Stewardship Agreements

Stewardship End Result Contracting authorizes use of contracts and agreements to help achieve land management goals while meeting local and rural community needs, including contributing to the sustainability of rural communities and providing a conti

The Forest Service may enter into stewardship agreements with any entity that has the ability to either perform the work or contract it out. This can include, state and local governments, Federally recognized tribes and non-profit organizations. Appropriate Stewardship Activities include (but are not limited to): Road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or maintain water quality; Soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries or other resource values; Setting of prescribed fires to reduce wildfire hazards, improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of forest stands, or to improve wildlife habitat; Removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forest stands, reduce wildfire hazards, or achieve other land management objectives; Watershed restoration and maintenance; Restoration and maintenance of wildlife and fish habitat; Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishment of native plant species.

The Forest Service may enter into stewardship agreements with any entity that has the ability to either perform the work or contract it out. This can include, state and local governments, Federally recognized tribes and non-profit organizations. Appropriate Stewardship Activities include (but are not limited to): Road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or maintain water quality; Soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries or other resource values; Setting of prescribed fires to reduce wildfire hazards, improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of forest stands, or to improve wildlife habitat; Removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forest stands, reduce wildfire hazards, or achieve other land management objectives; Watershed restoration and maintenance; Restoration and maintenance of wildlife and fish habitat; Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishment of native plant species.

The general purpose of stewardship contracting is to achieve land management goals for National Forest System lands while meeting local and rural community needs. A stewardship contract or agreement should be used when it is the most effective tool for accomplishing land management objectives. Where forest products will be removed from National Forest areas, it is recommended that the unit provide the cooperator the updated preferred bidders list for contract awards. Stewardship agreements are awarded on a best approach determination that takes into account a technical and cost evaluation. Stewardship agreements typically include the exchange of goods (such as forest products) for services, use of retained receipts, or a combination of both. Use of stewardship agreements requires that mutual interest and mutual benefit between the Forest Service and the partner exist in the same qualitative way. All stewardship projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Stewardship projects must be consistent with plans relevant to the project, including: land and resource management plans; range allotment plans; fire management plans; and facilities master plans. All projects must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction affecting the project areas, including those addressing wilderness areas, endangered species, clean air and clean water, inventoried roadless areas, minimum road system (36 CFR 212.5(b)/FSM 7710.3), designations for motor vehicle use (36 CFR 212.56), and any other requirements for designated special areas. All contracts and agreements must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction.

All stewardship projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Stewardship projects must be consistent with plans relevant to the project, including: land and resource management plans; range allotment plans; fire management plans; and facilities master plans. All projects must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction affecting the project areas, including those addressing wilderness areas, endangered species, clean air and clean water, inventoried roadless areas, minimum road system (36 CFR 212.5(b)/FSM 7710.3), designations for motor vehicle use (36 CFR 212.56), and any other requirements for designated special areas. All contracts and agreements must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction. Stewardship Agreements should not be used for: Forest Service overhead costs; Forest Service salaries for contract/agreement development, preparation, or administration; Project planning or environmental analysis; Construction of administrative facilities or major developed facilities; Utilization of forage within an allotment that could be authorized through a grazing permit; Protection, operation, or maintenance of improvements resulting from stewardship projects; Research; Preparation and planning of administrative studies; Land Acquisition.

Stewardship agreements may be in place for a period of up to 10 years and up to 20 years for projects in certain fire regime areas.

An approved stewardship proposal must be in place prior to agreement negotiation.

Stewardship projects are typically developed in a collaborative process between the Forest Service and stakeholders and approved by a regional forester or forest supervisor prior to execution of a Stewardship Agreement. A stewardship project may include one or many land management activities affecting areas from a few acres in size up to one or more watersheds. Many stewardship projects may be completed by a partner throughout the life of the (master) agreement. In order to use a stewardship agreement, a few elements must exist: the regional forester must approve the stewardship proposal submitted by the national forest unit; mutual interest and mutual benefit between the Forest Service and the partner exist in the same qualitative way; and both parties are contributing to the project to achieve mutually beneficial results. Retained receipts generated from stewardship projects can only be used on the same or other stewardship projects. We can use appropriated funds and retained receipts to accomplish stewardship activities with an emphasis on restoration, product removal is not required. Monitoring and support should be an integral part of the collaborative process when deciding which projects to pursue using retained receipts.

Pre-application Coordination • An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. • An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. • Other pre-application coordination is required. Additional Pre-application Coordination Information: An approved stewardship proposal must be in place prior to agreement negotiation.

Stewardship agreements may be in place for up to 10 years; and may use retained receipts from other stewardship projects to accomplish work. Certain projects that are being conducted in fire regime areas can be up to 20 years in duration.