The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment on the Draft Forest Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests released today.

The collaborative development of the draft plan spanned more than 10 years and was shaped by the best available science, current laws and public input gathered at 30 public meeting and more than 140 public community-based work groups. These meetings identified the core values of local communities and highlighted the many points of agreement that exist among diverse participants.

“This draft plan is a huge step forward for the management of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests” said Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor Mary Farnsworth. “Many years of hard work and collaboration have resulted in a draft plan that we believe provides an effective balance for the multiple demands our forests face.”

The Forest Service is scheduling public open houses at local offices in January where Idaho Panhandle National Forest staff will be available to provide information on the forest plan revision process and how to submit comments on the draft documents. Planned dates and locations are as follows:

·         Coeur d’Alene, January 10, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Fernan Office

·         St. Maries, January 11, 5:00pm-7:00pm, St. Maries Ranger District Office

·         Smelterville, January 12, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Silver Valley Office

·         Bonners Ferry, January 17, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Bonners Ferry Ranger District Office

·         Priest Lake, January 19, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Priest Lake Ranger District Office

·         Sandpoint, January 23, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Sandpoint Ranger District Office

The national forest faces many challenges including increasing demands for multiple uses on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and development of surrounding lands. The Draft Plan lays the foundation to address the ecological and social needs of forest stakeholders, while continuing the legacy of protecting water and restoring forests that began a century ago with the Weeks Act. Management direction in the Draft Plan addresses needs to: supply clean water, restore and maintain ecosystems, improve the resistance and resiliency of the forest vegetation to undesirable disturbances and potential climate change effects, provide financially and ecologically sustainable access to the forest, offer a diversity of recreation opportunities including remote settings, and utilize best available science.

The documents released today are available for download and review online at www.fs.fed.us/kipz. These documents are also available for viewing at all of the Ranger District Offices and the Supervisor’s Office. Compact discs or hard copies of these documents may be requested by phone (208) 765-7417 or email (r1_kipz_revision@fs.fed.us). Written or electronic comments will be accepted for 90 days and should be submitted to: Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Forest Plan Revision, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 or IPNFplanrevision@fs.fed.us.