternatives. 

There is a low density of trails on the Croatan, owing to the high percentage of the area that is unsuitable 

for trail development. A range of additional trails will be discussed in this analysis, with varying 

opportunities for horseback riding, mountain biking, as well as for hiking. Several options for motorized 

routes are also explored. Limiting factors for various types of additional trails will continue to be soil 

composition as well as potential user conflicts with other forest activities. 

1.3.3: Special Land Allocation. 

Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers are allocations of land to specific uses that require 

Congressional designation. Special allocations of land may limit timber and wildlife management, and 

recreational access. While many people want to see more of these areas, many others oppose additional 

restrictions on land management. Some even desire reductions in the amount of land devoted to these 

specific uses. The alternatives explore a range of Wilderness to recommend for Congressional 

designation. The alternatives also explore how to address river corridors that are potentially eligible for 

designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Due to limited CNF ownership of these river corridors, the state 

of North Carolina may be more appropriate to conduct further analysis of suitability and to recommend 

designation. 
26 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

1.3.4: Silviculture, Forest Products and Forest Health. 

The current plan emphasizes loblolly pine regeneration using the combination of clear-cut, bedding and 

planting. To provide RCW habitat, mature loblolly stands would be converted to longleaf pine. The 

methods used to convert vary according to site characteristics. In stands where loblolly and longleaf 

coexist, two-aged regeneration or shelterwood may successfully regenerate longleaf. Where only 

loblolly exists, no longleaf seed source is available and this usually requires a clear-cut of loblolly and 

planting of longleaf. The amount, type and location of regeneration can adversely affect scenery and 

recreational experiences, along with wildlife species dependent on older age classes. However, the lack 

of conversion to longleaf pine could slow the recovery of RCW populations. A range of silvicultural 

methods is explored in the alternatives. 

1.3.5: Fire Management. 

Fire is the primary disturbance factor on the Croatan; it has a vital role in the management of this coastal 

ecosystem. Fire, specifically wildfires, also poses great risks to adjacent human communities, homes, 

and industrial timberlands. One management action, prescribed fire, has been devised to limit hazardous 

fuel buildup while maintaining natural communities that depend on fire, especially longleaf pine 

savannas. But, prescribed fire creates smoke and leaves a blackened landscape that some people dislike. 

Different amounts of prescribed fire are evaluated in the alternatives. 

1.3.6: Access. 

Balancing reasonable public access with protecting the natural resources is a critical challenge for 

national forest management. Too much access has caused problems with trash dumping, unregulated 

shooting, user conflicts, negative impacts to wildlife, unauthorized use of closed roads, resource 

damage, and unauthorized, user-created new trails and roads. High levels of access also increase the 

cost to maintain roads to an adequate and safe standard. However, limiting access too much restricts 

the public from thoroughfares, and from using the national forest in ways that they enjoy such as biking, 

hunting, bird watching, off highway vehicle (OHV) riding, and camping. 

1.3.7: Local Communities. 

As local communities grow, the pressure increases to accommodate a variety of uses of the CNF. 

While these uses should blend with the multiplexes of the national forest, there is often conflict among 

the various uses. The alternatives explore how human use of the CNF can be managed to be compatible 

with the physical and biological environment. Some examples of special uses suggested by the public 

include pine straw raking, firewood collecting, setting aside areas for research and nature study, building 

an educational center, and providing opportunities for guide services. To conserve the natural attributes 

that make this area a special place, collaboration with local communities and agencies is important. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 27

CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR22:: AALLLTTTEEERRRNNNAAATTTIIIVVVEEESSSFFOOORRRMMAAANNNAAAGGGIIINNNGGGTTHHHEEECCRRROOOAAATTTAAANNNNNAAATTTIIIOOONNNAAALLL

FFOOORRREEESSSTTT

This Chapter summarizes the alternatives developed to compare potential management strategies for the 

Croatan National Forest. It describes the process used to develop and refine alternatives, outlines the 

alternatives considered, and compares the alternatives. 

Alternative Development Process 

Needs for revision of the forest plan arose from changes in policy, new scientific information, and 

changes in the demographics and social setting of the Croatan National Forest. Information gathered 

during scoping for site-specific projects, needs identified through monitoring and evaluation, and the 

formal analysis of the management situation highlighted many of these changes and influenced the 

themes of the alternatives. 

Initially, seven major issues were described and released to the public for comment. Four themes for 

management were developed to address the issues, realizing the themes would change as public 

comment and further review occurred. After initial themes were created, the planning team refined the 

alternatives by determining for each management prescription and area the probable management 

practices that are consistent with the underlying theme. The direction and content of the alternatives 

were further tested and refined after numerous meetings with Ranger District personnel and outside 

cooperators. 

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One alternative was formulated that responds to public comments received during the scoping phase of 

the NEPA process. Some respondents wanted to eliminate many human uses and human induced 

impacts of the CNF. In this alternative, there would be no vegetation projects, no prescribed fire, no 

management of the Catfish Lake Impoundment nor any wildlife openings, limited recreation uses, and 

no access for off-highway vehicles. This alternative was considered but not studied in detail because 

this level of management is already described in the Minimum Level Benchmark (see Appendix B). 

This alternative does not address all the issues identified by the public, and it would eliminate most of 

the multiple uses and benefits for which national forests were created. With demonstrated demands for 

public access, wildlife recreation experiences, forest products, and suitable RCW habitat (which result 

from prescribed fire), elimination of these activities would conflict with current agency policy. Taking 

prescribed fire as one example, "Continued use of fire, through an intensive prescribed burning program, 

is critical to the survival and recovery of the RCW "(RCW, FEIS, p 53). Alternative B, which 

substantially reduces the amount of human uses and activity, was formed to address the comments 

above. 

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Six Alternatives were considered. Each alternative explored a different theme for addressing groups of 

similar issues. The alternatives are described below in terms of the key issues. In all alternatives except 

A, RCW management is directed by the 1995 EIS. 
28 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

222...222.

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This alternative represents a continuation of the 1986 Land and Resource Management Plan and its 

amendments. 

 

2.2.1.1: Biological Diversity 

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Management: The Croatan's RCW management would be directed by 

interim guidelines and the population objective would be 139 territories. 

Rare Species Management: All federally listed species would be protected and sensitive species would 

not decline and make federal listing necessary. 

Wildlife: Existing openings would be maintained and new openings would be created where needed. 

Existing hardwoods would be maintained. Existing management for the Catfish Lake Waterfowl 

Impoundment would be continued. Black bear habitat would be provided in existing wilderness and in 

semi-primitive non-motorized areas. In areas where bear management is featured, open-road densities 

would be less than 1.0 mile per 2500 acres. The standard for turkey will be less than 1.0 mile per 1280 

acres. 

Hardwoods: Hardwoods and upland hardwood types would continue to be classed as unsuitable for 

timber production. 

Surface Water Management: No surface water management would be required for timber production. 

2.2.1.2: Recreation Opportunities 

Recreation: A variety of recreation settings and experiences, both motorized and non-motorized would 

be provided. Developed recreation facilities would support dispersed recreation by providing access to 

water-based recreation, trailheads, cultural resource interpretation, and horse staging areas. In addition to 

open roads available for use, 10 miles of specific OHV routes would be provided. 

Heritage Resources: Existing sites that have a low maintenance cost would be interpreted. 

2.2.1.3: Special Land Allocations 

Special Interest Areas: Existing registered natural areas would be maintained. 

Wilderness/Wild and Scenic Rivers: The 31,221 acres of existing wilderness would be protected. The 

suitability status of the White Oak River as wild and scenic would be studied, with the State of North 

Carolina as the lead agency. During evaluation, a corridor 1/4 mile from the river would be maintained 

to avoid or mitigate any action that might adversely affect the river's potential for such designation. 

2.2.1.4: Silviculture, Forest Products, Forest Health 

Vegetation and Timber Management: Longleaf pine would be managed on a 100-year rotation, and 

loblolly and shortleaf pines on 80-year rotations. Forest lands managed for pond pine and hardwoods 

are unsuitable for timber production. Management type (vegetation type desired for timber 

management) would guide decisions for regeneration with primarily even-aged management. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 29

2.2.1.5: Fire Management 

Fire Management: Prescribed fire would be used for wildlife habitat improvement, fuel reduction, 

timber stand improvement, and site preparation. Management-ignited prescribed fire would be allowed 

in wildernesses. Wildland fire would not be used for resource benefit, and there would be no provision 

for risk reduction in the urban interface other than prescribed fire for fuel reduction. Use of mechanized 

fire suppression equipment would be allowed on the entire forest. Prescribed fire activities would be 

conducted within the constraints of current air quality guidelines. Air quality would be monitored 

during wildfires. 

2.2.1.6: Access 

Access. Most existing forest roads would be open, but new roads would be closed after intended use is 

completed. 

2.2.1.7: Local Communities 

Special Uses: Special uses, including transportation and utility corridors, would be authorized when 

there are public needs or interests, and when the use cannot reasonably be provided on private land. 

Land Adjustment: Acquisition and exchange of National Forest System lands would continue in 

accordance with an approved land adjustment plan. Priority would be placed on adjustments meeting 

identified resource management needs, on consolidations to reduce administrative problems and costs, 

and on enhancement of public use, and on conveyance of land better suited for nonfederal ownership. 

222...222...222::: AAAlllttteeerrrnnnaaatttiiivvveeeBBB

This alternative was developed to address a number of public comments asking for low-impact timber 

management to restore natural communities, increased emphasis on nature-based, solitary recreation 

activities, and in general a lighter human hand on the land. Alternative B emphasizes low-impact 

activities and restoration of natural communities at a slow rate. Natural communities would be restored 

through even- and uneven-aged management, using the potential natural vegetation predicted by the 

ecological classification as a basis for desired condition. RCW augmentation efforts would stimulate 

very slow expansion of the population. Prescribed fire would be used primarily to reduce hazardous fuel 

loads. Recreation activities would have low impacts. 

2.2.2.1: Biological Diversity 

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Management: The long-term RCW population objective would be 151 to 

169 territories and the goal about 2 percent annual population growth. Three clusters per year would be 

provided in areas with a high probability of success. Birds could occupy new habitat; therefore no 

active translocation would be done. 

Rare Species Management: Habitat management for all threatened, endangered, and sensitive species 

would be maintained across the planning area. Rare species would be sustained within existing and 17 

newly registered North Carolina Natural Heritage Program natural areas. The 10- year population 

objectives for sensitive and forest concern species would be set, and monitoring protocols would be 

developed. 

Wildlife: No new wildlife openings would be constructed, and existing openings would receive low 

levels of maintenance. Management of the Catfish Lake waterfowl impoundment would continue. 
30 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Existing hardwood stands would be maintained for hard mast and habitat. Any hardwood restoration 

would occur at a slow rate. 

Hardwoods: The potential natural vegetation predicted by ecological classification would be used to 

delineate the hardwood wetland zone on the ground, and managed as "not suited" for timber production. 

Bear Habitat: Black bear habitat would be provided in proposed wilderness, in existing wilderness, and 

in proposed special interest areas. Pocosin habitat might be somewhat less productive without burning. 

Surface Water Management: No surface water management and active restoration of previously 

altered hydrology would be attempted. 

2.2.2.2: Recreation Opportunities 

Recreation: Low impact recreation development would be explored as opportunities arise. Emphasis 

would be on non-motorized recreation opportunities, such as mountain biking and horseback riding on 

closed roads. Existing roads and trails would be available for recreation use, but new trails would not be 

constructed. Trail miles would be close to existing numbers. Semi-primitive Non-Motorized experiences 

would be provided by closing some connector and spur roads. OHV’s would be permitted on designated 

routes. 

Heritage Resources: Awareness would be promoted through signing and brochures. 

2.2.2.3: Special Land Allocations 

Special Interest Areas: All new proposed North Carolina Natural Heritage Program natural areas would 

be registered. These areas would be allocated to a Special Interest Area prescription. 

Wilderness/River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status: All roadless areas suitable for 

wilderness would be recommended for designation. Corridors on CNF land along Brice Creek and 

White Oak River would be managed to retain the outstandingly remarkable values that make them 

eligible for Wild and Scenic Rivers. The road to Great Lake would remain open. To help preserve 

wilderness quality in and around Great Lake, boat engine size would be limited. 

2.2.2.4: Silviculture, Forest Products, Forest Health 

Vegetation and Timber Management: Timber rotations would be lengthened, thereby delaying timber 

harvest until further into the future and providing more large trees. Longleaf pine would be managed on 

a 160-year rotation, and loblolly pine on a 100-year rotation. Hardwood stands and most pond pine 

stands would be classed as not suited for timber production. Potential natural communities predicted by 

the ecological classification would direct decisions about regeneration. No clearcutting would occur, 

and artificial regeneration would be limited to hand planting of bareroot or containerized seedlings 

without bedding or other intensive site preparation. Old growth would not be allocated to specific 

locations, but it would be provided by longer rotation lengths, by classification of hardwood and pond 

pine acres as not suited for timber management, and by other management prescriptions. 

2.2.2.5: Fire Management 

Fire Management: Approximately 12,000 acres per year would be burned using prescribed fire. This 

average annual burning rate would result in about a 5-year or more rotation for burnable acres. The 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 31

purpose for prescribed fire would include wildlife habitat improvement, timber stand improvement, site 

preparation for natural regeneration, and an emphasis on fuel reduction. Ground disturbing activities 

would be minimized during prescribed fire and, where possible, during wildfires. Use of mechanized 

equipment for wildland fire suppression would be allowed on the entire forest for fire suppression. 

Mechanical ground disturbance would be minimized by permitting management-ignited fire in low 

pocosin, outside wilderness. There would be no provision for risk reduction in the wildland-urban 

interfaces. Wildland fire use for resource benefit would be considered. Wildfire suppression would be 

designed to minimize resource damage and provide for firefighter safety. Prescribed burning would be 

conducted within the constraints of current air quality guidelines. Air quality would be monitored 

during wildfires. 

2.2.2.6: Access 

Access: Open vehicle access would be reduced by closing connector and spur roads, and unauthorized 

use would be eliminated. Where possible, levels of maintenance would be reduced. 

2.2.2.7: Local Communities 

Special Uses: New special uses would be subject to strict criteria for acceptance. A plan would be 

created to phase out some existing special uses as opportunities arise. 

Land Adjustment: Adjustments would focus on the acquisition of land identified in the Land 

Adjustment Plan for resource management objectives and the consolidation of national forest ownership. 

Priorities would be placed on the acquisition of land that protects critical habitat, riparian ecosystems, 

historic or cultural resources, and Congressionally designated areas. Lands identified for acquisition to 

meet recreational objectives would be considered, but given less emphasis for acquisition. 

222.

..222.

..333::: AAAlllttteeerrrnnnaaatttiiivvveeeCCC

This alternative addresses public comments desiring active longleaf pine restoration, expansion of the 

existing RCW population, more habitat for black bears, neotropical birds, and wild turkey, and more 

fuels management in wildland-urban interfaces. Alternative C provides for restoration of natural 

communities, using a combination of even- and uneven-aged silvicultural systems. Emphasis is on 

restoring longleaf pine to sites currently occupied by loblolly pine, with a longleaf ecological type. 

Expansion of RCW populations would be actively pursued. Fuel loadings would be reduced in 

wildland-urban interfaces and pocosins. Recreation would be primarily nature-based and further 

development would emphasize the Croatan as a unique natural setting for a variety of recreation 

opportunities. 

2.2.3.1: Biological Diversity 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Management: The RCW population objective would be 151 to 169 

territories, and six percent population growth would be the goal. Six clusters per year would be 

provided in areas with a high probability of success. Birds would be translocated. 

Rare Species Management: Habitat management for all threatened, endangered, and sensitive species 

would be maintained across the planning area. To sustain known populations of rare species, appropriate 

habitat conditions would be provided through active management, where appropriate, in existing North 

Carolina Natural Heritage Program natural areas and eight newly registered areas. Ten-year population 

objectives for sensitive and forest concern species would be set, and monitoring protocols would be 
32 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

developed. The network of natural areas, wilderness areas, and the RCW habitat management area 

would be used as core areas for rare species populations. 

Wildlife: Existing wildlife openings would be maintained, and, where appropriate, permanent 

grass/legume openings would be established. New wildlife openings would be created in wild turkey 

management emphasis areas from existing roads and log landings. The Catfish Lake waterfowl 

impoundment would be managed according to the current management plan. Hardwoods would be 

maintained where they exist and restored on sites where the natural community potential is hardwood. 

Longleaf pine that occurs on hardwood types, however, would not be replaced in the RCW habitat 

management area. 

Hardwood Wetlands: The potential natural vegetation predicted by the ecological classification would 

be the criterion for delineating the hardwood wetland zone, and managed as "not suited" for timber 

production. 

Bear Habitat: Bear habitat would be provided in a specific bear habitat management area, and pocosin 

burning would create rich bear habitat. 

Surface Water Management: Natural hydrology would not be permanently altered. Natural hydrology 

and wetlands would be restored where possible. 

2.2.3.2: Recreation Opportunities 

Recreation: Existing sites such as Cedar Point might be expanded, and a group camp area would be 

provided. Recreation development would support nature- and culture-based tourism. Designated canoe, 

mountain bike, and horse trail systems would be provided. Hiking trail miles may increase. OHV use 

would be moved to new locations, and two sites would be designated for OHV use. A shooting range 

would be developed in Craven or Jones County, and as many as three fishing ponds might be created. 

An interpretive center close to the Highway 24 shoreline might be developed as land becomes available. 

2.2.3.3: Special Land Allocations 

Special Interest Areas: Currently registered areas would be maintained, and eight of the proposed new 

areas would be registered and identified as a special inventory. 

Wilderness/River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status: An increase of 691 acres would 

be recommended for Wilderness due to boundary adjustments to reflect ownership changes and to 

simplify management. Corridors on CNF land along Brice Creek and White Oak River would be 

managed to protect the outstandingly remarkable values. 

2.2.3.4: Silviculture, Forest Products, Forest Health 

Vegetation and Timber Management: Rotation lengths for timber management would differ inside and 

outside the habitat management area for RCW. Inside the RCW area, loblolly and pond pine would be 

managed on 80-year rotations, and longleaf on a 120-year rotation. Outside the RCW area, loblolly and 

pond pine would be managed on 60-year rotations. Existing hardwood stands would be classed as not 

suited for timber production, but restoration of hardwoods could occur on Stream and River Terraces 

and Drainage Slopes (Landtypes 3&4), hardwood forest, and hardwood slope sites. Potential natural 

communities predicted by the ecological classification would guide regeneration efforts. Sites would be 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 33

restored in a variety of ways using even- and uneven-aged management, natural and artificial 

regeneration. Site preparation would include intensive practices such as bedding and less intensive 

practices such as burning. Pine straw raking would be permitted on a sustained-yield basis. Longleaf 

Old growth sites would be allocated to specific areas, which would not be considered suitable for timber 

production. Old growth would receive only uneven-aged management in future planning horizons. 

2.2.3.5: Fire Management 

Fire Management: Prescribed fire would be used for longleaf restoration, wildlife habitat 

improvement, fuel reduction, timber stand improvement, and site preparation for natural and artificial 

regeneration. Emphasis would be placed on fuel reduction treatments and growing-season prescribed 

fire for longleaf restoration. Urban interface zones would be managed to reduce fuel loadings. Fuels 

might be treated mechanically in some cases. Wildland fire use for resource benefit would be 

considered. Prescribed fire would be applied to pocosins, including wildernesses, but only after research 

answers questions about organic soil ignition and emission factors. Use of mechanized equipment for 

fire suppression would be allowed on the entire forest for fire suppression. Ground disturbing activities 

would be permitted outside wilderness during pocosin burning. As burning parameters permit, 

prescribed fire would be applied to 25-50,000 acres per year in the future as pocosins can be burned 

safely. Wildfire suppression would be designed to minimize resource damage and provide for 

firefighter safety. Prescribed fire activities would meet current air quality guidelines. Air quality would 

be monitored during wildfires. 

2.2.3.6: Access 

Access: Some roads would be managed using seasonal closures for wildlife management. 

Unauthorized roads and trails would gradually be blocked and obliterated. A limited number of existing 

open roads would be closed except for administrative use. 

 

2.2.3.7: Local Communities 

Special Uses: New special uses with high impacts would not be permitted. A plan would be created to 

phase out some existing special uses as opportunities arise. 

Land Adjustment: Adjustments would focus on the acquisition of land identified in the land adjustment 

plan for resource and recreation management and on consolidation of national forest ownership. 

Priorities would be placed on the acquisition of land to protect critical habitat, riparian ecosystems, 

historic or cultural resources; Congressionally designated areas, and recreation and aesthetic values. 

222...222...444::: AAAlllttteeerrrnnnaaatttiiivvveeeCCC---MMMooodddiiifffiiieeeddd

Alternative C is modified to include Pond Pine Addition B as recommended for wilderness designation. 

All other actions and effects are the same as Alternative C. This new wilderness enlarges the Pond Pine 

Wilderness to the east and provides a linkage around Great Lake to the Sheep Ridge Wilderness to the 

north and the Pocosin Wilderness to the south. A quarter mile non-wilderness buffer would be provided 

on the north side of the Marine Railroad (see map of Alternative C). 
34 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

222...222...555::: AAAlllttteeerrrnnnaaat

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This alternative addresses public desires for more human accessibility to and use of national forest lands. 

In Alternative D, current timber management types would be the basis for regeneration, and longleaf 

pine and hardwoods would not be actively restored. The level of RCW population expansion would be 

minimal. Fuels management would be aggressive, and emphasis on habitat improvement would be less 

than in other alternatives. Recreation management would emphasize a full range of opportunities. A 

wide variety of special uses would be accommodated throughout the forest, and local community 

development would be highlighted where possible. 

 

2.2.5.1: Biological Diversity 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Management: In the first 10 years, the objective of RCW management 

would be a population of 145 to 151 territories, and the goal would be 5 percent population expansion. 

Two to three clusters would be placed in areas most likely to be successful. 

Rare Species Management: Habitat management for all threatened, endangered, and sensitive species 

would be maintained across the planning area. All rare species would be protected within existing North 

Carolina Natural Heritage Program natural areas. All proposed ground-disturbing projects would be 

evaluated for their probable effects on populations of rare species. 

Wildlife: New wildlife openings would be created with an emphasis on providing dove hunting fields. 

Existing hardwoods would be maintained for habitat and hard mast, but hardwoods would not be 

restored to areas where they historically occurred but are currently absent. 

Hardwoods: The potential natural vegetation would be used to delineate hardwood wetland zones, and 

managed as "not suited" for timber production. 

Black Bear: Black bears would rely on existing wilderness for protected habitat. 

Surface Water Management: Drainage might be improved on very poorly drained mineral soils to 

increase the sustained yield capacity by 10 percent. 

2.2.5.2: Recreation Opportunities 

Recreation: Recreation development would encourage a full range of recreation activities and provide 

easy access to the forest. The current OHV trail system would be relocated to a more desirable place, 

and additional OHV trails would be designated. Areas for horseback riding and mountain biking would 

be designated, and additional boat launches would be created. Two public shooting ranges would be 

developed in Jones and Craven Counties, and as many as three fishing ponds might be created. Existing 

campgrounds would be expanded and at least one group camp area would be provided. An interpretive 

center close to the Highway 24 shoreline might be developed as land becomes available. 

Heritage Resources: Efforts to interpret and to increase public awareness would grow. The need for 

test excavation and mitigation also would have to expand because public use and associated damage 

would increase. 

 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 35

2.2.5.3. Special Land Allocations 

Special Interest Areas: Existing special interest areas would be maintained without a designated 

management prescription, but no new areas would be registered. 

Wilderness/Wild and Scenic Rivers: New Wilderness would be recommended for designation only to 

adjust boundaries to simplify management and reflect ownership changes. No corridors would be 

managed to protect the values of wild and scenic rivers on CNF land. River integrity would be 

maintained through other management designations such as heritage resource areas, riparian, and 

hardwood-wetland zones. 

2.2.5.4: Silviculture, Forest Products, and Forest Health 

Vegetation and Timber Management: Inside the RCW habitat management area, rotation lengths would 

be 80 years for loblolly and pond pines, and 120 years for longleaf pine. Outside the area, rotations 

would be 60 years for loblolly and pond pine, and 100 years for longleaf. Existing hardwood stands 

would be classed as not suited for timber production. The current Continuous Inventory of Stand 

Condition (CISC) management type would guide decisions for regeneration. Even-aged management, 

artificial regeneration, and intensive site preparation including bedding would be common. Pine straw 

raking would be permitted on a sustained-yield basis. Longleaf old growth would be allocated to 

specific areas, which would be considered suitable for timber production. 

2.2.5.5: Fire Management 

Fire Management: Burning would be prescribed for longleaf pine maintenance, wildlife habitat 

improvement, fuel reduction, timber stand improvement, and site preparation for natural and artificial 

regeneration. Fuel reduction would be emphasized, particularly in wildland-urban interface zones. 

Fuels might be treated mechanically in some cases. Wildland fire for resource benefit would be 

considered. After research answers questions about organic soil ignition and emission factors, 

prescribed fire would be applied to pocosins, including wildernesses. The use of mechanized equipment 

for fire suppression would be allowed on the entire forest. Ground disturbing activities outside 

wilderness might be used during pocosin burning. As burning parameters permit, prescribed fire would 

be applied to 25,000 acres or more per year. Wildfire suppression would be designed to minimize 

resource damage and provide for firefighter safety. If possible, these programs would be funded at that 

level. Prescribed fire activities would be designed to meet current air quality guidelines. Air quality 

would be monitored during wildfires. 

2.2.5.6: Access 

Access: Most roads on the forest would be kept open to the public, and the quality of road maintenance 

across the forest would be high. 

2.2.5.7: Local Communities 

Special Uses: Numbers and types of special uses would increase. Uses for community development 

would be encouraged. 

Land Adjustment: Adjustments would focus on the acquisition of land identified in the land adjustment 

plan for recreation management and consolidation of national forest ownership. Priority would be 

placed on minimizing national forest ownership that creates wildland-urban interface through the 

exchange or transfer of land into private ownership to serve a greater public need. Transfer to private 
36 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

ownership typically would occur in areas that are inside or adjacent to communities or other developed 

private land and that are valuable for non-national forest purposes. 

222...222...666::: AAAlllttteeerrrnnnaaat

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The goals of this alternative are similar to Alternative C. It addresses public comments desiring active 

longleaf pine restoration, expansion of the existing RCW population, more habitat for black bears, 

neotropical birds, and wild turkey, and more fuels management in wildland-urban interfaces. However, 

the way of restoring longleaf pine and increasing RCW clusters would change between the two 

alternatives. Alternative E emphasizes two-aged regeneration system (shelterwood with reserves 

method) over clearcutting in order to retain potential nesting trees for RCW. One OHV area provides 

opportunities to meet demands for off highway vehicles. 

2.2.6.1: Biological Diversity 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Management: Goals are changed from Alternative C. The RCW 

population objective would be 137 to 169 clusters in the long term, and 20-26 clusters over the next ten 

years. Six clusters per year would provide for linkage and six per year would be provided in areas with 

a high probability of success. Birds could be translocated. 

Rare Species Management: There are no changes from Alternative C. Habitat management for all 

threatened, endangered, and sensitive species would be maintained across the planning area. To sustain 

known populations of rare species, appropriate habitat conditions would be provided through active 

management in existing North Carolina Natural Heritage Program natural areas and eight newly 

designated Special Interest Areas (Natural Areas). Ten-year population objectives for sensitive and 

forest concern species would be set, and monitoring protocols would be developed. The network of 

natural areas, wilderness areas, and the RCW habitat management area would be used as core areas for 

rare species populations. 

Wildlife: There are no changes from Alternative C. Existing wildlife openings would be maintained, 

and, where appropriate, permanent grass/forb openings would be established. New wildlife openings 

would be created in wild turkey management emphasis areas (upland hardwood management) from 

existing roads and log landings. The Catfish Lake waterfowl impoundment would be managed 

according to the current management plan. Hardwoods would be maintained where they exist and 

restored on sites where the natural community potential is hardwood. Longleaf pine that occurs on 

hardwood types, however, would not be restored to hardwoods in the RCW habitat management area. 

Hardwood Wetlands: There are no changes from Alternative C. The potential natural vegetation 

predicted by the ecological classification would be the criterion for delineating the hardwood wetland 

zone, and managed as not suited for timber production. 

Bear Habitat: The bear habitat management area designation is dropped. However, the cumulative 

effect of desired conditions on bears is the same. Bear habitat would be provided through a combination 

of several management prescriptions protecting bear habitat. The prescriptions creating bear habitat 

management are wilderness, bear, and hardwood wetlands. Pocosin burning would create rich bear 

habitat. 

Surface Water Management: No change from Alternative C. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 37

2.2.6.2: Recreation Opportunities 

Recreation: Existing sites such as Cedar Point would be expanded, and a group camp area would be 

provided. Recreation development would support nature- and culture-based tourism. Designated canoe, 

mountain bike, and horse trail systems would be provided. OHV use would be focused on one location. 

A shooting range could be developed in Craven or Jones County, and as many as three fishing ponds 

might be created. An interpretive center close to the Highway 24 shoreline might be developed as land 

becomes available. 

2.2.6.3: Special Land Allocations 

Special Interest Areas: There are no changes from Alternative C. Currently registered areas would be 

maintained, and eight of the proposed new areas would be designated and identified as Special Interest 

Areas (Natural Areas). 

Wilderness/River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status: There are no changes from 

Alternative C. Wilderness boundaries would be adjusted to reflect ownership changes and to simplify 

management. Corridors on the CNF along Brice Creek and White Oak River would be managed to 

protect the outstandingly remarkable values for which these corridors are recognized. 

 

2.2.6.4: Silviculture, Forest Products, Forest Health 

Vegetation and Timber Management: Longleaf restoration would be slower than in Alternative C. The 

method of restoration would primarily use shelterwood with reserves. Longleaf restoration within the 

RCW HMA would drive silvicultural activities. Existing hardwood stands would be classed as not 

suited for timber production, but restoration of hardwoods could occur on Stream and River Terraces 

and Drainage Slopes (Landtypes 3&4), hardwood forest, and hardwood slopes. Potential natural 

communities predicted by the ecological classification would guide regeneration efforts. Sites would be 

restored in a variety of ways. Conversion to longleaf could also be achieved by thinning loblolly and 

leaving longleaf. Site preparation may still favor flat and hand planting over more intensive practices 

such as bedding. However, since the number of acres that may be clearcut to restore longleaf is reduced, 

the number of acres needing intensive site preparation such as bedding is also reduced. Pine straw raking 

would be permitted on a sustained-yield basis. Longleaf old growth would be allocated to specific areas, 

which would not be considered suitable for timber production. 

2.2.6.5: Fire Management 

Fire Management: Prescribed fire would be used for longleaf restoration, wildlife habitat 

improvement, fuel reduction, timber stand improvement, and site preparation for natural and artificial 

regeneration. Emphasis would be placed on fuel reduction treatments and growing-season prescribed 

fire for longleaf restoration. Urban interface zones would be managed to reduce fuel loadings. Fuels 

might be treated mechanically in some cases. Wildland fire use for resource benefit would be 

considered. As research results provide more knowledge on ignition and emission in organic soils, an 

increase in the number of acres of pocosin on which prescribed fire is applied would occur. This would 

include wilderness also. Use of mechanized equipment for fire suppression would be allowed on the 

entire forest for fire suppression. Ground disturbing activities would be permitted outside wilderness 

during pocosin burning. As burning parameters permit, prescribed fire would be applied to about 25,000 

acres per year. Wildfire suppression would be designed to minimize resource damage and provide for 
38 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

firefighter safety. Prescribed fire activities would meet current air quality guidelines. Air quality would 

be monitored during wildfires. 

2.2.6.6: Access 

Access: Roads open for public motorized use are displayed on the map in the Plan. The remainder of 

the CNF would be closed to motorized use. 

2.2.6.7: Local Communities 

Special Uses: New special uses with high impacts would not be permitted. A plan would be created to 

phase out some existing special uses as opportunities arise. 

Land Adjustment: Adjustments would focus on the acquisition of land identified in the land adjustment 

plan for resource and recreation management and on consolidation of national forest ownership. 

Priorities would be placed on the acquisition of land to protect critical habitat, riparian ecosystems, 

historic or cultural resources; Congressionally designated areas, and recreation and aesthetic values. 

222...333::: CCCOOOMMMPPPAAARRRIIISSSOOONNNOOOFFFAAALLLTTTEEERRRNNNAAATTTIIIVVVEEESSSBBBYYYIIISSSSSSUUUEEE

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2.3.1.1: RCW Management 

In the alternatives, activities needed to protect and promote the RCW and its habitat are balanced with 

other biological and social needs unique to the CNF. Alternatives B, C, D, and E follow management 

direction found in the final EIS for the Management of the RCW and its habitat on National Forests in 

the Southern Region (R8-RCW, June 1995). This management direction emphasizes establishing 

suitable habitat for the recruitment of new RCW clusters. 

Recovery of the RCW depends on restoring the longleaf pine ecosystem and fire's role in its 

maintenance. The rate of restoration as well as the extent and season of prescribed burning would affect 

the rate and probability of successful RCW recovery. Management objectives in each alternative 

therefore reflect different levels of species recovery (Table 2.1). 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 39

Table 2.1: RCW management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C/ 

 C-Modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

Growing season 

burning in HMA 

200 ac. / year 1,000 ac. / year 2,000 ac. / year 1,000 ac. / year 2000 ac/year 

Average annual 

burning in CNF 

15,000 acres 12,000 acres 25,000 acres 24,000 acres 25,000 ac./ year 

Longleaf pine 

restoration (acres) 

 600 0 4,000 230 2,650-3,600 

Size of the HMA 

(acres) 

 37,845 46,656 46,656 43,424 69,000 

New recruitment 

stands in 10 yrs 

15-20 15-20 25-30 15-20 20-26 

Cavity augmentation 

(box, cavity) 

cavity none cavity and box box cavity and box 

# of RCW clusters in 

10 years 

 68-75 68-75 85-93 70-78 83-89 

Long-term population 

objective 

 126-139 151-169 151-169 136-151 137-169 

Alternative A: Sets a 10-year population objective of 68-75 RCW clusters within a 37,845 acre RCW 

habitat management area (RCW-HMA). Only existing loblolly pine, longleaf pine, and pine-hardwood 

forest types identified from CISC data are considered suitable for RCW. Birds would move gradually to 

occupy new habitat because suitable plant composition, stand structure, and artificial cavities would be 

provided in only 15 to 20 new recruitment stands and no active translocation of birds would be done. 

Conditions in existing RCW clusters would be maintained but the quality of habitat would not rapidly 

improve because only 200 acres would be burned during the growing season. Forage quality would be 

maintained by burning 15,000 acres of pine dominated forest types every year. The restoration of 

longleaf pine would proceed slowly and the long-term RCW population objective of 126 to 139 clusters 

may take over 30 years to achieve. 

Alternative B: Sets a long-term population objective of 151-169 RCW clusters within a 46,656 acre 

RCW-HMA. All sites except pocosins that currently support or could potentially support pine and pine 

hardwood forest types are considered suitable for RCW. Birds would move very gradually to occupy 

new habitat because suitable plant composition and stand structure would be provided in only 15-20 to 

33 new recruitment stands and no active translocation of birds or installation of artificial cavities would 

be done. Conditions in existing RCW clusters would be maintained and the quality of habitat would 

improve within the 1,000 acres burned yearly during the growing season. Forage quality would be 

maintained by burning 12,000 acres of pine dominated forest types every year. The restoration of 

longleaf pine would proceed very slowly and the long-term RCW population objective of 151 to 169 

clusters may take over 50 years to achieve. 
40 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Alternative C/C-Modified: Sets a long-term population objective of 151-169 RCW clusters within a 

46,656 acre RCW-HMA. All sites except pocosins that currently support or could potentially support 

pine and pine hardwood forest types are considered suitable for RCW. Birds would move rapidly to 

occupy new habitat because suitable plant composition, stand structure, artificial cavities, and nest boxes 

would be provided in 25 to 30 new recruitment stands and active translocation of birds would be done. 

The quality of habitat in all RCW clusters would be improved greatly because 2,000 acres would be 

burned yearly during the growing season. Forage quality would be maintained by burning nearly 20,000 

acres of upland pine types every year. The restoration of longleaf pine would also proceed rapidly and 

the long-term RCW population objective of 151 to 169 clusters may occur within 30 years. Rapid 

restoration of RCW habitat would greatly increase the probability of recovering the population shared by 

the CNF, Camp Lejeune, and the Holly Shelter Wildlife Refuge. 

Alternative D: Sets a long-term population objective of 136-151 RCW clusters within a 43,324 acre 

RCW-HMA. All sites except pocosins that currently support or could potentially support pine and pine 

hardwood forest types are considered suitable for RCW. No recruitment territories are planned in the 

southeastern portion of the CNF along New Bern Road. This area is isolated from the major RCW 

population and considered the most difficult to reintroduce the species. Initially, birds would move 

rapidly to occupy new habitat because suitable plant composition, stand structure, and nest boxes would 

be provided in 35 to 45 new recruitment stands and active translocation of birds would be frequent the 

first 2 years. Conditions in existing RCW clusters would be maintained and the quality of habitat 

would improve within the 1,000 acres burned yearly during the growing season. Forage quality would 

be maintained by burning nearly 19,000 acres of upland pine types every year. The restoration of 

longleaf pine would proceed slowly and the long-term RCW population objective of 136 to 151 clusters 

may take over 30 years to achieve. 

Alternative E: Sets a long-term population objective of 137-169 RCW clusters within a 69,000 acre 

RCW-HMA. Sites that currently support or could potentially support pine and pine hardwood forest 

types are considered suitable for RCW. Birds would move rapidly to occupy new habitat because 

suitable plant composition, stand structure, artificial cavities, and nest boxes would be provided in 20 to 

26 new recruitment stands and active translocation of birds would be implemented. The quality of 

habitat in RCW clusters would be improved greatly because 2,000 acres would be burned yearly during 

the growing season. Forage quality would be maintained by burning nearly 20,000 acres of upland pine 

types every year. Restoration of RCW habitat would greatly increase the probability of recovering the 

population shared by the CNF, Camp Lejeune, and the Holly Shelter Wildlife Refuge. 

2.3.1.2: Rare Communities and Rare Species Management 

All alternatives would protect and enhance rare species and rare communities by providing the natural 

community structure and function to support their survival. The alternatives differ in the rate at which 

these goals are met and the need for future mitigation measures in sensitive habitats. Alternatives B, C, 

and E establish a network of natural areas, wilderness areas, and the RCW habitat management area as 

core areas for rare species protection and enhancement. Impacts on sites outside of these core areas 

would be less critical because core populations of rare species would always be maintained. 

Alternatives A and D rely more heavily on future site-specific evaluation to determine the probable 

effects of proposed activities on populations of rare species. A comparison of management objectives in 

each alternative reflects these different philosophies (Table 2.2). 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 41

Table 2.2: Rare communities and rare species management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C/ 

C-Modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

# of designated Special 

Interest Areas (Natural Areas) 

11 28 18 11 18 

Total acres in SIAs (Natural 

Areas) 

42,452 63,924 47,730 42,452 47,730 

% CNF's rare spp. protected 1 37% 72% 70% 37% 70% 

Rare community restoration 

(ac.) 

600 50 4,570 230 3,220 to 4,170 

Average annual burning in 

CNF 

15,000 acres 12,000 acres 25,000 acres 24,000 acres 25,000 acres 

# of new rare species 

populations 

0 2 11 0 11 

# of old growth longleaf sites 0 0 20-30 20-30 20-30 

Old growth suitable for timber yes yes no yes no 

1

 species are considered protected in Natural Areas, old growth management areas , RCW nest areas, and Wilderness areas 

Alternative A: Establishes a 37,845-acre RCW-HMA and no new Natural Areas or Wilderness Areas. 

Only 37 percent of all documented rare species populations on the CNF would occur in these protected 

areas. Plant community restoration efforts would be concentrated in 600 acres of potential longleaf pine 

savannas and 15,000 acres of prescribed burning yearly would be used to maintain habitat conditions for 

species occurring in upland pine habitats. Current rare species populations would be maintained but no 

objectives would be set for establishing new populations except the RCW. Current longleaf old growth 

stands outside of Natural Areas may be suitable for timber production. 

Alternative B: Establishes a 46,656 acre RCW-HMA, 17 new Natural Areas, and 1 new Wilderness 

Area. Over 70 percent of all documented rare species populations on the CNF would occur in these 

protected areas. Nearly 40 percent (64,000 acres) of the CNF would be in Registered Natural Areas. 

Plant community restoration efforts would be concentrated in marshes, maritime forests, and coastal 

prairie and would total 50 acres. Prescribed burning yearly would be used on 12,000 acres to maintain 

habitat conditions for species occurring in upland pine habitats. Current rare species populations would 

be maintained and, in addition to RCW population objectives, 2 new populations of spring flowering 

goldenrod would be established. Although no old growth longleaf sites would be established, much of 

the CNF would progress toward old growth conditions because only uneven-aged management systems 

would be allowed. 

Alternative C/C-Modified: Establishes a 46,656 acre RCW-HMA, 9 new Natural Areas, and additions 

to existing Wilderness Areas. Approximately 70 percent of all documented rare species populations on 

the CNF would occur in these protected areas. About one third (47,730 acres) of the CNF would be in 

Natural Areas. Plant community restoration efforts would be extensive, occurring in marshes, maritime 

forests, treeless savannas, canebrakes, and longleaf pine savannas. Total restoration would exceed 4,500 

acres. Prescribed burning would be used on 25,000 acres yearly to maintain habitat conditions for 

species occurring in nearly all Landtypes found on the CNF. Current rare species populations would be 

maintained and, in addition to RCW population objectives, 11 new populations would be designated for 
42 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

five other species. Longleaf pine old growth sites would be established and one-third of all hardwoodcypress swamps, upland hardwood, and pond pine woodlands would be maintained in old growth 

conditions. Old growth areas would not be suitable for timber production. 

Alternative D: Establishes a 42,452-acre RCW-HMA and no new Natural Areas or Wilderness Areas. 

Only 37 percent of all documented rare species populations would occur in these protected areas. Plant 

community restoration efforts would be concentrated in 230 acres of potential longleaf pine savannas 

and prescribed burning on 25,000 yearly would be used to maintain habitat conditions for species 

occurring in most all Landtypes occurring on the CNF. Current rare species populations would be 

maintained but no objectives would be set for establishing new populations except the RCW. Longleaf 

pine old growth sites would be designated and, outside of existing Natural Areas, may be suitable for 

timber production. 

Alternative E: Establishes a 69,000 acre RCW-HMA, 9 new Natural Areas, and additions to existing 

Wilderness Areas. Approximately 70 percent of all documented rare species populations on the CNF 

would occur in these protected areas. About one third (47,730 acres) of the CNF would be in Natural 

Areas. Plant community restoration efforts would be extensive, occurring in marshes, maritime forests, 

coastal prairie, canebrakes, and longleaf pine savannas. Total restoration would exceed 2,500 acres. 

Prescribed burning would be used on about 25,000 acres yearly to maintain habitat conditions for 

species occurring in nearly all Landtypes found on the CNF. Current rare species populations would be 

maintained and, in addition to RCW population objectives, 11 new populations would be established for 

five other species. Longleaf pine old growth sites would be established and one-third of all hardwoodcypress swamps, upland hardwood, and pond pine woodlands would be maintained in old growth 

conditions. Old growth areas would not be suitable for timber production. 

222...333.

..222::: RRReeecccrrreeeaaatttiiiooonnnOOOppppppooorrrtttuuunnniiitttiiieeesss

2.3.2.1: Recreation and Scenery 

Recreation on the CNF occurs year round, with seasonal variations for different uses. The predominant 

feature that draws recreation use the variety of water present – the ocean, lakes and streams on the CNF 

offer a variety of recreation experiences. Recreation use will be discussed in terms of site capacity, and 

varying development levels. Development can range from very few facilities in a dispersed area with 

limited use to a highly developed campground with many amenities and high use levels. Due to 

increasing populations and recreation users, all alternatives provide for some increase in recreation 

opportunities. Emphasis will be on providing more facilities that provide opportunities for land-based 

and water-based dispersed recreation, such as developing additional trails for a variety of uses and 

developing access to waterways. 

Viewing attractive scenery is one of the most important features for forest visitors. The quality of 

scenery can be affected by the intensity and impact of other management activities. Timber harvest, 

road building, and fire can have significant impacts of the quality of scenery. Highly visible areas along 

major roads and developed recreation sites may require management activities that impact scenery 

quality. The alternatives vary in their effect on scenery quality by the type and intensity of activities 

proposed. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 43

Table 2.3. Recreation management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified 

D E 

Developed Rec. PAOT1 Capacity by ROS Class

-Rural 1,050 1,050 1,208 1,312 1,208 

-Roaded Natural 450 500 638 638 638 

-Semi-primitive Motorized 175 217 394 394 394 

Trail Miles 

-OHV 36 8 - 10 20 - 30 20 - 30 8-10 

-Mountain bike 0 10 - 15 20 - 40 20 - 40 20-40 

-Horseback 0 10 - 15 10 - 20 10 - 20 10-20 

-Hiking 31 31 31 31 31 

-Canoe 0 8 16 16 16 

Other Recreation Opportunities 

-Fishing Areas 0 3 5 5 5 

-Wildlife Viewing Opportunities 0 0 4 4 4 

1

PAOT = People at one time.

Alternative A: Current overuse and demand for more rustic and primitive facilities would not be 

accommodated, which could lead to resource damage and unmet visitor expectations. Demand for trail 

systems would be partially accommodated by using existing trails and closed roads. Use of 

unauthorized trails and the accompanying resource damage would likely continue. 

This alternative proposes a low amount of regeneration acres, so impacts to the natural appearance of the 

scenery would be low. 

Alternative B: Emphasis would be on non-motorized recreation opportunities and rustic recreation 

developments. These facilities would increase in capacity about 20%, which would partially 

accommodate the anticipated 30% increase in demand. As a result, visitor expectations might not be 

met. Since trail miles would be the lowest of all alternatives, existing trails would be overused, causing 

resource damage. Additionally, the use of undesignated trails may also increase, causing resource 

damage. However, less new recreation development and new access would reduce impacts to natural 

resources. 

Approximately 2,600 acres would be harvested using small group selection. These activities would have 

low impact to the scenery compared to the other alternatives. 

Alternative C: Highly developed facilities would increase by 15 percent and water based rustic facilities 

would increase by 40 percent. These increases would accommodate a growing interest in these 
44 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

activities. Designed systems of trails for all users would be developed and unauthorized use would be 

prohibited, thus protecting other resources and sensitive plants from damage. Also included would be 

an interpretive program that complements and would often be associated with the recreation facilities. 

Recreationists would have opportunities to be well-informed and cooperating partners in managing the 

CNF. 

Approximately 4,200 acres would be harvested in this alternative in an intensive program to convert 

areas to longleaf pine and RCW habitat. Active burning in the pocosins would be emphasized. 

Management including clearcutting and burning would be obvious from access roads and recreation 

facilities for the planning period. Visitation might decrease in some areas temporarily and complaints 

might increase. Long-term results would be an increase in attractive scenery due to emphasis on 

longleaf pine savannas and burning in the pocosins. 

Alternative D: Highly developed facilities would increase by 30 percent and water based rustic facilities 

would increase by 40 percent. These increases would meet rustic demand and would more than meet 

demand for highly developed facilities. Designed systems of trails for all users would be developed and 

unauthorized use would be closed out, thus protecting other resources and sensitive plants from damage. 

Access to the forest would be emphasized in this alternative, so there might be increased conflicts 

between forest users' demands and the ability to provide high quality habitat for wildlife and some plant 

species. Users who desire more solitude might find it more difficult to find. Also included would be an 

interpretive program that complements and would often be associated with the recreation facilities. 

Recreationists would have opportunities to be well-informed and cooperating partners in managing the 

CNF. 

Approximately 4,000 acres would be harvested in this alternative. Active burning in the pocosins would 

be emphasized. Management including timber harvest leaving seed trees and burning would be obvious 

from access roads and recreation facilities for the planning period. Visitation might decrease in some 

areas temporarily and complaints might increase. Long-term results would be an increase in attractive 

scenery due to emphasis on longleaf pine savannas and burning in the pocosins. 

Alternative E: Highly developed facilities would increase by 15 percent and water based rustic facilities 

would increase by 40 percent. These increases would accommodate a growing interest in these 

activities. One OHV trail system would be developed and unauthorized use would be closed out. Also 

included would be an interpretive program that complements uses of the recreation facilities. 

Recreationists would have opportunities to be well-informed and cooperating partners in managing the 

CNF. 

Approximately 2,500 acres would be harvested in this alternative in a program to convert areas to 

longleaf pine and RCW habitat. Active burning in the pocosins would be emphasized depending on 

safety. Management practices including 2-age regeneration and burning would be obvious from access 

roads and recreation facilities for the planning period. Visitation might decrease in some areas 

temporarily and complaints might increase. Long-term results would be an increase in attractive scenery 

due to emphasis on longleaf pine savannas and burning in the pocosins. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 45

222...333333::: SSSpppeeeccci

iiaaalll LLLaaannndddAAAllllllooocccaaatttiiiooonnnsss

2.3.3.1: Wilderness and Roadless Areas 

There are 31,221 acres of Wilderness on the CNF. An additional 20,801 acres of Roadless Areas are 

suitable for Wilderness designation. The alternatives vary by the number of acres that would be 

proposed to Congress for recommendation to the wilderness system. 

Table 2.4. Wilderness management objectives by alternative. 

Alternative A B C C-Modified D E 

Acres 31,221 51,992 31,912 34,892 31,912 31,912 

 

Alternative A: Existing Wildernesses would remain managed as Wilderness, no new ones would be 

recommended. Under current direction, the roadless areas would be managed to provide semi-primitive 

non-motorized recreation and high scenic quality. Some vegetation management utilizing timber 

harvesting might occur along the edges of some of the roadless areas. Fuel build-up in both 

Wildernesses and roadless areas would probably occur since fire is seldom used in these areas under 

current direction. 

Alternative B: All the Roadless Areas would be recommended as Wilderness. Approximately 50 miles 

of roads adjacent or within the areas would be closed, enhancing the semi-primitive non-motorized 

experience. Activities that require access and use of motorized equipment, like firefighting and search 

and rescue, would be difficult to achieve in this alternative. Wilderness values would have the greatest 

protection. 

Alternative C: Boundary adjustments totaling 691 acres would be proposed for recommendation as 

Wilderness. These are all adjacent to existing Wildernesses. Approximately 30 miles of roads would be 

closed, half of these adjacent to Wilderness and roadless areas. Other roadless areas would be managed 

as black bear habitat, thus retaining the roadless characteristic of remoteness. Small portions of Catfish 

Lake Wilderness and Sheep Ridge Wilderness (approximately 350 and 100 acres respectively) are 

contained within the identified wildland-urban interface areas and may require vegetative treatment to 

reduce the fire hazard to adjacent private land. Prescribed burning and prescribed natural fire would be 

permitted in Wilderness. Fire in the Wildernesses would make access easier, possibly decreasing the 

feeling of solitude, but would increase the amount of attractive scenery. 

Alternative C-Modified: The same boundary adjustments as described in Alternative C, and Pond Pine 

Addition B roadless area would be proposed for recommendation as Wilderness. These 3,671 acres 

would provide a linkage around Great Lake between Sheep Ridge Wilderness and Pocosin Wilderness. 

Approximately 30 miles of roads would be closed, half of these adjacent Wilderness and roadless areas. 

Other roadless areas would be managed as black bear habitat, thus favoring low motorized access. 

Small portions of Catfish Lake Wilderness and Sheep Ridge Wilderness (approximately 350 and 100 

acres respectively) are contained within the identified wildland-urban interface areas and may require 

vegetative treatment to reduce the fire hazard to adjacent private land. Prescribed burning and 

prescribed natural fire would be permitted in Wilderness. Fire in the Wildernesses would make access 

easier, possibly decreasing the feeling of solitude, but would increase the amount of attractive scenery. 
46 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Alternative D: Boundary adjustments totaling 691 acres would be proposed for recommendation as 

Wilderness. These are all adjacent to existing Wildernesses. Approximately 12 miles of roads would be 

closed, half of these adjacent Wilderness and roadless areas. Other roadless areas would be managed as 

black bear habitat, thus retaining the roadless characteristic of remoteness. Small portions of Catfish 

Lake Wilderness and Sheep Ridge Wilderness (approximately 350 and 100 acres respectively) are 

contained within the identified wildland-urban interface areas and may require vegetative treatment to 

reduce the fire hazard to adjacent private land. Prescribed burning and prescribed natural fire would be 

permitted in Wilderness. Fire in the Wildernesses would make access easier, possibly decreasing the 

feeling of solitude, but would increase the amount of attractive scenery. 

Alternative E: The same boundary adjustments of 691 acres as described in Alt. C would be proposed 

for recommendation as Wilderness. Most of the other roadless areas would be managed as black bear 

habitat, thus favoring low motorized access. Small portions of Catfish Lake Wilderness and Sheep 

Ridge Wilderness (approximately 350 and 100 acres respectively) are contained within the identified 

wildland-urban interface areas and may require vegetative treatment to reduce the fire hazard to adjacent 

private land. Prescribed burning and prescribed natural fire would be permitted in Wilderness. Fire in 

the Wildernesses could make access easier, possibly decreasing the feeling of solitude, but would 

increase the amount of attractive scenery. 

2.3.3.2: Wild and Scenic Rivers 

The White Oak River and Brice Creek including West and East Prong Creeks are eligible for Wild and 

Scenic River designation (Appendix D). Table 2.5 displays the amount of land that would be managed 

to retain the values of potential Wild and Scenic Rivers until studies are completed. 

Table 2.5. CNF land managed as Wild and Scenic Rivers until studies are completed. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified 

D E 

CNF managed as Wild and Scenic 

Rivers until studies are completed 

1,362 3,351 3,351 0 3,351 

Actions Common to Alternatives B, C/C Modified, and E: Further study of these rivers would be 

recommended for their suitability as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Due to the limited CNF ownership within 

the river corridors, the State of North Carolina would be the appropriate agency to lead studies of Wild 

and Scenic River suitability. 

 

Alternative A: Only the White Oak River corridor would be managed in this way. 

Alternatives B, C/C-Modified, and E: Brice Creek and White Oak River corridor on CNF would be 

managed to retain the values of the potential as Wild and Scenic Rivers. It would be managed to 

maintain its outstandingly remarkable values, which would result in a higher degree of scenery 

management, fewer developments, and less vegetation management. Historic and archeological sites, 

riparian zones, and wildlife and aquatic habitats would also be protected. Clean up after catastrophic 

events would be more difficult because of restrictions within the corridors. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 47

Alternative D: Brice Creek and White Oak River would not be managed with the potential Wild and 

Scenic prescription, instead, both would be managed under prescription guidelines for hardwood cypress 

wetlands and water based recreation and heritage resources. 

222...333...444::: FFFooorrreeesssttt PPPrrroooddduuuccctttsssaaannndddFFFooorrreeesssttt HHHeeeaaalllttthhh

Table 2.6. The allowable sale quantity, land suitable for timber production, sustained yield, and present net values by 

alternative. 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified D E 

Acres suitable and scheduled for timber 

production 

24,985 10,890 26,774 21,546 25,723 

Allowable Sale Quantity MCF/Year (1st period) 497 260 2,093 1,484 876 

Long Term Sustained Yield Capacity MCF/Year 1,625 442 1,247 1,573 1303 

Maximum PresentNet Value (MM $) $23.2 $4.4 $29.3 $26.2 $20.9 

Table 2.7. Restoration and Regeneration goals by alternative over the next ten years. 

Alternative A B 

 C/ 

Cmodified D E 

Total Longleaf Restoration 600 0 4000 230 2500 

Clearcut 530 0 2730 4400 1000 

Seed-tree/ Shelterwood 620 0 2000 0 0 

Two Aged Shelterwood 0 0 1500 0 1500 

Group Selection 50 1040 0 0 0 

Total Regeneration Acres/Year (1st period) 1200 1040 6230 4400 2500 

Alternative A: This alternative would involve even-aged management with rotations for loblolly pine at 

80 years and longleaf pine at 100 years. Acres suitable for timber production are 24,985, second largest 

of all alternatives. The projected harvest level for the first period is 497 thousand cubic feet per year, 

ranking fourth among the alternatives. 

Approximately 1200 acres during the first ten-year period would be regenerated using a combination of 

clearcutting and seedtree regeneration methods. Clearcutting is the regeneration method used in this 

alternative for longleaf pine restoration along with mechanical site preparation and planting. The 

seedtree method is proposed for regeneration of mixed pine (loblolly pine and pond pine) using 
48 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

prescribed fire for site preparation and relying mostly on natural regeneration. Thinning is proposed for 

about 2680 acres for the first ten-year period. There would be no pine straw production. 

Alternative B: This alternative would use uneven-aged management, the group selection regeneration 

method. Acres suitable for timber production are 10,890. The projected harvest level for the first period 

is 260 thousand cubic feet per year, the lowest among the alternatives. Approximately 1040 acres per 

year during the first period would be regenerated in small groups ranging from 1/2 acre to 3 acres in 

size. Thinning is proposed on about 4000 acres during the first period. No pine straw production is 

proposed for this alternative. 

Alternative C/C-Modified: This alternative would use even-aged and two-aged management with a 120-

year rotation for longleaf pine inside the RCW Habitat Management Area (HMA), and 80 years outside 

the HMA. For loblolly pine and pond pine, the rotation is 80 years inside the HMA, and 60 years 

outside the HMA. Acres suitable for timber production are 26,774. The projected harvest level is 2,093 

thousand cubic feet per year during the first period. 

Approximately 6,230 acres during the first period would be regenerated using a combination of 

clearcutting, two-aged, and seed tree regeneration methods. Clearcutting along with mechanical site 

preparation and planting would be used to restore longleaf where the seed source is not adequate and the 

two-aged method would be used in mixed stands where the longleaf component can provide an adequate 

seed source. The seedtree method is proposed for regeneration of mixed pine (loblolly pine and pond 

pine) using prescribed fire for site preparation and relying on natural regeneration. Thinning is proposed 

on about 3000 acres during the first period. Pine straw production is proposed on 200 acres per year 

with an expected yield of 200 tons per year. 

Alternative D: This alternative would use even-aged management with varying rotations as in 

Alternative C. Acres suitable for timber productions are 21,546. The projected harvest level is 1,484 

thousand cubic feet per year during the first period. 

Approximately 4630 acres during the first period would be regenerated using clearcutting as the 

regeneration method along with mechanical site preparation and planting. Longleaf restoration would 

make up about 230 acres of the annual regeneration during the first period, while loblolly pine 

regeneration would make up the balance. Thinning is proposed for about 5000 acres for the first period. 

Pine straw production is proposed on about 400 acres per year with an expected yield of 453 tons per 

year. This is the highest of the three alternatives proposing pine straw production. 

Alternative E: This alternative would use even-aged and two-aged management with a 120-year rotation 

for longleaf pine inside the RCW Habitat Management Area (HMA). Restoration efforts would be 

focused within the HMA. Acres suitable for timber production are 25,723. The projected harvest level 

is about 875 thousand cubic feet per year during the first period. 

Approximately 2500 acres per year during the first ten-year period would be regenerated using a 

combination of clearcutting and two-aged regeneration methods; two-aged would be the dominant 

silvicultural system. Clearcutting, mechanical site preparation, and planting would be used to restore 

longleaf only where the seed source is not adequate, where soils are more mesic and where excessive 

moisture conditions require this method. Thinning is proposed on about 3000 acres during the first 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 49

period. Pine straw production is proposed on 200 acres per year with an expected yield of 200 tons per 

year. 

222...333...555::: FFFiiirrreeeMMMaaannnaaagggeeemmmeeennnt

tt

Fuels on the CNF have been mapped and analyzed based on landtype, forest type, soils, and disturbance 

history. Fuel models (Anderson, 1982) are used to describe fuel conditions and identify wildfire risk 

based on predicted fire behavior. In all alternatives, wildfire risk would be expected to increase with the 

increase in future development outside the CNF. Wildfire and prescribed fire management would be 

expected to become more difficult and expensive as populations increase. Problems associated with 

smoke management may also become more difficult to address. The alternatives vary by the number of 

acres that would be treated to reduce fuels. The degree of wildfire risk reduction is reflected in the 

distribution of fuel models by alternative. Wildland urban interfaces have been identified in alternatives 

C/C-modified, D, and E. 

Table 2.8. Acres of fuel type by alternative, (percentage of total acres). 

Fuel Model 

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C/ 

C-Modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

2 8200 (5%) 8200 (5%) 9400 (6%) 9400 (6%) 9400 (6%) 

4 42400 (26%) 5400 (34%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 

6 26100 (16%) 14500 ( 9%) 62700 (39%) 62700 (39%) 62700 (39%) 

7 36500 (23%) 59600 (37%) 31700 (20%) 31700 (20%) 31700 (20%) 

9 39300 (23%) 16100 (10%) 48700 (30%) 48700 (30%) 48700 (30%) 

Not Modeled 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 8600 (5%) 

Total 161,100 161,100 161,100 161,100 161000 

A relative risk analysis resulting from the desired future condition and probable management activities 

within each alternative is displayed below. This analysis is based on the differences in fuel treatment 

programs, including identification and treatment of wildland urban interfaces. 

Wildfire Risk by alternative 

Lower Risk Higher Risk 

 |__________________________________________________________________| 

| | | | 

D C/C modified and E A B 

Alternative A: On a five-year average, dormant season prescribed fire would be applied to about 8200 

acres of loblolly, pond pine, and mixed pine forests annually. Growing season prescribed fire would be 

applied to about 200 acres per year of longleaf pine. Prescribed fire would be applied on a 3- to 5-year 
50 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

rotation. Recent use of aerial ignition has increased these figures since 1996 to about 18,000 total acres 

per year. Prescribed fire would primarily be used for fuel reduction and wildlife habitat improvement. 

Mechanical site preparation may be used to assist in reducing fuel loads, but site preparation would not 

be achieved using prescribed fire. While this alternative does allow for management-ignited prescribed 

fire in wilderness, neither management-ignited prescribed fire nor wildland fire use for resource benefit 

in wilderness would be feasible due to the lack of risk reduction in urban interfaces, the highly volatile 

nature of pocosin fuels, and the size and location of the existing Wildernesses on the landscape. While 

the prescribed fire program outlined in this alternative would help maintain conditions that have already 

been made in hazardous fuel reduction, existing and future urban developments would continue to be 

threatened by the risk of catastrophic wildfire. 

Alternative B: By virtue of its low-impact management theme, this alternative would provide the least 

amount of disturbance activity of all alternatives considered. Approximately 12,000 acres would be 

burned annually on a 5-year rotation for wildlife habitat improvement, timber stand improvement, 

natural regeneration site preparation, and fuel reduction. However, because this alternative minimizes 

the use of mechanical ground disturbance, the use of prescribed fire would be significantly restricted on 

most of the CNF, particularly in the pocosins. The wilderness allocation of all suitable roadless areas 

would increase the area where mechanical ground disturbance would be minimized, thus increasing the 

difficulty of the fire management program administration on the CNF. While both wildland fire use for 

resource benefit and management-ignited fire in wilderness are considered in this alternative, neither of 

these practices would be applicable for the same reasons as in Alternative A. Management direction for 

minimal use of mechanized equipment may result in larger wildfire acreages, greater risk of damage 

from escaped wildfires, and increased smoke emissions during wildfire activity. Over time, the 

proposed 5-year burning rotation would not be expected to maintain current fuel conditions due to rapid 

accumulations of understory fuels in this climate. Existing and future urban developments would 

continue to be threatened by the risk of catastrophic wildfire. 

Alternative C/C-modified: These alternatives propose an aggressive prescribed fire program of about 

20,000 to 25,000 acres annually. An emphasis on growing season prescribed fire, combined with a 2- to 

4-year burning rotation would be expected to result in more complete consumption of both dead and live 

fuels and reduction of understory competition. Prescribed fire would also be used for fuel reduction and 

timber stand improvement in mixed pine stands on a 3- to 5-year rotation, and for site preparation for 

natural and artificial regeneration. 

These alternatives propose identifing wildland urban interfaces, and a range of possible management 

activities that would reduce potential wildfire risk. The desired condition would be one where fuels are 

manipulated to change the arrangement, size, and in some cases type of vegetation, thereby reducing 

available fuel loads within designated areas. This would ultimately reduce extreme fire behavior 

characteristics such as flame length and fire line intensity, thus reducing the potential risk of catastrophic 

wildfire. 

Prescribed fire may be used for fuel reduction in pocosins as research continues to address organic soil 

ignition and smoke emission questions. These alternatives would also consider the use of wildland fire 

use for resource benefit if fuel conditions were changed to reduce extreme fire behavior characteristics 

and severe fire effects. Risk reduction in wildland urban interfaces would also have to be achieved. The 

fuel treatment program proposed in these alternatives would be expected to dramatically decrease the 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 51

risk of catastrophic wildfires. The possibility of using prescribed fire in the pocosins would decrease the 

risk even further, particularly as fuel conditions change over time. Increases in forest use and urban 

development may offset the wildfire risk reduction somewhat. The overall long-term effects of 

activities proposed in these alternatives would be expected to decrease wildfire risk and result in a more 

effective fire management program than current. 

Alternative D: The overall prescribed fire program, including fuel treatments in existing wildland urban 

interfaces would be very similar to Alternative C. However, since a 3- to 5-year rotation of growing 

season prescribed fire is proposed in this alternative, the open grassy understory typical of longleaf pine 

savannas would be slower to develop. As young, even-aged pine stands regenerate, initial risk of 

damaging wildfire would be high for a few years, but risk would decrease as stands mature. In general, 

any activity that improves overall forest health, such as thinning or prescribed fire, would result in a 

decrease in wildfire risk. It is possible that additional wildland urban interfaces would be identified and 

treated as urban development continues to occur adjacent to the CNF. Over time, the cumulative effects 

of activities proposed in this alternative would be expected to produce fuel conditions similar to those in 

Alternative C. 

Alternative E: This alternative also proposes an aggressive prescribed fire program of about 20,000 to 

25,000 acres annually, as does Alternative C/C-modified. This alternative, however, would focus on 

expanding the use of fire into areas that are not currently under a burning regime. All other aspects of 

this alternative are the same as Alternative C/C-modified. 

222...333...666::: AAAcccccceeessssss

Public access to the CNF has become increasingly controversial as local populations have grown and 

land uses adjacent to the forest have changed. Forest access opportunities are public benefits, but also, 

impact may occur on forest resources including wildlife habitat, fragile plant communities, and the 

opportunity for non-motorized recreation. Secondary impacts include illegal trash dumping, and 

unregulated shooting. The CNF is fully roaded to meet future needs and no new road construction is 

proposed. However, incidental road construction may occur due to site-specific conditions that are not 

obvious at this scale of analysis (Forest Plan level). The alternatives address access through changes in 

miles of open FS roads, closure of unauthorized trails, and the number of miles and location of OHV 

trails. 

Table 2.9. Access management objectives by alternative 

Alternative A B C 

C-Modified 

D E 

Forest Service Roads - miles 222 222 222 222 222 

Roads Closed - miles 14 50 30 12 15-20 

Seasonal Access - road miles 9 29 17 5 15-20 

OHV Trails - miles 36 8 - 10 20 - 30 20 - 30 8-10 

Alternative A: Under the current direction about 6 percent of the Forest Service (FS) roads would be 

closed. And an additional 4 percent would be closed seasonally. Trash dumping and unsafe shooting on 
52 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

dead-end roads would not be addressed other than through law enforcement actions. The OHV trails 

would in some areas continue to overlap sensitive plant species, and approximately 73 miles of 

undesignated OHV roads and trails would continue to exist, perpetuating resource damage. 

Alternative B: Almost 25 percent of the FS roads would be closed and an additional 13 percent would 

be closed seasonally. Limited access would improve habitat for species that require less disturbance, 

and help provide non-motorized recreation experiences. Since many of the trash dumps and illegal 

driving occur on dead-end roads, closing many of these would help decrease those activities. Less than 

1/3 of the existing OHV trails would be designated and the current use plus any increased use would not 

be accommodated. By not designating and maintaining an adequate number of trails, those in use could 

be more impacted. 

Alternative C/C-Modified: About 14 percent of the FS roads would be closed and an additional 8 

percent would be closed seasonally. Closed roads would concentrate in areas adjacent to Wilderness 

and black bear habitat, as well as in areas with sensitive plant species. This would help improve habitat 

for species that require less disturbance, and help provide non-motorized recreation experiences. Many 

but not all of the dead-end roads would be closed which would help decrease trash dumping and illegal 

driving. The OHV system would be designated in such a way as to reduce use in areas with sensitive 

plant species. Approximately the same number of OHV trail miles that currently exist would be 

provided. If demand continues to increase, these might not be enough to satisfy the need. 

Alternative D: This alternative would provide the most unrestricted access to the CNF while attempting 

to manage undesignated and unwanted use. About 5 percent of the FS roads would be closed and 2 

percent would be closed seasonally. The only roads closed would be dead-end roads that are the most 

difficult to manage, or that might be causing the most resource damage. Trash dumping and unregulated 

shooting would be managed in part through cooperation with users and nearby landowners. In keeping 

with the theme of a high access alternative, it is expected that OHV trail miles would increase higher 

than numbers shown above in future planning decades. This would be accomplished by designating 

some of the unauthorized trails for OHV use. 

Alternative E: About 8 percent of the FS roads would be closed and an additional 8 percent would be 

closed seasonally. Roads to be closed would be concentrated in areas adjacent to Wilderness and black 

bear habitat, as well as in areas with sensitive plant species. This would help improve habitat for species 

that require less disturbance, and help provide non-motorized recreation experiences. Many but not all 

of the dead-end roads would be closed which would help decrease trash dumping and illegal driving. 

OHV use would be designated to one location. 

222...333...777::: LLLooocccaaalll CCCooommmmmmuuunnniiit

ttiiieeesss

Collaboration with local communities and agencies is common to all alternatives. These efforts are not 

measured or tracked. For this issue, economic measures are discussed. 

The main impacts from management practices on the CNF are changes in employment and income 

levels of the regional population. The two activities which have the most impact are timber harvesting 

and providing recreation opportunities. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 53

When national forest timber is sold, jobs are created for the harvesters and haulers of the timber, who 

then use their income to buy goods and services in the region. Visitors to the CNF require goods and 

services based on the type of recreation activity pursued and the duration of their visit. These 

expenditures by visitors have a multiplier effect by creating jobs in the local community. 

Table 2.10. Economic Impacts by Alternative 

Alternative A B C/ 

C-Modified 

D E 

Timber Employment Number 35 20 126 92 51 

Harvesting Income $ 694,405 349,179 2,799,528 2,004,104 1,834,845 

Recreation Employment Number 582 614 733 738 730 

Recreation Income $ 12,754,359 13,566,742 16,637,482 16,777,863 16,249,782 

Alternative A: A relatively small number of jobs would be supported through timber harvesting under 

existing direction. Recreation associated jobs are the smallest number of all the alternatives. Demand 

for recreation activities in rustic settings would not be met in this alternative. 

Alternative B: Jobs related to timber harvesting would decrease based on a lower harvest level. 

Recreation use would continue to grow as the communities grow, so jobs and income associated with 

recreation would increase, and would be higher than the existing situation in Alternative A. Jobs and 

income would still be lower than alternatives C, D, and E because of the emphasis on low impact 

recreation. 

Alternative C: The emphasis in this alternative of restoring longleaf pine savannas and habitat for RCW 

would reflect an almost four fold increase in the jobs and income from timber harvesting. The 

recreation emphasis, as in alternatives D, and E would include working with local communities to 

improve environmental awareness. This would translate into more nature-based jobs like outfitters and 

guides and tourist based recreation support facilities that can help local communities capitalize on the 

tourist industry. Also, the increase in rustic settings and facilities would likely draw the local residents 

to the forest. 

Alternative D: The longleaf pine restoration effort would be less intensive with lower harvest levels, and 

would produce about 25 percent fewer jobs and income than Alternative C. The recreation emphasis, as 

in alternatives C, and E, would include working with local communities to improve environmental 

awareness. This would translate into more nature-based jobs like outfitters and guides and tourist based 

recreation support facilities that can help local communities capitalize on the tourist industry. The open 

access emphasis of this alternative would provide more recreational opportunities, yet would translate 

into just a few more jobs and income than Alternative C. 

Alternative E: The emphasis in this alternative of restoring longleaf pine savannas and habitat for RCW 

would reflect an increase in the jobs and income from timber harvesting. The recreation emphasis, as in 

alternatives C and D, would include working with local communities to improve environmental 

awareness. This would translate into more nature-based jobs like outfitters and guides and tourist based 
54 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

recreation support facilities that can help local communities capitalize on the tourist industry. Also, the 

increase in rustic settings and facilities would likely draw the local residents to the forest. 

222...444::: CCCOOOMMMPPPAAARRRIIISSSOOONNNOOOFFFMMMAAANNNAAAGGGEEEMMMEEENNNTTTPPPRRREEESSSCCCRRRIIIPPPTTTIIIOOONNNBBBYYYAAALLLTTTEEERRRNNNAAATTTIIIVVVEEE

The 1986 Land Management Plan allocations are shown in the table below (1986 Plan, 3.17 and 3.18). 

Management areas were designed using a mix of timber and recreation components. The management 

areas were widely distributed across the forest. Each management area had goals, objectives and 

standards for management direction. 

Table 2.11. Alternative A: 1986 Plan, management area designations. 

MA MA Description Acres 

1 Commercial timber/Car Touring 23,430* 

2 Old Timber/Car Touring 5,805 

2L Longleaf Pine/Old Timber/Car Touring 21,760 

3 Commercial Timber/Hiking 7,065 

4 Old Timber/Hiking 8,055 

5 Modified Natural Areas 54,160 

6 Administrative Areas 545 

7 Developed Recreation areas 235 

8 Wilderness Areas 30,000 

9 Waterfowl Impoundments 870 

10 Recreation Lakes 5075 

*Note: 1,361 acres of the White Oak River corridor would be managed as Wild and Scenic Rivers until completion of further study of suitability. 

A different approach was taken for Alternatives B through E. Each prescription has management 

direction in the form of reference conditions and standards derived from the ecological classification 

system and standards that provide thresholds for management actions. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 55

Table 2.12. Acres by management prescription for alternatives B through E.Note: Total acreages cannot be computed using 

this table. This is due to the different ways primary and embedded prescriptions are used in different alternatives. 

Alt. B Alt. C Alt C-Mod Alt. D Alt. E 

Prescription 1

 Lakes 4,894 4,894 4,894 4,894 4,894 

 Wilderness 51,992 31,912 34,892 31,912 31,912 

 Wild and Scenic Rivers 3,351 3,351 3,351 0 3,415 

 Bear Habitat 0 39,175 37,120 39,175 38,765 

 Hardwood/Cypress Wetlands 5,717 8,014 7,447 11,427 8,278 

 Hardwood Restoration 1,575 1,575 1,575 517 1,699 

 Heritage/Water Based Recreation 1,007 1,439 1,439 1,317 N/A2

 RCW Habitat Management Area 

(Longleaf Pine Savannas) 

37,845 46,656 46,203 43,324 64,639 

 Mixed Pine Forests 4,049 4,451 4,449 9,114 N/A2

 Developed Sites 1,014 1,020 1,020 1,020 2,152 

 Wildland/Urban Interface 0 5,181 5,181 5,181 2,351 

 Pocosin/Pond Pine Patches 14,229 13,377 13,311 13,298 N/A2

 Natural Areas (Primary 

Prescription) 

63,924 0 0 0 0 

 Natural Areas (embedded) 0 47,730 47,730 42,452 47,730 

OHV(primary prescription) 3,194 1

 Acres are not included in this table because the types of primary prescriptions and embedded prescriptions vary by alternative. 2

 Total for Alternative E, Pocosin/Pond Pine Patches and mixed pine forests were rolled into RCW HMA prescription. Heritage/Water-Based Recreation 

were rolled into Developed Areas. 

Prescriptions are used to manage key features of the landscape. The locations of prescriptions are 

displayed on maps on the following pages. Descriptions are located in the CNF Plan, Chapter 3. In 

Alternatives C/C-modified, D, and E, the management of natural areas were embedded within other 

prescriptions, such as Hardwood Cypress Wetlands, Wilderness, etc. In these cases, prescriptions were 

secondary; they became a second level of land allocation. 
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CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR33:: AAFFFFFFEEECCCTTTEEEDDDEENNNVVVIIIRRROOONNNMMMEEENNNTTTAANNNDDDEENNNVVVIIIRRROOONNNMMMEEENNNTTTAAALLL

CCOOONNNSSSEEEQQQUUUEEENNNCCCEEESSS

Chapter 3 describes the existing environment of the natural resources affected by the alternatives. 

Descriptions include physical, biological, social, and economic characteristics. This chapter should help 

reviewers understand the effects of implementing each alternative described in Chapter 2. Where there 

is a discussion of Alternative C, this usually includes effects of Alternative C-modified. 

Environmental consequences are the effects of implementing an alternative (with mitigating measures in 

place) on the physical, biological, social, and economic environments. Direct environmental effects are 

those that occur at the same time and place as the initial action. Indirect effects are those that occur later 

than the actions or are spatially removed from the activity. Cumulative effects result from the 

incremental effects of actions added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions, regardless 

of what agency (Federal or nonfederal) or person undertakes the other actions. Cumulative effects can 

result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. 

There are potential adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided. These effects result from 

managing the land for one resource at the expense of the use or condition of other resources. Many 

adverse effects can be reduced or mitigated by limiting their extent or duration. This is discussed 

throughout the chapter. 

The relationship between short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement 

of long-term productivity is discussed. Short-term uses (effects) are those that occur annually or within 

10 to 15 years of a forest plan implementation. Long-term productivity refers to the capability of the 

land and resources to continue producing goods and services for 50 years and beyond. 

For estimating the effects at the programmatic-Forest Plan level, the assumption has been made that the 

kinds of resource-management activities allowed under the prescriptions are reasonably foreseeable 

future actions to achieve the goals and objectives. However, the specific location, design, and extent of 

such activities are generally not known at the time. The decisions are made on a site-specific (projectby-project) basis. Therefore, the discussions here refer to the potential for the effect to occur and are in 

many cases only estimates. The effects analyses are useful when comparing and evaluating alternatives 

on a forest-wide basis, but is not intended to be applied directly to specific locations on the Forest. 

333.

..111::: PPPhhhyyysssiiicccaaal

ll EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennnttt

333.

..111...111::: AAAIIIRRRQQQUUUAAALLLIIITTTYYY

AAAffffffeeecccttteeedddEEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennnt

tt

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are set by the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) to promote a level of air quality sufficient to protect public health and public welfare. Public 

welfare issues include forest and agriculture productivity, capital improvement protection, and 

maintenance of recreation opportunities. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural 
70 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Resources (DENR) has been delegated the responsibility of implementing and enforcing the Clean Air 

Act (CAA) and the amendments for air quality in the CNF. 

In 1977, the CAA and amendments established three classes of air quality to protect visibility and other 

values. Class I is the most restrictive for allowing increased levels of pollution from new or modified 

stationary sources (for example, a manufacturing plant, a pulp mill, or an electrical utility). All of the 

CNF is designated as Class II, a designation that allows for a moderate level of additional air pollution 

to accommodate industrial and urban development. The closest Class I area to the CNF is the 

Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge, about 35 miles to the northeast of the proclamation boundary. 

The CAA of 1977 also provided NAAQS to protect the public health and welfare from the harmful 

effects of air pollution. DENR responsibilities include monitoring the air to determine if NAAQS have 

been violated. When air monitoring equipment measure values above NAAQS, the area (usually a 

county) is designated as nonattainment. No areas in the forest are designated as nonattainment for any 

criteria pollutant. The criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate 

matter, and sulfur dioxide. The Raleigh and Durham areas are the closest places to the forest designated 

nonattainment; the pollutants causing the NAAQS violations there were ozone and carbon monoxide. 

DENR has the responsibility and authority to develop plans to maintain NAAQS in North Carolina 

through the State Implementation Plans. 

A considerable amount of air pollution research has been conducted since the publication of the Land 

and Resource Management Plan - Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests in 1986. Media reporting on 

air pollution research generated public concern that air pollution could be adversely impacting terrestrial 

and aquatic resources. Consequently, some people believe air pollution could be causing stress to forest 

ecosystems or limiting the production of goods and services on the national forests. It does not appear 

that current levels of air pollutants transported into the forest are causing adverse stress to the 

environment or limiting the production of goods and services (based upon information presented later in 

this document). A potential does exist that continued increases in ammonium emissions from livestock 

waste containment ponds, combined with current levels of sulfate and nitrate deposition, could result in 

negative long-term impacts on forest soils. Particulate matter releases from prescribed fires, by the 

Forest Service and others, and wildfires are of greatest concern because: 

 

1. The small particles produced from prescribed fires can have an adverse effect on human 

health. 

2. The large releases of particulate matter occurring with forest fires can impair visibility for 

people driving their vehicles. 

3. There is a potential to violate the NAAQS for particulate matter within 1 mile of a 

prescribed fire. 

Air Quality Assessment Techniques 

County level estimates of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate 

emissions were obtained from the EPA for counties within 200 kilometers of the CNF proclamation 

boundary. The emissions estimates were based upon updating the EPA 1985 National Atmospheric 

Precipitation Assessment Program estimates for point sources (also called stationary sources), and area 

sources (such as vehicle traffic, agriculture and forestry activities) that were projected to the year 1994. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 71

Each county was then placed into one of three categories (Table 3.1) based upon the categories used by 

the EPA (1996). 

An analysis was conducted to determine how close to the former NAAQS are ozone and particulate 

matter (only for PM10) concentrations in the atmosphere. Ambient monitoring data were obtained for 

ozone for the years 1983 through 1995, and for particulate matter for the years 1985 through 1993. The 

monitoring sites selected were within 50 kilometers of the proclamation boundary. Descriptions of the 

ambient monitoring data can be found in The Southern Appalachian Assessment Atmospheric Technical 

Report (SAMAB 1996). Preliminary estimates of counties that may violate the new NAAQS were 

provided by staff at the DENR. 

Emissions of particulate matter from land management activities are of concern. Two approaches were 

used to estimate how particulate matter emissions may impact air quality. The first approach used 

surface meteorology data (obtained from a private company) to develop a historical database (for the 

years 1984 through 1991) on how many days met the Region 8 prescribed burning guidelines (set forth 

in Forest Service Manual 5100 - Fire Management, Region 8 Supplement 5100-93-3), except for 

estimates of KBDI. Upper atmosphere data (obtained from the EPA) and the surface meteorological 

data were then used to assess the ability of the atmosphere to disperse pollutants (called dispersion 

index), and the risk of smoke forming smog along highways when the relative humidity is high (called 

low-visibility risk index, or LVORI). Lavdas (1996) describes the theory and how to calculate 

dispersion index and LVORI. The calculations for dispersion index and LVORI were obtained from the 

VSMOKE model (Lavdas 1997). The FORTRAN computer code for VSMOKE was modified to 

estimate hourly values of dispersion index and LVORI. The dispersion index and LVORI estimates were 

combined with fuel moisture values to estimate the number of days during the year when prescribed 

fires could be conducted. The second approach to evaluate particulate matter impacts used the 

VSMOKE-GIS dispersion model to estimate the maximum distance downwind that specific particulate 

matter concentrations may occur. The VSMOKE-GIS model is based upon the model developed by 

Lavdas (1996) called VSMOKE. Estimates obtained from VSMOKE-GIS are for total suspended 

particulates (TSP), and are defined as particulate matter 40 microns or smaller in size. VMOKE-GIS is 

useful for predicting downwind concentrations of TSP, and evaluating the potential impact of smoke on 

roadway visibility. 

Status Of Air Quality In Relation To State And Federal Laws 

Recently, the EPA promulgated tighter NAAQS because the scientific evidence supports stronger 

standards to protect human health from both ground-level ozone and particulate matter. The previous 

PM10 annual standard (50 micrograms per cubic meter) would be maintained in the future, but the 24-

hour standard will be revised. A violation of the NAAQS would occur if the PM10 concentration at the 

99th percentile (using a 3-year average) is greater than 150 micrograms per cubic meter. Furthermore, 

the NAAQS for particulate matter would reflect the scientific evidence that smaller particles, PM2.5 (2.5 

microns or smaller in size), are important in impacting human health. The smaller particles are known 

to penetrate deep into the lungs and can have an adverse effect on human lung function. There are two 

forms of the PM2.5 standard. The annual PM2.5 standard would be violated if a community-oriented 

monitored mean concentration (averaged over 3 years) exceeds 15 micrograms per cubic meter. The 24-

hour standard would be exceeded if the 98th percentile concentration (averaged over 3 years) exceeds 65 

micrograms per cubic meter. 
72 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The DENR has conducted a preliminary statewide analysis of potential air quality based on current 

emissions and monitoring data. This analysis suggests the potential exists for the number of counties 

which would violate the new standards to increase. There is a possibility that 38 counties would violate 

the new ozone standard, including Onslow County, which is adjacent to the Forest. Only four counties 

have a high likelihood of violating the annual PM2.5 standard and none of the counties are near the 

CNF. It should be noted that there is high amount of uncertainty about which areas would violate the 

PM2.5 standard since there are few actual measurements of ambient 2.5 concentrations. The results in 

Table 3.2 were obtained by multiplying PM10 estimates by 0.56 to estimate annual PM2.5 

concentrations. If the PM2.5 fraction is larger than 56 percent of the PM10, concentrations in many 

other counties could violate the PM2.5 annual standard. 

A violation (called nonattainment) of the ozone or particulate matter standard would require DENR to 

develop a plan to bring the area back into attainment. The current laws do allow the DENR to define 

how large an area is needed in order to reduce emissions so a specific area would attain the NAAQS. 

For example, portions of the CNF could be included in a maintenance plan if Onslow County violated 

the NAAQS for ozone. If this were to occur, any Forest action that emits pollutants, which can lead to 

the formation of ozone, would need to be approved by DENR before the action is implemented. 

What Are The Important Air Pollutants? 

The words "air pollution" can invoke different images among people. Some people may imagine smog 

hanging over a city, smoke coming from a stack at a factory, or a dark cloud following a vehicle. These 

sources of pollution and many others have an influence on air quality at the CNF. Modern society 

depends on the combustion of fossil fuels for transportation, electricity, manufacturing, and heating of 

homes and businesses. The combustion of fossil fuels generates energy, but also produces toxic gases 

and particulates. The emissions of air pollutants from human activity, along with gases and particulates 

from biogenic (natural) sources, have the potential to impact the Forest. It is unlikely that any air 

pollution impacts on the Forest can be traced back to a single source. Instead, any pollution impacts that 

are occurring on the forest are a result of emissions both within and outside of the Forest. Emission from 

sources further than 200 kilometers have the potential to influence air quality on the Forest. The 

pollutants emitted into the air, which could have the greatest impact to forest resources, include sulfur 

dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. These primary pollutants 

are emitted into the atmosphere and can undergo chemical transformation into secondary pollutants 

which result in acidic deposition impacts to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, ozone damage to forest 

trees, and visibility reductions. The following sections will address each of these primary pollutants and 

how important the secondary pollutants formed are in impacting the forest resources. 

Global climate change, resulting from emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, has 

received widespread media attention, but will not be discussed at length in this report. There is concern 

that if the climate is warming the possibility exists for a change in the plant species that compose a 

forest. However, there is a large uncertainty associated with the amount of future climatic changes and 

this uncertainty makes it very difficult to estimate what changes can be expected in the Forest over the 

next 50 years. 

Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides and Acidic Deposition 

Acidic compounds are deposited on forests in rain, clouds, or directly from the atmosphere (called dry 

deposition). The total amount of pollutant material deposited by these three mechanisms comprises 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 73

acidic deposition. Sulfates, nitrates, and ammonia are the primary acidifying compounds. Sulfates are 

secondary pollutants first emitted as sulfur dioxide, and nitrates are secondary pollutants first emitted as 

nitrogen oxides. Concerns arise when excessive amounts of acidic deposition occurs within an area for 

a long period of time. Repeated high annual deposition can eventually have adverse effects on soil 

productivity because essential nutrients for plant growth are depleted from the soils. Furthermore, 

aluminum occurs naturally in soil and can be released when soil acidity increases. Aluminum in a water 

solution may interfere with a plants ability to take up essential nutrients. Increases in aluminum water 

solutions in the soil further decreases in soil acidity (pH) can result in toxic effects to fish and other 

aquatic organisms. It should be noted though that many streams in and flowing from pocosins are 

normally acidic and naturally limit the amount and diversity of fish and other aquatic species. Acidic 

rainfall can also have negative impacts on cultural resources and other structures. Estimates in 1990 

indicate the pH of rainfall between 4.3 and 4.5, which is more acidic than natural rain (pH of about 5.5). 

A majority of the counties within 200 km of the CNF have average to above average emissions of sulfur 

dioxide in comparison to the rest of the United States. Coal-fired electrical utilities within 200 

kilometers of the CNF are the largest source of sulfur dioxide. Nationally, coal-fired electrical utilities 

are also the largest emitters of sulfur dioxide (EPA 1995). The CNF is located downwind of numerous 

minor and small sources (less than 10,000 tons per year) and a few moderate-sized sources (10,000 to 

25,000 tons per year) of sulfur dioxide. These sources, as well as others at further distances, are 

contributing the precursors of sulfates that have the potential to affect the CNF. Implementation of the 

CAA of 1990 would result in national emissions of sulfur dioxide being reduced by 50 percent; 

therefore, sulfate deposition in the forest is expected to decrease in the future. 

Nitrogen oxide emissions can also be transformed in the atmosphere to form nitrates that can acidify 

forest soils. The primary (greater than 95 percent) form of nitrogen oxides emissions is nitric oxide 

(SAMAB 1996). Nationally, both coal-fired electrical utilities and highway vehicles emit similar levels 

of nitrogen oxides (EPA 1995), but within 200 kilometers of the CNF the dominant source of nitrogen 

oxides is highway vehicles. Compared to other counties in the United States, the emissions of nitrogen 

oxides from most counties are average to above average within 200 km of the CNF. The CAA of 1990 

would also result in decrease emissions nitrogen oxides from industrial boilers, but national emission 

levels would be allowed to increase after the year 2010. There may be some benefit to the CNF in that 

the regional transport of nitrates and ground-level ozone may decrease. Furthermore, the EPA 

Administrator has instructed the air quality agencies in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and 

other states that further reductions in nitrogen oxides are needed. Reductions of about 35 percent are 

being implemented so large cities in the Eastern United States can attain and maintain the ozone 

NAAQS. 

The emissions inventory obtained from EPA did not provide emission estimates of nitrogen from 

agricultural sources. In recent years, there has been a large increase in the number of hogs being raised 

for livestock in eastern North Carolina. The waste from the confined pigs is collected into containment 

ponds. There is concern that large amounts of ammonium (a nitrogen compound) are being released, 

and there are projections that there would be further increases. The analysis provided in this report 

could not provide estimates of ammonium emissions near the forest. Therefore, there is a large 

uncertainty about whether these emissions may increase acidification of sensitive soils in the coastal 

environment. 
74 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Results from the Southern Forest Commercial Research Cooperative (SFCRC) have concluded that 

current amounts of acidic deposition are not adversely affecting the growth of southern pines. 

Furthermore, current levels of nitrogen deposition may be improving the growth of southern pines since 

low concentrations of soil nitrogen are known to be a limiting factor. Estimates of wet sulfate and 

nitrate deposition in 1992 were less than 15 and 10 kilograms per hectare, respectively. Though these 

values are low, there is concern that long-term negative impacts on soil productivity may occur because 

some coastal soils are unable to offset the effects of acidic deposition (Fox and Mickler 1996). 

Nitrogen Oxides, Volatile Organic Compounds, And Ozone 

In addition to contributing to acid deposition, nitrogen oxides are an important component in the 

formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone, a chemical composed of three oxygen atoms linked together, 

is highly beneficial in the upper atmosphere. At ground level, however, when sensitive plants are 

exposed to sufficient doses, ozone is capable of killing tissue. Ground-level ozone is formed through a 

chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds on hot sunny days. 

Interestingly, the main source of volatile organic compounds is trees. In North Carolina, and elsewhere 

in the Southeastern United States, nitrogen oxides are believed to be the limiting factor in the formation 

of ground-level ozone. 

Ozone enters a leaf through openings called stomates. Once inside the leaf, the ozone can kill cells that 

produce food for a plant's growth. The results of the cell death can be seen on the upper leaf surface and 

are referred to as symptoms. Symptoms of ozone injury have been found on sensitive plant species 

throughout the southeast. Though no surveys have been completed in the CNF, symptoms of ozone 

injury can probably be found on sensitive plant species in most years (Dowsett and others 1992). The 

presence of ozone injury indicates that ozone exposures are high enough to cause a physiological 

damage to the plant. The presence of injury in most years does not mean that forest trees are suffering a 

growth loss from ozone exposures. 

The SFCRC has concluded that pines throughout the South may be having a 2- to 5-percent annual 

reduction in biomass growth. It should be noted though that the SFCRC studies used pine seedlings and 

growth reductions were only seen when ozone exposures were significantly increased above ambient 

levels. The 2- to 5-percent reduction was not seen in experimental trials, and the small growth reduction 

that was observed was within the range of experimental error. It was suggested that the statistical 

techniques employed could not distinguish the small growth reduction because of the small sample size 

(Fox and Mickler 1996). Therefore, there does not appear to be a large degree of confidence that any 

biomass reductions are occurring to southern pines in the forest. 

Another relevant question to answer is: “What ozone exposures are known to cause growth losses and 

how close are current ozone exposures to those that cause growth reductions for southern pines?" The 

Southern Appalachian Assessment (SAMAB 1996) utilized experimental studies, including those of the 

SFCRC, to determine at what ozone exposures growth reductions occur. Two statistics were necessary 

to differentiate experimental treatments. The first statistic is the number of hours during the growing 

season when hourly average ozone concentration are greater than or equal to 0.10 parts per million 

(ppm). The second statistic adds together all of the hourly average concentrations for a growing season, 

but places a greater weight on the higher hourly average concentrations. The second statistic is called 

the W126 (Lefohn and Runeckles 1987). Loblolly pine was classified as a Level 3 species (SAMAB 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 75

1996), which is a tree species most resistant to the effects of ozone. The threshold levels for growth 

reductions for Level 3 species are a W126 value of greater than or equal to 66.6 ppm hours, and 135 

hours where the hourly average ozone concentration is greater than or equal to 0.10 ppm (SAMAB 

1996). An examination of available ozone monitoring data within and near the CNF shows that both the 

cumulative (W126) value and the peaks (greater than or equal to 0.10 ppm) are well below the levels 

needed to cause growth reductions in loblolly pine. Current monitored values indicate growth reduction 

could have occurred to the most sensitive tree species, such as black cherry, but probably not to 

moderately sensitive species like tulip-poplar. Little ozone exposure work has been accomplished with 

longleaf pine, but this species is expected to have sensitivity similar to loblolly pines. 

Ozone is potentially the most significant pollutant affecting forests in North America (Barnard and 

others 1991), and it poses the greatest threat to vegetation on the CNF. Based on the information 

presented, it does not appear that ground-level ozone is causing biomass loss there. Furthermore, the 

lack of sufficiently high peak concentration levels of ozone also suggests that growth losses are not 

likely to occur to southern pines in the next 10 to 50 years. More research is needed to determine if 

current ozone exposures are large enough to cause damage to the CNF. Also, more research is needed to 

know how many species are sensitive to ozone, especially in areas like pocosins where there is a large 

diversity of plant species. Ozone exposures should remain stable or decrease slightly by the year 2010, 

but exposures could increase if the population expands rapidly. An increase in population is likely to 

result in more nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles. Electrical facilities may need to generate more 

power to meet air-conditioning demands, possibly causing increased nitrogen oxide emissions. The 

nitrogen oxides would react with the abundant volatile organic compounds emitted by vegetation and 

result in higher ozone exposures. 

Particulate Matter and Visibility Impairment 

Many counties within 200 km of the Forest have low to below average emissions of PM10, in 

comparison to other counties in the United States. Within 200 kilometers of the CNF fugitive dust 

sources such as unpaved roads and agricultural fields are the primary sources of particulate matter 10 

microns or smaller in size (PM10). The 24-hour NAAQS for PM10 is 150 micrograms per cubic meter. 

No monitors near the CNF have measured a violation of the PM10 standard. Although PM10 monitors 

are present near the CNF the total suspended particulate (TSP) matter data was displayed in Figure 3.9 

because more TSP data are available near the CNF. TSP monitoring data includes all particles less than 

or equal to 40 microns in size and were used for NAAQS purposes prior to the PM10 standard. 

Wergowske (1995) has reported that 300 micrograms per cubic meter of TSP are equivalent to 150 

micrograms of PM10. TSP maximum concentrations for a year are well below the limit of 300 

micrograms per cubic meter. In fact, the second highest PM10 values are considerably lower that the 

annual maximum allowable PM10 value. 

The EPA has promulgated a new particulate matter standard that emphasizes particles 2.5 microns or 

smaller (PM2.5) in size. The previous change in NAAQS placed an emphasis on smaller particles (TSP 

to a PM10 standard) and also lowered the maximum values of particulate matter permitted in the air. 

The reason for considering a PM2.5 standard is because current medical research has shown that fine 

particles have the greatest impact on human health. Also, fine particles are primarily responsible for 

visibility reductions caused by regional haze that is present throughout the Eastern United States. 
76 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Fine particles, PM2.5, are known to be more efficient at scattering light than larger sized particles. 

Results from the Southeastern United States show that sulfates (which are very efficient at scattering 

light) comprise the majority of the fine particle mass in the atmosphere, especially on days when 

regional haze is the worst (SAMAB 1996). The light scattering appears as a uniform haze that veils 

distant scenes, but this situation probably is difficult to notice on the CNF because large dark objects 

(such as mountains) are not present in CNF vistas. Visibility reductions by regional haze are occurring 

on the CNF and are a factor at reducing visibility at airports, and along highways. 

Sources of air pollution outside of the Forest have an effect on visibility, and Forest Service prescribed 

burning also has the potential to reduce highway visibility for short periods (less than 12 hours). About 

80 percent of the particulates generated from prescribed fires are one micron or less in size (USDA 

Forest Service 1976). Therefore, there is a potential for emissions from prescribed fire to impact human 

health and reduce visibility along highways if smoke at ground level has high particulate matter 

concentrations. Furthermore, it is possible that the PM10 NAAQS can be violated within 1 mile of a 

prescribed fire. Studies conducted downwind of prescribed fires in Florida (Florida Department of 

Environmental Protection 1993) and Texas (Hunt and others 1994) have demonstrated that monitored 

maximum 24-hour concentrations exceeded the NAAQS. 

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Many Forest Service management activities emit air pollution into the atmosphere, but in most cases the 

amounts are believed to be insignificant. Current pollution levels in the CNF are unlikely to violate the 

NAAQS for sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and lead. There is a possibility that the 

NAAQS for ozone could be violated, but nitrogen oxide emissions from current and proposed 

management activities are unlikely to be a significant contributor to a violation of the ozone NAAQS. 

Currently, the DENR does not anticipate a violation of the PM2.5 NAAQS in the CNF, but the Forest 

Service believes that their management activities have a potential to exceed one or more of the NAAQS 

for particulate matter. Therefore, the remainder of the analysis will focus on how changes in particulate 

matter would affect air quality. 

Many land managers and other technical specialists have discussed the need to increase the amount of 

prescribed fire in the coastal ecosystems. Some reasons given include reducing fuels to reduce the 

hazards and impacts of wildfire, and improving habitat conditions for threatened, rare, and endangered 

species. The Forest Service currently has smoke management guidelines designed to minimize impacts 

to smoke-sensitive targets, such as reductions to highway visibility. 

The six alternatives have different levels of prescribed fire acres planned on an annual basis. The 

current level (Alternative A) has 15,000 acres annually. The lowest level (12,000 acres) is for 

Alternative B, and the highest number (25,000 acres) is for Alternatives C and E. Alternatives A, C, and 

E will be the focus of the remainder of this analysis. 

The Forest Service has assumed that 5 tons of fuel would be consumed (which is probably too high in 

many cases) for each acre ignited. This much combustion is equivalent to releasing 0.15 tons per acre of 

PM10 into the atmosphere. Therefore, current prescribed fire activities are releasing 2,250 tons per year 

of PM10 into the atmosphere, and Alternatives C and E would increase PM10 emission by 1,500 tons 

per year (for a total of 3,750 tons per year). It is expected that Alternatives C and E would increase 

emissions in Craven County by 975 tons per year (65 percent), in Jones County by 225 tons per year (15 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 77

percent), and in Carterret County by 300 tons per year (20 percent). The emissions inventory data 

obtained from the EPA have no PM10 emissions for Carterett or Jones County, but Craven County was 

listed as having 8,139 tons per year of PM10 emissions. The PM10 emission estimates for Craven 

County was the 28th highest in North Carolina. Craven County would become the 27th highest county 

of PM10 emissions if there is an increase by 975 tons per year, and the PM10 emission levels in all the 

other counties remains the same. Therefore, the Forest Service is predicting that an increase in PM10 

emission has a low likelihood of violating the PM10 NAAQS. 

The Forest Service cannot predict if any of the alternatives would result in a violation of the PM2.5 

NAAQS. The information supplied by DENR on which counties have the potential to violate the new 

NAAQS has a high degree of uncertainty because of the assumptions made in converting the PM10 

values to PM2.5. If the DENR assumptions are correct, then Alternative A and B are unlikely cause a 

violation of the PM2.5 NAAQS. Actual monitoring of PM2.5 concentrations would be needed for all 

the Alternatives, because prescribed fires have 80 percent of the emissions less than 2.5 microns in size. 

Prescribed fires are ignited when smoke management criteria are met (set forth in Forest Service Manual 

5100 - Fire Management, Region 8 Supplement 5100-93-3). A historical database of meteorological 

data was compiled to estimate how many days per year prescribed fires can be conducted. The analysis 

estimated 52 days per year have favorable atmospheric conditions for smoke dispersion, and adequate 

fuel moisture to conduct the burning safely. A day was counted when, for at least 5 hours, the Smoke 

Management Guidelines were met (except KBDI estimates), the dispersion index was greater than 30, 

and the LVORI was less than 4 (Lavdas 1997). Historically, the Forest has been able to accomplish 300 

acres of prescribed fire in a day. To obtain the 25,000 average annual burning in Alternatives C and E 

would require the Forest to average 500 acres per day. Aerial ignition of one or more areas can easily 

accomplish 500 or more acres of prescribed burning on any acceptable day. 

Recently, the VSMOKE-GIS model has become available to assist with evaluating TSP (those particles 

40 microns or smaller in size) concentrations downwind of a prescribe fire or wildfire. Historically, 

prescribed fires on the CNF have been about 300 acres in size and consumed about 4 tons of fuel per 

acres of long needle pines. For modeling purposes it was assumed that a heading fire technique would 

be used, the active fire phase would last 4 hours, and that the active smoke phase would last 6 hours. 

Starting with this basis, the values in Table 3.2 were used in the VSMOKE-GIS model to determine the 

maximum distance downwind for three TSP concentrations. The TSP concentrations of concern were 

750, 1,450 and 2,900 micrograms per cubic meter, and these concentrations correspond to 

approximately 1.0, 0.5, and 0.25 miles visibility, respectively. The visibility distances assume a person 

is standing perpendicular to the length of the plume, and looking through the plume. 

The VSMOKE-GIS model estimates the maximum downwind distance for a specified TSP 

concentration. The length of time for a specific TSP concentration at a specific point in the forest 

cannot be determined with VSMOKE-GIS. With these facts in mind, the maximum downwind distance 

is 3.2 miles for 750 micrograms per cubic meter, is 1.6 miles for 1450 micrograms per cubic meter, and 

is 0.8 miles for 2900 micrograms per cubic meter. These results suggest that visibility could be reduced 

for some time period to less than 1 mile if a highway is within 3 miles of a prescribed fire. However, the 

Forest Service usually favors wind directions that would not carry a significant amount of smoke across 

a highway. Furthermore, it should be remembered the risk of smoke impacts would be reduced in the 

future as the amount of fuel consumed is less than 4 tons per acre. The reductions in fuels would occur 
78 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

with repeated burning of areas under prescribed fire management. Finally, the overall impacts to 

highway visibility from prescribed fires are expected to be less than during wildfires. Overall emissions 

from wildfires can be very large and smoke emissions continue during the night. Atmospheric 

conditions ford dispersal of smoke and the high relative humidity increases the likelihood of fog forming 

due to the increase in particulate matter in the atmosphere. 

Table 3.1. Range in values (tons per square mile) used for each pollutant to place a county in an emissions category (U.S. 

EPA 1996) 

Category PM10 NOx VOC SO2 

Low 0 to 6.9 0 to 1.13 0 to 1.21 0 to 0.07 

Below Average 6.9 to 10.3 1.13 to 2.4 1.21 to 2.61 0.07 to 0.2 

Average 10.3 to 14.2 2.4 to 4.6 2.61 to 4.76 0.2 to 0.7 

Above Average 14.2 to 19.7 4.6 to 11.4 4.76 to 11.53 0.7 to 4.8 

NOx = nitrogen oxides, VOC = volatile organic compounds, PM10 = particulate matter 10 microns or smaller, SO2 = sulfur dioxide 

Table 3.2. Listing of some of the important values used in the VSMOKE-GIS model 

Model Variable Value Used 

Check if time period is before sunset (daylight) [LTOFDY] T (true) 

Check if plumes is assumed to rise gradually [LGRISE] T (true) 

Total source emission rate of particulate matter [EMTQPM] 2520 

Total sensible heat emission rate [EMTQH] 1108 

Background concentration of particulate matter [BKGPM] 40 

Portion of emissions subject to plume rise [EMTQR] -.075 

Size of fire [ACRES] 300 

Stability Class [ISTAB] 3 

Mixing Height [AMIX] 1000 

Transport windspeed [U] 4 

Initial horizontal crosswind dispersion [OYINT] 5 

Initial vertical dispersion [OZINT] 5 

333...111...222... SSSOOOIIILLLSSS

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The CNF lies on the Lower Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina. It is mostly on the Talbot Terrace, 

with a maximum elevation of about 40 feet; a small portion in the Southeast is on the Pamlico Terrace 

with a maximum elevation of less than 20 feet. The Suffolk Scarp, roughly paralleling the CNF's 

southeastern boundary between the Neuse River and Bogue Sound, separates the older uplands of the 

Talbot Surface to the west from the younger marine and stream terraces of the Pamlico Surface to the 

east. Terraces of the Pamlico Surface extend farther inland along some of the larger streams. 

Floodplains of streams throughout the CNF are long and variable in width; areas of salt marsh (mostly 

small) occur adjacent to rivers, creeks, and bays below an elevation of approximately 2 feet. 

The older uplands of the Talbot Surface make up most of the area of the CNF. A sizeable portion -- 

essentially the "core" of that part to the west of U.S. Highway 70 -- is overlain by large expanses of 

organic soils on broad, undissected upland areas. The uplands are characterized by large areas of poorly 

drained soils on broad, nearly level interstream divides. These large expanses grade into nearly level 

areas of poorly drained soils at their fringes, which further grade into gently sloping, moderately welldrained and well-drained soils near the streams or, less commonly, into well drained soils on short, 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 79

moderately steep side slopes along the larger drainages. Nearly level to gently sloping stream terraces 

occur along some rivers and larger creeks. Nearly level, very poorly drained and poorly drained soils 

are on the flood plains. 

Upland soils of the CNF formed in surficial sediments of the Talbot and Pamlico marine terraces or in 

accumulations of organic matter on broad interstream areas. As a rule, the depth of the organic 

materials is greatest near the center of the very broad undissected divides and thins-out toward their 

fringes, then grading into mineral soils. Correspondingly, although these large areas of organic soils 

appear to be perfectly level, they slope outwardly from the middle. 

 

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 Timber harvest activities disturb soils on log landings, skid roads, skid trails, and other scattered areas 

in the proposed harvest units. Direct displacement of soil material (and the nutrients it contains) during 

construction of skid roads and landings should be minimal on the nearly level (predominantly) to gently 

sloping terrain characteristic of the CNF; however, skidding could result in some displacement on 

heavily used trails. Except on sandy soils and soils with thick sandy surfaces (coarser than, and not 

including, fine sandy loam), much of the disturbed area would be subject to compaction by logging 

traffic during periods when soils are wet but not saturated. Puddling or rutting could result from 

equipment use during wet weather or wet soil conditions. 

While some areas could be adversely affected by compaction puddling and rutting, most soil 

disturbances associated with timber harvest operations on the CNF would be of short duration and 

would not adversely affect the sites. Region 8 Draft Soil Quality Standards require that “at least 85 

percent of an activity area is left in a condition of acceptable productivity potential for trees or other 

managed vegetation, following any land management activities.” Operating standards would limit the 

areal extent of disturbances associated with timber harvest activities and preclude significant impairment 

of the productive capacity of the soil. (Significant impairment, as used here, is in agreement with 

Region 8 Draft Soil Quality Standards definition of "significantly impaired areas" as those that cannot 

recover within the planning horizon.) 

Harvested areas also may be disturbed by site preparation activities. The treatments and equipment 

cover or traverse entire treatment areas, with variable effects. Depending on the site preparation 

treatments selected and implemented to meet management objectives and regeneration requirements for 

a site or stand, considerably more area may be disturbed than during the harvest and removal of timber. 

Severe slash burns can adversely affect the soil through soil sterilization, altering of soil structure, 

consuming soil organic matter, and loss of nutrients. 

Mechanical methods of site preparation can seriously degrade soil productivity and displace significant 

quantities if: (1) they displace surface materials (litter, duff, organic matter, topsoil) and the nutrients 

contained therein from the site; (2) they cause significant soil compaction increasing bulk density, and 

decreasing aeration. 

The CNF Plan proposes seedbed preparation for natural regeneration or site preparation for planting to 

be done either by broadcast prescribed burning (no piling) or by burning followed by a mechanical 

treatment--either shearing (all clearcutting-planting units) or chopping (some natural regeneration units; 

mostly in seedtree). Clearcutting and planting units on poorly drained soils also would be bedded, 
80 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

generally with the bedding being done in tandem with shearing as a single operation. On these low 

phosphorus sites, phosphate fertilizer would be applied at a rate of about 92 pounds per acre of P205, 

with the applications concentrated in the 7 foot wide beds. The proposed site preparation methods have 

been determined to pose a low risk to soil productivity on most sites when properly applied (Final 

Environmental Impact Statement, Vegetation Management in the Coastal Plain/Piedmont). Potential 

effects of the selected mechanical methods are addressed in the following paragraphs; prescribed fire 

effects are addressed elsewhere in this document. 

There should be little or no effect on soil productivity due to soil erosion caused by the proposed 

mechanical site preparation on the CNF. Chopping and shearing expose little soil, soil erosion is 

minimal, and treated sites recover within 1 year. Bedding exposes and tills much soil, which effect 

generally is offset by increased surface storage, and hence minimal erosion, on level sites; treated areas 

require 3 years for recovery. However, where disturbed interbed areas are continuous over long 

stretches and provide direct "conduits" for water flow, some erosion and off-site sediment delivery can 

occur. 

In addition to the previously noted relationships of moisture and surface texture to soil compaction 

hazard, the number of machine passes and the presence or absence of protective ground cover (duff, 

litter, slash) are important. "Compaction hazard is less for methods that remove little slash, litter, and 

duff and require 1 to 2 passes than for those that remove much litter and duff and require several passes" 

(Final Environmental Impact Statement, Vegetation Management in the Coastal Plain/Piedmont). 

Chopping rarely increases bulk density or decreases aeration porosity (based on nine studies in the South 

cited in the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Vegetation Management) and compaction from 

shearing is also minimal. Bedding can ameliorate the compaction resulting from harvest operations and 

from other site preparation treatments. 

Some nitrogen could be lost by leaching from chopped and sheared sites (potentially 3 pounds/acre) and 

from bedded sites (potentially 20 pounds/acre), but long-term effects would be negligible. Short-term 

and long-term effects on other nutrients from these treatments would be negligible. Fertilization in 

conjunction with bedding on some poorly drained soils would ameliorate or correct natural phosphorus 

deficiencies and increase productivity of those sites. 

All alternatives include prescribed fire for site preparation (alone, or followed by mechanical treatment) 

and for vegetation management in established pine stands in some Landtypes. Some alternatives also 

include prescribed fire of the Raised Peatlands Landtype (pocosins). 

The effects of fire on soils are related to time and frequency of burning and fire severity (heat pulse 

downward). A single fire of high severity can have serious long-term adverse effects on the site and soil 

due to the consumption of organic matter, nutrient losses (volatilization during the burn; some leaching 

afterwards), alteration of soil structure (affecting soil air-water relationships of mineral soils), and soil 

sterilization. However, unlike wildfire occurrences, fire by prescription more commonly can be 

conducted within parameters selected to protect resources by affording some degree of control over both 

the intensity (heat pulse upward) and severity of the burn. 

Site preparation prescribed fire, under any alternative, would be predominantly moderate, with 

intermingled areas of light burning. Severe burning could occur in small, widely scattered areas 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 81

comprising less than ten percent of the burned unit. Periodic underburns in established pine stands 

would be light to moderate in severity, would include variable amounts of dormant season burning and 

growing season burning, and would occur at frequency intervals as short as 2 to 4 years to as long as 

every 5 years. Pocosin burning, as proposed in some alternatives, would occur at 5- to 12-year intervals. 

Prescribed fire to prepare sites for establishment of even-aged pine stands would occur one time per 

rotation on any given site, or once every 60 to 100 years (varies with the species and among 

alternatives). Moderate burns would reduce the litter and duff on the site, with some exposure of 

mineral soils, but soil organic matter would be little affected. Soil physical properties (structure) would 

not be affected. Some nitrogen could be lost by volatization (up to 350 lb/ac; less than 150 lb/ac where 

burning is light). Other nutrients would be little affected (favorable effects in light burns). Soil biota 

would be reduced but would recover quickly. Overall risk to soil productivity would be minimal to low. 

Most of the established pine stands, approximately 61,400 acres, would be prescribed burned from 2 to 5 

times during the Plan period. Burning interval varies with species and among alternatives, but most 

commonly would be 3-5 years, with two major exceptions: a 5 year interval for all pine species in 

Alternative B; a 2- to 4-year interval for longleaf and for loblolly on longleaf sites in Alternatives C and 

E. Except in longleaf, all of the prescribed burning would be done during the dormant season. In the 

9,500 acres of longleaf, both dormant-season and growing season burning would be done (the 

proportional amount of each varying among the alternatives). 

Frequent (<3 yrs) growing season burns of any severity could pose a high to extreme risk to the longterm productivity of any site/soil on the CNF. Less frequent (>3 yrs) light to moderate burns during the 

dormant season would pose little risk. Burning in pine fuel types at frequencies proposed in any 

alternative (all are >5 yrs), by stemming progressive fuels buildup, could reduce the number, extent, and 

severity of wildfires. As a result, not as much area of soil would be disturbed by wildfire and 

suppression activities, and adverse effects from wildfires would be smaller on sites where they do occur. 

With no burning (burning proposed in all pine types), there could be a gradual, long term reduction in 

soil productivity from weathering and leaching or an increase in adverse effects from wildfire 

occurrences. 

Sustainable longleaf pine straw harvest from suitable stands is proposed under alternatives C, Cmodified, D, and E. In addition to the effects involving the use of mechanized equipment, the actual 

removal of the blanket of pine needless and loss from the site of incorporated nutrients also must be 

considered. The potential effects from the operation of mechanized equipment would vary among sites 

and would differ with time of operation. While there would be less concern on soils with sandy 

surfaces, which comprise a significant portion of the CNF stands suitable for pine straw management, 

soil compaction must be considered on soils with finer textures within 10 inches of the surface. Soil 

compaction could be minimized by limiting equipment operations to dry periods on all sites. 

Nutrients in the harvested pine straw are lost to the site. While a single harvest removal would have 

little effect on productivity of most soils, frequent harvests without replenishment of the lost nutrients 

(nitrogen and phosphorus of greatest concern) could adversely affect soil productivity and result in 

significantly reduced yields. On the CNF, soil productivity would be maintained and sustained yield 

attained by harvesting suitable stands no more frequently than every 3 years, and by applying sufficient 

fertilizer to offset nutrient losses. 
82 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Roller chopping to reduce fire hazard in the urban wildland interface is proposed for some acreages in 

alternatives C, C-modified, and D. On the basis of previous discussion showing chopping for site 

preparation to pose minimal risk to soils, roller chopping in wildland urban interface zones for fire 

hazard reduction also should pose minimal risk. 

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A landtype is an ecological unit identified and mapped based on topographic, hydrologic, soils and plant 

associations. Refer to the Biological Environment section of this chapter for descriptions of each 

landtypes. The landtypes most affected are described below. 

Landtypes Most Affected Among Alternatives 

Most of the probable management practices involving ground disturbance would occur on 3 landtypes: 

Peat mantled forest wetlands (pond pine, approx 32,000 acres); Pine Savannas and Flatwoods (longleaf 

pine, approximately 27,000 acres) and Drainage headlands and broad interstream flats (mixed pine, 

approximately 10,150 acres). 

Estimates of soil disturbance for timber management range from 8 to 12 percent of the area planned for 

operations. The estimates are based on monitoring data of CNF timber sales from 1993 to 1995. It 

includes regeneration and thinning. Table 3.3 displays the amount of soil disturbance by alternative. 

Table 3.3. Soil disturbance from timber management by landtype. 

Landtype Acres of Soil Disturbed 

 Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C 

C-modified 

Alternative D Alternative E 

Pine Savannas 232 408 488 375 288 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands 80 308 80 160 -- 

Drainage Headlands/Interstream 

Flats 

184 348 160 240 -- 

Total 496 1064 728 776 288 

 

The following discussion addresses each landtype by alternative: 

Pine Savannas and Flatwoods (26,970 acres) - longleaf pine 

Effects common to all alternatives: Soil would be disturbed along fire plow lines necessary to 

prescribed burn most of the acreage of pine types. Although harvest methods and systems differ among 

the alternatives, there would be some soil disturbance associated with timber harvesting activities, 

including commercial thinning, under each alternative. There would be some soil disturbance associated 

with intensive site preparation under each alternative. 

Effects common to alternatives A, C, C-modified, and E: Some burned and sheared areas also would be 

bedded. 

Effects common to alternatives C, C-modified, D, and E: There could be impacts on soils in pinestraw 

harvest areas. There could be some soil disturbance associated with mechanical treatments for fire 

hazard reduction in the wildland urban interface. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 83

Areal extent of soil disturbance from proposed timber harvest activities would be least under Alternative 

A and greatest under alternatives C and C-modified. Under Alternative A, there would be 

approximately 230 acres of soil disturbance in the proposed clearcutting and thinning units, less than 

half of the estimated 490 acres of disturbance associated with the clearcutting, shelterwood, and thinning 

harvests under alternatives C and C-modified. Alternatives B and D are intermediate, with 

approximately 375 and 410 acres of soil disturbance. 

Peat-Mantled Forested Wetlands (31,840 acres) - pond pine 

Effects common to all alternatives: Soil would be disturbed along fire plow lines necessary to 

prescribed burn most of the acreage of pine types. Although harvest systems differ among the 

alternatives, there would be some soil disturbance associated with timber harvest activities, including 

commercial thinning, under each alternative. 

Effects common to alternatives A, C, C-modified, and E: Since harvest activities would be limited to 

commercial thinning, there would be no soil disturbances associated with site preparation for 

regeneration of harvested areas. 

Effects common to alternatives B and D: Prescribed burning alone would be used for site preparation of 

some or all areas (all areas in Alternative B; some areas in Alternative D, which also includes burning 

and chopping of some areas). 

Effects common to alternatives C, C-modified, D, and E: There could be some soil disturbance 

associated with mechanical treatments for fire hazard reduction in the wildland urban interface. 

 

Areal extent of soil disturbance from proposed timber harvest activities, including thinning, would be 

least under alternatives A, C, C-modified, and E and greatest under Alternative B. Under alternatives A, 

C, C-modified, and E, there would be approximately 80 acres of soil disturbance in the proposed 

thinning units, roughly one half of the acreage that would be disturbed by the seedtree and thinning 

harvests under Alternative D and one quarter of that associated with group selection and thinning under 

Alternative B. 

Drainage Headlands & Broad Interstream Flats (10,150 acres) - mixed pine 

Effects common to all alternatives: There would be soil disturbance along fire plow lines necessary to 

prescribed burn most of the acreage of pine types. Although harvest methods and systems differ among 

the alternatives, there would be some soil disturbance associated with timber harvest activities, including 

commercial thinning, under each alternative. Prescribed burning for site preparation would be followed 

by mechanical treatments in some alternatives. 

Effects common to alternatives A, C, C-modified, and D: Some soil would be disturbed by intensive site 

preparation (burning and chopping in D, and burning and shearing in A and C). 

Effects common to alternatives C, C-modified, and D: Some soil would be disturbed by mechanical 

treatments for fire hazard reduction in the wildland urban interface. 

Areal extent of soil disturbance from proposed timber harvest activities would be least under alternatives 

C and C-modified and greatest under Alternative B. Approximately 160 acres of soil would be 
84 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

disturbed under alternatives C and C-modified, slightly more area, roughly 185 acres, would be 

disturbed under Alternative A, which proposes a comparable amount of thinning plus some clearcut 

harvest units. There would be approximately 240 acres of soil disturbance associated with the proposed 

seedtree and thinning harvests under Alternative C and 350 acres associated with the group selection and 

thinning harvests under Alternative B. 

Alternative E: There is no projected activity for restoration in this landtype for Alternative E. 

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Effects common to all Alternatives 

Four landtypes have few activities scheduled in any alternative: Raised Peatlands (75,230 ac), Lake and 

Stream Swamps (7,750 ac), Hardwood Terraces and Slopes (3,500 ac) and Tidal Streams and Estuaries 

(1,300 ac). Prescribed fire and plowlines are the activities that may affect the raised peatland 

(pocosins). Alternative C, C-modified and D have objectives for about 74,000 acres prescribed fire in 

the pocosins. About 500 acres of soil would be disturbed by plowlines, if the pocosin were burned in 

blocks of 20,000 acres. This is less than 1 percent of the pocosin landtypes. About 125 acres of 

plowline disturbance would occur for Alternative E. 

The following discussion addressed each of these landtypes by alternative. 

Raised Peatlands (75,230 acres) - pocosin 

Effects common to all alternatives: There would be no soil disturbance from timber harvest activities or 

from other non-fire activities. 

Effects common to alternatives A and B: Probability of the occurrence of occasional large, severe 

wildfires -- including ground fire -- would remain high due to the continued growth of dense, highly 

flammable pocosin vegetation and high fuel loading over large expanses of organic soils. Ground fire 

associated with catastrophic wildfires could result in the ignition and loss of organic soils over large 

areas. Not only would burning generally be more extensive in such wildfires than in either prescribed 

burns or wildfires in a prescribed burned area, but there would be a much higher risk of fire escape into 

adjacent managed forest land. A precise comparison is impossible, but the areal extent and severity of 

the fire and fire suppression related soil disturbances could far exceed those in prescribed burned areas. 

Effects common to alternatives C, C-modified, D, and E: There would be some soil disturbance 

associated with fire plow lines. The increased frequency of burning (regular prescribed fire versus. 

occasional wildfire) and the exposure of soils in firelines could increase the risk of organic soil ignition. 

However, with the higher degree of control (conditions, timing, etc.) inherent to prescribed burning, the 

area's extent and losses from ground fires during the Plan period would be expected to be less than can 

occur (and in recent history has occurred) during a single large wildfire of high severity. Areal extent 

and severity of soil disturbances from prescribed burning could be less than would result from wildfires 

and fire suppression activities in the absence of prescribed burning. 

Lake and Stream Swamps (7,750 acres) 

No management activities that would directly affect soils are proposed in any alternative. However, 

these areas could be indirectly affected by activities on adjacent landtypes. Sedimentation from the 

transportation system, areas disturbed by timber harvest and site preparation activities, interbed areas in 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 85

plantations, fire lines, etc. could occur; the extent of sediment delivery to the lake and stream swamps 

would be a function of the nature and areal extent of soil disturbances on -- and existence of direct 

"linkages" for sediment delivery from -- other landtypes, as modified by the effectiveness of measures to 

prevent movement of sediments from those sites. 

Hardwood Terraces and Slopes (3,500 acres) 

Soil disturbance would be minimal under any alternative. Under alternatives C, C-modified, D, and E, 

approximately 10 acres would be cleared, plowed, and revegetated with selected plant species to 

establish wildlife openings. Under Alternatives A, B, C, C-modified, and E limited skid trails across 

these areas may be used to remove pines from restoration areas. No other management activities that 

would directly affect soils are proposed in any alternative. 

Tidal Streams and Estuaries (1,300 acres) 

No management activities that would directly affect soils are proposed in any alternative. However, 

these areas could be indirectly affected by activities on other adjacent landtypes, as previously discussed 

(see the Lake and Stream Swamps Landtype discussion). 

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CNF is characterized by low elevation, low relief, large expanses of organic soils, high water tables, and 

ill-defined watershed boundaries. The area is bounded on the north by the Trent and Neuse Rivers, on 

the west by the White Oak, on the south by Bogue Sound, and on the east by the Neuse River and the 

Clubfoot Creek/Harlowe Canal/Harlowe Creek system. 

Soils range from excessively drained deep sands to thick peat organic soils. Percolation rates range 

from very rapid (>20.0 inches per hour) to extremely slow (<0.06 inches per hour), with the latter quite 

common (SCS, 1981). The slow percolation of water results in high water tables over much of the area. 

These water tables are often at or near the ground surface during the winter in the very poorly and 

poorly drained soils. Precipitation rates of sufficient duration to exceed the soil permeability frequently 

result in temporarily perched water tables during any season of the year. Due to very low soil 

permeability rates, groundwater recharge of underlying aquifers is not considered significant: probably 

not more than 0.5 inches per year (Heath, 1975). 

The highest elevation on the district is approximately 42 feet above mean sea level in the area about a 

mile northwest of Great Lake. Land slopes are generally less than 1 foot per mile, but they may be 

considerably greater along the outer boundary near the major rivers. Watershed divides are commonly 

ill defined due to the low relief and high water tables. These divides can change with rising or falling 

water table levels. On Great Lake, the direction or location of outflow can change with wind direction. 

The result is that during wet periods or large storms, water may be discharged into different outlets or 

canals flow in different directions than during baseflow conditions. 

Stream systems on the Croatan range from well-defined channel systems to ill-defined wet depressions 

on the land surface. Some stream reaches have been altered in the past by "channelizing" which 

includes straightening, deepening, and widening. The work was accomplished to provide adequate 

outlets for drainage ditches and canals. The geometry of natural channels is controlled by the soils 
86 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

adjacent the channel, the drainage area, the channel gradient, and the extent of tidal influence. Stream 

characteristics are more fully described in the Aquatic Ecosystem Classification section and in the 

Fisheries Resource Report. 

Streams in the pocosins and other areas with organic soils tend to be poorly defined with large widthdepth ratios. Floodplains tend to be wide. These streams also have few distinct tributaries. Runoff, 

both base flow and stormflow, enters the channel system along the entire channel length rather than at 

discrete outlets. In very general terms, this results in slower rises and slower falls of stream levels in 

response to small or minor storm events, which may last for days or more than a week. Storms with 

enough precipitation to saturate the soil or root mat would produce rapid runoff. Most stream reaches 

are eco-classed as: non-tidal, bottomland hardwood, narrow, shallow, low pH, and low conductivities. 

Streams in areas of mineral soil tend to be better defined with smaller width-depth ratio. These areas 

also tend to have more distinct tributaries. Floodplains tend to be narrower than those of pocosin 

streams. There are few of these stream reaches and they are generally eco-classed as: non-tidal, 

bottomland hardwood, narrow, shallow, high pH, and medium conductivity. 

The third type of stream reaches are those that open into tidal waters such as the White Oak, Neuse, 

Trent or Newport rivers. These reaches are wide and deep due to the ebb and flow of the tide eroding 

the channel bottom and banks. They are generally eco-classed as: tidal, bottomland hardwood, wide, 

deep, high pH, and medium or high conductivity. 

Canals were constructed on a limited area of the CNF during the 1950's and 1960's. Adjacent private 

land has been ditched in more recent years, with the outlets into streams or canals passing through CNF 

land. These canals were established in both organic and mineral soils for various purposes including: 

agricultural cropping, forest management, and road construction. These existing canals are in various 

states of maintenance. Those still needed, such as for road drainage, still function and are maintained. 

Others, such as those in the old agricultural areas, do not function, while still others have been 

purposefully plugged in an attempt to restore the wetland hydrology to the sites. 

Lakes on or adjacent to the CNF include: Catfish, Great, Long, Little and Ellis Lakes. These are 

blackwater lakes whose origins have not been conclusively determined. They occupy shallow 

depressions on the landscape with maximum depths ranging from about 5 to 10 feet (Loftin 1985). The 

lakes receive some surface water inflow from adjacent higher pocosins. Much of the input, however, is 

from precipitation. Each lake has one or more outlets, but the rate and direction of discharge depends on 

the direction and velocity of the wind and the lake water level. Normally, Catfish Lake discharges into 

Blackswamp Creek and Great Lake outlets into Hunter Creek, both of which are tributaries to the White 

Oak River. 

Runoff from the Croatan is either surface or subsurface, depending on water table levels. Generally the 

water moves through the more porous soil layers as interflow or "sheet flow" into streams, ditches, or 

estuaries. When the water table is high, movement can be rapid through the root mat or over the ground 

surface if the soil is saturated. In well-drained sandy soils, all the runoff is from subsurface flow. 

Runoff is highest during the winter, and stormflow peaks may be delayed for several days after the event 

due the slow movement of the water into the drainage system. Runoff is lowest during the growing 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 87

season because evapo-transpiration (ET) creates water storage in the soil profile to detain or retain the 

storm water from the streams. 

Water quality of area lakes and streams is only minimally influenced by activities on the CNF. Within 

the Forest, the soils are the overwhelming factor in the quality. Once off the CNF, private land 

development, both urban and suburban, is the most significant factor. The Neuse River, for example, is 

a very important river for the Forest. However, virtually all its watershed is upstream of the Forest. The 

River is and has been degraded for many years by human use and development. While there are no 

direct actions that the Forest Service can take to significantly improve the Neuse, the Agency continues 

to encourage and support State and individual efforts to clean up the River. 

Land management practices that change a site's evapo-transpiration rate or the infiltration rate of the soil 

may affect the hydrology of that site. Timber harvesting, site preparation, burning, and ditching and 

draining are the practices most likely to be considered for use on the CNF which could affect the 

hydrologic regime. The magnitude of the impact of any of the activities depends on the areal extent of 

the activity and intensity of the activity if it involves changes in vegetation. 

Compliance with Federal and State best management practices (BMPs) and regulations regarding 

wetlands, timber harvesting, soil disturbance, and pesticide use would limit or eliminate environmental 

effects from these activities. 

Timber harvesting changes the site's rate of evapo-transpiration in proportion to the percentage reduction 

in basal area removed. Generally there would be an increase in total runoff if the excess soil water can 

drain below the root zone. On wet sites where the water table is near the ground surface, the extra water 

is lost through increased transpiration of lower vegetation and by increased evaporation from the soil 

surface. Studies in the Florida flatwoods (Swindel and others, 1983) showed an increase in flow of only 

about an inch for clearcutting a slash pine stand followed by mechanical site preparation. 

Water table depths generally would be higher on sites after timber harvesting and would remain high 

until the ET rates return to preharvest levels. How high the water table rises depends on the rainfall 

inputs and the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The low hydraulic conductivities of the poorly and 

very poorly drained sites cause the water table to rise, possibly to the ground surface, and remain there 

until dry periods or until vegetation is re-established. It is this rise in water table that makes forest 

regeneration on very poorly drained soils difficult. 

The changes in runoff, soil moisture and water table depths associated with removal of vegetation would 

generally last for several years, with the greatest changes occurring in the first years and less change in 

each subsequent year. Soil moisture and water table changes would only be observed on the project site 

and not off-site. Runoff changes should not be observable in receiving streams except as slightly wetter 

conditions further upstream early in the growing season. 

Site preparation generally prolongs whatever initial change resulted from the timber harvest, no new or 

additional effects should occur. By preventing the regrowth of vegetation for a growing season or more, 

site preparation delays the normal decrease in effects. There should be no off-site impacts from site 

preparation if the project complies with the appropriate BMPs and forest practice guidelines. 
88 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Bedding is commonly used where seasonally high water tables may kill new trees. Beds, or raised soil 

mounds, provide a zone of aerated soil where the tree roots can develop. Bedding would not affect offsite hydrology if the beds are not directly connected to a ditch or stream channel. Thus, rapid runoff of 

surface water and the transport of sediment are avoided. 

Timber harvesting without surface water management would not significantly change the runoff peak 

rates or timing of flows leaving the site. Unless the site is compacted to a large extent, infiltration rates 

would not be changed, but soil moisture and water table levels would increase. Runoff from the 

harvested area would not reach stream channels any more rapidly than before harvesting. 

Permanent changes in vegetation type or amount can affect the site's runoff. The effect on runoff is 

related to change in the site's ET. Total runoff from the site would be increased if the rate of ET is 

reduced, such as by changing from a fully stocked timber stand to a grass cover. Total runoff would be 

decreased if the type of vegetation is changed to one that has a higher ET rate or the vegetation stocking 

is more dense. 

Ditching and draining are applied to forest sites for several reasons. One purpose is to keep the water 

table below the ground surface during the operation to improve site operability, prevent site damage, and 

extend the operating season. A second purpose is to increase aeration in rooting zones during the 

establishment of the new trees. 

Ditching can lower growing-season water table depths for a distance of about 150 to 200 feet out from 

the ditch. The greatest effect is immediately adjacent the ditch, however. Skaggs et al. (1980) showed 

that the water table depths on drained and undrained mineral soils were nearly identical and concluded 

that ET was the principal factor controlling water table depth. Duncan and Terry (1981) state that tree 

transpiration is most effective if the soil is not saturated. One researcher has suggested that the primary 

benefit of ditching is to lengthen the growing season of the trees immediately adjacent to the ditch. 

These trees start growing earlier in the season, drawing down the water table for the adjacent trees, and 

so on. The net effect is an advancing drawdown of the water table across the site away from the ditch so 

all the trees start growing earlier than they would without ditching. 

Using the results of drainage models, Skaggs (1995) states that total water yield from drained pine 

forests is less than from undrained pine forests. His comparisons are, in order of greatest to least water 

yield: natural pocosin, pocosin with 660-foot drain spacing; pocosin with 330-foot drain spacing; pine 

plantation with 660-foot spacing; and pine plantation with 330-foot drain spacing. He also cites studies 

showing that controlled drainage has less total water yield than does uncontrolled or free ditch drainage. 

A controversy exists over the effects of ditch and draining on the estuarine system. The estuarine 

system is very valuable for the production of both marine fish and mussels. Some opinion holds that the 

reduction in productivity of the sounds and estuaries is due to the increased fresh water stormflow 

discharge that results from the construction of canals and ditches for pine plantations and agricultural 

activities. Other opinions hold that some ditching and draining may actually improve freshwater runoff 

regimes by retarding stormflow since the precipitation would infiltrate the soil and hence take longer to 

reach stream channels and the estuarine system. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 89

Hydrology restoration by plugging existing ditches and canals or restricting flow in these channels 

would have the opposite effects of the construction of new ditches and canals. Water tables up stream -- 

higher on the hydraulic gradient from the plug or flow control structure -- would be higher during the 

growing season, resulting in a shift to a wetter wetland vegetation type. This higher water table could 

also result in more and longer delayed stormflow, since less storage would be available for precipitation. 

The hydrologic regimes of these sites should eventually become more natural and less like the altered 

system. 

Burning, either as wildfire or as prescribed burning, would change the amount of vegetation on the site 

and hence the site's ET. If a large amount of vegetation were killed on the site, the water table would 

raise, particularly during the growing season. This rise may cause a limited increase in streamflow 

(water yield) from the area. 

The chemical nature of the water may change somewhat, depending on the intensity of the burn and the 

type of vegetation burned. Burning can increase the conductivity of the water and increase the levels of 

nitrate and nitrite nitrogen and phosphate phosphorous. These increases diminish quickly both with 

vegetation regrowth and dilution from rainfall. Unpublished data (Rutledge, 1995) indicates that these 

increases are small and highly variable. Most of the increased nutrients in the water are taken up by 

vegetative regrowth. 

The duration of the effect would depend on how quickly the vegetation regrows or reoccupies the site. 

Dormant-season burning effects would be delayed, not becoming observable until the early part of the 

following growing season because non-growing season water tables are normally high. Growing-season 

burning effects would be more immediate. Effects from both burns would diminish as soon as 

vegetation regrowth begins. 

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Potential Environmental Effects of Probable Land and Resource Management Activities 

Alternative A: Implementation of Alternative A would not change the hydrologic conditions from 

present. Current trends in ET, water table levels, streamflow, and water quality would not change from 

present. 

Alternative B: Implementation of Alternative B would not observably change the hydrologic effects 

from those of Alternative A. Locally in project areas, the water yields from timber harvest areas would 

not be as large as those of Alternative A. Changes due to burning would be slightly greater. Restoration 

of hydrology by plugging existing ditches and canals or installing flow control structures would result in 

slightly higher growing season storm-flows, but should not change dormant season flow. Some new 

wetland areas may be created in the hydrology restoration area, but increased wetness would be the most 

observable effect. 

The effects of implementation on water quality depend on the areal extent of individual projects and 

their dispersion across the landscape. This rule is particularly true for the drainage systems. Large areas 

of dormant season burning may temporarily increase stream water conductivity, and nitrogen and 

phosphate concentrations in water. These increases are not expected to be observable beyond the first or 

second untreated stream or canal confluence. 
90 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Hydrologic changes that do occur would be observable primarily on the project area. Due to the small 

magnitude of the changes on the specific area and the limited area on which they occur, the changes 

should not be observable in streams or canals beyond the first or second tributary or branch confluence. 

Chemistry of the receiving waters would not be observably changed. Changes would not cause new or 

increase existing localized flooding. New wetlands would not be created downstream by changes in 

drainage patterns. 

Alternatives C, C-modified, and E: Implementation of Alternative C would have slightly greater effects 

than those of Alternative B due to the increased level of vegetation alteration activities, particularly 

burning and timber harvesting. Even with these increased activities, the hydrologic effects of this 

alternative would not be readily observable in the streams or canals beyond the first or second tributary 

confluence. 

Alternative D: Implementation of Alternative D would have approximately the same hydrologic effects 

as the implementation of Alternative C. Construction of drainage ditches would be limited on any one 

site, limiting the effects to the immediate site and for a short distance downstream in the receiving canals 

and streams. However the effects should not be readily observably beyond the first or second tributary 

confluence. 

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Evidence of human settlement in and around the Croatan dates back over 7,000 years. Anthroprogenic 

fire practices have had significant influence on the development of the area's ecosystems. Current 

studies indicate as much as 95 percent of the original (i.e., pre-European settlement) vegetation of the 

Croatan appears to have been either distinctive fire communities or vegetation whose structure and 

species were influenced by light ground fire. Notable exceptions were some freshwater marshes in the 

lakes, and small areas of beech and other mesophytic hardwoods that were naturally protected from fire 

by ravines and steep, moist slopes (Frost, 1996). 

When fire prevention programs were initially implemented in the region, the number of wildfires and the 

amount of indiscriminate burning began to decline. However, in some fire regimes, such practices led to 

virtual fire exclusion, which in turn led to an artificial advance of forest succession and unnatural fuel 

loadings. Such is the case with the longleaf pine-grassland ecosystems and the pocosin ecosystems that 

cover most of the CNF. 

Fuel conditions affect wildfire risk and the potential for damage to resources. While the Croatan 

experiences wildfires all year long, mid-October through mid-December and mid-February through most 

of May are considered to be the times of greatest fire occurrence and resource damage. 

Fire records for 1970 through 1994 show that the Croatan has had a total of 472 fires that burned 52,448 

acres (PCHA/NFMAS). The averages are 19 fires and 2,098 acres per year. As can be seen by the table 

below, humans have the largest impact on the Croatan's wildfire occurrence. Lightning-caused or 

natural fires are relatively infrequent, but can burn significant acreages. While they can occur anywhere 

on the landscape, lightning-caused fires in isolated areas such as pocosins can go undetected for several 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 91

days, and access may be difficult thus contributing to fire size. Under current direction, all wildfires are 

suppressed. 

Table 3.4. Number of fires by statistical cause on the Croatan National Forest 1970-1994 (Total For All Years) Acres 

(1,000s) 

Lightning Equipment Smoking Campfire Debris 

Burning 

Railroad Arson Children Misc. Total 

15 14 17 19 87 9 203 56 52 472 

3 0 0 1 3 0 42 0 3 52 

The biggest wildfire risks on the CNF are large, contiguous areas of heavy, highly flammable fuels 

resulting from years of fire exclusion, and in wildland urban interfaces resulting from 20 years of 

community development adjacent to forest land. A wildland urban interface is defined as the line, area, 

or zone where structures and other human developments meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland 

or vegetative fuels (Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review, 1995). Marine 

Corps Air Station Cherry Point borders the northeast portion of the Forest, and accounts for part of the 

large influx of people to the area in recent years. In addition, the coast draws both permanent and parttime residents to the area. Industrial timberland also adjoins the CNF in several places. Except for a 

few areas along Highway 58 (the western edge of the Forest), the CNF is virtually surrounded by urban 

interface. Close proximity to forest land with hazardous fuel loadings make many urban developments 

extremely vulnerable to destruction by wildfire. With this increase in values at risk, the Forest Service's 

role in wildland fire protection and suppression has increased. 

Fuels Associated with Plant Communities 

The longleaf pine-grassland (chiefly wiregrass and bluestems) ecosystem historically dominated upland 

sites on the Coastal Plain in the Southern United States (Landers and others, 1993). This ecosystem is 

distinguished by open pine forests, woodlands, and grass-dominated savannas, all of which are 

intricately integrated with multiple vertebrate and invertebrate species use. These systems and their 

components exist, and in most cases, thrive on effects resulting from disturbances such as fire. Under 

the current land classification system, there are approximately 6,000 acres of existing longleaf and 

30,000 acres suitable for longleaf pine forest systems. 

In the Croatan Wildernesses, which are primarily pocosins, the entire wilderness character is being lost 

with fire exclusion. Hughes (1996) estimated that presettlement North Carolina peatlands originally 

supported around 5 million acres of canebrake, a fire dependent vegetation community. Frost 

(unpublished) estimated the presettlement fire recurrence rate on the CNF to be 1-3 years. As a result of 

fire exclusion, what was once one of the principal and most extensive types of presettlement coastal 

peatlands has now largely evolved to pocosin, red maple, and bay forest types. 

Apart from rain, the only water movement in a pocosin system is an outwardly flow. Fire is the primary 

force for nutrient cycling; without fire, decomposition equals or is less than the rate of litter production. 

This continual buildup of the organic layer, combined with a succession towards a dense shrub or mesic 

hardwood forest leads to decreased species diversity. In addition, drought, low fuel moistures, and the 

chemical composition of pocosin vegetation can result in explosive fuel conditions. Wildfires often are 

so severe that much of the deep organic soil is consumed, the hydrology is changed, and succession 

regimes are slowed. 
92 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Another land type associated with frequent fire return intervals on the CNF is pond pine woodland. It 

occurs in transitional areas where soils range from wet organics to poorly drained mineral soils. 

Serotinous cones and epicormic sprouting make pond pine highly adaptable to fire. 

Wildfire Suppression and Prescribed Fire 

Several factors, including flame length and rate of spread, determine the difficulty of wildfire 

suppression. Fire intensity or the amount of heat produced over a period of time, influences the amount 

of resource damage that occurs during burning. These fire characteristics are affected by weather 

conditions and fuel properties. While we have no control over weather, we can manipulate fuels by 

changing the type, amount, arrangement and size available for ignition. 

Fuel conditions on the Croatan vary by vegetation type, position on the landscape, and disturbance 

history. In addition to wildfire, other types of disturbance that affect fuel conditions include prescribed 

burning, mechanical fuel treatments, insect and disease infestations, weather events such as hurricanes 

and tornadoes, and silvicultural activities such as timber harvest and stand improvement. 

