Bugchuck salvage timber sale : environment assessment

2008·2.5 MB·English

by  Montana. Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation. Southwestern Land Office Clearwater Unit. author

s
333.751
N7BST
2008
BUGCHUCK SALVAGE
TIMBER SALE
ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT
MONTANA DEPARTMENT of NATURAL RESOURCES and CONSERVATION
SOUTHWESTERN LAND OFFICE
CLEARWATER UNIT
MARCH 2008
MontanaStateLibrary
3 0864 1006 2713 5
BUGCHUCK SALVAGE TIMBER SALE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Checklist EA: 9 pages
Appendix A: vicinity map 1 page
proposed harvest unit 1 page
proposed roads 1 page
Appendix B: 1 page
References: 1 page
Initial Proposal <& Comments Initial Proposal 1 page
Montana DFWP 2 pages
F.H. Stoltze 1 page
WildWest Institute 7 pages
List of Preparers: 1 page
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
Montana State Library
http://archive.org/details/bugchucksalvaget10mont
CHECKLIST ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Project Name: Bugchuck Salvage Timber Sale
Proposed
Implementation Date: Summer2008 through Fall 2009
DNRC
Proponent: Clearwater Unit, Southwestern Land Office, Montana
Location: Section 6 T.14N. R.14W., Section 30 T.15N. R.14W, Section 36 T.15N. R.15W., P.M.M
County: Missoula County
TYPE AND PURPOSE OF ACTION
I.
TheMontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation (DNRC)proposesto harvestan estimated 400to600thousand board
feet(MBF)oflodgepolepinefromapproximately200acres. Otherspecieswould notbetargetedforharvestunlesstheyoccurinsktd trails
landings,oradjacenttoroadswheretheywould needtoberemoved. Newroadconstruction isplannedtoaccessthesalearea Receipts
generated bythisproposalareestimatedtoyieldbetween $30,000and$80,000fortheStateIndustrialSchooland CommonSchools
Income. Proposedharvesttreatmentswouldsalvagelodgepolepine, anddecreasethespreadthemountain pine bark beetle
(Dendroctonusponderosae). Roadsandlandingsusedbythissalewouldbetreatedwithherbicidetocontrol noxiousweeds Fuels
managementofslashcreated bythisprojectwould alsobea partofthis project.
Theobjectivesoftheprojectareto:
1) Salvagedead anddying timberbefore itloses itseconomicvalue,
2) Reducethesusceptibilityofresidualtreestoepidemicinsectinfestations,
3) Reducepotentialfuelconcentrationsafterharvest,
ThelandsinvolvedinthisprojectareheldbytheStateofMontana intrustforthesupportofspecificbeneficiary institutionssuch as public
schools&statecolleges(EnablingActofFebruary22, 1889; 1972MontanaConstitution,ArticleX, Section 11). TheBoard ofLand
Commissionersand DepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation(DNRC)arerequired bylawtoadministerthesetrustlandsto
producethelargestmeasureofreasonableand legitimatereturnoverthelong runforthesebeneficiaryinstitutions(Section7-1-202,
MCA). In2003,theDNRCadoptedAdministrativeRulesforForestManagementARM 36.11.401-36.11.450(the"Rules"). This projectis
plannedanddevelopedinaccordancewiththeRules.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
II.
1. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, AGENCIES, GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS CONTACTED:
Providea briefchronologyofthescopingandongoinginvolvementforthisproject.
ThistimbersalewasscopedintheMissoulian (Missoula, MT.)duringMayandJuneof2007. Noticeswereposted attheClearwater
Junction,MT., onthe DNRCwebsite, andtheDNRCofficeinClearwater. Thenormalscopinglistwasalsousedtoelic*inputfromthe
publicandotheragencies(inBugchuckSalvagesalefile). ResponsesfromtheMontana DepartmentofFish,Wildlife, and Parks(DFWP).
theWildWestInstitute, and StoltzeLandand Lumberareincluded inAppendixD. DepartmentofNatural ResourcesandConservation
specialistssuchasawildlifebiologist(MikeMcGrath), hydrologistandsoilscientist(JeffCollins), andarcheologist(Patrick Rennie)were
alsoscopedandhaveprovidedimportantinformationforthisEnvironmentalAssessment.
CraigV. Nelson, ClearwaterUnitForestManagementSupervisor, haswrittenthe E.A. and SteveWallace, UnitManagerofClearwaterUnit
will bethedecisionmaker.
2. OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WITH JURISDICTION, LISTOF PERMITS NEEDED:
The BlanchardCreek road isowned byMissoulaCountyandtheycontrolweightlimitsand potential hauldates
3. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
NoAction
Themountainpinebarkbeetleepidemicwould likelycontinue, possiblyinfesting and killingthemajorityoflodgepolepinetreeswithinthe
section.Thesebeetlescouldalsoinfestandkillponderosa pinetrees. Nonewroadwould beconstructed and noexisting roadwould be
improvedtomeetMontanaBestManagementPracticesguidelines. Substantialvaluewould be lostbynotsalvagingthetreesthathave
alreadybeen attacked bybeetles, allowingthe remaining livelodgepolepineandDouglas-fironthe sectiontosuccumbto barkbeetle
attack. Recreationalusepermitsandgrazingleaseswouldcontinue.
Thisactionalternativewould harvestanestimated400to600MBFoftreesfrom approximately200acres. DNRCwouldsalvagetreeskilled
orinfestedbymountain pinebeetle{Dendroctonusponderosae)andallotherlodgepolepinewithintheharvestunitswouldbecutduetothe
highlikelihoodofbeetleattack. Approximately2.5milesofnewforestroadwouldbeconstructedtoaccesstheproposedharvestareasand
approximately8milesofroadwould be improvedormaintainedtomeetMontana BestManagementPractices. Followingtheproposed
harvestthe0.25milesofroadwould beclosedandbeallowedtorevegetatenaturally. Gatesandroadblockageswouldbeusedtorestrict
accessintotheroadsfrom PlumCreekthatprovideentranceintosection36southofBlanchardCreek. Othernewconstructionisan
extensionofaDNRCroadsystemthatiscurrentlygated. Allloggingslashwould bepiledintheforestusingskiddingequipmentandwould
beburnedawayfrom roadsystems. Herbicideapplicationwouldtakeplacetohelpmanagenoxiousweeds.
IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
III.
RESOURCESpotentiallyimpactedarelistedontheform, followedbycommonissuesthatwouldbeconsidered.
ExplainPOTENTIALIMPACTSANDMITIGATIONSfollowingeachresourceheading.
Enter"NONE"Ifnoimpactsareidentifiedorthe resourceisnotpresent.
4. GEOLOGY AND SOIL QUALITY, STABILITY AND MOISTURE:
Considerthepresenceoffragile, compactableorunstablesoils. Identifyunusualgeologicfeatures. Specifyanyspecial
reclamationconsiderations. Identifyanycumulativeimpactstosoils.
GeologyisBeltseries, argillitesandquartzitesbedrockswhichareexposedalongWoodchuckCanyonandBlanchardCreek. These
fracturedbedrockmaterialscanberippedwhereexposedandaregoodtoexcellentqualityforroads.TherearetalusslopesinWoodchuck
Canyon, butotherwisenoespeciallyuniquegeologyorunstableslopesfeaturesarepresent.
SoilsIntheBlanchard Creekharvestunitsaremainlyhighrockcontent,welldrainedsoilsderivedfrombedrockresiduum,cobblyoutwash,
alnodamgslaocnial0-ti3l0ls.%Dosmloipneasn.tTshoeilsseinsopirlsopaorseewdelhladrrvaeisntedun,iwtist1h,l4o,w&to5maordeeGrlaatceieerrcorseieokn,ancodmWpmafcattilondeaenpdcdoibsbpllyacgeramveenltlypoltoenatmisala.nSdoiglrsavinelulnyitsi3lt
havesimilarsuitabilitywithdeepervolcanicashsurfacesoilsonmoderateslopesof8-30%thataresubjecttoruttingifoperatedonwhen
wet.Approximately20acresofunits 1 and2onMitten/Courvilleglacialtillsthatarecobblysiltloamswithspottyvolcanicashsurfaceshave
similarmoderatepotentialforerosion, compactionanddisplacementwithtimberharvestoperations. Localizedareasofslopesover45%
haveandan increasedpotentialfordisplacement.
Previousharvestwasover50yearsagoandallstandsarefullystockedwithonlylocalizedpastimpactsestimatedatlessthan5%ofthe
area inmainskidtrailsandlandings. Onlyunit3hashad nopreviousharvesteffects. Withnoaction,forestsoilswouldcontinueto
ameliorate,yetroadsegmentswithinadequatedrainageorvegetativecovermaycontinuetoerode.
Withtheproposedaction, planned harvestandgroundskiddingoperationsshouldhavelowriskofdirect, in-directandcumulativeimpacts
basedonimplementingBMP'sandmitigationmeasures.Groundbasedharvestwouldbelimitedtoslopeslessthan45%toprevent
excessivedisturbance. Mitigations(seeappendix)includeseasonofuselimitstopreventruttingandcompaction, skiddingplanstolimitarea
ofimpacts,retainingwoodydebris(Grahametal 1994)fornutrientsandpromptrevegetationofdisturbedsitesonroadstocontrolerosion
and protectsoilresources.
5. WATERQUALITY, QUANTITYAND DISTRIBUTION:
Identifyimportantsurfaceorgroundwaterresources. Considerthepotentialtorviolationofambientwaterquality
standards, drinkingwatermaximumcontaminantlevels, ordegradationofwaterquality. Identifycumulativeeffectsto
waterresources.
