George Washington National Forest Plan Revision

Alternative refinement Workshop, July 14, 2 PM - 8 PM, Forest Service Supervisor's Office in Roanoke - A very important event will occur on July 14, as the Forest Service unveils its ideas for at least six alternatives for the George Washington National Forest's 15-Year plan revision. This is your opportunity to learn about them, to discuss them with the Forest Service, and to encourage the Forest Service to develop strong alternatives that will protect the resources of this 1.1 million acre national forest. More info. about this meeting

The Forest Service is starting up the plan revision process for the George Washington National Forest. A notice is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Monday March 8, 2010. The following are dates/times for the associated public workshops (note: these could be subject to change).

All Meetings will begin at 6:30 pm and end at 9:00 pm

On June 30, 2009, a judge in the 9th Federal Circuit overturned the Bush administration’s forest planning rules. A drastic weakening of existing planning regulations first implemented under Ronald Reagan, the new rules did not adequately protect wildlife or waterways, did not provide for adequate levels of public participation, and allowed vague guidelines to be substituted for enforceable standards. The judge’s decision will likely have an immediate effect in Virginia. The revision of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF) Plan had been proceeding under these flawed rules, and local groups had noted several deficiencies in our own Plan due to reliance on them. It is anticipated that Planning will come to a brief halt until the Obama administration determines which rules to use.

In the future, the Forest Service will resume revising its management plan for the George Washington National Forest. This plan will determine what level of protection local treasures such as Massanutten, Big Schloss, and Shenandoah Mountain receive. A strong management plan would recommend permanent protection of these areas with Wilderness, National Scenic Area, or National Recreation Area status. A weak management plan would endanger old growth forests and pristine watersheds by opening them to logging and natural gas extraction. Come tell the Forest Service that you want to protect our last great places in Virginia. Let's show the Forest Service how important this resource is to Northern Virginians and all Virginians.You can view the Forest Service's web site for this review process at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/revision/index.shtml

Send Comments on GW National Forest Plan Revision - Click on this link for an easy-to-use email comment form to the Forest. And pass this on to friends and neighbors.

The Forest Plan Revision process can be frustrating, lengthy, and mystifying, but, remember, it will shape the direction of our 1.1 million acre GWNF for the next fifteen years. We encourage citizens to continue to ask the Forest Service for full protection of a.) all Virginia mountain treasures, b) all existing old growth forest tracts and buffers around them, c) rare, threatened, and endangered species, d) riparian areas around all waterways, especially those that supply drinking water and those that contain important fisheries, and e) Natural Heritage program identified special biological areas and conservation areas. If you enjoy visiting particular trails, rivers, or places on the GWNF, please mention them by name and urge the Forest Service to protect them for future generations to enjoy!


For more information see:

Website of a coalition of Virginia groups = http://www.forestsforthefuture.org/

Forest Service's webpage for this review process - http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/revision/index.shtml

And check with this Virginia Forest Watch webpage for future updates

Upcoming Meetings & Opportunities

There are no upcoming meetings

We encourage you to attend one or more of the public meetings on the George Washington National Forest. Comments about the Plan via letters, emails, phone calls and faxes are important anytime (both now and after planning resumes). Comments should be sent to the George Washington-Jefferson National Forests Headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia. Please contact the Forest Service Mailing address: Maureen Hyzer, Forest Supervisor, George Washington National Forest,162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24019-3050 Email address: comments-southern-georgewashington-jefferson@fs.fed.us (Please write "Comment on George Washington Plan Revision" in the subject line of your post.) Fax numbers:(540) 265-5145(540) 265-5109

Past Meetings Archives


March 12, 2009

GWNF Forest Plan Revision Review with the Forest Service – Thursday evening, March 12th, 2009 @ 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm

The presentation will start at 7:00 pm but come at 6:45 to view the maps.

Location - NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) Building at 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203. It's near the intersection of Wilson Blvd and Glebe Rd, one block from the Ballston Metro stop on the Orange Line. After-hours free parking is available in the building's parking garage, which is entered on Taylor St.Directions to the facility can be found at: http://www.nreca.org/ContactUs/directions.htm


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February 5, 2009

Time: 6:30-9:00 p.m., The location of the February 5, 2009 public workshop has been changed to W.W. Robinson Elementary School, 1231 Susan Avenue, Woodstock, VA. This is located next door to the Middle School.


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October 29 and 30, 2008

Two more public meetings for revising the Forest Plan of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF) have been set for October 29 and 30, 2008. Details are in the box below, as posted on the GWNF website. The topic of both meetings will be road and trail access. Please attend meetings or write to the Forest Service.

Key Points to Raise:


1.) ROADS: There are approx. 1,872 miles of roads on the George Washington, and as of 2003, the road maintenance backlog for the combined GW/Jefferson was about $19.34 million. (USFS, Fiscal Year 2004 Forest Service Budget Justification (2003)). The maintenance backlog has undoubtedly gone up since this last report was released, due to continued low levels of agency funding and continued roadbuilding in the interim. This costly roads maintenance backlog should be improved by decommissioning unneeded roads or converting them to non-motorized trails. Roads that are negatively impacting watersheds, soils, native plant diversity, and wildlife should be decommissioned, where appropriate, as well. A reasonably rapid timetable, with benchmarks, should be implemented in order to ensure that the Forest Service substantially reduces unneeded road mileage over the course of the next 10-15 years.