Recently, prescribed fire has been applied to an average of 8,200 acres per year during the dormant 

season (October-March) and 200 acres per year during the growing season (June-August). Dormant 

season burning is conducted when weather conditions are cool and fuel moistures are high. These fires 

result in consumption of small dead fuels and an immediate reduction of fire danger. Dormant-season 

burning also stimulates browse and forb production. While dormant season burning benefits most 

wildlife, it can actually result in increased fuel loads in some areas unless it is done at 1- to 2-year 

intervals. 

Growing-season fires are often applied to longleaf pine ecosystems when the weather is hotter and fuels 

are drier. These conditions result in greater consumption of both dead and live fuels and more effective 

understory kill. Once the initial fuel conditions are reduced, low-intensity prescribed fire can be applied 

at frequent intervals, producing the open, park-like understories characteristic of longleaf pine forests of 

the past. Treated longleaf forests become much less susceptible to devastating wildfires due to reduced 

fuel loads in the understory. These conditions can be maintained by continuing to apply low-intensity 

fire at frequent intervals. However, growing season burning in the Coastal Plain can be very physically 

demanding for personnel due to extreme temperatures. Prescribed fire is also often applied to areas after 

timber harvesting. Residual slash is reduced and mineral soil exposed to aid in reforestation. 

Disturbances such as tornadoes and hurricanes can have a significant impact on fuel conditions and 

prescribed fire activities. The summer of 1996 brought two category 3 hurricanes (Bertha and Fran). 

The effects of these two hurricanes vary across the forest. On the southern part of the forest, much of the 

vegetation was heavily inundated with saltwater, leaving the trees weakened and the understory 

vegetation salt-cured. Fuels became even more flammable than before. Many hardwood drains, once 

considered barriers in fire spread, are now full of large trees that have toppled over due to weakened root 

systems. Many natural barriers have been eliminated, providing continuous fuels for fire spread. 

Several pine plantations, which initially appeared undamaged, received enough wind to result in a 

timber condition known as "shake" in which the growth rings of the tree separate causing it to slowly die 

or become insect and disease infested. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 93

In addition to increased fuel loads produced by recent storms, the CNF is beginning to experience insect 

outbreaks resulting from the weakened conditions of many pine stands. Tree mortality, as well as some 

integrated pest management practices would contribute to additional fuel loadings in some areas of the 

forest. Widely scattered areas are beginning to exhibit conditions closely representative of a slash fuel 

model. 

Current fuel conditions on the CNF have been shaped by all of the above activities. The prescribed fire 

program has developed into a fairly aggressive one. However, there are still large parts of the CNF that 

have had little or no fire activity in the last century, resulting in hazardous fuel conditions. 

Fuel Models 

Fuel types fall into four groups -- grasses, brush, timber, and slash (Anderson, 1982). Differences in fire 

behavior among these groups are related to fuel loads and their distribution among the fuel particle size 

classes. Fuel load and fuel bed depth are significant fuel properties that help to predict whether a fire 

would sustain ignition, what its rate of spread would be, and what amount of heat it would produce. We 

can build a relative risk analysis based on information produced by this type of modeling. 

Grasses (FMs 1-3) and brush (FMs 4-7) are vertically oriented and rapidly increase in depth with 

increasing load. Timber litter (FMs 8-10) and slash (FMs 11-13) are horizontally positioned and depth 

slowly increases as load is increased. These fuel models are widely used to predict fire behavior. Each 

fuel model is described by the fuel load and ratio of surface area to volume of each size class; the depth 

of the fuel bed involved in the fire front; and fuel moisture including that at which fire would not spread, 

called moisture of extinction. 

The criteria for choosing a fuel model include the fact that fire burns in the fuel stratum best conditioned 

to support it. Fuel models help the user to estimate fire behavior. Situations may arise where one fuel 

model represents rate of spread most accurately and another best describes fire intensity. Fuel 

conditions on the CNF were mapped and analyzed based on landtype, forest type, soils, and disturbance 

history. 

In wildfire suppression, rate of spread and flame length largely influence fire suppression tactics. For 

example, direct attack by hand crews is usually considered effective at flame lengths of 4 feet or less. 

At flame lengths greater than 4 feet and up to 8 feet, direct attack by mechanical equipment is 

considered effective. Aerial resources are needed for direct attack for flame lengths greater than 8 feet, 

and up to 11 feet. When flame lengths are greater than 11 feet, indirect attack is usually considered to 

be the only effective fire suppression tactic. The table below demonstrates the difference in rates of 

spread and flame length among Anderson's fuel models: 
94 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table 3.5. Rates of spread and flame length by fuel model 

FUEL MODEL 

RATE OF SPREAD 

(Chains/Hour) 

FLAME LENGTH 

(FT) 

1 78 4 

2 35 6 

3 104 12 

 

4 75 19 

5 18 4 

6 32 6 

7 20 5 

 

8 1.6 1.0 

9 7.5 2.6 

10 7.9 4.8 

 

11 6.0 3.5 

12 13.0 8.0 

13 13.5 10.5 

For wildfire risk, suppression difficulty, and amount of resource damage, fuel models in this analysis 

can be relatively ranked as follows: 

Lower risk Higher risk 

 |________________________________________________________________________| 

 | | | | | 

Fuel Model 9 7 2 6 4 

 Although rates of spread and flame lengths are slightly greater in FM2 than in FM6, suppression is 

often easier in FM2 due to a lower moisture of extinction, complete consumption of available fuels, and 

the effectiveness of indirect attack using backfires to stop fire spread. Also, FM6 is used to describe low 

pocosin conditions that exist on deep organic soils on the CNF. Because wildfires generally occur when 

fuels are dry, organic soil ignition often follows. Once the organic layer ignites, suppression becomes 

extremely difficult and labor intensive. Suppression actions can cause as much or more damage to 

resources than the fire itself. 

Wildfires occurring in high pocosin or FM4 create the same problems with organic soil ignition as 

mentioned above. Heavy loads of highly volatile fuel also produce rapid rates of spread and extreme 

flame lengths, making fire suppression very difficult, and dangerous. Large firebreaks, combined with 

risky backfiring operations, often provide the only effective means of fire suppression. Again, 

suppression actions can result in as much or more resource damage than the fire itself. 

One could reason that in such a fire-dependent, fire-adapted ecosystem, fire could be applied under 

specific conditions to achieve well-defined objectives such as hazardous fuel reduction and species 

diversity, rather than waiting for a wildfire to occur under extreme conditions resulting in resource 

damage and the possible loss of private property. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 95

Table 3.6. Current distribution of fuel conditions on the CNF. 

Fuel Model 2 4 6 7 9 Not Modeled Total 

Acres/% 8,200 

(5%) 

42,400 

(26%) 

26,100 

(16%) 

36,500 

(23%) 

39,300 

(24%) 

8,600 (5%) 161,100 

Three areas that display prominent wildland/urban interface problems have been identified and the 

current fuel distribution is described in Table 3.7. 

Table 3.7. Fuel Model Distribution in wildland urban interfaces (WUI) rounded to nearest 10 acres. 

Fuel 

Model 

2 4 6 7 9 Not 

Modeled 

0 Total 

Acres 

WUI#1 

0 (0%) 3,100 

(70%) 

0 (0%) 800 

(18%) 

500 

(11%) 

50 

(1%) 

0 (0%) 4,450 

Acres 

WUI#2 

0 (0%) 160 

(8%) 

0 (0%) 1,600 

(78%) 

300 

(14%) 

0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2,060 

Acres 

WUI#3 

20 

(<%) 

2,500 

(53%) 

0 (0%) 1,000 

(21%) 

600 

(13%) 

100 

(2%) 

500 

(11%) 

4,720 

Acres 

Total 

20 

(<1%) 

5,760 

(51%) 

0 (0%) 3,400 

(30%) 

1,400 

(12%) 

150 

(1%) 

500 

(4%) 

11,230 

While both the Pocosin WUI (WUI #3) and Catfish Lake WUI (WUI #1) consist largely of fuels 

representative of FM4, they currently interface primarily with industrial timberland. The resources on 

this land are extremely valuable. However, the threat of wildfire in both of these interfaces is more a 

threat to property than human lives at this time. In contrast, while the Havelock WUI (WUI #2) also 

interfaces with valuable industrial timberland, the more immediate threat is to the lives and property of 

homeowners in the area. That is not to say that human lives would not be threatened by wildfire in the 

Catfish Lake and Pocosin interfaces, just that the industrial forests would probably receive the brunt of 

the damage. By the time fire burned through these industrial pine forests, fuel conditions would have 

transitioned, making fire suppression a little easier. 

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Probable Activities and How They Would Affect the Resource Environment 

Fuel conditions as they relate to wildfire risk can be affected by numerous activities. The most 

significant changes in fuels that would affect wildfire risk are changes in the amount, size, or 

arrangement. Changes in vegetation type would also affect wildfire risk. Management activities can 

produce all of these types of changes. We can see from past history that wildfire suppression or fire 

exclusion in such fire-dependent, fire-adapted ecosystems would lead to an unnatural state of advanced 

succession in many places. The resulting fuel conditions can dramatically increase the risk of damaging 

wildfire. 

Any type of fire activity would produce an immediate reduction in available fuels, sometimes with 

damaging results to other resources. By applying fire under specific weather and fuel conditions in 

appropriate areas, the desired results can usually be achieved. As set forth in the Land Management 

Plan, fuel conditions currently represented on the CNF may change with repeated treatments, and 

possibly exhibit fire behavior characteristics described by fuel models different and, in most cases, less 

severe than current. There are trade-offs associated with prescribed fire. These include short-term 

reduced visibility, areas of blackened forests for a time, disruption of recreation activities, and even the 

risk of a fire becoming larger than expected. 
96 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The effect of timber activities on fuels can vary. While harvest activities initially increase fuel loads by 

generating large amounts of slash, thinning in young plantations can actually reduce the risk of 

damaging wildfire by breaking up the ladder effect that numerous, closely space trees have on fire 

spread. These open understory conditions can be maintained with repeated prescribed burns. Timber 

stand improvement activities such as drum chopping or herbicide application would also affect the 

arrangement of fuels. In some cases, herbicide treatments may actually increase fuel loads by killing 

live fuels, making them more readily available to burn. In general, however, any activity including 

prescribed burning that improves overall forest health would result in decreased wildfire risk. 

Regeneration efforts would produce young trees, which are more susceptible to wildfire than older, 

larger trees. Young, even-aged stands are at high risk from damaging wildfire, but this risk decreases as 

stands mature. Uneven-aged stands may not be quite as susceptible to damage from wildfire due to age 

class ranges within stands, but prescribed fire may result in damage or mortality in the younger age 

classes. 

As discussed in the Affected Environment section, over 85 percent of wildfires and acres burned by 

wildfire are human-caused. Almost 60 percent of these fires have been arson-related, leading to the 

conclusion that any activity that results in an increase in forest users or access may result in increased 

wildfire occurrence. There is also a chance of increased arson fire activity as a form of revenge in 

response to certain management activities or decisions such as road or trail closures. 

Construction of new recreation sites would reduce fuels in the immediate vicinity, thus reducing the risk 

of damaging wildfire to the site. However, additional recreation areas would require protection from 

wildfire, because increased users would increase potential risk of wildfire. 

Construction and maintenance of roads, trails, and wildlife openings would not only provide places free 

of fuel, but also possible anchor points for defensible firelines. In some cases, roads and trails may be 

used as firelines themselves. Again, however, increased forest access or use may result in increased 

human-caused fire activity. Motorized vehicle use may result in a higher wildfire risk from vehicles. 

An increase in dispersed camping may increase risk of escaped campfires. 

Land ownership adjustment may have a myriad of effects on fuels and wildfire risk. Small, isolated 

tracts generally make fuel treatments more difficult and costly due to the amount of fireline needed to 

control a prescribed burn. Wildfire suppression tends to be more difficult and costly for the same 

reasons. Land consolidation should benefit both private and public landowners by decreasing the 

amount of fireline that would have to be defended in the event of wildfire or prescribed fire. However, 

since the probable future use of private land is unknown at this time, it is difficult to say exactly what 

effect possible activities might have on fuels on private land, or how wildfire risk might be affected. 

The same is true for special use activity. Any type of activity that might hinder prescribed burning or 

wildfire suppression would increase the risk of damage by wildfire. 

Fuel loads, and thus wildfire risk, would be reduced in areas where pine straw raking is allowed. To 

provide a hindrance-free area to raking, prescribed fire would be applied every fourth year. This 

burning would decrease fuel loads, and perhaps move the fuel model from a FM7 (southern rough) to a 

FM9 (pine/hardwood leaf litter) in areas previously occupied by a shrubby understory. The activity of 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 97

raking, itself, would also decrease fuel loads, but would probably not cause changes in the fuel model 

represented. 

Current research indicates that drainage, and disturbance reduce moisture content of peat soils, thereby 

increasing the susceptibility of organic soils to ground fire (Hungerford and others, 1995). This type of 

activity appears to have created very difficult fire management situations, including long term 

smoldering fires that destroy vegetation over large areas, emit acrid smoke for long periods, and 

possibly cause soil erosion. Activities that would restore hydrology in pocosin areas where pine 

plantation conversion was attempted in the past may help reduce these types of wildfire risks. Bedding 

would have little effect on fuel loads, but may slightly decrease mechanical maneuverability in such 

stands during wildfire suppression. 

The primary effect on wildfire risk common in all alternatives is the increase in future development 

outside the CNF. As populations and developments increase, values at risk would increase. Most 

important among these are public and firefighter safety. Interagency cooperation would become 

increasingly important, and it may become more difficult and expensive to manage both wildfire and 

prescribed fire as populations increase. Problems associated with smoke management may also become 

more difficult to address. 

Existing roads, trails, and wildlife openings may be utilized in fire suppression and prescribed fire 

activities in each alternative. All alternatives propose some level of road closure, which may result in an 

increase in arson-related wildfire potential. Mitigation measures would be taken during wildfire 

suppression and prescribed fire activities to protect heritage resources in all alternatives. 

Effects Common to Alternatives B, C, D, and E: Alternatives B, C, C-modified, D, and E each have 

about 11,200 acres identified as wildland urban interface. Alternative D recognizes that there may be 

additional potential problem areas identified over time as development increases. Wildland urban 

interfaces may overlap with other resource prescriptions in these three alternatives, but it is expected that 

only areas with wilderness, and possibly hardwood-cypress and NHP allocations, would present 

conflicts. These conflicts arise from limits on management actions to provide natural conditions; sitespecific analyses would address these situations. 

Effects Common to Alternatives B, C, and E: The phasing out of special uses in alternatives B, C, and 

C-modified may result in increased arson-related wildfire risk. 

Effects Common to Alternatives C,D, and E: Overall, fuel treatment levels in alternatives C and D 

would result in similar levels of reduced wildfire risk. As noted above, Alternative D provides for the 

potential of additional areas of treatment with increases in wildland urban interface development. The 

difference in magnitude between these two alternatives is unknown at this time. 

Effects for Each Alternative 

A relative risk analysis resulting from the desired future condition and probable management activities 

within each alternative is displayed below. This analysis is based on the differences in fuel treatment 

programs, including identification and treatment of wildland/urban interfaces. 
98 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Lower Risk Higher Risk 

 |_________________________________________________________________________| 

 | | | | 

 D C; C modified, E A B 

Alternative A: Timber management activities may initially increase fuel loads through the generation of 

slash as described above. This alternative does not provide for site preparation burning, however, 

mechanical site preparation treatments may assist in reducing fuel loads. For a time, young stands 

would be more susceptible to wildfire than those stands with older, larger trees. Timber stand 

improvement treatments including chopping and burning would reduce fuels in those stands as well as 

improve overall stand health, thus reducing wildfire risk. 

The level of prescribed fire is expected to remain the same during the 10-year planning period. The 

distribution of fuel conditions may change somewhat as areas of shallower organic soils currently 

represented by low pocosin (FM6) that were burned during the 1994 Fish Day Fire succeed towards a 

high pocosin condition (FM4). This change should occur within the 10-year planning period provided 

there is no fire occurrence in these areas. While this alternative does allow for management-ignited 

prescribed fire in wilderness, neither management-ignited prescribed fire nor wildland fire use for 

resource benefit in wilderness is really feasible due in urban interfaces, the highly volatile nature of 

pocosin fuels, and the size and location of the existing Wildernesses on the landscape. 

This alternative does not project the construction of new recreation sites or trails. However, public use 

of existing facilities can be expected to increase with time. Existing roads and trails may be used as 

defensible firelines. Any increase in public use would increase potential wildfire risk. No new wildlife 

openings would be constructed, but existing openings would be maintained. These openings may 

provide potential anchor points for defensible fireline construction. 

Landownership adjustments are expected to result in consolidations that would help reduce fire 

management program administrative problems and costs. 

Overall wildfire risk on the CNF is expected to increase during the next 100 years as both public land 

use density on the forest and private development outside the forest increase. It may become 

increasingly difficult and expensive to burn as values at risk increase. Smoke management is expected 

to become increasingly important as populations increase, and developing air quality regulations may 

result in a decrease in the prescribed burning program. 

Cumulative effects of this alternative are expected to reflect the increase in forest use and private 

development. While the level of prescribed burning in this alternative would help to maintain efforts 

that have already been made in the reduction of hazardous fuels, existing and future urban developments 

would continue to be threatened by the risk of landscape-scale wildfires in the pocosins. 

Alternative B: By virtue of its low-impact management theme, this alternative provides the least amount 

of disturbance of all alternatives considered. Vegetation and timber management would occur over 

lengthened periods of time, therefore average stand age in this alternative would be older in stands 

classed as suitable for timber production than in other alternatives. It is expected that approximately 

12,000 acres would be burned on about a 5-year rotation for wildlife habitat improvement, timber stand 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 99

improvement, natural regeneration site preparation, and fuel reduction. However, because this 

alternative minimizes the use of mechanical ground disturbance, the application of prescribed fire would 

be significantly restricted on most of the CNF, particularly in the pocosins. 

The Wilderness allocation of all suitable roadless areas would increase the area where mechanical 

ground disturbance would be minimized, thus increasing the difficulty of the fire management program 

administration on the CNF. While both wildland fire use for resource benefit and management-ignited 

prescribed fire in Wilderness are considered in this alternative, these practices would probably not be 

applicable for the same reasons as in Alternative A. Management direction for minimal use of 

mechanized equipment would result in larger wildfire acreages and increased smoke emissions during 

wildfire activity. 

Table 3.8. Fuel conditions as a result of changes in the prescribed fire management program. 

Fuel 

Model 

2 4 6 7 9 Not 

Modeled 

Total 

Acres/ 

% Total 

8,200 

(5%) 

54,000 

(34%) 

14,500 

(9%) 

59,600 

(37%) 

16,100 

(10%) 

8,600 

(5%) 

161,000 

(100%) 

The increase in fuels represented by FM4 (high pocosin) can be attributed to the regrowth of high 

pocosin burned during the 1994 Fish Day Fire. Because all burn rotations except growing-season burns 

would be applied at 5-year intervals in this alternative, most pine types with fuel conditions currently 

represented by FM9 (hardwood-pine leaf litter) are expected to move more towards FM7 (southern 

rough) conditions. This change, combined with a smaller prescribed fire program than current, would 

result in increased potential risk of damaging wildfire. 

While this alternative does not project the construction of new recreation sites or trails, public use of 

existing facilities can be expected to increase with time. Any increase in public use would increase 

potential wildfire risk. Existing roads and trails may be used as defensible firelines. Elimination of 

unauthorized vehicle access could reduce the risk of wildfire caused by equipment or carelessness. 

However, there may be an increase in arson-related fires as a form of revenge for such management 

activities. The same holds true for special uses that may be phased out over time. No new wildlife 

openings would be constructed, and existing openings would receive only low-level maintenance. 

Resulting fuel accumulations may limit opportunities to utilize openings for potential anchor points in 

fireline construction. 

Priorities for land ownership adjustment would focus on protection of critical habitat, riparian 

ecosystems, historic or cultural resources, and Congressionally designated areas. It is unknown at this 

time if these adjustments would aid in reducing fire management program administrative problems and 

costs. 

Overall wildfire risk on the CNF is expected to increase during the next 100 years as both public land 

use density on the forest and private development outside the forest increase. It may become 

increasingly difficult and more expensive to burn as values at risk increase. Smoke management is 

expected to become increasingly important as populations increase, and developing air quality 

regulations may result in an actual decrease in the prescribed burning program. 
100 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Cumulative Effects of wildfire risk would reflect increases in forest use and private development. Over 

time, the 5-year prescribed burning rotation proposed in this alternative is not expected to maintain 

current fuel conditions due to rapid accumulations of understory fuels in this climate. Existing and 

future urban developments would continue to be threatened by the risk of wildfire. 

Alternative C and E: Active restoration of natural communities, particularly longleaf pine, would be 

achieved with a combination of management activities, including an aggressive prescribed fire program. 

Growing season burning would be emphasized in longleaf pine restoration. This treatment combined 

with a 2- to 4 year burning rotation is expected to result in more complete consumption of both dead and 

live fuels and reduction of understory competition. Prescribed fire would also be used for fuel 

reduction, timber stand improvement in mixed pine stands on a 3- to 5 year rotation, and for site 

preparation for natural and artificial regeneration. 

Existing wildland urban interfaces have been identified in these alternatives, and a range of possible 

management activities that would reduce potential wildfire risk have been developed. The desired 

condition is one where fuels have been manipulated to actually change the arrangement, size, and, in 

some cases, type of vegetation, thereby reducing available fuel loads in designated areas. This approach 

would ultimately reduce extreme fire behavior characteristics such as flame length and fireline intensity, 

thus reducing the potential risk of catastrophic wildfire. 

As research continues to address organic soil ignition and smoke emission questions, it is possible that 

prescribed burning for fuel reduction may extend into pocosins. This alternative also considers the use 

of wildland fire use for resource benefit on the CNF provided fuel conditions have been changed to 

reduce extreme fire behavior characteristics and severe fire effects, and risk reduction in urban interfaces 

has been achieved. 

Fuel treatments in this alternative are expected to result in changes in fuel conditions as mentioned 

above. Several assumptions have been made in developing the analysis. For example, it is assumed that 

with repeated treatments as prescribed in wildland urban interfaces, fuels currently represented by FM4 

(high pocosin) would exhibit characteristics closer to FM7 (southern rough). With at least one fire 

application in pocosins during the 10-year period, FM4 conditions would more closely resemble FM6 

(low pocosin). Those currently in FM6 would probably return to a FM6 condition if only burned once 

during the 10-year period. Fuel conditions currently represented by FM7 might move towards 

conditions better described by FM9 (pine-hardwood leaf litter). It is also assumed that conditions 

currently described by FM2 (grass) would probably remain FM2 as grasses and herbs are early 

successional. The same is expected to hold true for fuels currently represented by FM9. 

Table 3.9. Predicted distribution of fuel conditions in Alternatives C and E 

Fuel 

Model 

2 4 6 7 9 Not 

Modeled 

Total 

Acres/% 

Total 

9,400 

(6%0 

0 (0%) 62,700 

(39%) 

31,700 

(20%) 

48,700 

(30%) 

8,600 

(5%) 

161,000 

(100%) 

Therefore, treatments within the identified wildland urban interfaces are predicted to result in the 

changed distribution of fuel conditions (Table 3.10). 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 101

Table 3.10. Fuel model distribution in wildland urban interfaces in Alternative C and E. 

Fuel 

Model 

2 4 6 7 9 Not 

Modeled 

0 Total 

Acres 

WUI#1 

0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 3,100 

(70%) 

1,300 

(29%) 

45 (1%) 0 (0%) 4,400 

Acres 

WUI#2 

0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 160 

(8%) 

1,900 

(92%) 

5 (<1%) 0 (0%) 2,065 

Acres 

WUI#3 

20 

(<1%) 

0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2,500 

(54%) 

1,600 

(34%) 

65 (1%) 465 

(10%) 

4,650 

Acres 

Total 

20 

(<1%) 

0 (0%) 5,760 

(52%) 

4,800 

(43%) 

115 

(1%) 

465 

(4%) 

11,115 

This shows a significant shift towards less extreme fuel conditions in these urban interfaces. 

The proposed increase in recreation opportunities in Alternative C is expected to result in increased user 

density. As mentioned in the other alternatives, any increase in public use may result in an increased 

potential risk of wildfire. Fuels would be reduced in the immediate vicinity of new recreation sites and 

expanded existing recreation sites. Existing roads and trails may provide access into remote areas and 

may be utilized as firelines or anchor points for firelines, as may any additional trails. 

The maintenance of existing wildlife openings and use of existing roads and log landings for turkey 

habitat may also provide anchor points or potential firelines. Any activities such as road closures and 

phasing out of special uses should decrease user density, thereby possibly reducing wildfire risk. 

Current research indicates that drainage, disturbance, and reduced moisture content of peat in pocosins 

increases the susceptibility of organic soils to ground fire (Hungerford and others, 1995). The 

restoration of natural hydrology to wetlands has the potential to reduce residual smoke in pocosins that 

have been artificially altered in the past. 

Priorities for land ownership adjustment would focus on protection of critical habitat, riparian 

ecosystems, historic or cultural resources, and Congressionally designated areas. It is unknown at this 

time if these adjustments would aid in reducing fire management program administrative problems and 

costs. 

The adjustment of Wilderness boundaries to reflect ownership changes might simplify fire management 

program administration in these areas. Consolidation of land ownership could make prescribed fire 

treatments more feasible in these areas by providing straighter boundaries and, thus, more defensible 

firelines. 

The cumulative effects of intensive longleaf restoration efforts with emphasis on growing season burns 

and 2-4 year burning rotations, combined with fuel treatments in existing wildland urban interfaces are 

expected to dramatically decrease the risk of damaging wildfires. The possibility of a prescribed 

burning program in the pocosins would decrease the risk even further, particularly as fuel conditions 

change over time. Increases in forest use and urban development might offset the wildfire risk reduction 

somewhat. The overall long-term effects of activities proposed in these alternatives are expected to 

significantly decrease wildfire risk and result in a more effective fire management program than current. 
102 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Alternative C Modified: This alternative designates another 2,980 acres to Pond Pine Wilderness, which 

would act as a linkage to the other Wildernesses. The effects of this Alternative on fuels and wildfire 

risk are expected to be similar to those of Alternative C. 

Alternative D: Natural regeneration using seedtree cuts would result in about 4000 acres of even-aged 

loblolly pines and about 2700 acres of even-aged longleaf pines. These young, even-aged stands would 

be at high risk from damaging wildfire for a few years, but risk would decrease as stands mature. 

Thinning in young plantations is expected to reduce the risk of damaging wildfire by breaking up the 

ladder effect that numerous, closely space trees have on fire spread. These open understory conditions 

would be maintained with repeated prescribed fire treatments. Timber stand improvement activities 

such as drum chopping or herbicide application would also affect the arrangement of fuels. In some 

cases, herbicide treatments could actually increase fuel loads by killing live fuels, making them more 

readily available to burn. Without treatments, stands might decline in health and vigor, setting the stage 

for potential increased wildfire risk in these areas. In general, however, any activity -- including 

prescribed fire -- that improves overall forest health would result in decreased wildfire risk. 

The overall prescribed fire program, including treatments of the currently identified wildland urban 

interfaces, would be very similar to Alternatives C and E. Fuel conditions are expected to have the same 

distribution in this alternative as in Alternatives C and E. However, the emphasis on growing season 

burning on a 3- to 5-year rotation in longleaf pines would be slower to produce the open, grassy 

understory conditions typical of longleaf pine savannas. It is possible that additional wildland/urban 

interfaces would be identified and treated as development outside the CNF continues. 

As in Alternatives C and E, recreation development would result in an increase in forest user density, 

thus increasing the potential risk of wildfire caused by mechanized equipment or carelessness. Existing 

trails and roads might be utilized for access into remote areas or firelines, as may any additional ones. 

Existing and new wildlife openings might also be used during fire suppression. 

Most roads would be kept open to the public, and the numbers and types of special uses would increase. 

While this increase might result in increased potential for human-caused wildfire, arson-related activity 

as a form of revenge should not increase. 

Land ownership adjustment priorities would include minimizing wildland urban interface with National 

Forest ownership, making the overall administration of the CNF's fire management program less 

difficult than at present. Costs associated with fire management might also decrease. 

As in all alternatives, overall wildfire risk on the CNF is expected to increase during the next 100 years 

as both public land use density on the forest and private development outside the forest increase. It may 

become increasingly difficult and expensive to burn as values at risk increase. Smoke management is 

expected to become increasingly important as populations increase, and developing air quality 

regulations may result in a decrease in the prescribed burning program. 

The cumulative effects of this alternative emphasizes an aggressive fuel treatment program, including 

possible prescribed fire applications in pocosins. Unlike other alternatives, there is leeway to prescribe 

additional fuel treatments as future urban development progresses. Longleaf pine restoration would be 

less aggressive than in Alternative C, and the savanna conditions typical of longleaf stands of the past 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 103

are expected to take longer to achieve. Over time, the cumulative effect of these activities are expected 

to produce fuel conditions similar to Alternatives C and E. 

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The CNF is located on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Because of its unique landform and 

vegetation, it is recognized as part of the Atlantic Coastal Flatwoods Section, an ecological unit that 

extends from northern Virginia to northern Florida. The Atlantic Coastal Flatwoods Section is divided 

into 11 Subsections; the CNF is in the largest of these, called the Lower Terraces Subsection. The 

Lower Terraces Subsection covers nearly 13,000 square miles and extends from southern Virginia to 

northern Florida. This Subsection is a predominately flat, weakly-dissected alluvial plain consisting of 

marine sediments; many soils have poor drainage. It is less influenced by ocean tides than most other 

Subsections in the Atlantic Coastal Flatwoods Section. 

In the Croatan area, climate is characterized by hot summers and cool winters with adequate moisture 

throughout the year (Trewartha 1954). Precipitation is high in July, August, and September, when over 

one third of the annual average 55 inches fall. The mean length of the freeze-free period is greater than 

240 days (Nelson and Zillgit 1969); winter temperatures are moderated by the nearby Gulf Stream. The 

vegetation is typically needle-leaved evergreen and evergreen broad-leaved forest and shrubland. On 

the CNF, pines and evergreen shrubs clearly dominate the landscape. Hardwood forests account for 

only 20 percent of the land in the CNF, and these plant communities are confined chiefly to drainage 

courses in swamps and steeper sideslopes. 

Wildfire and hurricanes are the two primary large-scale disturbances. Historically, lightning was a cause 

of extensive natural fires (Komarek 1974). In the southeastern Coastal Plain, fires occur primarily during 

frequent periods of low rainfall in the fall and spring. Hurricanes are responsible for extensive areas of 

windthrown trees. Such storms passed through the CNF approximately 20 times between 1901 and 

1955 (Bradley 1972). On average in 100 years, 45 hurricanes are expected to deliver at least category I 

force winds and six of these hurricanes are expected to bring at least category III force (Hooper and 

McAdie 1995). The most recent hurricanes, Bertha and Fran in 1996, left many trees growing with their 

trunks at an angle greater than 20 degrees from perpendicular or completely blown down. 

Centuries of human settlement and land use have altered most of the land and natural plant communities 

in North Carolina's Coastal Plain. However, the CNF still maintains a large portion of its ownership in 

forests and shrubland that have a composition and structure comparable to pre-settlement conditions. As 

a result, The Nature Conservancy (1997) has identified 61 forest, woodland, shrub, and herb-dominated 

plant associations on the CNF. 

Plant Associations found on the CNF are listed in Table 3.11, along with their ranking of global and 

local abundance. The Plant associations are grouped by Landtype, an ecological category of land having 

similar drainage, topography, fire regime, and potential natural vegetation communities. In Table 3.11, 

landtypes are arranged from most to least abundant on the CNF. Following Table 3.11 is a description 
104 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

of these ecological and vegetative categories and the common and rare species they contain. A full 

description of Plant Associations and Landtypes appears in Appendix A of the CNF Plan. 

Table 3.11. Local and global abundance of plant associations on the CNF. 

 Local Global 

LANDTYPE & Plant Association Abundance Abundance

RAISED PEATLANDS

 Atlantic White Cedar/Swamp Bay/Fetterbush-Sweet Gallberry Forest Rare G2 

 Atlantic White Cedar-Pond Pine Forest Rare G2? 

 Loblolly Bay Woodland Common G? 

 Pond Pine/Titi-Fetterbush-Inkberry Woodland Common G3 

 Pond Pine-Loblolly Bay/Fetterbush Woodland Common G3 

 Pond Pine/Titi-Fetterbush-Black Highbush Blueberry Woodland Common G? 

 Titi-Fetterbush Shrubland Common G3? 

 Honeycups-Leatherleaf Shrubland Common G2? 

 Titi-Honeycups Shrubland Common G2G3 

 Inkberry-Fetterbush-Honeycups Common G2 

 Leatherleaf-Pocosin Sedge-Virginia Chain Fern Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation Uncommon G1G2 

PEAT-MANTLED FORESTED WETLANDS

 Pond Pine/Titi-Fetterbush-Inkberry Woodland Common G3 

 Pond Pine-Loblolly Bay/Fetterbush Woodland Common G3 

 Pond Pine/Titi-Fetterbush-Black Highbush Blueberry Woodland Common G? 

XERIC to WET LONGLEAF PINE SAVANNAS AND FLATWOODS

 Longleaf Pine-Pine(Shortleaf,Loblolly)-Oak(Bluejack,Sand Post,Southern Red,Turkey) Common G3? 

 Longleaf Pine Upland Woodland Common G3? 

 Longleaf Pine/Dwarf Indigo Bush/Wiregrass-Yellow Indian Grass Woodland Common G2G3 

DRAINAGE HEADLANDS & BROAD INTERSTREAM FLATS 

 Loblolly Pine-Water Oak/Shrubs/Mixed Herbs Upland Forest Common G? 

 Loblolly Pine-Oak (Willow, Water, Diamondleaf) Temporarily Flooded Forest Common G? 

 Loblolly Pine-Sweetgum-Red Maple Saturated Forest Common G? 

LAKE AND STREAM SWAMPS

Water Tupelo Forest Uncommon G? 

 Sweetgum/Swampbay Forest Rare G1 

 Swamp Tupelo/Virginia Willow - Button Bush Depression Forest Uncommon G? 

 Black Willow Flooded Forest Rare G? 

Black Willow/Coastal Sweet Pepperbush/Water Tupelo Successional Forest Uncommon G? 

 Pond Cypress/Myrtle Dahoon Depression Forest Uncommon G? 

 Pond Cypress(Sw.Tupelo)/Swamp Doghobble-Buttonbush-Waxmyrtle Depression Forest Uncommon G? 

 Water Tupelo-Swamp Tupelo Forest Common G? 

 Bald Cypress-Water Tupelo/Carolina Ash Forest Uncommon G? 

 Bald Cypress-Water Tupelo-Swamp Tupelo/Carolina Ash/Virgina Willow Forest Uncommon G? 

 Narrowleaf Pondlily Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G3? 

 Broadleaf Pondlily-Big Floatingheart-Loose Watermilfoil Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G3? 

STREAM AND RIVER TERRACES & DRAINAGE SLOPES

 American Beech-White Oak-Maple (Southern Sugar, Chalk)/Mixed Herbs Forest Uncommon G? 

 Sweetgum Forest Common G? 

 White Oak-Mockernut Hickory/Mayberry Forest Uncommon G? 

 White Oak-Pignut Hickory-Mockernut Hickory/Red Buckeye Forest Uncommon G? 

 Sweetgum (Tuliptree, Red Maple) Temporarily Flooded Forest Common G? 

 Black Willow Temporarily Flooded Forest Uncommon G? 

 Laurel Oak/Ironwood Forest Uncommon G? 

 Overcup Oak-Water Hickory Seasonally Flooded Forest Uncommon G? 

 Overcup Oak-Water Hickory/Pepper-vine Forest Uncommon G? 

 Sand Laurel Oak-Pignut Hickory (American Beech) Forest Uncommon G? 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 105

TIDAL STREAMS AND ESTUARIES 

 Seaside Oxeye/Saltmeadow Cordgrass Shrubland Rare G3G5 

 Needlerush Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G5 

 Saltmarsh Cordgrass Carolinian Zone Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G? 

 Wild Rice Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G? 

MARITIME RIDGES AND DUNES

 Live Oak - (Youpon) Shrubland Rare G? 

 Mulletbush-Bigleaf Marsh Elder-Wax Myrtle-Yaupon Shrubland Rare G? 

 Bigleaf Marsh Elder Shrubland Rare G? 

LIMESINK PONDS

 Wright's Witchgrass - Erect-leaved Witch Grass Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G2? 

 Maidencane - Spikerush - Narrow-fruit Horned Beakrush Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G2? 

 Threadleaf Beakrush - Bullrush Herbaceous Vegetation Rare G2?

1 Rare = < 50 acres, Uncommon 50-1000 acres, Common = 1000-10,000 acres, Abundant = > 10,000 acres 

? - denotes incomplete information about community status 

Prior and Present Conditions 

The potential distribution of natural plant communities on the CNF can be fairly well predicted within 

ecological units. The ecological units or Landtypes account for important site and disturbance factors 

affecting vegetation composition and structure. It is convenient to use the Landtype level of the 

ecological classification to account for these factors and to describe environmental conditions on the 

CNF. Current vegetation composition is reflected in the different Forest Types found within and 

between sites (Landtypes). However, Forest Types have not been classified in all areas and, in the 

discussion below, these acres are identified as "Not classified". Vegetation structure is reflected in seral 

stages in the following categories: early successional (0-10 years in age), mid successional (11-50 years 

in age), late successional (50+ years in age), and old growth (longleaf pine > 110 years in age, pond pine 

> 70 years in age, hardwoods > 100 years in age). 

Raised Peatlands: These communities are commonly known as pocosins and occur on very poorly 

drained peat soils and on mineral soils with a mucky surface. They are the most common and most 

extensive vegetation type on the CNF. There are 11 vegetation associations representing shrub and 

herb-dominated pocosin communities on the CNF. They are roughly equivalent to pond pine forest 

types (CISC) and occur in landtype phases 801, 802, and 803. The following Plant Associations can be 

found in the CNF: 

Atlantic White Cedar/Swamp Bay/Fetterbush-Sweet Gallberry Forest (Chamaecyparis thyoides/Persea palustris/lyonia lucida-Ilex coriacea) 

Atlantic White Cedar-Pond Pine Forest (Chamaecyparis thyoides-Pinus serotina) 

Loblolly Bay Woodland (Gordonia lasianthus) 

Pond Pine/ Titi-Fetterbush-Inkberry Woodland (Pinus serotina/Cyrilla racemosa-Lyonia lucida-Ilex glabra) 

Pond Pine-Loblolly Bay/Fetterbush Woodland Pinus serotina-Gordonia lasianthus/Lyonia lucida) 

Pond Pine/Titi- Fetterbush-Black Highbush Bludberry Woodland (Pinus serotina/Cyrilla racemosa-Lyonia lucida-Vaccinium fuscatum) 

Titi-Fetterbush Shrubland (Cyrilla racemosa-Lyonia lucida) 

Honeycups-Leatherleaf Shrubland (Zenobia pulverulenta-Chamaedaphne calyculata) 

Titi-Honeycups Shrubland (Cyrilla racemosa-Zonobia pulverulenta) 

Inkberry-Fetterbush Honeycups Shrubland (Ilex glabra-Lyonia lucida-Zenobia pulverulenta) 

Leatherleaf-Pocosin Sedge-Virginia Chain Fern Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Chamaedaphne calyculata-Carex striata var. striata- 

 Woodwardia virginica) 
106 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table 3.12. Forests in Raised Peatlands grouped into the following successional classes, shown in acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage--------------------------------------- Early Mid Late Old Growth Total 

Pond Pine Forest Type Condition 25,241 8,101 32,21 0 67,670 

Other Pine Forest Type Condition 441 810 747 24 2,023 

Hardwood Forest Type Condition 695 495 3,200 0 4.390 

Not Classified (no Forest Type) = 1,146 acres 

Pocosin community composition and distribution are controlled by site fertility, which is related to depth 

of peat and location within the landscape. Fire is a secondary control that triggers plant succession and 

affects vegetation stature and nutrient cycling. 

The least fertile sites occur in the center of the larger raised peatlands. In these areas, precipitation is the 

chief source of plant nutrients (Richardson 1981). Mixed evergreen-deciduous low pocosins and 

deciduous low pocosins occur in these areas. Titi, honeycups, little gallberry, and shining fetterbush are 

the dominant shrubs, and their height is maintained by extremely poor nutrient status and by occasional 

fire. Scattered pond pine, less than 5 meters tall, occurs but seldom exceeds 10 percent cover. 

Honeycups and leatherleaf shrubland dominate large peat-filled Carolina bays on slightly less infertile 

sites. Pond pine also forms a scattered, but less stunted, layer in these areas. Other characteristic 

species includes white wicky, Carolina sheeplaurel, red chokeberry, yellow pitcher plant, and Virginia 

chainfern. 

Pocosins on shallower peats are dominated by similar species, but most plants are taller than in low 

pocosins. Pond pine and loblolly bay dominate the overstory and shining fetterbush forms a dense 

understory over very large areas on peat domes and peat-filled Carolina bays. This vegetation forms 

unbroken blocks thousands of acres in size. Mixed within this matrix are shrublands dominated by titi, 

shining fetterbush, and swampbay without trees. Peat-mantled mineral soils support pocosins dominated 

by pond pine, titi, shining fetterbush, and black highbush blueberry. These pocosins occur in small 

depressions in sandy upland landscapes and differ in floristic composition, use by wildlife, and 

community dynamics (such as fire) from the more expansive low and high pocosins occurring in other 

landscapes. They often occur in a matrix with longleaf pine sand ridges. In all these situations, peat 

burn openings may be dominated by Southern peatland sedge and tawny cottongrass communities; these 

tend to fill back in with shrubs within a decade or so of fire exclusion. 

Rare peatland communities include switch cane shrublands and Atlantic White-cedar forests. Switch 

cane shrublands were formerly very widespread and abundant but are now uncommon due to fire 

suppression. The best remaining examples are in bomb impact areas at Fort Bragg. These peat wetlands 

are dominated by giant cane and switch cane without an overstory, or with widely scattered trees such as 

pond pine or swamp tupelo. Atlantic White-cedar occurs on nearly 100 acres of permanently saturated 

organic soils on the CNF. The canopy is dominated by white cedar with a moderate subcanopy of 

swamp blackgum, red maple, and swampbay. The shrub layer and herb layers have only moderate 

cover. These forests establish following crown replacement fires that partially consume the organic soil. 

Historically, vegetation in these communities burned at regular 2 to 4 year intervals similar to the 

adjacent uplands (Frost 1996). Dr. Lewis Anderson of Duke University explored the Open Ground 

Pocosin in the 1930s, and they still burned every 2-3 years at that time. Overlapping fires were common 

and could occur in successive years since the blackened but unburned woody stems form part of the fuel 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 107

for the next burn. Although the water table is high and the soils are frequently saturated, pocosins 

occasionally become dry enough to burn. Most of the pocosins were kept to low or medium stature by 

frequent fire. Some of the low pocosins burned often enough to maintain them in a more open nearly 

treeless, bog-like condition. 

Ditching, drainage, and conversion to pine plantations has occurred in some portions of the CNF within 

these communities, but significantly less than outside the Forest. In general, the stature of trees and 

shrubs has increased following years of fire suppression. Increases have occurred in the acreage of 

forests dominated by swamp red bay, loblolly bay, and sweet bay. On the less deep peats, high pocosins 

may form nearly closed canopies and resemble woodlands or forests. Blaspheme vine, loblolly bay, and 

titi have grown to dense and impenetrable thickets in most high pocosins on the CNF. Only the most 

nutrient limiting sites still retain the dwarfed pond pine and low shrub structure typical of low pocosins. 

Peat-mantled Forested Wetlands: These communities occur on broad, peat-mantled uplands on poorly 

drained mineral soils and are dominated by pond pine. Three vegetation associations are found on the 

CNF. These vegetation types are equivalent to pond pine and loblolly pine forest types (CISC) and 

occur in landtype phases 715 and 716. The following Plant Associations are attributed to the CNF: 

 

 Pond Pine/Titi-Fetterbush- Inkberry Woodland (Pinus serotina/Cyrilla recmosa-Lyonia lucida-Ilex glabra) 

 Pond Pine-Loblolly Bay/Fetterbush Woodland (Pinus serotina-Gordonia lasianthus/Lyonia lucida) 

 Pond Pine/Titi- Fetterbush-Black Highbush Bludberry Woodland (Pinus serotina/Cyrilla racemosa-Lyonia lucida-Vaccium fuscatum) 

Table 3.13. Forests in Peat-mantled Forested Wetlands grouped into the following successional classes, shown in acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- Early Mid Late Old Growth Total 

Pond Pine Forest Type Condition 1,400 1,182 5,388 9,793 17,766 

Loblolly and Longleaf Forest Type Condition 815 241 4,500 75 7,730 

Hardwood Forest Type Condition 335 124 5,076 0 5,535 

Not classified (no Forest Type) = 811 acres 

 

These evergreen forests and woodlands form a transition between pond pine dominated pocosins on 

shallower peats and mixed pine forests and woodlands. Tree stature is also intermediate between the 

dwarf forms found in the pocosin and tall, straight forms found in mixed pine stands. Loblolly bay may 

co-dominate with pond pine and form a nearly complete canopy. More often, pond pine dominates the 

canopy with only scattered loblolly bay. Other canopy species include sweetbay, swamp red bay, and 

red maple. A dense shrub layer forms the midcanopy and it is dominated by sweetbay, swamp red bay, 

and loblolly bay. The lower midcanopy includes titi, shining fetterbush, myrtle dahoon, Coastal sweetpepperbush, evergreen bayberry, black chokeberry, and Northern wild raisin. Herbs generally are 

uncommon. 

Originally, pond pine may have been the most abundant pine on the CNF, and there were probably a 

dozen different pond pine-dominated communities (Frost 1996). Stands of large trees with open to 

partially closed canopies would have been supported. W.W. Ashe (1894) described pond pine savannas 

in the Croatan region as very open, sunny stands. The canopy was nearly pure pond pine and the density 

varied from almost treeless to nearly closed. The understory was free of hardwoods and shrubs and 

there was a well-developed grassy layer with a large number of species. Where frequent fires occurred 

over a long time period, the pond pine woodland was dominated by giant cane, with few shrubs 

(Schafale and Weakley 1990). Frequently burned pond pine forests at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, just 
108 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

100 air miles from the CNF, have a pure pond pine canopy and an understory dominated by giant cane 

and cinnamon fern. These stands are burned an average of every 2 years. 

Vegetation in these communities is adapted to intense fire. Nearly all the shrubs and broadleaf trees are 

readily ignited and burn intensely. These species sprout from their roots after stem damage. Pond pine 

also sprouts readily after a fire and its seeds are held in serotinous cones that do not fully open until 

sufficient heat has accumulated. As a result, burned over areas are quickly revegetated. Under presettlement fire regimes, pond pine forests and woodlands burned nearly as frequently as the adjacent and 

often intergrading longleaf pine woodlands. As with other plant communities on the CNF, periodic and 

widespread hurricanes may cause extensive blowdown or other damage to trees. The recent Class II 

hurricanes, Bertha and Fran, affected thousands of acres on the CNF. Damage varied from entire stands 

blown down to only occasional "root sprung" trees. The heavier fuel loadings from downed trees would 

increase the probability of stand replacement fires in these communities until the smaller fuels decay. 

Although decay may take only a few years in the humid Coastal Plain environment, these conditions 

would be duplicated periodically by future hurricanes. 

The larger pond pine in these communities was extensively logged at the turn of the century. On upland 

flats where pond pine grew tall and straight, lumbermen seldom distinguished it from loblolly (Ashe 

1894). Ashe noted, "there are possibly 300 million board feet of the savanna pine (pond pine)...". 

Craven and Jones were mentioned as two of the six counties having the most pond pine in North 

Carolina (Pinchot & Ashe 1897). The best and most extensive remaining examples of tall forms of pond 

pine communities in the North Carolina Coastal Plain occur on the CNF. Fire suppression has led to 

dense understory growth and nearly impenetrable stands over extensive areas. 

Xeric to Wet Pine Savannas and Flatwoods: These plant communities occur in excessively drained to 

poorly drained sandy and loamy flatwoods and savannas and are dominated by longleaf pine and 

loblolly pine. Three plant associations currently or formerly supporting longleaf pine are found on the 

CNF. These vegetation types are equivalent to longleaf pine and loblolly pine forest types (CISC) and 

occur in landtype phases 920, 921, 1022, 1023, 1124, and 1225. The following Plant Associations are 

attributed to the CNF: 

 Longleaf Pine-Pine (Shortleaf,Loblolly-Oak (Bluejack,Sand Post,Southern Red,Turkey) (Pinus palustris-Pinus echinata, taeda-Quercus 

 incana, margarettiae, falcata, laevis) 

Longleaf Pine Upland Woodland (Pinus palustris) 

Longleaf Pine/Dwarf Indigo Bush/Wiregrass-Yellow Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Woodland (Pinus palustris/Amorpha 

 herbacea var. herbacea/Aristida stricta-Sorghastrum nutans) 

 Table 3.14. Forests in Xeric to Wet Pine Savannas and Flatwoods grouped into the following successional classes, shown in 

acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

Longleaf Pine Forest Type Condition 1,033 2,434 5,743 263 9,475 

Loblolly and Pond Pine Forest Type Condition 1,431 4,604 6,584 0 12,619 

Hardwood Forest Type Condition 68 38 3,967 0 4,073 

Not Classified (no Forest Type) = 804 acres 

Vegetation composition varies along a moisture and fire-effects continuum. Xeric sites are dominated 

by longleaf pine with a scattered turkey oak low midcanopy, and a wiregrass herb layer shared with 

wireplant, Carolina sandwort, sand spikemoss, common prickly pear and goats-rue. Wet and mesic sites 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 109

are dominated by longleaf pine or loblolly pine or by a mixture of these two species and the herb layer is 

diverse. The herb layer includes dwarf huckleberry, thread-softly, big bluestem, little bluestem, sweet 

goldenrod, stiffleaf aster, and summer farewell on the dry mesic sites and bracken fern, skeleton grass, 

switch cane, green sicklescale, pitchfork crown grass, yellow Indian grass, roundhead bushclover, 

summer farewell, flowering spurge, and sweet goldenrod on wetter sites. On mesic sites where fire has 

been excluded for more than 3 years, woody shrubs and midstory trees have rapidly invaded, and the 

stand is often impenetrable within a decade. Dense midstory trees include southern red oak, black oak, 

post oak, blackjack oak, turkey oak, sand hickory, mockernut hickory, and sweetgum. 

Savannas and flatwoods on the CNF are generally open forests with a fire-maintained bilayered 

structure. The understory is herbaceous in savannas and the canopy is more open. The understory is 

more shrubby in flatwoods and the canopy may be nearly closed. Pure longleaf pine forests and mixed 

longleaf and loblolly or mixed longleaf, loblolly and pond pine occur in these conditions on the CNF. 

Virgin longleaf pine forests were described as "vast forests of the most stately pine trees that can be 

imagined... expansive, airy pine forests...of the great long-leaved pine...the earth covered with grass, 

interspersed with an infinite variety of herbaceous plants, and embellished with extensive savannas, 

always green" (Bartram 1791). On the CNF, and throughout the Southeast, these conditions still exist 

but only in a few isolated stands. 

The longleaf pine forests have changed significantly since the beginning of European settlement. 

Presettlement longleaf pine forests occupied up to 90 million acres in the Southern United States 

(Wallenberg 1946). In 1986 less than 4 million acres remained, and the best estimate today is less than 

3 million acres. On the CNF, longleaf pine now occupies less than 30 percent of its original range (Frost 

1996). 

Large-scale commercial logging began in the South in the 1880s and followed naval store operations 

that had eliminated or weakened longleaf pine forests and woodlands. The slash left behind fueled large 

forest fires, which triggered an extensive and successful fire suppression campaign. Fire control further 

reduced longleaf pine because hardwoods were quick to invade these sites. Instead of the two-layered 

structure typical of natural longleaf communities, there are now heavy shrub and midstory layers of 

loblolly pine, scrub oaks and southern red oak. The resulting shade and deep pine needle litter has 

completely eliminated wiregrass and the original diverse herb layer on many sites. 

The disappearance of longleaf pine, however, began well before the 1800s. Historical records suggest 

three causal agents: 1) the inherently low rate of restocking under natural conditions, 2) the fondness of 

feral livestock, especially hogs, for the seedlings, and 3) 20th century fire suppression. 

In the 1600s, English settlement in the coastal region of the Southeast included land clearing and 

establishment of large hog and livestock herds that fed on longleaf pine seedlings in the open range. 

Hogs have been observed to consume up to 400 longleaf pine seedlings, each, in a day (Hopkins 1947a, 

1947b). By the 1700s, hogs were so plentiful that they were often left out of landowners property 

appraisals. It was not until after the Civil War, in the late 1800s, that laws required fencing of livestock 

pastures. But by then, the damage to longleaf pine regeneration had been done by tens of thousands of 

hogs that exceeded the carrying capacity of the land. Longleaf communities on the most fertile soils 

were converted to farmland and pasture during this same period. 
110 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine were collectively called naval stores (Ashe 1894, Mohr 1896) and were 

produced in the Southeast almost exclusively from longleaf pine. These were essential commodities 

until the development of petroleum-derived substances in the mid 1800's. Wagons could not move 

without tar to grease the axles, and ships could not sail without tar and pitch for waterproofing cordage 

and sails, for caulking leaks, and for coating hulls to prevent destruction by shipworms (Wertenbaker 

1931). Naval stores operations began in Virginia in the 1600s, but by 1840 no further naval stores 

production was listed (U.S. Census Office 1841). In 1893, forester B.E. Fernow concluded that, "In 

Virginia the long-leaf pine is, for all practical purposes, extinct". Recent surveys have confirmed that 

longleaf pine has been completely eliminated from 11 of the 15 counties where it originally occurred in 

Virginia. 

Introduction of the copper still in 1834 greatly expanded naval stores operations and by 1850 North 

Carolina became the world's leading supplier (U.S. Census of Manufactures). By 1900, the industry had 

passed on to the South, leaving vacant land or scarred longleaf pine survivors. It took approximately 33 

large-diameter longleaf pine trees to produce a 50-gallon barrel of distilled turpentine, and thousands of 

barrels of turpentine per year were produced in North Carolina. 

The logging boom of the late 19th century left cutover lands and dense, scrubby second growth. Fire 

exclusion over much of the region was the final and probably most important factor that transformed the 

sunny, open, fire-maintained longleaf pine woodlands to dense closed forests. On all but the drier land, 

longleaf reproduction was eliminated by loblolly pine reproduction and hardwood and shrub invasion 

within a few years after fire exclusion (Sherrard 1903). Forest succession on abandoned cropland 

between 1940 and 1965 and revegetation of dry-mesic sites once used as naval stores, offset some of 

these losses of longleaf pine. Active fire suppression did not occur in most of the South until 1910 to 

1930. Many longleaf pine stands regenerated between the end of open range and the beginning of 20th 

century fire suppression. Most naturally regenerated stands that still remain date to this period. 

Drainage Headlands and Interstream Flats, Broad Interstream Flats: Communities in this group occur in 

dissected drainage headlands and undissected interstream flats. Headlands are dominated by mixed 

pines and hardwoods while loblolly pine and pond pine dominate the wet, undissected uplands. Three 

plant associations characterized as mixed pine-hardwood occur on the CNF. These vegetation types are 

roughly equivalent to loblolly pine and bottomland hardwood-yellow pine forest types (CISC) and occur 

in landtype phases 510, 511, 512, 613, and 614. The following Plant Associations are attributed to the 

CNF: 

 Loblolly Pine-Water Oak/Shrubs/Mixed Herbs Upland Forest (Pinus taeda-Quercus nigra) 

 Loblolly Pine-Oak (Willow, Water, Diamondlea) Temporarily Flooded Forest (Pinus taeda-Quercus phellow, nigra, laurifolia) 

 Loblolly Pine-Sweetgum-Red Maple Saturated Forest (Pinus taeda-Liquidambar styraciflua-Acer rubrum) 

Table 3.15. Forests in Drainage Headlands and Interstream Flats grouped into the following successional classes, shown in 

acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

Loblolly and Pond Pine Forest Type Condition 500 1,637 4,537 0 6,675 

Hardwood Forest Type Condition 0 55 2,310 0 2,365 

Longleaf Pine Forest Type Condition 19 60 1,030 0 1,109 

Not Classified (no Forest Type) = 263 acres 

 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 111

The mixed pine forests and woodlands vary in composition along a subtle moisture gradient. 

Hardwoods are more often equally mixed with pines on moderately well drained to somewhat poorly 

drained sites. These mesic to dry-mesic loblolly-oak-hickory forests are often dominated by mixtures of 

loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, white oak, southern red oak, post oak, and occasionally longleaf pine. 

Associates include sourwood and dogwood. Successional forests on the most mesic sites are dominated 

by loblolly pine, sweetgum, and tulip poplar. On poorly drained sites, pines are more often dominant. 

These sites support pond pine, loblolly pine, and longleaf pine mixed woodland stands with giant cane, 

toothache grass, inkberry, sweetgum, and water oak in the understory. Loblolly pine plantations with 

very sparse understories occur on many of these sites. 

Very little is known about pre-settlement conditions in mixed pine woodlands and forests. We do know 

that many were two-layered communities with trees over grass (Frost 1996). Where fire was irregular 

enough to permit establishment of hardwoods, compositions were often mixed pine and hardwood and 

not two-layered. Ashe (1915) described the following various mixtures of loblolly, longleaf, pond pine, 

and shortleaf pine in the original mixed pine forest and woodlands in the Croatan region: " Only in a few 

localities are all four pines found growing together. Near the coast the loblolly, pocosin (pond pine), 

and longleaf pine are sometimes associated on sandy hummocks; the wettest places, however, are as a 

rule occupied by the pocosin pine; the pocosin and the loblolly pine are associated on savannas and 

slightly drier knolls; on better drained soils the longleaf replaces the pocosin pine in the mixture and on 

thoroughly drained soils only the longleaf pine is found." 

Plant communities in this group occur along the broad middle section of the fire frequency/fire effects 

continuum and range from mixed pine savanna to somewhat fire-protected woodlands. Fire was the 

most common disturbance and its frequency was variable, probably ranging from every 5 to 12 years. 

Periodic and widespread hurricanes may cause extensive blowdown or other damage to trees. The 

recent Class II hurricanes, Bertha and Fran, affected thousands of acres on the CNF. Most damage 

occurred in poorly drained Landtypes such as Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats. 

Damage varied from entire stands blown down to only occasional "root sprung" trees. The heavier fuel 

loadings from downed trees would increase the probability of stand replacement fires in these 

communities until the smaller fuels decay. Although decay may take only a few years in the humid 

Coastal Plain environment, these conditions would be periodically duplicated by future hurricanes. 

Even more recently, a southern pine beetle outbreak damaged many of the overcrowded loblolly 

plantations in this zone. 

Most mixed pine stands have changed significantly since European settlement, experiencing similar 

disturbances and effects to those that occurred in longleaf pine stands. The original range of mixed pine 

forests has also been significantly reduced. Most of the better soils (finer textured sands and loams) 

were converted to farmland 100 to 200 years ago. Areas too wet to farm were logged, and succeeded to 

loblolly pine. Only small remnants of mixed pine savanna persist today. They are hard to distinguish 

from fire-suppressed former longleaf pine communities that have been logged and invaded by other pine 

species. Most are now dominated by loblolly pine and pond pine with a dense tall shrub and hardwood 

layer in the understory. 

Lake and Stream Swamps: These swamplands include cypress and hardwood forests associated with 

small streams, lake margins, and upland depressions. Most swamps on the CNF are relatively narrow 

and long. They occur on both deep mucks and mineral soils and are seasonally to semi permanently 
112 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

flooded. Ten vegetation associations representing tree-dominated swamp communities and two 

representing herb-dominated swamp communities are found on the CNF. These vegetation types are 

roughly equivalent to sweetgum-Nuttall oak-willow, sweetbay-swamp tupelo-red maple, and bottomland 

hardwoods-yellow pine forest types (CISC) and occur in landtype phases 204 and 205. The following 

Plant Associations are attributed to the CNF: 

 

Water Tupelo Forest ( Nyssa aquatica) 

 Sweetgum/Swampbay Forest (Liquidambar styraciflua/Persea palustris) 

 Swamp Tupelo/Virginia Willow-Button Bush Depression Forest (Nyssa biflora/Itea virginica-Cephalanthus occidentalis) 

 Black Willow Flooded Forest (Salix nigra) 

 Black Willow/Coastal Sweet Pepperbush/Water Tupelo Successional Forest (Salix nigra/Clethra alnifolia/Nyssa aquatica) 

 Pond Cypress / Myrtle Dahoon Depression Forest (Taxodium ascendens/Ilex myritifolia) 

 Pond Cypress (Swamp Tupelo)/Swamp Doghobble-Buttonbush-Waxmyrtle Depression Forest (Taxodium ascendens (Nyssa biflora)/Leucothoe 

 racemosa-Cephalanthus occidentalis-Myrica cerifera 

 Water Tupelo-Swamp Tupelo Forest (Nyssa aquatica-Nyssa biflora) 

 Bald Cypress-Water Tupelo/Carolina Ash Forest (Taxodium distichum-Nyssa aquatica/Fraxinus caroliniana) 

 Bald Cypress-Water Tupelo/ Carolina Ash/Virginia Willow Forest (Taxodium distichum-Nyssa aquatica/Fraxinus caroloiniana/Itea virginica) 

 Narrowleaf Pondlily Herbaceous Vegetation (Nuphar lutea ssp. sagittifolia) 

 Broadleaf Pondlily-Big Floatingheart-Loose Watermilfoil Herbaceous Vegetation (Nuphar aquatica-Nuphar lutea ssp.advena-Myriophyllum 

laxum) 

Table 3.16. Forests within Lake and Stream Swamps grouped into the following successional classes, shown in acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

Hardwood Forest Type Condition 206 60 5,863 0 6,129 

Pine Forest Type Condition 204 184 1,228 0 1,617 

Not Classified (no Forest Type) = 124 acres 

 

Flooding depth and duration control the distribution and composition of swamp communities. Swamps 

that are seasonally flooded for brief periods are transitional to uplands and are dominated by mixtures of 

oak (overcup, nuttall) and water hickory. Peppervine, sweetgum, red maple, planer-tree, storax, 

shoreline sedge, swamp smartweed, and sensitive fern are associated in these areas. Swamps that are 

semi permanently flooded are more common on the CNF and include associations belonging to the 

Water Tupelo - (bald-cypress) Semi permanently Flooded Forest Alliance. On permanently saturated 

soils on low wet flats and sloughs, swales and backswamps, water tupelo may dominate the forest 

canopy without bald-cypress. Water tupelo occurs on the borders of shallow alluvial swamps and flats 

near uplands. Associates include green ash, black willow, titi, swamp doghobble, poison oak, and 

peppervine. Swamp blackgum communities are also found as the dominant canopy member in peaty or 

mucky, wet depressions. Other bottomland species may occur in these communities, but they make up 

less than one third of the canopy. Shrubs are scarce, and floating logs and stumps provide habitat for a 

sparse herbaceous stratum. Forests with a dense canopy of straight, tall bald-cypress and water tupelo 

are found in oxbow lakes and ponds, along the banks of rivers and lakes, on low wet flats and sloughs, 

swales and backswamps. Forests dominated by black willow occur in some areas where Bald-cypress 

and water tupelo have been clearcut. Swamp tupelo, water ash, and Virginia willow are associated with 

bald-cypress and water tupelo in swamps along many small blackwater streams. 

Less extensive swamp types include depressions dominated by pond-cypress, tidally flooded areas 

dominated by swamp blackgum and bald cypress, and lake shores dominated by sweetgum. Pondcypress occurs in depressions or backswamps and have a closed to open tree canopy, little understory 

with shrubs and herbs established on fallen logs, tree bases or areas where the substrate is elevated. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 113

Common associates include myrtle dahoon, swamp tupelo, sweetbay, red maple, swamp red bay, coastal 

sweet-pepperbush, cinnamon fern, sedges, bullrushes, and pondweeds. Tidally flooded forests in lower, 

estuarine reaches contain communities in the Swamp Blackgum - (Bald-cypress) Forest Alliance. Other 

species common in these areas are wax myrtle and swamp rose. Sweetgum swamp communities occur 

in an extensive peatland along the shores of Great Lake. Sweetgum dominates the canopy, and the 

subcanopy is dominated by swampbay. Also uncommon are herbaceous communities associated with 

blackwater river, streams, and lakes that are dominated by narrowleaf pond lily. 

Swamps on the CNF rarely experience wildfire, being protected by their wetness and location at the 

bottom of fire-sheltered slopes. Fire intervals are estimated to be from 100-300 years, and extensive 

fires only occur during years of extreme drought. Pure stands of bald-cypress are evidence of such 

events. Hurricanes cause the most disturbances in swamps, and apparently affect hardwoods more than 

bald-cypress or Pond-cypress. 

Most bald-cypress was logged before the end of the 19th century on the CNF. In 1884, there was 

scarcely any cypress suitable for sawmills in Carteret County (Ashe 1894) and in Craven County. Ashe 

stated that "the supply of cypress and ash in the river swamps is nearly exhausted". There are few 

swamps on the CNF where old bald-cypress trees remain. In most areas, removal of the large cypress 

resulted in the closure of the water tupelo and swamp tupelo canopy. Little regeneration of bald-cypress 

has occurred on these tupelo-dominated sites during the last century. Recent hurricanes, Bertha and 

Fran (1996), resulted in extensive blowdown and damage to red maple, blackgum, and water tupelo in 

some of these swamps. 

Stream and River Terraces and Drainage Slopes: This group includes partially fire-sheltered terraces 

associated with stream swamps and rivers and dominated by mesophytic hardwoods and dry mesic to 

mesic hardwood dominated slopes between drainages and uplands. Ten vegetation associations that 

represent forests belonging to this group occur on the CNF. These vegetation types are roughly 

equivalent to bottomland hardwoods-yellow pine, and sweetgum-nuttal oak-willow forest types (CISC) 

and occur on landtype phases 306, 307, 408, and 409. The following Plant Associations are attributed to 

the CNF: 

American Beech-White Oak-Maple(Southern Sugar,Chalk)/Mixed Herbs Forest (Fagus grandifolia-Quercus alba-Acer barbatum,leucoderme) 

Sweetgum Forest (Liquidambar styraciflua) 

White Oak-Mockernut Hickory/Mayberry Forest (Quercus alba-Carya alba/Vaccium elliottii) 

White Oak -Pignut Hickory-Mockernut Hickory/Red BuckeyForest (Quercus alba-Carya glabra-Carya alba/Aesculus pavia) 

Sweetgum-Tuliptree-Red Maple Temporarily Flooded Forest (Liquidambar styraciflua-Lireodendron tulipifera-Acer rubrum) 

Black Willow Temporarily Flooded Forest (Salix nigra) 

Laurel Oak/Ironwood/Common Water-willow Forest (Quercus laurifolia/Carpinus caroliniana/Justicia ovata) 

Overcup Oak-Water Hickory Seasonally Flooded Forest (Quercus lyrata-Carya aquatica) 

Overcup Oak-Water Hickory/Pepper-vine Forest (Quercus lyrata-Carya aquatica/Ampelopsis arborea) 

Sand Laurel Oak-Pignut Hickory-American Beech Forest (Quercus hemisphaerica-Carya glabra-Fagus grandifolia) 

Table 3.17. Forests within Stream and River Terrace grouped into the following successional classes, shown in acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

Hardwood Forest Type Condition 0 0 1,730 0 1,730 

Pine Forest Type Condition 111 479 1,214 0 1,804 

Not Classified (no Forest Type) = 158 acres 

 
114 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Hardwood forests in this group vary in composition according to their degree of protection from fire. 

Many stands in this group have provided the only refuge for upland hardwood species on the CNF. 

Communities on slopes are closest to uplands that experience frequent burning and are dominated by 

white oak, black oak, pignut hickory, and red hickory. The understory is sparse and includes heartleafs, 

downy rattlesnake orchid, pipsissiwa, woodland tick-trefoil, and rattlesnake hawkweed. Historical 

accounts from the Croatan area mention upland oaks and hickories on fire-protected sites only. On sites 

completely protected from fire, such as those adjacent stream swamps, American beech was dominant 

and still exists today in isolated stands. 

Under natural fire regimes, fire frequency was between 7 and 12 years. Fires were typically low 

intensity and carried slowly through the matted hardwood leaf litter. High winds from frequent storms 

are the most important disturbance. They create small gaps which are much more common than the total 

stand damage of hurricanes. Most hardwood communities on the CNF had been logged by the turn of 

the century. Modern forestry practices have favored these stands as habitat for wildlife and therefore 

little recent logging activity has occurred. 

Hardwood forests on the CNF are still distributed according to a fire-effects gradient. On some sites, 

pines have been favored and hardwoods have been eliminated from the canopy but persist in the 

understory. However, with a long period of fire suppression, there has been a general increase in the 

proportion of hardwoods to pines across all sites on the CNF. 

Tidal Streams and Estuaries: These salt, brackish, and brackish-fresh water marshes are associated with 

coastal estuarine systems and are dominated by sedges, grasses, and herbs. Four plant associations 

representing marsh communities are found on the CNF. They occur in landtype phases 101, 102, and 

103. Forest type is coded '0' in CISC, but many of the marshes are coded as upland forest and reflect 

apparent invasion by woody shrubs and trees in this zone. The following Plant Associations are 

attributed to the CNF: 

Seaside Oxeye/Saltmeadow Cordgrass Shrubland (Borrichia frutescens/Spartina patens) 

Needlerush Herbaceous Vegetation (Juncus roemerianus) 

Saltmarsh Cordgrass Carolinian Zone Herbaceous Vegetation (Sparina alternifolia) 

Wild Rice Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Zizania aquatica)

Table 3.18. Forests in Tidal Stream and Estuaries grouped into the following successional classes, shown in acres. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

Current Forest Type Condition 0 71 731 0 802 

Unclassified (no Forest Type) = 502 acres 

 

Tidal waters affect salinity and influence the distribution of species in marshes along a salt tolerance 

gradient. Marshes that are regularly tidally flooded are characterized by discrete, dense patches of black 

needle rush. Associates that occur at low cover may include sea ox-eye, groundsel-tree, saltmarsh 

cordgrass, salt grass, and perennial salt marsh aster. Although this community exhibits little floristic 

variation across its range, it supports a large variety of animal species. Along the mouths of streams and 

small swamp drainages where water is less saline, marshes are dominated by saltmarsh cordgrass. Other 

less saline marshes are dominated by salt grass. Marshes fringing tidal freshwater rivers may be 

dominated by wild rice communities. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 115

While flooding regime and salinity control the distribution of vegetation in marshes, fire plays an 

important role in regulating plant succession. Historically, marshes burned on a regular basis, being 

ignited by the adjacent, frequently burned pine uplands (Frost 1995). Fire has been shown to have a 

number of effects on nutrient release and productivity increase in marsh (De la Cruz and Hackney 1980; 

Hackney 1982). Fire removes the heavy thatch that builds up in 2 to 5 years, opening up habitat for 

colonization by new plants. Regular burning allows constant establishment of shade-intolerant herbs, 

maintaining biological diversity. 

Marsh community composition and hydrology have been altered on the CNF through past fire 

suppression and ditching for mosquito control. Reduction of fire frequency intervals has lead to 

increases in dominance by single species and, on sites with lower salinity or shallower water, succession 

to red maple, max myrtle, and pine. Woody succession is most extensive in the marshes along the 

White Oak River. Although mosquito control ditching has also been extensive along the White Oak 

River, it has probably had little long-term effect on vegetation distribution. This ditching occurred 

decades ago and sediments from the uplands have filled most channels. 

Maritime Ridges and Dunes: These uplands that fringe salt or brackish water are characterized by plant 

communities having a component of live oak. There are less than 50 acres on the CNF that could 

potentially support these types of communities. The following Plant Associations are attributed to the 

CNF: 

Live Oak- Yaupon Shrubland (Quercus virginia-Ilex vomitoria) 

Mulletbush-Bigleaf Marsh Elder-Wax Myrtle-Yaupon Shrubland (Baccharis halimifolia-Iva frutescens-Myrica cerifera-Ilex vomitoria) 

 Bigleaf Marsh Elder Shrubland (Iva frutescens ssp. frutescens) 

Some maritime forests have a low tree canopy often stunted and pruned by salt spray and dominated by 

live oak, Darlington oak, and loblolly pine. Understory vegetation is dominated by red bay, dogwood, 

yaupon, wax myrtle, and dwarf palmetto. The characteristic maritime shrub types occur in wetland flats 

and interdune swales and are dominated by dense thickets of wax-myrtle and are sometimes intermixed 

with red cedar. Others have yaupon and other evergreen shrubs often tied together with seaside 

greenbrier. 

There are few good examples of maritime plant communities on the CNF. Those that do occur appear 

as scattered remnants in mixed pine stands. Nearly three centuries of human exploitation and 

disturbance have nearly eliminated these communities. All the live oak in the region was sought out and 

removed for ship timber during the 18th and 19th centuries (Wood 1981). Fire suppression has also led 

to less open conditions as shrub have invaded and proliferated on the sites. 

Limesink Ponds: These depression ponds occur in limesink complexes and are usually less than a few 

acres in size. Ponds appear to be products of natural impoundments of old streams (Otte and Whetstone 

1979) and some exhibit "sinkhole' or Carolina bay forms (Fussell and Wilson 1980). They are 

permanently flooded in the center and grade outward to the prevailing hydrology of the surrounding area 

(Schafale and Weakley 1990) and are usually surrounded by longleaf pine sandhills and savannas. The 

greatest concentration of limesink ponds on the CNF is in the Patsy Pond Natural Area. The following 

Plant Associations are attributed to the CNF: 
116 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Wright's Witchgrass-Erect-leaved Witch Grass Herbaceous Vegetation (Dichanthelium wrightianum-Dichanthelium erectifolium) 

Maidencane-Spikerush-Narrow-fruit Horned Beakrush Herbaceous Vegetation (Panicum hemitomon-Eleocharis equisetoiedes- 

 Rhynchospora inundata) 

 Threadleaf Beakrush-Bullrush Herbaceous Vegetation (Rhynchospora filifolia-Juncus aborvtivus) 

Pond vegetation occurs in a complex of zones, often concentric but sometimes irregular. The deepest 

parts may be open water or may support aquatic plants such as water lily (Nymphaea odorata), big 

floatingheart (Nymphoides aquatica), cowlily (Nuphar lutea), and bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) The 

lower margins of ponds are frequently flooded and normally support Threadleaf Beaksedge - Pondshore 

Rush Plant Associations. Other characteristic species in this zone include coastal beakrush 

(Rhynchospora pleiantha) and three-angle spikerush (Eleocharis tricostata). Mid-margins of limesink 

ponds are flooded for a shorter period than low margins. The Wright Witchgrass-Erectleaf Witchgrass 

Plant Association occurs in this zone. Other characteristic species include West-Indies meadow-beauty 

(Rhexia cubensis), red-top panic grass (Panicum rigidulum var. combsii), and white screwstem 

(Bartonia verna). Most ponds are surrounded by a dense zone of shrubs, often pocosin-like, and 

dominated by Ti-ti (Cyrilla racemiflora), Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), Inkberry (Ilex glabra), and Myrtle 

Dahoon (Ilex myritifolia). 

Human use in and adjacent to these sensitive areas has resulted in degradation of some sites. The 

margins of some limesink ponds have been altered by off-road vehicles, leading to soil erosion and 

vegetation destruction. Fire suppression in uplands has reduced the frequency of burning in these 

communities. The dense zone of shrubs has become even more dense and enlarged around some ponds 

due to lack of burning. 

Rare Plants: The diverse habitats and plant associations on the CNF currently support 39 rare plant 

species. Since intensive surveys have been completed on only a portion of the CNF, it is likely that an 

additional 46 rare plant species could occur on the CNF based on their known habitat preferences. 

Because of the large number of rare species and documented populations on the CNF and the continued 

development of other land, in the Atlantic Coastal Flatwoods Section, maintenance and expansion of 

rare plant species populations and the habitats that support them has been and would continue to be a 

high priority on the Forest. The status and number of documented populations of rare species that occur 

or are likely to occur on the CNF are listed below. Endangered Species include plants in danger of 

extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range. Threatened species include plants that 

are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all or significant portion of their 

range. Sensitive species are plants at risk of extinction in a portion of their range. Locally Rare species 

are those plants that are not Endangered, Threatened, or Sensitive but are uncommon on the CNF and in 

North Carolina and are considered to be in jeopardy within the State. Refer to Appendices F and H for 

additional information about the risks to the viability of these species. Rare plants found on the CNF 

and those likely to occur are in the following categories: 

Table 3.19. Categories of rare plants found on the CNF. 

 Locally -----------Species Class----------- 

 T&E Sensitive rare Vascular Non-vascular plant 

 species species species plant Mosses Liverworts 

# of documented species 1 15 23 37 2 0 

# of documented populations 5 87 75 167 3 0 

 

# species likely to occur 0 17 29 44 0 2 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 117

EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennntttaaalll CCCooonnnssseeeqqquuueeennnccceeesss

Wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, timber harvest sustainability, and the scenic environment on 

the CNF all depend upon the types and condition of forests, shrublands, and open savanna and their 

distribution and abundance on the landscape. Activities that change vegetation composition and 

structure often affect all these resources simultaneously. Effects may be positive, neutral, or negative 

and they may be short or long term. Knowing how the current vegetation condition is likely to change 

under the different alternatives would provide a better understanding of impacts to other resources. 

Natural disturbance, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and insect outbreaks, and forest management 

practices, such as road building and timber harvest, can greatly influence vegetation composition and 

structure. The response of vegetation depends upon the season, intensity, and extent of these 

disturbances but is also controlled by site factors such as soil drainage, soil fertility, and landform (Frost 

1996, Simon, Buncick, Manning 1997). Equally important are the physiological adaptations that many 

species in the Coastal Plain have developed that allow them to regenerate following disturbance and 

maintain their presence on the landscape. 

Plant Adaptations to Disturbance: Plants on the CNF follow one or several strategies for responding to 

disturbance. They include: (1) invasion, (2) evasion, (3) avoidance, (4) resistance, or (5) endurance 

(J.S.Rowe 1983). In general, invaders, evaders, and avoiders rely on seed propagation for survival while 

resisters and endurers rely on vegetative mechanisms. Such modes of persistence allow many species to 

be retained on site or to quickly reoccupy sites following disturbance. 

Invaders produce abundant wind-desseminated seeds that germinate readily in open areas. They are 

often weedy and short-lived, shade-intolerant species such as pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), a 

perennial, fireweed (Erichtites hieracifolia), an annual that regenerates profusely especially in burned 

areas, and broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), a perennial that can rapidly invade burned pocosins. 

Virginia chainfern (Woodwardia virginica) also regenerates readily in disturbed pocosins but from 

windborne spores. Some long-lived species like loblolly pine are invaders on disturbed mineral soils but 

also follow strategies of resistance when older. 

Evaders produce seeds that remain viable for a long period of time and are protected in the soil or in tree 

crowns. They evade high temperatures of fire and germinate rapidly in openings. Seedbanks of Atlantic 

white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) stored below the soil surface are able to regenerate after 

disturbance eliminates most all surface vegetation. Some species have hard or refractory seeds that are 

triggered to germinate by fire-induced temperatures (Uggla, 1958; Vogl, 1974). Pond pines release 

seeds only after being heated enough to open their serotinous cones. Pond pine, the most common 

species on the CNF, also has an endurance strategy and can resprout vigorously after above ground 

stems are killed by fire, wind, or insects. 

Avoiders occur in landscape positions that are furthest away from disturbance and prosper where 

disturbance cycles are long. They include many species that are easily killed by fire such as American 

beech and all magnolias. 

Resisters have above ground parts, such as thick bark on old stems that successfully resist disturbances 

such as fire. Most trees do not have this ability in juvenile stages. However, the seedling grass stage of 
118 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

longleaf pine is very fire resistant and trees even at young ages have fire-resistant bark and self prune 

lower branches that could carry fire into their crowns. 

Endurers include the largest group of species on the CNF. They have the ability to resprout from stem 

bases, rhizomes, root crowns, roots, or other below ground organs. Virtually all the savanna and 

pocosin herbs and shrubs on the CNF are long-lived and have the underground resources to recover after 

wind, insects, or fire kills back the shoot (Snyder 1980). Pond pine can form epicormic sprouts 

throughout their lower and upper bole following disturbance. Some of the most dramatic sprouters are 

dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) and Honeycups (Zenobia pulverulenta) (Abrahamson, 1984: 

Schafale and Weakley 1990). All the xeric oaks sprout, including turkey oak (Quercus laevis), bluejack 

oak (Quercus incana) and sand post oak (Quercus margarettae). The position of the regenerating bud, 

which is important in successful sprouting, is influenced by the depth of the humus layer, soil moisture, 

and the time since the last disturbance. As ecosystems increase in biomass, the rooting systems tend to 

migrate upwards into thickening duff, into the zone of maximum biological activity and nutrient release 

(Snyder 1980). Biomass increases when fire is suppressed in systems adapted to short-interval 

disturbance. When fires do occur, sprouting mechanisms near the soil surface can be destroyed. 

Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) is another endurer that is favored by repeated low-intensity fires. This 

species normally does not flower unless it is burned (Parrott 1967). It forms a large component in the 

most flammable fuel type on the CNF, the longleaf pine savanna, and seems to support the idea that 

plant communities dependent on fire have been selected for increased flammability (Mutch 1970). 

Some phenomena can generally be expected in the region: (1) Deep burning long-interval fires may 

virtually eliminate sprouting species and clear the ground for invading species (occurs following years 

of fire suppression). (2) In shorter fire cycles with low fuel buildup and fire intensities, species tend to 

stay rooted in mineral soil where they survive and contribute to early recolonization after fire (all pine 

savannas and flatwoods on the CNF). (3) Frequent fires favor sprouting shade-intolerant species and 

those that store seeds (pocosin and pond pine woodlands). (4) An intermediate-length fire interval favors 

species that are resistant in the adult stage, along with those that store seeds in the canopy (older stands 

in the pine uplands). (5) Systems with long intervals between disturbance are dominated by the 

pioneering invaders (few types on the CNF, may include bald cypress). 

Natural Community Restoration versus Maintenance of the Current Condition: The proposed 

alternatives vary considerably in the interpretation of pre-settlement vegetation condition in the Croatan 

area and how they allocate land and prescribe treatments to reach a desired condition. In Alternatives B, 

C, and E, management activities would focus on restoration to more natural plant community 

composition and distribution that reflects the long-term adaptation of species and communities to fire, 

wind, drought, and insect outbreaks. It is reasoned that pre-settlement plant communities and the 

animals they support are more resilient to these types of disturbances since they experienced them in the 

past and are likely to experience them in the future. It is also understood that trying to emulate the 

natural patch sizes created by wildfires or hurricanes through management, e.g. extensive stand 

replacement prescribed burning or timber harvest, is not feasible or prudent. The current fragmented 

landscape also necessitates that some plant communities and sites that support threatened or endangered 

plants be protected, to the extent possible, from widespread habitat changes that could result in species 

extirpation. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 119

Alternatives B, C, and E propose activities that shift the current composition of plant communities on 

the CNF to one more similar to that found before European settlement. This shift in vegetation 

composition would occur gradually in Alternative B because the frequency of prescribed burning and 

the acres burned would be less, tree rotation length would be greater, and no clearcutting would be used 

to restore longleaf pine. Alternative C, on the other hand, would restore all longleaf pine sites as soon as 

the off-site species occupying the site are mature. Alternative E is similar to Alternative C, but slower in 

restoration and emphasizes 2-aged over clearcutting regeneration. Prescribed fire would be more 

frequent, would occur on more acres, and would be used during seasons more similar to when natural 

fires occur. 

Alternatives A and D propose activities that foster the current vegetation composition and structure. 

There would be limited restoration of natural communities. In Alternative D, prescribed fire would be 

used as extensively as in Alternative C, but fewer acres would be burned during seasons similar to when 

natural fires occur. 

Affected Landtypes: In Alternatives B, C, C-modified, and E, Management Prescription boundaries 

follow ecological land unit (Landtype) boundaries generally to the extent practical. The response of 

plant communities to the proposed activities are thus controlled not only by the current plant community 

condition but also by the limitations and capabilities of the ecological types and the management 

prescription. In general, the Hardwood-Cypress Wetland and River Corridors eligible for Wild and 

Scenic Rivers Management Prescriptions are defined by the boundaries of the Lake and Stream Swamp 

Landtype. The Hardwood Restoration Prescription follows the natural boundaries of the Stream and 

River Terraces and Stream and River Slopes Landtypes. Pine Savanna and the RCW HMA follow 

closely the boundaries of Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods, Drainage Headlands and Broad 

Interstream Flats, and some Forested Wetlands. The Bear Habitat Prescription follows Raised Peatland 

and Forested Wetlands Landtype boundaries. By matching the Landtypes discussed in the effects 

analysis with maps of Management Prescriptions, a more complete picture of landscape level effects is 

possible. 

Landtypes most affected by likely future activities can be narrowed to primarily 4 types: Pine Savanna, 

Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats, Peat Mantled forested wetlands, and Raised Peatlands. 

The remaining landtypes are least affected because activities are restricted or not likely to occur on those 

lands. 

Table 3.20 provides information to compare effects of likely activities by alternative and landtype. 

Current vegetation composition is reflected by Forest Type and potential vegetation composition by 

Landtype 

 Proposed activities that would occur during the 10-year period of Forest Plan implementation and that 

could potentially affect plant community can be grouped into three broad categories: ground 

disturbance, overstory removal, and midstory control. This order of listing reflects the magnitude of 

potential effects, from high to low, for each type of activity. 

Ground disturbance occurs: (1) in road, trail, pond and wildlife opening construction, (2) when soils are 

plowed and bedded during reforestation, (3) along skid trails in logging operations, (4) during roller 

chopping, and (5) at developed and dispersed recreation sites. These activities can crush or uproot 
120 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

vegetation and displace or remove soil. There is a complete loss of vegetation on roads, trails, ponds, 

and developed camping spots: even if maintenance ceases on these spots, plant succession may be slow. 

If significant soil loss occurs, site potentials may not return to predisturbance conditions for centuries. 

Wildlife openings, on the other hand, are revegetated quickly. Similarly, bedded sites are revegetated 

with planted trees and, in the moist Coastal Plain environment, are quickly invaded by the surrounding 

vegetation. However, species composition in bedded plantations can be altered significantly in the 

short-term, and some rare species are likely to be removed for long periods of time. Skid trails that do 

not significantly compact soils may be revegetated quickly from seed from surrounding vegetation or 

from stored seed, but severely compacted soils may take decades to succeed to the predisturbance 

vegetation condition. Disturbance at dispersed recreation sites is normally short-term and small in 

extent unless they are habitually occupied. 

Midstory control includes: (1) roller chopping, (2) thinning forest stands from below, (3) prescribed 

burning, and (4) manual control of midstory competition. Pine straw raking, although not used to 

control midstory vegetation, is also placed in this category. These activities directly affect the aboveground portions of shrubs and small trees and needle and leaf litter on the soil surface. Forest stands 

appear more open after these activities, but this change in structure and composition may be only 

temporary (less than 2-5 years). Shrubs and trees quickly resprout and growth is rapid. Repeated 

treatments are required to maintain open conditions. Treatments (mechanical, manual, or prescribed 

burning) have more effect when they are done during the growing season. Removing vegetation aboveground during active growing periods can deplete root carbohydrate reserves, reduce sprouting vigor, 

and eventually kill shrubs and small trees. This elimination of woody competition can have a positive 

indirect effect on understory grasses and herbs. The release of available nutrients by prescribed burning 

(Lewis 1974) can also stimulate regrowth and flowering in these understory plants. 

Both pine straw raking and prescribed burning temporarily remove needle and leaf litter that covers the 

soil surface. Falling leaves and needles beneath a tree canopy cover the exposed soil, and soil erosion is 

insignificant in the flat topography of the Coastal Plain. Frequent pine straw raking over an entire 

rotation can remove significant quantities of nutrients, reducing soil productivity (Blevens and others 

1994). However, fertilization of raked stands can not only replace nutrients lost in raking, but also 

increase productivity of needles and wood. Research at the Sandhills Gamelands in North Carolina has 

shown a 50 percent increase in pinestraw dry weight per year during the second growing season after 

fertilization. In addition, diameter growth increased 19 percent during the first growing season after 

fertilization and 49 percent the second growing season in stands as old as 55 years. 

Pine straw raking has the potential to uproot herbs and grasses especially if the raking equipment 

removes material well below the soil surface or if sites are continuously raked without a period of rest. 

However, recent research on the Croatan concluded that the overall impact on species richness was quite 

subtle (Kelly 1997). Raking longleaf pine stands from one to three times during a one-year period did 

not significantly change species richness as compared with pretreatment values. This study suggested 

that short-term responses to raking may include mechanisms for the recovery of tissues damaged or 

removed by raking and that removal of heavy litter accumulation may temporarily improve microsite 

conditions for the establishment of new plants. 

Overstory removal includes: (1) clearcutting for timber harvest or creation of developed recreation sites, 

(2) shelterwood harvest, (3) group selection harvest, (4) creation of wildlife openings or ponds, (5) forest 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 121

stand thinning, and (6) clearing rights of way during road and trail construction. These activities directly 

remove trees and shrubs from a site. They also indirectly affect plants by altering the amount of light 

reaching the forest floor, the soil moisture regime, and microsite temperature. The size and orientation 

of the openings are both important factors in determining the degree of environmental change that may 

occur. 

Table 3.20. Acres of plant communities by Landtype and seral stage for each alternative. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- LANDTYPE (Forest Type) Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

RAISED PEATLANDS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 (Pond Pine) 

Current Condition 25,241 8,101 32,921 0 67,670 

Alt. A 0 33,342 32,921 0 67,670 

Alt. B 0 33,342 32,921 0 67,670 

Alt. C 45,805 21,865 0 0 67,670 

Alt. D 45,805 21,865 0 0 67,670 

Alt. E 10,200 33,342 24,128 67,670 

 (Other Pine) 

Current Condition 441 810 747 24 2,023 

Alt. A 0 1,251 747 24 2,023 

Alt. B 0 1,251 747 24 2,023 

Alt. C 1,300 700 0 24 2,023 

Alt. D 1,300 700 0 24 2,023 

Alt. E 303 1,251 444 24 2,023 

 

 (Hardwood) 

 Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

Current Condition 695 495 3,200 0 4,390 

Alt. A 0 1,180 3,200 0 4,390 

Alt. B 0 1,180 3,200 0 4,390 

Alt. C 3,080 1,310 0 0 4,390 

Alt. D 3,080 1,310 0 0 4,390 

Alt. E 660 1,190 2,540 0 4,390 

 not classified = 1146 acres 

 

PEAT-MANTLED FORESTED WETLANDS------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 (Pond Pine) 

Current Condition 1,400 1,182 5,388 9,793 17,766 

Alt. A 0 2,582 5,388 9,793 17,766 

Alt. B 0 2,582 5,388 9,793 17,766 

Alt. C 0 5,259 2,711 9,793 17,766 

Alt. D 0 5,259 2,711 9,793 17,766 

Alt. E 0 2,582 5,388 9,793 17,766 

 (Loblolly and Longleaf Pine) 

Current Condition 815 2,341 4,500 75 7,730 

Alt. A 0 3,156 4,500 75 7,730 

Alt. B 770-1,000 3,156 3,500-3,727 75 7,730 

Alt. C 770-1,000 3,329 3,327-3,554 75 7,730 

Alt. D 770-1,000 3,329 3,327-3,554 75 7,730 

Alt. E 0 3,156 4,500 75 7,730 
122 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

 (Hardwoods) 

Current Condition 335 124 5,076 0 5,535 

Alt. A 0 459 5,076 0 5,535 

Alt. B 0 459 5,076 0 5,535 

Alt. C 0 1,083 4,452 0 5,535 

Alt. D 0 1,083 4,452 0 5,535 

Alt. E 0 459 5,076 0 5,535 

 not classified = 811 acres 

XERIC to WET LONGLEAF PINE SAVANNAS AND FLATWOODS---------------------------------------------------- 

 (Longleaf Pine) – total acres 

Current Condition 1,033 2,434 5,743 263 9,475 

Alt. A 600 3,468 5,743 263 10,075 

Alt. B 1,200 3,468 5,743 263 10,875 

Alt. C 4,200 3,468 4,006 2,000 13,675 

Alt. D 0 3,468 5,743 263 9,475 

Alt. E 2,500 4,568 4,361 1,646 13,075 

 (Loblolly Pine and Pond Pine) 

Current Condition 1,431 4,604 6,584 0 12,019 

Alt. A 300 6,035 5,684 0 12,019 

Alt. B 0 6,035 5,384 0 10,819 

Alt. C 0 6,330 3,289 0 9,619 

Alt. D 1,262-2,000 6,330 4,289-5,027 0 12,619 

Alt. E 0 6,035 2,634 0 8,669 

 (Hardwoods) 

Current Condition 68 38 3,967 0 4,073 

Alt. A 0 106 3,967 0 4,073 

Alt. B 0 106 3,967 0 4,073 

Alt. C 0 192 2,681 0 2,873 

Alt. D 0 192 3,881 0 4,073 

Alt. E 0 106 3,717 3,823 

 Not classified = 804 acres 

 

DRAINAGE HEADLANDS & BROAD INTERSTREAM FLATS------------------------------------------------------------ 

 (Loblolly Pine and Pond Pine) 

Current Condition 500 1,637 4,537 0 6,675 

Alt. A 300 2,137 4,237 0 6,675 

Alt. B 700-1,000 2,137 3,537-3,870 0 6,675 

Alt. C 700-1,000 2,393 3,281-3,614 0 6,675 

Alt. D 700-1,000 2,393 3,281-3,614 0 6,675 

Alt. E 0 2,137 4,237 6,675 

 (Hardwoods) 

Current Condition 0 55 2,310 0 2,365 

Alt. A 0 55 3,210 0 2,365 

Alt. B 0 55 2,310 0 2,365 

Alt. C 0 121 2,244 0 2,365 

Alt. D 0 121 2,244 0 2,365 

Alt. E 0 55 2,310 0 2,365 

 (Longleaf Pine) 

Current Condition 19 60 1,030 0 1,109 

Alt. A 0 79 1,030 0 1,109 

Alt. B 0 79 1,030 0 1,109 

Alt. C 0 121 988 0 1,109 

Alt. D 0 121 988 0 1,109 

Alt. E 0 79 1,030 0 1,109 

 Not classified = 263 acres 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 123

LAKE AND STREAM SWAMPS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 (Hardwood + Cypress) 

Current Condition 206 60 5,863 0 6,129 

Alt. A 0 260 5,863 0 6,129 

Alt. B 0 260 3,863 2,000 6,129 

Alt. C 0 260 3,863 2,000 6,129 

Alt. D 0 260 5,863 0 6,129 

Alt. E 0 260 3,863 2,000 6,129 

 (Pine) 

Current Condition 204 184 1,228 0 1,617 

Alt. A 0 388 828 0 1,617 

Alt. B 0 388 828 400 1,617 

Alt. C 0 388 828 400 1,617 

Alt. D 0 388 1,228 0 1,617 

Alt. E 0 388 828 400 1,617 

 Not classified = 124 acres 

 

STREAM AND RIVER TERRACES & DRAINAGE SLOPES---------------------------------------------------------------- 

(Hardwoods) 

Current Condition 0 0 1,730 0 1,730 

Alt. A 0 0 1,730 0 1,730 

Alt. B 0 0 1,180 550 1,730 

Alt. C 1,803 0 1,180 550 3,533 

Alt. D 1,803 0 1,730 0 3,533 

Alt. E 1,803 0 1,180 550 3,533 

 (Pines) 

Current Condition 111 479 1,214 0 1,804 

Alt. A 0 590 1,214 0 1,804 

Alt. B 0 590 1,214 0 1,804 

Alt. C 0 590 0 0 0 

Alt. D 0 590 0 0 0 

Alt. E 0 590 0 0 0 

 Not classified = 158 acres 

 

TIDAL STREAMS AND ESTUARIES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Current Condition 0 71 731 0 802 

Alt. A 0 71 731 0 802 

Alt. B 100 71 631 0 802 

Alt. C 802 0 0 0 802 

Alt. D 802 0 0 0 802 

Alt. E 802 0 0 0 802 

 Not classified = 502 acres 

MARITIME RIDGES AND DUNES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Current Condition 26 0 23 0 49 

Alt. A 0 26 23 0 49 

Alt. B 0 26 23 0 49 

Alt. C 0 26 23 0 49 

Alt. D 0 26 23 0 49 

Alt. E 0 26 23 0 49 

* Seral Stages: early = 0-10 years, mid = 11-50, late = 50+, old growth = 110+ for longleaf pine, 70+ for pond pine, 200+ for hardwoods. *NOTE* CISC 

age adjusted to reflect time since wildfire. 

Table 3.20 summarizes direct and indirect effects in Landtypes for each alternative. Effects are depicted 

as the total acres in different plant community composition and structural classes by the end of the 10-
124 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

year Plan implementation period. Plant community structure is described in the same seral stages used 

in the "Affected Environment" section. 

Effects To Rare Plant Species 

Protection of threatened and endangered species and maintenance of viable populations of all native 

species is required under regulations contained in the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National 

Forest Management Act (NFMA), and FSM 2670. These laws and policies require: (1) a site specific 

analysis to determine potential effects to rare species from proposed projects, (2) consultation with the 

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service whenever a possible adverse effect may occur to proposed, endangered 

or threatened species and implementation of actions to mitigate these effects, and (3) that proposed 

actions do not affect the viability of native species and result in a trend in their listing by the USDI Fish 

and Wildlife Service to threatened or endangered status. 

Species rarity on the CNF is due primarily to habitat rarity or loss of open plant community structure. 

Species such as Loose Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum laxum), West Indies Meadowbeauty (Rhexia 

cubensis) and Dwarf Bladderwort (Utricularia olivacea) would grow only in the unique conditions 

afforded by lime sink ponds. Tennessee bladder wort (Cystopteris tennesseensis) and Carolina 

spleenwort (Asplenium heteroresiliens) are confined to calcareous outcrops such as marl. Both of these 

habitats are extremely rare on the CNF. Other rare species are limited to certain vegetation structure 

conditions and also have specialized habitat requirements. Fitzgerald's peat-moss (Sphagnum 

fitzgeraldii), for example, occurs only in moist, deep peat soils with low fertility and ground surfaces 

that are not shaded significantly by other vegetation. Vegetation structure and its affect on plant shading 

and micro-environments appear to be the most important factors in controlling the suitability of habitats 

for rare plants on the CNF. Most rare plant species on the CNF prefer open light conditions found in 

pine savannas. The suppression of wildfires on these sites over the past half-century has led to shrub 

and hardwood invasion and a loss of suitable habitat for many species. Some species such as Roughleaved loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia), Carolina goldenrod (Solidago pulchra), and Carolina 

asphodel (Tofieldia glabra), once quite common, have become rare and confined to pocosin and savanna 

ecotones where conditions are more naturally open. 

In general, the probability of impacting existing rare species populations increases as the number of 

ground-disturbing activities increases. This is especially true if these activities occur in rare or unique 

habitats. Any other activity that increases competition to rare plants, decreases their ability to flower, 

seed, and regenerate, or otherwise degrades habitat suitability, can have a negative impact. Fire 

disturbance can periodically reduce competition from woody vegetation, release soil nutrients, stimulate 

seed production in grasses, and create open habitats for seed germination. Lack of such disturbance can 

lead to complete loss of habitat suitability for many rare plant species. 

Although the ESA, NFMA, and FSM 2760 requirements would not vary among alternatives, each 

alternative may result in a different level of difficulty in meeting these needs. Alternatives A and D 

would rely more heavily on future site-specific analysis and mitigation than would alternatives B, C and 

E, which use land allocation and management prescriptions to maintain suitable habitat and limit 

potential risks to rare species. 

Special management areas that emphasize maintaining natural plant community composition and 

structure are important in providing habitat for rare plants. Natural Areas identified by the North 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 125

Carolina Natural Heritage Program provide protection for rare species and the management emphasis on 

the CNF to maintain the quality of their habitat. Table 3.21 provides information to compare effects of 

alternatives on rare plants. It shows the number and size of Natural Areas proposed under each 

alternative and the number of documented rare plant and unique plant communities they contain. 

Table 3.21. Distribution of rare plants within SIAs ( natural areas). 

 Total Locally Unique 

 Rare rare Sensitive T&E comm- Total 

 elements species species Species unities acres 

 - Raised peatlands – (pocosins) - 

Total Special Interest Areas (SIAs) 22 6 14 2 16 75,230 

Alt. A – SIAs 2 1 1 0 6 31,350 

Alt. B – SIAs 19 5 12 2 16 40,302 

Alt. C – SIAs 19 5 12 2 14 33,668 

Alt. D – SIAs 2 1 1 0 6 31,350 

Alt. E – SIAs 19 5 12 2 14 33,668 

 - Peat-mantled forested wetlands 

Total SIAs 4 2 2 0 4 31,840 

Alt. A – SIAs 3 2 1 0 2 3,764 

Alt. B – SIAs 4 2 2 0 4 8,850 

Alt. C – SIAs 3 2 1 0 2 3,764 

Alt. D – SIAs 3 2 1 0 2 3,764 

Alt. E – SIAs 3 2 1 0 2 3,764 

 - Pine savannas and flatwoods - 

Total SIAs 58 21 33 4 16 26,970 

Alt. A – SIAs 8 4 4 0 4 1,035 

Alt. B – SIAs 38 15 20 3 15 6,189 

Alt. C – SIAs 34 15 19 3 8 3,980 

Alt. D – SIAs 8 4 4 0 4 1,035 

Alt. E – SIAs 34 15 19 3 8 3,980 

 - Mixed pine broad flats 

Total SIAs 13 4 9 0 4 10,150 

Alt. A – SIAs 1 1 0 0 2 450 

Alt. B – SIAs 5 4 1 0 4 1,155 

Alt. C – SIAs 4 3 1 0 4 608 

Alt. D – SIAs 1 1 0 0 2 450 

Alt. E – SIAs 4 3 1 0 4 608 

 - Lake and stream swamps - 

Total SIAs 4 2 2 0 2 7,870 

Alt. A – SIAs 1 1 0 0 0 912 

Alt. B – SIAs 4 2 2 0 1 2,271 

Alt. C – SIAs 3 1 2 0 1 1,065 

Alt. D – SIAs 1 1 0 0 0 912 

Alt. E – SIAs 3 1 2 0 1 1,065 

 - Hardwood terraces and slopes - 

Total SIAs 5 3 2 0 2 3,740 

Alt. A – SIAs 1 1 0 0 1 58 

Alt. B – SIAs 2 2 0 0 2 460 

Alt. C – SIAs 2 2 0 0 1 143 

Alt. D – SIAs 1 1 0 0 1 58 

Alt. E – SIAs 2 2 0 0 1 143 

 - Tidal streams and estuaries (marsh) 

Total Management Areas 0 0 0 0 1 1,300 

Alt. A – Natural Areas 0 0 0 0 1 176 

Alt. B – Natural Areas 0 0 0 0 1 176 

Alt. C – Natural Areas 0 0 0 0 1 176 

Alt. D – Natural Areas 0 0 0 0 1 176 

Alt. E – Natural Areas 0 0 0 0 1 176 

 Continued next page... 
126 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

 - All Landtypes Combined & Lakes 

Total SIAs 106 38 62 6 45 161,000 

Alt. A – SIAs 16 10 6 0 16 37,700 

Alt. B – SIAs 73 30 37 5 43 59,400 

Alt. C – SIAs 69 28 35 5 31 43,400 

Alt. D – SIAs 16 10 6 0 16 37,700 

Alt. E – SIAs 69 28 35 5 31 43,400 

 

Cumulative Effects: The cumulative effect of current plant community conditions on the CNF have been 

shaped by past land management activities and the ecological potentials of the land. Future vegetation 

composition and structure would be determined not only by these conditions and the course of action 

chosen during the next 10 years but by likely events and activities after the Forest Plan has been 

implemented. The condition of adjacent private lands, especially those near fragmented CNF 

ownership, can also influence these trends and our ability to reach desired conditions. 

Although the cumulative effects of past, present, and likely future actions are important in appraising 

potential affects to vegetation, our current choice of action is also critical. 

The proposed land management strategies offer different solutions to address issues of biological 

diversity, forest product and forest health sustainability, and a favorable forest environment for human 

use and enjoyment. The different types and mixtures of activities proposed to resolve these problems 

would affect not only the condition of vegetation but also its rate of change now and in the future. The 

rate at which plant communities change and the type of changes that would occur would affect the 

suitability of habitats for wildlife, the flow and uniformity of forest outputs

Effects of Alternatives 

Alternative A: 

Affected Landtypes

Pine Savannas (Includes MIS Species of Longleaf and Wiregrass): Existing savannas would progress to 

older ages. Conversion of loblolly to longleaf would average about 600 acres over the next ten years. 

Reliance on clearcutting and bedding would allow a high success rate for longleaf, but is unlikely to 

produce desired conditions for wiregrass. Therefore, the condition of longleaf/wiregrass community 

would decline in the short term. Maintenance of the existing system would likely fail over time due to 

increased shrub competition from lack of adequate prescribed fire in the growing season for midstory 

control. 

Raised Peatlands: Condition would decline with continued growth of dense pocosin vegetation and loss 

of early seral conditions, due to the low amount of prescribed fire. 

 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands: Pond Pine would progress to mid and older age conditions, since no 

harvesting activity is expected in this landtype. A less aggressive prescribed fire program would likely 

produce heavy shrub competition and increase risk of stand replacement fire. 

Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats (Mixed Pine): With 300 acres of regeneration expected 

over the next ten years, most of this community progresses to older ages. Most activity would occur 

through thinning, which should maintain the community in a relatively healthy state. With low fire 

frequency and dormant season burning, mid and understory conditions would gradually decline due to 

high shrub competition. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 127

 

Rare Plants: With no new natural areas designated, and only 16 of the 106 rare plant and community 

occurrences protected through natural areas, it is likely that conflicts between project proposals and 

possible adverse effects on rare plant species would occur frequently. 

Transportation System Management

Without a clearly defined OHV system, unauthorized use of the land by OHV’s would continue. More 

than 70 miles of unauthorized travelways have been created and more would be created in the future. 

Open areas of bare soil occur frequently where overuse occurs and more would likely be created in the 

future. Constant use of areas does not allow understory communities, particularly rare plants, to recover. 

Therefore, conditions for plant species would degrade gradually over time as more areas are voided of 

vegetation. 

Cumulative Effects 

This alternative continues the current levels of timber harvest, thinning, natural community restoration, 

rare plant mitigation, and recreation development. These activities would remain constant and much of 

the forest landscape would remain unmanaged. Forest product availability would fluctuate widely in 

future decades, but harvest levels would remain the same. Shrub density, especially in pocosins and 

pond pine woodlands, would continue to increase and hazardous fuel levels would continue to rise. 

Open pine savanna conditions would be maintained but not expanded and many other sites would 

become unsuitable for rare plants as shrub and tree encroachment increases. Overall, loblolly pine 

would become more susceptible to insects and diseases as it develops beyond biological maturity in 

many areas or remains overcrowded and stressed in unthinned plantations in other areas. The amount 

and distribution of longleaf pine would increase but only half of the potential sites would be restored 

during the next century. 

Disturbance patch sizes created by management activities, such as clearcuts or small prescribed burns, 

would remain constant until natural events, such as wildfires, hurricanes, or insect outbreaks necessitate 

more widespread operations. Large-scale natural disturbances would be more likely in this alternative 

because of the increased fuel levels and greater acres supporting off-site species. Both conditions could 

increase the probability of extensive stand replacement wildfires. They would also result in a dramatic 

increase in the size of disturbance patches and the degree to which vegetation composition and structure 

changes. Based on past disturbances in similar situations on the CNF such as the Fish Day Fire in 1995, 

disturbance patch sizes may easily exceed 10,000 acres. Such widespread and rapid change may be 

catastrophic for some species and would decrease the overall structural diversity of vegetation by 

creating large areas having nearly homogenous habitat conditions. Furthermore, because of the slower 

rate of timber harvest during the plan implementation period, many stands of loblolly pine would be 

retained well beyond their biological maturity and could be highly susceptible to both hurricane damage 

and insect attacks. These dramatic vegetation shifts and loss of future habitats could lead to elimination 

of some rare plants already stressed from poor growing conditions during the 10-year plan 

implementation period and over a 50 year planning horizon (refer to Appendix H for more information 

about risks to rare plant species). This reduction in habitat suitability on the CNF is even more critical 

because habitat loss for many rare species on lands adjacent to the CNF is likely to be nearly complete 

in the not-too-distant future. 
128 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Alternative B 

Affected Landtypes 

Pine Savannas:(Includes MIS Species Longleaf and Wiregrass): Existing savannas would progress to 

older ages. Conversion of loblolly to longleaf would average about 1,200 acres over the next ten years. 

Reliance on group selection and prescribed burning could result in a low to moderate success rate for 

restoring longleaf pine, but is likely to produce desired conditions to retain wiregrass. Therefore, the 

condition of longleaf/wiregrass community would remain static in the short-term. Maintenance of the 

existing system would likely fail over time due to increase shrub competition from lack of adequate 

prescribed fire in the growing season for midstory control. 

Raised Peatlands: Condition would decline with continued growth of dense pocosin vegetation and loss 

of early seral conditions, due to the low amount of prescribed fire. 

 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands: Pond Pine would progress to mid and older age conditions, since no 

harvesting activity is expected in this forest type. A change in vegetation structure and composition 

would occur on about 770 to 1,000 acres of stands currently dominated by loblolly pine following 

shelterwood or seedtree harvest. Revegetation of harvest areas would be slow due to less intensive site 

preparation. The less aggressive prescribed fire program would likely produce heavy shrub competition 

and increase risk of stand replacement fire 

Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats (Mixed Pine): With 700-1,000 acres of regeneration 

expected, most of this community progresses to older ages. Most activity would occur through seed tree 

or shelterwood harvests. This should maintain community structure but there will be slow revegetation 

of harvest areas due to less intensive site preparation. With low fire frequency and dormant season 

burning, mid and understory conditions would gradually decline due to high shrub competition. 

 

Rare Plants: The SIAs (natural areas network) would be expanded by 21,700 acres. Nearly 70% of all 

documented rare plant and plant community occurrences on the CNF would be included in this network 

of varied landscapes. This would provide protection from ground disturbing activities for more than 4 

times the current number of rare plant and plant community element occurrences on the CNF. More 

acres would be designated in Natural Areas to afford this protection than under Alternatives C and E 

(refer to Appendix H for more information in about effects to rare plants). It is likely that conflicts 

between project proposals and possible adverse effects on rare plant species would occur less frequently.

Transportation System Management

With a clearly defined OHV system, unauthorized use of the land by OHVs would decrease. This could 

allow understory plants, particularly rare plants, to recover. Enforcement of proper use on one OHV 

area in a landscape with clearly defined natural barriers would be physically possible. Concentrating use 

away from rare habitats that support threatened and endangered species will reduce conflicts with human 

use. 

Cumulative Effects

This alternative nearly doubles the amount of activity currently occurring on the CNF but takes a 

'lighter' hand on the land than alternatives C and D and E. The level of activity in Landtypes that 

support longleaf pine would be constant for over a century then would fall approximately 30 percent to a 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 129

balanced sustainable level. Vegetation composition would gradually shift over the next 100 years on 

nearly 12,000 acres that are restored to longleaf pine. Vegetation structural change in these areas would 

be even more gradual with the uneven-aged silvicultural systems being proposed. Activities in loblolly 

and mixed pine stands would fluctuate for nearly 80 years and then level off. Vegetation composition 

would not change during this period, and structural changes would be the same as those that occur in 

longleaf pine areas. 

Prescribed burning above current levels in forest stands would reduce hazardous fuels and maintain fair 

to good quality pine savanna conditions during the 10-year implementation period. Resulting overall 

forest stand conditions would be easier to maintain in the future, and the probability of stand 

replacement wildfires would be reduced. However, in pocosins outside of these managed forest areas, 

little or no prescribed fire activities would occur. Therefore, the risk of extensive wildfire and potential 

effects to vegetation composition, structure, and rare species viability would be greater in the future. 

Risk levels would be lower but similar to Alternative A. 

Restoration of natural communities, especially longleaf pine, would occur at a much slower rate than in 

Alternatives C and E both during and after the 10-year plan implementation. The success rate of 

longleaf pine restoration and regeneration of existing stands is also unknown because the uneven-aged 

silvicultural systems proposed have never been implemented on the CNF. Natural regeneration of 

longleaf pine in forest gaps less than a 1/2 acre in size are common on the CNF, but there are few 

examples, except on the most xeric sites, of stem development beyond sapling or small pole sizes. 

Growth of this intolerant species is significantly affected by shading and competition from surrounding 

taller trees. It is expected that restoration using group selection would prolong the development of 

large-diameter stems in open pine savannas and the period when prescribed fire results in less damage to 

this species. Most longleaf pine restoration would occur in mature loblolly pine stands. Restoration 

would increase the need for more frequent burning to control the rapid invasion of restoration openings 

by loblolly pine seedlings. Failure to maintain burning regimes would significantly reduce the success 

rate of longleaf pine establishment and extend restoration and regeneration timeframes. 

The cumulative effect of relying on uneven-aged silvicultural systems on all acres and in all forest types 

could lead to fewer open pine savanna conditions in the future and therefore may not fully meet longleaf 

pine restoration goals. Furthermore, because of the slower rate of timber harvest during the plan 

implementation period, many stands of loblolly pine would be retained well beyond their biological 

maturity and could be highly susceptible to both hurricane damage and insect attacks. Both of these 

factors would significantly reduce habitat quality for certain species such as the RCW and many rare 

pine savanna plants. This alternative does not provide any other regeneration options if restoration or 

regeneration goals are not met and would require a Forest Plan revision or amendment to effect this 

change. 

Alternative C/C-modified: 

Affected Landtypes

Pine Savannas (Includes MIS Species Longleaf and Wiregrass): Existing savannas would progress to 

older ages. Conversion of loblolly to longleaf would average about 4,200 acres over the next ten years. 

Reliance on clearcutting and bedding on wetter sites and shelterwood with reserve trees and prescribed 

burning on more well-drained sites would allow a high success rate for longleaf restoration. Clearcut 
130 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

and bedding operations are not likely to produce desired conditions for wiregrass. However, 

shelterwood harvest and prescribed fire are likely to produce desired conditions for wiregrass. The 

condition of longleaf/wiregrass communities across the CNF in the short-term therefore depends upon 

the relative amount of these two restoration methods. Because of the extent of longleaf restoration, the 

probability of affecting wiregrass in the short-term is highest in this alternative. Maintenance of the 

existing system is likely to be successful over time due to a decrease in shrub competition because of 

adequate prescribed fire in the growing season for midstory control. 

Raised Peatlands: Condition would improve as prescribed fire is used more extensively to create more 

open early seral conditions in portions of this landtype. 

 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands: Pond Pine would progress to mid and older age conditions, since no 

harvesting activity is expected in this forest type. A change in vegetation structure and composition 

would occur on about 770 to 1,000 acres of stands currently dominated by loblolly pine or a mixture of 

loblolly, pond, and longleaf pine following shelterwood or seedtree harvest but slow regeneration of 

harvest areas due to less intensive site preparation. With high fire frequency and growing season 

burning, mid and understory conditions would gradually improve due to reduced shrub competition. 

Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats (Mixed Pine): With 700-1,000 acres of regeneration 

expected, most of this community progresses to older ages. Most activity would occur through seed tree 

or shelterwood harvests. This should maintain community structure but there will be slow revegetation 

of harvest areas due to less intensive site preparation. With high fire frequency and growing season 

burning, mid and understory conditions would gradually improve due to reduced shrub competition. 

Rare Plants: The SIAs (natural areas network) would be expanded by 5,700 acres. Nearly 70% of all 

documented rare plant and plant community occurrences on the CNF would be included in this network 

of varied landscapes. This would provide protection from ground disturbing activities for more than 4 

times the current number of rare plant and plant community element occurrences on the CNF (refer to 

Appendix H for more information about effects on rare plants). Fewer acres would need to be 

designated in Natural Areas to afford this protection than under Alternative B. It is likely that conflicts 

between project proposals and possible adverse effects on rare plant species would occur less frequently. 

Transportation System Management

With a clearly defined OHV system, unauthorized use of the land by OHVs would decrease. This could 

allow understory plants, particularly rare plants, to recover. However, enforcement of proper use on 

two, widely separated OHV areas, would be problematic. Moreover, the OHV area proposed in the 

southern portion of the CNF is primarily in a landscape dominated by interconnected sand ridges with 

few natural barriers to define authorized routes. This area would likely continue to experience overuse, 

degradation, and expansion into additional rare habitats that support threatened, endangered, and 

sensitive plant species and into the greatest concentration of RCW nest trees on the CNF. Future 

conflicts between human use and sensitive habitats that support rare species will likely increase. 

 

Cumulative Effects

This alternative more than doubles the activity currently occurring on the CNF and is the most 

aggressive in restoring longleaf pine communities. This alternative also takes an aggressive approach of 

reintroducing natural fire regimes through prescribed burning. The greatest amount of longleaf pine 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 131

restoration would occur during the 10-year plan implementation period. This activity would reduce the 

current level of overmature loblolly pine stands and allow for future restoration to occur as off-site 

species reach maturity on longleaf pine sites. Clearcutting is an option that can be used in restoration 

and therefore the overall change in vegetation structure on the CNF would be more pronounced than in 

other alternatives both now and in the future. These changes would be less pronounced in 40 years 

when uneven-aged systems and even-aged seedtree and shelterwood harvests would be used to manage 

stands currently dominated by longleaf pine or mixed longleaf and other pines. Changes in vegetation 

composition and structure would be even less dramatic in 60 years, when all longleaf pine sites have 

been restored and clearcutting is not likely to be used for vegetation management. Activities in mixed 

pine sites would fluctuate until balanced age classes are created in 80 years. Thereafter, the flow of 

activities is even. 

This alternative proposes prescribed burning well above the current levels in all vegetation types. 

Burning would reduce hazardous fuels in forest stands, create and maintain good to excellent quality 

pine savannas, and break up the contiguous fuels buildup in pocosins. Overall vegetation conditions 

would be easier to maintain in the future and the probability of stand-replacement wildfires would be 

much lower. 

The cumulative effects of activities associated with plant community restoration, timber management, 

and prescribed burning would lead to biological and social benefits. Biological diversity would be 

improved and maintained, a sustained flow of high-quality forest products would be possible, a visually 

appealing landscape would be created, and the intensity and extent of natural disturbances such as 

wildfire, insects, and diseases would be reduced. When wildfires do occur, they would burn smaller 

areas, be safer to contain, and may temporarily reduce the need for prescribed burning. The reduced 

amount and continuity of hazardous fuels would also affect the degree of vegetation composition and 

structure change. However there will be short-term negative effects to native understory plant species, 

most notably wiregrass. 

Alternative D: 

Affected Landtypes

Pine Savannas(Includes MIS Species Longleaf and Wiregrass): Existing savannas would progress to 

older ages. There would be no conversion of loblolly to longleaf and therefore no short-term affect on 

wiregrass. However, maintenance of the existing longleaf pine system would likely fail over time due to 

increase shrub competition from lack of adequate prescribed fire in the growing season for midstory 

control. 

Raised Peatlands: Condition would decline with continued growth of dense pocosin vegetation and loss 

of early seral conditions, due to the low amount of prescribed fire. 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands: Pond Pine would progress to mid and older age conditions, since no 

harvesting activity is expected in this forest type. A less aggressive prescribed fire program would likely 

produce heavy shrub competition and increase risk of stand replacement fire. A change in vegetation 

structure and composition would occur on about 770 to 1,000 acres of stands currently dominated by 

loblolly pine following shelterwood or seedtree harvest and rapid revegetation of harvest areas due to 

intensive site preparation. 
132 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats (Mixed Pine): With 700-1,000 acres of regeneration 

expected, most of this community progresses to older ages. Most activity would occur through seed tree 

or shelterwood harvests. This should maintain community structure and there will be rapid revegetation 

of harvest areas due to more intensive site preparation. With low fire frequency and dormant season 

burning, mid and understory conditions would gradually decline due to high shrub competition. 

Rare Plants

With no new natural areas designated, and only 16 of the 106 rare plant and community occurrences 

protected through natural areas, it is likely that conflicts between project proposals and possible adverse 

effects on rare plant species would occur frequently. Refer to Appendix H for more information about 

effects to rare plants. 

Transportation System Management

With a clearly defined OHV system, unauthorized use of the land by OHVs would decrease. This could 

allow understory plants, particularly rare plants, to recover. However, enforcement of proper use on 

two, widely separated OHV areas, would be problematic. Moreover, the OHV area proposed in the 

southern portion of the CNF is primarily in a landscape dominated by interconnected sand ridges with 

few natural barriers to define authorized routes. This area would continue to experience overuse, 

degradation, and expansion into additional rare habitats that support threatened, endangered, and 

sensitive plant species and into the greatest concentration of RCW nest trees on the CNF. Future 

conflicts between human use and sensitive habitats that support rare species will likely increase, since 

may of the unauthorized routes would likely be designated for future motorized use. 

Cumulative Effects

Like Alternative C, this alternative more than doubles the activity currently occurring on the CNF but is 

the least aggressive in restoring natural communities. Vegetation composition changes very little during 

plan implementation or in the future. Although prescribed burning is used on all parts of the landscape, 

natural fire regimes that include growing season burning are not applied. Less clearcutting would be 

used than in Alternative C, but seedtree harvests would affect vegetation structure more than in 

Alternative B. This effect would be steady within 80 years, when the forest age classes are balanced and 

an even flow of activities would occur. During the first 40 years, however, activities would fluctuate 

widely, with nearly half of the acres affected during plan implementation occurring during the second 

(10-20 years) and fourth planning horizon (30-40 years). 

The cumulative effects of activities associated with timber management and prescribed burning are 

similar to Alternative C with some major exceptions. A sustained flow of forest products would be 

possible, and the intensity and extent of wildfires would be reduced. When wildfires do occur, they 

would burn smaller areas, be safer to contain, and may temporarily reduce the need for prescribed 

burning. Biological diversity objectives that include providing open pine savanna habitat for rare 

species, however, would not be met and the landscape would not be as visually pleasing. Furthermore, 

the risk of insect and disease losses is reduced only to the degree that thinning would maintain tree 

vigor. Longleaf pine, which is more resistant to southern pine beetle would occur on 12,000 less acres. 

Because of the seeding and regeneration vigor of loblolly pine and the use of natural regeneration to 

reestablish stands, this species would dominate more acres in the future. Most managed timberland 

adjacent to the CNF is dominated by loblolly pine and is likely to remain so in the future. These factors 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 133

would increase the probability of southern pine beetle outbreaks either starting on the CNF or on private 

land and expanding throughout these extensive monocultures. 

Alternative E: 

Affected Landtypes

Pine Savannas (Includes MIS Species Longleaf and Wiregrass): 

Existing savannas would progress to older ages. Conversion of loblolly to longleaf would average about 

3,500 acres. Longleaf pine restoration methods would be tailored to individual sites with the goal of 

retaining all existing longleaf pine and maintaining or improving existing wiregrass understory 

condition. About 25% of the restoration would occur from thinning off-site loblolly plantations to favor 

longleaf pine. About 75% of the restoration would occur from shelterwood harvest, but a small portion 

would be clearcut. This would result in early successional habitat, but the majority of these areas would 

have at least 6-10 overstory trees scattered throughout the stand. Clearcutting would only be used on the 

wettest sites and only where there are insufficient longleaf pine forests to provide RCW recruitment 

stands in the near future. Flat planting would be encouraged, however bedding may occur on sites 

where shrub composition is severe. 

In pure loblolly pine stands, the emphasis on non-traditional regeneration methods for restoring longleaf 

pine may result in a low to moderate success rate. It is estimated that about 15-20% of areas needing 

restoration of longleaf pine to provide future RCW recruitment stands are currently in this condition. 

However, thinning or shelterwood harvests in stands having some component of longleaf pine is likely 

to be successful in restoring longleaf pine canopy structure and producing desired conditions for 

wiregrass. The condition of longleaf/wiregrass community in the short-term is therefore dependent upon 

the relative amount of mixed loblolly-longleaf stands and pure loblolly pine stands in critical restoration 

areas. Maintenance of the existing system and the restored longleaf pine system is likely to be 

successful over time due to a decrease in shrub competition because of adequate prescribed fire in the 

growing season for midstory control.

Raised Peatlands: Condition would improve as prescribed fire is used more extensively to create more 

open early seral conditions in portions of this landtype. 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands: Pond Pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands would progress to mid and 

older age conditions, since no harvesting activity is expected in this landtype. A more aggressive 

prescribed fire program would likely reduce heavy shrub competition and decrease risk of stand 

replacement fire. 

Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats (Mixed Pine): All forest types would progress to mid 

and older age conditions, since no harvesting is expected in this landtype. A more aggressive prescribed 

fire program would likely reduce heavy shrub competition and decrease risk of stand replacement fire. 

Rare Plants

The Natural Areas network would be expanded by 5,700 acres. Nearly 70% of all documented rare 

plant and plant community occurrences on the CNF would be included in this network of varied 

landscapes. This would provide protection from ground disturbing activities for more than 4 times the 

current number of rare plant and plant community element occurrences on the CNF (refer to Appendix 
134 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

H for more information about effects to rare plants). Fewer acres would be designated in Natural Areas 

to afford this protection than under Alternative B. It is likely that conflicts between project proposals 

and possible adverse effects on rare plant species would occur less frequently. 

Transportation System Management

With a clearly defined OHV system, unauthorized use of the land by OHVs would decrease. This could 

allow understory plants, particularly rare plants, to recover. Enforcement of proper use on one OHV 

area in a landscape with clearly defined natural barriers would be physically possible. Concentrating use 

away from rare habitats that support threatened and endangered species would reduce future conflicts 

with human use. 

Cumulative Effects 

This alternative significantly increases the activity currently occurring on the CNF, is aggressive in 

restoring a variety of natural plant communities, and reintroduces natural fire regimes through 

prescribed burning. Longleaf pine restoration would occur during the 10-year plan implementation 

period and well into the future as current off-site loblolly pine plantations reach rotation age. This 

activity would reduce the current and future level of overmature loblolly pine stands. Clearcutting is an 

option that can be used in restoration but only on about 500-750 acres during each decade. Therefore 

the overall change in vegetation structure on the CNF would not be pronounced now or in the future. 

Changes in forest composition and structure would be even less pronounced in 40 years when unevenaged systems and even-aged seedtree and shelterwood harvests would be used to manage stands 

currently dominated by longleaf pine or mixed longleaf and other pines. Changes in vegetation 

composition and structure would be even less dramatic in 60 years, when all longleaf pine sites have 

been restored and clearcutting is not likely to be used for vegetation management. Activities in mixed 

pine sites begin after the first 10 years of plan implementation. They fluctuate until balanced age classes 

are created in 80 years. Thereafter, the flow of activities is even. 

This alternative proposes prescribed burning well above the current levels in all vegetation types. 

Burning would reduce hazardous fuels in forest stands, create and maintain good to excellent quality 

pine savannas, and break up the contiguous fuels buildup in pocosins. Overall vegetation conditions 

would be easier to maintain in the future and the probability of stand-replacement wildfires would be 

much lower. 

The cumulative effects of activities associated with plant community restoration, timber management, 

and prescribed burning would lead to significant biological and social benefits. Biological diversity 

would be improved and maintained, a flow of high-quality forest products would be possible, a visually 

appealing landscape would be created, and the intensity and extent of natural disturbances such as 

wildfire, insects, and diseases would be reduced. When wildfires do occur, they would burn smaller 

areas, be safer to contain, and may temporarily reduce the need for prescribed burning. The reduced 

amount and continuity of hazardous fuels would also affect the degree of vegetation composition and 

structure change. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 135

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Forest Health is a condition that permits the forest to renew itself and recover from a wide range of 

disturbances. It implies the retention of ecological resiliency while meeting current and future needs of 

people for desired levels of values, uses, products and services. 

Prominent forest health concerns on the Croatan National Forests are bark beetle infestations, damage 

from hurricanes, damage from wildfires, and potential damage from future gypsy moth infestations. 

Other concerns for southern yellow pine include fusiform rust, annosus root rot, red heart, and 

brown spot needle blight. 

 

Damage to pine from bark beetle infestations is the common on the Croatan. Bark beetles found on the 

Croatan are southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), Ips engraver beetles (Ips avulsus, 

grandicollis, and calligraphus), and the black turpentine beetle (Denroctonus terebrans). 

The southern pine beetle is the most destructive of all bark beetles in the south. It attacks most pine 

species, but prefers loblolly pine and pond pine over longleaf pine. Trees are killed mostly in groups, 

ranging from a few trees to all trees on hundreds of acres. 

Management practices such as maintaining stand vigor by thinning heavily stocked stands, regenerating 

mature stands, and managing for species less susceptible to southern pine beetle, reduce the risk of 

outbreaks. Cyclic population outbreaks are controlled by natural enemies, such as diseases, parasites, 

predators and weather. Integrated pest management may be achieved by any or all of the following 

control techniques: rapid salvage and utilization of infested trees, piling and burning of infested 

materials, chemical control in high-value trees, and cut-and-leave during the months of May through 

October (Insects and Diseases of Trees in the South, 1989). The most common suppression technique 

used on the Croatan has been to cut and remove (salvage) infested trees. 

Until recently, southern pine beetle activity on the Croatan has been at low levels. In the spring of 1997, 

however, numerous infestations began to appear across the district. In FY-97 over 300 southern pine 

beetle spots were detected, mapped, and evaluated for treatment. Almost 1,000 acres have been 

impacted. 

Most of the spots detected are in loblolly pine stands, but some activity is occurring in pond pine stands 

too. Longleaf pine has been impacted only where it occurs in small numbers with loblolly or pond 

pines. Initial infestations appeared in stands that were heavily damaged by hurricanes Bertha and Fran 

in the Fall of 1996. Infestations were common in older storm damaged loblolly with broken tops, trees 

that were blown down, and trees that suffered root damage. Entomologists suggest that the beetle 

population was on the rise and hurricane damaged stands provided conditions for accelerated 

development of southern pine beetle populations. Infestations also occurred in loblolly pine plantations 

where spread was especially rapid in unthinned stands over 15 years of age. 

Ips beetles usually attack injured, dying, or recently felled trees and fresh logging debris. Infestations 

are particularly common in trees weakened by drought, lightning strikes, and wind. Mortality occurs 

from galleries being constructed in the inner bark and the introduction of blue-stain fungi. These effects 
136 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

are the same as those of southern pine beetles. Mortality, however, occurs in small groups of trees and 

does not reach large acreages often associated with the southern pine beetle. Natural controls are 

parasites, predators, woodpeckers, and weather. Other control techniques include prompt removal and 

utilization of actively infested trees (Insects and Diseases of Trees in the South, 1989). 

Black turpentine beetle attacks all pines native to the south. Attacks occur on trees damaged by lighting, 

wind, and mechanical activity. Black turpentine beetle attacks are confined mostly to damaged trees, 

which may be subsequently attacked by other bark beetles. Natural predators and protecting of trees 

from damage during logging activities keep turpentine beetle populations at low levels (Insects and 

Diseases of Trees in the South, 1989). 

Gypsy moths have been detected in northeastern counties of North Carolina. Defoliation from gypsy 

moth has been observed in Currituck County, about 120 miles north of the Croatan (Witcosky 1997). 

Current projections indicate that without the programs to slow their spread, gypsy moths may appear on 

the Croatan by the year 2005. Special programs might delay their arrival until 2015. 

Gypsy moth larvae feed on a large number of host trees and shrubs. Susceptible species on the Croatan 

are most all the oaks, sweetgum, and black willow. Species that are resistant to defoliation are 

blackgum, hackberry, most hickory species, red maple, bald cypress, sycamore, yellow poplar, and most 

pine species. Defoliation from gypsy moths can result in growth loss, crown dieback, and tree mortality. 

Hardwood trees that are healthy can tolerate several years of defoliation before dieback begins. 

Hardwoods that are already suffering under some stress, such as drought or crowding, may not tolerate 

defoliation before dieback begins. Managing for healthy, vigorous stands in a variety of age classes 

would minimize mortality resulting from gypsy moth defoliation. 

Fusiform rust, caused by Cronartium fusiforme, occurs in loblolly pine while longleaf pine is fairly 

resistant. When infestations to the main stem occur in trees less than 5 years old, the spindle shaped 

galls eventually kill the tree. Fusiform rust is prevalent in loblolly plantations on the Croatan. The best 

method for control is to remove infected trees during scheduled thinning operations. 

Annosus root rot, caused by Heterobasidion annosum, occurs in all southern yellow pines but is most 

common in loblolly pine. This fungus enters the pine stand through freshly cut stumps during thinning, 

and spreads through root system contacts to healthy trees. Occurrence appears more prevalent on sandy 

soils, especially where the sand layer is deeper than 12 inches. Annosus root rot has not been a 

significant problem on the Croatan. 

Red heart fungus (Phellinus pini) is common in mature and overmature pines. The fungus causes decay 

in the heartwood of the tree, resulting loss of merchantable volume. Trees with red heart are important 

to RCW for cavity construction. Red heart is rarely a problem in loblolly pine less than 60 years old 

(Silvics of North America, Volume 1 Conifers 1990). 

Brown-spot needle blight, caused by Scirrhia acicola, damages longleaf pine seedlings in the grass 

stage. Repeated defoliations kill the seedlings. Brown-spot control can be obtained in natural stands by 

prescribed burning during the grass stage and by using high-quality seedlings during planting operations. 

Since the Croatan has used mostly artificial regeneration methods with high-quality seedlings and an 

aggressive burning program, brown spot has not been a significant problem. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 137

Wind damage caused by hurricanes can have significant impacts on the Croatan. Hurricanes touch the 

area the average of every 2 years, and one in eight is a category III storm, which delivers highly 

destructive winds. In the past 2 years the Croatan has been in the path of two highly destructive 

hurricanes. Damage from hurricanes includes uprooting, wounding, bending, and breaking of trees. 

They also cause damage from standing water and salt spray. Often, insect and disease attacks follow 

this disturbance and spread to healthy trees. Management practices that help minimize this type of 

damage are: 

• Manage for a mixture of size and age classes to guard against complete loss. Young trees are 

rarely damaged, because they tend to bend with the wind while old trees tend to break or uproot. 

• Stagger thinnings to limit exposure of recently thinned areas. 

• Manage for well-spaced, thrifty trees. 

• Manage for species that are adapted to hurricane-related damage, such as trees with deep 

taproots, strong wood characteristics, and trees that have sparse crowns or limber foliage (How 

to Evaluate and Manage Storm-Damaged Forest Areas). 

Wildfires from 1970 to 1994 have damaged over 52,000 acres on the Croatan. Many of these acres are 

pocosin sites, but some are pond pine, loblolly pine, and longleaf pine forests. Damage from wildfire 

can be extensive and result in widespread mortality. Prescribed burning, to reduce fuel loads and 

managing for species adapted to fire, like longleaf pine, can minimize damage to timber and loss of 

wildlife habitat. 

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Species composition and age class distribution play an important role in how insects, diseases, and 

environmental disturbances impact the forest. Some alternatives in this analysis propose to significantly 

change existing species composition and introduce new age classes over the long-term planning horizon. 

Changes would be accomplished through a variety of regeneration methods including clearcutting, 

shelterwood, group selection, and seedtree. Proposed intermediate treatments, such as prescribed 

burning and thinning, would also play an important role in how disturbances impact the Croatan. 

Alternative A: This alternative has the largest proportion of acres managed for loblolly pine using 

mechanical site preparation and artificial regeneration. Risks for southern pine beetle infestations would 

be relatively high compared to other alternatives because of the large number of acres with preferred 

host types, loblolly pine and pond pine. However, risk would be reduced by thinning and by reducing 

rotations to 60 years for loblolly pine and pond pine. 

The number of acres susceptible to gypsy moth infestation would be approximately 24,000 for this 

alternative. There are no proposals to covert hardwood stands to pine or restore hardwood to pine in this 

alternative. 

Risk of fusiform rust infection would be high in this alternative because of the large number of acres in 

loblolly pine. Regeneration would rely heavily on planted seedlings where fusiform has historically 

occurred on the Croatan. Loss would be minimized by planting rust-resistant seedlings and removing 

infected trees during thinning operations. No serious annosus root rot damage is anticipated. 
138 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Red heart fungus is found in mature or over mature pine trees. With relatively short rotations, 60 years 

for loblolly pine and 80 years for longleaf pine, red heart incidence should be lower for this alternative 

than other alternatives. 

Brown spot impacts to longleaf pine would be minimal in this alternative because regeneration would 

rely on planted seedlings and prescribed fire would used to control competition in early stages of 

seedling development. This alternative has the lowest number of acres proposed for longleaf 

management. 

The risk for damage resulting from hurricanes is high for this alternative because it has the highest 

proportion of loblolly pine acres. Risk for breakage, uprooting, and salt damage is less for longleaf pine 

than loblolly pine (P.Barry 1993). This difference was evident during the two hurricanes in 1996; most 

of the damage occurring in loblolly pine and hardwood and less damage in longleaf stands. No activity 

is proposed in hardwoods. 

Risk of damage resulting from wildfires would be higher in this alternative because of the greater 

susceptibility of loblolly than longleaf pine to fire. 

Alternative B: The risk of southern pine beetle damage is high for this alternative because fewer acres of 

loblolly would be restored to longleaf than in Alternative C. Also, the process of restoration would 

require a longer period of time using uneven-aged methods of regeneration rather than even-aged 

methods. Older stands of loblolly pine would be more prevalent in this alternative, increasing the risk of 

southern pine beetle infestations. The amount of thinning proposed for this alternative is as much or 

more than for the other alternatives, and this treatment should reduce risk of southern pine beetle 

outbreaks. 

The number of acres susceptible to gypsy moth infestation would be about the same as Alternative A 

and slightly less than for alternatives C, D, and E. 

Fusiform rust incidence would be low for this alternative because no planting of loblolly is proposed. 

Existing stands of loblolly with fusiform would be treated by removing infected trees during thinnings. 

Loss to fusiform can be minimized by planting resistant seedlings and removing infected trees during 

thinning operations. No serious annosus root rot problems are anticipated. 

Red heart incidence would be higher for this alternative than for Alternative A because fewer acres of 

mature trees would be regenerated on an annual basis. 

The risk of brown spot to young longleaf is related to the difficulty of burning small groups. 

Regeneration in this alternative would occur in small groups either by natural regeneration or by 

planting longleaf pine containerized seedlings. If prescribed fire were used to control competition 

brown spot would not be a problem. When other methods of release such as mechanical treatments or 

herbicides are used, the risk of damage to young seedlings increases. 

The risk of damage to pine types from hurricanes is less than for Alternative A but higher than for 

Alternative C, because fewer acres of loblolly pine would be restored to longleaf pine. The risk of 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 139

damage to hardwoods is about the same as for Alternative A because treatments to hardwoods are 

proposed in this alternative. 

The risk of damage due to wildfire is less than alternatives A and D and more than C and E. This is 

because of the amount of longleaf pine restoration is more than A and B and less than what is proposed 

for C and E. 

Alternative C/C-Modified: The risk for southern pine beetle outbreaks is the lowest for this alternative 

because of the aggressive longleaf pine restoration effort and proposed level of thinning. Longleaf is 

least susceptible of all southern yellow pines and thinning promotes vigorous trees that are less 

susceptible to southern pine beetles. 

The number of hardwood acres susceptible to gypsy moth infestation would be about the same as 

Alternative A and B and slightly less than for D and E. 

Since longleaf pine is fairly resistant to fusiform rust, this alternative has the lowest risk of damage. 

With the long rotations proposed in this alternative, 120 years for longleaf and 80 years for loblolly, red 

heart incidence could be high, especially as trees approach maturity. The value of harvested trees would 

be reduced, but suitability of trees of RCW nest excavation would be improved. 

Even though this alternative proposes the most longleaf pine management, risk of brown spot would be 

low because of the proposed level of prescribed burning. This alternative has more acres of burning 

than the other alternatives. 

The risk of damage from hurricanes is the least for this alternative because the number of acres in 

loblolly pine is reduced and the number of acres managed for longleaf pine is greatest. The number of 

acres managed for hardwood is not substantially different than alternatives A and B, but it is less than 

for Alternative D. Risk of loss to wildfire is less for this alternative than the others because of the 

amount of longleaf pine featured in management. 

Alternative D: The risk for southern pine beetle damage is high for this alternative because of long 

rotations in RCW clusters and the large number of acres featured for loblolly pine management. The 

number of acres managed for longleaf pine, which is a less preferred host, is higher than for Alternative 

A but less than Alternatives B,C, and E. The level of thinning proposed for this alternative would 

moderate southern pine beetle risks by promoting vigorous growth in pine stands. The level of thinning 

would be about the same as for Alternative C and A, but less than for Alternative B. 

This alternative has the highest number of acres featured for hardwood management. Species such as 

the oaks, sweetgum, and willow would be susceptible to gypsy moth defoliation. Trees that are older 

and stressed from other damage, such as hurricanes, could die from one defoliation and certainly from 

repeated defoliations. No management is proposed for existing hardwoods in this alternative. Lack of 

management opportunities to provide age-class distribution and development of young hardwood stands 

that could withstand repeated defoliations. 
140 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Fusiform rust would be common in this alternative because a large number of acres are managed for 

loblolly pine. Fusiform would be managed by planting resistant seedlings and removing infected trees 

during thinning operations. 

Red heart would be a problem in this alternative with loblolly pine, especially as trees near the 80-year 

rotation age. Red heart is generally not a problem in loblolly pine under 60 years old. However, a loss 

in volume of trees harvested over age 60 can be expected. Red heart in longleaf would occur, but at a 

later age, and it would improve the trees for RCW nest excavation. 

This alternative proposed about 8,000 acres of longleaf management, brown spot would be managed by 

using high-quality seedlings during planting and by burning. The risk of damage from hurricanes is 

high because this alternative has the most acres managed for hardwoods. This alternative also proposes 

a number of acres of loblolly pine second only to Alternative A. 

Risk of loss to wildfire is high for this alternative because of the large number of acres managed for 

loblolly pine. 

Alternative E: The risk for southern pine beetle outbreaks is low for this alternative because of longleaf 

pine restoration effort and proposed level of thinning. Longleaf is least susceptible of all southern 

yellow pines and thinning promotes vigorous trees that are less susceptible to southern pine beetles. 

The number of hardwood acres susceptible to gypsy moth infestation would be about the same as 

Alternative A and B and slightly less than for C and D. 

Since longleaf pine is fairly resistant to fusiform rust, this alternative a relatively low risk of damage. 

With the long rotations proposed in this alternative, 120 years for longleaf, red heart incidence could be 

high, especially as trees approach maturity. The value of harvested trees would be reduced, but 

suitability of trees of RCW nest excavation would be improved. 

Even though this alternative proposes longleaf pine management, risk of brown spot would be low 

because of the anticipated amount of prescribed burning. 

The risk of damage from hurricanes is moderate for this alternative because the amount of loblolly pine 

is reduced and longleaf pine is increased. The amount managed for hardwood is not significantly 

different than alternatives A and B, but it is less than for Alternative D. Risk of loss to wildfire is less 

for this alternative than the others because of the amount of longleaf pine featured in management. 

 

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Life Forms: 

The Croatan National Forest supports a wide array and diversity of wildlife species and habitats. The 

Forest provides habitat for 262 resident vertebrate species (known or likely to occur), in the following 

classes: 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 141

Class Number of Species

Mammals 46 

Birds 122 

Reptiles and Amphibians 94 

Birds: The Forest provides habitat for 122 species of permanent resident birds. Fourteen species of birds 

have state or federal status as legal game species. The most commonly hunted bird species include 

eastern wild turkeys, northern bobwhite quail, mourning doves, and wood ducks. Lesser-hunted species 

include the American woodcock, and clapper, Virginia, and king rails. Thirty-six species of birds require 

either forest interior conditions, large-diameter trees, or extensive forested tracts. Thirty-five species use 

aquatic habitats for foraging or nesting. Twenty-nine species require snags, cavities, or both. 

