634.98
N7TCTSP
2006
Vol. 3
'JkhuL
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ST A'.
NT
APPENDICES
OCT 1 2 2006
MONTANA STAlE LIBRARY
1515 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA. MONTANA 59620
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Swan River State Forest
AUGUST 2006
fWWMPWTS COILECTION
3 0864 1003 8973 6
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project Area
Vicinity Map
APPENDIX A
LIST OF RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
INTRODUCTION
In order to address direct,
indirect, and cumulative effects on
a landscape level, the analysis must
incorporate past, present, and
future actions within the analysis
area. The following activities are
located within the Three Creeks
environmental analysis area for
vegetation on Swan River State
Forest. The environmental analysis
areas for watershed, wildlife,
soils, fisheries, etc., are smaller
in size and encompass an area
specific to those disciplines.
DNRC TIMBER SALE AND ROAD
PROJECTS
State timber sales where
environmental analyses have been
completed and sale activities have
begun or have been completed:
• Goat Squeezer Timber Sale Project
EIS
• Napa Lookout Permit
• Cilly Bug Salvage Permit
• Rock Squeezer Salvage Permit
• Red Ridge Salvage Permit
State timber sale proposals with an
environmental review in progress:
• The Fridge Salvage Permit (2006)
• Various thinning projects
The proposed White Porcupine Timber
Sale Project is identified on the
DNRC 3-Year Listing as the next
potential project for Swan River
State Forest. As yet, however, an
initial proposal or proposed action
has not been done. The potential
project has not been scoped and,
therefore, DNRC has not initiated a
preimpact study on this proposal.
SWAN VALLEY GRIZZLY BEAR
CONSERVATION AGREEMENT (SVGBCA)
Beginning in December 1994, DNRC has
participated in the development and
utilization of the SVGBCA with the
United States Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), Flathead National
Forest (FNF), and Plum Creek Timber
Company. The SVGBCA seeks to
cooperatively manage grizzly bear
habitat in Swan Valley, where
intermingled ownership patterns and
differing land-management objectives
complicate habitat management for a
species as wide-ranging as the
grizzly bear. USFWS evaluated the
SVGBCA in an environmental
assessment and found that
implementing the Agreement's
management guidelines would not
negatively impact grizzly bears
( USFWS 1995).
The Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area is within the conservation area
delineated in the SVGBCA and
complies with its guidance.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
None
Stipulations and
Specifications
APPENDIX B
STIPULATIONS AND SPECIFICATION
INTRODUCTION
The stipulations and specifications
for the action alternatives were
identified or designed to prevent or
reduce the potential effects to the
resources considered in this
analysis. In part, stipulations and
specifications are a direct result
of issue identification, project
mitigations, and resource concerns.
Stipulations and specifications that
apply to harvesting or road-building
operations will be contained within
the Timber Sale Contract. As such,
they are binding and enforceable.
Project administrators will enforce
stipulations and specifications
relating to activities that may
occur during or after the contract
period, such as site preparation or
hazard reduction.
The following stipulations and
specifications will be incorporated
to mitigate effects on the resources
involved with the action
alternatives considered in this
proposal. Each section is organized
by resource.
VEGETATION
> Sensitive Plants
Appropriate protection measures
will prevent the disturbance of
sensitive plant populations.
Riparian areas near harvest units
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction B-l
Vegetation B-l
Watershed and Fisheries B-2
Wildlife B-4
Soils B-4
Air Quality B-6
Aesthetics
Cultural Resources and Archaeology
B-6
Roads B-6
will be marked to protect SMZs and
isolated wetlands. No harvesting
is planned in wetlands or near
springs on localized features. If
sensitive plant populations are
found, the appropriate habitat area
will be excluded from the harvest
units .
> Noxious Weed Management
To further limit the possibility
of spreading noxious weeds, the
following weed-management
mitigation measures will be
implemented :
• All tracked and wheeled
equipment will be cleaned of
noxious weeds prior to beginning
project operations. The
contract administrator will
inspect equipment periodically
during project implementation.
• Surface blading on roads
affected by the proposal may be
required to remove weeds before
the seed-set stage.
• Disturbed roadside sites will be
promptly reseeded. Roads used
and closed as part of this
proposal will be reshaped and
seeded .
• Herbicide application, as
designated by the forest
officer, may be used to control
weeds along roads that access
the timber sale area.
> Herbicides
• To reduce risks to aquatic and
terrestrial resources, the
following will be required:
• All herbicides will be applied
by licensed applicators in
accordance with laws, rules, and
regulations of the State of
Montana and Lake County Weed
District .
• All applications will adhere to
BMPs and the herbicides'
specific label guidelines.
• Herbicide applications will not
be general, but site specific to
areas along roads where noxious
weeds grow. No-spray areas will
be designated on the ground
before applications begin.
• Herbicides will not be applied
to areas where relief may
contribute runoff directly into
surface water.
• Herbicides will be applied on
calm, rainless days to limit
drift and the possibility of the
herbicide moving off the road
prisms .
WATERSHED AND FISHERIES
• Planned erosion-control measures
and BMPs include:
• installing grade breaks on roads,
• installing water-diverting
mechanisms on roads,
• installing slash-filter windrows,
and
• grass seeding.
• All road-stream crossings will be
monitored for sedimentation and
the deterioration of the road
prism.
• Equipment traffic will be allowed
at road-stream crossings only
where road prisms have an adequate
load-bearing capacity.
• Culvert sizing for all road
projects will be as recommended by
the DNRC hydrologist for a 50-
year-flood period.
• Stream crossings, where culvert or
bridge removals and installations
are planned, will have^the
following requirements, as needed,
to meet the intent of water-
quality permits and BMPs and
protect water quality:
- diversion channels will be
constructed and lined with
plastic to divert stream flow
prior to any in-channel
operations ,
- slash-filter windrows will be
constructed on the base of the
fill slopes,
- silt fences will be installed
along the streambanks prior to
and following excavation at
crossing sites,
- filter-fabric fences will be in
place downstream prior to and
during culvert installation, and
- bridge work within stream areas
will be limited to the period of
July 15 through August 31.
• Brush will be removed from
existing road prisms to allow
effective maintenance. Improved
road maintenance will reduce
sediment delivery.
• The contractor will be responsible
for the immediate cleanup of any
spills (fuel, oil, dirt, etc.)
that may affect water quality.
• Equipment that is leaking fluids
will not be permitted to operate
in stream-crossing construction
sites .
• Included in the project proposal
are the following pertinent
recommendations of the Flathead
Basin Forest Practices , Water
Quality and Fisheries Cooperative
Program Final Report , June 1991.
(The following numbers correspond
to the numbering of recommendation
items contained within the
aforementioned document, included
in pages 154-162 of the Final
Report . )
1 . BMPs are incorporated into the
project design and operations.
2. Riparian indicators would be
considered in the harvest unit
layout .
3. Management standards of the
SMZ Law (7 5-5-301 MCA ) are
used in conjunction with the
recommendations of the study.
Page B-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
4. The BMP audit process will
continue. This sale would
likely be reviewed in an
internal audit and may be
randomly chosen as a Statewide
audit site.
7. SMZs will be evaluated as a
part of the audit process.
12. Watershed-level planning and
analysis are completed.
Logging plans of other
agencies and private companies
are used.
14. DNRC is cooperating with DFWP
on the further study of fish
habitat and populations for
South Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks .
15. DNRC would use the best
available methods for logging
and road building for this
pro j ect .
16A. Existing roads are fully
utilized for this proposal.
16B.DNRC utilizes BMPs,
transportation planning, and
logging system design to
minimize new road
construction .
17 . DNRC requested inventory
information from DFWP (versus
contracts with DFWP to obtain
species composition, spawning
inventory, and spawning
habitat quality) . DNRC' s
mitigation plan for roads fits
all recommendations for
"impaired streams". Using
"worst-case scenario" criteria
provides for conservative
operations in this proposal.
18. Provisions that address BMPs
are in the Timber Sale
Contract, which are rigidly
enforced .
20. Long-term monitoring is
planned for South Lost, Cilly,
and Soup creeks, as well as
other streams on Swan River
State Forest.
29-34. DNRC has cooperated with DFWP
to continue fisheries work.
DNRC would continue to
monitor fisheries in the
future as funding allows.
• SMZs and RMZs will be defined
along those streams that are
within or adjacent to harvest
units, and all applicable BMPs and
the Rules for fisheries RMZ to
fish-bearing streams will be
followed.
• For the major streams (South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks), a 300-foot buffer (150
feet on each side of the stream)
will be maintained in areas where
harvesting takes place on both
sides of the stream or a closed
canopy of, at least, pole-sized
timber is on either side of the
stream. Within the 300-foot
buffer, a 25-foot no-harvest zone
will be located immediately
adjacent to the stream.
Throughout the rest of the buffer,
an average canopy closure of 40
percent will be maintained. The
creation of some small openings up
to 0.25 acre in size will be
allowed as long as an average
canopy closure of 40 percent could
be achieved throughout.
• The SMZ law and Rules will be
applied to all non-fish-bearing
streams in the project area.
• McNeil core and substrate scores
will be monitored in bull trout
spawning reaches in South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks.
• Fish-habitat monitoring, such as
repeat R1/R4 surveying, will be
done in South Fork Lost and Soup
creeks .
• Riparian stand characteristics
(quadratic mean diameter, trees
per acre, basal area) will be
monitored in proposed selective
riparian harvest areas adjacent to
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks.
Appendix B - Stipulations and Specifications
Page B-3
• Angular canopy density (shade)
will be monitored in South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks adjacent to
proposed selective riparian
harvest areas.
• The frequency and volume of large
woody debris will be monitored in
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks.
• Stream temperature will be
monitored in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks.
WILDLIFE
> Grizzly Bears
• All action alternatives will
comply with the SVGBCA.
• Roads and landings will be
seeded to revegetate with
species less palatable to
grizzly bears to minimize the
potential for bear-human
conflicts .
• Contractors will haul garbage or
store it in a safe place so
bears will not be attracted to
the area.
• No logging camps will be allowed
within the sale area.
• The Forest Officer will
immediately suspend activities
directly related to the project
to prevent imminent
confrontation or conflict
between humans and grizzly
bears, or other threatened or
endangered species.
• Contractors are prohibited from
carrying firearms onto closed
roads while working under
contract .
• Where regeneration harvests are
proposed along open [roads,
vegetation screening will be
retained within a 100-foot
buffer .
• Where regeneration harvests are
proposed, no point in the
harvest unit will exceed 600
feet to cover.
> Wolves
A provision will be included in
the Timber Sale Contract to
protect wolf dens or rendezvous
sites within the gross sale area
discovered during implementation
of the project.
> Big Game
The purchaser will be authorized
to enter the project area with
motorized vehicles only for
activities related to the
performance of the Timber Sale
Contract. Road use is restricted
to nonmotorized transportation
behind road closures for any other
purpose. Motorized vehicle entry
for purposes other than contract
performance, such as hunting or
transporting game animals, will be
considered in trespass and
prosecuted to the fullest extent
of law (ARM 45-6-203) .
