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Strategic Land Acquisition Ranking System (SLARS) for the 2017 Fiscal Year
Overview
The purpose of SLARS is to evaluate and rank proposed Regional Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
land acquisition projects before they are sent to the Washington Office for the National review. The SLARS
applies the same resource based criteria across Regional submissions to provide a consistent framework for
evaluation of all projects. The highest scoring projects from the Region are evaluated by the national pane
using the National Scoring Guidance which evaluates project proposals on their ability to meet Agency and
Administration goals at a National level. The SLARS criteria reflect the purposes of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the Forest Service’s strategic plan for fiscal years 2014-2019, The President’s
Climate Action Plan, US Department of Agriculture’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan, and the US Department
of Agriculture’s Strategic Plan FY2010-2015.
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Purposes
Title 1, Section 7 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act directs the National Forest System (NFS) to use
LWCF funds to acquire “Inholdings within (a) Wilderness areas of the NFS and (b) other areas of national
forests as the boundaries of those forests exist on the effective date of this Act which other areas are primarily
of value for outdoor recreation purposes.”
The Endangered Species Act, Section 5 states: “(b) Funds made available pursuant to the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended, may be used for the purpose of acquiring… (a) fish, wildlife and
plants, including those that are endangered species or threatened species pursuant to section 1533 of this
title.”
Criteria and points
There are 7 criteria worth a total of 250 points.
1.) Recreational Use and Improved Public Access-60 points
2.) Diverse Habitats for Threatened or Endangered Species-40 points
3.) Healthy Watersheds-40 points
4.) Community Benefits and Local Support-20 points
5.) Inside Congressionally Designated Area or Other Special Management Area-20 points
6.) Increased Management Efficiency-20 points
7.) Regional Prioritiy-50 points
Scoring
Each criterion (except #5 and #7) is scored on a scale from 0 to its maximum point allocation. Ties are allowed.
To identify a score for each project, please follow the guidelines outlined for each criterion. A spreadsheet is
provided to record the scores for each project. Please submit the SLARS spreadsheet with the submission of
individual project fact sheets, maps and information per the guidance in the annual call letter for LWCF “Core”
projects.
SLARS Summaries (optional)
Regions may submit a one page summary that provides discussion about how each project scored in each
SLARS criterion as well as the rationale for the assignment of the Regional Priority score.
Letters of Support
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Letters of support may be provided for the top ranked projects that are sent to the national competition. They
are not required for the Regional evaluation. Letters from members of Congress, State, County and other local
officials receive greater consideration. Regions may wait until they finalize their rankings to seek letters of
support that will be used for the national competition.
SLARS Criterion 1: Recreational Use and Improved Public Access. 0-60 Points
Land acquisition contributes to outdoor recreation use on National Forests and Grasslands.
Acquisitions that enhance a Forest or Grassland’s ability to provide public access for quality
recreational opportunities are especially valued. This criterion should be applied to projects in the
following ways:
1.) The degree to which recreational opportunities are created or enhanced such as new access points
like a boat launch or areas to swim, bike, hunt and fish etc. This justification can be supported
qualitatively such as a discussion of the demonstrated demand for access by the public, an access
conflict solved by this acquisition, or other means.
2.) The degree to which an acquisition opens up areas of Forests and Grasslands which were
previously inaccessible or chronically difficult to access. This can be quantified in terms of acres,
such as new acres available to the public or a linear measure such as miles of stream accessible,
trails protected, or road access perfected.
USDA Strategic Objectives: 1.1, 1.2
Forest Service Strategic Objectives: E, F
SLARS Criterion 2: Habitats for Federally listed Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate Species; or Forest
Service Sensitive Species (TES). 0- 40 Points
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Land acquisition provides an opportunity to protect or restore habitats for fish, wildlife and plants at
risk. Assign points based on the acquisition’s capacity to protect or restore habitats for endangered,
threatened, or candidate species as classified under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and/or
designated Forest Service sensitive species. This criterion may also be used to evaluate how Federal
land acquisition might play a role in supporting climate adaptation for TES species.
More points should be awarded to acquisitions that protect intact habitat for listed endangered
species followed by threatened, candidate, and lastly Forest Service sensitive species.
Points can also be awarded for lands than can be restored for threatened, endangered, candidate and
sensitive species, but intact habitats should be viewed more favorably.