The Partners-In-Flight Program considers nineteen species of birds “high-priority” species. Three of the 

five species considered by the Partners-In-Flight program as being "high priority" Neotropical migrants 

for the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, occur on the Forest (Wayne’s black-throated green warbler, 

Swainson's warbler, and prothonotary warbler). 

The Forest has a moderate but rapidly expanding wild turkey population. Conversely, the northern 

bobwhite quail population on the CNF has been on a steady decline. This decline is occurring 

throughout the Southeast. 

Three federally listed bird species are known or likely to occur on the CNF: RCW, bald eagle, and 

peregrine falcon. The red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) is known to occur on the CNF. Sixty-one 

active RCW clusters and 17 inactive RCW clusters currently exist on the CNF. The number of active 

RCW clusters on the Forest has been expanding for the last 5-10 years. The peregrine falcon occurs on 

the Forest only as a winter and spring migrant; it is not a resident breeding species. The bald eagle, a 

resident breeding bird on the CNF, occurs on the CNF at one nest site. However, suitable nesting and 

roosting habitat does occur along riverine and estuarine areas. Six species are known or likely to occur 

on the CNF that have recognized viability concerns: Bachman's sparrow, anhinga, loggerhead shrike, 

black rail, purple gallinule, and white ibis. 

Mammals: The Forest is home to 46 species of mammals; 19 of these have state status as legal game 

species or fur bearing animals (commonly hunted or trapped). White-tailed deer and eastern black 

bears are the most popularly hunted big-game animals. Small game animals commonly hunted include 

eastern gray squirrels, red foxes, gray foxes, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, and opossum. Commonly 

trapped animals include raccoons, mink, river otters, coyotes, gray foxes, red foxes, bobcats, beaver, 

muskrats, and nutria. Other animals include 5 species of mice, 10 species of bats, 5 species of shrews 

and moles, and 3 species of voles. Two species of mammals are considered locally or regionally rare: 

the southern fox squirrel and Rafinesque's big-eared bat. The Forest is in the historical range of the 

eastern cougar and red wolf, but both of these species were extirpated from North Carolina by the turn 

of the century. An experimental population of red wolf has been established in several counties in the 

Pamlico-Albemarle Peninsula. The Forest constitutes potentially suitable red wolf habitat, but given the 

degree of urban and commercial development occurring in counties surrounding the Forest, the Forest 

may not provide a large enough block of habitat to support a population of wolves. The CNF represents 

one of several remaining large and intact black bear habitat core areas in the North Carolina Coastal 

Plain. The black bear population on the CNF is considered moderate to high, and stable. 
142 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Amphibians and Reptiles: Of the 94 species of reptiles and amphibians known or likely to occur on the 

CNF, 17 are frogs, 5 are toads, 17 are salamanders, 33 are snakes, 12 are turtles, and 10 are lizards. The 

American alligator is the only federally listed reptile or amphibian species known to occur on the CNF. 

Five other species of reptiles or amphibians with recognized viability concerns are known or likely to 

occur on the CNF. These include diamondback terrapin, mimic glass lizard, Carolina gopher frog, 

eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and Carolina salt-marsh snake. 

 

Habitat: Prior and Present Condition 

Wildlife habitat conditions present on the CNF today are a result of past actions, as well as the presence 

or absence of natural forces. Historical records indicate the landscape of the North Carolina Coastal 

Plain prior to European impact was shaped by natural disturbances. The landscape pattern was largely 

determined by the frequency, severity, and intensity of natural and Native American-ignited fires and 

the cyclic effects of major storm systems. 

The frequency and severity of disturbances shaped the type and distribution of wildlife habitat 

conditions which supported the diversity and abundance of wildlife species. Frequent wildfire regimes 

maintained more open understory conditions in upland longleaf pine stands, confining hardwooddominated forest types to transitional hardwood slopes and more mesic to hydric bottomland sites. 

Hardwood-dominated forest types most likely were more uncommon than they are today, while upland 

pine forest types were much more widespread and dominant across the landscape. 

Natural storms, and periodic, intense and severe wildfires ensured that wildlife species and populations 

were those adapted to relatively frequent disturbances. Gaps and edge-effects were a natural part of the 

landscape. Early-successional habitats ebbed and flowed across the landscape, causing rises and falls in 

species diversity and abundance, as well as the distribution of species. While a variety of successional 

stages were present across the landscape, habitat conditions were most likely dominated by older-aged 

forest conditions, and species adapted to more mature forest and late successional conditions. 

However, wildlife habitat conditions and the mix of successional stages changed significantly after 

European settlement. Land clearing and conversion to farmland and settlements and extensive logging 

changed the forest landscape from predominately older-aged forest conditions, with some early to midsuccessional stages, to predominately early to mid-successional conditions. With this change in the mix 

of habitats came a change from wildlife communities adapted to somewhat older-aged forest conditions, 

with scattered gaps and interspersion of edge habitats, to wildlife communities adapted to predominately 

early seral or more open habitat conditions. 

Two habitat types, longleaf pine forests and pocosins, had been severely altered in the past. In the last 

150 years, most of the stands on the CNF have been logged at least once. During this time period, the 

absence of periodic fire caused a significant reduction in acres of mixed-pine and longleaf pine forests. 

Extensive logging of bottomland hardwood and bald cypress swamps, which occurred by the end of the 

19th century, almost eliminated older-aged bald cypress dominated types on the CNF. The same process 

eliminated Atlantic white-cedar stands. Homogeneous stands of loblolly pine, as well as mixed loblolly 

pine-hardwood stands, became common across the Forest compared to what occurred naturally. In the 

last 50 years, a substantial percentage of historical longleaf pine types on the Forest have been converted 

to loblolly pine. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 143

Pocosin habitats, which were once much more common throughout the North Carolina Coastal Plain, 

have also been altered on the CNF. Small pocosin patches have been modified by ditching and 

draining, road construction, conversion to off-site pine plantations, and absence of fire. The remaining 

large patches of pocosin habitat are critical in maintaining the coastal black bear population. The longterm future of the eastern black bear in the North Carolina Coastal Plain depends on the protection of 

existing large blocks of pocosin habitat, such as that found on the CNF. 

Habitat conditions across much of the CNF now tend to favor wildlife species associated with mid to 

late successional stages. Prior to the recent southern pine beetle outbreak, early seral wildlife habitats 

have been somewhat limited in quantity and distribution across the Forest, with 0-6 year old habitats 

comprising less than one percent of the Forest. Early successional habitat (0-10 years) constitutes about 

2.1 percent of terrestrial habitats on the Forest. Early successional wildlife habitat is not evenly 

distributed among habitat types. By far the greatest percentage of this early successional habitat is found 

within the pond pine and pocosin habitat groups (81 percent of the 0-10 habitat on the Forest). The 

preponderance of this successional stage arises from the effects of natural and man-ignited fires that 

have occurred in the last 5-10 years on the Forest. Early successional habitat constitutes about 3.3 

percent of the oak-gum-cypress habitat group, 3.9 percent of the mixed pine-hardwood group, zero 

acres in the southern mixed mesic group, and approximately 10 percent in the longleaf pine/pine 

savanna group. 

Early successional habitat is provided through permanently maintained grass/forb wildlife openings, 

powerline rights-of-way, mowed road rights-of-way, agricultural fields, recently burned pond pine and 

pocosin wetlands (natural and human-ignited), and timber regeneration areas. As a cooperative effort 

with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the Forest maintains approximately 255 acres 

of permanent wildlife openings. These openings range in size from 0.05 to 13.0 acres. Maintained 

wildlife openings are managed to provide both food and cover for early successional wildlife species. 

These openings consist of both annual and perennial plantings. The potential exists for improving the 

quality and quantity of grass/forb habitat by managing approximately 100 miles of powerline rights-ofway. Currently, a large percentage of these rights-of-way are experiencing moderate to heavy damage by 

high clearance off-road vehicles. 

While limited in total acreage, a system of mature bottomland hardwood/cypress forested wetlands 

exists. Approximately 6,100 acres of bottomland hardwood/swamp forest are present on the Forest. 

Bottomland hardwood stands are considered unsuitable for timber production in the existing CNF Plan 

(1986). This system of older-aged hardwood wetlands provide habitat linkages and wildlife travel 

corridors linking interior portions of the Forest to major riverine systems, such as the Neuse, Trent, and 

White Oak Rivers. This habitat linkage is critical in maintaining the viability of the coastal black bear 

population in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. This community type plays a critical role in maintaining 

the habitat for neotropical migratory birds that are associated with interior bottomland hardwood 

wetland forest systems. Two hurricanes that struck the CNF in 1996 modified the structure and 

composition of some bottomland hardwood stands. Multiple canopy gaps were created throughout the 

bottomland hardwood type. 

Mid- to late-successional habitats occupy approximately 63 percent of the Forest, about 10 percent is 

considered late successional. About 91 percent of hardwood and mixed pine/hardwood habitats, and 57 

percent of pine habitats provide mid- to late-successional conditions. 
144 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Hardmast-producing habitat types (hardwood or mixed pine-hardwood) are somewhat limited in 

distribution and abundance across the Forest. They occupy about 17,700 acres (10.7 percent of the 

Forest). Mast-producing trees occur in predominantly pure stands and in mixtures with other species. 

Hardwood forest types are classified in the existing CNF Plan as unsuitable for timber production. 

The Forest provides one of the largest intact pocosins in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. 

Approximately 95,000 acres of bay-swamp and pond pine pocosin habitat are present on the Forest. The 

largest block of pocosin habitat occurs in the interior portion of the Forest in the vicinity of Catfish Lake 

and Great Lake. This block comprises approximately 57,000 contiguous acres, and provides the core of 

the highest quality black bear habitat on the Forest. This area has the lowest road density of any area on 

the Forest. The second largest pocosin block is east of highway 70 southeast of the town of Havelock, 

N.C. This block of pocosin habitat also has low road density. 

Snags and cavity trees are plentiful across the Forest. Hurricanes Bertha and Fran increased the 

availability of snags. An outbreak of southern pine beetle during 1997 has also substantially increased 

the distribution and availability of standing snags. However, given the rapid rate of decay of dead wood 

in the Southeast, suitable cavity habitat for secondary cavity dwellers may become somewhat limited in 

the near future. 

The availability of large dead logs varies across the Forest, with higher availability in bottomland 

hardwood and hardwood stands and lower availability in upland xeric pine stands. Hurricanes Bertha 

and Fran increased the availability of large logs in hardwood-dominated stands, and in some upland pine 

stands. However, rapid rates of decay and frequent burning rotations speed turnover in the availability of 

large downed logs and subsequent microhabitat in upland pine stands. 

Occurrence of live hardwood den trees varies across the Forest, with more in bottomland hardwood and 

upland hardwood forest types, and less in upland pine types. This habitat component is critical in 

upland-pine dominated stands for species, like the southern fox squirrel, which depends upon live 

hardwood den trees greater then 15 inches in diameter. Where hardwood stringers exist in close 

proximity to upland pine types, den trees may be adequate. Live hardwood den trees greater than 25 

inches in diameter are limited across the Forest, limiting potential denning sites for eastern black bears 

and preferred roosting sites for the Rafinesque's big-eared bat. 

Approximately 802 acres of marsh habitat exist on the Forest, with the majority along the White Oak 

River. The quality of this habitat is somewhat poor due to the exclusion of fire over the past 25 years. 

The absence of periodic fire has resulted in a predominance of invading hardwood species. 

With the exception of the large patches of pocosin habitat, the CNF is considered roaded or accessible 

by vehicles in terms of wildlife habitats. These access-ways consist of local unimproved and improved 

county roads, improved State roads, improved Federal Highways, as well as forest service developed 

and maintained roads. Road conditions, and public-use rates, vary across the Forest. Open-road densities 

vary from a high of 4.2 miles of open road per 1,000 acres to a low of 0.7 miles per 1,000 acres. The 

current level of roads has resulted in a fragmented forest landscape. This fragmentation occurs as a 

result of higher rates of interspersion of edge habitats, and the infusion of moderate to high public-use 

rates. The Forest is dissected by several major highways, in addition to frequent CNF closed and open 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 145

system roads. U.S. Highway 70, which extends east and west through the Forest, provides access to 

Moorehead City, and to the North Carolina coast. At present, a bypass is being considered around 

Havelock, NC. Portions of this bypass would traverse the Forest. Other existing public roads are also 

under consideration for being upgraded to improve or expand public access. 

Wildlife Recreation 

The CNF represents one of the largest blocks of publicly owned land in the North Carolina Coastal 

Plain. Public hunting use rates are considered moderate to high. Preferred game species include deer, 

bear, spring turkey, small game, and migratory waterfowl. People from all areas of the State utilize the 

Forest for hunting. The Croatan National Forest, under a cooperative agreement with the North Carolina 

Wildlife Resources Commission, is managed under the North Carolina Game Lands Program, and is 

open to all legally recognized public hunting uses. The amount of private land surrounding the CNF 

leased to private hunting clubs has progressively increased over the last 10 years. 

 

Deer hunting includes the use of dogs to drive deer and still-hunting (i.e. archery, muzzleloader, rifle, 

and shotgun hunting). The deer-hunting season lasts approximately 2 1/2 months. The use of dogs to 

hunt deer has been a long-standing tradition on the Forest. However, changes in landownership patterns, 

and a surge in the popularity of still-hunting, has created a marked increase in the interest and demand 

for still-hunting opportunities on the CNF. An increase in development of private land adjacent to the 

Forest has accentuated conflicts between traditional deer hunters who use dogs, and private landowners 

in some areas. 

As a cooperative effort with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Ducks Unlimited, 

the CNF manages the 800 acre Catfish Lake Waterfowl Impoundment to provide opportunities for 

public migratory waterfowl hunting and wetland wildlife viewing. Public waterfowl hunting is 

considered high, with demand exceeding the availability of hunting area. Water levels in the Catfish 

Lake Impoundment are drawn down each year. Waterfowl food plants are provided by annual grain 

planting and moist-soils waterfowl food plant production. 

Public waterfowl hunting opportunities are also provided along the shorelines of the Neuse and White 

Oak Rivers. Wintering waterfowl numbers are sometimes high along both rivers. Commonly hunted 

waterfowl include mallards, black ducks, sea ducks, ruddy ducks, buffleheads, lesser scaup, ring-necked 

ducks, redheads, and canvasbacks. 

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission manages about 40 acres of public dove hunting 

fields on the Forest. Public hunting use is considered high. The Forest manages approximately 55 acres 

of agricultural fields under a special-use agreement. These fields provide early-successional habitat for 

many game and non-game species, while concurrently expanding opportunities for public dove hunting. 

However, there is some concern that the presence of these agricultural fields in interior portions of the 

CNF could constitute a source of nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds upon resident neotropical 

migratory birds. Additionally, the current special-use agreement and wildlife management plan for the 

area are not providing the desired quality of habitat for oldfield-dependent wildlife species, such as 

northern bobwhite quail, cottontail rabbits, common yellowthroats, yellow-breasted chats, loggerhead 

shrikes, and white-eyed vireos. 
146 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Bear hunting use is high on the Forest. Bear hunters use dogs to drive bears from the dense vegetation. 

Approximately 50,000 acres of the Forest is designated as a black bear sanctuary where bear hunting is 

not permitted. The sanctuary provides a core area for sow black bears to avoid contact with humans. The 

annual black bear harvest has remained somewhat stable over the last several years. 

A somewhat rapid increase in the eastern wild turkey population over the last 5 years on the CNF has 

resulted in a high level of public interest in spring turkey hunting. The Forest provides one of the few 

areas of public ownership where the general public can hunt turkeys in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. 

Most of the Forest has recently been opened to spring turkey hunting. The majority of the highest quality 

turkey habitat occurs in stands dominated by hardwood-hardmast producers. On the CNF such stands 

are in upland and bottomland hardwoods. Other game species hunted on the Forest include rails, 

woodcock, squirrels, rabbits, quail, raccoons, and trapping of furbearer animals. 

No facilities currently exist on the CNF to enhance opportunities for physically disabled hunting. At 

least one area has been designated on the Forest for limited entry use by individuals who meet the North 

Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's "Disabled Sportsmen" program criteria. 

The demand for public opportunities to view wildlife is considered high. Coastal population growth has 

brought a substantial increase in the number of people who value opportunities to view wildlife on 

public lands. Highway 70 carries high numbers of people through the CNF to the North Carolina Coast. 

However, only one developed wildlife viewing facility currently exists on the Forest. It is located in the 

Cedar Point area along the southwestern portion of the Forest along the White Oak River. This facility is 

accessible by people with physical disabilities. No viewing facilities in the Catfish Lake Impoundment 

are accessible to people with disabilities (hunting or wildlife viewing). With much of the Forest being 

somewhat accessible by motorized vehicle, substantial opportunities exist for expanding the number of 

terrestrial and wetland wildlife viewing facilities. 

Counties surrounding the CNF are experiencing significant population growth and development, which 

are expected to increase in the next 10 years. Private land ownership adjacent to the Forest, which has 

historically been utilized for agricultural and forest-products production, is rapidly being converted to 

residential and commercial developments. Several major highway improvement projects, which bisect 

the Forest, are planned or proposed in the next 10 years. As the human population expands in the 

surrounding three to five counties, public recreational use of national forest land is expected to increase. 

This increase in public use could impact wildlife habitats and populations. 

EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennntttaaalll CCCooonnnssseeeqqquuueeennnccceeesss

Changes in wildlife habitat suitability occur at several scales and at differing intensities depending on 

the home range size and habitat requirements of individual species. The planning alternatives vary 

generally by programmatic goals and management prescriptions. Therefore, effects analyses for wildlife 

are broad, forestwide, and programmatic by design. At project scales, analyses would consider species 

with low mobility and restricted home ranges, such as constructing a parking lot, clearing a wildlife 

opening, clearing or paving a special-use communication facility, or plowing a fire control line. 

Probable management activities that could potentially affect wildlife communities can be grouped into 

three broad categories: (1) changes in the type, quantity, quality and spatial arrangement of suitable 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 147

habitat; (2) direct mortality, reduced survival, or increased susceptibility to mortality; and, (3) 

increased disturbance. 

Changes in the type, quantity, quality and spatial arrangement of suitable habitat: Habitat changes from 

vegetation treatments affect wildlife. Restoration, regeneration, and forest health goals vary by planned 

alternative. The activities to achieve those goals include overstory, midstory and ground cover removals, 

road reconstruction and maintenance, prescribed fire, site preparation, planting and other similar 

activities. 

 

Prescribed burning is an important management tool for maintaining or improving wildlife habitat 

suitability. Growing-season burns would reduce midstory vegetation and increase herbaceous ground 

vegetation. Reductions in the midstory would favor species such as northern bobwhite quail, Bachman's 

sparrow, eastern wild turkey, eastern bluebird, and southern fox squirrel, but reduce habitat suitability 

for species such as hooded warbler, gray catbird, white-tailed deer, wood thrush, and red-eyed vireo. 

Relatively frequent and intense prescribed burns would most likely reduce the overstory and midstory 

hardwood component, resulting in reductions in hardmast production capabilities in upland pinedominated stands. Habitat suitability would most likely be reduced for species such as white-tailed deer, 

eastern gray squirrel, eastern black bear, southern fox squirrel, and eastern wild turkey. Snag availability 

would fluctuate, as existing snags are either consumed by fire or fall down, but new snags are created 

from the impacts of localized intense fire or natural processes. 

Relatively frequent prescribed burning regimes may reduce the number of logs on the forest floor, 

reducing the availability of microhabitats for species such as pine woods treefrogs, pine woods snakes, 

and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. Prescribed fire in pocosins would improve habitat suitability for 

black bears and white-tailed deer by improving the availability of succulent green browse, forage, and 

softmast. The exclusion of fire from pocosins can change habitat suitability. Excluding fire from 

pocosins allows for the establishment of fire intolerant woody tree and shrub species, such as red maple, 

and a progressive shift from shrubs to deciduous trees. This change would cause a decline in habitat 

quality for black bear, deer and others. 

Lengthening timber rotations in upland pine stands would increase the number of large diameter snags 

and cavity tree and improve habitat suitability for secondary cavity nesters such as pileated 

woodpeckers, brown-headed nuthatches, great-crested flycatchers, and red-headed woodpeckers. 

Thinning of young pine stands stimulates growth of the remaining forest stand, while increasing the 

amount of sunlight that reaches the forest floor. Herbaceous understory vegetation would be stimulated, 

potentially improving habitat suitability for species such as white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkeys, 

Bachman's sparrows, and reptiles and amphibians. 

Restoring longleaf pine increases the distribution and abundance of early-successional habitats, 

improving habitat suitability for species such as common yellowthroats, yellow-breasted chats, whiteeyed vireos, prairie warblers, northern bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail rabbits, and 

Bachman's sparrow. The long-term effects would be a net increase in suitable habitat for species that 

rely more upon mature open upland longleaf pine forest-types, such as pine warblers, brown-headed 

nuthatches, Bachman's sparrows, and southern fox squirrels. When mixed pine hardwood stands are 

converted, a net reduction in habitat suitability results due to the reduction of hardwoods for eastern gray 

squirrels, eastern wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, blue-gray gnatcatchers, yellow-throated warblers, 
148 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

black-throated green warblers, wood thrushes, hooded warblers, northern parula warblers, and hairy 

woodpeckers. 

Changes in vegetative type or successional stage can increase competition between species, as habitat 

conditions become more conducive to some species and less for others. The absence of fire or 

silvicultural treatments from longleaf pine stands reduces habitat suitability for RCW, southern fox 

squirrels, Bachman's sparrows, and northern bobwhite quail when the midstory component becomes 

densely stocked with hardwood species. Habitat conditions become more favorable for eastern gray 

squirrels, which can out-compete the southern fox squirrels in areas with dense midstories. Substantial 

increases in the distribution and abundance of early-successional habitats in interior forested stands can 

affect bird species requiring interior and mature forests, but benefit early successional, edge dependent 

bird species. Maintaining too much of a hardwood component in longleaf pine stands tends to increase 

the competition between RCW clans and southern flying squirrels. 

To delineate habitats, 3 databases were examined. The ecological classification system classifies land 

units according to plant communities, soil, moisture and other environmental variables (Refer to the 

Plan, Appendix A). CISC is a timber inventory of stand conditions that classifies land units by forest 

type, age, condition, and density. Hammel (1992) created habitat groupings and correlated the habitat 

groupings with CISC land units. 

The ecological classification and CISC were combined; the results are displayed in Table 3.20. It 

provides a useful measure of habitat, current conditions, and likely future conditions by seral stage for 

each alternative. Table 3.22 displays a combination of the ecological classification with Hammel 

groups. The tables provide similar information about habitats and changes by alternative. For anaylsis 

purposes, we used Table 3.20 for information about habitat changes by alternative. 

Table 3.22. Current condition: landtypes and broad wildlife habitat groupings on the CNF.(See definition of Groups below) 

Stage 1 

Early 

Stage 2 

Mid 

Stage 3 

Late 

Stage 4 

Old Growth 

Total 

Landtype: Tidal Streams and Estuaries (Marsh) 

X Marshes 0 71 731 0 802 

Landtype: Lake and Stream Swamps (Oak-Gum-Cypress) 

II. OGCY 206 60 5863 0 6129 

III. MPHW 204 184 1228 0 1617 

Landtype: Stream and River Terraces/Drainage Slopes (Oak-Beech-Hickory) 

IV. SMMH 0 0 1,730 0 1,730 

III. MPHW 111 479 1,214 0 1,804 

Landtype: Drainage Headlands and Broad Interstream Flats (Pine Flatwoods) 

V. LPSM 500 1637 4537 0 6675 

III. MPHW 0 55 2310 0 2365 

VI. LLSL 19 60 1030 0 1109 

Landtype: Peat-Mantled Forested Wetlands (Pond Pine Woodlands) 

VIII. PPPO 1400 1182 5388 9793 17766 

VI. LLSL 815 2341 4500 75 7730 

VII. BSPO 335 124 5076 0 5535 

Landtype: Raised Peatlands (Pocosins) 

VIII. PPPO 25241 8101 32921 0 67670 

V. LPSH 441 810 747 24 2023 

VII. BSPO 695 495 3200 0 4390 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 149

Landtype: Xeric to Wet Longleaf Pine Savannas and Flatwoods (Pine Savannas) 

I. PSAV/ 

LLSO/SHLL 

1033 2434 5783 263 9475 

V. LPSH 1431 4604 6584 0 12619 

III. MPHW 68 38 3967 0 4073 

Landtype: Maritime Ridges and Dunes (Maritime Forest) 

IX. LOMA 26 0 23 0 49 

Group I: Pine Savanna (PSAV, LLSO, SHLL) 

Vegetation Types: PSAV (Pine Savanna), LLSO (Longleaf Pine-Shrub Oak), and SHLL (Sandhills 

Longleaf Pine). These forests consist of widely scattered trees in which longleaf pine comprises the 

majority of the stocking. Scrub oaks and other hardwoods make up less than 25 percent of the stocking. 

Group II: Oak-Gum-Cypress (OGCY) 

Consists of bottomland or swamp forests, which may include swamp tupelo, water tupelo, blackgum, 

sweetgum, oaks, black willow, pond cypress, Carolina ash, or bald cypress singly or as a plurality of 

stocking. 

Group III: Mixed Pine Hardwood (MPHW) 

In these forests, hardwoods (usually oaks) and pine each constitute at least 25 percent of the stocking. 

Mixed pine-hardwood stands can occur on sites ranging from wet mesic to upland. Depending upon 

position on the landscape, the mixture of species can include sweetgum, American beech, white oak, 

willow oak, water oak, live oak, bluejack oak, southern red oak, turkey oak, shortleaf pine, longleaf 

pine, maple, laurel oak, overcup oak, water hickory, loblolly pine, and pignut hickory. 

Group IV: Southern Mixed Mesic Hardwoods (SMMH) 

These forests occur along stream banks of bluffs where American beech or southern magnolia, singly or 

in combination, constitutes a plurality of the stocking. On some bluff sites, a variety of oaks and 

hickories may be present. 

Group V: Loblolly Pine-Shortleaf Pine (LPSH) 

This type can occur in a range of conditions, from wet to mesic sites (drainage headlands/interstream 

flats), and pocosins (off-site species on raised peatlands) to upland-mesic-dry sites (as off-site species on 

xeric to wet longleaf pine savannas and flatwoods). The type occurs in a variety of topographic 

conditions across the Southeast. 

Group VI: Longleaf Pine-Slash Pine (LLSL) 

This type can occur on wet to mesic sites (drainage headlands and interstream flats), and pond pine 

woodland sites (off-site on peat-mantled forested wetlands). Sites supporting it are moist, and are flat. 

Longleaf pine makes up the majority of the stocking, but a variety of tree and shrubs can be present. 

Group VII: Bay Swamp-Pocosin (BSPO) 

These are forests on boggy, poorly drained organic soils in which various species of broadleaf evergreen 

make up the stocking. Primary species include blackgum, swamp tupelo, red bay, sweet bay, gallberry, 

inkberry, pond pine and titi. 
150 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Group VIII: Pond Pine Pocosin (PPPO) 

This type occurs on boggy, poorly drained soils, consisting of pond pine, titi, fetterbush, inkberry, 

blueberry, swamp bay, gallberry, and possibly Atlantic white cedar, pond pine dominant in the stocking. 

Group IX - Live Oak Maritime (LOMA) 

Live oak comprises at least 50 percent of the stocking, but yaupon and wax myrtle major associates 

stands often are influenced by salt spray and maritime breezes. 

Group X: Marshes (MRSH) 

Vegetation includes saltmarsh meadow cordgrass, black needlerush, wild rice, wax myrtle, and other 

tidal herbaceous vegetation. 

Direct Mortality, Reduced Survival, or Increased Susceptibility to Mortality: Management activities, 

such as prescribed burning, road construction, pond construction, timber harvesting, construction of 

wildlife openings, trail construction, construction of recreational facilities, and maintenance of wildlife 

openings, could result in direct mortality to individual species. Operation of motorized equipment, 

logging, road construction, fireline construction, and the use of off-road vehicles, can kill individual 

animals. Less mobile species are more susceptible than mobile species. Individuals also can be killed by 

misapplication of pesticides and other chemical agents. Inadvertent felling of cavity trees can kill 

cavity-nesting species. Individuals, as well as groups of species, can be killed by prescribed fires as well 

as wildfires. Individuals can be killed during construction and routine maintenance of waterfowl 

impoundment dikes, as well as during annual flooding of sub-impoundments. 

Increased Disturbance: Construction of recreation facilities including parking lots, campgrounds, and 

buildings, reduces the acres of habitat suitable for wildlife through direct conversion, as well as by 

increasing the distribution and level of human disturbance. Disturbance to wildlife can be expected from 

moderate to high-use recreation facilities (campgrounds, picnic sites, boat launches, interpretive centers, 

development of parking lots), special uses, roads open to public motorized vehicles, and recreation trails 

(mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, etc.). 

Development of access roads, agricultural openings, and power transmission lines, also can intersperse 

early seral vegetation into interior forested tracts, increasing the likelihood of competition by nest 

parasites or nest predators upon interior species. For species that are considered area sensitive, 

partitioning may make the habitat unsuitable. 

Access roads and OHV access can be barriers to immobile species, thus fragmenting populations and 

habitats. Paving of previously unimproved roads also can create barriers to wildlife movement and 

dispersal. For very immobile species, such as terrestrial snails, reptiles or amphibians, the impacts can 

result in isolation of local populations. 

Development of new public recreation facilities, roads, trails, special uses, and OHV areas would 

increase the levels of human-induced disturbances to black bears, wild turkeys, and other wildlife 

species considered sensitive to disturbance. Wildlife would attempt to change home-range use patterns 

to avoid major disturbances. Such shifts in habitat utilization may force animals to use inferior quality 

habitat. Such shifts in home range utilization may be temporal, seasonal, or permanent, depending on 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 151

the longevity, intensity, and type of disturbance. These responses also can make popularly hunted game 

species, such as turkeys, deer, and black bears, more vulnerable to mortality. 

Any changes in the current level or type of use of existing facilities may also adversely disturb wildlife 

populations. Widening of an existing public highway can cause shifts in the home ranges of species, as 

well as make species more vulnerable to hunting and highway mortality. Designation of a closed road 

as a moderate- to high-use horseback-riding trail can induce changes in the response of local wildlife 

populations. 

A study conducted by Wright and Speake (1975), found that turkeys on the Land Between the Lakes 

Recreation Area did not frequent a heavily used off-road vehicle area. Foot travel also had an adverse 

effect on the use of the area by turkeys. Turkeys were not known to inhabit an area closer than 1.0 km to 

campgrounds in the summer. Guynn and Reed (1990) found that turkeys on the Coweeta Hydrologic 

Laboratory in western North Carolina responded to the use of dogs for bear hunting by temporarily 

abandoning portions of their established home ranges and relocating to unhunted areas during the 2-

month bear hunting season. Everett et.al (1978) reported that adult male turkeys moved 1.1 to 1.4 km to 

unhunted areas during short hunts where dogs were used to hunt white-tailed deer. 

Disturbance can result in nest abandonment by ground and tree-nesting birds, such as northern bobwhite 

quail, wild turkeys, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and waterfowl. During the spring, females may renest, but with smaller clutch sizes, or they may not re-nest at all. For species with low population levels 

or high mortality rates, decreased reproduction can affect the overall population level. 

Brody and Pelton (1988) studied the effects of roads on black bear movements in western North 

Carolina. They reported that bears exhibited a clear preference for crossing roads of light traffic rather 

than those with heavier traffic. Bears may shift their home ranges in response to road densities when 

road densities reach certain thresholds. 

Human-induced disturbances also can reduce the quality of recreational hunting experiences. Since 

spring turkey hunters locate turkeys by hearing their gobbling, high noise levels reduce the quality of the 

hunt considerably. Most spring turkey hunters would avoid areas with high noise levels. 

Management indicator species are used to estimate effects of planning alternatives. Table 3.23 displays 

the terrestrial wildlife MIS selected for the CNF. Refer to Appendix G for further details about selection 

of MIS. 
152 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table 3.23 displays the Management Indicator Species, the ecological landtypes, and the specific habitat components or 

conditions necessary for that particular species. The bolded text represents the favored habitat for each species. 

Management Indicator 

Species 

Ecological Landtypes Habitat Components 

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Pine Savanna Mature open pine woodlands; 

dependant on live cavity trees; 

federally listed. 

Eastern black bear Pocosin 

Oak Gum Cypress 

Oak-Beech Hickory 

Pond-Pine woodlands 

Disturbance sensitive; 

hardmast; game species. 

Wild Turkey Maritime Forest 

Oak Gum Cypress 

Oak-Beech Hickory 

Mid-to-late successional stage 

(> 40 yr.); hardmast; grass/forb 

habitat; game species. 

Habitats and Landtypes Least Affected: Habitats in several landtypes would not likely change in 

planning alternatives: Tidal Streams and Estuaries, Lake and Stream Swamps, and Maritime Ridges and 

Dunes. Low impact and infrequent management practices would not substantially alter these habitats. 

Species, such as neotropical migratory birds, would not likely be influenced by human caused 

disturbance in these landtypes and populations should increase. Any changes in populations, however, 

would not be caused by any direct activities on the CNF (refer to Appendix G). Examples of species 

benefiting from relatively undisturbed bottomland hardwood-cypress wetland habitat are: prothonotary 

warblers, black-throated green warblers, pileated woodpeckers, Swainson's warblers, great-crested 

flycatchers, Rafinesque's big-eared bats, and barred owls. 

Catfish Lake Waterfowl Impoundment: The waterfowl impoundment, managed jointly with NC Wildlife 

Resources Commission, would continue operations at the same level under every alternative; operational 

plans are updated periodically. Typical species whose populations would be sustained through 

management of this impoundment are: mallard, black, redhead, and canvasback ducks, monitored by the 

NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Forest Service biologists cooperate with habitat monitoring. 

Core Bear Habitat: A core area for bear habitat was identified. The spatial extent is shown on the inset 

below. The habitat area accounts for the needs of large tracts of land with low disturbance from 

motorized vehicles, and travel corridors west and 

east of the CNF (see figure below). About 83,000 

acres of the CNF are needed for bear habitat, which 

is more than 50 percent of the CNF. 

Management prescriptions that may detract from 

bear habitat include developed areas, OHV areas, 

urban/interfaces, and water-based recreation. The 

allocations of these prescriptions were examined for 

all alternatives by overlaying the core bear habitat 

area over the land allocations. Less than 5 percent 

of core bear habitat would be affected by these 

prescriptions for any alternative. The OHV accounts 

for most of the 5 percent in Alternatives C through 

E. In Alternative B, no prescriptions would detract 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 153

from the core bear habitat area. While an OHV area allocation adversely affects bear habitat, the extent 

of OHV use would be contained and narrowed to less than 5 percent of the habitat in any alternative. 

Short term effects would likely cause slightly increasing trends in populations to flatten out, but in the 

long term, bears would likely re-adjust home ranges and trends would begin to increase (see Forest Plan, 

Chapter 5, Population Trends). 

The allocations of RCW (Pine Savanna) prescriptions were considered to have a neutral effect on core 

bear habitat. Less than 5 percent of RCW prescriptions were allocated for any alternative in core bear 

habitat. 

Turkey Habitat: The best habitat for turkey occurs on stream and river terrace landtypes. The terraces 

are upland hardwoods that provide the hard mast components. When loblolly pine occupies these sites, 

hardwood restoration would restore key turkey habitat. The amount of this landtype is somewhat rare on 

the CNF. Existing habitat is about 1,700 acres, and with restoration, can be increased to about 3,600 

acres. In planning alternatives, the rarity of this habitat was acknowledged and would not vary 

substantially among the alternatives. 

Bottomland hardwoods provide turkey habitat. These areas are protected with the hardwood cypress 

wetland prescription in Alternatives B through E. The outer edges of the hardwood wetland areas, where 

hardwood sites may grade into upland pine sites, could generate differences in effects among 

alternatives. As hardwoods overtake pine sites, it enhances turkey habitat. Restoring longleaf pine would 

detract from turkey habitat, which vary by alternative as examined in the following discussion of 

alternatives. 

Alternative A: 

RCW The short-term habitat trend is nearly static for this alternative with only 600 additional longleaf 

savanna habitat (Table 3.20). Without prescribed burning, and especially growing season burns, habitat 

would begin declining after the next 10 years. A slight increase in populations, about 2 percent, (Table 

2.1) are predicted due to artificial cavity installation over the next 10 years. The long-term habitat goal 

37,875 acres with population trend increasing to 126-139 clusters. There are high risks of not attaining 

these goals with the low amount of habitat preparation over the next ten years. 

Black Bear Habitat trends would be static to declining over the next 10 years without an active 

prescribed fire program in pocosin ecosystems. In the absence of continued periodic prescribed burning, 

habitat capability for black bears and deer in pocosin habitats would decline. Wildfires experienced in 

the last 10 years in pocosin areas improved soft mast production and improved the palatability of 

succulent green browse of ericaceous shrubs. The beneficial effects of these burns for improving 

wildlife habitat quality would be somewhat short-lived without continued burning. Without controls on 

OHV and unauthorized trail use, habitat quality would degrade due to motorized disturbance. Longterm population trends would likely be static to decreasing. 

Wild Turkey Habitat conditions would remain stable in the next 10 years, and likely increase in the long 

term. This alternative would maintain the existing distribution and abundance of loblolly and mixed 

loblolly pine-hardwood stands, due to lower levels of conversion of off-site species to longleaf pine. The 

continued reliance on cool dormant-season burning would have less adverse impacts on hardmast 
154 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

producing hardwoods. Existing grass/forbs would be maintained, but without additional grassy areas, 

populations would not likely increase, but instead would likely remain static over the next 10 years. This 

predicted trend considers the continued maintenance of hardwoods for hardmast, maintenance of 

existing amount of distribution of grass forb, and fewer controls on unauthorized access routes. Short 

and long term population trends would continue to slowly increase. 

Cumulative Effects Due to lower levels of early successional habitat provided (Table 3.20) over the 

next 10 years and the long term (Table 3.20), the cumulative effect on habitat for wildlife species such 

as yellow-breasted chats, common yellowthroats, white-tailed deer, prairie warblers, and northern 

bobwhite quail would decline and be somewhat limited in distribution and abundance. This contrasts 

with conditions that favor species associated with mid- to late-successional forest habitats, such as 

yellow-throated warblers, northern parula warblers, blue-gray gnatcatchers, Acadian flycatchers, and 

brown-headed nuthatches, which are likely in increase over the long term. 

Alternative B 

RCW The habitat trend declines in this short term for this alternative due to the low level of prescribed 

burning. With 12,000 acres of burning, the fire return interval would lengthen more than 5 years to treat 

the entire RCW habitat management area. Therefore, habitat quality would degrade until midstory and 

shrub layers could be reduced. A slight increase in populations, about 2 percent, (Table 2.1) are 

predicted due to artificial cavity installation and growing season burning of approximately 1000 acres 

per year over the next 10 years. There are high risks that long term populations would never be met due 

to the uncertainty of uneven aged management for longleaf restoration. It is possible that habitat goals of 

46,656 acres in the RCW HMA may not be ready for the populations to increase up to 169 clusters. 

Black Bear Habitat would begin declining in quality over the next 10 years without an active 

prescribed fire program in poscosin ecosytems. In the absence of continued periodic prescribed burning, 

habitat capability for black bears in pocosin habitats would decline. Positive gains in bear habitat are 

made by reducing disturbance through Wilderness prescriptions, natural area designation, tighter 

controls of OHV and road use, and larger, relatively undisturbed hardwood /cypress wetland corridors 

for movements. Therefore, long-term population trends would likely be stable, to slightly decreasing. 

Wild Turkey Positive gains in habitat conditions are due to the low level of access, keeping hardmast 

trees from dormant season burning, and maintaining the existing distribution and abundance of mixed 

pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands in the short term. However, existing grass/forbs would likely 

decrease due to obliteration of roads and trails and lack of maintenance. Therefore, the overall habitat 

trend would remain static and populations would likely continue to increase over the next ten years and 

then level off. 

Cumulative Effects This alternative would yield only minor increases in the quantity and distribution of 

early seral vegetation over the next 10 years. Early seral habitat would be developed primarily using 

somewhat small "gaps or groups," which would not adequately meet the habitat needs for wildlife 

species dependent upon early successional plant communities. The cumulative effects on habitat for 

wildlife species such as yellow-breasted chats, common yellowthroats, white-tailed deer, prairie 

warblers, and northern bobwhite quail would decline. The use of uneven-aged timber management, and 

extended timber rotations for longleaf pine and loblolly pine/shortleaf pine, are expected in the long-
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 155

term to favor species associated with later successional forest habitat conditions. Species associated with 

loblolly pine or mixed loblolly pine-hardwood forest types would benefit. In the long term, benefits to 

early successional-dependent wildlife species are expected to be minor and of short duration. The 

cumulative effect on habitat capability for species such as yellow-throated warblers, northern parula 

warblers, blue-gray gnatcatchers, Acadian flycatchers, and brown-headed nuthatches is expected to 

increase in the long term. 

Alternative C; C-modified: 

RCW Habitat conditions would improve in the short and long term. Positive gains in habitat quality are 

made through higher levels of prescribed burning and growing season burns. Short term habitat loss may 

occur due to the high level of clearcutting, which would lose all large nesting potential trees on those 

sites. Also, the high level of bedding, which may cause the temporary loss of wiregrasses, which are the 

preferred fuels needed to carry prescribed burning. However, longleaf canopy restoration would be 

successful in the long term, providing about 46,656 acres of habitat thus providing the habitat needed to 

reach the long-term population objectives of 151-169 clusters. About a 5 percent population growth rate 

in the short term could be expected. 

Black Bear Habitat quality increases due to prescribed burning in pocosins, tighter controls on access 

and OHV areas, a network of large hardwood/cypress wetlands for bear migration. Some loss of 

hardmast sources occur due to the high level longleaf restoration and burning, however, the positive 

gains in habitat quality outweigh any losses. Bear populations would likely increase in the short and 

long terms. 

Wild Turkey Positive gains in habitat occur by stimulation of grasses/forbs in open longleaf pine stands 

and through road closures. Tighter controls on OHV access and road closure enhance turkey habitat. 

Over the next ten years, populations are likely to increase and begin to level off. However, in the longer 

term, the restoration of upland hardwoods converted from loblolly pine is likely to increase populations 

in 25 to 40 years. 

Cumulative Effects In the short term, there would be a substantial increase in the distribution and 

abundance of vegetation age 0 to 10 years, with a commensurate increase in habitat capability for early 

seral-dependent wildlife species. This shift would primarily occur as a result of restoration efforts aimed 

at converting off-site species (both hardwoods, loblolly pine, and mixed pine-hardwood) to longleaf 

pine. 

In the long-term, the cumulative effect would be a progressive shift in habitat conditions across the 

Forest, emphasizing habitat conditions for wildlife species, such as brown-headed nuthatches, yellowthroated warblers, Bachman's sparrows, red-cockaded woodpeckers, southern fox squirrels that are 

associated with older-aged forests. The most pronounced shift in the long-term would be an increase in 

habitat for species associated with mid- to late-successional stage longleaf pine forest types. Early 

successional habitat would still be provided in later planning periods, but at a lesser degree and scale 

then in the short-term. 
156 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Alternative D: 

RCW Slight improvements in habitat over the next years are due to cavity augmentation and growing 

season burns. Therefore, populations may grow at about 3 percent in the short term. In the long term, 

risks are high that population objectives would not be met. No longleaf restoration goals in the 

alternative would provide future habitat, therefore, habitat goals of 43,424 acres are not likely to be met. 

It is likely that population levels would level off after 10 years and remain static rather than reaching 

levels of 136-151 clusters. 

Black Bear Habitat enhancements are due to prescribed burning in pocosins , the maintenance and 

potential increase in hardmast sources. These gains are offset by the high level of access provided with 

this alternative. OHV and other motorized use would be widespread throughout the forest, causing high 

disturbance levels and fragmentation effects. Bear population trends would likely remain static over the 

next 10 years, but would likely decline in the longer term. 

Wild Turkey Positive gains in habitat accrue by keeping and increasing hardmast sources, and 

providing early successional conditions in mixed pine/hardwood stands. However, losses of habitat are 

due to the relatively unrestricted motorized and non motorized access. Wildlife openings would continue 

to receive the necessary level and intensity of maintenance, with additional openings constructed. An 

increase in the distribution and availability of permanent wildlife openings would benefit species such as 

white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkeys, northern bobwhite quail, cottontail rabbits, and early 

successional neotropical birds. However, there is a projected offsetting loss of permanent grass and forb 

habitat as a result of increased public recreational use of existing linear wildlife openings (closed, seeded 

roads. Therefore, populations would continue to increase in the short term and level off after 

approximately ten years. 

Cumulative Effects Early-successional habitat would predominately be in the form of large even-aged 

blocks, and existing forest types would be relevant. Habitat capability for early-successional wildlife 

species would only be slightly below that of Alternative C. Cumulatively, early-successional habitat 

would remain stable throughout subsequent planning periods. 

Alternative E: 

RCW Habitat conditions would improve in the short and long terms. Positive gains in habitat quality 

are made through higher levels of prescribed burning and growing season burns. This alternative 

attempts to deal with the short-term habitat losses in Alternative C. The loss of all potential nesting trees 

in Alternative C would be offset by keeping 6-10 trees per acre where 2 aged regeneration methods are 

appropriate for longleaf restoration. To offset the losses of wiregrass that may occur in Alternative C, 

guidance is provided to use alternative site preparation methods for planting. By maintaining some large 

loblolly trees during restoration efforts, the short-term populations should increase at 5 percent or more. 

However, some risks of not achieving full longleaf restoration objectives are assumed by keeping a seed 

source of loblolly pine, which may out compete the longleaf. With high level of prescribed burning, 

these risks are diminished and long-term population objectives should be achieved in this alternative. 

Trends in habitat should increase to about 64,000 acres with population increases to 137-169. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 157

Black Bear Habitat quality increases due to prescribed burning in pocosins, tighter controls on access 

and OHV areas, a network of large hardwood/cypress wetlands for bear migration. Some loss of 

hardmast sources occur due to the high level longleaf restoration and burning, however, the positive 

gains in habitat quality outweigh any losses. Bear populations would likely increase in the short and 

long terms. 

Wild Turkey This species is likely to be more sensitive to short term habitat loss of hardwood sources 

than black bear. Positive gains in habitat occur by stimulation of grasses/forbs in open longleaf pine 

stands and through road closures. Tighter controls on OHV access and road closure enhance turkey 

habitat. Over the next ten years, populations are likely to continue to increase and then level off after 10 

years. However, in the longer term, the restoration of upland hardwoods converted from loblolly pine is 

likely to increase populations in 25 to 40 years. 

Cumulative Effects In the short term, there would be an increase in the distribution and abundance of 

vegetation age 0 to 10 years, but at fairly low levels. Habitat capability for early seral-dependent wildlife 

species would increase slightly. This shift would primarily occur as a result of restoration efforts aimed 

at converting off-site species (both hardwoods, loblolly pine, and mixed pine-hardwood) to longleaf 

pine. 

In the long-term, the cumulative effect would be a progressive shift in habitat conditions across the 

Forest, emphasizing habitat conditions for wildlife species, such as brown-headed nuthatches, yellowthroated warblers, Bachman's sparrows, red-cockaded woodpeckers, southern fox squirrels that are 

associated with older-aged forests. The most pronounced shift would be an increase in habitat for 

species associated with mid- to late-successional stage longleaf pine forest types. Early successional 

habitat would be provided at higher levels than in the short term. Therefore, all successional stages 

would be sustained through time in this alternative. 

Cumulative Effect of Proposed Havelock Bypass for All Alternatives A proposed bypass around the 

town of Havelock would affect CNF land in the near future. Environmental assessment has been 

prepared by the US Dept of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and the NC Dept. of 

Transportation. The USDA Forest Service is listed as a cooperating agency in the assessment. (Refer to 

US 70, Havelock Bypass, Federal Aid Project No STP-NHF-F-56-4(34), State Project No. 8.T170701, 

T.I.P. No, R-1015 (hereafter EA). Analyses in the assessment are incorporated by reference and 

summarized below. 

Table 3.24 shows the amount of CNF affected by Corridor C (preferred in referenced EA) and by 

prescription and percent of each prescription in this FEIS. The actual footprint of the road would take up 

about one-third the total amount listed for any plan alternative, since the roadbed and shoulders would 

be about 325 feet wide within the 1000-foot corridor. However, for purposes of this analyses, we use the 

corridor width because the actual location of the roadbed has not be determined. 

RCW HMA, Bear, and mixed pine forests consistently have prescription areas greater than 1 percent 

affected among the alternatives. (Note: In Alternative E, mixed pine forests were rolled into RCW 

HMA). The acreages of affected prescriptions would not create high risks in reaching forestwide desired 

conditions for any planning alternative. However, the bypass would affect lands adjacent to the road 
158 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

footprint, creating a fragmentation effect due to the amount of direct habitat affected. These effects are 

examined in terms of MIS below. 

RCW The bypass directly affects foraging habitat for RCW, but would not adversely affect the 

populations of this species (EA, Appendix B). However, approximately 1070 acres of CNF land to the 

east of bypass would be fragmented and difficult to prepare or maintain RCW habitat. An additional 2 to 

3 percent of potential RCW HMA would cumulatively be affected above the amounts cited in Table 

3.24. 

The desired population objectives in Table 2.1 accounted for the effects of the bypass, by establishing 

slightly lower population levels. Therefore, the bypass would not impose any greater risks to meeting 

population objectives or projected trends for any planning alternative. 

The difficulty in managing the longleaf systems fragmented to the east of the bypass could affect trends 

for longleaf and wiregrass. Since methods other than prescribed fire may be required to maintain the 

longleaf/wiregrass system, the habitat quality is likely to decline. Due to the high cost of habitat 

maintenance, some losses of this system would be likely. Thus, using the percentages described above, 

alternatives predicting declines in longleaf/wiregrass would decline further, and any increases in trends 

would be somewhat dampened. 

 

Bear Reference Table 3.24 and the EA, USFS Section 2, Wildlife Analysis. A higher level of direct 

mortality would occur as bears attempt to cross the bypass. The project would fragment part of a bear 

sanctuary and create conditions that would force bears to adjust home ranges and travel corridors. 

Planning alternatives have goals to provide habitat linkages to adjacent landscapes. The bypass imposes 

risks to achieving these goals in the short term. However, black bear are fairly adaptable, and, the 

provision of bridges and other structures would likely mitigate the effects of the bypass on bear passage. 

Population trends in the planning alternatives may decrease slightly in the short term. Another concern 

would be the prospects of any additional or future highway projects affecting the populations in the bear 

sanctuaries. 

Turkey Bottomland hardwoods and mixed pine habitats used by turkey would be affected by the 

bypass. Young turkey would experience difficulty in using habitat on both sides of the bypass because 

of difficulty in crossing the roadway. Current occupancy would probably decline, however, these are 

localized effects. The forestwide trend for turkey would decrease only slightly for any of the planning 

alternatives. 

Other species The EA discloses effects to Rafinesque’s Big Eared Bat and Solidago Verna. These 

effects require mitigation at the site specific, project level. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 159

Table 3.24 Acres of Management Prescription by Alternative affected by Havelock Bypass proposal. 

Prescription 

Alternative Acres and (percents) 

 

 A B C/C-modified D E 

MA 1 246(1%) 

MA 2 285(4.9%) 

MA 3 303(4.3%) 

MA 5 181(0.3%) 

Hardwood wetlands 52(0.9% 52(0.6%) 52(0.5%) 52(0.6%) 

Mixed Pine Forest 116(2.9%) 191(4.3%) 117(1.3%) 

RCW HMA 544(1.4%) 500(1.1%) 608(1.4%) 776(1.2%) 

Pocosin/Pond Pine (RCW) 239(1.7%) 85(0.6%) 51(0.4%) 

Special Interest Area 64(0.1%) 

Bear 92(0.2%) 92(0.2%) 92(0.2%) 

WUI 95(1.8%) 95(1.8%) 95(1.8%) 

 

Total 1015 1015 1015 1015 1015 

Cumulative Effects of Alternatives on Rare Terrestrial Species: Analysis of the risks of viability of 

rare species is documented in Appendix H. Risks are reduced in Alternative E for the following species: 

Bachman’s sparrow, Henlow’s sparrow, Anhinga, bald eagle, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. 

Refer to Appendix H for more information about risks to rare species. 

Of great concern in the argo skipper. Due to the lack of habitat and no means to increase the habitat 

through restoration, no management alternatives can be developed within the authorities of the agency to 

ensure viability of this species. 

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All waters of the Croatan National Forest are in the Coastal Plain physiographic province. The streams 

are characteristic of many others in this physiographic province in that their gradients are very low, they 

have varying degrees of acidity, and they are colored by peat and other organic materials the water 

drains. The natural lakes on the Forest are large and shallow. Because of their acidity, aquatic species 

diversity is limited to an assemblage of acid tolerant fish species such as redfin pickerel, fliers, and 

bullhead catfish. 

The CNF is bounded on the north by the Trent River, on the east by the Neuse River, on the west by the 

White Oak River, and to the south by Bogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Great Lake (approximately 

2,000 acres) and Catfish Lake (approximately 800 acres) are near the center of the Forest at a higher 

elevation than surrounding terrain. Consequently, streams originate from the lakes or surrounding lands 

and reach their largest size upon confluence with the Neuse, Trent, and Whiteoak Rivers and Bogue 

Sound. 
160 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Ecologically, waters on the Croatan can be grouped into some 11 aquatic ecological types based 

primarily on acidity and on where a particular stream reach, pond, or lake falls in the spectrum from 

freshwater to saltwater. Size and degree of tidal influence are other factors that cause some waters to be 

biologically different from others. The 11 aquatic ecological types identified in a "first approximation" 

include the following: 

1. Saltwater Sound. Examples include Bogue, Pamlico, and Albemarle Sounds all of which are 

estuarine in nature (a biologically productive mixing zone of fresh and saltwaters). 

2. Large Tidal Rivers. The lower Whiteoak and Neuse rivers, and the Newport and Trent Rivers are 

examples of this ecological type. The rivers are influenced by wind tides and saltwater intrusion. 

Chloride concentrations are often several thousand parts per million, and the fish assemblage is usually 

dominated by marine species in the lowermost reaches. Some freshwater fish species co-occur with the 

marine species except in the most saline reaches of these rivers. 

3. Tidally Influenced Sections of Large Creeks. This category of waters includes the lower reaches of 

large creeks such as Brice and Hunter Creeks. Directional streamflow, depth, and salinity are influenced 

by wind tides of their receiving rivers. These stream reaches usually contain some saltwater fish species 

in addition to freshwater species such as largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and bluegill. The saltwater 

fish species usually include striped mullet, American eels, and summer flounder. 

4. Non-tidal Midreaches of Large Streams. Two examples of this aquatic ecological type are Brice 

Creek in the vicinity of the public boating access, and the White Oak River near Belgrade. These 

ecological types are important in that they contain the most diverse assemblages of freshwater fish on 

the Croatan National Forest. These stream reaches contain a more diverse and abundant array of 

habitats than smaller stream reaches and consequently meet the habitat requirements of more species. 

The sizes of these stream reaches also allow more recreation opportunities such as canoe or boat fishing 

as opposed to wading or bank fishing only. 

5. Acidic Upper Reaches of Large Streams. Brice Creek from its origin at Catfish Lake downstream to 

a point where acidity as measured by pH is 5.5 or less typifies this ecological type. The fish community 

is dominated by a relatively small number of acid-tolerant species such as redfin pickerel and brown 

bullhead, and fishing opportunities are more restricted than in less acid, larger stream habitats. 

6. Nonacidic Upper Reaches of Large Streams. At present, our data are not adequate to identify stream 

segments that are characteristic of this ecological type. It can be anticipated that this ecological type 

would not be well represented on the Croatan National Forest. Where it does occur, fish species 

diversity should be considerably greater than in similar, more acidic streams. 

7. Large Acidic Natural Lakes. In North Carolina, this ecological type is unique to the Coastal Plain 

and is represented by Great and Catfish Lakes. 

8. Acidic Ponds. A pond may be a natural or manmade body of water. Typically, size is less than five 

acres. Ponds in this ecological category have a pH less than 5.5. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 161

9. Nonacidic Ponds. Ponds with a pH equal to or greater than 5.5. An example is Cedar Swamp Pond. 

Although rare on the Croatan, this type pond has the capacity to be intensively managed for several 

species of sport fish. 

10. Estuarine Branches. Short drainages into saline, lower reaches of rivers such as the White Oak, 

Newport, Neuse, and Trent, or into estuarine portions of ocean sounds. 

11. Estuarine Creeks. Small streams that are largely contained within salt-marsh ecosystems. Salinity 

is typically high and the biota are dominated by marine species. These habitats are often important 

nursery areas for many species of saltwater fish and shellfish. 

Although there have been no recent angler surveys on the Croatan, fishing use is estimated to be very 

low relative to other areas with comparable miles of stream and acres of lakes. Angler interest is high, 

but the acidic nature of many Croatan waters severely limits opportunity. From a more positive 

perspective, many of the Croatan waters are nearly pristine, and allow anglers to fish in high quality 

natural environments in relative seclusion. These opportunities are particularly well represented on 

larger creeks such as Brice, Hunter, Holston, and Hadnot Creeks and the upper- and mid-reaches of the 

Whiteoak River. 

Fisheries management activities that might occur include: the construction and intensive management of 

ponds and small lakes that are accessible to bank fishing anglers of all abilities; development of "canoe 

ways" and bank fishing trails to allow more bank fishing opportunities, and interagency cooperative 

projects aimed at improving populations of marine and anadromous fish species such as striped bass. 

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Forest management activities that have the potential to affect fisheries habitat quality include: (1) any 

ground disturbing activities that could result in erosion and stream sedimentation, (2) application of 

pesticides, (3) application of fertilizer or other nutrients, and (4) riparian area tree harvest or land 

disturbance. None of these activities is part of any proposed alternatives. The flat terrain and riparian 

area protection measures that would be included under all alternatives greatly reduce the potential for 

off-site effects in aquatic systems. A more real threat may be activities that would result in increased 

fishing pressure in areas that have limited capacity and activities that result in the transport of significant 

quantities of nutrients to receiving waters. 

As was pointed out earlier, the protection of bottomland hardwoods for fisheries and wildlife purposes 

combined with the relatively flat terrain of all upland areas on the Croatan greatly reduces the potential 

for land management activities or recreation activities that affect surface hydrology or negatively affect 

aquatic resources. 

Alternative A: This alternative would continue the present level of forest and fisheries management 

activities. Emphasis would be on limited fisheries habitat improvement activities and limited surveys of 

distribution and relative abundance of different fish species. Fishing opportunities would remain very 

limited, and little action would be aimed at increasing bank fishing opportunities through construction of 

ponds, small lakes, and bank fishing trails. Existing riparian area protection guidelines, combined with a 

terrain that is not easily erodible, minimizes the consequences of land disturbing activities, timber 
162 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

harvest, silvicultural practices, or prescribed fire as these activities relate to aquatic environments. No 

direct or indirect effects on aquatic resources are anticipated under this alternative. 

Alternative B: Emphasis in this alternative would be on better aquatic resource inventories and 

monitoring and the increase of fishing opportunities by construction of bank fishing trails, canoe 

launches, and ponds and small lakes. None of these activities is expected to negatively influence other 

resources. The potential harvest in all waters other than newly constructed ponds and small lakes may 

be reduced if angling pressure cannot be maintained at acceptable levels. No other direct or indirect 

effects are anticipated. 

Alternative C, C-Modified,D, and E: Each of these alternatives involves additional recreation 

development, more intensive timber harvest and silvicultural practices, and more effort to increase 

fishing opportunities. No direct effects are anticipated under any of the alternatives. Increased 

accessability to existing aquatic resources may indirectly limit the ability of a given water source to 

support acceptable levels of angler harvest. Construction of canoe trails, bank fishing trails, and small 

lakes and ponds would measurably improve fishing opportunities on the Croatan. 

Cumulative Effects of Alternatives on Rare Aquatic Species: Analysis of the risks to viability of rare 

species is documented in Appendix H. The Croatan crayfish is a species of concern, however, none on 

the alternatives would impose substantial risks of this species persisting on the CNF. 

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Much of the recreation on the CNF occurs on significant bodies of water within a few miles of the 

Atlantic Ocean; and most of these waters have a tidal influence. These tidelands waters are among the 

most important aspects of recreation on the CNF. 

 

The CNF climate and demographics sustain a year-round recreation program. The CNF has much 

milder winters than the mountains in western North Carolina, and winter camping, hiking, and fishing, 

are quite popular. Summers are considerably hotter than in the mountains, but because of the nearby 

ocean beaches, the CNF receives considerable summer use from families with schoolchildren. Spring 

comes earlier and fall lasts longer than in the mountains. Many retired and semi-retired people, and 

families without children vacation in the area during those periods. The retirement community is rapidly 

expanding in the area, and demand for year-round recreational opportunities is expanding. 

 

The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) provides planners a way to divide outdoor recreation 

settings, activities, and experience opportunities into several categories: Primitive, Semi-primitive Nonmotorized, Semi-primitive Motorized, Roaded Natural, Rural, and Urban. Opportunities range from a 

very high chance of solitude, self-reliance, challenge, and risk, to a highly social interactive experience. 

All of these categories are represented on the CNF except urban and primitive. ROS settings are 

partially determined by the location and development level of roads, trails, and developed recreation 

areas. ROS settings are also influenced by the density of non-natural visual impacts, such as roads, 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 163

houses, clearcuts, towers, and military flight paths. Approximately one-fourth of the Croatan is in the 

Semi-primitive Non-motorized and Semi-primitive Motorized settings. Most of this area is Wilderness 

and Roadless Areas. The rest of the CNF is in Roaded Natural and Rural settings. A more complete 

description of the ROS system is found in Appendix G of the Croatan National Forest Plan document. 

Table 3.25. ROS class, acres, and percent of total acres. 

ROS Class ROS Acres Percent of Total Acres 

SPNM 35,785 22 

SPM 9,247 6 

RN 101,188 62 

R 16,141 10 

Over the planning period, possible changes that would influence ROS settings for lands on the CNF 

include: 1) variations in road and trail density – either building new roads and trails or closing existing 

ones; 2) continuing private development in the urban/rural interface at the edge of the forest and on 

private in-holdings; 3) increasing the size and/or development level of recreation sites on the forest; 4) 

variations in location, intensity, and methods of timber harvest; 5) intensity and frequency of prescribed 

fire applications; and 5) changes in the intensity of military over-flights and on-the-ground training. 

Recreation use is measured in terms of recreation visits to the forest. In 2000, the Forest Service began a 

systematic survey of recreation use and user preferences to obtain the more accurate information. This 

information will be undated periodically. The Coastal area of North Carolina is expected to show a 23 % 

population increase by 2020. Participation rates by the public in outdoor recreation activities are also 

expected to increase slightly over the period. The most popular recreation uses for public lands in 

Coastal North Carolina are driving for pleasure, picnicking and day use activities, and viewing nature 

and wildlife. Hiking is by far the most popular trail activity. Recreation surveys show the greatest 

growth areas for recreation in Coastal North Carolina over the next 25 years will be viewing nature, 

visiting historic sites, and swimming in streams, lakes, and the ocean. Participation rates in some other 

popular activities such as horseback riding, fishing, developed and dispersed camping, and mountain 

biking are expected to increase at rates similar to overall population growth. 

Existing CNF capacity for developed camping is expected to meet demands for the planning period. The 

development of additional hiking trails is expected to enable demand to be met for this popular activity. 

New dispersed and day use facilities proposed in this plan will come close to meeting demand for those 

activities. New trail opportunities for mountain biking and horseback riding are planned to be developed 

during the planning period, but probably will not meet expected demand due to physical limitations for 

new trail construction on the CNF. The Forest Service will not be able to meet demand for off-highway 

vehicle (OHV) recreation. The Forest Service will work cooperatively with other governmental and 

private interests to assist them in helping to meet demand for these other trail activities. 

Currently, interpretive information is provided at five areas on the CNF – at four developed recreation 

sites and also the district office. The most in-depth interpretive sequence can be found along the 

Tidelands Trail within the Cedar Point Recreation Area. Themes of these interpretive topics include 

area history, local ecosystems, and the effects of natural change on the local environment. 
164 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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Most of the effects from fire and timber regeneration on recreation are tied to the impact to the scenery 

and the expectation visitors have of what they'll see on the CNF. A discussion of these impacts is in the 

Scenery Management section of this Chapter. A brief description of effects on scenery follows. 

Effects Common to all Alternatives 

Many of the harvest areas for the next decade would be concentrated near recreation facilities like Cedar 

Point, Pine Cliff, and Brice Creek. Some are near Millis Road, Haywood Landing, and the Long Point 

Road. While timber harvesting is occurring, there is the possibility of disruption along entrance roads 

into recreation sites, additional dust and noise, and potential safety problems. Logging debris left within 

view of recreation sites can mar the natural scenery that visitors expect. Visitors might avoid recreation 

sites where timber regeneration is occurring, or the quality of experience may be degraded. 

The large burning program on the CNF would affect the recreating experience, but it is difficult to 

correlate on the ground burning with recreation developments. Except for the hardwood corridors, and 

some of the pocosins, it is probable that most of the forest would be burned at some time. There are 

short- and long- term effects from burning. Short-term effects include patches of blackened forest and 

scorched tree crowns, hazy skies, and smoke concentrated in some areas. Longer-term effects include 

slow healing or permanent plowlines that are visible from recreation areas, and plowlines along access 

roads. 

Benefits from timber regeneration and burning would include open understory views of the forest, 

enhancement of scenes like those in longleaf pine savannas, and less vegetative debris left in view. 

Burning also reduces ticks, chiggers, and brush that hide snakes. 

Alternative A: This alternative would continue the program and variety of recreation settings and 

experiences that now exist on the CNF. Existing use exceeds, by about 15 percent, what was anticipated 

when the current plan was written. Overuse of undeveloped sites would continue, causing resource 

changes, and demand for more rustic and primitive facilities would not be accommodated. Construction 

of more highly developed facilities at Cedar Point would be completed, which would help ease current 

demand. Demand for new trail systems for mountain bikers and horseback riders would be only 

partially accommodated on existing trails and closed roads. OHV routes (about 36 miles) would remain 

the same, as would use of unauthorized trails and roads by OHV riders. Since user-created, 

unauthorized trails and roads are distributed widely throughout the Forest, OHV riders perceive most of 

the natural forest as open. The cumulative effect is that recreation use would continue to increase over 

the decades, even though capacity remains the same. Long-term effects would be greater numbers of 

people concentrated in recreation sites and on the trails, with some use spilling over into the general 

forest. Thus, the ROS social setting would change to reflect increased numbers of people in contact 

with one another at highly used and popular facilities. There would most probably be resource damage 

through overuse of sites. Visitors who are seeking more solitude would recreate in relatively unused 

areas like the Wildernesses. 

Alternative B: Emphasis in this alternative is on non-motorized recreation opportunities and more rustic 

recreation developments. Little new construction would occur unless opportunities for partnerships and 

funding were available. Rural and Roaded Natural ROS areas would increase in PAOT capacity by 

about 10 percent, while Semi-primitive Motorized capacity increases by about 20 percent. This increase 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 165

would partially address the demand for more rustic facilities. Semi-primitive Non-Motorized use is 

expected to increase by 31 percent, so more people would use the rustic recreation sites, and increased 

numbers of people would be in contact with one another. This crowding could lead to resource damage 

and lower quality visitor experiences. As in Alternative A, demand for new trail systems for mountain 

biking and horseback riding would only be partially accommodated on existing trails and closed roads, 

increasing PAOT capacity by 7 percent. The only OHV routes that would be designated would be loops 

and routes that avoid sensitive wildlife and plant habitats. OHV trail miles would decrease to 

approximately 8 - 10 miles; the remainder of roads, trails, and all other areas of forest would be closed 

to OHV use. Overuse of some trails is highly likely because of decreased miles available. 

Interpretive locations would almost double, utilizing existing recreation sites and trailheads. Increased 

interpretation would enhance visitors' experiences and share information on resource management, 

ecosystems, and history of the area. Better-informed visitors are good partners in helping to manage the 

CNF. 

The cumulative effect of use is projected to increase by 18 percent over the next three decades, while 

PAOT capacity remains the same. This would be accommodated through increased use during the 

week. Long-term effects would be higher numbers of people using recreation sites and on trails, with 

some use spilling over into the general forest. Thus, the ROS social setting would change to reflect 

increased numbers of people in contact with one another at highly used and popular facilities. For 

instance, a Roaded Natural setting may become a Rural setting due to increased encounters. There 

would probably be resource damage through overuse. Visitors who are seeking more solitude would 

recreate in more lightly used areas like the Wildernesses. OHV users in particular would see a change. 

Over time, resource damage and use of unauthorized trails would subside if enforcement measures are 

effective. 

Alternatives C, C-modified, and E: Recreation opportunities and new development would support 

nature and heritage-based tourism. Development would occur at both the more developed (Rural and 

Roaded Natural) and the more rustic (Semi-Primitive) ends of the ROS spectrum. Developed sites 

(Rural) would increase by 15 percent, and rustic development at water-based locations (Roaded Natural 

and Semi-Primitive Motorized) would increase by approximately 40 percent. Thus, demands for more 

rustic recreation sites with water access would be met, rounding out the more highly developed 

opportunities. Opportunities for hunting and wildlife viewing would be increased through additional 

development of trails and viewing platforms at Catfish Lake Impoundment. Designated trail systems for 

mountain biking and horseback riding would be constructed using existing roads and new trails, 

increasing trail PAOT capacity by 27 percent. Thus current demand for these trails would be met with a 

well-defined trail system. Interpretive sites would triple from existing to about 17 sites. Access to an 

extensive water-based trail system through the CNF and nearby areas would be available. This will 

require partnerships with local entities to enhance this opportunity for saltwater and inland access to this 

system. In addition to interpretation at recreation sites, a New Bern-Morehead City auto tour is 

proposed, interpreting historic and cultural features. Increased interpretation opportunities would 

enhance visitors' experiences and share information on resource management, ecosystems, and history of 

the area. Better-informed visitors are good partners in forest management.

Cumulatively, these alternatives would meet the demands for more rustic ROS experiences over time. 

By emphasizing development of existing SPM areas, user demands would be accommodated, while 
166 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

reducing the risk of resource damage. Rural and Roaded Natural ROS opportunities would also 

increase, so that by the end of the third decade use of facilities would not exceed capacity and visitors' 

expectations would be met. Trail systems would be well defined and would allow phasing out and 

closing of unauthorized trails that are damaging natural resources. Thus, disturbances to rare species 

and habitats from recreational activities would decrease. 

Alternatives C/C-modified and E differ in their approach to OHV management. Alterative C/Cmodified would attempt to provide a loop system in the area from Nine Foot Road to Millis Road. Some 

roads in the Black Swamp area would continue as OHV trails. About 20-30 miles would help meet 

demand for OHV activity, and most unauthorized routes are phased out. Alternative E would provide a 

well-designed OHV system in the Black Swamp area and close out the remainder of forest to OHV use. 

About 8-10 miles would be provided. Riders would experience a demanding course requiring a high 

skill level. The social setting would be Rural, conducive to outings and high levels of interactions. 

Foregone are benefits of remote access to OHVs. 

 

Alternative D: Recreation development would encourage a full range of recreational activities and 

provide easy access to the forest. As in Alternative C, development at both the more highly developed 

(Rural and Roaded Natural) and the more rustic (Semi-Primitive) ends of the ROS spectrum would 

occur. More developed sites (Rural) would increase by 30 percent, and rustic development at water 

based locations (Roaded Natural and Semi-primitive Motorized) would increase by approximately 40 

percent. Thus, the demands for more rustic recreation sites with water access would be met, and more 

highly developed opportunities would be satisfied. Greater emphasis would be on attracting out-ofregion tourists. Opportunities for hunting and wildlife viewing would be increased through additional 

development of trails and viewing platforms at Catfish Lake Impoundment. About 20-30 miles of 

OHV trails would be available, with the possibility of a new system if demand warrants. A new system 

of trails may result in less confusion and unauthorized OHV use. Interpretive sites would triple from 

existing to about 18 sites. In addition to interpretation located at existing recreation sites, a New BernMorehead City auto tour is proposed, interpreting historic and cultural features. Increased interpretation 

opportunities enhance visitors' experiences and provide an opportunity to share information on resource 

management and the ecosystems and history of the area. Better-informed visitors are good partners in 

CNF management. 

Because access to the CNF would be easier (more open roads), use would probably increase and visitors 

would utilize more areas of the Forest. While this alternative provides the greatest range of recreation 

opportunities for visitors to the forest, there may be a greater chance for conflicts between forest users' 

demands and the ability to provide high-quality habitat for wildlife and some plant species. Among 

users there may be conflicts, and those who desire more solitude may find it difficult. 

The cumulative effects of this alternative over time are very similar to Alternative C. This alternative 

would meet the demand for all the ROS experiences on the CNF. By emphasizing development of 

existing Semi-primitive Motorized areas, user demand would be accommodated with a low risk of 

resource damage. Rural and Roaded Natural ROS opportunities would also increase, so by the end of 

the third decade facilities would not be over-used and visitors' expectations would be met. Trail systems 

would be well defined, and use of unauthorized trails that are damaging natural resources would be 

stopped. Thus, disturbance to rare species and habitats would decline. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 167

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Wild and Scenic Rivers (W&SR) are segments of watercourses that contain a mixture of natural, 

cultural, scenic and recreational values that are outstanding for their particular geographic area. 

Through designation to Wild and Scenic River System, their outstanding values are retained and 

enhanced on national forest land. Two rivers, White Oak and Brice Creek (which includes portions of 

East and West Prong Creeks) are eligible for WSR status. Since the rivers’ corridors are primarily in 

private ownerships, further study of their suitable classifications would be conducted jointly with State 

of North Carolina, who would lead the effort. The rivers characteristics are described as follows. 

The White Oak River is free flowing and has outstanding scenic, botanic, wildlife, historic, and cultural 

values. Plant communities provide scenery in four distinct ecotypes -- saltwater marsh, hardwood 

swamp, upland hardwood forest, and pine forest. The river changes from a fast-flowing, narrow, 

meandering, creek in an upland hardwood forest to a broad, sluggish, coastal blackwater river lined with 

tidal cordgrass marsh. It is rich in wildlife providing important habitat for the American alligator and a 

number of wading birds and waterfowl. It also provides habitat for seven threatened or endangered 

wildlife species listed on Federal or State registers. The river has a high probability for historical and 

archeological sites. There are 70 known sites (13 on NF lands), 36 (seven on CNF lands) of which may 

qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Further study of its suitability and 

potential classification is deferred to the State of North Carolina because the CNF comprises less than 

20% of the land in the river corridor, all on the east back of the river. 

Brice Creek has four different segments along the 27.4 mile corridor, including West Prong, East Prong, 

their junction with Brice Creek, and continuing down to the confluence with the Trent River. The 

creeks are free flowing and have outstanding scenic, botanic, wildlife, and historic, and cultural values. 

Areas directly adjacent the streams consist of lake and stream swamps, where the vegetation is cypress 

and closed canopy hardwoods, and the water is colored by tannins. Animals include double breasted 

cormorant, Neuse river waterdog, and American alligator. Along Brice Creek are many stands of dry 

mesic hardwood and pine with only small remnants of mixed pine-hardwood, mainly loblolly, sweetgum 

and oaks. Animals include RCW and many other bird species. Some areas have drainage slopes, where 

oak and hickory dominate. The diamondback rattlesnake, black bear, wild turkey and many bird species 

are present. West Prong Creek is in low pocosin on very deep peatlands, which support stunted pond 

pines and dense, short evergreen shrubs. Rare animals include American alligator, eastern cougar, 

Bachman's sparrow, Croatan crayfish, and RCW. The habitat supports black bears and many bird 

species. In addition to lake and stream swamps and mesic hardwood-pine, East Prong Creek goes 

through stream and river terraces. Here, trees include predominantly beech, poplar, hickory, and oak. 

The habitat supports black bears, wild turkeys, and many birds. Brice Creek has high probability for 

historical and archeological sites. There are 17 sites that may qualify for listing on the National Register 

of Historic Places. 

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Alternative A: The White Oak River portions of the CNF would be managed to maintain the outstanding 

values that made it eligible for designation. The CNF lands would be managed under the River 

Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status management prescription. Brice Creek would be 
168 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

managed under the Hardwoods Cypress Wetlands prescription. The standards for scenery, access, and 

development in these prescriptions are similar to standards in the River Corridors Eligible for Wild and 

Scenic River Status prescription; however, it would not be studied further for Wild and Scenic Status. 

Long-term cumulative effects to both the White Oak and Brice Creek would be the same as the existing 

condition. 

 

Alternatives B, C, C-modified, and E: The White Oak River and Brice Creek (The CNF portion) would 

be studied for Wild and Scenic River suitability jointly with the State of North Carolina, who would lead 

the effort. The CNF lands would be managed under the River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic 

River Status management prescription. River corridors would be managed to protect their values. As a 

result, scenery would be better protected and there would be fewer developments and less vegetation 

management than in Alternative D, which does not recommend further study. Frequently, WSR status 

may increase public interest and awareness of river resources. Effects of these rivers in WSR status are 

the societal benefits, and the prestige of having a National Wild and Scenic River in the area which is 

likely to increase tourism. Recognizing these rivers as wild and scenic would help keep them in their 

present natural state and would help emphasize their scenic quality. 

The positive cumulative effects of potential WSR status continue through time. As populations and the 

pressures for development increase, the value of managing these areas in their relatively natural 

condition would increase. Management as WSR could be difficult when catastrophic events occur. 

Timber harvesting, road building, and other activities necessary to clean up after such events would have 

to be done in a more restrictive way, adding to the costs of projects. 

Alternative D: White Oak and Brice Creek would not be recommended for further study of suitability 

as WSR. Both White Oak and Brice Creek would be managed under hardwood and cypress wetlands 

prescription for the CNF portions. The standards for scenery, access, and development for this 

prescription are similar to standards in the River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status 

prescription. The main difference would be that maintaining a free flowing condition is not required. 

Cumulative effects include pressures to develop both White Oak River and Brice Creek for other uses 

may increase over time. These uses could impact their values to the point where they would no longer 

be eligible for Wild and Scenic River status. Values at risk include water quality, natural vegetation, 

and wildlife and fisheries habitat, as well as the social value of scenic quality. Recreation use would 

continue and probably increase to a more developed, less natural ROS setting, and heritage resources 

would be protected through existing laws. 

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All national forest landscapes have value as scenery, but some have more value than others. The 

Scenery Management System (SMS) helps to inventory and classify the importance, or value of 

landscapes as they relate to people and the ecosystem. 

The first scenery mapping and inventory that was done for the 1986 Croatan Uwharrie National Forest 

Management Plan used the Visual Management System (VMS). The Scenery Management System, 

(SMS) released in 1996, evolved from and replaces the VMS. The SMS differs from the VMS in that it 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 169

borrows from and is integrated with the basic concepts and terminology of ecosystem management. 

SMS provides for improved integration of aesthetics with other biological, physical and social/cultural 

resources in the planning process. Attractive scenery ties directly with water and vegetation types on the 

CNF. Class A, the most attractive scenery, includes rivers, lakes and sounds, marshes and tidal 

influence areas, swamp forests, low pocosin, longleaf pine savannas with wire grass understory, and 

hardwood slopes. It also includes potential restoration areas for longleaf pine savannas. 

Scenic classes are one component of the SMS. They measure the relative importance of landscapes, and 

during project planning, help compare the value of scenery with the value of other resources. Scenic 

classes are determined by combining the three classes of scenic attractiveness with distance zones and 

concern levels. Scenic classes 1 and 2 have high public value and are used in this document to identify 

areas that need special mitigation measures if vegetation management activities are implemented. The 

SMS is explained in more detail in Appendix F of the CNF Plan. 

On the CNF, scenic classes 1 and 2 are the foreground (up to 1/2 mile from a road) along most of the 

major roads, along trails and in recreation sites. There are 25,266 acres in scenic class 1 and 47,109 

acres in scenic class 2. Class 1 areas occur along the roads leading to recreation sites like Cedar Point, 

Pine Cliff, and Brice Creek, while class 2 areas concentrate along U.S. Highway 58 with smaller 

concentrations along Mill Branch Road, Millis Road, Haywood Landing, Holston Creek Road, and the 

Long Point Road area. Although these acres are within scenic classes 1 and 2, not all of them are visible 

from sensitive viewing locations, like roads, trails, streams, or recreation sites. A field review is needed 

to determine the sensitivity of each location. 

The large burning program on the CNF has an effect on the scenic quality. It is difficult to correlate 

where burning is going to occur in relation to the scenic class 1 and 2 areas. Except for the hardwood 

corridors and some of the pocosins, it is probable that all the high scenic areas would be burned at some 

time. 

The existing condition of the landscape is measured as scenic integrity, which is the degree of alteration 

from a natural-appearing condition. The suitable harvest acres in scenic class 1 and 2 fall primarily into 

a High scenic integrity level, meaning the landscape appears unaltered, and human-caused activities are 

not readily evident. A small number of acres fall into a Moderate or slightly altered level, and a very 

few acres are in Low, moderately altered, and Very Low, heavily altered. See Appendix F of the CNF 

Plan for a more detailed discussion of scenic integrity. 

A variety of techniques can be used to maintain the scenic quality of the class 1 and 2 areas. These may 

include smaller harvest unit sizes, feathering the edges of unit boundaries, minimizing the size of 

openings onto major roads, scheduling longer harvest rotations so adjacent units have more time to 

revegetate, and thorough clean-up of logging debris in close foreground viewing situations. Burning 

techniques include minimizing the size of plowlines, and keeping them out of view from travelways or 

trails, using natural features such as creeks as wet firelines, allowing a mosaic burn pattern that leaves 

some green vegetation within the unit, and removal of large unburned debris in close foreground 

viewing situations. 

 
170 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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High scenic quality depends on landscapes appearing natural with little evidence of management 

activities. Visitors have expectations of what they would see in the forest and these expectations usually 

include attractive and natural appearing scenery. What visitors see affects their experiences and 

enjoyment of recreation activities and the forest in general. If scenic quality is lost through removal of 

large areas of timber, or if areas of logging slash and roads are left in view, visitors' experiences are also 

diminished. Activities that might affect scenic quality include timber regeneration, road construction, 

special uses like transformer lines and corridors, and fire plowlines and burned areas. Effects to scenic 

quality can be mitigated depending on how activities are carried out. For instance, timber harvesting can 

create vistas, and fire can open up the understory to create more expansive views into the forest, and 

reduce unattractive logging debris. Timber harvesting and fire are most likely to have the greatest effect 

on scenery and would be the activities discussed and evaluated in each alternative. 

Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) are the standards by which scenery will be managed in each 

prescription. SIOs vary by prescription and hence by Alternative. Alternative C-modified is the same as 

Alternative C for SIO acres and environmental consequences. The table below displays the full array of 

SIOs by Alternative (Alternative A is managed using the Visual Management System). 

Table 3.26. SIOs by Alternative. 

SIO Alt.B Alt.C/C-modified Alt.D Alt. E 

Very High 65,000 33,000 34,000 33,000 

High 54,000 70,000 68,000 70,000 

Moderate 28,000 14,000 23,000 14,000 

Low 15,000 44,000 36,000 44,000 

Alternative A: Direction for this alternative uses the existing Visual Management System (VMS). The 

areas of Retention and Partial Retention Quality Objectives from the VMS coincide with areas of high 

scenic quality (scenic classes 1 and 2) in this planning effort. Over the 10-year planning period, 

approximately 1,200 acres would be regenerated, and about 50 percent of those acres would be in 

Retention and Partial Retention areas. This alternative regenerates the smallest number of acres of all 

the alternatives. Depending on the size, location and timing of the clearcut units within the retention and 

partial retention areas, there would be little impact on the scenic quality. 

About 15,000 acres would be burned per year. Although it is difficult to correlate how many of these 

acres would occur in scenic class 1 and 2 areas, it is known that none of this would occur in pocosin 

areas, and very little during the growing season. Because the pocosins can benefit in appearance from 

burning, and longleaf pine areas benefit from growing season burns, enhancing scenery through burning 

in this alternative. 

Regeneration acres would remain approximately the same each 10-year period. The cumulative effect 

over time is the appearance of the viewing corridors would be of younger age classes and may appear 

managed and not as natural-appearing. After 130 years, approximately 15,000 acres would be in the 

high scenic quality longleaf pine savannas. This is twice as much as Alternative D, and 25 percent less 

than in Alternatives B, C, C-Modified, and E. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 171

No burning would be done in the pocosins, increasing over time the likelihood of wildfire. Impacts to 

the scenery would include large burned over areas and extensive soil disturbance from use of large 

equipment to fight the fire. 

Alternative B: Approximately 1,046 acres would be harvested during the 10-year planning period. One 

half of these acres are in the scenic class 1 and 2 areas. The harvest method would be group selection in 

1⁄4 acre to 1 acre size openings. Because of their small size, these units would have very little impact on 

the scenic quality of the area. Longleaf pine savannas, which are some of the most attractive scenery, 

would double in acreage from existing condition. Because of these two situations, this alternative best 

retains the scenic quality of the CNF. 

This alternative burns the least amount per year, about 12,000. Growing-season burns are 1,000 acres or 

five times Alternative A, but still only 1/10th of alternatives C and D. The growing-season burns would 

enhance the longleaf pine areas, thus enhance scenic quality in these types. Since the pocosins are not 

burned, they would remain visually unattractive and impenetrable. Because of the lower amount 

burned, this treatment would have little effect on scenic quality. 

Conversion to longleaf pine acres would remain constant over the decades, and remains the same for 

mixed pine acres except for one decade. Cumulative effects, after 130 years, approximately 20,700 

acres would be in the high scenic quality longleaf pine savannas, a three-fold increase from the existing, 

and assuming the restoration is successful. This, along with Alternatives C and E, has the highest 

number of longleaf pine savanna acres and would add to the overall scenic quality of the CNF. 

Alternative C/C-modified: Approximately 6,200 acres would be harvested during the 10-year planning 

period in this alternative. Half of these acres are in the scenic class 1 and 2 areas. Approximately 2/3 of 

the acres in scenic classes 1 and 2 would be clearcut. The other 1/3 would be heavily thinned leaving all 

the longleaf pine, which creates a more attractive setting for the future. An additional approximately 

1,800 acres would be thinned to restore mixed pine and hardwoods. There would be very little shortterm affect from this thinning, but scenic quality would be enhanced in the long term. 

Overall this alternative would have the most impact on scenic quality because of the number of clearcut 

acres, almost 275 acres per year for 10 years in the scenic class 1 and 2 areas. That amount of 

clearcutting doesn't leave very much time for one area to begin revegetation before another area is cut. 

Since many of these areas are near recreation sites and along major roads, recreation visitors and others 

who desire natural appearing scenery likely would be disappointed with their recreating experience. 

During this first decade, therefore, visits might decrease, and visitor complaints about the scenery might 

increase. 

Over 25,000 acres would be burned each year in this alternative. Approximately 9,000 acres would be 

in pocosins, and growing-season burns would double from Alternative B to 2,000 acres. Although the 

total amount burned is high, the opportunity to enhance the scenery, through burning longleaf pine 

savannas and clearing debris, is the greatest in this alternative. Short-term impacts, however, would 

include blackened areas, scorched tree crowns, and smoky skies. 

During the second decade, clearcutting would decrease to about 1/10th the previous decade. Clearcut 

acreage would pick back up in the 5th and 6th decades, and then end by the 8th decade. Heavy thinning 

would decrease to about 100 acres per year. Almost all the scenic class 1 and 2 acres suitable for 
172 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

harvest would be harvested within the first few decades. The cumulative effect of the heavy 

regeneration of the first decade would take about two decades to recover, but when it does, the areas 

would be enhanced because of their conversion to longleaf pine savannas. After 130 years, there would 

be almost 20,700 acres of longleaf pine savannas, which like Alternative B, would enhance the scenic 

quality of the CNF. 

This alternative has the most positive effect over time from fire. Longleaf pine savannas would be 

enhanced, the pocosins would be more visually attractive, and a diversity of understory vegetation 

would be present. The cumulative negative effects would include many permanent fire plowlines visible 

from main roads and from the air. 

Alternative D: Approximately 4,000 acres would be harvested during the 10-year planning period in this 

alternative. About 1/2 of these acres are in scenic class 1 and 2 areas. Timber removal would leave seed 

trees, and there would be very little clearcutting. The effect to the scenery is about the same for the two 

methods. An additional approximately 1,800 acres would be thinned to restore mixed pine and 

hardwoods. There would be very little short-term effect from this thinning and scenic quality would be 

enhanced in the long term. 

Next to Alternative C, this alternative would have the most impact to the scenery. Cutting almost 200 

acres per year for 10 years in high-scenic-quality areas would leave little time for one unit to revegetate 

before another is harvested. The impact would include many young stands of pine timber, rather than 

older, more natural appearing mixed vegetation types. As in Alternative C, there might be a decrease in 

visits and an increase in complaints from visitors because their expectations of high quality, natural 

appearing scenery are not met. 

Over 27,000 acres would be burned each year in this alternative. Approximately 9,000 acres are in 

pocosins, and growing-season burns are 1,000 acres. Although the total number is high, the opportunity 

to enhance the scenery is high in this alternative. Growing-season burns are 1/2 of Alternative C, so 

positive effects to longleaf pine are somewhat less. Short-term impacts would still include blackened 

areas, scorched tree crowns, and smoky skies. 

Over the decades, the number of harvest acres fluctuates between 2,500 and 4,000. In the 8th decade, 

this acreage levels off to about 3,800 acres per decade. Because of these consistently high numbers of 

harvest acres, the cumulative effect on high-quality scenery would continue to decline over time. As in 

Alternative C, almost all the scenic class 1 and 2 acres would be harvested in the first few decades. In 

addition, longleaf pine is not emphasized, so at the end of 130 years, there would only be 8,600 acres on 

the forest. Longleaf acreage would be about 1/3 of Alternatives B and C, and 1/2 of Alternative A. 

Thus, this alternative has the highest negative long-term impacts to the scenery. 

This alternative has a positive cumulative effect over time from fire. The limited number of longleaf 

pine savannas would be enhanced, the pocosins would be more visually attractive, and a diversity of 

understory vegetation would be present. The long-term negative effect would be many permanent fire 

plowlines visible from main roads and from the air. 

 

Alternative E: Approximately 2,500 acres would be harvested during the 10-year planning period in this 

alternative. Half of these acres are in the scenic class 1 and 2 areas. Approximately 2/3 of the acres 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 173

harvested in scenic classes 1 and 2 would emphasize two-aged regeneration over clearcut. The other 1/3 

would be heavily thinned leaving all the longleaf pine. The treatment methods would create a more 

attractive setting for the future compared to Alternative C. 

Overall this alternative would have the moderate impact on scenic quality because of the amount of 

regeneration, almost 140 acres per year for 10 years in the scenic class 1 and 2 areas. Two-aged 

regeneration would leave large trees, so the impact on scenery would likely be a visually pleasing scene 

after the activity is finished. Since many of these areas are near recreation sites and along major roads, 

recreation visitors and others who desire natural appearing scenery likely would be impacted during the 

activity of two-aged regeneration. Adverse scenic impacts from clearcutting would occur, but would be 

substantially reduced from Alternative C. The interspersion of two-aged and thinning with clearcutting 

would allow quick recovery of scenic values in class 1 and 2 areas. 

Effects of burning are similar to Alternative C. Over 25,000 acres would be burned each year in this 

alternative. Approximately 9,000 acres would be in pocosins, and growing-season burns would double 

from Alternative B to 2,000 acres. Although the total number of acres burned is high, the opportunity to 

enhance the scenery, through burning longleaf pine savannas and clearing debris, is the greatest in this 

alternative. Short-term impacts would still include blackened areas, scorched tree crowns, and smoky 

skies. Cumulative impact of permanent fire plowlines would negatively affect scenery from high use 

roads and the air. 

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Wilderness 

The 1984 North Carolina Wilderness Act established four Wildernesses totaling 31,221 acres on the 

CNF. They are Catfish Lake South (8,530 acres), Pocosin (11,709 acres), Pond Pine (1,685 acres), and 

Sheep Ridge (9,297 acres). All four Wildernesses are entirely in pocosin. Pocosin vegetation is 

typically dense, almost impenetrable. Pocosins are rich and diverse in both plants and animals. 

Dominant trees include pond pines, with some loblolly, and bays. The presence of abundant and diverse 

insectivorous plants is a unique feature of pocosin vegetation. 

 

All four Wildernesses had a low level of prior disturbance when designated in 1984. Disturbances 

include old fire plowlines, bedded plantations, and closed roads. Wildfire has burned through some of 

the Wildernesses and affected the vegetation. These disturbances are being allowed to revegetate 

naturally. No logging has been done in the four Wildernesses since the National Forest was established 

in 1933. 

 

No trails exist in any of the Wildernesses. Access is by cross-country travel through dense vegetation on 

boggy soils. Even with these difficult travel conditions, about 500-600 people are estimated to use each 

Wilderness annually, which is primarily used for big game hunting around the Wilderness boundary. 

People boating on Catfish Lake or Great Lake may use the shorelines in Catfish Lake South and Sheep 

Ridge Wildernesses. 

 

Existing Wilderness character is described by five elements: natural integrity, apparent naturalness, 

remoteness, solitude, and primitive recreation. 
174 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Natural Integrity - The pocosins in the Wildernesses are among the least disturbed on the CNF and 

probably in North Carolina. Natural fire is an important factor in the physiognomy and species 

composition of pocosins, as well as contributing to nutrient cycling. More lightning-caused fires are 

allowed to play a more natural role in Wilderness. Prescribed natural fire is not addressed in the current 

plan. Management ignited prescribed fire is permitted in Wilderness, but because of the high risk 

factors has not been used. 

Apparent Naturalness - All four Wildernesses generally appear natural and undisturbed to most visitors, 

but there is some visual evidence of prior disturbances. Some old fire plowlines are still noticeable on 

the landscape even after several decades of wilderness management. Revegetation is slow because the 

organic growing medium first must be restored. Trees growing in rows in the old plantations may still 

be discernible to some viewers at close range. There are no areas of concentrated recreation use, such as 

campsites, and associated site impacts. 

Remoteness - Pocosins are among the last remote regions of eastern North Carolina. Remoteness is 

partly attributed to the dense vegetation and tangled underbrush, which make it difficult to penetrate a 

pocosin for more than a few steps. The few people who attempt to traverse the Wildernesses probably 

experience a high sense of remoteness, except for the sight and sound of low-flying military aircraft, and 

motorboats on Great Lake and Catfish Lake. Although the dense vegetation ensures opportunities to 

feel remote within the Wilderness boundaries, all four areas are easily accessed by state or national 

forest roads. Portions of the boundary of each area are closely paralleled by roads, and in one case, a 

railroad. Even though they are easily accessed by roads, all but Pond Pine meet the Recreation 

Opportunity Spectrum criteria for semi-primitive non-motorized. See the following table. 

Table 3.27. SPNM boundary acres. 

Wilderness Total 

acres 

Approximate 

SPNM acres 

% Meets 

SPNM 

Miles of 

Boundary 

% Boundary 

Adjacent Road 

Catfish Lake South 8,530 5,631 66 18 40 

Pocosin 11,709 8,020 68 24 29 

Pond Pine 1,685 0 0 8 41 

Sheep Ridge 9,297 4,906 53 18 42 

Solitude - The four Wildernesses provide moderate to high opportunities to experience solitude, except 

for aircraft overflights. Flight track diagrams for Cherry Point and Bogue military facilities were 

correlated to National Forest boundaries. Based on this comparison mapping it is probable that flight 

paths between Cherry Point and Bogue pass over Pocosin Wilderness. These flights are reported to be at 

altitudes of 1,500 to 3,000 feet above ground level. The areas are largely natural appearing, with little to 

no evidence of human use. Since few people visit the Wildernesses at the same time and few people are 

traveling cross-country, the likelihood of encountering other users is low. 

Primitive Recreation - The Wildernesses provide moderate to good opportunities for a primitive 

recreation experience. Opportunities include a number of natural hazards and challenging features: 

dense, impenetrable vegetation; no terrain features to orient by; mucky quick-sand-like soils; high 

temperatures and humidity for much of the year; and biting insects, poisonous snakes and possibly 

alligators. Traversing a pocosin requires a high level of orienteering skills and provides the wilderness 

visitor with many opportunities to experience solitude, remoteness, closeness to nature, adventure, risk, 

challenge and self-reliance. Hunting, which occurs in part in the Wildernesses and roadless areas, is the 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 175

largest single recreational use of the forest. Although hunting is increasing, other uses of the 

Wildernesses are experiencing no upward trend. 

 

Roadless Areas 

The CNF has seven inventoried roadless areas totaling 20,771 acres. These roadless areas are almost 

entirely within pocosin ecosystems, and are adjacent to the four existing Wildernesses, although some 

of them are separated by roads or a railroad. Four are proposed as boundary adjustments to existing 

Wildernesses. About 90 percent of the roadless areas are currently managed to retain roadless 

characteristics. Appendix C of this EIS includes the suitability analysis and recommendations for 

wilderness designation of these areas. 

Natural integrity -the roadless areas are similar to the Wildernesses. They are adjacent to Wildernesses, 

which are comprised of intact pocosins. 

Apparent naturalness - The roadless areas generally appear natural and undisturbed to most visitors, 

although all of the areas have had some level of disturbance, with most of it from road systems and 

activities associated with the roads surrounding them. Catfish Lake North has timber harvest units with 

plantations as young as 5 years old along Little Road and Catfish Lake Rd. There are also many 

firelines in the eastern third of the area. Catfish Lake South Additions A and B are undisturbed. Sheep 

Ridge Addition has old timber harvest units along the southern edge, wildlife fields on the east 

boundary, and extensive plow lines in the northern half. These were created in the l994 Fish Day Fire, 

which burned the entire area. Pond Pine Addition B, and Pocosin Addition are relatively undisturbed. 

Remoteness, solitude, and primitive recreation opportunities are similar to those characteristics in the 

existing Wildernesses. 

Two roadless areas, Masontown Pocosin and Union Point Pocosin, were evaluated and excluded from 

wilderness consideration. They did not meet the criteria for solitude, but are available for a vehiclerestricted, primitive recreational experience. 

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Probable activities for the Wildernesses and roadless areas include recommending designation of some 

or all of the roadless areas as Wilderness, increasing trail access for hiking and horseback riding into the 

Wildernesses, closing roads that currently access the Wildernesses and roadless areas, and restricting the 

engine size for boats on lakes adjacent to the Wildernesses. Fire can play a large role in wilderness and 

management activities may include prescribed burning to reduce fuel build-up, allowing natural fire to 

burn in Wilderness, and altering the vegetation in the wildland urban interfaces. 

 

Alternative A: Existing Wildernesses would remain the same, and the amount of use and type of use 

would change and increase at a rate similar to the past few years. The roadless areas inventoried for this 

planning process would be managed under current Management Area 5 standards. These include, in 

part, providing opportunities for semiprimitive non-motorized experiences, and high scenic quality. 

Standards in MA 5 would maintain about 90 percent of the areas with minimum roading and little 

development. Some vegetation management utilizing timber harvesting could occur in portions of 

Catfish Lake North, Catfish Lake South Addition A, Sheep Ridge Addition, and Pond Pine Addition B. 

The lands suitable for timber growing in these areas are along the perimeters and near roads. Prescribed 
176 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

fire for fuel reduction or vegetation management in the roadless areas would be less restricted than if 

they were Wilderness, but very little burning is occurring in these areas under current direction. 

Wilderness boundaries would not be adjusted, so boundary management would remain difficult. There 

would still be opportunities for solitude and little evidence of human activities in the Wildernesses and 

roadless areas. 

Cumulatively, there would be little long-term impact to the Wildernesses. They are protected from 

mechanical intrusion except for wildland fire suppression. Since fire is not often used in pocosins under 

current direction, over time, fuels could build up, increasing the chance of wildfire. Since little increase 

in hiking use is anticipated, wilderness qualities of remoteness, solitude, and primitive recreation would 

remain the same. 

Table 3.27a. Management Prescription allocations by roadless area by alternative. 

Catfish Lake North Alternatives 

B C C-mod D E

 Prescriptions 

 Wilderness 11294 

 Hardwood Cypress Wetlands 61 61 801 61

 River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status 740 740 740

 RCW HMA 1077 1077 1077 1077

 Wildland Urban Interface 1401 1401 1401 1401

 Bear 7789 7789 7789 7789

 Developed Areas 2 2 2 2

 Small Pocosin Patches 224 224 224 224

Catfish Lake South B 

 Wilderness 233 233 233 233 233

Catfish Lake South A 

 Wilderness 172 172 172 172 172

Pocosin Addition 

 Wilderness 286 286 286 286 286

Sheep Ridge Addition 

 Wilderness 5716 0 0 0 0

 RCW 77 77 77 77 77

 Bear 0 5716 5716 5716 5716

 Developed 3 3 3 3 3

 Small pocosin 10 10 10 10 10

Pond Pine B 

 Wilderness 2980 2980 

 Wetlands 587 587 587

 Lakes 3 3 3

 RCW 273 273 273

 Bear 2076 2076 2076

 Small pocosin 41 41 41
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 177

Alternative B: This alternative would recommend adding the most acres into wilderness. All of the 

inventoried roadless areas would be recommended, for a total of 20,771 additional acres. Wilderness 

acres would be approximately one third of the total district in this alternative. Existing Wildernesses 

would continue to be managed as they are currently, with the addition of a boat engine size limitation on 

Great Lake. Approximately 50 miles of roads would be closed, about one third of those located within 

or adjacent to existing Wildernesses and roadless areas. These actions are consistent with and encourage 

the semiprimitive non-motorized qualities of Wilderness. Thus, the long-term value in designating all 

the roadless areas as Wilderness would be to preserve the areas for semiprimitive non-motorized and 

unconfined recreation, research, education, and habitat and ecosystem preservation. While these values 

would be enhanced, other activities that require easy access and use of motorized equipment, like fire 

fighting and search and rescue, would be made more difficult. 

 

Over time, the cumulative effect of this alternative does the most to enhance and retain wilderness 

integrity and qualities of apparent naturalness, solitude, remoteness, and primitive recreation. All the 

roadless areas would be protected through designation as Wilderness. The use of fire would only be 

allowed to help suppress wildfire so few disturbances from fire plowlines would be evident. Over the 

long-term, the pocosin vegetation could be altered because of fuel build-up and lack of wildfire in the 

areas. 

 

Effects Common to Alternatives C, D, and E: These alternatives would recommend studying for 

designation as Wilderness an additional 691 acres, including Catfish Lake South Additions A and B, and 

Pocosin Addition. These areas adjust boundaries of existing Wildernesses to reflect changes in 

ownership since the 1984 legislation. The boundary adjustments allow more flexibility to manage for 

Wilderness character. 

The other roadless areas would be managed primarily under the black bear prescription, which would 

maintain most of the areas with minimal roading and development. Some vegetation management 

utilizing timber harvesting could occur in portions of Catfish Lake North, Sheep Ridge Addition, and 

Pond Pine Addition B roadless areas. The affected area would be less than in Alternative A. 

Boat engine size would be limited on Great Lake. This action is consistent with and encourages the 

semiprimitive non-motorized qualities of Wilderness. 

Approximately 2,450 acres of Catfish Lake and Sheep Ridge Wildernesses are in wildland urban 

interface areas. These areas may require vegetative treatment to reduce the fire hazard to adjacent 

private land. A site-specific NEPA decision would be made to address the methods of treatment and 

areas proposed for treatment. Prescribed burning and wildland fire use for resource benefit would be 

permitted in Wildernesses, and use of mechanized equipment in wildland fire suppression would be 

allowed on the entire forest. As is shown by previous fire plowlines in the pocosin, it takes many years 

for ground disturbances to heal. These disturbances decrease the apparent naturalness of the 

Wildernesses. Although these disturbances compromise the wilderness quality, they are only noticed 

from the air, or when someone comes upon them while hiking, since the pocosins are so dense and flat. 

 

Prescribed fire has the potential to have the most cumulative effect on the Wildernesses. Wildland fires 

might be allowed in Wilderness, increasing the possibility of more fire plowline disturbances. Wildland 

Urban Interfaces overlap with Wildernesses, and their management could alter the vegetation along the 
178 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

boundaries, and change the natural appearance of the Wildernesses. Over time, decrease in fuel loading 

and understory along the pocosin edges would encourage and allow easier access to the Wildernesses 

and roadless areas. An increase in hiking and hunting would probably occur. It is unlikely that enough 

use would occur to change the feeling of solitude inherent in the Wildernesses. The roadless areas 

would experience increased pressure over time to add roads and trails for access. As populations 

increase, the Wildernesses and roadless areas would be the few undeveloped and "wild" areas on the 

CNF and surrounding private land. 

Alternative C: In addition to the effects common to Alternatives C and D, approximately 30 miles of 

roads would be closed. About one half of the closed roads would be in or adjacent to existing 

Wildernesses and roadless areas. This action is consistent with and encourages semiprimitive nonmotorized qualities. 

Alternative C Modified: In addition to the areas added in Alternative C, Pond Pine Addition B would 

also be recommended for Wilderness designation. The value of this 2,980 acre addition is as a linkage 

to other Wildernesses. It would enlarge the Pond Pine Wilderness to the east and provide a biological 

linkage around Great Lake to the Sheep Ridge Wilderness to the north and Pocosin Wilderness to the 

south. The area is relatively undisturbed and so meets the wilderness criteria at a higher level than some 

of the other roadless areas. There are no additional cumulative effects from those listed in Alternatives 

C, D, and E above. 

Alternative D: In addition to the effects common to Alternatives C, D, and E approximately 12 miles of 

roads would be closed; most of those roads would be adjacent to existing Wildernesses and roadless 

areas. This alternative has the least number of closed road miles, and does the least to encourage 

semiprimitive non-motorized qualities. 

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Pine is the most common forest cover type on the Croatan, with almost 80 percent of the Forest 

occupied by longleaf, loblolly or pond pine. Hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine cover about 16 

percent of the Forest. The other 4 percent is nonforest, such as lakes, rivers, marsh, and developed 

areas. 

Pond pine occupies about 56 percent of the forest land on the Croatan. However, most of it is on sites 

with deep organic soils not capable of growing merchantable trees. These sites were considered 

unsuitable for timber production in the 1986 plan. Hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine occupy sites 

ranging from poorly drained river and stream margins to well drained upland sites. All hardwood and 

mixed hardwood-pine types also were designated as unsuitable for timber production. Table 3.28 below 

displays the current distribution of acres by forest type for the Forest. 

About 17 percent of the total acres are suitable for timber production. Most are now occupied by 

loblolly pine. Longleaf and pond pine make up only 14 percent and 18 percent of the suitable acres 

respectively. Table 3.29 displays acres by forest type that are considered suitable for timber production 

in the 1986 Land and Resource Management Plan. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 179

Even-aged management and artificial regeneration by planting were introduced on the CNF in the early 

1960s. Species planted were longleaf pine and loblolly pine. Currently there are 2,704 acres of longleaf 

plantations and 9,897 acres of loblolly plantations on the Forest. As artificial regeneration techniques 

were developed and refined, plantations were established by machine planting bare-root seedlings on 

fertilized and bedded sites. This method provided good survival and rapid seedling growth, resulting in 

a very successful regeneration program for the Forest. 

Table 3.28. Acres of forest type on the CNF. 

Forest Type Acres 

Non-Forest 7,509 

No Inventory 1,341 

Loblolly Pine-Hardwood 81 

Longleaf Pine 12,886 

Slash Pine 2 

Loblolly Pine 24,321 

Shortleaf Pine 20 

Pond Pine 90,068 

Bottomland Hardwood-Yellow Pine 57,111 

White Oak-Black Oak-Yellow Pine 122 

Swamp Chestnut Oak-Cherrybark Oak 2,581 

Sweet Gum-Nuttall Oak-Willow 8,505 

Atlantic White Cedar 35 

Bald cypress-Water Tupelo 61 

Sweet Bay-Swamp Tupelo-Red Maple 7,989 

Total Acres 162,142 

Source: Continuous Inventory of Stand Conditions (CISC database) 

Table 3.29. Current acres suitable for timber production, 1986 

Forest Type Acres Suitable for Timber Production 

Loblolly Pine 18,620 

Pond Pine 2,670 

Longleaf Pine 3,695 

TOTAL 24,985 Acres 

Source: CISC database. 

The Forest Plan completed in 1986 relied on clearcutting as the primary regeneration method. About 

1989, Interim Guidelines for RCW management were introduced and the level of regeneration activities 

fell from almost 300 acres per year to less than 100 acres per year. The amount thinned almost doubled 

during this same period. In the early 1990s, first thinnings in young plantations were recognized as a 

priority treatment needed to maintain growth and development of the new stands. Without thinning, 

young plantations become crowded and stressed resulting in increased susceptibility to attacks by insects 

and diseases. Southern pine beetle infestations in the summer of 1997 were most common in unthinned 

plantations and caused extensive damage. 

Table 3.30 summarizes management activities and displays the amounts harvested by method, thinned, 

and planted since 1988. 
180 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table 3.30. Annual number of acres clearcut, thinned, and planted since 1988. 

Year Acres Clearcut Acres Thinned Acres Planted 

1988 299 56 329 

1989 262 225 300 

1990 174 222 199 

1991 40 197 199 

1992 203 433 183 

1993 57 535 178 

1994 0 194 153 

1995 23 622 99 

1996 0 0 112 

1997 58 424 0 

Age classes of timber stands on the Croatan are clumped around 60-80 year range with about 79 percent 

of the total forested acres falling into this category. Most of these acres, about 70 percent, are pond pine 

on organic soils and are not capable of producing trees of commercial size without extensive drainage 

structures. These sites are not considered suitable for timber production. Age class distribution of acres 

currently classified as suitable for timber production are more evenly distributed, but a large proportion 

is in the 11-30 year range (30 percent) and the 60-80 year age class (39 percent). Table 3.31 below 

displays the age class distribution for total acres by forest type, and Table 3.32 displays age class 

distribution for acres suitable for timber production only. 

Table 3.31. Current Age Class Distribution by Forest Type and Total Acres for the CNF. 

AgeClass 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91- 

100 

101+ Total * 

LLP 515 338 810 1,526 164 442 2,731 2,862 1,114 1,014 1,371 12,888 

LOBP 1,421 3,265 5,275 836 518 1,655 5,437 4,258 1,291 231 65 24,252 

PP 507 56 207 9 0 2,100 8,726 74,949 536 35 2,943 90,068 

MP/ 

HWD 

0 0 0 0 0 993 2,700 2,017 69 80 54 5,913 

HWD 0 0 0 0 55 1,666 7,366 8,717 546 0 725 19,705 

AWC 0 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 

CP/ 

TUP 

0 11 0 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 61 

Percent 1.6 2.4 4.1 1.6 0.5 4.5 17.6 61.0 2.3 1.0 3.3 152,922 

*This acreage does not include recent land acquisitions. 

Table 3.32. Current Age Class Distribution by Forest Type on Suitable Acres Only 

 AgeClass 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91- 

100 

101+ Total * 

LLP 486 336 288 185 28 226 1,008 902 267 68 0 3,694 

LOBP 1,297 3,111 4,776 536 401 1,412 3,995 2,805 714 91 33 18,620 

PP 0 0 36 0 0 533 1,405 377 0 0 0 2,351 

MP/ 

HWD 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 255 0 0 0 255 

HWD 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0 19 

AWC 0 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 

CP/ 

TUP 

0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 

Percent 6.5 12.9 19.1 2.7 1.6 8.6 20.9 19.7 3.3 1 4.02 24,985 

LLP=Longleaf Pine HWD=Hardwood LOBP=Loblolly Pine AWC=Atlantic White Cedar PP=Pond Pine 

CP/TUP=Cypress/Tupelo MP/HWD=Mixed Pine Hardwood 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 181

The allowable sale quantity established in the 1986 Plan for the Croatan was 709 thousand cubic feet (39 

million board feet) or an annual average of 71 thousand cubic feet (3.9 million board feet). Records 

indicate that since the plan was implemented in 1986, annual volume harvested has ranged from a high 

of about 4.9 million board feet in 1987 to a low of 1.1 million board feet in 1990. Lower harvest levels 

reflect plan amendments to include RCW Interim guidelines. 

 

Table 3.33. Volume sold by year and percent roundwood in the CNF timber program since 1986. 

 Year Volume Mcf Percent Roundwood 

1986 636 28% 

1987 891 34% 

1988 436 32% 

1989 418 50% 

1990 200 48% 

1991 691 41% 

1992 400 46% 

1993 345 46% 

1994 291 12% 

1995 582 66% 

1996 564 67% 

1997 891 65% 

The high volume in 1997 is a result of salvage sales from southern pine beetle activity and hurricanes 

Fran and Bertha in 1996. In 1995, 96, and 97 the percentage of roundwood was more than 60 percent of 

the total sale volume. This high percentage reflects efforts to thin young plantations in 1995 and 1996 

and southern pine beetle salvage activity in plantations. 

Current Timber Management Activities 

Regeneration methods on the CNF have primarily been even-age (clearcutting) as established in the 

Land Management Plan for the Croatan/Uwharrie National Forests. Since the current plan was 

approved in 1986, the primary reforestation method has been machine planting approximately 550 oneyear old seedlings per acre after site preparation including shearing, windrowing, bedding, and 

fertilizing. This method has proven to be highly successful for seedling survival of longleaf and loblolly 

pines. 

The Final EIS for the Management of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) emphasizes longer 

rotations for southern yellow pines and emphasizes longleaf pine as a desired forest type for RCW 

habitat. With longer rotations it becomes more cost efficient to utilize natural regeneration methods. 

Natural regeneration by shelterwood or seedtree regeneration methods is a feasible option for the CNF. 

Clearcutting and artificial regeneration would continue to be important for longleaf restoration, 

especially when converting loblolly and pond pine to longleaf pine where longleaf seed sources are 

limited. Intensive site preparation would continue to be important for establishing seedlings in poorly 

drained soils and for longleaf restoration projects. Prescribed fire would be the most widely used tool, 

and possibly the only tool needed, in natural regeneration of all the southern yellow pine species, 

especially longleaf. 
182 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Reforestation activities have declined from 300 acres in 1989 to 99 acres in 1995. The reason for this 

decline is to satisfy habitat requirements for RCW as required in the RCW interim-guidelines. With the 

final EIS for management of RCW and this plan revision, the amount of regeneration needed to 

meet all management objectives would be clearly defined. 

Probable Timber Management Activities 

Timber management activities may include prescribed fire, use of herbicides, mechanical treatments 

using heavy equipment, harvesting for restoration or regeneration, and harvesting as an intermediate 

treatment to improve health and vigor of young stands. Appropriate treatments would be determined by 

site-specific analysis to determine the best methods and treatments to achieve desired future conditions 

established in the CNF Plan. Descriptions of regeneration methods are documentd in CNF Plan 

Revision, Volume II, Appendix E. 

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Effects of treatments on timber supply were modeled using Spectrum software, maintained by USFS in 

Fort Collins, CO. The analysis assumptions are documented in this FEIS, Appendix B. Results of 

analysis are shown in Table 3.34. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 183

Table 3.34. Estimated timber-related effects and outputs, by alternative. 

 Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D Alternative E 

Suitable for timber 

Production (Ac) 24,985 10,890 26,774 21,546 25,723 

Allowable Sale 

Quantity MCF/Year 

(Planning Period: 

MCF) 

1st: 497 

2nd: 1625 

3rd: 1625 

4th: 1625 

5th: 1625 

1st: 260 

2nd: 319 

3rd: 319 

4th: 353 

5th: 363 

1st: 2,093 

2nd: 1355 

3rd: 1355 

4th: 1355 

5th: 1355 

1st: 1484 

2nd: 1486 

3rd: 1489 

4th: 1489 

5th: 1489 

1st: 876 

2nd: 1427 

3rd: 1427 

4th: 1427 

5th: 1427 

 

Long Term Sustained 

Yield Capacity 

(MCF/Year) 1,625 442 1,247 1,573 1,303 

 

Maximum PresentNet Value (MM $)** $23.2 $4.4 $29.3 $26.2 $20.9 

 

Method of Regeneration over 10 Years (Ac/Yr) Average 

Longleaf Rest. 60 0 400 23 250 

Clearcut 53 --- 273* 440 100 

Seedtree/Shelterwood 62 --- 200 --- 0 

Two Age 5 --- 150 --- 150 

Group Selec. --- 104 --- --- 0 

 

Average Total 

Harvest Over 10 

Years (Ac/Yr) 

120 104 623 440 250 

Hardwood 

Restoration 

(Ac/Yr) 

0 0 23 0 23 

Thinning (Acres/Yr) 268 400 314 500 320 

Pine Straw 

Production 

(Tons/Yr) 

0 0 220 453 220 

 * All longleaf restoration. ** PNV is for timber related benefits and costs only. Values are cumulative over 16 decades. 

Alternative A: This alternative would use even-aged management with rotations for loblolly pine at 80 

years and longleaf pine at 100 years, and would have the third largest number of acres suitable for 

timber production at 24,985. As a result of these rotation ages and amount suitable for timber 

production, the cumulative effect is a long term sustained yield of 1,625 thousand cubic feet per year, a 

projected annual yield for the first decade of 497 thousand cubic feet, and 1,625 thousand cubic feet for 

decades 2 - 5 (Table 3.34). The relatively low harvest level in the first period is primarily due to the 

high proportion of acres in stands less than 60 years old. 

Loblolly regeneration is favored over longleaf restoration. The current forest composition (Table 3.29) 

would shift to slightly more longleaf; but loblolly would dominate the suitable land base. 

This alternative would regenerate about 120 acres per year and with the exception of Alternatives B and 

E, includes the fewest acres of clearcutting. Approximately half of the regeneration acres would be 
184 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

longleaf restoration attained by clearcutting the existing stands and planting longleaf pine. The 

remaining 60 acres of regeneration would use the seedtree regeneration method for mixed loblolly and 

pond pines. This is about four tenths of one percent of the total acres suitable for timber production in 

this alternative. Sites clearcut for longleaf pine restoration would be mechanically prepared and planted 

to longleaf pine. Sites regenerated by the seedtree method would be prepared by prescribed burning, 

and regeneration would be by natural methods using seed trees and seed from adjacent stands. 

Using artificial regeneration following clearcutting, seedlings are established with a predetermined 

distribution and amount per acre. Seedling quality is high and the seedlings are from known sources 

with a history of good survival, growth, and development. Rapid early growth can be expected in 

artificial regeneration, allowing seedling growth to surpass competition and reach a merchantable size 

early in the life of the stand. 

Natural regeneration relies on existing trees for seed and a well-prepared seedbed of exposed soil for 

success. With loblolly and pond pine, good seed production years are relatively frequent and can result 

in large numbers of seedlings being established. This intense early competition may create slower 

growth of seedlings and overall stand development. With longer rotations, such as 80 years or more, 

benefits from rapid early growth in artificial regeneration are limited to early thinning opportunities. At 

age 80 or older there would be little noticeable difference in stem size or numbers between stands 

artificially and naturally regenerated. 

With natural regeneration it may be necessary for a precommercial thinning treatment to remove trees 

and reduce competition. This would provide the remaining trees with the increased growing space, 

water, and nutrients needed to maintain healthy and vigorous growth. Reducing competitive stress 

decreases susceptibility to insect and disease attacks. Precommercial thinning could be accomplished on 

these sites by a variety of methods including heavy equipment, prescribed fire, or herbicides. The need 

and method for this treatment would be determined on the basis of a site-specific analysis. This 

treatment is rarely needed with artificial regeneration. 

In this alternative longleaf pine restoration would account for about 60 acres of regeneration per year for 

the first planning period. Among the alternatives proposing longleaf restoration, this alternative ranks 

third, with a total of 1,088 acres over a 40-year period. Proposed restoration acreages are 32 acres per 

year for the second planning period, 10 acres per year for the third planning period, and 7 acres per year 

for the fourth planning period. 

Thinning would take place on about 268 acres per year for the first period; third highest of all the 

alternatives. Thinning is important to maintain healthy conditions by providing the needed growing 

space for individual trees to continue vigorous growth. Thinning also reduces the risks of insect and 

disease attacks. 

There is no current pine straw production and no hardwood restoration on the CNF. 

Alternative B: This alternative proposes uneven-aged management using the group selection 

regeneration method. It has the amount suitable for timber production at 10,890, the lowest long term 

sustained yield capacity at 442 thousand cubic feet per year, and the lowest projected annual yield for 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 185

the first decade at 260 thousand cubic feet per year, 319 for the second decade, 319 for the third decade, 

353 for the fourth decade, and 363 for the fifth decade. 

Alternative B proposes to regenerate about 104 acres per year during the first decade in small groups 

ranging from 1/2 acre to 3 acres in size. This is less than one tenth of one percent of the total acres 

suitable for timber production. Sites occupied by these groups would be prepared for natural 

regeneration by prescribed burning and by herbicide application where burning is not practicable. No 

longleaf restoration is proposed in this alternative. 

The reliance on uneven aged management and low burning favors loblolly regeneration. The long-term 

forest composition (Table 3.29) would remain about the same mix over the long term. 

Natural regeneration from existing seed sources would be the primary source for seedling establishment 

in group openings. In some cases planted seedlings may be necessary to supplement natural 

regeneration in the absence of good seed trees. Seedlings in group openings are slower to grow and 

develop than seedlings grown in larger openings. This is especially true in smaller openings where 

shading from adjacent trees may impact the entire opening. Where overstocking of seedlings occurs, it 

may be necessary to precommercial thin the openings to provide additional growing space for selected 

trees. 

 

With this regeneration method prescribed fire introduced to the entire stand could result in seedling 

mortality within the groups, depending on seedling size. For successful regeneration within the groups 

it may be necessary to provide for longer intervals between burns in conjunction with scheduled harvest 

entries at 20 years or more. 

Commercial thinning opportunities would be possible in this alternative, especially in existing young 

pine stands. No pine straw production or hardwood restoration is proposed in this alternative. 

Alternative C/C-modified: This alternative proposes even-aged management with varying rotations 

depending on species and whether the stand is inside or outside the RCW Habitat Management Area 

(HMA). The rotation is 120 years for longleaf pine inside the HMA, and 80 years outside the HMA. 

For loblolly and pond pine the rotation is 80 years inside the HMA, and 60 years outside the HMA. The 

RCW HMA makes up approximately 70 percent of the acres suitable for timber production in this 

alternative. Alternative C has the highest number of acres suitable for timber production, about 26,774 

acres. 

The cumulative effect is a long-term sustained yield capacity at 1,274 thousand cubic feet per year, the 

highest allowable sale quantity for the first decade at 2,093 thousand cubic feet per year, and 1,355 for 

decades 2 through 5. The harvest volume in the first planning period is higher than subsequent decades 

due to the aggressive longleaf restoration effort. 

The forest composition (Table 3.29) would begin shifting in the short term with about 4,000 more acres 

of longleaf and that much less in loblolly. Over the long term, longleaf would dominate forest 

composition on suitable land. 
186 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The alternative proposes to regenerate about 623 acres per year during the first period. This is about 2.3 

percent of the acres suitable for timber production, and about four tenths of one percent of the total 

district acres. About 200 acres of mixed pine would be regenerated per year using the seedtree and 

shelterwood regeneration methods. Longleaf restoration accounts for about 400 acres per year for the 

first decade. Restoration would be accomplished through clearcutting and mechanical site preparation 

for artificial regeneration on sites without adequate longleaf pine seed sources. A portion of these acres, 

less than half, would be bedded to ensure survival of seedlings on poorly drained sites. Restoration 

would also be accomplished on mixed pine sites using natural methods when there is an adequate 

longleaf seed source by thinning out loblolly species and retaining longleaf. 

In areas where natural seed sources are inadequate, longleaf restoration would require artificial 

regeneration to ensure an adequate number of seedlings become established. Survival and growth of 

planted longleaf seedlings has proven successful, especially when containerized seedlings are planted in 

full sunlight. Without artificial regeneration on these sites, longleaf restoration would not be successful 

and the site would more than likely be regenerated to loblolly pine or pond pine by seed from adjacent 

stands. 

In mixed pine stands with adequate longleaf pine seed trees, natural regeneration may be possible after 

the loblolly pine and/or pond pine component is removed. As with all natural methods, success can be 

highly variable and dependent on a combination of adequate seed production years and site preparation 

timing. Supplemental planting may be necessary in the case of inadequate stocking (less than an 

average of 300 seedlings per acre). Growth and development of seedlings should be acceptable if 

competition is managed through prescribed fire or other methods. 

Thinning is proposed on about 300 acres per year during the first period. This total would eliminate a 

backlog of needed thinning in mostly loblolly pine plantations and is needed to maintain growth and 

reduce risks of insect and disease problems. In this alternative, these stands are important for future 

RCW habitat in terms of foraging and nesting sites. 

Pine straw production in this alternative is about 200 acres per year for the first period. Production is 

about 220 tons per year or about 1.1 tons per acre. Alternative D is almost twice this amount. 

Hardwood restoration occurs in this alternative. 

Alternative D: This alternative proposes even-aged management with varying rotations similar to 

Alternative C. For loblolly pine and pond pine inside the RCW Habitat Management Area the rotation 

age is 80 years, outside the HMA it is 60 years. For longleaf pine it is 120 years inside the HMA, and 

100 years outside. This alternative has the third largest number of acres suitable for timber production at 

21,546. The harvest level is 1,484 thousand cubic feet per year for the first planning period, 1,486 for 

the second, and 1,489 for decades 3 through 5; the second highest of all alternatives. The cumulative 

effect of long-term sustained yield is 1,573 thousand cubic feet per year. 

Alternative D restores less than 25 acres per year to longleaf pine during the first decade and is the 

lowest of all alternatives except Alternative B, which restores no acres to longleaf. Over a 70-year 

period, the cumulative effect would restore a total of 810 acres of longleaf. Therefore, the forest 

composition (Table 3.29) would remain nearly stable, with loblolly pine dominating the suitable land 

base. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 187

This alternative is second among the alternatives in regeneration at about 463 acres per year during the 

first period. This is about 2 percent of the total acres suitable for timber production in this alternative 

and about 0.3 percent, of the total district acres. In this alternative, regeneration would be accomplished 

using clearcut as the regeneration method, mechanical site preparation, and planting. Most of the 

planting would be loblolly pine during the first period. 

Planting loblolly pine after clearcutting is very successful on the Croatan. Seedling survival and growth 

has been acceptable on most sites. On poorly drained sites, site preparation may require bedding to get 

adequate growth and development of the planted seedlings. With artificial regeneration, number and 

distribution of seedlings is easily achieved and improved seedlings with a history of good performance 

can be used. With this method, rapid growth rates can be expected and a commercial thinning would be 

needed between age 15 and 20 to maintain vigorous growth. 

Thinning for Alternative D is estimated at about 500 acres per year. 

Pinestraw production is at 453 tons/year during the first period. Production would occur on about 400 

acres per year. 

No hardwood restoration is proposed for this alternative. 

Alternative E: This alternative proposes two-aged management as the dominant method of regeneration. 

Clearcutting would be used only where longleaf cannot be restored using the two-aged method. The 

program would concentrate on longleaf restoration within the RCW HMA. 

The cumulative effect is a long-term sustained yield capacity at 1,427 thousand cubic feet per year, the 

allowable sale quantity for the first decade at 876 thousand cubic feet per year, and 1,427 for decades 2 

through 5. The harvest volume in the first planning would be sustainable over the planning horizon. 

The alternative proposes to regenerate about 250 acres per year during the first period. This is about 1.0 

percent of the acres suitable for timber production, and about one tenth of one percent of the total district 

acres. Focused on longleaf restoration within the RCW HMA, restoration would be accomplished 

through two-aged and clearcutting methods. Restoration would also be accomplished on mixed pine 

sites using natural methods when there is an adequate longleaf seed source by thinning out loblolly 

species and retaining longleaf. 

Forest composition (Table 3.29) shifts gradually toward a longleaf dominated system. In the long term, 

longleaf would occupy more than two-thirds of forest composition on suitable lands. 

In areas where natural seed sources are inadequate, longleaf restoration would require artificial 

regeneration to ensure an adequate number of seedlings become established. Survival and growth of 

planted longleaf seedlings has proven successful, especially when containerized seedlings are planted in 

full sunlight. Without artificial regeneration on these sites, longleaf restoration would not be successful 

and the site would more than likely be regenerated to loblolly pine or pond pine by seed from adjacent 

stands. 
188 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Bedding would be used only on sites too wet to assure success. Reducing bedding, combined with the 

change from clearcutting to two-aged methods, increases the risk of failure of longleaf restoration. 

Projections of outputs and conditions for this alternative can be accomplished only with careful, welldesigned project-level restoration plans, which include diligent follow-up treatments of planting and 

prescribed fire. 

 

In mixed pine stands with adequate longleaf pine seed trees, natural regeneration may be possible after 

the loblolly pine and/or pond pine component is removed. As with all natural methods, success can be 

highly variable and dependent on a combination of adequate seed production years and site preparation 

timing. Supplemental planting may be necessary in the case of inadequate stocking (less than an 

average of 300 seedlings per acre). Growth and development of seedlings should be acceptable if 

competition is managed through prescribed fire or other methods. 

Thinning is proposed on about 320 acres per year during the first period. This total would eliminate a 

backlog of needed thinning in mostly loblolly pine plantations and is needed to maintain growth and 

reduce risks of insect and disease problems. In this alternative, these stands are important for future 

RCW habitat in terms of foraging and nesting sites. 

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The administrative and legislative forces that led to the creation of the Croatan National Forest began 

with the New Deal Programs initiated during the Great Depression. Some of these programs were 

designed to remove submarginal land from crop production and convert it to timber production. 

Because of many years of agricultural abuse and abandonment, there were many such acres in the 

"Tidewater" Region of North Carolina. 

Local citizens in eastern North Carolina, where the Croatan National Forest is located, were aggressive 

in their pursuit of designation of part of the region as a national forest. Under the provisions of the 

Clarke-McNary Act of 1924, the Forest Service was given the authority to acquire land needed for 

timber production as well as for the protection of the flow of navigable streams. In 1933, a purchase 

unit was defined within which forest land could be purchased in the eastern North Carolina counties of 

Carteret, Craven, and Jones. 

Activity began in 1934 with the purchase of land and the designation of a unit of the Civilian 

Conservation Corps to develop it. The CNF was created by proclamation of President Franklin D. 

Roosevelt on July 29, 1936. On September 30, 1996, the CNF consisted of 159,586 acres in the three 

counties -- Carteret, 56,623 acres; Craven, 62,974 acres; and Jones, 39,989 acres. 

3.4.1.1. Population - General 

The population of the three-county region is growing at a rate much greater than that of the State of 

North Carolina and almost twice the rate of the United States (Table 3.35). Jones County, with no towns 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 189

of over 900 people, actually lost population between 1970 and 1990. It is the most rural county in the 

three-county region with a population density of only 19.9 persons per square mile, the third lowest of 

all North Carolina counties. 

Carteret County is the fastest growing. The area is particularly attractive to those seeking water-based 

recreation and beachfront home sites. The towns of Morehead City, Beaufort, and Newport have 

attracted both retirees and younger immigrants seeking living and working opportunities. Between 1970 

and 1990, the population increased by 66.3 percent, more than twice the rate for the State. Population 

density is 98.9 persons per square mile, which is below the State average of 136.1 persons per square 

mile. 

Craven County is the most urban with two cities, Havelock (20,268) and New Bern (17,363), and a 

population density of 117.3 persons per square mile. New Bern is one of the oldest cities in North 

Carolina and, until the end of the Revolutionary War, served as the capital of North Carolina. Havelock 

owes much of its growth to the presence of the U.S. Naval Aviation Depot at Cherry Point. 

Table 3.35. Population and percentage change in population of the counties surrounding the Croatan National Forest, the 

State of North Carolina, and the United States, 1970, 1980, and 1990. 

County 1970 No. 1980 No. 1990 No. Change (%) 

(1970-1990) 

Carteret 31,603 41,092 52,556 66.3 

Craven 62,554 71,043 81,613 30.5 

Jones 9,779 9,705 9,414 (3.7) 

Total 103,936 121,840 143,583 38.1 

 

North Carolina 5,084,411 5,881,766 6,628,637 30.4 

United States 204,800,000 226,545,805 248,709,873 21.4 

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing, 1970 and 1980, Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of 

Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census, 1990 CPH-1-35, 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Summary 

Population and Housing Characteristics, North Carolina, Washington, D.C. 

3.4.1.2. Population - Age Distribution 

The population in the three counties also is getting older. In 1970, 35.5 percent of the population was 

below the age of 18. By 1990, the total number had fallen from 36,883 to 36,353 or by 1.4 percent, 

which was 25.3 percent of the population. During the same time, the population over 65 more than 

doubled. In 1970, the over 65 population was 7,398 (7.1 percent) and in 1990, it was 18,009 (12.5 

percent). Median age increased by almost 8 years between 1970 and 1990. 

3.4.1.3. Population - Diversity 

The percentage of White members of the population has remained almost constant. The proportion of 

people classified as White was 76.6 percent in the 1970 census, and 77.9 percent in 1990. In 1970, 

22.9 percent of the population was classified as Black-American and only 0.5 percent was classified as 

Native-American and Others. By 1990, those classified as Black-American were 20.3 percent of the 

population while the Native-American and other groups had risen to 1.8 percent. 

The Native-American population in the region quadrupled between 1970 and 1990. In 1970, there were 

only 144 Native-Americans, most of whom were in Craven County. By 1990, the number had increased 

to 596, almost half of whom are now in Carteret County. 
190 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The greatest increases have been in groups classed as "other". In 1970, there were only 390 persons 

classed as ‘Others’. By 1990, this group had increased by over 400 percent to 2,017. Most of these new 

residents are Asian. 

3.4.1.4. Income Per Capita 

The average income per resident in the three counties has been increasing at a rate slightly higher than 

that for all of North Carolina (Table 3.36). Incomes increased an average of 418.1 percent between 

1970 and 1990, while the average for the state was 406.3 percent (Table 3.36). Per capita income in the 

three counties has always been below the average for the State. In 1970, the average for the three 

counties was 86.8 percent of the State average (Table 3.37). By 1980, the average was 90.0 percent of 

the State's, but it fell back to 88.8 percent in 1990. 

Table 3.36. Per Capita Income in the Counties Surrounding the Croatan National Forest and the State of North Carolina, 

1970, 1980, and 1990. 

County 1970 

$ 

1980 

$ 

1990 

$ 

Change (%) 

(1970-1990) 

Carteret 2,771 7,644 14,238 413.8 

Craven 3,004 7,524 14,217 373.3 

Jones 2,648 6,428 15,190 473.6 

Average 2,808 7,199 14,548 418.1 

 

North Carolina 3,236 7,999 16,383 406.3 

Sources: Statistical Abstract of North Carolina Counties 1991. State Data Center, Management and Information Services, Office of State Budget and 

Management, Raleigh, North Carolina. County Development Information, 1993. Center for Improving Mountain Living, Western Carolina University, 

Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723. 

3.4.1.5. Civilian Labor Force - General 

The Civilian Labor Force in the region has been increasing at a rate greater than that for North Carolina 

(Table 3.38). In 1970, the regional labor force totaled 35,620. It increased by 78.8 percent to 63,680 in 

1990. During the same period, the Labor Force for the State increased by 54.9 percent from 2,195,000 

to 3,401,000. 

Table 3.37. Per capita income in the counties surrounding the CNF as a percentage of the average per capita income for the 

State of North Carolina, 1970, 1980, and 1990. 

County 1970 

% 

1980 

% 

1990 

% 

Change (%) 

(1970-1990) 

Carteret 85.6 95.6 86.9 1.3 

Craven 92.8 94.1 86.8 (6.0) 

Jones 81.8 80.4 92.7 10.9 

Average 86.8 90.0 88.8 2.0 

 

North Carolina 100.0 100.0 100.0 0.0 

Sources: Statistical Abstract of North Carolina Counties 1991. State Data Center, Management and Information Services, 

Office of State Budget and Management, Raleigh, North Carolina. 

County Development Information, 1993. Center for Improving Mountain Living, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, 

North Carolina 28723. 

 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 191

Table 3.38. Civilian labor force and percentage change in civilian labor force in the counties surrounding the CNF and the 

State of North Carolina, 1970, 1980, and 1990. 

County 1970 

No. 

1980 

No. 

1990 

No. 

Change (%) 

(1970-1990) 

Carteret 12,230 16,490 25,600 109.3 

Craven 20,230 28,200 33,660 66.4 

Jones 3,160 3,920 4,420 39.9 

Average 35,620 48,610 63,680 78.8 

 

North Carolina 2,195,000 2,855,000 3,401,000 54.9 

Sources: Profile, North Carolina Counties, Sixth Edition 1981. Office of State Budget and Management, Research and Planning Services, 116 West Jones 

Street, Raleigh, NC 27611. 

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for North Carolina, 1980-1993. Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, Labor Market Information Division, 

P.O. Box 25903, Raleigh, NC 27611 

3.4.1.6. Civilian Labor Force - Demographics 

The increase in the labor force is the result of changes in the composition of the labor force as well as 

the increase in the population. The population in the region increased by 38.1 percent (Table 3.35) 

between 1970 and 1990 and accounts for part of the 78.8 percent increase in the labor force. The other 

part of the increase is the result of more people working, particularly women, because of the need to 

bring more income into the family. 

3.4.1.7. Civilian Labor Force - Unemployment 

The Croatan region has had a higher unemployment rate on the average than has the state of North 

Carolina (Table 3.39). In 1970, the average was 4.9 percent compared to the state average of 4.3 

percent. Both the State and the region had a drop in the rate by 1990, but the regional average was still 

higher than the State's (4.5 percent compared to 4.1 percent). 

Table 3.39. Average yearly unemployment rate in the Croatan Region and the State of North Carolina, 1970, 1980, and 

1990. 

County 1970 

% 

1980 

% 

1990 

% 

Change (%) 

(1970-1990) 

Carteret 5.1 8.1 4.2 (0.9) 

Craven 5.5 7.0 4.5 (1.0) 

Jones 4.1 6.6 4.8 0.7 

Average 4.9 7.2 4.5 (0.4) 

 

North Carolina 4.3 6.5 4.1 (0.2) 

Sources: Profile, North Carolina Counties, Sixth Edition 1981. Office of State Budget and Management, Research and Planning Services, 116 West Jones 

Street, Raleigh, NC 27611 

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for North Carolina, 1980-1993. Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, Labor Market Information Division, 

P.O. Box 25903, Raleigh, NC 27611 

3.4.1.8. Civilian Labor Force - Agricultural Employment 

Agricultural employment in North Carolina in 1990 was about one-half of what it was in 1970. There 

were 134,000 employed in 1970 and only 66,200 in 1990. Agricultural employment also declined 

significantly in the Croatan region, but less than the State average. 

In 1970, agricultural employment was 2,510 in the Croatan region. By 1990, it had declined to 1,430, a 

reduction of 43 percent. The percentage declines were about the same in each county, but the decline 

was most significant in Jones County. In Carteret County, agricultural employment was only 3.5 
192 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

percent of the civilian labor force in 1970 and 1.0 percent in 1990. Agricultural employment was 6.2 

percent of the civilian labor force in Craven County in 1970, and declined to 2.1 percent in 1990. 

Jones County's agricultural employment was 820 in 1970, 25.9 percent of the civilian labor force. By 

1990, agricultural employment was 10.6 percent of the civilian labor force. The decline in agricultural 

employment has not been offset by increases in employment in other sectors such as manufacturing or 

services. 

3.4.1.9. Civilian Labor Force - Manufacturing Employment 

Manufacturing employment has been increasing at a greater rate in the Croatan region than in the State. 

From 1970 to 1990, the State increased employment in the manufacturing sectors by 143,100 (19.9 

percent). The region added 1,550 jobs (33.2 percent), most of which were in Craven County. 

The Croatan region is in transition from a rural to an urban society. Jones County is not moving in this 

direction as rapidly as the other two and is declining in population (Table 3.34). Jones County does 

have two major highways (U.S 70 and U.S. 17) crossing it, but neither connects to a major city in the 

county. The county also suffers from lack of access to major water-based recreational facilities. Of the 

three counties, Jones County is the most vulnerable to changes in management activities on the CNF. 

3.4.1.10. Civilian Labor Force - Services Employment 

Services employment includes doctors, nurses, dentists, lawyers, and others providing professional 

services. Included also are those people working in restaurants, hotels, or other places providing 

services rather than products. The Economic Security Commission of North Carolina, which provided 

the estimates, also included agricultural services, and forestry, fishing, and mining as other services. 

Domestics were not included. 

In the past 20 years, employment in services has more than doubled in the State. From 1970 to 1990, 

services employment increased from 237,500 to 641,400 or by 170.1 percent. Service employment in 

the Croatan region increased by 227.4 percent during the same period, with the largest increases in 

Craven County. 

The three counties in the Croatan region are very different. These differences are important because 

attitudes, beliefs, and values of residents would vary among the counties. Reactions to management 

activities on the CNF would be different depending upon whether the activity is on the east and north 

(Craven), the east and south (Carteret), or on the west (Jones) sides of the Forest. 

3.4.1.11. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values 

The attitudes, beliefs, and values of the people in the three counties surrounding the Croatan National 

Forest are shaped by length of residence, location, ethnicity, age, and employment. 

Length of Residence: There are three distinct groups in the region -- the "traditional" population, the 

"incomers", and the tourists. The "traditional" population includes descendants of the original European 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 193

(mostly Swiss and German) settlers who came to the region in the eighteenth century. This group 

farmed the land and utilized the natural resources of the region, primarily fisheries and forests. 

At the time of the European settlement, there were Native-American tribes in the region, primarily the 

Tuscaroras. As more European colonists came, tension between them and the Native-Americans 

escalated, resulting in the Tuscarora War of 1711. After their defeat, the Tuscaroras emigrated to the 

north. Some were allowed to settle at a reserve at Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County. In 1970, only 

144 Native-Americans were in the region. 

"Incomers" are residents who have discovered the region, perhaps as tourists or summer residents, and 

have lived in the region only for the last 40 or 50 years. This is the fastest growing group and is 

becoming more influential politically and economically. 

Tourists are transient and are in the region only during the summer. Their influence is felt 

economically, but their interest in the CNF is limited to recreation, hunting, and fishing. 

The "traditional" population tends to view the CNF as "common" land, someplace where they can hunt, 

fish, and recreate without many restrictions. They may tend to view any regulation as preventing them 

from doing what is their "right". Attempts to enforce or establish regulations could be met with some 

resistance. Since their heritage is tied to natural resource utilization, they are less concerned about 

timber harvesting and other traditional land use activities. 

Incomers tend to view the Forest as a place to visit for recreation, enjoy hunting, and fishing. Rules and 

regulations are viewed by this group as necessary to ensure high-quality experiences. They may be less 

tolerant of management activities such as timber harvesting and road construction, which change the 

landscape. 

The tourist group utilizes only those parts of the Forest that provide accessible recreation, particularly 

along the rivers and roads. They tend to place a high value on viewing more natural appearing 

landscape. 

Location: The "traditional" group is concentrated in the more rural areas, particularly in Jones County. 

They also live in closer proximity to the Forest. The "incomer" group occupies the "outer" rim of the 

Forest, along the major highways and near the major rivers and Bogue Sound in Carteret and Craven 

Counties. This group also is located in the cities of New Bern and Havelock. Tourists are in areas close 

to beaches and waterfronts. 

Ethnicity: The Croatan region is becoming less diverse. In 1970, 76.6 percent of the population was 

classified as White. By 1990, the White population had increased to 77.9 percent. From 1970 to 1990, 

the White population increased by 40.5 percent, while the Black-American population increased by only 

22.4 percent. Native-Americans increased in population by 452 and all Others increased by 1,627. The 

population shifts are more significant in Carteret and Jones Counties. 

Carteret County, in 1970, was 88.5 percent White, 11.1 percent Black-American, and 0.4 percent Native 

American and Others. By 1990, the population was 90.3 percent White, 8.3 percent Black-American, 

and 1.4 percent Native American and Others. Jones County was 54.9 percent White in 1970, 45.1 
194 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

percent Black-American, and 0.0 percent (4 persons) Native American and Others. In 1990, Jones 

County was 60.4 percent White, 39.1 percent Black-American, and 0.5 percent Native American and 

Others. In each of the counties, there has been emigration of the "traditional" population and 

immigration of "incomers". 

