2023 Bison Auction at Land Between the Lakes

A public auction to reduce the size of Land Between the Lakes’ bison herds will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023. The sale begins at 9am Central Standard Time at the South Bison Range corral. Bidder registration, final sale list, and viewing begin at 8am CST. The Forest Service has scheduled approximately 32 bison to be sold individually to include:1 cow born 2015, tested for pregnancy9 large young bulls born 20204 cows born 2020, tested for pregnancy6 yearling heifers born in 20217 yearling bulls born 2021a 4 to 5 bull and heifer calves born in 2022Preliminary details regarding the…
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Winter Eagle Tours are Back for 2023!

Bald eagle and turtle using a log as a rest stop at Land Between the Lakes. Photo by Mel Cunningham. Woodlands Nature Station naturalists will serve as guides to upcoming bald eagle viewing lake cruises and van tours in January and February 2023. Friends of Land Between the Lakes are excited to announce that the Woodlands Nature Station will host bald eagle viewing cruises and van tours for the public in January and February 2023! Eagle Viewing Cruises: Kentucky Lake eagle viewing cruises will be hosted on the CQ Princess, a 96-foot, double-decker luxury yacht, on January 14, 15, &…
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Woodlands Nature Station Picks Up a “6-Pack”

By John Pollpeter Exciting news for the Woodlands Nature Station as staff welcomed five little squiggly red wolf puppies in the small wolf den on April 26, 2022. There was some suspicion as Ember, the four-year-old mother, started to show signs of pregnancy a few days prior, which can be difficult to tell until parturition. Jasper, the 75-pound, 13-year-old male, also started to show protective behaviors and began delivering food to Ember, which are telltale signs of upcoming pups. Once these changes were noticed, staff whirled into puppy mode, checking the dens twice a day, setting them up with soft…
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Treatment of Imported Fire Ants Environmental Assessment

Treatment of Imported Fire Ants Environmental Assessment

What is this Environmental Assessment about? The U.S. Forest Service at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is asking for public input on an Environmental Assessment for the Treatment of Imported Fire Ants. The proposed project, Treatment of Imported Fire Ants on Land Between the Lakes, is available at http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=45540. The environmental assessment and supporting documentation is also available for review at the Land Between the Lakes administration office. Comments must be received by July 31, 2017. See "How to Comment" below. Project Summary Imported fire ants are an invasive species that occur throughout much of the southeastern United States. In…
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Open lands-Helping Wildlife Survive

Open lands-Helping Wildlife Survive

Dear friends, As part of our Land and Resource Management Plan, we designated approximately 10,600 acres as open lands. This acreage specifically supports insects, game animals, grassland type birds, and mammals through open lands management. Managing open lands involves keeping desired vegetation in an early stage of growth. We do this by cultivating and planting our wildlife plantings and cropland areas. We maintain grassland type habitat primarily by mowing, disking, prescribed fire and herbicide applications. These open land types provide food and shelter for hundreds of species at Land Between the Lakes. Since the turn of the 21st Century, natural…
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US Forest Service Recreational Drone Policy

US Forest Service Recreational Drone Policy

The following tips are for responsible, hobby or recreational use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or “Drones” on National Forest System Lands.  United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service July 2015 https://www.fs.fed.us/science-technology/fire/unmanned-aircraft-systems/responsible-use US Forest Service Unmanned Aircraft Systems or "Drones" Policy-PDF Know Where To Fly Individuals and organizations may fly UAS for hobby or recreational purposes in compliance with the http://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/ (Section 336 of Public Law 112-95). UAS must be flown below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles. UAS are considered to be both “motorized equipment” and “mechanical transport” and, as such, they cannot take off from, land in, or…
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Forest Planning and Monitoring

Forest Planning and Monitoring

Current Monitoring and Planning at Land Between The Lakes The new Forest Service 2012 Planning Rule requires all forests to transition to the new monitoring and evaluation program requirements. This monitoring program review serves as one part of the analyses leading up to Land Between The Lakes’ Area Plan revision process. The general steps to the plan revision process include: 2012 Monitoring Program transition beginning Fiscal Year 2017, 10 year Monitoring and Evaluation Report — FY 2005 to 2015, Assessment, Plan Revision, and Monitoring and Evaluation The Land Between The Lakes’ 2004 Area Plan includes 8 goals with 39 monitoring…
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How Land Management Affects Outdoor Recreation

How Land Management Affects Outdoor Recreation

How are proposed land management practices including logging, expected or anticipated to affect Land Between The Lakes' core mission of environmental education and recreation? Positives and negatives? Summary Timber management activities create opportunities for wildlife viewing. The timber sale activities help with road maintenance, thus allowing for dispersed recreation opportunities such as hunting.  With improved wildlife habitat conditions, the opportunity to utilize environmental education into the role of land management is increased. Restricting or eliminating the use of timber sales as a tool for land management could be perceived as having positive impact on visuals and noise. Why Land Management?…
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What land management practices do you anticipate suspending in light of public concerns? Pisgah Project? How long will these practices be suspended?

What land management practices do you anticipate suspending in light of public concerns? Pisgah Project? How long will these practices be suspended?

What land management practices do you anticipate suspending in light of public concerns? Pisgah Project? How long will these practices be suspended? The Pisgah Bay project has been cancelled as proposed. The Forest Service will be moving forward with public involvement on some of the infrastructure related projects within the proposal. Some of the projects being considered include: Replacing culverts, while improving conditions on approximately 31.7 miles of Forest Service roads; Rerouting of approximately 2.7 miles of the North/South Trail to stop degradation of the landscape; and Incorporating road access to a backcountry campsite area. Currently there are two timber…
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Questions from the Public

Questions from the Public

Q&A Index Scroll down for links to notes and Q&A's. June 23, 2015 Dear Friends, It is my hope to be transparent in our management practices at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. We want to collaborate with you, members of the public and our partners, to make Land Between The Lakes the best it can be for our visitors, gateway communities, and our region. We will be answering questions originated from the various discussions, listening sessions, and meetings we held with members of the public and our partners. This Q&A Index will provide links to these questions and…
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