How do the Sustainable Multiple Use Alternatives
Differ from most Dixie, Fishlake, and Manti-La Sal National Forest Alternatives?

  1. Taking Drought Seriously
    Both seasonal and long-term droughts are being predicted for the Southwest for the coming decades. The SMU Alternatives require management of forests, grasslands, and water to adjust for drought.
  2. Strong Riparian Protection
    Riparian areas make up only 1% of the Forest, but are essential to wildlife throughout the Forest and to downstream communities. The SMU Alternatives provide strong protection to riparian areas, including protecting potential suitable beaver habitat; and designation of appropriate roads, off-road vehicle routes, and dispersed campsites.
  3. It's Native Plants and Wildlife That Make the Forest Unique
    The SMU Alternatives require that the Forest know whether its native animals and plants that have been declining in recent decades are now doing well.
  4. More Than Just Trees
    It isn't just big trees that make good habitat on the Forest. The SMU Alternatives require that the Forest insure that grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs grow well, too.
  5. Off-road Vehicles On Road
    The SMU Alternatives require off-road vehicle drivers to stay on designated motorized routes. Ecological considerations are the major decision factor for designation of these routes.
  6. It Takes a Nation to Care for a Forest
    Responsibility for Forest stewardship rests with the Forest Service, public, and users alike. The SMU Alternatives provide standards for public stewardship, monitoring, restoration of habitat, and reporting of violations. Concerns of local, regional, and national residents and quality public input must be considered in decision-making.
  7. Saying Yes to Some "Catastrophes"
    Fire, insect outbreaks, and over-bank flooding are natural processes. The SMU Alternatives allow them to play their unique part in creating long-term forest health.
  8. Humans Belong in the Forest, Too
    Humans enjoy and depend on the Forest in diverse ways. The SMU Alternatives insure these uses are compatible with the long-term health of the Forest. Future generations of people in this nation and the world deserve healthy and beautiful Forests, too.
  9. Healthy Forest Economics
    Fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, wilderness, recreation, clean water, and restoration jobs all bring economic benefits to local and regional economies. The SMU Alternatives take a broader view of economic trends and benefits than the Forest generally does. The Forest needs to compare socio/economic benefits, impacts on Forest natural resources, and costs of managing and monitoring of uses under both their and the Sustainable Multiple Use Alternatives.


For a specific comparison within one of the Forests, see Manti-La Sal and SMU Alternative Desired Conditions (Vision) October 2005