Appendix 5.3 Forest-wide Direction, Land and Resource Management Plan, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

Wildlife

92. (Forest Plan Goal) Selected management indicator communities for animals and plants will include: existing and developing old-growth forests; young to mature forest structural stages; openings within and adjacent to forests; aspen forests; montane...riparian areas and wetlands; montane...aquatic environments...In addition, caves and mines on the Forests...are identified as specialized habitat types.

93. (Forest Plan Goal) Management Indicator Species. Providing for viability of native and desired non-native vertebrate animal populations is a management tenet that transcends management area and functional activity boundaries. To aid this goal, management indicator species have been identified to represent communities on the Forests...Monitoring of these species will be done throughout the life of the Plan.

Management Indicator Communities and Indicator Species

Existing and Potential Old Growth Forest:
   Northern three-toed Woodpecker
   Flammulated Owl
   Pygmy Nuthatch

Interior Forest:
   Black bear
   Golden-crowned Kinglet

Young to Mature Forest Structural Stages:
   Elk
   Mule deer
   Hairy Woodpecker

Openings Within/Adjacent to Forest:
   Elk
   Mule deer
   Bighorn sheep
   Mountain Bluebird

Aspen Forest:
   Warbling Vireo

Montane Riparian Areas and Wetlands:
   Wilson's Warbler
   Northern leopard frog
   Boreal toad

Caves/Mines:
   Townsend's big-eared bat

95. (Forest Plan Goal) Retain the integrity of effective habitat areas.

96. (Forest Plan Standard) Restrict seasonal use of travelways (under Forest Service jurisdiction) to reduce disturbance in sensitive big game areas such as birthing areas and winter ranges...

99. (Forest Plan Standard) In riparian areas, cover that provides wildlife corridors will be maintained along the entire length of riparian zones on at least one side of the drainage. New corridor interruptions affecting both sides of the drainage will be of minimum width needed and no more than 60 feet.

101. (Forest Plan Standard) Protect known raptor nest areas...

103. (Forest Plan Guideline) Maintain the function of key or unique habitats such as primary feeding areas, winter ranges, riparian habitat, breeding areas, rearing areas, migration corridors, animal concentration areas, wooded draws, and riparian areas. Human disturbance should be minimized during periods critical for wildlife.

107. (Forest Plan Guideline) Avoid disconnecting or severing intact areas of effective habitat with new roads and trails. Favor seasonal use during noncritical times for wildlife when this cannot be avoided.

108. (Forest Plan Guideline) When developing new roads and trails, do not reduce contiguous areas of effective habitat to less than 250 acres or further reduce effective habitat of 20 to 250 acres in size...

109. (Forest Plan Guideline) Additional open roads and trails should not reduce effective habitat below 50 percent by geographic area, or further reduce effective habitat on geographic areas that are already at or below 50 percent on National Forest System lands.