Implementation

The Taylor Park Vegetation Management Project is in the initial stages of the implementation process. SBEADMR, a project that occurs across the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, is several years into its implementation process. Both projects use a “Plan, Do, Check, Act” cycle to link strategic plans to planning of treatments, tactical field operations, monitoring, and reporting of environmental results or problems to Forest Service management.

 

The Taylor Park Vegetation Management Project is in the initial stages of the implementation process. SBEADMR, a project that occurs across the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, is several years into its implementation process. Both projects use a “Plan, Do, Check, Act” cycle to link strategic plans to planning of treatments, tactical field operations, monitoring, and reporting of environmental results or problems to Forest Service management.

The interdisciplinary team completes all required surveys for a particular treatment area to ensure all resource concerns (wildlife, botany, hydrology, heritage, etc.) are known and evaluated prior to action, which then guides how best to implement both the project and the required monitoring to ensure actions and mitigations applied are effective.

An implementation checklist is used to document required surveys, applicable design features, compliance with environmental protection requirements, and public engagement. The checklists guide how, when and where treatments occur. You can view the 2021 checklist for Park Cone here. This is the agencies first completed checklist for Taylor Park EA. There will be more as the project progresses and they will be provided for review on the CPL site.

If you are new to these projects, we encourage you to learn more by visiting the Taylor Park Forest Management Story Map. You can also learn more about the Taylor Park project implementation process and public engagement by clicking here.

 

  • The Taylor Park Decision was signed on May 7, 2020. Since this time, treatment planning has been underway.

    At sites integrated into the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) network, formal prescriptions were developed during the fall of 2022. Additional NEPA requirements were completed during the winter of 2022-2023.

    Annually, the Gunnison Ranger District’s interdisciplinary team will complete a Management Review of the Taylor Park Project to ensure that the Final Decision Notice and accompanying EA is being implemented as planed and is adequate, suitable and effective in achieving desired outcomes. View Spring 2021 Management Review by clicking here.

  • Heritage survey and other needed FS work will take place during summer 2023. Cone picking for seed will be conducted in fall of 2022, 2023, and perhaps beyond. Additional data collection and monitoring plans will be developed during spring 2023. Pre-treatment sampling completed by the end of summer 2023.

    The sale will be offered in the fall of 2023, roadwork conducted summer 2024, winter logging in December 2024 and January 2025; contract clean-up and release by spring 2025. Seedlings ordered by the fall of 2025. Site preparation will take place in 2026; planting is planned for summer 2026; possibly 2027. Post-treatment sampling is planned for summer of 2025.

    Upcoming treatment information under SBEADMR and Taylor Park projects for the Gunnison Ranger District (East Zone) are now available. This includes the Gunnison Treatment Implementation Data Sheets Part I and Part II. These documents contain details for proposed treatments in fiscal years 2022-2024. You can also view upcoming treatments on the interactive USFS Story Map, linked below.

    For more information in the Ouray and Norwood Districts (West Zone) and the Paonia and Grand Valley Districts (North Zone), please visit the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute website. You can also view the Treatment Implementation Data Sheets for the West and North Zones here.

 
 

Taylor Park Project Story Map

The US Forest Service (USFS) has created a Story Map to allow for better reviewing of treatment data.

View the SBEADMR & Taylor Park Commenting Map HERE

In March 2021 the agency held a 30-day public comment period on the upcoming treatments. The agency preliminary replies to the comments are provided on the map. Comments will be further considered by the implementation teams and responsible official and used to adjust treatment plans as warranted throughout the implementation process. If you have question about the Story Map or upcoming treatments, please contact Pamela King at pamela.r.king@usda.gov.