TheproposedDNRClodgepolesalvagesaleislocatedwithintheBlanchardCreekandWoodchuckCanyondrainagesthataretributaryto
theBlackfootRiver.BlanchardCreekisaClass1 perennialstreamwithadrainageareaof17,494acres, upto85acresisproposedfor
harveston DNRClands.WoodchuckCanyondrainageisanephemeraldrainageof3,129acres(136acresproposedforharvest)withno
directdeliverytostreamsortheBlackfootRiver,duetothecoarserockysods.ADNRChydrotogistcompletedacoarsefitterscreeningfor
cumulativeeffectsPerARM36.11.423(1)(a-b)forthisproposedtimbersale, including pasttimberharvestprojects(DSL1987, DNRC
1999)androadsforcumulativeeffectsassessments.
Blanchard Creekisa 13.1 milelongdrainagethatflowsthroughDNRCSection36, T15N, R15WandSection31,T15N,R14Winthelower
portionofthewatershed. BlanchardCreekisaforestedwatershedwitharangeof18-40inchesprecipitation, mainlyassnowfall. Main
BlanchardCreek(belowtheconfluenceoftheNorthandSouthForks)islistedasimpaired(MontanaDEQ2006303(d)listing)forpartially
supportingaquaticlifeandcoldwaterfisheries.Theimpairedreachis2.3milesinlength.Probablecausesofimpairmentarealterationof
streambanks,sedimentationandlowflowalterations.Theprobablesourcesaregrazinginriparianareas,roadadjacenttostreamchannel,
and irrigationdiversionofflowwhichcanresultindewateringlower1.1 miles. Existingcumulativeeffectsinclude 1grazingimpactsalong
streamchannelsand2)substantialtimberharvestwithintheBlanchardCreekwatershedthathasleadtomoderatelyhighwateryield
increases.StreamchannelconditionsonthemainstemofBlanchardCreekarepredominatelyfairtogood,withsomepoorstreamreaches
inlocationssensitivetograzingpressure.
Awaterquality restorationplan hasbeendraftedfortheMiddle Blackfoot(including Blanchard Creek)byMontana DEQthat recommends
BMP implementationforgrazing, and forestry, withthegoaltoreducepollutionbya specified amount(TotalMaximum Daily Load)somat
thewaterresourcescanfullysupportallbeneficialuses. DNRC installedfencing onthe north ForkofBlanchard Creek in 1997to reduce
cattle accesstothestream andshrubcoverison an improvingtrend. PlumCreek has alsocommenced npanan fencingtoreduce livestock
usenearBlanchardCreek.
Segmentsoftheexisting roadswithinthewatershed, includingtheBlanchard Creekcountyroad and pnvateaccess roads, require
maintenanceorrepairstomeetBMPsforadequate roaddrainage.Themain Blanchard Creek county road is located adiacenttothe stream
in Section31 and segmentsoftheroadwere reconstructed slightly upslope inthe late 1990'sto reduceeffectsofflooding, yet some
sedimentationcontinues.
NoAction
Underthe NoActionAlternative, nomanmadechangeswouldoccurwithin theprojectareas. Thus,therewould be nochange in effects
overtheexistingconditiontowateryieldorqualitywithinthedrainagesmentioned above. Implementation ofBMPs and restoration plans
areexpectedtodevelopan improvingtrendforwaterquality.
Action
Theproposed projectwould useexisting roads, and constructnewroad on moderategrades.Approximately 1 V4mileswould be located
withintheBlanchardwatershedandwellawayfromBlanchardCreekwithextensivevegetative bufferdistance The accessrouteswould
usetheexistingstreamcrossingsofBlanchardCreekarenotsedimentsourcesorfish barriers. Roadswould begraded anddrainage
repairscompleted on accessroutes as neededtomeetBestManagementPracticestominimizetheriskofadditionalsedimentdeliveryfrom
occurringduringaccessand haulingofDNRCtimber. Theproposed projectwould improveexisting roaddrainage,whichwould reduce
sedimentand improvewaterqualitycomparedto no-action. Allnewroadsandlandingswould bestabilizedbyslashing, installingdrainage
whereneeded andgrassseededtopreventerosion.
