§6543 Watershed Condition Framework

Summary

Create and run a Watershed Condition Framework for National Forest System land. The Framework must check and rate watersheds using signs like water quality and amount, fish and other aquatic life, stream and wetland plants, roads and trails, soil condition, groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and land issues such as fire risk, invasive species, and insects and disease, plus other important factors the Secretary picks. The Secretary must pick up to 5 priority watersheds in each National Forest and up to 2 in each national grassland. For each priority watershed the Secretary must make a protection and restoration action plan that lists the main problems, the essential projects to fix them, a schedule, likely partners and funding sources, and a monitoring and evaluation program. The Secretary must set priorities, carry out the plans, and watch whether the work improves watershed health. The Secretary must work with nearby non-Federal landowners and with State, Tribal, and local governments. The Secretary must also keep the public involved on an ongoing basis. If a Forest Supervisor finds a wildfire has badly harmed a watershed and Burned Area Emergency Response Team emergency work is not enough, the Secretary can name that watershed a priority without using the usual selection steps. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.