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2521.03 - Policy.
Manage terrestrial ecosystems and NFS watersheds to protect soil productivity and hydrologic
function. Implement soil and water conservation measures with management activities to
maintain satisfactory or optimum watershed conditions.
2522.02 - Objective.
Improve all terrestrial ecosystems and watersheds to Watershed Condition Class I by the year
2020.
2522.11 - Watershed Condition Improvement.
Base the sequence of watershed condition improvements on watershed priority (FSM 2531.2, R3 Supplement), watershed condition (FSM 2531.03, R-3 Supplement), and multiple-use needs.
Emphasize improvement of high-priority watersheds in watershed condition Class II or III.
1. Improve all Class III terrestrial ecosystems and NFS watersheds to watershed
condition, Class I or II generally in the order of watershed priority.
2. Where cost effective, improve Class II terrestrial ecosystems and NFS watersheds to
watershed condition Class I generally in the order of watershed priority.
3. Maintain watershed condition Class I where it already exists.
2522.12 - Water Yield Enhancement.
Where compatible with multiple use objectives and when cost effective, schedule water yield
improvement projects in State identified basins where recoverable increases exceed 0.5 inches
per year. Consider water yield designs in appropriate management prescriptions. Emphasize
water yield increases in multiple-use prescriptions for chaparral.
2522.21 - Watershed Improvement Needs Inventory.
Develop a complete watershed analysis and improvement schedule for each NFS watershed.
2523.04d - District Rangers.
District Rangers shall:
1. Based on the reconnaissance survey, assess the need for a resource advisor or a field
survey on all wildfires.
2. Document reasons for not dispatching a resource advisor or doing a field survey on
any Class E or larger fire.
3. Dispatch the resource advisor with the Forest fire team, to ensure that proper soil and
water protection measures are prescribed for suppression.
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4. Ensure that the resource advisor include the input of the burned-area survey team for
rehabilitating soil and water damages during the containment period.
2523.21 - Financing.
1. If a need for more money arises while treatments are being installed, submit a revised
form FS 2500-8.
2. Charge reforestation and the monitoring and evaluation of rehabilitation projects to
benefiting program funds, not FFF.
3. Charge fencing, not strictly needed to restrict use of burned areas, to benefiting
program funds, not FFF.
4. Charge revegetation species to restore forage condition to benefiting program funds,
not FFF.
2526.05 - Definitions.
1. Riparian Ecosystem. Terrestrial ecosystems characterized by hydric soils and plant
species that are dependent on the water table or its capillary fringe zone.
2. Perennial Water Body. Surface water is present throughout the year, at least 9 years
out of 10.
3. Interrupted Water Body. Surface water alternates between perennial and ephemeral
segments. During dry seasons, water occurs alternately on and below the surface, commonly as
perennial pools separated by dry reaches.
4. Exotic Riparian Ecosystems. Ecosystems dominated by introduced phreatophytes,
such as Tamarix pentandra and Elaeagnus angustifolia, that may have displaced native riparian
vegetation.
5. Induced Riparian Ecosytems. Ecosystems created strictly by cultural work of man,
such as irrigation channels, stockponds, wells, and reservoirs, which have concentrated water and
promoted the establishment of riparian vegetation where it would not naturally exist.
2526.1 - Inventory and Analysis. Map, describe, and analyze riparian areas in the Forest
planning process. File riparian area maps and descriptions for reach numbered NFS watershed.
Cross-reference under appropriate file designations.
Map riparian areas to include all riparian ecosystems, all floodplains, and all other lands within
100 horizontal feet of the annual high-water edge of perennial or interrupted water bodies.
Describe riparian areas using ecological factors that reflect major resource capabilities and
suitabilities. Describe vegetation, soils, channels, water, wildlife, fisheries, and resource
capabilities and uses for each riparian mapping unit. Analyze whether conditions for ripariandependent resources are satisfactory or unsatisfactory in each mapping unit.
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2526.2 - Monitoring.
Assess trends in condition in each mapping unit and select a benchmark site for each unit.
Manage each benchmark site for climax vegetation to help assess achievement of satisfactory
conditions.
2527.04c - Forest Supervisors.
Manage the use of all facilities to reduce flood hazards to users.
For example:
- limit the use of certain facilities in floodplains to
nonflood seasons or daylight hours only.
- provide identified escape routes for high hazard areas.
- design facilities to avoid situations that entrap users
during flood events.
The combined effect of all existing and proposed developments must not increase the 100-year
flood level more than 1 foot.
