Aquatic Conservation Strategy Record of Decision

Key Points

Aquatic Conservation Strategy

The ACS is an integral part of the Northwest Forest Plan and was developed to restore and maintain the ecological health of watersheds and aquatic ecosystems on public lands.  The Record of Decision for the ACS simply clarifies how the ACS is to be applied. 

The decision provides language that more clearly articulates the intent of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision.

Currently, some timber harvesting and watershed restoration projects are not being done because of unclear language and resulting interpretations of the ACS objectives. 

The ACS consists of a system of riparian reserves, a system of key watersheds, requirements and procedures for conducting watershed analysis, and a program of watershed restoration.  The language clarifications do not change any of these components of the ACS. 

The decision clarifies that the nine ACS objectives would be attained at the fifth-field watershed scale and not at the project or site level.  A fifth-field watershed ranges from approximately 30 to 150 square miles (20,000 to 100,000 acres). 

All site level projects would continue to meet the protective measures in the standards and guidelines such as riparian buffer widths.  The agencies would continue to seek attainment of ACS objectives at the watershed and landscape scales.  The agencies will monitor watersheds over time to assure the Northwest Forest Plan is attaining the ACS objectives.

Northwest Forest Plan timber harvest and restoration projects have been delayed or stopped due

to recent court interpretations of certain passages in the ACS.  By clarifying that ACS objectives are meant to be attained at the watershed scale, opportunities to integrate timber sales and restoration projects may increase.