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1032.1 - National Forest System Policy. The National Grasslands of Region 1 consist of former
Land Utilization Projects located in North and South Dakota. They were purchased as part of
USDA's emergency programs of the 1930's. These areas in North Dakota known as Cedar River,
Sheyenne, and Little Missouri, and Grand River in South Dakota were designated National
Grasslands by the Secretary's Order of June 24, 1960, as amended, under Title III of the
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of July 22, 1937. The Act directed the Secretary to develop a
program of land conservation and utilization suitable for these areas to assist in:
1. Controlling soil erosion.
2. Reforestation.
3. Preserving natural resources.
4. Developing and protecting recreation facilities.
5. Protecting fish and wildlife.
6. Mitigating floods.
7. Preventing impairment of dams and reservoirs.
8. Conserving surface and subsurface moisture.
9. Protecting the watersheds of navigable streams.
10. Protecting the public lands, health, safety and welfare.
National Grassland Basic Objectives. The objective of National Grassland management is to
develop and execute conservation and utilization programs for all renewable resources in
National Grassland areas which will:
1. Promote development of grassland agriculture and sustained yield management of the
forage, fish and wildlife, timber, water and recreation resources on all lands in the areas of which
the National Grasslands are a part.
2. Demonstrate sound and practical principles of land use and resource management for
areas of which the National Grasslands are a part.
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3. To the extent feasible integrate the Federally owned land with the associated private and
other public lands into natural management units which will favorably influence development of
sound land conservation and utilization practices.
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SERIES 1000 - ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
National Grassland Basic Policy. The Secretary's Order of June 24, 1960, as amended, provides
that the rules and regulations applicable to the National Forests will also apply to the lands
administered by the Forest Service under provisions of Title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm
Tenant Act insofar as is practical and consistent with said Act. It further provides that Forest
Officers may continue under delegated authority to grant easements and enter into leases,
permits, agreements, or contracts involving such lands under such terms and conditions and for
such fees or rentals as they determine will best accomplish the purposes of Title III of the Act.
1. Demonstration. Federal lands administered by the Forest Service will be utilized to
provide maximum opportunity for demonstrating full development of the natural, economic and
social resources in National Grassland areas. Conservation and utilization practices, consistent
with the capabilities of the land, will be used to produce greatest longtime benefits.
2. Participation By Local People. Experience has shown management of the National
Grassland areas requires participation by the landowners and other residents of rural
communities dependent upon the land. This provides opportunity for the people to indicate
specific needs and make recommendations which will assist in development of land management
programs that are:
a. Tailored to the soils typical of the National Grasslands which are easily disturbed and
high sediment producers when eroded by wind or water.
b. Understood and supported by those concerned.
c. Most likely to result in the greatest longtime benefits.
d. Compatible with the regional and national objectives for
which the lands are held.
This is being accomplished through agreements which give specified administrative and
management responsibilities to local cooperative grazing associations or soil conservation
districts.
3. Cooperative Agreements. On-the-ground management responsibilities should be in
accord with the capabilities and demonstrated interest of the cooperative organizations. This
shall be accomplished through agreements and management plans which encourage participation
by cooperative members, landowners, and other concerned individuals and groups to stimulate
their interest in carrying out management practices on federal lands which are also suited for
adoption on the privately owned or controlled lands.
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4. Coordination With Federal, State and Local Agencies. Management plans will be
coordinated with those of other Federal, State, and local government agencies. This will help
acquaint landowners and other involved people with the agencies' programs and available
services. Interagency coordination and cooperation within the Department of Agriculture rural
areas development programs can be the foundation for achieving suitable resource management
on intermingled and interrelated public and private lands.
A unified approach to development of resources of all ownerships will contribute much to the
social and economic well-being of rural communities. It also serves as an effective means to
determine research needs, have necessary studies carried out, and to incorporate resulting
information in planned or going projects.
