Alpine Communities

Photographers: Ellen Morris Bishop (#1), Mary O'Brien (#2) & Thomas Meinzen (#3)

GOALS

Conservation Alternative Goals (FW-ALPINE-GL): 01-02

1. As alpine vegetation is one of the most vulnerable habitats for alpine plants and alpine-dependent wildlife due to increasing temperature and forest migration, ungulate and recreation management are priorities in support of the rare alpine vegetation communities on MLNF.

   
   

2. Partnerships are extensively utilized for mapping recreational and ungulate impacts and removing mountain goats.

Proposed Management Plan (Management Plan, Vol. 1) Goals (FW-ALPINE-GL): 01

1. Work with state and other partners to monitor alpine vegetation condition and trends to inform management decisions for projects proposed in alpine habitat.

DESIRED CONDITIONS

Conservation Alternative Desired Conditions (FW-ALPINE-DC): 01-04

1. Non-native ungulates and artificial populations of native ungulates and their impacts are absent above 11,000’. 

   
   

2. Alpine habitat and communities above 11,000’ are exhibiting minimal impacts from human uses.

   
   

3. Maximum alpine native biological diversity is retained.

   
   

4. Contractions in species’ ranges and populations in response to climate change are not exacerbated by human or ungulate uses.

Proposed Management Plan (Management Plan, Vol. 1) Desired Conditions (FW-ALPINE-DC): 01-02

1. Trampling, treading, wallowing, and grazing by native and nonnative ungulate species are at levels that do not result in population declines of native plant species, including at-risk plants.

   
   

2. Alpine ecosystems are resilient to natural- and human-caused impacts and provide refugia foR alpine-dependent plant and wildlife species, including at-risk plants and at-risk animals.

OBJECTIVES

Conservation Alternative Objectives (FW-ALPINE-OB): 01-05

1. Within one year of plan approval, partnerships to accomplish removal of non-native mountain goats from the alpine area of La Sal Mountains are established.

   
   

2. Within two years of plan implementation, the removal of mountain goats from the alpine area of La Sal Mountains has been initiated.

   
   

3. Within two years of plan implementation, one informational kiosk, or interpretive  sign, at each trailhead for key alpine access areas has been installed; if additional resources become available, more installations may occur. Consult Tribes regarding information presentation in the informational kiosk or interpretive signs.

   
   

4. Within two years of plan implementation, the location of recreational ground disturbance in the alpine areas has been identified and mapped.

   
   

5. Within three years of plan adoption, a plan for minimizing recreational impacts has been developed and initiated.

Proposed Management Plan (Management Plan, Vol. 1) Objectives (FW-ALPINE-OB): 01-02

1. Trampling, treading, wallowing, and grazing by native and nonnative ungulate species are at levels that do not result in population declines of native plant species, including at-risk plants.

   
   

2. Alpine ecosystems are resilient to natural- and human-caused impacts and provide refugia fof alpine-dependent plant and wildlife species, including at-risk plants and at-risk animals.

Alternative C (DEIS, Vol. 2) Objectives (FW-ALPINE-OB): 01

Alternative C also includes objective FW-REC-OB, which would incorporate signage within 10 years of the Plan’s approval discussing recreation’s impacts to alpine communities.

STANDARDS

Conservation Alternative Standards (FW-ALPINE-ST): 01-06

1. Non-native wildlife and plant species shall be removed from the Mount Peale Research Natural Area to the extent possible.

   
   

2. Domestic livestock grazing and horse travel are prohibited above 11,000 feet elevation. 

   
   

3. All formEs of motorized route, or cross-country travel are prohibited above 11,000 feet.

   
   

4. The largest 50% of alpine patches above 11,000’ shall be maintained without trails.  Within remaining patches, the aggregate of trail density shall not exceed 0.1 mile / square mile.   

   
   

5. Overnight camping is prohibited within the Mount Peale Research Natural Area.

   
   

6. Outfitter-guided groups shall be limited to 5 people within the Mount Peale Research Natural Area.

GUIDELINES

Conservation Alternative Guidelines (FW-ALPINE-GD): 01-02

1. Rehabilitation should be prioritized in those alpine sites most disturbed by mountain goats and unmanaged recreational use.

   
   

2. Trail construction and maintenance in alpine habitat should avoid at-risk plants and disturbance to important habitat features such as cliffs, talus toe slopes, and seasonally wet areas.

Proposed Management Plan (Management Plan, Vol. 1) Guidelines (FW-ALPINE-GD): 01-02

1. Trampling, treading, wallowing, and grazing by native and nonnative ungulate species are at levels that do not result in population declines of native plant species, including at-risk plants.

   
   

2. Alpine ecosystems are resilient to natural- and human-caused impacts and provide refugia fof alpine-dependent plant and wildlife species, including at-risk plants and at-risk animals.

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ABOUT THIS COMPARISON

All text in this chart is copied and pasted from the Conservation Alternative, the proposed Management Plan, and the DEIS except for any text in brackets and in italics font.

YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED TEXT

Provisions for Alpine Communities management that were submitted in the Conservation Alternative. 

Yellow-masked text: Conservation Alternative provisions that are particularly important, but since the Conservation Alternative was not included in the DEIS, they have not been offered to the public as options for their comment. 

BLUE HIGHLIGHTED TEXT

Provisions for Alpine Commumnities management in the Forest’s proposed Management Plan (which is Alternative B in the DEIS)

Blue-masked text: Forest Plan provisions that differ in important ways with the Conservation Alternative.

 GREEN HIGHLIGHTED TEXT

Alternatives to the Management Plan for Alpine Communities in the DEIS

Green-masked text: Anything noteworthy re: “All Alternatives” and/or Alternatives B, C, or D.