Proposedharvestunits 1&2haveboundariesthatparallelBlanchard Creekand includeStreamsideManagementZonesthatmeetof
exceedthebufferdistancesrequired intheSMZARMforStateForestLand Management. Noharvestisproposedwithinthefirst50feetof
theBlanchardCreekSMZ. SelectiveharvestwouldoccurwithinafewshortsegmentsoftheRiparianManagementZone, whichextends
from50feetto 100feetawayfromthestream. Consequently, alowriskofsedimentation, oreffectstostreamshading orpotential large
woodydebris(LWD) recruitmentisanticipatedtothisstream. Unit3islocatedon upperslopesofWoodchuck Canyon and includes a
wetland swaleandapproximately100yardsofdiscontinuousstreamwithnoconnectivitytoanyoff-site, downslopewaterresources. Unit3
would includeone road crossingofaClass3SMZthathaslowriskoferosionoroff-sitesedimentation. Nosurfacewateris locatedwithin
oradjacenttoproposed units4&5.Theproposedsalvageharvestwould retain Douglas-fir,western larch and Ponderosa pine,which is
approximately30%ormoreoftheexisting basalareaasaclumpydistribution. Harvestofdead,dyingandtreesathighriskformortalitydue
to insectinfestations isnotexpectedtogeneratemeasurablelevelsofadditionalwateryieldthanwould beexpected undernoaction The
proposed harvestisaverysmall (lessthanVi%) areacomparedtothewatershed.
Basedon implementationofBMP'smitigationmeasures,theverysmall areaofharvestcomparedtothewatershed area, and improvements
toexisting roaddrainagethere is lowriskofdirect, in-directorcumulativeeffectstowaterqualityordownstream beneficial useswith the
proposedaction.
6. AIRQUALITY:
Whatpollutantsorparticulate wouldbeproduced? Identifyairqualityregulationsorzones (e.g. Class Iairshed) the
projectwouldinfluence. Identifycumulativeeffectstoairquality.
TheDNRCisamemberoftheMontana/IdahoAirshedGroupwhichwasformedtominimizeorpreventsmokeimpactswhile using fireto
accomplishlandmanagementobjectivesand/orfuelhazard reduction(Montana/IdahoAirshedGroup2006). TheGroupdeterminesthe
delineation ofairshedsand impactzonesthroughout IdahoandMontana. Airshedsdescribethosegeographicalareasthathave similar
atmosphericconditions,whileimpactzonesdescribeanyarea inMontanaorIdahothattheGroupdeemssmokesensitiveand/orhaving an
existingairqualityproblem(Montana/IdahoAirshedGroup2006).
Theprojectareas(Sections6, 30,and 36)arelocatedwithinMontanaAirshed 3BwhichencompassesportionsofMissoulaand Powell
Counties. Currently,thisAirsheddoesnotcontain any impactzones. Thesesectionsare locatedapproximately3mileswestofClearwater
JunctionandareborderedbyeitherDNRCorindustrialtimberland (ownedbyPlumCreekTimberCompany). Numerous residential
propertiesarefoundtotheeastofthisproposedsalealong Highway200andBlanchardCreek Road. Twodesignatedwildernessareas lie
15to25milesnorthand northeastoftheprojectarea: theScapegoatWildernessAreaandtheBobMarshallWildernessArea These
wildernessareaseachexceed 5,000acresandassuch, areconsidered FederalClassIAreasthatultimatelyreceiveprotection underthe
FederalCleanAirActof1977.
NoAction
Underthe NoActionAlternative, noslashpileswould beburnedwithintheprojectareas. Thus, therewould be noeffectstoairquality
withinthe localvicinityandthroughoutAirshed 3B.
Action
UndertheActionAlternative, slashpilesconsistingoftree limbsandtopsandothervegetativedebriswould becreated throughoutthe
projectareaduring harvesting. Theseslashpileswould ultimatelybeburnedafterharvesting operations have beencompleted Burning
would introduceparticulatematterintothelocalairshed,temporarilyaffectinglocalairquality. Over70%ofemissionsemittedfrom
prescribedburning islessthan 2.5microns(NationalAmbientAirQualityPM2.5). High, short-term levelsofPM 2.5maybehazardous.
Withinthetypicalcolumnofbiomassburning, thechemicaltoxicsare: Formaldehyde, Acrolein,AcetakJehyde, 1,4 Butadiene, and Polycyclic
OrganicMatter.
Burningwithintheprojectareawould beshortindurationandwould beconductedwhen conditionsfavoredgoodtoexcellentventilationand
smokedispersion asdetermined bythe Montana DepartmentofEnvironmentalQualityandtheMontana/IdahoAirshedGroup. Priorto
burninga"Prescribed FireBumPlan"wouldbedoneforthearea. The DNRC, asamemberoftheMontana/IdahoAirshedGroup,would
bumonlyonapproveddays. Thus,directand indirecteffectstoairqualityduetoslashpileburning associatedwiththeproposedaction
would beminimal.
Burningthatmayoccuronadjacentpropertiesincombinationwiththeproposed actioncould potentiallyincreasecumulativeeffectstothe
localairshed andtheClassIAreas. Plum CreekTimberCompanyparticipatesasanAirshedCooperatorandoperateaunderthesame
AirshedGroupguidelinesastheDNRC. Thus, cumulativeeffectstoairqualityduetoslash pileburning associatedwiththeproposedaction
wouldalsobeexpectedtobeminimal.
