Matt Schultz, Gila National Forest planner, speaks to Chamber members about Forest Management Plan updating process.

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

At the Thursday, July 7, 2016, Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon, Matt Schultz, Gila National Forest planner, presented an update on the progress of the GNF management plan update.

Before the featured speaker was introduced, Bruce Ashburn, Chamber board member, allowed Ted Presler of the Silver City Community Theater to tell about the play "And Then There Were None" to take place July 15, 16, and 17 at the Silver City Playhouse Center at the corner of College and Black Street. Admission is $10 per person.

Presler said the group's goal is to put on four plays a year, which he admitted was rather ambitious. They seek to perform Class a shows, like this one, and Class B, deeper ones like Chekov and Shakespeare. "We are looking for directors and lots of actors."

Ashburn reminded those who plan to attend the chamber monthly luncheons to please RSVP, so enough food is provided. "Otherwise, the cafeteria has to scramble to find more food." Scott Terry, Chamber president, said if anyone had a favorite meal to request to do so through him.

Ashburn, local PNM marketing director, also presented a PNM rebate to Bobby Bhakta of the Copper Manor Motel for recent renovations. Bhakta did not reveal the amount, but said: "It is good."

Flyers on PNM rebates were available for people to pick up that day after the luncheon. William Knuttinen of Morones and Knuttinen praised PNM for its help when they changed out all their light bulbs and installed solar, making it much brighter in their office. "We had a nine-to-10-month payback for our costs."

"It keeps paying," Jane Janson of the Small Business Development Center said.

Schultz, as he began the update on the management plan, introduced Silver District Ranger Diane Taliaferro, who would also speak.

"Why should you care about forest planning?" Schultz asked. "The forest provides clean water and fresh air; food; economic opportunities; wood products; cultural and religious practices; and recreation."

He said the forest plan provides guidance for the forest over the next 10 to 15 years or more. The forest plan revision is an opportunity for the Gila National Forest to have "your knowledge and suggestions heard to shape the forests' future management and to build on your relationships with other users and with Gila staff in a shared vision."

The National Forest Management Act was passed in 1976 and requires that forest plans be revised periodically. The Gila NF plan was approved in 1986, and "although it has been amended several times, changes in policy and the area require an update," Schultz said.

Plan components include desired conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines and suitability.

The revision process must follow the 2012 Planning Rule, which includes increased emphasis on collaboration and public engagement; sustainability and ecosystem services; cross-jurisdictional coordination; multiple-use management and use of the best available science, according to the PowerPoint presentation.

"Multiple use is still part of the mandate," Schultz confirmed.

The plan revision process occurs over multiple years. "We are in the middle of the assessment phase, which takes about a year or two," Schultz said. "The next phase is the plan revision, which takes place over multiple years. After it is finalized and approved, the implementation and monitoring go on for more than 15 years."

Important ecological resources to be considered for the management plan are ecosystems; air, soil and water resources; natural processes; carbon stocks; and at-risk species.

Important social and economic influences include social, cultural and economic conditions; benefits people obtain from the GNF; multiple uses and their economic contributions; recreation; energy and minerals; infrastructure; areas of tribal importance; cultural and historical resources; land ownership and use; and designated areas.

"We need to harness your knowledge and data if you have it," Schultz said. "We will develop a vision for the forest based on need for change. We will evaluate areas that may be suitable for special designation, and we will develop a draft plan and alternatives using the NEPA process."

He noted there would be plenty of opportunities for comments to the draft plan.

"Once the plan is finalized, we will use monitoring to determine if we are making progress toward our goals," Schultz said.

"Tell us what you value about the forest and offer your ideas on forest management with us," he continued.

For more information, he invited attendees to visit http://go.usa.gov/h88k, where people can find links to the 2012 planning rule and the final directives. He also invited emails to gilaplan@fs.fed.us

"We plan to release the draft assessment within the next month or so," Schultz said. "We will hold more public meetings, and will revise as needed. We have received more than 200 pages of assessment comments through the website.

"After the assessment, we will move into plan revision," he said.

Linda Pecotte, attendee, asked: "During the objection period, can the plan be changed or is it just show? And will you take data and information?"

"Yes," Schultz replied. "We have a new process, which we call the objection period. It used to be called appeals."

Terry asked how the Travel Management Plan fits into the revised forest plan.

"The Travel Management Plan will be part of the revised plan," Schultz said. "TMP is being implemented in other parts of the forest, but not yet in the Glenwood and Silver Ranger Districts."

