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. s MontanaStateLibrary 634.98 N7FTS 3 0864 1003 6257 6 2005 FOOTHILLSTIMBERSALEPROJECT V.1 EXECUTIVESUMMARY ThepurposeofthisdocumentistosummarizetheFoothillsTimberSaleProjectDraft EnvironmentalImpactStatement(DEIS). Thissummarydescribestheproposedaction,impacts, andalternatives. Italsodescribesareasofcontroversy,majorconclusions,andthetradeoffs amongalternatives. TheKalispellUnitoftheMontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation(DNRC) proposestoimplementforestmanagementactivitiesonforestedStateTrustLands. The objectivesofthisprojectaretoproviderevenuefortheschooltrust,manageforlong-termtimber productivity,anddevelopamanageableroadsystemintheprojectarea. Ifaharvestalternativewereselected,anestimated7to10millionboardfeetoftimberwouldbe soldandharvested. Thisvolumewouldbeharvestedfromapproximately1156to1468acres. Existingstreamcrossingswouldbeimprovedasneededfortheselectedalternative. Withthe selectionofaharvestalternative,uptoonemileofnewpermanentroadandtwomilesof temporaryroadwouldbeconstructed. Undereitherharvestalternative,roadmaintenance, reconstruction,abandonment,andclosurewouldoccurwithinpartsoftheprojectarea. Approximately600acresorlesswouldinitiatenewforeststandsusingnaturalseedingorhand plantingofconiferseedlings. TheprojectareaislocatedapproximatelyfivemilesnortheastofBigfork,Montana(Figure1). Itis locatedwithinSections21,27,28,and34ofTownship28North,Range19WestandSections1, 2,3,10,11,14,23,24,35and36ofTownship27North,Range19West. StateTrustLands withintheprojectsharepropertyboundariesofapproximately5.5mileswithUnitedStatesForest Service(USFS)and20mileswithprivatelandowners. PublicScoping PublicscopingoccursintheinitialstageofanEISandisusedtoinformthepublicthataState agencyisproposinganaction.Thepublichastheopportunitytoexpresstheircommentsor concernsaboutthepossibleimpactsoftheproject. PublicscopingfortheFoothillsTimberSaleProjectwasinitiatedinMay2001withaletterto knowninterestedparties. InJune2001,DNRCsolicitedadditionalpublicparticipationinthe FoothillsTimberSaleProjectproposalbyplacingnoticesintheKalispell’sDailyInterlakeand BigforkEaglenewspapers. Thepublic-commentperiodfortheinitialprojectproposalwasopen for30days. AfieldtripforinterestedpartieswasconductedinSeptember2001. TheInterdisciplinaryTeam(IDTeam),madeupofDNRC’swildlifebiologist,hydrologist,and severalforesters,begancompilingtheissuesandgatheringinformationrelatedtocurrent calotnedrintaitoinvsesinatnhdeisnpitriialngwoorfk20o0n1e.nvDiurroinnmge2nt0a0l2esfofemcetswaonraklywsaissacnodndfuiceltdewdorokn.developing Fireactivityrequiringprojectpersonneltofocusonprotectionactivitiesthroughoutthestate during2002and2003delayedtheproject. PlanningforthisprojectwasresumedinMayof2004. InApril2005,anewsletterpresentingtheactionalternativeswasdistributedtoupdateinterested partiesandsolicitfurtherinputpriortotheDEIS. Asaresultofthelettersandnoticesinthenewspapersapproximately81lettersandphonecalls werereceived.Theissuesandconcernsidentifiedthroughpublicscopingweresummarizedand usedtofurtherrefinetheproject. Interestedpartieswantedtoknowhowtheprojectwouldaffect thefollowingresources:vegetation,waterquality,wildlife,soils,economics,recreation,airquality, safety,andaesthetics. AlternativeDevelopment AnInterdisciplinary(ID)Teamwasformedinthespringof2001toworkontheFoothillsTimber SaleProject.TheroleofanIDTeamistosummarizeissuesandconcerns,developmanagement optionswithintheprojectarea,andanalyzethepotentialimpactsofaproposalonthehumanand naturalenvironments. TheIDteamdevelopedthreepossiblechoices(alternatives): NoActionAlternativeA NoActionAlternativeAisusedasabaselineforcomparingtheeffectsthattheactionalternatives wouldhaveontheenvironment. Itisalsoconsideredareasonablealternativeforselection. Timberharvestingasproposedwouldnotoccur. Firewoodcuttingandgatheringwouldcontinue onanannualbasis. Intermittently,smallquantitiesofwoodproductswouldcontinuetobesold andremovedfromsmallareas. Salvageloggingandremovalofhazardtreeswithineasements orresidentialleaseswouldcontinue. Temporaryroadswouldnotbebuiltandrestrictedroadswouldnotbereconstructedatthistime. Maintenancemostlyintheformofre-establishingroadclosuresorinstallationofadditionalroad