Table Of Content

MONTANASTATELIBRARY 30864 1001 94755 CHECKLISTENVIRONMENTALASSESSMENT FORTHE MILLCREEK TIMBERSALE STATFDOCUMENTSCOLLECTION MAYf52003 MONTANASTATELIBRARY PreparedbyDavidMarsh NortheasternLandOffice-DNRC June,2000 9 TABLEOFCONTENTS ChecklistEnvironmentalAssessment AttachmentA PhysicalDescription,VegetationandWildlife: Affectedenvironment andenvironmentalaffects AttachmentA1 VicinityMap AttachmentA2 SilviculturalPrescription AttachmentB Soils,HydrologyandFisheriesReportbyGeorgeMathieus- Hydrologist . . r 1S-252 CHECKLIST ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Project Name: Mill Creek Timber Sale Proposed Implementation Date: Fall 2000 Proponent: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation - Northeastern Land Office Type and Purpose of Action: The Montana DNRC plans to harvest up to 800 thousand board feet (MBF) of timber from up to 120 acres (see attachment A1 - Vicinity map) and contribute up to approximately $130,400.00 (based on current stumpage rates) to the school trust fund. Up to 0.75 miles of new road will be constructed. This proposal is expected to increase and maintain stand productivity and over-all stand health Location: SE4 Sec. 16, T14N, R18E County: Fergus I. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 1. PopIUfrNBoDLjItIehVCceItDIUsNAcVLoOSpLiVnCEgOMNETaNAnTCd,TEoDAn:GgEoNiPCnrIgoEvSii,dnevGoRlaOvUbePrmSieenOftRcfhorrontohilsogy OLirneenqwLuieFeswestibtsoritwunonagwrnNpy,ueb2wl3Msi,o-cn2Atir0ang0pnuu0ats.-,weMaLreatnertecemwrhassip2ld3aee,pdsec2orr0ni0ob0Ffi,engbgae.ntpe2hur2eba,llpi2rcc0oi0npro0cot.usilecaedtiwponraosajenlcditstpaeundbdlinisthheed MontanaStateAaencies:AaricultureandGrazinqManaqementBureau; FishWildlifeandParks. NeiahborinaLandowners:Alden&GladysTorarimson.TedandGeorqia Arndt,FrancisandJacalynRickl,ConstanceGauer,Albert&Linda Piccioni,George&EvaBirdwell,GenevieveGansandLarryCarlson. Others:MontanaWoodProductsAssociation.TribalHistoricPreservation Office-ConfederatedSalishandKootenaiTribes,StuartLewin,Ecology Center,AlliancefortheWildRockies,PlumCreekTimberCo.,F.H.Stoltze LandandLumber,CentralMontanaConservationAssociation.Friendsof theWildSwan,FergusCountyCommissioners,FergusCo.Conservation District,FergusCo.WeedDepartment,andMontanaHeritageProgram. Issuestatementshavebeendevelopedbasedonallpublicscoping responsesandcanbefoundintheprojectfile. CommentsandconcernshavebeenaddressedandincorporatedintheEA. 2. OLTIHSETROGFOVPEERRNMMIETNSTANLEEADEGDE:NCIESWITHJURISDICTION, MMCooonnnstttaaannnaacSDeteapGttae,uAeoifrrFsfiohsrehd,RiWCgiohlotdrl-dioiffne-aaWtinaoydnAPGgarrroekusepmfeofrnortStH(rarezefaaemrrdePnrRcoeetdepucrctotijoienocntAcafitnled)p.ermit, 3. ALTERNATIVESCONSIDERED: aNcotivAicttyiaotntAhlitsetrinmaeti,vbe:utTwhoiuslAdltceornntaitniuveewcuorurledntpogrsatzpionngelaenaysetiamgbreeremheanrvte.st Potentialeffectsofthe“NoActionAlternative"includereducedtreegrowth rates,decliningforageandgrazingpotentialandincreasedriskofstand replacementwildfire.Additionally,revenueopportunitymaybelostasdead anddyingtimberislosttodecay,insects,windthrowandwildfire. ActionAlternative:Theproposedactionwouldcommerciallyharvestupto 