National Forests in Alabama

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1 Alabama Bibb, Cleburne, Winston Counties Congressional Districts: 3, 4, 6 Members: Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Spencer Bachus Location Purpose Purchase Opportunity Partners Project Description USDA Goal Shoal Creek is 75 miles west of Atlanta, Oakmulgee is 45 miles south of Tuscaloosa, and Bankhead is 70 miles north of Birmingham. Restore longleaf pine; protect watersheds, wetlands, and endangered aquatics; reduce wildfire risk; improve access, recreation, and resilience to climate change; mitigate effects of carbon emissions. International Paper, Soterra LLC, Evergreen Forests LLC, and other large companies have begun divesting large tracts of land, providing an opportunity to protect them from development. Acquired to Date Method Acres Cost ($) Purchase 1129 $1,977,000 Exchange 0 0 Donation 0 $450,000 Other 0 0 Partners 0 0 President s Budget FY 2012 Method Acres Cost ($) Purchase 497 $1,000,000 The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, The Trust for Public Land. The comprise the largest area of publicly owned land in Alabama, covering about 3 percent of all forest acreage in a State where 69 percent of the land is forested, where private owners hold more than 90 percent of forest land, and where forestry is the number one industry. About a quarter of the private forest land in Alabama is in large tracts that can support sensitive species, provide open space for recreation, and mitigate the effects of carbon emissions. The forces that are changing the landscape of the South are also affecting Alabama s forests. Forest industry owners, who once prided themselves for planting four trees to replace every one harvested, are now selling their land as fast as they can. Metropolitan hot spots are spreading towards public lands at an alarming rate. And as investors eye national forest inholdings for residential development, the State can no longer be confident that the patchwork of ownerships on its public land will remain forested or that critical watersheds and species will be protected. Three large tracts are available for acquisition. The first is a 618-acre tract on the Shoal Creek Ranger District of the that is bisected by Terrappin Creek (designated as critical habitat for eight federally listed species). Acquisition of this tract will protect 40 acres of wetlands and streamsides from further development that has recently begun. The tract abuts the 147-mile Pinhoti Trail and offers protection to the Trail s viewshed. Other available recreation opportunities are the Chief Ladiga Trail, hunting, fishing, canoeing, and camping. The second is a 320-acre tract on the Talledega s Oakmulgee Ranger District, which is near several active red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) clusters and has been recently clearcut, making this a crucial time to restore the native longleaf pine for recovery of RCW and other species and for increased carbon sequestration. Although the outlook for precipitation in the area is mixed, all predictions forecast warmer temperatures. Because longleaf pine can thrive in warm temperatures on sites ranging from dry ridges to soggy low flatwoods, this species is likely to be well adapted for most future climates. The third, a 180-acre tract on the Bankhead National Forest, will connect two large sections of the Bankhead, increasing management efficiency. This tract drains in the Lower Brushy Creek watershed and Lake Lewis Smith critical habitat for the threatened flattened musk turtle. All tracts are located inside national forest boundaries and follow the desired future condition described in the forest plan for the. Acquiring them will preserve wetlands and riparian habitat along with associated at-risk species, and will enable restoration of native forests while increasing carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gases. Access to recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, camping, biking and hiking will improve, as outlined in the Administration s America s Great Outdoor Initiative. Consolidate, protect, restore, sustain and enhance Forest lands, water quality and endangered species by conserving open space and increasing efficiency of management. Forest Service

2 Lawrence Morgan Bankhead National Forest Winston County Parcel Marshall 431 DeKalb Winston 278 Cullman Blount Cherokee Talladega 59 National Forest EtowahShoal Creek Ranger District Parcel 759 Gadsden 411 Walker St. Clair Calhoun Anniston 11 Cleburne Jefferson Birmingham Talladega Tuscaloosa 459 Shelby Clay Randolph 31 Bibb Oakmulgee Ranger District Parcel Coosa Tallapoosa Chambers 82 Chilton 280 Perry Dallas Autauga Elmore Lee Macon Auburn 85 Administrative Forest Boundary Map 1 of 4 Talladega & Bankhead Nat'l Forests

3 Shoal Creek Ranger District Parcel Ta l l a d e g a N a t i o n a l F o r e s t Administrative Forest Boundary Proposed Acquisition Parcel Map 2 of 4 Shoal Creek Ranger District

4 Mile BRUSHY Inman Creek 737 Bankhead National Forest Winston County Parcel Creek 662 Cem 644 B a n k h e a d N a t i o n a l F o r e s t NATURAL BRIDGE RECREATION AREA 763 Mile Cr 735 Cem BRUS Branch 699 Winston County Parcel Proposed Acquisition Parcel Map 3 of 4 Bankhead National Forest

5 Branch Cave Mountain Cav 550 PERRY CO BIBB CO Oakmulgee Ranger District Parcel WD PIPELINE 531 NATIONAL FOREST Ta l l a d e g a N a t i o n a l F o r e s t Oakmulgee Ranger District Proposed Acquisition Parcel Map 4 of 4

6 LWCF 2012 Tract 1 This tract is a 618 acre parcel located on the Shoal Creek Ranger District of the. Terrapin Creek bisects this tract for approximately one mile and has been designated as habitat for eight threatened and endangered species by the USF&WS. Protection of these endangered species from development, which has recently occurred along Terrapin Creek, is of great importance to the. Tract 2 Located on the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega NF, this 320 acre tract is adjacent to several active Red Cockaded Woodpecker clusters and offers excellent opportunity to consolidate future Red Cockaded Woodpecker habitat. Tract 3 Located on the Bankhead NF, this 180 acre tract offers excellent consolidation. This tract drains into Brushy Creek and Lake Lewis Smith. Acquisition of this tract will protect habitat for the threatened flattened musk turtle.