Taliaferro said the plan was right now being implemented in the Quemado, Reserve, Wilderness and Black Range districts. "In the Silver and Glenwood districts, we are not going to implement TMP until January, until the historical and cultural resources get caught up in the state Historic Preservation Division. January 1 is the target date for implementation."

Tom Vaughan asked, in the assessment of threats, if the climate getting hotter and drier was being included.

Schultz said it was and "it ricochets through resources."

Terry asked for an update on forest fires in the Gila.

Taliaferro said: "We are not in the monsoon yet. We have had 50 fires on the forest, including lighting and campfire caused." She said the Spur Fire at about 2,900 acres, the Turkey Fire at about 6,920 acres and the McKenna Fire at about 10,200 acres are being monitored for resource benefit, plus a couple of other small ones. We started sending smokejumpers farther north. We had some successful prescribed burns, including the Cameron Fire that you probably saw the smoke from. It treated about 2,000 acres for grassland improvement. A lot of our resources are in California now, and a lot went to the Dog Head Fire."

Presler asked what the Forest Service planned to do about drones.

"Drones fall into an emerging issue," Schultz said. "We want to determine what benefits they have and possible consequences of their use on public land."

Taliaferro said the FAA controls drones in the air space. "The Forest Service has a national team discussing how to use drones. They could be used in fire management and in land surveys. Right now, the task team is working with the FAA and other agencies on policy. National Parks said no to drones. We see how we could beneficially use drones, but probably not in the wilderness. Hopefully, we will have a policy within the next year or so."

She said it's not just an issue for the forest, but counties and municipalities need to be thinking about recreational drones. "We may not allow them in campgrounds. Recreational drones fly at 400 feet and below. You have to address them."

Vic Topmiller asked how the limitations of the TMP would affect mining and exploration.

"The Travel Management Plan sets out where one can drive for motorized travel," Taliaferro said. "We request that you provide a plan for grazing, mining or the like. It doesn't shut down timber harvesting, mining, or grazing. We still have the authority to allow the activities with a plan provided to us."

An attendee asked about invasive species.

Schultz said: "What we have found in the Gila is that our forest doesn't have as much of an issue with invasive species, although some are getting established. We have mostly controlled them. We need survey data."

Taliaferro said the GNF this year has hired an individual to do an invasive species inventory. "This forest tried to do an EIS, but there was a lot of outcry against the herbicide that was used. We just approved a grant to the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance to treat salt cedar. The key now is to do monitoring and treatment."

Schultz said the issue of invasive species is conducive to cross-agency and land owner cooperation in weed management.

"When you hear invasive species, we automatically think plants," Taliaferro said, "but we are also managing invasive fish species. It can be wildlife, too."

Paul Leetmae asked what invasive fish species were being targeted.

"We have seven threatened and endangered species of fish that live only in this area," Taliaferro said. "Bass and rainbow trout are invasive. We work with Game and Fish, and the state likes to stock fish in some places for fishing. It's a balance."

Schultz said the forest collaborates with Game and Fish to expand the Gila trout range. "We will look at other state agency and area plans."

Terry said the Gem and Mineral Society has a claim in the forest. "The road got real bad. We presented a plan to the Forest Service, and they let us fix it. You have to let them know what you plan to do."

In other announcements, Pecotte said she had voter registration forms. "If you change your address, you need to let the clerk know, even if you leave the state. The voter record has to be correct."

Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner said the city had passed the handheld cell phone ban, which went into effect June 26. "The fine is $400 if you are caught using a handheld phone while driving. Three times a week we post it in the newspapers. On July 26, we will start enforcing it."

As for the stop sign at Sixth and Bullard street, he said the nature of downtown had changed, with a lot of people crossing the street back and forth. "Two days ago, we painted STOP on the pavement. Back on the cell phone issue. We will post signage on the three main entrances to town and in three other locations."

"On behalf of the town," Ladner said. "I thank everyone involved in the Fourth of July Parade and the fireworks."

Emily Schilling of the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments said Aldo Leopold High School, the Opportunity School and Cliff High School have been working on teaching soft skills. "I have a link to a survey for business owners to give us your feedback. We will get teachers to teach soft skills to freshmen and sophomores." To a question about what soft skills were, she said: "Things like how to address an envelope, how to dress for an interview, and to be on time to work."

At the end of the luncheon people networked and asked questions of the Forest Service representatives.