Three Forests Release Draft Record of Decision for Mountain Goat Management Plan

Submitted by Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

The Olympic, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests have prepared a draft Record of Decision (ROD) for the Mountain Goat Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (plan/EIS) for the Olympic National Park.

 

The draft ROD proposes to authorize actions necessary for implementation of Alternative D of the Final EIS prepared by the Olympic National Park. Alternative D allows the Park to proceed with this effort to reduce the mountain goat population in the Olympic Mountains by relocating them to the National Forests in the North Cascades. The U.S. Forest Service is serving as a cooperating agency on this project with the National Park Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Hikers Came Across this Mama and Her Baby (not pictured) on the Trail to Colchuck Lake

Mountain goats are not native to the Olympic Mountains but are native to the Cascades where they exist in low numbers. Moving goats to the Cascades will increase population diversity for the animals as well as provide them more preferred habitat.

The public is invited to submit objections on the draft ROD over a 45-day period. Those that submitted comments during a previous designated comment period have standing to object.

Objections must be filed within 45 days following the publication date of this notice. Objections should be submitted to Objection Reviewing Officer, Region 6 Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest Service, 1320 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204.

Electronic submissions are preferred and may be submitted by completing the form available online:  https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=49816

The Forest Supervisors of the three affected National Forests will authorize actions on their respective Forests that involve helicopter landings in Wilderness areas, preparations of staging areas, issuance of temporary forest closure orders around staging areas and capture sites, and use of closed areas.

For more information visit the project website or contact: Deborah Kelly, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, 509-664-9247, dlkelly@fs.fed.us