Sec. 8405. WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK
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## SEC. 8405 WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK ###
(a)In General 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: > > ## “SEC. SEC. 304 WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK > > **[**[16 U.S.C. 6543](/us/usc/t16/s6543)**]** > > > ### “(a) In General > > The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’), may establish and maintain a Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land— > > > #### “(1) > > to evaluate and classify the condition of watersheds, taking into consideration— > > > ##### “(A) > > water quality and quantity; > > > ##### “(B) > > aquatic habitat and biota; > > > ##### “(C) > > riparian and wetland vegetation; > > > ##### “(D) > > the presence of roads and trails; > > > ##### “(E) > > soil type and condition; > > > ##### “(F) > > groundwater-dependent ecosystems; > > > ##### “(G) > > relevant terrestrial indicators, such as fire regime, risk of catastrophic fire, forest and rangeland vegetation, invasive species, and insects and disease; and > > > ##### “(H) > > other significant factors, as determined by the Secretary; > > > #### “(2) > > 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— > > > ##### “(A) > > wildfire behavior; > > > ##### “(B) > > flood risk; > > > ##### “(C) > > fish and wildlife; > > > ##### “(D) > > drinking water supplies; > > > ##### “(E) > > irrigation water supplies; > > > ##### “(F) > > forest-dependent communities; and > > > ##### “(G) > > other significant impacts, as determined by the Secretary; > > > #### “(3) > > to develop a watershed protection and restoration action plan for each priority watershed that— > > > ##### “(A) > > takes into account existing restoration activities being implemented in the watershed; and > > > ##### “(B) > > includes, at a minimum— > > > ###### “(i) > > the major stressors responsible for the impaired condition of the watershed; > > > ###### “(ii) > > a set of essential projects that, once completed, will address the identified stressors and improve watershed conditions; > > > ###### “(iii) > > a proposed implementation schedule; > > > ###### “(iv) > > potential partners and funding sources; and > > > ###### “(v) > > a monitoring and evaluation program; > > > #### “(4) > > to prioritize protection and restoration activities for each watershed restoration action plan; > > > #### “(5) > > to implement each watershed protection and restoration action plan; and > > > #### “(6) > > to monitor the effectiveness of protection and restoration actions and indicators of watershed health. > > > ### “(b) Coordination > > In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— > > > #### “(1) > > coordinate with interested non-Federal landowners and State, Tribal, and local governments within the relevant watershed; and > > > #### “(2) > > provide for an active and ongoing public engagement process. > > > ### “(c) Emergency Designation > > 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— > > > #### “(1) > > a wildfire has significantly diminished the condition of the watershed; and > > > #### “(2) > > the emergency stabilization activities of the Burned Area Emergency Response Team are insufficient to return the watershed to proper function.” > . ###
(b)Conforming Amendment 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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