> Wildlife Trees and £nag "Retention and
■Recruitment
• Wildlife trees of high quality,
such as large broken-topped
western larch, will be
designated for retention and
given special consideration
during yarding operations to
prevent loss.
• Snag retention and recruitment:
All cull snags that are safe to
operate near and a minimum of 2
snags greater than 21 inches dbh
are to be retained. If not
enough large snags are present,
the balance will be made up from
the next largest size class
available .
• If snags that are expected to be
retained need to be felled for
operational or safety reasons,
they will be left on site.
Page B-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
SOILS
> Compaction
• Logging equipment will not
operate off forest roads unless:
- soil moisture is less than 20
percent ,
- soil is frozen to a depth of 4
inches or a depth that will
support machine operations
(whichever is greater) , or
- soil is snow covered to a
depth of 18 inches or a depth
that will prevent compaction,
rutting, or displacement
(whichever is greater) .
• Existing skid trails and
landings will be used when their
design is consistent with
prescribed treatments and
current BMP guidelines are met.
• The logging foreman and sale
administrator will agree to a
skidding plan prior to operating
equipment .
• To reduce the number of skid
trails and the potential for
erosion, designated skid trails
will be required where moist
soils or short steep pitches
(less than 300 feet) will not be
accessed by other logging
systems .
• The density of skid trails in a
harvest area will not exceed 20
percent of the total area in the
cutting unit.
> £oii Displacement
• Conventional ground-based
skidding equipment will not be
operated on slopes steeper than
40 percent. Soft-tracked
yarders are suitable on slopes
up to 55 percent. Cable yarding
will be used on sustained
steeper slopes.
• Slash piling and scarification
will be completed with a dozer
where slopes are gentle enough
to permit (less than 35
percent). Slash treatment and
site preparation will be done
with an excavator in areas where
soils are wet or slopes are
steeper (up to 55 percent) .
Broadca-st burning may also be
utilized .
> Erosion
• Ground-skidding machinery will
be equipped with a winchline to
limit equipment operation on
steeper slopes.
• Roads used by the purchaser will
be reshaped and the ditches
redefined to reduce surface
erosion prior to and following
use .
• Drain dips, open-topped
culverts, and gravel will be
installed on roads as needed to
improve road drainage and reduce
erosion and maintenance needs.
• Some road sections will be
repaired to upgrade the roads to
design standards that will
reduce the potential for erosion
and maintenance needs.
• Certified weed-free grass seed
and fertilizer will be applied
promptly to newly constructed
road surfaces, cutslopes, and
fillslopes. These applications
will also be done on existing
disturbed cutslopes, fillslopes,
and landings immediately
adjacent to open roads. These
applications, which will
stabilize soils and reduce or
prevent the establishment of
noxious weeds, would include:
- seeding all road cuts and
fills concurrent with
construction,
- applying "quick cover" seed
mix within 1 day of work
completion at culvert
installation sites, and
- seeding all road surfaces and
reseeding culvert installation
sites when the final blading
is completed for each
specified road segment.
Appendix B - Stipulations and Specifications
Page B-5
• Based on ground and weather
conditions and as directed by
the forest officer, water bars,
logging-slash barriers, and, in
some cases, temporary culverts
will be installed on skid trails
where erosion is anticipated.
These erosion-control features
would be periodically inspected
and maintained throughout the
Contract period or extensions
thereof .
AIR QUALITY
• To prevent individual or
cumulative effects and provide for
burning during acceptable
ventilation and dispersion
conditions during burning
operations, burning will be done
in compliance with the Montana
Airshed Group reporting
regulations and any burning
restrictions imposed in Airshed 2.
• Excavator, landing, and roadwork
debris will be piled clean to
allow easy ignition during fall
and spring when ventilation is
good and surrounding fuels are
wet. The Forest Officer may
require that piles be covered to
reduce dispersed (unentrained)
smoke and allow the piles to
ignite more easily, burn hotter,
and extinguish more quickly.
• The number of piles to burn will
be reduced by leaving large woody
debris in the harvest units.
• Depending on the season of harvest
and level of public traffic, dust
abatement may be applied on some
segments of the roads that will be
used during hauling.
AESTHETICS
• Damaged submerchantable residual
vegetation will be slashed.
• Landings will be limited in size
and number and located away from
main roads when possible.
• Disturbed sites directly adjacent
to roads will be grass seeded.
• When possible, healthy trees not
big enough to be harvested will be
retained .
CULTURAL RESOURCES AND
ARCHAEOLOGY
• A review of the project area was
conducted by a DNRC archaeologist
and local Native American tribal
organizations .
• A contract clause provides for
suspending operations if cultural
resources are discovered and only
resuming when directed by the
Forest Officer.
ROADS
• Information about road
reconstruction activities and road
use associated with road
construction activities will be
relayed to the general public.
• Signs will be placed on restricted
roads to prohibit public access
while harvesting operations are in
progress; these roads will be
physically restricted during
inactive periods (nights,
weekends, holidays, shutdowns) .
• BMPs will be incorporated into all
planned road construction.
Page B-6
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
APPENDIX C
VEGETATION ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This section describes current
vegetative conditions on Swan River
State Forest and addresses the
potential effects of the
alternatives as they relate to the
following issues:
- timber harvesting and associated
activities may decrease sensitive
plant populations; and
- timber-harvesting and road-
building activities may increase
noxious weeds in the project area
ANALYSIS METHODS
- movement toward or away from
desired future conditions;
- management goals and activities
that address insect and disease
activities ;
- current and future levels of
forest fragmentation;
- impacts of harvesting on the
amount and distribution of old
growth, old-growth attributes, and
the quality of old growth on Swan
River State Forest;
- timber harvesting and associated
activities may affect forest
covertypes and age classes;
- timber harvesting and associated
activities may reduce canopy
cover;
- without timber harvesting, fire
hazard may increase;
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Analysis Methods
Analysis Area
Past Management
Stand Development
Habitat Types
Forest Health
Elevation and Aspect
Stand Structures
Covertype and Age Classes
Fragmentation
Insects and Diseases
Fire Effects
Old Growth
Sensitive Plants
Noxious Weeds
The Rules (http://
arm . sos . state .mt . us/ Title 36)
direct DNRC to take a landscape-
level or coarse-f ilter approach to
biodiversity. To promote
biodiversity, an appropriate mix of
stand structures and compositions on
State land should be favored
(Montana DNRC 1996) . The coarse-
filter approach utilizes landscape-
analysis techniques to determine an
appropriate mix of stand structures
and compositions for Swan River
State Forest based on ecological
characteristics, such as landtypes,
climatic sections, habitat types,
disturbance regimes, and other
unique characteristics.
This vegetation analysis compares
historic forest conditions, desired
future conditions, and current stand
conditions in terms of forest
composition. Covertype
representations and age-class
distributions are specific
characteristics
shown in the
landscape-level
analysis to
q_2 quantify project
£_3 effects to forest
C-4
C-4
C-4
C-5
C-6
C-7
C-21
C-23
C-32
C-37
C-59
C-60
vegetation and track movement toward
or away from desired future
conditions .
Historic age-class and covertype
conditions were quantified by
Losensky (1997). He used forest
inventory data from the 1930s to
estimate the proportion of historic
age classes by forest covertype for
Montana. This provided an estimate
of age-class distribution and stand
composition prior to Euro/American
settlement and the effects of fire
suppression, selective logging,
cattle and sheep grazing, and the
full impact of white pine blister
rust. Current conditions and
desired future conditions are
defined using DNRC' s site-specific
SLI.
Forest fragmentation was analyzed by
using aerial photographs of the
project area and querying the SLI.
Aerial photographs provided a visual
of past harvesting and current stand
appearances (stocking density, stand
boundaries, etc.). Queries in the
SLI provided information on
contiguous areas of stands in the
same age class, stocking levels, and
stand densities. Alternative
effects on the patch size of old-
growth stands were also analyzed.
Field visits helped to verify this
information to establish increases/
decreases in a given patch size.
Insect and disease activities are
recorded and mapped annually from
aerial flight surveys. New
occurrences and progression of
existing pockets, along with
approximate acreages and locations,
are collected. Field surveys
identify areas with insect and
disease activities for timber
harvesting opportunities! Several
successive years of flight-survey
maps are available at the Swan River
State Forest office.
The old-growth analysis relies on
both DNRC' s SLI and plot-level data
collected for the project. The SLI
was queried to select stands meeting
the age, dbh, and large-tree
criteria for old growth based on
habitat-type groups (see GLOSSARY
for DNRC' s old-growth definition) .
Field surveys were employed to
collect plot-level data in order to
verify the old-growth status of
selected stands and determine if
additional stands meet the old-
growth definition within the project
area. Attribute levels within old-
growth stands are described and
analyzed for preharvest and
postharvest conditions using the SLI
and the additional plot-level data
collected.
The analysis of stand development
would be a qualitative discussion of
the conditions of timber stands,
including how various natural and
man-caused disturbances and site
factors have affected, and may
continue to affect, timber-stand
development. Project level and
cumulative effects to forest
vegetation are described and
analyzed in terms of covertype
representation, age-class
distributions, old-growth amounts
and attribute levels, stand
structure, patch dynamics, forest
fragmentation, and the role of
insects and diseases.
ANALYSIS AREA
The analysis area was examined at 3
nested scales:
the climatically-/
physiographically-de fined "Upper
Flathead Section" (M333C) of the
larger, vegetation-defined
"Northern Rocky Mountain Forest-
Steppe-Coniferous Forest-Alpine
Meadow Province" (Province M333)
( Bailey et al. 1994);
- Swan River State Forest;
and the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project area.
Climatic sections were described as
broad areas of similar geomorphic
processes, geologic origins,
drainage networks, and landforms
that influence precipitation
patterns and temperature regimes
( Losensky 1997:19). General
Page C-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
location-based names for the various
climatic sections were assigned to
help understanding and
communication. The Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project area in Swan
River State Forest affects the
timber base and sustainable yield
derived through the forest-
management program. Swan River
State Forest is within Climatic
Section M333C. Considering that
each nested scale is important
because activities within one can
influence all, and effects at one
scale may be unapparent when
presented at another scale.
• Section M333C: Historic
conditions refer to those
described by Losensky (1997). In
this analysis, the historic
conditions for Section M333C
relate to Swan River State Forest
in terms of age-class
distributions by forest
covertypes .
• Swan River State Forest: Current
and desired future conditions were
analyzed at the scale of the
entire Swan River State Forest,
based on the Swan River State
Forest SLI .
• Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Area: Within the project area,
the effects to stands proposed for
harvesting would be analyzed under
each alternative.
Effects analyses are presented for
both the entire Swan River State
Forest and the project-level
analysis area throughout the DEIS.
Much of the analysis uses data from
the SLI. The SLI quantifies forest-
stand characteristics for all stands
in Swan River State Forest and is
incorporated into DNRC' s Geographic
Information System (GIS) .
The SLI is updated annually to
account for harvesting activities
and periodically through
reinventory. This process provides
DNRC foresters with current data for
use in analyses of proposed
management activities. Since
ongoing and future timber sales have
not undergone postharvest inventory,
probable effects of these sales are
taken into consideration in order to
address cumulative impacts in each
analysis area. The SLI databases
used for this analysis are dated
August 8, 2001 (sli poly 08082001
swn) , and May 13, 2005 [swn
sliwsnc200505 13) . This data is
available at the Swan River State
Forest office.
