Tongass National Forest
Federal Building
648 Mission Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901

(907) 228-3101
(907) 228-6222 (TTY)

e-mail comments to:
Web Manager
United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Concern # 04 - 6
Concern Concern has been expressed that changes, updates, and amendments to the Forest Plan Implementation policy, procedures, interpretations, formal plan reviews, action plan follow-up, etc.are not in one place.
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Situation/
Background

The interpretation and various approaches to implementation of the Forest Plan provide nearly constant information updates. There currently is not a repository for this information, or other key Forest Plan information, tools, and updates. Forest Plan amendments made to the Plan since 1997 are hard to track.

Discussion

As Forest Plan implementation, monitoring and subsequent planning efforts are conducted; the volume of related information has significantly increased. Personnel turnover could be contributing to the loss of pertinent information or the creation of duplicate information. The Forest needs to improve management of Forest Plan implementation information and tracking.

The Forest needs to develop a centralized repository where all Forest Plan information and direction is stored and readily available for tracking and use. Because the Forest Plan is intended to be a living document, the repository needs to be user friendly and comprehensive. This most likely will be an Intranet website with pertinent portions copied onto the Forest internet website.
Strategy

Convene a small team consisting of planning, GIS, public affairs, and information managers to explore strategic use of GIS tracking methods, intranet, internet, and other methods to better store, use and manage Forest Plan implementation data and information. (Some tools are included in the SEIS closeout and development of the various litigation administrative record efforts which should be helpful.)
Priority Very High
Skills Needed
  • Forest Planner
  • Public Affairs Officer
  • Media Design Specialist
  • GIS Group Leader
Time Frame 3 to 6 months
Expected Outputs
  • Develop a state of the art electronic centralized repository for forest planning and Forest Plan implementation data and information.
Status See [04-2], After the Record of Decision is signed for the Forest Plan Amendment, a new Forest Plan Implementation training program will be initiated. Anticipate updated intranet and internet sites after Forest Plan Amendment.