800MBFonupto120acresandwouldrequireupto0.75milesofnew roadconstruction.Thesaleofforestproductswouldproducerevenuefor thepublicschooltrustfund,whileensuringthelong-termproductivityand revenuegeneratingcapacity.Thesalewouldutilizecommercialthinningto reducecompetitionandimprovestandandforageproductivitywhile mitigatingpotentialadverseimpactsandmaintainingdesirablestand structuralandhabitatelements. TheStateForestLandManagementPlan(SFLMP)ResourceManagement Standards(RMS)wereconsideredindevelopingthesealternatives. 7/23/99 X * 9 9 y r II. IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT RESOURCE M[EYA/NS]URPEOSTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION N=NotpresentorNoImpactwilloccur. Y=Impactsmayoccur (explainbelow) 4. MGscfOEooeIOinaSLltsTsOuiUGrdRYpeeErsr:Ae?asNteDinAoAtrnrS?eseO?ILtfAAhrrarQegeUeriAelLtceIhus,TempYreu,eclciaoatmSulipnTavuAcesBrutIeaiLcilbIlmlTapeYgmaceaAttoosNrilDoongulinicsktealbyleto [cpr(YrueB]emcMsuSoPelomnsatmmt).eienvwiTedclhlaoietmbmripepeaoacincatmstripseballnnmeedomaeaysmnnpitoedtcecicidguuaanrttlso.itroapenbrNscloolteaaesmuscanotwituelsislsooluinlaaarlcrseoegnsBpesoeroiuseldrostecgereMinascatta.nilaoannSfgdseee.aesmtoueAarlmtnletetssapdacPerherceamgiacerltneiitescteBossf’ occurasaresultofthisproposedaction? forwatershedandsoilexistingconditionsanddirect,indirectand cumulativeenvironmentaleffects. 5. WATERQUALITY, QUANTITYANDDISTRIBUTION: Are [Y]TheprojectareaisdrainedbybothCasinoandMillCreeks.Four pwimaoramamceptbxcsoieuiererrmntnutatmqa?nsutwacalIoastisnetutrryrate?fhmsaeiuqcrnAlueeatraneltopiorotfctyluegemtnrvuhsteoitlilusaasannt,lddipawvrraeoofdtrposeroi,rsdmveepiddgraorcreltisaasaondctukatriitilconioiengnoks?neowlfaoytfetro uowSierfmanFifptngeLleicaeMrtnmmsssPe.ehindenRtdtaethtrsaeiionboudpuntrraoscorojefiielecaMsltelax(asintrpswaeetoagci.ineeagpmlMhiceisoetntnmitdgeriareSttactiiloaoonmnnassdmnaeiadrnnnddctdsalwutdoadiineroledancSrtsgB,M.eMlZiynPSdliseianretweaecarsrtmteiwatqtenautlicdelrnhtaecm)museemnhnutatlvsaBe,tifovre 6. ApAqrIrrueRoeasdluuQlicUcttuAeymLdouI?flrTaeYttg:iIhusvilseaWttiihipleomrlnpospappcrootosolsjreleduczlttoiaankcneteitsinlsofynl(?outCreolnacpsoeascdrctuIirbcyauialsraaistrhaeed)b?e [SppYetr]raosTncodhenadenruedrplres)osjwdieeulcslrttibaanebrglemisaisethiaisesgdolaotnbceayadlttbebhdyuerwiSnnitiitatnhitigaentipAAneigirrrisssolhhdaeessddhaC9nd.oidosrpScdotoisamnatpalelte(HibtoayenzdaDGrbrNdyoRuRfpCoe.ldluocwtiinogn 7. VEGETATIONCOVER, QUANTITYANDQUALITY: Will [Y]Nolastingvegetativechangesareanticipated.Norareplantsorcover 'vegetativecommunitiesbepermanentlyaltered? typeshavebeenidentifiedintheprojectarea(ReferenceProjectFile, Acorfuemutlhaianstyivpreraroepiompspaleacdnttsasctlioiorkne?cloyvetrotoycpceusrpasresaenrte?suAlrte tMahtoetnataccahtnimaoennNtaaltAtu,erraVnleagtHieevtreaitdtioaogenesfPnorrotosgtmraeanemdtdlDeetsNtceRrrC)i.p’tsiTohnde.efisPntiratinimdoanrtaoysbeefolftdercgetrasotwewidtllhu.bnedSeere decreasedcanopycoverandreducedstemsperacre.Secondaryimpacts mayincludewindthrowandwindsnapsusceptibility(refertoattachmentA, Vegetationforadditionalinformationincludingenvironmentaland cumulativeeffects).Prescribedtreatmentsareintendedtoincreaseforest health,treegrowthandforageproductivitywhileaddressingtheriskof potentialadverseimpacts.RefertoAttachmentA2forsilvicultural prescriptions. 