Craven County's population in 1970 was 73.9 percent White, 25.4 percent Black-American, and 0.7 

percent Native American and Others. By 1990, the population was slightly more diverse with 71.9 

percent White, 25.9 percent Black-American, and 2.2 percent Native American and Others. This more 

urban county can be expected to have values, beliefs, and attitudes more like those of the "incomer" 

population. 

Age: As noted previously, the population in the region is getting older. The more urban Craven County 

has the youngest average population and Carteret has the oldest. The younger population in Craven 

County partially reflects the influence of the U.S. Naval Aviation Depot at Cherry Point. 

The older population in Carteret County is partially the result of the immigration of retirees. Retirees 

would tend to have the values, beliefs, and attitudes of the "incomer" group, while the older population 

in Jones County would tend to have more "traditional" values. 

Employment: European settlers of the Croatan region were employed primarily in farming, forest 

industries, and fishing. For many years, employment has been shifting away from resource-based 

employment to Service and Manufacturing. This shift indicates the growing economic influence of 

"incomers" and a lessening of the economic influence of the more "traditional" population. 

Forest Service Role: The CNF is a major influence on the human population of the three-county region. 

National Forest lands occupy 16.5 percent of the land base of Carteret County, 14.1 percent of Craven 

County, and 13.1 percent of Jones County. The traditional resource-based management activities of 

timber harvesting, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation are more suited to the "traditional" 

population, which is rapidly being replaced by "incomers." Future management would be influenced 

more by the values, beliefs, and attitudes of "incomers." 

The CNF is uniquely positioned to be of service to the surrounding community. The urban population 

(comprised increasingly of "incomers") surrounds the Forest like a crescent, with water on the outside 

(the Neuse River, the Atlantic Ocean, and Bogue Sound), and the Forest on the inside. In this position, 

the communities depend upon the Forest for recreation and for urban services, such as water system sites 

and landfills. 

The Planning Office for the State of North Carolina is projecting an increase in the State population of 

9.9 percent between 1995 and 2005. The same projections show Carteret County increasing by 16.2 

percent, Craven by 11.8 percent, and Jones declining by 1.3 percent, for an average regional increase of 

12.7 percent. These additional people would put even more pressure on the CNF to provide services for 

a larger urban population. 

EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennntttaaalll CCCooonnnssseeeqqquuueeennnccceeesss

The sociological impacts as a result of management practices on the CNF are difficult to assess. 

Changes in management would have little or no effect on regional population or incomes, but 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 195

management practices could affect particular segments of the region. This analysis is focused on the 

changes in attitudes, beliefs, and values associated with changes in timber production, provision of 

recreation opportunities, land adjustments, and administration of special uses. 

Timber Production 

Alternative A: Continuing to manage the CNF under the current Land and Resource Management Plan 

would result in continued conflicts between the "traditional" and "incomers" groups. The "traditional" 

population accepts the necessity of timber production, and would be advocates of increased harvesting 

to provide employment and hunting opportunities. The "incomers" would advocate for reduced 

harvesting levels to retain the pristine appearance of the Forest. 

The most probable cumulative effect of continuing to manage the Forest under the current Land and 

Resource Management Plan would be alienation of both groups. The "traditional" population would 

consider timber harvests to be too low, while the "incomers" would consider them to be too high. Both 

groups would consider Forest administrators unresponsive to their values. 

Alternative B: Under this alternative, timber harvests would be about half of the current management. 

This would be responsive to the "incomers" values, but would conflict with those of the "traditional" 

population. There would be some reduction in regional employment and income, which would affect 

the "traditional" population. 

The cumulative effects for the Forest would be more positive than under current management. Since 

"incomers" would become a greater percentage of the regional population, the reduction in timber 

harvests would be acceptable to them. The "traditional: population would be adversely affected. 

Alternatives C, C-modified, and D: Under these alternatives, timber harvests would be about three times 

as high as under current management. This would be responsive to the values of the "traditional" 

population, but less acceptable to the "incomers". Regional incomes and employment would increase 

which would benefit the "traditional" population. 

Alternative E: Timber production is higher than Alternatives A and B, which would be accepted more 

by the ‘traditional’ population. However, the methods of timbering are likely to leave trees, providing 

aesthetically pleasing scenery, which would be accepted more by the ‘incomers’. 

The cumulative effects would be less responsive to "incomers" than alternatives A and B. Since 

"incomers" would become a greater percentage of the regional population, continued habitat 

manipulation would be less acceptable to them. This could lead to more confrontation with forest users. 

Opportunities for Recreation 

Alternative A: Under current management, The CNF provides 400,200 recreation visitor days per year. 

Approximately 30 percent of these are hunting, and 12 percent are fishing; recreation activities of the 

"traditional" population. Current facilities are not sufficient to accommodate the increasing population 

of "incomers" and some facilities, such as Siddie Fields and Long Point, are over-utilized on some 

weekend. The "incomers" are asking for more facilities and a wider variety of opportunities. 
196 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The long term cumulative effects would be continued over-crowding of facilities as the population 

increases. The "traditional" population would continue to hunt and fish, but the "incomers" would 

become increasingly dissatisfied with recreational facilities. Administrative and law enforcement costs 

could also increase. 

Alternative B: Under this alternative, recreation use would increase to 417,000 visitor days. The 

"traditional" population would continue to hunt and fish and some current facilities would be enlarged. 

More water-oriented opportunities would be available, and over-crowding at Siddie Fields would be 

addressed. These changes would address some of the increased demand from the "incomers" 

population. 

The cumulative effects of changes made under this alternative would partially address the recreation 

demands of the "incomers" population. Over-crowding would eventually become a problem, and some 

of the "incomers" demands for a variety of facilities would not be met. Implementation of these 

alternatives would postpone the sociological problems associated with Alternative A for a decade or so. 

Alternatives C,C-modified, and E: Under these alternatives, a 20 percent increase in recreational 

opportunities would be made available to forest users. The "traditional" population would continue to 

have opportunities to hunt and fish, and a greater variety of facilities, such as group camps and a rifle 

range, would be available. These alternatives would satisfy the demand for recreational opportunities 

for both population groups. 

The cumulative effects of these alternatives should be the most acceptable to both population groups. 

Most future demands should be met. 

Alternative D: This alternative differs from alternatives C, C-modified, and E only with the addition of 

an Interpretive Center. The effects are the same as for alternatives C and C-modified. The cumulative 

effects for this alternative are the same as for alternatives C and C-modified. 

Land Adjustments 

Alternatives A and D: Under these two alternatives, approximately 300 acres per year could be 

purchased or exchanged each year. These adjustments could affect either or both population groups. 

Since purchases or exchanges are voluntary and all parties have to be in agreement, no adverse 

sociological effects should occur. 

The long-term cumulative effects would be an increase in administrative efficiency for the forest, and an 

improved working relationship with the general population. 

Alternatives B, C, C-modified, and E: Under these alternatives, approximately 900 acres per year could 

be purchased or exchanged each year. These adjustments could affect either or both population groups. 

Since purchases or exchanges are voluntary and all parties have to be in agreement, no adverse 

sociological effects should occur. The long-term cumulative effects would be the same as for 

alternatives A and D. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 197

Special Uses 

The forest administers approximately 2,500 acres of special uses under the current Land and Resource 

Management Plan. This would be the same for all alternatives. The granting of special uses is a service 

to the population and benefits the traditional population as well as incomers. No adverse sociological 

cumulative effects should occur. 

333...444...222.

.. EEECCCOOONNNOOOMMMIIICCC

An economy is the system by which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed in a 

given area. For purposes of this analysis, the economy of the Croatan region is that in the three counties 

in which the CNF is located -- Carteret, Craven, and Jones. This economy can be described as open, 

because it interacts with other economies and is a part of a larger economy. 

The estimated Gross State Product from the IMPLAN model* of all 100 counties in North Carolina is 

$ 253.2 billion. The Gross Regional Product (GRP) for the Croatan region is estimated to be $ 3.7 

billion, or only about 1.5 percent of the State output. Per capita output in the Croatan region is only 

about $25,996 compared to the Statewide average of approximately $38,200. 

The demographic characteristics of the Croatan region have been described in Human Resources: 

Sociological. The purpose of this discussion is to compare the economy of the Croatan region to that in 

the State as a whole. This analysis would focus on the diversity of industry within the region and the 

dependency of the region on surrounding regions for its economic viability. 

3.4.2.1. Economic Diversity 

Economic diversity refers to the number and relative importance of industries within a region. In 

general, the more industries that exist in a region, the greater the capability of the regional economy to 

weather the economic storms of recession and unemployment. Economic diversity is equivalent to 

having ones’ eggs in many baskets. The better the balance between regional sectors, the more viable the 

regional economy. There is no magic level of diversity that guarantees the viability of an economy, but 

comparisons can be made to the State or national economy. 

The two components of economic diversity are the number of industrial sectors existing in the region 

and the division of economic activity among sectors. (Note: all estimates are from the IMPLAN model, 

which utilizes a database from the 1990 census. These estimates may differ from other published 

reports. 

 

Number of Industrial Sectors: The IMPLAN database consists of 528 industrial sectors defined by fourdigit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. Four hundred and seventy-nine (479) of these 

sectors exist in the State of North Carolina. Thus, North Carolina has a very diverse economy. The State 

has not been affected by recessions as much as some have other States, and the unemployment rate has 

generally been lower than the national average. 

The Croatan region has 184 industrial sectors, 34.8 percent of the national total and 38.4 percent of the 

North Carolina total. This indicates a concentration of economic activity in fewer sectors as compared 
198 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

to the State and a much less diverse economy. The unemployment rate in the Croatan region has been 

generally above the rate for the State. 

The individual counties in the Croatan region are less diverse than the region as a whole. They range 

from the least diverse, Jones with 75 industrial sectors represented (Table 3.40), to the most diverse, 

Craven with 153 industrial sectors represented. Table 3.40 shows the importance of diversity in all three 

counties in the Croatan region. 

A diverse economy would have a large percentage of its work force in manufacturing (where most of the 

outputs for export are produced), wholesale and retail trade (to supply goods to the economy) and 

services. North Carolina has 22.77 percent of its work force in manufacturing, 21.17 percent in 

wholesale and retail trade, and 19.47 percent in services (Table 3.40). The Croatan region, with its 

much less diverse economy, has only 8.83 percent of its work force in manufacturing (indicating that it 

must import many manufactured goods), 21.95 percent in wholesale and retail trade, and 17.77 percent 

in services. 

Table 3.40. Percentage distribution of total employment in North Carolina, the Croatan Region, and Craven, Carteret, and 

Jones counties by aggregated sectors (1990 database). Number of industrial sectors in each in parentheses. 

 Distribution of Total Employment 

Aggregated Sector NC 

(479) % 

Croatan 

(184) % 

Craven 

(153) % 

Carteret 

(138) % 

Jones 

(75) % 

Agr., Forestry, & Fish 2.62 3.35 1.85 4.74 16.57 

Mining 0.17 0.16 0.18 0.08 0.53 

Construction 7.96 6.90 6.41 7.85 6.74 

Manufacturing 22.77 8.83 8.86 8.29 13.37 

Trans., Comm., & Util. 4.09 3.04 3.02 2.92 4.57 

Wholesale & Retail Trade 21.17 21.95 17.84 29.97 20.45 

Fin., Ins., & Real Estate 5.13 5.00 3.89 7.30 3.39 

Services 19.47 17.77 15.60 22.32 14.09 

Government Enterprises 1.32 2.56 3.44 0.99 1.41 

Special Industries 15.30 30.44 38.91 15.54 18.88 

 

Concentration of Economic Activity: The 184 industrial sectors in the Croatan region were aggregated 

into 10 major sectors (Table 3.41). The aggregated sectors were then summarized by six measures of 

economic activity -- total income, employment, exports, final demand, value added, and total industrial 

output. The percentage distribution of each of the measures by aggregated sector is presented for the 

Croatan region in Table 3.41 and for North Carolina in Table 3.42. 

Employment: The Croatan region and the State have similar employment patterns with two major 

differences. Only 8.83 percent are employed in manufacturing in the Croatan region compared to 22.77 

percent in North Carolina. Conversely, 30.44 are employed in special industries in the Croatan region 

compared to only 15.30 in the State. This is an indication that the region must import manufactured 

goods and services, but that it is an exporter of employment to special industries and government 

enterprises. 

The aggregate of "special industries", consists of households, federal and local governments, and 

miscellaneous adjustments to the model. Employment in special industries in the region is primarily 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 199

military employment. The primary government enterprise is the USDA Forest Service. The eastern 

North Carolina region has 8.3 percent of the Federal Government - military employment in the State. 

Income: There are several differences between the distribution of employment and the distribution of 

income in the Croatan region, indicating differences in salary structures. The distribution of income in 

the region is similar to that in the State in construction; wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, 

and real estate; and services. The greatest differences are in mining, government enterprises, and special 

industries. 

 

Table 3.41. Eastern North Carolina distribution of six measures of economic activity by aggregated sectors (1990 database). 

 Measures of Economic Activity 

Aggregated Sector 

(Numbers are %) 

Employment Total Income Value 

Added 

Exports Final 

Demand 

Total 

Output 

Agr., Forestry, & Fish 3.35 2.81 2.71 5.09 0.74 4.57 

Mining 0.16 2.15 2.06 0.25 0.03 2.59 

Construction 6.90 5.32 4.98 0.02 8.61 9.29 

Manufacturing 8.83 12.21 11.57 77.35 22.85 22.42 

Trans., Comm., & Util. 3.04 5.09 5.16 4.65 5.13 5.67 

Wholesale & Retail Trade 21.95 11.19 12.98 3.94 11.03 9.88 

Fin., Ins., & Real Estate 5.00 12.27 14.71 2.53 13.59 11.92 

Services 17.77 13.67 13.03 1.39 15.76 13.08 

Government Enterprises 2.56 2.46 2.29 0.04 0.39 2.15 

Special Industries 30.44 32.83 30.51 4.74 21.87 18.43 

Table 3.42. State of North Carolina distribution of six measures of economic activity by aggregated sectors (1990 database). 

 Measures of Economic Activity 

Aggregated Sector (%) Employment Total Income Value Added Exports Final Demand Total Output 

Agr., Forestry, & Fish 2.62 1.89 1.82 3.30 0.66 3.22 

Mining 0.17 1.72 1.63 2.40 0.27 1.89 

Construction 7.96 5.73 5.33 0.02 10.74 8.64 

Manufacturing 22.77 30.23 29.55 76.66 29.92 40.50 

Trans., Comm., & Util. 4.09 7.85 7.84 4.78 5.54 7.10 

Wholesale & Retail Trade 21.17 12.54 14.11 6.58 11.90 9.11 

Fin., Ins., & Real Estate 5.13 11.54 13.16 2.77 13.68 9.95 

Services 19.47 14.15 13.31 1.55 16.31 12.14 

Government Enterprises 1.32 1.76 1.63 0.03 0.39 1.45 

Special Industries 15.30 12.58 11.62 1.90 10.59 5.99 

 

About the same percentages are employed in mining in the State (0.17) and in the Croatan region (0.16), 

but regional employees have a higher percentage of the total income (2.15) than do their counterparts in 

the State as a whole (1.72). 

The distribution of income also can be compared to the distribution of employment identifies industries 

that pay employees better than others. For example, mining has only 0.16 percent of the employment in 

the region, but 2.15 percent of the income or a ratio of 13.44 (2.15 divided by 0.16). Other industries 

with a ratio greater than one are finance, insurance, and real estate (2.45), transportation, 

communication, and utilities (1.67), manufacturing (1.38), and special industries (1.08). Wholesale and 

retail trade has the lowest (0.51). 

Value Added: As outputs from one industrial sector are utilized by another sector to produce other 

outputs, there is an increase in value over and above production costs. The sum of all such costs is value 
200 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

added. For example, trees from the forest products sector are used by the sawmill sector to produce 

lumber, which may be sold to the wood household furniture sector. At each stage, value is added and 

the total of all values added at these intermediate steps is captured in the value added estimates (Tables 

3.41 and 3.42). 

About 30 percent of the value added in the Croatan region is from special industries while about 30 

percent of the value added in the state is from manufacturing. The contribution to value added by 

wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and services is about the same in the 

region and the state. Mining contributes the least in the region. 

Exports: Both the State and the Croatan region depend upon manufacturing for about three-quarters of 

their exports (76.66 and 77.35 percent, respectively). Because the region is a subset of the state, there is 

more exported to "rest of the world industries" (included in special industries) than for the State (4.74 

percent). Most of the output from the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector also is exported. 

Final Demand: Final demand is a measure of the ultimate consumption of goods and services. For 

households in a region or State, it is the sum of value added plus imports. The distribution of final 

demand for the region is similar to the distribution for the State, with minor exceptions. 

Final demand is significantly higher for special industries in the Croatan region (21.87 percent), than it 

is for the State. Demand is lower in manufacturing and construction. All others are essentially equal in 

distribution. 

Total Output: The distribution of Total Output from the aggregated sectors for the Croatan region is not 

very different from that of the State, with two exceptions. The Croatan region has significantly more of 

its output from special industries (primarily military), while the State of North Carolina has more of its 

output from manufacturing and finance, insurance, and real estate. 

The comparison of the distribution of all six measures in the region with the state shows that the region 

is considerably less diverse than the state. Table 3.43 compares the region with the State for 

employment, total income, and total output. 

Table 3.43. Comparison of the distribution of employment, total income, and total output between the Croatan region and 

the State by aggregated sectors (1990 database). 

 Measures of Economic Activity 

 Employment Total Income Total Output 

Aggregated Sector Croatan % State % Croatan % State % Croatan % State % 

Agr., Forestry, & Fish 3.35 2.62 2.81 1.89 4.57 3.22 

Mining 0.16 .017 2.15 1.72 2.59 1.89 

Construction 6.90 7.96 5.32 5.73 9.29 8.64 

Manufacturing 8.83 22.77 12.21 30.23 22.42 40.50 

Trans., Comm., and Utilities 3.04 4.09 5.09 7.85 5.67 7.10 

Wholesale and Retail Trade 21.95 21.17 11.19 12.54 9.88 9.11 

Fin., Insurance and Real Estate 5.00 5.13 12.27 11.54 11.92 9.95 

Services 17.77 19.47 13.67 14.15 13.08 12.14 

Government Enterprises 2.56 1.32 2.46 1.76 2.15 1.45 

Special Industries 30.44 15.30 32.83 12.58 18.43 5.99 

 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 201

Forest Service and Regional Interactions: Forest Service management primarily affects the wood and 

paper processing and recreation and tourism sectors. These sectors are examined in more detail to better 

understand their importance to the regional economy. 

3.4.2.2. Wood and Paper Industries 

Timber from national forest lands is processed in the wood products and the pulp and paper products 

sectors. Total employment in each of these sectors and the distribution for the Croatan region and the 

State of North Carolina are presented in Table 3.44. 

As shown in Table 3.44, the wood products sectors represent less than 1 percent of State employment 

and only 1.79 percent of the employment in the Croatan region. The importance of these sectors in the 

region and the state wood products sectors are shown in the last column. Employment in the region is 

8.05 percent of the State employment in logging camps and contractors, but 12.18 percent of veneer and 

plywood, most of whom are employed by Atlantic Veneer Corporation in Beaufort. 

The State's largest pulp mill, owned by Weyerhaeuser Company, is located in the region. The 620 

employees are 87.20 percent of the State total. Weyerhaeuser has utilized most of the roundwood sold 

from the national forest and most of the sawmill residues from national forest sawtimber. Use of 

residues is expected to change in the future as timber cutting methods are changed from regeneration of 

older timber to thinning. The Weyerhaeuser mill is oriented toward chipping, so the roundwood now 

goes to other mills. 

Table 3.44. Total employment and distribution of employment, wood and paper products sectors, in Eastern North Carolina 

and North Carolina (1990 database). 

 Measures of Economic Activity 

 Employment Total Income Percent Croatan 

Employment is of 

Aggregated Sector Croatan 

Jobs 

State 

Jobs 

Croatan 

% 

State 

% 

State 

% 

Wood Products Sectors 

Logging Camps and Cont 396 4,922 0.55 0.13 8.05 

Sawmills and Planing 80 8,609 0.11 0.22 0.93 

Hardwood Dimension 6 6,168 0.01 0.16 0.10 

Veneer and Plywood 776 6,372 1.08 0.17 12.18 

Others 22 7,840 0.04 0.21 0.28 

Subtotal 1,280 33,911 1.79 0.89 0.28 

Pulp and Paper Products 

Sectors 

 

Pulp Mills 620 711 0.87 0.02 87.20 

Paper Mills 0 5,732 0.00 0.15 0.00 

Paperboard Mills 0 3,325 0.00 0.09 0.00 

Paperboard Containers 0 9,392 0.00 0.24 0.00 

Others 0 819 0.00 0.02 0.00 

Subtotal 620 19,979 0.87 0.52 3.10 

 

Total 1,900 53,890 2.66 1.41 3.53 
202 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

3.4.2.3. Recreation and Tourism 

Recreation and tourism are important to the region because of the presence of the military and the large 

number of summer residents. Activities on the CNF directly affect the quality and quantity of recreation 

and tourism. There is no single defined industry for recreation and tourism, so several sectors are used 

as proxies (Table 3.45). 

Recreation and tourism are more important to the economy of the Croatan region than to the state. 

Approximately one in nine are employed in recreation- and tourism-related industries in the region 

(11.67 percent), while only one in eleven are employed in those industries in the State (9.42 percent). A 

higher percentage of regional employment is in Eating and Drinking, Miscellaneous Retail, Hotels and 

Lodging Places, and Amusement and Recreation sectors than is in the State. The Croatan region has 

only 2 to 3 percent of the State employment in recreation- and tourism-related sectors. The low 

percentage is because the area is primarily a final destination for tourists and summer residents wanting 

an ocean or beach experience. Many businesses provide reduced services during the late fall, winter, 

and early spring months. 

Table 3.45. Total employment and distribution of employment, for selected recreation and tourism related sectors, in the 

Croatan Region and North Carolina (1990 database). 

 Measures of Economic Activity 

 Employment Total Income Percent Croatan 

Employment is of 

Aggregated Sector Croatan 

Jobs 

State 

Jobs 

Croatan 

% 

State 

% 

State 

% 

Eating and Drinking 4,377 190,532 6.12 4.94 2.23 

Miscellaneous Retail 2,300 113,071 3.22 2.93 2.03 

Hotels and Lodging Places 1,142 35,611 1.60 0.92 3.21 

Automobile Rental 83 7,380 0.12 0.19 1.12 

Amusement and 

Recreation 

439 16,834 0.61 0.44 2.61 

Total 8,341 16,834 11.67 9.42 2.30 

 

3.4.2.4. Economic Dependency 

The high percentage of employment in recreation and tourism indicates that these are sectors on which 

the region is dependent for exports (tourists purchase goods and services within the region). Overall, 

exports total $305.2 million or about 8.9 percent of the total output for final demand of $3.428 billion, 

approximately three-quarters of which come from manufacturing (Table 3.41). That regional percentage 

is lower than the statewide percentage of 10.3 percent. 

Table 3.46 presents the distribution of employment and income associated with the export component of 

the regional economy. These percentages include the export activity presented in Table 3.41 plus 

indirect activity (industries supplying goods and services to exporting industries) and induced 

expenditures (household expenditures of income associated with export production) generated by 

export-related production. Direct, indirect, and induced income and employment estimates were 

developed using total exports and multipliers generated in the IMPLAN model. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 203

Table 3.46. Croatan Region distribution of export related employment and income by aggregated sectors (1990 database). 

 Measures of Economic Activity 

Aggregated Sector Total Employment % Total Income % 

Agr., Forestry, & Fish. 9.40 5.81 

Mining 0.12 0.26 

Construction 0.06 0.03 

Manufacturing 60.06 57.61 

Trans., Comm., & Util. 8.81 5.41 

Wholesale & Retail Trade 11.83 7.44 

Fin., Ins., & Real Estate 4.95 3.99 

Services 4.65 2.31 

Government Enterprises 0.12 0.09 

Special Industries 0.00 17.05 

As shown in Table 3.46, most of the employment and income associated with exports is in the 

manufacturing sectors (60.06 percent and 57.61 percent, respectively). Seventeen percent of export 

income is from rest of the world industries which is a subset of the special industries aggregate. This 

percentage represents the regional residents who work outside of the region and bring income back into 

the region. 

In the Croatan region, one sector (pulp mills) contributes over one-half of the total production for export 

(59.7 percent). This sector has 40.7 percent of the income and 33.8 percent of the employment 

associated with production for export (Table 3.47). 

The total exports to rest of the world industries represent regional residents working "abroad" and can be 

used as a measure of internal dependency of the constituent counties in the Croatan region. As shown in 

Table 3.48, Jones has the most residents working "abroad" and Craven and Carteret have the least. 

Jones county also has the fewest industrial sectors. 

The distribution of industrial sectors within the region is more important than the number of sectors. 

Counties in the region have a wide range in the number of sectors represented (Craven has more than 

twice as many as Jones). This number affects each county's dependency on the others for buying and 

selling of goods and services. Table 3.47 presents the total exports distributed by the 10 aggregated 

sectors for the State, the region, and each county. 

Table 3.47. Croatan Region distribution of exports and related direct, indirect, and induced employment and income by 

largest exporting sectors (1990 database). 

Sector Exports $ Total Income $ 

Total 

Employment 

Jobs 

Pulp Mills 182,056,400 66,323,147 1,268 

Commercial Laundry Equipment 17,818,920 8,535,263 378 

Rest of the World Industries 14,464,470 27,787,693 0 

Wholesale Trade 11,883,510 11,945,304 432 

Logging Camps and Contractors 11,755,200 4,995,960 163 

Power Driven Hand Tools 8,561,234 4,994,624 120 

Feed Grains 6,467,929 5,284,298 108 

Water Transportation 6,103,531 2,354,742 125 

Veneer and Plywood 6,077,984 3,296,091 142 

Total 265,189,178 135,517,122 2,736 
204 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

 Table 3.48. Exports by rest of the world industries by county in the Croatan region (1990 database). 

Rank (Most to Least) County Number of Sectors Total Exports 

1 Jones 75 12,602,910 

2 Carteret 138 1,406,870 

3 Craven 153 454,690 

 Total 14,464,470 

The three-county Croatan region is very similar to the state in the distribution of exports. As shown in 

Table 3.49, the region generally is an exporter of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; manufacturing; and 

rest of the world industries (residents working outside the region). Table 3.49 also shows some of the 

flows of goods and services among the three constituent counties in the region. 

Jones County is the least diverse with only 75 industrial sectors represented. It must import most of its 

goods and services, but it does have some exports. Approximately three-fourths of its agriculture, 

forestry, and fisheries sector exports are from two industrial sectors, Feed Grains and Forestry Products. 

Sixty percent of all exports are represented by rest of world industries, Jones county residents working 

outside the county. 

Table 3.49. Percentage distribution of Total Exports in North Carolina, the Croatan Region, and Jones, Carteret, and 

Craven counties by aggregated sectors (1990 database). Number of Industrial Sectors in each in parentheses. 

 Distribution of Total Exports 

Aggregated Sector NC 

(479) % 

Croatan 

(184) % 

Jones 

(75) % 

Carteret 

(138) % 

Craven 

(153) % 

Agr., Forestry, & Fish. 3.30 5.09 21.31 10.15 2.61 

Mining 2.40 0.25 0.19 0.13 0.28 

Construction 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.02 

Manufacturing 76.66 77.35 12.01 54.58 87.83 

Trans., Comm., & Util 4.78 4.65 1.53 14.47 2.92 

Wholesale & Retail Trade 6.58 3.94 3.81 7.84 3.16 

Fin., Ins., & Real Estate 2.77 2.53 0.76 7.35 1.71 

Services 1.55 1.39 0.27 2.54 1.25 

Government Enterprises 0.03 0.04 0.02 0.08 0.03 

Special Industries 1.90 4.74 60.09 2.91 0.19 

Carteret County is much more diverse with more potential for exports. Like Jones County, Carteret also 

exports much of the products from the feed grains and forest products sectors. Ninety percent of the 

county's exports from manufacturing are from two sectors, commercial laundry equipment and veneer 

and plywood. Because the Carteret County is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, it also exports water 

transportation and real estate services, the latter to summer residents. 

Craven county is the most diverse county in the region. Like Jones and Carteret, it exports feed grains 

and forestry products. Three-quarters of all its exports, however, are from one sector, pulp mills. The 

largest pulp mill in the state is located in the county. Other exporting sectors are logging camps and 

contractors and power driven hand tools. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 205

3.4.2.5. Relationship Of Croatan National Forest To Eastern North Carolina 

The CNF contributes to the economy of eastern North Carolina in several ways. First, it provides 

income and employment in timber processing sectors through the sale of timber. Second, it provides 

opportunities for developed and dispersed recreation activities, including hunting and fishing. 

Expenditures by the Forest Service and its employees create demand for goods and services from 

regional industrial sectors, and payments to counties from revenues received contribute to educational 

and highway expenses. 

Of an estimated a total of 754 jobs supported by the timber program for the National Forests in North 

Carolina, 44 are estimated to be in the Croatan region. The FY 1990 Recreation Information 

Management (RIM) report showed that the Croatan National Forest had 377,200 recreation visitor days 

(RVDs). Applying coefficients for dispersed and developed recreation generated with the IMPLAN 

model, these RVDs generated 523 jobs. The total of 567 is approximately 0.8 percent of the regional 

total of 71,525. 

An estimated regional income from timber harvesting is $15,867,500 of which $967,698 would have 

been on the Croatan. Using IMPLAN income coefficients for the 377,200 RVDs, $10,434,484 of 

income would have been generated in the region. The total of $11,402,182 is approximately 0.3 percent 

of the regional income of $3,732,523,913. 

Although the region depends upon its timber and wood based sectors for exports, the activities on the 

Croatan National Forest have only a minor impact on the region as a whole. The 44 jobs supported by 

the timber program are significant to the wood processing sectors, but represent only about 2.3 percent 

(Table 3.44). These jobs are particularly important in sectors processing veneer and plywood. Much of 

the roundwood harvested from national forest land in the future may go out of the region. 

The estimated 523 recreation-related jobs supported by the CNF represent only 6.3 percent of the 

regional total (Table 3.45). The Forest Service impact is greater than that percentage indicates because 

of the recreational opportunities provided. Visitors to the region may be engaged in more than one 

activity and the national forests are providing the recreational environment. 

Returns to Counties 

Carteret, Craven and Jones Counties contain Croatan National Forest lands and also receive direct 

payments from the U.S. Treasury as dictated by the 1976 Payment in Lieu of Taxes Act (PILT) (PL-94-

565) and the 2000 Secure Payments for States and Counties Containing Federal Lands Act (PL 106-

393). 

PILT payments are made every year based on the number of acres of federally owned land in each 

county. Originally set at 75 cents an acre, this PILT amount has been increased by Congress in recent 

years and currently averages a little over one dollar an acre per year. The exact amount is determined by 

annual Congressional appropriations. In 2001, the three counties received PILT payments of $191,417. 

In 2000, Congress passed PL 106-393, which replaced the 1908 Twenty-five Percent Act. Previously, 

25% of all receipts generated on national forest lands were returned to local counties to be used to 
206 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

support local schools. However, declining revenues from timber sales in the 1990s caused these 

payments to decline significantly nationwide. 

PL 106-393 gave each county the option of “locking in” and starting in 2001 being paid yearly an 

amount equal to the highest three average of what they had received in 25% payments over the 14 year 

period from 1986-1999. All counties in North Carolina elected to lock in the high three average 

payment. As a result, payments to Carteret and Craven Counties increased from $27,829 in 25% Funds 

in 2000 to $146,379 in 2001 under PL 106-393. Subject to renewal by Congress, and county decisions 

to stay with this method of payment, these counties will receive this same yearly payment for the 

foreseeable future. As a result of this new law, therefore, payments to counties will not vary by 

alternative, since they no longer are directly linked to 25% of the annual receipts generated by the 

Croatan National Forests timber, recreation, or special use receipts. 

EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennntttaaalll CCCooonnnssseeeqqquuueeennnccceeesss

Economic Impact 

The economic impacts as a result of management practices on the CNF are changes in employment and 

income levels of the regional population. Of all the management activities, the two which have the most 

impact are the harvesting of timber and the provision of recreation opportunities. Table 3.50 

summarizes the employment and income associated with implementing each of the proposed 

alternatives. 

Table 3.50. Employment (number of full-time jobs), income (in 1997 dollars), and payments to counties for timber harvesting 

and recreation on the CNF by alternative (first decade). 

 Timber Harvesting Recreation 

Alternatives Employment 

Number Income $ 

Employment 

Number Income $ 

A 35 694,405 582 12,754,359 

B 20 349,179 614 13,566,742 

C 126 2,799,528 733 16,637,482 

C-Modified 126 2,799,528 733 16,637,482 

D 92 2,004,104 738 16,777,863 

E 51 1,834,845 730 16,249,782 

The cumulative impact on the wood product sector for all alternatives would be sustaining employment 

and income in the local economy. Alternatives C/C-modified would contribute the highest levels in the 

first 10-year planning period, but would decline in subsequent decades, due to its departure from 

sustainable declining yield. 

Effects of Timber Management 

Employment and income are estimated using the IMPLAN (IMPact PLANning) model developed by the 

Forest Service at Fort Collins, Colorado. The model utilizes county employment data for 1990 (updated 

to 1993). Coefficients were developed for the three-county region for changes in total harvest, 

sawtimber, and pulpwood. Also included are the employment and income associated with expenditures 

for the timber program by the Forest Service and payments to the three counties to supplement education 

and road costs. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 207

When national forest timber is sold, jobs are created for the harvesters and haulers of the timber (direct). 

These workers then use their income to buy goods and services in the region (indirect). This creates the 

need for the production of more goods and services to replace that which was purchased (induced). 

Table 3.50 includes estimates the direct, indirect, and induced employment and income created as a 

result of implementing each alternative. 

Under the current Land and Resource Management Plan (Alternative A), 35 jobs would be supported in 

the region with a total income of $694,405. Timber harvesting would be reduced under Alternative B 

and increased approximately three-fold under alternatives C and D. Alternative C would have the 

highest employment (126 jobs supported) and income ($2,799,528). Alternative E would provide an 

estimated 51 jobs and $1,834,845 of income. 

Effects of Recreation Management 

Each visitor to the Croatan requires goods and services such as gasoline for an automobile, food, 

lodging, clothing, and other supplies. The IMPLAN model provides estimates based upon the type of 

recreation activity (e.g., camping, picnicking, hunting, fishing). These estimates take into account the 

capacity of facilities and the estimated duration of the visit. Table 3.51 shows these estimates for each 

alternative. 

Expenditures by visitors to the national forest in the region have a multiplier effect. Eating in a 

restaurant, for example, creates jobs for restaurant employees as well as those who supply the restaurant. 

The estimates in Table 3.50 attempt to capture all of the direct, indirect, and induced jobs generated by 

visitors to the national forest. 

Under current management (Alternative A), approximately 400,200 recreation visitor days would be 

generated each year. The direct, indirect, and induced employment associated with these visits is 

estimated to be 582 jobs with an estimated income of $12,754,359. Recreation capacity would increase 

under each of the other alternatives. In Alternative D, the increased capacity would generate 

approximately 480,000 visitor days, resulting in 738 jobs supported with a total income of $16,777,863. 

Cumulatively, since recreation capacity on the Forest would increase under all alternatives and regional 

population is expected to increase, employment and income would continue to increase in the future. 

Economic Efficiency 

The present net value of alternatives represent the discounted projected costs and priced benefits over 

the planning cycle of 160 years. Priced benefits include projected forest products receipts, and 

recreation visitor days. PNVs for minerals were not calculated due to the low opportunity for mineral 

development. Table 3.51 shows the PNVs calculation for timber and recreation outputs. 

Table 3.51. Presnet AET values of timber products and recreation uses at 4% discount, 160 year planning horizon. 

Alternative A B C C-modified D E 

Forest Products PNV (M$) 23,169 4,392 32,078 32,078 27,118 20,900 

Recreation PNV (M$) 357,048 361,274 375,005 372,510 375,139 374,820 

Total 380,217 365,666 407,083 404,588 402,257 395,720 
208 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The highest level of timber output is achieved through Alternative C/C-modified. It departs from the 

sustainable non-declining yield in the first ten-year planning period. The high level of timber output that 

occurs early in the planning horizon boosts the PNV substantially higher than any other alternative. The 

opportunity costs of the other alternatives are due to the constraint for sustainable non-declining yield 

and lower timber output, especially in the first planning period. 

Alternative D has the highest level of recreation visitor days by allowing high levels of access and 

increasing access where possible. The high levels of access are traded off in the other alternatives by 

closing roads, especially the unauthorized access. Alternatives A and B go further in trading off 

recreation outputs by de-emphasizing recreation site developments. 

Unpriced benefits accrue for each alternative. These non-quantifiable benefits are described through the 

goals, objectives, and the desired conditions attained through the management emphasis of each 

alternative. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 209

CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR44:: LLIIISSSTTTOOFFFPPRRREEEPPPAAARRREEERRRSSS

The responsible official for this decision is: 

Robert Jacobs, Regional Forester for the Southern Region 

The officials responsible for preparing the analysis and recommending a preferred alternative are: 

John Ramey, Forest Supervisor 

Monica Schwaebach, Deputy Forest Supervisor 

The Forest Supervisor's Staff who provided guidance in preparation of the environmental analyses are: 

Lawrence Hayden, Staff Officer, Ecosystems and Planning 

Lynn Hicks, Staff Officer, Engineering, Minerals, and Telecommunications 

Mary Noel, Staff Officer, Recreation, Lands, and Human Resources 

Ken Rago, Staff Officer, Fire, Forest, Heritage Resources, and State and Private Forestry 

Terry Seyden, Staff Officer, Public Affairs and Environmental Education 

The District Ranger who provided guidance in preparation of various alternatives is: 

Lauren Hillman, Croatan District Ranger 

The interdisciplinary team responsible for preparing and analyzing alternatives is: 

Kim Kennedy, Team Leader, 10 years experience 

Robin Kastler, Fire Planner/Ecologist, 15 years experience 

Rodney McClanahan, Wildlife Biologist, 14 years experience 

Amy Moritz, Fire Planner, 15 years experience 

Steven Simon, Ecologist, 20 years experience 

Stephen Hendricks, Recreation Planner, 25 years experience 

Forest Service specialists who conducted analysis and provided technical assistance: 

Ruth Berner, General Biologist 

Richard Burns, Hydrologist 

Tim Chesley, Civil Engineer 

Michael Harmon, Archeologist 

Donley Hill, Fisheries Biologist 

William Jackson, Air Quality Specialist 

Ray Johns, Realty Specialist, Special Uses 

Dan Manning, Soil Scientist 

Rodney Snedeker, Archeologist 
210 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Those who provided technical support for document preparation are: 

Shenee Earle, Program Assistant 

Carol Milholen, Planning Assistant 

Julie Trezciak, Public Affairs Specialist 

Scientists who provided analysis through cooperating agreements are: 

Dr. David Newman 

Dr. Joseph Roise 

Dr. Cecil Frost 

The individuals who provided editorial expertise through a contractual agreement are: 

Kelly Banner 

Robert Biesterfeldt 

Forest Service personnel who provided input but are no longer assigned to NFsNC: 

Lou Woltering, former Deputy Forest Supervisor 

Pat Cook, former staff officer, Ecosystem Management and Planning 

Paul Schuller, former staff officer, Fire, Forest, Heritage Resources 

Marella Buncick, former co-team leader, Croatan NF 

Raymond Ferell, former economist 

Bert Anderson, former Graphic Artist 

Kathryn Ludlow, former Landscape Architect 

Edward Brown, former Silviculturist 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 211

CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR55:: AAGGGEEENNNCCCIIIEEESSSAAANNNDDDIINNNDDDIIIVVVIIIDDDUUUAAALLLSSSRREEECCCEEEIIIVVVIIINNNGGGEEIISS

Copies of the DEIS were sent to the following Agencies and Individuals:

555.

..111... EEEllleeecccttteeedddOOOffffffiiiccci

iiaaalllsss

Governor Mike Easley 

Honorable John Edwards 

Honorable Elizabeth Dole 

Honorable Frank Ballance 

Honorable Walter Jones 

Honorable Mike McIntyre 

 

555...222... FFFeeedddeeerrraaalll AAAgggeeennnccciiieeesss

Agriculture, US Department of (USDA) 

Forest Service 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Environmental Protection Agency 

Federal Highway Administration 

Interior, US Department of (USDI) 

Park Service 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point 

Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune 

NOAA 

Occupational Safety and Health 

Soil Conservation Service 

Transportation, US Department of 

United States Army Corps of Engineers 

United States Air Force 

United States Department of Navy 

555...333... IIInnndddiiiaaannnTTTrrriiibbbeeesss

Coharie Intra-Tribal Council 

Cumberland County Indian People 

Guilford Native American Association 

Haliwa-Saponi Trive 

Lumbee Regional Development Association 

Meherrin Indian Tribe 

Metrolina Native American Association 

Waccamaw Siouan Development 

Association 

555...444... SSStttaaattteeeAAAgggeeennnccciiieeesss

Agricultural Extension Service 

North Carolina Department of Agiculture 

North Carolina Department of Cultural 

Resources 

North Carolina Department of Environment, 

Health, and Natural Resources 

North Carolina Department of 

Transportation 

North Carolina Division of Coastal 

Management 

North Carolina Division of Forest Resources 

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries 

North Carolina Forest Service 

North Carolina Natural Heritage Program 

North Carolina Museum of Natural History 

North Carolina Wildlife Resources 

Commission 

555...555... RRReeegggiiiooonnnaaalll///LLLooocccaaalll

Carteret County Board of Commissioners 

Carteret County Manager 

Carteret County Parks and Recreation 

Carteret County Tourism Bureau 

City of Havelock 

City of New Bern 

Craven County Board of Commissioners 

Craven County Economic Development 

Commission 

Jones County Board of Commissioners 

Jones County Administrator 

Jones County Economic Development 

Mayor of Beaufort 

Mayor of Havelock 

Mayor of Maysville 

Mayor of New Bern 

Mayor of Pollocksville 

New Bern Chamber of Commerce 

Town of New Port 

555.

..666... SSSccchhhoooooolllsss///IIInnnsssttti

iit

ttuuut

ttiiiooonnnsss

Anson Technical Institute 

Appalachian State University 
212 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Cawtaba College 

Duke University 

East Carolina University 

Furman University 

Harvard University 

Johnson C. Smith University 

North Carolina A&T University 

North Carolina State University 

University of North Carolina - Greensboro 

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill 

University of North Carolina - Charlotte 

University of North Carolina - Wilmington 

Wake Forest University 

Warren Wilson College 

Wayne Community College 

Winthrop College 

Yale University 

555...777... LLLiiibbbrrraaarrriiieeesss

Anson County Public Libray 

Central NC Regional Library 

D.H. Hill Library 

Duplin County Library 

Engineering Technology Library - Duke 

Power 

Greensboro Public Library 

Hoke County Library 

Johnston County Public Library 

Pack Public Library 

Pender County Library 

Rockingham County Public Library 

Sheppard Memorial Library 

555...888... IIInnndddiiivvviiiddduuuaaalllsss

Ivy Albertson 

Leslie Albertson 

George Allred 

John Aneina 

John Angst 

Giles Arthur 

Hal Atkinson 

Harold Austin 

Stephen Austin 

Carl Barnes 

M.E. Barnett 

Harold Bate 

Charles Beier 

C.O. Belangia 

Robert Belding 

Darrell Bell 

Eliose Bell 

Wayne Bell 

Vince Bellis 

Billy Benners 

Thomas Berg 

Clyde Best 

Jan Higgin Botham 

James Botts 

Geoff Bowman 

Stephen Boyce 

Richard Boyd 

William Boyd 

Bob Bridges 

Robert Bright 

Pat Brinkley 

Mark Brosseau 

Edward Brown 

William Brown 

Richard Bruce 

Paul Bullard 

Keith Burch 

Robert Campbell 

Charles Canady 

Henry Carey 

Herbert Carlton 

Derb Carter 

J.H. Carter 

Mattie Carter 

E.L. Cato 

Donald Caudle 

Albert Chester 

Beth Chester 

Henry Colton 

John Cockerman 

Noah Collins 

Carl Coltrane 

Bob Conner 

Elizabeth Conner 

Buddy Connor 

Ray Conway 

J.D. Cooper 

W.M. Couch 

Sam Craig 

Ralph Cullom 

Earl Dail 

Stuart Daniels 

Donnie Darnell 

V.H. Dassow 

Joel Davis 

Steven Davison 

James Delemar 

Hugh Devine 

Alex Diblick 

Molly Diggins 

Dennis Dillahunt 

Jeanne Doreschuk 

Margaret Drummond 

Thomas Dunn 

D.G. Durrence 

Bob Emory 

Brenda Etheridge 

Joe Evans 

Joseph Evans 

Sid Fields 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 213 

Doug Fink 

Ken Fish 

R.D. Fisher 

Lawrence Fitzpatrick 

Bill Flournoy 

J.G. Formy-Duval 

Thomas Fowler 

Mark P. Franke 

Vich Franklin 

Andrew Fuller 

Dot Fuss 

John Fussell 

Paul Gallimore 

Macon Garner 

Terry Garren 

Wayne Gaskins 

Alan Geer 

Bob Gerry 

Earl Gillis 

R.E. Godette 

Junius Godwin 

Bob Goodman 

John Goodwin 

Robert Graham 

C. Blaine Gregory 

William Griffin 

Edwin Grushiniski 

A.C. Hadley 

Russ Hallberg 

Doris Hammett 

Leon Harkins 

Tom Harris 

Edward Harrison 

Kenneth Harrison 

Leonard Harwood 

T.M. Hasell, Jr. 

Vaughn Hatley 

Lark Hayes 

Adrien Hemby 

Tom Henson 

Mack Hester 

William Hettler 

Charlie Hill 

Dollie Hill 

Elaine Hiner 

Randy Hiner 

C.A. Hinson 

Bill Holman 

William Holman 

Paxon Holz 

David Hook 

Wesley Hopkins 

Jack Horan 

Roger Houser 

James Huff 

Garvin Hughes 

Joseph Hughes 

Samuel Hughes 

Chuck Hunter 

Jeff Hunter 

James Hutchens, Jr. 

Cindy Ipock 

Jeff Irvin 

Gene Jackson 

Mary Jacques 

Rene Jacques 

Peter Jeleneusky 

Claude Jones 

John W. Jones 

Richard Jones 

Roger Jones 

Roy Jones 

Steve Kelley 

Edward Kelly 

Rodney Kennedy 

Jean Kerschner 

Ron Kilburn 

Henry King 

Robert King 

Peter Kirby 

Horace Knapp 

Lindsay Knight 

Jan Kohlmeyer 

Marion Larabee 

Mr. League 

John Leasure 

Richard Leblond 

William Lewis 

David Liden 

Gerald Lieberman 

Ada Lupton 

Larry Mabry 

Joe Maddry 

Rich Maggi 

Dorothy Maltbie 

Jim March 

Bobbie Marr 

Charles Marr 

Ernest Marshall 

Dr. M.D. Martin 

Terry Martin 

Ann Maude 

Frank McBride 

Chester McConnell 

Ray McCotter 

Donald McCoy 

Linda McGowan 

Richard McGowan 

Robert McKim 

Eleanor McKim 

Cliff McLean 

Laura McLean 

Robert McNeill 

James Mead 

Ruth Mead 

Debby Meade 

Dave Meador 

Pam Michel 

Lewis Mielke 

Richard Mills 

A.L. Mitchell 

Walter Mizelle 

Bruce Mock 

A.B. Moore 

Shade More, Jr. 

Don Morris 

William Morris 

David Morton 

Bill Moseley 

Bill Mrazek 

Lynn Mrazek 

Karl Munn 

A.P. Mustian, Jr. 

Alan Myrick 

Charles Nichols 

Jim Noles 

Alfred Norton 

Charles O'Rear 
214 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Kirk Otey 

Ray Overcash 

Don Owen 

Leon Owen 

Victor Owen 

Bobby Padgett 

Richard Parker 

Dan Parr 

Bob Passarelli 

Robert Patterson 

Sam Pearsall 

Eugene Perryman 

Charles Peterson 

Charlie Phelps 

Blaine Phillips 

Dan Pittillo 

Allen Plaster 

Allyn Powell 

Alan Powell 

Joanne Powell 

Charles Propst 

Hubert Pulley 

Douglas Rankin 

Blaine Ray 

Lee Reading 

Dan Reasor 

Ray Rimmer 

Donald Robbins 

Joseph Roise 

Jennifer Rollen 

Lela Belle Rose 

Jeff Ross 

David Rowe 

Edward Rudzik 

John Runkle 

Ruth Sanford 

Kimberly Schley 

William Schley 

George Scott 

A.L. Sester 

Charles Shaw 

Terry Shayne 

Denise Sherrill 

Terry Sholar 

Burt Shuford 

Joan Shuford 

R. Simmons 

Bob Simpson 

Mary Simpson 

Alvin Smith 

Grace Smith 

Jeff Smith 

Manley Smith 

Michael Smith 

Steven Smith 

Robert Smythe 

Robert Snipes 

Ingrid Swenson 

Martha Stirewalt 

Mickey Stokes 

Jason Strohman 

Jessie Sullins 

John Swanson 

Monica Swihart 

A.B. Swindell 

E.W. Temple 

Charles Thomas 

Mike Thomas 

Steve Thomas 

J. C. Thompson 

Ken Thompson 

L.N. Thompson 

James Todd 

John Tompkins 

Roger Tooker 

Virginia Tooker 

Dave Toon 

Guy Troy 

G.V.Troyer 

James Tucker 

David Turner 

William Utley 

Jerald Vandevoord 

Jeff Walters 

Alex Warlick 

Stephen Warner 

Woodrow Weeks 

William Weisner 

Jim Welborn 

Robert D. West 

Leon Wetherington 

George Whitley 

Steve Whittemore 

Bobby Willis 

David Woods 

Austin Wright 

Nolan Yount
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 215 

CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR66:: GGLLLOOOSSSSSSAAARRRYYY

--A-- 

Active Cluster - A specific red-cockaded woodpecker cluster that is occupies in a given survey 

year. A cluster is determined to be active when there are nesting or roosting red-cockaded 

woodpeckers present, or when one or more cavity trees exhibit fresh pitch wells and resin flow, 

reddish under-bark appearance and/or fresh chipping are present at the cavity entrance. 

Administrative Site - Structures and surrounding areas on the Forest including offices, work 

centers, fire towers, and federally owned residences. 

Age Class - An interval into which the age-range of trees is divided for classification or use, usually 

10 years. 

Age Class Distribution - Frequency of age classes of trees in a given area. 

Air Quality Standard - The prescribed level of pollutants in the air that cannot be exceeded legally 

during a specified time in a specified geographical area in accordance with EPA regulations. 

Air Pollution - The presence of contaminants in the air in concentrations that interfere directly or 

indirectly with human health, safety or comfort or with the full use and enjoyment of his/her 

property. 

All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) - A vehicle characterized by its ability to negotiate most kinds of 

terrain by virtue of traction devices such as wide tracks, large low-pressure rubber tires, or allwheel drive. 

Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ) - The quantity of timber that may be sold from the area of suitable 

land covered by the Forest Plan within a time period specified by the Plan. 

Alluvium - Unconsolidated material including gravel, sand, silt and clays deposited by running 

water. 

Alternative - A proposed or possible course of action. 

Analysis Area - An aggregation of like capability areas; each analysis area contains all capability 

areas with similar physical, biological and administrative conditions. Analysis areas consist of a 

collection of land areas of sufficiently similar character to be reasonably analyzed together. 

Analysis of Management Situation (AMS) - A determination of the ability of the planning area to 

supply goods and services in response to society's demand for those goods and services. 

Anaerobic - The absence of free oxygen or living in the absence of free oxygen. 

Anadromous Fish - Those species of fish that mature in the sea and migrate into streams to spawn. 

Annosum Root Rot - A disease of trees (primarily conifers) which is caused by the fungus 

Heterobasidion annosum. It is often spread by airborne spores which are deposited on the 

surface of newly-cut tree stumps. The fungus grows through out the stump and then can spread 

to nearby live trees through root grafts with the stump. Infected trees are often leaning or 

completely uprooted while still alive due to the decay of support roots. 

Aquifer - A water-bearing rock, rock formation or group of rock formations. 

Aquatic - Pertaining to water; living or growing in or on water. 

Arterial Road - A road which provided service to large areas and usually connects with public 

highways or other Forest arterial roads to form an integrated network of primary travel routes. 
216 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

--B--

Basal Area - The cross sectional area (square feet at 4 1/2 feet above ground level) of trees 

occupying an acre of land. Basal area is used to measure the density of a stand of trees. 

Bedding - Method of site preparation which plows, mixes and loosely piles topsoil and litter into 

elevated beds. Normally done on wet sites to improve soil drainage. 

Benchmark - An analysis reference point of the maximum physical/biological capability to 

produce a resource yield from Forest lands while maintaining minimum legal requirements for 

production of other resources and maintenance of soil and water productivity. Benchmarks 

define the area within which alternatives can be formulated. 

Best Management Practice (BMP) - A practice or a combination of practices that is determined to 

be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing a amount of pollution 

generated by non-point sources to a level compatible with water quality goals. 

Between-Stand Spatial Diversity - The distribution, arrangement and abundance of different plant 

and animal communities and species at a multi-stand level. 

Biennial - Occurring every 2 years. 

Biochemical - Characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms. 

Biological diversity - The variety of life in an area including the variety of genes, species, plant and 

animal communities, ecosystems and the interaction of these elements. 

Black Turpentine Beetle - A bark beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans, that attacks southern pines in 

the bottom 10 feet of the trunk. It primarily infects trees that have incurred root damage or 

mechanical injury. Trees will die only if the attacks are very heavy. 

Blue Stain Fungi - A group of fungi predominantly from the genera Ceratocystis and Ophiaotoma. 

These fungi cause primarily sapwood discoloration, but seldom cause decay. The stains range 

from grayish through dark blue to blackish. 

Board Foot - A unit of timber measurement equaling the amount of wood contained in an 

unfinished board 1 inch thick, 12 inches long and 12 inches wide. 

Bole - The Stem portion of trees; from the ground to the canopy, or trunk. 

Botanical Areas - An area which has been classified for special management by the Forest Service 

as containing specimens or group exhibits of plants, plant groups and plant communities which 

are significant because of form, color, occurrence, habit, location, life history, arrangement 

ecology, environment, rarity and/or other features. 

Brood Habitat - An area which provides food, water, cover and space for young animals to live. 

Brown Spot Needle Blight - A serious disease affecting longleaf pine caused by the fungus 

Scirrhia acicola. Young grass stage seedlings are particularly vulnerable to severe infections 

and may die or experience a delay of one to several years in emerging from the grass stage 

(candling). 

Browse - Leaf and twig growth of shrubs, woody vines and trees available for animal consumption, 

usually based on the current year's growth. 

Buffer-Filter Strip - A designated land area, along the perimeter of some land use, whose own use 

is regulated so as to resist, absorb, filter or otherwise preclude or control unwanted development, 

material or other intrusions into areas beyond the buffer. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 217 

Burning Regime - A planned program of prescribed fire in which an area is burned periodically 

according to a scheduled cycle. 

--C-- 

Canopy - The more or less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed collectively by the 

crown of adjacent trees and other woody growth. 

Capability Areas - Discrete and recognizable units of land or water classified according to the 

physical, biological and administrative conditions of the area. Their ability to produce resources 

yields an their production limitations are homogeneous. 

Carbon Dioxide CO - A colorless, odorless, nonpoisonous gas that is a normal part of the ambient 

air. CO is a product of fossil fuel combustion, and some researches have theorized that excess 

CO raises atmospheric temperatures. 

Carnivorous Plant - A plant that traps animals, primarily insects, digests them and uses the 

nutrients to supplement those lacking or limited in the soil. 

Cavity Nester - Wildlife species that excavate and/or occupy cavities in trees and snags. 

Cavity Tree - A tree that contains a red-cockaded woodpecker cavity or start hole. 

Clearcutting - The removal, in a single cut, of all trees in a stand. It is a method of regenerating an 

even-aged stand. Regeneration may be accomplished by natural seeding, direct seed seeding or 

planting seedling. 

Closed Road - A road which is permanently or periodically closed to motorized vehicle travel. 

Collector Road - A road which serves smaller land areas than arterial road and is usually connected 

to a Forest arterial road or public highway. 

Cluster or Cluster Site - A site in which a clan of red-cockaded woodpeckers nest or roost. It 

includes the total number and area of cavity trees plus at least a 200-foot zone around them. 

Commercial Forest Land (CFL) - Forest land that is producing or is capable of producing crops of 

industrial wood and; (a) has not been withdrawn by Congress, the Secretary, or the Chief; (b) 

existing technology and knowledge is available to ensure timber production without irreversible 

damage to soils, productivity or watershed conditions; and (c) existing technology and 

knowledge, as reflected in current research and experience, provides reasonable assurance that 

adequate restocking can be attained within five years after final harvesting. 

Commodity - A tangible or physical yield, such as timber, forage, minerals, water, etc., 

synonymous with RPA's market. 

Compartment - An administrative unit of land comprised of several stands and ranging in size 

from 1,000 to 2,000 acres. 

Constant Service Road (Constant entry road) - A road developed and operated for continuous or 

annual recurrent service. 

Constraints - Limitations; things which cannot be done or things which must be done. 

Consumptive Use - Those uses of a resource that reduce its supply, such as timber harvesting or 

fishing. 

Continuous Inventory of Stand Condition (CISC) - A computerized data base used by forests in 

the Southern Region to store stand condition data such as forest type, acres, age stocking level, 

work needs and similar stand attributes. 

Conversion - A change from one tree species or community of species to another. 
218 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Corridor - A narrow strip of land, usually for location of transportation of utility rights-of-way 

within its boundaries. 

Cost Effective - Achieving a specified level of yields while minimizing cost, subject to constraints. 

Cost Efficient - Achieving a specified level of yields while maximizing net benefit, subject to 

constraints. 

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) - An advisory council to the President established by 

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It reviews federal programs for their effect on 

the environment, conducts environmental studies and advises the President on environmental 

matters. 

Crown Closure - Percent of tree canopy closure. 

Cubic Foot (CF) - The amount of timber equivalent to a piece of wood having dimensions of one 

foot by one foot by one foot. 

Culmination of Mean Annual Increment (CMAI) - The age at which the average annual growth 

is greatest for a stand of trees. Mean annual increment is expressed in cubic foot measure and is 

based on expected growth according to management intensities and utilization standards 

assumed in accordance with 36 CFR 219.16 ( (a)(2)(i) and ii). 

Cultural Resources - The remains of sites, structures or objects used by humans in the near 

(historical) or distant (archaeological) past. 

Cumulative Impact (Effect) - The impact on the environment which results from the incremental 

impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonable foreseeable future actions 

regardless of what agency (Federal or non-federal) or person undertakes such other actions. 

Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking 

place over a period of time. (40 CFR 1508.7) 

Current Management - Management of Croatan National Forest under existing standards and 

guidelines with annual yields and costs based upon the average outputs and costs for Fiscal years 

1981 - 1985. 

--D-- 

DBH (Diameter Breast Height) - Diameter of a tree approximately 4 1/2 feet above the ground. 

Demand - The amount of a good or service that users would be willing to take at a specified price, 

time period and conditions of sale. 

Desired Future Condition - An expression of resource goals that have been set for a unit of land. 

It is written as a narrative description of the landscape as it will appear when the goals set for it 

have been achieved. It includes a description of physical and biological processes, the 

environmental setting and the human experience. 

Developed Recreation - Recreation that requires facilities and results in concentrated use of an 

area. Examples are campgrounds and picnic areas. 

Direct Effects - Effects which are caused by an action taken and occur at the same time and place 

as the action. 

Dispersed Recreation - Recreation outside of developed recreational facilities. Examples are 

hiking and driving for pleasure. 

Diversity - The distribution and abundance of different plant and animal communities and species 

within the planning area. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 219 

Dormant Season - A period in which certain plant species exhibit a special condition of arrested 

growth in which the plant and such plant parts as buds and seeds do not begin to grow without 

special environmental cues such as photo period. 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) - A draft version of the Environmental Impact 

Statement which must follow the requirements of NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ) guidelines and directives of the agency responsible for the project proposal. 

--E-- 

Early Forest Succession - The biotic community that develops immediately following the removal 

or destruction (e.g., from wildfire) of the vegetation in an area. This habitat is characterized by 

an abundance of grasses, brush and forbs. A forest canopy is generally not present but some 

scattered trees may offer partial shaded. 

Ecological Classification System - A hierarchial system used to help organize and coordinate the 

classification of ecological types and ecological units and to make comparisons. Classification is 

ecologically based and integrates existing resource data such as climate, typography, geology, 

soil, hydrology and vegetation. The system includes many levels (from a top down approach ): 

domain, division, province, section, subsection, landtype association, landtype, landtype phase 

and site. 

Ecological Management Unit - A unit of soil classification that describes the landform, soil 

texture, water regime, certain behavior patterns of soil (pans, sand-cap, etc.) and key modifiers 

(soil that are extremely acid, shallow in depth, sodium, etc.). 

Ecological Sub-unit - An intermediate level in the ecological classification system based on 

landform, natural vegetative communities and soils. 

Ecological Unit - A group of landtypes. The landtypes in the associations are sufficiently 

homogeneous to be considered as a whole for modeling the future outputs and effects of planned 

management activities. These units may not follow watershed boundaries and are defined on the 

basis of general similarities in geology, climate, landform and vegetation. 

Ecology - The science of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment. 

Economic Dependency - The percentage of income and employment that is associated with the 

basic economy. It can be expressed in total or by market sectors. 

Economic Diversity - The number of market sectors in an area and the distribution of economic 

activity within these sectors. The economic activities used to define economic diversity include 

total income, employment, exports, final demand, value added and industrial output. 

Economic Efficiency - A measure of how well inputs are used to achieve yields when all inputs and 

yields (including environmental ) are identified and valued. It is usually measured by 

incremental present net value. Other measures, such as benefit/cost ratio, or rate of return may 

be used. 

Ecosystem - The sum of the plant community, the animal community and environment in a 

specified area. This includes all living and non-living things and the processes associated with 

these components. Ecosystems are characterized by composition, structure and process. 

Humans are a part of the ecosystems. 

Ecosystem Management - The use of an ecological approach to achieve to multiple-use 

management of national forests and grasslands by blending the needs of people and 
220 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

environmental values in such a way that national forests and grasslands represent diverse, 

healthy, productive, and sustainable ecosystems. 

Edge - An area where plant communities meet or where successional stages of vegetative 

conditions within plant communities come together, e.g., forest and meadow. 

Emission - A discharge of pollutants into the environment, partially or completely treated or in its 

natural state. Generally used in regard to discharge into air. 

Endangered Species - Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant 

portion of its range. 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) - A law requiring federal agencies to conserve endangered and 

threatened species, and strictly prohibits any person from harassing or harming any listed 

species. It also requires federal agencies to develop information about the potential impacts of 

proposed actions on a listed species before the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 

Environmental Assessment (EA) - An analysis of all actions and their predictable short and longterm environmental effects, which include physical, biological, economic and social factors and 

their interactions. Also, a concise public document required by the regulations for implementing 

the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 

Environmental Effect - An environmental consequence as a result of a proposed action. It 

includes both direct and indirect effects. 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - A formal document which must follow the 

requirements of NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidelines and directives 

of the agency responsible for the project proposal. 

Erosion - The wearing away of the land's surface by forces such as running water, wind, ice or 

geological agents. It includes detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, 

wind, ice or gravity. 

Escape Cover - A portion of the habitat which provides refuge for animal species and protects them 

form harassment and predation. 

Escaped Fire - A fire which has exceeded, or is anticipated to exceed, pre-planned initial action 

capabilities or the fire management direction. 

Estuaries - Areas where the fresh water meets salt water. 

Even-aged Timber Management - The combination of actions that results in the creation of stands 

in which trees of essentially the same age grow together. 

Exotic - Refers to a non-native or introduced plant or animal species. 

Extirpation - A species that is being removed from a geographical portion of its original range; the 

species still exists, but its range is now much smaller. 

--F-- 

Facility - A single or contiguous group of improvements that exists to shelter or to support Forest 

Service programs. 

Fauna - The animals of a given region or period. 

Federal Register - The designated document that notifies the public of federal actions and includes 

such things as Notice of Intent, calls for public involvement, etc. This document also publishes 

the regulations needed to implement those federal actions. 

Feral - Animals that have reverted from domestication to a wild state. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 221 

Final Environmental Impact Statement - The document that follows a draft environmental 

impact statement and contains analysis regarding forest programs that will have a significant 

impact on the environment. 

Fire Intensity Level - A term describing fire behavior based on flame length and heat generated by 

fire in BTU/Sec-Ft used in estimating fire suppression requirements and fire effects on resources. 

Fire Lines - A linear barrier used to stop prescribed burns and wildfires by removing or treating 

fuels. Fire lines may include the use of mechanically plowed lines, water, retardants, etc. 

Fire Regime. Burning Regime. 

Floodplain - Low land and relatively flat areas joining inland and/or coastal waters. The minimum 

area included is that subject to a 1 percent (100-year recurrence) or greater chance of flooding in 

any given year. Executive Order (EO) 11988 provides direction in the management of these 

areas to avoid losses of life, property, wildlife or other beneficial values. 

Flora - The plants of given region or period. 

Forage - The vegetation that is eaten by wildlife species. 

Forb - Any herbaceous plant other than grass-like plants. 

Forest Fragmentation - The condition is isolated forested habitats that adheres to the principles of 

island biogeography (also known as insular ecology). It can be described in terms of patterns of 

alternate land uses which separate forest patches such as croplands, pastures, power line rightsof-way, highway corridors, and other non-forest habitat. Three primary factors which interact to 

determine whether a forest is subject to fragmentation are patch size, isolation and total forest 

reserve which are in the system. Habitat fragmentation is a relative term which must be 

associated with a particular habitat and species. 

Forest Land - Land at least 10% occupied by forest trees of any size, or formerly having had such 

tree cover, and not currently developed for non-forest use. 

Forest Plan - A plan which gathers and coordinates the direction to be followed in the overall 

management of the National Forest. 

Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malcosoma disstria) - Outbreaks occur periodically on oaks and tupelo 

gum. Growth loss and dieback occur, but trees are seldom killed. Control action is rarely 

warranted. 

Forest Type/Cover Type/Stand Type - A classification of forest land based upon the tree species 

with the most live tree crown dominance. 

FORPLAN - A linear programming model used to facilitate analysis of the alternatives. 

Fuels - Living or dead plant material that will burn when weather conditions are correct. 

Fuel Loading - An estimate of the entire accumulation of vegetative matter on a given area, 

expressed in tons per acre. 

Fuel Model - A mathematical expression of fire fuels used in estimating wildfire or prescribed fire 

behavior. 

Fusiform Rust - A common forest tree diseased caused by a fungus (Cronartium quercuum f. sp. 

fusiforme). This disease primarily affects loblolly and slash pine. 

--G-- 

Game - The species of wild animals that are hunter, fished or trapped. 
222 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Genetically Improved - Most often referred to in terms of pine seedlings grown in seed orchards or 

nurseries that have been genetically manipulated to enhance certain features such as pest 

resistance. 

General Forest Area - An area in which no single resource is singled out for emphasis. 

Geographic Information System (GIS) - An informational processing technology to input, store, 

manipulate, analyze, and display spatial resource data to support the decision making processes 

of an organization. Generally, it is an electronic medium for processing map information, 

typically used with manual processes to effect specific decisions about land base and its 

resources. 

Goal - Concise statement that describes a desired condition to be achieved sometime in the future. 

It is normally expressed in broad, general terms and is timeless in that it has no specific date by 

which it is to be completed. Goal statements form the principal basis from which objectives are 

developed. (36 CFR 219.3) 

Goods and Services - The various outputs, including on-site uses, produced from forest resources. 

Guideline - A preferred course of action. Guidelines promote achieving Forest Plan goals and 

objectives in a manner that permits operational flexibility to respond to variations such as 

changing site conditions or changed management circumstances. 

--H-- 

Habitat - The physical and biological environment of a plant or animal where all essentials for it 

development, existence and reproduction are present. 

Habitat Linkages - Corridors of lands connecting similar wildlife habitat areas. 

Habitat Management Area (HMA) - The desired future demographic configuration of a redcockaded woodpecker population. It is an area dedicated to RCW management. 

Hardwoods - Broad-leaved and deciduous trees. 

Harvests - Cutting and removing trees from a forest. 

Herbicide - A chemical compound used to kill or control growth of selected plant species. 

Hunt Camp - A dispersed recreation site with rustic or minimum facilities normally used by 

hunters, etc. 

Hydric Soils - Soils which are saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the growth season 

to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper region of the soil. 

--I-- 

IMPLAN - A computer-based system used by the Forest Service for constructing non-survey inputoutput models to measure economic input. 

Improvement Cut - Cutting that adjusts species composition, tree quality or stand health in stands 

which are older than the sapling stage. 

Inactive Cluster - A cluster site where there are no red-cockaded woodpeckers present and when 

none of the cavity trees exhibit active resin wells. Active resin wells are noted by recent pecking 

and clear, fresh resin flowing form the well, reddish under-bark appearance or fresh chipping of 

cavity entrance of plate. 

Inclusions - A community of trees and other plants with all the attributes of a stand, but not meeting 

minimum stand size or shape criteria. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 223 

Indirect Effects - The effects which are caused by the action and occur later in time or farther 

removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable. 

Insectivorous Birds - Birds whose primary diet consist of insects. 

Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team) - A group of individuals with skills from different resources 

assembled to identify and resolve issues and problems. 

Interim Standards and Guidelines for the Protection and Management of the Red-cockaded 

Woodpecker Habitat within 3/4 Mile of Cluster Sites --Red-cockaded woodpecker 

management issued May 9, 1990 - The guidelines updated the direction found in the "1985 

Recovery Plan" and is in effect until the EIS for RCW management is finalized. 

Intermediate Stand Treatment or Harvest - Any removal of a portion of the trees from a stand 

between the time of its formation and the regeneration cutting. 

Intermittent Service Road - A road developed and operated for periodic service and closed for 

more than one year between periods of use. 

Interpretive Sites - Site at which a broad range of natural or cultural phenomena are interpreted or 

described for the enjoyment of the public. 

Intertidal Drainages - Areas between high and low water levels that flow off gradually. 

Intolerant Species - Those plant species that do not grow well in shade. 

Invertebrate Species - Animals that are lacking a spinal column. Most Forest connotations deal 

with insect populations. 

Ips Beetle - A pine bark beetle (Ips avulsus, Ips grandicollis, Isp calligraphus) that usually attacks 

only injured, dying, or recently felled trees and fresh logging debris. Infestations are particularly 

common in trees weakened by drought or stuck by lighting. 

Irretrievable - Applies to losses of production, harvest, or use of renewable natural resources. 

Irreversible - Applies primarily to the use of nonrenewable resources, such as minerals or cultural 

resources, or to those factors, such as soil productivity, that are renewable only over long time 

periods; also includes loss of future options. 

Issue - A subject or question of widespread public discussion or interest regarding management of 

National Forest system lands. 

--K-- 

Key Area - Areas of land which supplement specific habitat requirements (food, water or cover). 

--L-- 

Late Succession - A stage of forest development where the majority of trees are mature or over 

mature. 

Landform - Any physical, recognizable, form or feature of the earth's surface having a 

characteristic shape and was produced by natural causes. 

Legume - A simple, dry, dehiscent, podlike fruit which splits along two seams, as pea pod. 

Linear Programming - A mathematical technique for determining the effects of alternatives on 

resources allocations. 

Local Road - These roads connect terminal facilities (log landings, skid trails, recreational sites, 

etc.) With Forest collector or Forest arterial roads, or public highways. 

Long-term Effects - Those effects which generally occur after 20 years. 
224 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Long-term Sustained Yield Capacity - The highest uniform wood yields from lands being 

managed for timber production that may be sustained under a specified management intensity, 

consistent with multiple use objectives. 

Low Human Disturbance - Areas where timber harvesting, prescribed burning and other 

management methods are allowed but at a lower magnitude than in the general forest area. Road 

density is generally less than in the general forest area. 

Low Impact Recreation - Recreational activities which have little or no effects on the natural 

environment such as hiking, bird watching, etc. 

--M-- 

Management Area - Areas of the Forest with similar management objectives where compatible 

prescriptions are applied. 

Management Attainment Report (MAR) - An annual accomplishment report of budgeted and 

targeted items required by Forest Service Policy. 

Management Concern - A matter of importance to the management of the National Forest system 

lands, which is identified internally by the agency. 

Management Direction - A statement of multiple use and other goals and objectives, the 

management prescriptions and the associated standards and guidelines for governing them. 

Management Emphasis - The multiple use values to be featured or enhance. 

Management Indicator Species - A particular type of plant or animal whose presence in a certain 

location or situation is a fairly certain sign or indication that particular environmental conditions 

are also present. 

Management Prescription - Management practices selected and scheduled for application on a 

specific area to attain multiple use benefits and others goals and objectives. 

Management Team - Decision-making group consisting of the Forest Supervisor, Staff Officers, 

District Rangers and Forest Staff. 

Mast - The fruit of all flowering plants used wildlife. Soft mast includes fruit with fleshy exteriors 

such as berries, drupes, and pomes and is represented by plants such as cherries, dogwoods, 

hollies, mulberries, blackberries and blueberries. Hard mast includes fruits with dry or hard 

exteriors such as achenes, nuts (includes acorns), samaras, cones, pods, seeds, and capsules. 

Examples include oaks, hickories, pines, yellow poplars, beech, honey locusts, hornbeams, 

hazelnuts, legumes, and grasses. 

Maximum Modification (VQO) - Visual quality objective meaning man's activity may dominate 

the characteristic landscape. 

Mean Annual Increment - The average annual growth of a tree, calculated by dividing the total 

growth it has accrued over its life by its age in years at the time measurement. 

Mid-story - A middle canopy layer of smaller trees that occur under an overstory of trees. These 

trees are usually of a different species than the large tree and can grow in almost total shade. 

Mitigation - Actions taken to avoid, minimize, reduced, eliminate or rectify the impact of a 

management practice. 

Mixed Stands - A stand which is made up of more than one trees species. A mixed stand would 

have no single species comprising more than 70% of the total stand. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 225 

Modification (VQO) - A visual quality objective meaning man's activity may dominate the 

characteristic landscape but must, as the same time, utilize naturally established form, line, color 

and texture. 

Monitoring and Evaluation - Collecting information, usually a sample, to determine how well 

Forest Plan goals and objectives have been met. Evaluation asks the questions, "Did we do what 

we said we would?" "Did the project/activity work?" "Are initial Plan assumptions valid?" 

Multiple Use Management - The management of all the various renewable surface resources of the 

National Forests so that they are used in the combination the twill best meet the needs of the 

American people. 

--N-- 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 - This is the basic national charter for 

protecting the environment. It establishes policy, set goals (Section 101), and provides means 

(Section 102) for carrying out the policy. (40 CFR 15001.1) 

National Forest Management Act (NFMA) - A law passed in 1976 as an amendment to the Forest 

and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act, requiring the preparation of Regional Guides 

and Forest Plans, and the preparation of regulations to guide them. (36 CFR 219) 

National Register of Historic Places - A listing maintained by the National Park Service or areas 

which have been designated as being of historical significance. 

Native Species - A plant or animal species indigenous to an area. 

Natural Regeneration - The renewal of a forest stand by natural means, or without efforts to seed 

or plant trees. The new trees grow from self-sown seeds or by vegetative means such as root 

suckers. 

Neotropical Migrants - North American birds that migrate to the neotropics (South America, 

Central America and Caribbean) during the winter but nest in North America. 

Net Public Benefit - The overall value to the nation of all yields and positive effects (benefits) less 

all associated inputs and negative effects (costs) whether they can be quantitatively valued or 

not. Net public benefits are measured by both quantitative and qualitative criteria rather than a 

single measure or index. 

Net Value Change - (Also Net Resource Value Change). The sum of the changes in resource 

values on a land area that results from increases (benefits) and decreases (damages) in resource 

outputs as a consequence of fire. 

Nitrogen-fixing Plant - Plants which convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds. 

Nonchargeable Volume - All volume that is not included in the growth and yield projections for 

the selected management prescriptions used to arrive at the allowable sale quantity. 

Non-commercial Forest Land - Forest land which is incapable of producing crops of industrial 

wood or has been designated as Unsuitable for Timber Production. 

Non-consumptive Use - That use of a resource that does not reduce its supply such as boating and 

swimming. 

Nongame Species - Animal species that are not usually hunter, fished or trapped. 

Non-price Yields - Those yield for which there is no available transaction evidence and no 

reasonable basis for estimating a market value commensurate with market values associated with 

price outputs. 
226 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Nondeclining Yield - A timber flow constraint which ensures that harvests in each period after the 

first will be greater than or equal to the harvest in the preceding period. 

Non-forest Land - Lands never having or incapable of having ten percent or more of the area 

occupied by forest trees, or lands previously having such cover and currently developed for nonforest use. 

Non-point Source Pollution - Pollution whose source is general rather than specific in origin. 

Not Appropriate for Timber Production - Lands that (1) are proposed for uses which preclude 

timber production, (2) other objectives limit timber production on so that the minimum 

management requires in CFR 219.27 cannot be met, or (3) are not cost-efficient in meeting 

Forest objectives over the planning horizon. [36 CFR 219.14(c)] 

Not Suited (Unsuitable) for Timber Production - Lands identified as inappropriate for timber 

production. [36 CFR 218.14(a)(b)] 

Notice of Intent (NOI) - A notice printed in the Federal Register announcing that an Environmental 

Impact Statement will be prepared. (40 CFR 1508.22) 

Nutrient Displacement - the movement of organic matter and nutrients off site by mechanical 

means. 

Nutrient Leaching - The movement and subsequent loss of nutrients through the soil. 

--O-- 

Objective - A concise, time-specific statement of measurable planned results that respond to preestablished goals. An objective forms the basis for further planning to define the precise steps to 

be taken and the resources to be used in achieving identified goals. (36 CFR 219.3) 

Objective Function - The item to be maximized (or minimized) in the problem's solution. 

Obliteration - (of roads) - To remove all traces, indications, and significance of. 

Off-site Tree Species - Pertains to any tree or trees that have been planted or naturally seeded onto 

a site that historically had other tree species present. 

Old Growth - Forest ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural attributes. 

Specific attributes vary according to Forest type, climate, site conditions and disturbance regime. 

Opportunity Costs - The value of the most economic use for an input that is foregone by using it 

differently in a given alternative. 

OHV (Off-highway vehicle) - Any vehicle capable of traveling over land where no road exists. 

Outputs - The goods, services, and products which are measurable and capable of being used to 

determine the effectiveness of programs and activities in meeting objectives. Also goods, end 

products or services that are purchased, consumed or used directly by people. 

Overstory - Trees which over-top the other trees. 

--P-- 

Pales Weevil (Hylobius pales) - A weevil in which adults feed on newly-planted pines particularly 

on recent cutover sites. The are the most serious pest of pine reproduction. 

Palustrine - Living or thriving in a marshy environment. 

Partial Cut - A variety of silvicultural practices where a portion of the stand is removed and a 

portion is left. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 227 

Partial Retention - A visual quality objective which in general means man's activities may be 

evident but must remain subordinate to the characteristic language. 

Perennial Stream - Surface waters that flow throughout the year; receive water not only from 

precipitation, but also from underground sources at spring and seeps and owe their permanency 

to the ground water in the area adjoining the stream being at a higher elevation than the stream 

bed. 

Pests - Any animal or plant that during some portion of its life cycle, inhibits the establishment or 

growth of some other species of plant or animal favored by man. Also refers to those insects and 

diseases that can be detrimental to achieving resource management objectives. 

PETS Species - An acronym for proposed, endangered, threatened or sensitive plant, or animal 

species for listing pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. 

People-at-one-time (PAOT) - A recreation-capaacity measurement term indicating the number of 

people that can comfortablly occupy or use a facility. 

Photosynthesis - The conversion of light energy to chemical energy; the production of 

carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll by using light 

energy. 

Physiognomy - External aspect or characteristic. 

Physiographic region - An area of land having a particular pattern of landforms that differ 

significantly from adjacent areas. 

Pine Sawfly (Neodiprion sps.) - Species of sawflies which primarily feed on the needles of conifers, 

sometimes causing complete defoliation and mortality. 

Pine Stand - A stand of trees in which 70 percent or more of the dominant and codominant crowns 

are pine. 

Pine Tip Moth (rhyacionia frustrana) - A moth whose larvae infest the buds and shoots of young 

pine trees causing reduced height growth and poor form. They attack all species of southern 

pines except longleaf pine. 

Pine-Hardwood Stand - A stand of trees in which 51 to 69 percent of the dominant and 

codominant crowns are pine. 

Planned Ignition - A fire started by a scheduled, deliberate management action. 

Planning Horizon - The overall time period considered in the planning process that spans all 

activities covered in the analysis or plan and all future conditions and effects of proposed actions 

which would influence the planning decisions. 

Planning Period - One decade (10 years). The time interval within the planning horizon that is 

used to show incremental changes in yields, costs, effects and benefits. (36 CFR 219.3) 

Planning Process - The regulations as established in 36 CFR 219 for developing, adopting, and 

revising land and resource management plans for the National Forest System as required by the 

Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 as amended by the National 

Forest Management Act of 1976. 

Plant Communities - An association of plants of various species found growing together in 

different locations with similar site characteristics. 

Potable Water - Water suitable for drinking or cooking purposes from both health and aesthetic 

considerations. 
228 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Potential Yield - The maximum possible harvest during the 10-year plan period under intensive 

management on regulated land. 

Precommercial Thinning - The selective felling or removal of trees in a young stand prior to 

commercial thinning. 

Predator - An animal species that obtains its food by hunting other animal species. 

Preferred Alternative - The alternative recommended for implementation as the Forest Plan. 

Prescribed Fire - A wildland fire burning under pre-planned, specified conditions to accomplish 

specific planned objectives. It may result from either a planned or unplanned ignition. 

Prescription - Management practices selected and scheduled for application on a specific area to 

attain goals and objectives. 

Present Net Value - Discounted benefits less discounted costs associated with providing all yields 

to which monetary values can be assigned. 

Preservation (VQO) - A visual quality objective that allows for natural changes only. 

Price Yields - Those yields which are or can be exchanged in the market place. 

Primitive ROS Class - A classification of the recreation opportunity spectrum characterized by an 

essentially unmodified environment, where trails may be present but structures are rare, and 

where probability of isolation from the sights and sounds of man is extremely high. 

Progeny Test Areas - Areas devoted to testing and measuring procedures to determine the genetic 

feasibility of seed orchard production. 

Programmatic - Pertaining to the overall system under which action may be taken to achieve 

desired conditions. 

Project-level Decision - Decisions such as building a hiking trail, constructing a campground, or 

making a timber sale, which apply to a specific site. 

Proposed Action - A proposal by the Forest Service to authorize, recommend or implement an 

action. 

Proposed Species - A species which data supports as listing as a federally endangered or threatened 

species. It is considered proposing the alternatives including the proposed action. (40 CFR 

1502.13) 

Purpose and Need - A statement which briefly specifies the underlying purposed and need to 

which the agency is responding in proposing the alternatives including the proposed action. (40 

CFR 1502.13) 

--R-- 

Raptors - Birds of prey such as hawks and eagles. 

Rare - Plant or animal species which are uncommon in a specific area. All endangered, threatened 

and sensitive species can be considered rare, but the converse is not true. 

Record of Decision - A document separate from but associated with an Environmental Impact 

Statement which states the decision, identifies all alternatives, specifying which were 

environmentally preferable, and states whether all practicable means to avoid environmental 

harm from the selected alternative have been adopted, and if not, why not. 

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) - A land classification system which categorizes 

National Forest land into six classes, each class being defined by its setting and by the probable 

recreation experiences and activities it affords. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 229 

Recreation Site Modification Levels - A system which categorizes recreational facilities by degree 

of the modification. 

Development Scale: 

 1 Minimum site modification - Rustic or rudimentary improvements designed for 

protection of the site rather than comfort of the users. Use of synthetic materials excluded. 

Minimum controls are subtle. No obvious regimentation. Spacing informal and extended to 

minimum contracts between users. 

 2 Little site modifications - Rustic or rudimentary improvements designed primarily for 

protection of the site rather than the comfort of the users. Use of synthetic materials avoided. 

Minimum controls are subtle. Little obvious regimentation. Spacing informal and extended to 

minimize contracts between users. Motorized access provided or permitted. Primary access 

over primitive roads. Interpretive services informal, almost subliminal. 

 3 Site modification moderate - Facilities about for protection of site and comfort of users. 

Contemporary/rustic design of improvements is usually based on use of native materials. 

Inconspicuous vehicular traffic controls usually provided. Roads may be hard surface and trails 

formalized. Development density about 3 family units per acres. Primary access may be over 

high standard roads. 

 4 Site heavily modified - Some facilities designed strictly for comfort and convenience of 

users. Luxury facilities not provided. Facility design may incorporate synthetic materials. 

Extensive use of artificial surfacing of roads and trails. Vehicular traffic control usually obvious. 

Primary access usually over paved roads. Development density 3-5 family units per acre. Plant 

materials usually native. Interpretive services often formal or structured. 

 5 High degree of site modification - Facilities mostly designed for comfort and 

convenience of users and usually include flush toilets; may include showers, bathhouses, laundry 

facilities, and electrical hookups. Synthetic materials commonly used. Formal walks or surfaces 

trails. Regimentation of users is obvious. Access usually by high-speed highways. 

Development density 5 or more family units per acre. Plant materials may be foreign to the 

environment. Formal interpretive services usually available. Designs formalized and 

architecture may be contemporary. Mowed lawns and clipped shrubs not unusual. 

Recreation Visitor Day (RVD) - The unit of measure of recreation use. It is any combination of 

people and hours whose product is 12; i.e., 1 person for 12 hours, 2 people for 6 hours, 3 people 

for 4 hours, etc. 

Recruitment Stand - A stand of trees which is at least 10 acres in size and is identified as potential 

nesting habitat required to meet the identified population goal on a compartment basis for redcockaded woodpeckers. Recruitment stands are located between 1/4 mile and 3/4 mile from a 

cluster site. Foraging habitat is required for recruitment stands. 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Cluster - A group of pine trees containing live cavities excavated, 

maintained and used by a clan of red-cockaded woodpeckers for nesting and roosting. The 

aggregate of cavity trees composing each cluster has a minimum 200-foot buffer around it. 

Red Heart - Disease generally of overmature pine (caused by the fungus Phellinus pini) in which 

the heartwood of the diseased tree is decayed. 

Rediversion Canal - A canal from Lake Moultrie on the Cooper River which diverts water into the 

Santee River. 
230 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Regeneration - The actual seedling and saplings existing in a stand; or the act of establishing young 

trees naturally or artificially. 

Regeneration Harvests - Methods of tree harvesting such as clearcutting, shelterwood or single 

tree selection to replace existing trees in an area with younger trees to achieve either short or 

long term objectives. 

Region - A Forest Service administrative unit. The Croatan National Forest is a part of the 

Southern Region. 

Regional Forester - The Forest Service official responsible for administering a single Region. 

Release - Freeing trees from competition for light, water and nutrients by removing or reducing the 

vegetation growth that is over topping or closely surrounding them. 

Relict Tree (Relicts) - A pine tree which is left over from the original forests that were logged 

during the period from 1890-1930. They are usually more than 100 years old and exhibit 

characteristics of high quality red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees: presence of red-heart 

fungus at average cavity height, 14 inches DBH or larger, high ratios of heart wood to sap wood, 

and large, flat topped crowns with large limbs. 

Replacement Stand - A stand of trees at least 10 acres in size, identified within 1/2 mile of a redcockaded woodpecker cluster site as replacement nesting habitat for the existing cluster. The 

closer the replacement stand can be placed to the cluster site the better, with the idea being 

adjacent to the cluster site. The number of replacement stands equals the number of active and 

inactive clusters. Foraging habitat is not required for replacement stands because they are 

replacement nesting habitat for an existing cluster with foraging habitat already assigned. 

Research Natural Area (RNA) - An area classified as a physical and biological unit in as near a 

natural condition as possible, which exemplifies typical or unique vegetation and associated 

biotic, soil, geologic and aquatic features. 

Resilience - The capability of plants, animals or environments to return to a previous state or 

condition after alteration. 

Retention - A visual quality objective which, in general, means human activities are not evident to 

the casual forest. 

Revenue - Money received from land based activities on the National Forest such as the sale of 

wood products, fees from campgrounds or special use permit fees. 

Right-of-way - An accurately located strip of land with defined area, within which the user has 

authority to conduct operations approved or granted by the landowner. 

Riparian Areas - Geographically delineated areas, with distinctive resource values and 

characteristics, that are comprised of the aquatic and riparian ecosystems, floodplains and 

wetlands. They include all areas within a horizontal distance of 100 feet from the edge of 

perennial streams or other water bodies. 

Riparian Ecosystems - A transition between the aquatic ecosystem and the adjacent terrestrial 

ecosystem and identified by soil characteristics and distinctive vegetation communities that 

require free or unbound water. 

Riverine - Living or situated on the banks of a river. 

Road Density - The measure of road miles per land area. 

Roaded Natural - A classification of the recreation opportunity spectrum that characterizes a 

predominately natural environment with evidence of some resource utilization. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 231 

Roadless Areas - (East of the 100th meridian). An area which contains no more than a half mile of 

improved road for each 1,000 acres and the road is under Forest Service jurisdiction. 

Roadless Area Review and Evaluation II (RARE II) - The assessment of roadless and 

undeveloped land areas within the National Forests as potential wilderness areas. 

Roads, Forest System - Roads that are part of the Forest development transportation system, 

including all existing and planned roads, as well as other special and terminal facilities 

designated as Forest development transportation facilities. 

Rotation - The number of years required to establish and grow timber crops to a specified condition 

of maturity for regeneration harvest. 

Roundwood - Trees that are used without being milled (fence post, telephone poles, pulpwood, 

etc.). 

RPA - The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Also refers to the 

national assessment and recommended program developed to fulfill the requirements of the Act. 

RPA Program - The recommended of direction for long-range management of renewable resources 

of National Forest system lands. 

Rural Class - A recreation opportunity spectrum classification for areas characterized by a 

substantially modified natural environment. 

--S-- 

Salvage - Removing trees that are dead or in imminent danger of being killed by injurious agents. 

Sawtimber - Trees that will yield logs suitable in size and quality for the production of dimension 

lumber. 

Scenery Management System (SMS) - A process to classify national Forest lands based on their 

visual characteristics. This system updated and replaces the Visual Management System (VMS). 

Schedule - Lands needed for timber production to meet forest plan goals and objectives. This 

serves as basis for determining allowable sale quantity, and for determining long-term sustained 

yield timber capacity. 

Scoping - The process by which the Forest Service determines the extent of analysis necessary for 

an informed decision on a proposed action. 

Sediment - Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is being transported or has been moved 

from its site of origin by air, water or gravity and has come to rest on the earth's surface either 

above or below sea level. 

Sediment Yield - Amount of solid waste delivered into a watercourse. 

Seed Orchard - An area containing trees, selected on certain desired heritable characteristics, 

which are bred to produce seed. 

Seed Tree Cutting - The removal in one cut of most of the mature timber from an area except for a 

small number of desirable trees retained to provide seed for regeneration. 

Semiprimitive Motorized (ROS) Class - A classification of the recreation opportunity spectrum 

characterized by a predominantly unmodified natural environment of a size and location that 

provides good to moderate opportunity for isolation from signals and sounds of man. 

Management excluded motorized equipment. 

Sensitive Species - Those species which (1) have appeared in the federal register as proposals for 

classification and are under consideration for official listing as endangered or threatened species, 
232 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

(2) are on an official State list, or (3) are recognized by the Regional Forester to need special 

management in order to prevent the need for their placement on Federal or State lists. 

Shelterwood cut - A method of establishing a new stand by gradually removing the existing trees 

so that new seedlings or sprouts become established under the protection of the remaining trees. 

Normally, this is done in two separate harvests over a 5 to 10 year period. 

Short-term effects - those effects which will usually occur within the next 20 years. 

Shrink Swell Clays - Clays that swell when moisture increases and shrink when moisture 

decreases. 

Significant Environmental Effects - This is defined as used in NEPA, 40 CFR 1508.27 which is 

considered in context and intensity. 

Silviculture - The art and science of controlling the establishment, composition and growth of 

forests. 

Silviculture System - A combination of interrelated actions whereby forests are tended, harvested 

and replaced. 

Silvicultural Treatments - Activities used in controlling forest establishment, growth and 

composition such as harvesting trees, preparing sites, thinning, release, prescribed burning, 

precommercial thinning or fertilization. 

Single Tree Selection Cut - A cut that removes individual mature or immature trees based on their 

age, merchantability, health, seed production capability, and potential to increase in volume and 

quality. 

Site Specific - Pertaining to an area where an individual project takes place such as a timber sale 

area, a campground, a trail route, etc. 

Skid Trail - Travelway used to drag or transport trees from the stump to a landing area for loading 

on a truck. 

Slash - Woody debris left after logging, pruning, thinning or brush cutting. 

Sludge - Solids removed from sewage during waste water treatment. 

Snag - A standing dead tree, used by wildlife species for nesting, roosting, perching, courting 

and/or foraging for food. 

Softwoods - Coniferous trees, usually evergreen, having needles or scale-like leaves. 

Soil Compaction - Reduction of soil volume which results in alteration of soil, chemical and 

physical properties. 

Soil Fertility - The quality of a soil that enables it to provide nutrients in adequate amounts and in 

proper balance for the growth of specified plants. 

Soil Productivity - The capacity of a soil to produce a specific crop. 

Soil Profile - A progression of distinctive layers of soil from the surface to bedrock. 

Soil Texture - The relative proportions of sand, silt and clay in a soil. 

Southern Pine Beetle - (SPB) - A native bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) that is the most 

destructive insect pest of pine in the South. It attacks all species of southern pine, but refers 

loblolly in the coastal plain. When present in low numbers, the insects attack stressed trees or 

trees infested infested by other bark beetles. However, during outbreak periods, SPB attacks and 

kills large groups of pines potentially affecting affecting hundreds of acres. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 233 

Spatial Feasibility - The capability of alternative solutions to be practically implemented on the 

ground. 

Special Interest Area - Areas established and managed for their unique special features. Examples 

are scenic and botanical areas. 

Special Use Permits - Authorization for use and occupancy of National Forest system land. 

Species Composition - The relative amounts and mixtures of tree species within an area. 

Spotting - Ignition of fires outside the perimeter of a large fire as a result of windblown firebrands. 

Spurges - Any of several plant species in the family Euphorbiaceae. 

Stand - A timber plant community possessing sufficient uniformity regarding vegetation type, age 

class, vigor, size class and stocking class to be distinguishable form adjacent communities. 

Standard - Requirements which preclude or imposed limitations on resource management practices 

and uses generally for resource protection, public safety or addressing an issue. Standards are 

measurable, capable of being monitoring, and attainment is mandatory. Deviation requires a 

plan amendment. 

Stocking - The degree of occupancy of land by trees as measured by basal area or number of trees 

and as compared to a stocking standard; that is, the basal area or number of trees required to fully 

use the growth potential of the land. 

Suitable Red-cockaded Woodpecker Habitat - Southern yellow pine (except sand pine) and 

southern yellow pine-hardwood types are considered as potentially suitable red-cockaded 

woodpecker habitat. 

Succession - The progressive development of vegetation through the replacement of one plant 

community by another. 

Successional Stage - A stage or recognizable condition of a plant community that occurs during its 

development form bare ground to climax; for example coniferous forests in the southeast 

progress through grass-forb to pole-sapling to young to mature to old growth stages. 

Supply - The amount of an output that producers are willing to provide at the specified price, time 

period, and condition of sale. 

Sustained Yield - The achievement and maintenance in perpetuity of high-level annual or regular 

periodic yield of the various renewable resources without impairment of the productivity of the 

land. 

System Roads - Roads on the Forest are comprised of roads under jurisdictions of the Forest 

Service, state, county, or other federal agencies. Roads under the jurisdiction of the Forest 

Service are called Forest Development Roads and are often referred to as system roads. 

--T-- 

Temporary Roads - Any short-lived road not intended to be part of the transportation system and 

not necessary for future resource management. 

Tent Catepillars (Malacosoma disteria) - the larva of this species is a common defoliator of forest 

trees. The most preferred trees are oaks and gums. 

Threatened Species - Any species listed in the Federal Register which is likely to become an 

endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its 

range. 

Tidal Surge - An unusually high sea wave pushed ahead of a hurricane. 
234 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Tiering - Incorporating information contained in an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement ), such 

as the Forest Plan EIS, by reference in subsequent environmental documents. 

Timber - A wood product suitable for use in construction. Sometimes used in reference to standing 

trees containing a potential wood product. 

Timber Site Index - A measure of site productivity based on the maximum rate of tree height 

growth. 

Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) - Activities conducted in young stands of timber to improve 

growth rate, form and composition of the remaining trees. 

Tolerant Species - Species that reproduce and form understories beneath canopies of less tolerant 

trees or even beneath their own shade. 

Traffic Service Levels - Traffic service levels describe the significant traffic characteristics and 

operating conditions for a road. 

Trail Heads - The point at which a trail begins which often includes parking and a bulletin board. 

Transient Species - Wildlife that pass through an area with a short duration of stay. 

Transition Zones - Areas of variable size where one forest type or landtype blends with an adjacent 

type. Most often used to refer to an area where pine forest types blend with hardwood forest 

types. 

Travel Corridor - A road, trail or waterway used by people; or a strip of land used by wildlife. 

3/4 Mile Zone - The National Forest lands around a red-cockaded woodpecker cluster site which 

would be managed using this conservation strategy. This zone is a 3/4 mile radius circle from 

the center point of the cluster site and covers approximately 1,117 acres. In practice, this zone 

might not be a perfect circle because of intermingled private lands, topographic features and 

vegetation types that would not be included within the boundary. 

Twenty-Five Percent Fund - Funds distributed under the authority of the Act of May 23, 1908, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 500). Twenty five percent of all moneys received during each fiscal year 

from a National Forest is paid to the countries in which the National Forest located for the 

benefit of public schools and public roads. 

--U-- 

Understory - The trees and other woody species growing under a more-or-less continuous cover of 

branches and foliage formed collectively by the upper portion of adjacent trees and other woody 

growth. 

Uneven-aged Management - The application of a combination of actions needed to simultaneously 

maintain continuous high-forest cover, recurring regeneration of desirable species, and the 

orderly growth and development of trees through a range of diameter or age classes to provide a 

sustained yield of forest products. Cutting is usually regulated by specifying the number of 

proportion of trees of particular sizes to retain within each area, thereby maintaining a planned 

distribution of size classes. Cutting methods that develop and maintain uneven-aged stands are 

single-tree selection and group selection. (36 CFR 219.3) 

Unique Areas - Special areas which are managed for scenic, botanical, geologic or historic values. 

Unplanned Ignition - A fire started at random by either natural or human causes, or a deliberate 

incendiary fire. 

Unscheduled - Lands not needed for timber production to meet forest plan goals and objectives. 

The includes financial and economic considerations or lands where there is a need to defer a 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 235 

determination of suitability. They are not used in the determination of allowable sale quantity or 

long-term sustained yield. Harvest is permitted for salvage sales, protection of non-timber 

multiple use values, and activities that meet non-timber objectives of the Plan. 

Unsuitable for Timber Production - Lands identified as inappropriate for timber production. 

Urban ROS Class - A classification of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum in which the natural 

setting is dominated by man-made structures and the sites and sounds of man predominate. 

User Fees - A fee charged for the use of the forest such as for camping, hiking, swimming, hunting, 

rights-of-way, etc. 

--V-- 

Vegetation Management - The management of vegetation by practices such as grazing, prescribed 

burning, herbicide use, timber harvesting, and tree planting or removal to meet wildlife, visual, 

timber, special area, water and other management objectives. 

Viability - The population of sufficient numbers to maintain its existence over time in spite of 

normal fluctuations in population levels. 

Viewshed - Portion of the Forest that is seen from a major travel route, or high use location. 

Visual Management System - A process to classify National Forest lands based on their visual 

characteristics. This system has been updated and is now called the Scenery Management 

System (SMS). 

Visual Quality Objective (VQO) - The degrees of acceptable alteration of the characteristic 

landscape. 

Visual Resource - The composite of basic terrain, geologic features, water features, vegetative 

patterns, and land-use effects that typify a land unit and influence the visual appeal the unit may 

have visitors. 

--W-- 

Water Yield - The total net amount of water produced on the Forest including stream flow and 

ground water recharge. 

Wet Sites - Areas with very poorly and poorly drained soils. 

Wetland - Areas that are inundated by surface or ground water with a frequency sufficient to 

support, and under normal circumstances do or would support, a prevalence of vegetation or 

aquatic life that requires saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions for growth and 

reproduction. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas such as 

sloughs, potholes, wet meadows, river overflows, mud flats and natural ponds (very poorly 

drained soils are associated with wetlands). 

Wild and Scenic Rivers - Those rivers or sections of rivers designated as such by congressional 

action under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as supplemented and amended, or those 

sections of rivers designated as wild, scenic, or recreational by an act of the Legislature of the 

State or States through which they flow. 

Wilderness - Congressionally designated areas that are essentially unaltered and undisturbed by 

man. Management in these areas preserves and protects their physical and biological 

characteristics. 

Wildlife - Any wildland fire not designated and managed as a prescribed fire within an approval 

prescription. 
236 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Wildlife and Fish User Day (WFUD) - A unit used to measure the amount of use the public gets 

from wildlife and fish found on the Forest. One WFUD represents one person hunting, fishing or 

viewing wildlife for a period of 12 hours. 

Wildlife Corridor - Continuous habitat that link other, similar areas. 

Wildlife Openings (WLO) - Areas maintained in an open, early successional stage to provide 

habitat for wildlife. 

Within-stand Diversity - The relative variety of life in a forest stand. 

Wood Products - Products derived from trees such as sawtimber, roundwood and fuelwood. 

--Y-- 

Yield Table - A tabular statement of yields expected to be produced under a specified set of 

conditions. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 237 

CCHHHAAAPPPTTTEEERRR77:: IINNNDDDEEEXXX

Access, 11, 12, 13, 18, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 

29, 30, 33, 37, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 

95, 101, 104, 106, 107, 151, 157, 161, 

162, 163, 164, 167, 171, 173, 174, 175, 

176, 183, 185, 186, 200, 216, 238, 258, 

260, 267, 268, 275, 286, 287, 288, 291, 

292, 295, 312, 313, 314, 315, 333, 343, 

382, 383, 392, 400, 402, 403, 417, 434, 

435, 445, 447, 454, 456, 461, 468, 473, 

505, 506, 507 

Air Quality, 73, 74, 75, 218, 224, 312 

Allowable Sale Quantity, 19, 51, 224, 386, 

411, 413 

Alternative A, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 30, 

41, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 

58, 80, 81, 86, 87, 88, 94, 102, 104, 132, 

135, 144, 145, 146, 160, 169, 172, 175, 

178, 179, 180, 183, 185, 191, 192, 203, 

204, 215, 216, 385, 411, 412, 417 

Alternative B, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 29, 31, 

41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 56, 57, 80, 

85, 86, 87, 88, 94, 103, 124, 134, 136, 

138, 140, 144, 146, 160, 161, 169, 172, 

178, 179, 181, 185, 191, 193, 195, 203, 

204, 215, 327, 328, 329, 330, 332, 412, 

418 

Alternative C/C-Modified, 14, 15, 16, 18, 

20, 21, 22, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 

44, 45, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 

73, 86, 88, 94, 105, 106, 107, 108, 124, 

125, 136, 138, 139, 144, 145, 146, 162, 

163, 169, 173, 174, 178, 179, 180, 181, 

186, 191, 193, 195, 215, 216, 252, 328, 

332, 412, 417, 418 

Alternative D, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 36, 41, 43, 

44, 45, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 86, 

87, 88, 94, 102, 107, 125, 137, 146, 147, 

163, 173, 175, 176, 178, 180, 186, 191, 

195, 205, 216, 412, 417 

Alternative E, 3, 14, 15, 16, 21, 38, 41, 43, 

44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 60, 86, 

88, 124, 139, 146, 163, 165, 166, 173, 

180, 191, 195, 204, 215, 252, 253, 255, 

266, 272, 291, 327, 345, 413, 460 

Amphibians, 148, 154, 157, 250, 300, 301, 

303, 322 

ASQ. see Allowable Sale Quantity 

BA. see Biological Assessment 

BE. see Biological Evaluation 

Biological Assessment, 251, 259, 267, 

325,334, 343, 458, 460, 482 

Biological Diversity, 11, 15, 25, 30, 31, 34, 

36, 38, 41, 250, 382 

Biological Evaluation, 251, 259, 265, 325, 

333, 334, 335, 343, 458, 482 

Birds, 14, 33, 38, 42, 43, 147, 158, 163, 174, 

175, 234, 250, 253, 254, 256, 277, 281, 

310, 333, 450, 461, 467, 470, 471, 487, 

488, 533, 534, 535, 537 

Black bear, 11, 26, 37, 49, 56, 148, 149, 

150, 152, 154, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 

163,164, 165, 175, 185, 250, 251, 262, 

274, 275, 276, 291, 313, 315, 320, 327, 

337, 341, 342, 343, 382, 433, 436, 441, 

461, 473, 488, 505, 507 

Brice Creek, 18, 19, 32, 35, 40, 50, 167, 

171, 174, 175, 176, 177, 284, 285, 293, 

316, 317, 319, 394, 440, 441, 442, 444, 

445, 446, 447, 448 

Ecological Classification System, 59, 155, 

228, 319, 344, 407, 419, 423, 424, 425, 

426, 427, 502, 503 

Economic, 23, 57, 169, 201, 205, 206, 207, 

208, 209, 210, 211, 214, 216, 220, 228, 

332, 410, 413 

ECS. see Ecological Classification System 

Fire, 12, 20, 27, 31, 33, 35, 38, 40, 49, 52, 

75, 81, 94, 95, 96, 103, 104, 111, 114, 

115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 122, 130, 

133, 183, 218, 219, 229, 230, 237, 266, 

295, 305, 306, 307, 310, 311, 312, 329, 

339, 343, 344, 382, 411, 419, 425, 427, 

434, 463, 468, 504, 505, 512, 540 

Fisheries, 90, 166, 168, 218, 220, 509 

Foraging Habitat, 15, 165, 239, 252, 253, 

254, 256, 267, 341, 459, 536 

Forest Health, 12, 19, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 

50, 141, 296, 303, 328 
238 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Forest Products, 12, 19, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 

40, 50, 186, 216, 257, 258, 273, 295, 296, 

297, 303, 392, 396, 399, 401, 413 

Fuel Models, 97, 427 

Fuels, 14, 20, 21, 33, 38, 53, 54, 76, 80, 82, 

85, 95, 96, 97, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 

105, 107, 113, 117, 135, 137, 140, 141, 

162, 184, 230, 231, 298, 306, 307, 308, 

427 

Hardwood Cypress Wetlands, 11, 60, 184, 

328, 344, 437 

Heritage Resources. See SIAs 

Human Resources, 196, 206, 218 

Land Adjustment, 31, 33, 36, 38, 41, 317, 

318, 319, 344 

Local Communities, 13, 27, 56, 57, 58, 315 

Longleaf Pine, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 24, 25, 27, 

33, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 

51, 52, 53, 55, 57, 58, 79, 85, 86, 87, 95, 

96, 97, 105, 107, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 

116, 117, 121, 123, 124, 126, 129, 133, 

134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 142, 

143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 

154, 155, 156, 160, 161, 162, 164, 171, 

176, 178, 179, 180, 181, 187, 190, 192, 

193, 194, 195, 196, 225, 236, 250, 252, 

257, 262, 266, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 

273, 281, 284, 291, 296, 297, 298, 299, 

300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 308, 

309, 310, 318, 323, 324, 327, 329, 335, 

337, 340, 343, 345, 382, 409, 412, 421, 

423, 425, 426, 427, 459, 460, 461, 463, 

464, 467, 468, 471, 486, 490, 492, 504, 

507, 521, 540 

MAs. see Management Areas 

Mammals, 148, 250, 333, 470, 471, 472, 473 

Management Areas, 11, 17, 24, 25, 44, 58, 

130, 166, 184, 255, 259, 271, 275, 280, 

284, 316, 406, 423, 436, 460, 465, 473, 

491, 523, 526, 541 

Management Indicator Species, 132, 134, 

136, 137, 139, 158, 165, 233, 282, 322, 

323, 324, 502, 505, 506,508 

Management Prescriptions, 11, 24, 25, 33, 

39, 130, 153, 233, 235, 251, 252, 254, 

259, 268, 270, 272, 274, 278, 280, 307, 

324, 325, 337, 338, 344, 345, 436, 465, 

484, 491 

MIS. see Management Indicator Species 

Monitoring, 7, 8, 9, 11, 24, 25, 29, 32, 34, 

39, 74, 75, 76, 79, 81, 86, 159, 169, 234, 

242, 254, 255, 256, 287, 288, 289, 296, 

302, 303, 305, 322, 324, 325, 334, 383, 

385, 409, 458, 459, 461, 462, 467, 468, 

470, 482, 489, 498, 499, 506, 507, 508, 

509, 533 

Neotropical Migratory Birds, 11, 150, 152, 

159, 506 

Off-Highway Vehicles. See OHV 

OHV, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22, 27, 30, 32, 34, 37, 

38, 39, 46, 48, 55, 56, 60, 133, 134, 136, 

138, 140, 157, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 

164, 171, 172, 173, 174, 235, 260, 287, 

288, 289, 333, 335, 337, 344, 384, 432, 

434, 461, 468, 505 

Old Growth, 11, 16, 17, 26, 38, 40, 44, 45, 

111, 129, 242, 251, 257, 262, 267, 268, 

269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 277, 278, 

279, 287, 296, 302, 304, 305, 306, 307, 

327, 328, 332, 335, 337, 338, 345, 424, 

445, 454, 460, 461, 465, 470, 471, 483, 

490, 491, 504, 526, 541 

Pine Straw. See Forest Products 

Plant Associations. See Plant Communities 

Plant Communities, 13, 18, 22, 55, 108, 109, 

110, 113, 114, 121, 124, 125, 127, 131, 

132, 140, 155, 162, 225, 229, 251, 257, 

262, 264, 268, 270, 278, 283, 301, 309, 

327, 330, 332, 343, 419, 420, 462, 502 

Pocosins, 14, 34, 35, 38, 42, 43, 47, 48, 54, 

77, 79, 84, 88, 90, 91, 95, 96, 103, 105, 

106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 113, 123, 131, 

133, 135, 137, 140, 149, 150, 154, 156, 

162, 163, 164, 171, 177, 178, 179, 180, 

181, 182, 183, 184, 186, 254, 275, 307, 

310, 311, 312, 320, 327, 328, 329, 433, 

458, 465, 473, 483, 488, 490, 519, 521, 

525, 526, 529 

Prescribed Fire. See Fire 

Proposed Action, 11, 24, 237, 460, 482 

Public Participation, 25 

Purpose And Need, 24 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 239 

Rare Plants, 122, 133, 134, 136, 138, 140 

Rare Species, 11, 16, 26, 34, 36, 39, 43, 44, 

45, 109, 122, 125, 130, 133, 135, 137, 

138, 139, 166, 169, 173, 174, 251, 257, 

259, 262, 263, 264, 265, 267, 283, 291, 

304, 309, 310, 320, 321, 323, 327, 328, 

331, 334, 335, 341, 343, 421, 424, 425, 

426, 458, 461, 465, 482, 483, 484, 486, 

487, 488, 489, 491, 493, 494, 495, 496, 

497, 499, 510, 511, 538, 541 

Rare Species Management, 16, 30, 32, 34, 

36, 39, 43 

RCW, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 24, 25, 

27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 

40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 51, 52, 57, 

58, 59, 60, 125, 135, 137, 138, 139, 143, 

145, 146, 147, 154, 160, 161, 162, 163, 

165, 166, 175, 184, 185, 187, 189, 190, 

193, 194, 195, 196, 231, 232, 250, 251, 

252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 

262, 263, 268, 269, 270, 272, 280, 282, 

291, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 304, 

305, 309, 310, 317, 320, 324, 325, 327, 

328, 329, 335, 337, 339, 340, 341, 342, 

343, 382, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 407, 

410, 412, 424, 427, 433, 436, 437, 441, 

458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 464, 465, 466, 

467, 468, 469, 483, 484, 485, 488, 490, 

491, 505, 507, 533, 536, 537, 538, 540, 

541 

Recreation, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 22, 23, 24, 

26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 41, 45, 

46, 47, 48, 50, 55, 56, 57, 58, 73, 100, 

101, 103, 104, 106, 107, 122, 125, 126, 

133, 157, 159, 167, 169, 170, 171, 172, 

173, 174, 177, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184, 

185, 197, 201, 202, 203, 204, 209, 210, 

211, 213, 214, 215, 216, 231, 236, 237, 

238, 239, 240, 241, 259, 275, 284, 285, 

286, 287, 295, 316, 329, 330, 332, 333, 

338, 385, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 

396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 402, 403, 404, 

411, 414, 417, 418, 424, 430, 435, 436, 

440, 441, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 

450, 451, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 461, 

486, 487 

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. See RCW 

Reptiles, 148, 154, 157, 250, 282, 322, 333, 

486, 490 

River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic 

River Status, 18, 32, 35, 40, 175, 176, 

184, 262, 268, 293, 437 

Roadless Areas, 18, 48, 170, 181, 183, 240, 

432 

Scenery, 12, 26, 27, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 171, 

174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 

204, 261, 289, 332, 333, 397, 428, 429 

Sensitive and Locally Rare, 265, 458, 465, 

482, 483, 491, 493, 494, 495, 496 

SIAs. see Special Interest Areas 

Silviculture, 12, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 241, 

256, 286, 296, 303, 328, 413 

Soils, 13, 20, 37, 40, 52, 74, 77, 78, 83, 84, 

85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 96, 98, 99, 

101, 103, 106, 108, 111, 112, 115, 117, 

118, 123, 125, 130, 143, 152, 156, 181, 

182, 187, 188, 190, 226, 228, 245, 261, 

266, 289, 299, 301, 304, 305, 307, 312, 

326, 333, 411, 419, 423, 424, 425, 426, 

427, 433, 435, 460, 462, 503 

Special Interest Areas, 7, 16, 30, 32, 35, 36, 

37, 41, 125, 126, 128, 130, 242, 249, 250, 

251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 261, 263, 267, 

268, 269, 271, 293, 295, 296, 318, 319, 

325, 331, 334, 424, 473, 474, 475, 477, 

478, 480, 481, 482, 483, 516, 

Special Land Allocations, 18, 30, 32, 35, 37, 

39, 48, 290, 382 

Timber Outputs, 20 

Two-aged Regeneration, 12, 14, 27, 38, 52, 

180, 181, 257 

Uneven-aged Management, 14, 31, 35, 45, 

51, 193, 272 

Water, 30, 32, 34, 37, 39, 59, 60, 89, 91, 92, 

93, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 119, 152, 

187, 212, 237, 245, 278, 283, 285, 286, 

294, 295, 326, 339, 392, 393, 394, 395, 

396, 397, 398, 399, 401, 415, 416, 444, 

452, 509 

Water-based. See recreation 

White Oak River, 18, 19, 30, 32, 35, 40, 50, 

58, 91, 121, 151, 153, 167, 174, 175, 176, 
240 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

267, 293, 316, 317, 319, 382, 394, 402, 

404, 421, 440, 448, 449, 450, 452, 453, 

454, 456, 470, 474, 487 

Wild and Scenic Rivers, 12, 18, 19, 24, 26, 

30, 32, 37, 50, 58, 59, 125, 174, 245, 293, 

294, 440, 441, 442, 444, 446, 447, 448, 

449, 451, 452, 454, 456, 470, 487, 489 

Wild Turkey, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 

505, 507 

Wilderness, 12, 14, 17, 18, 26, 30, 32, 35, 

36, 37, 40, 44, 45, 48, 49, 56, 58, 59, 60, 

104, 106, 107, 161, 170, 181, 182, 183, 

184, 185, 186, 245, 261, 262, 268, 277, 

278, 285, 286, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 

295, 307, 318, 326, 334, 336, 337, 343, 

344, 391, 392, 396, 399, 401, 411, 432, 

433, 436, 437, 471, 472, 473, 489, 505, 

513, 526, 541 

Wildfire. See Fire 

Wildland Urban Interface, 20, 53, 99,100, 

102, 106, 166, 184, 299, 305, 306, 307, 

308, 316, 331, 437 

Wildlife, 12, 13, 19, 22, 26, 27, 29, 31, 32, 

33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 47, 50, 53, 

54, 55, 89, 97, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 

107, 112, 120, 125, 126, 132, 143, 147, 

148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, 157, 

158, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 169, 170, 

172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 183, 230, 231, 

233, 242, 243, 244, 245, 266, 278, 280, 

282, 284, 288, 289, 296, 303, 305, 313, 

316, 330, 331, 333, 343, 344, 385, 390, 

396, 398, 418, 426, 434, 435, 436, 440, 

441, 442, 443, 444, 447, 449, 450, 452, 

453, 455, 459, 464, 502, 503, 510 

Wiregrass, 96, 114, 115, 132, 134, 136, 137, 

139, 163, 165, 250, 257, 291, 296, 323, 

324, 332, 461, 506, 507, 540 

WUI. see Wildland Urban Interface 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 241 

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KEY INTEREST: Breadth of approach to biological diversity 

COMMENT: The DLRMP and DEIS consistently take an unduly narrow approach to addressing 

biological diversity issues on the Croatan. This cursory list of biological diversity issues ignores 

a vast range of listed and sensitive species and natural communities that may not be as well 

known, but are nonetheless of similar if not greater importance. The FS should comprehensively 

revise this list of issues to include conservation of not only the well known mammals and birds, 

but also the lesser known mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plants. In addition, the FS 

should address conservation of the community types that these species utilize. 

COMMENT: Biological diversity must be addressed fully at all levels: individuals, populations, 

species, and ecosystems. 

COMMENT: The Plan attempts to “squeeze” biological diversity concerns into three categories: 

1) RCWs, 2) black bears, and 3) those neotropical migrants that occur within hardwood swamp 

forests. There are many biological diversity issues within the Croatan that have little or nothing 

to do with the above three issues. 

COMMENT: Given that biological diversity refers to the complete spectrum of flora and fauna 

species and all vegetative structural characteristics, we feel that the discussion should involve 

more than two animal species and one bird species. 

COMMENT: In the issue statement for biological diversity, it is probably erroneous to too 

closely tie the success of National Forest management to RCW, black bear and neotropical 

migrants. Although these are not “special land allocations” [natural communities and oldgrowth], they are a significant way of capturing biological diversity not otherwise preserved 

through the indicator species approach. 

COMMENT: The issue statement for biological diversity should include condensed discussions 

of the major ecosystems on the Croatan, with emphasis on longleaf pine savannas. The section 

most definitely needs a discussion of the biology/ecology of pine wiregrass and best 

management practices for retaining it under management and restoring it where it has been lost. 

 

RESPONSE: The discussion on biological diversity has been broadened and organized into 8 

categories specific to the Croatan. Issues related to biological diversity were developed from 

written communications and public meetings in 1996. These issues are addressed in the 

following categories: 

(1) recovery of the red-cockaded (Picoides borealis) - RCW and restoration of its native 

habitat, 
242 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

(2) designation and protection of Special Interest Areas (natural areas) as a means of 

managing multiple levels of biological diversity, 

(3) recovering and sustaining rare plant communities and other rare species in addition to the 

RCW, 

(4) identification and protection of old-growth ecosystems, 

(5) maintenance of habitat suitable for the black bear (Ursus americanus), 

(6) maintaining hardwood cypress wetlands to provide suitable habitat for a variety of 

species that use this ecosystem, 

(7) restoring upland hardwood sites, and 

(8) restoring hydrologic function and sustaining aquatic systems. 

Goals and objectives related to biological diversity issues have been more clearly defined and 

outlined in Table 2.1. In addition, the standards developed to reach goals, objectives, and desired 

conditions have been aggregated into one chapter (Chapter 4) for better communication of the 

limitations on actions or thresholds not to be exceeded. 

The Plan addresses biological diversity on the CNF, at different scales and allocates land use and 

limits management activities that correspond to these scales. These different levels of diversity 

include, landscape, community, and species. Landscapes are the broadest scale of diversity. 

They are evaluated by classifying ecological types (Appendix A) and are used to define 

management prescription boundaries (Chapter 3). Ecological types organize the CNF landscape 

into units having similar topography, geology, soil, climate, and natural disturbance regimes. 

Their extent and pattern have a major influence on finer levels of diversity on the CNF and they 

are incorporated in the Plan through management prescription boundaries. 

Plant communities are used to address diversity at the stand-level or local scale. At this level of 

diversity, SIAs (natural areas) identified by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program are 

recognized in the Plan for their value in providing important composition, structure, and function 

on the CNF and for providing habitat conditions suitable for a wide variety of species. Old 

growth stand conditions, and Wild and Scenic River attributes are also recognized in the Plan 

and contribute to community level diversity. Natural areas, old growth, and river corridors 

eligible for Wild and Scenic River status are included as primary and imbedded management 

prescriptions and goals, objectives, and standards to maintain their community level diversity are 

included in the Plan (Chapters 2 and 4). Species diversity is addressed through recognition of 

120 rare species that occur or are likely to occur on the CNF (FEIS, Biological Assessment and 

Biological Evaluation). These species include 7 federally listed threatened or endangered 

species, 53 species identified by the Regional Forester as sensitive and 60 locally rare species. A 

standard requires evaluation of management impacts on these species [Standard 4.2.0.8], and 

numerous other standards protect habitats suitable for these species. Goals, objectives, and 

standards for rare species are tiered to requirements in the Endangered Species Act, National 

Forest Management Act and Forest Service policy. 

KEY INTEREST: Biological diversity on lands outside of the RCW Habitat Management Area 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 243 

COMMENT: The Draft Plan/DEIS is deficient in that it does not address biological diversity on 

lands suitable for timber production outside the RCW HMA. This should be done in the final 

Plan/EIS, i.e., develop a new section with the above heading. 

RESPONSE: In the final Plan no management prescriptions are classified as suited for timber 

production outside the RCW Habitat Management Area (HMA). The Mixed-Pine management 

prescription has been included within the RCW HMA. 

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KEY INTEREST: Effects of proposed longleaf restoration on RCW recovery 

COMMENT: The plan could actually be counterproductive to RCW recovery due to the 

immediate impact of proposed clearing of mature loblolly and pond pine stands to facilitate 

longleaf restoration. Mature loblolly and pond pine stands should not be ignored as potential 

nesting and foraging habitat. 

RESPONSE: Under Alternative E, the methods used for restoring longleaf pine have been 

revised but still focus on establishing longleaf pine as the dominant canopy tree on appropriate 

soil types, and centering RCW recruitment stands in longleaf pine dominant forests. Mixed 

loblolly and pond pine stands may provide forage and nesting habitat for RCW, however, 

longleaf pine is the preferred nesting and roosting tree on the CNF. 

A shelterwood with reserve trees method will be used as the primary silvicultural system for 

restoring longleaf pine (Appendix E). In this system, a minimum of 6 to 10 trees per acres will 

be maintained to provide RCW foraging structure and as a seed source for regeneration. 

Longleaf pine, if available, will be retained in the overstory and will be planted beneath the 

shelterwood in stands where this species is lacking. In addition, off-site loblolly pine 

plantations, most of which have a component of longleaf pine, will be restored to a longleaf pine 

forest type by cutting and leaving, prescribed burning, and supplemental planting of longleaf 

pine. Clear-cutting is retained as an option to restore longleaf pine on only 500-750 acres. This 

is approximately 70-80% less than proposed under Alternative C. 

Forage requirements identified in the RCW FEIS (USFS 1995) will be maintained within all 

RCW territories regardless of restoration method. Many RCW territories currently exceed these 

forage requirements, and clear-cutting would not be an option in those RCW territories that are at 

minimum levels. 

KEY INTEREST: Status of RCW population 

COMMENT: The Plan presents an inaccurate picture of the current state of the RCW population 

on CNF. 

RESPONSE: An updated summary report has been compiled by Forest Service personnel and 

provides the most up-to-date information on RCW reproduction and population dynamics on 

CNF (2001 RCW Summary Report). In general, the number of both active clusters and 
244 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

potential breeding pairs began to increase in 1991 following implementation of a 1992 RCW 

management plan. These numbers continued to increase each year from 2 % to 8 % peaking in 

1996. The population subsequently suffered a net loss of activity at two clusters per year (3 %) 

from 1997 through 1999. However, the population experienced a 6.5 % increase from 1999 to 

2000 that included the formation of two entirely new clusters. The number of active clusters 

remained the same from 2000 to 2001, however, one recruitment cluster was occupied by a 

solitary bird post-breeding season. This cluster may be considered active if the bird remains 

through the 2002 breeding season. The CNF breeding population experienced a net increase of 

one breeding pair in 2001. 

The proportion of solitary males on CNF has remained at or below 10% during each of the past 

eleven years except during 1997. Average group size has followed a trend similar to the other 

population measures. Even though the proportion of solitary males returned to acceptable levels 

in 1998, average group size continued to decrease through 1999 indicative of declining 

population health. However, group size rebounded in 2000 to an acceptable level of 2.54 birds 

per group and further increased to 2.62 birds per group in 2001. 

Following guidelines set forth in the RCW FEIS for national forests in the southern region, the 

Croatan population falls within Management Intensity Level (MIL) 3. CNF currently supports 

37% to 45% of the total population objective and has a stable and potentially increasing 

population trend. 

KEY INTEREST: Deviation from the RCW EIS standards and guidelines 

COMMENT: The FS must address how proposed deviations from Standards and Guidelines in 

the RCW EIS will potentially impact RCW on the Croatan National Forest. 

RESPONSE: Alternative E now proposes only two deviations or additions to the standards in the 

RCW EIS (1995). One deviation exceeds these standards. The RCW EIS does not require that 

existing roads be closed. Instead, it states that “existing uses shall be modified or relocated if 

they are found to adversely affect the RCW”. In Alternative E, all unauthorized roads in nest 

areas will be closed during the next 10 years [Standard 4.6.1.4]. 

The foraging habitat standard identified as a proposed deviation is a refinement of the RCW EIS 

Standard that states “foraging habitat should be maintained at 70-110 square feet of pine basal 

area depending on site and stand and condition”. Ecological land units presented in Appendix A 

are an expression of site and stand condition on the CNF. RCW nest and forage habitat 

management will follow all other standards identified in the RCW EIS and RCW Recovery Plan. 

KEY INTEREST: Size and composition of the RCW Habitat Management Area (HMA) 

COMMENT: The LRMP reports approximately 30% of the CNF (53,000 acres) is currently 

included in the RCW HMA, but indicates elsewhere that acres of varying amounts not equaling 

the total RCW HMA will be maintained. These figures are confusing and should be organized 

for better interpretation. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 245 

RESPONSE: All figures referring to the size of management prescriptions, including the RCW 

Habitat Management Area, have been re-examined and corrected. The RCW Habitat 

Management Area is approximately 69,000 acres in size. This figure includes acres from two 

previously identified management prescriptions, Mixed-Pine and Small to Medium-Sized 

Pocosin Patches that have been combined with the RCW HMA. 

KEY INTEREST: Logging Restrictions relative to RCW clusters 

COMMENT: The policy of the USFS is inconsistent to not allow logging trucks to travel past a 

RCW nesting colony when some nesting birds reside next to train tracks and are not adversely 

affected by the loud noise. 

RESPONSE: The RCW EIS does not specifically state that logging trucks cannot pass by RCW 

clusters during the nesting season but that “all potentially disturbing activities within clusters” 

should be scheduled outside the nesting season. The RCW EIS also states that “light 

maintenance of high standard roads, such as road grading or mowing of rights-of-way...” may be 

allowed during the nesting season suggesting that low level disturbance, such as occasional road 

traffic, may be allowed. Habitat improvement projects, such as stand thinning, would be 

considered as disturbing to a nesting group if the activity is within 1⁄2 mile of the cluster site. 

However, if logging activity is greater than 1⁄2 mile from a nesting group, then logging traffic on 

an authorized FS system road may be allowed to pass by the group. Each timber harvest unit 

would need to be assessed individually to determine the potential impact of logging traffic to 

nesting groups before making a decision. 

KEY INTEREST: RCW population objectives and monitoring protocol 

COMMENT: The short-term population goal of 50-63 clusters is too ambitious. However, the 

long-term population goal should be larger if RCW clusters are typically 200-300 acres and the 

RCW HMA is 53,000 acres. 

RESPONSE: RCW expansion and recovery objectives will be lower to accommodate an overall 

less aggressive approach to longleaf restoration. The short-term population goal has been 

reduced by approximately 50% in alternative E to 20-26 clusters over 10 years. This revised 

short-term goal is realistic given that unoccupied suitable habitat currently exists. In addition, 

recruitment clusters will be established with artificial cavities, and a greater emphasis will be 

placed on using prescribed fire, including growing-season fire, for habitat management and 

restoration. 

Current and potential RCW territories were delineated according to cluster and foraging habitat 

requirements set forth in the RCW EIS and on availability of all current and potential pine and 

pine-hardwood habitat on CNF. Territories vary in size (acres) due to variation in habitat types 

across the landscape. Pine savannas and flatwoods are often interspersed with hardwood-cypress 

wetlands, pocosins, small depression ponds, and streams with their associated hardwood 

drainage slopes. The number and extent of non-pine habitat types will affect territory size that 

can vary from 200 acres to 700 acres in size. Therefore, the long-term population goal of 137 to 
246 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

169 clusters for CNF represents the maximum number of territories that may be supported given 

habitat requirements and availability. 

COMMENT: We have special concerns about how concentrated RCW populations appear to be 

in Management Area 4, with only one cluster east of US 70. If Management Area 4 was 

impacted by a major hurricane, pine beetle outbreak, or disastrous wildfire, 70% or more of the 

RCW clusters could be affected. It is essential to greatly increase RCW numbers east of US 70 

in order to decrease the vulnerability of RCW populations across the CNF. 

RESPONSE: Based on existing and potential habitat available for the RCW, the Plan proposes to 

increase recruitment territories in Management Areas (MA) 5 and 6, which occur east of US 70. 

MA 6 currently has one active RCW territory, and the second largest proposed number of 

recruitment territories. Management Area 5, located to the south of MA 6, has potential for 

RCW expansion, but has less potential habitat than MA 6. For that reason, the long-term RCW 

population objective is much smaller. A maximum of 31 RCW territories could potentially be 

supported within these two management areas. 

COMMENT: What steps will the Forest Service take to revise their management if the projected 

RCW population growth does not occur? 

RESPONSE: First, after changing the approach to longleaf restoration (described in Alternative 

E), the RCW expansion and recovery objectives will be reduced by approximately 50% to 20-26 

clusters over 10 years. With this modification, it is expected that if the management standards as 

outlined in the LRMP are fully implemented, population growth will occur on CNF. Monitoring 

will be used as an immediate feedback mechanism, such that if growth does not match 

projections, modifications of management can occur. Evaluation and consultation with staff 

biologists, other agencies, and specialists will also take place to analyze the obstacles to growth 

and to suggest changes. 

Substantial growth has not occurred in the past few years for several reasons. New recruitment 

clusters have not been actively established and some of the existing recruitment clusters have not 

been properly maintained. In addition, translocations have not been used to facilitate expansion. 

Under the new LRMP, these activities will be emphasized to encourage growth, and 

translocations will be used should natural dispersion not take place. In addition, the new LRMP 

will place a greater emphasis on growing season prescribed burning. 

COMMENT: How RCW pop size will be tracked, that is, whether by number of active clusters 

or number of breeding groups, is not clear (3.21). I doubt that the FS will be able to do complete 

monitoring (i.e., census adults, band adults and nestlings, monitor reproduction) of all the active 

sites on the forest. In what possible way could data on reproduction influence management 

practices? Given the inherent annual variability in reproduction and the lack of the influence of 

reproduction on pop dynamics, these data have little management value. Thus monitoring 

reproduction (3.22) wastes resources that could be better spent producing accurate censuses of a 

sample of groups. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 247 

RESPONSE: The RCW monitoring program on CNF exceeds the requirements set forth in the 

RCW EIS but is consistent with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Revised Recovery Plan for 

RCW (2000, Draft). The Recovery Plan suggests Level IV monitoring for populations deemed 

essential to recovery and occurring on public lands. Level IV monitoring consists of colorbanding nestling and adult birds, conducting nest checks at 7-11 day intervals, and conducting 

fledgling and adult checks to determine number and sex of birds. Level IV monitoring may be 

conducted on a sample of active clusters (IVa) or on all active clusters (IVb) as has been done on 

CNF for the past 10 years. 

The RCW EIS requires that all clusters be surveyed annually for activity status and that only a 

sample of clusters be monitored annually for nesting success and group composition. However, 

the Recovery Plan states that monitoring methods should not be mixed from year to year and that 

color-banding translocated birds will be necessary when and if translocations are used as a 

management tool. Furthermore, the Recovery Plan states that due to sampling error, 

“...intensive monitoring of a sample of groups (Level IVa) can provide reliable estimates of 

productivity within a short period, but cannot estimate population trend until used for a longer 

period of time (e.g., 5 years)” and that “Accuracy of population trend assessment is also 

dependent on sample size...Thus, small samples cannot detect anything but large-scale changes 

in populations trends.” Therefore, continued use of Level IVb monitoring on CNF will provide 

consistency and the most accurate population information. Identification of individuals will also 

be beneficial when and if within-population translocations are used to promote population 

growth. In addition, by continuing level IV monitoring, the CNF retains all options, including 

within population/subpopulation translocation of RCW, should the need arise. The Recovery 

Plan and RCW EIS require that all individuals be color-banded before translocation and the 

RCW EIS encourages translocation of RCW within populations/subpopulations rather than 

between populations. However, should the CNF population become too large for Forest Service 

staff to conduct 100% population monitoring, statistically sound sampling methods can be 

implemented to monitor a subset of the population. 

KEY INTEREST: RCW foraging habitat management 

COMMENT: Specific comments: (1) the last bullet on s.4 indicates tree age classes will be 

balanced on a per territory basis. RCWs do not require balanced age classes. They need old 

trees and enough regeneration to replace old trees. Balanced age classes are not necessary to 

provide the needed level of regeneration. (2) 70-90 ft/acre ba is too high to be good foraging 

habitat for RCWs (3.22) (3) rotations should be 80 years, not 60, in mixed pine forest (3.31). 

RESPONSE: 1) We agree that RCW do not require balanced age classes. The objective to 

sustain RCW habitat by balancing tree age groups by territory has been eliminated. 

2) RCW nest and forage habitat management follow standards identified in the RCW EIS and 

RCW Recovery Plan. Specific residual basal area targets for pine-dominated stands in the RCW 

HMA were developed from these standards and are included in Forestwide Standards for 

silviculture (Table 4.4.0, standard 4.4.0.5). The highest stocking objective (70-90 square 

feet/acre) is for ecological type 1022, a type that contains the highest natural longleaf and mixed 

pine stand density on the CNF. The target stocking level is within the 70-100 square feet/acre 

identified for RCW foraging habitat in the RCW EIS. 3) Land within the Mixed-Pine 
248 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

management prescription is now included as part of the RCW HMA. The rotation age for forest 

types on lands suitable for timber production within the RCW HMA follow standards identified 

in the RCW EIS: 120 years for longleaf pine, and 80 years for loblolly pine and pond pine. 

KEY INTEREST: Pine Savanna and Flatwoods description and standards 

COMMENT: Add to the description of variation from reference condition, the fact that mixtures 

of pines, and in some cases, pond pines, historically dominated some pine savanna sites. Also 

make the point that depending on the soil, pine savannas will support different floras and vary 

from the northern Croatan to the southern Croatan. 

RESPONSE: We have added to the description of variation from reference condition, the 

inclusion of pond pine woodlands and savanna as the primary landscape matrix in the northern 

and western portions of the CNF. In these areas, pond pine woodlands are interspersed with 

patches of longleaf pine savanna. This varies from the reference condition of longleaf pine 

savanna patches occurring in a pocosin matrix described for the southern portion of the CNF. 

The ecological classification, developed from the relationship between soil drainage and texture 

and potential natural vegetation, describes the different understory species ‘floras’ that occur in 

pine savannas (Appendix A). The mapped ecological units depict how the type, extent, and 

distribution of pine savannas varies from the northern CNF to the southern CNF. 

COMMENT: All the standards for plant communities and rare species in the pine savanna and 

flatwoods prescription pertain to RCW. Although this species is important, it seems to 

overshadow the management needs of other plant and animal species within longleaf forests, or 

the ecosystem processes necessary to maintain longleaf forests in a condition which closely 

mimics nature. These standards need to be reworked to incorporate consideration for all the 

components of the pine savanna and flatwoods. 

RESPONSE: Forest-wide standards for plant communities and rare species would also apply to 

the RCW management prescription. These include: [4.2.0.1] using the ecological classification 

and N.C. Natural Heritage Program site descriptions as a guide to identify suitable sites for 

restoration of native plant communities, [4.2.0.3] conserving and restoring a network of small 

and medium-sized areas of potential old growth for Upland Longleaf Pine Communities, and 

[4.2.0.6] restricting harvest of all stands dominated by longleaf pine using even-aged or two-aged 

regeneration methods, and [4.2.0.8] preparing biological evaluations for all vegetation 

management projects to determine effects on rare plant and animal species. In addition, longleaf 

pine and wiregrass is chosen as a management indicator species to evaluate the effectiveness of 

management actions, especially prescribed fire, to restore the composition and structure of 

longleaf pine forests to conditions more similar to pre-settlement forests. 

COMMENT: How will the standards for Forest Products in this prescription mesh with the 

standards for Forest Products in any embedded natural area prescriptions that overlaps a pine 

savanna and flatwoods area? Timber harvesting is allowed within the pine savanna and flatwood 

prescription, but is not within the Natural Areas embedded prescription (at least the lands are not 

managed as unsuitable for timber production). The more restrictive standard normally takes 

precedence, but that will need to be clearly stated in both of these prescriptions. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 249 

RESPONSE: The discussion on embedded prescriptions has been expanded and more clearly 

defines the precedence of standards. In most cases, smaller scale prescriptions have more 

restrictive standards than those they are embedded within. For example, there are many areas on 

the CNF where SIA (natural areas) are imbedded in the RCW HMA. More restrictive standards 

would apply in these areas such as land adjustment [Standard 4.8.0.6] and road construction 

[Standard 4.6.1.10]. Natural areas are not suited for timber production [Standard 4.4.1.2], but 

active management is allowed where they occur within the RCW HMA. This may include 

timber harvest to meet RCW nest and forage standards outlined in the RCW EIS. However, it is 

unlikely that any timber harvest, including thinning, would occur in SIA (natural areas) on the 

CNF for a number of reasons. Most importantly, the plan sets objectives to restore and maintain 

forest composition and structure more similar to pre-settlement conditions and these conditions, 

and RCW nest and forage requirements, are already being met in natural areas. 

COMMENT: In addition to the basal area restriction for thinning operations, please add that a 

stand should not be thinned more than once every 10 years. 

COMMENT: Under the standards for Forest Products, pine restoration is proposed in existing 

hardwood stands in landtype phases 1022, 1124, and 1225. However, some specific sites 

classified as one of those landtype phases may not naturally support pine species. These sites 

include the Holston Creek Natural Area, and a small portion of the Island Creek Registered 

Natural Heritage Area. These areas because of their slope and aspect would naturally have been 

shielded from fire and remain as a hardwood site. These areas should not be converted. 

RESPONSE: Site-specific analysis will be used to evaluate all pine restoration projects and 

thinning recommendations on the CNF. The ecological classification and N.C. Natural Heritage 

Program site descriptions will be used as a guide for identifying sites for restoration [Standard 

4.2.0.1] and stocking level standards [Standard 4.4.0.5] will be used to determine the timing of 

thinning. 

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B1. Identify and Protect SIAs (Natural Areas) 

KEY INTEREST: Timber harvest or salvage within SIAs (Natural Areas) 

COMMENT: No timber harvest should occur in natural areas, even where public safety is at risk 

or where large-scale natural disturbance occurs. 

COMMENT: While it is good that natural heritage areas (NHAs) will be managed as “not 

suitable for timber production”. Salvage for purposes of public safety should not be allowed. 

This language should be removed from the Plan as it could be interpreted to provide a huge 

loophole. Or change the standard to read, “Allow salvage of hazard trees adjacent to trails or 

access areas for the purpose of public safety. Hazard trees should be cut and left rather than 

salvaged to provide habitat for animal species that depend on downed wood for food and 

shelter.” 
250 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: Natural areas should be natural. Prescribed fire is compatible since it mimics 

natural conditions. We strongly oppose tree harvest and site modification after natural, even 

major, disturbances. Trees that must be felled for safety reasons should be left on the ground to 

function within the ecosystem. 

COMMENT: Timber harvest should occur on sites not important for diversity or recreation. No 

harvesting should occur on registered natural areas such as Millis Road savanna or Patsy Pond. 

RESPONSE: SIAs (Natural areas) are not-suited for timber production, however, trees may be 

cut to provide safety of forest users, to reduce the risk of disease or insect outbreaks, and to meet 

habitat objectives for threatened or endangered species. Standards have been modified to limit 

sanitation harvesting of trees or stands in SIAs (natural areas) (Standard 4.4.1.9). This standard 

reads, “Allow only cut and fell operations in SIAs (natural areas) to provide for safety of forest 

users, or where disease or insect infestations threaten adjacent private or public lands. 

Exceptions to this standard include allowing necessary removal of trees if the recovery of a 

threatened or endangered species is compromised, or if a hazard tree is in a developed area.” 

The exceptions are included because natural areas overlap with developed areas (approximately 

270 acres) and with the RCW HMA (approximately 4000 acres). Since a high number of users 

recreate within developed areas, removal of hazard trees may be necessary to facilitate use of the 

area. Within the RCW HMA, a small potential exists for an event to occur that may impact the 

ability of the area to regenerate naturally, or to be protected from catastrophic wildfire, if large 

amounts of woody debris is left onsite. 

Tree cutting may occur in SIAs (natural areas) to meet habitat objectives for threatened or 

endangered animals or plants [Standard 4.4.0.14]. For example, in SIAs (natural areas) that are 

imbedded within the RCW HMA, prescribed burning and thinning may occur to maintain RCW 

forage standards outlined in the RCW EIS [Standard 4.2.1.9]. However, it is unlikely that any 

timber harvest, including thinning, would occur in SIAs (Natural areas) on the CNF for a number 

of reasons. The plan sets objectives to restore and maintain forest composition and structure 

more similar to pre-settlement conditions and these conditions are already being met in SIAs 

(natural areas). Also, RCW nest and forage requirements are, in almost all situations, already 

being met in SIAs (natural areas). 

KEY INTEREST: Description of reference condition and core areas 

COMMENT: Under Biological diversity in Chapter 2.0, subheading “Identify and protect natural 

areas”, the goal/desired condition states that “core areas” will be provided. What is the 

definition of “core areas”? Will buffers be provided around these sites so as to minimize 

environmental changes within the core area and adjacent ecotones in the event of the nearby 

timber sales? 

RESPONSE: On the CNF, over 70 percent of all rare species occurrences (threatened, 

endangered, sensitive, and locally rare) and rare communities are located within SIAs (natural 

areas), old-growth management areas, RCW nest sites, wilderness, and other ecosystem-based 

management prescriptions that are not suited for timber production (FEIS, Biological Evaluation 

and Biological Assessment). These areas are considered “core areas” for species conservation. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 251 

They provide a coarse-filter approach to managing biological diversity on the CNF because: (1) 

they represent the full range of environmental conditions on the forest and, (2) management 

objectives within the “core area” emphasize restoration and maintenance of habitats suitable for 

a wide-variety of species. The “core area” occupies approximately 90,000 acres on the CNF. 

The boundary of the core area is based primarily ecological types, which are derived from 

topography, soil drainage, soil texture, and potential natural vegetation. Buffer areas are 

included within many SIAs (natural areas), and one standard [4.5.0.15] prohibits plowed fire 

lines in pocosin-upland ecotones that often separate the “core area” from nearby lands suited for 

timber production. 

COMMENT: Use a more recent reference condition description for the Patsy Pond Natural Area 

(NHP proposal June 1996). Use two sites for the reference condition that are markedly different 

in habitat type. Island Creek should be used as the second site. Omit any reference to OHV 

trails within these descriptions, since OHV use is far from an ideal condition. 

