The term “natural” is often tossed around in environmental communities and is typically used to refer to how something used to be or would be if we left it alone. However, as appealing as it may be to “restore things to their natural state,” it is not only very subjective, but in most cases wouldn’t be possible or desirable. We live on a planet where disturbance regimes constantly change what we consider natural. Dinosaurs once upon a time lived in a “natural” state, but the conditions under which they flourished no longer exist, nor are these extinct giants compatible with today’s organisms.

So is this a doomsday philosophy that implies that we can’t do anything about the environment, so why try? Actually, from a management perspective, it is just the opposite. It is a forward-thinking, rather than a backward-thinking process, and sometimes that means, literally, really looking forward – like 20 to 100 years from today.

In 1998, an assessment was conducted on the Sevier Plateau, which includes the Sanford Burn area, to look at desired future conditions (DFC) and proper functioning conditions (PFC). To define these terms, in a PFC, “…the vegetation is in a healthy condition, watersheds operate more efficiently, and wildlife diversity and numbers are more stable” *(USDAFS, 1998). Implicit in this assumption is that before Euro-american settlement, ecosystems were properly functioning and that “…disturbance regimes are a necessary part of a properly functioning system…” *(USDAFS, 1998).

This “ecological approach” is then combined with human and economic concerns to develop the Desired Future Conditions (DFC) for the watershed.

Already a long-term monitoring team is in place to ensure the Sanford portion of the Upper Sevier Watershed moves toward Desired Future Conditions. Over the next twenty years (or longer) the long-term monitoring team, led by Priscilla Summers, Dixie National Forest Ecologist, will work with other agencies, landowners and livestockmen to decide what is best for the Sanford. They will look at recreation, vegetation, hydrology, wildlife, fire & fuels and grazing to answer such questions as:

• Is the stream channel maintaining proper function for recovery of habitat?
• Is the vegetative recovery as expected?
• Is the area, in fact, moving toward DFC?

It may be that this success story will only unfold in the eyes of our children.

*USDA Forest Service. 1998. Assessment for Major Vegetation Types Proper Functioning Conditions (PFC/Desired Future Condition (DFC) Utah High Plateaus and Mountains Section Sevier Plateau Sub-section and portions of the Sevier River, Paunsagunt Plateau, and Johns Valley Sub-section, Powell Ranger District, Dixie National Forest.