2.) ROADS: In order to protect remote habitat for wildlife, black bears, wild turkey, and other wildlife, the Forest Service currently uses so-called road density requirements as a roads management tool. These road density requirements also have other benefits, including protecting the recreation experience, protecting water quality in important watersheds, and ensuring peace and quiet for surrounding neighbors. Road density requirements should remain part of the desired condition for areas now specifically managed for Bear, Turkey, Grouse, and other wildlife. Indeed, they should be strengthened and should become binding standards. Before changing any road density requirements, the Forest Service should use peer-reviewed research and local studies to determine what the adequate or optimal road density levels are for key species of wildlife. Black bears are one such keystone species. A thorough landscape-wide analysis of all threats to black bears, (including the impacts of new road construction, four-lane highways, residential and other development outside of national forests) should be part of the research utilized. When we think of the Appalachians, one of the first things that comes to mind is the black bear. Black bears were nearly wiped out by the early 20th century and were brought back from the brink, with careful efforts, over subsequent decades. Let's not throw away the gains we've made by creating new roads or opening too many areas to vehicle traffic on Forest Service lands without a thoughtful analysis first.


3.) TRAILS: If you have favorite trails on the George Washington NF, cite examples of non-motorized trail(s) on the George Washington National Forest that you are familiar with. We must ensure that key non-motorized trails are recognized, adequately maintained, and have fully protected viewsheds and corridors. Some trails that you might mention include the Appalachian Trail, the Alleghany Trail, the Tuscarora Trail, the proposed Great Eastern Trail, the North Mtn Trail (Lee District), the Shenandoah Mountain Trail, the Wild Oak Trail, the Dowells Draft Trail, Rader Mtn Trail, Slate Springs Trail, Bother Ridge Trail, Chestnut Ridge Trail, Grooms Ridge Trail, Sand Spr. Mtn Trail, Timber Ridge Trail, Lookout Mtn Trail, the Little Stony Trail, the Shaws Ridge Trail, the Crawford Mountain Trail, the Chimney Hollow Trail, the North Mtn. Trail (North River District), Walker Mtn. Trail (#488), Paddy Knob Trail, Bogans Run Trail, Warm Springs Mtn. Trail, Piney Ridge Trail, Little Mare Mtn Trail, Brushy Ridge Trail, Beards Mtn Trail, Dry Run Trail, White Rocks Tower Trail, North Mtn Trail (James River District), Oliver Mtn Trail, Jerrys Run Trail, Bat Lick Trail, Signal Knob Trail, Massanutten Mtn Trail, Duncan Hollow Trail, Roaring Run Trail, Mills Cr Trail, Kennedy Ridge Trail, and Whetstone Ridge Trail. But there are many others. Please talk about your favorite spots!
Background information about the meetings should be posted soon at the GWNF website, www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/revision/meetings.shtml. Information on previous meetings and the planning process for the GWNF can also be found there.

Please attend one or both meetings if you can. It is important to express your ideas to the Forest Service.

Comments about the Plan via letters, emails, phone calls and faxes are critical. The Forest Service will continue accepting comments for the remainder of 2008 and possibly beyond. Comments should be sent to the George Washington-Jefferson National Forests Headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia. Please contact the Forest Service:


Mailing address:
Maureen Hyzer, Forest Supervisor
George Washington National Forest
5162 Valleypointe Parkway
Roanoke, VA 24019-3050

Email address:
comments-southern-georgewashington-jefferson@fs.fed.us
(Please write "Comment on George Washington Plan Revision" in the subject line of your post.)

Fax numbers:
(540) 265-5145
(540) 265-5109

Phone numbers:
(888) 265-0019
(540) 265-5100

NEWS:

Roanoke Times March 7, 2007 Editorial: Under a new rule on the forests - Roanoke Times Columnist Elizabeth Strother writes about the George Washington NF Plan Revision and the new rules that will guide the process.

A call to protect the forest - an op-ed encouraging public involvement during the George Washington NF Plan Revision written by VAFW's Sherman Bamford. It appeared in the February 25, 2007 Roanoke Times.

Feb. 16, 2007: Conservationists call for ecological restoration on the George Washington National Forest - A broad coalition of conservation and forest-protection groups called on the U.S. Forest Service today to focus on protecting clean water, diverse wildlife habitat, old-growth forests and remote, wild areas, as well as prime recreation spots, in updating the long-range management plan for the 1.1 million-acre George Washington National Forest in western Virginia. | Read Press Release | "Forests for the Future" - a brochure highlighting the Citizens Vision for the GWNF.

RESOURCES:

“Our Land, Our Water, Our Home” - a white paper on our long-term vision for the GWNF

"Forests for the Future" - a brochure highlighting the Citizens Vision for the GWNF.

U.S. Forest Service Home Page http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/ and GW-JNF Plan Revision webpage http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/revision/index.shtml

Website by a coalition of Virginia groups working on the 10-15 year plan revision for the George Washington - http://www.forestsforthefuture.org