Writing the Stewardship Plan: a suggested format

1. Introduction and History of Land Uses. Describe the property, including legal description, topography, location, brief land-use history, and means of road access. State number of acres owned and acres of forestland.
2. Landowner's Goals. These will guide the plan development and involvement of agency staff or other needed professionals.
3. Professionals and Agencies Consulted. Indicate all contacts made with name, agency, license or other registration or certification, area expertise, address, and telephone number. Discuss the procedures and methods used by resource professionals contributing to the plan.
4. Registered Professional Forester (RPF) Involvement. Include name, address and telephone number of the RPF. Explain involvement with the project, such as review only, site visit, etc.
5. Cultural and Historic Resources. Summarize and attach results from any records check and project review from the appropriate Information Center for the California Historical Resources File system. List measures to protect archaeological or historical resources to meet existing laws and landowner's objectives and indicate how and when. [Archaeological data base checks and other assistance may be obtained through CDF. ]
6. Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Give a general description of present habitat and species on the property. At minimum, document protection measures during scheduled activities. List possible habitat enhancement activities, with emphasis on those species which meet the landowner's objectives. Discuss habitat maintenance over time.
7. Threatened and Endangered Species. Describe the results from a National Diversity Data Base check or state that one will be obtained prior to any activities that will disturb habitat. Discuss any project assessments performed or needed. List identified or known threatened and endangered species on the property and include protection measures. Describe any activities to enhance threatened and endangered species habitat. At minimum, document how any threatened and/or endangered species, known or discovered, will be protected.
8. Soils. Briefly discuss the major soil types and their suitability for carrying out the management activities being proposed. If needed, list any special management considerations (such as unstable soils and wetlands). Information on published surveys is available at some Resource Conservation District (RCD) offices and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices. Document how soil will be protected and erosion minimized.
9. Water, Wetlands, Riparian Areas. On a map, show springs, streams, ponds, and riparian areas. Include a discussion of actions needed to protect these areas. Emphasize those activities which will enhance water quality.
10. Recreation and Aesthetics. Describe potential recreation income, viewsheds, and related activities or values. At a minimum, document how aesthetics within public view will be protected or enhanced.
11. Forestry and Agroforestry (includes timber management, grazing, native plant propagation, etc.). Describe existing timber stand or woodland and describe future stand based on landowner objectives. (A detailed inventory is not required nor appropriate.) List those activities that will enhance management for wood products and other commodities consistent with landowner objectives. If this is a primary objective, provide suggestions for future harvesting and suggested timing.
12. Cover-Type. Describe existing vegetation (in general only). List major tree species and any other dominant cover type and approximate percentage of each. Suggest management strategies. Key this section to a map of cover type as appropriate for projects suggested.
13. Forest Health and Protection. List any significant animal, insect, disease and wildfire hazard problems. Include associated management strategies to resolve the problem(s) and enhance management consistent with objectives.
14. Project Schedule. Summarize recommended management activities. Describe (in general) by season and year, each planned activity for at least five years, referencing areas affected on the map. Scale the scope of the activities to a realistic project size. Clearly show priorities for projects, sequence, and recommended completion dates.
15. Assistance Available. Give a brief description of sources of technical, financial and educational assistance available, and include contacts.
16. Maps. Include maps and data that may be useful for plan clarity, understanding conclusions reached, or future planning. Attach a planimetric map with a scale of at least 4"=1 mile, showing ownership and project boundary. If a USGS Quad Map is used, use the largest scale available. At minimum, show forestland, property boundary, existing and proposed roads, vegetative cover types, streams and other sensitive areas, as well as areas for any ground-disturbing activities. The map(s) must show the general location of proposed practices with a legend, scale, and compass orientation.
17. Optional Items. Include if useful: economic/tax/zoning issues; resource inventories (very general); permits, requirements, constraints; practice specifications; financial assistance applications; glossary; recent plans or maps.
    

See also: Developing a Stewardship Plan