RESPONSE: The reference to OHV trails as part of the description for Patsy Pond Registered 

Natural Heritage Area has been eliminated. This description adequately describes the desired 

condition for the area. Additional descriptions of all other SIAs (natural areas) on the CNF, 

including Island Creek, are intended to briefly describe their reference condition. 

KEY INTEREST: Management of Natural Areas 

COMMENT: Coordinate with the Natural Heritage Program on future management of Hancock 

Cr Forest, Flanners Beach, and Island Creek, which are SIAs, Registered Natural Heritage Areas 

and Heritage Resource Areas. 

RESPONSE: The CNF will continue to coordinate with the Natural Heritage Program on future 

management of these areas and will provide, through the NEPA process, environmental analyses 

and biological evaluations of project proposals for their review. 

COMMENT: Access to natural areas should be limited to foot trails. Allowing road construction 

for the purpose of providing access, for any reason, to or within a natural area should be 

prohibited. Maintain existing roads and road rights-of-way to a minimum width. Also prohibit 

OHVs, mountain bikes, and horses by legal means and use law enforcement program as 

necessary. 

RESPONSE: The Plan includes an objective [2.6.1.2] to close and restore unauthorized routes 

over the next 10 years. This includes many illegal trails that currently access SIAs (natural 

areas) and should reduce use by OHVs, mountain bikes, and horses in these areas. The Plan also 

includes a standard [4.6.1.10] that prohibits the construction of roads in SIAs (natural areas) 

except for the purpose of research. The road and right-of-way width of existing system roads 

(legal roads) are based on the traffic level of the road. Right-of-way widths may be reduced 

based on a site-specific analysis. 

COMMENT: Under probable management practices, what other fuel treatments may be used 

other than prescribed fire? If none, then reword the sentence. If others, then list them. 
252 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: Reference to “other fuel treatments” has been eliminated. The intent is to identify 

prescribed burning as a probable management practice. 

COMMENT: Under probable management practices, the reason thinning would be used should 

be described more fully. Thinning should only take place to restore natural community structure 

where needed. 

RESPONSE: The reason for thinning has been more clearly stated as “to restore natural 

community structure where needed”. 

COMMENT: The Plan should state as a standard that natural areas, and land acting as a buffer to 

the natural area, will not be included as part of sales or land exchanges, and that if a natural area 

is included in any land management proposal, the Natural Heritage Program will be consulted. 

However, the acquisition of portions of natural areas, or lands that buffer natural areas, on 

private land should be given high priority. 

RESPONSE: Federal policy prohibits the sale but not the exchange of public land. A standard 

[4.8.0.6] has been added that would “consider only those land exchange proposals that would 

result in no net loss of values for which the SIA (natural area) was established.” Although 

natural areas on private land are not specifically identified in the list of “highest priority lands 

for acquisition” [Table 4.8a], this list includes many of the characteristics that natural areas 

incorporate such as riparian ecosystems, critical habitats for federally-listed species, 

environmentally-sensitive areas, and also land needed to buffer for these specific habitats. 

COMMENT: In natural areas, scenery management should not take precedence over natural area 

objectives. 

RESPONSE: The scenery objectives for SIAs (natural areas) are not in conflict with the 

ecological objectives. SIA (Natural area) ecological/biological objectives are, by default, 

equivalent to scenery management objectives. We expect little management needed to meet the 

scenic objectives in the natural areas. 

COMMENT: Under the standards for water/hydrology/soils, modify the second standard to read, 

“Stop water flow of existing canals and ditches if it appears that doing so will restore natural 

hydrology. Retain canals and ditches where necessary along forest roads. If blocked ditches 

create an impassable barrier, it may be necessary to create crossing opportunities for animal 

movement.” 

RESPONSE: The standard [4.1.1.1] was modified to “Stop water flow in existing canals and 

ditches if it will restore natural hydrology. Retrofit with water control structures. Maintain 

ditches and canals where necessary for forest roads. Where canals and ditches occur in 

Wilderness, stop water flow outside of the Wilderness boundary in such a way as to restore 

natural hydrology within the Wilderness area.” Risks to animal movements will be evaluated as 

ditch-blocking projects are proposed. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 253 

COMMENT: Under standards for plant communities, ensure that all active management 

contributes to the perpetuation of rare and high quality natural communities by adding this as a 

standard. Natural community descriptions are provided in the site descriptions from the NC 

Natural Heritage Program. 

RESPONSE: Standards are limitations on actions or thresholds not to be exceeded, and were 

developed in the Plan to reach goals, objectives, and desired conditions for the CNF. 

“Perpetuating rare and high quality natural communities” is a primary emphasis of the Plan and 

includes both restoring and maintaining natural community composition, structure, and function. 

High priority is given to maintaining biological diversity and the appearance of natural forests. 

This priority is expressed in goal/desired condition statements and in objectives. They include: 

[Goal 2.5.2.b] - expanding the role of fire to recover and sustain short interval fire-adapted 

systems, [Objective 2.5.2.3] - restoring natural communities using prescribed natural fires that 

occur during the times of year when natural fire historically occurred, [Goal 2.1.2] - providing 

core areas for rare species and unique communities that represent the range of ecological 

conditions found on the Croatan, and [Objective 2.1.2.1] – maintaining habitat quality in these 

core natural areas. 

Various standards were developed to “ensure that all active management contributes to the 

perpetuation of rare and high quality natural communities”. These include: 

[4.1.1.5] – prohibiting all direct and indirect alteration of natural hydrology; 

[4.2.0.1] – using the terrestrial and aquatic ecological classification and the NC Natural Heritage 

Program site descriptions, as a guide to identify suitable sites for restoration of native plant 

communities; 

[4.2.0.2] – prohibiting ground disturbance in marl outcrops or limesink ponds except where 

restoring natural community structure or function; 

[4.2.0.3] – conserving and restoring old growth longleaf pine; 

[4.2.0.4] – retaining in old growth condition 1/3 of the suitable sites for Southern Wet Pine 

Forests, Woodlands and Savannas, Cypress-Tupelo Swamps, and Upland Mesic Hardwoods; 

[4.2.0.6] – prohibiting harvest of longleaf pine dominated stands using even-aged or two-aged 

systems; 

[4.2.1.1] – managing RCW HMA in accordance with standards identified in the RCW 

Management Standards and Guidelines and Recovery Plans; 

[4.3.1.11] – prohibiting camping within 100 feet of limesink ponds in the Patsy Pond Limesink 

complex and Nine Foot Road/Roberts Road Limesink Ponds Natural Areas; 

[4.4.0.6] – using the clearcut regeneration method only where it is essential to meet specific 

forest plan objectives; 

[4.4.1.2] – managing Pocosin Lakes, Wilderness, River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic 

River Status, Hardwood-Cypress wetlands, Upland hardwoods, Black Bear Habitat, SIAs 

(Natural Areas), and Old Growth as not-suited for timber production; and 

[4.6.1.4 ] – closing all unauthorized roads in RCW nest areas. 

COMMENT: Under standards for rare species, any active RCW management should be limited 

to what is essential and required according to the RCW Management Standards and Guidelines, 

and should be coordinated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the NC NHP. The 

standard should also emphasize that RCW management will also take into consideration the 
254 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

management needs of other rare species, and communities. Any trees harvested should be cut 

and left in place. 

COMMENT: Add a standard to the rare species standards that ensures that all active 

management, including prescribed fire and restoration management in adjoining areas, provides 

for the perpetuation of all rare plant and animal species within the natural area. Additionally, 

that all rare species management proposals require the review and approval of the Natural 

Heritage Program. 

RESPONSE: Active RCW management in SIAs (natural areas) will follow all nest and forage 

standards identified in the RCW EIS. These management actions are considered essential for the 

recovery of the species. All management actions that may impact threatened and endangered 

species, including the RCW, will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

following the required consultation process. 

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires that biological diversity be maintained 

within a planning area (the CNF). NFMA and the Endangered Species Act ensure that all 

activities, including RCW management, that may impact rare species or reduce our ability to 

perpetuate these species, be evaluated and mitigation measures implemented. Goals, objectives, 

and desired conditions for rare natural communities are discussed in the previous response. 

Tree harvest in SIAs (natural areas) may occur where SIAs (natural areas) overlap the RCW 

HMA and only when it is considered essential management for the recovery of the RCW. In 

these areas, trees may be cut and left in place or sold and removed through commercial timber 

sales. This decision will be made on a site-specific basis and all timber sale proposals will be 

reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, N.C. Natural Heritage Program, N.C. Wildlife 

Commission, N.C. Plant Protection Agency, other interested agencies, and the public. 

COMMENT: The standard for rare species that allows for site modification or translocation in 

response to major disturbances should be limited to RCW. Any site modification or species 

translocation proposals should be reviewed and approved by the NC NHP. 

RESPONSE: Standard [4.2.1.10] is intended to allow for site modification or translocation of 

species from SIAs (natural areas) if the species continued existence on the CNF is threatened by 

habitat loss resulting from an intense and widespread natural disturbance. It would only apply in 

extraordinary cases where this disturbance results in the destruction of a significant amount (25 

percent) of habitat on the CNF that supports a rare species. It is not limited to RCW but would 

apply to any species whose continued existence on the CNF is threatened by such an event. 

Various federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the National Forest 

Management Act would likely supercede this standard. 

COMMENT: Documenting the effects to vegetation composition and structure from hurricane 

blow down is a good idea. However, it’s unlikely that any subsequent changes in vegetation or 

ground disturbance would result in changes in natural area status. The goal of the study should 

be clearly stated. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 255 

RESPONSE: This standard has been restated as objective 2.1.2.3 – “Evaluate the effects of 

natural disturbance on native plant communities and rare species in SIAs (natural areas)”. The 

intent of this objective is to better understand the role of natural disturbances in Coastal Plain 

ecosystems. The most appropriate areas to conduct this investigation are in SIAs (natural areas). 

These areas have forest structure and composition most similar to the “natural conditions” that 

may have occurred in pre-settlement forests. 

COMMENT: Any special use proposals that are not compatible with natural area protection 

should be prohibited within natural area boundaries. This includes, but is not limited to, solid 

waste disposal, liquid waste disposal, landfills, and powerline rights-of-way. 

RESPONSE: Standard 4.7.0.1 would prohibit any special use “when the proposed uses are 

inconsistent with the CNF Plan, are in conflict with other forest management objectives or 

applicable Federal statutes and regulations...”. Solid waste disposal, liquid waste disposal, 

landfills, and powerline rights-of-way in SIAs (natural areas) are inconsistent with the CNF Plan. 

COMMENT: The Millis Road Savanna natural area as mapped does not adequately incorporate 

rare species population concentrations or high quality habitat. The boundary needs to be 

expanded to the south and east. 

RESPONSE: We disagree. The Millis Road Savanna SIA (natural area) adequately captures rare 

species concentrations and high quality habitat in this area. To include all rare species and 

community element occurrences south and east of the SIA (natural area) would increase the SIA 

(natural area) size by 300% but would only increase the number of rare element occurrences by 

70%. Furthermore, Millis Road Savanna SIA (natural area) includes all five of the element 

occurrences for rare insects in this area, over half of the rare plant species and 75% of the rare 

bird species element occurrences in the area. 

B2. Recover and sustain rare species and natural communities 

KEY INTEREST: Protected species 

COMMENT: The division of “rare” species into “Sensitive” species and “locally rare” species 

appears to be arbitrary. What are the actual criteria that the Forest Service uses to divide species 

into one category or the other? 

COMMENT: Why is the Eastern Painted Bunting not on either list? 

COMMENT: At Island Creek and a few other rich mesic sites along the northern edge of the 

Croatan, there are numerous species that are absent from most of the Croatan. Most if the 

species are common in the Piedmont of the state, but are rare/very local in the outer Coastal 

Plain. They are not found on any State rare lists, because they are not rare for the state as a 

whole. Why don’t these species qualify for locally rare status? They are native plants and add to 

the diversity of the Croatan. 
256 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: Sensitive species are considered rare on a range-wide basis. They are designated 

by the Regional Forester and have a global rank of G1, G2, or G3 and are considered at risk of 

extinction in a portion of their range as evidenced by downward trends in population numbers or 

density, or downward trends in habitat capability. The Forest Supervisor designates locally rare 

species and these species usually have a state rank of S1, S2, or S3. They are not at risk of 

extinction, even in a portion of their range, and do not show a downward population trend over 

their range as a whole. However, they are uncommon within North Carolina and on the CNF 

and add to the locally biological diversity on the CNF. For the sake of brevity, both sensitive 

and locally rare species have been referred to as "rare species" in the Biological Evaluation 

(FEIS). Management of sensitive species focuses on maintaining species viability across USFS 

administered lands. Management of locally rare species focuses on maintaining representation 

within a Forest to provide for diversity of plant and animal communities as required by the 

National Forest Management Act (NFMA). 

Rare species lists are maintained to highlight those species that are at the greatest risk of 

extirpation. These lists are not static. Species on the list are ‘red flags’ to land managers, 

alerting them to use caution with management actions that may impact habitat suitability. Rare 

species lists may not include all species that occur in isolated habitats, especially those that are 

disjunct from their central range. Disjunct species, like those found at Island Creek, and species 

like the Eastern Painted Bunting, are rare on the CNF but do not qualify as locally rare because 

they do not meet the S1, S2, or S3 criteria (they are abundant in the State). We agree, this 

distinction may seem arbitrary. However, a species does not have to be ‘listed’ to be given 

protection if site-specific analysis reveals that a population is important for maintaining diversity 

within a planning unit (CNF boundary). The NFMA and USFS policy requires that the diversity 

of all native species be maintained within the CNF boundary. 

One hundred and thirteen sensitive or locally rare species either occur now or could potentially 

occur in the future within the administrative boundaries of the CNF (CNF Plan, Appendix C). 

Fifty-three of these species are defined by the USFS as sensitive and 60 are defined as locally 

rare. 

COMMENT: The language concerning surveys for PETS species (2.55) violates the decision in 

Sierra Club v. Martin 168 F3d 1, and mirrors that of the contested forest plan amendments in 

Georgia and Alabama. PETS species require extra attention, due to their imperiled status. 

Ignoring their presence by making surveys optional will lead to more habitat loss and lead to 

more ESA listing. Further, it violates the Vegetation Management EIS. Surveys for PETS 

species must occur prior to any disturbance of ecosystems. 

RESPONSE: This language has been removed from the Plan; the need for PETS surveys for 

project analysis will now follow direction contained in the Regional Supplement for Forest 

Service Manual 2670. 

KEY INTEREST: Habitat for protected species 

COMMENT: Areas around existing habitat for the Argos skipper and Venus flytrap cutworm 

moth be restored, allowing populations to expand. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 257 

RESPONSE: Prescribed fire will continue to be the primary tool used at Millis Road Savanna to 

restore habitat conditions for the Argos Skipper and Venus Flytrap Cutworm Moth. Fire will be 

allowed to burn in a natural mosaic pattern [Objective 2.5.2.2] and adjacent fire compartments 

will not be burned in consecutive years [Objective 2.5 2.2]. These precautions will significantly 

reduce the likelihood that all preferred habitat for these species (the ecotone between pine 

uplands and pocosin wetlands) would be impacted during the same year. The continued use of 

prescribed fire, within these limits, should allow the Argos Skipper and Venus Flytrap Cutworm 

Moth populations to expand on the CNF. 

COMMENT: The Plan proposes to maintain 25 acres of existing maritime habitat in a younger 

than 40 year old successional stage and to restore 10 acres of maritime forest. Where is this 

habitat, and what is the purpose of artificially maintaining the existing forest in a variety of 

successional stages, when the natural processes that accomplish this are still occurring? 

RESPONSE: This was an error in the draft Plan. The final Plan proposes to maintain 25 acres of 

existing maritime forest and allow it to progress to an older stand condition [Objective 2.1.3.5) 

and restore 10 acres of maritime forest [Objective 2.1.3.4]. Most of the existing and potential 

habitat for maritime forest occurs near Cedar Point and at Oyster Point. 

COMMENT: Are there efforts to re-establish Atlantic White Cedar in its natural range? 

RESPONSE: Alternative E, includes an objective [Objective 2.1.3.4] to restore 25 acres of 

Atlantic White Cedar on suitable sites on the CNF, considered within it natural range. 

KEY INTEREST: American woodcock 

COMMENT: An important omission in the plan is the failure to mention the importance of the 

Croatan as a wintering area for American woodcock or to provide for proper habitat for this 

diminishing species. The importance of the Croatan to woodcock should be delineated and 

described in the plan. 

RESPONSE: In a recent species profile of American woodcock (McAuley & Clugston, 2001), 

winter habitat is identified as primarily bottomland hardwoods, upland mixed pine-hardwoods, 

and recently burned longleaf pine stands but includes a variety of other habitats. Habitat 

requirements include dense understory vegetation for cover and nearby open areas for roosting 

and foraging. Open areas used by woodcocks include forest openings, recent clearcuts, and open 

fields. 

The American woodcock is not listed in the 2001 NC Natural Heritage Program list of rare 

animals of North Carolina. The Plan, however, provides management direction that would 

maintain wintering habitat for this species. The Plan proposes to maintain or restore 6,200 acres 

of forested wetlands [Objective 2.1.6.1], to maintain and restore longleaf pine 

savannas/flatwoods on appropriate soils [Objectives 2.1.1.6 and 2.4.1.1], and to expand the role 

of prescribed fire primarily in pine savannas and flatwoods. Existing mixed pine-hardwood 

forests will be maintained on appropriate soils. Furthermore, CNF maintains a system of wildlife 
258 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

openings with forested habitats and provides additional open areas in naturally occurring forest 

gaps, existing rights-of-way, and recent forest clearings (i.e. salvage cuts and proposed 

clearcuts). 

KEY INTEREST: Bald Eagles 

COMMENT: The Croatan could help the recovery of the Bald Eagle by defining strictly what 

“older large diameter trees near open water” would be protected. 

COMMENT: If trees suitable as potential bald eagle nest trees are protected and allowed to grow 

and develop on sites close to water the CNF has an excellent chance to establish a viable 

breeding population of at least 5 nesting pairs. Important potential CNF areas may be developed 

along (1) the Neuse River between road 1112 and Temple, (2) the Mill Creek drainage into 

Newport River bay, (3) Bogue Sound between Mansfield and Cedar Point, (4) White Oak below 

Haywood landing, and (5) Great Lake. 

COMMENT: Under the “Recover and Sustain Rare Species and Communities” section in 

Chapter 2, no provisions are made for protecting potential nest sites for the bald eagle – a 

federally listed (T) species that nests along coastal waters from Florida to Chesapeake Bay. The 

Biological Assessment mentions that implementation of the CNF Plan would result in a 

considerable amount of habitat for the bald eagle. It also specifies that all acres of older, large 

diameter trees near open water would be retained and managed to protect this condition ( BA 

p.E-6). If such a statement is in the plan exists, or is added, it serves only as a “course filter” 

which is inadequate for the species. The coarse filter is inadequate because the possibility exists 

that timber harvest may destroy the trees on one, or more, of the best potential nest sites. The 

final Plan should (1) include adequate protective language in this section, and (2) commit the 

CNF to timely implementation of a bald eagle habitat inventory and a bald eagle habitat 

management policy. 

RESPONSE: Bald eagles can be found on CNF and the surrounding waterways year-round. A 

nest was recently confirmed on CNF land and successfully produced one fledgling. Bald eagles 

have been observed regularly along both the Neuse and White Oak Rivers but no nests have yet 

been confirmed in these areas. USFS personnel have searched parts of the White Oak River and 

its’ tributaries for nests. 

Bald eagles most often nest in the ecotone of forest and marsh or water, and nests are constructed 

in older, dominant or codominant living pines or bald cypress that are four kilometers or less 

from open water providing a food source. Nest trees are often supra canopy trees that stand taller 

than other trees in the forest providing a clear view and easy access. A standard has been added 

to the Plan (4.2.0.10) that will provide protection of supra canopy trees within 300 feet of lakes 

and rivers. These trees may be cut only when they pose a health or safety hazard to forest users. 

Protection for bald eagle nesting and foraging habitat can be found within the following sections: 

• Section 2.1.3 - Recover and sustain rare species and communities [Objectives 2.1.3.1 and 

2.1.3.2]; 

• Section 2.1.4 – Restore old growth forests [Objectives 2.1.4.1 and 2.1.4.2]; 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 259 

• Section 2.1.6 – Maintain hardwood cypress wetlands [Objective 2.1.5.1]; 

• Section 2.1.8 – Restore hydrologic function and sustain aquatic systems [Objectives 

2.1.8.4 and 2.1.8.5]; 

• Section 2.3.1 – Wilderness [Goals 2.3.1.a and 2.3.1.d]; 

• Section 2.3.2 – River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status [Objectives 

2.3.2.1 to 2.3.2.5]; and 

• Section 2.6.1 – Providing access while protecting natural resources. 

In addition, only one management prescriptions is suited for timber production, the RCW HMA 

[Standard 4.4.1.1], and this area is less likely to support habitats suitable for the bald eagle than 

other management prescriptions. 

Site-specific biological evaluations will be conducted for all projects to determine effects to 

PETS species [Standard 4.2.0.8]. This should provide an additional level of protection for the 

bald eagle. The bald eagle is currently federally listed as a threatened species and therefore, will 

be considered in all biological evaluations. If any project is proposed in an area containing 

suitable habitat for this species, a biologist will visit the site, search for eagles and nests, review 

occurrence records, and speak with others familiar with the area to see if eagles occur or have 

occurred within the area. At that time, it will be determined whether the bald eagle nests in the 

area. If it is found there are bald eagles in the area, consultation will begin with the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service to determine which actions, if any, would be allowed in the project area. 

B3. Old Growth 

KEY INTEREST: Definition of old growth 

COMMENT: The definition of old growth seems to indicate that only trees about to die are old 

growth. The appendices do not give a definition and the one in the DEIS glossary is vague and 

open to a wide range of interpretations. Define old growth for long leaf pine stands as stands 

that are characterized by widely spaced dominant trees that have rounded to nearly flat tops, a 

high decadence and rough-plated bark. Such trees range between 150 and 300 or more years of 

age.

COMMENT: The definition of “old growth” is illogical and unworkable. It indicates old growth 

begins when the tree/stand is expected to die of old age. That essentially eliminates old growth 

as a significant period in the life span of a tree or stand of trees. The term old growth represents 

a period of time, at least several decades in length, that is the last stage of life of a tree/stand. 

RESPONSE: The characteristic of “rough-plated bark” has been added to the description of old 

growth longleaf pine in Chapter 3.13.1. All other characteristics of old growth identified in these 

comments are included in this description. 

The description of old growth in Chapter 2.1.4 is intended to portray, in general, the old growth 

stage of succession for a variety of tree species and plant communities. It is not meant to imply 

that “old growth begins when the tree/stand is expected to die of old age”. Many trees, roughly 

half, would be expected to be alive beyond their average life expectancy in an old growth stand. 
260 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Old growth is not the last stage of the life of a stand. Old growth is a stand condition and a point 

on a continuum. The old growth condition will persist until a major disturbance eliminates all 

components important to old growth function such as large trees, numerous large snags, and 

downed logs in various stages of decay. As pointed out in Chapter 3.13, the age at which old 

growth conditions occur and the length of time that they are retained, depends upon the plant 

community type, life expectancy of a tree species, and the severity and intensity of disturbance. 

KEY INTEREST: Designation and management of old growth 

COMMENT: The designated old growth longleaf pine stands will not provide adequate old 

growth function over time because they are too small in size and are surrounded by younger 

forests managed using even aged silvicultural systems. 

COMMENT: All of the natural longleaf stands on the Croatan should be allocated to old growth. 

Delineate one or more large (greater than 2500 acres) patch contiguous or proximate areas of 

existing longleaf forests and longleaf savanna landtype and allocate these areas to old growth. 

The most logical areas to allocate a large old growth longleaf patch is within Management Area 

4, which also contains several natural areas and about half of the existing RCW clusters on the 

Forest. 

COMMENT: The Forest Plan allocates “small” old growth patches, but no large or medium 

patches. Without large, undisturbed patches of old growth, recovery of many wide-ranging 

species (such as cougar and red wolf) will be precluded. The Forest Service must provide large 

patches of undisturbed forest to recover as old growth, or it will be in violation of the 

Endangered Species Act, Section 7(a)(1), 16 USC 1536(a)(1). 

COMMENT: Restore old growth by leaving areas undisturbed such as upland hardwoods and 

cypress swamps. 

COMMENT: Leaving small patches of old growth in a matrix of early to mid successional 

stands risks declining functionality during their lifetime by forcing them to function over the 

long term as islands, which means lower species diversity than larger tracts of habitat. 

RESPONSE: The intent of habitat management on the CNF is to provide forest composition and 

stand conditions, including old growth, similar to those found in pre-settlement forests. 

Historical accounts and more recent observations of population declines of native species in the 

Eastern Coastal Plain indicate that pre-settlement forests provided the composition and structure 

necessary to support a wide variety of rare as well as common species in this area. Old growth 

forests were a component of pre-settlement forests in the Coastal Plain, but their extent is 

speculative given the lack of historical documentation and the frequency and intensity of natural 

disturbance (hurricane and wildfire) that could ‘set back’ forest stand development to earlier 

successional stages. Within this background of uncertainty and the need to provide conditions to 

maintain species diversity, the CNF Plan attempts to set realistic objectives for the extent of old 

growth on the landscape. A classification of ecological types was developed (Appendix A) to 

address the issue of potential natural communities, and the structure of landscapes on the CNF 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 261 

was analyzed to assess the distribution and configuration of natural landscape components, 

namely the matrix, corridors, and patches. 

The CNF is primarily a matrix of pocosin and pond pine with small patches of upland mixed 

pine and longleaf pine forests. Pocosin habitat totals 74,000 acres and occurs in 155 mapped 

polygons with 480 acres average polygon size. Pond pine forest habitat totals 32,000 acres and 

occurs in 185 mapped polygons with 172 acres average polygon size. These two ecological 

types account for over two-thirds of the land on the CNF. Within this matrix are corridors of 

hardwood-cypress swamps (7,800 acres total; 126 polygons; 62 acres average polygon size), and 

patches of upland, mixed-pine forests (8,000 acres total; 145 mapped polygons; 55 acres average 

polygon size), and upland, potential longleaf pine forests (16,000 acres total; 843 polygons; 30 

acres average polygon size). Regardless of the potential natural vegetation that can occur on the 

CNF, the natural topography controls the patch sizes of communities, including those in old 

growth condition, and their distribution on the Forest. Upland plant communities such as mixed 

pine and longleaf pine, within this Coastal Plain landscape composition, will always be relegated 

to relatively small to medium-sized patches on the CNF. 

The Plan directs that old growth forests will be identified and maintained on the CNF within 

portions of three broad plant community groups: “Retain at least 1/3 of ecologically suitable 

landtypes in old growth Southern Wet Pine Forests, Woodlands and Savannas (10,000 of 30,000 

acres), Cypress-Tupelo Swamp (2,300 of 7,000 acres), and Upland Mesic Hardwoods (300 of 

1,000 acres)” [Standard 4.2.0.4]. These community groups occur in management prescriptions 

that are not suited for timber production [Standard 4.4.1.2]. Therefore, all forests in these 

prescriptions, except approximately 2,000 acres of ‘offsite’ pine which will be restored to 

hardwood, will be left undisturbed and allowed to develop without direct management actions. 

Furthermore, where old growth stands are identified in these areas, no tree harvest will occur 

unless it enhances old growth structure [Standard 4.4.1.5]. These standards should ensure that 

small, medium, and medium-large patches of old growth, relative to the natural landscape 

configuration, exist across the CNF on sites that support these communities groups. 

The Plan also identifies approximately 1,800 acres of potential old growth longleaf pine forest 

(Appendix M) in small (5 to 25 acres), and medium-sized (100 to 200 acres) areas across the 

CNF and provides the direction to “Conserve and restore ‘this’ network of small and mediumsized areas of potential old growth for Upland Longleaf Pine communities” [Standard 4.2.0.3] 

and to manage these areas as not suited for timber production [Standard 4.4.1.2]. These areas of 

potential old growth forest were identified from Continuous Forest and Stand Condition (CISC) 

data, descriptions of SIAs (natural areas), and local knowledge. Many of these stands occur in 

RCW nest clusters and in SIAs (natural areas) in the southern portion of the CNF, identified as 

Management Area 4. 

One of the primary goals in the Plan is to restore longleaf pine in stands that are currently 

occupied by ‘off site’ species. By design, forests that are currently longleaf pine will not be 

converted to other forest types, will be maintained as savanna [Objective 2.1.1.6], and will be 

allowed to develop into older forest condition. Nearly all of the approximately 12,000 acres of 

stands on the CNF classified as longleaf pine forest type occur in the RCW HMA and are well 

below the required rotation age of 120 years for the species. All longleaf pine stands, except 
262 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

those designated as old growth, are below 80 years in age and therefore no regeneration harvests 

can occur in this forest type during implementation of the Plan. Thinning of these stands 

[Standard 4.4.0.5] may occur to meet RCW nest and forage standards in the RCW EIS and 

Recovery Plans [Standard 4.2.1.1]. Thinning will create a more open stand structure and will 

stimulate growth in residuals trees by reducing root and crown competition. The intent of these 

standards is to provide conditions more similar to those found in old growth stands. 

Large areas of old growth longleaf pine are not likely to develop during the next decade because 

of the current age of stands, the extent of ‘off-site’ species on longleaf pine sites, and the natural 

landscape composition on the CNF. There are approximately 500 longleaf pine stands on the 

CNF and they vary from 2 to 225 acres in size. The average stand size is only 27 acres and this 

is due primarily to the dissected nature of the CNF landscape. There are few contiguous upland 

sites that are considered ‘large’ (greater than 400 acres in size) that could support longleaf pine 

forests; most are divided by pocosin or drainages dominated by hardwoods. The creation of 

large areas of old growth longleaf pine forests on the CNF is possible only through restoration of 

longleaf pine forests in these few large upland forest areas and by maintaining stands that are 

currently at or near old growth condition. 

The amount of old growth on the CNF and its configuration with other forest conditions is 

dependent upon current conditions, natural disturbance events, and the planned creation of early 

successional habitats. Currently, 16,000 acres or 10 percent of the CNF forests are less than 20 

years in age and over 120,000 acres or 70 percent of forests are between 60 to 80 years in age. 

During Plan implementation, an objective is identified for only 500 to 750 acres of clearcutting 

[Objective 2.4.1.1], which will increase the amount of younger forests by approximately 3 to 5 

percent. Longleaf pine restoration using a shelterwood with reserve trees method is planned for 

an additional 1,250-1,750 acres [Objective 2.4.1.1], which will maintain older forest structure in 

these areas. If all vegetation management Plan objectives are met, approximately 14,400 acres 

of old growth management areas will be surrounded by over 100,000 acres of mid to late 

successional, 60-80 year old stands not managed by even-aged silvicultural systems, and 7,500 

acres of early successional pocosin habitat [Objective 2.1.5.1] managed by prescribed fire. 

COMMENT: Use several examples for reference conditions. Since much of the acreage of old 

growth-other is pond pine woodland, it would be good to include a pond pine woodland 

reference condition description. 

RESPONSE: A description of the reference condition for old growth pond pine woodlands is 

included with Southern Wet Pine Forests, Woodlands, and Savannas [Chapter 3.13.1]. Less is 

known about the structure of these communities in old growth condition, e.g. number of large 

trees per acre, snags, or downed wood, than is known about longleaf pine forests. The 

description of old growth pond pine woodland composition, is therefore, emphasized over 

structure and is not used as the primary example of reference condition. 

COMMENT: In the description of probable management practices, occasional timber harvesting 

should be more specifically stated as being used for restoring old growth structure through gap 

creation, thinning and provisioning of large woody debris. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 263 

RESPONSE: This refinement has been added. The description of probable management 

practices includes “occasional timber harvesting for restoring old growth structure through gap 

creation, thinning, and providing large woody debris” [Chapter 3.13]. 

COMMENT: When an old growth designation overlays another designation, which prescription 

takes precedence and what management activities are allowed? 

RESPONSE: Whenever management prescriptions overlap, the more restrictive standards take 

precedence. For example, when old growth occurs in the RCW HMA, the area is not suited for 

timber production but trees may be cut to restore old growth structure. When old growth occurs 

in a natural area, the more restrictive standards in SIAs (natural areas) that limit land exchanges 

would apply. Similarly, no mechanized equipment could be used to manage old growth that 

overlaps a wilderness area. 

COMMENT: The mapping of old growth around Holston Creek needs to be expanded. Hunter 

Creek is incorrectly mapped as pine savanna and flatwoods, and needs to be designated as old 

growth. 

RESPONSE: Old growth at Holston Creek has been expanded from 26 to 49 acres and now 

includes all of stand 29 within compartment 42 (Appendix M). At Hunter Creek, the error has 

been corrected; stand 6 (a longleaf pine type) has been designated as old growth instead of stand 

8 (a hardwood type). There is approximately 140 acres of old growth longleaf pine designated in 

this area including stands 6, 18, 19, 20, and 21 in compartment 55 (Appendix M).

COMMENT: No acreage for old growth protection is given, despite acreages for other areas, 

such as oak, wetlands, lakes, longleaf pine, pinestraw production, etc. Lack of old growth (less 

than 400 acres – 2.10) means that no cutting or removal should occur. 

RESPONSE: Forestwide standards provide acreage figures for three categories of old growth: 

Southern Wet Pine Forests, Woodlands and Savannas (10,000 of the 30,000 acres), CypressTupelo Swamp (2,300 of the 7,000 acres), and Upland Mesic Hardwood (300 acres of the 1,000) 

[Standard 4.2.0.4]. Appendix M includes acreage figures for longleaf pine old growth. 

 

KEY INTEREST: Timber management of old growth 

COMMENT: Use of uneven-aged management and the group selection method of regeneration 

across the entire timber production land base to conserve older age trees with old growth 

characteristics (as we recommend for lands suitable for timber production) would minimize the 

risk of declining function. 

COMMENT: Extensive cutting of mature loblolly may leave stands of old growth longleaf more 

vulnerable to hurricane winds. 

RESPONSE: Alternative E refines the purpose, reduces the extent, and alters the mix of timber 

harvest methods on the CNF. The primary purpose of timber harvest is to restore longleaf pine 

or to thin longleaf, loblolly, or mixed pine stands [Objectives 2.4.1.1 and 2.4.1.2]. The objective 
264 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

for using clearcutting as a restoration method has been reduced from 2,500 acres during a tenyear period to 500 to 700 acres. The objective for using a two-age system as a restoration 

method has remained the same, and the objective of regenerating mixed pines on 2,000 acres in a 

ten-year period has been eliminated. The use of prescribed fire and supplemental artificial 

planting has been added as an objective on 900 to 1,100 acres to restore longleaf pine in off-site 

loblolly pine plantations. 

The overall reduction in cutting of mature loblolly pine stands and the retention of significant 

forest structure in shelterwood with reserve trees harvest areas will reduce forest stand and 

landscape level impacts on the CNF including the vulnerability of old growth longleaf pine 

stands to hurricane winds. The shelterwood with reserve trees method retains 6 to 10 overstory 

trees per acre, leaving older trees in the canopy that can develop old growth characteristics. 

These harvest areas, along with the extensive number of mid to late seral forests (EIS Table 

3.20), where no timber harvest occurs, will reduce the risk that old growth function will decline 

during implementation of the Plan because a large amount of structure is being maintained across 

the landscape. 

COMMENT: Old growth areas should not be logged. 

COMMENT: Old growth longleaf, cypress/tupelo and upland mesic hardwoods should be 

removed from the timber base and the exact reasons why stated in the text. If there are any 

limited circumstances under which trees could be selectively removed from these old growth 

types, these should be clearly described within the prescription. 

RESPONSE: In the Plan, old growth forests are not suited for timber production [Standard 

4.4.1.2] but occasional tree cutting may occur for restoring old growth structure through gap 

creation, thinning, and to provide large woody debris [Chapter 3.1.3]. Although tree cutting is 

allowed [Standards 4.4.1.5, 4.4.1.6], the Plan prohibits “removal of old trees, snags, or downed 

logs if they will alter old growth structure” [Standard 4.4.1.7]. These standards take precedence 

over forest-wide standards that define the limits of tree cutting on land classed as not suited for 

timber production [Standard 4.4.0.14]. 

COMMENT: The standards for Forest Products should be modified as follows: 

1. Timber will not be harvested in the upland pine communities, since they have already 

achieved old growth structure. If the midstory becomes too dense or too mature to be 

controlled by fire, cutting and application of herbicides may be used. 

2. Timber may be harvested in old growth community types other than upland pine 

communities if the structural characteristics of the forest clearly indicate a need for 

restoration forestry. If multi-ages structure is present, no timber harvest is needed. If 

the forest is too dense, overstory trees may be removed in groups of 1/10 acres or less 

to create gaps, or midcanopy trees may be thinned. 

3. For any old growth forest type, timber harvest may occur to reduce risks to adjacent 

stands from insect attacks or disease conditions. 

4. In a multi-age old growth stand, natural treefall should be sufficient to provide woody 

debris to support aquatic habitat structure. In stands which have not yet achieved old 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 265 

growth structure, and woody material is insufficient in streams, individual overstory 

trees may be felled into the stream. 

5. Leave scattered large woody debris on the ground when forests are thinned, or have 

gaps created, to provide food and shelter for animal species. 

6. Leave as it is currently written. 

RESPONSE: The standards for the old growth management prescription include all of these 

suggestions. 

Suggestions 1 and 2: Trees may not be cut in any old growth management prescription, 

including upland pine communities, if they have already achieved old growth structure, except 

for the purposes of human safety [Standard 4.4.1.5]. If the midstory become too dense or too 

mature to be controlled by fire, thinning of mid-canopy and low thinning of canopy codominates 

is allowed if it will enhance old growth structure [Standard 4.4.1.5]. Overstory trees may be 

felled in 1/10 acre or less groups in all old growth management prescriptions to create gaps 

[Standard 4.4.1.5]. However, no timber will be removed (harvested) if this will alter old-growth 

structure [Standard 4.4.1.7]. 

Suggestion 3: Timber felling may occur in old growth management prescriptions to reduce risks 

to adjacent stands from insect attacks or disease condition [Standard 4.4.1.5]. 

Suggestion 4: Overstory trees may be felled if there is a need for large downed material to 

improve habitat structure for fish in streams [Standard 4.4.1.6]. If natural tree fall is sufficient to 

provide woody debris to support aquatic habitat structure, there is no need to apply this standard. 

Suggestion 5: Standard 4.4.1.7 prohibits “removal of old trees, snags, or downed logs if they 

will alter old-growth structure”. This standard will ensure that large scattered woody debris will 

provide food and shelter for animal species. 

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C1. Maintain Black bear habitat 

KEY INTEREST: Early successional habitat for black bear 

COMMENT: Sections of the Plan are less than clear about the methodology to be used for 

creating early and mid-successional habitat for black bears, based on the research available. The 

potential methods of drum chopping and small clearcuts to create this habitat, especially within 

the boundaries of the proposed natural areas, Masontown Pocosin and Union Point Pocosin 

should not occur. 

COMMENT: An historic basis for your early successional habitat targets needs to be established. 

Evaluate the current availability and distribution of early successional habitat before artificially 

creating new habitat. 
266 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: There are no acre objectives set for drum chopping and small clearcuts to enhance 

black bear habitat, however, objectives for habitat conditions are identified [Objective 2.1.5.1 

through 2.1.5.4]. Although clearcutting and drum chopping are not prohibited in black bear 

habitat [Standard 4.4.0.6] their use will be limited by funding and access (they would occur 

adjacent to existing roads). Prescribed fire is the primary tool that will be used to create early 

successional habitat in pocosins. As more research becomes available on the proper season and 

condition for burning pocosins, prescribed fire will be used on a 5 to 12 year rotation to reduce 

risks of wildfire [Objective 2.5.1.3] and create habitat conditions suitable for black bear. An 

evaluation of the needs for habitat enhancement will be made on a site-specific basis before any 

vegetation management projects in black bear habitat will be implemented. 

COMMENT: Why is active management described under the background discussion for 

enhancing black bear habitat (prescribed burns, small clearcuts, drum-chopped areas), while part 

of the goal is to minimize human disturbance and habitat modification? The information is 

contradictory. 

RESPONSE: Black bears need a variety of habitat conditions to provide food, hiding cover, and 

denning areas (Chapter 2.1.5). They also prefer large blocks of habitat free from frequent human 

disturbances such as hunting. Active vegetation management may be needed to provide these 

conditions because natural disturbance events such as wildfires, that once created a mosaic of 

habitat conditions, are now suppressed for human safety reasons. Both wildfire and vegetation 

management are forms of disturbance that could directly impact black bears. However, when 

they occur on an infrequent basis, such as the 5 to 12 year rotation suggested for pocosin burning 

[Objective 2.5.1.3], they can enhance long-term habitat conditions. 

KEY INTEREST: Description and management of Black Bear Habitat Management Area 

COMMENT: Restrict construction of new roads within the Black Bear HMA, especially the 

Union Point and Masontown pocosins, by adding this as a standard under Access. 

RESPONSE: One of the primary goals in managing black bear habitat is to minimize human 

disturbance. To help meet this goal, objectives are set for closing all existing unauthorized 

routes [Objective 2.6.1.2] as well as 15 to 20 miles of existing authorized roads [Objective 

2.6.1.1]. Standards further restrict disturbance from roads in black bear habitat by prohibiting 

public access on existing closed roads in these areas [Standard 4.6.1.7] and prohibiting new 

recreation uses from the central core of black bear habitat [Standard 4.6.1.8]. It is very unlikely 

that any new roads would be constructed in black bear habitat, especially in significant wetlands 

such as the Union Point and Masontown pocosins. 

COMMENT: Atlantic white cedar seems unlikely to be found in MA 5, southeast of Havelock, 

as described in the reference condition for black bear habitat. 

RESPONSE: We agree that Atlantic white cedar is unlikely to be found in the large pocosins 

southeast of Havelock. The reference to this species has been removed. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 267 

COMMENT: Emphasis should be made that where the Black bear HMA designation overlaps 

with a management or embedded prescription designation, the other designation takes 

precedence. 

RESPONSE: The discussion on embedded prescriptions has been expanded and more clearly 

defines the precedence of standards (Chapter 3.1). In most cases, smaller scale prescriptions 

have more restrictive standards than those they are embedded within. The same logic applies 

when two primary prescriptions overlap. For example, there are areas on the CNF where SIAs 

(natural areas) are embedded in black bear habitat. The more restrictive standards for SIAs 

(natural areas) would apply in these black bear habitat areas. 

KEY INTEREST: Military training within the Black Bear Habitat Management Area 

COMMENT: Within the Black Bear Habitat Management Area, why are military training 

operations considered “probable management practices?” What does this involve? What is the 

potential for military operations disturbing bears and driving them into areas where they are 

likely to be injured or killed – by poachers or collisions with automobiles? The DEIS does not 

address this potential impact. 

COMMENT: Intense or high use military training within the Black bear HMA should only be 

permitted to occur in January and February. 

 

RESPONSE: Military training operations are permitted on the Croatan National Forest. The 

operations include foot travel by infantry Marines, bivouacking, individual/small group 

parachuting, and low level helicopter flights. Many times the foot travel training exercises take 

place within pocosin habitat to simulate rough conditions found elsewhere in the world. Since 

the black bear management prescription is predominantly pocosin, military training operations is 

included as a probable management practice. Ground military training exercises are not 

permitted in specially designated areas including wilderness areas and special interest areas. 

Military vehicles are prohibited from going “off-road”. 

For the last several years an average of five permits per year were issued for military ground 

training exercises. Each ground exercise lasted an average of two days. Due to the limited use 

of open roads and administrative sites for military operations it is unlikely these operations 

would increase the chances of black bears being injured or killed by poachers or automobiles. In 

addition, military ground operations, along with other types of activities proposed in the black 

bear habitat management prescription are evaluated and mitigated if the action would 

substantially alter natural movement patterns of bear [Standard 4.2.0.15]. 

The black bears living within and around the Croatan National Forests are adapted to military 

disturbance due to the close proximity of MCAS Cherry Point Naval Base. According to a 

Report to Congress on the “Potential Impacts of Aircraft Overflights of National Forest System 

Wildernesses (July 1992)”, the effects on large carnivores from overflights are “weak or subtle 

because animals adapt by habituating behaviorally and physiologically to the challenge (p.4-5).” 

The report discussed that animals initially are startled by overflights, but generally adapt very 

well. 
268 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

C2. Maintain hardwood cypress wetlands 

KEY INTEREST: Neotropical bird species 

COMMENT: Of approximately 38 species of neotropical migrants that breed in the Croatan, it 

has been indicated based on census work on the Croatan that no more than 14 occur primarily in 

riverine hardwood systems (including the slopes). Species to consider adding to the list of birds 

benefiting from riparian habitat are yellow-billed cuckoo, Acadian flycatcher, wood thrush, redeyed vireo, northern parula, and prothonotary warbler. The plan revision should specify what 

neotropical migrant species benefit from the proposed riparian management and how the needs 

of neotropical migrants in areas other than riverine hardwood systems will benefit. 

COMMENT: The black-throated green warbler shuns riverine swamps. 

RESPONSE: The yellow-billed cuckoo, Acadian flycatcher, wood thrush, red-eyed vireo, 

northern parula, and prothonotary warbler have been added as species benefiting from the 

proposed hardwood-cypress wetland management prescription. The black-throated green 

warbler has been removed from this discussion. 

Allocating land use in the hardwood-cypress wetlands as habitat for neotropical migrants was not 

intended to fulfill the needs of all neotropical migrants that breed on the CNF. However, these 

wetlands do support a disproportionately large number of these species and therefore warrant 

special attention. The Plan does not specify how the needs of neotropical migrants in areas other 

than riverine hardwood systems will benefit. It is likely that suitable habitat conditions for other 

neotropical migrants will occur in the extensive network of SIAs (natural areas), old growth, 

wilderness, and pine savannas on the CNF. 

KEY INTEREST: Description and designation of hardwood cypress wetlands 

COMMENT: Why is Black Creek swamp used as the reference condition when it does not show 

up on the map as being a hardwood cypress wetland? 

RESPONSE: The scale of the management prescription map is too coarse to clearly see Black 

Swamp Creek. In addition, not all of Black Swamp creek shows up on the map because a part of 

the creek is included within the more restrictive Catfish Lake South Wilderness prescription. 

This map has been improved and enlarged in the final Plan. 

COMMENT: Areas along Holston Creek, in addition to other sites, could qualify as hardwood 

cypress wetlands based on natural canopy cover. Why were these not included? Were they 

designated as No Prescription or Old Growth II to provide increased protection due to the 

management prescription standards? If this is the case, please also designate the Hadnot Road 

Ponds SIA/RNHA as such to ensure a greater degree of protection for it since it was not accepted 

as a Natural Area for the Plan. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 269 

RESPONSE: The hardwood-cypress wetland management prescription boundary was based 

primarily on maps of presettlement riverine swamp communities on the CNF (Frost 1996). 

There are about 7,900 acres of riverine swamp communities on the CNF (Appendix A). 

Approximately 1,500 acres are included in Wilderness and river corridors eligible for Wild and 

Scenic River status management prescriptions and 6,200 acres are included within the hardwoodcypress wetland prescription. The hardwood-cypress wetlands prescription also includes about 

2,000 acres of types that are more upland adjacent to the true riverine hardwood system. Areas 

along Holston Creek are included within the hardwood-cypress wetland prescription and the 

Hadnot Creek Ponds and Longleaf Pine Woods natural area (410 acres) has been identified in the 

Plan in the SIAs (natural areas) management prescription (Chapter 3.12.1). 

KEY INTEREST: Herbicide use 

COMMENT: Under the Water/Hydrology/Soils standards, in the hardwood and cypress wetlands 

prescription, and the hardwood restoration prescription, herbicide use is allowed if the herbicides 

are labeled for use over water when within 150 feet of perennial streams or water bodies. For 

what management purpose would herbicides be applied in these two prescription areas? 

Roadside ditches should be added to protected aquatic habitats and specify that broadcast 

application of herbicides should not occur at all. 

RESPONSE: Wildlife openings exist within the upland hardwood prescription and in the upland 

portions of the hardwood-cypress wetlands. It may be necessary to use herbicides to maintain 

the plants beneficial to wildlife in these openings and to convert non-native vegetation to native 

vegetation (Standard 4.2.1.12). When applying herbicides in wildlife openings, it is usually 

broadcast sprayed with a tractor. It is applied on days with low wind speed. The intention is not 

to apply herbicides within or directly adjacent to streams or other bodies of water. The 

requirement to use only those herbicides labeled for use over water [Standard 4.1.1.6] is an 

added protection to ensure that if spray drift occurs, it will not adversely affect aquatic species. 

KEY INTEREST: Context of objectives 

COMMENT: The stated objective, to maintain or restore 6,200 acres of oak-gum-cypress habitat 

is nebulous in the absence of knowledge about the total amount available. Also, because of the 

wide range of life spans among the various species of trees in this ecosystem, what constitutes 

the “mature successional stage” is uncertain. The term “few canopy gaps” is open to a wide 

range of interpretations. 

RESPONSE: Approximately 6,200 acres of riverine plant communities identified in Cecil Frost’s 

(1996) map of presettlement vegetation on the CNF are included within the hardwood-cypress 

wetlands prescription. The Plan objective is to maintain all existing oak-gum-cypress forests in 

these areas and restore this composition in areas that were damaged by hurricanes in the mid 90s 

(Objective 2.1.6.1). Restoration may include planting hardwoods or allowing natural succession 

to recover this species composition. The desired stand condition for this prescription is a 

predominantly “mature” forest with one-third of the area in old growth condition (Objective 

2.1.4.1 and Standard 4.2.0.4). Because of the frequency of hurricanes in the Eastern Coastal 

Plain, that tend to set back succession, and the lack of historic records of stand dynamics on the 
270 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

CNF, the term “mature” in these systems can easily be debated. In the Plan, oak-gum-cypress 

forests over 60 years old are considered mature and currently over 80% of these forests exceed 

this age limit. These forests are not suited for timber production (Standard 4.4.1.2) and are 

currently meeting their desired condition as landscape corridors (Goal 2.1.6). Therefore little 

active management is necessary in these areas. Although the objective is to have “few canopy 

gaps” in the hardwood-cypress wetlands prescription, their creation will be dictated more by 

natural processes than by active management. 

KEY INTEREST: Timber harvest for salvage and associated site preparation 

COMMENT: Due to the fact that dead and dying hardwoods present little or no insect or disease 

threats to adjacent commercial forests, salvage of hardwoods should be very limited. Timber 

harvest should be limited in this ecosystem to thinning and small group selection cuts. Limit the 

small group selection area to an acreage equivalent of an old growth rotation for bald cypress, 

e.g., 1/250th of the total ecosystem area. Also, give full protection to relict cypress. Change the 

last paragraph in the Hardwood Wetlands for Neotrops Goal to read, “The hardwood-wetland 

ecosystem will be managed on an old growth rotation of 250 years with timber harvest limited to 

no more than ____(calculate) acres per year. No relict cypress will be cut.” 

RESPONSE: The predominant goal of hardwood-cypress wetlands is to maintain these systems 

as important contiguous forest, landscape corridors (Goal 2.1.6). These areas are not suited for 

timber production (Standard 4.4.1.2). Tree may be cut on land classed as not suited for timber 

production for “salvaging or sanitation harvesting of trees or stands that are substantially 

damaged by fire, windthrow, insect or disease attack, or other catastrophes (Standard 4.4.0.14). 

The clearcut regeneration method is allowed in these areas to “rehabilitate lands adversely 

impacted by events, such as fires, windstorms, or insect or disease attacks” (Standard 4.4.0.6). 

However, salvage operations are driven mostly by the desire to maintain scenic integrity 

objectives (Table 4.3a) and will not occur if they interfere with the predominate goal of the 

management prescription to provide intact landscape corridors. 

COMMENT: Under the forest products standards, it is indicated that when salvage occurs, 

regeneration efforts will include site preparation for natural regeneration. Is site preparation 

necessary? Specify what activities would be included as site prep. By conducting management 

activities in these areas, the likelihood of introducing invasive exotics is increased. 

RESPONSE: Site preparation may be used in the hardwood-cypress wetlands management 

prescription to regenerate native species (Standard 4.4.1.4) but only if stands are “substantially 

damaged by fire, windthrow, insect or disease attach, or other catastrophes” (Standard 4.4.0.14). 

Site preparation in the riverine hardwoods communities would likely include thinning or 

herbicide treatment if it is necessary to control invasive exotic species or highly competitive 

native species (such as red maple) to favor oak, gum, and cypress species. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 271 

C3. Restore Hardwoods on Suitable Sites 

KEY INTEREST: Description and management of hardwood sites 

COMMENT: In the Hardwood Restoration section of the Plan under Probable Management 

Activities, the creation and maintenance of long, narrow wildlife openings, and permanent grass 

and forb openings, are likely to occur. However, under the Wildlife and Fish standards it states 

that the construction of new wildlife openings is prohibited. Which is going to be followed? 

Adherence to the standard should occur as indicated, and the actions under probable management 

activities should be changed. 

RESPONSE: This was an error in the draft Plan. The standards developed to reach goals, 

objectives, and desired conditions have been aggregated into one chapter [Chapter 4] for better 

communication. New wildlife openings are prohibited in the hardwood-cypress wetlands 

prescription (Standard 4.2.1.11) but they are not prohibited in the Upland Hardwoods 

Management prescription. One of the primary species favored in the Upland Hardwood 

prescription is wild turkey and it requires not only hardmast producing forests but permanent 

grass-forb openings especially during brood-rearing periods. 

COMMENT: To classify an oak-beech-hickory as mature at 40 years seems too young (as 

indicated under first objective). Since white oak can live to be 600 years old, age 40 is not 

ecologically mature under any management regime. Define mature with an age greater than 40 

years. 

RESPONSE: We agree. In the Plan, mature forests on the CNF dominated by oak, beech, and 

hickory are considered to be greater than 60 years in age (Objective 2.1.7.1). 

COMMENT: The second objective is vague. What percent of maximum potential is represented 

by the 2000 acres of loblolly pine that are to be restored to hardwood – and what is the rational 

for deciding on this treatment acreage. 

RESPONSE: Based on Cecil Frost’s (1996) map of presettlement vegetation and the ecological 

classification (Appendix A), there are approximately 2,000 acres of potential hardwood and 

hardwood-pine ecological types (LTPs 306, 307, 408, 409, 510) that are currently classified by 

the USFS continuous inventory of stand conditions database (CISC) as loblolly pine forests. 

Forests classified in CISC as loblolly pine have at least 70% of the overstory dominated by 

loblolly pine. About one-half of these forests (1,000 acres), occur in the Upland Hardwood 

management prescription. The other approximately 1,000 acres are embedded in the RCW 

HMA, hardwood-cypress wetlands, and river corridors eligible for wild and scenic river status 

management prescriptions. The rationale for deciding to restore some landscapes to 

presettlement conditions is described in Chapter 1 and 2 and is listed as a goal under Issue 2 

“Restore and Protect SIAs (Natural Areas)”. 

COMMENT: The Plan proposes fire prescriptions in hardwood stands, specifically in MA 6 with 

an objective to burn 500 acres of hard mast-producing hardwoods. With the intensity of burns 
272 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

normally conducted on the Croatan, mast production and tree survival would be severely 

impacted following the burns, unless implemented with different methods than used currently. 

RESPONSE: Prescribed burning in the Upland Hardwoods management prescription is limited 

to the dormant season and would occur only in stands where the majority of hardmast producing 

trees, including regeneration, are at least 4-6 inches average diameter (Standard 4.5.1.3). In 

addition, prescribed fire is restricted in the riverine swamp communities in the hardwood-cypress 

wetlands management prescription. These precautions will reduce the risk of prescribed fire 

damage to hardmast producing trees. The discussion of Management Areas (Chapter 4.0 in 1999 

draft) is abbreviated and is included in Appendix A of the Final CNF Plan. Because of this, the 

objective to burn 500 acres of forest types dominated by hardwoods is not included. 

COMMENT: In the reference condition description of hardwood restoration, swamp white oak 

must actually be swamp chestnut oak, and the black-throated green warbler would not occur in 

the upland hardwood habitat described here. Some of the birds listed are not likely to increase as 

a result of the proposed restoration. Additional birds that would increase eventually are the 

yellow-billed cuckoo, Acadian flycatcher, blue-gray gnatcatcher, wood thrush, red-eyed vireo, 

northern parula, ovenbird and hooded warbler. 

RESPONSE: Swamp white oak has been changed to swamp chestnut oak and yellow-billed 

cuckoo, red-eyed vireo, and northern parula have been added to the description of birds found in 

these habitats. Flycatchers, blue-gray gnatcatcher, wood thrush, ovenbird, and hooded warbler 

were already included in this description. 

COMMENT: Some of these areas would naturally have some pines within them and these should 

be retained during restoration. A greater diversity of nesting birds often occurs in areas with a 

few pines rather than pure hardwood. Restoring natural stand composition, rather than removing 

all pines, should be the objective of hardwood restoration. 

RESPONSE: The intent is to restore natural stand composition in the upland hardwood 

management prescription areas that are currently dominated by pines. This composition would 

include a component of pine as stated in the 2nd paragraph of the reference condition (Chapter 

3.8). 

KEY INTEREST: Fox squirrels 

COMMENT: Species assumptions directing some management actions may not be based on 

reliable information. While ambitious, the plan also needs to be realistic, for instance, one plan 

objective in MA3 is to increase the suitable habitat for southern fox squirrel by 25 percent over 

the next 10 years. This is not seen as a realistic goal if suitable habitat is classed as seed 

producing age longleaf pine with an open understory. 

COMMENT: Why the emphasis on fox squirrels? Appendix J states that there are viability 

concerns about it, but there are viability concerns about a lot of species. Some rationale should 

be provided to explain the emphasis. Does the objective of increasing fox squirrel populations 

by 25% require more work than that identified for increasing pine savanna? 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 273 

RESPONSE: The objective to increase suitable habitat for southern fox squirrel has been 

eliminated. The southern fox squirrel was originally chosen as a species representing mature 

longleaf habitat, hard mast, and live den trees because its population can be monitored through 

the use of nest boxes. However, the species was not found in the 30 boxes erected on the 

Croatan. For this reason in combination with the knowledge that habitat is available to support 

the species, fox squirrel will be removed from the MIS list. Its presence in a particular area 

would demonstrate that forest management is providing suitable habitat for other species 

requiring similar habitat, such as the Bachman’s sparrow, bluebirds, great-crested flycatchers, 

various reptiles, red-cockaded woodpeckers, etc. With implementation of growing-season 

prescribed burning in longleaf habitat types, suitable habitat for this species will be increased. 

KEY INTEREST: Standards for the retention and distribution of snags and hardwood, 

including effect of issuing firewood permits. 

COMMENT: Retaining only 36-inch dbh and larger hollow trees will waste smaller trees that are 

useful to many small species of wildlife. Change the standard to 16 inches dbh and larger (as 

provided for in at least one management area) and dropping the requirement for den trees – as 

they would be covered by the hollow tree standard. 

COMMENT: Retention of 2 snags per acre should be regarded as a bare minimum. The standard 

guideline should read “Retain all snags 12 inches dbh and larger and at least 10 feet tall as safety 

permits. If the situation is such that a choice must be made among 2 or more snags the largest is 

highest priority. If during timber sale layout it is obvious that the number of suitable snags that 

can be saved is less than 2 per acre, designate live decadent trees to be left in lieu of snags 

sufficient to at least meet the 2 per acre standard.” 

RESPONSE: Although the den, snag, and hollow tree/hardwood standards apply forest-wide, 

there is only a concern about retaining these components where active vegetation management 

has the potential to reduce their abundance. The amount of clearcutting proposed in the Plan has 

been reduced from 2,500 acres to 500 to 750 during a ten-year period and therefore decreases 

this concern even further. The most active vegetation management is proposed in the RCW 

HMA. In this area, standards in the RCW EIS will apply. These standards include the direction 

to “retain all snags”. To ensure that snags, den trees, and large hardwoods will be retained in 

areas that have experienced extensive hurricane damage, standard 4.4.1.4 limits salvage to only 

trees that are down. 

 

COMMENT: The proposal to limit retention of hardmast producing hardwoods to 10% of 

regeneration units should be changed to leaving them in all areas where available, but limiting 

the number retained, e.g., three per acre of available species that are most valuable for hardmast. 

RESPONSE: The preferred method for retaining hardmast-producing trees in regeneration units 

is to leave clumps of trees instead of individual trees. Trees left in clumps are better able to 

withstand high winds than single individuals left in openings. Ultimately, the number of 

hardmast-producing trees that will be retained is dependent upon their availability. 
274 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: The Plan lacks discussion of firewood management on the Croatan National 

Forest. Is there no demand for firewood from CNF lands? If there is a demand, it should be 

quantified. What mitigative measures does the CNF use to protect den trees, snags, and large 

fallen trees for wildlife? 

RESPONSE: The CNF has not recently issued permits for firewood cutting. However, if there is 

a demand in the future, permits may be issued and they must follow all Plan standards. A forestwide standard has been added (Standard 4.2.1.18) that prohibits the cutting of snags for 

firewood. 

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KEY INTEREST: Ecological value of lakes and ponds 

COMMENT: Excessive emphasis is given to the value of recreational fishing in the background 

discussion in the section for hydrologic function and aquatic systems goals and objectives. 

Specifically, Great Lake and Catfish Lake are discussed as having “very limited potential as 

sport fisheries.” Emphasize the other values of lakes and ponds by adding the following 

statement, “While lakes and small ponds have limited value for recreational fishing, they may 

contain rare species and, due to their limited distribution and variability across the landscape, can 

be considered rare natural community types.” 

RESPONSE: Additional information was added to the background of the section “Restore 

Hydrologic Function and Sustain Aquatic Systems” to emphasize a broader range of values of 

lakes and ponds. The language suggested in comment was used. 

COMMENT: The standards for Water/Hydrology/Soils under the Lakes prescription should 

indicate that the natural hydrology of the lake should not be altered by pumping, dams, etc. 

except when unavoidable in an emergency. The natural chemistry of the lake should be altered 

by liming or other methods. 

RESPONSE: A standard (4.1.1.5) was added to the Soil, Water and Air management prescription 

standards for pocosin lakes and natural areas to “Prohibit all direct and indirect alteration of 

natural hydrology.” 

KEY INTEREST: Maritime forests and improved watersheds 

COMMENT: The maritime forest at Cedar Point that lost many loblolly pines after hurricanes 

should be left to develop naturally with the dominant live oaks and maritime forest species. To 

restore the natural hydrology improves watersheds into estuaries and as a source for drinking 

water. 

RESPONSE: Only hazardous trees have been removed in this area. The maritime forest at Cedar 

Point that was damaged by hurricanes is currently developing naturally. The terrestrial 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 275 

classification and the NC Natural Heritage Program site descriptions will be used as a guide to 

identify suitable sites for restoration of native plant communities (Standard 4.2.0.1). 

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KEY INTEREST: Expansion of recreation facilities. 

COMMENT: Additional good wildlife viewing opportunities are located at the lower Newport 

River at Oyster Point and Catfish Lake. By adding piers, waterfowl improvements, and making it 

easier for canoeing, these areas would greatly enhance wildlife viewing. 

COMMENT: The area located off of the Newport-White Oak Road was a gift given to the Forest 

Service, and has excellent potential for recreation. This area needs to be included in the LMP. 

RESPONSE: The Plan identifies a need for increased recreation opportunities, and sets 

objectives for accomplishing this increase (Objectives 2.2.1.2, 2.2.1.3, and 2.2.2.4). The Plan 

identifies Catfish Lake and other water based areas as sites for adding wildlife viewing 

opportunities (Objectives 2.2.2.1 and 2.2.2.2). The developed areas management prescription 

includes several subsections that discuss recreation in certain environments, specifically water 

based recreation (Sections 3.1.0.1, 3.1.0.2, 3.1.0.3 and 3.1.0.4). Future recreation improvements 

or facilities for these recommended areas would be considered through Plan implementation and 

project-level analysis. 

COMMENT: When new recreation facilities/sites are proposed, consideration should be given to 

the value of the recreational activity in comparison to the resources that may be impacted. High 

quality resources, such as limesink ponds or longleaf pine ecosystems, are irreplaceable, but 

recreational activities can be located in a variety of areas. 

COMMENT: More specifics are needed for the development of other trails, as suggested in the 

Plan, as well as what is proposed for the north shore of Catfish Lake. The Long Point-Haywood 

Landing area would be an excellent site for a new trail that would serve residents in the western 

forest areas well. 

COMMENT: Is there a large enough land base at Cedar Point to increase visitor facilities 

without impacting the maritime forest there? 

RESPONSE: Trail and recreation facility location and design specifics are completed at the 

project level. Environmental analysis will be conducted to ensure that unique and protected 

resources are considered when designing facilities, and that the balance between site locations 

and potential resource impacts are taken into consideration. Project level design and analysis 

also facilitates dialogue with the community and users groups, and time for on-the-ground 

reconnaissance. Decisions made at the project level are more flexible over time, and can be 

more responsive to changes in conditions or user needs. 
276 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: The proposed expansion of Brice Creek parking area to accommodate 150 people 

as described in objectives for MA 1 is well beyond the capacity of the area and would change the 

quality of the recreational experience. It would also contribute to environmental degradation and 

be outside the intent of a Wild and Scenic designation. 

COMMENT: We would like to review plans for all proposed recreational improvements 

including the parking lot at Brice Creek, visitor facility improvement plans at Cedar Point, and 

location of 1-3 fishing ponds. 

RESPONSE: All proposed projects would remain within the guidelines and Recreation 

Opportunity Spectrum designation for the area, including the capacity limits. The parameters for 

river corridors eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation, which is Recreational at this point 

on Brice Creek, would allow for more development than is already currently in place. We will 

coordinate with the public, other resource management groups, and agencies as trail and other 

recreation projects and proposals are evaluated. 

COMMENT: Recreation can be improved with more hiking trails and primitive campsites for 

people to experience the wilderness. Designating several old roads for OHVs, horses, and bikes 

may lessen impacts on sensitive areas. 

RESPONSE: The following objectives are included to further consider this type of recreation 

expansion. 

Objective 2.2.1.4: Over the next 3 years, sign and mark trail systems utilizing input from user 

groups. Trails may be shared among several activity-user groups, and other trails will be 

designated for a single activity use. Develop a horse system of 10 - 20 miles using existing roads 

and new trail construction. Develop a mountain bike system of 20 - 40 miles using existing roads 

and trails. Develop with partners a scenic byway and historic driving tour on the forest. 

Objective 2.3.1.2. In cooperation with user groups, construct hiking and horse trails in some 

portions of established wildernesses where practical and wilderness values can be sustained. 

KEY INTEREST: Limitations on recreation development, use, and water based recreation 

activities. 

COMMENT: Imposing a motor horsepower restriction at Great Lake appears contradictory to 

the theme of increased recreational opportunity, especially since the character of the lake and 

launch facilities already limits boat size and engine horsepower. 

RESPONSE: Most of the national forest land surrounding Great Lake is designated Wilderness, 

an area offering primitive experiences, solitude, and non-motorized use. Lowering the allowable 

horsepower for motors on the lake moves closer to consistency with the Wilderness 

management. 

COMMENT: Water recreational activities in the CNF should be limited to “swimming, 

canoeing, fishing, and camping along rivers” (p S-2) as opposed to inclusion of motorized 

vehicles such as powerboats and jet skis. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 277 

RESPONSE: Motorized watercraft is allowed on national forest land, although informal 

documentation shows very little use by jet skis on the Croatan. Sites allowing motorized 

watercraft are determined by the ROS class and other congressional designations that may put 

limitations on use. For instance, river corridors eligible for Wild and Scenic River status 

determined to be Wild, and Wilderness do not permit motorized craft. 

COMMENT: The surfacing of access points, dispersed recreation sites, or pedestrian access in 

recreational areas should only occur if the area is heavily used or if erosion appears to be a 

problem. Only access points on National Forest should be surfaced, and only materials that do 

not create an impermeable ground surface should be used. 

RESPONSE: Surfacing would only occur on National Forest land and where a need exists to 

control erosion. The Forestwide standard 4.1.0.4 requires that “New ground disturbing projects 

must be designed, implemented, and maintained to prevent visible sediment from entering 

perennial and intermittent stream channels in accordance with the same performance standards 

established for silviculture by the NC Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality (NC 

1989). Existing sites, including dispersed and developed recreation, must be maintained to the 

same performance standards, through restoration and/or rehabilitation.” 

COMMENT: Change the third recreation standard under the Water-based recreation prescription 

to read, “Interpret sites through signing and limited development, while protecting the natural 

resources, which may be associated with the site.” 

RESPONSE: The goals and objectives for Local Communities (2.7.3 and 2.7.3.3) now include 

Heritage Resources, including the interpretation of sites. There is no longer a standard for this 

action. 

COMMENT: In areas with moderate or heavy recreation use, or moderate to high intensity use, a 

restrictive permit system, and consistent law enforcement may control excessive and improper 

use of the resources. 

RESPONSE: Effective user information and education efforts are the first priorities in 

controlling impacts from improper use. A consistent law enforcement presence generally 

reinforces these efforts. Restrictive permit systems are expensive and difficult to administer and 

are a last resort in controlling impacts. 

COMMENT: The Forest Service must fully consider the likely continued growth in recreational 

use on the forests. Credible growth estimates must be established and these estimates must be 

keyed to the assessment of potential impacts of various management strategies. 

RESPONSE: Growth estimates used in the DLRMP were determined through site specific use 

data from the Forest, informal observations of use by FS employees, use information from local 

tourism and chambers of commerce, and trend data from SCORP (Statewide Comprehensive 

Outdoor Recreation Projections) and FS social researchers from the Southern Research Station. 
278 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

KEY INTEREST: Recreation management within Natural Areas. 

COMMENT: Recreation activities within natural areas should be confined to passive activities, 

such as hiking, bird watching, and appreciation of natural areas. Dispersed camping should be 

allowed within natural areas, but only with careful monitoring for impacts and rapid closure of 

the natural area if impacts begin to occur. We agree with the camping prohibition within 100 

feet of limesink ponds in the Patsy Pond complex and Nine Foot Road/Roberts Road Natural 

Area. Any active management proposed to support passive recreation should be reviewed and 

approved by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. 

RESPONSE: Recreation activities proposed for natural areas would meet criteria that conform to 

the appropriate recreation opportunity spectrum, landscape character theme, and scenic integrity 

objectives for natural areas. Proposals would not impact the values for which the natural area 

was established, but would provide some opportunity for the public to experience and appreciate 

those values. Project proposals would undergo an environmental analysis process, including 

solicitation of comments from State and Federal agencies, as well as the public. 

 

KEY INTEREST: Management of the existing and proposed OHV trail system 

COMMENT: Designating illegally used OHV routes as part of an overall legitimate OHV trail 

system will encourage users to create new illegal routes as a means to expand beyond the trail 

system that is designated. All unauthorized roads need to be eliminated and new ones not 

developed for OHV use. 

COMMENT: Eliminate illegal OHV access to natural areas and old growth patches by signage, 

gating and strict enforcement. 

COMMENT: Monitoring of OHV use in unauthorized areas must be part of a vigorous 

enforcement approach. Lack of law enforcement should not be used as an excuse for improper 

OHV use. 

COMMENT: We have strong concerns about locating an OHV area between Pringle Road Bay 

Rims and None Foot Road-Broad Creek Pine Woods, and encouraging OHV use of Pringle 

Road, which transects a natural area. From the GIS layers, it appears that the OHV area may 

actually overlap one of the natural areas. If possible, keep designated OHV areas to locations 

more peripheral to this natural area cluster. 

COMMENT: OHV use should be limited to 8-10 miles of trail and shifted to areas of less 

sensitive plant and animal species. 

COMMENT: OHV use can cause existing roads and trails to degrade. OHV use often leads to 

the creation of illegal, and destructive trails and roads. 

COMMENT: A comprehensive strategy to implement and enforce the new OHV trail system 

should be instituted. This would include an effective educational and interpretive program to 

convey the new policies; an incentive program to reduce or mitigate impacts; and the 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 279 

development of user groups or clubs to assist with the dissemination of information, trail 

maintenance, and to provide self-policing. 

COMMENT: Management should be based on the evaluation of past OHV caused impacts, 

effective and ineffective mitigations, monitoring species and ecosystems, and collecting baseline 

inventory data on species and ecosystems. Results of the evaluation should be used to adjust 

management practices. Until the evaluation results are analyzed, no management decisions 

should be made that would negatively impact species and ecosystems. 

COMMENT: Standards, based on the best available scientific information, should be 

incorporated into OHV use areas. The following are standards to be included – seasonal use 

based on precipitation and forest conditions; site-specific closure criteria such as for wildlife’s 

sensitive life cycle periods; prohibitions on use based on physical and ecological conditions such 

as steep slopes or proximity to riparian areas; enforceable speed limits; restrictions on party size 

and length of stay; anti-harassment of wildlife; controlled amount of use in an area; no night use; 

no weapons; and restriction of use to designated trails and roads. 

RESPONSE: In response to the public comments received on the proposed Croatan Plan, the 

final version of the Plan outlines a modified approach to OHV recreational use of the Croatan 

National Forest. OHV use will be focused in one area, adjacent to and east of, the Black Swamp 

Road. The Forest Supervisor will close all other National Forest land on the Croatan to OHVs 

via a signed closure order. 

The Black Swamp Road area is currently being used by OHVs. This area also provides access 

for fire protection, and for other forest users, especially hunters. A user fee system would be 

established to assist with maintenance of the trail system. Ideally, a user group would form and 

assist with the required maintenance and will help educate other users. Currently the Black 

Swamp Road OHV area consists of approximately 8 miles of loop routes. Other routes 

(approximately ten miles) are short but help disperse travelers and hunters. 

Objective 2.2.1.5 and Management Prescription 3.11 OHV System Management describe the 

intent of the designated area and design. The objective states, “Continue OHV use in the 

designated Black Swamp OHV area. Work with user groups, such as hunters and OHV-riders, to 

monitor and evaluate the Black Swamp Area for opportunities to enhance or improve existing 

routes, re-designate routes, expand routes, close routes, or a combination of these actions.” 

The ideal OHV system would consist of challenging routes that are maintained to a level that 

prevents resource damage. This combination is difficult to attain since a challenging and 

enjoyable ride often requires conditions such as wet, steep, or difficult terrain that may be 

considered less than ideal for preventing resource damage. The system would consist of loop 

travel ways, with a designated parking area, and specific ingress and egress points. Access for 

hunting would continue to be provided, considering the extensive historical use in this area. 

Because of the way in which the existing routes are arranged, between a well-traveled road 

(Black Swamp Road) and the pocosin, expansion of the system through unauthorized means 

would not be possible. 
280 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The design criteria for an OHV system would be based on providing an enjoyable user 

experience while providing for the long-term sustainability of natural resources and the OHV 

routes. Impacts on all resources such as vegetation, wildlife, water, soils, scenery, and other 

forest users and adjacent lands must be mitigated to an acceptable level. 

 

Monitoring of the designated area and routes will be conducted as part of the forest plan 

monitoring program. Chapter 5.0 of the Plan outlines the approach to monitoring. Monitoring 

question 3b will help to gauge the effectiveness of the approach. 

COMMENT: Developing an OHV trail system should also consider where best to place nonmotorized recreational use. The following are some considerations for deciding where nonmotorized use, and thus not OHV traffic, should be established – areas with habitat sensitivities; 

buffer zones around wilderness, proposed or recommended wilderness, Class I air quality areas 

on and off Forest; areas of high non-motorized use value; and all biologically and ecologically 

important areas. 

RESPONSE: Part of the planning process included where to concentrate certain motorized use 

on the National Forest. In conjunction with analysis of motorized use, non-motorized use was 

also analyzed. Objectives relating to non-motorized use include 2.2.1.4, 2.2.2.1, 2.2.2.2, and 

2.3.1.2. The parameters of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) help to define the 

desired conditions for non-motorized use. In some areas of the Forest, such as Wilderness, semiprimitive areas, or other sensitive areas, solitude and remoteness will be emphasized. Other areas 

may offer more opportunities for a variety of non-motorized uses consistent with the capabilities 

of the land. 

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KEY INTEREST: Fishing on the Croatan National Forest. 

COMMENT: Fishing ponds are not necessary on the Croatan with all the existing water within 

and outside the National Forest boundary. If ponds are established, they should be built outside 

natural areas, in previously disturbed sites, and with the assistance of the NC Wildlife Resources 

Commission and Natural Heritage Program. 

RESPONSE: Proposed new ponds are a result of internal evaluations that determined alkaline 

pond fishing settings were in short supply. Use would be by families, groups for special events, 

and anglers who find it difficult to fish the creeks and rivers. Specific locations and number of 

ponds to be constructed will be decided at the project level with public and agency input sought. 

COMMENT: A standard should be added to the Lakes prescription requiring that native fauna be 

maintained and non-indigenous species should not be introduced. 

RESPONSE: Language is added to the Plan to emphasize the importance of native fauna in the 

aquatic systems of the Croatan National Forest (Sections 2.1.8, Table 2.1, and Objective 2.2.2.4). 

Native fish species are preferred over non-indigenous species when manipulating fish 

populations. However, sometimes non-native fish species are used to assist native populations 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 281 

with recovery (For example, using grass carp to control aquatic weeds, which results in better 

habitat for native species.). 

KEY INTEREST: Accommodations for disabled hunters. 

COMMENT: Consider more and/or different accommodations for disabled hunters than are 

currently proposed in the Plan. For example, make all hunter use bridges accessible to the 

disabled; and use funds earmarked for disabled hunter turkey blinds elsewhere since there is a 

low probability of a turkey wandering by a permanent stand. 

RESPONSE: As facilities are constructed, decisions on which facilities/sites will be accessible 

are based partially on site conditions and the ability to integrate the bridge or platform into the 

setting. On projects where accessibility is possible and desirable, we strive to meet the 

Americans with Disability Act standards and guidelines in the design and construction of new 

facilities and the updating of older facilities. This is done to ensure that the full range of 

recreational opportunities and experiences are provided for people with disabilities. Efforts to 

increase accessibility will be prioritized to provide for the widest array of accessibility feasible 

that serves as many persons with disabilities as possible. 

KEY INTEREST: Small game management 

COMMENT: The Plan doesn’t mention management of quail, rabbit, or other small game. The 

Croatan has a tremendous amount of hunting pressure put on small game. There should be an 

aggressive program in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and 

the Forest Service to provide suitable habitat for these animals. 

RESPONSE: The NC Wildlife Resources Commission manages small game populations. The 

Forest Service manages the habitat. The agencies currently cooperate and consult on hunting 

and habitat issues primarily at the project level. This cooperation and consultation will continue. 

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KEY INTEREST: Additional Wilderness designation 

COMMENT: The FS should definitely add the areas proposed in the LRMP (Catfish Lake South 

Additions A&B (405 acres), Pocosin Addition (286 acres). However, the 691 acres proposed for 

designation are out of a possible 20,000, which completely fails to provide for increased 

wilderness protection which is required if endangered species are to recover. The Forest Service 

should recommend wilderness designation for all inventoried roadless areas, including the 

Catfish Lake North roadless area (11,294 acres), the Sheep Ridge Addition (5,806), and Pond 

Pine Addition B (2,980 acres). Each of the areas has partial boundaries to existing wildernesses, 

and thus would prevent future fragmentation of natural areas on the forest. 
282 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: We request no additional wilderness be designated because more restriction to 

National Forest would impact military operations in the area. Specifically, the use of Marine 

Railroad potentially conflicts with the proposed addition to the Pond Pine Wilderness. 

 

RESPONSE: The preferred alternative in the final EIS, Alternative E, proposes to add 691 acres 

to the 31,221 acres of Wilderness currently designated on the Croatan National Forest. The 

additional acreage is to adjust boundaries, which would make management more concise. 

Wilderness designation currently covers almost 20% of the total Croatan National Forest, and 

this addition would slightly increase that amount. 

The Pond Pine Addition would not be desirable as Wilderness since the values for which 

wilderness is designated is compromised due to the close proximity of the Camp Lejeune 

Railroad and military training flights. Additionally, all of the designated Wildernesses on the 

Croatan National Forest are pocosin ecological landtypes. Designating additional pocosin as 

Wilderness does not further protection of this type ecosystem. This is especially true since this 

area and others eligible for designation are classified as roadless areas, and will continue to be 

managed for roadless values – natural, remote and difficult to access. These areas are also within 

the Black Bear Habitat Management Prescription and will be managed as semi-primitive. 

Endangered species recovery on the Croatan National Forest is more dependent on the longleaf 

pine-wiregrass ecosystem and less on large blocks of pocosin habitat. The federally listed RCW 

is unlikely to occur in the pocosin Wilderness on the Croatan and no clusters are currently known 

to occur in the Wilderness. Rough-leaved Loosestrife occurs in the ecotones between pocosin 

and upland habitat (savanna and flatwoods). Designating additional pocosin Wilderness would 

not dramatically contribute to the recovery of the either of these species. 

 

KEY INTEREST: Management of Wilderness Areas 

COMMENT: The artificial structures to be allowed for enhancement of threatened and 

endangered species habitat within wilderness areas should be restricted to those that are required 

for some natural feature that is either in short supply, or no longer available. 

RESPONSE: This standard was not carried forward into the final version of the Plan. Any 

artificial structures that may be used within wilderness areas will be, as stated in comment, 

required for some natural feature that is either in short supply, or no longer available. When 

establishing these artificial structures, all wilderness guidelines must be followed unless 

otherwise indicated. Since wilderness guidelines are documented in Forest Service regulations 

and direction, and will be met if any artificial structures are established within wilderness, a 

standard is not needed. 

COMMENT: Any barriers used to restrict motorized access along Great Lake should avoid 

impacts to rare species, rare natural communities, and high quality natural communities. 

RESPONSE: Prior to implementation, projects are analyzed for potential impacts to these types 

of resources. Any barriers erected would also be analyzed for potential impacts, and mitigated. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 283 

COMMENT: Establishing trails through the wilderness for hikers, mountain bikers, and 

horseback riders seems inappropriate, and may create access for motorized vehicle use of the 

trails, specifically OHVs, and cause exotic plant infestation and spread. 

RESPONSE: Horse trails are proposed in the Plan. Determination of the number and location 

and further effects will be through a project level NEPA process, which will include public 

review and comment. 

COMMENT: Mechanical and motorized vehicles in the wildernesses must be prohibited. 

RESPONSE: No mechanical or motorized use, including mountain bikes, is permitted in 

designated Wilderness Areas, with the several exceptions as outlined in Forest Service Manual 

2326.1, such as a use established before the area was designated as wilderness, e.g. military 

overflights. Exceptions may also occur under certain emergency situations such as wildfire. 

KEY INTEREST: Role of fire in Wilderness 

COMMENT: Prescribed fire should be allowed in wildernesses for maintaining fire-dependent 

natural communities, in addition to fuel reduction, and threatened and endangered species habitat 

enhancement. According to FSM 2324.2, human ignited fires are specifically allowed as long as 

such fires are first approved pursuant to documented, preplanned, specified conditions. The 

manual specifies fire management objectives in wilderness are either to permit lightening caused 

fires to play its natural ecological role within wilderness, or to reduce to an acceptable level the 

risk of wildfire within or escaping wilderness. 

COMMENT: A let-it-burn policy is the only appropriate alternative to wilderness fires. 

COMMENT: When prescribed burning in wilderness, the least invasive firing and control 

methods should be used. This would involve aerial ignition and possibly aerial control, or using 

plowed lines outside of the wilderness boundary. 

RESPONSE: The Plan acknowledges in Section 2.3.1 the role fire plays in the Croatan National 

Forest wilderness. Due to years of fire suppression and fuel accumulation, portions of the 

wilderness are losing the ability to function as diverse, fire-dependent ecosystems. To sustain 

these ecosystems, fire must be reintroduced as a management tool. As part of the reintroduction, 

some areas of wilderness that are close to developed/urban areas, may undergo pre-fire 

treatments to create a defensible space between private and public lands (Goal 2.5.1 and 

Objective 2.5.1.2). The Plan establishes goals and objectives to accomplish the reintroduction of 

fire into the wilderness (Goal 2.5.2a-c, Objectives 2.5.1.3 and 2.5.2.3). 

Due to years of no fire in the wilderness, large fuel accumulations increase the level of risk out 

of acceptable range for letting fire in the wilderness burn on its own. Control of wildfire in the 

wilderness is necessary until some point in the future when the system is under a regular burn 

regime and fuel loads are decreased. Forestwide standards are established for use of firelines 

(Standards 4.5.0.11 – 4.5.0.15). More specifically, Forestwide standards are established for 

wilderness and other sensitive areas (Standard 4.5.0.16) as well. Firing techniques for burning in 
284 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

the wilderness will be determined based on objectives for the burn. The technique that will more 

than likely be used to burn the wilderness is a helicopter and aerial ignition devices that are 

consumed by the fire which they ignite. 

KEY INTEREST: Coincidence of Wilderness and Natural Areas 

COMMENT: New areas proposed for wilderness designation should also be identified as natural 

areas and added to the registry concurrent with finalization of the Plan. 

RESPONSE: Since all previous designated wilderness areas are registered and identified as 

Natural Areas, if additional wilderness is designated, it too will be identified and registered. 

COMMENT: Since Wilderness Areas are registered and identified as Natural Areas, the water 

standard under the Wilderness prescription that specifies leaving canals in their existing 

condition conflicts with the water standard under the Natural Areas embedded prescription that 

states water flow should be stopped in existing canals and ditches except where necessary along 

forest roads. One says to leave canals and ditches as they are, and the other says to plug them. 

RESPONSE: Since mechanical equipment is prohibited in wilderness (with some exceptions 

related to fire), blocking ditches and canals is not possible. The intent of the Plan is to restore 

the hydrology of the wilderness areas by blocking ditches and canals outside of the wilderness 

boundaries, and letting the water build back up into the wilderness. The standard (4.1.1.2) is 

eliminated and Wilderness is included in standard 4.1.1.1 with additional wording added to that 

standard. Standard 4.1.1.1 now reads, “Stop water flow in existing canals and ditches if it will 

restore natural hydrology. Retrofit with water control structures. Maintain ditches and canals 

where necessary for forest roads. Where canals and ditches occur in Wilderness, stop water flow 

outside of the Wilderness in such a way as to restore natural hydrology within the Wilderness 

area. 

Additionally, when wilderness and SIA (natural area) prescription standards overlap each other, 

the wilderness standard takes precedence because it is the more restrictive of the two 

prescriptions (this is now explained in the Plan in the introduction to Chapter 3.0). 

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KEY INTEREST: Designation of rivers as Wild, Scenic, and Recreational 

COMMENT: The designation of the White Oak River and Brice Creek as Wild and Scenic 

Rivers must be a high priority for the Forest Service. 

RESPONSE: The designation of Brice Creek and the White Oak River as Recreational, Wild and 

Scenic Rivers is a high priority for the Forest Service. However, during analysis, the amount of 

private land ownership along both water bodies influenced the decision to coordinate jointly with 

the state of North Carolina to further analyze the suitability of the water bodies for designation. 

The Forest Service will recommend to the State of North Carolina that both the White Oak River 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 285 

and Brice Creek undergo further evaluation to determine suitability for Congressional 

designation as a Wild and Scenic River (Objective 2.3.2.2). The Forest Service will manage the 

National Forest along the corridors to preserve and enhance the outstandingly remarkable values 

that make the White Oak and Brick Creek eligible for designation (Objective 2.3.2.1). 

COMMENT: Please explain the basis for designating portions of the river or creek recreational, 

wild or scenic. 

RESPONSE: Management standards or requirements have been developed for each of the three 

classifications of river corridors eligible for Wild and Scenic River status. The appropriate 

classification depends on the level of use in the river corridor at the time of designation. A river 

may be classed under one category or separate segments of the river may be classified under 

different categories. Wild rivers are free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except by 

trail, with watershed or shorelines essentially primitive and waters unpolluted. Scenic rivers are 

free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines largely 

undeveloped, but accessible in places by road. Recreational rivers are readily accessible by road 

or railroad, may have some development along their shorelines and may have undergone some 

impoundment or diversion in the past. 

COMMENT: Holston Creek should be included in the Wild and Scenic River designation for the 

White Oak, since a portion of the tributary to its south is included. 

RESPONSE: The study corridor for Wild and Scenic Rivers is 1⁄4 mile on either side of the river 

measured from ordinary high water mark. That would allow for a portion of tributaries running 

into the study river to be included, which is the case for Holston Creek as well as the tributary to 

the south. This does not extend wild and scenic designation to the entire length of either Holston 

Creek or the tributary to the south. The evaluation for eligibility was looking at values of the 

White Oak, not the tributaries. 

KEY INTEREST: Management of rivers for Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Attributes 

COMMENT: A conflict exists between the probable management practice of removing logs or 

structures that impede free-flowing streams, and the standard under Water/Hydrology/Soils that 

states only remove log jams and debris enough to provide minimum passage by small boats. To 

maintain free-flowing conditions more than a minimum amount of debris will need to be 

removed. Since woody debris is an essential component of habitat structure for aquatic 

organisms, removal of woody debris should be minimized. 

RESPONSE: While this does seem contradictory, the Wild and Scenic River Act, Section 16(b) 

defines free-flowing as “existing or flowing in a natural condition without impoundment, 

diversion, straightening, rip-rapping, or other modification of the waterway.” Logs or structures 

that impede free-flowing water would be devices such as beaver dams, or human created devices. 

To allow a small boat passage would involve removal of some of these impediments, but only 

enough to restore free-flowing water, and to allow passage for the boat. To clarify the standards, 

they now read, “Maintain portions of streams and rivers within the National Forest as flowing in 

a natural condition without impoundment, diversion, straightening, rip-rapping, or other 
286 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

modification of the waterway (4.1.1.2),” and “Remove enough log or debris jams in the stream 

channels only to provide minimum passage by small boats in reaching the channel (4.1.1.3).” 

COMMENT: If water flow is stopped in existing canals and ditches, as stated in the fourth 

standard under Water/Hydrology/Soils, including those that run along roadsides, roads may be 

negatively impacted by the additional water. 

RESPONSE: Ditches and canals needed for roadside drainage will not have the water flow 

stopped. To ensure this, the standard was changed to read, “Stop water flow in existing canals 

and ditches if it will restore natural hydrology. Retrofit with water control structures. Maintain 

ditches and canals where necessary for forest roads. Where canals and ditches occur in 

Wilderness, stop water flow outside of the Wilderness boundary in such a way as to restore 

natural hydrology within the Wilderness area (4.1.1.1).” 

COMMENT: The standard for Fire is written in a way that excludes segments of rivers 

designated as wild from prescribed burning. This should be changed to support those natural 

communities that occur along wild segments and which need fire. 

RESPONSE: The standard was changed to, “Allow the use of fire in all eligible or designated 

river segments to maintain or enhance the outstandingly remarkable resource values of the area. 

(4.5.1.1).” 

 

COMMENT: The standard under Forest Products to “allow tree harvesting in river segments 

classified as recreational only to maintain or enhance the unique resource values of the area” is 

confusing. Tree harvesting should only be allowed in recreational segments if access for boats 

and foot traffic at designated access points is required, or if restoration of a certain forest type is 

needed. 

RESPONSE: To clarify this standard, it was changed to, “Allow tree removal only in river 

segments classified as recreational to maintain or enhance the outstandingly remarkable resource 

values of the area or to provide access for recreation use (4.4.1.3). 

COMMENT: The standard under Special Uses should indicate that utilities would ideally avoid 

scenic and recreational river segments, and if avoidance was impossible, efforts should be made 

to minimize impacts through location, distance and width of crossing, and construction method. 

Restricting these utilities from wild segments is good. 

RESPONSE: This standard was changed to, “Do not permit utilities in river segments classified 

as wild. Do not allow utilities such as pipelines and powerlines in scenic and recreational river 

segments unless there is no feasible alternative location. If a utility must be located in a scenic 

or recreational segment, minimize impacts to the river and corridor (4.7.1.1).” 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 287 

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KEY INTEREST: Consideration of the entire longleaf pine ecosystem and all components. 

COMMENT: The Plan does not emphasize restoration of all the important components in the 

longleaf pine ecosystem, including understory plant composition and open savanna structure. 

There is more to consider than just overstory longleaf pine trees. 

COMMENT: The Plan must utilize the best available information on restoration of the longleaf 

pine savanna, with particular attention to the essential groundcover component of this system. 

RESPONSE: The Plan emphasizes restoration of the important components of the longleaf pine 

ecosystem including understory plant composition and open savanna structure. The shelterwood 

with reserve trees method will be favored over clearcutting (Objective 2.4.1.1) to restore longleaf 

pine to suitable sites and to maintain forest structure. A minimum of six to ten overstory trees 

will be retained in the shelterwood and longleaf pine will be the species favored for retention. 

Growing season fire will be used to create open, park like understory conditions (Objective 

2.5.2.1). The resulting open savanna structure of the shelterwood will be maintained through 

periodic prescribed fire (Objective 2.5.1.3). Monitoring the condition of understory shrub, herb 

and grass layer (specifically wiregrass), along with the midcanopy shrub layer, will help to 

evaluate understory condition and to guide future management actions (Objective 2.1.1.7). 

KEY INTEREST: Longleaf restoration priorities 

COMMENT: Longleaf restoration areas should be selected on the basis of location next to old 

growth or existing natural areas containing sensitive species. 

COMMENT: Restoration of longleaf should not take precedence over maintenance of current old 

(or nearly so) stands of loblolly or pond pine. Restoration should initially focus on elimination 

of the many young stands of loblolly plantations in the Croatan since the investment in forest 

time and wildlife values are generally low. 

COMMENT: The salvaged area that is at the intersection of the Pringle Road and the Millis 

Road would make an ideal longleaf stand. 

COMMENT: The Plan should provide for the conversion of loblolly to longleaf pine to promote 

RCW recovery and timber, but not as aggressively as it currently proposes. 

COMMENT: We endorse an effort to restore both longleaf pine and hardwood based upon site 

suitability, especially those that were previously converted to loblolly pine plantation. 

COMMENT: Restoration efforts should be based on not only the ecological classification, but 

also other resource inventory data, and biologist/specialists recommendations. 
288 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: The Plan adopts a less aggressive approach to longleaf pine restoration than the 

1999 Draft Plan and shifts the emphasis away from clearcutting to the shelterwood with reserve 

trees method (Objective 2.4.1.1). The ecological classification and the NC Natural Heritage 

Program site descriptions will be used as a guide to identify suitable sites for longleaf pine 

restoration (Standard 4.2.0.1). Site-specific analysis of resource inventory data by ecologists, 

botanists, foresters, and biologists will be used to evaluate stands for restoration. 

Nearly one-third of all longleaf pine restoration will occur in “off-site” loblolly plantations 

where longleaf pine is the more adapted species. Off-site loblolly pine plantations occur at sites 

such as those at the intersection of Pringle Road and Millis Road. The priority of stands for 

restoration includes 1) inactive and active RCW forage territories that lack longleaf pine, 2) 

mature loblolly pine stands, around 80 years old, that have a component of longleaf pine that 

could be retained using the shelterwood with reserve trees system, 3) off-site loblolly plantations, 

4) mature loblolly pine stands, around 80 years old, more suited to mixed pine (longleaf, pond, 

and loblolly) composition within inactive RCW territories greater than 1⁄2 mile from active 

territories, and 5) in stands where sensitive species would benefit from restoration activities. 

There are approximately 11,000 acres of old (greater than 60 years in age) stands of loblolly pine 

and over 30,000 acres of old (greater than 70 years in age) stands of pond pine on the CNF. 

Only 1,750 to 2,500 acres are planned for restoration to longleaf pine. This will leave a 

significant amount of current old stands of loblolly pine and pond pine on the CNF. 

KEY INTEREST: Techniques for restoring longleaf pine savannas 

COMMENT: Rather than removing existing, mature loblolly stands to restore longleaf pine, 

manage the loblolly to create open, park-like conditions through thinning and prescribed burning. 

This would favor longleaf pine over loblolly pine, and would provide the opportunity to convert 

the stands to savanna structure if it became necessary due to major habitat loses elsewhere. The 

proposed 4000 acres of even-aged harvests in the RCW HMA should be limited to thinning to 

develop savanna structure. 

COMMENT: If longleaf is not the best-adapted species for a site (or where plowing is required 

for survival of planted longleaf seedlings), prescribed fire should be used to favor conversion to 

savanna dominated by loblolly or pond pines. 

COMMENT: The exceptions to clearcutting under the forestwide standards for Forest Products 

will swallow the rule forbidding them. The same is true under the standards for Forest Products 

for the Pine Savanna and Flatwoods prescription. The drive to produce timber volume will force 

more sales in RCW habitat. 

RESPONSE: Only about six percent of the 40,000+ acres of older pine-dominated stands are 

planned for restoration to longleaf pine (Objective 2.4.1.1). Thinning is emphasized in other 

pine-dominated stands (Objective 2.4.1.2) to meet forage standards for RCW (Standard 4.4.0.5) 

and to maintain pine savanna conditions in existing longleaf pine forests (Objective 2.1.1.6). 

The target residual basal areas vary according to site quality; lower basal area will be retained on 

sites with growth limiting factors such as droughty conditions, low fertility, or wet (oxygen poor) 

conditions. Thinning stands to these target basal areas will create more open park-like 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 289 

conditions in pine-dominated stands. Prescribed fire will be used to favor longleaf pine and 

other important components in pine savannas and to maintain open stand conditions (Objectives 

2.5.2.1, 2.5.2.2, 2.5.2.3). Prescribed fire will also be used to reduce fuel loads to allow lightningcaused fire to function, as much as possible, as a natural process (Objectives 2.5.1b). 

The Plan now proposes only 500 to 750 acres of even-aged harvest in the RCW HMA (Objective 

2.4.1.1). Clearcutting may be used to restore longleaf pine only where other methods, such as 

the shelterwood with reserve trees system, has a low probability of successfully creating 

conditions suitable for longleaf pine regeneration. These areas are limited to poorly drained sites 

without a current component of longleaf pine (Appendix E). Timber harvest in RCW habitat will 

only occur if RCW nest and forage habitat standards identified in the RCW EIS and Recovery 

Plans can be maintained (Standard 4.2.1.1). 

COMMENT: The proposed intensive treatments will result in a plantation structure with densely 

planted longleaf trees in rows. Longleaf should be planted at a density of 250 seedlings/acre to 

eventually mimic natural densities. Monitoring of mortality should be used to determine what 

the density of future plantings should be. 

COMMENT: When planting longleaf, it should always be by hand with containerized seedlings 

and planting should start at random points and proceed in a spiral pattern. This would best 

mimic a natural pattern of distribution. 

RESPONSE: Clearcutting is the most intensive treatment for restoring longleaf pine and is 

proposed on 500 to 750 acres during a 10-year period. The shelterwood with reserve trees 

method and thinning followed by prescribed burning are less intensive treatments and will be 

used on approximately 2,150 to 2,850 acres to restore longleaf pine. 

When clearcutting is used, the desired condition for longleaf pine seedlings five years after 

harvest is approximately 300 trees per acre, free of competition, evenly distributed across the 

area (Objective 2.4.1.1). Containerized longleaf pine seedlings will be used in planting 

(Appendix E), however, natural seed is favored where existing seed sources are adequate. The 

density of planted longleaf pine seedlings is well below the levels previously used on the CNF, 

on Camp Lejeune (which also has an active longleaf pine restoration program), and on private 

timber land. Following the first or second thinning (age 20 to 40), the plantation structure is 

expected to be less prominent and forests will approach a structure more like naturally 

regenerated longleaf pine stands. 

COMMENT: Instead of timber sales, use a cut, chip and leave strategy that will leave biomass 

on site for nutrient cycling. 

RESPONSE: Biomass in the form of standing trees, branches, upper tree boles, and needles will 

be retained on site for nutrient cycling using the shelterwood with reserve trees and uneven aged 

harvest methods when restoring longleaf pine. Branches, upper tree boles, and needles will be 

retained on site with the clearcut harvest method. Site-specific analysis will determine the 

amount of biomass that can be maintained that would not interfere with stand regeneration or 

create a hazardous buildup of fuels. 
290 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: If logging is done, it must be done solely by low-impact, cut-to-length operations, 

and must not be in areas that are supposedly targeted for restoration to the native forest or 

maintenance of soils. Additionally, routing logging roads through wetlands, especially 

pocosin/pond pine areas, is unacceptable. 

RESPONSE: Low impact logging equipment is currently being used and will continue to be used 

on the CNF. However, site-specific analysis will determine the type of equipment and the 

season of logging that would result in the least impact to soils. Refer to Soil Standards 4.1.0.2 

and 4.1.0.3. 

COMMENT: If clearcutting is used, it should be a mosaic of small acreages and only in areas 

with low soil erosion potential. 

RESPONSE: Regeneration openings are limited to a maximum of 25 acres in size (Standard 

4.4.0.3) in the RCW HMA and 40 acres outside the HMA in the Wildland Urban Interface. The 

size of clearcut openings, however, is limited more by the pattern and size of stands on the CNF. 

Nearly one-half of the 120 stands that are primary candidates for restoration to longleaf pine 

(loblolly pine stands greater than 70 years in age that occur on sites that are suited for longleaf 

pine) are less than 10 acres in size and 80% are less than 25 acres in size. Only about 20% of 

these stands may require clearcutting to successfully restore longleaf pine (Objective 2.4.1.1). 

Although site specific analysis will be needed to determine the actual size of a cutting unit, the 

natural landscape configuration will limit patch size and result in a natural mosaic of small 

acreages under restoration. 

The use of clearcutting to restore longleaf pine is limited to poorly drained soils supporting 

stands without a sufficient amount of longleaf pine for natural regeneration or stand structure. 

Poorly drained soils on the CNF have low erosion potential because they are flat and because 

they have less mineral components the size of sand, i.e. they are loams or clay loams. 

COMMENT: The Forest Service needs to use the results from the compaction study on Pine 

Cliff Road to help make decisions on restoring longleaf pine. 

RESPONSE: The compaction study on Pine Cliff Road does not address longleaf pine 

restoration. The major focus of this study is in identifying site factors and processes influencing 

productivity in loblolly pine plantation systems and the impact of management on these 

properties. All sites at the Pine Cliff Road study, including those that have the potential to 

support longleaf pine, have been planted to loblolly pine. Although this study is important in 

furthering our understanding of soil-plant processes such as decomposition, mineralization, and 

water and nutrient delivery and uptake, it has less application for making decisions on restoring 

longleaf pine. 

KEY INTEREST: Uneven- aged management of pine species 

COMMENT: The Croatan should use an uneven-age management system with group selection 

regeneration, or natural regeneration, techniques. This would preclude the need for expensive 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 291 

treatments other than prescribed burning, and would facilitate low impact harvest and removal 

methods. The group selection systems as described in the RCW FEIS would be good to use. 

COMMENT: Only allow thinning and group selection in pine savannas and flatwoods. 

COMMENT: The prescription for mixed pine forests is clearly a prescription for even-aged 

management strongly oriented towards timber production. The Croatan needs to manage pine 

forests on an uneven-aged system. 

COMMENT: The uneven-aged method described in Appendix E of the Plan would be more 

advantageous to use than the shelterwood method described. To what extent will each be used 

when implementing the Plan? 

RESPONSE: The Mixed-Pine Management Prescription has been eliminated from the Plan and 

the areas formerly within this prescription are now included in the RCW HMA Management 

Prescription. The Plan identifies the following 10-year objectives for regeneration harvests to 

restore longleaf pine: 500-750 acres using the clearcut method, 1,250-1750 acres using the 

shelterwood with reserve trees method, and 900-1,100 acres of thinning and prescribed burning 

to restore “off-site” loblolly plantations to longleaf pine (Objective 2.4.1.1). The latter two 

methods may result in stand structure that is uneven-aged. The Plan does not prohibit the use of 

uneven-aged silvicultural systems. Site-specific analysis (Goal 2.4.1.b) will be used to determine 

which silvicultural system is most appropriate to meet the goal of restoring longleaf pine forests 

and for increasing the proportion of longleaf pine in mixed pine stands. 

COMMENT: When using the shelterwood method, leaving a stand of pine trees at a basal area 

of 80+ for 70 years is not beneficial for the herbaceous layer. Thinning should occur sooner than 

the preparatory cut to reduce basal area and sunlight to the herbaceous layer. Additionally, 

planting under the shelterwood at such high densities as 6000 trees/acre creates such a dense 

stand that the herbaceous layer is completely shaded out. 

 

RESPONSE: The shelterwood system that is emphasized in the Plan is the shelterwood with 

reserve trees method (Objective 2.4.1.1). In this shelterwood method, a minimum of 6-10 

overstory trees are retained in perpetuity and the desired condition is 150-250 longleaf pine 

seedlings per acre, free of competition, evenly distributed across the area, 5 years after harvest. 

Six to ten trees in the canopy do not comprise a basal area of 80 square feet per acre. 

KEY INTEREST: The use of bedding as a site preparation technique 

 

COMMENT: While bedding may be appropriate on private silvicultural tracts, it is contrary to 

the goals embodied in the Croatan Plan. Bedding is inappropriate in the wet savannas and 

flatwoods landtype. These sites may naturally support a lower density of longleaf pines. 

COMMENT: Bedding will result in unsuitable habitat for native understory species such as 

plants, amphibians and invertebrates, since bedding will alter natural soil conditions. A 

forestwide standard should be added that prohibits mechanical site preparation. 

 
292 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: The Plan does not prohibit the use of bedding to restore longleaf pine. However, 

the need for this silvicultural tool has been significantly reduced because the objective for 

clearcutting has been reduced to 500-750 acres during a 10-year period. In addition, less 

intensive site preparation, e.g. flat planting, is emphasized and clearcutting would be used only 

where there is a low probability of successfully regenerating longleaf pine using the shelterwood 

with reserve trees method (Objective 2.4.1.1). Moreover, site-specific analysis will be used 

(Goal 2.4.1.b) to determine the regeneration method most appropriate for the site and stand 

conditions. Also, biological evaluations will be completed to determine effects of bedding on 

any federally-listed or Regional Forester sensitive species, including plants, amphibians, and 

insects (Standard 4.2.0.8). 

KEY INTEREST: Management of mixed pine forests 

COMMENT: I am concerned that the Forest Service includes within the category of Mixed Pine 

Forest some potentially significant habitats that really should be managed for natural community 

values. For example, within the areas mapped as “Mixed Pine Forest” (formerly Figure 4.2) 

there are some high quality flatwoods sites on soil types on which Frost reports there are 

virtually no remaining examples of natural habitat. 

COMMENT: In the reference condition for mixed pine forests, the reference site is said to 

consist of loblolly and pond pine. However, the caption under the associated photo lists longleaf, 

loblolly and pond pine. And the same site is described in Frost (1996) as being longleaf and 

pond pine. This needs to be clarified. 

COMMENT: The variation from the reference condition should include descriptions of all areas 

classified as mixed pine but that are currently dominated by longleaf. 

COMMENT: This management prescription seems to be based on silviculturally productive 

areas, and not with consideration to ecological conditions. The areas mapped as mixed pine 

forest do not follow the Frost classification, and seem to emphasize loblolly pine over longleaf, 

pond, and shortleaf pine. The areas are located in a way that regular prescribed burning would 

be difficult. If the Plan’s intent is to establish these areas as suited for intensive forestry 

management because of the difficulty in burning, it should be stated clearly. 

COMMENT: Under water/hydrology/soils standards for mixed pine forests, the restoration of 

hydrology would be good management. Add also a standard that would avoid any new alteration 

of the hydrology from management practices such as bedding, ditching, or raised roadbeds. 

RESPONSE: The Mixed-Pine Management Prescription has been eliminated from the Plan and 

areas formerly within this prescription are now included in the RCW HMA Prescription. 

Standard 4.2.0.1 requires that the ecological classification and the NC Natural Heritage Program 

site descriptions be used as a guide to identify suitable sites for restoration of native plant 

communities, such as mixed pine types, within this area. Mixed pine sites identified in the Plan 

(Chapter 3.6) are intended to include all high quality flatwood sites on soil types identified by 

Frost (1996). This would include flatwood sites that naturally supported a mixture of longleaf, 

pond, and loblolly pine as well as those sites found in more rolling, upland topography that may 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 293 

also support suitable habitat conditions for shortleaf, longleaf, and loblolly pine. The significance 

of the mixed pine type on the CNF as natural habitats is recognized in the Plan through 

designation of Holston Creek Forests, Hadnot Creek, and Pettiford Creek as SIAs (natural areas), 

which include suitable sites for mixed pine forests. The direct and indirect alteration of natural 

hydrology is prohibited on these sites (Standard 4.1.1.5). 

The importance of mixed pine forests on flatwoods sites is also evident by the fact that nearly 

seven percent or 11,000 acres of the CNF land is classified as the Rains soil type. This soil type 

currently supports some of the best intact examples of the mixed pine type on the CNF. 

Although the Plan emphasizes restoration of longleaf pine in this ecosystem, the intent is to 

manage a mixture of species on these sites that are adapted to local disturbances (Goal 2.4.1a). 

KEY INTEREST: Salvage of damaged timber 

COMMENT: A more efficient salvage operation needs to be implemented on the Croatan. A 

tremendous amount of timber was lost due to a slow reaction time by the Forest Service. 

COMMENT: The Plan does nothing to constrain salvage harvests of any kind, which could set 

the stage for unreasonable harvests in combination with normal timber sales. The Plan should 

require a reduction in the planned timber sale volume during a year following salvage operations 

– the amount of the reduction being equal to the previous year’s salvage logging of stormdamaged timber. 

COMMENT: The windthrow hazard is going to continue to increase with the proposed 6000 

acres of even-aged harvesting. This will stimulate proposals for more salvage logging of stormdamaged timber. 

RESPONSE: The timing and appropriate locations for timber salvage is addressed in Plan 

standards and management objectives. Salvage is emphasized to remove damaged pine, to 

reduce risk of bark beetle infestation of healthy trees, to reduce fuel loading, and where 

appropriate, to restore damaged loblolly pine stands to longleaf pine (Goal 2.4.1.e). An objective 

is set to annually salvage timber damaged due to bark beetle infestations, wind events, and other 

major disturbances (Objective 2.4.1.2). The desired condition is to minimize risk of large bark 

beetle infestation in pines. Clearcutting is allowed for reasons other than restoration of longleaf 

pine, to rehabilitate land adversely impacted by events such as fires, windthrows, or insect or 

disease attacks (Standard 4.4.0.6). Trees may be cut on land classed as not suitable as timber 

production in stands that are substantially damaged by fire, windthrow, insect or disease attack, 

or other catastrophes (Standard 4.4.0.14). However, standards limit salvage in the HardwoodCypress Wetland Management prescription (Standard 4.4.1.4), old growth stands (Standard 

4.4.1.5) and in SIAs (natural areas) (Standard 4.2.1.10). The windthrow hazard is not expected 

to increase on the CNF due to even-aged timber harvest. Clearcutting is likely on only 500-750 

acres during a ten-year period. 
294 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

KEY INTEREST: Mitigation and monitoring restoration efforts 

COMMENT: Add a mitigation in the standards under Silviculture, Forest Products, and Forest 

Health, that would require measures to be added to all timber sales for reducing disturbance and 

mortality to wildlife species. For example: Restrict timber falling and yarding to the season of 

the year when neotropical migrants are not nesting. 

RESPONSE: A site-specific environmental analysis (EA) will be conducted for all vegetation 

management projects on the CNF. The risk of disturbance and potential impacts to wildlife 

species from logging operations will be evaluated during this process. Project proposals (timing 

and intensity) will be modified if it is determined that mitigation is needed to reduce impacts to 

wildlife species. 

COMMENT: A comprehensive pre-and post-restoration monitoring plan should be implemented 

to provide data on the effects of various restoration activities. The monitoring should not be 

limited to tree numbers; rather, other longleaf community indicia should also be monitored. 

RESPONSE: Wiregrass will be monitored on the CNF to evaluate management effects on the 

longleaf pine ecosystem, including areas where restoration activities have occurred (Chapter 5). 

In addition, the CNF is cooperating with the Southern Research Station at the Research Triangle 

to monitor amphibians in longleaf pine restoration areas. 

KEY INTEREST: Shortleaf pine 

COMMENT: More attention should be given to ensuring that shortleaf pine maintains its 

populations on suitable site in the Croatan, thus increasing biological diversity and the potential 

for ecological buffering. 

RESPONSE: Shortleaf pine is not a common tree on the CNF and its presence adds to the 

diversity on the Forest. It occurs as scattered individuals in upland longleaf pine stands and on 

mixed pine-hardwood sites. Site-specific analysis of vegetation management projects is used to 

evaluate biological diversity issues and determine regeneration needs for native species on the 

CNF. 

KEY INTEREST: Source of tree seed for reforestation

COMMENT: Who is the source of tree seed for growing seedlings used in reforestation? What 

species are available for use on the CNF? What nurseries produce them? Is there a genetic 

improvement program and if so for what species? What controls are in place to insure that the 

proper seed source is used? 

RESPONSE: The North Carolina Forest Service is the source of tree seed. Seedlings are 

purchased from their nursery at Goldsboro. Loblolly, longleaf, and shortleaf pine seedlings are 

available as are many coastal hardwoods. The CNF started a genetic improvement program in 

the 80s; progeny tests were established and superior trees were located. This program has been 

discontinued due to budget cuts. The North Carolina Forest Service controls the collection of 
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seed and growing of nursery stock and ensures that the CNF receives pine species grown from 

coastal versus piedmont trees. 

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KEY INTEREST: Impacts of pine straw raking and the use of fertilizer 

COMMENT: Too much is currently unknown about the effects of pine straw raking on fuel and 

nutrient availability, and the actual mechanical impacts of raking on the herbaceous layer, to 

allow this practice on 600 acres of National Forest. If the goal of the Croatan is to maintain and 

restore the longleaf ecosystem, there should be greater understanding of the effects of 

fertilization and pine straw removal on all components of the ecosystem before these techniques 

are broadly applied. 

RESPONSE: Pine straw raking will be restricted to longleaf pine types that occur on more well 

drained soils (Standard 4.4.0.7). It is prohibited in SIAs (natural areas), old growth, within 1⁄4 

mile of active RCW nest areas, and within 100 feet of rare (threatened, endangered, sensitive, 

and locally rare) plant species (Standard 4.4.0.12). Based on an analysis of the terrestrial 

ecological classification maps, CISC data, and records of rare species occurrence, approximately 

2,000 acres on the CNF could currently meet these standards. However, as a further precaution 

to retain ecosystem values in longleaf pine stands, only 600 acres are proposed for pine straw 

raking. In addition, other standards are included in the Plan to reduce site impacts from pine 

straw raking operations (Standards 4.4.0.8, 4.4.0.9, 4.4.0.10, and 4.4.0.11). 

COMMENT: Pine straw removal should be done in a limited enough manner so that fertilization 

is not necessary. A change in plant composition due to the use of fertilizer is undesirable. If an 

area needs fertilizer “once every ten years to maintain long-term site productivity”, as the FS 

appears to believe, then the raking is not being done in a sustainable manner, and should not be 

allowed. 

RESPONSE: Site specific analysis will be conducted to determine if pine straw raking will 

impact plant composition before any operations are implemented. It is believed that fertilization 

once every 10 years ensures long-term productivity of a site, but may not be necessary once an 

on-site evaluation is conducted. The proposal to fertilize a site if needed, is not an indicator that 

pine straw harvest is not sustainable. 

COMMENT: Using fertilizer in pine straw raking operations may impact water quality. The 

impacts of these chemicals on other species and water quality have not been adequately 

addressed. 

RESPONSE: The risk of fertilizer leaching out of the soil profile and into the water table is less 

in soils with some clay content and a moderately high cation exchange capacity. Pine straw 

raking on the CNF is restricted to those soils that have these characteristics (Standard 4.4.0.7). 

Fertilizer will only be applied if needed based on Soil testing (Objective 2.4.2.1) 
296 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

KEY INTEREST: Management of pine straw production 

COMMENT: Pine straw raking should be prohibited within 1 mile of active or inactive RCW 

nests, in RCW foraging territories, natural areas, and areas that are or may be occupied by other 

PETS species. Limit the raking to 50 acres, rather then 600 acres, and implement it on an 

experimental basis. 

RESPONSE: The standards for pine straw raking have been revised. In the Plan, pine straw 

raking is prohibited in SIAs (natural areas), old growth areas, within 1⁄4 mile of active RCW nest 

areas, and within 100 feet of rare (threatened, endangered, sensitive, and locally rare) plant 

species (Standard 4.4.0.12). Pine straw raking was implemented on an experimental basis on the 

CNF in the early 90s and found to have no significant impact on rare plants. 

COMMENT: It is not clear how pine straw harvesting is to be managed – rotating sites, permits 

for commercial or personal use, signage delineating areas? Individuals/companies that are 

conducting this activity should pay a fee that fully covers a comprehensive, long-term 

monitoring program to assess the effects of pine straw removal. 

RESPONSE: Although not identified in the Plan, pine straw will be sold on the CNF following 

similar procedures and laws that are applied to other forest products sold on the CNF such as 

timber. This would include a sale to the highest bidder, a contract, and sale administrators that 

would periodically check for contract compliance. A long-term monitoring program could be 

established from a portion of the sale receipts. 

COMMENT: What is the feasibility of a raking operation on the wetter sites and how it is to be 

integrated with the wildlife habitat goals for the area? 

RESPONSE: Pine straw raking will be restricted to longleaf pine types that occur on more welldrained soils (Standard 4.4.0.7). It is prohibited on the wetter pine savannas (LTP 920, 921, and 

1023). 

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A. Reduce Wildfire related risks 

KEY INTEREST: Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) 

COMMENT: The activities proposed in the LRMP that address the wildland urban interface 

concerns have the full support of the NC Department of Forest Resources (NCDFR). 

RESPONSE: The NCDFR is a much-valued partner in the Fire Management Program of the 

NF’s in NC. 

COMMENT: Establishing a protective defensible space to benefit private landowners should not 

be at other taxpayer’s expense, and should not detract from other programs that require funding 

(budget figures show $490,000 allocated to fully implement defensible space – 33% of the total 
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budget). The private landowner that decides to live adjacent to National Forest should be 

responsible for creating a sufficient buffer on their property. At least use a cost-share partnership 

approach to fund the work. 

COMMENT: The extent of a 1⁄4 mile wide wildland urban interface defensible space is too much. 

With the highly fragmented boundary of the Croatan, the growing development along it, and the 

large amount of forestland, the defensible space could have significant ecological implications. 

Forestland ecology should not be adversely affected to provide additional prevention benefits to 

private landowners. 

RESPONSE: Congress has directed, through the National Fire Plan (NFP) that all federally 

owned land shall have Fire Management Plans devised to manage and or mitigate fire 

occurrence, risk and hazards. The primary determinant of Fire Management Programs on all 

Federal lands will be to provide for the safety of firefighters and the public. Public may be 

defined as Forest visitors and Forest neighbors. Specific funding is attached to meeting this goal. 

Work may be accomplished using cost-share, partnerships, cooperators, or direct funding. Due 

to the past management emphasis of immediate fire suppression, lands within the NF’s currently 

are not in a condition to allow fire to work in it historic capacity. Private development puts 

additional constraints on fire use. In a recent economic analysis of fire suppression costs on the 

Croatan National Forest for the last 10 years, out of a total of 124 fires, 31% involved some 

amount of both private and federal lands, and 69% involved only federal land. Statistics are not 

recorded for those fires that start on private land and threaten federal land. The data is not 

available at this time to determine the percentage of fires spreading from private to federal. 

The WUI is designed to reduce the risk of fire spread onto FS as well as from within FS onto 

adjacent land ownership. The width of the WUI will be no more than 1⁄4 mile wide, and will be 

determined on a site-specific basis depending on conditions and natural resources. When ever 

possible the resource needs of the areas will guide mitigations of the treatment types or methods 

although safety will remain the overriding determinant. 

COMMENT: Standards for establishing the WUI defensible space must be clearly stated in the 

Plan. Standards such as minimum and maximum widths, methods of reducing fuels and which 

method is preferred, fuel reduction should focus on the midstory and not overstory – especially 

in Old Growth areas. 

RESPONSE: Activity within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zone will be guided by the 

standards for the adjacent management prescription (Standard 4.5.0.17). 

COMMENT: If Old growth and WUI prescriptions overlap, old growth should take precedence 

since it is more restrictive. 

RESPONSE: Only the Southern Wet Pine Forests, Woodlands, and Savanna old growth type 

could overlap the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The designated old growth longleaf pine 

stands do not overlap the WUI prescription. There is no suitable habitat for Coastal Plain 

Upland Mesic Hardwoods in the WUI, and the Cypress-Tupelo Swamp Forests, because they are 

wet and therefore currently act as a firebreak, would not need vegetation treatment in the WUI. 
298 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

When old growth areas are selected, they will not overlap with the wildland urban interface. 

Additionally, the direction outlined in the National Fire Plan, direct from Congress, is that 

firefighter and public safety will be the first priority in all Fire Management Plans. Congress has 

directed that resource values will be a second priority. At the operational plan level, treatments 

will be devised to protect previously identified unique resources as much as possible without 

compromising safety factors. 

COMMENT: On the GIS map depicting the WUI, why is there such a broad zone between 

Masontown and Union Point pocosins? Why is the northwest corner of Catfish Lake/Catfish 

Lake South Wilderness designated a WUI? 

RESPONSE: The map depicting management prescriptions was in error and has been corrected. 

The Wildland Urban Interface between Masontown and Union Point pocosins is a 1⁄4 mile zone 

along the CNF boundary with private land. Similarly, the Wildland Urban Interface on the 

northwest side of Catfish Lake South Wilderness is a 1⁄4 mile zone along the CNF boundary and 

private land. 

COMMENT: In the WUI portion near Havelock, if you attempt restoration of the pond pine 

savanna habitat (as mapped by Cecil Frost) it would reduce fuel loading while benefiting a 

natural habitat. 

RESPONSE: We agree. Restoration of pond pine savanna to presettlement conditions having a 

discontinuous shrub layer and reduced ladder fuels could serve as a defensible space in the 

Wildland Urban Interface. 

COMMENT: Regular burns near urban areas may reduce hazards of wildfire. Forest 

management practices are safer if irregular borders can be acquired or maintained as barriers to 

wildfire. 

RESPONSE: Through land adjustment objectives, we strive to acquire tracts that would 

essentially create additional undeveloped land between National Forest and development, thus 

eliminating irregular borders. The establishment of a Wildland Urban Interface Zone (the WUI) 

is an attempt at buffering National Forest land from fire that may escape from private lands and 

spread onto National Forest or vice versa. The Forest Service does not have the regulatory 

authority to establish buffer zones on private property that surrounds National Forest System 

lands. 

KEY INTEREST: Fuel reduction outside of the wildland urban interface 

COMMENT: Areas on the Croatan are a tinderbox and a catastrophe waiting to happen if a 

wildfire starts. However, due to heavy fuels, organic soils, and thick vegetation, prescribed 

burning is unsafe. Thinning according to sound forest management plans with a pay-as-cut 

method would be one solution. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 299

RESPONSE: In many areas, the reintroduction of fire may occur in conjunction with other 

treatments. Fire may be combined with thinning or bush hogging. The reintroduction of fire is 

anticipated to be a multi-step project. The goals outlined in the final Plan will guide the desired 

end results. The standards included in Section 4.5 will specify mitigations or constraints to be 

incorporated into the operational plans. 

B. Expand the role of prescribed fire.

KEY INTEREST: The role of fire in maintaining and restoring the longleaf pine community 

COMMENT: The goal for prescribed fire may be unattainable with the proposed increase in 

acreage in new areas to be prescribed burn, along with smoke management constraints, and an 

ever increasing urban interface problem. 

RESPONSE: The final Plan presents the acreage figures (Objective 2.5.1.3) for prescribed fire in 

a way that emphasizes continued burning in areas that are within a fire compartment, and 

expanded use of fire in areas that are not currently being burned. Accomplishing more acres of 

burning will require a combined effort of fuel treatment in the wildland urban interface while 

actively striving to expand the use of fire. The final Plan sets the stage for accomplishing this. 

COMMENT: The objectives need to state how many acres are going to be treated with fire. 

RESPONSE: The final Plan includes prescribed fire acreage figures in Objectives 2.5.1.3 and 

2.5.2.1: 

Objective 2.5.1.3: Reduce fuel loads to aid in wildfire suppression with a prescribed fire 

program: 

• A 5-12 year rotation in 25,000 acres of pocosin ecological types within previously 

burned fire compartments; as research results become available, expand the use of 

fire in an additional 48,000 acres of pocosin. No new fire plowlines will be allowed 

along savanna-pocosin ecotones. 

• A 3-5 year rotation in 22,500 acres of mixed pine and pond pine woodland ecological 

types in previously burned fire compartments; as wildfire risks are reduced in 

adjacent stands, expand the use of fire in an additional 19,000 acres of mixed pine 

and pond pine. 

• A 2-4 year rotation in 21,000 acres in longleaf pine ecological types in previously 

burned fire compartments; expand the prescribed burning program to include an 

additional 5,500 acres of longleaf pine. No new fire plowlines will be allowed along 

savanna-pocosin ecotones. 

This program includes burning for silvicultural purposes. Burning rotations may change during 

site preparation but will return to rotation cited above within a 10-year period. The program also 

includes WUI acres, but these fuels may be treated by methods other than prescribed fire. 
300 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Objective 2.5.2.1 Longleaf Pine: 

• Apply prescribed fire to 2750-3500 acres to reduce woody vegetation and logging debris 

for seedbed preparation of pine stands. 

• Burn once while longleaf pine is in the grass stage. 

• Burn on a 2- to 4-year rotation with growing season fire after longleaf pine seedlings are 

out of the grass stage and greater than 4 feet in height. 

• Use growing season fire to create open, park-like understory conditions. 

COMMENT: While the Plan says growing season fire will be applied every 2-4 years, the 

optimal fire frequency for longleaf pine savanna is around 3 years. 

COMMENT: When prescribed burning cycles are established at 2-5 years in standards for fire 

under the pine savannas prescription, it should be stated that the optimum cycle is every 3 years. 

This will not only help the longleaf pine savanna but also canebreaks. Special emphasis needs to 

be placed on using fire to reestablish canebreaks. 

COMMENT: To restore canebreaks, a habitat type that has not persisted due to fire suppression, 

fires that occur in adjacent uplands should be allowed to spread into pond pine woodlands. Cane 

breaks should be burned approximately every 10 years. 

RESPONSE: To maintain flexibility in accomplishing the necessary use of fire, a range (2-4 

years) is given. It is understood that the time interval falling between 2 and 4 years, optimally, is 

around 3 years. Providing a larger window of time to implement reduces the time constraint, 

which could potentially eliminate the possibility of accomplishment completely. Restoring 500 

acres of canebreaks is included in the final Plan (Objective 2.1.3.4). It is anticipated that the 

restoration of canebreaks will occur as the use of fire is continued and expanded in the transition 

areas between pond pine and pocosin (Objective 2.5.1.3), which is where Frost places historic 

canebreaks. As fuel loads are decreased, a fire use program will be implemented (Objective 

2.5.2.3) that allows for natural fires to be used if they occur during the times of year when 

natural fires historically occurred. 

COMMENT: Prescribed fire during the growing season is required to restore natural 

communities, mimic natural fire processes, restore longleaf pine, and to control hardwoods in 

RCW clusters, avoiding significant effects on the RCW. The Forest Service has fallen short of 

accomplishing growing season burning in the past, and must begin using this management tool to 

successfully implement the new Plan. Discussion and specific recommendations about using fire 

to control hardwood midstory in current and future RCW habitat is lacking. 

COMMENT: Where hardwoods are too dense in the midstory, fire should eventually be used to 

control their growth. If manual removal occurs prior to burning, hardwood tops should be 

scattered to prevent intense pockets of fire. 

COMMENT: Efforts to restore longleaf pine though fire are commendable, however, restoration 

of the entire savanna ecosystem with its associated plant communities and rare species should be 

the goal. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 301 

COMMENT: Burning and thinning should be used to create the open understory ideal for 

RCWs, and thereby increasing the number of clusters in the short-term and long-term. 

RESPONSE: The FS recognizes the importance of growing season prescribed fire in controlling 

midstory hardwoods and understory shrubs in RCW habitat. In an attempt to focus on the role of 

fire beyond what it provides for RCW, prescribed fire is discussed in association with vegetation 

communities. Many rare species of plants and animals inhabit the fire-adapted ecosystems of the 

CNF, and proposed fire objectives attempt to consider the management needs of the entire 

ecosystem, rather than one species. The Plan sets an objective to maintain the existing longleaf 

pine forest as pine savanna (Objective 2.1.1.6). Fire objectives are focused on vegetation 

communities rather than specific species (Objectives 2.5.1.3 and 2.5.2.1). 

Both prescribed burning and thinning will be used to create the open understory conditions 

suitable for RCW. These goals are stated at 2.5.2a, 2.5.2b, and 2.5.2c, and outlined in objectives 

2.5.2.1 through 2.5.2.3. Standard 4.2.1.1 requires management of RCW nest and forage habitat 

in accordance with the RCW Management Standards and Guidelines and Recovery Plans. 

Growing season burning is recognized as a valuable tool in accomplishing many of the goals and 

objectives outlined in this plan. It is explicitly stated in Objective 2.5.2.1 to use growing season 

fire in certain situations. In Chapter 3.6, the probable management practices include prescribed 

burning to maintain stand structure and provide favorable conditions for longleaf pine 

regeneration. 

Thinning in other pine stands that could provide forage habitat for RCW is also emphasized and 

standards identify target basal areas for thinning (Standard 4.4.0.5). However, the use of 

artificial cavities and translocation of birds may be necessary, in conjunction with thinning and 

prescribed fire, to meet population objectives for RCW on the CNF (Objectives 2.1.1.1, 2.1.1.3, 

and 2.1.1.4). 

COMMENT: In order to control loblolly regeneration in areas where longleaf is trying to get 

established, the longleaf must be allowed to grow and get established for 12-14 months, and then 

the area should be burned. Subsequent burns must take place within a year of the initial burn and 

then on a regular schedule to avoid loblolly regeneration. 

RESPONSE: The use of fire is vitally important in areas where longleaf restoration is the goal 

and loblolly remains as a component. For this reason, the final Plan establishes goals (2.5.2a) 

and objectives (2.5.2.1) for the use of fire in longleaf pine, especially restoration areas. 

KEY INTEREST: The role of fire in pocosins and pond pine woodlands 

COMMENT: Although the historical fire frequency in pocosins is not known, it is suspected that 

it is similar to that of the adjoining uplands. The areas should be burned as a large unit 

containing both uplands and wetlands, allowing the fire to spread from the upland into the 

wetland. During this burning, natural firebreaks should be used. 

RESPONSE: Based on Cecil Frost’s work for fire return intervals on the Croatan National 

Forest, the final Plan continues and expands the use of fire in the pocosin, pond pine, mixed pine, 
302 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

and pine savanna (Objective 2.5.1.3). The use of natural barriers as fire lines is emphasized for 

all fire operations (Standard 4.5.0.11). Large units containing mixtures of landtypes are burned 

on the CNF using a helicopter. Some areas of pocosin are not included due to heavy fuel loads 

or proximity to private land. Through pre-fire fuel treatments and increased knowledge of 

suitable burning techniques, these pocosins will be added to the overall area to be burned on the 

CNF (Goal 2.5.1 and Objective 2.5.1.3). A broad aim of using fire is to resemble natural 

frequencies, intensities and spread where possible to achieve the type of forest ecosystems found 

to be healthy and sustainable given the constraints of the current situation. 

KEY INTEREST: Fire effects 

COMMENT: Patchy burns are ideal to minimize impacts to invertebrates since they are 

vulnerable to local catastrophic disturbance. When planning and implementing prescribed burns, 

the needs of invertebrate populations needs to be assessed. Burns should be timed to avoid 

periods of invertebrate dormancy, and to avoid burning all of any particular habitat type within 

the vicinity of the burn. 

COMMENT: The plan needs to include a standard that captures the need to plan burns with 

consideration for causing minimal impacts to animal species which are rare, have highly specific 

habitat needs, or are not mobile during part or all of their life cycle. 

RESPONSE: The final Plan specifies fire to be used in a way that minimizes impacts to animal 

species that are rare and immobile during part or all of their life cycle (Objective 2.5.2.2). Fire 

will be allowed to burn in a mosaic pattern without attempting to force all portions of an area to 

burn with excessive firing techniques. Specifically for the Millis Road Savanna area, adjacent 

fire compartments will be burned on an alternating 3-year cycle, with adjacent compartments not 

being burned within 3 years of each other. Additionally, a site-specific burning plan will be 

developed for the Millis Road Savanna Registered Natural Heritage Area. 

KEY INTEREST: Fire lines for prescribed fire and wildfire 

COMMENT: The Plan needs to emphasize that fire should be allowed to spread, when possible, 

from uplands into adjoining land. If control lines are necessary, natural firebreaks should be 

used whenever possible to reduce impacts. 

COMMENT: No new plowed fire lines should be constructed in ecotones between pine savannas 

and pocosins. If fire lines are required to be constructed through wetlands, the line should be 

perpendicular to the wetland boundary. 

COMMENT: Allow fire lines to revegetate into herbaceous species native to the site, rather than 

planting perennial grasses and forbs. 

RESPONSE: The final Plan outlines the background and proposed resolutions (Chapter 2.5), 

along with goals and objectives for creating the environment in which fire may function as close 

as possible to historic patterns. Goals 2.5.1a and 2.5.2b strive to reduce fuel loads and to create a 

fire use program. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 303 

Standards included in the final Plan regulate use, placement and rehabilitation of firelines (Table 

4.5). Standard 4.5.0.11 emphasizes the use of naturally occurring barriers. Standard 4.5.0.15 

prohibits fire lines in ecotones between pine savannas and pocosins on Murville soils unless it is 

an emergency or on property boundaries. Fire lines will be rehabilitated based on the objectives 

of fire plans and in coordination with district or forest resource specialists (Standard 4.5.0.13). 

Impacts to heritage resources or PETS species from construction of a fire line and that are 

unavoidable must be mitigated (Standard 4.5.0.14). 

Generally, fire line placement is based on the topography, predicted fire behavior, and safety 

considerations. Right angles, or any 90-degree turn in a fire line are tactically inferior to other 

alternatives and as a general rule compromise safety. 

 

KEY INTEREST: Shortage of personnel to accomplish prescribed fire goals 

COMMENT: Since personnel shortages caused prescribed burning to be postponed in the past, 

additional full-time people should be hired. 

RESPONSE: Within the National Fire Plan is the direction to increase the emphasis on 

community involvement and resource support for federal fire use projects. Additional funding 

within the National Fire Plan supports the contracting of additional personnel and equipment. 

The CNF has many successful partnerships in place currently and will be pursuing avenues to 

increase their options. 

Additional firefighters were hired in the last few years to assist with prescribed fire and wildfire. 

The CNF utilizes a number of people on detail, and contracts for equipment, manpower, and a 

helicopter to assist with prescribed burning during January, February, and March. 

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KEY INTERST: Quantitative air quality standards 

COMMENT: To make the air quality standards more quantitative, measure air quality indicators 

such as particulate density or PM10 and PM 2.5 guidelines. 

RESPONSE: The EPA is the governing body for air quality standards. All operational plans 

must conform to their regulations and standards. Currently the partnership between the EPA and 

the Forest Service is looking into increasing the ability to measure and quantify air quality as it 

pertains to fire use. 

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(In the proposed 1999 Croatan Plan this was split into 2 sections - Manage roads for safe, clean 

environment, and Phase out unauthorized access.) 
304 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

KEY INTEREST: Extent and rate of road closures 

COMMENT: The goal of closing unnecessary roads is admirable, but the scheduling and amount 

of closings is too slow and inadequate in quantity. It would seem that a quicker rate would be 

more cost beneficial and advantageous to the natural resources. 

COMMENT: Closing 80% of unauthorized roads over 10 years is too long. The current schedule 

for closing roads is inadequate to effectively handle the problem. All illegal routes should be 

closed immediately and restored. 

RESPONSE: With the amount of resources available, closing all unnecessary and unauthorized 

routes is not possible. A comprehensive analysis of the existing unauthorized roads and trails 

was conducted to identify priorities. This analysis is documented as part of the Croatan Roads 

Analysis Process (FEIS Appendix B). The analysis developed a schedule of road closures that 

was feasible with the resources available. Closing roads may happen at a more rapid rate 

depending on funding and personnel. Decisions on road closures, including prioritization, will 

happen at the project level. (NOTE: The objective of closing 80% of unauthorized roads was not 

included in the new version of the Plan. The two sections previously included in the Access 

section were combined into one section that focuses on closing unnecessary open roads and 

unauthorized routes, in addition to restoring natural vegetation. See Table 2.6. 

COMMENT: Suggestions for specific roads to close include Forest Roads 169, 3046, and spurs 

143, 3052, 136, 3015, 766, 603 (east part), 157, and 306. The roads across the dirt dams at the 

historic sites Bell’s Mill Dam on Pettiford Creek, and Hill’s Mill Dam on Reedy Branch need to 

be closed due to impacts from motorized vehicles. 

RESPONSE: These suggestions will be utilized when site-specific road closures are proposed. 

COMMENT: Since many wildlife species are highly sensitive to road density, quantitative data 

needs to be provided to determine impacts from making changes. 

COMMENT: Seasonal road closures would be beneficial to wildlife to minimize disturbances to 

core habitat areas during critical periods, allow for soft mast production along road shoulders as 

well as provide linear wildlife openings. 

RESPONSE: During the Croatan Roads Analysis Process (FEIS Appendix B), road density and 

impacts to species from roads were two of the criterion used to prioritize roads that need to be 

closed, or managed open seasonally. From this analysis process, several objectives to close 

roads or manage roads for seasonal openness were established in the Plan (2.1.5.3, 2.1.5.4, 

2.2.2.3, 2.6.1.1, 2.6.1.2, 2.6.1.3): 

• Objective 2.1.5.3. Reduce disturbance from motor vehicles in the bear habitat 

management prescription. One effective method is to reduce the miles of open road. 

• Objective 2.1.5.4. Provide 20 acres of soft mast for black bear. One method is to 

establish a minimum 5-10 miles of roadside soft mast buffers on roads closed to public 

motorized vehicles within the bear habitat management. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 305 

• Objective 2.2.2.3. Provide opportunities for walk-in hunting away from easy access by 

vehicles. 

• Objective 2.6.1.1. Close at least 15 to 20 miles of open roads over the next 10 years. 

Schedule road closure at the rate of approximately 1 to 2 miles per year. 

• Objective 2.6.1.2. Close unauthorized routes over the next 10 years, and restore to the 

ecological landtype. Those routes that are least expensive to close should be first 

priority. 

• Objective 2.6.1.3. Manage an additional 15 to 20 miles of open roads using seasonal 

closures. 

KEY INTEREST: Enforcement of road closures 

COMMENT: The proposed methods of closing unauthorized routes – gates, ditching – will not 

be successful without a greatly expanded and intense law enforcement program. The ability to 

apprehend violators must be increased. The meager dollar amount allocated for law enforcement 

in the annual budget (Appendix L) is woefully inadequate. 

RESPONSE: The revised Plan lays out a strategy to handle unauthorized access (Section 2.6.1, 

Providing Access While Protecting Natural Resources). The operational implementation of the 

strategy will be closely coordinated with law enforcement. In the budget for Fiscal Year 2004, 

an additional law enforcement officer is funded. 

COMMENT: Initiate a fee-based permit system for travel of Forest roads as an integral part of 

the law enforcement program. Every user or vehicle should be required to purchase a permit and 

the proceeds used to support the law enforcement program, public education, and clean up of 

major dumpsites. 

RESPONSE: Effective user information and education efforts are the first priorities in 

controlling impacts and curtailing illegal use of the forest. A consistent law enforcement 

presence generally reinforces these efforts. Restrictive permits systems are expensive and 

difficult to administer, and are a last resort in controlling access and use. 

KEY INTEREST: Paving of Forest roads 

COMMENT: The Plan should include a statement that says no Forest roads will be paved. 

REPONSE: If a Forest road is identified to be paved, the decision would include analysis of why 

the paving needs to occur and the repercussions of paving, such as increased speeds, change in 

access, and altering the forest visitor’s experience. Sometimes paving is necessary for protection 

of natural resources or public safety. These decisions would be informed through the NEPA 

process, which includes public input and comment. 

KEY INTEREST: High speeds on Forest roads 

COMMENT: Vehicles traveling at high speeds on the thoroughfare of Catfish Lake Road are 

endangering bears. 
306 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: The Plan identifies motorized traffic as a concern in bear habitat, especially core 

areas (Section 2.1.5 Maintenance of Black Bear Habitat). The Plan proposes to reduce the miles 

of open road to protect bears from vehicle traffic and provide the large blocks of habitat 

necessary to support the bear population (Objective 2.1.5.3). However, since Catfish Lake Road 

is a state maintained, well-traveled road it will not be closed. The Forest Service and NC 

Department of Transportation work together to manage speeds and enforce speed limits. As the 

Plan is implemented, other methods may be identified to control vehicle traffic on this main 

thoroughfare. 

KEY INTEREST: Use of closed roads 

COMMENT: Using closed roads as trails for mountain bikers, horses, or OHVs is inconsistent 

with closing the road in the first place. Closed roads should be restored and essentially 

eliminated, not used for another activity that may cause adverse impacts also. 

RESPONSE: Non-motorized public use may be appropriate in some cases (Standard 4.3.0.2). 

Other uses of closed roads would be determined through site-specific proposals and analysis. 

Some closed roads will be gated to retain access for emergency situations such as wildfire. 

KEY INTEREST: Trash dumps 

 

COMMENT: Trash dumps at the following locations need attention - Patsy Pond, and near the 

Primitive Baptist Church at Pelletier between Highway 58 and State road 1104, near Hadnot 

Creek. 

RESPONSE: The location of these dumps will be used when prioritizing areas to cleanup. 

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KEY INTEREST: Importance of acquisition 

COMMENT: The endeavor of the Forest Service to purchase and trade land is important and 

should be a stand-alone issue in the Plan. 

RESPONSE: We agree it is important. Since land acquisition is one way that the Forest Service 

interacts with local communities, we decided to include land ownership adjustment as a 

subheading of the overall category of local communities. We believe land ownership adjustment 

should be viewed in conjunction with the other ways that the Forest Service interacts with the 

local community. 

COMMENT: We have concerns about the continued urban development around the CNF, and 

how this development will impact the successful completion of the goals proposed by the USFS. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 307 

It would appear necessary to establish buffer zones surrounding National Forest to successfully 

manage the natural resources on National Forest. The buffer zone proposal should be considered 

and addressed in the final environmental documentation. 

RESPONSE: The Forest Service does not have the regulatory authority to establish buffer zones 

on private property that surrounds National Forest System lands. Through our land adjustment 

objectives, we strive to acquire tracts that would essentially create additional undeveloped land 

between National Forest and development. Tracts that enhance management of natural resources 

are also sought to include the protection of sensitive ecosystems. The establishment of a 

Wildland Urban Interface Zone (the WUI) is an attempt at buffering National Forest land from 

fire that may escape from private lands and spread onto National Forest or vice versa. 

KEY INTEREST: Prioritization of areas for acquisition and exchange 

COMMENT: The Plan has criteria for prioritizing lands to be acquired, but none for federal 

lands to be exchanged. These criteria need to either be developed and/or disclosed. One idea 

using the existing priority criteria for acquisitions is if a federal land meets Priority 1 criteria, it 

will not be exchanged. Additionally, lands to be acquired should meet some minimum 

condition. 

COMMENT: It is unclear how the priorities 1-3 in Forestwide standards will be used to make 

decisions on land acquisition. If a tract meets one of the criteria under Priority 1, but several 

under Priority 2, will it become a Priority 2 tract? Or if it meets one or more of Priority 1 

criteria, it will be the highest priority for acquisition. This needs clarity. 

RESPONSE: Table 4.8a in the final Plan provides guidelines for both land acquisition and 

federal land conveyance. The bullets under each category are not listed in any order of priority, 

but are meant to serve as guidance for making an initial assessment of whether to proceed with a 

proposed land exchange. During the land exchange process, land to be acquired is assessed to 

determine whether it meets the objectives of land acquisition as identified in Table 2.7, Objective 

2.7.1.1, “Acquisitions will focus on acquiring land that has been identified in the land adjustment 

plan for resource and recreation management areas. High priorities will be placed on the 

acquisition of land in the White Oak River and Brice Creek corridors; to providing linkages to 

other land in conservation management; in areas adjacent to Congressionally designated areas; 

and in other riparian ecosystems. Land identified for acquisition for the consolidation of national 

forest ownership will be considered only when other resource objectives have been met.” 

