Tribal Watershed Forestry Assistance Program

The Forest Service is announcing its intent to prepare an interim final guideline, in cooperation with Indian tribes, for the Tribal Watershed Forestry Assistance Program, as authorized by Title III, Section 303, of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-148). The Tribal Watershed Forestry Assistance Program (TWFAP) is administered by the Forest Service and implemented by participating Indian tribes. The purpose of the TWFAP is to build and strengthen watershed partnerships that focus on forested landscapes at the State, regional, tribal, and local levels; to provide tribal forestry best- management practices and water quality technical assistance directly to Indian tribes; to provide technical guidance to tribal land managers and policy makers for water quality protection through forest management; to complement tribal efforts to protect water quality and provide enhanced opportunities for consultation and cooperation among Federal agencies and tribal entities charged with responsibility for water and watershed management; and to provide enhanced forest resource data and support for improved implementation and monitoring of tribal forestry best-management practices. In accordance with Forest Service policy, formal consultation is ongoing with Indian tribes on development of this new program. This notice supplements the consultation process. Comments are invited and will be considered in the development of the interim final guideline. Additional direction on the implementation of TWFAP will be issued to the Forest Service Manual Chapter 3500, Cooperative Watershed Management.