8. TbHcEAyuRBmRIuiETlmSAapTTtoRSirI:vtAeaLn,tIismAwpViatIlchdAtelNsriefAleNsi,DukbeAsblQtiyUarAndttTsoiIaCoolrcLcIuufFsriEeshaA?soNfDAartehreesualrtea w[diiNuml]rpdilaTinchfgteeshaapnorrfdvotepbhsoiitssradoplspreacorproaoetmsaiamoliosn.snfrSateenoqcdutoehsnnedotaamerrdeeyabr.yiemdtDpueiacrrstceiptsolstnraiicoaneflcmlgheuianddtmeineoigfnacccnoredveraetnasrioewndnilsglfpaobermecaeigdeeisrect ofthisproposedaction? availabilityforsomespeciesthroughincreasedgrassandforbproduction andincreasedover-allhabitatdiversitythroughstandstructurealterations. MitigationsincludeCompliancewithSFLMPResourceManagement Standards,BMPsandadherencetosilviculturalprescription.See ahtotwaecvhemrenatnAu1pg.rNadoefiosfhabneaerxiisntginsgtrcuelavmesrtexcirsotswsiitnhginofthMiellprCorjeecetkaorneaprivate pbarteotpaaedcrhhtemyrewenitdlltBboefdounrreficunergstshteahrirsyi.npfrooSrptmoraseteiaodmniPomrnoptrceooclvtdeiomwneantAtecrtopfpeiersrahmetiriitoenss..tipSSueloeamtieondsewgirllee ofcumulativeimpactsmayoccurasaresultofthisproposalgiventhat someadjacentpropertytimberhasbeenharvested. 9. UEliScaNNioesdIVsnneQtIcsnaUeeRitEdrtOir,niNfe?vMitseEEehuNdNArlDTretSAAeahpNLteaoGecbfcEniiRuReetEmtEsdaSuhDOtli,UsaooRrtrpCirFpEveRreSSeAsopn:GeepdIncoaiLtinsmE?AegeprseadeOrcRteAoasdnfacLyntIysislMwpopiIeneefkTc?cteeEiilldDeaayeslnrdatsool?rlyoccur t[hsMsppNhaptroa]beeosrnicjseNtpaieiaarocagbtmotllejfaeecamcerchrdoefetaeeonnrnarkacatnrenFloeerlreoZlaynrwos;nr.lnnehhuiseasogttTstvwoieheenidwenevoxhtbeusisheersseorrte,emhenwwaweaeitaeowtwtepbthhkpnissalsesnpeidtporct(otvaoshntsbeereeslndaweespidr.inrwlobtloidijytaNbovehneegoccigtrncspsaeuaptresrrrehonseecestwladiieia.petctnrsishtdNopv)iesjeoend.etccstowbitpweySemeotaseocSrlelivetoaaaerrenar.sedgtitaesdtohlIemratyenrsctmxosiihiiupandfsmgetiyteeehcenwrdibmitteeithstAhet,ioenfnt Table1 (referenceProjectFile,NaturalHeritageProgramletter). 10. HhIiSsTtoOrRiIcCaAlL,ANaDrcAhRaCeHoAlEoOgLicOaGlICAoLrpSIaTlEeSo:ntoAlroegicaanly [pNr]esNeontr(ecRoerfdeerdenhciestoPrriocjaelc,tarFiclhee,oPlaotgriiccaklRoernpnaileeoMnteomloo)gi.calresources resourcespresent? 7/23/99 X T 9 M r11. ApteEoxoSpcpTueoHlsgEsarTitaIvepCedhSi:conroifsIsesecaettnouhirrece?lpiargrWoheitjal?eslc?tAriWeotinlbcleaumpvutrilhosaemitribienlveeebnetfrom t[ayNnp]tiicPcarilopjaoetfcettdhateroaeoraceacis.urlNoacosateaexdrceeossnuslaitvnoedfntwohiiitssheip,nrlocipogohmstamolro.ncutmouploagtriavpehiicmaplacftesataurrees impacts likelytooccurasa resultofthis proposedaction? 12. WDtrAEheTMesEAroRNeu,DrScoeAtsIOhNRertEhOaNRatVcIEtRNiaEOvrRNeiGMtYiEl:eNisTmAiWLtnieeldRalErSbiOnytUhRettChhEeapStroajOwrieFelcal?tLANuaDAsf,erfeect [OcNut]mhueTlrhaeatcitpvirevoijtieimceptsaancreteasarabwryiellalrnieoketnlyouttsoeexorpceecscuotrueradcsetaosartfehfsaeutcltatrtoehfeltihpmeriotpjeerdcotip.notsNheeodaarcetai.on. theproject?Arecumulativeimpactslikelyto occuras aresultofthisproposedaction? 