Harvesting and loghaulingcouldcreatedustwhich mayaffectlocalairquality. Harvestingoperationswouldbeshortindurationandcould
occurduringthewintermonthsthatwould minimizedustdispersal. Thus, direct, indirect, andcumulativeeffectstoairqualitydueto
harvesting and haulingassociatedwiththe proposed actionwould beminimal.
VEGETATION COVER, QUANTITY AND QUALITY:
7.
Whatchangeswouldthe actioncauseto vegetativecommunities? Considerrareplantsorcovertypes thatwouldbe
affected. Identifycumulativeeffectsto vegetation.
EXISTINGCONDITION
RARE PLANTSANDWEEDS
AlthoughthesensitiveplantHowell'sGumweed {Gn'ndeliahowellii)occursinthegeneralarea, noplantshavebeen noticedwithinthe
projectarea. TheMontana NaturalHeritageProgram(MNHP)wascontacted, andthe locationsofspeciesofconcernweretakeninto
accountforthissale. Thisplanthasbeen notedbeforeon DNRCparcelswithintheClearwaterStateForestandhasbeensuccessfully
managedaround. Noxiousweedssuch asknapweedoccuralongCountyandforestroads.Spotinfestationsofknapweedweretreated
alongroadsidesinJuneof2006.
STANDARDVEGETATIVECOMMUNITY
Theprojectareaconsistsprimarilyofcovertypesofponderosapine, Douglas-fir/westemlarch, and lodgepole. Allofthesecovertypes
haveacomponentoflodgepolepine. Mostoftheprojectarea is inthesawtimbersizeclassandhaslowtohightotalstocking.Stands
withintheprojectareacurrentlyhaveahighsusceptibilityand riskofmountainpinebeetledamage, basedonthespecies, age, stand
density,elevation,andexistingmountainpinebeetlepresence. Lodgepolepinewithintheprojectareaaredead, infested, oratrisk, asare
theponderosapinestandswithinthearea.
Atthelargerscale, DNRClandsmanagedbytheClearwaterUnitareapproximately85%forested, mostlyintheponderosapineand
westernlarch/Douglas-fircovertypes. Comparedtothedesiredfutureconditionatthisscale, Douglas-fir,subalpinefir, andmixed-conifer
covertypesareslightlyover-representedwhileponderosapineandwesternlarch/Douglas-firareslightlyunder-represented. Overall,
however, about84%oftheselandsdohaveacovertypethatmatchesthedesiredfuturecondition. Thisareafallswithinclimaticsection
332B,whichwashistoricallyabout79%forested. Withintheclimaticsection,thehistoricallydominantcovertypewaslodgepolepine,
followed byDouglas-firandponderosapineon lowerslopes(Losensky, 1997).
Standstructurecharacterizesstanddevelopment,disturbanceandhowastandmaycontinuetodevelop. Standstructureisclassifiedas
singlestoried,twostoried,ormulti-storied ifthereareone,two, orthreemaincanopylayers,respectively. Priortotheinfestation by
mountainpinebeetle,theBugchuckProjectAreawasdominatedbysinglestoried(southwestcomerofsection36),twostoried(remainderof
36), andmulti-stonedstands(section31 and6). Thelaststructuresmentionedareprobablytheresultofpastharvesting. Acrossthe
ClearwaterUnitthereisamoreevendistributionofthevariousstandstructuretypes.
DNRChasadoptedold-growthdefinitionsbasedonGreenetal. (1992). Moststandsthatareusedtocreateunitsforthissalehaveages
thatarebetween40and 149yearsofage. ThreestandsthatmeettheagerequirementforoldgrowthspecifiedbyGreenetal(1992), but
theydonotmeetthetreesperacreto requirementspecifiedtoqualifythem asoldgrowth. Therefore, nostandswithintheprojectarea have
metthedefinitionofoldgrowth basedonGreenetal. (1992).
Thelodgepolepinethathavebeen infestedbymountainpinebeetlehaveagesranging between40yearsto100years. Noneofthese
standshavebeenaffectedbyotherdiseasesorinsects. Several DNRCtimbersaleshavebeendoneintheWoodchuckareaofsection6,
and section31 wasownedbyChampion Internationalatonetime. Inallcases,thelodgepolestandsdevelopedasanunderstory
componentthatwas"loggedover"ordid notmakeamerchantablestematthattime. Withinsection36, theoccurrenceofthelodgepole
standscameasaresultofwildfiresthatburneduptheBlanchardCreekdrainageandthroughWoodchuckcanyon. Thesefiresoccurredin
theearly1900'sandarewelldisplayedbytherelicwestern larchthatoccurintheBlanchardCreekareainsection 36andthenearly
completelyburned snagsandstumpswithinthesouthwestportionofthesection. Thearea inthesouthwestcomerofsection36hasnot
been harvestedwhiletheotherareashaveseensomeharvestevenifitwastoremovelargerwesternlarch. Thesurroundingareasthat
also havelodgepolestandsareorhavebeen harvestedonotherownershipswithintheBlanchardCreekandWoodchuckCanyonareas.
