Intermountain Region

Welcome from Harv Forsgren, Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region.

From the famous red sands of southern Utah to the rugged and craggy ridge line of the Sawtooth Mountains to the stark openness of Nevada the Intermountain Region offers amazing diversity and some of the most beautiful, famous and stunning forests in the nation.

The health of our forests and grasslands is an important focus that we take very seriously as we strive to succeed at Caring for the Land and Serving People.

Back-to-School Season Fee Waiver

The weekend of August 14-15 is the Back-to-School Season where fees will be waived at standard amenity sites in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. The Fee Waiver weekends support the goals of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Conference and First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative by actively supporting and promoting programs, projects and initiatives that encourage the use of outdoor spaces by the public. The waiver will allow people to explore our nation's forests, which offer a wide range of recreational and educational benefits.

America's Great Outdoors

There are many listening sessions going on throughout the country in hopes of gathering new ideas for protecting the land and getting people outdoors. Salt Lake City held a listening session on August 3, 2010. Read what was said at this session and the others that have been held. When you visit this site, you can also add your own comments or share a story about your favorite place.

Power Line Projects

The Dixie National Forest is the lead forest for three power line projects that will potentially impact all Utah forests. The Forest Service is not the lead agency; BLM is the lead agency. Click the links below to learn more about each project.

• Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2 345kV Transmission Project

Economic Recovery

Many of the communities most affected by the economic downturn are located near national forests. Using funding from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Forest Service will create and maintain private sector jobs for communities by funding projects to remove hazardous biomass, restore watersheds, repair trails, bridges and roads, and make fish passage improvements. We will also update facilities to increase their efficiency in the use of energy and water.

Secure Rural Schools

On October 3, 2008, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 was reauthorized as part of Public Law 110-343.  In September 2009, the Forest Service published a proposal for 60-day public comment, that certification of title III expenditures be in the form of ordinary correspondence. In response to comments received, the Forest Service developed a draft form for use by county officials. As explained on the website, the form has not been reviewed and approved yet. The draft form is linked to this webpage and includes the address where county officials may submit the certification. As mentioned on the website, while county officials must certify title III expenditures by February 1 in accordance with the Act, they may, but are not required, to use the draft form to make the certification.

Climate Change

Global climate change is dramatically altering forests and grasslands for present and future generations. Forests and grasslands produce many ecosystem services on which society relies: water, clean air, wood products, recreation, wildlife habitats, and biological diversity.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is leading example of the Forest Service’s work on Climate Change.  The forest is identifying mitigation and adaptation opportunities in its 5-year vegetation management planning efforts.  So far at least a dozen projects have been identified that will produce measurable results for increased carbon sequestration, emissions reductions, and/or increased ecosystem resiliency.  Additionally, the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee National Forests, are participating in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Project.  This effort involves other National Forests in Regions 1, 2 and 4, the National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  Together, these units are developing a strategy to reduce carbon emissions across the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act

The Act provides agencies with recreation fee authority for 10 years, which will allow the agencies to make improvements and provide additional services to forest visitors. Visit the web page to learn more about the act and see what types of accomplishments have been made throughout the Region.

Wild and Scenic Rivers Suitability Study for National Forest System Lands in Utah

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, establishes a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System for the protection of selected national rivers and their immediate environments, which possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values which are to be preserved in free-flowing condition. Forests are required by law to consider during forest planning, rivers that may be eligible for incorporation into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Read more about what the Utah Forests are doing.