closureswouldcontinue,asfundingandprioritiesallow. TheBirchCreekstreamcrossingwould notberehabilitatedatthistime. Recreationalusesofthearea,bothgeneralandspecialwouldcontinuetoincludehiking,biking, ATVriding,shooting,hunting,horsebackriding,Nordicskiing,andsnowmobiling. Effortsto curtailvandalismorresourcedamageassociatedwithunauthorizedrecreationalusewould continueasfundingandprioritiesallow. Fuelsmitigationandweedcontroleffortswouldcontinueasfundingandprioritiesallow. Forestandplantsuccessionwouldcontinuetobemainlyinfluencedbytheoccurrenceofnatural events,suchasinsectsanddiseaseoutbreaks,windthrow,orwildfire.Understoryplant successionandtoalesserdegreeforestsuccessiononleasedsitesusedforgrazingandhome siteswouldcontinuetobemainlyinfluencedbythoseusesinaforestedsetting. SPercotcieosnsi2n4g,oTf27thNe,aRpp1l9icWatwioonulfdortaertmiimnbaetrecwointshetrhveatsieolnecltiicoennsoefoNno1Ac.2tiaocnreAsltienrntahteivEe%A.SW% ActionAlternativeB ActionAlternativeBwouldapplysilviculturaltreatmentsto1,468acres,harvestingapproximately 9MMBFoftimber.Regenerationharvestswouldbeusedtotreat843acres,andintermediate harvestswouldbeusedtotreat625acres. Thisalternativetreatsthegreatestamountofacres andwouldrequiremoreextensiveroaduseandconstruction. Toaccessharvestunitsand improveroadclosureeffectiveness44.5milesofroadwouldbeused.Approximately35.1miles wouldrequiremaintenanceorreconstruction. Newconstructionofpermanentroadwouldbe limitedto1.1mile;approximately1.8milesofnewtemporaryroadconstructionwouldbe required;15.8mileswouldbereconstructedpriortouse,and18.2mileswouldbeclosedafter use. Roadclosuresorabandonmentwouldreduceopenroadstatusintheprojectareaby approximately10.5miles. ActionAlternativeC ActionAlternativeCwouldapplysilviculturaltreatmentsto1,156acres,harvestingapproximately 7MMBFoftimber.Regenerationharvestswouldbeusedtotreat531acres,andintermediate harvestswouldbeusedtotreat625acres. Thisalternativewouldtreatfeweracres,requiring lessextensiveroaduseandconstruction. Toaccessharvestunitsandimproveroadclosure effectiveness38.7milesofroadwouldbeused.Approximately29.3milesrequiresmaintenance orreconstruction. Newconstructionofpermanentroadwouldnotberequiredunderthis alternative;approximately1mileofnewtemporaryroadconstructionwouldberequired;13.7 mileswouldbereconstructedpriortouse,and17.0mileswouldbeclosedafteruse. Road closuresorabandonmentwouldreduceopenroadstatusintheprojectareabyapproximately 10.5miles. SummaryofEffects Theeffectsofeachalternativewerestudiedforeachresource(e.g.vegetation,wildlife,soils). Thefollowingsummarygivesabriefdescriptionoftheeffectsforeachalternative. Vegetation BothactionalternativesaredesignedtoimprovetimberstandproductivitywithintheFoothills analysisarea,asanecessarymeansforprovidingrevenuegeneratingopportunitiesinthefuture, whilelimitingpresentloggingandroaddevelopmentcosts. Timberharvestingfocusesonmostly decadentstandsdominatedwithgrandfirthathistoricallycontainedalargercomponentof westernwhitepine,westernlarch,ponderosapine,and/orDouglas-fir. Bothalternativesmaintain orpromotetheestablishmentofdesiredforestspecies. Silviculturaltreatmentsdesignedfor meetingtheaboveobjectivesgenerallyincluderegenerationharvestforolderstandsand intermediateharvestforyoungerstands. ActionAlternativeBwouldtreat312acresmorethan ActionAlternativeC. Hydrology PortionsoftheroadsystemsdonotcurrentlymeetMontanaBestManagementPractices(BMPs) forsurfacedrainageorerosioncontrol. Therearealsoseveralstreamcrossingsthatdonot currentlymeetapplicableBMPs. Thesesitesaremainlyaresultofroadconstructionthat occurredbeforetheadoptionofForestManagementBMPsinMontana. BothActionAlternatives wouldreducetheoverallsedimentcontributiontoprojectareastreams. Reductionsinsediment deliverywouldhappenduetoinstallationofBMPsonseveralexistingstreamcrossings,and replacementofstreamcrossingstructuresthatarenotadequatelydesigned. Harvestactivities proposedwithinthesewatershedswouldgenerateannualwateryieldincreasesrangingfromas littleas0.1%inWolfCreek,toasmuchas3.8%inRockyCreek. Theselevelsofincreasewould notbelargeenoughtocausechannelinstability,andleaveeachwatershedwellwithinits allowablewateryieldincrease. Fisheries Implementationofeitheractionalternativeisnotexpectedtohaveanyimpactstofisheries