MuchoftheharvestonPlumCreekownershiphasremovedotherspeciesaswell.
NoAction
Noharvestwouldoccuratthistime. Comparedtotheexistingcondition, noimmediatechangeswould beexpected. Mountain pinebeetle
wouldlikelycontinuetoinfestandkilllodgepoleand ponderosapinewithintheDRNCownershipandsurroundingarea. Theincreasedfuel
loadingwithinthesestandscouldbecomeaconcernasthesetreesdie. Withtheexistingrateofinfestation, andthelikelihoodthatdead
treeswillbeblowndown, openingswouldoccurwithinthestandsregardlessofharvest. Astheattackofthesebeetlesisanaturalevent, it
isconceivablethatthesaleareahasexperienced itinthepast. Overtime, somenaturalconiferregenerationwouldprobablyestablishin
areaswithaseedsourceandfavorablemicroclimate. Weedtreatmentcouldoccurasfundingallows.
Action
Thesilvicultural planistoremove recentlykilled andgreen lodgepole pine. Thiswould removetrees that arebeing, orhave been attacked
bythemountain pinebeetle, andtreeswithinan areathatarehighlysusceptibletothebeetleattack These areaswill bemore openthan
theyarecurrently. Changestothevegetationwould include an immediate reduction in numbersofliveanddead lodgepole pine Other
species, includingponderosa pine,western larch, and Douglas-firwould be retained. Theremainingtreeswould have increasedgrowth as
moreresourceswould beavailablepertree. Atthelargerscale, theproposed harvestincombinationwith othercurrentandpotential
salvageprojectswould reducestanddensityon lessthan 1%ofthearea managed bytheClearwaterUnit.
Fuelloadingconcernswithinthesestandswoulddecrease. Reductionofthestanding stems bythe harvestoftreeswould reducestanding
fuels. Pilingofloggingslashcreatedbythisprojectatthe landingwithinthestandwould reduceslashfuelconcerns Thispiling
"consolidates"slashthatwouldbeattheharvestlanding orstillwithinthe logging unitintosmallerpilesthroughoutthestand Thiscreates a
situationwherethe DNRCisabletoburnthefuelcreated, doitsafelywithfewerpeople, and itwillcreate smallopeningsthatcan support
seedlings.
While regeneration is notagoaloftheharvestprescription, somelodgepolepine, Douglas-fir, andwestern larchwould likelybecome
establishedthrough natural regeneration in openingsand intheareaswherelogging slashispiled andburned. Plantingoftheproposed
harvestunitswithseraispeciessuch aswestern larch andponderosa pinewouldbe planned andcould happenwithintwoyearsofharvest
Thesespeciesarelesslikelytobeaffectedbymountainpinebeetle in thefuture.
To preventintroductionofnewweeds, off-roadequipmentwouldbecleanedand inspectedpriortoentry into harvestareas Newlydisturbed
roadsand landingwould beseededtograss. Roadsideswithexistingweedswouldbetreatedwith herbicide. Theproposed actionwould
beexpectedtoresultin nomeasurabledirect, indirect, andcumulative impactsonforestvegetation.
8. TERRESTRIAL, AVIAN AND AQUATIC LIFE AND HABITATS:
Considersubstantialhabitatvaluesanduseofthearea bywildlife, birdsorfish. Identifycumulative effects to fish and
wildlife.
Thefollowingspecieswereconsidered buteliminatedfromdetailedstudyduetolackofhabitatpresent PeregrineFalcon, Common Loon,
Harlequin Duck, Townsend'sBig-eared Bat, Coeurd'AleneSalamander, Northern Bog Lemming, Mountain Plover, andColumbian Sharp-
tailedGrouse.
—
BaldEagle Theproposedactionandassociated hauling routewouldbe located >1 25milefromthe nearestactivebaldeagle nest, with
topographicreliefbetweentheknownnestsiteandprojectarea. Asa result,therewould likelybelowriskofdirect, indirect,orcumulative
effectstobaldeaglesasaresultoftheproposed action.
Fisher—The proposedactionwouldsalvagelodgepolepinewithin221 acresofpotentialfisherhabitat, primarilyalong BlanchardCreek. As
perARM36.11.440(1)(b),theproposedactionwould retainfisherhabitatwithin 100feetofBlanchardCreek, aclass 1 stream, maintain
75%oftheacreageinthesawtimbersizeclassinmoderatetowell-stockeddensity(i.e., >40%crown cover), andretain largesnagsand
coarsewoodydebrispursuanttoARM36.11.406through36.11.414. Using pre-cruisecollecteddataintheStandVisualization System
(SVS,aspartoftheMTCruiserprogram), simulationsofpost-harvestcrowncoverindicateeach harvestunitwould likelyhave>36%crown
coverpost-harvestthroughaspecies-designatedharvestoflodgepolepine. Asaresult,therewould likelybe lowriskofdirect, indirect, or
cumulativeeffectstofisherasa resultofthe proposedaction.
