IDF&G’s Plans to Log Park Shoreline

Park Manager to Log

Entire Park

Educational

Walk &

Demonstration

July 21st

3. III.DEPARTMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCE POLICIES
   

4. IV.A. LWCF ACT
   

Since funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) have been provided to support development of Farragut State Park, the park is covered under section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. Under the provisions of this act, the park cannot be converted to any use other than for public outdoor recreation without prior approval of the Secretary of Interior.

B. RULES FOR OPERATION OF THE STATE PARKS SYSTEM

Rules, which apply directly to natural resource management concerns, are listed below. Other rules refer to public behavior, lease administration, and fees within state parks.

Preservation of Public Property (IDAPA 26.01.5): The destruction, injury, defacement, removal or disturbance in or of any public building, sign, equipment, monument, statue, marker or any other structures, or of any tree, flower, vegetation or any other public property of any kind is prohibited unless authorized by the Park Manager of a specific area.

Protection of Wildlife (IDAPA 26.01.16): All molesting, injuring, or killing of any wild creature is strictly prohibited, except as provided by action of the Idaho State Park and Recreation Board and the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.

C. TIMBER MANAGEMENT POLICY ON STATE PARK LANDS (PAR. 5:73)

Trees individually or combined in groves or major stands contribute to the scenic and aesthetic values of a recreation area. A tree of twelve inches or more in diameter represents a major investment and cannot be replaced generally, except by an investment in time. For these reasons, our objective will be to retain the individual trees and various stands of timber in as near a natural state as possible, including snags that are important to cavity nesting birds. The following 10 rules are applied to trees and forest patches within Idaho State Parks:

1. 1.Each tree considered for removal will be judged on its own merits.
   

2. 2.Safety of the recreating public will be a major concern and any tree in a deteriorated physical condition in a high-use location that creates a human hazard will be removed.
   

3. 3.Damage to the rest of the stand through disease or insect infestation shall be sufficient cause for the
   

removal of the infested trees.

4. Infestations dangerous to the residual stand, but capable of treatment without the loss of the tree, will

be treated by the park staff or in widespread situations, as a cooperator with other timber groups.

5. Fire killed and blown down timber usually involves a considerable volume of timber and frequently

becomes a source of damage by insects and disease to the rest of the stand. Trees of considerable volume will generally be salvaged for the protection of the stand. Isolated trees that do not represent a hazard to the remaining stand may be left if it is not undesirable aesthetically and if the cost of removal is excessive. Fire killed and blow-down material should be salvaged when advisable at the earliest opportunity to retain as much of the quality of the timber as possible.

6. Trees may be removed from right-of-way clearings or other construction areas requiring open space. Considerable care will be exercised to limit the damage to the remaining trees. Only those trees will be removed which will be essential to the development.

7. Layout plans will give full consideration to saving unusual, historical, or other trees significantly important, aesthetically, to the park area.

8. Under special circumstances, timber may be cut and harvested to reestablish an essential game range, to establish or preserve a spectacular view, to retain a desirable species, or to change the type to a species more suitable for park needs.

9. Under no circumstances will the commercial value of a tree within the park be considered as criteria for its removal.

10. 10.The department in accordance with established procedures may sell salvaged material from the trees removed under the above policy.
    

D. 2001 PARK BOARD MISSION STATEMENT

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Board has the following mission for governing the public park lands of Idaho:

1. To promote the general welfare and enhance the quality of life for present and future generations by developing and protecting, where needed the state's significant natural and cultural heritage.

2. To promote the appropriate use of recreation as a means of enriching society and the wholesome enjoyment of life.

3. 3.To provide a balance between individual rights and what is best for the common good.
   

4. 4.To educate and lead people to a part of the natural world.
   

5. 5.To touch the lives of all Idahoans in some positive way.
   

6. 6.To work with other agencies and groups who are interested in the goals we may have in common.
   

7. 7.To maintain close contact with constituent concerns and present these concerns to the department.
   

8. 8.To be visionary in providing policy, direction, and leadership to staff.
   

9. To advocate adequate funding for the agency's activities.

Farragut State Park’s mission is to provide park visitors with an environment, which fosters outdoor recreational, historical, educational, and cultural experiences, and to protect park resources for all citizens.

IV. THE FARRAGUT STATE PARK MASTER PLAN

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) assessed the infrastructure, natural resources, and future development opportunities of Farragut State Park. ORB (1975) created a master plan, which reviewed the regional and park history, climate, geology, hydrology, topography, soils, vegetation, wildlife, park facilities, neighboring lands, visual assessments, and recreational demands. The master plan designated present land uses and proposed future development opportunities. The Farragut State Park GIS database also provides an inventory of park resources. Unlike the master plan, the inventory is spatial and digital. It is linked to real world coordinates and associated attribute data (spreadsheets, text files, and photographs). The GIS database lets managers analyze and combine data. This ability is useful for problem identification, problem solving and communication. The master plan is unable to perform this task. However, the master plan possesses valuable information, which is useful to a manager. The master plan should be used in conjunction with the Farragut State Park GIS Database and Natural Resource Plan.

V. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GOALS FOR FARRAGUT STATE PARK

Farragut State Park (including the parts owned by IDFG) serves as an example of the effects created by a combination of historical use by humans, natural events, management to preserve small portions of natural communities, and some recent efforts to allow the natural communities to restore themselves. Historically, parts of the park were effected by:

Farragut Naval Training Station development

Steamboat landings

Farm homesteads

Commercial logging

Grazing

Wagon, automobile, and railroad routes

Gravel mining

Landfill

Wildfires and wildfire suppression

When the land became Farragut Naval Training Station, extreme soil disturbance on 1,322 acres created long lasting effects on the land. Invading plant species, which are adapted to disturbed soils, are prolific and dominant on these disturbed soils. These disturbed acres will be managed to promote a semblance of native vegetation and for park facility development. This will help protect the remaining undisturbed areas, which still have native soil. All the undisturbed soil areas will be managed to meet natural resource goals, which have been developed by Farragut State Park staff and are listed below:

1. 1.To protect natural communities.
   

2. 2.To conserve biological diversity by protecting habitats for plant and animal species.
   

3. 3.To restore and maintain natural resources as representative examples of Idaho's original natural systems.
   

4. 4.To conserve soil resources.
   

5. 5.To provide wildlife viewing opportunities by protecting, managing, and creating habitat.
   

6. 6.To provide aesthetic environments and recreation opportunities for people.
   

7. 7.To stop the invasion of new invading species, and reduce the domination of existing invading species.
   

8. 8.To manage the property as an ecological community, including IDFG lands.
   

A. WESTERN WHITE PINE DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FARRAGUT STATE PARK

The potential distribution of western white pine within Farragut State Park was determined by overlaying habitat type . . .  resulted in a 2101 acres area designated as suitable western white pine habitat (Figure 15). . . Western white pine seedlings will be planted within the suitable habitat areas of Farragut State Park.

B. PLANTING OF WESTERN WHITE PINE

Natural openings in the forest canopy will be used to plant western white pine seedlings within the suitable habitat areas. Ground reconnaissance and current aerial photographs are required to locate canopy openings. The resistant seedlings will be planted within existing canopy openings that do not contain visible currants. . . .  Forest canopy openings serve as areas for dew formation and cool air sinks. They provide the rust the moisture and temperatures required for infection of western white pine (Anderson 1973).