Dixie-Fishlake NF Weblog
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I just became aware of a problem with my spam filter. A few comments - see last seven - were caught up in the nether regions of cyberspace.

We will work to resolve that issue in the future. If you have any additional problems (e.g., your comments are not posting), then please contact me at the Dixie National Forest (435) 865-3700.

OGDEN, Utah — Intermountain Regional Forester Jack Troyer announced today that Rob MacWhorter has been selected as the Forest Supervisor for the Dixie National Forest. MacWhorter comes to the Dixie from the Plumas National Forest in California where for the past five years he served as the Deputy Forest Supervisor.
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USDA ANNOUNCES ABIGAIL KIMBELL AS THE 16TH CHIEF OF THE FOREST SERVICE

Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth Announces his Retirement

WASHINGTON, January 12, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the selection of Abigail Kimbell as the 16th chief of the Forest Service. Kimbell succeeds Chief Dale Bosworth, who is retiring on Feb. 2 after 41 years with the Forest Service.
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Dixie National Forest to Consider Oil and Gas Leasing

Over the next year or so, the Dixie National Forest will prepare a forest-wide environmental impact statement (EIS) to decide which Forest lands, excluding designated wilderness areas, to make available for oil and gas leasing. This decision will also specify conditions or constraints should be attached to the oil and gas leases, for environmental protection. More information can be found on the Dixie National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/.
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DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST TO HOLD OPEN HOUSES FOR MOTORIZED TRAVEL PLAN EFFORT

The Dixie National Forest is inviting the public to a series of Motorized Travel Planning Scoping Open Houses scheduled throughout Southern Utah and in Salt Lake City.

January 9, 2007 (Tuesday):
Ramada Inn, 1440 East St. George Blvd. St. George, UT, 12:00 to 8:00 pm

January 10, 2007 (Wednesday):
Hunter Conference Center, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT, 12:00 to 8:00 pm

January 11, 2007 (Thursday):
City Library and Offices, 25 South 200 East, Panguitch, UT, 12:00 to 8:00 pm

January 18, 2007 (Thursday):
Salt Lake City Library, Level 4 Meeting Room, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 12:00 to 8:00 pm

January 24, 2007 (Wednesday):
Wonderland Inn, Utah State Highways 12 and 24, Torrey, UT 12:00 to 8:00 pm
(Please note that this is a change from the date stated in the Notice of Intent which was published in the Federal Register.)

January 25, 2007 (Thursday):
Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, Escalante, UT 12:00 to 8:00 pm.
(Please note that this is a change from the date and location announced in the Notice of Intent which was published in the Federal Register.)
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DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST TO BEGIN SCOPING PROCESS FOR MOTORIZED TRAVEL PLAN EFFORT

The Dixie National Forest will begin the scoping process for a new motorized travel plan on December 15, 2006. The public comment period will end January 31, 2007. Open houses are scheduled throughout Southern Utah and in Salt Lake City to provide information and to receive public input about the proposed action.
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We’ve created a webpage for much of the information that was presented at the Forest Plan Forum, held June 28-29 in Cedar City, Utah. Many of the presentations have been available here on the blog, but the new webpage should make it easier to access everything that’s available in one location. We have also posted the notes from both days’ events. Thank you to all who participated.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/lmp/collaboration/forum/index.shtml

Our current estimate for the start of the 90-day comment period is early 2007.

Many of you attended our Planning Forum a few months back. It was a great event. At the event, we had a Proposed Dixie and Fishlake Land Management Plan - Working Document for your review. Some of you have been anticipating a 90-day comment period. Here is an update on progress towards that review period. (We still plan to consider the Forum dialogue and any comments we recieve on the working document during the 90-day comment period.)

We are going to be some of the first National Forests to complete our plans under the “new” 2005 Planning Rule. In order to make sure we have developed our strategic plans in line with the new rule, we have some additional coordination to do with other levels of the agency before we can release our Proposed Land Management Plan for public review and comment (90-day comment period). We appreciate your patience in this short delay to accomdate further internal review.

We expect to start a 90-day comment period later this year. We will announce the start of the comment period and availability of the documents in the Federal Register, on our website, and in local newspapers. Feel free to contact us any time with your questions, comments, or concerns.

Hi Folks. Many of the forum participants indicated that they would like to discuss the Don Snow Keynote Speech further. Here is his address:

Don Snow Keynote Speech

If you would like to use this space to engage in dialogue, feel free to do so.

We know that many of you were unable to attend the Forest Plan Forum. Those who did attend had a great time discussing a variety of topics related to forest management. It was a very informative event. We hope that we can continue the discussions that the Forum stimulated in this online forum. I am creating a blog area for each panel.

We hope you will continue the open discussion from the Plan Implementation Panel here.
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