—
FlammulatedOwl Theproposedactionwould harvestapproximately25%ofthestandingvolumewithin allofthe harvestunits,through a
species-designated harvestoflodgepolepine. Western Larch, ponderosapine, andDouglas-firwould be retained post-harvest, and
typicallydumpilydistributedthroughouttheharvestunits. Thesedistributionswouldbe beneficialforflammulatedowls becausethe
proposed harvestwould likelyspurforestregenerationintheclearings,whileretaininglargerdiametersnagsandsnag recruitsfornesting
Asaresult,theproposedactionwouldlikelyhavelowriskofdirect, indirect, orcumulativeeffectstoflammulatedowls.
—
PileatedWoodpecker Theproposed actionwould removeonlylodgepolepinefromtheproposed harvest units Based uponthepre-
cruisedata,treesproposedforharvestingwouldbeapproximately 16inchesDBH and less,with otherspeciesremainingpost-harvestwith
DBHrangingbetweenseedlingsand27inches. Additionally, post-harvestcrowncoverwould likelyrange between 36 and 65%, basedon
post-harvestestimatesfromtheStandVisualizationSystem(SVS,aspartoftheMTCruiserprogram). Withestimated post-harvest
retentionlevels,therewould likelybelowriskofdirect, indirect, orcumulativeeffectsto pileatedwoodpeckersasa resultoftheproposed
action.
Black-backedWoodpecker—Within anapproximately25mileradius, approximately83,000acres offorestburned in 2007onfourlarge
fires. Duetotheabundanceofnewlyburnedhabitat, andthisspecies' affinityforburnedareas,theproposed harvestofapproximately219
acresofbug-killedlodgepolepinewould likelyhave lowriskofdirect, indirect, orcumulativeeffectsto black-backedwoodpeckers
—
BigGameWinterRange Thereisconcernthattheproposed harvestwould negativelyeffectbiggamewinterrangeforelkandwhite-tail
deer. Currently, onlytwoproposed harvestunits(units2and 3) havea"satisfactory"(>70%)estimated(basedon SVSsimulations using
pre-cruisedata)crowncover,whiletheotherthreeproposed harvestunitshaveanestimatedcrown coverthatprovides"marginalquality'
thermalcover(40%to70%canopycover). Theproposedaction, based upon pre-cruisedata,would harvestapproximately25% ofthe
standingvolumeoftrees, andwouldhaveestimatedpost-harvestcrowncoverranging between 36%and65% intheproposed harvest units
Onlyoneproposed harvestunit, unit5,would haveestimatedpost-harvestcrown coverbelow40%. Based uponthe post-harvesttree
retentionlevels, andtheclumpyspatialdistributionofthosepatches, therewould likelybelowtomoderate risk ofdirect, indirect, and
cumulativeeffectstobiggamewinterrangeforwhite-taildeerandelk.
Fisheries-
BlanchardCreekisdesignatedahigh-valuefisheriesresourcebyMFWP.Westslopecutthroattrout, Rainbowtrout. Brooktrout, and likely
Bulltroutareyear-round residentsupstream ofan irrigation diversionat rivermile 1.1,which iswithinthe projectarea
With noaction noroadconstructionortimberharvestwouldoccur,yetcurrentsedimentsourceswouldcontinue.Theno-action alternative
would nothaveanyeffectstostreamshading,streamtemperature, LWD recruitment, orotherfish habitatfeatures.
Undertheactionalternativethereisalowriskofdirectand indirecttofisheriesinBlanchardCreekwiththeproposedtimberharvestand
roadconstruction.AsdisclosedintheHydrologyAnalysis,onlyexistingcrossingsofBlanchardCreekwouldbeused andthenewaccess
roadwould beconstructedawayfrom riparianareasand presentslowriskofoff-siteerosionorsedimentation. Theactionalternativeis
dbeespirgonteedctteodmbiynidmeisziegniamtpiancgtssttroewaamt(eSrMqZu)al,itryi,pafriisahner(iResM,Z'asn)damnadinwteatilnaonrdipmrporteocvteiosntrzeoanmesco(nWdMitZi'osn)siamspdoerftiannetdtobyfiAshRhMabfiotratStSattereFaomrseswtould
LandManagementrulestoensureadequatebufferfunctionadjacenttothestream. NoharvestwouldoccurwithintheSMZadjacentto
BlanchardCreekwhichwould noteffectpotentiallargewoodyrecruitmenttostreams. Selective harvestwouldoccurwithinashortsegment
ofthe RiparianManagementZone,whichextendsfrom50feetto 100feetawayfromthestream.