One timber sale, Cilly Bug Salvage
Timber Sale, is in progress within
the Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
analysis area. The estimated
effects of this project on the
proportions of forest covertypes and
age classes, along with effects of
old-growth stands, would be
considered along with the Goat
Squeezer (I, II, III), Small
Squeezer, Small Squeezer II, and
South Woodward timber sales in a
cumulative-effects analysis for Swan
River State Forest.
PAST MANAGEMENT
The project area has not had a large
timber sale since the 1980s. Timber
harvesting began in and adjacent to
the project area during the 1960s.
The first known harvesting, both
inside and adjacent to the project
area, took place in the early 1900s.
Limited salvaging has taken place
within the project area, but several
permits have been completed in the
adjacent area. The majority of the
acres (54 percent) in the project
area have never been harvested.
Most previously harvested stands
have regenerated successfully,
either naturally or by planting, and
are dominated by western larch,
Douglas-fir, and, in some areas,
ponderosa pine. Many units have
recently been precommercially
thinned. Other past harvesting
includes salvage, sanitation, and
individual-selection treatments.
Salvage harvesting, the most
prominent type of harvesting, began
in the early 1980s and continued
through the late 1990s; salvage
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-3
operations have not occurred in the
project area for the last several
years. Individual-tree-selection
harvesting was conducted in the
early 1970s.
STAND DEVELOPMENT
Natural processes of stand
development and disturbance are
influenced by environmental
conditions and site characteristics,
such as soils, stand covertype,
forest health, elevation, and stand
structure. The stand structures and
species compositions can be greatly
modified by natural disturbances,
such as wildfire and blowdown.
Without natural or human-caused
disturbances, stands continue to
move along the successional path,
which leads to species conversion.
In some instances, a previously open
western larch/Douglas-f ir stand
begins developing an increasingly
dense understory of grand fir and
other shade-tolerant tree species.
This process can eventually move the
stand towards a mixed-conifer
covertype. Many of the stands
proposed for harvesting have this
successional pattern occurring.
Proposed treatments would reverse
this process to earlier stages of
succession dominated by serai
species .
HABITAT TYPES
Site factors, such as soil type,
aspect, elevation, growing season,
and moisture availability, are
combined to develop the
classifications of habitat types,
which are then used to describe
successional development and timber
productivity, among other things
( Pfister et al. 1977) . In the
project area, 62 percent: is
categorized as belonging xo the
"warm and moist" habitat type. As
these stands progress through
successional stages, the mixed-
conifer covertype would become more
dominant. The lower elevation,
moist-subalpine habitat type
( Fischer and Bradley , 198 7) occurs
on 25 percent of the area. Also
represented in the project area are
5 other habitat types, but in much
lesser amounts. Information on
habitat types for the remaining
stands is- available in the project
f ile .
The stands proposed for harvesting
are included in the warm and moist
along with the lower elevation,
moist subalpine fir habitat type
groups. These groups typically have
relatively high timber production,
regenerate best with more intensive
management treatments, and provide
great opportunities for serai
species. TABLE C-l - ACRES TREATED
PER HARVEST PRESCRIPTION BY HABITAT-
TYPE GROUP shows the amount of acres
being treated within these habitat
type groups by harvest prescription.
FOREST HEALTH
Stand vigor, a qualitative
assessment of stand health in
relation to growth potential, is
affected by a variety of factors
such as stand age, density, insects,
diseases, and weather. Insects and
diseases are currently very active
within the project area, decreasing
vigor, reducing growth, causing
mortality, removing stands from the
old-growth classification, and
resulting in lost economic value.
Elevated populations of Douglas-fir
beetle, fir engraver, and mistletoe,
as well as minor infestations/
infections from mountain pine
beetle, white pine blister rust, and
various heart rots exist throughout
the project area. Indian paint
fungus is common in grand fir. The
majority of the tree species show
effects from insect infestations
and/or disease infections, which
cause value to be lost. Also, tree
crowns appear sparse, yellowing,
and/or fading in many stands,
reflecting poor health and slow
growth .
The SLI identifies stand vigor for
each stand on Swan River State
Forest in 1 of 4 categories. The 4
categories for vigor classification
Page C-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
TABLE C-l - ACRES TREATED PER HARVEST PRESCRIPTION BY HABITAT-TYPE GROUP
ACTION
ALTERNATIVE
HARVEST
PRESCRIPTION
HABITAT TYPE GROUPS
WARM AND
MOIST
MOIST,
LOW ELEVATION
SUBALP INE
TOTALS
B
Seedtree
134
134
Seedtree reserve
543
543
Shelterwood
593
61
654
Commercial thin
486
67
553
C
Seedtree
98
98
Seedtree reserve
480
480
Shelterwood
675
675
Commercial thin
531
67
598
D
Seedtree
113
113
Seedtree reserve
540
133
673
Shelterwood
314
309
623
Commercial thin
439
121
560
E
Seedtree
135
135
Seedtree reserve
441
133
574
Shelterwood
461
143
604
Commercial thin
580
103
683
are full, good, fair, and poor. The
majority of the stands in the
project area fall in the good to
average category, which is also
reflective of the stands proposed
for harvesting ( TABLE C-2 - STAND-
VIGOR CLASSIFICATION (PERCENT) BY
ACTION ALTERNATIVE ) .
TABLE C-2 - STAND-VIGOR
CLASSIFICATION (PERCENT) BY ACTION
ALTERNATIVE
VIGOR
ACTION ALTERNATIVE
B
C
D
E
Good
51
53
59
58
Fair
38
39
30
41
Poor
11
8
11
1
ELEVATION AND ASPECT
Elevation and aspect interact to
influence the tree and shrub species
potentially present in a stand, as
well to influence successional
pathways and percent of ground
cover. The project area ranges in
elevation from 3,400 to 6,600 feet.
A large portion of the project area
has a south-to-west-to-northwest
aspect, resulting in sites that are
relatively warmer and drier than
those on north- or east-facing
aspects. Warmer, drier stands
typically develop overstories of
western larch and/or Douglas-fir,
or, occasionally, ponderosa pine on
the drier sites. Stands with north-
facing slopes, either entirely or in
part, often have higher moisture
availability and are located where
species such as western red cedar
and true firs are often found.
The majority (61 percent) of the
old-growth stands proposed for
harvesting are on south to west
aspects in the mid-elevation zone,
between 3,500 and 4,500 feet.
Treatments for these particular
stands vary depending on the aspect
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-5
and elevation and the influence
these would have on regeneration.
The south to west aspect sites
receive much direct sunlight and
tend to have drier soils. Due to
these sites being drier and warmer,
shelterwood and commercial-thin
treatments are proposed for these
aspects. These treatments would
also provide a greater opportunity
for regeneration survival.
STAND STRUCTURE
Stand structure indicates a
characteristic of stand development
and how the stand would continue to
develop. The disturbance regime or
most recent disturbance event can
also be reflected.
Single-storied stands are most often
associated with stand-replacement
events, such as severe fires or
clearcut harvesting, and are more
common in younger-aged stands where
understory reinitiation has not
begun. Over time, these single-
storied stands generally develop
into multistoried stands or other
more complex structures through the
process of forest succession.
Two-storied stands are often
associated with areas of less severe
fires and usually have more fire-
resistant trees, such as western
larch or Douglas-fir, left in the
overstory. Also, two-storied stands
frequently develop where an
understory of shade-tolerant species
grows under an even-aged overstory,
such as subalpine fir growing under
a canopy of lodgepole pine.
Regeneration harvests that retain
approximately 10 percent crown cover
in the overstory and have a
seedling/sapling understory are also
classified as two-storied stands.
The multistoried condition arises
when a stand has progressed through
time and succession to the point
that shade-tolerant species are
replacing a shade-intolerant
overstory. Often a long interval of
time occurs between major
disturbances. Many of these stands
went through a single-story
condition when younger.
Seedtree and seedtree-with-reserves
harvest treatments would shift
stands from their current structure
class to a single-storied class.
Shelterwood treatments would
initially move stands from the
current structure to a single story,
which would again shift to a two-
storied stand upon establishment of
seedlings. Commercial-thin harvest
treatments would vary depending on
the current structure and the
proposed timber removal. Much of
the understory disturbed through
logging operations and harvesting
would primarily occur in the
dominant, co-dominant, and
intermediate canopy layers. Stand
structure may be reduced by one or
more classes, two-storied or three-
storied (multistoried) .
TABLE C-3 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST
STAND STRUCTURE OF UNITS PROPOSED
FOR HARVEST IN THE THREE CREEKS
PROJECT AREA compares the current
proportion of stands and the
postharvest results by alternative
in single-storied, two-storied, and
multi-storied stands within the
project area.
TABLE C-3 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST STAND STRUCTURE OF UNITS PROPOSED FOR
HARVEST IN THE THREE CREEKS PROJECT AREA
STAND
STRUCTURE
CURRENT
AMOUNTS
ACTION ALTERNATIVE
B
C
D
E
POSTHARVEST
Single-storied (percent)
25
37
37
37
37
Two-storied (percent)
10
13
13
12
12
Multistoried (percent)
65
49
50
51
51
Total acres
10,383
10,383
10,383
10,383
10,383
Page C 6 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
COVERTYPE AND AGE CLASSES
EXISTING CONDITION
Covertypes describe the species
composition of forest stands.
Covertype representation often
varies according to the frequency of
disturbance. Some seral-species-
dominated types, such as ponderosa
pine, reflect a frequent low-
intensity disturbance that helps
perpetuate the shade-intolerant
pine. Other types, such as the
mixed-conifer type, reflect an
absence of disturbance, indicating
stands further along the
successional pathway dominated by
shade-tolerant species.
The protocol used to assign
covertypes on DNRC forested lands,
including Swan Unit, is explained in
detail in the Rules (ARM 36.11.405)
(http : //arm . sos . state . mt . us/ ) . The
methods used to analyze current and
appropriate stand conditions are
described below.
Two data filters were developed to
assign covertypes in a manner
similar to that used in the 1930s
inventory and applied to Swan River
State Forest's SLI data (swn
sliwsnc20050513 ; Arc View shape
file) . The first, representing
current conditions, followed the
1930s criteria as closely as
possible. The second, representing
desired future conditions, assigned
covertypes using criteria to address
situations where the current type
may not be representative of desired
conditions, such as stands where
succession from one covertype to
another was occurring. Without fire
suppression, introduced pathogens,
and timber harvesting, the filter
for desired future conditions
indicated that those areas would
likely have been assigned to a
different covertype than the current
covertype filter suggests. The
filter for desired future conditions
provides an assessment for the
proportion of various covertypes
that would likely have existed under
average historic conditions.
FIGURE C-l - PROPORTION OF HISTORIC
CONDITIONS BY COVERTYPE FOR SWAN
RIVER STATE FOREST , FIGURE C-2 -
CURRENT COVERTYPE PROPORTIONS FOR
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST , and FIGURE
C-3 - DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION BY
COVERTYPE ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
illustrate the proportion of forest
occupied by various covertypes at
differing scales and time periods.