COMMENT: Additional priority 1 criteria could be if a tract has perennial stream and riparian 

buffers equivalent to Forest Service standards, or if a significant natural area – specifically 

savanna habitat – occurs on the tract. 

COMMENT: The highest priority for acquisition should be high quality longleaf stands with an 

intact herbaceous layer. 

RESPONSE: The guidelines for determining if a property is highest priority for acquisition 

(Table 4.8a) includes existing or potential habitats that support federally listed endangered or 
308 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

threatened fish, wildlife or plant species, and Forest Service sensitive species; and areas needed 

to enhance or promote watershed improvements that affect the management of national forest 

riparian areas. High quality longleaf stands with intact herbaceous layers would be considered 

vital habitat for the RCW and rough leaved loosestrife. Tracts with perennial streams and 

riparian buffers would qualify under the criteria of enhancing or promoting watershed 

improvements that affect riparian areas on National Forest. During the analysis process, unique 

features that tracts contain will be highlighted. 

COMMENT: The three categories used to separate areas of the Croatan for acquisition, as 

described in the Land Adjustment Plan, Appendix D, and how they correlate to the priority 

criteria outlined in Forestwide standards needs to be explained. 

RESPONSE: The information in Table 4.8a in the final Plan provides specific guidelines for 

making land ownership adjustments. Appendix D in the final Plan projects where the land 

adjustments are likely to occur (Figure D-1) and which objectives the land adjustment would 

fulfill. This is a guide and can be changed by the Forest Supervisor without an amendment to the 

Land and Resource Management Plan. If parcels are identified that are outside of the areas 

currently depicted on the map, but through acquisition would satisfy one or more of the 

objectives, these parcels may be pursued. 

KEY INTEREST: Areas targeted for acquisition 

COMMENT: More emphasis should be placed on acquiring lands to potentially link the Croatan 

National Forest with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Holly Shelter, and Hoffman Forest. 

RESPONSE: Linking the Croatan National Forest to other lands under conservation management 

is emphasized in the Plan. Goal 2.7.1 includes, but is not limited to, providing linkages to 

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point as well as Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and 

Hoffman Forest. The USFS is participating in an initiative on the coast with several other 

federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations to identify and conserve lands in 

the Onslow Bight Ecoregion. The objective 2.7.1.1 also emphasizes acquiring land that supports 

natural resource management objectives. Providing linkages to other lands managed for 

conservation would help to accomplish that objective. 

COMMENT: Lands along the White Oak River should be classified as having both recreational 

and resource values as depicted on the Land Adjustment map. Lands along Brice Creek should 

be designated for either resource or recreational, and depicted as such on the Land Adjustment 

map. 

RESPONSE: Lands along the White Oak River and Brice Creek are now identified on the land 

adjustment map (Figure D-1) as meeting both natural resource and recreational management 

objectives. 

COMMENT: Additional lands that are high priority for acquisition include north of Holston 

Creek, Walkers Millpond/Black Creek, coastal fringe evergreen forest in the area of Cedar Point, 

rich mesic slopes associated with Otter Creek, and any other areas between Flanners Beach and 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 309 

Fishers Landing. The first two areas mentioned will probably be proposed for natural area status 

in a future plan revision. 

RESPONSE: Lands that were identified in the Land Adjustment Plan (Appendix D, Figure D-1) 

were generally areas that are currently not developed (commercial, residential or agricultural). 

These areas are contiguous to the Croatan National Forest and are large blocks, unless they are 

private land inholdings surrounded by National Forest and then size is not as important. Lands 

that may be proposed for future development and which may contribute to the local economy 

were not included in areas identified for potential acquisition. The Land Adjustment Plan is a 

guide and can be changed by the Forest Supervisor without an amendment to the Land and 

Resource Management Plan. If parcels are identified that are outside of the areas currently 

depicted on the map, but through acquisition would satisfy one or more of the objectives, these 

parcels may be pursued. 

The area along Holston Creek is currently identified in the land adjustment map (Figure D-1) as 

meeting recreational management objectives. Walkers Millpond and Black Creek are currently 

identified as meeting consolidation management objectives. The land to the north of Holston 

Creek was not identified because it is currently developed. The same situation exists in the area 

between Fishers Landing and Flanners Beach, Otter Creek, and the cedar point area, where much 

of the land is either already developed, or could contribute to the local economy in some way if 

developed in the future. 

KEY INTEREST: Areas targeted for exchange 

COMMENT: If areas are exchanged, the land acquired by the Forest Service should be similar 

habitat and more contiguous to National Forest. 

RESPONSE: Since consolidation of National Forest land is important in land exchanges, those 

lands acquired are preferred to be more contiguous with National Forest than those lands being 

conveyed. Several exceptions exist where a non-contiguous piece of property may be 

advantageous to acquire, such as unique habitat or a threatened ecosystem. According to Forest 

Service regulation, lands acquired do not have to be similar habitat. Situations exist where 

acquiring dissimilar land could meet certain objectives. During the land exchange process, the 

habitat features of each parcel are considered and weighed to make the best decision. 

COMMENT: The Plan must more fully assess all proposed land exchanges and adjustments to 

determine the consistency with Plan objectives, particularly maintenance or biological diversity 

and recovery of endangered species. 

COMMENT: The three tracts identified for exchange in the Cedar Point area should be evaluated 

for restoration potential prior to exchange. 

COMMENT: Retain the area northeast of Sheep Ridge Wilderness identified as a consolidation 

tract, since it buffers National Forest, may facilitate fire management, and it contains some 

longleaf pine. The same is true with a tract that straddles US 70, north of state road 1129, near 
310 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Masontown Pocosin, which if lost would complicate management of the adjacent National 

Forest. 

RESPONSE: Each land exchange proposal undergoes a feasibility study and NEPA analysis 

according to Forest Service regulations (36CFR Part 254.3 (f and g)) and direction (Forest 

Service Manual 5430 and Handbook 5409.13). This analysis helps to determine consistency 

with Land and Resource Management Plans, potential environmental impacts, and effects on 

management. During the NEPA analysis, public input is sought. Part of this analysis is also to 

analyze the restoration potential, as well as existing habitat condition, of tracts to be conveyed. 

COMMENT: The area targeted for exchange northwest of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry 

Point contains floodplain swamps, roadside populations of spring-flowering Goldenrod, upland 

flats, and is bordered by rich mesic slopes supporting numerous species not typical of the coastal 

plain. This area should not be targeted for exchange; rather it should be retained as potential 

connection to Marine Corps Base Cherry Point. 

RESPONSE: The proposed land exchange involving this tract, known as Paupers Island, is no 

longer active. The tract is being removed from the Land Adjustment Plan (Appendix D, Figure 

D-1) since it contains unique plants and ecosystems (as described in the comment). 

Additionally, discussions with MCAS Cherry Point support the potential linkage this piece of 

property could provide between National Forest and undeveloped Department of Defense land. 

KEY INTEREST: Alternatives to acquisition 

COMMENT: An alternative to land acquisition that should be emphasized in the Plan is to seek 

conservation easements with willing landowners. This could be especially useful along the 

corridors of the White Oak River and Brice Creek. 

RESPONSE: We support other organizations acquiring conservation easements on private land. 

A statement emphasizing this support and option for conserving land is now in the proposed 

resolution and goal for Land Adjustment (Chapter 2.7.1 and Goal 2.7.1). The Forest Service 

itself does not strive to acquire conservation easements from willing landowners because of 

enforcement difficulties. 

KEY INTEREST: Management of new acquisitions 

COMMENT: It is unclear how new acquisitions will be managed based on the language under 

Forestwide standards, New Acquisitions. Please clarify. 

RESPONSE: This forestwide standard (4.8.0.3) was clarified. It now reads, “Determine 

management direction for new acquisitions and exchanges by identifying in which Management 

Prescription the parcel is located. Use the landtype(s) in which it is classified (Appendix A, 

ECS), and the reference condition to which it best matches (Chapter 3.0) for determining the 

management prescription by which the parcel is to be managed.” 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 311 

COMMENT: New acquisitions should not be suitable for timber management if they fall within 

the black bear habitat prescription, where timber production is not allowed, or within RCW 

habitat where timber production is restricted. This forestwide standard needs to be changed. 

RESPONSE: This forestwide standard (4.8.0.4) is changed to read, “The new land is suitable for 

timber production if it is classified as management prescription RCW HMA, and it is not part of 

an RCW nest area. However, if the new acquisition is a pocosin ecological type, it is not suited 

for timber production even if it occurs within the RCW HMA (see standard 4.4.1.1).” Timber 

management is allowed within the RCW HMA to accomplish longleaf restoration, and RCW 

forage and nest needs. Since the mixed pine prescription and small to medium pocosin patches 

prescription have been combined into the RCW HMA management prescription in the final Plan, 

those areas that are classified as a pocosin ecological type will be classed as not suited for timber 

production even when occurring within the RCW HMA. 

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KEY INTEREST: Special use permits involving wetlands 

COMMENT: Does the Forest Service allow special use permits to be granted if wetlands will be 

altered or impacted? 

RESPONSE: Special Use Permits are processed according to Forest Service regulations (36CFR 

Part 251 Subpart B) and direction (Forest Service Manual 2700 and Forest Service Handbook 

2709.11). Consideration of wetlands and potential impacts are part of the application and 

permitting process (36CFR 251.54(e and g) and Executive Order 11990 Protection of Wetlands 

(1977)). There is no blanket regulation that allows or prohibits the permitting of special uses if 

wetlands could be impacted or altered. However, these potential impacts are considered during 

the analysis process. The NEPA process also provides opportunity for the public to comment on 

agency proposals that may involve wetlands. 

KEY INTEREST: Selection and management of administrative, electronic and 

communication sites 

COMMENT: During site selection strongly consider avoiding high quality natural communities, 

rare species populations, and fragmentation of the landscape. Avoid Masontown and Union 

Point pocosins with any special use that is incompatible with maintaining the high quality 

ecosystems found there. 

RESPONSE: Standards are included in the CNF Plan to regulate the authorization of new 

permits/applications, and the selection of sites for communication equipment. Additionally, 

prior to permitting Special Uses, possible locations are identified and analyzed for environmental 

impacts. During this process any natural communities, rare species, or designated Natural Areas 

would be identified and avoided if at all possible. 
312 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: Encouraging the location of utility lines along the outer edges of the Forest may 

impact some of the highest quality natural areas occurring on the periphery of the Forest. 

RESPONSE: Forest Service direction is to utilize existing transportation and utility corridors and 

consolidate linear uses of National Forest. The Plan is changed to better reflect that direction by 

deleting text that simply encourages new sites to be located at the periphery of the Forest. 

Additionally, prior to permitting special uses, applications are reviewed, possible locations are 

identified, and analyzed for potential environmental impacts. During this process, any natural 

areas that could be impacted by a certain location option would be identified and avoided if at all 

possible. Additionally, two standards (4.7.0.3, 4.2.0.8) in the Plan directly or indirectly influence 

issuance of special use permits. 

COMMENT: Powerline clearings should be considered as major contributors to biological 

diversity on the Croatan, rather than having little ecological significance, as they are currently 

portrayed in the Plan. Because of the frequent disturbance, these areas favor herbaceous growth 

and rare plants. 

RESPONSE: Powerlines do have high numbers of rare species occurrences due to the area being 

maintained grassy and free of overstory shrub and trees. Maintenance of existing powerlines 

will continue to support good habitat for rare species. Any new applications for powerline 

rights-of-way will be processed in the same manner as all applications for new permits, and in 

accordance with the standards outlined in Table 4.7 Special Uses in the Plan. 

COMMENT: The Forest Service should manage the work center and office area as a frequently 

burned flatwoods rather than a lawn. This would provide habitat for native species, and a good 

opportunity for visitors to see the ecological values of prescribed burning. 

RESPONSE: Since prescribed fire is difficult to use in areas with development such as buildings 

and roads, maintaining the office and work center as a frequently burned flatwoods would be 

challenging due to smoke management and risk of escape. However, this is an interesting idea 

and will be considered if a change in current landscape management at the office/work center 

complex is desired. 

KEY INTEREST: Military exercises on the Croatan National Forest 

COMMENT: If military exercises are occurring on the Croatan National Forest, such missions 

should be reconsidered or controlled. 

RESPONSE: Military training is an allowed use on National Forest and is authorized under the 

Organic Act of 1897 (FSM 2700 and FSH 2709.11). With Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry 

Point and New River, along with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, located in the area of the 

Croatan National Forest, support of military training exercises is sought. For the last several 

years an average of five permits per year were issued for military ground training exercises. 

Each ground exercise lasted an average of two days. The operations include foot travel by 

infantry Marines, bivouacking, individual/small group parachuting, and low level helicopter 

flights. Many times the foot travel training exercises take place within pocosin habitat to 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 313 

simulate rough conditions found elsewhere in the world. Low-level flights occur in defined 

flight patterns over all of the Croatan National Forest. Ground military training exercises are not 

permitted in specially designated areas including wilderness areas and special interest areas. 

Military vehicles are prohibited from going “off-road”. Military ground training exercise is 

evaluated prior to approval and issuance of a permit, and any necessary mitigations are identified 

and coordinated with the military. 

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KEY INTEREST: Inadequate Management Indicator Species 

COMMENT: The MIS list needs to be revised to reflect a more diverse group of species, 

including plants, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic species. It also needs to be revisited to make 

sure species selected are the best representative for a particular vegetative community. In this 

way, you can best track the health of the underlying ecosystem. 

COMMENT: The Management Indicator Species list (4.12) is very poor; it does not reflect an 

appreciation of the natural communities within the Croatan. The FS needs to comprehensively 

revise the MIS list to include species that more adequately represent all of the various aspects of 

the communities on the Croatan. 

COMMENT: This very brief group of MIS completely leaves out plants, reptiles, or amphibians, 

which, of course, comprise a very large number of species on the Croatan, including sensitive or 

listed species. For example, there are at least five species of reptiles or amphibians with 

recognized viability concerns that are known or likely to occur on the Croatan...yet, not one of 

these is included. We are very concerned that the species that are included on the MIS list do not 

adequately indicate the effects of management activities on other species of major biological 

communities or on water quality. 

COMMENT: You need to both increase your cluster of key indicator species and determine how 

to otherwise supplement key indicator species monitoring so as to best track the health of the 

underlying ecosystem. 

RESPONSE: MIS are selected because their population changes are believed to indicate the 

effects of management practices. Using this criterion, the MIS list was reviewed and revised 

between the Draft and Final EIS. The rationale for selection has been documented in FEIS, 

Appendix G. The MIS list has not grown, but instead, has been reworked to make sure the 

species selected would indicate effects of management practices, can be monitored on a 

forestwide basis, the monitoring information would provide useful information, and other criteria 

listed in FEIS, Appendix G. 

Although Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) species were considered as MIS, you 

state the need to include species because there are viability concerns. Rare species may not 
314 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

indicate the effects of management activities, or other criteria in FEIS (Appendix G), and 

therefore, may not be appropriate as MIS. The viability of TES is protected through other means. 

Threatened and Endangered species are evaluated under the Endangered Species Act. Sensitive 

Species are evaluated through Forest Service Policy in FSM 2670. Compliance with these laws 

and policies assure the viability of rare species. 

You express concerns that a broader list of MIS is needed to track the health of the underlying 

system. Our approach is to track the underlying system directly as much as possible, and, to use 

MIS to indicate effects of management activities. 

KEY INTEREST: Species to use as Management Indicator Species 

COMMENT: MIS for pine savannas needs to use other species which are more specific to pine 

savanna and are indicative of a high quality herbaceous layer in order to truly indicate natural 

community quality. In order to determine the quality of the longleaf pine savanna and flatwoods 

natural communities, it would be useful to evaluate the presence of the following indicator 

species: Bachman’s sparrow, little metalmark, Georgia satyr, wiregrass, and deertongue. The 

two invertebrate species are even more closely tied to savanna and flatwood habitat and are 

differently sensitive to prescribed burning factors. The butterflies are common and visible 

enough that they can be used by USFS personnel, and are often tracked as part of butterfly 

counts. Natural Heritage Program has good baseline data for some of the CNF savannas and 

elsewhere on the coastal plain where these butterflies occur. Both plant species mentioned are 

common and easy to identify. 

COMMENT: Consider using red-shouldered hawk and barred owl as additional MIS species for 

“oak gum cypress” due to their dependence on large or decadent trees. Since pine flatwoods lack 

MIS species for late successional primary habitat, we suggest hairy woodpecker. Also, due to 

limitation on wild turkey populations not directly related to habitat quality, we suggest downy 

woodpecker as an indicator of late successional maritime forest. We are concerned that there is 

no MIS for tree cavity habitat in early successional upland habitat. We suggest northern flicker 

since it is a primary excavator with an affinity for open stands of trees/forest edge that is known 

to nest in snags in open habitats. 

COMMENT: The prairie warbler would be found in pine savanna, but probably not any more 

frequently than in early successional habitat of other types. The red-cockaded woodpecker is 

indicative of mature longleaf trees, but is able to nest in other pine types and in longleaf when it 

occurs in otherwise poor quality habitat (golf courses, etc.). 

COMMENT: Bachman’s sparrow is a better indicator of pine savanna than prairie warbler. 

Bachman’s sparrow would be well-suited for the MIS list since it is on the state and federal lists, 

has special habitat requirements that may be influenced significantly by implementation of the 

Plan, and is a non-game species of special interest with a high Partners In Flight score (30). 

Good data exists on its current distribution within the Croatan. 

 

COMMENT: Prairie Warbler should be listed for Pine Flatwoods. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 315 

COMMENT: The maritime forests of the Croatan are so limited, it may be the case that wild 

turkeys will never occur there. Based on old literature, wild turkeys were common in open pine 

communities with frequent fire – thus it would be a good MIS for areas mapped as Pine Savanna 

and Mixed Pine Forest (pine flatwoods). 

COMMENT: Pileated Woodpecker should be listed for maritime forest, pond pine woodland, 

pine savanna, and pine flatwoods. 

COMMENT: Black-Throated Green Warbler occurs in headwater areas, in communities like 

non-riverine systems, which is the main reason there is so much concern about them (very high 

PIF concern score); the majority of their original habitat is gone. They do not occur in most 

examples of oak-gum cypress habitat type. Oak-beech is entirely inappropriate. Pond Pine 

Woodland is ok. 

COMMENT: Prothonotary Warbler should not be listed under pocosin, but should be listed 

under Pond Pine Woodland. 

RESPONSE: MIS for effects of management activities in pine savannas include RCW, longleaf 

pine, and wiregrass (FEIS, Appendix G). Other species, such as Bachman Sparrow, were 

considered. We believed that monitoring the important components of the habitat, 

longleaf/wiregrass, would provide useful information, could be directly tied to management 

practices, and could be obtained at reasonable costs. Therefore, the longleaf/wiregrass species 

were selected rather than Bachman Sparrow and other species. 

When habitats or components are not likely to be affected by management practices, MIS are not 

needed to convey the likely effects of planning alternatives. Most of the bird species you mention 

would have been indicators of hardwood wetlands, or pond pine habitats, or others, where 

management activities are so infrequent and low impact, the results of management practices 

would not cause changes in populations. Therefore, they were not selected for MIS. 

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KEY INTEREST: Monitoring PETS species 

COMMENT: The proposed monitoring plan in the draft LRMP would not adequately conserve 

PETS species and their habitats, or sensitive natural communities on the Croatan. 

COMMENT: Field checking PETS populations every decade, as proposed, is inadequate. A 

comprehensive, ongoing monitoring program for PETS should be developed and implemented. 

RESPONSE: The approach to monitoring in the final Plan involves monitoring both species 

populations and habitats. Focusing on specific species (Management Indicator Species) would 

gauge impacts to the overall health of those management prescriptions that have the most active 

management proposed. Monitoring habitats in the management prescriptions that have the least 

management proposed will gauge general health of the overall system. TES species are 

monitored on different time schedules based on the level of listing (federally endangered versus 
316 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Forest Service sensitive), and potential habitat changes that may occur. The RCW and Roughleaved loosestrife require more frequent monitoring due to being federally listed than due 

sensitive species whose viability is not as much at risk. 

KEY INTEREST: Monitoring Plan implementation 

COMMENT: The monitoring questions are extremely limited, and do not ensure that the relevant 

issues are adequately addressed in general forest planning, as well as in the implementation of 

the forest Plan. 

COMMENT: Specific information on practice implementation is not present in the plan. It is our 

perspective that Croatan field personnel look to the plan to provide them specific details. In 

addition, several references are made to establishment of other species sub-populations. It is 

uncertain whether this is a practical or viable effort, and how its outcome will be documented is 

unclear. 

RESPONSE: The Monitoring Chapter is organized differently in the Final CNF Plan. Five 

categories of questions monitor actual implementation of Plan goals and objectives and the 

effectiveness of that implementation. (i.e. is implementation moving the Forest toward the 

desired condition?). Specific information is identified such as baseline data, items to be 

measured, frequency and method of reporting, and person responsible for monitoring. This 

approach to monitoring utilizes existing data collection and clearly identifies additional data to 

be collected. 

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KEY INTEREST: DEIS Summary 

COMMENT: Using the language, “People are concerned...” is not presenting a fair and balanced 

view of the issue. In a balanced statement it would be indicated that without natural area 

designation the concern exists that resources are abused and that resource management is too 

narrowly focused on individual species. These statements should not be biased to represent a 

single-sided view. 

RESPONSE: This language was changed in the final EIS and summary to present a balanced 

perspective on the issues. 

KEY INTEREST: Description of Alternatives 

COMMENT: The longleaf restoration numbers presented throughout all the alternatives are 

confusing and seemingly inconsistent. 

COMMENT: The numbers under comparison of land allocations by alternative conflict with 

numbers elsewhere in the document. Additionally, the paragraph associated with this table 

should use the same language used in the Plan text for management prescriptions and embedded 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 317 

prescriptions. The text should emphasize that embedded prescriptions apply if they are more 

restrictive than others. 

RESPONSE: The numbers have been compared, corrected, and clarified for longleaf restoration 

and land allocations throughout the document. The management prescription map uses 

terminology that corresponds to the text in the Plan. The introduction to Chapter 3.0 in the Plan 

discusses how levels of prescriptions apply, “Where embedded prescriptions apply, the more 

restrictive prescription should be enforced, except where Natural Areas overlap with Wilderness 

Areas. In those cases wilderness prescriptions will apply.” 

KEY INTEREST: Soils 

COMMENT: With the application of fertilizer on phosphorous deficient soils as part of site 

preparation, the DEIS describes the application at 92 lbs per acre of P205 on beds that are 7 feet 

wide. In the Silvicultural Methods appendix to the Plan, the distance between beds is stated to 

be 14 feet wide. This distance between beds is relevant to determining soil impacts and should 

be mentioned in the DEIS. 

RESPONSE: Since application of fertilizer is localized to the beds, and since phosphorous does 

not move through the soil far if the roots of plants do not take it up, the 14-foot wide space 

between beds would not be impacted from the proposed fertilization. 

KEY INTEREST: Water 

COMMENT: Under Potential environmental effects of probable land and resource management 

activities, it is indicated that state BMPs would limit or eliminate environmental effects from 

proposed timber harvesting and other activities. Since the BMP guidelines only partially address 

conservation of natural resources, it would be worth instituting practices that exceed state or 

federal BMPs. Also, the state wetland BMPs are being revised and should be released soon. 

RESPONSE: During the formulation of planning alternatives, the effects of sedimentation were 

considered. Since soil movement is generally not a problem on the CNF, following state BMPs 

was determined to be adequate to mitigate effects. The hardwood cypress wetland management 

prescription was identified to prevent any erosion or pollutants from entering streams. This 

prescription creates buffers around streams much greater the 100 feet on each side of streams as 

suggested by BMPs. The buffer widths are also substantially higher than those called for by 

DENR for Neuse River basin. 

KEY INTEREST: Vegetation 

COMMENT: The description of the mesic pine flatwood community does not capture or 

acknowledge the rarity of this community throughout the state. The assessment of this 

community’s rarity needs to be reconsidered, in conjunction with why these areas were not 

accepted for designation as natural areas. 
318 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: The Mixed-Pine Management Prescription has been eliminated from the Plan and 

the areas formerly within this prescription are now included in the RCW HMA Management 

Prescription. Objectives for harvesting stands within the former Mixed-Pine Management 

Prescription have also been eliminated from the Plan. These changes reflect a reconsideration of 

the importance and rarity of this community on the CNF and throughout the state. The Plan 

emphasizes restoration of longleaf pine in both pure longleaf pine stands and as a component of 

mixed-pine stands. These mixed pine stands would be included in the mesic pine flatwood 

community description. 

The effect analysis for Alternative E (the preferred alternative) reflects this change. 

COMMENT: In the effects to rare species under vegetation, it is not clear that the distinction 

between alternatives B and C is largely due to the two pocosins, Masontown and Union Point, 

proposed for natural area designation. Without an explanation of how these two areas are being 

protected without a natural area designation, it seems as if the Heritage Program proposal to 

designate was based on thin air. 

RESPONSE: The NC Natural Heritage Program’s proposal to designate Masontown and Union 

Point Pocosin as Natural areas in the Plan was based primarily on natural community protection. 

The designation of SIAs (Natural Areas) in the Plan was based on (1) capturing the largest 

number of rare species element occurrences and (2) having natural areas represent the full range 

of environmental conditions and plant communities found on the CNF. Nearly 30,000 acres of 

pocosin habitat is in SIAs (Natural Areas) in the Plan. Adding Masontown and Union Point 

Pocosin Natural Areas to this system would not provide additional improvement in rare species 

viability on the CNF for three reasons; (1) there are few documented rare species element 

occurrences in the Masontown and Union Point pocosins, (2) this area is designated as part of 

the Black Bear management prescription, a prescription that emphasizes prescribed fire as the 

primary management activity; prescribed fire will be beneficial to rare species that do occur in 

this area, and (3) before any vegetation management project is implemented in this areas, site 

specific analysis will be used to evaluate the effects of management actions and mitigation will 

be included to protect rare species. 

COMMENT: Alternative B has increased natural area designation coupled with reduced 

restoration and old growth allocation. Old growth and natural area designation can overlap, as 

can restoration efforts, where needed. 

RESPONSE: Alternative B represents a “less active” management option that relies heavily on 

natural processes such as wildfire and natural succession to restore ecosystem structure and 

function on the CNF. Designation of all proposed Natural Areas precludes the need to designate 

old growth in this alternative. The full range of Coastal ecosystems found on the CNF would be 

encompassed in Natural Areas. These areas would succeed and progress to an old growth 

condition without interruption from active timber management. Under this alternative, 

prescribed fire would be used primarily in Natural Areas to maintain their current condition that 

would also facilitate their movement toward an old growth condition. Restoration using more 

active management would be used on a limited basis in this alternative. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 319 

KEY INTEREST: Forest Health/Insects and Disease 

COMMENT: Hurricane damage guidelines are reasonable for areas managed for timber 

production. However, in areas that are not managed as suitable for timber production (old 

growth, natural areas, bear HMA), it should be emphasized that hurricanes are a natural process 

and should be allowed to operate as they would without human intervention. If adjoining stands 

containing commercial timber are potentially affected by insect outbreaks, then action should be 

taken. 

RESPONSE: The Plan establishes a goal to provide core areas for rare species and unique 

communities that represent the range of ecological conditions found on the Croatan. One of the 

objectives allows for natural disturbances, including hurricane damage, to function in SIAs 

(natural areas) as natural processes (Objective 2.1.2.2). To support this objective, a standard 

(4.4.1.9) has been added to allow only cut and fell operations in SIAs (natural areas) to provide 

for safety of forest users, or where disease or insect infestations threaten adjacent private or 

public lands. Exceptions to the standard include allowing necessary removal of trees if the 

recovery of a threatened or endangered species is compromised, or if a hazard tree is in a 

developed area. Other standards regulating removal of trees in areas classified as not-suited for 

timber production include 4.4.0.14 (providing a list of situations where trees may need to be cut), 

4.4.1.3 (restricting removal of trees in the river corridors eligible for Wild and Scenic River 

status Management Prescription), 4.4.1.4 (restricting removal of trees in the Hardwood Cypress 

Wetlands and Upland Hardwoods Management Prescriptions) and 4.4.1.5 (restricting removal of 

trees in Old Growth Management Prescription). 

KEY INTEREST: Silviculture 

COMMENT: The management approach taken by the alternatives for the Pocosin Pond Pine 

Patches (over 13,000 ac) should be further discussed in the FEIS. For example, it is unclear if 

the difference in the pocosin/pond pine patches acreage listed for Alternative B (14,229 ac) and 

Alternative C (13,377 ac) implies that more pocosins would be managed under B or if the 

difference would be harvested or filled under C. The FEIS should discuss. 

RESPONSE: The difference is due to more Natural Areas being designated under Alternative B 

than Alternative C. These additional Natural Areas would include a small portion of the Small 

Pocosin/Pond Pine Patches leaving fewer acres in the this prescription. Regardless of this 

differentiation, the Plan now includes these pocosin patches in the RCW HMA and excludes 

them from lands suited for timber production. It is very unlikely that any timber harvest, 

including salvage, would occur in these areas because: (1) they are not capable of producing 

merchantable tree sizes and (2) they are not suitable sites for longleaf restoration, the primary 

emphasis of silvicultural activities in the Plan. 

COMMENT: Table S-7 indicates that Alternative C/C-mod. Proposes 273 acres per year of 

clearcutting and 400 acres per year of conversion from loblolly to longleaf. Intuitively, we 

would expect that the two acreages might be more similar. Apparently, existing open areas such 

as a CNF savanna would also be converted to longleaf pines to attain the 400 acres per year. If 
320 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

so, what environmental effects would forestation of savannas have on the overall ecology of the 

CNF. The FEIS should clarify. 

COMMENT: The LRMP completely understates the extent and impacts from logging. In total, 

the proposed LRMP calls for 1755 acres of “regeneration” or clearcuts and 4885 acres of 

thinning. In addition, 22850 acres will be fire stripped, and 10800 acres of loblolly will be 

“restored”. This is 40290 acres or over 25% of the entire Croatan National Forest will be subject 

to heavy-handed management over the next 10 years. 

RESPONSE: The final Plan adopts a less aggressive approach to longleaf pine restoration and 

mixed-pine management than the 1999 Draft Plan and shifts the emphasis away from 

clearcutting to the shelterwood with reserve trees method (Objective 2.4.1.1). The Plan 

identifies the following objectives for regeneration harvests to restore longleaf pine over a 10-

year period: 500-750 acres using the clearcut method, 1,250-1750 acres using the shelterwood 

with reserve trees method, and 900-1,100 acres of thinning and prescribed burning to restore 

“off-site” loblolly plantations to longleaf pine (Objective 2.4.1.1). Also included are 3,200 acres 

of thinning to maintain stocking levels suitable for RCW (Objective 2.4.1.2) and 1,000 acres of 

thinning in “off-site” loblolly stands (Objective 2.4.1.1) to help meet the 2,000 acre objective of 

restoring hardwoods to these sites (Objective 2.1.7.2). Existing longleaf pine savannas will not 

be regenerated during Plan implementation because they provide forage and nest habitat for 

RCW and because they are well below the 120-year rotation for longleaf pine. 

The Plan retains an aggressive approach to reduce wildfire related risks (Goal 2.5.1) and to 

expand the role of prescribed fire (Goals 2.5.2.a to 2.5.2.c). Prescribed fire will be used 

extensively to restore structure and composition of longleaf and mixed pine stands and to recover 

and sustain short interval fire-adapted systems. 

KEY INTEREST: Fire 

COMMENT: Alternative B represents the low impact, maximum preservation alternative. 

However, reduced prescribed burning levels as described in this alternative, would not be low 

impact, but would have devastating impacts on the natural resources. 

RESPONSE: Alternative B’s overall theme was low, on-the-ground impact management, and 

less human induced management actions. Since most of the fire on the Croatan is not natural 

ignition, following the theme of Alternative B, less prescribed fire would be applied to the 

ground. Additionally, since this alternative strives to minimize the use of mechanical equipment 

to reduce on-the-ground impacts, the use of prescribed fire would be significantly restricted on 

most of the CNF, especially pocosins, since mechanical equipment is used to reestablish existing 

plowed firelines. 

KEY INTEREST: Recreation 

COMMENT: We feel Section III-106-108 overemphasizes hunter’s needs. Additional 

suggestions should be made to promote more passive, nature-based recreation such as birding, 

botanizing, etc. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 321 

RESPONSE: This section mentions terrestrial and wetland wildlife viewing and the need to 

increase the opportunities for the public to recreate in this way. However, the main purpose of 

this section is to describe the opportunities that currently exist. The need for more wildlife 

viewing, nature study, and other nature-based recreation opportunities are emphasized in the 

Forest Plan in Table 2.2. 

KEY INTEREST: Wildlife species 

COMMENT: On III-107, it should be noted that the loggerhead shrike is not found on the CNF. 

RESPONSE: Since the loggerhead shrike has been found in Carteret County, it was included as 

a general possibility of occurrence in old fields on the Croatan National Forest. An element 

occurrence record exists that is less than 20 years old for this species in Carteret County. 

Effects from possible management actions are analyzed for a lot of species that are not currently 

known to occur on the CNF, but may occur in adjacent counties and the CNF has suitable 

habitat. 

COMMENT: On page III-110 it should be known that the tiger salamander is not known from 

CNF, nor from anywhere near there. They are known from the Sandhills, plus a site in Wake 

County. 

RESPONSE: This species will be deleted from the paragraph. 

COMMENT: The cumulative effects to wildlife species dependent upon early successional plant 

communities needs to be addressed so that these effects include the consideration of early seral 

habitat provided by private lands. 

COMMENT: In Section III-120, the proposed plan revision states that “Early seral habitat . . . 

would not adequately meet the habitat needs for wildlife species dependent upon early 

successional plant communities...”, mentioned under the Alternative B description. However, 

CNF needs to examine the availability of early successional habitat beyond its boundaries. In the 

Coastal Plain, there are hundreds of thousands of acres of pine plantation in private ownership, 

and, at any given time, a large percentage of these holdings are in early successional stages. The 

CNF does not need to be overly concerned with providing large acreages of early successional 

habitat for wildlife. 

RESPONSE: To provide viability of species across the Forest, in accordance with the National 

Forest Management Act, the Plan emphasizes a variety of habitat types and ages, including early 

seral. The Plan includes objectives for providing early seral stages in an attempt to ensure that 

wildlife species dependent on this habitat are not confined to adjacent private lands (Objectives 

2.1.5.1 and 2.1.5.2). Cumulative effects on wildlife species of providing early successional plant 

communities are analyzed in Chapter 3.0, Wildlife and Rare Animals, Alternative B, in EIS. 
322 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: We feel there is no need to create additional food plots for turkeys and other early 

successional species. Enough early successional habitat is provided already, and the intense 

prescribed burning plan will create additional habitat of this sort. 

COMMENT: On page III-104 of the FEIS, we question the need for additional food plots (10 

acres or especially use of linear food plots in powerline rights-of-way), considering the current 

availability of early successional habitat and the likelihood that additional early successional 

habitat will probably be created or enhanced by prescribed burning. Powerlines often include 

rare species habitat or potential rare species habitat, and 100 miles of linear food plots represents 

much greater fragmentation of the landscape by a less-than-natural herbaceous layer type than 

small, isolated food plots. We are concerned that the food provided in the wildlife food plot is 

specific to game species, and it would not be representative of native vegetation. 

RESPONSE: In areas where certain species that are dependent on early successional habitat are 

emphasized, such as turkey, permanent grass/forb openings are proposed (Chapter 3.0 Upland 

Hardwood Management Prescription). Providing habitat for these species not only decreases 

their need for private land, but also increases and supports other activities on the National Forest 

such as hunting and animal watching. 

The potential exists to manage up to 100 miles of additional grass/forb habitat along powerline 

rights-of-way, as stated in the DEIS. The powerline rights-of-way are existing linear, open 

habitat that is burned. It is highly unlikely that 100 miles would be planted and used as 

grass/forb openings. Several constraints exist to limit the creation of additional grass/forb 

openings. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission assists with maintaining 

openings and would have to be available to assist with additional acreage. The money and time 

required to create and manage additional openings is not readily available. Prior to any actions 

taking place within the powerline rights-of-way, surveys for rare species would occur and any 

occurrences would preclude a planted grass/forb opening. Lastly, native annuals and perennials 

are emphasized when planting does occur. 

KEY INTEREST: Air quality and Wildland Urban Interface zone 

COMMENT: The DEIS should mitigate, at the least, to protect the air standards of New Bern. 

COMMENT: Given the highly fragmented boundary of the forest and the large amount of forest 

land, the potential ecological implications of this designation (WUI) could be severe. The 

DLRMP and DEIS do not adequately address the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of this 

designation and the accompanying management practice and fire management standards. 

RESPONSE: Before each prescribed fire, a plan must be developed to follow parameters 

necessary to assure compliance with air quality laws and regulations. The State agencies 

responsible for implementing the Clean Air Act regulations are notified before each prescribed 

fire, in order to assure compliance with air standards. Plan standards (4.5.0.7 and 4.5.0.8) also 

specify additional requirements to assure compliance with the Clean Air Act. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 323 

KEY INTEREST: Economic analysis 

COMMENT: Economic analysis gives little consideration to a broad range of alternatives and 

doesn't clearly reflect tradeoffs between a timber sale program and other resource values. 

COMMENT: The economic analysis gives little if any consideration to a broad range of values, 

both quantified and unquantified. The EA [sic] must include in its economic analysis the net 

present value of recreational value within the sale area and the opportunity cost of logging these 

areas. In addition to Croatan NF timber sale program being a monetary loss to the taxpayer, the 

costs associated with a loss in future revenue streams to the local community due to less 

recreational use or declining property values in the area must be counted in the economic 

analysis. 

RESPONSE: Estimates of recreation and timber values and tradeoffs are provided in Appendix 

B, Section B.4.2. Economic efficiency estimates are made as well as economic impacts of 

planning alternatives. The timber program is not considered a financial monetary loss on the 

CNF. Each alternative has projections about recreation use, which consider the level of the 

timber program. 

COMMENT: The planned Croatan timber sale program will only increase future restoration 

expense by further degrading local watersheds. We need to consider the cost of perpetuating the 

degradation of these watersheds. This represents an external cost that will be attributed to the 

taxpayer and the local economy. 

RESPONSE: Protection measures for water quality are provided through the hardwood/cypress 

wetlands prescription, which creates wide buffer zones around streams. The timber sale program 

would be used primarily to restore the longleaf/wiregrass plant community, which has declined 

dramatically in the recent past. The cost of not restoring these plant communities would likely 

cause the extirpation of an endangered species, the red cockaded woodpecker. 

COMMENT: We would like an economic analysis of an alternative that includes no commercial 

timber cutting and uses prescribed fire, natural fire, road closures and obliteration, and planting 

native species to accomplish Plan objectives. This analysis should include the existence values 

on keeping an area unlogged, as well as the long-term costs and benefits of returning fire to these 

fire dependent forests. 

RESPONSE: The economic analyses of planning alternatives are displayed in the FEIS, 

Appendix B. The alternative you describe was considered, but not studied in detail. However, 

Alternative B of the FEIS approximates your requests. The values of unlogged areas are 

considered for resources such as scenery, recreation, old growth and explained the Record of 

Decision. However, it was not necessary to place an explicit economic estimate of value in order 

to judge the public net benefits of the plan. 

COMMENT: Alternative C indicates that the increased ability to harvest would result in a 

fourfold increase in jobs. This is a short-term increase, however, since the restoration efforts 

would be completed in 50 years, and maintenance of the stands would take over. What is the 
324 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

negative impact on the industry and jobs with the short-term duration of this employment 

opportunity? Will pressure be exerted to maintain a higher volume level to sustain the new jobs 

that were created? 

RESPONSE: Maintenance of the system would require a sustained yield after 50 years. 

Therefore, the amount of jobs and income would be about the same over the long term. The 

relative significance of timber removals in the market area, however, is negligible. As shown in 

Appendix B, the CNF relative share of the market is less than one-half of a percent. 

KEY INTEREST: Impacts from OHV use. 

COMMENT: According to the literature, OHV use leads to negative impacts on animal 

populations, including invertebrates, insects, fish, small mammals, reptiles, game birds, 

migratory birds, and rodents. Plant growth, germination and vigor can be affected and cause 

introduction of exotic species. Soil compaction can cause the loss of invertebrates and microbes. 

This use can disrupt the natural hydrology and riparian areas, and increase the amount of air 

pollutants. They adversely affect scenery and other non-motorized users. These impacts range 

from destruction of habitat, loss of food and cover, reduction in reproductive success, 

harassment, and increased predation. These impacts result from the loss of vegetation, soil 

erosion, damage to vegetation, reduction in diversity and biomass, noise exposure, and changes 

in feeding and spatial-use patterns. 

RESPONSE: The effects of motorized access, including OHVs, are considered in the FEIS for 

the resources affected. The analyses are commensurate with the scope of the decision to be made 

in the plan, which is programmatic in nature. OHV designations would vary by alternative. The 

greatest effects are derived from user-created, unauthorized trails and how well these are handled 

in the planning alternatives. OHV use is a legitimate activity on National Forests if certain 

conditions are met. OHV use must be located and managed in such a way that there are no 

unacceptable impacts to soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, or human values. The Forest Plan 

limits OHV routes to an area east of Black Swamp Road. By locating OHV use in this one area, 

impacts to other recreational users are mitigated as much as possible, while still offering OHV 

riders an option for recreation. This area overall offers the best location to provide enjoyable 

OHV use while sustaining other natural and human values on the Forest. 

KEY INTEREST: Biological Evaluation 

COMMENT: We are concerned that the Biological Evaluation (BE) and Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement (DEIS) do not reflect enough information about Proposed, Endangered, 

Threatened, and Sensitive species. The information that currently exists in these documents is 

very brief. 

COMMENT: We request the FS include the following information for all PETS species in the 

EIS: historical range; current range; range on the Croatan; date of last survey on the Croatan; 

habitat use (community types) threats; management actions to address threats and conserve 

species; and a detailed viability discussions (rather than a brief ranking, as the BE currently 

contains). 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 325 

RESPONSE: The best sources of the specific information you requested are: (1) the Biological 

Conservation Database, (2) geographic information system coverage of rare element occurrences 

maintained by the NC Natural Heritage Program (3) Natural Heritage Program List of Rare 

Animal and Plant species, (4) NatureServe: an online encyclopedia of life, and (5) T&E species 

Recovery Plans developed by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. These documents are 

referenced in the Biological Evaluation (BE) and Biological Assessment (BA) (Appendices of 

FEIS). Information on rare species’ range on the Croatan (Table F4), habitat use (Tables F4-F6), 

and threats (main discussion in the BE) is included in the BE. Including all the information 

presented from these sources in the BE or BA is not practical or essential; this information is 

incorporated by reference. An evaluation of species viability is included in Appendix H of the 

FEIS. 

COMMENT: We are concerned about the status of the Rafineque’s Big-Eared Bat on the 

Croatan National Forest. The BE did not mention this species. 

COMMENT: We also request the FS address the status of Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat on the 

Forest, and how the issues noted above apply to this species. The proposed Havelock bypass 

“may cause a trend toward federal listing and loss of viability to the Rafinesque’s big eared bat.” 

The viability analysis (BE) for the DLRMP did not mention this species. 

RESPONSE: The Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) has not been 

documented on the CNF. The NC Natural Heritage Program does not list the species as 

occurring in the counties where the CNF occurs (Carteret, Craven, or Jones). However, the 

species has been found near the CNF at Ft. Macon State Park and the Lumbar River area 

(personal communication: NC Museum of Natural Sciences). The species roosts in old 

buildings, hollow trees, caves, mines, and beneath bridges, usually near water. Based on this 

information, the USFS assumes the Rafinesque Big-eared Bat is likely to occur on the CNF. 

This species will be included in ongoing monitoring of bats on the National Forests in North 

Carolina. Mist netting is the method currently used to complete this monitoring. This species is 

listed as “proposed threatened” by the State, a federal species of concern by the USDI Fish and 

Wildlife Service, and as a Sensitive species by the USFS. The Rafinesque Big-ear Bat has been 

included in the BE (Appendix F, FEIS). 

There are many rare species that are dependent on coastal aquatic environments or environments 

in close proximity to streams and rivers that could occur on the CNF. The Rafinesque’s bigeared bat is one of these species. As discussed in the current BE, the Plan provides direction to 

maintain and enhance aquatic systems (the Hardwood-Cypress management prescription) and 

proposes to manage river corridors eligible for Wild and Scenic River status to retain their 

outstandingly remarkable values. Forest-wide standards require stabilizing erosive uplands 

adjacent lakes and streams, maintaining natural free-flowing streams in Wilderness and SIAs 

(Natural Areas), restoring altered hydrologic systems in SIAs (Natural Areas), and stopping the 

water flow in existing canals and ditches that are no longer needed to control drainage. 

The CNF Plan also emphasizes maintenance and improvement of aquatic habitats and follows 

best management practices to reduce sedimentation from activities in the adjacent uplands. 
326 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Implementation of the CNF Plan should improve habitats for rare species associated with 

streams and lakes and riparian habitats. However, total protection of these systems and the 

species they support may not be feasible because of the inherent complexity of aquatic systems, 

and the probability that some mitigation measures designed to reduce aquatic impacts may fail. 

Therefore, it is expected that some activities implemented through the CNF Plan may impact rare 

aquatic species but that this will not lead to a trend in federal listing of these species. 

COMMENT: We feel there should be no timber management on the Croatan National Forest due 

to the loss of several species, which have been partially or totally extirpated from the Croatan. 

The Venus flytrap, American alligator, and other species have been virtually wiped out. Of 

particular concern is the Croatan crayfish. 

COMMENT: We also note from Appendix C the loss of several species, which have been 

partially or totally extirpated from the Croatan. Venus flytrap, American alligator, and other 

species have been virtually wiped out. Of particular concern is the Croatan crayfish, an endemic 

which is virtually extinct. SABP fails to understand why the Croatan LRMP calls for any 

activity, such as clearcuts or increased OHV use, when these plans conflict with the survival and 

recovery of rare species. 

RESPONSE: We agree that ground-disturbing activities such as clearcutting and OHV use on 

the CNF can potentially affect endangered, threatened, sensitive, and locally rare species. The 

Plan is a programmatic document and therefore the appropriate analysis and document 

(Biological Assessments and/or Biological Evaluations) will be completed to determine potential 

site-specific effects to these species (Standard 4.2.0.8) before any project proposals are 

implemented. One of the major objectives in the Plan is to close and restore all unauthorized 

roads on the CNF over the next 10 years to reduce the impacts of OHV use (Objective 2.6.1.2). 

In addition, the Plan now takes a less aggressive approach to longleaf pine restoration by 

proposing only 500 to 750 acres of clearcutting. This reduction in intensive management should 

also reduce the potential for impacting rare species. 

We do not agree with the statement that several species have been partially or totally extirpated 

from the CNF. The CNF provides some the last intact habitat for a variety of species whose 

habitat has been modified or destroyed on private lands. These species have experienced marked 

increases in their extent on the CNF most likely because of the extensive use of prescribed 

burning and lack of timber harvest in longleaf pine stands. For example, the Venus flytrap is 

documented at 22 locations on the CNF (2001 NC Heritage Program database). In the Plan, 17 

of these occurrences are in areas where active management, other than prescribed burning, does 

not occur (Biological Evaluation, EIS). Seven are within natural areas, five are within 

designated old growth stands, five are within RCW nest sites, and 5 are within RCW forage 

areas. The biggest threat to this species is fire suppression. The Plan emphasizes prescribed 

burning in the ecotone habitats that support this species (Objective 2.5.2.2). The American 

alligator is a federally threatened species based on similarity of appearance to other rare 

crocodilian species. The American alligator, however, is not in decline and there is no viability 

concern for this species. There are 11 documented occurrences of the American alligator on the 

CNF. However, observations of this species occur on a frequent basis but have not been 

included in the NC Heritage Program database. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 327 

The Croatan crayfish was recently ‘downlisted’ by the Regional Forester from sensitive to 

locally rare. It is not near extinction but its range is restricted. There are six occurrence of this 

species documented as occurring on the CNF. However, recent observations documented in 

“Croatan National Forest Inventory of Mollusks, Crayfish, and Mammals”, by John M. 

Alderman, Therese Conant, Thomas Henson, and Christopher McGrath, indicate the species to 

be more common. During this inventory, the Croatan crayfish was collected from a variety of 

habitats including roadside ditches and ponds. These are not uncommon habitats on the CNF. 

KEY INTEREST: Roadless Area Initiative 

COMMENT: There is no specific discussion of the merits of each roadless area as wilderness, 

and how the FEIS fits within the FS Roadless Initiative. The FS should include in the final EIS a 

comprehensive discussion of each area, and then turn to whether each area merits wilderness 

status. The FEIS should also discuss the consistency of the DEIS with the FS Roadless Initiative 

under which more potential national forest wilderness areas are to remain roadless. 

COMMENT: The evaluation of roadless areas for potential wilderness designation in Appendix 

C of DEIS is cursory and overly general. The discussion does not focus on each roadless area 

and why each was rejected or included in the areas to be designated as additional wilderness. The 

FS should include in the final EIS a comprehensive discussion of each area, and then turn to 

whether each area merits wilderness status. 

RESPONSE: Evaluations of the roadless areas and their merits as wilderness are in Appendix C 

of the DEIS. This discussion includes the need for each Roadless Area as Wilderness. The 

recommendation for all or portions of these areas to go into Wilderness Study Areas (Congress 

has to designate Wilderness) is made in the context of the Forest Plan. The discussion is concise 

but meets the national criteria for Roadless Area Evaluations. Roadless areas not recommended 

for wilderness designation will be maintained in natural and roadless conditions and will be 

covered by any future decisions made through a Roadless Initiative. 

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KEY INTEREST: Layout and level of detail in Plan 

COMMENT: The plan addresses different parts at different levels of detail, does not refer to all 

the other land use plans available, does not provide clear cross reference and does not use the 

traditional method of layout. 

COMMENT: The level of detail attached to different parts of the plan varies enormously. Some 

very important topics received very meager coverage. 

COMMENT: Trying to mesh the information in Chapter 2 (2.59-2.61) with Chapter 3 reference 

conditions and Appendix D/Figure D-1 and the “purpose of 

acquisition” is a daunting task. This section very much needs clarification.
328 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: The format of the Plan has been redone to make the document clearer, and 

implementation easier. By reformatting, details for different resources are grouped together and 

should be easier to find. Information is better connected through the document. However, the 

Plan attempts to present a complex analysis process in an easy to understand and implementable 

format. This is generally not an easy task. The sections are better laid out and labeled which 

should make maneuvering through the document much easier. 

COMMENT: All reference conditions in the Management Prescriptions section of Chapter 3.0 

should be checked to ensure that they are no describing a condition that is less than ideal. If 

negative features are present in a site used as a reference condition, it needs to be clear in the text 

that the negative feature is not a desirable condition. For example, the reference condition (or 

“ideal condition” as the text describes) for Small to Medium Pocosin Patches described illegal 

OHV trails, which is much less than an ideal condition. 

RESPONSE: A description of what a reference condition is referring to is included in Chapter 

3.1 Introduction, “The reference condition is meant to describe what the desired effect of 

management will achieve. Since no two sites or features are identical, an attempt is made to 

show how features may vary from reference conditions. Therefore, the reference is one within a 

range of conditions. The range exists due to differences in the initial conditions’ site capability 

and responses to management for each site. Sometimes reference conditions cannot always be 

achieved due to natural disturbances, such as hurricanes and wildfires.” Reference conditions 

were edited to ensure that they were consistently and accurately represented across all 

management prescriptions. 

COMMENT: The introductory table for Management Prescriptions and text helps to clarify the 

relationship between embedded prescriptions and management prescriptions. However, the 

relationship between the Black Bear HMA and the rest of the prescriptions is less than clear. Is 

it a larger category that encompasses many of the prescriptions? A point also needs to be 

emphasized that more restrictive prescriptions, or embedded prescriptions, take precedence 

where they overlap with the Bear HMA. 

RESPONSE: Due to confusion with an overlapping, broad Black Bear Habitat Management 

Area, this designation was eliminated from the final Plan. The black bear habitat management 

prescription is still designated and will be managed for bear. In the Introduction to Chapter 3.0, 

the relationship of embedded prescriptions to other management prescriptions is described, 

“Within these prescriptions, finer scale features are recognized; smaller land features and 

management emphases for them are embedded in the larger landscape prescriptions. For 

example, the prescription of longleaf-pine savannas and flatwoods is a broader scale prescription, 

and within these prescriptions lie the finer scale longleaf old growth. Where embedded 

prescriptions apply, the more restrictive prescription should be enforced, except where Natural 

Areas overlap with Wilderness Areas. In those cases wilderness prescriptions will apply.” 

COMMENT: 1.2 Forest Description: It should be emphasized that the longleaf pine natural 

community type, with all its components, is globally rare. It has been reduced to less than 3% of 

its historic distribution, with old-growth examples even more rare, contributing to the decline of 

the RCW. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 329 

RESPONSE: This suggestion is added to the Introduction of the Plan in Chapter 1.0. 

COMMENT: The Heritage Resource designation occurs twice in the text, once as a prescription 

and once as an embedded prescription. One is called Heritage Resource Interpretation and the 

other Heritage Resources. This is confusing. 

RESPONSE: The Heritage Resource Interpretation areas are included with the water-based 

recreation due to the coincidence of these two areas and the opportunity to interpret heritage 

resources in these areas. Many heritage interpretation opportunities exist within areas that may 

be emphasized for water-based recreation also. The SIA (Heritage Resource) Zones are 

designated, recognized areas by the archaeology program and managed for protection. 

COMMENT: The Figure displaying Management Prescriptions is confusing since the 

management prescriptions listed are not inclusive of the all the prescriptions (management and 

embedded) included in the text. Somehow the reader should be referred to other maps that 

display more restrictive prescriptions such as old growth and natural areas. The names used in 

the Key to Features do not match the names used for prescriptions in the text. 

RESPONSE: The management prescription map has been updated and improved to better depict 

all of the management prescriptions, except the embedded prescriptions. The embedded 

management prescriptions are not shown on the map since those are smaller, more localized 

areas. To depict all of the designated management prescriptions, including the embedded ones, 

on one map was confusing due to all the symbols required. The names used in the legend now 

matches the names used in Chapter 3.0 or the Plan. 

COMMENT: The traditional method of printing the text across the 8.5” length of the page is 

easier to read and preferred to across the 11” length of the page. 

RESPONSE: The new Plan is formatted and printed in a standard portrait alignment. 

COMMENT: The notices should be published in the Carteret County News, Sun Journal, and the 

Daily News in Jacksonville. The Daily News circulates in all three counties. This would cover 

the entire areas of the Croatan. 

RESPONSE: Since the Regional Forester signs the Record of Decision for the FEIS, , the notice 

is published in the major Atlanta paper, and the Federal Register. A media announcement will 

also be made in the local area of the Croatan National Forest as to the availability of the final 

documentsPlan. 

KEY INTEREST: Standards and guidelines 

COMMENT: The differences between standards and guidelines are confusing, they need some 

definitions in an introductory section, and need to be quantitative as well as qualitative. 
330 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

COMMENT: The DLRMP frequently utilizes the term “standard” when what is actually being 

listed is a guideline. 

COMMENT: We prefer the traditional approach where standards and guidelines are provided on 

a numbered basis. 

COMMENT: While the Forest Service supplies definition of standards and guidelines in an 

appendix of the DEIS, the Forest Service should provide definitions in an introductory section in 

the text of Chapter 2 of the DLRMP, and clearly number each standard and guideline. 

COMMENT: NFMA requires that forest plans include both Standards and Guidelines, and that 

these be quantitative as well as qualitative. Unfortunately, the proposed plan includes many 

qualitative standards, but not guidelines, and few quantitative requirements (except for RCW 

habitat standards). This “feel good” approach to forest plans leaves far too much discretion in 

the hands of Forest Service managers, who have repeatedly demonstrated a penchant for timber 

sales over other forest values. 

RESPONSE: Since a guideline is defined as a “broad description of a preferred or advisable 

course of action (1995 36CFR 219.2)”, they are more appropriately included in Forest Service 

direction (manuals, handbooks, letters) and not in Land and Resource Management Plans. The 

final Plan does not contain guidelines. Standards are “limitations on management activities that 

are within the authority and ability of the agency to meet or enforce (1995 36CFR 219.2).” 

Since standards place well-defined, clear limits on what can and cannot take place on a National 

Forest, they are included in the Plan. Guidelines are incorporated into the Plan by 

acknowledging in the text that management still must follow other guidance documentation 

(Chapter 4.0 Introduction). 

The standards are now compiled into one Chapter (4.0) and organized by program area (i.e. 

Soil/Water/Air, Wildlife/Fish/Botanical, Fire, Recreation, etc.). Within each program area, the 

standards are divided into forest-wide standards and prescription standards. The standards are 

numbered. Forest-wide standards have a 0 as the third digit and prescription standards have a 1 

as the third digit. The first digit refers to the Chapter 4. The second digit refers to the program 

area and the final digit is simply a sequential numbering system. 

Listed in the introduction to Chapter 4.0 are how standards are defined, how they are to be used, 

how the standards are organized, and what other sources may contain standards to be followed. 

Some of the standards are quantitative (Standard 4.2.1.6 Conduct nest checks at 7-10 day 

intervals...), and others are qualitative (Standard 4.5.0.11 In all fire operations, emphasize the 

use of naturally occurring barriers, or existing human created structures, such as roads, canals, or 

utility corridors.). 

KEY INTEREST: Small to Medium Pocosin Patch description and delineation 

COMMENT: In the reference condition description, loblolly is mentioned as being a historical 

component of the bay rims. This is doubtful. Many of the areas mapped as small to medium 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 331 

pocosin patches are different than the reference condition description. These differences should 

be described. 

COMMENT: The GIS layer that delineates the boundary of the small to medium pocosin patches 

contains errors. Some of these areas are incorrectly identified. Specifically, the area of 

nonriverine wet-hardwood forest in and around Gum Swamp bottomland hardwood registered 

natural heritage area is designated as pocosin-pond pine, when it should be identified and 

managed as hardwoods. 

RESPONSE: The small to medium pocosin patch management prescription is now combined 

with the RCW HMA to create a landscape scale management prescription consisting of a matrix 

with patches and corridors. The reference condition for the RCW HMA management 

prescription is written to include the pocosin patches and mixed pine forests. It no longer 

includes a reference to loblolly pine as an historical component of bay rims. 

The area mapped around Gum Swamp was incorrectly included in the small to medium pocosin 

patches due to an error in the soil classification. It is now included in the RCW HMA, but has 

the embedded prescription designation of SIA (Natural Area) and will be managed under those 

standards. 

KEY INTEREST: Havelock Bypass 

COMMENT: The Plan and DEIS contain neither a discussion of the implications of construction 

of the Bypass on Plan objectives (biological diversity and management/recovery of RCW), nor 

the environmental effects of this potential loss of important national forest land. 

RESPONSE: The Havelock Bypass proposal is considered a site-specific proposal covered 

through the NEPA process at that level. However, due to the high level of public concern about 

this project, the analysis of the Havelock EA were incorporated by reference in the FEIS, 

Wildlife Section to assess the risks to achieving goals and desired conditions of planning 

alternatives. 

COMMENT: The proposed Havelock Bypass (NCDOT 1998) would result in the partial 

destruction of a natural heritage area (“Southwest Prong Flatwoods”). In addition, this road 

would cause the destruction of hundreds of acres of longleaf pine (much of which is high 

quality), as well as the partial destruction of the Croatan’s largest spring flowering goldenrod 

populations. This proposal leaves us very concerned that the Standards and Guidelines in the 

DLRMP will not adequately protect natural heritage areas. 

RESPONSE: The Plan does not recognize the Southwest Prong Flatwoods as a registered natural 

heritage area. Therefore, the natural area protection measures would not apply. The Plan, Section 

3.12, lists the designated SIAs (natural areas). Throughout Chapter 4.0 in the final plan, 

standards are specified that regulate the management and protection of SIA (natural heritage 

areas). The Havelock Bypass is mitigated to avoid, as much as possible, the Solidago verna

population. Those plants that are not avoided are being relocated to suitable habitat areas to the 

northeast of the bypass corridor. Additionally, in the FEIS, Plant Communities, it shows that 
332 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

more than 70 percent of rare species would occur in the designated SIAs (natural areas), thus 

providing core areas for most species. 

COMMENT: The Wildlife and Fish Habitats section in Chapter 2.0 should address the problem 

already caused by 4-lane US70, plus the additional barrier to animal movement that will happen 

when the Havelock Bypass is built. What is the cumulative effect to black bear as a result of the 

existing Highway 70 and the proposed Havelock Bypass? What will be done to mitigate effects 

of animal movement as a result of these conditions? How does the CNF plan to work with DOT 

to provide alternatives for animal movement where these barriers occur? 

RESPONSE: The FEIS, Wildlife section incorporates by reference the bear analyses in the 

Havelock Bypass EA. Additional direct mortality would likely occur. And bear travel patterns 

could be altered due to the bypass. However, bridges are being installed over East Prong Slocum 

Creek, and Southwest Prong Slocum Creek, which mitigates animal movement as well as 

wetland mitigation. Additional mitigation for these effects would be stipulated in an easement 

agreement. Future projects would require adherence to standards. Standard 4.2.0.15 in the final 

Plan regulates activities or developments that would substantially alter black bear natural 

movement patterns, and requires that there are no net losses to black bear habitat. 

COMMENT: The Plan needs to include a discussion regarding the potential negative impacts 

that the U.S. Hwy 70 Bypass may have on RCW. The FS should thoroughly address how the 

proposed construction the Highway 70 Bypass (which will destroy over 700 acres of longleaf); 

the fragmentation of additional longleaf to the east of the bypass (including current and historical 

RCW habitat); and the restrictions on prescribed burning that will come as a result of the new 

road placement (thereby further adversely affecting RCW habitat through fire preclusion) will 

affect RCW conservation, and how the FS will respond to these adverse effects. 

RESPONSE: The FEIS, Wildlife Section has been supplemented with potential effects on RCW 

and the likelihood of achieving desired conditions called for in the plan. With only foraging 

habitat affected by the bypass, risks are low that population goals could not be achieved in any of 

the planning alternatives. 

COMMENT: We are very concerned about the proposed land exchanges including the 

substantial loss of National Forest land that may result from the proposed U.S. 70 Bypass. While 

the plan places great emphasis on the restoration of longleaf forests and the importance of 

longleaf forests to the RCW, land dispositions currently under consideration would result in the 

direct loss of hundreds of acres of existing longleaf forests. 

RESPONSE: Any land exchange proposal with NCDOT would be subject to site-specific NEPA 

procedures, as well as, Forest Service policies and procedures for land exchanges. At this time, 

no analysis of a land exchange due to the Havelock Bypass has been initiated. Therefore, the 

project you are concerned about has not become ripe for a decision. If a land exchange were 

proposed and analyzed, it would need to be consistent with the Forest Plan. 

KEY INTEREST: Relationship of Croatan Plan to other Plans 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 333 

COMMENT: It would be appropriate for the “Relationships to Other Plans” section to also 

include a discussion of the expected impacts of the U.S. 70 Havelock bypass on the Croatan. 

The Forest Service should discuss the relationship of the TIP Plan U.S. 70 Bypass with the 

Forest Service Plan. 

COMMENT: The USFS has detailed knowledge of NCDOT plans for highway construction 

across CNF lands and anticipated impacts of those highways on many aspects of the 

environment. We could find no discussion of these plans or anticipated impacts in the Plan or 

the DEIS. This should be done in the final Plan/FEIS. 

COMMENT: The relationship of this Plan with the various Thoroughfare Plans developed by 

DOT should be stated, specifically the anticipated effects on the RCW from the Havelock 

Bypass, and the Black Bear from the proposed bypass through the eastern portion of the Croatan. 

RESPONSE: The NCDOT TIP Plans were not included in the Relationship to Other Plans 

section because they are subject to change radically. The Forest Service is involved in project 

development through the NCDOT planning process, and participates in NEPA analysis of project 

proposals. Discussion specific to the Havelock Bypass is included in the response to comments 

in the previous Key Interest heading. 

COMMENT: In "relationships to other plans", the Forest Plan refers to the (CAMA) Craven 

County Land Use Plan, but does not mention the Land Use plans for the other two counties - 

Carteret and Jones. 

RESPONSE: A summary of the Carteret County Land Use Plan is included in the final Plan. 

Jones County was unable to be reached to glean information on a Land Use Plan, if one exists for 

the County. 

KEY INTEREST: KV budget 

COMMENT: The appendix holds the KV budget for cooperative work at a constant. It is our 

understanding that as timber sale revenue increases, a corresponding increase in KV dollars 

should be available. 

RESPONSE: The KV dollar figure is increased in the final Plan, due to the expected timber 

management activities. The dollar amount is estimation at this point, since KV plans are written 

and submitted based on each timber sale. The amount in Appendix L is double what the current 

level is since the amount of timber harvested is expected to be approximately double. 

KEY INTEREST: Editorial changes 

COMMENT: Describe more fully the appendices on farming agreements. Somewhere in the 

Plan or Appendices there should be a summary of the “farming cooperative agreement”. We 

wonder what it says. Apparently Croatan lands are being farmed? Why, for what species, and 

for how many acres. This item is not apparent in the annual budget (Appendix L). How much 

does it cost? How will the target species fare on pine savanna landscapes? 
334 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: Farming agreements are managed as special use permits. A fee is collected for this 

use. Other than administration of the special use permit, no funds are expended. Currently there 

is one active farming agreement on the Croatan for approximately 150 acres in 3-4 blocks in the 

Long Point/Hayfield area. These fields are planted in support of dove hunting. This farming 

agreement is an historical use and has been in the same family for generations. 

COMMENT: For species names, scientific names should also be given to avoid confusion. 

Several places in the Plan, whorled loosestrife is used, when it should be rough-leaved 

loosestrife, which is the difference between not rare and federally listed. 

RESPONSE: Corrections have been made where rough-leaved loosestrife was incorrectly 

labeled. Since most of the species discussed in the Plan are well known by their common name 

(longleaf pine, loblolly pine, black bear, RCW), no scientific names are used. In the Biological 

Evaluation and Biological Assessment, scientific names are used initially and are crossreferenced to common names in the table listing species considered during analysis. 

COMMENT: 1.12, 5. Fire mgmt – You need to add to your second goal, “vegetation and wildlife

management goals.” 

RESPONSE: This was added to the issue statement for Fire. 

COMMENT: Identify and Protect Natural Areas: Under the second obj, you should specify that 

you plan to use prescribed fire to mimic natural processes where they no longer occur at the 

same frequency as they did historically. For the third obj, do you mean “monitor” instead of 

“access” the effects of natural disturbance? 

RESPONSE: SIAs (Natural Areas) that are included in fire dependent ecosystems will be 

included in the prescribed burning program as a portion of a larger block. Objective 2.1.2.2 was 

included so that natural disturbance regimes that may occur, including fire, would not be stopped 

and management intervention would not occur unless other resources required it (e.g. RCW 

within Natural Areas). The third objective (2.1.2.3) now says, “Evaluate the effects of natural 

disturbances on native plant communities and rare species in SIAs (natural areas).” 

COMMENT: Under Wilderness Rx, Standards for Fire – the phrase, “most current fire 

management plan for recommended wildernesses, Croatan National Forest” is confusing. Do 

you mean recommended for wilderness? 

RESPONSE: The standards for fire have been rewritten to clarify meaning and to respond to 

several changes in National policy. These standards can be found in Chapter 4.5 Fire Standards. 

COMMENT: Editorial change on p.2.27 – The first sentence, second paragraph needs 

clarification – would read better as “Existing wilderness will continue to remain free of humancaused disturbances and natural processes will determine conditions there.” Also add trail 

construction as another exception to the “no human-caused disturbance” clause. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 335 

RESPONSE: This section (Chapter 2.3.1) was rewritten for clarification. 

COMMENT: 3.4 Lakes – Add that lake shores will be retained in forest cover wherever it exists, 

with the possible exception of planned recreational developments. 

RESPONSE: This statement is not necessary since pocosin lakes are not suited for timber 

production (Standard 4.4.1.2). Limited exceptions exist for trees being cut in areas not suited for 

timber production (Standard 4.4.0.14). Portions of the shoreline are included in the management 

prescriptions Wilderness, Hardwood Cypress Wetlands, and Black bear habitat. Within the 

Hardwood Cypress wetlands management prescription, trees may be removed in a salvage 

operation, but those trees must be down already and the salvage unit cannot be smaller than an 

acre, which prevents removal of downed, scattered trees (Standard 4.4.1.4). Neither Wilderness 

nor Black bear management prescriptions have exceptions. 

 

COMMENT: 3.6 Wilderness – Two apparent typos – change “wildlife suppression” to wildfire 

suppression”. 

RESPONSE: This was corrected. 

COMMENT: 3.47-3.51 (Page 3.48) Fourth paragraph, last sentence – Add “trash and OHV 

riders” as exceptions to the “primitive experience”. 

RESPONSE: This section was rewritten. 

COMMENT: Under the Natural Areas embedded prescription standards for Plant Communities, 

change the second standard to read, “All restoration proposals will be developed in coordination 

with the Natural Heritage Program.” 

RESPONSE: Proposals for restoration in natural areas will be guided by the ecological 

classification system and by NC Natural Heritage Program site descriptions (Standard 4.2.0.1) 

Environmental analysis will be conducted prior to implementation which includes consulting 

with state and federal agencies. 

COMMENT: We have concerns about the ability of the CNF to carry out the programs 

envisioned by the draft Plan and EIS due to a lack of staff biologists and other specialists (20 

added). 

RESPONSE: A new wildlife biologist/planner is being hired for the Croatan and Uwharrie 

National Forests. This position will guide the implementation of the final Plan in conjunction 

with the Silviculturist and Fire Management Officer currently on staff. The Croatan recently 

hired new fire fighter positions as well. As the Plan is implemented, any new staffing needs that 

are identified will be evaluated. 

COMMENT: Reference in the Plan in Chapter 2.0, Section 1.0, Appendix D and the Land 

Adjustment map. 
336 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

RESPONSE: A reference was added to Chapter 2.7.1 where land ownership adjustments were 

directly discussed. 

COMMENT: 4.23: One item in the table “longleaf pine savanna in stands < 61 years old” looks 

odd. Given the “restoration” objectives for MA1, one would expect several hundred acres for 

this item. Why is there not an item for longleaf pine 1-10 years old to reflect the results of 

activities during the decade? This table does not give an adequate picture of either the current 

habitat conditions or a picture for 10-years in the future. 

RESPONSE: This table is not included in the final Plan. Acreage figures changed in Alternative 

E which invalidated the calculations in the table referred to. 

COMMENT: “DEHNR” should be changed to “DENR” throughout the document. 

RESPONSE: This was corrected. 

COMMENT: Appendix I: Somewhere in the Plan/DEIS there should be a breakdown of all lands 

suitable for timber production according to vegetative community and seral stage. Perhaps it 

could be built into this table – or perhaps a graph or pie chart could be added. Table 1-1: It is not 

clear from this table how old growth fits into the analysis. 

RESPONSE: Table 3.20 in the EIS Plant Communities section depicts vegetation communities 

by seral stage. In Appendix I, old growth would be included under 8A. Lands Not Suited for 

Timber Production, but all the lands classed as such are not listed in this Appendix. Standard 

4.4.1.2 lists all management prescriptions that are classed as not suited for timber production. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 337 

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The Record of Decision for the Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests Land and Resource 

Management Plan (LRMP) was signed by Regional Forester John E. Alcock on June 3, 1986. 

Since that time, conditions have changed on both Forests to the extent that a combined LRMP is 

no longer practical. The decision to establish two separate plans was documented in the Notice 

of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement published in the Federal Register

October 17, 1996. 

The decision to develop two plans was based upon reviews of the current plan and the changes in 

the issues facing the managers of the two forests. For the Croatan, seven issues were determined 

to drive the revision of the plan. These are as follows: 

A. Biological Diversity 

This includes recovery of the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) through restoration of the 

longleaf pine community, restoration of natural communities and wetlands, and provision of 

habitat for black bear. 

B. Recreation Opportunities 

Determination of how best to satisfy the demand from a changing public and which activities 

should be provided. 

C. Special Land Allocations 

Assessment of the need for additional designated wilderness and the suitability of the White Oak 

River and Brices Creek for Wild and Scenic designation. 

 

D. Vegetation and Timber Management 

Determination of which lands are suitable for timber production and what cover types would 

change as a result of the red-cockaded woodpecker recovery program. 

E. Fire Management 

Determination of the role of prescribed fire in the wildland urban interface and the restoration of 

natural communities and when natural fires should be allowed to burn. 

F. Access 

Assessment of the need for motorized access on the Forest. 

G. Local Communities 

The need to determine which special uses should be accommodated and how they would blend 

with other forest uses. 

The following sections document the process for revising the LRMP. First is a description of the 

planning steps followed by an analysis of the supply of and the demand for products and services 

from the Forest. Finally is presented a description of the models used for developing alternatives 

and estimating effects. 
374 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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The process for developing the LRMP consists of the following steps: 

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The first step in the process involved intensive public involvement to ensure that public issues, 

management concerns, and opportunities for developing resources were identified. This step 

consisted of gathering issues and concerns from the public and Forest Service employees, 

combining general topics, and determining major issues which are a combination of public issues 

and management concerns. The process began in July 1996 and the seven issues, concerns, and 

opportunities are described in detail in Chapter I of the EIS. 

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Two types of planning criteria were developed, process criteria and decision criteria. Process 

criteria are specific requirements necessary for the planning process to function. They consist of 

guidelines and rules to guide the planning effort. Decision criteria provide the basis for 

evaluating and comparing alternatives and for selecting a preferred alternative. 

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The Interdisciplinary (ID) Team determined what data were necessary based upon the major 

issues. Data collection is part of a normal forest operation and existing data were used whenever 

possible and were supplemented with new data where required to resolve issues. Data 

(including landtypes and acreages, supply and demand, expected output yields, and values and 

costs of resources) are needed for the formulation of the models used in the analyses of the 

management situation, formulation of the alternatives, monitoring and other phases of the 

planning process. These data are on file in the Forest Supervisor's Office in Asheville, North 

Carolina. 

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This step of the planning process examines the current conditions and uses of the forest, the 

current management direction under the existing plan, and a determination of the need to 

establish or change management direction. The needs for changes were used as preliminary 

issues and scoped in the NEPA process for the environmental impact statement. The list of 

preliminary issues included access and road management practices. 

Policy on road management (12/14/2001) includes a forest scale roads analysis (ID#7710-2001-

3). This analysis fits into the planning process at the AMS step because it examines current 

conditions and provides guidelines for consideration of changes in future management. 

Roads Analysis Process An assessment of the current management situation was conducted for 

open roads on the CNF to comply with FSM 7712.13(b). All classified roads on the CNF are 

shown on the Forest Plan Management Prescription Map. Guidelines identified in the analysis 

were captured as goals and objectives to address issues (See Plan 2.6). The social issues were 

narrowed to: safety from illegal shooting, illegal trash disposal, illegal, unauthorized access, 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 375 

OHV use, and effects on bear and turkey habitat. Guidelines captured as objectives were: 

reduced open roads by 15-20 miles of the total 220 mile system with higher priority on those 

where illegal shooting occurs, close out unauthorized routes, use seasonal closures on 15 to 20 

miles of current open roads, clean up trash dump sites. Standards (4.6.0) for road management 

included priorities for accomplishing road management objectives. Further documentation is 

available in the planning record as part of the Analysis of the Management Situation. 

The AMS also determines the capability of the Forest to supply goods and services in response to 

society's needs. This is accomplished by constructing benchmarks which define the range of 

output levels and the feasibility of meeting them. These benchmarks include (1) projection of 

the Forest's current management program, (2) minimum level of management, (3) maximum 

timber production with market values, and (4) maximum present net value. The AMS is 

available as a separate document. Benchmarks are described in Section B.2 of this Appendix. 

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The information gathered during the first four steps is combined and analyzed to formulate 

alternative management plans. The alternatives reflect the range of goals, objectives, and ways 

to address the issues. Each major issue was addressed in one or more alternatives. Each 

alternative represents the most cost-effective way of obtaining its goals and objectives. This 

process provides a basis for identifying the alternative which comes nearest to maximizing net 

public benefits, consistent with resource integration and minimum management requirements. 

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The physical, biological, economic, and social effects of implementing each alternative were 

considered in detail, estimated, and compared. These effects include resource outputs, priced 

and nonpriced benefits and costs, and environmental factors. 

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Using the decision criteria, the ID Team evaluated the significant physical, biological, economic, 

and social effects of each alternative. This evaluation included a comparative analysis of the 

aggregate effects of the alternatives. Comparisons were made on present net value, social and 

economic impacts, outputs of goods and services, and overall protection and enhancement of 

environmental resources. These comparisons are presented in Chapter II of the EIS. 

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The Forest Supervisor reviewed the ID Team's evaluation and recommended to the Regional 

Forester a preferred alternative, identified in the EIS and displayed as the Plan. 

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The Forest Plan is implemented following the issuance by the Regional Forester of the Final EIS, 

Plan, and Record of Decision. The Plan is the basis for the development of annual programs and 

budgets. 
376 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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At intervals established in the Forest Plan, implementation shall be evaluated on a sample basis 

to determine how well objectives are being met and how closely management standards and 

guidelines are being applied. Monitoring requirements are described in Chapter 5 of the Forest 

Plan. 

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Benchmarks were considered in the analysis to set "sideboards" on the range of outputs and 

activities. (More details of PNV and Timber Benchmarks are found in Section B.4.2) These are 

as follows: 

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This is a benchmark in which management of the Croatan National Forest would be minimal. 

Personnel would consist of only a Ranger for administration, a Secretary to manage relations 

with the public, and one or two technicians to accomplish field activities. Management would 

consist of fire suppression, land-line maintenance, and some law enforcement. There would be 

no timber, recreation, wildlife, or fisheries programs. District personnel would be custodians, 

primarily. 

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This is Alternative A (No-Action) in the Plan. Under this Benchmark, activities and outputs are 

what they have been since the original plan was implemented in 1986. This Benchmark assumes 

that no changes will be made in the outputs or activities. 

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 This Benchmark represents the highest PNV, which can be achieved through management of the 

CNF. 

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This Benchmark determined the maximum amount of timber that can be produced given market 

conditions. Only timber-related values and costs were used in the calculation of PNV. 

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The Benchmarks determine the range of capability for providing resources on the Croatan 

National Forest. This section examines the demands for timber, recreation, and minerals from 

the Forest and the capability of the Forest of meeting those demands. 

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Introduction 

The Record of Decision for the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) for the Croatan 

National Forest was signed in June of 1986. Prior to the LRMP, the Forest was producing 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 377 

approximately 4.1 million board feet of timber annually from 91,300 acres classified as suitable 

for timber production. Approximately 320 acres were harvested by clearcutting and another 500 

acres of timber were thinned. Surface water management for timber production (bedding) was 

done on approximately 20 acres each year. 

Under the LRMP, the suitable acres were reduced to 30,300 and harvest was projected to be 

approximately 3.49 million board feet per year. The rotations would be lengthened and 

shelterwood would be used in conjunction with clearcutting for regenerating new stands. 

Thinning would be reduced to approximately 315 acres per year and surface water management 

for timber production would be discontinued. 

Since adoption of the LRMP, circumstances affecting the management of timber on the Forest 

have changed. Specifically, the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Management of 

RCW and its Habitat on National Forests in the Southern Region has been published which puts 

more limitations on timber harvesting on the Croatan. This analysis will focus on timber 

management since adoption of the LRMP in 1986 and the Forest's capability to meet regional 

timber demand. 

Supply 

Supply is defined as how much of a commodity, such as timber, will be made available for sale 

at various prices. The amount of timber offered in a fiscal year from the national forests is 

determined by the annual budget and commodity targets set by Congress rather than by the price 

of timber. The budget and output targets are distributed among the Districts based upon their 

ability to prepare and sell timber. 

Timber Sold from the Croatan 

The Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ) for the Croatan National Forest was set in the LRMP at 35 

million board feet for the 10 year period. The ASQ represents the maximum amount of timber 

which would be offered under normal conditions given the Forest's capability to sustain a flow of 

timber over the long-term. Table B-1 shows the amount of timber sold for each year since 

implementation of the LRMP. 

As shown in Table B-1, in only three years has the amount of timber sold been greater than the 

average annual ASQ -- 1987, the first full year of plan implementation; 1991, when a major 

change was made in management; and 1997, which was a year of major impact from hurricanes 

and the Southern Pine Beetle. Most of the increase in timber sold in 1997 was in an attempt to 

salvage damaged and downed trees. Since implementation of the LRMP, the volume of timber 

sold has been approximately 86 percent of the ASQ. 

 
378 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table B-1. Amount of Timber Cut and Sold from the Croatan National Forest in Millions of Board Feet from 1987 

to 1997. 

Fiscal Year Timber Sold Timber Cut Percent of ASQ Sold 

 MBF MBF % 

 

1987 5,339 5,944 153.0 

1988 2,807 4,758 80.4 

1989 2,525 3,426 72.4 

1990 1,343 2,603 38.5 

1991 3,538 1,704 101.4 

1992 3,170 3,367 90.8 

1993 2,226 2,912 63.8 

1994 1,915 1,097 54.9 

1995 2,313 1,085 66.3 

1996 2,045 1,480 58.6 

1997 5,666 2,384 162.4 

Average 2,990 2,796 85.7 

Timber Cut from the Croatan 

The amount of timber harvested from the Croatan has been declining since implementation of the 

LRMP (Table B-1). Harvest in 1997 was only 40 percent of the 1987 harvest. The average 

harvest from 1987 through 1997 was 2.796 million board feet or 80 percent of the ASQ. 

Regional Timber Supply 

Marketing Area: The Croatan National Forest lies entirely within the counties of Carteret, 

Craven, and Jones, but is in competition with timber supplied from several other counties. For 

purposes of analysis, a sixteen county marketing area was defined based upon a review of timber 

sales from 1987 through 1997 with a sale value of $2,000 or greater. The counties selected were 

Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, New Hanover, Onslow, 

Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Washington, and Wayne. These counties all lie within 75 to 100 miles of 

the Forest and contain the major mills which process timber from the Croatan. 

Ownership of Timberlands: There are an estimated 3,343,394 acres of timberlands in the sixteen 

counties (Table B-2). Of those, 118,846 acres are on the Croatan National Forest or 3.5 percent. 

The Forest Industry owns or leases 29.9 percent, 7.7 percent is owned by other public (state and 

local) agencies, and the majority, 58.9 percent, is in private ownership. 

Under the LRMP, only 30,300 acres of the 118,846 (25.5 percent) timberland acres on the 

Croatan National Forest are classified as suitable for timber production. These acres have been 

further reduced as a result of the guidelines for managing the RCW. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 379 

Table B-2. Ownership of Timberlands in the Sixteen County Marketing Area of the Croatan National Forest 

(Acres). 

Ownership Class Acres Percentage 

 No. % 

 

National Forest 118,846 3.5 

Other Public 258,652 7.7 

Forest Industry 952,020 28.5 

Leased-Industry 47,437 1.4 

Farmer 717,662 21.5 

Miscellaneous Private 1,248,777 37.4

All Ownerships 3,343,394 100.0 

Merchantable Volume: Merchantable volume of timber in the sixteen county marketing area is 

estimated to be approximately 5.5 billion cubic feet (Table B-3). Of that volume, 292,686 

thousand cubic feet (MCF) or 5.3 percent, is on the Croatan, 409,028 MCF (7.5 percent) is on 

other public lands, 1,283,352 MCF (23.4 percent) is owned or leased by forest industry, and the 

remainder (63.8 percent) is in private ownership. Pine timber on the Croatan is 7.3 percent of the 

total in the marketing area. 

The volume of available timber on the Croatan was reduced in the LRMP by approximately 25 

percent. Further reductions have occurred as a result of the RCW guidelines. 

Demand 

Demand is defined as how much of a commodity, such as timber, will be purchased at various 

prices. The demand for timber from the Croatan National Forest is a demand derived from the 

demand for products which utilize national forest timber. For example, softwood roundwood 

will be utilized by pulp mills such as the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill in New Bern which, in turn, 

sells the pulp to a paper manufacturer. Similarly, sawtimber is converted to boards which are 

used in construction. The purchasers of national forest timber are not the ultimate consumers. 

Table B-3. Merchantable Volume of Live Trees in the Sixteen County Marketing Area of the Croatan National 

Forest by Ownership and Species Group, Thousand Cubic Feet. 

 All species Pine Hardwood and Other 

Ownership Class Volume Percent Volume Percent Volume Percent 

 MCF % MCF % MCF % 

 

National Forest 292,686 5.3 184,497 7.3 108,189 3.6 

Other Public 409,028 7.5 258,238 10.2 150,490 5.1 

Forest Industry 1,224,677 22.3 737,255 29.2 487,422 16.4 

Leased-Industry 58,675 1.1 53,586 2.1 5,089 0.2 

Farmer 1,319,178 24.0 409,427 16.2 909,751 30.7 

Miscellaneous Private 2,185,729 39.8 882,122 35.0 1,303,607 44.0 

All Ownerships 5,489,973 100.0 2,525,125 100.0 2,964,848 100.0 

Demand for Croatan Timber 

Since 1987, 34 timber sales valued at $2,000 or more have been made on the Croatan. Threequarters of these (76 percent) were purchased by individuals or corporations located within the 

three Croatan Counties -- Carteret, Craven, and Jones. Much of the timber was then hauled to 
380 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill in New Bern (Craven County), the Weyerhaeuser saw mill in Ayden 

(Pitt County), the Weyerhaeuser saw mill and plywood mill in Plymouth (Washington County), 

or the Georgia Pacific saw mill in Dudley (Wayne County). The distance from the Croatan to 

these mills was the basis for defining the sixteen county marketing area. 

Under the assumption that these four mills constitute the majority of the demand for timber from 

the Croatan, the Forest is in competition with timber growers from a much larger area than the 

sixteen counties. A hauling distance equivalent to the distance from the Croatan from any of the 

four mills would encompass an additional 20 counties in North Carolina -- Bertie, Bladen, 

Camden, Chowan, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hartnett, Hertford, 

Johnston, Nash, Northhampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Sampson, Tyrrell, and Wilson -- and 4 

counties in Virginia -- Chesapeake, Southhampton, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. 

Although the mills which process timber from the Croatan most likely obtain their raw material 

from the 36 county marketing area (or more), for purposes of this analysis, the Croatan is 

assumed only to be in competition with timber producers in the 16 counties. 

Regional Timber Removals 

The amount of timber removed from the 16 county marketing area is an indication of the demand 

for the available timber. As shown in Table B-4, regional timber removals average 196,800 

thousand cubic feet (MCF) each year. Of this, 74 percent is softwood and 26 percent is 

hardwood. Softwood timber removals from the Croatan have averaged 525 MCF or only 0.36 

percent of the regional total. Hardwood removals have been only 0.04 percent of the regional 

total. 

Since the implementation of the LRMP, timber removals from the Croatan have been declining 

(Table B-1). This has been the result of a reduction in the suitable timber acreage, restrictions 

for the RCW, and declining Forest timber budgets. 

Table B-4. Timber Removals from the Sixteen County Marketing Area and the Croatan National Forest for Selected 

Years, Thousand Cubic Feet. Timber Converted from MBF to MCF by the Formula, MBF x .18182 = MCF. 

 Sixteen County Area Croatan Percent Croatan 

Year Softwood Hardwood Softwood Hardwood Softwood Hardwood 

 

 MCF MCF MCF MCF % % 

1986 138,197 42,426 1,038.39 42.26 0.75 0.10 

1989 151,788 54,316 620.04 2.94 0.41 0.01 

1992 150,907 51,177 598.39 13.85 0.40 0.03 

1994 144,937 56,003 168.97 30.46 0.12 0.05 

1995 144,685 49,347 197.21 0.00 0.14 0.00 

 

Average 146,103 50,654 524.60 17.90 0.36 0.04 

Future Supply and Demand 

The demand for timber from the 16 county region will continue to rise as the population 

increases. The Forest has the capability of supplying 5.3 percent of the regional demand (Table 

B-3). This is under the assumption that all 118,846 acres of timber land would be utilized. 

Under the LRMP, the suitable timber production acres were reduced to 30,300 or 25.5 percent. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 381 

With this timber base, the Forest could only supply 1.35 percent of the regional demand, or 

approximately four times what has been supplied historically. 

Timber production on the Croatan National Forest will continue to be limited by budgets, RCW 

restrictions, and public opinion. Meeting regional timber demand may be of less importance 

than managing for RCW, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities. 

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The Croatan National Forest is uniquely positioned to provide outdoor recreation opportunities to 

coastal North Carolina. National Forest lands occupy 16.5 percent of the land area of Carteret 

County, 14.1 percent of Craven County, and 13.1 percent of Jones County. Outside the national 

forest the three counties are growing in population at a rate greater than that of the state of North 

Carolina. From 1970 to 1990, population in the three counties increased by 38.1 percent 

compared to the state average of 30.4 percent. 

This rapidly increasing population is putting more demands on the Forest to provide developed 

and dispersed recreation opportunities. When the Land and Resource Management Plan 1986-

2000 (LRMP) for the Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests was implemented in 1986, an 

estimate of supply and demand indicated that estimated demand would be met by the Croatan 

National Forest for dispersed recreation, but not for developed. The purpose of this analysis is to 

determine if the supply and demand conditions have changed for the Forest in the past ten years 

and, if so, what changes in management might be required. 

Supply 

Supply refers to how much of a commodity or service will be made available for consumption at 

various prices. The concept of price is not relevant when the commodity or service is being 

provided at no or minimal cost by a public agency such as the Forest Service. Therefore, for this 

analysis, supply is defined as the opportunity to participate in a desired recreation activity in a 

preferred setting to realize desired and expected experiences. The three components of supply, 

under this definition, are settings, activities, and facilities. 

Recreation Settings 

Recreation settings refer to the physical and social environments needed to produce recreation 

opportunities. The Forest Service defines recreation opportunities by the Recreation Opportunity 

Spectrum (ROS) which describes recreation settings in terms of physical, social and managerial 

characteristics. The spectrum goes from primitive (a setting with a high degree of remoteness) to 

urban (a setting characterized by large buildings and paved surfaces). Five classes of ROS 

settings occur on the Croatan National Forest -- semi-primitive non-motorized, semi-primitive 

motorized, roaded natural 1, roaded natural 2, and rural. 

Under current conditions, 20 percent of the land area on the Forest is classified as semi-primitive 

non-motorized, 4 percent is semi-primitive motorized, 56 percent is roaded natural 1, 10 percent 

is roaded natural 2, and 10 percent is rural. As the LRMP is implemented (Record of Decision 

signed on June 3, 1986) more of the Forest will be managed as semi-primitive non-motorized. 

Under the LRMP, 54 percent of the Forest will be semi-primitive non-motorized, 29 percent 
382 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

roaded natural 1, and 17 percent roaded natural 2. Rural ROS would occur on less than 1 percent 

of the Forest and none of the Forest would be classified as semi-primitive motorized. 

Recreation Activities 

According to the Recreation Information Management System (RIM), recreation use on the 

Croatan National Forest is approximately 400,000 Recreation Visitor Days (RVDs) per year (a 

RVD is one person recreating for a 12-hour period) (Table B-5). Of this use, most is for 

activities dispersed over most of the Forest (70.7 percent). Developed recreation use is limited 

by available facilities and competing land uses. 

Most of the dispersed use of the Forest is for consumptive activities such as hunting (30.3 

percent) and fishing (12.1 percent). Warm water fishing on the Forest is primarily an activity of 

residents in the three counties surrounding the Croatan, but hunting opportunities attract visitors 

from all over North Carolina. Much of the land outside the National Forest is privately owned 

and unavailable for hunting except to organized groups or for a fee. 

Big game hunting is the largest single use of the Forest (21.9 percent). The Croatan has a large 

deer population which provides hunters with excellent opportunities for hunting success, but 

creates management problems on gated forest roads and transportation corridors. During bear 

season, hunters from as far away as western North Carolina come to the Forest. They utilize the 

camping facilities or camp wherever they can and often stay for as long as a week. Almost all of 

the deer and bear hunting is with dogs and from roads that are not gated (or, in some instances, 

from roads which have gates). 

Other dispersed use is more often by local residents or by visitors who are using the developed 

facilities. The Croatan has a variety of unique flora (e.g., Venus fly trap, pitcher-plants) and 

fauna (e.g., red-cockaded woodpecker). Visitors often will use the campgrounds as "staging 

areas" from which they will participate in other activities. 

There are 31,221 acres of Wilderness on the Croatan, but wilderness use is less than 1 percent of 

the total dispersed use. Most of the areas are difficult to traverse so most of the use is around the 

edges and along roads. This use shows no real upward trend. 

Recreation Facilities 

Recreation facilities are made available to assist uses of recreation settings and to support 

recreation activities. Facilities can be either corridors which are used to transport users through a 

setting or places. Corridors include roads, trails, lakes or streams. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 383 

Table B-5.Total Recreation Use on the Croatan National Forest, 1991 to 1996, Thousands of Recreation Visitor 

Days (MRVDs). 

 Average Percent 

RIM Activity 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1991-1996 of Total 

 MRVDs MRVDs MRVDs MRVDs MRVDs MRVDs MRVDs % 

Hunting, Big Game 93.9 103.8 80.6 83.0 83.0 83.0 87.88 21.94 

Fishing, Warm Water 45.3 49.8 38.3 39.5 41.4 41.4 42.62 10.65 

Picnicking 34.4 37.8 38.6 38.6 40.5 40.5 38.40 9.60 

Hiking and Walking 27.6 30.4 29.2 29.2 30.6 31.2 29.70 7.42 

Hunting, Small Game 25.5 28.1 26.3 27.1 27.1 27.1 26.87 6.71 

Camping, Tent 24.0 26.4 20.7 20.7 21.7 21.7 22.53 5.63 

Swimming 18.1 19.9 20.3 19.5 20.4 20.4 19.77 4.94 

Viewing Scenery 15.5 17.1 17.4 17.4 18.2 18.2 17.30 4.32 

Camping, Trailer 14.0 15.4 12.8 12.8 13.4 12.4 13.47 3.36 

Nature Study, Hobby 9.4 10.3 10.1 10.1 10.1 11.1 10.18 2.54 

Automobile Travel 9.9 10.9 9.0 9.0 9.4 9.4 9.60 2.40 

Recreation Cabin Use 8.3 9.1 8.7 9.1 9.1 9.1 8.90 2.22 

Hunting, Waterfowl 6.2 6.8 6.2 6.4 6.4 7.4 6.57 1.64 

Fishing, Salt Water 5.1 5.6 5.7 5.9 6.1 6.1 5.75 1.44 

Camping, Automobile 7.2 7.9 5.1 5.1 5.3 3.3 5.65 1.41 

Canoeing 4.4 4.8 4.9 5.1 5.3 5.3 4.97 1.24 

Camping, General Day 4.8 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.5 3.5 4.95 1.24 

Boat, Powered 5.4 5.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.9 4.45 1.11 

Horseback Riding 3.9 4.3 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.0 3.98 1.00 

Nature Study, Wildlife 3.5 3.9 1.5 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.53 0.88 

General Information 3.0 3.3 3.9 3.5 3.5 3.9 3.52 0.88 

Water-Skiing and Other 3.0 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.33 0.83 

Touring, Unguided 2.9 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.22 0.80 

Bicycle 2.7 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.6 3.12 0.78 

Walking, Unguided 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.87 0.72 

Attending Talks and Prog. 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.8 3.8 2.85 0.71 

Sailing 2.2 2.4 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.12 0.53 

Organized Camping, Night 1.8 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.80 0.45 

Gathering Forest Products 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.73 0.43 

Motorcycle and Scooter 1.8 2.0 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.57 0.39 

Viewing Inter. Exhibits 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.48 0.37 

Diving 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.08 0.27 

Viewing Inter. Signs 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.93 0.23 

Games and Play 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.88 0.22 

Walking, Guided 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.72 0.18 

Touring, Guided 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.63 0.16 

Train and Bus Touring 0.6 0.7 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.60 0.15 

Organized Camping, Day 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.58 0.15 

Other Watercraft 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.18 0.05

Total 396.8 436.7 379.9 389.2 399.3 399.3 400.20 100.0 

Wilderness (Included 

Above) 

2.3 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.53 0.63 

Corridors 

There are approximately 200 miles of roads serving the Croatan National Forest. Some of these 

are "through" roads which traverse the entire Forest and are used for commercial and commuter 

traffic as well as for recreation. Others are used to access the Forest and facilitate fire control 
384 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

and forest administration. Approximately 35 miles (on 24 roads) have been designated for riding 

off-highway vehicles. 

The Forest has 7 trails totaling 31 miles, all but two of which are designated for hiking only. The 

Cedar Point Tideland National Recreation Trail and the Island Creek Forest Walk are loop trails 

which provide opportunities to view unique scenic landscapes. The Neusiok Trail is a long 

distance (22 miles) trail through different coastal environments. 

Water corridors include the White Oak and Neuse Rivers and Brice and Cahooque Creeks. 

Places 

Places are where people spend time engaged in a recreation activity. They may be developed 

such as a campground or picnic area or undeveloped, but favorite spots such as beaches, river 

banks, or hunting areas. Places may be further differentiated as Special Places or Hot Spots. 

Special Places are those sites for which the location, attraction, or feature has been identified by 

users as unique, different, distinctive, or extraordinary. Hot Spots are places where capacities are 

reached or exceeded during peak periods because the resource attributes or facilities 

accommodate the needs and desires of users for specialized settings, activities, or experiences. 

Recreation places on the Croatan National Forest are shown in Table B-6. Five of the places 

have been identified as Special and two are considered to be Hot Spots. Development of the 

sites ranges from primitive to highly developed. Total capacity is approximately 1,676 persons 

at one time (PAOT). 

Most of the recreation places get light to moderate use except for the two Hot Spots -- Long 

Point and Siddie Fields. Both provide opportunities for primitive camping, fishing, and social 

interaction. Capacity is exceeded on both of them during peak periods. Use on the other areas is 

mostly on weekends. 

Demand 

Demand refers to how much of a commodity or service will be purchased at various prices. The 

concept of price is not relevant when the commodity or service is being provided at no or 

minimal cost by a public agency such as the Forest Service. For this analysis, demand is 

measured by participation rates in various recreation activities. Future demand will be measured 

by anticipated changes in participation rates resulting from population changes in the region and 

trends determined through research. 

Much of the demand for recreation activities on the Croatan National Forest comes from the 

population in the three counties surrounding the Forest -- Carteret, Craven, and Jones. From 

1970 to 1990, the population increased by 38.1 percent (from 103,936 to 143,583). This was a 

rate higher than that for the state of North Carolina (30.4 percent). By 2005, the three-county 

population is projected to be 171,853 or an increase of 19.7 percent over the 1990 population. 

The increase for the state of North Carolina is projected to be only 18.8 percent. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 385 

Table B-6. Recreation Places on the Croatan National Forest (Special, Hot Spots, and Others) with 

Estimated Capacity, Persons at One Time (PAOT). 

 Special or Capacity Facilities/ 

Place Name Hot Spot PAOTS Activities Attributes 

 

Brice Creek Special 100 Boat Ramp Blackwater Stream 

Cahooque Creek Special 50 Boating/Picnicking Oak Trees, Water 

Catfish Lake 50 Boat Ramp Lake 

Catfish Sand Ridges Special Hiking/Viewing Scenery, Wildlife 

Cedar Point 215 Campground Water, Scenery 

Cedar Point 24 Picnicking Water, Scenery 

Fishers Landing 100 Camping/Picnicking Neuse River 

Flanners Beach 270 Swimming Neuse River 

Great Lake 50 Boat Ramp Remote Lake 

Haywood Landing 50 Boating/Picnicking White Oak River 

Island Creek Trail Special 40 Interpretive Trail Hardwoods, Creek 

Long Point Hot Spot 30 Picnicking/Camping White Oak River 

Neuse River 240 Campground Neuse River 

Neuse River 265 Picnicking Neuse River 

Oyster Point 18 Campground Newport River, Remote 

Patsy Pond Pond Ponds, Plants 

Pine Cliff 100 Picnicking Neuse River, Flounder 

Siddie Fields Hot Spot 24 Camping Neuse River, Social 

Tideland Trail 50 Interpretive Trail Salt Marsh, Waterfowl 

Waterfowl Imp. Duck Hunting Duck Hunting 

Whiteoak River Special Boating/Viewing Water, Scenery, Wildlife 

Total 1,676 

Demand for recreation activities also comes from non-residents of the three counties. As shown 

in Table B-5, Big Game Hunting is the single largest recreation activity on the Forest (21.9 

percent). While many of the hunters are local residents (or at least residents of nearby counties), 

many of the hunters are from western North Carolina, particularly bear hunters. They are able to 

extend the bear hunting season for themselves by hunting in both the western and eastern 

counties. A significant proportion of the camping activity also is associated with this group of 

Forest users. 

Surveys of tourists by local chambers-of-commerce indicate that opportunities to recreate in the 

Croatan National Forest is one of the reasons for choosing the region as a destination. The 

Forest offers unique opportunities for wilderness experiences, primitive camping, and viewing 

rare flora and fauna. The analysis which follows will focus on which recreation opportunities 

provided on the Forest compared to those which might be provided off the Forest. 

Participation in Activities 

Participation in recreation activities is a reflection of the demand for those activities. Table B-5 

shows the recreation visitor days (RVDs) for forty (40) activities on the Croatan National Forest 

from 1991 to 1996. Ninety percent (90%) of the participation is in just eighteen (18) activities 

and 50 percent is in only four activities -- Big Game Hunting, Warm Water Fishing, Picnicking, 

and Hiking and Walking. Participation in dispersed recreation activities account for 70.7 percent 

of the total. 
386 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table B-7 shows the average participation in all activities and changes in participation from 1991 

to 1996 and from 1993 to 1996. Both periods were analyzed because fiscal year 1992 was a year 

of higher than average participation. 

From 1991 to 1996, participation declined in 10 activities -- Big Game Hunting, Warm Water 

Fishing, Tent Camping, Trailer Camping, Automobile Travel, Automobile Camping, General 

Day Camping, Power Boating, Sailing, and Motorcycle and Scooter Travel. Participation 

declined in four activities -- Trailer Camping, Automobile Camping, General Day Camping, and 

Water-skiing -- from 1993 to 1996. Participation in all other activities increased except for 

General Information, Unguided Touring, Motorcycle and Scooter Travel, Visiting Interpretive 

Exhibits, Diving, Games and Play, and Organization Day Camping which did not change during 

the period. 

The increase in total participation from 1991 to 1996 (0.63 percent) or from 1993 to 1996 (5.11 

percent) is less than what would be expected given that the population most likely increased by 8 

to 10 percent during the same periods. This suggests that participation in recreation activities 

also is being influenced by a population which is getting older, more affluent, and less diverse. 

Future participation is expected to be influenced by these changing demographic trends. 

Future Participation in Activities 

Analysis of RIM data for the last thirty years (1966 to 1995) shows a continually rising trend in 

participation, which, if projected into the future, would indicate that participation could more 

than double by the year 2040. This is unrealistic for two reasons -- the limited national forest 

land area and the previously noted demographic changes in the population. 

On September 30, 1995, the land area on the Croatan National Forest was 159,590 acres. This 

was only a 1.6 percent increase over the land area of 157,054 acres in 1985. With the exception 

of some national forest land which might be included in the proposed by-pass around the town of 

Havelock, the Forest will increase its land area through purchase, exchange or donation, but not 

significantly. Suitable land outside the national forest will become increasingly more difficult to 

acquire because of demand pressures from the increasing population. 

The limiting land area eventually will result in an upper limit on participation in activities and, as 

that limit is approached, increases in participation will be reduced. Crowding will discourage 

forest users and they will seek opportunities elsewhere. This will be particularly true of 

developed sites which currently are at approximately 80 percent of capacity. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 387 

Table B-7. Average Participation in Recreation Activities and Percentage Changes in Participation 1991 to 1996 

on the Croatan National Forest, Thousands of Recreation Visitor Days (MRVDs). 

Average Percent Change Change 

RIM Activity 1991-1996 of Total 1991-1996 1993-1996

 MRVDs % % % 

 

Hunting, Big Game 87.80 21.94 -11.61 2.98 

Fishing, Warm Water 42.62 10.65 -8.61 8.09 

Picnicking 38.40 9.60 17.73 4.92 

Hiking and Walking 29.70 7.42 13.04 6.85 

Hunting, Small Game 26.87 6.71 6.27 3.04 

Camping, Tent 22.53 5.63 -9.58 4.83 

Swimming 19.77 4.94 12.71 0.49 

Viewing Scenery 17.30 4.32 17.42 4.60 

Camping, Trailer 13.47 3.36 -11.43 -3.13 

Nature Study, Hobby 10.18 2.54 18.09 9.90 

Automobile Travel 9.60 2.40 -5.05 4.44 

Recreation Cabin Use 8.90 2.22 9.64 4.60 

Hunting, Waterfowl 6.57 1.64 19.35 19.35 

Fishing, Salt Water 5.75 1.44 19.61 7.02 

Camping, Automobile 5.65 1.41 -54.17 -35.29 

Canoeing 4.97 1.24 20.45 8.16 

Camping, General Day 4.95 1.24 -27.08 -33.96 

Boat, Powered 4.45 1.11 -27.78 2.63 

Horseback Riding 3.98 1.00 2.56 5.26 

Nature Study, Wildlife 3.53 0.88 17.14 173.33 

General Information 3.52 0.88 30.00 0.00 

Water Skiing and Other 3.33 0.83 13.33 -2.86 

Touring, Unguided 3.22 0.80 13.79 0.00 

Bicycle 3.12 0.78 33.33 16.13 

Walking, Unguided 2.87 0.72 28.00 10.34 

Attending Talks and Programs 2.85 0.71 58.33 40.74 

Sailing 2.12 0.53 -4.55 10.53 

Organized Camping, Night 1.80 0.45 11.11 100.00 

Gathering Forest Products 1.73 0.43 12.50 12.50 

Motorcycle and Scooter 1.57 0.39 22.22 0.00 

Viewing Interpretive Exhibits 1.48 0.37 7.14 0.00 

Diving 1.08 0.27 10.00 0.00 

Viewing Interpretive Signs 0.93 0.23 25.00 11.11 

Games and Play 0.88 0.22 12.50 0.00 

Walking, Guided 0.72 0.18 14.29 100.00 

Touring, Guided 0.63 0.16 80.00 50.00 

Train and Bus Touring 0.60 0.15 16.67 250.00 

Organized Camping, Day 0.58 0.15 20.00 0.00 

Other Watercraft 0.18 0.05 0.00 100.00

Total 400.20 100.00 0.63 5.11 

 

Wilderness (Included Above) 2.53 0.63 13.04 0.00 

As the regional population gets older, the mix of recreation activities will change. As Dwyer1has 

noted, as people get older, for example, they will hunt less and observe or photograph wildlife 

more. They also are more likely to go fishing more often, but camping less. Age was the 

dominant variable in predicting changes in participation rates. 

Future participation in recreation activities on the Croatan is estimated through two sources -- 

The North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Plan 1995-20002 and Regional Demand and Supply 
388 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Projections for Outdoor Recreation3. Estimates for hunting and fishing are from Flather and 

Hoekstra4. 

Future Participation: North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Plan 

The state of North Carolina is required to prepare a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor 

Recreation Plan (SCORP) by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 

1965 to be eligible for acquisition and development assistance. The SCORP provides a 

framework for addressing the problems, needs, and opportunities related to the need for 

improved public outdoor recreation. The plan is prepared by the N.C. Division of Parks and 

Recreation. 

Future demand was estimated through a survey process. Respondents were asked to identify 

activities (up to 10) in which their households would have participated more often if the 

opportunities had been available. From this list, the respondents were asked to choose the top 

five and list them in priority order. The activities were averaged for all respondents. 

Activities were ranked as "high" or "moderate" depending upon whether they were listed in the 

top five by at least one-half of the respondents (high), or one-quarter of the respondents 

(moderate). All other activities were ranked as "low". Table B-8 shows the SCORP ranks for 

recreation activities on the Croatan National Forest. 

As shown in Table B-8, eleven activities were ranked as having high future demand. These were 

fishing (both warm and salt water), picnicking, all types of developed camping, swimming, 

bicycle riding, and walking for pleasure (both unguided and guided). Fourteen activities were 

ranked as having moderate future demand. These included all types of hunting, trail hiking, 

viewing scenery and automobile travel, horseback riding, organized camping (day and night), 

and educational activities such as attending programs, viewing interpretive exhibits or signs, and 

general information. All other activities were ranked as having low future demand. 

Forest Service plans are made for 10 to 15 years, with reviews at 5 year intervals. Even though 

the accuracy of projections declines the further into the future they are made, long term 

projections are necessary in order to establish goals and provide direction. Short term 

projections can result in inefficient allocations of resources and the need to make adjustments in 

direction more often. 

Management for recreation activities also requires quantifiable estimates of participation in those 

activities. In Table B-8, for example, participation in Picnicking and Swimming are both 

projected to increase at a high rate. In 1996, participation in Picnicking was twice that of 

Swimming on the Forest. Should future resources be allocated more to providing opportunities 

to Picnic or to Swim? The SCORP projections do not provide that information. 

Future Participation: Regional Demand and Supply Projections 

English et al. estimated recreation demand and supply for 33 recreation activities in four regions 

of the United States. Their estimates were of recreation trips based upon such variables as cost 

of trip, suitability of site for a particular activity, income, age of population, and availability of 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 389 

substitute recreation opportunities. Their results are presented as percentage increases by 

activity from 1987 to the years 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040. 

Flather and Hoekstra estimated wildlife and fish user-days based upon changes in population in 

four regions of the United States. Their estimates project changes in participation in nonconsumptive use, hunting (big game, small game, and waterfowl), and fishing from 1980 to 

1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040. 

For the analysis of future demand (participation) in recreation activities on the Croatan National 

Forest, the estimates for maximum preferred demand for the South Region were used. 

Maximum preferred demand is defined as the number of trips that households would prefer to 

consume, given constant trip costs and an unconstrained supply of recreation opportunities. 

These estimates are shown in Table B-9 projected to the year 2040 from the average recreation 

participation for the years 1991 to 1996. The estimates for hunting and fishing are from Flather 

and Hoekstra for the year 2040 for the South Region. 

The estimates shown in Table B-9 should be the maximum future demand for each activity. 

Population changes previously identified and limited opportunities to increase land area would 

limit increases in recreation participation. As shown in Table B-9, recreation participation could 

increase by as much as 49.3 percent by the year 2040. 

As shown in Table B-9, approximately 80 percent of recreation participation in the year 2040 

will be in just eleven activities, the same eleven activities which accounted for 80 percent of the 

participation in 1966 (Table B-5). In 2040, Hunting (Big and Small Game) will continue to 

dominate recreation participation with 26.1 percent of the total (down slightly from 28.6 percent 

in 1966). Participation in Hiking and Walking (trail) will more than double by 2040 (12.3 

percent of the total in 2040 compared to 7.8 percent in 1996). 

Participation in Camping (Tent and Trailer) and Picnicking will almost double by 2040. North 

Carolina respondents to the SCORP survey also indicated that they would participate in these 

activities more often if facilities were available. Providing more facilities for these activities 

should be a priority for the Forest. 

The North Carolina SCORP ranked Warm Water Fishing and Swimming as "high" for future 

demand, but there should be only moderate increases in participation on the Forest. Participation 

in activities such as Viewing Scenery, Automobile Travel, and Nature Study will all increase at a 

moderate rate. 
390 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table B-8. Future Demand for Outdoor Recreation Activities on the Croatan National Forest Utilizing Ranks 

Developed for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 1995-2000. 

 Average 

RIM Activity 1991-1996 Rank

 MRVDs 

Fishing, Warm Water 42.62 HIGH 

Picnicking 38.40 HIGH 

Camping, Tent 22.53 HIGH 

Swimming 19.77 HIGH 

Camping, Trailer 13.47 HIGH 

Fishing, Salt Water 5.75 HIGH 

Camping, Automobile 5.65 HIGH 

Camping, General Day 4.95 HIGH 

Bicycle 3.12 HIGH 

Walking, Unguided 2.87 HIGH 

Walking, Guided 0.72 HIGH 

Hunting, Big Game 87.80 MODERATE 

Hiking and Walking 29.70 MODERATE 

Hunting, Small Game 26.87 MODERATE 

Viewing Scenery 17.30 MODERATE 

Automobile Travel 9.60 MODERATE 

Hunting, Waterfowl 6.57 MODERATE 

Horseback Riding 3.98 MODERATE 

General Information 3.52 MODERATE 

Touring, Unguided 3.22 MODERATE 

Attending Talks and Programs 2.85 MODERATE 

Organized Camping, Night 1.80 MODERATE 

Viewing Interpretive Exhibits 1.48 MODERATE 

Viewing Interpretive Signs 0.93 MODERATE 

Organized Camping, Day 0.58 MODERATE 

Nature Study, Hobby 10.18 LOW 

Recreation Cabin Use 8.90 LOW 

Canoeing 4.97 LOW 

Boat, Powered 4.45 LOW 

Nature Study, Wildlife 3.53 LOW 

Water-Skiing and Other 3.33 LOW 

Sailing 2.12 LOW 

Gathering Forest Products 1.73 LOW 

Motorcycle and Scooter 1.57 LOW 

Diving 1.08 LOW 

Games and Play 0.88 LOW 

Touring, Guided 0.63 LOW 

Train and Bus Touring 0.60 LOW 

Other Watercraft 0.18 LOW 

Total 400.20 

Wilderness (Included Above) 2.53 LOW 

Future demand for recreation activities on the Croatan National Forest has been defined as 

anticipated changes in participation in those activities. By 2040, the Forest should be generating 

approximately 600,000 RVDs. The next section will discuss the capability for accommodating 

that demand. 

Capability to Meet Future Demand 

In Appendix C of the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) for the Croatan National 

Forest, demand for developed recreation opportunities by the year 2000 was estimated to be 

98,000 Recreation Visitor Days (RVDs) and for dispersed recreation, 170,000 RVDs. Since the 

LRMP was implemented in 1986, the Forest has added developed recreation capacity and by 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 391 

1996, the Forest was estimating developed use at 117,000 RVDs (Table B-5). Dispersed 

recreation use in 1996 was almost two-thirds greater than that predicted for the year 2000 

(282,300 RVDs). 

The demand estimates in the LRMP were conservative given the changes in use which have 

occurred over the past ten years. They also did not take into account changes in participation by 

activities other than the broad categories of dispersed and developed recreation. The following 

analysis examines the recreation activities which will account for 90 percent of the participation 

on the Croatan by 2040 (Table B-9) to determine the capability of the Forest to meet future 

demand. 

Hunting 

Big Game Hunting will continue to be the dominant recreation activity on the Forest in 2040 

(20.7 percent). Participation should increase by 41 percent (Table B-9) over that of 1966. This 

activity attracts hunters from all over North Carolina. Bear hunters from western North Carolina, 

for example, come to the Croatan in November and December to hunt when the season is closed 

in their area. As more of the Forest is managed as semi-primitive non-motorized, bear habitat 

should be improved and the forest should be able to accommodate the increase in hunting 

demand. There will most likely be increased law enforcement problems as more hunters want 

greater access to the Forest. 

Hunting of Small Game and Waterfowl also will increase by 2040, but moderately (19 percent 

and 33 percent, respectively). Almost all of the participation in these two activities is from the 

local population. The Forest will be able to accommodate the increase in demand with the 

current facilities. 

Hiking and Walking 

The largest increase in demand will be for facilities to accommodate Hiking and Walking. 

Currently the Forest has 7 trails for a total of 31 miles. The Cedar Point Tideland National 

Recreation Trail and the Island Creek Forest Walk are special facilities (Table B-6) which also 

can accommodate those who want to View Scenery, Walk for Pleasure (Guided and Unguided), 

View Interpretative Exhibits or Signs, or Study Nature for either Hobby or Education. The 

Neusiok Trail is for more serious hikers. 
392 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table B-9. Average Participation (1991-1996), SCORP Rank, and Estimated Future Participation in Recreation 

Activities on the Croatan National Forest, Thousands of Recreation Visitor Days (MRVDs). 

Average SCORP Growth Projected Percent Cumulative

RIM Activity 1991-1996 Rank Indices Use of Total Percent

MRVDs No. MRVDs % %

 

Hunting, Big Game 87.80 MODERATE 141 123.798 20.72 20.72

Hiking and Walking 29.70 MODERATE 247 73.359 12.28 33.01

Picnicking 38.40 HIGH 131 50.304 8.42 41.43

Fishing, Warm Water 42.62 HIGH 115 49.009 8.20 49.63

Camping, Tent 22.53 HIGH 174 39.208 6.56 56.20

Hunting, Small Game 26.87 MODERATE 119 31.971 5.35 61.55

Viewing Scenery 17.30 MODERATE 174 30.102 5.04 66.59

Camping, Trailer 13.47 HIGH 174 23.432 3.92 70.51

Swimming 19.77 HIGH 118 23.325 3.90 74.41

Automobile Travel 9.60 MODERATE 153 14.688 2.46 76.87

Nature Study, Hobby 10.18 LOW 128 13.035 2.18 79.06

Recreation Cabin Use 8.90 LOW 115 10.235 1.71 80.77

Hunting, Waterfowl 6.57 MODERATE 133 8.734 1.46 82.23

Camping, General Day 4.95 HIGH 174 8.613 1.44 83.67

Camping, Automobile 5.65 HIGH 151 8.532 1.43 85.10

Canoeing 4.97 LOW 158 7.847 1.31 86.41

Horseback Riding 3.98 MODERATE 176 7.011 1.17 87.59

Fishing, Salt Water 5.75 HIGH 115 6.612 1.11 88.70

Bicycle 3.12 HIGH 206 6.420 1.07 89.77

Sailing 2.12 LOW 302 6.392 1.07 90.84

Nature Study, Wildlife 3.53 LOW 162 5.724 0.96 91.80

Touring, Unguided 3.22 MODERATE 174 5.597 0.94 92.74

General Information 3.52 MODERATE 155 5.451 0.91 93.65

Boat, Powered 4.45 LOW 118 5.251 0.88 94.53

Walking, Unguided 2.87 HIGH 162 4.644 0.78 95.30

Water-Skiing and Other 3.33 LOW 137 4.567 0.76 96.07

Attending Talks and Programs 2.85 MODERATE 155 4.418 0.74 96.81

Organized Camping, Night 1.80 MODERATE 174 3.132 0.52 97.33

Gathering Forest Products 1.73 LOW 158 2.739 0.46 97.79

Viewing Interpretive Exhibits 1.48 MODERATE 174 2.581 0.43 98.22

Motorcycle and Scooter 1.57 LOW 118 1.849 0.31 98.53

Viewing Interpretive Signs 0.93 MODERATE 198 1.848 0.31 98.84

Diving 1.08 LOW 118 1.278 0.21 99.06

Walking, Guided 0.72 HIGH 162 1.161 0.19 99.25

Touring, Guided 0.63 LOW 174 1.102 0.18 99.43

Train and Bus Touring 0.60 LOW 174 1.044 0.17 99.61

Games and Play 0.88 LOW 118 1.042 0.17 99.78

Organized Camping, Day 0.58 MODERATE 174 1.015 0.17 99.95

Other Watercraft 0.18 LOW 150 0.275 0.05 100.00

Total 400.20 597.344 100.00

 Wilderness (Included Above) 2.53 LOW 238 6.029 1.01

Current facilities probably are not sufficient to accommodate the anticipated increase in demand. 

The options would be to increase the number of miles of trail on the Forest or to regulate use of 

current facilities during peak periods to prevent over-crowding and environmental deterioration. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 393 

Since the three-county population is expected to continue to increase at a rate greater than that of 

the state, the former option appears to be more acceptable. 

Picnicking 

Participation in this activity is expected to increase by 31 percent by 2040. Current facilities 

should be adequate to meet the increased demand with the exception of peak week-ends in the 

summer, particularly Long Point (Table B-6) on the White Oak River. Most of the demand will 

be from local residents. 

Fishing 

North Carolina respondents to the SCORP survey ranked fishing high among the activities they 

would participate in if facilities were available. Demand on the Croatan is expected to increase 

by only 15 percent by year 2040, so current facilities should be adequate for warm water and salt 

water fishing demand. Fishing facilities also are available through public and private sources. 

Camping 

Participation in all types of Camping (Tent, Trailer, Automobile, and General Day) is projected 

to increase by 74 percent by 2040. Current facilities on the Forest would be able to 

accommodate no more than one-half to two-thirds of this increase. Already some facilities, such 

as Hot Spots like Siddie Fields (Table B-6), are over-crowded on peak week-ends. Demand for 

camping is from a larger region (including the western North Carolina bear hunters) than just the 

adjacent three counties. Meeting the expected increase in future demand will require additional 

facilities. 

Swimming 

The SCORP survey ranks Swimming as high among the respondents, but demand on the Forest 

is projected to increase by only 18 percent. Current facilities such as Flanners Beach on the 

Neuse River should be adequate to accommodate the increase in demand. Substitute facilities 

are available on nearby public and private beaches. Consideration could also be given to 

developing additional camping and swimming facilities at Oyster Point on the Newport River. 

Automobile Travel 

Automobile Travel on the approximately 200 roads serving the Forest could increase by 53 

percent by 2040. No additional roads would be constructed to accommodate this increase in use. 

The increase in Automobile Travel could be absorbed by changing access to the Forest, for 

example, opening previously closed roads. 

Recreation Cabin Use 

There are six cabins on the Forest under long-term special use permits. The use by permit 

holders is not expected to increase by more than 15 percent by year 2040. The land on which 

these cabins are located is highly desirable for developed camping and picnicking and could be 

used to accommodate future increases in demand for these activities. The Forest should consider 

purchase of the cabins as they become available. This would be an investment in providing more 

recreation opportunities for future Forest users. 
394 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Canoeing 

Participation in Canoeing could increase by as much as 58 percent by 2040. The lakes and 

streams on the Croatan National Forest should be sufficient to meet the increased demand. 

Current facilities can accommodate 300 PAOTs (Table B-6). 

Horseback Riding 

Horseback Riding was estimated in the SCORP survey to increase moderately and could increase 

by 76 percent on the Croatan by 2040. Current facilities are not sufficient to meet this increase 

in demand. New trails need to be constructed or old trails need to be re-designed for use by 

horses. 

Bicycle 

Bicycling is an activity which could more than double on the Forest by 2040 and was ranked 

high in the SCORP survey. Although participation in this activity will represent only about 1 

percent of the total use (Table B-9), the Forest should consider developing facilities for bicycle 

riders. This could most likely be accomplished on the current road system. 

Sailing 

Sailing was ranked as low on the SCORP survey, but use could increase on the Forest by 2040. 

This is an activity which should be accommodated at other public or private facilities. The 

Forest could consider more intensive development of Oyster Point on the Newport River to 

provide additional Sailing and Swimming facilities. 

Summary 

The Croatan National Forest is already providing more recreation visitor days in 1996 than were 

projected in the Land and Resource Management Plan for the year 2000. It was able to meet the 

increased demand with modest increases in developed Camping and Picnicking facilities and use 

of Volunteers for maintenance and daily operations. Meeting future demand will require more 

significant changes. 

Future demand for dispersed recreation activities such as Hunting (all types), Fishing, Walking 

for Pleasure, and Picnicking can be met with current facilities. Demand for activities such as 

Automobile Travel, Bicycling, Canoeing, Swimming, and Sailing can be accommodated with 

current facilities with some changes in management. These changes include providing more 

access to the Forest through road management (open or closed). Use of Recreation Cabins 

should not increase significantly by year 2040. 

To accommodate future demand for Camping (all types), Hiking, and Horseback Riding, more 

developed facilities will be required. Camping demand is expected to increase by 74 percent by 

2040, Horseback Riding by 76 percent, and Hiking to more than double (147 percent). The 

options would be to expand current facilities to their limits or to acquire additional land for the 

national forest suitable for recreation activities. 

The Forest will have limited opportunities to acquire additional recreation land. National forest 

land area on the Croatan has only increased by 1.6 percent since 1985 and would not be expected 

to increase by more than 6.5 percent or 10,000 acres by 2040. The demand for land to house and 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 395 

serve the expanding regional population will further reduce opportunities to acquire land at a 

reasonable price. 

To meet future demand for developed recreation, current facilities need to be expanded. More 

miles of trail will be needed with some of these designated for use by horses and riders. Some 

camping facilities are currently under-utilized while hot spots such as Long Point on the White 

Oak River and Siddie Fields on the Neuse River often reach their capacity. There may be 

opportunities to re-direct use to some areas or to expand facilities where use exceeds capacity. 

By 2040, the population in the three-county region surrounding the Croatan National Forest 

could be double the current population. Demand for recreation activities will intensify and 

current developed facilities will be inadequate to meet this demand. 

BBB...333...333... MMMiiinnneeerrraaalllsssSSSuuuppppppl

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The Forest Service is responsible for integrating use of minerals with the use of surface 

resources. The minerals program is administered to: 

• Encourage and facilitate the orderly exploration, development, and production of mineral 

and energy resources within the National Forest system in order to maintain a viable, 

healthy minerals industry and to promote self-sufficiency in those mineral and energy 

resources necessary for economic growth and the national defense. 

• Ensure the exploration, development, and production of mineral and energy resources are 

conducted in an environmentally sound manner and that these activities are integrated 

with the planning and management of other national forest resources. 

• Ensure that lands disturbed by mineral and energy activities are reclaimed for other 

productive uses. 

The production of minerals and energy resources in the state of North Carolina has been 

constantly increasing each year for the last ten years. The mineral commodities responsible for 

this increase may change from year to year, but there have been consistent increases in volume 

and value for crushed stone, construction sand, and gravel. These three commodities are 

necessary for construction of houses and the infrastructure to support the continued increase in 

the North Carolina population. 

Supply of Mineral and Energy Resources 

Mineral and energy resources are not a homogeneous commodity, but are made up of several 

categories including mineral material (common variety), hard-rock minerals (metals), and 

leasable minerals. 

Mineral Material (Common Variety) 

This category of minerals is the only one that the Forest Service has full responsibility to 

regulate. Included are such things as petrified wood, stone, pumice, cinders, clay, sand, and 

gravel. These minerals have a variety of uses in agriculture, animal husbandry, building, 

abrasion, construction, and landscaping. The most common uses for aggregates such as crushed 

stone, sand, and gravel are for road and street construction and in construction of buildings. 
396 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Most common variety minerals are utilized within forty miles of where they are produced. 

Aggregate is heavy and has a low production cost, therefore hauling distance generally controls 

price. Location is as important as the suitability of the product. 

At present, the Croatan National Forest is not producing any common variety minerals. The 

potential for discovery of these resources for the production of crushed stone and sand is low. 

Because of the lack of topographic relief, the shallow ground water table, and the need to protect 

other forest resources, quarry operations would encounter special development problems. 

Materials required to satisfy the growing regional population would need to be brought in from 

other locations. 

Hard-Rock Minerals (Metals) 

The Bureau of Land Management has the responsibility for issuance of permits and 

administration of hard-rock leasable minerals. The Forest Service does have consent authority 

for leases and permits on national forest land. It also has responsibility for the resources and use 

of the surface. 

This category of minerals are generally called metals, precious metals, or industrial metals. They 

are used in industrial manufacturing, communications, chemical production, and jewelry. 

Included in this category in North Carolina are gemstones, mica, olivine, and feldspar. 

There is no production of hard-rock minerals on the Croatan National Forest. Industry interest is 

low because the potential for discovering an economic deposit is low. Market price is the 

controlling factor. 

Leasable Minerals 

As with hard-rock minerals, the Bureau of Land Management has the responsibility for issuance 

of permits and administration of leasable minerals. The Forest Service does have consent 

authority for leases and permits on national forest land. It also has responsibility for the 

resources and use of the surface. 

Leasable minerals include oil, gas, coal, phosphate, sodium, and potassium. There are no known 

leasable minerals on the Croatan National Forest. 

Demand for Mineral and Energy Resources 

Mineral Material (Common Variety) 

Demand for mineral material will follow trends in population growth and gross domestic 

product. A concern of the aggregate industry will be the ability to extract minerals in areas 

changing from rural to urban. Land use conflicts will intensify as the population becomes more 

affluent, older, and more environmentally sensitive. National forests may be asked to supply 

more of these minerals, but the Croatan national Forest should not be affected by the increased 

demand. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 397 

Hard-Rock Minerals (Metals) 

The demand for hard-rock minerals is expected to continue to increase, but demand for 

individual metals will be variable. New technologies will stimulate the demand for some 

metallic minerals and reduce the demand for others. Lead, for example, is being used less as a 

gasoline additive, but used more to screen radiation in television and computer monitors. These 

variations in demand will not affect the Croatan National Forest. 

Leasable Minerals 

The demand for energy minerals will increase. This demand will be satisfied within the United 

States or from foreign sources depending upon cost and availability. If the world price for oil, 

for example, increases, more oil will be produced from domestic sources. This increase in 

demand should have little or no effect on the Croatan National Forest. 

The Minerals Program on the Croatan National Forest 

The minerals program on the Croatan has been funded at an average of $1,000 for each of the 

past seven years. Each year the Forest processes one or two cases usually for permits for 

exploration. There is apparently no serious interest in the minerals on the Croatan by any of the 

mineral industries. 

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The following section describes the tools and models used in the analysis process. 

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This section documents the work of Dr. Joseph Roise of North Carolina State University, who 

formulated the timber analysis model for the Croatan National Forest (CNF). 

The problem formulation follows: Given a fixed land base, what are the allowable sale quantities 

and long-term sustained yield capacities of timber scheduled in 10-year increments over a 

planning horizon of 160 years, subject to non-declining flow and other constraints (depending on 

the alternative). To solve this problem, SPECTRUM (Version 1.5), a decision support model, 

was used to estimate optimal harvest scheduling levels among the alternatives. The following 

discussions describes the model formulation process. 

Land Stratification 

The CNF was stratified by 5 levels. Level 1 identifies the management areas, which are 

contiguous land areas of the CNF (refer to figure 4-1 of the CNF Plan). Table B-10 displays the 

acreage of the 7 management areas on the CNF. 
398 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table B-10. Spectrum Timber Analysis Model: Level 1 Identifiers. 

Management Area Acres 

 

1 9,238 

2 63,157 

3 28,139 

4 18,788 

5 19,404 

6 12,220 

7 10,198 

The next level identifiers keyed on RCW habitats, since RCW is the most limiting factor on 

timber scheduling due to the standards in the RCW Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(1996). Table B-11 displays the land stratification for these habitats. 

Table B-11. Spectrum Timber Analysis Model: Level 2 Identifiers. 

Level 2 Character Acres 

 

1 A/<.25/TS/RS 7,095 

2 A/<.25/TS/RU 1,395 

3 A/<.25/TU/RS 870 

4 A/<.25/TU/RU 1,379 

5 A/>.25/TS/RS 3,972 

6 A/>.25/TS/RU 940 

7 A/>.25/TU/RS 713 

8 A/>.25/TU/RU 986 

9 T/<.25/TS/RS 1,709 

10 T/<.25/TS/RU 111 

11 T/<.25/TU/RS 194 

12 T/<.25/TU/RU 61 

13 T/>.25/TS/RS 1,095 

14 T/>.25/TS/RU 134 

15 T/>.25/TU/RS 201 

16 T/>.25/TU/RU 36 

17 R/TS/RS 32,167 

18 R/TS/RU 2,742 

19 R/TU/RS 3,871 

20 R/TU/RU 2,104 

21 N/TS 25,256 

22 N/TU 83,112 

A = Active RCW Cluster RS = Suitable for RCW habitat 

<.25 = Within 0.25 miles of the Cluster RU = Unsuitable for RCW habitat 

>.25 = Outside 0.25 miles of the Cluster T = Transition, artificial cavities installed 

TS = Suitable for timber (Stage 1) R = Recruitment stands 

TU = Unsuitable for timber N = Not in the RCW HMA 

The Level 3 identifier keyed on vegetation potential based on the ecological classification 

system. This variable identifies longleaf or hardwood restoration potential. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 399 

Table B-12. Spectrum Timber Analysis Model: Level 3 Identifiers. 

The Level 4 identifier keyed on existing forest type and site index. Table B-13 displays the 

acreage for each site characteristic. 

Table B-13. Spectrum Timber Analysis Model: Level 4 Identifiers. 

The last identifier related to ages of existing stands, as shown in Table B-14. Existing ages are 

needed to build yield tables for outputs. 

Table B-14. Spectrum Timber Analysis Model: Level 5 Identifiers. 

Years Acres 

 

0-3 10,360 

4-10 1,258 

1-20 3,381 

21-30 6,292 

31-40 2,370 

41-50 737 

51-60 6,858 

61-70 26,960 

71-80 82,837 

83-90 3,557 

91-100 1,360 

>100 5,174 

Silvicultural Activities 

The types of management actions for timber harvest, regeneration, and stand improvement 

follow. 

Level 3 Acres 

 

Hardwood 1,962 

Longleaf Dry 6,856 

Longleaf 3,981 

Longleaf Wet 5,763 

Mixed Pine 6,675 

No Restoration 135,906 

Level 4 Acres 

 

Hardwood, >70 Site Index 16,960 

Hardwood, <70 Site Index 2,341 

Loblolly, >70 Site Index 28,279 

Loblolly, <70 Site Index 1,766 

Longleaf, >70 Site Index 6,229 

Non-forest 6,657 

Pond Pine, >70 Site Index 2,413 

Pond Pine, <70 Site Index 97,655 
400 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table B-15. Summary of Management Actions for Regeneration. 

Number Desired 

Forest Type 

Method Sale Prep 

Cost 

($/MCF) 

Sale Admin 

Cost 

($/MCF) 

Reforestation 

Cost 

($/AC) 

1 Longleaf CC 119 35 308 

2 Loblolly CC 119 35 336 

3 Pond Pine ST 119 35 50 

4 LL to LL TA 155 45 100 

5 LL to LL GS 178 52 100 

5a Lob to LL GS 178 42 210 

6 Lob to Lob SW 131 38 30 

7 Loblolly CC 119 35 215 

8 MP to LL TA 155 45 100 

9 MP to LL TA 155 45 100 

10 HW to HW 

11 Pine to HW Thinning 119 35 

12 Lob to LL TA 155 45 100 

 LL = Longleaf Lob = Loblolly MP = Mixed Pine HW = Hardwood 

 CC = Clearcut TA = Two-aged SW = Shelterwood GS = Group Selection 

Assumptions about Silvicultural Activities 

1. Artificial regeneration, shear, V blade, bed and fertilize, hand plan containerized longleaf 

seedlings. Use prescribed fire, stand improvement costs are $50/acre for dormant season burns 

before age 5. 

2. Artificial regeneration, shear, V blade, bed and fertilize, hand plant bare root longleaf 

seedlings. Use prescribed fire, stand improvement costs are $50/acre for 2 dormant season burns 

before age 5. 

3. Leave basal area of 15 square feet per acre, natural regeneration-prescribed burn after 

harvest. 

4. Leave basal area of 30 square feet per acre, natural regeneration, 2 prescribed fires to prepare 

seedbed, cone crop monitoring, TSI cost of $50/acre. 

5. Unevenaged management using BDQ method with maximum diameter at 22 inches, Q=1.2 

for 1 inch classes, average opening size of 1 acre, prescribed fire after harvests, 2 dormant season 

burns before age 5. 

5a. Unevenaged management, average opening of 1 acre, regeneration of 25 percent of stand 

every 20 years, prescribed fire after harvest, 2 dormant season burns before age 5. 

6. Leave basal area of 30 square feet per acre, remove residual trees 10 years after regeneration 

harvest, natural regeneration by roller chop following harvest. 

7. Artificial regeneration, roller chop followed by prescribed fire and hand plant containerized 

seedlings, 2 dormant season burns before age 5. 

8. Remove all loblolly and leave 30 square feet per acre of longleaf in seed producing trees, 

evenly distributed across the stand. Ten years following initial seed cut reduce residual basal 

area to 10 square feet per acre. Natural regeneration, prescribed fire after harvest, 2 burns to 

prepare seedbed. 

9. Leave 30 square feet of basal area in seed producing longleaf pine, evenly distributed acress 

the stand. Natural regeneraton, 2 burns to prepare seedbed, cone crop monitoring and site visits. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 401 

10. No hardwood to hardwood regeneration. These are unsuitable for timber management. 

11. Thin to favor existing hardwood in all size classes, reduce basal area to 20 square feet per 

acre, schedule timber stand improvement to assure development of existing hardwood seedlings. 

12. Leave 30 square feet of loblolly pine to provide structure for RCW nesting or foraging. Use 

fire to prepare seedbed and plant longleaf. Use fire to release longleaf from loblolly 

encroachment. 

Pinestraw raking assumed harvesting every 3 years, with fertilization occurring after every 

harvest. Prescribed fire would also be applied to each area on a 3 year rotation. Pinestraw 

raking could occur only in longleaf stands, ages more than 20 years and outside of sensitive 

areas, such as natural areas. 

Outputs and Revenues 

Table B.15a. 

Output Units Revenue ($) 

 

Pine Straw Tons 62 

Hardwood Sawtimber MCF 598 

Hardwood Pulpwood MCF 167 

Pine Sawtimber MCF 951 

Pine Pulpwood MCF 235 

Yields 

Timber and Pine straw yields were generated using the following models: 

• Smith, William D. 1989. NATYLD - Natural Pine/Hardwood Stand Growth and Yield 

Simulator and Economic Evaluation, Department of Forestry, North Carolina State 

University, Raleigh, NC. 

• Schumacher, F.X. and Coile, R.S. 1960. Growth and Yield of Natural Stands of the 

Southern Pines. Published by Coile, Inc, Durham, NC. 

• Hafley, W.L. and Buford, M.A. 1985. A Bivariate Model for Growth and Yield 

Prediction, Forest Science, Vol. 31 No 1, pp 237-247. 

• Hafley, W.L. 1986. North Carolina State University Managed Pine Plantation Growth 

and Yield Simulator. Department of Forestry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 

NC. 

Timber Suitability Stage 1 Evaluation 

Results of the Stage 1 analysis are documented in the CNF plan, Appendix I. Of the 161,142 

acres of land evaluated, 37,921 acres are not physically suited for timber production. 

Timber Suitability Stage 2 Evaluation 

Over 47,000 combinations of timber activities and timing choices were evaluated for the 3,100 

analysis units on the CNF. All analysis units with timber options had choices with positive 

present net values. Only 655 options of the 47,000 available were negative, less than 2 percent. 
402 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The timber options with negative PNV's occurred on about 5,000 acres of land, usually low site 

index on existing loblolly or pond pine forest types. Table B-15b presents the land suitability 

classifications for each alternative. 

Timber Suitability Stage 3 Evaluation 

Each management prescription was reviewed to determine whether the desired conditions could 

be attained under sustained timber production. Prescriptions for Wilderness, Natural Areas, and 

Hardwood/Cypress wetlands were withdrawn from timber production. Also withdrawn were 

prescriptions involving pocosin ecological types, due to the sensitive soils on these lands. 

Table B-15b. Timber Land Suitability Classifications by Alternative (Acres). 

Classification 

Alt. A Alt. B Alt. C Alt. C-Modified Alt. D Alt. E 

 1. Non-Forest 5,914 5,914 5,914 5,914 5,914 5,914 

 2. Forest Land 155,228 155,228 155,228 155,228 155,228 155,228 

 3. Forest Land withdrawn from timber production 32,007 52,087 32,007 34,987 32,007 32,007 

 4. Forest Lands not capable of producing crops 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 5. Forest Land physically unsuitable 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 6. Forest Lands with inadequate information 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 7. Forest Lands tentatively suitable for timber prod. 123,221 103,141 123,221 120,241 123,221 123,221 

 8. Forest Lands not appropriate for timber prod. 98,236 92,251 96,447 93,467 101,675 96,447 

9. Total suitable Forest Land 24,985 10,890 26,774 26,774 21,546 26,774 

10. Total national forest land 161,142 161,142 161,142 161,142 161,142 161,142 

Benchmarks 

Without constraints, except for non-declining yield, the following quantities were generated: 

Table B-15c. 

 PNV 

(MM$) 

ASQ 

(MCF) 

LTSY 

(MCF/yr) 

Sched 

(Ac) 

Regen 

(Ac) 

Thin 

(Ac) 

LL 

(Ac) 

 

PNV 46,900 23,700 2,360 42,999 10,700 4,413 1,670 

TIMBER 45,800 24,200 2,415 42,999 9,820 4,413 1,720 

 PNV = Present Net Value ASQ = Allowable Sale Quantity 

LTSY = Long Term Sustained Yield Sched = Scheduled for treatments over 160 years 

Regen = Acres Regenerated Thin = Acres Thinned 

LL = Longleaf Conversion 

The PNV benchmark maximized present net value over the 160 year planning horizon. The 

timber benchmark maximized timber volume first, and then maximized present net value. It is 

economically efficient to operate on 43,000 acres of the CNF for purposes of timber production. 

The minimum level benchmark would have no timber or other vegetation management activities. 

The management emphasis would be custodial care. Only incidental recreation use would occur. 

Fire suppression would be primary activity. Therefore, the only staffing would be a district 

ranger and a fire crew. 

The current level benchmark would be the same as the no-action alternative, as described in 

Alternative A of this document. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 403 

Alternatives 

The following table displays assumptions used to formulate alternatives. The alternatives are 

documented in Chapter 2 of this EIS. 

Table B-15d. 

Feature Alt A Alt B Alt C/C-Mod Alt. D Alt. E 

 

RCW Territories 139 169 169 145 169 

Rotation Age 

Longleaf 100 160 120 120 (100) 120 

Loblolly 80 100 80 (60) 80 (60) 80(60) 

Pond Pine NA 100 80 (60) 80 (60) 80(60) 

Regen Goals Existing Forest Eco-Class Eco-Class Existing Forest Eco-class 

Regen Methods Even-Aged Unevenaged Even/Two-aged Even-Aged Two-aged/cu 

Pine Straw No No 200 ac/yr 400 ac/yr 200 ac/yr 

Rotation age: (60) means 60 years outside the RCW Habitat Management Area. Eco-Class 

refers to the potential natural vegetation that would occur on the site. In many cases, the existing 

forests are loblolly plantatin with a potential natural vegetation of longleaf pine. Therefore, 

Alternatives B and C/C-mod are the restoration alternatives. A regeneration goal of existing 

forest would replace a loblolly plantation with another loblolly plantation. 

Alternative A was formulated to maximize harvest in the first planning period, subject to: 

• Regeneration goals that mimic current harvest levels. 

• Land allocation of the 1986 plan, with amendments that include the RCW interim 

guidelines. 

• Non-declining and sustained yield. 

Alternative B was formulated to maximize harvest in the first planning period, then maximize 

present net value, subject to: 

• Only uneven aged management. 

• Land allocation for Alternative B. 

• Non-declining and sustained yield. 

Alternative C/C-Mod was formulated to maximize longleaf restoration in the first planning 

period, then maximize harvest in the first planning period, then maximize present net value, 

subject to: 

• Longleaf conversion goals of 4,000 acres. 

• Non-declining yield after the first planning period. The first planning period is a 

departure from non-declining yield. 

• Land allocations for Alternative C/C-mod. 

Alternative D was formulated to maximize harvest in the first planning period, then maximize 

present net value, subject to: 
404 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

• Land allocations in Alternative D. 

• Non-declining and sustained yield. 

Further discussion of results are in Chapter 3 of this EIS, Cultural and Economic Environment, 

Silviculture and Forest Products. 

Alternative E was formulated to maximize longleaf restoration in the first planning period, then 

maximize present net value, subject to: 

• Loblolly conversion only, using two-age regeneration on suited sites; 

• Non-declining yield; 

• Land allocations for Alt. E (same as Alt. C with some modifications). 

Analysis Results 

The following table displays some of the important results from the analysis. 

Table B-15e. 