Cumulativeeffectsofsedimentdeliveryfromroadswouldbeslightlyreduced byrestoring roaddrainagefeaturesaspartofBMP
implementationthatwouldreducesedimentationandmaintainorimprovefishhabitat. Nomeasurablechange instreamshadingorLWD
would occurthatcould increaseinstreamwatertemperatureorimpactstopotentialfish habitatareexpectedtooccurasa resultofthe
proposed action alternative.
9. UNIQUE, ENDANGERED, FRAGILE OR LIMITED ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES:
Consideranyfederallylistedthreatenedorendangeredspeciesorhabitatidentifiedintheprojectarea. Determine
effectsto wetlands. ConsiderSensitive SpeciesorSpeciesofspecialconcern. Identifycumulativeeffectstothese
speciesandtheirhabitat.
GrizzlyBearandGrayWolf—Theproposed actionwould reducestandingvolumewithintheaffectedarea byapproximately25%and
constructnewroadtoaccessharvestunit3. However, theproposedactionwouldnotincreaseopen roaddensitypost-harvest. Because
proposed harvestunits 1 and2arevisiblefromthemain BlanchardCreekRd., grizzlybearsandwolvesmaybevulnerableduetoreduced
visualscreening. However,withinharvestunit1,crowncoverwould likelybereducedfromapproximately59%toapproximately41%,while
retainingstructuraldiversityamong non-lodgepolepinetreespecies, andcrowncoverwithinharvestunit2wouldbereducedfroman
estimated 83%toanestimated60%. Thus,therewouldlikelybepost-harvestvisualscreeningcoverforgrizzlybearsandwolveswithin
thesetwoproposed harvestunits. Asaresult,therewould likelybelowriskofdirect, indirect,orcumulativeeffectstogrizzlybearsand
wolvesasa resultoftheproposedaction.
CanadaLynx—CurrentStand LevelInventorydata(release28September2006)indicatethatlynxhabitatdoesnotoccurwithinthe
affectedparcels. Becausehabitatdoesnotcurrentlyexistwithintheaffected parcels,therewould likelybelowriskofdirect,indirect,or
cumulativeeffectstolynxfromtheproposedaction.
Fisheries
Bulltroutandwestslopecutthroattrout— BulltroutandwestslopecutthroattroutareidentifiedasClass-ASpeciesofConcernin
Montana. Bulltroutareidentifiedasa"threatened"speciesbytheUS FishandWildlifeService. Bulltroutwerenotdetected inarecent
2007streamsurveybyMTFWP,butmaystilloccurwithintheBlancharddrainageconsideringthewatershed iswithintheirhistoricrange.
TheDNRCForestManagementProgramhasalsoidentifiedbulltroutandwestslopecutthroattroutasSensitiveSpeciesunderARM
36.11.436. Alowriskofdirect, indirectandcumulativeimpactstowestslopecutthroattroutorbuHtroutisexpectedtooccurunderthe
proposedaction alternative(seeSection8-Fisheriesformoreinformationregardingpotentialimpacttofisheries).
10. HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:
Identifyanddetemiineeffectstohistorical, archaeologicalorpaleontologicalresources.
TheMontana D.N.R.C. archeologistreportedthatthere arenotanyculturalresourcesonfileforthisstateparcel, and nofurtherinvestigation
was needed.
11. AESTHETICS:
Detemiineiftheprojectislocatedonaprominenttopographicfeature, ormaybe visible frompopulatedorscenicareas.
Whatlevelofnoise, lightorvisualchange wouldbeproduced? Identifycumulativeeffectstoaesthetics.
Anychangetothesceneryintheareafromthesealternativeswouldbeinadditiontopasttimberharvests, roadbuilding,vegetation
management(grazing, pre-commercialthinning,etc.)andfuturefireactivitywithintheprojectarea. Thisanalysisincludesallpastand
presenteffects.
NoAction
Ifthenoactionalternativeisselected, patchescreatedbydeadtreeswillexist. Potentiallytheseopeningswillbemoreorlessacreage
giventheinsectoutbreaktimeline. Thetreesthatwouldbekilled bythebeetleattackwould loseallfoliage, andeventuallybranches(over
severalyears). Althoughthetreebolewouldstillbeinexistence,thiswould notbeveryapparentinthedistance,butwouldbemoreeasily
seenwithinthemiddlegroundviewshed. Thecolorwouldbelighterthanthecurrentviewaftertheattackedtreesdie. Thus,direct indirect,
andcumulativeeffectstoaestheticswouldbeminimaJ.
Action
TheproposedsalewouldbepartiallyvisiblefromHighway200intheClearwaterJunctionarea,andportionsofthisprojectareproposed
thatareadjacenttotheBlanchardCreekCountyRoad. Onlyportionsoftheharvestunitswould bevisiblefromanyoftheselocations,and
in manyinstances,theopeningscreatedwouldbeminimal. Largeportionsoftheproposedharvestunitswouldbeblockedfromviewby