FIGURE C-l shows the historical
proportional representation of
covertypes for Swan River State
Forest .
FIGURE C-l - PROPORTION OF HISTORIC CONDITIONS BY COVERTYPE FOR SWAN RIVER
STATE FOREST
□ ponderosa pine
□ western
larch/Doualas-fir
□ western wnite pine
□ lodgepole pine
■ mixed conifer
□ subalpine fir
□ other
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-7
FIGURE C-2 - CURRENT COVERTYPE PROPORTIONS FOR SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
□ Douglas -fir
□ lodgepole pine
■ mixed conifer
□ ponderosa pine
□ subalpine fir
□ western white pine
□ western larch/Douglas-fir
Results indicate (FIGURE C-2 -
CURRENT COVERTYPE PROPORTIONS FOR
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST, and FIGURE
C-3 - DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION BY
COVERTYPE ON SWAN RIVER STATE
FOREST) that mixed-conifer stands
are currently overrepresented
compared to historic data and
desired future conditions. Many of
the species that compose mixed-
conifer stands are shade tolerant
and increase in density as the
intervals between disturbances, such
as wildfires, increase.
The western larch/Douglas-fir and
western white pine covertypes are
currently underrepresented on Swan
River State Forest, in reference to
desired future condition, but for
different reasons. Western larch
and Douglas-fir are preferred timber
FIGURE C-3 - DESIRED FUTURE CONDITION BY COVERTYPE ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
□ Douglas-fir
□ lodgepole pine
■ mixed conifer
□ ponderosa pine
□ subalpine fir
□ western white pine
□ western larch/Douglas-fir
Page C-8
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
species that often were removed in
partial or selective harvests that
failed to provide suitable
conditions for regenerating the
species. Western larch/Douglas-f ir
stands have historically been
perpetuated through fairly intensive
disturbances, such as wildfires, and
because, when mature, they are more
resistant to fire mortality than
other species, some individuals
would survive a natural disturbance
and provide a seed source for
subsequent regeneration. The lack
of natural disturbances has
prevented regeneration of western
larch across much of Swan River
State Forest, particularly in the
dense old stands common throughout
the project area, and resulted in a
shift in dominance from shade-
intolerant species, like western
larch/Douglas-f ir , toward more
shade-tolerant species.
Data for Swan River State Forest
indicates that the extent of the
western white pine covertype is
considerably lower than what
occurred historically. White pine
blister rust has drastically
affected western white pine,
reducing its representation across
its range to less than 10 percent of
historical numbers (Fins et al.
2001). The number of healthy
western white pine that occupy the
canopy as overstory dominants has
been on the decline across its range
for several decades despite
multiorganization cooperative
efforts to restore it on the
landscape. So, while cooperative
efforts have produced rust-resistant
seed suitable for deployment
throughout its range, planting has
been unable to keep pace with losses
due to the rust.
AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION
Age-class distribution delineates
another characteristic important for
determining trends on a landscape
level. Age-class distributions are
tied to covertype representation and
disturbance regimes, both of which
vary over the landscape in relation
to prevailing climatic conditions of
temperature and moisture.
Historical stand age-class
distributions for Montana were
developed by Losensky (1997).
Although the data was collected at a
specific point in time, this data
represents the best baseline
available for determining how
current forest age-class
distribution deviates from
historical conditions.
Comparison of the current age-class
distribution by covertype across the
entire Swan River State Forest to
historical data from Section M333C
demonstrates reduced acreage in the
seedling-sapling age class and an
overabundance in the 150+-year-old
age class ( TABLE C-4 - HISTORIC AGE-
CLASS STRUCTURE FOR EACH COVERTYPE
IN CLIMATIC SECTION 333C (UPPER
FLATHEAD VALLEY) ; NON FORE ST LAND IS
NOT INCLUDED and TABLE C-5 - 1930S
INVENTORY DATA FOR PROPORTIONAL AGE-
CLASS STRUCTURE BY COVERTYPE FOR
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST AND TOTAL
ACRES BY COVERTYPE [THE AVERAGE
REPRESENTS THE AVERAGE AGE-CLASS
STRUCTURE ACROSS ALL COVERTYPES) ) in
most types. The relatively old age
of stands in Swan River State Forest
predisposes them to attacks by
insects and diseases, as well as an
increased risk of stand-replacement
fires .
Comparing the climatic section
averages with Swan River State
Forest shows that the forest was
dominated by old stands to a much
greater extent than was the climatic
section, 74 percent old stands
versus 29 percent. That trend was
also demonstrated with most of the
various covertypes.
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-9
TABLE C-4 - HISTORIC AGE-CLASS STRUCTURE FOR EACH COVERTYPE IN CLIMATIC
SECTION 333C (UPPER FLATHEAD VALLEY) ; NONFOREST LAND IS NOT INCLUDED
COVERTYPE1
NONSTOCKED
1 TO 40
YEARS
41 TO 100
YEARS
101 YEARS TO
OLD STANDS
OLD
STANDS2
PERCENT
Ponderosa Pine
2
11
6
7
74
Douglas-f ir
2
24
39
29
6
Western larch/
Douglas-f ir
10
13
10
20
47
Western white
pine
0
1
28
54
17
Lodgepole pine
21
38
29
7
5
Mixed conifer
2
4
9
42
43
Average
14
22
13
22
29
JThe subalpine type was not assigned an age in the 1930s inventory .
Stands were considered old if they were over 170 years for ponderosa pine , Douglas-
fir, and western larch/Douglas- fir ; 180 years for western white pine and mixed coni-
fer; and 140 years for lodgepole pine.
TABLE C-5 - 1930S INVENTORY DATA FOR PROPORTIONAL AGE-CLASS STRUCTURE BY
COVERTYPE FOR SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST AND TOTAL ACRES BY COVERTYPE (THE
AVERAGE REPRESENTS THE AVERAGE AGE-CLASS STRUCTURE ACROSS ALL COVERTYPES)
COVERTYPE
NO AGE1
0 TO 39
YEARS
40 TO 99
YEARS
100 YEARS
TO OLD
STANDS
OLD
STANDS2
TOTAL
ACRES
PERCENT
Ponderosa pine
0
0
0
100
1, 019
Douglas-f ir
100
0
0
0
0
219
Western larch/
Douglas-f ir
12
7
0
81
26,253
Western white pine
0
0
0
100
3, 159
Lodgepole pine
36
64
0
0
1,801
Mixed conifer
5
^ 0
18
2
74
1,345
Subalpine fir
31
0
1
21
47
4, 588
Average
5
10
8
3
74
38, 668
1The nonage category represents land that was not typed as to age in the 1930s inven-
tory.
2Stands were considered old^if they were over 170 years for ponderosa pine, Douglas-
fir, and western larch/Douglas- fir ; 180 years for western white pine, subalpine, and
mixed conifer; and 140 years for lodgepole pine.
Page C-10
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
TABLE C-6 - CURRENT SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST DATA FOR PROPORTIONAL AGE-CLASS
STRUCTURE BY COVERTYPE AND TOTAL ACRES BY COVERTYPE
COVERTYPE
NO
AGE1
0 TO 39
YEARS
40 TO 99
YEARS
100 YEARS
TO OLD
STANDS
OLD
STANDS2
TOTAL
ACRES
PERCENT
Ponderosa pine
43
9
11
37
2,440
Douglas-f ir
13
41
20
26
591
Western larch/
Douglas-f ir
30
24
10
36
7, 637
Western white pine
21
2
16
61
4,274
Lodgepole pine
7
73
20
2,255
Mixed conifer
11
12
23
54
17,257
Subalpine fir
10
19
20
51
3, 282
Average
18
18
18
46
37,736
1The nonage category represents land that was not typed as to age in the 1930s inven-
tory.
z Stands were considered old if they were over 170 years for ponderosa pine, Douglas-
fir, and western larch/Douglas- fir ; 180 years for western white pine, subalpine , and
mixed conifer; and 140 years for lodgepole pine.
Other covertypes not included in the table: hardwoods (40 acres) , nonstocked (706
acres), and nonforested (920 acres).
TABLE C-7 - CURRENT PROJECT AREA DATA FOR PROPORTIONAL AGE-CLASS STRUCTURE BY
COVERTYPE AND TOTAL ACRES BY COVERTYPE
COVERTYPE
NO AGE
0 TO 39
YEARS
40 TO 99
YEARS
100 YEARS
TO OLD
STANDS
OLD
STANDS
TOTAL
ACRES
PERCENT
Ponderosa pine
82
0
0
18
137
Douglas-f ir
15
19
66
0
59
Western larch/
Douglas-f ir
25
24
10
41
2,289
Western white pine
11
0
15
74
653
Lodgepole pine
4
53
43
0
199
Mixed conifer
4
6
10
80
5, 312
Subalpine fir
18
7
28
47
1,735
Average
12
11
14
63
10,384
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-ll
FIGURE C-4 - HISTORIC
AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION
FOR SWAN RIVER STATE
FOREST
FIGURE C-5 - CURRENT AGE-
CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOR
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
Page C-12
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
FIGURE C- 7 - AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE
PROJECT AREA FOLLOWING
APPLICATION OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE B
The proportions of older
stands have decreased when compared
to historic conditions. While some
of the apparent decrease amounts of
old stands reflects differences in
data collection and mapping
protocols, the data likely reflects
a real decrease, though a relatively
smaller decrease than suggested by
the data. The historic data
indicates Swan River State Forest
had avoided any major disturbances
for a considerable time period.
While lower amounts are shown in old
stands, higher amounts are in all
other age-class categories.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS
the overstory for water and
nutrients. The long-term effects
on covertype would continue, with
a gradual loss of the serai-
dominated covertypes, such as
western larch/Douglas-f ir and
western white pine, and an
increase in the mixed-conifer
covertype, which is dominated by
shade-tolerant species.
No immediate change in the
proportion of existing age classes
( FIGURE C-4 - HISTORIC AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION FOR SWAN RIVER STATE
FOREST) is expected unless a large
disturbance, such as a wildfire,
occurs .
Direct Effects
• Direct qfJVo ■» let ion . Alternative •/ to
Corertypex n net . lye Ctaxxex
In the short term, the amount of
western larch/Douglas-f ir and
western white pine covertypes
would remain lower than DNRC' s
desired future condition suggests
( FIGURE C-2 - CURRENT COVERTYPE
PROPORTIONS FOR SWAN RIVER STATE
FOEST and C-3 - DESIRED FUTURE
CONDITION BY COVERTYPE ON SWAN
RIVER STATE FOREST) . Shade-
tolerant species would continue to
regenerate under closed-canopy
forests, increasing the ladder
fuels available to carry fire to
the overstory and competing with
• Direef Ifflecfx of. let ion .'llternatire 11 to
Corertypex and . lye Ctaxxex
This alternative proposes
regeneration harvests on
approximately 1,331 acres using
shelterwood, seedtree, and
seedtree-with-re serves treatments ,
and commercial thinning on
approximately 553 acres.
