Community members both in Carbon and Emery County are invited to attend the Manti-La Sal National Forest public open houses in September.  The purpose of these open houses is to gather information about Forest conditions to support the revision of the Manti-La Sal National Forest Plan.  The Forest Plan is a land management document that will guide how the Forest will be used for the next 20 years.  Information collected at the September open houses will be used to support the first phase of Plan Revision, the Assessment.  The Assessment report will be used to help determine components of the current Forest Plan that need to be revised.

The open houses will be held at eight locations in communities near the Forest and will run from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Attendees can show up at any time during the two-hours.  Forest service personnel will be on hand to collect data spanning all resource areas—from grazing, timber, and minerals to recreation and wildlife, among others.

*Forest Plan Revision Open House Schedule*

• PRICE – Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                 Carbon County Event Center, 450 S. Fairgrounds Way.

• CASTLE DALE – Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                 Emery County Courthouse, 75 E. Main.

• MANTI – Monday, September 12, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                  Sanpete County Courthouse, 160 N. Main.

• MOAB – Tuesday, September 13, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                 Grand Center, 182 N. 500 W.

• MONTICELLO – Wednesday, September 14, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                  Canyon Country Discovery Center, 1117 N Main Street.

• BLANDING – Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                   Public Library, 25 W 300 South.

• MT. PLEASANT – Thursday, September 29, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                   Mt. Pleasant City Building, 115 W. Main Street.

• PROVO – Friday, September 30, 2016 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
                   Historic Utah County Courthouse, 51 S. University Avenue.

*About Forest Plans and Plan Revision*

Every Forest in the National Forest System is required to have a land management plan in accordance with the National Forest Management Act of 1976.  Known as Forest Plans, these documents provide strategic guidance for how Forest lands are to be managed to allow for multiple uses while maintaining healthy ecosystems.  The Forest Plan sets overarching guidance for implementing site specific projects on the ground.

Established in 1986, the current Manti-La Sal National Forest Plan is 30 years old and needs to be revised to address the changing needs of the Forest and those who use it.  This revision is expected to take four years, starting with the Assessment Phase in 2016 and ending with approval of the new Forest Plan in 2019.

Forest planning is dictated by federal regulations called “planning rules.” The Manti-La Sal National Forest will be conducting its Plan Revision under the 2012 Planning Rule.  The 2012 Planning Rule allows for public participation throughout every Phase of the four-year planning process.  It also emphasizes adaptive management, enabling the Forest to more easily update the Plan in accordance with changing conditions.

For more information about the Manti-La National Forest Plan Revision process, visit http://bit.do/manti-lasalplanrevision or call Blake Bassett, the Manti-La Sal National Forest Plan Revision Partnership Coordinator, at 435-636-3508.