Plan Revision Document Library

The following is a message from Carolyn Upton, Lolo National Forest Supervisor:

Greetings,

I want to thank everyone who lent their time, knowledge, and effort to achieving another significant milestone in the Lolo National Forest’s plan revision process: the release of the revised assessment. This document reflects months of work from a remarkable cadre of individuals that care about the future of our public lands, and I am humbled by the commitment to collaborative management we’ve experienced during the revision process.  

We received valuable feedback during the comment period on both the draft assessment and potential species of conservation concern lists. A description of the comments and our responses is outlined in the Comment Summary posted on the Web Hub. All comments received will soon be available for public review in the comment application reading room as well. The revision team has used the comments to revise the assessment. The Regional Forester and her staff are working on the reviewing and finalizing the species of conservation concern list that we will use for plan development. 

Reflecting on the revised assessment, it is imperative we use the energy brought to this work to forge ahead. We remain committed to the 2012 Planning Rule guidance that allows changes to the assessment as time goes by; however, our focus must also be toward thoughtful forward momentum. The work presented in the assessment sparked conversations and learning opportunities that will continue as we move through the process together. With this in mind, we are posting a draft “preliminary need to change” document with the revised assessment. This next step considers what we’ve learned in the assessment and identifies items that the revised plan needs to focus on. This document is a conversation starter for our plan development work together, and you will see an updated version posted with our proposed action shortly after the new year. 

One element of our plan revision work is the identification of best available scientific information (BASI). Identifying BASI is an important role of the assessment and it’s a large, complex, and controversial job. The importance of this issue was highlighted by the requests we received to conduct an independent science review. We are exploring opportunities for such an undertaking, and I anticipate the time may be ripe for this work following the release of the proposed action. I am committed to ensuring our work to identify and use BASI is thorough and transparent, and that the Lolo’s revised plan is rooted in sound scientific principles. The revised assessment represents the start of this work; however, our review and documentation of BASI will continue throughout the revision process, and I encourage you to stay involved in the discussion.  

As we continue to move through the revision process in alignment with agency directives, it’s of utmost importance to me that we create a forest plan that reflects the values of its stakeholders. Whatever reason brings you to the Lolo National Forest and the revision process is part of the story of this public land. Challenging conversations, creative approaches, and different viewpoints mark the road ahead; however, with your help I am confident that we will produce a revised land management plan that meets the needs of the landscape we cherish and the public we serve. Once again, my thanks for investing your time in the Lolo and this work. 

Sincerely,

Carolyn Upton, Lolo NF Supervisor

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who is taking time to review and comment on the proposed action for the Lolo's plan revision. The information we provided is complex; your efforts to provide input is appreciated and vital to the process. I have been listening carefully during our engagements and I visit frequently with the team to ensure that we are responsive and transparent – values that I continue to emphasize through this planning process.

We are just past the half-way point of the comment period, which closes April 1, and have already received input that will help us refine our efforts in the next phase of plan revision. For example, we heard concerns that the desired recreation opportunity spectrum maps in the proposed action remove substantial amounts of existing winter motorized recreation opportunities. This was not our intent; the team and I took a closer look and discovered data processing errors. The intent was for the proposed action to approximately reflect the current condition of motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities. We have also received a variety of requests for additional information, data, and more detailed or comparative maps. We are taking these requests into consideration as we analyze all the input that will be received from the comment period and work on products for the future. To limit confusion and promote consistency, we do not plan to share any new information or data during this comment period.

I have received requests to extend the scoping comment period due to issues described above. These issues are expected during scoping – the recognition of errors in data, requests for better communication products, submission of additional information, issues, and options. This input is the purpose of scoping and does not require an extension of the scoping period. Rather, I have committed to taking these scoping comments seriously and will provide updated products, as appropriate, as soon as our team can work through the necessary processes. Our team and I will continue to engage with all of you as we provide updated and additional information throughout the upcoming months. Public involvement is ongoing and continuous.

To that end – please check back on the Web Hub soon for information about updated plan revision products and webinar opportunities for you to learn about them and ask questions. Also, we are planning on hosting events at our Ranger Districts in late spring to check in with all of you on our preliminary development of alternatives reflecting your scoping input. Stay tuned for more information, dates and times!

I am committed to ongoing and meaningful engagements throughout the entire process, not just the scoping period. The team and I will continue to listen, engage, and be available to talk with you. Please let us know if you we can help you, your group, or your organization understand and engage with us.

The scoping comment period will end April 1, 2024. Please visit the Lolo Plan Revision Web Hub ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision) to comment using our online database, find supporting materials and information, and the schedule of engagement opportunities. Again, thank you for your efforts on this important planning process.

• Carolyn Upton, Forest Supervisor