Forest staff outline four‑year Manti‑LaSal plan revision, invite county as cooperating agency

Representatives from the Manti‑LaSal National Forest told the Utah County Commission they are launching a four‑year forest plan revision under the National Forest Management Act and the 2012 planning rule and asked the county to participate as a cooperating agency in the process.

Kyle Beagley, district ranger, introduced the revision effort and turned the presentation to team leader Tammy Connor, who described the plan as the forest’s overarching management framework. "We are just starting a process… it’s a 4 year process we’ll be going through to revise the forest plan," Connor said, explaining the plan will address watersheds, habitats, grazing guidance and multiple uses, but will not make site‑specific allotment decisions.

Partnership coordinator Blake Bast said staff are emphasizing public participation and using nontraditional outreach including social media, field trips, and added meetings in Provo after learning many Wasatch‑front residents use the forest for recreation. Bast announced a Sept. 30 Provo public meeting at the historic county courthouse from 5–7 p.m. and said Utah County will receive invitations and a memorandum of understanding to formalize cooperation.

Commissioners asked how the forest-revision schedule and cooperating-agency work would coordinate with the county’s resource-management and grazing plans; the presenters said they will seek early coordination and can incorporate pieces of county plans as they become available.

Staff said they will follow up with meeting materials and noted opportunities for field trips to view affected forest areas.