Access to backcountry recreation in the Northwest wouldn’t be the same without U.S. Forest Service land. In 2023, the USFS proposed a long-overdue amendment to an important plan that guides the management of National Forests in large parts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. The “Northwest Forest Plan”, as it’s called, needs an amendment to bring it up to date with modern forestry practices, to incorporate new scientific understanding of the impacts of climate change on Northwest forests, and to include tribal consultation in management practices.
Today, the proposed amendment is undergoing an environmental review process mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, which enables Cascade Backcountry Alliance to submit a public comment representing the Northwest backcountry community. This post covers the details of the amendment, how it might impact winter backcountry recreation, and how Cascade Backcountry Alliance is engaging with it.
What is the Northwest Forest Plan?
Before the mid-1990s Northwest forests were logged at a rate considerably higher than today’s. Concerns about the sustainability of these logging practices and their effects on old-growth forest habitat for indicator species, such as the Northern Spotted Owl, led to the creation of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). The NWFP divides the National Forests of the Northwest into various ecological classifications and assigns specific allowable forest management practices to each.
While the NWFP was successful in protecting critical Northern Spotted Owl habitat, it did not predict the challenges our forests face today. Notably, the effects of climate change are entirely unaccounted for in the plan. The drying of our forests combined with decades of fire suppression and reduced logging mean that reform of the NWFP is necessary to facilitate healthy forests and incorporate fire resilience and tribal management recommendations. An amendment to the NWFP, proposed in 2023 and currently under environmental review, seeks to address these challenges by providing an updated framework for ecological management to promote healthy forests and economic viability for local communities.
What impact does the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment have on dispersed winter recreation?
As backcountry recreationalists, the methods and goals of forest management directly affect our ability to enjoy these lands for winter recreation. This is especially true in the Cascades, where nearly all dispersed winter recreation takes place on National Forest lands covered by the NWFP.
Therefore, the consideration, or lack thereof, of recreation in forest management plans has repercussions to the long term accessibility of our forests for dispersed winter recreation. With that in mind, Cascade Backcountry Alliance has reviewed the proposed amendment to the NWFP through the lens of dispersed winter recreation.
What is Our Stance on the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment?
Cascade Backcountry Alliance supports the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment. It updates guidance to encourage the use of ecological forestry management techniques that will bring benefits to the environment, wildlife, and local economies. Specifically, we are advocating for an increased emphasis on how greater active management improves dispersed winter recreation. This will help ensure that winter backcountry activities are a consideration when planning specific forestry projects.
Our rationale for this stance is:
Thinner stands enhance safety and accessibility to dispersed winter recreation such as backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.
Thinner stands increase snow accumulation, developing a deeper snowpack and enabling better access early season or in low snow years.
Healthy forests are more fire resilient and promote better ecological diversity.
Improved winter recreation brings economic benefit to local communities.
You can view our letter here:
When does the comment period close?
The public comment period for the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment ends on March 17th. If you care about this topic, we encourage you to also make a comment here.