The Manti-La Sal National Forest is revising its Forest Plan and needs the public’s input. Several open houses have been schedule throughout Southeast Utah during the month of July to explain the entire Forest Plan Revision process.

Blake Bassett, Partnership Coordinator, explains further, “It’s the first plan revision since 1986, so about 30 years ago and the forest plan revision really dictates or provides strategic guidance for how a national forest should be managed, from recreation to grazing, ranching things like that it just provides that overarching guidance for the forest.”

There are three phases to the revision plan, the first being the assessment which is where the public comes in. “To try and get the public involved, to try and get feedback for this forest plan revision, you know how people are using the forest, how they would like it to be used in the future and just general feedback on components of this forest plan,” said Bassett. The information gathered from the open houses will help to establish an assessment report to identify components of the current forest plan that need to be changed.

The second phase of the process is the development of a new draft forest plan. Once the new forest plan is completed the final phase of implementation and monitoring will begin.

All of the open houses will run from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and the public can drop by and speak with the Forest Plan Revision team during the two-hour time frame at the following locations:

July 11 in Price at the Carbon County Event Center
July 12 in Moab at the Grand Center
July 13 in Monticello at the canyon Country Discover Center
July 14 in Blanding at the Public Library
July 19 in Castle Dale at the Emery County Courthouse
July 21 in Manti at the Sanpete County Courthouse 

If you are unable to attend the open houses your voice still matters and your participation is important. Bassett finished by saying, “It allows for a more holistic approach for the forest planning process really it enables the public to have a stronger voice in the process.”

To learn more about the revision plan, visit the website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/mantilasal.com or call the price office at (435) 636-3508

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