Forest plans, resource management plans, the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, the National Forest Management Act, planning rule directives, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Land Management planning handbook, analysis of the management situation … are you asleep yet? In the world of public land conservation, there may be nothing drier than land-use planning. But there is little that can have a greater impact on the future of our public lands.

No doubt, the most durable protections for public lands are those created by Congress. When Congress passes a law designating a new wilderness area, only a new law can change that decision. On the other hand, land-use planning is a cycle with forest plans (U.S. Forest Service) and resource management plans (Bureau of Land Management) revised every 10-15 years, often longer. As part of this planning cycle, every year, administrative decisions are made covering millions of acres that determine uses such as oil and gas development, mining, logging, grazing, motorized use, and other decisions with implications for trout fisheries.

While these are not permanent decisions per se, they are long-term decisions and some determinations, such as lands recommended for wilderness designation, can lead to Congressional protection down the road. In a highly-polarized political environment, passing legislation in Congress is very much a marathon and wins are few and far between. Between those wins, administrative planning decisions are being made regularly, so Trout Unlimited has been at the table help craft balanced plans throughout the West. Positive outcomes include the Bureau of Land Management implementing half-mile oil and gas development buffers around cutthroat trout streams, the Forest Service adopting a “conservation watershed network” for native fish that manages watersheds “fish-first,” and travel management plans that balance opportunities for motorized use with watershed protection.

This isn’t flashy work, but it’s critical work and people have to be at the table to make sure their interests are represented. TU’s been part of dozens of planning processes and it will continue to be at the table moving forward as decisions covering millions of acres are being made.