Sec. 8405. Watershed Condition Framework
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Title III of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6541 et seq.) (as amended by section 8404(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the Secretary ), shall establish and maintain a Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land— to evaluate and classify the condition of watersheds, taking into consideration— water quality and quantity; aquatic habitat and biota; riparian and wetland vegetation; the presence of roads and trails; soil type and condition; groundwater-dependent ecosystems; relevant terrestrial indicators, such as fire regime, risk of catastrophic fire, forest and rangeland vegetation, invasive species, and insects and disease; and other significant factors, as determined by the Secretary; to identify for protection and restoration up to 5 priority watersheds in each National Forest, and up to 2 priority watersheds in each national grassland, taking into consideration the impact of the condition of the watershed condition on— wildfire behavior; flood risk; fish and wildlife; drinking water supplies; irrigation water supplies; forest-dependent communities; and other significant impacts, as determined by the Secretary; to develop a watershed protection and restoration action plan for each priority watershed that— takes into account existing restoration activities being implemented in the watershed; and includes, at a minimum— the major stressors responsible for the impaired condition of the watershed; a set of essential projects that, once completed, will address the identified stressors and improve watershed conditions; a proposed implementation schedule; potential partners and funding sources; and a monitoring and evaluation program; to prioritize protection and restoration activities for each watershed restoration action plan; to implement each watershed protection and restoration action plan; and to monitor the effectiveness of protection and restoration actions and indicators of watershed health.
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— coordinate with interested non-Federal landowners and State, Tribal, and local governments within the relevant watershed; and provide for an active and ongoing public engagement process. Notwithstanding paragraph
(2)of subsection (a), the Secretary may identify a watershed as a priority for rehabilitation in the Watershed Condition Framework without using the process described in that subsection if a Forest Supervisor determines that— a wildfire has significantly diminished the condition of the watershed; and the emergency stabilization activities of the Burned Area Emergency Response Team are insufficient to return the watershed to proper function. . The table of contents for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6501 note; Public Law 108–148 ) (as amended by section 8404(b)) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the following: Sec. 304. Watershed Condition Framework. .
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- Pub. L. 108-148
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