Assure that benefits exceed costs plus risk over the design life of the facility.
2527.05 - Definitions.
1. Natural and Beneficial Values. The ability of floodplains to dissipate flood flows
and moderate flood peaks, and the ability of wetlands to produce abundant and diverse biota,
regulate water flow and quality, and recharge ground water.
2. Mapable Floodplains. An area having a total width of at least 200 feet, inundated to
a depth of 1 foot or more by the 100-year flood. Two hundred feet equals 0.1 inch at a map scale
of 1:24,000.
3. Mapable Wetlands. A 1:24,000 scale map area of at least 0.05 square inches (a
square 0.22 inches per side or a circle with a diameter of 0.25 inches). Include smaller wetlands
providing habitat for threatened, endangered or sensitive species.
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2527.1 - Identification of Floodplains and Wetlands.
For Forest plans (FSM 1920.84) and land exchange, use approximate (moderately detailed or
general) study methods (FSH 2509.17, chapter 20, section 21.22 and 21.23) to identify
floodplains and wetlands in concert with riparian areas.
1. Identify all mappable floodplains.
2. Consult with other federal and state agencies to help identify mappable wetlands,
including only those delineated lands meeting the wetland definition in FSM 2527.05.
Identify all mappable floodplains and wetlands for specific projects involving capital
investments or critical actions. Use detailed study methods (FSH 2509.17, chapter 20, section
21.21) to determine 100-year floodplains and appropriate 500-year floodplains. Use plant and
soil indicators to identify wetlands. Exhibit 1 lists useful references that discuss floodplain
mapping and management.
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2527.1 - Exhibit 1
FLOODPLAIN REFERENCES
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 1979. Guidelines and specifications for study
contractors. 500 "C" Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20472.
James, L. D., D. T. Larson, D. H. Hoggan, and T. L. Glover. 1980. Flood damage mitigation in
Utah. Utah Water Research Lab, Water Resources Planning Series UWRL/P-80-01, Logan, UT
84322.
Potyondy, J. P. 1979. Technical guide: recommended methods for peak flow determination.
USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Soil and Water Management.
U.S. Army. 1972. Flood proofing regulations. Document EP-11652314, Office of the Chief of
Engineers, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Water Resource Council. 1978. Floodplain management guidelines for implementing
Executive Order 11988. 43 FR 6030, Federal Register 43(29), Feb. 10, 1978, 52 p.
U.S. Water Resource Council. 1979. A unified national program for floodplain management.
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Stock
No. 052-045-00058-4.
U.S. Water Resources Council. 1981. Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency.
Bulletin 17B of the Hydrology Committee.
Witala, S.W., K. R. Jetter, and A. J. Sommerville. 1961. Hydraulic and hydrologic aspects of
floodplain planning. USDI Geological Survey, Water Supply Paper 1526, 69 p., Superintendent
of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
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2527.3 - Analysis and Evaluation of Proposed Actions and Practicable
Alternatives.
Use the following steps in land exchange evaluations. Exhibit 1 illustrates these steps.
2527.3 - EXHIBIT 1 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT
1. Floodplains. Evaluate downstream and on-site flood hazards. Acceptable exchanges
must meet the downstream criteria (a) and at least one of the on-site criteria (b, c, or d).
a. If expected future uses of the selected lands will not significantly increase
downstream flood hazards, proceed with the evaluation 1b. If they will increase flood
hazards, and no practical options exist to reduce the hazards, withhold enough
selected lands to prevent the increased hazard, then continue the evaluation (1b).
b. If selected lands qualify for federal flood insurance (exhibit 2), document that
local regulations pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) apply to
the selected floodplains and proceed with the exchange. If selected lands do not
qualify, continue the evaluation lc.
c. If expected future uses of the selected floodplains will clearly not violate NFIP
standards (exhibit 3), insert a restriction statement in the conveyance document. If
future expected uses will clearly violate NFIP standards, go to (1d).
d. Evaluate whether practical options exist to reduce flood hazards. If options exist,
exercise these options and document the analysis and decision process used. If no
practical options exist withhold the floodplains from the exchange and document the
rationale for this action.