Approximately 613 acres of the
mixed-conifer covertype would be
converted to a western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype by
harvesting shade-tolerant species
(grand fir, Engelmann spruce,
western red-cedar, et al . ) and
planting various combinations of
western larch, ponderosa pine, and
blister-rust-resistant western
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-13
white pine. An additional 494
acres of the mixed-conifer
covertype and 650 acres of the
western larch covertype would be
harvested, but no change in
covertype is expected. The
proportion of the western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype would
increase due to a combination of
harvesting prescriptions and
planting. Approximately 127 acres
within the western white pine
covertype would be harvested; no
change in covertype would be
expected. Douglas-fir, subalpine
fir, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole
pine covertypes should not
experience any proportional
changes .
The proposed shelterwood,
seedtree, and seedtree-with-
reserves treatments would
regenerate approximately 1,331
acres; of this, 1,060 acres would
be converted from the old-stand
age class to the zero-year age
class; the remaining 271 acres
would be converted from the 100-
to-150-year age class to the zero-
year age class.
The 553 acres proposed for
commercial thinning would retain
pole- to sawtimber-si zed trees in
the 100-to-150-year age class,
thus converting 415 acres from the
old-stand age class to the 100-to-
150-year age class. In addition,
6 acres would convert from the
100-to-150-year age class to the
40-to-99-year age class and 95
acres would remain in the 100-to-
149-year age class following
harvesting .
Regeneration treatments and
subsequent planting or natural
regeneration would indrease the
proportion of the 0-to-39-year age
class on Swan River State Forest
by 3.5 percent, or 1,331 acres,
while the proportion of the old-
stand age class would be reduced
by 3.8 percent, or 1,475 acres
(FIGURE C-7 - AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE PROJECT
AREA FOLLOWING APPLICATION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE B) .
• Direct Itffecfx of. Action Alternative C to
Covertype* and .lye Ctaxxex
This alternative proposes
regeneration harvests using
shelterwood, seedtree, and
seedtree-with-reserve treatments
on approximately 1,253 acres, and
commercial thinning on
approximately 532 acres.
Approximately 660 acres of the
mixed-conifer covertype would be
converted to the western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype by
harvesting shade-tolerant species
(grand fir, Engelmann spruce,
western red-cedar, et al.) and
planting various combinations of
western larch, ponderosa pine, and
blister-rust-resistant western
white pine. An additional 394
acres of the mixed-conifer
covertype and 580 acres of the
western-larch covertype would be
harvested, but no change in
covertype is expected. The
proportion of the western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype would
increase due to a combination of
harvesting prescriptions and
planting. Approximately 127 acres
of western white pine and 24 acres
of ponderosa pine covertypes would
be harvested, but current
representation should be
maintained. Douglas-fir,
subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine
covertypes should not see any
changes in percents of
representation .
The proposed shelterwood,
seedtree, and seedtree-with-
reserves treatment would
regenerate approximately 1,253
acres; 988 acres would be
converted from the old-stand age
class to the zero-year age class,
while 266 acres would be converted
from the 100-to-150-year age class
to the zero-year age class.
The 532 acres proposed for
commercial thinning would retain
pole- to sawtimber-sized trees in
Page C-14
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
FIGURE C-8 - AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE
PROJECT AREA FOLLOWING
APPLCATION OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE C
the 100-to-150-year and 40-to-99-
year age classes. A total of 476
acres would be converted from the
old-stand age class to the 100-to-
150-year age class. In addition,
6 acres would convert from the
100-to-14 9-year age class to the
40-to-99-year age class, and 50
acres would be retained in the
100-to-14 9-year age class.
Regeneration treatments and
subsequent planting or natural
regeneration would increase the
proportion of the 00-to-39-year
age class on Swan River State
Forest by 3.5 percent, or 1,253
acres, while the proportion of the
old-stand age class would be
reduced by 3.8 percent, or 1,464
acres ( FIGURE C-8 - AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE PROJECT
AREA FOLLOWING APPLICATION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE C) .
• Direct Effects oJ\ Iction . fttematire D to
Cor retype* and • lye Cla**e*
This alternative proposes
regeneration harvests by using
shelterwood, seedtree, and
seedtree- with- reserves treatments
on approximately 1,410 acres, and
commercial thinning on
approximately 560 acres.
Approximately 633 acres of the
mixed-conifer covertype would be
converted to the western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype by
harvesting shade-tolerant species
(grand fir, Engelmann spruce,
western red-cedar, et al . ) and
planting various combinations of
western larch, ponderosa pine, and
blister-rust-resistant western
white pine. An additional 529
acres of the mixed-conifer
covertype and 595 acres of the
western larch covertype would be
harvested, but no change in
covertype is expected. The
proportion of western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype would
increase due to a combination of
harvesting prescriptions and
planting. The western white pine,
subalpine fir, and ponderosa pine
covertype proportions should
remain similar to current values,
while the Douglas-fir and
lodgepole pine covertypes should
not experience any proportional
changes .
The proposed shelterwood,
seedtree, and seedtree-with-
reserves treatments would
regenerate approximately 1,410
acres; of this, 1,055 acres would
be converted from the old-stand
age class to the zero-year age
class, and the remaining 355 acres
would be converted from the 100-
to-150-year age class to the zero-
year age class.
The 560 acres proposed for
commercial thinning would retain
pole- to sawtimber-sized trees in
the 100-to-150-year and 40-99-year
age classes. A total of 457 acres
would be converted from the old-
stand age class to the 100-to-150-
Page C-15
Appendix C - Vegetation
FIGURE C-9 - AGE -CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE
PROJECT AREA FOLLOWING
APPLICATION OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE D
year age class. In addition, 8
acres would convert from the 100-
to-149-year age class to the 40-to-
99-year age class, and 95 acres
would be retained in the 100-to-
149-year age class.
Regeneration treatments and
subsequent planting or natural
regeneration would increase the
proportion of the 00-to-39-year age
class on Swan River State Forest by
3.7 percent, or 1,410 acres, while
the proportion of the old-stand age
class would be reduced by 3.9
percent, or 1,512 acres ( FIGURE C-9
- AGE -CLASS DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE
PROJECT AREA FOLLOWING APPLICATION
OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE D) .
• Direct Hffect* of. let ion . Alternative /> to
Covertype* and .Age Vlatute *
This alternative proposes
regeneration harvests by using
shelterwood, seedtree, and
seedtree-with-reserves treatments
on approximately 1,371 acres, and
commercial thinning on
approximately 628 acre's.
Approximately 550 acres of the
mixed-conifer covertype would be
converted to the western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype by harvesting
shade-tolerant species (grand fir,
Engelmann spruce, western red
cedar, et al . ) and planting various
combinations of western larch,
ponderosa pine, and blister-rust-
resistant western white pine. An
additional 451 acres of the mixed-
conifer covertype and 735 acres of
the western larch covertype would
be harvested, but no change in
covertype is expected. The
proportion of western larch/
Douglas-fir covertype would
increase due to a combination of
harvesting prescriptions and
planting. The western white pine
and subalpine fir covertype
proportions should remain similar
to current values, while the
Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and
lodgepole pine covertypes should
not experience any proportional
changes .
The proposed shelterwood, seedtree,
and seedtree-with-reserves
treatments would regenerate
approximately 1,371 acres; of this,
891 acres would be converted from
the old-stand age class to the
zero-year age class, and the
remaining 461 acres would be
converted from the 100-to-150-year
age class to the zero-year age
class. Additionally, 19 acres
would convert from the 40-to-99-
year age class to the zero-year age
class .
The 628 acres proposed for
commercial thinning would retain
pole- to sawtimber-sized trees in
Page C-16
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
the 100-to-150-year and 40-to-99-
year age classes. A total of 260
acres would be converted from the
old-stand age class to the 100-to-
150-year age class. In addition,
211 acres would convert from the
100-to-l 4 9-year age class to the
40-to-99-year age class and 157
acres would be retained in the
100-to-l 4 9-year age class.
Regeneration treatments and
subsequent planting or natural
regeneration would increase the
proportion of the 00-to-39-year
age class on Swan River State
Forest by 3.5 percent, or 1,352
acres, while the proportion of the
old-stand age class would be
reduced by 2.99 percent, or 1,151
acres ( FIGURE C-10 - AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE PROJECT
AREA FOLLOWING APPLICATION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE E) .
FIGURE C-10 - AGE-CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE
PROJECT AREA FOLLOWING
APPLICATION OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE E
Page C-17
Appendix C - Vegetation
TABLE C-8 - POSTHARVEST AGE-CLASS DISTRIBUTION, IN PERCENT, BY COVERTYPE
FOLLOWING ACTION ALTERNATIVE IMPLEMENTATION
AGE CLASSES
0 TO
39
YEARS
40 TO 99
YEARS
100-
YEAR-OLD
STANDS
OLD
STAND
TOTAL
ACRES
Western
Current
25
24
10
41
2,289
larch/
Douglas-
Action Alternative B
49
19
20
12
2,867
Action Alternative C
45
18
20
17
3,011
fir
Action Alternative D
48
19
19
14
2,924
Action Alternative E
53
22
12
13
2,812
Western
white
pine
Current
11
15
74
653
Action Alternative B
11
34
55
653
Action Alternative C
11
34
55
653
Action Alternative D
11
22
67
672
Action Alternative E
24
14
62
653
Mixed
conifer
Current
3
6
11
80
5, 312
Action Alternative B
14
7
12
67
4, 653
Action Alternative C
10
6
11
73
5, 312
Action Alternative D
12
6
10
72
5, 312
Action Alternative E
8
9
7
76
5, 312
Subalpine
fir
Current
18
7
28
47
1,735
Action Alternative B
18
7
28
47
1,735
Action Alternative C
18
7
28
47
1,735
Action Alternative D
26
7
20
47
1, 735
Action Alternative E
26
7
20
47
1,735
Ponderosa
pine
Current
82
18
137
Action Alternative B
82
18
137
Action Alternative C
82
18
137
Action Alternative D
82
18
137
Action Alternative E
82
18
137
Only affected covertypes were included on the table.
Indirect Effects
• Indirect Iffiect* of .Vo-, let ion . llternatire . / to
Covertype * and . lye ( ia**e*
Forest succession, driven by the
impacts of forest insects and
diseases when fires are being
suppressed, would reduce the
variability of covertypes and age
classes. As the forest ages and
composition become more
homogeneous, biodiversity would be
reduced .
• Indirect Effect* of. let ion Alternative* II, C\
I), and E to Covert ype* and . lye Cta**e*
All action alternatives apply a
variety of silvicultural
treatments to stands across the
project area. The types of
treatments include commercial
thinning, seedtree, seedtree-with-
reserves, and shelterwood.
Across the project area, the
forest would contain a mosaic of
structures to include single-
storied, two-storied, and
multistoried conditions. The
structure changes through
harvesting would emulate fire
disturbance that historically
occurred within the project area.
Fire disturbance emulations would
range from stand replacing to
mixed severity to light
underburns .
