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f <br />i <br />Designation of management rlasses were done by the respective Forest . <br />staffs, on each of the 3 National Forests. We did not question the definitions <br />or the allocations as part o:f th:is effort. Allocations are assumed consistent <br />with Forest Plan revisions and data resolution d.oes not allow :Further <br />characterization, or justification, of the allocations within each of trae four <br />management classes. <br />Of the total 1,343,000 aci-es of national forest land in the North Platte <br />drainage, approximately 223,000 acres, or 16.5 percent of the tatal, is <br />designated Wilderness. Approximately 391,000 acres, or 29 percent of the <br />total, has been determined to be Unsuitable for Timber Harvest. Of the <br />remaining 731,000 acres, 50.2,000 acres, or 37 percent of the total, is <br />designated Suitable for Timbeir Harvest while the remaining 229,000 acres <br />are considered Tentatively Suitable for Timber Harvest. The U.S. Forest <br />Service management class de:signations define those areas available for <br />timber harvest, and those, which are not available. <br />Stand Description <br />The information provided to us, by the U.S. Forest Service was derived from <br />the current (ca. December 1999) GIS database. In total, data consisted of <br />characterizing approximately 2.3,000 separate polygons or unit areas. Each <br />polygon represents an area with a matrix of descriptive parameters <br />describing the area the pol.ygon represents and the nature of the uniform <br />cover type it represents. T'he descriprive parameters include aspect, <br />elevarion, 6t' order watershe;d location, and cover type. <br />Cover Type <br />Each polygon portrays a sing:le Cover Type that can be characterized as <br />either water, barren, grass, shrub, or forest. Information on specie <br />composition, basal area, cover (iensity, and size class further characterize the <br />forest cover type. No further i:nformation is given on the other cover types. <br />Less than one percent of' the total 1,343,000 acres of Forest Service <br />ownership is covered by water (8303 acres). Barren Area designarion <br />occupies 2.75 percent of the; tot:al area or 36,971 acres, while grasses accupy <br />5.8 percent or 77,729 acrf;s. Brush dominates on 112,000 acres or 8.4 <br />percent of the total NFS lands. Because of the minimal acreage occupied by <br />cottonwood, the 122 acres were added to the acreage designated as water or ?.. <br />23