Specific goals for each National Grassland area should be defined. Resulting action plans to
accomplish these purposes should outline specific activities of each agency as well as for each
landownership segment.
a. Forest Service, SCS, Extension Service. An intradepartmental memorandum, file 1540
(3200), dated October 6, 1966, between the Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service and
Federal Extension Service provides for interagency coordination in furthering forestry objectives
of the Department of Agriculture and the respective State agencies. A State Forestry Planning
Committee has been formed in North Dakota to implement review of the forestry situation in the
State. Forest Service participation in committee activities should be implemented.
b. State Committee. The State committee might include, as a part of its responsibilities, a
review of coordination needs on intermingled public and private lands within National
Grasslands and other consolidated grazing units.
c. Agreements With Federal Agencies. The Regional Forester should enter into
agreements with his counterparts in other Federal agencies concerned with resource development
on public or private lands. Such agreements must be consistent with existing agency or
departmental level agreements and with policies of the Forest Service and Secretary of
Agriculture regulations. The
Regional Forester will encourage development of local arrangements, including those concerned
with State and Private Forestry functions. Delegation of Regional S&PF responsibilities is
made to the Custer Forest Supervisor.
d. Grassland Coordinating Committee. Coordination of resource management within each
National Grassland area can be achieved through formation of a Grasslands coordinating
committee. Leadership may be exercised by officers of the local grazing association. Members
would include the local SCD, Area Conservationist, County ASCS Chairman, Area FHS
Supervisor, District Ranger, County Agent, or other Extension representative, State Forestry, and
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State Fish and Game Department
resource-management activities.
representatives,
and
others
involved
in
local
This committee will provide the vehicle for a continuing review of the resource situation,
resource programs in relation to needs, and how best to meet apparent needs with the funds,
personnel, and authorities available.
These purposes can also be met by this coordinating committee working in conjunction with the
local Technical Action Panels.
5. Mixed Ownership of Public and Private Lands. A mixed Federal and other public and
private landownership pattern is most desirable for attainment of National Grassland objectives.
This requires a dynamic land adjustment program to:
a. Develop and maintain the most desirable landownership pattern consistent with all
National Grassland program objectives.
b. Develop a landownership pattern which will best utilize all cost-sharing and grant-in-aid
programs.
c. Consideration will be given to consolidation of land holdings for marginal headquarters
to further efficient operation and development.
d. There are other lands within and adjacent to the National Grasslands which can
contribute to the program. These lands should be brought into the program by:
(1) Developing interagency agreements for land management programs.
(2) Transfer of other Federal lands to the Forest Service for administration.
(3) Promoting agreements between Federal agencies and local cooperative organizations.
(4) Encouraging the cooperatives to lease State lands.
(5) Working with the States to assure long term tenure of State land in the National
Grassland program.
6. Public Recreation. The Federal lands together with the associated private land and other
public lands provide a wide variety of public outdoor recreation opportunities. One
management objective will be to demonstrate forms of recreational development which will be
practical on private lands.
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Recreational development of associated private lands will be encouraged through cost-share
programs of USDA. This will provide opportunity for increased family income and will
contribute to economic growth and stability of rural communities. National Grassland
management can offer additional opportunities for public recreation.
7. Wildlife. The complex of Federal lands and associated private and other public lands
provides food, cover, and water for a wide variety of wildlife and fish. The State fish and game
agencies are responsible for managing and protecting wildlife and regulating hunting and fishing
on the Federal lands. The Forest Service is responsible for managing, developing, and
protecting the habitat for both game and nongame species in a managed ecological Grassland
environment.
Management direction will be to apply habitat practices on the Federal lands to produce optimum
levels of wildlife and to demonstrate how this may be accomplished on the private lands. This
will be done in cooperation with the State fish and game agencies, the grazing associations, and
other public and private landowners.
8. Woodlands. Small areas of National Grasslands support significant tree growth. These
woodlands are valuable as a source of wood products, for wildlife habitat, as an overstory for
recreation, and for watershed protection. Woodland management practices should be promoted
and applied on all such lands consistent with these values.
9. Fire Control. Landownership patterns of the National Grasslands provide situations
where fire control will generally be best achieved through the local grazing cooperatives, and
organized rural fire departments. The Forest Service will participate in organization planning
and training as well as actual fire presuppression and suppression activities in accord with
suitable agreements.
10. Mineral Activity. The Forest Service, Geological Survey, and Bureau of Land
Management and the State have joint responsibility for administration of the mineral activity on
the National Grasslands. The Forest Service will develop and maintain working relationships
with these agencies and industry which will best achieve National Grassland objectives.
11. Research Natural Areas. National Grassland management programs should provide
opportunity to maintain some prairie lands in a natural state. Suitable areas should be
considered for establishment of Research Natural Areas in accord with FSM 4063.
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