Section 1536.25  Preparation of Forest Management Plans

This practice provides timber growers and/or landowners with another opportunity to obtain professional conservation assistance in Plan preparation.

a)     This cost-share practice is valid only when a timer grower and/or landowner pays another party for preparation of a Plan. The timber grower and/or landowner must approve and sign the Plan before the District Forester will authorize reimbursement of the cost-share of the Plan practice.

b)     A cost-share application for this practice must be submitted and approved by the District Forester prior to initiation of a Plan. However, for all other cost-share practices, an approved Plan must be in effect prior to submission of a cost-share application.

c)     The Plan must meet the conditions, requirements, standards and specifications as contained in IFDA and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1537 and this Part.  Additional information to clarify the requirements mentioned above are listed in two publications published by the Illinois Technical Forestry Association:  "Recommended Silvicultural and Management Practices for Illinois Hardwood Forest Types" (1972), Extension Forester, Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois, 110 Mumford Hall, Urbana, IL 61801 (no later editions or amendments are included) and "Forest Planting Practices for Illinois" (1974), Illinois Technical Forestry Association, Inc., c/o Department of Forestry, 211 Mumford Hall, Urbana, IL 61081 (no later editions or amendments are included).

d)     Components eligible for cost-sharing can include:  reconnaissance, travel costs, secretarial, mailing and telephone costs, forest inventory, data analysis and plan writing.

e)     Reconnaissance notes; field data; inventory per acre and per stand; and analysis of forest inventory must be submitted with the Plan, to the District Forester.

f)      All of the land in a county owned by the same individual(s), partnership(s) or corporations(s) shall be included in a single Plan. Amendments of Plans to increase acreage during the 10 year lifespan of a Plan shall be cost-shared as described below.

g)     Cost-share rate for Plans of silviculture and management on existing forest stands shall be 75% of the owner's cost not to exceed  $7 per acre.

h)     Cost-share rate for reforestation and afforestation Plans as defined in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1537 shall be 75% of the landowner's cost not to exceed $4 per acre.

i)      Fractional acres for all Plans shall be rounded to the nearest acre for cost-share payment as follows:  .01 to .49 acres will be rounded down and .50 to .99 shall be rounded up.

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 10473, effective June 1, 1998)