2. Wetlands. Evaluate downstream and on-site effects. Acceptable exchanges must
meet the downstream criteria (a) and at least one of the on-site criteria (b, c, d, or e).
a. If expected future uses of the selected lands will not significantly disrupt water
regimes in downstream wetlands, continue the evaluation in 2b. If they will disrupt
water regimes, and no practical options exist to mitigate the impacts, withhold enough
selected lands to prevent the disruption, then continue the evaluation, 2b.
b. If the natural and beneficial values of wetlands on offered lands equal or exceed
those on selected lands, document this fact and proceed with the exchange. If such
values will be significantly degraded, continue the evaluation, 2d.
c. If expected future uses of the selected wetlands will not significantly degrade their
natural and beneficial values, document why the exchange should still preserve the
wetlands' values and proceed with the exchange. If such values will be significantly
degraded, continue the evaluation, 2d.
d. If degradation of the selected wetlands will not significantly reduce local wetland
values overall, document why the exchange should still preserve overall wetland
values and proceed with the exchange. If such values will be reduced, continue the
evaluation, 2e.
e. Evaluate if practical options exist to preserve wetland values. If options exist,
exercise these options, document the analysis and decision process used, and proceed
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with the exchange. If no practical options exist, withhold sufficient wetland acreage
from the exchange until values on the remaining selected wetlands are balanced with
those on the offered wetlands. Document the rationale for withholding.
3. Overriding Public Interest. The Regional Forester may decide that the overall
public interest served by the exchange overrides floodplain and wetland concerns (FSM
2527.04b). The exchanges may then proceed except where conflicts exist with other applicable
laws. Document the decision following Forest Service NEPA procedures (FSM 1950).
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2527.3 - Exhibit 2
CITIES AND COUNTIES QUALIFYING FOR FEDERAL FLOOD INSURANCE AS OF
NOVEMBER 30, 1983
ARIZONA
All Arizona counties qualify for Federal Flood Insurance. Only the following counties and
communities in New Mexico qualify.
NEW MEXICO
Communities
Alamogordo
Counties
La Mesilla
Bernalillo
Otero
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Albuquerque
Artesia
Aztec
Bayard
Belen
Bernalillo
Bloomfield
Bosque Farms
Central
Cimarron
Clayton
Clovis
Corrales
Deming
Espanola
Estancia
Eunice
Farmington
Ft. Sumner
Gallup
Grants
Hatch
Hobbs
Hurley
Jal
Jemez Springs
Las Cruces
Las Vegas
Logan
Lordsburg
Los Lunas
Los Ranchos
Lovington
Milan
Moriarty
Portales
Raton
Red River
Roswell
Ruidoso
Ruidoso Downs
San Jon
Santa Fe
Silver City
Socorro
Springer
Taos
Tatum
Tijeras
Truth or Consequences
Tucumcari
Williamsburg
Zuni
Chaves
Colfax
Dona Ana
Eddy
Los Alamos
Luna
Mora
Rio Arriba
San Juan
Santa Fe
Sierra
Taos
Valencia
OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS
None of the counties in Oklahoma or Texas containing land administered by Region 3 qualify for
Federal Flood Insurance. The Oklahoma community of Cheyenne does qualify, however.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/31/1991
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed
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FSM 2500 – WATERSHED AND AIR MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 2520 – WATERSHED PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
2527.3 - Exhibit 3
SUMMARY OF MINIMUM NFIP STANDARDS
FOR FLOOD HAZARD REDUCTION
1.
Elevate residential buildings (including basements) to or above the 100-year flood
2.
Elevate, or floodproof watertight, other buildings.
level.
3.
Anchor buildings, including mobile homes, to prevent flotation, collapse, or
lateral movement.
4.
Construct buildings using methods and practices that minimize flood damage, and
materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.
5.
Design water supply, sewage, and septic systems to avoid infiltration of or
impairment by flood waters, or contamination of flood waters.
6.
Provide drainage and locate utilities in subdivisions to reduce flood hazards.
7.
The sum of all existing and future developments must not increase the 100-year
flood level more than one foot.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 2500-91-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/31/1991
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed
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FSM 2500 – WATERSHED AND AIR MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 2520 – WATERSHED PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
2527.5 - Posting of Past and Probable Flood Heights.
In areas of concentrated public use, sign (Exhibit 1) record-high and 100-year flood levels if
flood height exceeds one foot. Document the initial signing and the procedures used to estimate
flood levels. Schedule periodic sign inspection and maintenance. Include all signing costs in
program plans and budgets.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 2500-91-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/31/1991
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed
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FSM 2500 – WATERSHED AND AIR MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 2520 – WATERSHED PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
2527.3 - Exhibit 1
SEE THE PAPER COPY OF THE MASTER SET
FOR 2527.3 - EXHIBIT 1
2527.5 - Exhibit 1
SEE THE PAPER COPY OF THE MASTER SET
FOR 2527.5 - EXHIBIT 1