Seedtree and seedtree-with-
reserves harvesting would be
applied under all action
alternatives. This prescription
emulates a stand-replacement fire
because the largest share of trees
would be harvested. Some fire
effects would be applied when
slash is piled and burned or
Page C-18
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
broadcast burned. Most
regeneration would be western
larch, Douglas-fir, ponderosa
pine, and western white pine,
which is similar to what would be
expected following a fire. The
majority of seedtrees retained
would be the larger diameter,
fire-tolerant western larch,
Douglas-fir, and, where available,
ponderosa pine that have some
resistance to burning.
Commercial thinning treatments
would be applied under all action
alternatives. This prescription
emulates the effects of low-
intensity fires with flare-ups
that are common in the mixed-
severity fire regime. Harvesting
would retain approximately 90 to
100 trees per acre, or 40 to 50
percent canopy coverage. The
species retained would primarily
consist of shade-intolerant
species that move the forest
towards desired future conditions
for the area. Individual trees
remaining in the stand would have
more light and nutrients available
for continued growth and vigor.
Shelterwood harvesting would occur
under all action alternatives.
This prescription would emulate a
mixed-severity or moderate-
intensity fire. Harvesting would
concentrate on shade-tolerant
species, individuals affected by
insects or diseases, and those
less desirable for the desired
future conditions . Regeneration
would be western larch, Douglas-
fir, and ponderosa pine or western
white pine where appropriate for
the site conditions.
Over time, untreated stands would
advance in age class and gradually
shift towards covertypes with more
shade-tolerant species. Treated
stands would also advance in age
class and, in the long term, could
shift toward covertypes with more
shade-tolerant species.
Cumulative Effects
• Cumulative ^fleets of. Ill .ll/erualires to
Covertypes and . 'lye Classes
The cumulative effects of recent
forest management on Swan River
State Forest resulted in a trend
of increasing serai covertypes
across areas where management
occurred. For example, the Goat
Squeezer Timber Sale Project in
2003 through 2006 increased the
western larch/Douglas-f ir
covertype on Swan River State
Forest by 3 percent through timber
harvesting and planting in
selected units.
In addition to the changes in
proportions of covertype proposed
in the various action
alternatives, other timber sale
projects have been initiated, but
not completed, and, therefore,
their effects are not represented
in the swn sliwsnc200505 13 data.
Scheduled updates of the SLI would
capture increased western larch/
Douglas-fir covertypes on Swan
River State Forest, as well as the
trend toward increasing acres in
the 0-to-39-year age class.
The Cilly Bug Salvage Timber Sale
removed dead, dying, and infected
Douglas-fir and western larch.
The Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project would enter 2 of the
stands and remove additional
trees. The primary species to be
harvested is grand fir, which is
heavily infected with Indian paint
fungus. Other permits are
currently in the process of being
harvested; age class or covertype
of these stands would not be
affected.
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-19
L
CANOPY COVER
EXISTING CONDITION
Canopy cover, an estimate of the
ratio between tree crown area and
ground surface area, is usually
expressed in terms of percent and is
another measure of stand stocking/
density. Categories used to
describe canopy cover includes well
stocked, medium stocked, poorly
stocked, nonstocked, and
nonf orested .
The SLI database has a rating for
overall canopy cover and one for
sawtimber canopy cover in the stand.
In terms of overall canopy cover
within the project area, 72.4
percent of stands are well-stocked,
17.9 percent show medium stocking,
and less than 10 percent are poorly
stocked or nonstocked. Sawtimber
stocking within the project area
shows that 45.5 percent of stands
are well stocked, while 18.7 percent
of stands have medium sawtimber
stocking. The poorly stocked
category consists of a minor
proportion of the project area and
the associated stands are typically
in higher elevation, which have high
quantities of rock and/or brush.
Timber in these stands is generally
not of good merchantable quality.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS
Direct and Indirect Effects
• Direct and Indirect Inflect* of.Xo-. let ion
.lit emotive %/l to Canopy Cover
No-Action Alternative A would not
change the canopy cover in the
short term. Over time,
individuals and groups of trees
would be removed from the canopy
by insects, diseases, windthrow,
or fires, and result iq variable
changes to canopy cover as canopy
gaps are created and gradually
filled. Patches of variable size
currently exist where the Douglas-
fir beetle has killed large
Douglas-f ir .
Canopy cover would likely increase
over time in the absence of
disturbances. Were large fires to
occur, canopy cover would be
reduced. Ongoing insect and
disease issues would reduce canopy
in some areas prior to understory
reinitiation .
• Direct Effect* of .let ion .Alternative* It, C, D,
and AJ to Canopy Cover
The reduction in canopy cover
subsequent to harvest treatments
would vary by action alternative
and its silvicultural
prescription. In general, reduced
canopy cover affects stand growth
and development in various ways.
First, competition among the
crowns of overstory trees is
reduced, allowing accelerated
volume growth and increased seed
production. Second, competition
for water and nutrients is
reduced, thus allowing trees to be
more resistant to both drought and
bark beetle attacks. Third, a
more diverse and vigorous
understory is able to establish.
Finally, sunlight is allowed to
reach the forest floor, which,
along with seedbed preparation, is
of particular importance to the
successful regeneration of serai
species such as western larch and
western white pine. For this
analysis, the residual canopy
cover includes both the overstory
and understory tree canopies
remaining after harvesting,
including both merchantable and
submerchantable trees.
In areas with seedtree or
seedtree- with- re serve harvesting,
the canopy coverage would decrease
to between 10 to 25 percent, with
the exception of the reserve areas
where the canopy would remain
intact. In the shelterwood
harvesting, the canopy would
decrease to between 15 and 45
percent. Commercial thinning
would decrease the canopy coverage
to between 40 and 50 percent.
Riparian stands associated with
perennial streams and adjacent to
a harvest unit would be treated
Page C-20
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
and experience reduced canopy
coverage. The designated primary
streams that would be treated are
South Fork Lost, Soup, and Cilly
creeks and an unnamed tributary in
Section 22, T24N, R17W. A 300-
foot buffer (150 feet on each side
of the stream) would be identified
along the primary streams where
harvesting is to occur on both
sides of the stream or a lack of
mature timber (pole-sized or
larger with a minimum of 40
percent crown closure) is on the
opposite side of the stream from
the harvest unit. In areas where
harvesting is proposed on one side
of the stream and the opposing
side has mature timber, the buffer
would be 100 feet. Within the
buffer there would be a 25-foot
no-harvest zone from the bankfull
or high-water edge to 25 feet.
From 25 to 150 feet (from bankfull
edge) , selective harvesting would
occur. A maximum of 50 percent of
the trees 8 inches dbh and greater
may be harvested while maintaining
a minimum of 40-percent overstory
crown closure.
All other streams within or
adjacent to a harvest unit would
be managed in accordance with the
SMZ law. Buffers would be 100 or
200 feet wide (50 or 100 feet each
side of the stream) , with a 25-
foot no-harvest zone beginning at
the bankfull edge.
Additionally, some harvesting
would occur within the RMZ, but
outside the SMZ. Small openings
up to 0.25-acre in size would be
allowed as long as 40-percent
average canopy closure could be
achieved throughout the affected
area .
• Indirect Effect* of. Iction . Alternative * II, C,
D, and E to Canopy Cover
Canopy cover would increase over
time as regeneration replaces the
harvested trees in stands that
received seedtree and shelterwood
treatments. Fifteen to twenty
years would be needed to develop
70- to 100-percent canopy cover.
Canopy cover in commercially
thinned stands would return to
preharvest conditions in
approximately 20 to 30 years,
depending on the level of removal .
FRAGMENTATION
EXISTING CONDITION
Forest fragmentation refers to the
breaking up of previously contiguous
blocks of forest. Most often,
fragmentation is used in reference
to the disruption of large
contiguous blocks of mature forest
caused by forest-management
activities such as road building and
timber harvesting. In relation to
fragmentation, management activities
begin by putting holes in the
natural forested landscape (i.e.,
chunks of the forest are removed via
harvesting, thus creating patches of
nonmature forest within a background
matrix of mature forest). As
management continues and more
harvesting takes place, the open
patches created can become connected
to other open patches, thus severing
the previously existing connections
between patches of mature forest.
While the appropriate level of
fragmentation for any particular
forest is unknown, forests
fragmented by management activities
generally do not resemble natural
forest conditions.
Historically, wildfires burned with
varying intensities, return
intervals, and to different sizes
across Swan River State Forest,
which interacted with insect and
disease activities to create a
mosaic of forest covertypes and age
classes. Today, forest management
is the primary agent influencing
fragmentation. Were they to occur,
intense fires during extreme fire
seasons would influence
fragmentation across the landscape,
as would insect and disease
activities .
The majority of the project area
exists as a contiguous forest of
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-21
well-stocked stands with closed
canopies. Stands in the western
part of the project area have been
fragmented to some degree. Some
man-made patches in harvest units
range from 20 to 100 acres. Refer
to CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS in APPENDIX
F - WILDLIFE ANALYSIS for an
assessment of fragmentation effects
on closed-canopy forests. Refer to
patch size of age classes, old
growth, and covertype in this
analysis for additional indications
of the effects of forest
fragmentation .
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS TO FRAGMENTATION
Direct and Indirect Effects
• Hired anti Indirect htffedx oJ\ V©-» Id ion
. 7 tternatire . / to Fragmentation
No direct effects to forest
fragmentation would occur from No-
Action Alternative A. Over time,
and depending on an unknown
future, indirect effects would
include a reduction in
fragmentation as additional
harvesting is not imposed by
management and existing patches of
nonmature forest grow to maturity.
• Hired Fjffedx of . let ion . llternatirex It, C, D,
and E to Fragmentation
For the areas proposed for
regeneration harvesting, the
primary effects would be creating
a larger area of younger stands
with a corresponding reduction in
mature forest stands. In the
stands designated for seedtree
reserves, one or more patches
(ranging in size from 1.7 to 4
acres) would be untreated, but the
treatment would contribute to the
fragmentation of mature forests
and would reduce the distance
between open- and closed-canopy
stands .
The units designated for
commercial thinning would show
less fragmentation of the canopy
layer. Commercial-thin units
would be more similar to adjacent
mature stands of timber than would
the regeneration harvest units
and, therefore, would not
contribute to fragmentation. In
the case where a commercial-thin
unit requires helicopter or cable
systems for harvesting, the
openings may resemble gaps created
by small areas of crown torching
that occur during low-intensity
fires; however, they would not
contribute to fragmentation.
Indirect Effects
• Indireel hfffeetx of, let ion . llternatirex It, C,
H, and E to Fragmentation
Some regeneration harvest units
are adjacent to past harvest areas
and other proposed units, which
would result in an enlargement of
younger age-class patches. The
end result would be more of a
blended geometric shape of larger
regeneration units. The large
size of regeneration units would
result in larger mature stands in
the future, thus reducing
fragmentation. However, future
timber harvesting would result in
additional fragmentation if
existing mature timber patches
received a regeneration harvest.
The actual net effect on
fragmentation would depend on
future timber harvesting.
In units where commercial-thin
treatments would be accomplished,
the harvesting would result in
smaller differences between
adjacent stands and would not
contribute to fragmentation.