 Alt A Alt B Alt C/C-Mod Alt D Alt E 

 

ASQ (MCF) 4,970 2,600 20,930 14,840 8,758

LTSY (MCF/yr) 1,625 442 1,247 1,573 1,303

Scheduled (Ac) 24,985 10,890 26,774 21,546 25,723

PNV (MM$) 23.2 4.4 29.3 26.2 20.9

LL Rest (Ac) 600 1,040 4,000 230 2,350

Regen (Ac) 

CC 2,730 4,440 1,000

ST 600 2,000 0

SW 

TA 1,500 1,350

GS 1,040

Thin (Ac) 1,200 6,230 4,630 3,200

Straw (Tons) 0 0 2,200 4,530 0

The interpretation of these results are discussed in Chapter 3 of the EIS. 

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Impact analysis for Planning ( IMPLAN) was developed by the Forest Service at Fort Collins, 

Colorado, and has been in use since 1979. The system has undergone several evolutions from a 

main-frame, non-interactive application that ran in "batch" mode to a menu-driven 

microcomputer program that is completely interactive. 

IMPLAN software and databases are used to construct regional economic accounts of any zip 

code, state, or county in the United States and several U.S. territories. The databases consist of 

two major parts: 1) national-level technology matrices, and 2) estimates of sectoral activity for 

final demand, final payments, industry output, and employment. 

The data used for the Croatan model is from the 1990 census upgraded to 1993. The data set 

consists of 528 industrial sectors in the United States, 479 of which are in the state of North 

Carolina. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 405 

The Croatan Model: 

The IMPLAN model used in the analysis of the Croatan National Forest was developed using 

data from the three counties of Carteret, Craven, and Jones. The resulting model consisted of 

181 industrial sectors with an estimated Gross Regional Output of $4.5 billion. Fifty-three 

percent of the population is employed with a personal income of $2.5 billion. 

The three-county area was chosen because most of the impacts are assumed to be local. Most of 

the recreation activities are from the indigenous population of the three counties and most of the 

timber purchased is by local timber contractors and sold to local wood processers, the largest of 

which is Weyerhaeuser. Estimation of the differences in employment and income associated 

with each alternative is the result of combining several components -- Forest Service 

employment, Forest Service expenditures, payments to the three counties, the sale and harvest of 

national forest timber, and recreation activities. Following is a discussion of the employment 

and income coefficients for each component and how they were derived. 

Forest Service Timber Employment 

Forest Service employment in the timber program consists of the support from the Supervisor's 

Office as well as personnel directly and indirectly employed in the timber program on the 

District. For purposes of this analysis, it was assumed that one person-year in the Supervisor's 

Office was utilized in support of the Croatan timber program. On the District, four persons are 

employed in the timber program for a total employment of five (5). 

Forest Service Expenditures 

Forest Service expenditures have two major components -- salary and non-salary. Salary 

expenditures are direct payments to employees who use these payments to purchase commodities 

in the region. These expenditures are, in turn, spent for supplies and other commodities, both 

within and outside the region. Forest Service expenditures to employees, therefore, have a 

direct, indirect, and induced effect within the region. Non-salary expenditures are for contracts, 

services, and materials. These may be purchased within the region or outside the region. These 

expenditures also have a direct, indirect, and induced effect. 

An analysis of FY 1990 Forest Service expenditures showed that approximately 56 percent of 

these were for salaries and 44 percent were non-salary. Based upon this analysis, the IMPLAN 

model determined that for each $1 million spent on salaries, 15.88 people would be employed 

with a total income of $377,600. Each $1million of non-salary expenditures results in 15.65 

people employed with a total income of $462,700. 

Payments to the Three Counties 

For each $1 million returned to the counties in lieu of taxes, 31.96 persons are employed with a 

total income of $867,000. One million dollars used for education would support 40.52 jobs at a 

total income of $773,000. 
406 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Sale and Harvest of Timber 

Determining the effects of timber sale and harvest required developing coefficients based upon 

output (million board feet) rather than dollars. Data on timber harvest prepared by the North 

Carolina Division of Forest Resources were coupled with estimates of employment by sector to 

develop employment by unit of volume. For example, in 1990, total volume from Sawmills in 

North Carolina was 1,688 million board feet (MMBF). The IMPLAN estimates of employment 

in the Sawmill sector was 16,975 or approximately 10 jobs per MMBF. This is direct 

employment. 

Direct income was determined from IMPLAN. For example, sector total income divided by total 

employment results in average income per job which when multiplied by the total jobs per 

MMBF results in total income per MMBF. Similar calculations were made for indirect and 

induced employment and income. 

The assumption was made that all timber harvested from the Croatan National Forest was 

processed first by the Logging Sector. All sawtimber was then processed by the Sawmill Sector 

and roundwood was processed in the Pulpwood Sector. For each MMBF processed in the 

Logging Sector, 1.54 jobs would be created with a total income of $54,626. One MMBF 

processed by Sawmills would result in 7.36 jobs and a total income of $108,970. A MMBF of 

pulpwood would support 0.82 jobs with a total income of $49,531. 

Recreation 

Recreation differs from timber in that no specific output is sold, but opportunities are provided 

for different activities. The impact on the economy is from expenditures by people recreating on 

the Croatan National Forest. Each activity requires a different amount of time to pursue it. For 

example, more time might be spent at a developed site than on a trail. Also IMPLAN estimates 

expenditures by visits while the Forest Service estimates Recreation Visitor Days (RVDs). 

Estimates were made for 10 different activities -- Developed Site Use, Trail use, Big Game 

Hunting, Waterfowl Hunting, Small Game Hunting, Warm Water Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, 

Non-Consumptive Use, Mechanized Travel, and All Others. Estimates of RVDs by activity are 

provided in the RIM data. These were disaggregated to specific uses based upon the capacity of 

areas. The calculations for RVDs were as prescribed in the Deputy Regional Forester 

memorandum 1920 for July 22, 1997, Guidance to FSH 1909.12, Chapter 7.2 and 4.19c. 

The formula is as follows: 

RVDs per acre per year = C x MS x PU x LOS 

 12 

where: 

C = Capacity Coefficient in PAOT per acre; 

MS = Managed season of use; 

PU = Pattern of use; 

LOS = Length of visit; 

12 =The constant of 12 hours = 1 RVD; and 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 407 

RVD = Recreation Visitor Day. 

As an example, Cedar Point (Picnicking, Rural ROS) has a capacity of 24 PAOTs, is managed 

for 150 days, has a pattern of use of .67 (percentage of the managed days), and an average length 

of stay of 3.6 hours. The estimate of RVDs would be as follows: 

RVDs = 24 x 150 x 0.67 x 3.6 = 724 

 12 

The RVDs estimated for each Alternative were determined by changinging the capacity of 

developed areas or adding new areas with specified capacity. 

Recreation visitor days (RVDs) were converted to visits using coefficients provided by the 

Regional Economist, Clair Redmond. For example, Developed Sites are assumed to have 0.43 

RVDs per visit. He also provided IMPLAN coefficients per 10,000 visits. The coefficients used 

for the Croatan per 10,000 visits were as follows: 

Developed Sites: 6.8 jobs and $161,755 total income. 

Trail Use: 7.6 jobs and $182,345 total income. 

Big Game Hunting: 4.3 jobs and $53,856 total income. 

Waterfowl hunting: 1.0 jobs and $18,504 total income. 

Small Game Hunting: 0.8 jobs and $13,297 total income. 

Warm Water Fishing: 0.6 jobs and $18,057 total income. 

Salt Water Fishing: 4.0 jobs and $44,548 total income. 

Non-Consumptive: 0.8 jobs and $13,893 total income. 

Mechanized Travel: 9.5 jobs and $178,907 total income. 

All Others: 13.8 jobs and $227,192 total income. 

Present Net Value of Alternatives 

The present net value of the Alternatives considered for the Croatan Land Management Plan 

represents the discounted projected costs and revenues over the planning cycle of 160 years. The 

costs and revenues were discounted at a rate of 4 percent. 

Revenues for the timber program were projected based upon timber prices and projected changes 

in these prices. Costs were projected based upon inflation. 

Recreation benefits were taken from the 1990 RPA and inflated to 1997. Values used (in 1990 

dollars) were as follows: 

Developed Sites: $10.14 per RVD 

Trail Use: $3.41 per RVD 

Big Game Hunting: $33.27 per RVD 

Waterfowl Hunting: $33.27 per RVD 

Small Game Hunting: $33.27 per RVD 

Warm Water Fishing: $65.56 per RVD 

Salt Water Fishing: $65.56 per RVD 

Non-Consumptive: $39.26 per RVD 
408 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Mechanized Travel: $7.73 per RVD 

All Others: $61.43 per RVD 

Costs were assumed to be what the District will be expected to spend on the recreation program. 

Benefits and costs were not inflated beyond 1997. 

Timber Program 

The Present Net Values of the Timber Program by Alternative are shown in Table B-16. Each 

value is the maximum PNV for the Alternative, given the applied constraints. 

Table B-16. Present Net Value of the Timber Program by Alternative, 4 Percent Discount Rate, Cumulative for 160 

Years. 

Alternatives A B C/C-Modified D E 

PNV $23,168,574 $4,391,662 $32,078,482 $27,118,008 20,900,000 

Opportunity Cost $8,909,908 $27,686,820 $0 $4,960,474 11,178,000 

Opportunity cost represents how much the Forest Service would "lose" or "give up" if the 

alternative with the highest PNV was not selected. For example, if Alternative A were selected 

instead of Alternative C, the Forest Service would "lose" $8,909,908 in discounted net revenues 

over the 160 year planning horizon. These values are a "trade-off" to not selecting Alternative C 

or C-Modified. 

The highest level of timber output is achieved through Alternative C/C-modified. It departs 

from the sustainable non-declining yield in the first ten-year planning period. The high level of 

timber output that occurs early in the planning horizon boosts the PNV substantially higher than 

any other alternative. The opportunity costs of the other alternatives are due to the constraint for 

sustainable non-declining yield and lower timber output, especially in the first planning period. 

Recreation Program 

The Present Net Values of the Recreation Program are shown in Table B-17. These values are in 

1997 dollars. 

Table B-17. Present Net Values of the Recreation Program by Alternative, 4 Percent Discount Rate, Cumulative for 

160 Years. 

Alternatives A B C C-Modified D E 

PNV $357,048,211 $361,274,146 $375,005,267 $372,509,977 $375,138,513 $374,820,00 

Opportunity 

Cost 

$18,090,302 $13,864,367 $133,246 $2,628,536 $0 $318,512 

The opportunity costs of selecting any alternative other Alternative D are shown in Table B-17. 

The highest cost would result in Alternative A were selected. 

Alternative D has the highest level of recreation visitor days by allowing high levels of access 

and increasing access where possible. The high levels of access are traded off in the other 

alternatives by closing roads, especially the unauthorized access. Alternatives A and B go 

further in trading off recreation outputs by de-emphasizing recreation site developments. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 409 

Summary 

A summary of PNVs for priced outputs are shown below. Only timber and recreation outputs 

were priced. There are no opportunities for mineral development known to exist on the CNF. 

The total of the PNVs and Opportunity Costs of the Timber and Recreation Programs are shown 

in Table B-18. Alternative C has the highest PNV and Alternative B has the lowest. The highest 

Opportunity Cost ($41,417,941) if Alternative B were selected. 

Table B-18. Total Present Net Values by Alternative for the Timber and Recreation Programs. 

Alternatives A B C C-Modified D E 

PNV $380,216,785 $365,665,808 $407,083,749 $404,588,459 $402,256,521 $395,720,000

Opportunity Cost $26,866,964 $41,417,941 $0 $2,495,290 $4,827,228 $11,363,749 

Unpriced benefits accrue for each alternative. These non-quantifiable benefits are described 

through the goals, objectives, and the desired conditions attained through the management 

emphasis of each alternative. 

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Introduction 

Ecologically based land management requires classification of land into ecosystem components. 

The ecological classification described here organizes the landscape into units having similar 

topography, geology, soil, climate, and natural disturbance regimes. The premise is that these 

factors provide the environmental conditions that dictate biological responses, site potentials, and 

site limitations. The linking of biotic and abiotic elements allows for prediction of species 

suitablility and productivity, identifies physical limitations of sites and critical habitats for 

wildlife, and highlights unique features of the land that might have important recreation and 

scientific value. 

The ecological classification, mapping, and inventory system used on the CNF describes and 

maps ecosystems at different scales. This type of multiscale system is tied to the National 

Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units, "a regionalization, classification and mapping 

system for stratifying the Earth into progressively smaller areas of increasingly uniform 

ecological potential" (ECOMAP, 1993). In short, it provides a framework for implementing 

ecosystem management across physiographic regions, subregions, and local landscapes. 

Management is possible because individual ecosystem units, can be compared with adjacent 

units and their patterns and relationships recognized at the landscape and land unit scales. 

At the landscape scale, ecological units are termed Landtype Associations and are identified and 

mapped based on similarities in geomorphic processes, geologic rock types, soil complexes, 

stream types, lakes, wetlands, and plant association patterns. At the land unit scale, ecological 

units are termed Landtypes and Landtype Phases and are identified and mapped based on 

topographic criteria, hydrologic characteristics, soil types, and plant associations and phases. 

The ecological classification starts by acquiring data from resource maps on climate, geology, 
410 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

soils, water, and vegetation. The maps are combined along with available local knowledge to 

identify ecological patterns based on the interrelationships between the different resource 

components. 

Important Ecological Factors on the Croatan 

Terrestrial ecosystems on the Croatan are distributed along gradients controlled by landform, soil 

moisture, fire frequency, and fertility. Lightning ignition, which once created most fires is no 

longer a significant factor in the landscape. Historic erosion following widespread logging, 

farming, and other land-clearing during European settlement, has been comparable to that in the 

Piedmont region (Phillips 1995). Extensive land clearing has also reduced the natural 

distribution of many native species. As a result of these influences, the Croatan landscape, with 

its complex topography and soils, has lost some of the associated complex vegetation patterns. 

The losses obscure the relationships among landscape, soil, and vegetation that could be used to 

identify ecological types. 

The relationship between vegetation and its environment is crucial in any ecological 

classification system. While physical components such as soils and topography define 

environmental limits on ecosystems, plant communities define the biological potential for plants 

and animals. Knowing the potential of sites to support various mixtures of species is necessary 

for making sound decisions about management and sustainability. 

The distribution of natural plant communities, or plant associations, has been used to classify 

land throughout the United States. Plant associations are one ecological component and used on 

the CNF as a point of reference to define the equilibrium reached between vegetation and its 

environment. The sorting out of species and communities across the landscape over time, 

without man's influence, reflects the role that natural processes and physical site limitations play 

in shaping ecosystems and allows us to better understand and describe these relationships. On 

the CNF we used an approximation of presettlement vegetation in evaluating these biotic and 

abiotic interactions. 

Classifying and Mapping Presettlement Vegetation 

We use the term "presettlement" to describe 'natural' or 'original' vegetation because it is more 

precise than "pre-Columbian", which just means before 1492. First exposure of the land to 

European influences came much later in most of the South. In east Florida, for instance, 

presettlement means before 1565; in southeastern Virginia it means before 1607, and in the 

southern Appalachians it means before 1800. In the Croatan region, the first settlers arrived 

along the Neuse River between 1667 and 1700 (Lonsdale 1967). 

There is some question about what is meant by original vegetation, and, since vegetation is 

always in a state of change in response to disturbances or changes on some climatic scale, some 

question whether "original" means anything at all. This often debated topic is addressed by Cecil 

Frost in his publication Presettlement Vegetation and Natural Fire Regimes on the Croatan 

National Forest (1996) . 

“On a human time scale there is considerable evidence that 'original' vegetation is a valid 

concept. We are presently in a warm interglacial period, and for as long as genus Homo has 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 411 

been evolving there have been glacial cycles. With each cycle there have been major geographic 

displacements of species, perhaps to form somewhat different community groupings in their new 

latitudes (Webb 1988). Some species, like walnuts and hickories with heavy seeds, may take 

longer to migrate than those with light, windborne seeds, and species may be in somewhat 

continual adjustment at the fringes of their range, in response to minor climatic fluctuations. 

One possible conclusion, then is that since vegetation is constantly in flux, presettlement 

vegetation is meaningless, as is any effort to preserve or restore examples. This is a close 

relative of the reasoning that concern over the extinction of species is misplaced because it is the 

natural course of species to arise, flourish, and then die off. This is the geological view taken to 

the extreme. On the time scale of human history, however, somewhat different conclusions are 

likely to be reached". 

"Our southeastern plant communities began to sort out at around the same time as the beginning 

of recorded human history. The Wisconsin glacial epoch ended some 10,000 years age, and a 

climate with warm winters similar to those we now experience stabilized around 8,000 years ago. 

Most modern plant assemblages finished responding to these changes and have been in place for 

the past 6,000 years (Webb 1988). Minor Holocene climatic fluctuations like the "little ice age", 

a slightly cooler period from AD 1450 to 1850, have produced no substantial shifts in the major 

plant formations. The natural communities found by the first explorers, then, had been in place 

for thousands of years. The species of which these communities were composed, themselves 

probably the products of hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, were the survivors of a 

number of glacial migrations, whereas literate human civilization has yet to experience its first 

glaciations. Given that these natural communities existed for all of human recorded history, it 

seems reasonable that these are the communities that we would want to perpetuate in natural 

areas. Some interglacial periods have lasted a hundred thousand years, and we are only 10,000 

years in the current cycle, so the idea of abandonment of presettlement natural community types 

is probably premature by up to 90 millennia". 

"Neither is it appropriate to despair knowing what presettlement vegetation existed on a 

particular site. The goal of presettlement vegetation methods should be to get to some resolution 

useful at the site level". 

In the Southeastern U.S., it is possible to reconstruct original vegetation and natural fire regimes, 

even where human land uses have radically transformed upland vegetation. Given modern soil 

maps as a basis for examination of vegetation, and available historical background, a close 

approximation of the original forest can be obtained (Frost 1997). The "Pyrographic Method of 

Mapping Presettlement Vegetation" (Frost 1996) which was used on the Croatan includes steps: 

a. Assemble soil photomaps and historical data relating to disturbance and vegetation 

distribution. 

b. Sample remnant natural vegetation on each of the 51 soil series found on the Croatan. 

c. Characterize fire effects in each kind of vegetation on each soil series. 

d. Identify fire-frequency indicator species and fire-frequency indicator plant communities. 

e. Develop a fire-frequency map. 
412 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

f. Use soil series to put boundaries on vegetation types. 

g. Reevaluate in the field and adjust; the method proceeds in an iterative manner recycling 

through steps 4-6. 

Much of the field data for analysis were collected over a period of 12 years prior to this study. 

Approximately 90 days were spent in the field in the Croatan, and several times this amount in 

surrounding counties. 

A second approximation map of presettlement vegetation provided the starting point for 

ecological classification on the Croatan. There were 12 mappable types identified on the 

Croatan. They included: 1) Hardwood Forests, 2) Hardwood Slopes, 3) Longleaf Pine Forest 

and Savanna (xeric, dry & mesic), 4) Longleaf Pine Wet Savanna, 5) Salt Marsh, 6) Brackish 

Marsh, 7) Oligohaline Marsh, 8) Maritime Forest, 9) Mixed Pine Savanna and Pyrophytic 

Woodland, 10) Pond Pine/Pocosin, 11) Pond Pine Forest and Savanna, and 12) Swamp Forest 

and Bottomland Hardwoods. These tentative ecological types were termed "soil/vegetation" 

groups. 

Defining Ecological Mapping Units from Soil Surveys 

Each soil series was labelled with its corresponding vegetation type in a geographic information 

system (GIS). Since topography influences the spread and intensity of fires and therefore the 

potential vegetation type, there is not always a one-to-one relationship between soil series and 

vegetation. For example, vegetation on the well-drained Autryville loamy sand ranges broadly 

depending upon landscape position and degree of slope. On rolling sands in the northwestern 

part of the Croatan, pure longleaf pine and mixed pine stands would occur. Along the White 

Oak River, on more steeply sloping sites, partially protected from fire by slope and bodies of 

water, hardwood slope forests would occur with mixed oak, hickories, and distinctly nonpyrophytic species like red buckeye and umbrella magnolia. The GIS was used to calculate acres 

within each soil series/vegetation map unit. These data were combined in a database along with 

soil series name, drainage, surface texture, subsurface texture, soil classification, vegetation type, 

rare species occurrence, and tree productivity. Data analysis and map displays revealed 

additional soil and vegetation correlations and patterns. Some types were aggregated into 

Landtypes (all Marshes), and most were further separated into Landtype Phases. Soil drainage 

and texture were the primary criteria used for separating types. Some examples include: Mixed 

Pine - separated into 5 Landtype Phases, Longleaf Pine Forest and Savanna - 3 Landtype Phases, 

and Pond Pine/Pocosin - 3 Landtype Phases. 

A total of 10 Landtype Associations, 13 Landtypes and 26 Landtype Phases were classified and 

mapped in the Croatan area. 

• Landtype Associations (LTAs) were mapped by aggregating Landtypes. Most LTAs were 

identified using a variety of factors. These factors included topography (3 LTAs), stream 

density (2 LTAs), vegetation diversity (2 LTAs), Landtype pattern (2 LTAs), aquatic systems 

(2 LTAs), geology (1 LTA), and landform (1 LTA). Landtype Associations are summarized 

in Table 1 and described in Section 2.1. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 413 

• Landtypes were based on the refinement of soil/vegetation groups using soil drainage and 

texture as primary design criteria. Landtypes are described in Section 2.2. 

• Landtype Phases were subdivisions of Landtypes based on soil organic matter, soil drainage 

and texture, and timber productivity. Landtype Phases are described in Section 2.2. 

Ecological Classification Hierarchy 

National Hierarchy of Ecological Units 

DOMAIN 200 - HUMID TEMPERATE

DIVISION 230 - SUBTROPICAL

PROVINCE 232 - OUTER COASTAL PLAIN MIXED FOREST

SECTION 232C - ATLANTIC COASTAL FLATWOODS

SUBSECTION 232Cb - LOWER TERRACES

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb01 - New Bern-Havelock Dissected Lowlands

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb02 - Central Pocosin and Lakes

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb03 - Stella-White Oak Dissected Lowlands

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb04 - Bogue-Newport Paleo Shoreline

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb05 - Newport River Tidal Transition

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb06 - Neuse River System

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb07 - Wet Forest-Pocosin Transition

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb09 - Onslow-Outer Banks

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Cb10 - Simmons Corner Wet Forest Transition

SUBSECTION 232Ch - TIDAL AREA

LANDTYPE ASSOCIATION 232Ch08 - Pamlico Terrace 

A complete description of the Landtype Associations can be found in Appendix A of the Croatan 

Land and Resource Mangement Plan. 

Landtypes and Landtype Phases - LIST 

01 - TIDAL STREAMS AND ESTUARIES (landtype) 

0101 - Salt and brackish marshes (landtype phase) 

0102 - Brackish to oligohaline marshes 

0103 - Oligohaline marshes 

02 - LAKE AND STREAM SWAMPS 

0204 - Deep organic stream and lake cypress-gum swamps 

0205 - Mucky small stream cypress-gum swamps 

03 - STREAM AND RIVER TERRACES 

0306 - Partially protected, dry-mesic hardwoods on well-drained loamy sands 

0307 - Very protected, mesic hardwoods on somewhat poorly drained loams 

04 - DRAINAGE SLOPES 

0408 - Well-drained dry-mesic hardwood slopes 

0409 - Well-drained to mod. well-drained dry-mesic hardwood lower slopes 

05 - DRAINAGE HEADLANDS AND INTERSTREAM FLATS 
414 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

0510 - Well-drained dry-mesic mixed hardwood-pine on sands 

0511 - Mod. well-drained mesic mixed hardwood-pine on loams and sands 

0512 - Somewhat poorly drained mixed hardwood-pine on loams 

06 - BROAD INTERSTREAM FLATS 

0613 - Somewhat poorly drained mesic mixed pine on loams 

0614 - Poorly to very poorly drained wet mixed pine on loams and sands 

07 - PEAT-MANTLED FORESTED WETLANDS 

0715 - Poorly drained pond pine forest on fine sandy and silt loams 

0716 - Very poorly drained pond pine forest on fine sandy loams 

08 - RAISED PEATLANDS 

0817 - Low pocosin on broad, very deep peatlands 

0818 - High pocosin and canebrake on broad, moderately deep peatlands 

0819 - Low to high pocosin & canebrake on mucky mineral soils 

09 - WET SAVANNAS AND FLATWOODS 

0920 - Poorly drained longleaf pine ridges and flats on loams 

0921 - Poorly drained longleaf pine ridges and flats on sands 

10 - MESIC SAVANNAS AND FLATWOODS 

1022 - Moderately well-drained longleaf pine flats on sands and loams 

1023 - Somewhat poorly drained longleaf pine flats on sands and loams 

11 - DRY-MESIC SAVANNAS 

1124 - Well-drained longleaf pine ridges and flats on fine and loamy sands 

12 - XERIC SAVANNAS 

1225 - Excessively drained longleaf pine sand ridges 

13 - MARITIME RIDGE AND DUNE FOREST 

1326- Well-drained to moderately well-drained maritime oak-pine sand ridges 

14 - BEACHES & DUNES (not on Forest) 

15 - WATER 

16 - URBAN AREAS and other HIGHLY DISTURBED AREAS 

A complete description of the Landtypes and Landtype Phases can be found in Appendix A of 

the Croatan Land and Resource Management Plan. 

Use of the Ecological Classification System (ECS) 

Introduction 

Like all maps, those produced by the Ecological Classification System (ECS) are imperfect 

representations of the land, and accuracy depends upon the application and the scale being used. 

Landtype Associations accurately describe landscape patterns at the broadest scale on the 

Croatan and have been used to define management areas based on dominate ecological factors 

such as topography and landform/vegetation diversity. Since the ECS was derived from soil 

maps, the major factor controlling map unit reliability at the finer scales is the accuracy of the 

three county soil surveys. It is important to note that the objective of soil and ecosystem 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 415 

mapping is not to outline pure types but rather to separate the landscape into areas that have 

similar use and management requirements. As a result, "on site investigation is needed to plan 

for intensive uses in small areas" (USDA 1987). 

Ecological Interpretations 

Landtype Associations 

LTAs were used by the interdisciplinary Croatan planning team to help define Management 

Areas. The LTAs clearly defined broad categories of land having distinct management 

opportunities and limitation such as the large central pocosin and highly dissected landscapes on 

the Forest's periphery. Some LTAs were split (LTA 1) to reflect differences in human use 

patterns and some were aggregated (LTA 7) to combine areas having similar limitations due to 

high water tables. Adjustments are apparent by comparing the LTA map (at the end of ECS 

section) with the Management Area map. 

Landtypes 

Landtypes were used to address many issues on the Croatan. They were useful for delineating 

Management Prescription boundaries since many of these emphasized management of 

ecosystems, e.g. Cypress-Hardwoods wetlands and Hardwood Restoration. The LTs were also 

used to map different RCW capabilities (density objectives), as a tool in setting population 

objectives, and in designing the RCW Habitat Management Area. They were used in the Scenic 

Management System to aid in mapping 'inherent scenic quality' and formed the basis for 

mapping fuel types. They were also used to analyze natural areas representation, and to locate 

old growth restoration and conservation areas. 

Landtype Phases 

Landtype Phases were used to set forestwide objectives in silvicultural prescriptions, restoration 

opportunities, recreation site location, harvest scheduling, thinning guidelines, and in locating 

suitable sites for pine straw raking. They are currently being used to identify probability of rare 

species occurrence, and restoration potentials within natural areas. 

Reliability of Mapping 

Although soils occur in an orderly pattern that is related to geology, landform, relief, climate and 

plant associations, soil scientists must determine the boundaries based on an understanding of the 

soil-landscape relationships. Furthermore, the ECS incorporates this boundary along with an 

understanding of the complex relationships between landscape, vegetation, and fire regimes to 

determine the boundary of ecological units. 

Most ECS map units are dominated by one major soil type having the same potential vegetation 

and fire regime. Inclusions of other soil-vegetation types mostly have properties and behavior 

similar to those of the dominant type. However, these differences may be important at the project 

level and field review and county soil surveys should be consulted to determine how extensive 

these differences might be. 

Additional factors may affect mapping accuracy. Soil surveys in the Croatan area are considered 

to have an 80% mapping reliability (level 2) and the minimum map unit size is 10 acres. The 
416 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

surveys were completed over a 10 year period and there are some minor inconsistencies in soil 

mapping across county lines. In addition, landscapes with complex patterns, such as along river 

bluffs or other highly dissected topography, have more inclusions and finer-scale mosaics than 

have been identified. Soil maps and consequently the ECS, do not therefore identify small 

swampy floodplains, limestone outcrops, small areas of limestone-influenced soil, or small 

drainage slopes. Some of these micro-sites may limit management opportunities. Some may 

contain rare and unique species and could provide opportunities to add to the overall biological 

diversity of the Croatan. 

Reliability of Interpretation 

Interpretations of ECS map units were derived from county soil surveys, from Frost's 

"Presettlement Vegetation and Natural Fire Regimes of the Croatan National Forest" (1996), and 

from overlaying other resource maps (rare species, cultural resources, and CISC) with the ECS. 

These interpretations are generally rather broad but still applicable for project level planning 

(Tables B-20, B-21, B-22). For example, soil scientists can state with a fairly high degree of 

probability that a given soil will have a high water table within a certain depth in most years, but 

they cannot assure that a high water table will always be at a specific level in the soils on a 

specific date (USDA 1987). In addition, the relative occurrence of rare species and cultural 

resources found within ecological units can be used to identify sites where there is a low or high 

probability of occurrence of these features. They can not, however, be used to predict with 100 

percent accuracy the presence or absence of rare species or cultural sites. 

Site index, derived from both CISC data and soil surveys, was used to judge the relative 

productivity of ecological units at the Landtype Phase level. The major tree species or species 

groups within an ecological type were placed into four classes, low (L), medium (M), high (H), 

and unsuitable (U). It was not possible to make a more exact prediction of growth and yield 

without more intensive field measurements. Still, these relative classes should be useful in 

determining appropriate stocking levels for different sites and in evaluating species suitability 

options. 

Potential natural vegetation (PNV) types are broad classes of vegetation derived from the 

presettlement vegetation maps. As with soil types, landscape variability and minimum map unit 

size will affect the reliability of PNV prediction. Furthermore, where past land use has altered 

site capability especially through erosion, these potentials may no longer exist. The greatest 

variability in PNV occurs in Drainage Headlands and Interstream Flats and Broad Interstream 

Flats (Landtypes 5 and 6). These LTs can support mixed pine-hardwood and mixed pine 

communities but their exact composition and placement on the landscape is problematic. This is 

partly because only small remnants persist of these mixed pine communities to help predict their 

natural pattern and the fact that they are readily confused with fire-suppressed former longleaf 

pine communities that have been logged and invaded by other pine species. Their interpretation 

as distinct ecological units is therefore less precise than other types. 

Project Level Planning and Analysis 

The ECS can be an important tool at the project level for project planning, design, and analysis 

of the effects of proposed actions. Landtype Phase map units represent the greatest amount of 

detail on site and biological factors. Because these map units are derived from soil surveys but 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 417 

combine fire disturbance regimes and vegetation potentials, they can be used to interpret each 

component separately or together as a unit. The ECS is therefore not just an inventory and 

evaluation of the soils on the Croatan, but also the biological components and potentials of 

ecosystems. As with a soil survey, "it can be used to adjust land uses to the limitations and 

potentials of natural resources and the environment" (USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1981, 

1987, 1989). 

Detailed tables found in Appendix A of the draft Croatan Revised Plan define how soil factors 

that such as texture, drainage and water table depth may affect management. These factors are 

interpreted to identify equipment limitations and seedling mortality with map units. The tables 

also include predictions of potential vegetation type, probability of rare species occurrence, 

timber productvity, and probability of cultural resources for each of the 25 Landtype Phases. 

This information can be used to evaluate the feasibility and probable effects of a proposed action 

in all or part of the Croatan. Combined with the ecological maps and descriptions (ESC Chapter 

2), opportunities and limitations are apparent for a variety of proposed actions including wildlife 

habitat manipulation, timber stand improvement, timber harvest, recreational development, and 

road or trail location. 

Although the ECS identifies and describes distinct land units and their biological potentials, it 

does not describe the current vegetation condition. This information is provided in the 

compartment and stand maps of Continuous Inventory of Stand Condition (CISC). By 

combining the ECS and CISC, one can map areas of the landscape where current condition 

differs from potential condition and begin to locate opportunities for change and evaluate the 

range of options available for individual sites. Although the ECS can be used to identify species 

best adapted to sites and their performance, it is not a prescription for desired future condition. 

Land use decisions will be improved by use of the ECS, but they should not be dictated by it. 

These decisions are based on public input, Plan direction, and the balance of uses appropriate for 

the Croatan. 

An example may help to explain this distinction. Pine savannas and flatwoods occur along a 

wide soil drainage-fertility gradient. They have been described in 6 Landtype Phases and can 

support a large variety of trees, shrubs, herbs and their related fauna. Production and longevity 

of trees adapted to these types is also highly variable. Fewer species are adapted to the harsh 

conditions at the xeric and less fertile end of the gradient, where well-drained and excessively 

drained sands are dominant (LTP 1225). Nearly 90% of these sites are currently dominated by 

longleaf pine (CISC data). On sites dominated by loblolly pine, pond pine, or hardwoods tree 

growth is poor, regeneration is sparse, and the long-term sustainability of these species is 

questionable. At the other extreme, poorly drained sands and loams support savannas and 

flatwoods dominated by longleaf, pond, or loblolly pine, or a combination of these species (LTP 

920-921). Growth is moderate to poor, tree form is good, and natural regeneration is moderate. 

In the middle of the gradient, mesic sites support loblolly, longleaf, and hardwoods (LTP 1022-

1124). Growth is good, tree form is good, and natural regeneration of all species is rapid. The 

natural vegetation type in all these LTPs is longleaf pine, but, it is evident that many species are 

capable of regenerating, although growth rates differ. 
418 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

There are many management options in LTPs 1022-1124 since these types will support a variety 

of species and have few limitations (not poorly drained, not too droughty). The choice of species 

for management is dependent upon the desired condition. If RCW nest sites are the primary 

emphasis, then longleaf pine would be the preferred species; if short-rotation fiber production is 

the emphasis, then loblolly pine might be preferred; if turkey and deer are the primary emphasis, 

then a mixed oak-hickory-pine composition may be preferable. Fewer options are available at 

the extremes of the gradient, xeric and wet. However, the same logic applies - the ECS does not 

determine desired condition but it CAN determine where a desired condition might best be 

achieved. 

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.. FFFuuueeelll MMMooodddeeelllsss

Fuel Model Description 

Several variables were incorporated in the development of a fuels analysis on the Croatan 

National Forest. The primary variables included forest type and fire history (1979-1996). 

Complete prescribed fire records only dated back to 1979. District personnel, working from 

memory, outlined large wildfires from 1979 to present (1996) as well. ``Fire occurrence'' is used 

to describe both prescribed fire and wildfire activity in this analysis. Other variables used in the 

analysis included potential natural vegetation (PNV), soil map units, site index, and thinning 

treatments. 

Fuel models (Anderson, 1982) were selected to best describe these conditions. A fuel model is a 

list of numbers that describe the fuel bed in such terms as fuel bed depth, load and heat content. 

It provides a means of organizing fuels data for input into the fire behavior model. The fire 

behavior model is used to help predict characteristics that a fire might display under specified 

conditions. The following fuel models (FM), based on Anderson's ``Aids to Determining Fuel 

Models For Estimating Fire Behavior'' (1982), were determined to be of interest: 

Fuel Model 2, A grass fuel model (FM2) occurring in longleaf pine stands that have been in a "3-year or 

less" burning rotation for several years. In FM 2, fire is spread primarily through the fine herbaceous fuels, 

either curing or dead. These are surface fires where the herbaceous material, besides litter and dead-down 

stemwood from the open shrub or timber overstory, contribute to the fire intensity.(8,200 acres current) 

 Fuel Model 4, High pocosin conditions (FM4) occur in areas of very poorly drained soils including 

Croatan, Murville and Bayboro, which support pond pine and loblolly pine forest types , and have a 

Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV) of Pocosin, but have had no fire occurrence in at least 17 years (since 

1979). Fire intensity and fast-spreading fires in this fuel type involve the foliage and live and dead fine 

woody material in the crowns of a nearly continuous secondary overstory. In addition to flammable 

foliage, dead woody material contributes significantly to fire intensity. The height of stands qualifying for 

this model depends on local conditions. There may also be a deep litter layer or organic soil that 

confounds suppression efforts. (42,400 acres current) 

 Fuel Model 6, Low pocosin (FM 6) represents areas of deep organic soils (organic > 51'') such as Dare, 

which support pond pine forest types and have a PNV of Pocosin. Fire carries through the shrub layer 

where the foliage is generally flammable, but requires moderate winds (8mi/h at midflame height). Fire 

will drop to the ground at low windspeeds or openings in the stand. The shrubs are older, but not as tall as 

shrub types of FM 4, nor do they contain as much fuel as FM 4. However, once the deep organic soil 

ignites, fires become very difficult to extinguish, and causes severe smoke management problems.(26,100 

acres current) 

 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 419 

Fuel Model 7, A southern rough fuel condition (FM 7) exists in pine forest types which have had infrequent 

fire occurrences. Also included in FM 7 are pine stands which are fairly productive or have had thinning 

treatments. These stands are assumed to have somewhat open canopies which allow for substantial shrub 

layer development. Fires burn through the surface and shrub strata with equal ease and can occur at higher 

dead fuel moisture contents because of the flammable nature or live foliage and other live material. Stands 

of shrubs are generally between 2 and 6 ft. high. (36,500 acres current) 

 

Fuel Model 9, A hardwood/pine leaf litter fuel model (FM 9) is found in hardwood drainages and swamps, 

and mixed hardwood/pine types. This fuel model also captures other pine forest types with relatively closed 

canopies, as well as those that have had regular prescribed fire treatments. In general, these stands do not 

have the well developed shrub understories found in those depicted by FM 7. Fires run through the surface 

litter at moderate rates of spread, but high winds will actually cause higher rates of spread than predicted by 

the fire behavior model. This is due to spotting caused by rolling and blowing leaves. Concentrations of 

dead-down woody material will contribute to possible torching out of trees, spotting, and crowning. (39,300 

acres current) 

A complete description of the derivation of these models is found in Appendix B of the Draft 

Revision of the Croatan Land and Resource Management Plan. 

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.. SSSccceeennneeerrryyyMMMaaannnaaagggeeemmmeeennnttt SSSyyysssttteeemmm

Background 

For inventory and analysis of the aesthetic values of national forest lands, the Forest Service uses 

a system called the Scenery Management System (SMS), Agriculture Handbook 701, Landscape 

Aesthetics. A Handbook for Scenery Management. This system, released in 1996, evolved from 

and replaces the Visual Management System, Agriculture Handbook 462, National Forest 

Landscape Management, Volume 2, Chapter 1, which was used for the existing Croatan and 

Uwharrie Land and Resource Management Plan, 1986. The SMS differs from the VMS in that it 

borrows from and is integrated with the basic concepts and terminology of ecosystem 

management. SMS integrates aesthetics with biological, physical and other social/cultural 

resources in the planning process. 

SMS Components 

The Scenery Management System process involves identifying scenery components as they 

relate to people, mapping these components, and developing a value unit for aesthetics from the 

data gathered. This value unit provides information for planning and leads to rational decisions 

relative to scenery as a part of ecosystems. These components include: 

Existing Landscape Character 

Landscape character is the visual and cultural image of a geographic area and consists of the 

combination of distinct physical, biological and cultural attributes that make each landscape 

identifiable or unique. Landscape character descriptions use base information from ecological 

unit descriptions supplemented with existing land use patterns or themes. These existing 

landscape character descriptions are used to: 

Scenic Attractiveness 

Scenic attractiveness classes are developed to determine the relative scenic value of the lands 

within a particular landscape character. They are the primary indicator of the intrinsic beauty of 

the landscape and the positive responses it evokes in people. The three classes are Class A, 
420 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Distinctive; Class B, Typical; Class C, Indistinctive. The landscape elements of landform, 

vegetation, rocks, water features and positive cultural features, are described for each of these 

classes. Class A landscapes are areas where these features combine to provide unusual, unique 

or outstanding scenic quality. Class B landscapes are areas where these features combine to 

provide ordinary or common scenic quality. They have generally positive, yet common, 

attributes. Class C landscapes are areas where natural and cultural features have low scenic 

quality. These landscapes have weak or missing attributes. 

Existing Scenic Integrity 

Scenic integrity is a measure of the degree to which a landscape is visually perceived to be intact 

or whole. It indicates the current status of a landscape; and indicates the existing degrees of 

alteration from the attributes - form, line, color, and texture - of the landscape character. The 

highest scenic integrity ratings are given to those landscapes which have little or no deviation 

from the existing character valued by people for its aesthetic appeal. Scenic integrity is used in 

forest planning to describe an existing situation, standard for management or desired future 

conditions. The six scenic integrity levels are: 

Very High (VH), unaltered; High (H), appears unaltered; Moderate (M), slightly altered; Low 

(L), moderately altered; Very Low (VL), heavily altered; Unacceptably Low (UL), appears 

extremely altered. 

Landscape Visibility 

Landscape visibility is composed of two parts: human values as they relate to the relative 

importance to the public of various scenes and the relative sensitivity of scenes based on distance 

from the observer. 

 

Scenic Classes 

All national forest landscapes have value as scenery - some more than others. Scenic classes 

measure the relative importance, or value, of discrete landscape areas. These classes are used 

during forest planning to compare the value of scenery with the value of other resources. The 

higher the scenic class, the more important it is to maintain the highest scenic value. 

Scenic classes are determined by combining the three classes of scenic attractiveness with 

distance zones and concern levels. A numerical Scenic Class rating (1 - 7) is assigned to all 

lands. Generally Scenic Classes 1-2 have high public value (Table B-26), Classes 3-5 have 

moderate value, and Classes 6-7 have low value. This does not include Wildernesses since they 

are managed to allow natural processes to occur. 

Scenic Integrity Objectives 

The components described above are the inventory phase of the Scenery Management System. 

Development of Scenic Integrity Objectives moves into the implementation phase that integrates 

SMS into the forest plan revision process. As stated earlier, the concept of scenic integrity can 

be used to describe varying degrees of wholeness or completeness and level of scenic condition 

from very high to unacceptably low. Scenic Integrity Objectives describe the long term level of 

integrity achievable or the desired condition. 

 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 421 

ROS and SMS Compatibility 

There is no systematic approach to establish a value for attractiveness for different landscapes 

and recreation opportunities within a single ROS class. There are, though, some combinations of 

scenic integrity objectives and ROS classes that are more compatible than others. Page F-3 of 

the SMS handbook contains a chart that links ROS class and scenic integrity objectives. 

A detailed discussion and analysis of these components specific to the Croatan is found in 

Appendix F of the Draft Revised Croatan Land and Resource Management Plan. 

----------------------------- 

1John F. Dwyer. Consumer Diversity and the Future Demand for Outdoor Recreation. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range 

Experiment Station, General Technical Report RM-252. August 1994. 

2Division of Parks and Recreation. North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Plan 1995-2000. N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural 

Resources. Raleigh, North Carolina. September 1995. 

3Donald B.K. English, et al. Regional Demand and Supply Projections for Outdoor Recreation. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report RM-230. August 1993. 

4Curtis H. Flather and Thomas W. Hoekstra. An Analysis of the Wildlife and Fish Situation in the United States: A Technical Document Supporting 

the 1989 USDA Forest Service RPA Assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical 

Report RM-178. September 1989. 
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The Croatan National Forest has six inventoried roadless areas totaling 20,771 acres. Although referred 

to as roadless areas, some of them contain roads as permitted in FSH 1909.12, "Land and Resource 

Management Planning Handbook." 

The roadless areas were evaluated for their potential wilderness suitability, using a report format in 

accord with CFR 219.17. These reports consider wilderness suitability in three categories: capability 

(the qualities that make an area suitable or unsuitable for wilderness), availability (assessing the 

wilderness and nonwilderness resources and local demands on the area), and need (existence of other 

wilderness in the area and trends in use). All six roadless areas are reported together in this evaluation 

due to their close proximity and similar characteristics. 

Two tracts, Masontown Pocosin and Union Point Pocosin, were evaluated and excluded from the 

roadless inventory for not satisfying the criteria of solitude because of their proximity to Cherry Point 

Marine Air Corps Station and the incoming and outgoing flights. 

The following is a list of the roadless areas that were studied, their numbers, names and acreages: 

11301 Catfish Lake North 11,294 acres 

11302 Catfish Lake South Addition A 172 acres 

11303 Catfish Lake South Addition B 233 acres 

11304 Sheep Ridge Addition 5,806 acres 

11306 Pond Pine Addition B 2,980 acres 

11307 Pocosin Addition 286 acres 

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Location and vicinity: 

The roadless areas are within 17 miles of each other and have partial boundaries to existing 

Wildernesses. 

• Catfish Lake North has the Catfish Lake Impoundment as a western boundary, and two roads 

(Catfish Lake Road & Catfish Lake Farm Road) on the south. Little Road is the eastern 

boundary, with national forest boundary on the north. 

• Catfish Lake South Additions A&B are land acquisitions since the designation of Catfish Lake 

South Wilderness, and protrude into the wilderness off Catfish Lake Road. 

• Sheep Ridge Addition has roads surrounding it including OHV trails on the west, Seaborn Road 

174 on the south, Lake Road 126 (and Pond Pine Wilderness) on the east, and Great Lake and 

Road 513 on the north. 

• Pond Pine Addition B is adjacent Pond Pine Wilderness on the west, Great Lake on the north, 

national forest boundary on the east and the U.S. Marine Corps railroad on the south. 
424 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

• Pocosin Addition is a boundary adjustment on the southeast side of Pocosin Wilderness bounded 

by Mairey Branch and Juniper Branch. 

General Geographic Description Of The Area: 

The areas are mostly coastal plain pocosins. Topography is nearly level, indicative of coastal wetland 

systems. The east edge of Catfish Lake North, Catfish Lake South Additions A & B, and part of Pond 

Pine Addition B are swamp forest areas. 

General Description Of The Area Vegetation, Including The Ecosystem Types: 

Pocosins are defined as "freshwater wetland ecosystems characterized by broadleaved evergreen shrubs 

or low-growing trees, commonly including pond pine, and commonly growing on highly organic soils 

that have developed in areas of poor drainage" (Sharitz and Gibbons, 1982). These areas include a mix 

of low and high pocosin. Low pocosins are dominated by low-growing shrubs, typically 2-3 feet high. 

High pocosin includes taller shrubs and trees. Pocosin vegetation is typically dense, almost 

impenetrable. 

Pocosins are biologically rich and diverse with plants. Dominant trees are ordinarily pond pines with 

some loblolly bays, red bays, and sweet bays. The most frequent shrubs are titi, honeycup, fetterbush, 

bitter gallberry, and sweet gallberry growing with the bamboo-briar vine (McDonald, Ash, and Kane 

1983). The presence of abundant and diverse insectivorous plants is a unique feature of pocosin 

vegetation. 

Key Attractions, Including Sensitive Wildlife And Scenic Landmarks: 

There are no special attractions in the areas that are not found in other places on the forest. The areas 

are all part of black bear habitat and some are part of the bear sanctuary. A segment of West Prong 

Creek runs through Catfish Lake North. This segment is eligible for wild & scenic river designation. 

There are existing and proposed Special Interest Areas (SIA)through cooperation with the NC Natural 

Heritage Program. These include: Catfish Lake North, a proposed area in the western part; Sheep Ridge 

Addition, an existing SIA in the north half; Pond Pine Addition B, existing and proposed SIA's covering 

all of the area; Pocosin Addition, an existing SIA covering the whole area. Catfish Lake North has 

existing RCW colonies along Little Road, and a recruitment area off the north end of the Waterfowl 

Impoundment. 

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Human Influence 

To what degree have humans and past and present human activity affected natural ecological processes 

and conditions? 

The natural ecological processes for the areas are largely intact, with the exception of the need for fire in 

these systems. There has been logging in some areas as recently as 1990. Two of the areas, Catfish 

Lake North and Sheep Ridge Addition have had prescribed fire in the past. Catfish Lake South Addition 

A has RCW colonies and artificial nesting cavities. 

To what degree is the area natural or natural appearing and free from disturbance? 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 425

All of the areas have had some level of disturbance, with most of it from road systems and activities 

associated with the roads surrounding the areas. Catfish Lake North has timber harvest units along Little 

Road and Catfish Lake Road with plantations as young as 10 yrs. There are also many fire lines in the 

eastern third of the area. Catfish Lake South Addition A is undisturbed except for an older harvest unit 

along the eastern edge. Catfish Lake South Addition B is undisturbed. Sheep Ridge Addition has older 

timber harvest units along the southern edge, wildlife fields on the east boundary, and extensive plow 

lines in the northern half. These were created in the l994 Fish Day Fire when the entire area burned. 

Pond Pine Addition B is relatively undisturbed with an old fire line in the SE corner. Pocosin Addition 

has an old harvest unit in the northern half. 

Does the existing or attainable National Forest System ownership pattern, both surface and subsurface, 

ensure perpetuation of identified wilderness values? 

The surface and subsurface are in Forest Service ownership. 

Improvements, Structures, and Nonconforming Uses 

There are no areas with evidence of historic mining and there are no areas under current mineral lease 

that contain a "no surface occupancy" stipulation or where the lessee has not exercised development and 

occupancy rights. 

Catfish Lake North has dispersed hunting camps along Catfish Lake Farm Road and an OHV trail 

extending into the area one mile. There are no other trails within any of the areas. There are no private 

inholdings or dwellings, non-conforming structures, utilities or watershed treatment areas. Three areas 

have improved road miles within them: They are Catfish Lake North (0.8 miles), Sheep Ridge Addition 

(1.3 miles), and Pocosin Addition (0.15 miles). Existing nonconforming uses can be mitigated or 

terminated through closing interior roads and OHV trails. 

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Capability Experiential Benefits. 

Do the areas provide the opportunity for solitude and serenity? 

There are many opportunities for solitude and serenity in the areas. Factors detracting from solitude and 

serenity are military overflights, roads that bound most of the areas, the military railroad along Pond 

Pine Addition B, and the presence of motorboats on Catfish Lake and Great Lake. 

Challenge. 

Do the areas offer visitors the opportunity to experience adventure, challenge, or self-reliance? Is 

access easy or difficult? 

Access is by system roads which bound most of the areas. Opportunities to experience adventure are 

similar to those for other relatively small undisturbed areas of the southeastern U.S. There are no trails 

within any of these areas. Access within the areas is by cross-country travel through dense vegetation 
426 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

on boggy soils. Traversing a pocosin requires a high level of orienteering skills and provides the 

wilderness visitor many opportunities to experience solitude, challenge and self-reliance. 

Recreation opportunities include primitive camping along the boundaries, hunting with dogs within the 

areas, fishing and boating in Catfish and Great Lakes, cross-country hiking or horseback riding, 

photography and nature study. 

Opportunities exist to do outdoor education and scientific study of the pocosin ecosystem and wildlife, 

formally and informally in these areas. 

What are the characteristics of the surrounding areas in terms of recreation opportunity spectrum 

(ROS) classifications? 

The acres of semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized acres are as follows: 

 Table C-1. Acres of semi-primitive motorized and non-motorized settings for roadless areas. 

AREA SPNM Acres SPM Acres 

Catfish Lake North 6,779 0 

Catfish Lake South Addition A 0 0 

Catfish Lake South Addition B 0 0 

Sheep Ridge Addition 2,429 459 

Pond Pine Addition B 0 727 

Pocosin Addition 150 0 

 

The areas surrounding the roadless areas, other than Wildernesses are all roaded natural, except for the 

railroad along Pond Pine Addition B, and Catfish Lake South Additions A&B, which are within the 1/4 

mile rural designation. 

Do boundary locations conflict with important existing or potential public uses outside the boundary 

that might result in demands to allow nonconforming structures and/or activities in the wilderness? 

There are no conflicts with potential public uses outside the areas, except for the military railroad along 

Pond Pine Addition B. The ability to do maintenance of the track and to fight fires that are often started 

along the railroad, would be hampered by restricted access and the prohibition on motorized equipment 

use in the wilderness. 

The boundaries can be accurately described and established on the ground, conform with terrain or 

vegetation that constitute a barrier to prohibited use, and act as a shield to protect the wilderness 

environment inside the boundary from the sights and sounds of civilization. 

Availability 

What current uses exist? What are the non-wilderness demands and uses? 

Recreation: Hunting, boating and fishing on Catfish & Great Lakes. The soils in the pocosin areas 

prohibit any kind of recreational development because of their unstable, saturated condition. Even 

primitive trails are difficult to maintain. The areas do not contain natural phenomena of such unique or 

outstanding nature that general public access and special development should be available. Because of 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 427

this and the condition of the soils, the recreation component is not a major factor in wilderness 

designation. 

Wildlife: All the areas are habitat for black bear, and Sheep Ridge Addition and Pond Pine Addition B 

are currently in the bear sanctuary. There are RCW habitat management areas on the east boundary and 

along the Catfish Lake Waterfowl Impoundment adjacent Catfish Lake North. Only burning to retain 

the habitat would be allowed if the area were wilderness. Wilderness designation would not restrict or 

prevent the application of wildlife management measures. 

Timber: The areas are tentatively suitable for timber production except for Pocosin Addition and fall in 

the 71 - 100 year age class. These lands are not needed to meet the timber resource demands. 

Urban interface: Catfish Lake North has a fire urban interface zone along the national forest boundary 

on the north. If the area is designated wilderness it will be difficult to maintain that zone through 

burning because of the difficulty in maintaining firelines within the wilderness. 

Heritage Resources: There have been surveys done in Catfish Lake North, and along Catfish Lake 

Road. Total acres surveyed was low and no Class II sites were found. 

Need 

These roadless areas are adjacent to the four existing Wildernesses (31,221 acres), although some of 

them are separated by roads or a railroad. The existing Wildernesses receive approximately 2600 

visitors each year. The three county region of the forest is growing much faster than the State of North 

Carolina and the national average. Hunting, which occurs in part in the Wildernesses, is the largest 

single recreational use of the forest. Although hunting is increasing, other uses of wilderness are 

experiencing no upward trend. Therefore, the need for wilderness to meet the need for semi-primitive 

recreational experiences is not necessary. In addition, the two roadless areas that were considered, but 

excluded from wilderness consideration are available for a vehicle-restricted and primitive recreational 

experience. 

It is important to provide sanctuary for the black bear whose habitat requires low road density. As 

development continues on land surrounding the National Forest, it will become more important to 

provide large unroaded settings. Existing Wildernesses and roadless areas have the same ecological 

landtypes. Therefore, none of the roadless areas offer unique ecological attributes that would become 

the basis for wilderness designation. 

The allocations of roadless areas to management prescriptions are shown in Table C-2. Due to the 

desired conditions of the management prescriptions, the characteristic of ‘roadless’ is not likely to be 

significantly affected in any alternative. 
428 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table C-2. Management prescription allocations by roadless area by alternative 

Catfish Lake North Alternatives 

B C C-mod D E

 Prescriptions 

 Wilderness 11294 

 Hardwood Cypress Wetlands 61 61 801 61

 River Corridors Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Status 740 740 740

 RCW HMA 1077 1077 1077 1077

 Wildland Urban Interface 1401 1401 1401 1401

 Bear 7789 7789 7789 7789

 Developed Areas 2 2 2 2

 Small Pocosin Patches 224 224 224 224

 

Catfish Lake South B 

 

 Wilderness 233 233 233 233 233

Catfish Lake South A 

 

 Wilderness 172 172 172 172 172

Pocosin Addition 

 

 Wilderness 286 286 286 286 286

Sheep Ridge Addition 

 

 Wilderness 5716 0 0 0 0

 RCW 77 77 77 77 77

 Bear 0 5716 5716 5716 5716

 Developed 3 3 3 3 3

 Small pocosin 10 10 10 10 10

 

Pond Pine B 

 

 Wilderness 2980 2980 

 wetlands 587 587 587

 Lakes 3 3 3

 RCW 273 273 273

 Bear 2076 2076 2076

 Small pocosin 41 41 41

 
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This report documents the results of the analysis conducted to determine eligibility of Brice 

Creek (including East and West Prong Creeks) as a potential component of the National Wild 

and Scenic Rivers System and, preliminary analysis of its suitability classifications. 

Brice Creek was not identified through the Nationwide River Inventory, developed by the 

National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior (January 1982), as a potential wild and scenic 

study river. Nor was it studied for eligibility in the 1986 Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS) for the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Croatan and Uwharrie National 

Forests. As part of the Croatan Plan Revision Process, this river system was identified for study 

by the USDA Forest Service. 

Brice Creek has been evaluated in a manner that is consistent with the U.S. Department of 

Interior and U.S Department of Agriculture jointly issued Final Revised Guidelines For 

Eligibility, Classification, and Management of River Areas. (See 47 Federal Register 34457, 

September 7, 1982.) 

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Brice Creek is eligible for designation based on its free-flowing condition and outstandingly 

remarkable scenic, botanical, wildlife, and historical and cultural values. Since CNF land 

comprises less than 35% of the river corridor, the Forest Service recommends further study of its 

suitability in cooperation with the State of North Carolina, who will lead the effort. 

The length of river in free-flowing condition (27.4 miles) and the characteristics of the river 

corridor are worthy of addition to the national system. Brice Creek would be a sustainable high 

quality example of Southern coastal blackwater streams, which are currently not represented in 

the national rivers system. Current land uses and management on national forest are compatible 

with potential WSR management. Increases in administrative costs should not be significant 

unless recreation use dramatically increases as a result of designation due to increased 

popularity. 

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Brice Creek system flows north 27.4 miles through pocosin and hardwood and pine forests to its 

confluence with the Trent River. It begins with West Prong Creek and East Prong Creek where 

they cross Catfish Lake Rd. Brice Creek is the CNF proclamation boundary and the creek system 

is located entirely in Craven County. The study corridor includes the area extending the length 

of the designated segments of this river (27.4 miles) and 1/4 mile in width from each bank of the 

river. It totals 8,768 acres. 
432 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Refer to Chapter 3, Affected Environment, of the accompanying Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement for a description of the biological and physical resources within the study corridor. 

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To be eligible for designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a 

river must be free-flowing and possess one or more of the following as outstandingly remarkable 

values: (1) scenic, (2) recreational, (3) geological, (4) fish and wildlife, (5) historic and cultural, 

or (6) other values, including ecological. 

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act defines "free-flowing" as existing or flowing in a natural 

condition without impoundment, diversion, straightening, rip-rapping, or other modification of 

the waterway. The existence of low dams, diversion works, or other minor structures at the time 

a river is proposed for inclusion in the national rivers system does not automatically disqualify it 

for designation. A river segment flowing between large impoundments may qualify for 

designation if conditions within the segment meet the eligibility criteria. 

There are no specific requirements concerning the length or flow of an eligible river segment. 

The length or flow are sufficient if they sustain or complement the outstandingly remarkable 

values for which the river would be designated to protect. 

Description Of Values For Brice Creek 

Scenic: Scenic and botanical values are co-existent. Areas directly adjacent to the streams 

consist of lake and stream swamps where the vegetation is cypress and closed canopy 

hardwoods, and tannins color the water. Along Brice Creek are many areas of dry mesic 

hardwood-pine with only small remnants of mixed pine-hardwood, mainly loblolly, sweetgum 

and oaks. Along Brice Creek are some areas of drainage slopes where oak, and hickory 

dominate. West Prong Creek is within low pocosin on very deep peatlands which is typified by 

stunted pond pine with dense, short evergreen shrubs of bay. In addition to lake and stream 

swamps and mesic hardwood-pine, East Prong Creek includes stream and river terraces. 

Characteristics include predominantly beech, poplar, hickory, and oak. The Class A - Distinctive 

rating is assigned to the scenic values. 

Recreational: Current recreational use includes fishing, hunting, picnicking, canoeing and 

motorboating (bass boats and jet skis). Developed recreation sites include a National Forest boat 

ramp and picnic area at Brice Creek Boat Ramp, and Craven County Park, which is under 

construction. The Class B - Common rating is assigned to the recreational values. 

Geologic: The river provides no exposure to the coastal group of formations. The stream bank 

and surrounding corridor are almost entirely vegetated. The Class C - Minimal rating is assigned 

to the geological value. 

Fish and Wildlife: Rare animals include American alligator, eastern cougar, Bachman's sparrow, 

Croatan crayfish and RCW among others. It is habitat for black bear, wild turkey, double 

breasted cormorant, Neuse river waterdog, and many bird species. As part of the Neuse River 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 433

system it is very diverse in fishery species, more so than other coastal plain drainages. The 

waters support sport fishing. The Class A - Distinctive rating is assigned to the fish and wildlife 

value. 

Historic and Cultural: The Brice Creek corridor has a high probability for historical and 

archeological sites. There are 17 sites that may qualify for listing on the National Register of 

Historic Places. Many of these sites are located in the riverbed or along the streambank. The 

Class A - Distinctive rating is assigned to the historical and cultural values. 

Criteria For Outstandingly Remarkable Values 

Dictionary definitions of "outstandingly remarkable" indicate that such a value would be one that 

is a conspicuous example of a value from among a number of similar values that are themselves 

uncommon. Based on these definitions, a comparison system for evaluating stream values was 

developed on the premise that all streams have some value, but when compared to each other, 

some stream values will be more outstanding. Using the "scenic attractiveness" concept for 

describing physical features from the Forest Service Scenery Management System, the following 

three categories were developed for comparing values: 

• Class A - Distinctive which refers to those rivers/streams whose features and values are 

of unusual or outstanding quality when compared to others in the North Carolina coastal 

area. 

• Class B - Common which refers to those rivers/streams whose features and values are 

common to most streams in the North Carolina coastal region. 

• Class C - Undistinguished which refers to those rivers/streams with few features and 

values. 

A value must meet the criteria for the Class A - Distinctive category to be considered 

outstandingly remarkable. Only one value is needed for eligibility. The following criteria were 

developed for the three categories for each of the values listed in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 

Sections 1(b) and 2(b). 

Scenic 

Class A - Distinctive. The landform is complex with unusual or outstanding topographic 

features. Rock features, when present, stand out on the landform and are unusual or outstanding 

in size, color, or location. Forest cover is continuous or broken with a high degree of patterns 

and an unusual or outstanding diversity in plant species; large or old-growth timber may be 

present. The streambed varies in width from medium to large. The stream volume ranges from 

medium to high with a variety of flow characteristics. 

Class B - Common. The terrain has some variety, but landform features are typical of the coastal 

region. Rock features, when present, are obvious, but do not stand out and have no unusual or 

outstanding characteristics. Forest cover is continuous with some variety in vegetative patterns 

and a common diversity in plant species. The stream volume ranges from medium to low with 

some variety in flow characteristics. 
434 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Class C - Minimal. The terrain has little variety in slope, dissection or features; rock features are 

generally lacking. Forest cover is continuous with little diversity in the number or pattern of 

plant species. The stream is generally small with low volume and little or no variety in flow 

characteristics. 

 

Recreational 

Class A - Distinctive. The river provides opportunities for water-oriented activities and 

recreation experiences which are unique to that stream or a limited number of streams or which 

can occur only because of the character of the stream. The river contains a high quality sport 

fishing experience. 

Class B - Common. The river provides opportunities for water-oriented activities typical of most 

coastal streams including fishing, swimming, boating (motorized and non-motorized), and 

waterfowl hunting. 

Class C - Minimal. Stream size, flow or other characteristics limit opportunities or attractiveness 

for water-oriented recreation activities. 

Geologic 

Class A - Distinctive. The river corridor clearly displays significant or unusual geomorphic or 

structural features. It also includes those rivers clearly exposing geologic formations which are 

visible in few or no other sites. The amount of exposed rock is significant which provides 

excellent opportunities for geologic study. 

Class B - Common. The geomorphic features and formations are typical of those commonly 

found in the Coastal Plain. There is some opportunity for geologic study. 

Class C - Minimal. The river provides few or no exposed rock formations and no significant 

geologic features. 

Fish And Wildlife 

Class A - Distinctive. Resident fish and wildlife populations, including known populations of 

proposed endangered, threatened and sensitive species (PETS), occur only because of the quality 

and character of the stream or riparian area. 

Class B - Common. Resident fish and wildlife populations are common to most coastal streams. 

Class C - Minimal. Stream characteristics limit the number and type of species present. 

Populations of game fish species are largely absent. The fish community may be dominated by 

more pollution tolerant species. The total number of fish species is less than in comparable, 

higher quality streams. 

Historical And Cultural 

Class A - Distinctive. The river corridor has a high probability for prehistoric sites. It contains 

Class I prehistoric or historic sites, which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, or 

known Class II sites, which are eligible for listing on the National Register but require further 

study, or known sites that may not be unique in character or content, but are in a unique state of 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 435

preservation. In addition, these sites are located in or along the riverbed or are integrally 

associated with the river. 

Class B - Common. The river corridor has a moderate probability for archeological sites. 

Known sites are similar to other known sites and contain limited information; some sites may 

have been disturbed prior to scientific investigation. Some sites may meet the criteria for listing 

or are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, but are not located in or along the 

riverbed and are not integrally associated with the river. 

Class C - Minimal. The river corridor has a low probability for archeological sites. Known sites 

do not meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and are not 

integrally associated with the river. 

Findings Of Eligibility 

Brice Creek is eligible for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act because it is freeflowing and has been determined to have outstandingly remarkable scenic, botanical, wildlife, 

historical and cultural values. 

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If a river has been determined to be eligible for designation, the next step is to determine the 

potential classification that would result from designation. There are three classifications of 

rivers, or river segments, in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System--wild, scenic, and 

recreational. Classification is based on the condition of the river and the adjacent lands at the 

time of the study. The following criteria are used. 

Wild River. The river should be free of impoundments. The shoreline should be essentially 

primitive with little or no evidence of human activity; however, the presence of a few 

inconspicuous structures is acceptable. There should be little or no evidence of past timber 

harvest and no ongoing timber harvest. The river area should be generally inaccessible except by 

trail. There should be no roads, railroads or other provision for vehicular travel; however, a few 

existing roads leading to the boundary of the river area are acceptable. Water quality meets or 

exceeds criteria of federally approved State standards for aesthetics, propagation of fish and 

wildlife normally adapted to the river, and primary contact recreation. 

Scenic River. The river should be free of impoundments. The shoreline should be largely 

primitive and undeveloped with no substantial evidence of human activity; however, the 

presence of small communities, dispersed dwellings or farm structures is acceptable. Evidence 

of past or ongoing timber harvest is acceptable if the forest appears natural from the river bank. 

The river area may be accessible in places by roads and roads may occasionally reach or bridge 

the river. The existence of short stretches of conspicuous or longer stretches of inconspicuous 

roads or railroads is acceptable. No criteria for water quality is prescribed in the Act. Poor water 

quality does not preclude classification provided a water quality improvement plan exists or is 

being developed. 

 
436 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Recreational River. The river may have some development with substantial evidence of human 

activity. The presence of extensive residential developments and a few commercial structures is 

acceptable. Lands may have been developed for a full range of agricultural or forestry uses and 

may show evidence of past or ongoing timber harvest. The river area may be readily accessible 

by roads or railroads. The existence of parallel roads or railroads on one or both banks and 

bridge crossings is acceptable. No criteria for water quality is prescribed in the Act. Poor 

water quality does not preclude classification provided a water quality improvement plan exists 

or is being developed. 

Potential Classification. Since CNF land comprises less than 35% of the river corridor, the 

Forest Service recommends further study of suitability in cooperation with the State of North 

Carolina, who would lead the effort. The following discussion of characteristics could be useful 

for that study. 

 

Characteristics Worthy of Addition to the National Rivers System 

Brice Creek is typical of the blackwater Coastal Rivers that drain swampy or marshy areas of the 

lower Coastal Plain in North Carolina. It is a well-preserved example of a stream system that 

transitions between fresh and salt water. The headwaters are relatively inaccessible, and West 

Prong in particular, meanders undisturbed through pocosin roadless areas. This type of river in 

the preserved condition of Brice Creek is an infrequent resource in North Carolina. 

In the Neuse River system Brice Creek is the most outstanding for fishery habitat qualities. It is 

very diverse in fish species, exceeding other coastal plain drainages. Striped bass, american 

shad, hickory shad and herring are found in Brice Creek. This is a good indication of the high 

quality habitat. Currently there are no representatives of Southern Coastal Plain blackwater 

streams in the national wild and scenic rivers system. This is a unique ecosystem that warrants 

inclusion in the system. 

Brice Creek offers a regionally unique, wide variety of plant life in a setting rarely available for 

public observation. Primary vegetation components include cypress swamp, dry mesic 

hardwood, low pocosin and mesic longleaf savannah & flatwoods. Approximately 25% of the 

cypress swamp ecological landtype and 65% of the mesic hardwood-pine in the forest are found 

in Brice Creek. The river is very scenic because of this diversity. Other scenic attributes are the 

large old growth cedars and hardwoods along some stretches. 

Opportunities for canoeing coastal blackwater streams are limited in North Carolina because 

stream sizes are often too small, clogged with vegetation, or too large with a lot of large 

motorized boat traffic, too short in length, too much shoreline development to provide a quality 

recreation experience, or has limited public access. A significant length of Brice Creek is 

canoeable and an interpretive canoe trail is being designed. It begins at the boat launch and 

travels upstream to the junction with Black Branch, approximately 4 miles, although the creek is 

boatable for many more miles upstream. Craven County is developing a park approximately 5.5 

miles upstream from the mouth. Boat access will be limited to canoes, kayaks or other small 

boats. This enhances the opportunity for a high quality non-motorized recreation experience. 

All sections have public access, either at bridge crossings, developments open to the public, and 

the National Forest boat ramp. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 437

Brice Creek fishery can be characterized as bass, brim, pickerel with some catfish. Sport fishing 

is popular for a variety of species including large mouth bass, redfin pickerel, chain pickerel, 

catfish, long nose gar and crappy. The creek is of statewide importance for fishing. During 

fishing tournaments on the Neuse anglers are regularly attracted up Brice because of the 

outstanding habitat. 

Brice Creek has regional and national archeological and cultural significance. It includes 17 

known archeological sites that are potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic 

Places. Most of the known prehistoric sites are from the Woodland Period and could be as much 

as 3,000 years old. Included in historic sites is a cemetery and homesite. Battles of New Bern 

were decisive in the Civil War. Many took place between N.Cape Fear River and Pamlico River. 

Within the river corridor are Civil War fortifications associated with the Civil War activities in 

New Bern. 

Need for Legal Protection Afforded by Designation. A primary objective of the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act is to preserve the free-flowing condition of certain selected rivers of the Nation. The 

Act prohibits water resources projects (dam, water conduit, reservoir, powerhouse, transmission 

line, etc) that would have a direct and adverse affect on a river's free-flowing condition or on the 

values for which such river was designated. 

Nearly all estuarine rivers in NC and SC coastal plain have been improved for navigation or have 

been dredged, channeled or dammed. This has not occurred on Brice Creek. 

Historical and cultural sites and artifacts and threatened and endangered species are protected by 

law. Legal protection afforded by wild and scenic river designation is not necessary for 

perpetuation of these resources, but could enhance it. 

Forest Plan objectives are to perpetuate riparian areas, floodplains, wetlands and their 

ecosystems in their natural condition. However, the Forest Plan does not provide legal 

protection from water resources projects proposed under the Federal Power Act that could alter 

the free-flowing condition of streams. 

National Forest Lands - Uses and Values Enhanced, Foreclosed or Curtailed by Designation. 

The following discusses the uses and values that would be enhanced, foreclosed, curtailed or not 

changed by designation on national forest lands within the study corridor. These changes are 

based on the potential scenic and recreational classifications. 

 

Enhanced. The specialty of designation may enhance the recreation experience for some 

visitors. The permanence afforded by legal designation is desirable to many people. Although 

the outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, botanical, fishery, historical and cultural 

values are currently protected by the Forest Plan and federal law where applicable, designation 

provides a sense of permanent and consistent direction for these resources. 

 

Foreclosed. Designation prohibits any new water resources projects that would adversely affect 

the free-flowing condition of the river or the values for which the river was designated. 
438 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

 

Curtailed. The amount of timber production within the river corridor may be reduced and new 

utilities would be discouraged. New mining leases or claims may be curtailed to protect river 

resources, however the area has no active mineral operations and low potential for commercially 

significant mineral deposits. 

 

No Change. The type of recreation activities permitted and wildlife habitat management 

activities within the river corridor would remain essentially the same under designation or 

nondesignation. TES species are protected by the Forest Plan and federal law for federally listed 

species. Historical and archeological sites are protected by law and the Forest Plan. 

Private Lands - Uses and Values Enhanced, Foreclosed or Curtailed by Designation The 

following discusses the uses and values that would be enhanced, foreclosed, curtailed or not 

changed by designation on privately owned lands within the study corridor. The effects are 

based on the potential scenic and recreational classifications. 

 

Enhanced. The notoriety of designation and some measure of protection from future 

incompatible land uses and development could have a positive impact on property values and 

marketability. 

 

Foreclosed. Major water resources projects, such as dams and reservoirs, would be prohibited, 

same as for public lands. Development of new small water resources projects, such as diversions 

for farm pond water supply, that are subject to federal regulations or assistance (such as Corps of 

Engineers dredge and fill permits) could be modified or prohibited. Determination would be on 

a case-by-case basis. 

 

Curtailed. Any local government or state land use ordinances enacted to protect river values 

could limit the type or amount of land uses and developments allowed. Otherwise current land 

uses would prevail. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act limits the amount of land within the river 

corridor that could be purchased by the federal government for river protection to an average of 

100 acres per mile (Sec.6.(a)(1)). 

 

No change. The ability to buy and sell property is not affected by designation. Property owners 

retain control of their property. Designation does not open private lands to public access. 

Landowners can continue to post their property. Ongoing regular uses of private lands, including 

agriculture, forestry and residential use, would continue. The Act has no intent to remove use, 

development or inhabitants from the river corridor. 

State and Local Government and Public Interest. Public scoping indicated strong support for 

designation if the State of North Carolina leads the study of suitability. Adjacent landowners, 

elected officials, and other participants would help determine the classifications. 

Cost to Administer Designated River. The estimated cost to prepare the river management plan, 

including the legal boundary description, is $30,000. Current average annual cost to administer 

the Brice Creek corridor on national forest lands, excluding one-time resource management 

projects, is $6,000. Costs to administer the river on national forest lands would remain 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 439

essentially the same as current management, unless recreation use were to increase significantly 

as a result of designation. The estimated cost for adequate staffing to administer increased 

recreation use is $9,500. The initial cost for signing the river corridor is estimated at $10,000. 

Annual administrative costs would need to include funds for sign repair and replacement. If 

further study of the recreational section continues, the administrative cost of working with state 

and local governments and private landowners to develop land use guidelines for privately 

owned lands along the rivers would be approximately $3,000 to $5,000 annually for the first 5 

years. After that time costs are expected to be minimal. State and local governments would be 

responsible for administering any land use ordinances for private lands. 

Private Land. Approximately 65% of the land within the study corridor is privately owned. 

Much of the river corridor is largely undeveloped because of wetlands. On the high grounds, 

forestland is the predominant use interspersed with agriculture. Some clusters of mediumdensity residential housing occur in the scenic segment, one off state road 1116 and the other 

where Unnamed road crosses Brice Creek. Current uses are compatible with the potential wild, 

scenic, and recreation classifications. 

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The purpose of this Wild and Scenic River Study Report is to document the results of the 

analysis conducted to determine eligibility of the While Oak River as a potential component of 

the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Since more than 80% of the river corridor is 

privately owned, further study is recommended for the suitability determination in cooperation 

with the State of North Carolina, who would lead the effort. 

The Nationwide River Inventory developed by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of 

Interior (January 1982) identified the While Oak River as a potential wild and scenic study river. 

The 1986 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Land and Resource Management 

Plan for the Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests determined White Oak River to be eligible 

for designation. The river was determined to be potentially suitable for designation pending 

further study. This document also includes the eligibility and potential classification analysis 

from the Forest Plan. 

A challenge of the analysis of eligibility for wild and scenic rivers in the FEIS (Appendix H) of 

the Forest Plan brought about further study. A new determination of eligibility and potential 

suitability was completed and documented in Appendix B of the Environmental Assessment for 

Interim Protection of Rivers Eligible for Wild and Scenic River Study, Croatan and Uwharrie 

National Forests; which also updates information in the FEIS, Appendix H. 

The White Oak River has been evaluated in a manner that is consistent with the U.S. Department 

of Interior and U.S Department of Agriculture jointly issued Final Revised Guidelines For 

Eligibility, Classification, and Management of River Areas. (See 47 Federal Register 34457, 

September 7, 1982.) 
440 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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White Oak River is eligible for designation based on its free-flowing condition and outstandingly 

remarkable scenic, botanical, wildlife, historical and cultural values. Since more than 80% of the 

river corridor is privately owned, further study is recommended for the suitability determination 

in cooperation with the State of North Carolina. 

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White Oak begins at the confluence of North Prong and South Prong in the headwaters on the 

Croatan National Forest and flows 39.5 miles southeast to its confluence with the Atlantic 

Ocean, (river mile 0). The river is the boundary between Onslow County on the west, and Jones 

and Cartaret on the east. 

The lower 27.1 miles of the White Oak is the Proclamation Boundary for the Croatan National 

Forest, while the upper 12.4 miles is outside the National Forest Proclamation Boundary. 

The study corridor includes the area extending the length of the designated segments of this river 

(39.5 miles) and 1/4 mile in width from each bank of the river. It totals 12,640 acres. 

Refer to Chapter 3, Affected Environment, of the accompanying Final Environmental Impact 

Statement for a description of the resources within the study corridor. 

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To be eligible for designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a 

river must be free-flowing and possess one or more of the following as outstandingly remarkable 

values: (1) scenic, (2) recreational, (3) geological, (4) fish and wildlife, (5) historic and cultural, 

or (6) other values, including ecological. 

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act defines "free-flowing" as existing or flowing in a natural 

condition without impoundment, diversion, straightening, rip-rapping, or other modification of 

the waterway. The existence of low dams, diversion works, or other minor structures at the time 

a river is proposed for inclusion in the national rivers system does not automatically disqualify it 

for designation. A river segment flowing between large impoundments may qualify for 

designation if conditions within the segment meet the eligibility criteria. 

There are no specific requirements concerning the length or flow of an eligible river segment. 

The length or flow are sufficient if they sustain or complement the outstandingly remarkable 

values for which the river would be designated to protect. 

Description Of Values For The White Oak River 

Scenic: The section of river from Belgrade to Stella includes four distinct ecotypes: saltwater 

marsh, cypress swamp, mesic hardwood forest and pond pine forest. The river changes from a 

fast-flowing, narrow, meandering, piedmont creek within an upland hardwood forest to a broad, 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 441

sluggish, coastal blackwater river lined with tidal cordgrass marsh. Each ecotype has a 

significant diversity of plant families and the concentration of plant diversity within the 

relatively small area of the river is regionally unique (Krochmal, 1976). The forest cover 

includes large growth oaks and cedars. A Class A - Distinctive rating is assigned to the scenic 

values. 

Recreational: Current recreational use includes fishing, hunting, picnicking, camping, canoeing 

and motorboating (small boats used for fishing). Developed recreation sites include a National 

Forest boat ramp and picnic area at Haywood Landing, a user developed picnic and camping area 

at Long Point (both of these are ROS class semi-primitive motorized), and a campground and 

tideland trail at Cedar Point (ROS class rural). A Class B - Common rating is assigned to the 

recreational values. 

Geologic: The river provides no exposure to the coastal group of formations. The stream bank 

and surrounding corridor are almost entirely vegetated. A Class C - Minimal rating is assigned 

to the geological value. 

Fish and Wildlife: The river is an important habitat for the American alligator and a number of 

wading birds and waterfowl. It also provides habitat for seven threatened or endangered wildlife 

species listed on federal or state registers. The waters support sport fishing and commercial 

shellfishing. A Class A - Distinctive rating is assigned to the fish and wildlife value. 

Historic and Cultural: The White Oak River corridor has a high probability for historical and 

archeological sites. There are seventy known sites, thirty-six of which may qualify for listing on 

the National Register of Historic Places. A number of these sites are located in or along the 

riverbed. A Class A - Distinctive rating is assigned to the historical and cultural values. The 

White Oak River corridor is one of twelve Heritage Resource zones on the CNF where 

archeological resources are unusually numerous and important to the regional prehistory and 

history of North Carolina. Management of these resources includes interpretation and restricted 

timber management. 

Criteria For Outstandingly Remarkable Values 

Dictionary definitions of "outstandingly remarkable" indicate that such a value would be one that 

is a conspicuous example of a value from among a number of similar values that are themselves 

uncommon. Based on these definitions, a comparison system for evaluating stream values was 

developed on the premise that all streams have some value, but when compared to each other, 

some stream values will be more outstanding. Using the "scenic attractiveness" concept for 

describing physical features from the Forest Service Scenery Management System, the following 

three categories were developed for comparing values: 

 

• Class A - Distinctive which refers to those rivers/streams whose features and values are 

of unusual or outstanding quality when compared to others in the North Carolina coastal 

area. 

• Class B - Common which refers to those rivers/streams whose features and values are 

common to most streams in the North Carolina coastal region. 
442 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

• Class C - Undistinguished which refers to those rivers/streams with few features and 

values. 

A value must meet the criteria for the Class A - Distinctive category to be considered 

outstandingly remarkable. Only one value is needed for eligibility. The following criteria were 

developed for the three categories for each of the values listed in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 

Sections 1(b) and 2(b). 

Scenic 

Class A - Distinctive. The landform is complex with unusual or outstanding topographic 

features. Rock features, when present, stand out on the landform and are unusual or outstanding 

in size, color, or location. Forest cover is continuous or broken with a high degree of patterns 

and an unusual or outstanding diversity in plant species; large or old-growth timber may be 

present. The streambed varies in width from medium to large. The stream volume ranges from 

medium to high with a variety of flow characteristics. 

Class B - Common. The terrain has some variety, but landform features are typical of the coastal 

region. Rock features, when present, are obvious, but do not stand out and have no unusual or 

outstanding characteristics. Forest cover is continuous with some variety in vegetative patterns 

and a common diversity in plant species. The stream volume ranges from medium to low with 

some variety in flow characteristics. 

Class C - Minimal. The terrain has little variety in slope, dissection or features; rock features are 

generally lacking. Forest cover is continuous with little diversity in the number or pattern of 

plant species. The stream is generally small with low volume and little or no variety in flow 

characteristics. 

 

Recreational 

Class A - Distinctive. The river provides opportunities for water-oriented activities and 

recreation experiences which are unique to that stream or a limited number of streams or which 

can occur only because of the character of the stream. The river contains a high quality sport 

fishing experience. 

Class B - Common. The river provides opportunities for water-oriented activities typical of most 

coastal streams including fishing, swimming, boating (motorized and non-motorized), and 

waterfowl hunting. 

Class C - Minimal. Stream size, flow or other characteristics limit opportunities or attractiveness 

for water-oriented recreation activities. 

 

Geologic 

Class A - Distinctive. The river corridor clearly displays significant or unusual geomorphic or 

structural features. It also includes those rivers clearly exposing geologic formations which are 

visible in few or no other sites. The amount of exposed rock is significant which provides 

excellent opportunities for geologic study. 

Class B - Common. The geomorphic features and formations are typical of those commonly 

found in the Coastal Plain. There is some opportunity for geologic study. 

Class C - Minimal. The river provides few or no exposed rock formations and no significant 

geologic features. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 443

Fish And Wildlife 

Class A - Distinctive. Resident fish and wildlife populations, including known populations of 

proposed endangered, threatened and sensitive species (PETS), occur only because of the quality 

and character of the stream or riparian area. 

Class B - Common. Resident fish and wildlife populations are common to most coastal streams. 

Class C - Minimal. Stream characteristics limit the number and type of species present. 

Populations of game fish species are largely absent. The fish community may be dominated by 

more pollution tolerant species. The total number of fish species is less than in comparable, 

higher quality streams. 

Historical And Cultural 

Class A - Distinctive. The river corridor has a high probability for prehistoric sites. It contains 

Class I prehistoric or historic sites, which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, or 

known Class II sites, which are eligible for listing on the National Register but require further 

study, or known sites that may not be unique in character or content, but are in a unique state of 

preservation. In addition, these sites are located in or along the riverbed or are integrally 

associated with the river. 

Class B - Common. The river corridor has a moderate probability for archeological sites. 

Known sites are similar to other known sites and contain limited information; some sites may 

have been disturbed prior to scientific investigation. Some sites may meet the criteria for listing 

or are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, but are not located in or along the 

riverbed and are not integrally associated with the river. 

Class C - Minimal. The river corridor has a low probability for archeological sites. Known sites 

do not meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and are not 

integrally associated with the river. 

Findings Of Eligibility 

The White Oak River is eligible for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act because it 

is free-flowing and has been determined to have outstandingly remarkable scenic, botanical, 

wildlife, historical and cultural values. 

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If a river has been determined to be eligible for designation, the next step is to determine the 

potential classification that would result from designation. There are three classifications of 

rivers, or river segments, in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System--wild, scenic, and 

recreational. Classification is based on the condition of the river and the adjacent lands at the 

time of the study. The following criteria for determining classification is from the revised 

guidelines. 

Wild River. The river should be free of impoundments. The shoreline should be essentially 

primitive with little or no evidence of human activity; however, the presence of a few 

inconspicuous structures is acceptable. There should be little or no evidence of past timber 

harvest and no ongoing timber harvest. The river area should be generally inaccessible except by 

trail. There should be no roads, railroads or other provision for vehicular travel; however, a few 

existing roads leading to the boundary of the river area are acceptable. Water quality meets or 
444 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

exceeds criteria of federally approved State standards for aesthetics, propagation of fish and 

wildlife normally adapted to the river, and primary contact recreation. 

Scenic River. The river should be free of impoundments. The shoreline should be largely 

primitive and undeveloped with no substantial evidence of human activity; however, the 

presence of small communities, dispersed dwellings or farm structures is acceptable. Evidence 

of past or ongoing timber harvest is acceptable if the forest appears natural from the river bank. 

The river area may be accessible in places by roads and roads may occasionally reach or bridge 

the river. The existence of short stretches of conspicuous or longer stretches of inconspicuous 

roads or railroads is acceptable. No criteria for water quality is prescribed in the Act. Poor water 

quality does not preclude classification provided a water quality improvement plan exists or is 

being developed. 

Recreational River. The river may have some development with substantial evidence of human 

activity. The presence of extensive residential developments and a few commercial structures is 

acceptable. Lands may have been developed for a full range of agricultural or forestry uses and 

may show evidence of past or ongoing timber harvest. The river area may be readily accessible 

by roads or railroads. The existence of parallel roads or railroads on one or both banks and 

bridge crossings is acceptable. No criteria for water quality is prescribed in the Act. Poor water 

quality does not preclude classification provided a water quality improvement plan exists or is 

being developed. 

Classification to carry forward to Suitability Analysis 

During the Forest Plan Revision process eligibility of all four segments of the White Oak River 

was reviewed. All segments are recommended for further study of suitability. 

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Less than 20 percent of the river corridor is in Federal Ownership. Since most of the river 

corridor is privately owned, the State of NC assumes the lead on suitability determinations and 

recommendations for river corridors eligible for wild and scenic river status. 

Characteristics Worthy of Addition to the National Rivers System 

White Oak River is typical of the blackwater Coastal Rivers that drain swampy or marshy areas 

of the lower Coastal Plain in North Carolina. However these types of rivers are an infrequent 

resource in North Carolina. Of these, White Oak River is one of the best and in relatively 

undisturbed condition. The headwaters are largely rural yet, have had accelerated agricultural 

development. This growth is less than some adjacent basins, and plans call for rigid waste 

treatment. Strict waste treatment when combined with the high percent of public ownership on 

the White Oak could lead to improved water quality over time. Therefore there is less potential 

for future pollution events and water quality and associated fisheries habitat is higher than the 

other rivers. Riparian area is less disturbed so the ecosystem is more intact and sustainable. 

Currently there are no representatives of Southern Coastal Plain blackwater streams in the 

national wild and scenic rivers system. This is a unique ecosystem that warrants inclusion in the 

system. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 445

White Oak River offers a regionally unique, wide variety of plant life in a setting rarely available 

for public observation. To date six natural community types or variants have been identified as 

occurring within the site. One of particular interest is the Tidal Freshwater Marsh Freshwater 

Variant, a species rich community that is rare in southeastern North Carolina. This concentration 

of plant diversity within a relatively small area is unique. The river is very scenic because of this 

diversity. Other scenic attributes are the large old growth cedars and hardwoods along some 

stretches. 

Opportunities for canoeing coastal blackwater streams is limited because of stream size (too 

small, clogged with vegetation or too large with a lot of large motorized boat traffic), length (too 

short), too much shoreline development to provide a quality recreation experience, or limited 

public access. A significant length of the White Oak is canoeable even at the headwaters and 

results in 23.7 miles, from the first bridge crossing in headwaters down to Stella. Below Stella is 

not desirable because of width of stream and motorized boat traffic. The river above powerline 

near Black Swamp Creek is not suitable for motorized boats, so a high quality non-motorized 

recreational experience is provided. All sections have public access, either at bridge crossings, 

commercial developments open to the public (campground at Maysville, quarry ponds at 

Maysville), and National Forest boat ramps at Haywood Landing and Long Point. The river is 

currently maintained by NCWRC to maintain canoe access. The section from the bridge at 

Maysville to Haywood Boat Landing (9.9 miles) is most popular. 

The White Oak river corridor has state, regional, and national archeological significance. The 

river corridor contains some of the best preserved bluff-type sites, both on and off national forest 

lands, in the lower North Carolina coastal plain. Similar sites on private lands and along other 

rivers have been disturbed by development. The area is well suited to continued archeological 

research and public interpretation. 

The White Oak is one of the more important prehistoric and historic travel routes to the North 

Carolina interior. Prehistoric and early historic settlement used the rivers as highways. Rivers 

also served as cultural barriers. People traveled up and down the rivers, but seldom across. 

Through time, different prehistoric populations inhabited the area, with the White Oak Serving 

as a cultural barrier. Similarly, the White Oak was the boundary between the Union occupation 

and the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. 

Need for Legal Protection Afforded by Designation. A primary objective of the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act is to preserve the free-flowing condition of certain selected rivers of the Nation. The 

Act prohibits water resources projects (dam, water conduit, reservoir, powerhouse, transmission 

line, etc) that would have a direct and adverse affect on a river’s free-flowing condition or on the 

values for which such river was designated. 

Nearly all estuarine rivers in NC and SC coastal plain have been improved for navigation or have 

been dredged, channeled or dammed. This has not occurred on the White Oak. Although there 

are no current proposals, the potential is always present considering other estuarine rivers. 
446 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Historical and cultural sites and artifacts and threatened and endangered species are protected by 

law. Legal protection afforded by wild and scenic river designation is not necessary for 

perpetuation of these resources, but could enhance it. 

Forest Plan objectives are to perpetuate riparian areas, floodplains, wetlands and their 

ecosystems in their natural condition. However, the Forest Plan does not provide legal protection 

from water resources projects proposed under the Federal Power Act that could alter the freeflowing condition of streams. 

National Forest Lands - Uses and Values Enhanced, Foreclosed or Curtailed by Designation. 

The following discusses the uses and values that would be enhanced, foreclosed, curtailed or not 

changed by designation on national forest lands within the study corridor. These changes are 

based on the potential scenic and recreational classifications. 

Enhanced. The speciality of designation may enhance the recreation experience for some 

visitors. The permanence afforded by legal designation is desirable to many people. Although the 

outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, botanical, fishery, historical and cultural values 

are currently protected by the Forest Plan and federal law where applicable, designation provides 

a sense of permanent and consistent direction for these resources. 

Foreclosed. Designation prohibits any new water resources projects that would adversely affect 

the free-flowing condition of the river or the values for which the river was designated. 

Curtailed. The amount of timber production within the river corridor may be reduced and new 

utilities would be discouraged. New mining leases or claims may be curtailed to protect river 

resources, however the area has no active mineral operations and low potential for commercially 

significant mineral deposits. 

No Change. The type of recreation activities permitted and wildlife habitat management 

activities within the river corridor would remain essentially the same under designation or 

nondesignation. PETS species are protected by the Forest Plan and federal law for federally 

listed species. Historical and archeological sites are protected by law and the Forest Plan. 

Private Lands - Uses and Values Enhanced, Foreclosed or Curtailed by Designation. The 

following discusses the uses and values that would be enhanced, foreclosed, curtailed or not 

changed by designation on privately owned lands within the study corridor. The affects are based 

on the potential scenic and recreational classifications. 

Enhanced. The notoriety of designation and some measure of protection from future 

incompatible land uses and development could have a positive impact on property values and 

marketability. 

Foreclosed. Major water resources projects, such as dams and reservoirs, would be prohibited, 

same as for public lands. Development of new small water resources projects, such as diversions 

for farm pond water supply, that are subject to federal regulations or assistance (such as Corps of 

Engineers dredge and fill permits) could be modified or prohibited. Determination would be on a 

case-by-case basis. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 447

Curtailed. Any local government or state land use ordinances enacted to protect river values 

could limit the type or amount of land uses and developments allowed. Otherwise current land 

uses would prevail. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act limits the amount of land within the river 

corridor that could be purchased by the federal government for river protection to an average of 

100 acres per mile (Sec.6.(a)(1)). 

No change. The ability to buy and sell property is not affected by designation. Property owners 

retain control of their property. Designation does not open private lands to public access. 

Landowners can continue to post their property. Ongoing regular uses of private lands, including 

agriculture, forestry and residential use, would continue. The Act has no intent to remove use, 

development or inhabitants from the river corridor. 

State and Local Government and Public Interest. White Oak River is listed by the State of North 

Carolina for possible inclusion as a State Natural and Scenic River (based on most current listing 

from 1975). Public scoping has indicated strong support for designation. 

Cost to Administer Designated River. The estimated cost to prepare the river management plan, 

including the legal boundary description, is $30,000. Current average annual cost to administer 

the White Oak River corridor on national forest lands, excluding one-time resource management 

projects, is $4,500. Costs to administer the river on national forest lands would remain 

essentially the same as current management, unless recreation use were to increase significantly 

as a result of designation. The estimated cost for adequate staffing to administer increased 

recreation use is $3,900. The initial cost for signing the river corridor is estimated at $10,000. 

Annual administrative costs would need to include funds for sign repair and replacement. The 

administrative cost of working with state and local governments and private landowners to 

develop land use guidelines for privately owned lands along the rivers would be approximately 

$3,000 to $5,000 annually for the first 5 years. After that time costs are expected to be minimal. 

State and local governments would be responsible for administering any land use ordinances for 

private lands. 

Private Land. Approximately 86% of the land within the study corridor is privately owned. 

Much of the river corridor is largely undeveloped because of wetlands. On the high grounds, 

agriculture is the predominant use interspersed with forestland. Some clusters of low-density 

residential areas occur below Stella. The most noticeable modification to the stream corridor is 

from the quarry around Maysville. The quarry has been in operation since 1939 and meets all 

State requirements. It does not affect water quality. A segment of the river flows through four old 

quarry ponds, which have revegetated to the point that they are near-natural in appearance. 

Neither the ponds, nor quarry bridges, affect the free flow of the river or impede canoeing traffic. 

Current uses are compatible with the potential scenic and recreation classifications. Stewardship 

by landowners along the river has been very good to date. There is concern that the current shift 

to hog farming on agricultural lands could pose a future threat to river water quality. 

FINDINGS OF SUITABILITY 

White Oak River is determined to be suitable for designation as a national wild and scenic river. 

The length of river in free-flowing condition (27.9 miles) and the characteristics of the river 
448 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

environment are worthy of addition to the national system. White Oak River would be a 

sustainable high quality example of Southern coastal blackwater streams, which are currently not 

represented in the national rivers system. Legal protection afforded by designation is desirable to 

reinforce the need to maintain the river’s water quality. Current land uses and management on 

national forest and private lands are compatible with potential river classifications, so uses 

foreclosed or curtailed would be minor. There is demonstrated public support for designation. 

Increases in administrative costs should not be significant unless recreation use dramatically 

increases as a result of designation.
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 449 

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For Federally Proposed, Threatened, And Endangered Species 

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This programmatic Biological Assessment (BA) evaluates the effects of implementing 

management activities proposed in the Croatan National Forest (CNF) revised Land and 

Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The planning area lies in the eastern portion of North 

Carolina within the Atlantic Coastal Plain and includes all lands within the CNF proclaimed 

boundary that are currently administered or managed by the National Forests in North Carolina 

(NFsNC). This area is approximately 161,000 acres in size and contains portions of 3 counties: 

Carteret, Jones, and Craven. 

Project-specific analysis will be conducted at the time of a project proposal to determine sitespecific effects. The purpose of this analysis is to assess potential effects on federally designated 

threatened or endangered species that occur or could occur within the CNF. Effects to U.S. 

Forest Service (USFS) sensitive and locally rare species are included in the Biological 

Evaluation, a separate document. 

This BA was prepared in accordance with USFS manual 2671.44 and 2672.42 and regulations 

set forth in Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act. Determinations of effects by species 

are made based on best available information. As significant new information becomes available 

through inventory, monitoring and research, a revision of this assessment will be done through 

consultation with the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as appropriate. 

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Croatan and Uwharrie Land and Resource Management Plan 1986-2000. The Service reviewed 

the proposed LRMP and Final Environmental Impact Statement in August 1985. The Service 

was primarily concerned with the following: 1) proposal to drain 5,370 acres of land on the CNF, 

2) lack of population data presented for RCW, 3) too much attention given to production of early 

successional species by increasing timber harvesting and site conversion, and 4) lack of natural 

areas designation for pocosins. 

Newport Triangle Land Exchange, CNF. In 1996, a land exchange was approved, after 

consultation with the Service, which exchanged a site on the CNF that was difficult to manage 

due to proximity of roads and residential areas. One rough-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia 

asperulifolia) population was on the USFS tract to be exchanged. The CNF received 

ecologically similar land with fewer rough-leaved loosestrife plants but a significantly greater 

amount of suitable habitat in pocosin-savanna ecotones. 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, 

CNF. In March 2000, the Service concurred with the USFS that implementing the proposed 

LRMP “is not likely to adversely affect the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), American 

alligator (Alligator mississippensis), and rough-leaved loosestrife” and “will have no effect on 

the red wolf (Canis rufus), eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar), and sensitive jointvetch 
450 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

(Aeschynomene virginica)”. The Service did not concur with the determination that the proposed 

action is not likely to adversely affect the Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) (RCW). 

The Service requested that the USFS address the proposed reduction of forage requirements from 

8,400 to 6,000 sq. ft. basal area and from 6,350 to 4,000 pine stems on sites having severe soil 

limitations and the proposed deviation to close all unauthorized roads in nest areas. They stated 

that “only with additional information describing the potential affects these modifications might 

have on the species could the Service attempt to concur with the determination that the proposed 

project is not likely to adversely impact the RCW”. This led the USFS to drop the request for 

reducing RCW forage standards. The final LRMP includes all RCW standards from the 1995 

RCW DEIS (USFS 1995). However, to reduce potential impacts to RCW nest trees, the LRMP 

still sets a goal of closing all unauthorized roads in RCW nest areas. 

Multi-agency field review of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) restoration methods in RCW habitat. 

In September 2000, Ralph Costa from the Service participated in a field review on the CNF and 

Camp Lejeune to discuss longleaf pine restoration methods. Other participants included the 

North Carolina Wildlife Commission, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Camp Lejeune 

wildlife and timber staff, botanical consultants from the Coastal Plain, USFS researches from 

Clemson, and USFS staff from the NFsNC. Primary longleaf pine restoration issues discussed 

were the use of a shelterwood with reserve trees technique to retain RCW forage and nesting 

structure and less intensive site preparation methods following clearcutting that would retain 

native understory plant composition. 

Forest-wide Prescribed Burning Program, CNF. In December 2001, the Service concurred with 

the USFS that implementing a forest-wide prescribed burning program on the CNF “is not likely 

to adversely affect rough-leaved loosestrife, red wolf, bald eagle, or American alligator”. The 

Service also concurred with the USFS that the prescribed burning program would have “no effect 

on the sensitive joint vetch and eastern cougar”. The Service did not concur with the “not likely 

to adversely affect” determination for the RCW because “surveys for this species had not yet 

been conducted in pond pine (Pinus serotina) pocosin habitat on the CNF”. The Service stated 

that ‘emerging information and knowledge regarding RCW occupancy of pond pine forests 

indicates this habitat must be considered as an issue in RCW management” and that “presently, 

aerial surveying by helicopter is the only practical technique for locating RCW cavity trees in 

pond pine pocosin habitat”. In February 2001, the Service reviewed additional information 

provided by the USFS on RCW habitat preference on the CNF, results of 12 years of RCW 

inventory and monitoring which included RCW population and dispersion trends from 1988 to 

the present, detailed maps of the proposed prescribed burn units in pond pine ecosystems, and 

records of unbanded bird locations since 1998. Following this review, the Service concurred 

with the USFS that implementing a forest-wide prescribed burning program on the CNF is not 

likely to adversely affect the RCW. 

Albert Toon Land Exchange. In July 2001 John Hammond, from the Service, met on a USFS 

tract proposed for exchange with Mr. Albert Toon and USFS representatives Lauren Hillman, 

Dennis Foster, and Steve Simon. The meeting was held to discuss ways of reducing the impact 

of foraging habitat loss that could potentially occur if the land exchange was implemented. It 

was concluded that retaining blocks of reserved forest in an open park-like condition within the 

USFS exchanged tract would be an appropriate method of maintaining some habitat suitable for 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 451 

the RCW. As part of the consultation process, the USFS is completing a BA for review by the 

Service that includes a requirement to retain blocks of reserved forest. 

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Implementation of the LRMP is the proposed action. The LRMP represents alternative E, the 

preferred alternative. Alternative E includes the following major actions: 

• Recover and sustain a viable RCW population through establishment of a RCW HMA 

approximately 69,000 acres in size and by following all standards and guidelines in the 

RCW FEIS (USFS 1995) and Service Recovery Plans (Service 1985, 2000). Habitat 

management within the HMA will focus on restoring longleaf pine on appropriate soils, 

and prescribed burning to reduce and control midstory hardwoods and to promote 

maintenance of a native grass/forb understory. Mechanical control of midstory 

hardwoods may be allowed to facilitate restoration efforts. Specific goals are to meet a 

long-term RCW population objective of 151-169 clusters; establish 20-26 new clusters 

over the next 10 years and 50 to 63 clusters during the next 30 years. 

• Restore longleaf pine on appropriate soils on approximately 2,650 to 3,600 acres across 

the CNF. Longleaf restoration efforts will focus on maintaining some overstory structure 

by using a shelterwood with reserve trees method to gradually convert existing mature 

loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) to longleaf pine stands. Use thinning, burning, and natural 

and artificial regeneration to convert off-site pine plantations to longleaf pine. 

Clearcutting will be retained as an option on 500-750 acres that have a low probability of 

success using the shelterwood with reserve trees method. Thinning will be used on 

1,800-2,100 acres of existing pine plantations to maintain stocking levels suitable for 

RCW. 

• Register 5,800 acres of new natural areas identified by the North Carolina Natural 

Heritage Program and include in a landscape design with the existing 43,000 acres of 

natural areas, with the RCW HMA, longleaf pine old growth management areas, 

wilderness, and other ecosystem-based prescriptions. Manage this landscape, which 

represents the range of ecological conditions on the CNF, as a core conservation area to 

recover and sustain viable populations of rare species through protection and active 

management designed to restore suitable habitat conditions for a large variety of species. 

Retain across the CNF in old-growth condition, at least one-third of all Southern Wet 

Pine Forests, Woodlands, and Savannas, Cypress-Tupelo Swamp, and Upland Mesic 

Hardwoods. Other resource management activities, including timber harvest and 

recreational use, will be concentrated away from these and other sensitive habitats that 

currently support or could support threatened and endangered species. 

• Use site-specific analyses, biological evaluations, and consultation with the Service to 

insure that management actions that occur in the core conservation area and in all other 

areas on the CNF do not jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or 

endangered species. 

Use prescribed fire on: 

• a 5-12 year rotation in 25,000 acres of pocosin ecological types within previously burned 

fire compartments; as research results become available, expand the use of fire in an 
452 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

additional 48,000 acres of pocosin. No new fire plowlines will be allowed along 

savanna-pocosin ecotones. 

• a 3-5 year rotation in 22,500 acres of mixed pine and pond pine woodland ecological 

types in previously burned fire compartments; as wildfire risks are reduced in adjacent 

stands, expand the use of fire in an additional 19,000 acres of mixed pine and pond pine. 

• a 2-4 year rotation in 21,000 in longleaf pine ecological types in previously burned fire 

compartments; expand the prescribed burning program to include an additional 5,500 

acres of longleaf pine. No new fire plowlines will be allowed along savanna-pocosin 

ecotones. Increase recreational opportunities primarily in or surrounding existing sites. 

Site-specific project analysis will be required before implementation of recreational 

projects. 

Allow pine straw raking on a limited basis (600 acres) but prohibit near rare species element 

occurrences, in wet savannas and flatwoods (ecological types 0920 and 0921), natural areas, old 

growth patches, and within 1⁄4 mile of active RCW nest areas. Close at least 15 to 20 miles of 

system roads and phase out all unauthorized access to forest resources through road closures and 

directing OHV use to only one designated OHV area outside the RCW HMA. Closed roads may 

be designated as hiking, biking, or horse trails. Adjust land ownership to consolidate national 

forest holdings, to protect natural resources including rare species habitat and riparian 

ecosystems, and to enhance or promote recreation management. Site-specific project analysis 

will be required before land adjustments can occur. Color band all RCW nestlings and adult 

birds, conduct nest checks at 7-11 day intervals and conduct fledgling and adult checks to 

determine number and sex of birds. Set yearly goals to survey habitats that have not been 

traditionally considered suitable RCW habitats. Continue annual monitoring of Rough-leaved 

Loosestrife populations, Bald Eagle nest sites, and continue to coordinate with North Carolina 

Wildlife Commission to monitor black bear (Urses americanus) on the CNF. Monitor density 

and cover of wiregrass (Aristida stricta) to evaluate the effectiveness of management practices to 

maintain pine savanna ecosystem composition and structure. 

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Four federally endangered species and three threatened species either occur now or could 

potentially occur in the future within the administrative boundaries of the CNF (Table E.1). The 

CNF shares, with Camp Lejeune and Holly Shelter Wildlife Refuge, one of the 12 RCW 

recovery populations designated by the Service. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 453 

 Table E.1. Occurrence and Status of Federally Listed Proposed, Threatened, or Endangered Species that occur or 

could occur on the Croatan National Forest (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2001). 

Common Name 

(Scientific Name) 

Status 

Lifetype 

Brief Description of 

Habitat Requirements 

CNF Occurrence 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker 

(Picoides borealis) 

Endangered 

Bird 

Open pine savannas Known to occur 

Rough-leaved Loosestrife 

(Lysimachia asperulifolia) 

Endangered 

Perennial Plant 

Pine Savanna/Pocosin 

Ecotone 

Known to occur 

Eastern Cougar 

(Puma concolor couguar) 

Endangered 

Mammal 

Large tracts of 

undisturbed habitat 

May Occur 

Red Wolf 

(Canis rufus) 

Endangered 

Mammal 

Large tracts of habitat 

with heavy vegetation 

Extirpated 

American Alligator 

(Alligator mississippensis) 

Threatened1 

Reptile 

Permanent water Known to occur 

Bald Eagle 

(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 

Threatened2 

Bird 

Large trees near 

permanent water 

Known to occur 

Sensitive Jointvetch 

(Aeschynomene virginica) 

Threatened 

Plant 

Tidal rivers and 

tributaries 

May Occur 

1

 Status is T(S/A), endangered due to similarity in appearance to another species and is not subject to the Service’s Section 7 consultation. 2

Species is proposed for delisting. 

Of the seven listed species evaluated for potential management impacts, four presently occur on the CNF and all of these are permanent 

residents. The disclosure of effects for those species without documented occurrences on the CNF will be related to the effects of LRMP 

implementation on their potential habitats rather than to populations. 

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The Nature Conservancy’s Biological Conservation Database, North Carolina Natural Heritage 

Program Element Occurrence (EO) records, species Recovery Plans, NatureServe© (2001) web 

application, and scientific literature were reviewed to determine the distribution, abundance and 

habitat requirements of species included in the analysis. The databases include all current survey 

information collected by private individuals, USFS personnel, and other federal and state 

agencies. A geographic information system was used to examine the distribution of EOs on CNF 

and general vicinity. 

Other survey information utilized in this report include an11-year database of RCW population 

monitoring, recent (2001) field reconnaissance to confirm Bald Eagle nesting reports, informal 

sightings of listed species by USFS personnel, and North Carolina Plant Conservation Program 

data from a recently established (2000) Rough-leaved Loosestrife population monitoring 

program. 

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Landscape. The CNF is located on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina and is part of the 

Atlantic Coastal Flatwoods Section, Lower Terraces Subsection. The landscape is a 

predominately flat, weakly dissected alluvial plain consisting of marine sediments and many 

soils with poor drainage. The vegetation is typically needle-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved 

evergreen forest and shrubland. Hardwood forests account for only 20 percent of the land on the 

CNF and these plant communities are confined chiefly to fire-protected drainage courses in 

swamps and sideslopes. 

Climate. In the Croatan area, climate is characterized by hot summers and cool winters with 

adequate moisture throughout the year (Trewartha 1954). Precipitation is high in July, August, 
454 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

and September with over one third of the annual average rainfall of 55 inches falling during these 

months. The mean length of the freeze-free period is greater that 240 days (Nelson and Zillgit 

1969) and winter temperatures are moderated by the nearby Gulf Stream. 

Disturbance Regimes. Wildfire and hurricanes are the two primary large-scale natural 

disturbances on the CNF. Fire-dependent ecosystems occupy an estimated 86% (138,400 acres) 

of CNF and include longleaf pine savannas and flatwoods, pond pine forests, and pocosin. 

Historically, the coastal landscape experienced frequent, low intensity fires at intervals of 1 to 3 

years (Frost, 1995; Frost 1996). Fire ignitions were most likely caused by lightning strikes 

during spring and summer. Frost (1995) estimates that probably less than 5% of the coastal 

landscape was completely fire-protected. 

Hurricanes are responsible for extensive areas of windthrown trees. Such storms passed through 

the CNF approximately 20 times between 1901 and 1955 (Bradley 1972). On average in 100 

years, 45 hurricanes are expected to deliver at least category I force winds and six of these 

hurricanes are expected to bring at least category III force winds (Hooper and McAdie 1995). 

Presettlement Vegetation. The frequency and severity of natural disturbances were the primary 

factors that shaped the type and distribution of vegetation types and conditions prior to European 

settlement. Frequent wildfires maintained open grass-dominated longleaf pine uplands and 

confined hardwood-dominated forest types to transitional hardwood slopes and more mesic to 

hydric bottomlands. Pocosin wetlands and pond pine forests also had an open understory 

maintained by fire with varying cover and density of low shrubs, tall shrubs, grasses, forbs, and 

cane. Hurricanes created patches of early-successional habitat across the landscape. 

Periodic wildfires and cyclonic storms ensured that native plant and animal species were adapted 

to relatively frequent disturbance. Gaps and forest edge habitats were a natural part of the 

landscape. Early-successional habitats ebbed and flowed across the landscape, causing rises and 

falls in species diversity and abundance and affecting species distribution. While a variety of 

successional stages were present across the landscape, coastal forests were most likely 

dominated by late successional habitat conditions and species assemblages. 

Changes in the Presettlement Landscape. Habitat conditions and the pattern of successional 

stages changed significantly after European settlement. Land clearing and conversion to 

farmland and settlements and extensive logging changed the forest landscape from 

predominately late-successional forest conditions with patches of early to mid-successional 

stages to predominately early to mid-successional conditions and a concurrent increase in early 

and mid-successional species assemblages. 

In the last 150 years, most of the stands on the CNF have been logged at least once. During this 

time period, the absence of periodic fire caused a significant reduction in mixed pine and 

longleaf pine forests. Extensive logging almost eliminated mature bottomland hardwoods, bald 

cypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps, and Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) 

forest types on the CNF. Homogeneous stands of loblolly pine, as well as mixed loblolly pinehardwood stands, became more common across the CNF compared to presettlement conditions. 

Even under USFS administration in the last 50 years, some longleaf pine forests on the CNF 

have been converted to loblolly pine. Pocosin habitats, which were once much more common 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 455 

throughout the North Carolina Coastal Plain, have also been altered on the CNF but to a lesser 

extent. Ditching and draining, road construction, conversion to off-site pine plantations, off-road 

vehicle traffic, and absence of fire have modified small pocosin patches. 

Present Condition. Current habitat conditions across much of the CNF again tend to favor 

species associated with mid to late-successional stages as found in presettlement condition. 

These successional stages occupy approximately 63 percent of the CNF, about 10 percent is 

considered late successional. Approximately 91 percent of hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood 

forests and 57 percent of pine forests are in mid to late-successional stages. 

Prior to a recent southern pine beetle outbreak, early-successional habitats were limited in 

quantity and distribution across the CNF. Early-successional habitat (0-10 years) constitutes 

about 2.1 percent of terrestrial habitats and is not evenly distributed among habitat types. The 

greatest percentage of early-successional habitat is in pocosin and pond pine habitat types (81 

percent). Early-successional stages constitute approximately 3.3 percent of the oak-gum-cypress 

habitat group, 3.9 percent of the mixed pine-hardwood group, and 10 percent in the longleaf pine 

group. Some early-successional habitat is provided through permanently maintained grass/forb 

wildlife openings, powerline rights-of-way, mowed road rights-of-way, regularly burned pond 

pine/pocosin wetlands, naturally occurring forest gaps, and timber regeneration areas. 

Two wildfires swept through large portions of the CNF within the past 10 years and prescribed 

fire has been applied primarily within the RCW HMA within the past 20 years. Data on fire 

frequency collected for both active and inactive RCW clusters over an 11-year period can be 

used as an indicator of prescribed fire frequency on the CNF. Fifty six percent of the RCW 

clusters were burned three or more times, 34% were burned twice, and 10% were burned only 

once or not at all. Sites that have been burned at least three times in the past 11 years have a 

more open midstory and a higher diversity of herbs and grasses than those sites burned less than 

3 times or not at all. The density, height, and composition of woody plants depends upon soil 

texture and drainage class. In general, the wetter landtypes (mixed pines, pond pine, and 

pocosin) have developed a nearly closed canopy of pine, a well-developed hardwood/evergreen 

midstories, and a dense shrub and hardwood understory in the absence of fire and in areas with a 

low fire frequency. Woody shrubs and hardwoods in the drier savannas have responded more 

slowly to an absence of fire and these sites have remained relatively open for many years. They 

may remain dominated by grass, however, grass/forb diversity is lower and scrub oaks will 

eventually increase in height and density. 

Expected Future Condition. Early-successional habitat will be somewhat less abundant than 

current conditions because; 1) longleaf pine restoration will focus on maintaining some overstory 

structure, 2) there will be no new wildlife openings implemented under the new LRMP, and 3) 

clearcutting would be greatly reduced. Over the 10-year planning period, only 500-750 acres 

may be clearcut that would provide additional early-successional habitat in the short-term. 

Early-successional habitat would continue to be available in wildlife openings, powerline rightsof-way, agricultural fields, regularly burned pond pine-pocosin wetlands, and naturally occurring 

forest gaps. In addition, by increasing the extent of open pine savanna conditions, habitat 

suitability for early successional species would be increased. Over time, the acreage of mature 

longleaf pine savannas and flatwoods would increase as existing loblolly pine plantations and 
456 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

mature loblolly pine and mixed-pine forests are gradually converted to longleaf pine by thinning 

and prescribed burning. 

Prescribed burning would be applied on a greater number of acres in both dormant and growing 

seasons on a regular rotation creating and maintaining the open, park-like stands preferred by 

species native to pine savannas and flatwoods. Prescribed fire in organic pocosins and pond pine 

forests would cause a shift from predominantly deciduous trees and tall shrubs to varying cover 

and density of low shrubs, tall shrubs, grasses, forbs, and cane. 

Existing hardwood-dominated forests and bottomland hardwood-cypress wetlands would be 

maintained and well distributed through many sections of the CNF. These habitats would be 

managed as not suited for timber production. These habitat types are naturally fire-protected and 

are used as natural fire breaks during prescribed burning. 

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The LRMP is a programmatic document that provides management direction for the next 10 

years. The disclosure of effects to listed species from implementation of the LRMP relate to the 

proposed activities and to the measures designed to avoid the effects of these activities. 

The LRMP directs the CNF to follow threatened and endangered species Recovery Plans during 

LRMP implementation. Recovery Plans address the effects of resource management activities 

and present the most effective measures of promoting listed species recovery. Management 

activities proposed for individual projects, such as recreational, special uses, ecosystem 

restoration, or any other ground disturbing projects, would undergo site-specific environmental 

analysis and concurrence from the Service, and must adhere to both the LRMP and to species 

Recovery Plans. Any proposed land ownership adjustments must also undergo site-specific 

analysis before they are implemented. As Recovery Plans are updated, Forest Standards and 

Guidelines would be amended to incorporate new mitigation. 

Natural areas, old growth management areas, wilderness, and other ecosystem-based 

management prescriptions would provide a core-conservation area for rare species and rare 

communities. This coarse-filter approach to species conservation provides suitable habitat 

conditions in management areas not suited for timber production for about 57 percent of all sites 

where threatened, endangered, sensitive and locally rare species occur, and 77 percent of all sites 

where rare communities occur on the CNF. The remainder of rare species and rare communities 

occur in areas suited for timber production within the RCW HMA. Longleaf pine restoration, 

midstory control, and maintenance of a native grass and herb understory is the primary 

management emphasis in this area. The primary focus of management is to move forest 

composition and structure to a condition more like that found in presettlement forests in the 

Coastal Plain. 

The following is a discussion of the potential effects of LRMP implementation for each listed 

species. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 457 

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) 

Determination of Effect. Implementation of the LRMP is "not likely to adversely affect" the 

RCW. Over the long term, management actions are expected to be beneficial to this species, and 

there is a high probability that viability on the CNF would be maintained. These conclusions are 

based on the current stable RCW population trend on the CNF, management activities proposed 

in the LRMP to maintain and enhance RCW habitat, the strength of Standards and Guidelines 

directed at protecting this species, and the record of CNF compliance with similar direction. 

Population and Reproduction Parameters. Beginning in 1996, there was a notable decline in 

the total number of adult RCWs and average group size on the CNF (Table E.2). Possible 

reasons for a loss of adults are natural disaster, lack of suitable cavities for roosting, disease, or 

human-induced death. The initial decline predates the hurricanes by a year, but the hurricanes 

certainly contributed to continued decline in 1997. By 2001, the RCW population appeared 

stable. The number of active clusters and group size returned to levels prior to the decline in 

1996, however, the total number of adult RCWs is still 9% below the 1996 level. 

Table E.2. RCW Population parameters, 1990-2001, CNF. 

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

 

Active 

Clusters 44 50 53 54 57 59 64 62 60 58 62 62 

Potential 

Breeding 

Pairs 

36 43 47 49 52 53 55 50 48 45 52 53 

% Solitary 

Males 9.1 8.0 9.4 3.7 5.3 8.5 9.4 12.9 10.0 6.9 9.7 9.8 

Avg. Group 

Size 2.69 2.44 2.53 2.55 2.58 2.64 2.47 2.42 2.31 2.36 2.54 2.62 

# Adults 111 125 133 135 151 165 158 139 137 121 142 144 

The draft RCW Recovery Plan (Service 2000) identifies some average values for various 

reproductive parameters that can be compared with reproductive values on CNF. On average, 

approximately 10% of breeding pairs do not attempt a nest and generally 30% of nest failures are 

followed by an attempt to renest. Typical clutches range from 2 to 4 eggs. Overall, reproduction 

on CNF has been within the normal range of reproductive values (Table E.3). The proportion of 

groups that did not attempt a nest has, for the most part, remained below 10%. Annual mean 

clutch size has been around 3 eggs per nest (range 2.98 – 3.48), and the mean number of young 

produced has been around 1.5 per group (range 1.31 – 1.83). Furthermore, partial brood 

reduction has primarily remained at or below the average of 40% loss. 
458 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table E.3. RCW Reproductive parameters, 1990-2001, CNF 

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Potential Breeding Pairs 36 43 47 49 52 53 55 50 48 45 52 53 

% no nest 8 7 9 16 12 9 9 8 8 2 4 15 

Clutch size 3.45 3.48 2.98 3.17 3.22 3.13 3.16 3.04 3.16 3.23 3.28 3.2 

% fail 21 12.5 21 29 26 21 20 32.6 13.6 13.6 14 6.6 

% renest 29 60 22 25 41.6 60 60 67 16.6 16.6 28.6 0 

% Partial Brood loss 40 41 37 33 28 40 38 35 44 37 36 41 

Brood size 1.93 2.00 1.72 2.13 2.21 1.85 1.93 1.95 1.70 2.00 2.16 1.85 

Fledglings 52 72 62 64 84 76 85 74 63 78 95 79 

Young/group 1.44 1.67 1.32 1.31 1.62 1.43 1.55 1.48 1.31 1.73 1.83 1.72 

Direct Effects. Direct mortality can occur during growing season prescribed burning from fire 

destroying eggs, or killing nestlings and/or adults. Adult and nestling RCW’s can also die as a 

result of capturing, handling, or moving birds during monitoring and translocation. Direct 

effects associated with improper installation of artificial cavities or cavity restrictor plates are 

also a possibility. These potential effects are reduced significantly because: 1) the CNF 

practices, and will continue to practice, all permit regulations related to handling birds, and 2) the 

CNF has followed, and will continue to follow, procedures that minimize incidental take that 

may occur during monitoring and cavity management activities. These include: limiting human 

presence within the nest area, protection of cavity trees during prescribed burning, scheduling 

prescribed burning for late afternoon/early evening when humidity is higher, careful postinstallation monitoring of cavity status, blocking unsuitable cavities to prevent entrance by 

RCWs, and proper training and certification of personnel that are handling birds and performing 

cavity management tasks. 

Indirect Effects. Indirect effects occur from changes in habitat availability and suitability 

resulting from LRMP implementation. These may be beneficial or detrimental. 

Potential Beneficial Effects. Prescribed burning is an essential management tool for restoring 

and maintaining the pine savannas and flatwoods on which RCW’s depend (U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service 2000). The primary benefit of prescribed burning is controlling height and 

density of woody shrubs and trees. Longleaf pine restoration would have beneficial indirect 

effects by reducing basal areas, retaining some overstory trees, favoring longleaf pine, and 

therefore, improving foraging and future nesting habitat. Combined with prescribed burning and 

mechanical hardwood midstory control, restoration efforts will also improve understory and 

midstory conditions. Prescribed burning would promote flowering, fruiting, and growth of 

native grasses and forbs while also limiting growth of woody vegetation and mechanical 

midstory control immediately removes midstory hardwoods that deter RCWs. These restoration 

activities, therefore, create suitable foraging and nesting habitat for RCW’s. Thinning of existing 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 459 

stands would also improve the health of trees, decrease the likelihood of southern pine beetle 

attack, and stimulate growth of younger stands. 

The LRMP also proposes to reduce the numerous unauthorized motorized access roads across 

the forest that are located within RCW clusters. Reducing motorized traffic can be beneficial to 

RCW by reducing the current human disturbances in the vicinity of active cluster sites that 

include discharging firearms, and direct damage to nest trees and native understory vegetation. 

Potential Detrimental Effects. Prescribed fire also has the potential to kill cavity trees from 

complete combustion, or through reduced vigor from crown scorch. Fire induced tree mortality 

may result due to the sometimes unpredictable nature of fire and the presence of unknown active 

cavity trees not protected at the time of burning. Following standards in the RCW Draft Revised 

Recovery Plan (USFWS, 2000) and the RCW DEIS (USFS, 1995), all known active and inactive 

cavity trees will be protected during prescribed burning and, if damage does occur, will be 

replaced using artificial cavities. In addition, the LRMP sets yearly goals for surveying suitable 

RCW habitat where cavity trees have not been found in the past, and for surveying habitats that 

have not been traditionally considered suitable RCW habitats. 

When clearcutting is used as a tool for restoring longleaf pine, fragmentation of forage areas and 

reductions in the native grass-forb understory composition and density may occur. The severity 

of these effects depends upon patch size, proximity to active RCW clusters sites, and number or 

density of patches. In the LRMP, clearcutting is retained as an option only on sites that have a 

low probability of successful longleaf pine regeneration using the shelterwood method due to 

soil type, past fire frequency, and current vegetation composition. Clearcutting will only be 

considered for sites that are at least 1/4 mile from an active cluster. In addition, site preparation 

methods that have less ground disturbance, i.e. flat planting versus bedding, are emphasized in 

the LRMP. 

Human disturbance associated with prescribed burning, monitoring, habitat management, 

unauthorized OHV traffic, trails, and unauthorized camping can have detrimental effects on 

RCW in the cluster site. Indirect effects may include preventing an adult from entering a cavity 

in the evening, disrupting adults feeding nestlings, or increasing predator detection of a nest. 

The LRMP would minimize these effects by phasing out unauthorized forest access through 

RCW clusters and scheduling management activities outside the breeding season. In addition, 

time spent within clusters during monitoring and prescribed burning will be kept to the minimum 

to complete a specific task. 

Cumulative Effects. In the long term, longleaf pine restoration, prescribed burning and 

mechanical treatments in forage and nest areas to control midstory competition, and cavity 

management would be beneficial to the RCW. The extent of mature longleaf pine savannas and 

flatwoods would increase and a greater number of acres of foraging and nesting habitat would be 

maintained in the open, park-like condition that RCWs prefer. Midstory hardwoods will be 

reduced or eliminated through prescribed burning and mechanical removal. Native grasses and 

forbs with varying cover and density of shrubs would dominate the understory. 
460 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Rough-Leaved Loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulaefolia) 

Determination of Effects. Implementation of the LRMP is "not likely to adversely affect" this 

endangered plant. It is expected that management actions would be beneficial to this species. 

There is a high probability of maintaining species viability on the CNF. These conclusions are 

based on the recognition of new natural areas that support this species, an expanded prescribed 

burning program, and Standards that address protection of pocosin/savanna ecotones and of 

natural areas. 

Population Parameters. Currently there are 6 sites that support rough-leaved loosestrife on the 

CNF. Three of these populations have been intensively monitored since 2000. Loosestrife 

plants increased in number at two of the three sites and decreased at one site (Figure 1). The 

increase in number of plants was statistically significant at the Millis Road Savanna site but 

population changes at the other sites were not. The differences in response of loosestrife to 

prescribed burning may be explained by fire intensity and fire behavior. Only the Millis Road 

Savanna site received a ‘hot’ fire in 2001 that burned thoroughly into the savanna-pocosin 

ecotone. 

Figure 1: Population Trend of loosestrife

on the Croatan NF 1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

MILLIS RD

HIBBS A

HIBBS Rd 154

Location

Mean Stems/Plot

YEAR 2000 YEAR 2001

1

 the graph shows the mean number of stems/plot with 90% confidence bars. If the confidence interval bars overlap between 2000 and 2001, then 

the two years do not differ in mean stem number/plot. If theintervals do not overlap, as in the Millis Rd. location, then the statistics differ 

between years.

Background and Potential Effects. The LRMP will establish 8 new natural areas that contain 5 

of the 6 sites supporting rough-leaved loosestrife on the CNF. These include the Hibbs Road 

Pine Ridges, Nine Foot Road/Broad Creek Pinewoods, and Pringle Road Bay Rims Natural 

Areas. These areas will be managed to allow natural disturbances to function, as much as 

possible, as natural processes. Although Natural Areas are not suitable for timber production, 

vegetation management to maintain RCW habitat conditions would be allowed. This would 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 461 

include more frequent and extensive prescribed burning than is currently occurring. The LRMP 

also identifies a population objective for rough-leaved loosestrife nearly double the current level. 

Further protection is provided by a standard that limits the impact of fire plowlines in the 

pocosin-pine savanna ecotone. 

Rough-leaved loosestrife is a species endemic to the Southeastern coastal plain and sandhills. It 

is found at the savanna-pocosin or flatwoods-pocosin ecotone where the water table is near the 

surface during winter and early spring and where dry-season fires burn in the edge of the 

pocosin. As long as fires are not suppressed, the ecotone remains open and suitable for roughleaved loosestrife. If fire is suppressed, the shrubs already present in the ecotone will attain their 

full height. Complete fire suppression may result in extirpation from a site, though evidence 

suggests that it may persist for years or decades under a fairly dense shrub layer. 

Drainage and conversion of habitat to agricultural uses and pine plantations, residential and 

industrial development, and fire suppression have all contributed to the decline in habitat for 

rough-leaved loosestrife. In 1993, fifty-nine sites were known to support this species; 58 of them 

in North Carolina and one in South Carolina (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, 1993). In 1996, a 

land exchange was approved, after consultation with the Service, which exchanged one of these 

sites on the CNF that was difficult to manage due to proximity of roads and residential areas. In 

exchange, the CNF received ecologically similar land with fewer rough-leaved loosestrife plants 

but a significantly greater amount of suitable habitat in pocosin-savanna ecotones. 

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 

Implementation of the LRMP is "not likely to adversely affect" the bald eagle. Management 

actions should be beneficial to this species. There is only a moderate probability of maintaining 

viability on the CNF because the species is primarily a transient on the Forest; only one nest site 

occurs. These conclusions are based on implementing monitoring and protection standards for 

the current nest site, standards to maintain large ‘supra-canopy’ trees adjacent to water bodies, 

and the extent of suitable habitat within the designated Pocosin Lakes, Hardwood and Cypress 

Wetlands, and old growth. Extended timber rotation lengths and management of White Oak 

River and Brice’s Creek to retain the resource values that may allow for future Wild and Scenic 

Rivers designation would also have beneficial effects on bald eagles. 

Background and Potential Effects. An opportunistic predator, the bald eagle feeds primarily on 

fish but also takes a variety of birds, mammals, and turtles when fish are not readily available 

(Dugoni, 1980; McEwan, 1977). The bald eagle uses a large area for hunting and is sensitive to 

chemical contaminants in the food chain. Nests are often in the ecotone of forest and marsh or 

water, and are constructed in older, dominant or codominant living pines or bald cypress 3 

kilometers or less from open water (McEwan and Hirth 1979). Most nests are located in the 

upper 30 feet of the tree with canopy cover above a clear view of open water (USDI Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 1989). 

Habitat alterations and human encroachment resulted in slow eagle population decline for many 

decades. Perhaps the most dramatic declines in eagle populations nationwide resulted from 

environmental contaminants. Since a ban on the use of DDT in the U.S. in 1972, a slow 
462 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

recovery in eagle productivity has occurred. The most significant limiting factors in the 

Southeast is the accelerated pace of development of eagle habitat and the extensive area 

involved. 

Implementation of the LRMP would result in protection of a considerable amount of habitat 

suitable for the bald eagle. All areas of older, large diameter trees near open water would be 

retained and managed to protect this condition. The LRMP allocates nearly 7,000 acres in the 

Hardwood-Cypress Wetlands prescription and manages two river corridors eligible for Wild and 

Scenic river status within these areas. These areas are not suitable for timber production, and 

tree harvest would occur only if it enhances old growth structure. Suitable habitat will also exist 

in 2,000 acres of longleaf pine savanna and nearly 10,000 acres of pond pine woodlands 

managed as old growth forest. The 30,000 acres of Wilderness areas on the CNF are also 

expected to supply some amount of suitable habitat for the bald eagle. Additionally, potential 

nesting and roosting habitat will be created as a result of extended rotation lengths (80 years for 

loblolly pine, 120 years for longleaf pine) and treating hardwoods as unsuitable for timber 

production. 

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) 

Implementation of the LRMP is "not likely to adversely affect" the American alligator. 

Management actions should be beneficial to this species. There is a high probability of 

maintaining viability on the CNF. These conclusions are based on protection of habitat suitable 

for this species, recognition of Natural Areas that contain suitable alligator habitat, Standards 

that prevent alteration of wetlands, and goals and objectives that specify wetlands restoration. 

Population Parameters. There are 11 documented occurrences of the American alligator on the 

CNF although most of these records are greater than 15 years old. Although the USFS has not 

completed extensive surveys on the CNF for the alligator, based on numerous citings during this 

period, the species is not considered uncommon. The American alligator is threatened due to 

similarity of appearance with other rare crocodilians, and is listed for trade purposes. The 

species is no longer biologically endangered or threatened, and is not subject to Section 7 

consultation. 

Background and Potential Effects. The American alligator ranges throughout wetland habitats 

in the coastal region of the southeastern United States from central North Carolina to Texas and 

into extreme southeastern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas (Joanen 1974). Coastal marshes are 

the most common habitat supporting alligators. They build nests of mounds of vegetation and 

eat any animals small enough to be captured and swallowed (McIlhenny, 1935). Small alligators 

feed extensively on invertebrates, including crayfish, aquatic and terrestrial insects, and mollusks 

(Valentine et al. 1972) while larger individuals feed primarily on wading birds, snakes, turtles, 

and small mammals. Alligators have been known to take deer, cow, and even man (Hines and 

Keenlyne 1977). The impact of alligator populations on other species in their environment is an 

area of considerable concern and interest but has been poorly studied. Alligators do not begin to 

breed until they reach a size representing an apparent threat to humans (6 ft. or larger). 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 463 

The range of the American alligator is only slightly reduced from the historic limits, however, 

population levels are reduced due to loss of habitat and over harvest. The primary threat is now 

rapid urbanization throughout its range and the increasing conversion of habitat to recreational 

use and development. 

Alligators have made substantial recoveries in most of its range and the species has been 

downlisted from endangered to threatened. The American Alligator Recovery Team (USDI Fish 

and Wildlife Service 1979) concluded that 3 main factors are critical to the long range survival of 

the species: 1) the maintenance and proper management of essential wetlands throughout its 

range, 2) the continuation and enforcement of laws regulating the harvest and movement of skins 

and other parts through commerce, and 3) the creation of a high level of tolerance toward the 

species by citizens who must live in frequent contact with the species. 

The LRMP provides protection of habitats used by alligators, such as lakes, riparian areas, and 

bottomlands. This protection is provided in over 7,000 acres of hardwood-cypress swamps, 

4,000 acres of lakes, and 1,300 acres of marshes. Objectives are also set for restoring 800 acres 

of estuarine marshes, the primary habitat for this species. These land allocations and 

management practices, have the potential for increases in the CNF alligator population. 

Red Wolf (Canis rufus) 

Implementation of the LRMP will have "no effect" on the red wolf. Suitable habitat will be 

maintained and this will enable future recovery efforts to occur. These conclusions are based on 

the current arrangement of habitat conditions found on the CNF suitable for the red wolf, 

Standards that limit alterations of these habitats except for the purpose of restoring more natural 

conditions, and the extent and remoteness of areas managed as Wilderness on the CNF. 

Background and Potential Effects. Any habitat area in the southeastern United States of 

sufficient size, which provides adequate food, water, and basic cover requirement of heavy 

vegetation, should be suitable habitat for the red wolf (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1990). 

Telemetry studies indicate that red wolf home range requirements vary from about 25 to 50 

square miles. Prey studies indicate that the diet of the red wolf includes any abundant small to 

medium-sized mammals (U.S. Forest Service 1995). In North Carolina, at the Alligator River 

National Wildlife Refuge, red wolves were also found to be heavily dependent on white-tailed 

deer. Red wolves have been known to establish dens in hollow tree trunks, stream banks, 

abandoned dens of other animals, drain pipes, culverts, and sandy knolls in coastal areas. 

The red wolf was once found throughout the southeastern United States, from the Atlantic coast 

to central Texas and from the gulf Coast to central Missouri and southern Illinois. Between the 

period of 1900 and 1920, red wolves were extirpated from most of the eastern portion of their 

range. The last red wolves were found in coastal prairie and marsh habitat because this was the 

last area in which the animals were allowed to remain. The disappearance of the last red wolves 

from the wild is attributed to two factors: habitat changes which favored expansion of the 

historic coyote range into red wolf territory, and the local breakdown of red wolf social structure 

(caused by extensive trapping, poisoning, and shooting). 
464 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

In 1975, it was concluded that red wolves could not be maintained in their limited range in Texas 

and Louisiana. Therefore, recovery efforts were directed toward using captive stock to reestablish red wolf populations in other areas of the species' historic range. Successful 

reintroductions have occurred at the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina in 

1978 and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina in 1987 (U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service 1990). Both areas have significant non-forest habitat. The more recent 

reintroduction of red wolves in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park has not been nearly as 

successful and this has been attributed to the extent of interior forest habitat and shortage of open 

habitat (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, 1997). 

It is estimated that major red wolf reintroduction areas should be at least 225 square miles 

(144,000 acres) in size. Although the CNF exceeds this size, ownership is fragmented especially 

in its eastern portions. The LRMP would not result in greater fragmentation of potential red wolf 

habitat and provides standards that direct management in large contiguous management areas. 

Any potential recovery efforts would require more detailed project level analysis and extensive 

involvement and commitment by the local community. 

Eastern Cougar (Felis concolor couguar) 

Implementation of the LRMP will have "no effect" on the eastern cougar. Suitable habitat for 

this species will be maintained. These conclusions are based on the extent and remoteness of 

areas managed as Wilderness on the CNF and the availability of prey species. 

Background and Potential Effects. Although no preference for specific habitat requirements 

has been noted, the primary need is apparently for a large remote area with an adequate food 

supply. Cougars feed primarily on deer, but their diet may also include small mammals, wild 

turkeys, and occasionally domestic livestock. Male cougars of other subspecies have been 

observed to occupy a range of 25 or more square miles (16,000 acres). 

The eastern cougar is one of 27 subspecies. Although the exact range is unknown, it is thought 

to have originally occurred within South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and all states 

to the north and east (Young and Goldman 1946). Cougars were virtually eliminated from these 

areas soon after they became settled by European immigrants (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

1981). Much of the cougars habitat has been eliminated through land development, and its 

primary prey, the white-tailed deer, has also been reduced in number and range. Cougars have 

survived in a few areas having rugged terrain and lack of access. 

The last major stronghold of another cougar subspecies, the Florida panther, is in Coastal Plain 

swamp habitats. There are extensive unroaded pocosins in North Carolina that have never been 

devoid of deer or bear and many of these occur on the CNF. These areas would presumably be 

suitable habitat for the eastern cougar. 

The LRMP would designate additional Wilderness that would further limit access into its large 

and inaccessible central pocosin. This area is 32,000 acres in size and along with areas suitable 

for black bear management of 39,000 acres would provide considerable pocosin and pond pine 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 465 

woodland habitat for the eastern cougar. Additional habitat suitable for the eastern cougar exists 

in the 13,000 acres of small and medium-sized patches of pocosin. 

Sensitive Jointvetch (Aeschynomene virginica) 

Implementation of the LRMP will have "no effect" on this threatened plant. This conclusion is 

based habitat improvement goals related to marsh restoration, management of Brice’s Creek and 

the White Oak River to retain resource values that may lead to Wild and Scenic River 

designation, and Standards and that prohibit alteration of wetlands. 

Background and Potential Effects. Sensitive jointvetch is an annual legume that may grow as 

tall as 2.4 meters. It occurs in freshwater tidal river systems, within the intertidal zone where 

populations are flooded twice daily (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1994). Historically this 

species occurred in 6 eastern states and is now known at only 24 sites; one in Maryland, one in 

New Jersey, two in North Carolina, and 20 in Virginia. Sensitive jointvetch seems to favor 

microhabitats having little competition from other plants but where species diversity is high. 

Bare to sparsely vegetated substrates appear to be the critical habitat requirement. 

Direct habitat destruction has occurred during dam construction, dredging, filling, and shoreline 

stabilization. Highway and bridge construction have resulted in excessive sediment loading into 

river habitats where sensitive jointvetch occurs. It is believed that the closest site from the CNF 

that once supported this species may have been destroyed during the realignment of U.S. 70 in 

Craven County. The species was last observed there in 1949. The only remaining populations in 

North Carolina occur in two ditches connected to Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County, 

approximately 60 air miles from the CNF. 

There are only a few freshwater tidal streams on the CNF and therefore limited potential habitat 

for sensitive jointvetch. Marshes along the White Oak River north of Long Point, at the mouth 

of Hancock creek, and along lower Brice's Creek may provide suitable habitat. The LRMP 

directs management in these areas to include protection of hydrologic function and restoration of 

native marsh vegetation composition and structure through prescribed burning. Additional 

protection of these potential habitats will be provided for within the Brice's Creek Wild and 

Scenic River corridor. 

EEE.

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Based on the land allocation, goals and objectives, and standard and guidelines, it is anticipated 

that implementation of the LRMP would benefit all of the threatened and endangered species that 

occur on the Forest and would maintain suitable habitat for threatened and endangered species 

that could occur on the Forest. 

Management activities directed by the LRMP are "not likely to adversely affect" the: 

• red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), 

• rough-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia), 

• bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and the 

• American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). 
466 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Management activities will have "no effect" on the: 

• red wolf (Canis rufus), 

• eastern cougar (Felis concolor couguar), and 

• sensitive jointvetch (Aeschynomene virginica). 

 

Prepared by : 

Steven A. Simon 

/ STEVEN A. SIMON/ April, 2002 

Forest Ecologist 

National Forest in North Carolina 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 467 

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468 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 469 
470 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 471 

 

 

471 

Literature Cited 

Dugoni, J.A. 1980. Habitat utilization, food habits, and productivity of nesting southern bald 

eagles in Louisiana. M.S. Thesis. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA. 

Joanen, T. 1974 Population status and distribution of alligators in southeastern United States. 

Proc. Southeastern Regional Endangered Species Workshop. 

Hines, T. C., and K. D. Keenlyne. 1977. Two incidents of alligator attacks on humans in Florida. 

Copeia 4: 

McEwan, L. C., and D.H. Hirth. 1979. Southern bald eagle productivity and nest site selection. 

J.Wildl. Manage. 43:585-594. 

McEwan, L.C. 1977. Nest site selection and productivity of the southern bald eagle. M.S. Thesis. 

Univ. Florida, Gainesville, FL. 

McIlhenny, E. A. 1935. The alligator's life history. Christopher Publishing House, Boston. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1979. American Alligator Recovery Plan (DRAFT). 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1981. Eastern Cougar Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Atlanta, GA. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Red-cockaded woodpecker recovery plan. U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Atlanta, Ga. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1989. Southeastern State Bald Eagle Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Red Wolf Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Atlanta, GA. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Technical Draft Recovery Plan for rough-leaved 

loosestrife. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Sensitive Joint-Vetch Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000. Technical/Agency Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the 

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, 

GA. 

U.S. Forest Service. 1995. FEIS For the Management of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and its 

Habitat on National Forests in the Southern Region. U.S. Forest Service, Atlanta, GA. 

Valentine, J. M. Jr., J. R. Walther, K. M. McCartney, and Larry M. Ivy. 1972. Alligator diets on 

the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 

Young, S. P., and E. A. Goldman. 1946. The puma, mysterious American cat. Dover 

Publications, N.Y. 
472 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 473 

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For Regional Forester’s Sensitive Species And Locally Rare Species 

April 2002 

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This programmatic Biological Evaluation (BE) assesses the effects of implementing management 

activities proposed in the revised Croatan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 

(Plan). The planning area includes all federal land managed or administered by the Croatan 

National Forest (CNF) in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Project-specific analysis will be 

conducted at the time of a project proposal to determine site-specific effects. The purpose of this 

analysis is to assess potential effects on Forest Service sensitive and locally rare species that 

occur or could occur within the CNF. Federally threatened and endangered species are evaluated 

in the Biological Assessment, a separate document. 

This BE was prepared in accordance with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manual 2670 and is 

guided by requirements set forth in the National Forest Management Act. Determinations of 

effects by habitat and species are made based on best available information. As new information 

becomes available through inventory, monitoring and research, this evaluation will be updated. 

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Implementation of the CNF Plan (Plan) is the proposed action. The Plan represents alternative 

E, the preferred alternative. This alternative emphasizes restoration of natural plant community 

composition and structure and the species that these Coastal Plain communities support. It 

provides protection and maintenance of rare species within a network of Special Interest Areas 

(NC registered natural areas) that represent the range of ecosystems occurring on the CNF and 

more active management within other Management Prescriptions designed to restore suitable 

habitat conditions for native species. Other resource management activities, including timber 

harvest and recreational use, are concentrated away from sensitive habitats that currently support 

or could support sensitive or locally rare species. Specific proposed actions can be found in 

Chapters 2-4 of the Plan. 

