PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #49: Restoration of Public Lands.
Presiding: D. Gordon
Wednesday, August 7. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Mohave Meeting Room, TCC.
Assessment of the road obliteration program on the Clearwater National Forest, Idaho.
Chadwick, Amy1,2, Vander Meer, Mark*,1,2,3, 1 Watershed Consulting, LLC, Whitefish, MT2 Wildlands Center for Preventing Roads, Missoula, MT3 University of Montana, Missoula, MT
ABSTRACT- Watershed Consulting, LLC conducted literature reviews, interviews, and field inventory work to assess the road obliteration program on the Clearwater National Forest (CNF) and compare road analysis methods used previously on the CNF to the national Roads Analysis Process (RAP). The national RAP recommends review of a wider scope of road-related issues than were previously considered on the CNF, but has no more power to require prioritization of ecological considerations in road management. Obliteration methods used on the CNF are very effective and should restore ecological integrity at the road sites. The weaknesses of the CNF obliteration program are in its prioritization of watersheds in which to conduct obliteration efforts and in its practice of leaving roads at a density of 4-5 mi/mi2 for future use. Improving the ecological benefit of obliteration programs must start with policy requiring prioritization of ecological considerations in road analysis and reducing the roads network.
KEY WORDS: road obliteration, road removal prioritization, Clearwater National Forest, road analysis