The introduction of wood into streams would be both continual (normal tree fall) and episodic (due to fires and flood). This results in a large range of natural variation under historic disturbance regime in the amount of wood in streams. In general, the number of pieces of wood in a stream decreases as streams get larger. Stream habitat features, such as bank stability, pools, large woody material and sediment would be within reference ranges. Some reference ranges for specific habitat features are shown below in tables 1 and 2. Table 1. Desired stream habitat features in metasedimentary and sedimentary parent material Habitat Feature Median Minimum Maximum One standard deviation Influential Variables Large Woody Material (pieces/mile) 222 15 910 82-461 Stream size, forest disturbance, stream type Pool Frequency (pools/mile) 35 4 154 10-67 Stream type, woody material Table 2. Desired stream habitat features in metasedimentary parent material Habitat Features Median Minimum Maximum One Standard deviation Influential Variables Residual Pool Depth (meter) 0.43 0.17 1.0 0.24-0.67 Stream type, bankfull width, stream power Median Reach Particle Size (mm) 41 17 98 26-65 Channel slope, stream power, sinuosity, woody material Percent Pool 44 7 88 26-64 Stream type, Percent Stable Banks 74 18 100 53-95 Stream type, bank material Bank Angle 112 56 148 87-132 Stream type, bank material
Access and Travel Management Background and Distinctive Roles and Contributions The Flathead National Forest has about 3,400 miles of system roads and 2,300 miles of system trails that were constructed to support forest management activities, such as fire suppression, timber harvesting, mining, and recreation. Much of the trail system has been in existence since the early 1900s. Later, as motorized transportation became common, many of the trails were abandoned or replaced by roads. The bulk of the road system was constructed in the decades following World War II when demand for building materials was high and the Flathead National Forest had a large timber sale program. In the last few decades, funding has not been sufficient to maintain all forest roads and trails to national standards that are important for minimizing resource impacts. Where maintenance requirements are not accomplished, conditions and trends show: User convenience has decreased. Risk of damage to water quality and aquatic habitat has increased on some roads. With population growth there has been an increase in demand on forest roads as primary access routes to residential developments. Use of much of the road system has shifted from resource extraction to recreation and residential access, with requirements for higher safety standards. Protection of wildlife habitat and lack of maintenance funding has limited motorized travel. Trail maintenance is generally focused on high-use trails. Overall, fewer trails are being maintained to standard. Recreation use and the demand for motorized and non-motorized access have increased. Advances in performance and technology have resulted in increased use during summer and winter by off-highway vehicles (OHVs), mountain bikes, and snowmobiles. Forest-Wide Desired Conditions The transportation system would provide reasonable and legal access for resource management and recreation while protecting other important resources. Open roads and trails would provide for user safety and be maintained to the appropriate service level. Roads with high residential access needs would be managed by the appropriate local, state, or federal agency. Motorized use would only occur on designated roads, trails, or areas. The transportation system would not encroach onto streams and riparian areas in ways that impact channel function or geometry. Sediment delivery from the transportation system would not measurably impact pool frequency, pool habitat, or salmonid spawning habitats.
Table 11: Designated Areas of the Flathead National Forest. Designated Areas Plan Component Special Area Designation Authority Additional Guidance Currently Designated Recommended Designation Statutorily Designated Areas National Trails Historic Scenic National Trails System Act of October 2, 1968 Responsible Official recommends, Congressional act designates FSM 2353.4 Scenic Continental Divide Trail Sun River Pass Trail #116 Bowl Cr Trail #324 Strawberry Creek Trail #161 Badger Pass Cutoff Trail #147 Will be updated No changes Wild and Scenic River (WSR) Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Responsible Official recommends, Congressional act designates FSM 1924 FSM 2354, FSH 2409.12 MA 2.1 Middle Fork Flathead North Fork Flathead South Fork Flathead Eligible For Further Study Big Salmon Spotted Bear White River Danaher Little Salmon Gateway Yakinikak/ Trail/ Nokio Lebeau Logan Aeneas Potentially others to be determined by the eligibility process Wilderness Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964 Great Bear Authority Act of FSM 1923 FSM 2320 FSH 2409.19 Bob Marshall Great Bear Mission Mountains Recommended Wilderness To be determined
1978. Responsible Official recommends, Congressional act designates MA 1.1 Responsible Official Designated Areas Botanical Areas Responsible Official designates FSM 2372 Condon Creek Recommended Botanical Areas Teepee Lake Complex Johnson Terrace Bent Flat Fen Trail Creek Fen Hiking Area Responsible Official designates CFR 294 Jewel Basin Hiking Area Administratively Designated Areas Experimental Forest/Range Responsible Official recommends with concurrence of Station Director, Chief designates FSM 4062 Coram No Changes
National Recreation Trails Responsible Official recommends, Regional Forester designates 36 CFR 290 FSM 2353.4 Blacktail Wild Bill OHV Trail Danny On Memorial Elk Mountain Holland Falls Lupine Lake Ralph Thayer Smokey Range/ Whitefish Divide No changes National Register of Historic Places National Historic Preservation Act of October 15, 1966 (as amended) Archeological Resources Protection Act Responsible Official and State Historic Preservation Officer recommend, Secretary of Interior designates 36 CFR 60 36 CFR 296 36 CFR 800 Secretary of Interior Standards and Guidelines for Archeological and Historical Preservation Hornet Peak Lookout Wurtz Homestead Stone House Bob Marshall /Great Bear Wilderness Historic District Big Creek Workcenter Old Condon Cabin Swan Guard Station Ford Cabin Spotted Bear Ranger Station Star Meadow Cabin Research Natural Areas Responsible Official recommends, Regional Forester designates with concurrence of Station Directors FSM 4063 MA 3.2 Coram East Shore Lebeau Little Bitterroot Swan River Tuchuck Nyack Flats To be updated
Common name Species scientific name Guideline common loon Gavia immer Continue to cooperate in educating the public on how to avoid disturbing nesting loons. peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus Continue with cooperative monitoring. Townsend's big-eared bat Corynorhinus townsendii Survey mines, caves and structures for hibernacula or nurseries before implementing projects. Protect occupied sites. Rocky Mountain elk White-tailed deer Cervus elaphus Odocoileus virginianus Work with the state towards meeting population objectives using vegetation and access management. The following table displays the wildlife species-of-conservation-concern and project guidelines for each species or group of species that require management above what is provided with existing direction for ecosystem diversity. Table 13: Animal species-of-conservation-concern with guidelines specific to a group of species Common name Species scientific name Guidelines alpine mountainsnail carinate mountainsnail lake disc Oreohelix alpine Oreohelix elrodi Discus brunsoni Survey suitable habitat that may be impacted by a project if that project is within 20 miles of a known dry mollusk population. Occupied habitat should be protected by a 50-meter buffer zone or some other appropriate mitigation. The Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy shall direct project planning and implementation. The over-snow vehicle use map would be used for consistency for motorized access and road closures in big game winter range habitat. In the Emery Creek winter range and calving areas, motorized access restrictions from December 1 to July 1 should be applied as necessary to prevent disturbance to big game. During facilities planning, new facilities (or expansion of existing facilities) in important wildlife connectivity areas should be avoided. Expansion and/or improvement of existing facilities should be favored over the construction of new ones.