2090.21-2001-1 Transmittal
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
ALASKA REGION (REGION 10)
JUNEAU, ALASKA
FSH 2090.21 – AQUATIC HABITAT MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
Amendment No.: 2090.21-2001-1
Effective Date: November 16, 2001
Duration: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: /s/ Steven A. Brink
Acting Regional Forester
Date Approved: 11/13/2001
Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and
calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this
amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document.
New Document
Entire Handbook
2090.21-2001-1 Transmittal
2090.21_contents
2090.21_0_code
2090.21_10
2090.21_20
2090.21_30
2090.21_40
2090.21_50
3 Pages
2 Pages
55 Pages
11 Pages
55 Pages
39 Pages
15 Pages
2 Pages
Digest:
Zero Code – Provides legal sources and language to (1) help ensure fisheries resources are
adequately represented in the interdisciplinary team process; (2) ensure a consistent Regional
approach to aquatic habitat management through established standards, guidelines, and
prescriptions; and (3) coordinate the management of watersheds through the interdisciplinary
team process and interaction with cooperating agencies.
R-10 AMENDMENT 2090.21-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/16/2001
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
2090.21-2001-1 Transmittal
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FSH 2090.21 – AQUATIC HABITAT MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
DIGEST—Continued
Chapter 10 – The objectives for managing aquatic ecosystems in the Alaska Region are founded
on the principle that naturally functioning ecosystems (including consideration of both temporal
and spatial scales) will best sustain populations of freshwater organisms. These objectives are:
1. Aquatic Habitat Management. Maintain or restore the natural range and distribution
of aquatic habitat conditions on the Forests to sustain the diversity and production of fish and
other freshwater organisms.
2. Riparian Area Management. Maintain riparian areas in mostly natural conditions, for
fish, other aquatic life, old growth and riparian-associated plant and wildlife species, waterrelated recreation, and to provide for ecosystem processes, including important aquatic and land
interactions.
3. Fish Habitat. Fish habitat objectives are described in terms of desired physical and
biological conditions that can be measured using the aquatic inventory methods described in
Chapter 20. The habitat objectives referenced in this chapter are a first approximation of
scientifically based indicators of healthy, fully functioning aquatic systems.
Chapter 20 – Establishes Regional standards and a technical guide for completing aquatic
inventory, and provides a Regional protocol for hydrolologic unit delineation. It combines
coarse and fine-filter/scale hierarchically integrated physical, chemical, and biological
characterization of the environment. Core attributes (variables) and methods for obtaining
attribute data are identified. The data elements are consistent with the Forest Service Natural
Resources Information System. Uses of the aquatic inventory procedures include:

Determining and evaluating trends (monitoring) in ecological potential and conditions;

Predicting and interpreting responses to disturbances;

Assigning achievable desired future conditions; and

Managing to restore and maintain ecological health.
Chapter 30 –Consolidates and clarifies management direction for riparian areas. The revised
Tongass National Forest Plan (1997) defines the “riparian area” as “the area including a stream
channel, lake or estuary bed, the water itself, and the plants that grow in the water and on the
land next to the water.” This chapter defines riparian management areas (RMA) and provides
direction for their management. The RMA is the area identified during project planning that
R-10 AMENDMENT 2090.21-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/16/2001
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
2090.21-2001-1 Transmittal
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FSH 2090.21 – AQUATIC HABITAT MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
directly affects the form and function of aquatic ecosystems, stream processes and the quality
and quantity of fish habitat. An RMA includes the immediate stream channel or water, the land
adjacent to the water body, and upslope areas that have a direct effect on aquatic habitat. This
chapter extends Tongass Forest Plan Revision riparian standards and guidelines to Regional
application and updates and refines direction for fish passage at road crossings.
Chapter 40 – Describes fish habitat restoration and improvement practices, and the Alaska
Region’s cooperative project planning and analysis process. Fish project planning is an orderly
process developed to ensure National Environmental Policy Act compliance, coordination with
Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other fish enhancement cooperators, and proper phase
development in the budget and contract processes.
Chapter 50 – Reserved for Regional monitoring protocols. Currently there is a brief description
of the road condition survey (FSH 7709.58-98-1), which is designed to identify both general
risks and site-specific problems that may have either a direct or cumulative effect on the aquatic
ecosystem.