The Forest Service (FS) has spent 20+ years and over $250 million developing multi-year plans for managing national forests. This report discusses the internal and external causes of inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the FS's decision-making process: the inadequate attention that the FS has given to improving the process; the lack of agreement, both inside and outside the agency, on how it is to resolve the conflicts among competing uses on its lands; unresolved interagency issues that transcend its administrative boundaries and jurisdiction; and differences in the requirements of laws that help frame its decision-making. Charts and tables.

The Forest Service (FS) manages about 192 million acres of land -- about 9% of the nation's total surface area and about 30% of all federal lands. This report discusses: the lessons that can be learned from efforts by nonfederal land managers to generate revenue &/or become financially self-sufficient from the sale or use of natural resources on their lands, and legal and other barriers that may preclude the Forest Service from implementing similar efforts on its lands. Contains a recommendation that would improve the FS's accountability for obtaining fair market value for goods, recovering costs for services, and containing expenses.

Describes: (1) the human activities that may have contributed to the high turbidity levels in western Oregon's municipal watersheds in Feb. 1996, & (2) the efforts under way by federal, state, local, & private land managers & owners, as well as the affected cities, to ensure safe drinking water during future storms. The review is limited to five municipal watersheds -- those serving the cities of Cottage Grove, Eugene, Portland, Salem, & Sandy. Contains recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture & of the Interior designed to increase the efficiency & effectiveness of efforts to improve water quality & ensure safe drinking water for cities in western Oregon.