[Jump to the main content of this page]

USDA Forest Service
Daniel Boone
National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391

Phone: 859-745-3100
FAX: 859-744-1568

Limits of Acceptable Change: Feburary 2007 Newsletter

View word version of this newsletter

View pdf version of this newsletter

Dear Friend of the Red River Gorge,

We are in the midst of working on Step 6 of the LAC process. Step 6 workshops began in late fall of 2006.

Step 6 is “identify alternative opportunity zone allocations”. During Step 6, we will select alternatives for mapping the six opportunity zones identified in Step 2 by reviewing all the previous steps. The alternatives should relate back to the original issues. The public LAC group identified four alternatives. Maps showing locations for the six opportunity zones will be produced for each alternative.

The next four LAC workshops have been scheduled and you can see the dates in the sidebar to the left. We will be alternating between Winchester and the Gorge area. We want to provide opportunities for as many people as possible to attend the workshops. In addition to local citizens in and near the Gorge, people attend from places as distant as Louisville and Cincinnati. We will be finishing up Step 6 and then moving on to Step 7. Step 7 is where we will be selecting the possible management actions to use when a standard is exceeded. More on Step 7 is inside.

Thank you for your continued involvement in the LAC process. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Tim Eling
LAC Coordinator

Upcoming LAC Workshops: February 6, March 6, March 27, April 24

All workshops will be from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings

The next four LAC workshops have been scheduled:

February 6 – Clark County Extension Office, Winchester

March 27 – Clark County Extension Office, Winchester

Directions to Clark County Extension Office: Take Exit 96 off I-64 & go north ¼ mile then turn left on Fortune Drive & building is on the right.

March 6 – Powell County Lions Club, Stanton

April 24 – Powell County Lions Club, Stanton

Directions to Powell County Lions Club: Take exit 22 off Mountain Parkway & head north on KY 213. Go through Stanton and drive 2 miles toward Jeffersonville. After you cross Red River, turn right at the Lions Club Park sign (N Fork Rd) and the building is on the right after ½ mile.

LOOKING AHEAD TO STEP 7

Step 7 is “Identify management actions for each alternative”. Once maps showing locations of the opportunity zones have been developed (Step 6), we can see where management actions will be needed to meet standards we established in Step 5. The purpose of this step is to identify the differences, if any, that exist between current conditions (inventoried in Step 4) and the standards (identified in Step 5). This will identify places where problems exist and what management actions are needed.
The final product of Step 7 is a list or maps of all places where existing conditions are worse than standard and identification of what management actions would best bring conditions up to standard. Some examples of management actions that have been used in other areas:

focus education efforts on a specific problem (i.e. damage to trees)
provide education materials to visitors obtaining backcountry camping permits
focus education efforts to certain groups (i.e. local colleges, scouts, climbers, etc…)
develop and implement a visitor survey mechanism (i.e. trailhead survey, comment cards etc…)
develop and enhance a volunteer backcountry ranger program to increase presence in RRG
relocate a trail
rehabilitate a campsite to lower the impact level (condition class)
construct retaining wall at base of climb areas to minimize the size of impact area
remove firerings in rockshelters
obliterate impacts from a user developed trail
close and rehabilitate campsites to reduce density to meet standards
designate camping sites
implement a campstove only policy (no fires)
implement a permit system for climbing

STEP 6 OF LAC PROCESS: “IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITY ZONE ALLOCATIONS
The purpose of this step is to decide what resource and social conditions are to be maintained or achieved in specific areas of the Gorge. This is a prescriptive step (it is concerned with establishing what should be), and input from both the Forest Service and the public should be used to make these decisions. Step 6 involves an analysis of the baseline inventory data collected in Step 4, along with reviewing the descriptions of the six opportunity zones identified in Step 2. Each of the six zones also has a set of standards developed during Step 5 that should be reviewed. The LAC group identified four alternatives (or themes) for Step 6. Each alternative that is identified will have a map produced. Size and shape of the six zones will vary between alternatives. During Step 8 a final alternative will be selected. The four alternatives:

1) Protection and Preservation Emphasis (focus on resources)

Emphasis on zones that allow minimal impact levels throughout RRG (Pristine and Primitive and Critical Habitat/Resource)
Enhance recreational opportunities only within existing high impact areas, not in Pristine or Primitive zones.

2) Equal emphasis on balanced recreation use with protection of resource

Recreation opportunities and protection of resources have equal weight.
Optimize Recreation Experience appropriate to Geological Area, Wilderness, Indian Creek.
Emphasis on Primitive and Pristine Zones in Wilderness (there are certain laws already set for wilderness).
Emphasis on higher impact zones outside Wilderness? (Semi-Primitive, Roaded-Natural, Concentrated Use).
Reasonable balance in variety of recreational opportunities.

3) Maximize Recreational Opportunities to the Fullest Extent

Emphasis on Zones that allow higher levels of impact (Roaded Natural and Concentrated Use).
Provide the largest variety of recreational opportunities.
Emphasis on promoting tourism.

4) No Action

No zoning (do not implement LAC).
Keep current management.

Final Product: Each alternative will have a map developed that displays the locations of the six zones identified during Step 2. Size and shape of zones will vary between alternatives.

Six Zones identified in Step 2:
1) Pristine	4) Roaded Natural
2) Primitive	5) Concentrated Use
3) Semi-Primitive	6) Critical Habitat/Resource

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tim Eling is the coordinator for the Red River Gorge Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) process. You may contact Tim at the Winchester Office (headquarters for the Daniel Boone National Forest) or the Stanton Office of the Cumberland Ranger District (local office for the Red River Gorge area).

Address:

Daniel Boone National Forest
Red River Gorge LAC Process
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391

Daniel Boone National Forest
Red River Gorge LAC Process
705 W. College Ave
Stanton, KY 40380

E-mail:

teling@fs.fed.us

Phone:

Tim Eling, LAC Coordinator:
(859) 745-3132 Winchester
(606) 663-2852 Stanton

Fax:

(859) 744-1568 Winchester
(606) 663-9097 Stanton

Website:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/lac

Author: Tim Eling
Last Updated: January 31, 2007