Planning - Overview
Planning
Guiding the stewardship of the Lolo National Forest.
Forest Plan
Each national forest and grassland is governed by a land management plan (forest plan) in accordance with the National Forest Management Act. Forest plans set desired conditions, standards, and guidelines for management, protection, and use of the Forest. Monitoring conditions on the Forest ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction and determines effects that might require a change in the forest plan.
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Land Management Plan Revision Web Hub
The Lolo National Forest will initiate the revision of its land management plan in early 2023. This effort will take several years and will include extensive public involvement. We look forward to working with you through the revision process!
Existing Lolo Forest Plan (1986)
The Lolo Forest Plan provides management direction for the entire forest. All other plans and projects tier to the Lolo Forest Plan.
- 1986 Forest Plan and Appendices
- Record of Decision
- Final Environmental Impact Statement
- Environmental Impact Statement Appendices
ESA Sec. 7 Consultation on the Effects of the Lolo National Forest Plan on Grizzly Bears
- Biological Assessment [PDF 2.3 MB]
- Biological Opinion [PDF 1.7 MB]
- Grizzly Bear Analysis Units Shapefile [ZIP 0.5 MB]
Contact Allen Byrd at lawrence.byrd@usda.gov for questions about the current forest plan, including amendments.
Projects
Find information on proposed, current, recent and archived projects (environmental assessments, decision notices, and other NEPA documents) for water restoration, habitat improvement, recreation sites, timber sales, roads and more on the Projects page.
Forest Plan Monitoring Program
The Lolo Forest Plan was developed under the authority of the 1982 Planning Rule. In 2012, the US Forest Service adopted a new planning rule that will direct future forest plan revisions. The 2012 Planning Rule (26 CFR 219) required us to modify our forest monitoring program by May 9, 2016 to meet the Planning Rule's monitoring requirements. We have reviewed our monitoring program to meet the new requirements and based on public input made the necessary changes.
The 2012 Planning Rule requires the Forest to produce a Biennial Monitoring and Evaluation Report (BMER). The links below provide access to that report.
Please select the following links for more information:
- Previous Forest Plan Monitoring Reports
- 2016 Monitoring transition letter to the public
- 2016 Transition information
2016 Travel Analysis Report
The travel analysis report is a summary of the science-based transportation analysis the Lolo National Forest completed to ensure that additions to the National Forest System network of roads are those deemed essential for resource management and use; that construction, reconstruction and maintenance of roads minimize adverse environmental impacts; and that unneeded roads are decommissioned and restoration of ecological processes is initiated.