EP 1130-2-540
15 Nov 96
woodlands, range and grasslands, and wetlands), including fish and wildlife and soils, is described
in the following paragraphs.
(a) Ecosystem Management. An ecosystem is a dynamic community of biological
organisms, including humans, and the physical environment in which they interact. Ecosystem
management by the Corps is a proactive, goal-driven approach to sustaining ecosystems and their
values. The Corps will manage communities to promote regional environmental values occurring
on project lands toward sustaining ecosystems in which the project lands and waters occur. Such
ecosystems and communities will be identified in resource objectives and/or land use
classifications contained in the Master Plan and the OMP. Preferential treatment will be given to
the management of ecosystems, communities, and habitats identified as having special status
species.
(b) Forest and Woodland Management. The Forest Cover Act provides a statutory
mandate for multiple use forest management, or other vegetative cover management, on project
lands and waters. Forest and woodland management will be applied to develop, maintain, protect
and/or improve vegetation conditions for timber, fish, soils, recreation, water quality and other
beneficial uses. The Master Plan will provide for multiple use forest management wherever
practicable and compatible with other uses of project land. Where applicable, OMPs will provide
for the continued production and harvest of forest products through sustained yield programs,
reforestation and accepted conservation practices. Where applicable, the OMP will provide site
specific prescriptions for forest and woodland management.
(c) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management. Section 2 of the Forest Cover Act provides
authority for the Corps to manage project lands and waters for any or all conservation purposes,
including fish and wildlife conservation. The Corps will conduct fish and wildlife management
activities which seek to maintain populations of targeted wildlife species through the manipulation
and management of habitat. These activities will normally be in conjunction with other Federal,
state, and local agencies using a variety of techniques including the placement of artificial
structures and other practices. Where not managed by other Federal, state or local agencies, the
Corps will conduct fish and wildlife management programs on all project lands and waters which
are identified by land classification and/or resource objective for fish and wildlife management.
The Master Plan and OMP will identify and document the fish and wildlife species that inhabit
project lands and waters. Those species that are to receive management emphasis will be special
status species, and those species specified by laws and national focus plans and agreements such
as the Endangered Species Act and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The OMP
will include site-specific prescriptions for the management of fish and wildlife habitat, or for
management of a specific species or species group.
(d) Grassland Management. Grassland (including rangeland) management is within the
mandate of the Forest Cover Act. The Corps will provide for the protection and development of
vegetative cover other than forests and woodlands as well as establish conservation measures for
its maintenance. Grassland management techniques will be applied whenever the opportunity
exists to protect native grasslands or prairie, and/or improve vegetative conditions as a soil
conservation, watershed protection, fish and wildlife habitat, or range management practice.
Livestock grazing, haying, crop production and other agricultural activities are tools that may be
used in the manipulation of vegetation and should not be used, or should be discontinued, where
they may be reasonably expected to destroy or significantly alter plant and animal communities
occupying a project. The grassland management program will comply with the resource
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