Planning Area 

The planning area lies in the eastern portion of North Carolina within the Atlantic Coastal Plain. 

The planning area includes all lands within the CNF proclaimed boundary that are currently 

administered or managed by the CNF. This area is approximately 161,000 acres in sizes and 

contains portions of 3 counties: Carteret, Jones, and Craven. 

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One hundred and thirty-five Sensitive or Locally Rare species either occur now or could 

potentially occur in the future within the administrative boundaries of the CNF (Attachment 1 

and Table F-1). Sixty-one of these species are designated by the USFS as Sensitive and 74 are 

designated as locally rare. Sensitive species are considered rare on a range-wide basis but may 

be locally abundant. They are designated by the Regional Forester and have a global rank 

(Attachment 2) of G1, G2, or G3 and are considered at risk of extinction in a portion of their 
474 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

range as evidenced by downward trends in population numbers or density, or downward trends 

in habitat capability. The Forest Supervisor designates locally rare species. They are rare 

species having a state rank (Attachment 2) of S1, S2, or S3. They are not at risk of extinction, 

even in a portion of their range, and do not show a downward population trend over their range 

as a whole. However, they are uncommon within North Carolina and on the CNF and add to the 

locally biological diversity on the CNF. 

 

Of the 135 species evaluated for potential management impacts, 59 presently occur on the CNF. 

Sixteen of these are Sensitive and 43 are Locally Rare. Hereinafter, both sensitive and locally 

rare species will be referred to as "rare species". The remaining 76 species are considered likely 

to occur based upon their habitat preference and proximity to the CNF. There are eight general 

habitat types suitable for rare species on the CNF (Table F-1). They include: 1) marl outcrops or 

marl influenced areas, 2) small depression ponds, 3) maritime forests, 4) marshes, 5) swamps, 6) 

pocosins, 7) streams, lakes, and riparian areas, and, 8) pine savannas and pine sandhills. The 

disclosure of effects of Plan implementation to rare species will be related primarily to the 

effects of probable activities on these habitats. 

Table F-1: Number of rare species that are documented on the CNF (59 total) and rare species that may occur (76 

total) based on their habitat preference. ALL SPECIES 

PLANT INSECT BIRD MOLLUSK FISH REPTILE CRUSTACEAN MAMMALS AMPHIBIAN 

Marl outcorps 5 5 - - - - - - - - 

Ponds 15 12 1 1 - - 1 - - - 

Maritime forests & shrub 7 6 - 1 - - - - - - 

Marshes 11 4 3 3 - - 1 - - - 

Swamps 5 5 - - - - - - - - 

Pocosins and other bogs 8 5 1 1 - - - - 1 - 

Streams, lakes, riparian areas 29 2 2 3 9 9 - 3 - 1 

Pine savannas and sandhills 49 34 10 1 - - 3 - - 1 

Other habitats 6 - 2 1 - - - 1 2 - 

All habitats 135 73 19 11 9 9 5 4 3 2 

The 59 rare species that occur on the CNF are documented at 229 element occurrences. An 

element occurrence represents the site where the species occurs and may contain more than one 

rare species. In addition, a species may be represented by numerous individuals at each site and 

these individuals may occur at several locations within the site. 

Of the 229 documented element occurrences on the CNF, 157 or about 70% are within areas not 

suited for timber production and protected from most ground disturbing activities (Tables F-2 & 

F-3). These locations include 18 Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas), 13 Redcockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) – (RCW) nest areas, 5 old growth areas, and 2 

Wildernesses. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 475 

Table F-2: Number of documented rare species element occurrences within habitat groups and the percent that are 

within Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas), RCW nest clusters, designated oldgrowth, and other 

management prescriptions that are not suitable for timber production. HABITAT ALL SPECIES PLANT BIRD REPTILE CRUSTACEAN 

AMPHIBIAN INSECT FISH and MOLLUSK 

marl 

outcrops 

7 

86% 

7 

86% 

ponds 27 

93% 

23 

91% 

2 

100% 

2 

100% 

marshes & 

maritime 

4 

75% 

2- 

50% 

2 

100% 

swamps 8 

75%

8 

75%

 

pocosin 6 

67%

5 

80%

1 

0%

 

streams, 

lakes 

8 

25% 

2 

100% 

6 

0% 

pine 

savanna 

169 

66% 

135 

67% 

12 

 100% 

8 

25% 

5 

40% 

9 

50% 

All 

Habitats 

229 

69% 

178 

72% 

17 

88% 

10 

40% 

6 

0% 

5 

40% 

13 

53% 

None 

documented 

Table F-3: Number of documented rare species element occurrences on the CNF. Total (TOT), within Special 

Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas) (NAT), RCW nest areas (RCW nest), RCW forage areas suitable for 

timber production (RCW forage), designated oldgrowth areas (OG), and other areas not suited for timber 

production (OTH). 

SPECIES TOT NAT OG OTH RCW

Nest 

RCW

Forage 

HABITAT LIFEFORM 

Acronicta sinescripta 1 1 savanna insect

Agalinis aphylla 4 2 1 1 savanna plant

Agalinis virgata 13 5 3 1 3 1 savanna plant

Agrotis n. sp. 1 3 1 2 savanna insect

Aimophila aestivalis 12 5 5 2 savanna bird

Ammodramus henslowii 1 1 pocosin bird

Andropogon mohrii 1 1 savanna plant
476 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table F-3: Continued 

SPECIES TOT NAT OG OTH RCW

Nest 

RCW

Forage

HABITAT LIFEFORM 

Anhinga anhinga 1 1 water bird

Asclepias pedicellata 7 3 2 1 1 savanna plant

Asplenium heteroresiliens 1 1 marl plant

Atrytone arogos arogos 1 1 savanna insect

Calephelis virginiensis 4 1 3 savanna insect

Carex basiantha 1 1 marl plant

Crotalus adamanteus 2 2 savanna reptile

Cystopteris tennesseensis 1 1 marl plant

Dionaea muscipula 22 7 5 5 5 savanna plant

Eleocharis robbinsii 1 1 ponds plant

Euphyes berryi 2 2 ponds insect

Euphyes bimacula 2 2 marsh insect

Lachnocaulon beyrichianum 3 2 1 sandhills plant 

Lejeunea bermudiana 1 1 marl plant

Litsea aestivalis 6 3 1 1 1 ponds plant

Ludwigia linifolia 1 1 ponds plant

Malaxis spicata 1 1 swamp plant

Myriophyllum laxum 1 1 ponds plant

Ophisarus mimicus 6 2 4 savanna reptile

Panicum tenerum 2 1 1 savanna plant

Passerina ciris 2 1 1 tidal areas bird

Peltandra sagittifolia 3 2 1 pocosin plant

Phalacrocorax auritus 1 1 Lakes bird

Pinguicula pumila 6 5 1 savanna plant

Platanthera integra 3 1 2 savanna plant

Platanthera nivea 1 1 savanna plant

Polygala hookeri 2 2 savanna plant

Polygonum hirsutum 1 1 ponds plant

Ponthieva racemosa 7 1 4 2 swamp plant

Procambarus plumimanus 6 6 water crustacean

Rana capito capito 5 1 1 3 savanna amphibian

Rhexia cubensis 5 2 2 1 ponds plant

Rhynchospora harperi 1 1 ponds plant

Rhynchospora macra 1 1 savanna plat

Rhynchospora oligantha 5 4 1 savanna plant

Rhynchospora pleiantha 2 1 1 Ponds plant

Rhynchospora scirpoides 1 1 ponds plant

Sagittaria graminea 1 1 ponds plant

Scirpus lineatus 3 1 1 1 marl plant

Scleria baldwinii 1 1 savanna plant

Scleria georgiana 2 2 savanna plant

Seminatrix pygaea 2 1 1 ponds reptile

Solidago gracillima 2 2 savanna plant

Solidago leavenworthii 1 1 savanna plant

Solidago pulchra 19 11 2 1 5 savanna plant

Solidago verna 27 1 1 4 1 20 savanna plant

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii 2 1 1 pocosin plant

Spiranthes longilabris 1 1 savanna plant

Tofieldia glabra 9 7 2 savanna plant

Utricularia olivacea 3 2 1 ponds plant

Xyris flabelliformis 2 2 savanna plant

Xyris stricta 1 1 savanna plant

ALL SPECIES 229 98 27 14 18 72
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 477 

The following is a brief discussion of the potential effects of Plan implementation on habitats 

that support rare species. A viability analysis for these rare species is included in Appendix H. 

Marl outcrops: Included with these outcrops of limestone are rich forests that occur over marl. 

Both of these conditions are very rare on the CNF and the size of sites is too small to map in 

ecological map units. In these habitats, four rare vascular plant species are documented on the 

CNF. They include Carolina spleenwort (Asplenium heteroresiliens), Southern Willdenow’s 

Sedge (Carex basiantha), Tennessee bladder-fern (Cystopteris tennesseensis), and drooping 

bulrush (Scirpus lineatus). One other species could occur on the CNF in these habitats, a 

liverwort Cylindrocolea rhizantha. 

The largest marl outcrop on the CNF occurs within the Island Creek Natural Area and smaller 

marl associated sites are imbedded in the Hardwood-Cypress Wetlands management 

prescription. These areas are not suitable for timber production or developed recreation sites and 

are therefore protected from ground disturbing activities. Implementation of the CNF Plan 

should be beneficial to rare species that occur or could occur on marl outcrops because of this 

protection. 

Small Depression ponds: These natural ponds occur adjacent to xeric and dry longleaf pine 

savannas and sandhills and within pocosin/savanna complexes. Small depression ponds occupy 

less than 1% of the CNF landscape. Within and on the fringe of these ponds, 11 rare plant 

species, one rare insect, and one rare reptile are documented on the CNF. Plant species include: 

pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), Flaxleaf seedbox (Ludwigia linifolia), loose watermilfoil 

(Myriophyllum laxum), West Indies meadow beauty (Rhexia cubensis), Harper's beakrush 

(Rhynchospora Harperi), coastal beaksedge (Rhynchospora pleiantha), long-beak bald-sedge 

(Rhynchospora scirpoides), Chapman's arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea Chapmanii), dwarf 

bladderwort (Utricularia olivacea), Robbins's spikerush (Eleocharis robbinsii), and hairy 

smartweed (Polygonum hirsutum). Insects and reptiles include Berry's skipper, (Euphyes 

berryi), and the black swampsnake (Seminatrix pygaea). Other species that could occur on the 

CNF in these habitats include: the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), and awned 

meadow-beauty (Rhexia aristosa). 

The largest complex of small depression ponds on the CNF occurs within the Patsy Ponds 

Natural Area. Smaller ponds are imbedded within the Pine Savanna and Flatwoods management 

prescription. Over one-half of the known populations of pond-associated rare species occur 

within Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas) and 93% occur within areas not suited 

for timber production. These and other populations of pond-associated species are also protected 

by forest-wide standards. One standard restricts mechanized equipment from crossing any 

vernal pool, and the other prohibits ground disturbing activities within limesink ponds. 

Implementation of the CNF Plan should therefore be beneficial to rare species that occur or 

could occur in depression ponds because these species would be either protected in Special 

Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas) or by forest-wide standards. 

Maritime forests: These habitats fringe salt or brackish waters and are potentially dominated by 

live oak. They are rare on the CNF and have been mapped at only 4 locations on the periphery 

of the Forest; total area is about 45 acres. No rare species have been documented in these areas 
478 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

except the Painted bunting (Passerina ciris) that occurs in shrubby areas within this zone. Based 

on habitat preference, three rare liverworts may occur - Plagiochila mirandorensis miradorensis, 

Lejeunea dimorphophylla, and Metzgeria unciger. In addition, the sunrise lichen – (Teloschistes 

flavicans), and two rare plants - large-seed pellitory (Parietaria praetermissa), and Coastal 

goldenrod (Solidago villosacarpa) may occur. 

There are no examples of good quality natural communities in the maritime forest zone on the 

CNF. The largest remnant occurs in the Cedar Point - White Oak River Marshes Natural Area, 

and it is not in good condition. The Plan sets a goal of restoring these communities and others 

scattered across the CNF. Implementation of the Plan should improve habitat conditions for all 

rare species that may be associated with Maritime forests. 

Marshes: These communities occur along tidal streams and estuaries and are uncommon on the 

CNF. There are approximately 1,200 acres of marshland on the Forest. Although many rare 

species could occur in these habitats, only one species, the two spotted skipper (Euphyes 

bimacula), an insect, has been documented on the CNF. Ten other species could occur in 

marshes on the Coastal Plain near the CNF. They include: three vascular plants - (Long's 

bittercress (Cardamine longii), Godfrey's sandwort (Minuartia godfreyi), and Chapman’s 

arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea weatherbiana), a liverwort - (Frullaria donnellii), three birds – 

the American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), and Yellow rail 

(Coturnicops noveboracensis), two insects – Duke’s skipper (Euphyes dukesi dukesi), an owlet 

moth (Meropleon diversicolor sullivani) and a reptile – Carolina salt marsh snake (Nerodia 

sipedon williamengelsi). 

Most all marshes on the CNF occur in Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas) and in 

river corridors that would retain the values associated with Wild and Scenic Rivers. A few occur 

in the Cypress-Hardwood Wetlands management prescription, also not in the suitable timber 

base. The Plan includes standards that prohibit altering natural hydrology in these areas and sets 

a goal of restoring marshes that are currently dominated by woody shrubs and trees. 

Implementation of the Plan should improve habitat conditions for rare species that may be 

associated with marshes. 

Swamps: Swamps are common on the CNF and occupy about 7,900 acres. They occur along 

small to large streams, on lake margins, and in upland depressions. Three rare species have been 

documented in these habitats on the CNF, two vascular plants - Florida adder's mouth (Malaxis 

spicata), and shadow-witch (Ponthieva racemosa), and one liverwort – swamp liverwort 

(Lejeunea bermudiana). Based on habitat preference and Coastal locale, two other species could 

occur in swamps on the CNF. They are: Hall's pocket moss (Fissidens hallii), and the vascular 

plant Birds-in-a-nest (Macbridea caroliniana). 

Many swamp-associated rare species on the CNF occur in Special Interest Areas (NC registered 

natural areas) (75% of total) and other areas not suited for timber production. In addition, 

prescription standards limit storm salvage in swamps to only large-scale hurricane events. Also 

prohibited are new recreation facilities and motorized vehicles. Implementation of the CNF Plan 

would therefore improve habitat conditions for rare species associated with swamps by providing 

protection through special designations and standards that limit ground disturbing activities. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 479 

Pocosins: These pond pine/evergreen shrub communities are the most common vegetation type 

on the CNF. Most have not been surveyed intensively for rare species because of their 

inaccessibility. Three rare species are documented in pocosins on the CNF. They are: Henslow's 

sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), spoonflower (Peltandra sagittifolia), and Fitzgerald's 

peatmoss (Sphagnum fitzgeraldii). Three other rare species could occur in pocosin habitats on 

the CNF: one rare plant – White wicky (Kalmia cuneata), the Dismal Swamp bog lemming, and 

a bird-dropping moth (Lithacodia sp.). In addition, two other rare plants - Piedmont meadowrue 

(Thalictrum macrostylum), and Twig-rush (Cladium mariscoides) could occur in other bog 

habitats. 

Nearly 30,000 acres of pocosin habitat is in Wildernesses and the remainder is within areas 

managed for Black Bear and in pocosin patches within the RCW Habitat Management Area. 

None of these areas are in the suitable timber base and use is restricted by road closures and the 

impenetrability of the vegetation. 

The CNF Plan sets goals for the extensive use of prescribed burning in pocosins, the restoration 

of canebrakes, and general maintenance of natural pocosin conditions. Although the use of fire 

plowlines will be limited, some ground disturbance may occur during prescribed burning 

operations. Implementation of the CNF Plan would improve habitat conditions for rare species 

associated with pocosins, especially in the future, but because of the extent of restoration 

activities, individual rare species may initially be impacted. However, this would not lead to a 

trend in federal listing of these species and should have an overall positive effect on rare species 

associated with pocosins. 

Streams, Lakes, and Riparian areas: There are approximately 4,900 acres of lakes on the 

CNF and 190 miles of streams and rivers. Additional aquatic habitats such as rivers, sounds, and 

estuarine systems occur adjacent to the CNF and could be impacted by management activities on 

the Forest. Although these aquatic habitats could support a large number of rare species, only 

three have been documented on the CNF. They are: the Croatan crawfish (Procambarus 

plumimanus), and two birds - the anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), and the double-crested cormorant 

(Phalacrocorax auritus). 

There are many rare species that are dependent on coastal aquatic environments or environments 

in close proximity to streams and rivers that could occur on the CNF (Attachment A, Table F-6). 

They include: nine fishes - Altantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhinchus), Spinycheek sleeper 

(Eleotris pisonis), Lyre goby (Evorthodus lyricus), Freckled blenny (Hypsoblennius ionthas),

Least brook lamphrey (Lampetra aepytera), Pinewoods shiner (Lythrurus matutinus), Carolina 

madtom (Nopturus furiosus), Bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus), and the sandhills chub 

(Semotilus lumbee); nine mollusks - Atlantic pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni), Eastern lampmussel 

(Lampsilis radiata radiata), a bivalve (Lampsilis sp.), Green floater (Lasmigona subviridus), 

Atlantic geoduck (Panopea bitruncata), squawfoot (Strophitus undulatus), Savannah lilliput 

(Toxolasma pullus), Triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata), and the blackwater ancylid 

(Ferrissia hendersoni) found in lake margins; three insects - annointed swallow moth (Pyreferra 

ceromatica), a mayfly (Baetisca laurentina), and Lemmer’s pinion (Lithophane lemmeri); two 

crustaceans – North Carolina spiny crayfish (Orconectes carolinensis), Tar River crayfish 
480 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

(Procambarus medialis); one amphibian – Neuse river waterdod (Necturus lewisi); one bird and 

one mammal that could be found in bottomlands associated with streams and rivers – Mississippi 

kite (Ictinia mississippiensis), Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii); and two 

vascular plants - narrowleaf cowlilly (Nuphar saggitifolia), a quillwort (Isoetes microvela). 

The Plan provides direction to maintain and enhance aquatic systems and proposes the 

establishment of nearly 3,400 acres of river corridors that would retain values associated with 

Wild and Scenic Rivers. Forest-wide standards require stabilizing erosive uplands adjacent lakes 

and streams, maintaining natural free-flowing streams in Wilderness and Special Interest Areas 

(NC registered natural areas), restoring altered hydrologic systems in Special Interest Areas (NC 

registered natural areas), and stopping the water flow in existing canals and ditches that are no 

longer needed to control drainage. 

In order to provide scientific information that would improve management of the aquatic habitats 

on the CNF, inventory and monitoring is emphasized in the CNF Plan. The Plan sets an 

objective of establishing reference site conditions for an aquatic classification, determining the 

distribution and relative abundance of anadromous fish species, maintaining segments of nonacidic freshwater streams, acidic freshwater streams, and brackish streams and monitoring fish 

populations within these systems. 

The CNF Plan also emphasizes maintenance and improvement of aquatic habitats and follows 

best management practices to reduce sedimentation from activities in the adjacent uplands. 

Implementation of the CNF Plan should improve habitats for rare species associated with 

streams and lakes and riparian habitats. However, total protection of these systems and the 

species they support may not be feasible because of our lack of more detailed information about 

the life histories of aquatic species on the CNF, because of the inherent complexity of aquatic 

systems, and the probability that some mitigation measures designed to reduce aquatic impacts 

may fail. Therefore, it is expected that some activities implemented through the CNF Plan may 

impact rare aquatic species but that this would not lead to a trend in federal listing of these 

species. 

Savannas: Pine savannas and sandhills provide suitable habitat for more rare species than any 

other habitat found on the CNF. Over one-half of the rare species that occur on the CNF and 

approximately 75% of all the documented rare species element occurrences are in pine savannas, 

flatwoods, and sandhills. 

There are 169 documented rare species occurrences in pine savannas and sandhills on the CNF 

(Table F-3). Twenty-eight different species are represented by these occurrences. They include: 

20 plants - savanna yellow-eyed grass (Xyris flabelliformis), Baldwin's nutrush (Scleria 

baldwinii), bog bluestem (Andropogon mohrii), branched gerardia (Agalinis virgata), Carolina 

asphodel (Tofieldia glabra), Carolina goldenrod (Solidago pulchra), feather-bristle beakrush 

(Rhynchospora oligantha), Large beakrush (Rhynchospora macra) that occurs in seepy areas 

within savannas, Georgia nutrush (Scleria Georgiana), giant spiral orchid (Spiranthes 

longilabris), graceful goldenrod (Solidago gracillima), Hooker's milkwort (Polygala hookeri), 

scale-leaf gerardia (Agalinis aphylla), small butterwort (Pinguicula pumila), snowy orchid 

(Platanthera nivea), Southern bogbutton (Lachnocaulon beyrichianum), spring-flowering 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 481 

goldenrod (Solidago verna), stalked milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata), Venus flytrap (Dionaea 

muscipula), and the yellow fringeless orchid (Platanthera integra); one bird - Bachman's 

sparrow (Aimorphila aestivalis); four insects - arogos skipper (Atrytone arogos arogos), a dagger 

moth (Acronicta sinescripta), a dart moth (Agrotis n. sp. 1), and Little metalmark (Calephelis 

virginiensis); two reptiles - eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), and the 

mimic glass lizard (Ohisarus mimicus), and one amphibian - the Carolina gopher frog (Rano 

capito capito). 

Rare species that could occur (but have not yet been documented) in savannas on the CNF 

include 6 insects - a short-winged melanoplus (Melanoplus nubilus), Carter's spariniphaga 

(Spariniphaga carterae), dotted skipper (Hesperia attalus slossonae), slender-bodied melanoplus 

(Melanoplus attenuatus) that could occur in wet swales within savannas, southern ptichodis 

(Ptichodis bistrigata), and the Venus flytrap cutworm moth (Hemipachnobia subporphyrea): 13 

vascular plants - Boykin's lobelia (Lobelia boykinii), Carolina grass of parnassus (Parnassia 

caroliniana), dissected sneezeweed (Helinium pinnatifidum), Hirst's panic grass (Dichanthelium 

hirstii), Leavenworth’s goldenrod (Solidago Leavenworthii), Many-flower grass pink 

(Calopogon multiflorus), Piedmont cowbane (Oxpolis ternata), pineland plantain (Plantago 

sparsiflora), Raven’s seedbox (Ludwigia ravenii), small spreading pogonia (Cleistes bifaria), 

Southeastern panic grass (Panicum tenerum), Thorne’s beaksedge (Rhynchospora thornei), a 

yellow eyed grass (Xyris stricta); one moss - savanna campylopus (Campylopus carolinae); and 

one reptile - Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus). 

Nearly all the current and potential pine savanna and sandhill sites on the CNF are in the RCW 

Habitat Management Area (HMA). The Plan provides considerable direction for management 

within this area. For example, (1) pine savannas would be maintained in an open park-like 

condition through thinning and midstory control, (2) prescribed burning would be used 

extensively and growing season fires would be promoted, and (3) an objective is set for the 

restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem composition and structure on 2,650-3,500 acres on the 

CNF. 

Intensive site preparation may occur on 18% to 21% of the pine savanna and sandhills 

restoration area but site specific impacts would be evaluated in Biological Evaluations, and 

potential effects would be mitigated with input from the North Carolina Heritage Program. In 

addition, much of the RCW HMA and savanna habitat is in Special Interest Areas (NC registered 

natural areas), old growth areas and RCW nest clusters. These areas are not suited for timber 

production. Standards also limit the use of plowlines in the ecotone between savannas and 

pocosins where many rare plants occur. Implementation of the CNF Plan would therefore 

improve habitat conditions for the 10 rare insects and 13 rare plant species that are not 

documented on the Forest but that may occur in savannas in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. 

Habitat conditions will also be improved for rare savanna and sandhill species populations that 

are documented on the CNF, but because of the extent of ground disturbing activities in 

savannas, some individuals may be impacted. These impacts, however, would not lead to a trend 

in federal listing of these species for several reasons. Of the 169 documented rare element 

occurrences associated with savannas and sandhills, nearly one-half occur within Special Interest 

Areas (NC registered natural areas) where the primary management direction is to protect rare 
482 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

species and maintain habitat quality and 66% are in areas not suited for timber production (Table 

F-2). Only five of the 28 documented rare savanna and sandhill species are not within at least 

one designated Natural Area (Table F-3) on the CNF. Special Interest Areas (NC registered 

natural areas), which are managed to allow natural disturbances to function, as much as possible, 

as natural processes, provide the primary core-conservation area for many rare species and would 

reduce the probability of species extirpation on the CNF. 

In total, over two-thirds of all rare savanna and sandhill species occurrences on the CNF are in 

Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas), RCW nest areas, old growth management 

areas, wilderness, or other lands that are not suited for timber production (Table F-2). Additional 

standards provide protection for rare species that occur in savannas. For example, herbicides are 

prohibited in powerline right-of-ways that support rare plants such as spring-flowering goldenrod 

(Solidago verna). Only seven of the 21 spring-flowering goldenrod (Solidago verna) populations 

that occur on the CNF are within Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas) or other 

areas not suited for timber production. This species occurs mostly in coastal plain prairie 

habitats created by power-line right-of-ways. Prescribed burning and midcanopy control in pine 

savannas may provide the future conditions for this species to expand into more natural 

conditions. The Plan also sets a goal of establishing new populations of this species and for 

other savanna dependent species such as the mimic glass lizard (Ophisarus mimicus) and 

Carolina goldenrod (Solidago pulchra). 

Other habitats: There are four rare species that may occur on the CNF that could not be placed 

in any of the above habitats. Implementation of the CNF Plan would provide protection of sites 

suitable for these species. They include: an owlet moth (Phragmitiphila interrogans), an insect 

that occurs in canebrakes that are identified for restoration in the Plan, the migrant loggerhead 

shrike (Lanius ludovicia migrans) that occurs in fields or other open habitat that is not limited on 

the CNF, the Eastern woodrat-coastal pop. (Neotoma floridana pop. 1), a mammal whose habitat 

is identified by the North Carolina Heritage Program as “forests”, and the graceful clam shrimp 

(Lynceus gracilicornis), that occurs in temporary water depressions which are more then 

plentiful on the CNF. 

FFF...444... CCCooonnncccllluuusssiiiooonnnAAAnnndddDDDeeettteeerrrmmmiiinnnaaatttiiiooonnnOOOfffEEEffffffeeecccttt

Implementation of the Plan will result in restoration and maintenance of suitable habitat 

conditions for rare species that occur or that may occur on the CNF. The Plan allocates a large 

proportion of the CNF in management prescriptions that emphasize species conservation and 

provides standards intended to minimize the effects of ground disturbing activities to rare 

species. In addition, analysis will be conducted at the time of a project proposal to determine 

site-specific effects, and mitigation measures will be designed to minimize potential impacts to 

rare species. 

These actions should have a long-term beneficial effect on all of the sensitive and locally rare 

species that occur or could occur on the Forest. Over one-half of all rare species on the CNF 

occur entirely outside of areas suited for timber production. Furthermore, 72% of all rare species 

element occurrences occur in areas not suited for timber production. Very few ground-disturbing 

projects would be proposed in these areas. However, 28% of the rare species element 

occurrences on the CNF occur in areas suited for timber production within the RCW Habitat 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 483 

Management Area. Ground disturbing activities associated with longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) 

restoration may occur in these areas and may directly impact rare species individuals. 

Implementation of the CNF Plan will have no impacts or beneficial impacts on four Sensitive 

species that occur entirely in Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas) and other areas 

not suited for timber production. They include: Bachman's sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis), 

loose watermilfoil (Myriophyllum laxum), Hooker's milkwort (Polygala hookeri), and coastal 

beaksedge (Rhynchospora pleiantha). 

For the 15 Sensitive species that have at least one occurrence in areas suited for timber 

production, implementation of the CNF Plan may impact individuals but is not likely to cause 

a trend to federal listing. These species include: Carolina spleenwort (Asplenium 

heteroresiliens), Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), Southern bogbutton (Lachnocaulon 

beyrichianum), pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), mimic glass lizard (Ophisarus mimicus), Carolina 

gopher frog (Rana capito capito), Chapman's arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea Chapmanii), 

Carolina goldenrod (Solidago pulchra), spring-flowering goldenrod (Solidago verna), 

Fitzgerald's peatmoss (Sphagnum fitzgeraldii), giant spiral orchid (Spiranthes longilabris), and 

Carolina asphodel (Tofieldia glabra). 

 

For one Sensitive species, the Arogos skipper (Atrytone arogos arogos), that occurs entirely in 

Special Interest Areas (NC registered natural areas), prescribed burning may impact individuals 

but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing. 

Prepared by : 

/ Steven A. Simon / April 2002 

 

STEVEN A. SIMON 

Forest Ecologist 

National Forest in North Carolina 
484 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

AAAttttttaaaccchhhmmmeeennntttFFF---111... SSStttaaatttuuusssaaannndddRRRaaannnkkkooofff SSSeeennnsssiiitttiiivvveeeaaannnddd lllooocccaaallllllyyyrrraaarrreeessspppeeeccciiieeesssooonnn ttthhheeeCCCNNNFFF...

Occurrence and status of sensitive and locally rare species on the CNF. (Species with a documented occurrence on the 

Forest are highlighted) 

STATUS RANK 

dominant LIFESCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON 

NAME 

F.S. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL N.C. HABITAT FORM 

Acipenser oxyrhinchus Altantic sturgeon S SC G3 S3 water fish 

Acronicta sinescripta a dagger moth LR SR G? S1S3 savanna insect 

Agalinis aphylla scale-leaf gerardia LR SR-P G3G4 S3 savanna plant 

Agalinis virgata branched gerardia LR SR-P G3G4Q S2 savanna plant 

Agrotis n. sp. 1 a dart moth LR SR G2G3 S2S3 flatwoods insect 

Aimophila aestivalis Bachman's S FSC SC G3 S2S3 savanna bird 

Alasmidonta undulata triangle floater LR T G4 S2 rivers mollusk 

Ammodramus henslowii Henslow's LR SR G4 S2S1 pocosin bird 

Andropogon mohrii bog bluestem LR SR-P G4? S1 savanna plant 

Anhinga anhinga anhinga LR SR G5 S2SZ water bird 

Asclepias pedicellata stalked milkweed LR SR-P G4 S2 savanna plant 

Asplenium heteroresiliens Carolina 

spleenwort 

S FSC E G2Q S1 marl plant 

Atrytone arogos arogos arogos skipper S FSC SR G4T1T2 S1 savanna insect 

Baetisca laurentina a mayfly LR SR G5 SU rivers insect 

Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern LR SR G4 S1B,S3N marsh bird 

Calephelis virginiensis Little Metalmark LR SR G4 S2 savanna insect 

Calopogon multiflorus Many-flower grass 

i k

S FSC E G2G3 S1 savanna plant 

Campylopus carolinae savanna 

l

S FSC SR-T G1G2 S1 savanna moss 

Cardamine longii Long's bittercress S SR-T G3 S1 marsh plant 

CarexWildenowii 

megarrhyncha

Southeren 

Willdenow’s LR SR-T G5T3? S1 marl plant 

Circus cyaneus Northern harrier LR SR G5 S1B,S4N marsh bird 

Cladium mariscoides Twig-rush LR SR-O G5 S2 bogs plant 

Cleistes bifaria Small spreading 

i

S W7 G3G4 S2? savanna plant 

Corynorhinus rafinesquii Rafinesque’s bigdb tS FSC (PT) G3G4 S3 variable mammal 

Coturnicops noveboracensis Yellow rail LR SR G4 S2N marsh bird 

Crotalus adamanteus E. diamondback 

ttl k

LR (PE) G4 S1 savanna reptile 

Cylindrocolea rhizantha a liverwort S SR-P G3? SH marl liverwort 

Cystopteris tennesseensis Tennessee 

bl dd f

LR E-SC G5 S1 marl plant 

Dichanthelium hirstii Hirst's panic grass S C E G1 S1 savanna plant 

Dionaea muscipula Venus flytrap S FSC SR-L G3 S3 savanna plant 

Eleocharis robbinsii Robbins's 

ik h

LR SR-P G4G5 S2 ponds plant 

Eleotris pisonis Spinycheek sleeper LR SR G5 S2 water fish 

Euphyes berryi Berry's skipper LR SR G3G4 S1? ponds insect 

Euphyes bimacula two-spotted 

ki

LR SR G4 S2 marsh insect 

Euphyes dukesi dukesi Duke's skipper S SR G3T3 S1S2 marsh insect 

Evorthodus lyricus lyre goby LR SR G5 S2 water fish 

Ferrissia hendersoni blackwater ancylid LR SC G? S1 Lake margin gastropod
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 485 

Attachment F-1 continued....Occurrence and status of sensitive and locally rare species on the CNF. (Species with 

a documented occurrence on the Forest are highlighted) 

STATUS RANK 

dominant LIFESCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME F.S. US NC GLOBAL NC HABITAT FORM 

Fissidens hallii Hall's pocket moss S SR-T G2 S1 swamp moss 

Frullania donnellii a livervort S SR-T G3? SH marsh liverwort 

Fusconaia masoni Atlantic pigtoe S FSC (PE) G2 S1 water mollusk 

Hemipachnobia 

b h

Venus flytrap cutworm moth S FSC SR G1 S1? savanna insect 

Helinium pinnatifidum dissected sneezeweed LR SR-P G4 S2 savanna plant 

Hesperia attalus slossonae dotted skipper S SR G3G4T3 S2S3 savanna insect 

Heterodon simus Southern hognose snake LR FSC (PSC) G2 S2 sandhills reptile 

Himantopus mexicanus black-necked stilt LR SR G5 S2B pond bird 

Hypsoblennius ionthas freckled blenny LR SR G5 S2 water fish 

Ictinia mississippiensis Mississippi kite LR SR G5 S2B bottomland bird 

Isoetes microvela quillwort S SR-L G1 S1 riverbanks plant 

Kalmia cuneata white wicky S FSC SR-L G3 S3 pocosin plant 

Lachnocaulon 

beyrichianum

Southern bogbutton S W1 G2G3 S3 sandhills plant 

Lampetra aepytera least brook lamphrey S (PT) G5 S2 water fish 

Lampsilis radiata radiata Eastern lampmussel LR (PT) G5 S1S2 water mollusk 

Lampsilis species 2 a bivalve LR SR G1 S1 water mollusk 

Lanius ludovicia migrans migrant loggerhead shrike S SC G5T3Q S3B,S

3N

fields bird 

Lasmigona subviridus green floater S FSC E G3 S1 water mollusk 

Lejeunea bermudiana a liverwort LR SR-P G3G4 SH swamp liverwort

Lejeunea dimorphophylla a liverwort S SR-L G2G3 S1 maritime liverwort 

Lithacodia sp. a bird-dropping moth LR W3 G4 S1S3 pocosin insect 

Lithophane lemmeri Lemmer’s pinion LR SR G3G4 S1S3 wetlands insect 

Litsea aestivalis pondspice S FSC SR-T G3 S2 pond plant 

Lobelia boykinii Boykin's lobelia S FSC SR-T G2G3 S1 savanna plant 

Ludwigia linifolia flaxleaf seedbox LR SR-P G4 S2 pond plant 

Ludwigia ravenii Raven’s seedbox LR SR-T G2? S2? savanna plant 

Lynceus gracilicornis graceful clam shrimp LR SR G? S2? temp.water crustacea

Lythrurus matutinus pinewoods shiner LR FSC SR G3 S3 water fish 

Macbridea caroliniana Birds-in-a-nest S FSC PT G2G3 S2 swamp plant 

Malaxis spicata Florida adder's mouth LR SR-P G4? S1 swamp plant 

Melanoplus attenuatus slender-bodied melanoplus S SR G2G3 S1S3 wet swales insect 

Melanoplus nubilus a short-winged melanoplus S SR G3? S2S3 savanna insect 

Meropleon diversicolor 

sullivani an owlet moth LR SR G4T1T3 S1S3 marsh insect 

Metzgeria uncigera a liverwort S W7 G3 S1 maritime liverwort 

Minuartia godfreyi Godfrey's sandwort S FSC E G1 S1 marsh plant 

Myriophyllum laxum loose watermilfoil S FSC T G3 S1 pond plant 

Necturus lewisi Neuse river waterdog LR SC G3 S3 water amphibia

Neotoma floridana pop. 

1 Eastern woodrat-coastal pop. LR T G5T5 S1 forests mammal 
486 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Attachment F-1: continued....Occurrence and status of sensitive and locally rare species on the CNF. (Species with 

a documented occurrence on the Forest are highlighted) 

STATUS RANK 

dominant LIFESCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME F.S. U.S. N.C. GLOBAL N.C. HABITAT FORM 

Nerodia sipedon 

williamengelsi 

Carolina salt marsh snake S SC G5T3 S3 marsh reptile 

Notropis bifrenatus bridle shiner LR SC G5 S1 water fish 

Nopturus furiosus Carolina madtom S SC G3T2Q S2 water fish 

Nuphar saggitifolia narrowleaf cowlilly S W1 G5T2 S2 water plant 

Ophisarus mimicus mimic glass lizard S FSC SC G3 S2 savanna reptile 

Orconectes carolinensis N.C spiny crayfish LR (PSC) G3 S4 water crustacean 

Oxpolis ternata Piedmont cowbane S FSC W1 G3 S3 savanna plant 

Panicum tenerum Southeastern panic grass LR SR-P G3 S3 savanna plant 

Panopea bitruncata Atlantic geoduck LR W3 G3? S? water mollusk 

Parietaria praetermissa large-seed pellitory S SR-P G3G4 S1 maritime plant 

Parnassia caroliniana Carolina grass of parnassus S FSC E G3 S2 savanna plant 

Passerina ciris ciris Painted bunting LR FSC SR G5T3T4 S3B, SZN maritime bird 

Peltandra sagittifolia spoonflower LR SR-P G3G4 S2S3 pocosin plant 

Phalacrocorax auritus double-crested cormorant LR SR G5 S1B,S5N lake bird 

Phragmitiphila interrogans an owlet moth LR SR G3G4 S2? canebrake insect 

Pinguicula pumila small butterwort LR SR-P G4 S2 savanna plant 

Plagiochila miradorensis 

i d

A liverwort LR SR-P G4?T4 SH maritime liverwort 

Plantago sparsiflora pineland plantain S FSC E G3 S1 savanna plant 

Platanthera integra yellow fringeless orchid LR T G3G4 S1 savanna plant 

Platanthera nivea snowy orchid LR T G5 S1 savanna plant 

Polygala hookeri Hooker's milkwort S SR-T G3 S2 savanna plant 

Polygonum hirsutum hairy smartweed LR SR-P G4G5 S1 ponds plant 

Ponthieva racemosa shadow-witch LR SR-P G4G5 S2 swamp plant 

Procambarus medialis Tar River crayfish S FSC W3 G2 S2 water crustacean 

Procambarus 

l i

Croatan crayfish LR FSC W3 G3 S2S3 water crustacea

Ptichodis bistrigata southern ptichodis S SR G3 S2S3 savanna insect 

Pyreferra ceromatica annointed swallow moth LR FSC SR GU S1S2 near stream insect 

Rana capito capito Carolina gopher frog S FSC (PT) G3T3 S2 savanna amphibia

Rhexia aristosa awned meadow-beauty S FSC T G3 S3 pond plant 

Rhexia cubensis West Indies meadow beauty LR SR-P G4G5 S1 pond plant 

Rhynchospora Harperi Harper's beakrush LR SR-P G4? S1 pond plant 

Rhynchospora macra Large beakrush LR E G3 S1 savanna plant 

Rhynchospora oligantha feather-bristle beakrush LR SR-P G4 S2S3 savanna plant 

Rhynchospora pleiantha coastal beaksedge S SR-T G2 S1 pond plant 

Rhynchospora scirpoides long-beak bald-sedge LR SR-O G4 S2 pond plant 

Rhynchospora thornei Thorne’s beaksedge S FSC E G1G2 S1 savanna plant 

Sagittaria graminea 

Ch ii

Chapman's arrowhead S SR-P G5T3? S1 pond plant 

Sagittaria graminea 

th bi

Chapman’s arrowhead S SR-T G5T2 S2 marsh plant 

Scirpus lineatus drooping bulrush LR SR-P G4 S2 marl plant 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 487 

Attachment F-1: continued....Occurrence and status of sensitive and locally rare species on the CNF. (Species with 

a documented occurrence on the Forest are highlighted) 

STATUS RANK 

dominant LIFESCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME F.S. U.S. N.C

.

GLOBA

L

N.C

.

HABITAT FORM 

Scleria baldwinii Baldwin's nutrush LR SR-P G4 S1 savanna plant 

Scleria Georgiana Georgia nutrush LR SR-P G4 S2 savanna plant 

Seminatrix pygaea black swampsnake LR SR G5 S2 ponds reptile 

Semotilus lumbee sandhills chub S SC G3 S3 water fish 

Solidago gracillima graceful goldenrod LR W1 G4? S3 savanna plant 

Solidago Leavenworthii Leavenworth’s 

goldenrod LR SR-P G3G4 S1 savanna plant 

Solidago pulchra Carolina goldenrod S FSC E G3 S3 savanna plant 

Solidago verna spring-flowering 

goldenrod 

S FSC SR-L G3 S3 pinelands plant 

Solidago villosacarpa Coastal goldenrod S SR-L G1 S1 maritime plant 

Spariniphaga carterae Carter's spariniphaga S FSC SR G2G3 S2S3 savanna insect 

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii Fitzgerald's peatmoss S SR-T G2G3 S2S3 pocosin plant 

Spiranthes longilabris giant spiral orchid S SR-T G3 S1 savanna plant 

Strophitus undulatus squawfoot LR T G5G4 S2S3 water mollusk 

Synoptomys cooperi helaletes Dismal Swamp S. bog 

lemming LR SR G5T3 S2 pocosin mammal 

Teloschistes flavicans sunrise lichen S SR-P G3G4 S1 maritime lichen 

Thalictrum macrostylum Piedmont meadowrue S W7 G3G4 S2? bog plant 

Tofieldia glabra Carolina asphodel S FSC W1 G3 S3 savanna plant 

Toxolasma pullus Savannah lilliput S FSC (PE) G2 S1 water mollusk 

Utricularia olivacea dwarf bladderwort LR T G4 S2 pond plant 

Xyris flabelliformis savanna yellow-eyed LR W1 G4 S3 savanna plant 

Xyris stricta a yellow-eyed-grass LR SR-P G3G4 S1 savanna plant 
488 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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.. DDDeeefffiiinnni

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Forest Service Status (F.S.) is designated by the U.S. Forest Service. Sensitive and locally rare species are 

protected under provisions of the National Forest Management Act and direction set forth in FS manual 2670. 

STATUS 

CODE 

STATUS DEFINITION 

S Sensitive 

Species at risk of extinction in a portion of their range as evidenced by 

downward trends in population numbers or density, or downward trends in 

habitat capability. 

LR Locally Rare 

Species not at risk of extinction, even in a portion of their range, and not showing 

a downward population trend over their range as a whole but uncommon on the 

CNF and within NC. 

United States Status (U.S.) is designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federally listed Endangered and 

Threatened species are protected under the provisions of the endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 

STATUS 

CODE 

STATUS DEFINITION 

C Candidate 

"Taxa for which the [Fish and Wildlife] Service has on file enough substantial 

information on biological vulnerability and threat(s) to support proposals to list 

them as endangered or threatened." (Federal Register, February 28, 1996). Taxa 

formerly considered as 'Category 1' are now considered as 'Candidate'.

FSC 

(Federal) 

Species of 

Concern 

"Such species are the pool from which future candidates for listing will be 

drawn." (Federal Register, February 28, 1996). 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 489 

North Carolina Status is designated by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Endangered, Threatened, 

and Special Concern species have legally protected status in North Carolina through the North Carolina Plant 

Conservation Program. 

STATUS 

CODE 

STATUS DEFINITION 

E Endangered 

"Any native or once-native species of wild animal whose continued 

existence as a viable component of the State's fauna is determined by the 

Wildlife Resources Commission to be in jeopardy or any species 

determined to be an 'endangered species pursuant to the Endangered 

Species Act." (Article 25 of Chapter 113 of the General Statues; 1987). 

“Any species or higher taxon of plant whose continued existence as a 

viable component of the State’s flora is determine to be in jeopardy” (GS 

19B 106: 202.12). 

T Threatened 

"Any native or once-native species of wild animal which is likely to 

become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all 

or a significant portion of its range, or one that is designated as a threatened 

species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.”(Article 25 of Chater 113 

of the General Statutes;1987). “Any resident species of plant which is 

likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future 

throughout all or a significant portion of its range” (GS 19B 106:202.12). 

SC Special 

Concern 

"Any species of wild animal native or once-native to North Carolina which 

is determined by the Wildlife Resources Commission to require monitoring 

but which may be taken under regulations adopted under the provisions of 

this Article.” (Article 25 of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes; 1987). “ 

Any species of plant in North Carolina which requires monitoring but 

which may be collected and sold under regulations adopted under the 

provisions of [the Plant Protection and Conservation Act]” (GS 19B 

106:202.12). 

P_ Proposed 

Species has been proposed by a Scientific Council as a status (Endangered, 

Threatened, Special Concern, Watch List, or for Delisting) that is different 

from the current status, but the status has not yet been adopted by the 

General Assembly as law. In this document, these proposed statuses are 

listed in parentheses. 

SR Significantly 

Rare 

Any animal species which has been listed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources 

Commission as an Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern species, 

but which exists in the state in small numbers and has been determined by 

the N.C. Natural Heritage Program to need monitoring – OR - Plant species 

which are very rare in North Carolina, generally with 1-20 populations in 

the state, generally substantially reduced in numbers by habitat destruction 

(and sometimes also by direct exploitation or disease). 

-L Limited The range of the species is limited to North Carolina and adjacent states 

(endemic or near endemic). 

-T Throughout These species are rare throughout their ranges. 

-D Disjunct The species is disjunct to North Carolina from a main range in a different 

part of the country or world 

-P Peripheral 

The species is at the periphery of its range in North Carolina. These 

species are generally more common somewhere else in their ranges, 

occurring in North Carolina peripherally to their main ranges, mostly in 

habitats which are unusual in North Carolina 

-O Other The range of the species is sporadic or cannot be described by the other 

Significantly Rare categories 
490 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

North Carolina Status... continued 

STATUS 

CODE 

STATUS DEFINITION 

W Watch 

List 

Any other species believed to be rare and of conservation concern in the 

state but not warranting active monitoring at this time

W1 

Rare, but relatively secure: includes rare species whose status in North 

Carolina is relatively well known and which appear to be relatively secure at 

this time. 

W3 

Rare, but uncertain documentation: includes species which have been 

reported from North Carolina without adequate documentation. This 

category includes sight records, old and vague reports for which no 

documentation has appeared, and, in a few cases, more recent literature 

reports for which the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program has not yet 

received documentation. 

W7 

Rare and poorly known: includes species with inadequate information about 

their distribution and rarity in North Carolina. These are generally species 

which have not been previously listed as rare in North Carolina, but which 

appear to be so, based on herbarium records and field experience of North 

Carolina Natural Heritage Program staff, contractors, and cooperating 

scientists. 

Global Rank. A measure of rarity and threat that apply to the status of a species throughout its range, and are 

based on data on the species' status rangewide. 

RANK NUMBER OF 

 EXTANT 

POPULATIONS 

DESCRIPTION 

G1 1-5 Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity or because of some 

factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extinction. 

G2 6-20 Imperiled globally because of rarity or because of some factor(s) making it very 

vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. 

G3 21-100 Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even 

abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g., a single 

physiographic region) or because of other factors making it vulnerable to 

extinction throughout its range. 

G4 100-1000 Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, 

especially at the periphery. 

G5 1000+ Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quire rare in parts of its range, 

especially at the periphery. 

GU -- Possibly in peril range-wide, but status uncertain; need more information 

G_Q -- Questionable taxonomic assignment 

T_ -- The rank of a subspecies or variety. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 491 

North Carolina Rank. A measure of rarity and threat that apply to the status of a species within the State. 

RANK NUMBER OF 

 EXTANT 

POPULATIONS 

DESCRIPTION 

S1 1-5 Critically imperiled in NC because of extreme rarity or because of some 

factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state. 

S2 6-20 Imperiled in NC because of rarity or because of some factor(s) making it very 

vulnerable to extirpation from the state. 

S3 21-100 Rare or uncommon in NC. 

S4 100-1000 Apparently secure in North Carolina, with many occurrences 

SH 0? Of historical occurrence in NC, perhaps not having been verified in the past 20 

years, and suspected to be still extant. 

_B 1-? Rank of the breeding population in the state. Used for migratory species only. 

_N 1-? Rank of the non-breeding population in the state. Used for migratory species 

only. 

SZN --- Population in the non-breeding seasons (generally in migration or in winter) is 

transitory, without any regular locales of occurrence whereby the species can 

be protected. 
492 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 493 

FFEEIISSAAPPPPPPEEENNNDDDIIIXXXGG:: SSeelleeccttiioonnooffMMaannaaggeemmeennttIInnddiiccaattoorrSSppeecciieess

Introduction 

The planning regulations (36 CFR 219.19) provide direction for the selection and use of 

management indicator species in forest planning. Direction includes the following: 

• “In order to estimate the effects of each alternative on fish and wildlife populations, 

certain vertebrate and/or invertebrate species present in the area shall be identified and 

selected as management indicator species and the reasons for their selection will be 

stated. These species shall be selected because their population changes are believed to 

indicate the effects of management activities (219.19(1)); 

• “Planning alternatives shall be stated and evaluated in terms of both amount and quantity 

of habitat and of animal population trends of management indicator species.”(219.19(2)); 

• “Population trends of the management indicator species will be monitored and 

relationships to habitat changes determined” (219.19(6)). 

The following criteria were developed to guide the selection of MIS: 

• Forestwide population changes are likely due to management activities; 

• Represent the following categories where appropriate: 

1. Endangered and threatened plant and animal species identified on State and 

Federal lists, 

2. Species with special habitat requirements that may be influenced significantly by 

planned management programs, 

3. Species commonly hunted, fished, or trapped, 

4. Non-game species of special interest. 

5. Other plant or animal species whose population changes are believed to be 

appropriate indicators of the effects of management activities on other species of a 

major biological communities or water quality. 

• Population trends can be estimated and monitored 

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Habitats likely to be affected by planned alternatives were identified. Three separate 

classification systems were evaluated: the ecological classification system (ECS), the continuous 

inventory of stand condition (CISC), and habitat groupings by Hammel (1992). 

The ecological classification system (see Plan, Appendix A) organizes the landscape into units 

having similar topography, geology, soil, climate, natural disturbance regimes, and plant 

communities. It provides information needed to predict biological responses, site potentials, and 

limitations. 

The CISC data classifies land units according to the dominate canopy species using forest types 

of the Society of American Foresters. It is used for timber inventories and provides information 

about the current condition of forest types (tree species types), age, condition, and density. 
494 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

The habitat groupings by Hammel are aggregates of CISC forest types and ages most likely to 

support various wildlife species. The mapped land units are the same as CISC. 

The ECS and CISC were integrated by intersecting their mapped GIS layers. The results of this 

integration are shown in Table 3.20 (FEIS, Chapter 3, Plant Communities). The table shows 

serial stages of CISC cover types by ECS landtype. We considered this table a powerful tool for 

delineating habitat. It has the advantages derived from ECS, which includes the likely understory 

and overstory plant conditions, soils and moisture regimes, along with the CISC current seral 

stage condition of the canopy . Habitat groupings (CISC aggregates) were also integrated with 

ECS (Table 3.22, FEIS). When compared, the ECS/CISC and the habitat groupings (CISC 

aggregates) were similar. For analysis purposes, we used the ECS/CISC database to estimate 

effects of planning alternatives. The following table displays the current condition of habitats 

across the CNF. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 495 

Table G.1 Habitat delineation: Current Condition of Plant Communities by Landtype and seral stage. 

 ------------------Seral Stage----------------------------- 

 LANDTYPE (Forest Type) Early Mid Late Old 

Growth 

Total 

RAISED PEATLANDS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Pond Pine 25,241 8,101 32,921 0 67,670 

Other Pine 441 810 747 24 2,023 

Hardwood 695 495 3,200 0 4,390 

 not classified = 1146 acres 

 

PEAT-MANTLED FORESTED WETLANDS------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Pond Pine 1,400 1,182 5,388 9,793 17,766 

Loblolly and Longleaf Pine 815 2,341 4,500 75 7,730 

Hardwoods 335 124 5,076 0 5,535 

 not classified = 811 acres 

 

XERIC to WET LONGLEAF PINE SAVANNAS AND FLATWOODS---------------------------------------------------- 

Longleaf Pine 1,033 2,434 5,743 263 9,475 

Loblolly Pine and Pond Pine 1,431 4,604 6,584 0 12,019 

Hardwoods 68 38 3,967 0 4,073 

 Not classified = 804 acres 

 

DRAINAGE HEADLANDS & BROAD INTERSTREAM FLATS------------------------------------------------------------ 

Loblolly Pine and Pond Pine 500 1,637 4,537 0 6,675 

Hardwoods 0 55 2,310 0 2,365 

Longleaf Pine 19 60 1,030 0 1,109 

 Not classified = 263 acres 

LAKE AND STREAM SWAMPS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Hardwood + Cypress 206 60 5,863 0 6,129 

Pine 204 184 1,228 0 1,617 

 Not classified = 124 acres 

 

STREAM AND RIVER TERRACES & DRAINAGE SLOPES---------------------------------------------------------------- 

Hardwoods 0 0 1,730 0 1,730 

Pines 111 479 1,214 0 1,804 

 Not classified = 158 acres 

 

TIDAL STREAMS AND ESTUARIES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Current Condition 0 71 731 0 802 

 Not classified = 502 acres 

MARITIME RIDGES AND DUNES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Current Condition 26 0 23 0 49 

* Seral Stages: early = 0-10 years, mid = 11-50, late = 50+, old growth = 110+ for longleaf pine, 70+ for pond 

pine, 200+ for hardwoods. *NOTE* CISC age adjusted to reflect time since wildfire, e.g., raised peatlands have 

early seral habitat due to the Fish Day Fire. 

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Next, landtypes were categorized by most or least affected considering the degree of 

management activity anticipated in planning alternatives. Five of the landtypes would be most 
496 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

affected by possible management activities. Appropriate MIS for those affected landtypes are 

displayed in Table G.2. 

Table G.2 Probable management practices and MISError! Bookmark not defined. by landtype. 

Most Affected Landtypes 

 Probable Management Practices MIS 

 

Longleaf Pine Savannas 

Drainage Headlands & Interstream Flats 

RCW HMA, Pine Savanna 

Prescriptions, Longleaf restoration, 

prescribed fire, stand improvements, 

thinning, road maintenance, OHV 

trail construction, and maintenance 

Red Cockaded 

Woodpecker 

Longleaf 

Pine/Wiregrass 

Community 

 

Raised Peatlands Wilderness or Bear 

Prescriptions,Prescribed 

Fire,mowing for soft mast, access 

restrictions, 

Peat Mantled Forest Wetlands Bear or Mixed Pine prescriptions, 

Mixed pine and pond pine 

regeneration, stand improvements, 

thinning, prescribed fire, road 

maintenance roadside mowing 

Black Bear 

 

Stream and River Terraces Upland Hardwood Management 

Prescription, Hardwood Restoration, 

road maintenance, grass/forb 

planting and maintenance 

Wild Turkey 

 

Least Affected Landtypes 

Lake and Stream Swamps Hardwood Wetlands prescription: 

maintenance of openings, trails, 

construct canoe access points, 

Pocosin Lakes Prescription: maintain 

boat launches, construct parking 

areas or similar facilities 

Monitor Habitat 

Tidal Streams and Estuaries Prescribed fire Monitor Habitat 

 

Maritime Ridges and Dunes None Monitor Habitat 

 

Most Affected Landtypes. Habitat changes are focused in 5 landtypes as shown in Table G.2. 

Active management strategies vary by planning alternative to change vegetation composition and 

structure through time within these landtypes. Longleaf restoration goals, regeneration of mixed 

pine forests, and hardwood restoration goals in the alternatives comprise the greatest amount of 

active management. To accomplish these goals, a wide spectrum of treatments may be applied 

including (but not limited to) 2-age shelterwood group selection and clearcut harvesting, site 

preparation, planting, prescribed burning, thinning, midstory control by drum chopping, and 

more. The extent of activity can range from 600 to 6000 acres in the first planning period (10 

years), and more in subsequent planning periods. Therefore, MIS are useful for gauging effects 

of planning alternatives for forestwide vegetation management goals. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 497 

Forestwide access management (roads and trails) planning strategies also vary by alternative and 

affect populations of MIS. Disturbance caused by motorized access, including off highway 

vehicles, may limit habitat use by species. Alternatives vary by amount of vehicle access, and 

notably, there are differences in how unauthorized roads and trails are handled among 

alternatives. 

Least Affected Landtypes. A few landtypes have no active management practices, or, the 

management practices are limited in amount and distribution so that effects would not cause 

forestwide population changes. These landtypes are also displayed in Table G.2. Low-impact 

practices, such as, maintenance of existing improvements, designating canoe access trails, 

constructing a roadside parking area would not cause forestwide population trends to change, and 

therefore, MIS are not useful planning tools for estimating effects of alternatives

The neotropical migratory birds were dropped as MIS between the Draft EIS and Final EIS 

because their habitat occurs within the least affected landtypes. Although their population 

numbers are a significant issue, management of habitat (hardwood wetlands) on the CNF have 

few, low impact and relatively infrequent activities which would not affect population levels. 

Management of those habitats do not vary by alternative. And, a larger area than the CNF would 

be needed to determine meaningful population levels and trends. Current monitoring would 

continue as part of the Landbird Management Strategy (USDA, Forest Service, 2000) and 

population estimates and trends may be established at a regional scale. For the CNF, periodic 

monitoring of the habitat condition will be conducted. 

Monitoring habitat, instead of a single species population, would be useful for managers. 

Monitoring the condition of landtypes least affected by management activities would check that 

habitats are progressing toward desired conditions. 

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Management Indicator species are listed below with narratives describing how criteria for 

selection were met. 

Red-cockaded woodpecker: Federally listed Endangered species. 

• Non game species of special interest. 

• Significant issue-many comments about sustainable population levels during scoping. 

• Special habitat requires live cavity trees in a matrix of late successional, open pine 

savannas, preferably longleaf. 

• Populations are directly affected by distribution and amount of habitat, which is tied to 

longleaf restoration goals and objectives, which vary by alternative. 

• Population trend is well established through 10 years of monitoring using 100 percent 

population counts at the forestwide scale. 

• Trend estimates vary by alternative. 

Longleaf/Wiregrass Community Longleaf pine and wiregrass are plant species directly affected 

by longleaf restoration and maintenance practices, the central theme of the forest plan and plan 

alternatives. 
498 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

• Captures overstory (longleaf pine), midstory, and understory (wiregrass) conditions for a 

systematic evaluation of management activity effects. 

• Baseline population data at the forestwide scale acquired in 2001 using randomly selected 

plots. Remeasurement establishes the trend. 

• Trend estimates and quality vary by alternative. 

• Along with RCW, this plant community should provide information about conditions for 

an assemblage of species, such as, Bachman sparrow and southern fox squirrel. 

Eastern black bear: Game Species. Significant issue-many comments about sustainable 

population levels during scoping. Special habitat requires hard and soft mast, but most important 

is a matrix of large areas with low levels of motorized disturbance. 

• Populations affected by condition of pocosin habitats managed through prescribed fire, 

large tracts with low disturbance, corridors for migration, and access travel management 

planning. 

• Also affected by gamelands hunting regulations, which are not controlled by the CNF. 

• Monitored by NC Wildlife Resources Commission. 

• Trend estimates derived using population index. 

• Trends vary by alternative. 

Wild Turkey: Game Species. Special habitat requires grasses and forbs and hardmast in a matrix 

of late successional forests. 

• Sensitive to disturbance. 

• Relationships to habitat well known and should provide indicators of grass/forb, 

hardwood and access management. 

• Long term monitoring would indicate hardwood restoration goal achievements. 

• Affected by gameland hunting regulations and restocking programs, which are not 

controlled by the CNF. 

• Monitored by NC Wildlife Resources Commission. 

• Trend estimates derived using population index. 

• Trends vary by alternative 

Aquatic Habitat 

The assessment of forest and land management effects on associated aquatic environments is 

best accomplished by examining the biotic integrity of communities inhabiting the waters of 

concern. A fish community index of biotic integrity, which incorporates information about 

species richness and composition, trophic conditions, fish abundance and fish condition, is one 

such measure. This approach is widely used by both regulatory and resource management 

agencies at State and Federal levels. All regionally adapted versions or approaches are based 

upon the use of the metrics developed by Karr (1981). The North Carolina index of biotic 

integrity (NCIBI) summarizes the effects of all classes of factors influencing aquatic faunal 

communities (water quality, energy source, habitat quality, flow regime, and biotic interactions). 

Unfortunately, the existing IBI is for wadeable fresh waters only as the samples are collected by 

electrofishing, and it is difficult to capture fish with this method in deep or colored waters. In 

marine and estuarine waters, fish community health is measured by total catch, catch per unit 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 499 

effort, and abundance of juvenile fish. The State of North Carolina has long term monitoring in 

place to assess the health of marine and estuarine systems and the information is available to the 

Forest Service. Because of the complexity of sampling methods that measure harvest and catch 

per unit effort, and because there is no reasonable possibility for Forest Service land 

management activities to have any measurable influence on those large, complex ecosystems, no 

MIS or habitat monitoring is proposed for those systems. 

Redfin pickerel (lakes), largemouth bass (ponds), and yellow bullhead catfish (swamp drainage) 

were selected as MIS in the Draft EIS, but have been dropped in the Final EIS. Active 

management regimes were not formulated for ecological types they represent. Population trends 

would not vary by alternative. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission monitor those species, 

and Forest Service biologists assist with the monitoring. For the CNF, habitat data for those 

ecological types would be obtained and tracked over time. 

Forest Service biologists cooperate with other agencies to monitor aquatic habitat. Measuring 

several water quality data would provide the important information needed to determine how 

those ecological types are changing. These variables include but are not limited to: ph, salinity, 

dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. Changes in these variables would trigger more investigation 

about the possible causes and likely outcomes. Table G.3 displays the aquatic ecological types 

and the cooperative agency efforts. 
500 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table G.3 Aquatic Ecological Type and Agency Monitoring 

AQUATIC ECOLOGICAL TYPES 

HABITAT 

MILES 

QUANTITY 

ACRES 

Agency Monitoring Habitat 

1. Salt Water Sound 40 NC Dept of Marine Fisheries. 

2. Large Tidal Rivers 35 NCWRC and FS. 

3. Tidally Influenced Reaches of Large 

Creeks 

16 NCWRC and FS 

4. Non-tidal Mid Reaches of Large 

Streams 

16 NCWRC and FS 

5. Acidic, Upper Reaches of Large 

Streams 

32.5 NCWRC and FS 

6. Non-acidic Upper Reaches of Large 

Streams 

35.5 NCWRC and FS 

7. Large Pocosin Lakes 2,800 NCWRC and FS 

8. Acidic Ponds 4.0 NCWRC and FS 

9. Non-Acidic Ponds 10.0 NCWRC and FS 

10. Estuarine Branches 17.2 NCWRC 

11. Estuarine Creeks 1.8 NCWRC 

12. Acidic First or Second Order 

Tributaries of Sounds and Rivers 

32.4 NCWRC 

13. Non-acidic First or Second Order 

Tributaries of sounds and Rivers 

30.2 NCWRC 

14. Tributaries to Large, Saline Creeks 5.7 NCWRC 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 501 

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Introduction 

This document describes the purpose, methods, and results of a species viability evaluation for 

EIS alternatives developed for the Croatan National Forest (CNF) Land and Resource 

Management Plan, National Forests in North Carolina. Species viability is assessed within the 

context of National Forest Management Act regulations to “provide for diversity of plant and 

animal communities based on the suitability and capability of the specific land area in order to 

meet overall multiple-use objectives.” The viability evaluation incorporates concepts included in 

the Final Supplement Environmental Impact Statement for ‘Amendment to the Survey & 

Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures, Standards and Guidelines’ – Volume 

I – Chapter 3&4- National Forests in Regions 5 and 6 (USDA Forest Service 2000), procedures 

presented in ‘Expert Panels for Species Viability Evaluation for Preliminary Draft EIS 

Alternatives – National Forests in Wisconsin and Minnesota’ (USDA Forest Service 2002), and 

recommendations from Richard Holthausen – Wildlife Ecologist (USDA Forest Service – 

Washington Office, personal communication). 

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The purpose for conducting this species viability evaluation is to determine the degree to which 

ecological conditions on national forest system lands contribute to the long-term viability (for a 

50-year planning horizon) of species at risk1

. More specifically, this evaluation provides an 

estimate of the likelihood that these species will persist on the CNF for a given period of time. 

Requirements in the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) 

Regulations in NFMA require National Forests to manage habitat in order “to maintain viable 

populations of existing native and desired non-native vertebrate species in the planning area”. 

United States Department of Agriculture regulation 9500-4 extends this mandate to include 

vascular plants and wildlife species. A viable population is defined as “one which has the 

estimated numbers and distribution of reproductive individuals to insure its continued existence 

is well distributed in the planning area” (36CFR219.19). The regulations direct that “habitat 

must be provided to support, at least, a minimum number of reproductive individuals and that 

habitat must be well distributed so that those individuals can interact with others in the planning 

area.” The planning area is defined as the USFS lands included in the Forest Plan and, for this 

analysis, includes all lands within the CNF proclamation boundary. 

Relationship of USFS Viability Evaluations to Population Viability Analysis 

 

1

 federally threatened, endangered, proposed, & candidate species; USFS sensitive & locally rare species 
502 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Definitions of population viability in the scientific literature have focused on the probability of a 

populations’ persistence for a biologically meaningful period of time. For example, Soulé

(1990) defines viability in terms of the capacity of the population to maintain itself without 

significant demographic or genetic manipulation for the foreseeable ecological future – centuries 

– with a degree of certainty and adaptation. Adaptation requires that the population “maintains a 

normal level of immediate fitness (individual vigor, fertility, fecundity) and has sufficient genetic 

variation to adapt by natural selection to changing environmental conditions within the predicted 

range of frequency and amplitude of disturbance and change of a species or population” Soulé

(1990). Population vulnerability analyses (PVA) are used to estimate minimum viable 

populations (MVPs). These analyses consider the effects of demographic stochasticity, genetic 

stochasticity, environmental stochasticity, and catastrophes. They evaluate life history of the 

species (population), the temporal and spatial distribution of its resources, its level of genetic 

variation, and the consequences of habitat fragmentation (Gilpin and Soulé 1986). Shaffer 

(1981) defined MVP as “the smallest isolated population having a 99% chance of remaining 

extant for 1000 years despite the foreseeable effects of demographic, environmental, and genetic 

stochasticity, and natural catastrophes”. 

The role of PVA is to provide an assessment of the likelihood of species persistence to some 

specified point in time. However, the Forest Service must evaluate not only this output of PVA, 

but also the area and distribution within which the species persists. Because of the NFMA 

regulations that require habitat be provided to support well-distributed populations, the 

distribution of species persistence should be recognized explicitly in the assessment. 

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The species viability evaluation presented here is not a quantitative population viability analysis; 

it does not employ explicit models of genetic or demographic risk to species. The information 

needed to complete such an assessment is lacking, especially for rare species, i.e., species at risk. 

This information would include demographic characteristics such as age-specific survival and 

fecundity, immigration, emigration and trends over time in these parameters (Lebreton et al. 

1992) and genetic considerations such as the type of genetic variation most important to preserve 

(Boyce 1992). Long-term demographic data is available for only one species on the CNF, the 

red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis); an additional quantitative viability analysis for 

this species is included in Attachment H-10. 

The species viability evaluation presented here is a reasoned series of judgments, reviewed by 

species experts2

, about projected amounts and distributions of habitat and the likelihood that such 

habitat would allow populations of selected species to remain well-distributed over the long run 

(USDA 2000, 2002). The evaluation, therefore, meets the essential criterion of a population 

viability analysis, to provide an estimate of the likelihood that a population will persist in a given 

geographic distribution for a given period of time. 

The viability evaluation includes the following steps: 1) identifying species at risk, 2) data 

acquisition, synthesis, and summary, 3) comparing current, historic, and future patterns of 

 

2

 List in Attachment H-1 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 503 

species distribution, and 4) determining management “outcomes” and likelihood of species 

persistence. 

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Species vulnerability and conservation priorities identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS), N.C. Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP), and USFS were used to identify 66 species 

at risk (Attachment H-2; H-9) that occur or have historically occurred on the CNF. The 

following categories were included in this list: 

1. species at the greatest risk of extinction and listed by the USFWS as threatened, endangered, 

proposed, or federal candidates, 

2. species at risk of extinction in a portion of their range as evidenced by downward trends in 

population numbers or density, or downward trends in habitat capability and listed by the 

USFS Regional Forester as sensitive (normally G1, G2, and G3 global ranking), and 

3. species not at risk of extinction that do not show downward trends in population number over 

their range as a whole but are uncommon on the CNF and add to the biological diversity in 

the planning area (normally NCNHP S1, S2, and S3 State ranking). 

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The following species habitat information was considered in this assessment: (Source: USFS 

Geographic System (GIS), (USDA 2002b): Ecological Classification of Onslow, Jones, Carteret, 

and Craven Counties, streams, roads, water bodies; Pre-settlement Vegetation and Natural Fire 

Regimes on the Croatan National Forest (Frost 1996); Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia 

(Weakley 2002); Pre-settlement Vegetation Community Types of Camp Lejeune Marine Corp 

Base (2002); North Carolina Natural Heritage Program element occurrence records (EOs) in GIS 

(2001); North Carolina Natural Heritage Program list of rare animal species of North Carolina 

(2001); North Carolina Natural Heritage Program list of rare plant species of North Carolina; 

NatureServe 2001: and NatureServe’s 2001Biological Conservation Database (TNC 2001, 

1982). These data are summarized in Attachments H-3, H-4, and H-9. 

1. Species range-wide distribution and state rank; 

2. Risk category; 

3. Primary habitat association; 

4. Habitat specificity; 

5. Fragmentation of habitats within the CNF proclamation boundary in comparison; to presettlement condition; 

6. Extent of potential primary habitat on the CNF; 

7. Regional population (number of occurrences on all ownerships in a 4-county area, on the 

CNF, and on the CNF and the Camp Lejeune Marine Corp Base; 

8. Local population (number of EOs with > 100 individuals and > 1000 individuals); 

9. Distribution of populations on the CNF relative to ecological units at the Landtype 

Association level; 
504 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

10. Number of populations within Natural Areas, Old Growth areas, the Red-Cockaded 

Woodpecker Habitat Management Area, Wilderness, and the Hardwood-Cypress 

wetlands management prescription (the “coarse filter”) by EIS alternative. 

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The historic distribution of species in the planning area was considered the environmental 

baseline to evaluate current conditions and to compare the effect of USFS management 

alternatives on future conditions. In order to serve as a baseline for comparison of species 

viability, it was assumed that the natural history of the species resulted in historic distributions 

that followed many different patterns but that these reference distributions were “well 

distributed”. For purposes of this analysis, well-distributed means “distributed sufficient to 

permit normal biological function and species interactions, considering life history 

characteristics of the species and the habitat for which it is specifically adapted” (USDA Forest 

Service 2000). Therefore, if the current or projected distribution of a species approximates its 

reference distribution, then the species could be considered “well-distributed”. This would apply 

to species with reference distributions that range from isolated sites (very restricted range) to 

those that are relatively widespread and to all possible intermediate patterns having varying 

degrees of habitat connection. 

Reference distribution is based on available information about habitat associations, occupancy of 

suitable habitats, the extent of potentially suitable habitats, and the inferred historic habitat 

distribution within the CNF proclamation boundary. Historic refers to the time period before 

European settlement but within the same general climatic conditions found today on the CNF. 

The CNF is a relatively young landscape; vegetation types stabilized less than 9,000 yrs BP 

(Ingram and Otte 1981; Otte 1981; Ash et al. 1983). 

Each species at risk was evaluated separately and its historic, current, and future distribution 

under each Plan alternative was described as occurring in one of four distinct patterns (USDA 

Forest Service 2000 and 2002). We avoided a potential tendency to consider the best possible 

distribution that would facilitate population connectivity by paying close attention to the fact that 

all distribution patterns are not applicable to all species. Species were included in one of the 

following four distribution patterns: 

1. Isolated sites – Relatively few, highly isolated sites or populations, with little to no 

potential for gene flow between them; may be known from a single site. There is a strong 

potential for extirpations within many of the patches, and little likelihood of recolonization of such patches. 

2. Isolated site clusters – Distributed as groups or clusters of occurrences or 

subpopulations, with some potential for dispersal and/or gene flow within the groups but 

little potential for dispersal or gene flow between the isolated clusters. While some of the 

subpopulations associated with these ecological conditions may be self-sustaining, there 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 505 

is limited opportunity for population interactions among many of the suitable 

environmental patches. 

3. Limited connectivity among multiple sites and/or clusters - Groups or clusters of 

occurrences or subpopulations with intra-cluster connectivity and some potential (based 

on species-specific spatial scale or configuration, over appropriate time periods) for 

connectivity among isolated sites or isolated site clusters. Connectivity may occur 

through intervening suitable habitat, refugia, or secondary dispersal habitats. There is 

opportunity for subpopulations in most of the species range to interact as a 

metapopulation, but some subpopulations are disjunct or of such low density that they are 

essentially isolated from other populations. 

4. Multiple avenues of connectivity among sites and clusters – Multiple sites and/or 

clusters of sites within a web of potential inter-connections; includes multiple potential 

connectivity pathways occurring in diverse landscape and habitat conditions that may 

include natural gaps in distribution and suitable habitats. Disjunct areas of suitable 

ecological conditions are typically large enough and close enough to permit dispersal 

among subpopulations and potentially to allow the species to interact as a metapopulation 

across its range. 

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The distribution of suitable habitats to support species at risk and the likelihood that these 

species will persist on the CNF is dependent on a number of factors. These factors include the 

change in reference (historic) distribution patterns, the number and distribution of suitable 

habitats on the CNF and surrounding areas, the existing population size and distribution, and the 

minimum habitat and genetic interchange needed for species to persist for a biological 

meaningful period of time. For this analysis, the effects of management actions combined with 

these factors are termed “outcomes”. 

It was assumed that the difference between a species reference (historic) distribution and its 

current distribution is due primarily to habitat loss and fragmentation and that this could have a 

major effect on species persistence on the CNF. Deterministic events such as habitat loss can 

bring a population into a size range where rather frequent or probable stochastic events can 

easily terminate it (Gilpin, Soulé 1986). Loss of habitat has been a major factor in the extinction 

of a number of tropical plant species (Gentry 1986) and is likely the cause of species declines in 

the highly altered landscapes of the near-subtropical Southeastern Coastal Plain of which the 

CNF is a part. Species persistence, however, is also affected by alteration of habitat quality and 

suitability, which can reduce species fitness and subpopulation size and may aggravate 

fragmentation effects. Although habitat condition and therefore species fitness can be improved 

through management, habitat loss is permanent. 

In evaluating the probable outcomes of changes in species reference condition, and the effect of 

future management options, population stability was also considered. A species with a stable 

population is defined as one that “over time, maintains population numbers, given inherent levels 
506 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

of population fluctuation and variability of habitats to which they are adapted” (USDA 2000). 

Thus, a species may become stable at a “different population level than the current or (inferred) 

historical level” (USDA 2000). 

For the four distribution patterns above, substantial alteration of the reference distribution may 

be indicated, in general, by the following. 

1. For a species distributed in isolated sites, loss of any sites might be considered a dire 

condition and assessed as becoming not well distributed. 

2. Loss of single sites, multiple sites, or clusters that serve a significant role for population 

persistence or in the species’ biological diversity might result in a determination of not 

well distributed, depending on total number and distribution of sites and clusters across 

the species range. 

3. A result of not well distributed normally results only from loss of sites or clusters that 

affect overall population persistence, such as source subpopulations, those within 

connectivity areas, or loss of genetic and biological diversity of the population. Loss of a 

cluster for species with few clusters, relative to species range, distribution, and effective 

population size, could result in a species becoming not well distributed. 

4. It might be possible for species in this pattern to remain well distributed with numerous 

losses of non-significant sites and connections among sites and some gaps in distribution. 

However, fragmentation could be a serious risk to population stability and the projected 

distribution pattern need not completely change to the limited connectivity category for it 

to become not well distributed. 

To provide for an objective comparison of the projected effects of the alternatives, a series of 

“outcomes” were described to synthesize available knowledge about species distribution and 

population stability into five categories. The following categories or “solutions” serve as the 

estimate of the likelihood that a species population will persist on the CNF for the planning 

horizon under the different alternatives: 

• Outcome A: Habitat (including known sites) is of sufficient quality, abundance and 

distribution to allow species to stabilize in a pattern similar to reference distribution. 

• Outcome B: Habitat (including known sites) is of sufficient quality, abundance, and 

distribution to allow species to stabilize in a pattern altered from reference distribution 

with some limitations on biological functions and species interactions.

• Outcome C: Habitat (including known sites) is the minimum quality, abundance, or 

distribution to allow species to stabilize but in a pattern highly altered from reference 

distribution with major limitations on biological functions and species interactions. Loss 

of any sites that provide linkage could result in habitat insufficient to support stable 

populations of the species. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 507 

• Outcome D: Habitat (including known sites) is insufficient to support stable populations 

of the species.

• Outcome E: Information is insufficient to determine an outcome.

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Historic, Current, and Future Patterns of Biological Distribution 

In general, there has been an alteration of the reference distribution for all species at risk found 

on the CNF. This is due primarily to habitat modification and fragmentation resulting from 

urban development, highway construction, and intensive agricultural practices on private land 

within the planning area and to a lesser extent from past forest management practices on USFS 

administered land within this area. Nearly 1⁄2 of the approximately 300,000 - acre landscape 

within the USFS proclamation boundary is currently in private ownership (Attachment H-5). 

Habitat alteration and fragmentation within this area has decreased the capability of sites to 

support many species at risk by reducing potential dispersal between once connected sites and 

between those historically more isolated sites and site clusters. Specifics results of this 

evaluation, for each species at risk, are summarized in Attachment H-6 and H-9. 

There are no species at risk that are currently distributed in a quantity or pattern that would 

approximate their reference (historic) distribution. Although two species were placed in a 

distribution pattern category the same as their reference condition, these species historically 

occurred in isolated marl outcrops (distribution pattern 1) (Asplenium heteroresiliens, 

Cystopteris tennesseensis) and continue to occur in isolated sites. However, these sites have 

been further isolated by habitat loss and fragmentation. These species might approximate the 

reference distribution pattern but habitat in the proclamation boundary is so reduced that 

connectivity between habitats has been significantly altered. 

Habitat fragmentation or alteration has also affected 21 other species that were historically 

distributed in isolated site clusters and are now distributed as more isolated sites having reduced 

potential for dispersal and/or gene flow within the groups. These species occur in rare habitats 

such as limesink ponds, forests underlain by marl, and other specialized habitats (Attachment H6 and H-9). 

Most of the other species at risk are currently distributed in a pattern that is very different from 

their reference distribution, i.e. their current distribution category is two levels “below” their 

reference distribution. Twenty-seven (nearly 1⁄2) of the CNF’s species at risk were historically 

distributed in multiple sites and/or clusters, having limited connectivity because of the inherent 

ecosystem pattern typical of landscapes in the Southeastern Coastal Plain (distribution pattern 3). 

These sites historically had opportunities for subpopulations in most of the species range to 

interact as metapopulations but are now distributed as relatively few, highly isolated sites or 

populations, with little or no potential for gene flow between them (distribution pattern 1, -- 23 

species), or as isolated site clusters (distribution pattern 2 -- four species). 
508 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Of greater concern are 11 species that historically had the best possible distribution that could 

facilitate population connectivity (distribution pattern 4) but now occur in isolated site clusters 

(distribution pattern 2 - 8 species) or, based on current information, occur in isolated sites (3 

species). Only the Croatan Crawfish (Procambarus plumimanus), a narrow endemic, and the 

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) that were once distributed on sites with multiple 

avenues of connectivity (distribution pattern 4), occur among multiple sites and/or site clusters 

with an opportunity for subpopulations to interact as metapopulations. (distribution pattern 3). 

Management Outcomes based on Species Distribution and Stability 

Based on the available data, it was concluded that the major factors controlling species 

“outcomes” are: 1) the degree and type of alteration of historic distribution, 2) the abundance of 

suitable and potentially suitable habitat, 3) the current number and distribution of populations 

and subpopulations on the CNF, 4) the “contribution” from populations on adjacent private land 

and their potential interaction with CNF populations, and 5) the extent of habitat improvement 

and maintenance activities projected for different management alternatives. A key/decision tree 

was developed using these factors to guide the process for making decisions and to make these 

determinations more consistent. The results of this evaluation, for each alternative, are 

summarized in Attachments H-8 and H-9, and the key is presented in Attachment H-7. 

 

In general, habitat loss, fragmentation, alteration of historic distribution patterns, and reduced 

population / subpopulation size has reduced the potential for management activities to provide 

future well-distributed habitats and stable populations on the CNF for most species at risk. 

However, it is anticipated that nearly three-quarters of these species will have enough 

improvement in habitat quality, abundance, and distribution to increase their likelihood of 

persistence in the planning area. 

Under current conditions and management emphasis, only the red-cockaded woodpecker, 

American alligator and the Croatan crawfish (Procambarus plumimanus) have stable and welldistributed populations on the CNF. Although altered from reference distribution, habitat is of 

sufficient quality, abundance, and distribution to enable these species to persist on the CNF with 

some limitations on biological functions and species interactions. This would also be true for 

two other relatively wide-spread species: branched gerardia (Agalinis fasciculata), and springflowering goldenrod (Solidago verna) but current management practices may not provide 

sufficient linkages to source populations. These conditions are expected to improve during 

implementation of the Plan therefore changing the current condition - “outcome” C, to 

“outcome” B. 

Similarly, the expected improvement in habitat quality, abundance, and distribution resulting 

from management actions (especially in pine savanna) should result in more stable future 

populations for 13 other species, i.e. movement from “outcome” C to “outcome” B. These 

species currently exist in conditions where loss of any sites that provide genetic linkage could 

result in unstable populations. Except for the gopher frog (Rana capito) they were historically 

distributed in multiple sites with multiple connectivity pathways (distribution Category 4) or 

among multiple sites and/or site clusters with opportunities for subpopulations in most of the 

species range to interact as metapopulations (Category 3). Currently they occur as isolated sites 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 509 

or isolated site clusters separated by potential habitat of only moderate to poor quality that could 

be improved through habitat management. 

Habitat for 32 species at risk is currently considered insufficient to support stable populations on 

the CNF but is expected to improve in quality, abundance, and distribution to at least minimum 

levels (current “outcome” D, to “outcome” C). Most of these species were historically 

distributed among multiple sites and/or site clusters with opportunity for subpopulations to 

interact as metapopulations but now occur as isolated sites with little potential for gene flow 

between them because of intervening unsuitable habitat. These species have a greater probability 

of persisting on the CNF because of planned future management activities that would improve 

the conditions of these habitats. This improvement depends, in part, on the condition and 

linkages to adjacent populations on private land or other public lands. 

For 12 species, the expected improvement in habitat quality, abundance, and distribution 

resulting from any currently known management alternative is insufficient to change their 

likelihood of persistence on the CNF. Six species would remain at “outcome” C with habitat 

remaining at the minimum quality abundance, and distribution to allow these species to stabilize 

but with major limitations on biological functions and species interactions. Six species would 

remain at “outcome” D with habitat considered insufficient to support stable populations. This is 

not expected to change under any management alternative for several reasons. Three of these 

species are habitat specialists and are extirpated from the CNF; one of which, Lejeunea 

bermudiana – a liverwort is now considered only a historic element in North Carolina. The other 

two species, Leavenworth’s goldenrod (Solidago leavenworthii) and Hairy smartweed 

(Polygonum hirsutum) have not been observed on the CNF since 1991 and 1976 respectively. 

The remaining species are also habitat specialists that occur in very rare habitats or rare 

microhabitats, such as limesink ponds, savanna ecotones with pine barrens reedgrass, or in the 

maritime zone (Attachment H-2). These habitats are equally rare on private lands and even if the 

few remaining undeveloped sites in the proclamation boundary were purchased by the USFS, 

they would not be sufficient to meaningfully improve the likelihood of species persistence on the 

CNF. Although we investigated all possible combinations of management actions, no 

alternatives can be developed to ensure the viability of these species due to lack of habitat and no 

means to increase the habitat through restoration. 

Information is insufficient to determine an outcome for four species at risk, all insects: Berry’s 

skipper (Euphyes berryi), the two-spotted skipper (Euphyes bimacula), a dagger moth (Acronicta 

sinescripta), and the Annoted sallow (Pyreferra ceromatica) 

Literature Cited 

Andelman, S.J., Beissinger, S., Cochrane, J.F., Gerber, L., Gomez-Preigo, P., Groves, C., 

Haufler, J., Holthausen, R., Lee, D., Maguire, L., Noon, B., Ralls, K., Regan, H. 2001. 

Scientific standards for conducting viability assessments under the National Forest 

Management Act: report and recommendations of the ANDELMAN ET.AL. working 

group. National Center for Ecdological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, 

Santa Barbara, CA. 
510 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Ash, A.N., C.B. McDonald, E.S. Kane, and C.A. Pories. 1983. Natural and modified pocosins: 

literature synthesis and management options. US Fish and Wildlife Service Report 

FWS/OBS-83/04. 

Boyce, M.S. 1992. “Population viability analysis.” Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 23:481-506. 

Lebreton, J.D., K.P. Burnham, J. Clobert, and D.R Anderson. 1992. “Modeling survival and 

testing biological hypotheses using marked animals: a unified approach with case 

studies.” Ecol. Monogr. 52:67-118. 

Gentry, Alwyn H. 1986. Endemism in Tropical versus Temperate Plant Communities – in – 

Conservation Biology – The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. School of Natural 

Resources, University of Michigan. 

Gilpin, Michael E. and Soulé, Michael E. 1986. Minimum Viable Populations: Processes of 

Species Extinction. In Conservation Biology – The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. 

School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan. 

Ingram R. L., and L.J. Otte. 1981. Peat deposits of Croatan Forest, Craven, Jones, and Carteret 

counties, North Carolina. Unpublished report to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Quigley T.M., K.M. Lee, S.J. Arbelbide, tech. Eds. 1997. Evaluation of EIS alternatives by 

Science Integration Team. USDA Forest Service, PNW-GTR-406, Pacific Northwest 

Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 

NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. 2001. Version 1.6. 

Arlington, Virginia, USA: NatureServe. Available: http;//www.natureserve.org/explorer. 

(Accessed: August 12, 2002) 

Otte, L.J. 1981. Origin, development, and maintenance of the pocosin wetlands of North 

Carolina. Unpublished report of North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and 

Community Development Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh, N.C 

Shaw, C.G. III. 1999. Use of risk assessment panels during revision of the Tongass Land and 

Resource Management Plan. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-460. USDA Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 43 pp. 

Soulé, Michael E. 1990. Viable Populations for Conservation. Cambridge University Press. 

The Nature Conservancy. 1982. Natural Heritage Program Operations Manual. TNC, Arlington, 

Virginia. 

Thomas, J.W., M.G. Raphael, R.G. Anthony, E.D. Forsman, A.G. Gunderson, R.S. Holthausen, 

B.G. Marcot, G.H. Reeves, J.R. Sedel, and D.M. Solis. 1993. Viability assessments and 

management considerations for species associated with late-successional and old-growth 

forests of the Pacific Northwest: the report of the Scientific Analysis Team. USDA 

Forest Service, National Forest System, Forest Service Research. Portland, OR. 

USDA Forest Service 2000. Final Supplemental Environmental impact Statement For 

Amendment to the Survey & Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures 

Standards and Guidelines. Forest Service National Forests in Regions 5 and 6 and the 

Bureau of Land Management Districts in California, Oregon,and Washington Within the 

Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. 

USDA Forest Service 2002. Expert Panels for Species Viability Evaluation for Preliminary Draft 

EIS Alternatives. National Forests in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Draft Process 

Weakley, A.S. 2002. Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia, working draft of 10 September 2002. 

UNC Herbarium, Chapel Hill, NC.
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 511 

AAAttttttaaaccchhhmmmeeennnttt HHH---111:::SSSpppeeeccciiieeesssEEExxxpppeeerrrtttsss–––RRReeevvviiieeewwwaaannndddIIInnnpppuuuttt ooofffAAAsssssseeessssssmmmeeennnttt RRReeesssuuullltttsss

Species Group: Amphibians and Reptiles

Alan J. Ratzlaff: Biologist, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 4, Asheville, NC 

Species Group: Birds

John O. Fussell: Consulting Biologist and Author of “A Birder’s Guide to Coastal North 

Carolina”, New Bern, North Carolina. 

Species Group: Crustaceans

Robert Butler: Biologist, USDI Fish and Widlife Service, Region 4, Asheville, NC 

Species Group: Insects

Stephen P. Hall: Invertebrate Zoologist, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of 

Parks and Recreation, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC 

Species Group: Vascular and Non-Vascular Plants

Alan S. Weakley: Curator of Herbarium at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North 

Carolina. 

Allison E. Weakley: Consulting Botanist, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 
512 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

AAAttttttaaaccchhhmmmeeennnt

tt HHH---222:::SSSpppeeeccci

iieeesssaaattt RRRiiissskkkaaannndddHHHaaabbbi

iitttaaattt RRReeelllaaattti

iiooonnnssshhhiiipppsss

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME HABITAT 

BIRDS 

Aimophila aestivalis Bachman's sparrow open longleaf pine forests, old fields 

Ammodramus henslowii Henslow's sparrow clearcut pocosins and other damp weedy fields 

Anhinga anhinga Anhinga wooded lakes or ponds, or open swamps (for nesting) 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus bald eagle mature forests near large bodies of water (nesting); lakes & sounds 

Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant lakes with scattered trees for nesting 

Picoides borealis red-cockaded woodpecker mature open pine forests, mainly in longleaf pine 

CRUSTACEANS 

Procambarus plumimanus Croatan crawfish rivers, ponds, ditches, and borrow pits 

HERPETOFAUNA 

Alligator mississippiensis american alligator fresh to slightly brackish lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes 

Crotalus adamanteus E. diamondback rattlesnake pine flatwoods, savannas, pine-oak sandhills 

Ophisaurus mimicus mimic glass lizard pine flatwoods, savannas, pine/oak sandhills 

Rana capito capito Carolina gopher frog breeds in temporary fish-free pools; forages in pine-oak sandhills 

Seminatrix pygaea Black swampsnake lush vegetation of ponds, ditches, or sluggish streams 

INSECTS 

Atrytone arogos arogos arogos skipper wet savannas with pinebarrens reedgrass 

Euphyes berryi Berry's skipper wet areas near ponds, canals, or marshes 

Euphyes bimacula two-spotted skipper marshes, wet savannas, sedgy areas near wet woods 

PLANTS 

Agalinis aphylla scale-leaf gerardia wet savannas and sandhill/pocosin ecotones 

Agalinis fasciculata branched gerardia savannas 

Andropogon mohrii bog bluestem wet savannas 

Asclepias pedicellata stalked milkweed dry savannas and moist flatwoodss 

Asplenium heteroresiliens Carolina spleenwort shaded coquina limestone outcrops (marl) 

Carex basiantha S. Willdenow’s Sedge moist to wet forests over coquina limestone (marl) 

Cystopteris tennesseensis Tennessee bladder-fern shaded calcareous rock outcrops (marl) 

Dionaea muscipula Venus flytrap savannas, seepage bogs, pocosin edges 

Eleocharis robbinsii Robbins’s Spikerush limesink ponds, clay-based Carolina bays, peat-burn lakes, ponds 

Lachnocaulon beyrichianum Southern bogbutton sandhills, sandhill/pocosin ecotones 

Lejeunea bermudiana a liverwort marl outcrops, decaying logs or tree bases in blackwater swamps 

Litsea aestivalis Pondspice limesink ponds and other depression wetlands 

Ludwigia linifolia flaxleaf seedbox limesink ponds 

Lysimachia asperulifolia rough-leaved loosestrife savanna/pocosin ecotones, pocosins 

Malaxis spicata Florida adder’s mouth maritime swamp forests, calcareous but mucky outer coastal swamps 

Myriophyllum laxum loose watermilfoil limesink ponds, waters of natural lakes 

Panicum tenerum Southeastern panic grass limesink ponds, wet savannas, sandhill seeps 

Peltandra sagittifolia Spoonflower pocosins, other wet, peaty sites 

Pinguicula pumila small butterwort savannas 

Platanthera integra yellow fringeless orchid wet savannas 

Platanthera nivea snowy orchid wet savannas 

Polygala hookeri Hooker's milkwort savannas 

Polygonum hirsutum Hairy smartweed limesink ponds, clay-based Carolina bays, drawdown zones of rivers 

Ponthieva racemosa shadow-witch blackwater forests and swamps especially over marl 

Rhexia cubensis W. Indies meadow beauty limesink ponds 

Rhynchospora harperi Harper's beakrush limesink ponds and cypress savannas 

Rhynchospora oligantha feather-bristle beakrush wet savannas, seepage bogs 

Rhynchospora pleiantha Coastal beaksedge limesink ponds 

Rhynchospora scirpoides long-beak bald-sedge limesink ponds, beaver ponds, wet savannas 

Sagittaria graminea chapmanii Chapman's arrowhead limesink ponds 

Scirpus lineatus drooping bulrush low rich woods over marl 

Scleria baldwinii Baldwin's nutrush wet savannas 

Scleria georgiana Georgia nutrush wet savannas 

Solidago gracillima Graceful goldenrod savannas, boggy sites, peaty places 

Solidago leavenworthii Leavenworth’s goldenrod savannas, pocosin borders, clay-based Carolina bays, peaty seeps 

Solidago pulchra Carolina goldenrod savannas 

Solidago verna spring-flowering goldenrod mesic savannas, other mesic to moist pinelands, pocosin ecotones 

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii Fitzgerald's peatmoss pocosins and wet savannas 

Spiranthes longilabris giant spiral orchid wet savannas 

Tofieldia glabra Carolina asphodel wet savannas, sandhill seeps, moist sandhill/pocosin ecotones 

Urtricularia olivacea Dwarf bladderwort limesink ponds, beaver ponds 

Xyris flabelliformis Elliott's yellow-eyed grass savannas 

Xyris stricta savanna yellow-eyed grass wet savannas 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 513 

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Rangewide Distribution and state rank1

SCIENTIFIC NAME 

NC SC GA FL AL MS LA TX VA TN KY AR OK OTHER STATES 

BIRDS 

Aimophila aestivalis S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S3 S1 S2 SX S3 S2 DC-SX,IL-SX,IN-SX,MD-SH,MO-S1,OHAmmodramus henslowii S2 S? S3 S? S2 SZ S3 S2 S1 S1 S3 S1 S2 CT-SH,DE-SH,DC-S2,IL-S2,IN-S3,IA-S, 14 

Anhinga anhinga S2 S? S5 S? S3 S4 S5 S1 SN S1 SX S3 S1 MO-SX 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus S3 S2 S2 S3 S3 S1 S2 S3 S2 S3 S1 all other states 

Phalacrocorax auritus S1 S? S5 S? SA S4 S2 S3 S1 S2 SH all other states 

Picoides borealis S2 S2 S2 S2 S2 S1 S2 S2 S1 SX S1 S2 S1 MY-SH, MO-SX 

CRUSTACEANS 

Procambarus plumimanus S3 

HERPETOFAUNA 

Alligator mississippiensis S3 S5 S4 S4 S4 S4 S5 S4 SH S4

Crotalus adamanteus S1 S3 S4 S3 S3 S3 

Ophisaurus mimicus S2 S? S2 S? S2 S2 

Rana capito capito S2 S2 S? 

Seminatrix pygaea S2 S? S3 S? S2 

INSECTS 

Atrytone arogos arogos S1 S1 SX S1 S1 S1 S1 S1 NJ-S1 

Euphyes berryi S1 S? SU S4 dist. poorly known 

Euphyes bimacula S1 S1 S1 S? S2 CT-SH,DC-S?,IL-S2,IN-S2,KS-S?, + 11 NE 

PLANTS 

Agalinis aphylla S3 S? S3 SR S2 S2 S1

Agalinis fasciculata S2 SR S5 SR SR SR SR SR SU SR S4 SR SR DE-SH,ILS?,IN-S3,KS-S2,MD-S1, 3 others 

Andropogon mohrii S1 S? S2 S? SR S4 S? SH

Asclepias pedicellata S2 S1 S2 S? 

Asplenium heteroresiliens SR SR SR S1 

Carex basiantha S1 SR SR SR SR SR SR SR S2 SR

Cystopteris tennesseensis S1 S1 S2 S1 SR S? S? SR DE-S1,IL-SR,IN-SR,KS-SR,MD-S1, 2 others 

Dionaea muscipula S3 S1 

Eleocharis robbinsii S2 S? S3 SR S1 S2 S1 CT-SR,DE-S3,IN-S2,ME-SR,MD-S1,MA-SR, 9 

Lachnocaulon beyrichianum S2 S? S1 S2 SR 

Lejeunea bermudiana SH S? S? S? S? S? Bermuda N? 

Litsea aestivalis S2 S3 S2 S2 SR S1 MD-S1 

Ludwigia linifolia S2 S? SR SR S? SR 

Lysimachia asperulifolia S3 S1 

Malaxis spicata S1 S? S1 S? S3

Myriophyllum laxum S1 S2 S2 S3 S2 S1 

Panicum tenerum S3 SR S1 SR SR SR S1 SR West Indies 

Peltandra sagittifolia S2 S? S2 S3 S2 S2 SR SU

Pinguicula pumila S2 SR S4 S? S1 SR SR SR S1

Platanthera integra S1 S2 S2 S3 S2 S3 S2 S1 SP S1 MD-SR,NJ-S1 

Platanthera nivea S1 SR S3 S3 S2 SR SR SR SR S1 SR DE-SH,MD-SR,NJ-SH 

Polygala hookeri S2 S1 S1 S1 S1 S2

Polygonum hirsutum S1 SR SR SR SR SR 

Ponthieva racemosa S2 S? S2 S? S2 S2 S2 SR S3 S1

Rhexia cubensis S1 SR SR SR SR SR SR West Indies 

Rhynchospora harperi S1 S? S1 S4 S1 S1 MD-S1,DE-S1 

Rhynchospora oligantha S2 S? S1 SR SR SR SR SR S1 DE-SH,NJ-S2 

Rhynchospora pleiantha S1 S? SH SR S1 SR

Rhynchospora scirpoides S2 SR S2 SR SR S3 S1 SR S1 S1 IN-S2,MI-S2,WI-S1,MD-S2, + 6 NE states 

Sagittaria gram. chapmanii S1 S3 SR SR SR SR

Scirpus lineatus S2 SR SR SR SR SR SR SR S3 CO-SE, MA-SR,MN-SR,WVA-S? 

Scleria baldwinii S1 S1 SR S? SR S4 SR S1
514 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Attachment H-3: Species Range-wide Distribution and State Rarity (continued) 

S1= Critically imperiled in State because of extreme rarity or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the 

state (1-5 extant populations) 

S2= Imperiled in State because of rarity or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state (6-20 extant 

populations). 

S3 = Rare or uncommon in State (21-100 extant populations) 

S4 = Apparently secure in State (100-1000 extant populations) 

S5 = Demonstrably secure in State (1000+ extant populations) 

S? = unranked, or rank uncertain 

SH = Of historical occurrence in State, perhaps not having been verified in the past 20 years, and suspected to be still extant. 

SN = Rank of non-breeding population in the State 

SRs = Significantly Rare in State (1-20 populations) 

SU = Possibly in peril in State but status uncertain; need more information 

SX = apparently extirpated from State 

SZ = Population is not of significant conservation concern 

Rangewide Distribution and state rank1

SCIENTIFIC NAME 

NC SC GA FL AL MS LA TX VA TN KY AR OK OTHER STATES 

Scleria georgiana S2 SR SR SR SR SR SR SR 

Solidago gracillima S1 SR SR SR SR S2 SR S2 WVA-SR 

Solidago leavenworthii S1 SR SR SR 

Solidago pulchra S3 S? 

Solidago verna S3 S1 

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii S2 S1 S1 

Spiranthes longilabris S1 S? S1 S3 S1 S2 SR S1 SR 

Tofieldia glabra S3 S? SR 

Urtricularia olivacea S2 S1 S1 SR S1 S1 S1 NJ-S1 

Xyris flabelliformis S1 SR S3 SR SR SU SR 

Xyris stricta S1 SR S4 SR S? S? S1 S1 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 515 

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Habitat Factors 

Regional 

Population 

(EOs)6

Local 

Population Habitat Protection 

# of EOs in coarse filter11

by 

-------Alternative -------- 

SCIENTIFIC NAME 

USFS Status1# of States2

Primary 

Habitat 

Specificity3Fragmtation4Area 1000s ac 54-County 7Public land 8Croatan NF > 100individuals8> 1000 individualsDistribution10

A B C Cm D E

BIRDS 

Aimophila aestivalis S 19 savannas R 56% 27 39 37 12 0 0 w1p2 2 12 12 12 2 12 

Ammodramus henslowii LR 31 costl.prairie B 17% 74 3 2 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 0 1 

Anhinga anhinga LR 14 water B 46% 6+ 3 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus T all water B 46% 6+ 6 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Phalacrocorax auritus LR all lakes B 27% 5.1 2 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Picoides borealis E 14 savannas R 56% 27 144 108 62 0 0 w4p2 62 62 62 62 62 62 

CRUSTACEANS 

Procambarus plumimanus LR 1 water B 46% 6+ ? ? 6 0 0 w4 0 0 0 0 0 0 

HERPETOFAUNA 

Alligator mississippiensis T/A 10 water B 46% 6+ 44 21 10 0 0 w3 2 10 10 10 2 10 

Crotalus adamanteus LR 6 savannas R 56% 27 9 8 2 0 0 p2 0 1 1 1 0 2 

Ophisarus mimicus S 6 savannas R 56% 27 7 6 6 0 0 w1p1 1 4 4 4 1 6 

Rana capito capito S 3 sandhills R 70% 16 13 12 5 0 0 w1p2 1 4 4 4 1 5 

Seminatrix pygaea LR 5 water B 46% 6+ 6 2 2 0 0 p2 1 2 2 2 1 2 

INSECTS 

Atrytone arogos arogos S 9 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Euphyes berryi LR 4 ponds R 70% 0.1 2 2 2 0 0 p2 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Euphyes bimacula LR 23 marshes R 66% 1.2 2 2 2 0 0 p2 2 2 2 2 2 2 

PLANTS 

Agalinis aphylla LR 7 savannas12 R 56% 27 20 14 4 1 0 p2 1 4 4 4 1 4 

Agalinis virgata LR 10 savannas R 56% 27 18 16 13 3 0 w3p1 4 12 12 12 4 12 

Andropogon mohrii LR 8 savannas R 56% 27 2 1 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 0 1 

Asclepias pedicellata LR 4 savannas R 56% 27 20 19 7 0 0 w1 2 6 6 6 2 7 

Asplenium heteroresiliens S 4 marl R 60% 0.1 9 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Carex basiantha LR 4 marl R 60% 0.1 1 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Cystopteris tennesseensis LR 19 marl R 60% 0.1 3 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Dionaea muscipula S 2 savannas R 56% 27 63 53 22 6 1 w1p3 3 18 17 17 3 21 

Eleocharis robbinsii LR 22 ponds R 70% 0.1 4 3 1 1 0 i 0 1 1 1 0 1 

Lachnocaulon 

beyrichianum 

S 5 sandhills R 70% 1.1 4 4 3 0 0 mw1 0 3 3 3 0 3 

Lejeunea bermudiana LR 6 marl R 60% 0.1 1 1 1 H - i 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Litsea aestivalis S 7 ponds R 70% 0.1 12 11 6 2 0 w1 1 6 6 6 1 6 

Ludwigia linifolia LR 6 ponds R 70% 0.1 6 6 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Lysimachia asperulifolia E 2 savannas R 56% 27 16 14 6 3 0 w1p1 0 5 4 4 0 6 

Malaxis spicata LR 5 maritime R 99% 0.1 3 1 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Myriophyllum laxum S 6 ponds R 70% 0.1 3 2 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Panicum tenerum LR 8 savannas R 56% 27 14 14 2 1 1 i 1 2 2 2 1 2 

Peltandra sagittifolia LR 8 pocosins B 17% 74 11 6 3 0 0 p2 2 3 3 3 2 3 

Pinguicula pumila LR 9 savannas R 56% 27 6 6 6 3 1 mw1 0 6 6 6 0 6 

Platanthera integra LR 12 savannas R 56% 27 5 4 3 0 0 p3 1 3 3 3 1 3 

Platanthera nivea LR 15 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 0 0 i 0 1 0 0 0 1 

Polygala hookeri S 6 savannas R 56% 27 8 5 2 0 0 p1 0 2 2 2 0 2 

Polygonum hirsutum LR 6 ponds R 70% 0.1 2 1 1 H - i 0 1 1 1 0 1 

Ponthieva racemosa LR 10 swamps B 47% 30 12 8 7 2 1 w1p3 1 7 7 7 1 7 

Rhexia cubensis LR 7 ponds R 70% 0.1 17 14 5 2 1 mw1 1 4 4 4 4 5 

Rhynchospora harperi LR 8 ponds R 70% 0.1 9 9 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Rhynchospora oligantha LR 11 savannas R 56% 27 10 9 5 0 0 p3 1 5 5 5 1 5 

Rhynchospora pleiantha S 6 ponds R 70% 0.1 4 4 1 1 1 i 1 2 2 2 1 2 

Rhynchospora scirpoides LR 20 ponds R 70% 0.1 5 4 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 
516 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Attachment H-4: Habitat Factors, Regional and Local Population, and Habitat Protection 

(continued) 

Habitat Factors 

Regional 

Population (EOs)6

Local 

Population Habitat Protection

# of EOs in coarse 

filter11

by 

-------Alternative ------

--

SCIENTIFIC NAME 

USFS Status1# of States2

Primary 

Habitat 

Specificity3Fragmtation4Area 1000s ac.54-County 7Public land 8Croatan NF > 100 individuals8> 1000 individuals Distribution10

A B C Cm D E 

Sagittaria graminea chap. S 6 marshes R 66% 0.1 2 2 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Scirpus lineatus LR 13 marl R 60% 0.1 8 6 3 2 0 p2 1 3 3 3 1 3 

Scleria baldwinii LR 8 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Scleria georgiana LR 8 savannas R 56% 27 13 10 2 1 0 p3 0 2 2 2 0 2 

Solidago gracillima LR 9 savannas R 56% 27 8 5 2 0 0 p1 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Solidago leavenworthii LR 4 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 H - i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Solidago pulchra S 2 savannas R 56% 27 63 49 19 9 2 w1p3 1 17 14 14 1 18 

Solidago verna S 2 savannas R 56% 27 37 27 27 16 4 w4p2 1 16 16 16 1 21 

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii S 3 pocosins R 17% 74 12 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Spiranthes longilabris S 9 savannas R 56% 27 2 1 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Tofieldia glabra S 3 savannas R 56% 27 44 9 9 4 0 w1 0 9 9 9 0 9 

Utricularia olivacea LR 8 ponds R 70% 0.1 5 3 3 0 0 p1 2 3 3 3 2 3 

Xyris flabelliformis LR 7 savannas R 56% 27 16 10 1 H - i 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Xyris stricta LR 8 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 0 0 i 0 1 1 1 0 1 

1/ USFS status: LR = locally rare, S = Sensitive (on Regional Forester’s list), T = Threatened (listed by US Fish and Wildlife Service), E = 

Endangered (listed by US Fish and Wildlife Service), TSA = Threatened due to Similarity of Appearance. 2/ Total number of states where the species occurs 

3/ Habitat specificity: R = Restricted: restricted to one or a few specialized habitats, B = Broad: occurs in variety of habitats 4/ Habitat fragmentation: the proportion of the potential primary habitat within the CNF proclamation boundary that is not administered by the 

CNF. Total area within the proclamation boundary is approximately 307,000 acres; the total area administered by the CNF is approximately 

161,000 acres. Note: ponds (limesink ponds) occur primarily in sandhills (xeric pine savannas in the ecological classification) and therefore 

fragmentation for ponds is estimated from sandhills habitat fragmentation. However, ponds are highly clustered and not distributed throughout 

all sandhills. Therefore, this method may overestimate fragmentation effects. Marl outcrops are found primarily in stream-side habitats and 

therefore fragmentation for marl is estimated from swamp (wetlands) habitat fragmentation. Again, this is a rough estimate and may not 

accurately reflect fragmentation effects on marl outcrops because most swamp do not occur on marl. 5/ Habitat area = extent of habitat on the Croatan National Forest (in 1000s of acres) 6/ EOs = Element occurrence record: the documented number of existing habitats that sustain or otherwise contribute to the survival of a 

population or self-sustaining example of a particular species. From the N.C. Natural Heritage Program (2001). 7/ The number of EOs in a four County Area = all of Onslow county and that portion of Carteret, Jones, and Craven counties adjacent to the 

Croatan National Forest 

8/ The number of EOs on public land (Croatan National Forest and Camp Lejeune only) 9/ The number of EOs having more than 100 individuals of the species observed. H indicates historic EOs 10/ Distribution of EOs on the Croatan: A letter followed by a number; the letter describes the distribution of subpopulations (w = well 

distributed, mw = moderately well, p = poorly distributed populations and subpopulations – found in no more than 2 locations within the 

Landtype Association,, I = isolated population), the number indicates how many of the seven Landtype Associations the species occurs in, e.g., 

w1 = species well distributed but found in only one Landtype Association; w4p2 = species found in 6 Landtype Association, well-distributed in 4 

and poorly distributed in 2. 

11/ The “Coarse Filter” on the CNF which includes Special Interest Areas (NC Natural Areas), old growth management areas, Wilderness Areas, 

the red-cockaded woodpecker Habitat Management Area, and the Hardwood-Cypress Wetlands Management Prescription. 12/ Flatwoods are included in this habitat – for all species 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 517 

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518 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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HISTORIC CURRENT 

CONDITION CONDITION ALT. ALT. ALT. ALT. ALT. SCIENTIFIC NAME 

 ALT. A B C Cmod D E 

BIRDS 

Aimophila aestivalis 4 2 2 2 2 2 3 

Ammodramus henslowii 3 winter 1 2 2 2 1 2 

Anhinga anhinga 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Phalacrocorax auritus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Picoides borealis 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

CRUSTACEANS 

Procambarus plumimanus 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 

HERPETOFAUNA 

Alligator mississippiensis 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

Crotalus adamanteus 4 1 1 2 2 1 2

Ophisarus mimicus 3 1 1 2 2 1 2

Rana capito capito 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

Seminatrix pygaea 3 1 1 2 2 1 2

INSECTS 

Atrytone arogos arogos 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Euphyes berryi 3? 1? 1? 1? 1? 1? 1? 

Euphyes bimacula 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 

PLANTS 

Agalinis aphylla 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Agalinis virgata 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

Andropogon mohrii 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Asclepias pedicellata 4 1 2 3 3 1 3 

Asplenium heteroresiliens 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Carex basiantha 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Cystopteris tennesseensis 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Dionaea muscipula 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

Eleocharis robbinsii 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Lachnocaulon beyrichianum 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Lejeunea bermudiana 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Litsea aestivalis 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Ludwigia linifolia 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Lysimachia asperulifolia 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Malaxis spicata 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Myriophyllum laxum 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Panicum tenerum 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Peltandra sagittifolia 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 

Pinguicula pumila 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

Platanthera integra 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

Platanthera nivea 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Polygala hookeri 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Polygonum hirsutum 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Ponthieva racemosa 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 

Rhexia cubensis 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Rhynchospora harperi 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Rhynchospora oligantha 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Rhynchospora pleiantha 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Rhynchospora scirpoides 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Sagittaria graminea chap. 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Scirpus lineatus 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Scleria baldwinii 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Scleria georgiana 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Solidago gracillima 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Solidago leavenworthii 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Solidago pulchra 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

Solidago verna 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Spiranthes longilabris 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Tofieldia glabra 3 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Urtricularia olivacea 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 

Xyris flabelliformis 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Xyris stricta 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 519 

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1a. Species with < 5 documented occurrences on the CNF (chose 2a, or 2b) 

2a. Potential suitable habitat is of sufficient abundance (mostly > 2,000 acres) on the CNF (pocosins, 

savannas, lakes, streams – Attachment H-4); historic distribution pattern included sites with limited 

connectivity among multiple sites or multiple avenues of connectivity among sites- Attachment H-6. (choose 

3a or 3b) 

3a. Alternative includes objectives to maintain/improve habitat quality for potential habitat and for 

at least 75% of occupied habitats – Attachment H-4. (choose 4a or 4b) 

4a. Species is known from at least 3 sites within the surrounding 4-counties or species 

inventories are incomplete and species is likely more common than indicated by 

documented occurrence records -------- OUTCOME C 

4b. Species is known from less than 3 sites within the surrounding 4-counties – --- 

OUTCOME D 

3b. Alternative does not include objectives to maintain/improve habitat quality for potential habitat 

and/or 75% of occupied habitat – OUTCOME D 

2b. Potential suitable habitat is not of sufficient abundance (mostly < 100 acres) on the CNF (maritime, marl, 

ponds, marshes – Attachment H-4); historic distribution pattern included isolated sites and isolated site 

clusters – Attachment H-6. (choose 3a or 3b below) 

3a. Species is known from at least 4 sites within the surrounding 4-counties and these sites are 

protected by environmental law, i.e. they are jurisdictional wetlands or open water counties or 

species inventories are incomplete and species is likely more common than indicated by 

documented occurrence records. (choose 4a or 4b below) 

4a. Alternative includes objectives to maintain/improve habitat quality for potential 

habitat and 75% of occupied habitat – Attachment H-4. (choose 5a or 5b) 

5a. Historic distribution included only highly isolated sites ----------------- 

OUTCOME D 

5b. Historic distribution includes isolated sites and site clusters ------------- 

OUTCOME C 

4b. Alternative does not include objectives to maintain/improve habitat quality for 

potential habitat and 75% of occupied habitat – OUTCOME D 

3b. Species is known from less than 4 sites within the surrounding 4-counties or on sites not 

protected by environmental law. 

4a. Species biology, distribution, and habitat relationships are well known – 

 OUTCOME D 

 4b. Species biology, distribution, and habitat relationships are not well known – 

 OUTCOME E 

1b. Species with at least 5 documented occurrences on the CNF - (choose 2a, 2b, 2c below) 

2a. Potential suitable habitat is of sufficient abundance on the CNF (pocosins, savannas, lakes, streams) and 

alternative includes objectives to maintain/improve habitat quality for potential habitat and for at least 75% of 

occupied habitat; historic distribution pattern included sites with limited connectivity among multiple sites or 

multiple avenues of connectivity among sites. (choose 3a or 3b below). 

3a. Species is currently well-distributed (Attachment H-4) within at least one Landtype Association – 

or occurs in at least 3 Landtype Associations - OUTCOME B 

3b. Species is not well-distributed on the CNF – OUTCOME C 

2b. Potential suitable habitat is not of sufficient abundance on the CNF (maritime, marl, ponds, marshes) or 

the alternative does not include objectives to maintain/improve habitat quality for potential habitat and/or 

75% of occupied habitat; historic distribution pattern included isolated sites and site clusters. (choose 3a or 

3b below) 

3a. Species is known from at least 3 sites within the surrounding 4-counties and these sites are 

protected by environmental law, i.e. jurisdictional wetlands and open water, -OUTCOME C 

3b. Species is known from less than 3 sites within the surrounding 4-counties or on sites not protected 

by environmental law – OUTCOME D 

2c. Potential suitable habitat is of sufficient quality, abundance and distribution to allow species to stabilize 

 in a pattern similar to reference distribution, i.e., potential distribution = historic distribution –OUTCOME A
520 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

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OUTCOMES (A thru D) SCIENTIFIC NAME 

ALT. 

A 

ALT. 

B 

ALT. 

C 

ALT. 

Cmod 

ALT. 

D 

ALT. 

E COMMENTS 

BIRDS 

Aimophila aestivalis C C C C C B 

Ammodramus henslowii D D C C C C 

Anhinga anhinga D C C C C C 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus D D D D D C 

Phalacrocorax auritus D C C C C C 

Picoides borealis B B B B C B 

CRUSTACEANS 

Procambarus plumimanus B B B B B B

HERPETOFAUNA

Alligator mississippiensis B B B B B B

Crotalus adamanteus D D D D D C

Ophisarus mimicus C C C C C B

Rana capito capito C B B B C B

Seminatrix pygaea D C C C D C And no restoration possible 

INSECTS 

Atrytone arogos arogos D D D D D D no habitat available to ensure viability 

Euphyes berryi E E E E E E insufficient inventory, habitat relationships 

Euphyes bimacula E E E E E E insufficient inventory, habitat relationships 

PLANTS 

Agalinis aphylla D C C C D C 

Agalinis virgata C B B B C B 

Andropogon mohrii D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient inventory 

Asclepias pedicellata C B B B C B 

Asplenium heteroresiliens C C C C C C one site, 1000’s plants, stable population 

Carex basiantha C C C C C C 

Cystopteris tennesseensis C C C C C C one site, 1000’s plants, stable population 

Dionaea muscipula C B B B C B 

Eleocharis robbinsii D C C C D C 

Lachnocaulon beyrichianum D C C C D C 

Lejeunea bermudiana D D D D D D extirpated, last observed in 1953 @ 1 site 

Litsea aestivalis D C C C D C 

Ludwigia linifolia D C C C D C And no restoration possible 

Lysimachia asperulifolia C B C C C B 

Malaxis spicata D D D D D D No habitat available to ensure viability 

maritime habitat 99% in private ownership 

Myriophyllum laxum D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient inventory 

Panicum tenerum D C C C D C 

Peltandra sagittifolia D C C C D C 

Pinguicula pumila C B B B C B 

Platanthera integra D C C C D C 

Platanthera nivea D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient inventory 

Polygala hookeri D C C C D C 

Polygonum hirsutum D D D D D D extirpated, last observed in 1976 @ 1 site 

Ponthieva racemosa C B B B C B 

Rhexia cubensis D C C C D C 

Rhynchospora harperi D C C C D C 

Rhynchospora oligantha C B B B C B 

Rhynchospora pleiantha D C C C D C And no restoration possible 

Rhynchospora scirpoides D C C C D C 

Sagittaria graminea chap. D D D D D D No habitat available to ensure viability 

Scirpus lineatus D C C C D C 

Scleria baldwinii D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient inventory 

Scleria georgiana D C C C D C 

Solidago gracillima D C C C D C 

Solidago leavenworthii D D D D D D extirpated, last observed in 1991 @ 1 site 

Solidago pulchra C B B B C B 

Solidago verna C C C C C B 

Sphagnum fitzgeraldii C C C C C C 

Spiranthes longilabris D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient inventory 

Tofieldia glabra C B B B C B 

Urtricularia olivacea D C C C D C 

Xyris flabelliformis C C C C C C 

Xyris stricta D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient inventory 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 521 

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Table H-9a: Habitat Relationships 

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME 

HABITAT 

BIRDS 

Passerina ciris Painted bunting shrub thickets near tidal water 

INSECTS 

Acronicta sinescripta (a dagger moth) savannas and flatwoods 

Agrotis n. sp. 1 (a dart moth) savannas and flatwoods 

Calephelis virginiensis Little Metalmark savannas and flatwoods 

Hemipachnobia subporphyrea Venus flytrap cutworm moth savannas with venus flytraps 

Pyreferra ceromatica Annoted Sallow mesic hardwood forests 

Spartiniphaga cartera Carter’s Noctuid savannas and flatwoods with pinebarrens reedgrass 

PLANTS 

Rhynchospora macra Large beakrush wet savannas (peaty seepage slope areas) 

Table H-9b: Range-wide Distribution and State Rarity

Rangewide Distribution and state rank1

SCIENTIFIC NAME NC SC GA FL AL MS LA TX VA TN KY AR OK OTHER 

STATES

BIRDS 

 Passerina ciris S3 S? S3 S3 S2 S4 S5 S4 S2 S4 S5 AZ-SN,IL-SR,KS-S3,MT-SR,NE-SR,NY-SR,NM-S4 

INSECTS 

Acronicta sinescripta S2 S? S? 

Agrotis n. sp. 1 S2 

Calephelis virginiensis S3 S? SU S4 SU S4? S4? S? S1 S?

Hemipachnobia S1 

Pyreferra ceromatica S1 S? S? SH SU CT-SH,IN-S2,ME-SX,MI-SH,NH-SX,NJ-SX,NY-SX,PA-SX

Spartiniphaga cartera S2 NJ-S2 

PLANTS 

Rhynchospora macra S1 S1 S1? S2 S1 S3 S2 S1

Table H-9c. Habitat Factors, Regional and Local Population, and Habitat Protection 

Habitat Factors 

Regional 

Population (EOs)6

Local 

Population Habitat Protection 

# of EOs in coarse filter11

by 

-------Alternative --------

SCIENTIFIC NAME 

USFS Status1# of States2

Primary 

Habitat 

Specificity3Fragmtation4Area 1000s ac.

5

4-County 7Public land 8Croatan NF > 100 individuals8> 1000 individuals Distribution10

A B C Cm D E

BIRDS 

Passerina ciris LR 18 tidal land R 66% 1.2 10 2 2 0 0 p1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

INSECTS 

Acronicta sinescripta LR 3 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Agrotis n. sp. 1 LR 1 savannas R 56% 27 5 5 3 0 0 mw1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Calephelis virginiensis LR 10 savannas R 56% 27 10 10 4 0 0 mw1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Hemipachnobia subporphyrea S 1 savannas R 56% 27 2 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Pyreferra ceromatica LR 14 hardwoods R ? 2.3 2 1 1 0 0 i 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Spartiniphaga cartera S 2 savannas R 56% 27 2 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 

PLANTS 

Rhynchospora macra LR 8 savannas R 56% 27 1 1 1 0 0 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 
522 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Table H-9d. Current, Historic, Future Distribution of Species at risk 

HISTORIC CURRENT 

CONDITION CONDITION ALT. ALT. ALT. ALT. ALT. SCIENTIFIC NAME 

 ALT. A B C Cmod D E 

BIRDS 

Passerina ciris 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

INSECTS 

Acronicta sinescripta ? 1 ? ? ? ? ? 

Agrotis n. sp. 1 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 

Calephelis virginiensis 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 

Hemipachnobia subporphyrea 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 

Pyreferra ceromatica ? 1 ? ? ? ? ? 

Spartiniphaga cartera 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 

PLANTS 

Rhynchospora macra 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Table H-9e. Outcomes of Management Alternatives

OUTCOMES (A thru D)

SCIENTIFIC NAME ALT. 

A 

ALT. 

B 

ALT. 

C 

ALT. 

Cmod 

ALT. 

D 

ALT. 

E COMMENTS 

BIRDS 

Passerina ciris C C C C C C 

INSECTS 

Acronicta sinescripta D E E E E E insufficient inventory, habitat 

relationships 

Agrotis n. sp. 1 C B B B C B more locations likely, insufficient 

inventory 

Calephelis virginiensis C B B B C B 

Hemipachnobia subporphyrea D C C C D C 

Pyreferra ceromatica E E E E E E insufficient inventory, habitat 

relationships 

Spartiniphaga cartera D C C C D C 

PLANTS 

Rhynchospora macra D C C C D C more locations likely, insufficient 

inventory 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 523 

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Prepared by Jenna L. Begier 

Monitoring Program 

The RCW monitoring program on CNF exceeds the requirements set forth in the USDA Forest 

Service’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (1995, FEIS) for RCW on national forest lands 

in the Southern Region but is consistent with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Revised Recovery 

Plan for RCW (2000, Draft). The Recovery Plan suggests Level IV monitoring for populations 

deemed essential to recovery and occurring on public lands. Level IV monitoring consists of 

color-banding nestling and adult birds, conducting nest checks at 7-11 day intervals, and 

conducting fledgling and adult checks to determine number and sex of birds. Level IV 

monitoring may be conducted on a sample of active clusters (IVa) or on all active clusters (IVb) 

as has been done on CNF for the past 10 years. 

The FEIS requires that all clusters be surveyed annually for activity status and that only a sample 

of clusters be monitored annually for nesting success and group composition. However, the 

Recovery Plan states that monitoring methods should not be mixed from year to year and that 

color-banding birds will be necessary when and if translocations are used as a management tool. 

Furthermore, the Recovery Plan states that due to sampling error, “...intensive monitoring of a 

sample of groups (Level IVa) can provide reliable estimates of productivity within a short 

period, but cannot estimate population trend until used for a longer period of time (e.g., 5 years)” 

and that “Accuracy of population trend assessment is also dependent on sample size...Thus, 

small samples cannot detect anything but large-scale changes in populations trends.” Therefore, 

continued use of Level IVb monitoring on CNF will provide consistency and the most accurate 

population information. Identification of individuals will also be beneficial when and if withinpopulation translocations are used to promote population growth. However, should the CNF 

population become too large for Forest Service staff to conduct 100% population monitoring, 

then statistically sound sampling methods can be implemented to monitor a subset of the 

population. 

Population Dynamics 

The data in this report are presented only for RCW clusters that are currently on national forest 

land. Therefore, some discrepancies exist between Dr. Walters’s 1997 final report and the 

current report regarding the population and reproductive parameters. 

Several variables are important for monitoring population dynamics including number of active 

clusters, number of potential breeding pairs, proportion of solitary males, and average group size. 

An active cluster is defined as one that has evidence of RCW activity including presence of 

active sap wells, fresh wood chips in one or more cavities, and birds observed in the vicinity of 

the cavity trees. A potential breeding pair is defined as a male and female pair of adult RCWs 

residing in an active cluster. Both are measures of population size, indicating number of 

potential RCW groups and size of the breeding population, respectively. 
524 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

In general, the number of both active clusters and potential breeding pairs began to increase in 

1991 following implementation of Walters management plan (Table 1). These numbers 

continued to increase each year from 2 % to 8 % peaking in 1996. The population subsequently 

suffered a net loss of activity at two clusters per year (3 %) from 1997 through 1999. However, 

the population experienced a 6.5 % increase from 1999 to 2000 that included the formation of 

two entirely new clusters. One of the new clusters was artificially created and the other was a 

result of territorial budding. The number of active clusters remained the same from 2000 to 

2001, however, one recruitment cluster was occupied by a solitary bird post-breeding season. 

This cluster will not be considered active unless it remains active through the 2002 breeding 

season. The CNF breeding population experienced a net increase of one breeding pair in 2001. 

Table H-10-a. Population parameters, 1989-2001 

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

Active Clusters 45 44 50 53 54 57 59 64 62 60 58 62 62 

Potential Breeding 

Pairs 40 36 43 47 49 52 53 55 50 48 45 52 53 

% Solitary Males 11.0 9.1 8.0 9.4 3.7 5.3 8.5 9.4 12.9 10.0 6.9 9.7 9.8 

Avg. Group 

Size 2.45 2.69 2.44 2.53 2.55 2.58 2.64 2.47 2.42 2.31 2.36 2.54 2.62 

# Adults 111 111 125 133 135 151 165 158 139 137 121 142 144 

Proportion of solitary males and average group size are both good indicators of population health 

(USFWS 2000, Walters 1991). A solitary male is an unpaired male residing in an active cluster. 

This definition includes a breeding male that lost his mate but shares the cluster with other 

nonbreeding males such as previous helpers. A small proportion (10% or less) of solitary males 

are always present in a healthy population due to mate loss. However, a primary factor in 

declining populations is low quality territories leading to an increase in the proportion of solitary 

males and gradual abandonment of territories. Breeding males show great site tenacity upon loss 

of a mate and despite declining territory quality, remain on their territory until they die. 

A group of RCWs includes a breeding pair and helpers. Nonbreeding adults, such as solitary 

males, intruders, and floaters, are not included in a calculation of average group size. An 

average size of 2.5 adults is considered desirable and indicates that approximately one half of the 

groups have helpers. Helpers provide the population with a pool of breeder replacements and 

can act as a buffer against fluctuations in productivity and mortality. The presence of helpers has 

also been found to increase group productivity because the group is more likely to attempt 

nesting and less likely to fail. 

The proportion of solitary males on CNF has remained at or below 10% during each of the past 

eleven years except during 1997. Average group size has followed a trend similar to the other 

population measures. Even though the proportion of solitary males returned to acceptable levels 

in 1998, average group size continued to decrease through 1999 indicative of declining 

population health. However, group size rebounded in 2000 to an acceptable level of 2.54 birds 

per group and further increased to 2.62 birds per group in 2001. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 525 

Some possible reasons for the initial population decline are discussed by Walters in his 1997 

final project report to the Forest Service and include hurricane-related mortality and declining 

habitat quality. Two hurricanes affected the area between the 1996 and 1997 breeding seasons 

and could account for the population numbers observed in 1997. However, population 

parameters should have rebounded to some extent in subsequent years. Instead, all population 

parameters, except proportion of solitary males, continued to decline through three breeding 

seasons before exhibiting signs of rebound in 2000. Furthermore, average group size began to 

show declines in 1996, prior to the hurricanes. Walters (1997) believes that although the 

population no doubt experienced some hurricane-related mortality, the prolonged population 

declines observed on CNF are more likely due to changes in habitat quality related to a lack of 

growing season burning. 

Records show that growing season burns were conducted in 1989 and1991 at a total of 12 

clusters in addition to dormant season burning. Growing season burns were not conducted again 

until 1997 and 1998. A total of nine clusters were burned late in the growing season (August) in 

addition to dormant season burning. In 2000, a total of three clusters were burned in the summer 

and in 2001, nine clusters in four separate burn units were burned in the summer. Undoubtedly, 

the Forest Service needs to incorporate more growing season burning into it’s fire regime (see 

Habitat Management Section below), however, the burn history shows that growing season 

burning has never really been a major component of the prescribed burning program on CNF. 

Frequency of burning, even in the dormant season, has also been shown to be an important factor 

in controlling midstory vegetation in addition to season of burn (Hermann and others 1998, 

Brockway and Lewis 1997). Approximately one third of the available clusters have been burned 

on a regular basis with the majority of clusters having been burned irregularly over the past 

eleven years. In contrast, a small number of clusters (10.7%) have not been burned in eleven 

years, primarily due to problems with the urban interface. Five out of seven of those clusters 

were burned in fiscal year 2001 and the remaining two clusters are scheduled for burning in 

2002. Despite the inconsistencies in the prescribed burning program, the number of active 

clusters increased consistently through 1996. Furthermore, the population rebounded in 2000 

with the addition of two new clusters and renewed activity at some clusters despite the fact that 

growing season burning has overall been lacking. Without habitat data available to analyze 

change over time, it is difficult to specifically say that habitat quality is the reason for the 

declines. 

Of notable interest is the decline in total number of adults and average group size beginning in 

1996. Possible reasons for a loss of adults are natural disaster or inclement weather, lack of 

suitable cavities for roosting, disease, or human-induced death. The initial decline predates the 

hurricanes by a year, but the hurricanes certainly contributed to continued decline in 1997. 

Inclement winter weather or severe drought could conceivably cause a noticeable loss of birds if 

it continued for a long period of time, particularly if the population lacks a suitable number of 

cavities for roosting. A cavity tree assessment was completed by Walter’s team in April of 1996 

and only three clusters were deemed in need of cavities, so a lack of cavities does not seem a 

likely explanation. An outbreak of disease could conceivably cause a population decline, but 

without evidence, the prevalence of disease in a population would likely go unnoticed. As for 

human-induced death, occasional incidences of people shooting directly at RCWs has been 
526 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

reported, however, these incidents have been isolated and few. The likelihood that human beings 

would kill enough birds to cause a noticeable decline in population numbers is minimal. 

An examination of the specific clusters where a loss of activity occurred may provide some 

additional insight. All losses of activity were in clusters having unstable breeding histories or no 

breeding history, except for cluster #22. None of these clusters have serious midstory problems 

that would be undesirable to RCWs. However, several of them (908, 22, 907, 50, 42) have fairly 

shrubby understories and would benefit from a growing season burn. Two of these clusters, 68 

and 907, are currently active. 

Records show that cluster #22 was burned in the dormant season in 1990, the dormant season in 

1997, and in late winter of 2000. Birds bred successfully at this cluster through 1998. This 

cluster does not have many cavity trees, and two of the trees have had problems with flying 

squirrels and cavity enlargement. Therefore, this cluster may have a cavity management 

problem. Two artificial cavities have been added, but additional ones may be necessary if 

suitable trees can be located. One of these cavities was active post-breeding season 2000 by a 

solitary male. Unfortunately, this bird either dispersed or died post-breeding season in 2001. 

Three losses were in artificially created clusters (902, 908, and 907). At the time of their 

establishment, cavities were drilled at a height of 10 feet. Current management guidelines 

specify that cavities should be within the range of natural cavity height (USFWS 2000, Draft), 

and RCW cavities are typically 20 to 40 feet high on CNF (pers. obs.). Artificial cavities are 

currently drilled at heights around 20 feet and have so far been successfully occupied by RCWs. 

Three losses were in clusters that are in close proximity to active clusters and have been 

occupied primarily by intruders (908, 68, and 50). Some of these areas may not have enough 

acreage of high quality foraging habitat to support multiple clusters and therefore, may not ever 

be consistently distinct clusters. The Recovery Plan (2000, draft) states that clusters within 0.25 

mile of an active cluster are likely to be captured. Cluster 908 is not likely to be distinct cluster 

because it is too close to an active cluster, whereas, clusters 68 and 50 have greater chances of 

success. Finally, cluster #42 has not had a breeding pair in the past decade and may suffer from 

being somewhat isolated. 

Reproduction 

The Recovery Plan (2000, draft) provides a summary of current data on RCW reproduction and 

gives some average values for various reproductive parameters that can be compared with 

reproductive values on CNF. Nesting effort in a particular year is represented by three variables 

including the proportion of breeding pairs that do not attempt a nest (% no nest), the average 

number of eggs laid per nest (clutch size), and the proportion of breeding pairs that renest after a 

nest failure (% renest). On average, approximately 10% of breeding pairs do not attempt a nest 

and generally renesting attempt follows 30% of nest failures. Typical clutches range from 2 to 4 

eggs. 

Nesting success is measured as the proportion of nests that fail (% fail), the proportion of a 

clutch that is lost (% partial brood loss), and mean number of nestlings that reach fledgling age 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 527 

(brood size). Whereas, a population’s overall productivity is measured as the total number of 

fledglings produced in the population (fledglings) and the mean number of fledglings produced 

per group (young/group). Average values for nesting success are 20% nest failure and 40% 

partial brood reduction. A typical RCW brood contains from 1 to 4 nestlings, and on average, a 

population will produce 1.5 young per group. 

Overall, reproduction on CNF has been within the normal range of reproductive values (Table 2). 

The proportion of groups that did not attempt a nest has, for the most part, remained below 10%. 

Annual mean clutch size has been around 3 eggs per nest (range 2.98 – 3.48), and the mean 

number of young produced has been around 1.5 per group (range 1.31 – 1.83). Furthermore, 

partial brood reduction has primarily remained at or below the average of 40% loss. 

Table H-10-b. Reproductive parameters, 1989-2001 

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

Potential 

Breeding Pairs 39 36 43 47 49 52 53 55 50 48 45 52 53 

% no nest 12 8 7 9 16 12 9 9 8 8 2 4 15 

Clutch size 3.25 3.43 3.47 2.96 3.14 3.20 3.07 3.16 3.11 3.16 3.20 3.27 3.20 

% fail 23 21 12.5 21 29 26 21 20 32.6 13.6 13.6 14 6.6 

% renest 0 29 60 22 25 41.6 60 60 67 16.6 16.6 28.6 0 

% Partial Brood 

loss 49 40 41 37 33 28 40 38 35 44 38 36 41 

Brood size 1.63 2.06 1.98 1.78 1.82 1.96 1.81 1.86 1.73 1.73 1.98 2.06 1.85 

Fledglings 44 52 72 62 64 84 76 85 74 63 78 95 79 

Young/group 1.10 1.49 1.67 1.38 1.45 1.65 1.41 1.52 1.32 1.40 1.73 1.83 1.72 

Walters (1997) notes that in 1997 an unusually high percentage of nests failed (32.6%). 

However, many of those were followed by a second nesting attempt (67%) and annual 

productivity was not unusually low. Productivity was somewhat low in 1998 but the population 

rebounded in subsequent years. Reproductive effort in both 1999 and 2000 was unusually high 

(only 2% did not attempt nesting in 1999 and 4% in 2000), nest failure was below average, and 

the mean number of young produced per group was above average (1.73 in 1999 and 1.83 in 

2000). Furthermore, the total number of fledglings produced in 2000 is the highest of the 

decade. In contrast, the 2001 breeding season was unusual with a high proportion of pairs that 

did not attempt a nest. Approximately half of those pairs had at least one new bird and all new 

birds were inexperienced first-year birds. Of the pairs that attempted nesting, only 6.6% failed to 

fledge young, an unusually low number. Otherwise, 2001 reproductive values were typical and 

overall productivity (young per group) continues to be above average. 

Despite the recent gains in productivity, the CNF population falls within the normal range of 

reproductive parameters for the region, and these parameters have remained relatively stable 

over the past decade. Generally, productivity and survival are not important for implementing a 
528 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

successful management program, rather providing high quality territories and a suitable number 

of usable cavities will ultimately determine success or failure (USFWS 2000). 

Population Viability Analysis 

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently published a document titled “A Practical Handbook of 

Population Viability Analysis” (Morris and others, 1999) that presents quantitative methods for 

determining the viability of rare species populations. Population viability analysis (PVA) allows 

us to quantitatively assess the probability of a population’s continued existence in a given area. 

Utilizing the long-term population count data for RCW, we can predict future population trends 

based on past history, determine the probability of a population ever reaching an extinction 

threshold, and determine the probability of reaching an extinction threshold at some period of 

time(Morris and others 1999, Dennis and others 1991). Counts of total number of adults residing 

in an active cluster were used for the PVA (Table 1). The data were log transformed and a linear 

regression was used to estimate a population mean and variance. Measures of viability were 

calculated using the estimated mean and variance. Refer to Morris and others (1999) for a 

complete explanation of the theory and calculations of this PVA. 

Linear regression estimates a mean of 0.02463 and a variance of 0.0103 for the CNF population. 

A positive mean and a variance that is less than the mean indicates an increasing population 

trend with minimal annual variation. Using the mean and variance, we can estimate the average 

population growth rate in the future given that current management practices continue and 

environmental stochasticity remains within normal parameters. The CNF population can expect 

an average growth rate of 1.03 with a 95% confidence of 0.967 to 1.097. These estimates 

indicate that on average the population will remain stable or increase over time (growth rate ≥ 1). 

However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a population decline because our lower 

confidence limit is less than one. 

We can further estimate the probability that the population reaches a given extinction threshold 

in a scenario of population decline given the current population size, mean, and variance. The 

probability of the CNF population reaching an extinction threshold of 10 individuals is highly 

unlikely (0.000001 or 1 chance in 100,000). An extinction threshold of ten individuals was used 

for the calculation assuming that this population level would represent the brink of extinction. 

A mean time to extinction can be estimated for a population, however, it is not useful for a 

population having a positive population mean and low probability of reaching an extinction 

threshold like that of the CNF population. On CNF, only 1 out of 100,000 possible population 

trajectories is expected to go extinct. Instead, we can estimate the probability that the population 

will have gone extinct at some specified time in the future. For instance, the probability that the 

Croatan population will be extinct in 100 years is only 1 in 5,000,000 (0.0000005) or in 525 

years, the probability of extinction is still only 1 in 100,000. 

Overall, population viability analysis indicates that CNF currently supports a viable population 

of RCWs. The viability of this population is dependent upon the continued use of prescribed 

burning within RCW territories to control hardwoods and promote an understory of native 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 529 

grasses and forbs. It is also dependent upon maintaining an adequate number of suitable cavities 

for roosting and nesting. 

 
530 FEIS for the Croatan LRMP

Literature Cited – RCW Viability Analysis 

Brockway, D.G. and C.E. Lewis. 1997. Long-term effects of dormant-season prescribed fire on 

plant community diversity, structure, and productivity in a longleaf pine wiregrass 

ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management 96: 167-183. 

Carrie, N.R., R.N. Conner, D.C. Rudolph, and D.K. Carrie. 1998. Influence of cavity availability 

on red-cockaded woodpecker group size. Wilson Bulletin 110: 93-99. 

Dennis, B., P.L. Munholland, and J. Michael Scott. 1991. Estimation of growth and extinction 

parameters for endangered species. Ecological Monographs 61: 115-143. 

Hermann, S.M., T.Van Hook, R.W. Flowers, L.A. Brennan, J.S. Glitzenstein, D.R. Streng, J.L. 

Walker, and R.L. Myers. 1998. Fire and biodiversity: studies of vegetation and 

arthropods. Pages 384-401 in Transactions of the 63rd North American Wildlife and 

Natural Resources Conference, March 20-25, 1998, Orlando, FL. Washington, DC: 

Wildlife Management Institute. 

Morris, W., D. Doak, M. Groom, P. Kareiva, J. Fieberg, L. Gerber, P. Murphy, and D. Thomson. 

1999. A Practical Handbook for Population Viability Analysis. : The Nature 

Conservancy. 79pp. 

USDA Forest Service. 1999. Croatan National Forest Proposed Land and Resource Management 

Plan, Revision #1, Volume 1. Management Bulletin Number R8-MB-85A. USDA Forest 

Service, Southern Region, Atlanta, Georgia. 

USDA Forest Service. 1995. Record of Decision: Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 

Management of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and its Habitat on National Forests in the 

Southern Region, Volume 1. Management Bulletin Number R8-MB73. USDA Forest 

Service, Southern Region, Atlanta, Georgia. 162 pp. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000. Technical/Agency Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, 

Georgia. 229 pp. 

Walters, J.R. 1997. Population and Management Studies of Red-cockaded Woodpecker on 

Croatan National Forest, 1988-1997. Project Final Report, internal. National Forests of 

North Carolina. 25pp. 

Walters, J.R. 1991. Application of ecological principles to the management of endangered 

species: the case of the red-cockaded woodpecker. Annual Review of Ecology and 

Systematics 22: 505-523. 
FEIS for the Croatan LRMP 531 

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The following is a comparison of the major differences in land allocation and management 

objectives among alternatives A (current condition) and alternatives B, C, C modified, D, and E 

(preferred alternative) that could affect the quality, abundance, distribution, and stability of 

species at risk on the CNF. 

Table H-11.a: Management objectives by alternative. 

ALT. A ALT. B ALT. C& 

C-mod ALT. D ALT. E 

Growing season burning in the 

RCW Habitat Mgmt. Area. (HMA) (acres per year) 200 1,000 2,000 1,000 2,000 

Average annual burning in CNF (acres) 15,000 12,000 25,000 24,000 25,000 

Longleaf pine restoration (acres) 600 0 4,000 230 2,650-

3,600 

Size of the HMA (acres) 37,845 46,656 46,656 43,424 69,000 

New recruitment stands in 10 years 15-20 15-20 25-30 15-20 20-26 

# of RCW clusters in 10 year 68-75 68-75 85-93 70-78 83-89 

Long-term population objective 126-139 151-169 151-169 136-151 137-169 

Table H-11-b: Rare communities and rare species management objectives by alternative. 

ALT. A ALT. B ALT. C &

C-mod ALT. D ALT.E

# of Registered Natural Areas 11 28 18 11 18 

Total acres in Natural Areas 42,452 63,924 47,730 42,452 47,730 

% CNFs spp. of concern protected in Natural Areas 37% 72% 70% 37% 70% 

#of CNFs spp. of concern EOs within “coarse”1 filter 114 265 259 122 281 

Rare community restoration (acres) 600 50 4,570 230 3,220 to

 4,170 

Average annual burning on CNF (acres) 15,000 12,000 25,000 24,000 25,000 

# of new rare species populations (objective) 0 2 11 0 11 

# of old growth mgmt areas 0 0 21-54 21-54 21-54 

Old growth suitable for timber yes yes no yes no 1/ Natural Areas, Old growth management areas, RCW Habitat Management Area, Wilderness, and Hardwood-Cypress Wetland Management 

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