Cumulative Effects
• Cm mala tire Ftffectx of ■ let ion , llternatirex It,
C, H, and E to Fragmentation
An overall increase in the size of
younger age-class patches and a
decrease in the size of older age
classes would occur where
regeneration harvest units are
proposed. See the discussion on
age classes for acres that would
change by alternative. Small
Squeezer, Small Squeezer II, South
Woodward, and Goat Squeezer timber
Page C-22
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
sales have added to the
fragmentation of the forest. The
stands that primarily contributed
to fragmentation are the
regeneration units. Units that
involve thinning treatments did
not provide harsh breaks in the
canopy, but a reduced canopy
cover. The aerial view shows the
differences from one unit to the
other from the point of stand
density, but do not necessarily
differ from the point of age
class .
INSECTS AND DISEASES
BACKGROUND
Planning for the long-term
management of forest insects and
diseases is an important part of
designing project-level timber
sales. Various forest-species
compositions and structures are more
vulnerable to certain insects,
diseases, windthrow, and wildfire
than others ( Byler and Hagle 2000) .
Identifying stands with the most
vulnerable compositions and
structures and developing suitable
management plans can help alleviate
future problems that may prevent
achievement of long-term forest-
management objectives.
ANALYSIS METHODS
Swan River State Forest undergoes an
annual aerial survey in order to map
forest insect and disease problems,
in particular outbreaks of the bark
beetle. DNRC and USFS provide a
report of the survey to Swan River
State Forest; in addition to
investigating these reports, DNRC
personnel include their own
observations of forest conditions.
The focus on the Three Creeks Timber
Sale Project would include:
- the effects of insects and
diseases ;
- existing conditions in relation to
the project or harvest areas;
- management recommendations; and
- potential losses of sawlog value
to the trusts.
ANALYSIS AREA
The analysis area is primarily
within the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project area. The major forest
insects and diseases currently
affecting forest productivity
include :
Diseases :
- Armillaria root disease
( Armillaria ostoyae )
- Red-brown butt rot
( Phaeolus schweinitzii )
- Larch dwarf mistletoe
( Arceuthobium laricis)
- White pine blister rust
( Cronartium ribicola)
- Indian paint fungus
( Echinodontium tinctorium)
- Red ring rot
( Phellinus pini)
Insects :
- Douglas-fir bark beetle
( Dendroctonus pseudotsugae)
- Fir engraver
( Scolytus ventralis)
- Mountain pine beetle
( Dendroctonus ponderosae)
> Armillaria Root Disease
Armillaria root disease, caused by
the fungus Armillaria ostoyae , is
a common pathogen of conifers in
western North America. Stands
impacted by Armillaria root
disease occur throughout the Three
Creeks project area.
Armillaria ostoyae spreads mainly
via root contacts, but also
through a short distance growth of
rhizomorphs through soil ( Redfern
and Filip 1991) . The fungus
colonizes the root collar, kills
the cambium, and eventually
girdles the tree, which causes
mortality. Viable Armillaria
ostoyae inoculum can persist in
below-ground portions of stumps
and large roots for decades ( Roth
et al. 1980). Conifers exhibit
variations both in response to
infection by Armillaria ostoyae
( Robinson and Morrison 2001) and
Page C-23
Appendix C - Vegetation
susceptibility to mortality
( Hadfield et al. 1986). Species
susceptibility and damage ratings
for Armillaria root disease in
western Montana are:
- severe damage: Douglas-fir,
grand fir, subalpine fir
- moderate damage: ponderosa
pine, lodgepole pine, western
white pine
- infreguent damage: western
larch and western red cedar.
Western larch, in particular,
shows increasing resistance to
Ar miliaria beyond age 15 ( Morrison
et al. 1991) and is colonized by
root lesions less frequently than
comparably aged Douglas-fir
( Robinson and Morrison 2001) . All
conifers should, however, be
considered equally susceptible to
Armillaria ostoyae before ages 15
to 20 ( Hadfield et al. 1986;
Morrison et al. 1991).
Silvicultural approaches that
emphasize serai species are
recommended even for stands with
low levels of Armillaria root
disease ( Filip and Goheen 1984;
Morrison and Mallett 1996) .
Selective cutting in such stands
is the least favorable option as
it would likely result in an
increased inoculum load in the
form of Armillaria ostoyae-
colonized root systems, dispersed
among the remaining crop trees
( Morrison et al. 2001; Morrison
and Mallett 1996) . In mixed-
species stands composed of shade-
intolerant, early-seral species
and shade-tolerant, late-
successional species, the serai
species should be favored during
intermediate stand entries in
order to limit the root>-to-root
pathways between more readily
damaged species. In stands where
root disease is a factor, natural
regeneration should be utilized,
if possible, because planted trees
seldom show the resistance
displayed by naturally regenerated
trees (Morrison et al. 2000; Rizzo
et al . 1 995) .
> Western Larch Dwarf Mistletoe
Western larch dwarf mistletoe,
caused by Arceuthobium laricis, is
considered the most important
disease of western larch in the
Inland West ( Beatty et al. 199 7).
Dwarf mistletoes are parasitic
plants that obtain moisture and
nutrients from their hosts,
resulting in a reduction in tree
vigor, growth, and seed
production. Infections greatly
decrease the growth of western
larch; 10-year, basal-area growth
of trees in western Montana
classed as lightly, moderately,
and heavily infected was decreased
30, 42, and 65 percent,
respectively, compared to that of
an uninfected western larch
( Pierce 1960) .
The life cycle of dwarf mistletoe
is generally 4 to 6 years in
length, depending on the species.
Dwarf mistletoes spread when seeds
from the female mistletoe plants
are forcibly dispersed, often for
10s of feet, in the late summer
and fall; seeds that land on
susceptible hosts germinate the
following spring and infect the
host tissues. Infections on
western larch eventually cause
branches to form dense clumps of
twigs and branches known as
"witches' brooms". In western
larch these brooms are brittle and
prone to break off under snow
load, thus leading to gradual,
top-down decline of the tree as
more and more branches are lost.
In addition, infection by dwarf
mistletoe increases moisture
stress in its host, more so when a
drought is in progress, adding to
the likelihood of top-down decline
and attack by wood borers (Gibson
2004) .
Incidence and severity of western
larch dwarf mistletoe appears to
be highly variable across the
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Page C-24
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
area. This variation most likely
reflects a complex history of
mixed-severity and stand-replacing
fires in these forests. Such
fires would variously leave both
mistletoe-infected and noninfected
trees to provide seed for the next
generation. Depending on the
spatial distribution of infected,
seed-bearing trees following
fires, western larch regeneration
might: 1) remain free of
infection, 2) have a substantial
lag-time prior to infection, or 3)
become infected early in
development. The earlier a tree
becomes infected by dwarf
mistletoe, the greater the
impacts .
Due to the seeding habit of dwarf
mistletoes, spread and
intensification are at their worst
when an infected overstory exists
over the regeneration of the same
tree species. Seedtree or
shelterwood treatments can still
be carried out in stands that have
dwarf mistletoe infections in the
overstory, but tree selection in
such instances needs to
discriminate against the most
heavily dwarf-mistletoe-infected
western larch and leave as many
noninfected or lightly-infected
trees as possible ( Beatty et al.
1997 ) .
To minimize dwarf mistletoe
infection in larch regeneration,
the infected overstory trees
should be removed or killed once
western larch regeneration is
established and before
regeneration reaches the age of 7
years old or 3.3 feet in height
( Mathiasen 1998).
> White Pine Blister Rust
Western white pine has declined as
a component of the mixed-conifer
forest in which it occurred
historically on Swan River State
Forest. The primary cause is
white pine blister rust, a disease
caused by the nonnative fungus
Crona rtium ribicola , which can
infect and kill white pine of all
ages and sizes. Dominant or co-
dominant western white pine that
are infected are often top-killed
since the fungus first infects
needles before growing down the
infected branch and, eventually,
girdling the bole. The portion of
crown above such a bole infection
will die once the stem is girdled.
Some western white pine remain on
Swan River State Forest because
either they possess natural
genetic resistance to the rust or
have not been infected. Retention
of various numbers of mature,
seed-bearing western white pine is
encouraged in order to maintain
genetic diversity of the species
and promote natural regeneration
where possible ( Schwandt and Zack
1996). Once mature western white
pine are top-killed by rust,
however, their seed-producing
capacity is often very limited or
eliminated, and such trees can
then be considered for salvage or
retention as snags ( Schwandt and
Zack 1996) .
Western white pine are susceptible
to attack by the mountain pine
beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae) ,
even when existing as relatively
isolated individuals or small
groups in mixed-conifer stands;
damage from this bark beetle is
chronic in the Inland Empire.
Management and restoration
recommendations for western white
pine emphasize planting rust-
resistant western white pine
seedlings and maintaining white
pine genetic diversity ( Fins et
al . 2201) .
The monitoring of rust levels
should be performed at various
times in the life of a stand; bole
pruning to reduce the chances of
blister rust infections may be
required if rust levels are high
when the stand is young.
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-25
> Indian Paint Fungus
Indian paint fungus, so called
because Native Americans used the
brick-red interior of the fruiting
body in making pigment, is a true
heartrot that very commonly
infects true firs and hemlocks.
This fungus is the predominant
cause of heartrot and volume
losses in these species in western
North America ( Hansen and Lewis
1997) . True heartrots, generally
confined to the heartwood of
trees, consistently produce
fruiting bodies or conks on the
stems of living trees and do not
rely on mechanical wounding as
their principal infection court
( Ethridge and Hunt 1978) . Large
diameter grand fir with decay
caused by Indian paint fungus are
important habitat, both while
standing and down, for various
species of cavity-nesting birds
and mammals (Bull et al. 1997).
Trees are infected with
Echinodontium tinctorium spores
via very small branchlet stubs.
The spores germinate before the
infection goes dormant after being
overgrown by the tree, and can
then stay dormant for decades
( Maloy 1991) . Heaviest infections
tend to occur in advanced
regeneration growing under an
infected overstory. Growth of the
fungus is reactivated when the
tree is wounded either naturally
or mechanically, develops frost
cracks, or is otherwise
physiologically altered. The
fungus causes extensive decay of
the heartwood and, over time,
these trees become more
susceptible to stem collapse. A
rule of thumb is that one conk on
the stem of a tree indicates
approximately 16 feet of extensive
heartwood decay in either
direction, while several conks on
the stem of a tree indicate that
the tree is a cull. In the Three
Creeks Timber Sale Project area,
Indian paint fungus is well
distributed on grand and subalpine
firs. Stand exams and
reconnaissance surveys reveal a
30- to 40-percent infection rate.
To reduce losses from this
pathogen, management
recommendations include ( Filip et
al. 1983) :
- keeping rotations of susceptible
species under 150 years unless
the amount of infection is
light;
- thinning early;
- selecting the most vigorous
nonwounded trees for residuals;
and
- minimizing wounding of
susceptible hosts when thinning,
prescribed burning, or
performing any silvicultural
treatments .
> Red-Brown Butt Rot
Red-brown butt rot is caused by
the root-infecting pathogen
Phaeolus schweinitzii . Any
conifer can be a host, but
infection is considered of primary
importance in Douglas-fir.