presenceandgenetics. RoadimprovementsassociatedwithAlternativeBandCwouldreduce long-termsedimentationfromlowtomoderategraderoadsintheprojectarea. Withrespectto thoseexistingconditionsdescribedinChapter3,theselectionofAlternativeBorCwouldhavea lowriskofdirectandindirectimpactstothesedimentandchannelformcomponentsoffisheries habitat. Wildlife Timberharvestwouldresultinchangesinforestedandinteriorhabitatthatwouldreducehabitat forforestdwellingandinteriorwildlifespecies,whileincreasinghabitatforwildlifespeciesthat useopeningsandedgehabitats. Snagdependentspeciesassociatedwithsnaghabitatand opencanopyforestedconditionsareexpectedtoincrease,buttoalesserextentthanifafull complementofhistoricsnagdensitieswereretained. Forageavailabilityforgrizzlybearscouldincreaseduetotimberharvestalternatives,butbenefits togrizzlybears,especiallyinthespring,areexpectedtobeminor. Harvestingofforested vegetationadjacenttoprivatepropertywithoutretentionofvisualscreeningisexpectedto increasetheriskofmortalitytogrizzlybearsusingthoseareas. Successfulroadabandonment andclosureswouldreducedisturbanceandaccessintheareaandwouldbenefitgrizzlybearsby reducingenergyexpenditure,increasingforagetime(withoutdisturbance),anddecreasetherisk ofmortality. Fisherrestinganddenningstructureisexpectedtodecline,resultingindecreasedfisherhabitat inallunits. ActionAlternativeBwouldreducepileatednestinghabitatby833acres,leaving approximately1,585acres. ActionAlternativeCwouldreducepileatednestinghabitatby709 acres,leavingapproximately1,709acres.Sincetheprojectareaismoretransitionalrangethan corewinterrange,thereductioninthermalandsnowinterceptcoverisexpectedtoresultinminor changesinbiggameuse,butnottoeffectcarrycapacity. AirQuality AlternativeBandAlternativeCwouldtemporarilyincreasetheamountofsmokeanddust producedintheprojectarea,AlternativeB’sincreasewouldbeslightlyhigherinthenorthhalfof theprojectarea. Theincreaseddustandsmokeemissionsarenotexpectedtoexceedairquality standards,andwouldbetemporary,localizedreductionstoairquality. Aesthetics AlternativeBwouldharvestapproximately1468acresandchangethecurrentviewonthese acres. Regenerationharvestswouldoccuron843acres. Viewswouldbeveryopenwiththe majorityoftheoverstorybeingremoved. 625acreswouldhaveintermediateharvestandhavea moremosaicoverstory. ActionAlternativeCwouldharvestapproximately1156acresand changethecurrentviewontheseacres. Regenerationharvestswouldoccuron531acres. Viewswouldbeveryopenwiththemajorityoftheoverstorybeingremoved. 625acreswould haveintermediateharvestandhaveamoremosaicoverstory. Economics TheSchoolTrustincomefromasaleunderAlternativeBisestimatedtobe$1,235,730. That wouldbeenoughtofundtheeducationof175studentsfor1yearbasedonanaveragecostof $7,080asdeterminedbyinformationprovidedbytheMontanaOfficeofPublicInstruction. The SchoolTrustincomefromasaleunderAlternativeCisestimatedtobe$922,520,enoughtofund theeducationof130studentsfor1yearbasedonanaveragecostof$7,080perStudentper year. InformationandOverviewoftheDraftEnvironmentalImpactStatement ThisExecutiveSummaryoftheDEISwaspreparedinaccordancewiththeMontana EnvironmentalPolicyAct(MEPA). TheinformationinitisabriefsummaryoftheDEIS. The DEIScontainsmorecompleteanddetailedinformationonthepurpose,development,analyses, andconclusionsoftheproposedproject. TheDEIScontainsspecificinformationforeach resource(e.g.wildlife,fisheries,economics)andtheanticipatedeffectsofthisproposedaction. ToreceiveacopyoftheFoothillsTimberSaleDraftEnvironmentalImpactStatement,please contactPeteSeigmundat(406)751-2266orsendwrittenrequeststoPeteSeigmund,DNRC, KalispellUnit,2250Highway93N,Kalispell,Montana59901. TheFoothillsDEIScanalsobe viewedonthewebathttp://www.dnrc.state.mt.us/eis ea.html. TprhoejecFto.othCiollmsmDeEnItSswiolnlbtheesdernatfttoDEpIeoSpwlielltbhaetahcacveeptreedqufeosrt3e0ddiatydsu.rinAgftihnealdEeIvSel(oFEpImSe)ntwilolfbtheis preparedafterthecommentperiodhasendedandallcommentsareconsidered. Atleast15 daysfollowingpublicationoftheFEIS,GregPoncin,KalispellUnitManager,willchoosean alternativeoracombinationofalternatives. ThisdecisionwillberecommendedtotheStateLand Boardthatwillmakethefinaldecision. € statedocumentscollection Mi 2n 2006 MONTANASTATELIBRARY: HELEN1A5.15MEO.N6TtAhNAAVE5.9620