13. AOpplsaaRTreticnEHoarktaAEjtmiel:ReeoyilcnsyttEAsitosrNsriteVontIgohafRntoraeOethcdraNectee,MruhravEeiarriNsleoeTorwaAsttcuLhrbunfeardyarrcDreotOermra?CnsentUtMsyfMuuEuEdlAPastiNtrAtcueTeratsSetior,eofcenPupvsEpmoriaRlutoegTalwhpweIna/eonNstnrsc(EieysNvdpotcTerrhwoie/psTvnitiaOnamtgtpt)eTeah,HecEtosr [spif(oYnruotr]ohrrecjeffaToereganhcrecjtseeeutpnanuprdcrcdroeoetiodmaijePueoesrcoscnotntotjiwrieaoiCccprntatrhewsoiafaisajiltcneiaetesc,onirttvcBsCiilertrcaniaiesigeresephfseitakiftp.cpiieirlemdaoadNmlpwneogiondUrtseiasahedadzedtsvifeunemoulcgrrenycstldmeehdaesioonressdwffttffnur(hresaleLcocttetmcar,saoceGsmtaaaeeiplrmoolteNnehrooatoga.fniuletotgti1hnheMc1reai2onitp4afpnah)trctti.iorehevepdeueTaostahs)socee.etdordiceoNcnoiusra analysisarea? proposal. uNnodecurmMulEaPtiAvereivmipeawctbsyaarneylsitkaeltyetaogoecnccuyrwfirtohminftuhteuraensatlaytseisacatrieoan.scurrently III. IMPACTS ON THE HUMAN POPULATION RESOURCE [Y/N]POTENTIAL IMPACTS ANDMITIGATION MEASURES 14. HtUoMAhNeaHlEtAhLTaHndANsDafSeAtFyETrYi:sksWiilnltthheisarpear?ojectadd [imNna]vcohPloivtneedenrtwyiiatalhnh“dounsm-tasyilnteeso”afhfoaeptreyvrerasittsikoospnesmraahtyaivovenasrt.yhewDimitofhfsettrheoinsntfetliuynepdneicsveiodofuntaolhoslusam,catinveslayfety risks.SafetyrulesandregulationsapplythroughtheOccupationalHealth andSafetyAct(OHSA)andareadministeredbyworkersofthatprogram. 15. AIaCNdTDdUISVtTIoRTIIoAErLS,aAlCNtODeMrMPERtROhCDeIUsACeLTIaOAcNNt:DivAiGWtRiilIelCsU?LtThUeRApLroject [pYr]odTuhctiisviptryo.posalisexpectedtoincreaseforestlandandrangeland 16. QUANTITYANDDISTRIBUTIONOFEMPLOYMENT: Will [N]Peoplearecurrentlyemployedinthewoodproductsindustryinthe tslohiekeepslrtyoijmteaoctteodcccruneruamtbaees,r.amoArvreeesuolcrtumueollfaitmtiihnviasetepirmopjaopcbosts?sedIf rbeeemgpinlooon.ymmeeDanusteu.rtaobtlheecruemlautliavteliyvesmiamlplascitzefroofmththeitsipmrboeprossaeldeapcrtoigornaom,ntherewill action? 17. LtoROacECxcVAuELrrNeUAvEaNsSeD:nuaeS?TrWAeiTAslErulelTttAchXouefmBupAltrShaoEitjsieAvcNeptDroicTpmrAopeXsaaecttdesaoclrtiikeoelnli?ymitnoate tw[riNhel]elvePrbneeeugoeinpsooln.e.maeDraeuseucrutraorbetlnhetelcyruepmlaautyliiavntegilyvtesamxiaemlsplafscritozmefrtoohfmethtwheoisotidpmrbpoerproodssuaecldtesapcritnoidgournsatomrn,yttianhxere 18. DsslaWEucciiMhbtkloAsieloNtollDnays?no,ttFtihoOaReelrtocGc)OctsVuerErrabRevfNifaMcisnEeceNseaTdbeer(dSef?EasiRdurVedAlIetrCdepEroSoftc:touemtchuetWilxiisaioltsnlitp,virneogppooilsmriepocdaaedc,st?s [gppinNeor]oovtpgheTlerrheaneammrdt,eejemantwpcthioelerlsnasetbrhreiaovrlrineytcoa-er.tsemeledroaumcseaiutmtironpagatbchtltoeestrchetuloemattaurirlavefaeaftli,yic,vsaemtnahdilemltpshsameiaczltlelascopkrfoesoltsfahiteobeitdtlhiiettmroybtdeoirfemmsabaaeflrneedswafloers 19. LOCALLYADOPTEDENVIRONMENTALPLANSANDGOALS: [Y]InJune1996,DNRCbeganaphased-inimplementationoftheState ArethereState, County, City, USFS, BLM, ForestLandManagementPlan(Plan).Themanagementdirection m Terfifbeaclt,?etc. zoningormanagementplans in ppRrleoasvnoinudirencdgeainnMtdahneaactPgilveaimntieecnsottmapSkrteiasnpeldasacrted.hseThfharevaemPeblweaonernkphiwinilctoohsironppowhrhyaitacendhdisnpatepocpitrfhoiepcrdipearstoiejgecnt oftheproposedaction. 7/23/99 * 9 9