USDA Strategic Objectives: 2.1, 2.2, 2.4
Forest Service Strategic Objectives: A, B, C
SLARS Criterion 3: Healthy Watersheds and Forest/Grassland Health-Watershed Condition
Framework. 0- 40 Points
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The Forest Service’s Watershed Condition Framework provides a nationally consistent, science based
approach to evaluate watershed conditions and apply integrated improvement and restoration
techniques based on local characteristics. Watershed restoration refers to activities that improve the
conditions of watersheds, restore degraded habitats, and provide for long term protection of soils and
aquatic and riparian resources. These activities will also make forests more resilient to the effects of
climate change. Land acquisition provides an opportunity for forests and grasslands to acquire lands
that will support watershed and Forest/Grassland restoration goals. High ranking projects will
significantly contribute to top Forest/Grassland priorities for targeted improvement or protection. This
criterion can be quantified in terms of number of acres and/or the degree of importance a specific
tract will contribute to larger stated watershed restoration goals. Support for acquisitions should be
described in terms of how a particular tract fits in with Forest Service watershed restoration and
protection goals once the tract is acquired, not the condition of the parcel while in private, State or
other ownership.
USDA Strategic Objectives: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3., 2.4
Forest Service Strategic Objectives: A, B, C, D
SLARS Criterion 4: Community Benefits, Local Support and Planning. 0-20 Points
Federal land acquisition is most successful with support and input from the public that is part of an
inclusive Forest planning process. Assign points for this criterion based on the following considerations:
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Why is this acquisition important to the local community and who has come forward to help make this
acquisition possible? Support for an acquisition can come in a number of ways. Have partners and
stakeholders provided financial support in terms of cash or paying for due diligence? Is there local
logistical, organizational or political support that helps with education, outreach, or volunteers? Please
consider the degree and type of support provided and how it makes the acquisition more favorable.
Is the specific parcel(s), or the types benefits provided by the acquisition discussed or prioritized in the
Forest Management Plan and/or in other Federal, State, Tribal, and local land use planning, recreation,
management, or habitat improvement plans? More points should be awarded for those tracts that are
recognized as important in Forest Service planning efforts or other commonly used and referenced
planning tools and initiatives.
USDA Strategic Objectives: 1.1, 1.2
Forest Service Strategic Objectives: E, F
SLARS Criterion 5: Inside Congressionally Designated Area or other Special Management Area. 0-20
Points (Either 0 or 20 points)
Acquiring lands within a congressionally designated area boundary such as Wilderness, Wild and Scenic
River Corridors, National Scenic Areas, National Recreation Areas, National Historic and Scenic Trail
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Corridors, or other special management areas improve the administration of the National
Forest/Grassland, and the Congressionally-designated area.
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Acquisitions that are within a Congressionally-designated area or roadless inventory area within
National Forest or Grassland boundaries automatically receive 20 points.
Acquisitions that are not within a Congressionally-designated area or roadless inventory area
automatically receive 0 points.
USDA Strategic Objectives: 2.1, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4
Forest Service Strategic Objectives: A, B, C, E, F
SLARS Criterion 6: Increased Management Efficiency and Effectiveness. 0- 20 Points
Land acquisition provides an opportunity to improve the management of National Forests and
Grasslands.
Examples: Reduced risk from wildfires in the urban interface; reduced threat of introduction or need
to treat noxious weeds; reduced need to restore watersheds or diverse habitats; reduced costs
associated with boundary management; reduced risk of trespass or encroachment; reduced costs from
road, trail or trailhead closure, construction, reconstruction or maintenance.
Lower costs are one way to demonstrate efficiency but so is increasing effectiveness, even with a short
term cost. The purpose of this criterion is to show that the acquisition of a parcel results in an overall
net benefit for the Forest or Grassland in terms of management. This can be supported through a
combination of qualitative and quantitative measures.
USDA Strategic Objectives: 2.1, 2.3, 2.4
Forest Service Strategic Objectives: A, B,C, D
SLARS Criterion 7: Regional Priority. Points 10-50 points (Forced Ranking)
Assign 50 points to the top Regional priority. These points can be awarded to any project at the
Region’s discretion. This criterion can take other important features into account such as cultural,
historic and heritage sites, urgent needs, or tracts that are high priority for the Regional Forester.
Regional priorities must follow this forced ranking.
#1=50 points
#2=40 points
#3=30 points
#4=20 points
#5=10 points
#6=5 points
#7=2 points
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