Instead of affecting trees in
groups, as do root diseases such
as Armillaria root disease, red-
brown butt rot tends to affect
trees on an individual basis
( Hansen and Lewis 1997). The
fungus can, however, cross from
tree-to-tree at root grafts and
contacts. Most damage occurs in
stands more than 80 years of age.
The pathogen infects via small
roots and causes decay in the
interior of the roots. This decay
extends into the butt log an
average of eight feet, making such
trees susceptible to stem collapse
and windthrow. Since most are
green when windthrown, the trees
provide prime habitat for Douglas-
fir and other bark beetles.
Management options are limited.
Rotations can be shortened to
about 90 years in Douglas-fir to
minimize loss due to decay, and
less-affected host species can be
emphasized over Douglas-fir.
Page C-26
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
> Douglas-Fir Bark Beetle
The Douglas-fir bark beetle has
been active in recent years across
Swan River State Forest. The
project area has an elevated
incidence of the Douglas-fir bark
beetle in areas proposed for
harvesting. In general, stands
that are at highest risk to attack
by the Douglas-fir bark beetle are
those with ( USDA Forest Service
1999) :
- basal areas greater than 250
square feet per acre;
- an average stand age greater
than 120 years;
- an average dbh greater than 14
inches; and
- A stand composition greater than
50-percent Douglas-fir.
Douglas-fir within most of the
proposed harvest areas on the
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area are at high risk of Douglas-
fir bark beetle attack due to age,
size, and stocking. Low, or
endemic, populations of Douglas-
fir bark beetles tend to exist in
fresh blowdown, fire-killed trees,
or live trees within and around
pockets of root disease
( Livingston 1999; Schmitz and
Gibson 1996) . Management of the
Douglas-fir bark beetle should
concentrate on the removal of
windthrown Douglas-fir and the
salvage of newly attacked trees
before adult beetles can emerge
( Livingston 1999; Schmitz and
Gibson 1996). Valuable Douglas-
fir (e.g. those in and around
campgrounds) that are considered
to be at high risk can be
protected by use of the Douglas-
fir bark beetle anti-aggregant
pheromone 3 -me thy 1 cyclohex- 2- en-1-
one ( Ross et al. 2001).
Numerous pockets of infestations
were located within the analysis
area in 1999. Each spring
following the flight of the
beetle, reconnaissance surveys
were conducted by DNRC foresters
to determine the extent of
infestations. (See Figure C-ll -
DOUGLAS-FIR BEETLE ACTIVITY 2000
THROUG 2004 IN THE VICINITY OF THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT,
ALL ALTERNATIVES COMBINED) The
beetle was estimated to have
caused heavy Douglas-fir mortality
on approximately 2,500 acres. The
Swan River State Forest timber
permit program allowed for the
salvage harvesting of
approximately 2 mmbf of sawlogs in
1999, 600 mbf in 2000, and 500 mbf
in 2001.
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-27
FIGURE C-ll - DOUGLAS-FIR BEETLE ACTIVITY 2000 THROUGH 2004 IN THE VICINITY
OF THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT, ALL ALTERNATIVES COMBINED
2
Ml*.
Legend
Three Creeks ProjectArea Year of Data Collection
kJxJ* Proposed Units - Combined 2000
Swan River Stale Forest 2001
■■ 2002
2003
2004
cmmca _
w«
Page C-28
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
V Fir Engraver
The fir engraver, Scolytus
ventra 1 is , has recently killed
many grand and subalpine firs in
the Swan Valley. This bark beetle
is wide-ranging across the west,
attacking primarily grand fir
( Ferrell 1986). Endemic
populations of fir engraver
beetles are closely associated
with root disease or other factors
that stress its hosts; they rarely
make successful attacks on
vigorous grand fir ( Goheen and
Hansen 1993) . However, when grand
fir and other preferred hosts
become stressed during periods of
drought, the fir engraver can
begin attacking otherwise healthy
trees across the landscape, and
the association with root disease
becomes less distinct ( Goheen and
Hansen 1993) .
Management of the fir engraver is
problematic. Silvicultural
practices that promote the vigor
of grand fir stands - thinning,
for example - would also reduce
the chances of extensive damage
during periods of drought (Ferrell
1986). Management practices aimed
at reducing the impact of root
diseases would also help lessen
the long-term impacts of the fir
engraver. Such practices include
the promotion of less root-
disease-susceptible species, such
as western larch, western white
pine, and ponderosa pine, in areas
with extensive root disease.
> Mountain pine beetle
Mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus
ponderosae) is a native North
American bark beetle with four
major hosts, one being western
white pine (Amman et al . 1989) .
Historically, when extensive
stands of mature western white
pine still existed, mountain pine
beetle outbreaks could kill a
large majority of trees just as
the mountain pine beetle does
today in extensive stands of
lodgepole pine. The occurrence of
pitch tubes along the bole is one
way to determine if attacks by
mountain pine beetles have
occurred. Pitch tubes on
successfully attacked trees are
generally very numerous, one-
fourth to one-half inch in
diameter and consist of cream- to
dark-red-colored masses of resin
mixed with frass. Pitch tubes on
unsuccessfully attacked trees are
widely scattered over the bole of
the tree, three-quarters to one
inch in diameter, and mostly
cream-colored. Confirmation of a
mountain pine beetle attack can be
done by looking for the
characteristic gallery patterns on
the inner side of the bark. Bark
beetles attacking western white
pine also introduce aggressive
blue-stain fungi that grow into
the sapwood and contribute to the
death of the tree.
Mountain pine beetles produce one
generation per year, though
sometimes pupae or brood adults
will last longer at higher
elevations. The beetles
overwinter mostly as larvae within
the egg galleries, then maturate
and emerge as adults to attack
more trees from June through
August. The foliage of trees that
have been successfully attacked
during the current year can change
color anywhere from a few months
to a year later. Therefore,
mountain pine beetle brood trees
attacked the previous summer and
removed during late winter or
spring salvage operations may
still have green foliage.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS TO INSECTS AND
DISEASES
Direct Effects
• Direct Ifflect* of. Ill . let ion . Uternatire# to
In Meets an <1 Diseases
Harvest treatments would target
those species or individuals
affected by insects and diseases,
as well as the salvage of recently
killed trees. Douglas-fir
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-29
currently or recently infested by
the Douglas-fir bark beetle would
be removed when merchantable value
exists. Western larch with the
most severe infections of dwarf
mistletoe would be harvested.
Other species that would be
discriminated against in harvests
include grand fir and subalpine
fir. By removing green infected
trees, the continued spread of the
various insects and diseases would
be hampered.
Direct effects of the harvest
treatments are the removal of
trees affected by insects and
diseases, those with reduced
growth rates due to age, and
shade-tolerant trees that do not
help meet desired future
conditions. Seedtrees, primarily
western larch, would be left
scattered throughout the harvest
units to provide a seed source for
natural regeneration.
Insect and disease problems would
be reduced following
implementation of any action
alternative. Action Alternative B
does the most to control rates of
spread, economic value loss, and
volume loss within the project
area. The other action
alternatives in order of
decreasing efficacy in treating
insect and disease activity would
be Alternative D, C, and E.
• Direct Iffectx of . let ion • Ilternatire H to
In xect and Dixeaxe
Units proposed for harvest under
this alternative are moderately to
heavily affected by insect and
disease activities. Treatments
are focused on those stands with
the greatest amounts op mortality
and economic value lossk
Treatments would remove
merchantable dead timber, green
timber affected by insects and
diseases, those with reduced
growth rates due to age,
individual trees considered at
risk of infection, and the less
desirable shade-tolerant species
that are more susceptible to
insect and disease problems.
The majority of the units would be
treated with regeneration
harvests, but some commercial
thinning would be applied.
Regenerating species would be
shade-intolerant species, such as
western larch, that are more
resistant to many of the infecting
agents currently present. This
alternative does the most to
address insect and disease
problems in the project area.
• Direct Iffieclx of. Action . Ilternatire C to
Inxecf and Dixeaxe
Many of the stands selected for
this alternative have insect and
disease activities occurring at
elevated levels. Emphasis would
be placed on trees (groups or
individuals) that are affected by
insects or diseases, are at risk
of infection, or, if dead, contain
merchantable material. In units
utilizing a regeneration harvest,
seedtrees would remain scattered
throughout to provide a seed
source; these seedtrees would
primarily be shade-intolerant
species, such as western larch,
that have a higher tolerance to
insects and diseases. Fewer acres
receive regeneration harvests with
this alternative, reducing the
control of insect and disease
problems, compared to Action
Alternative B. Units proposed for
harvesting under this alternative
are moderately to heavily affected
by insect and disease activities.
Treatments are focused on those
stands with the greatest amounts
of mortality and economic value
loss. Treatments would remove
merchantable dead timber, green
timber affected by insects and
diseases, timber with reduced
growth rates due to age,
individual trees considered at
risk of infection, and the less
desirable shade-tolerant species
that are more susceptible to
insect and disease problems.
Page C-30
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
The majority of the units would be
treated with regeneration
harvests, but some commercial
thinning would be applied.
Regenerating species would be
shade-intolerant species, such as
western larch, that are more
resistant to many of the infecting
agents currently present. This
alternative does the most to
address insect and disease
problems in the project area.
• Direct Inflect# of. let ion . Alfernafi re D to
Insect and Disease
Harvesting is proposed in some
stands with moderate to heavy
levels of insect and disease
problems, although approximately
half the stands selected have low
levels of insect and disease
activity .
Harvest treatments would focus on
the removal of trees affected by
insects and diseases, those with
reduced growth rates due to age,
and shade-tolerant trees that do
not meet desired future
conditions. The amount of
regeneration harvesting would be
intermediate between Action
Alternatives B and C, with a
corresponding intermediate effect
on reducing insect and disease
problems .
• Direct Effects of, let ion , Alternative E to
Insect and Disease
The stands proposed for harvesting
have moderate to heavy insect and
disease activities and are in the
lower elevations of the project
area. An objective for this
alternative was to limit the
amount of old-growth stands that
would be harvested. In doing so,
the stands most affected by insect
and disease activities would be
avoided. Areas of known beetle
populations and other diseases
would be left untreated, which
would allow the continued spread
of existing insect and disease
problems .
In the treated units, emphasis
would be placed on the removal of
trees affected by insects and
diseases, those considered at high
risk, and shade-tolerant species
that do not meet desired future
conditions. The avoidance of many
stands with known insect and
disease problems results in this
alternative having the least
effect on reducing insect and
disease problems.
Indirect Effects
• Indirect Effects of. All . Alternatives to Insects
and Diseases
Where shelterwood and commercial-
thin treatments are applied, an
indirect effect would be increased
vigor and growth rates of the
remaining trees due to the
availability of light, nutrients,
and moisture. Following
treatment, the species composition
would be more resilient to damage
by forest diseases and insects.
Rust-resistant western white pine,
western larch, and, in some cases,
ponderosa pine would be planted in
units utilizing seedtree harvest
treatments. The white pine
seedlings would increase a
declining component on Swan River
State Forest. The planting of
western larch would help reduce
the likelihood of future insect
and disease problems due to its
lower susceptibility to many of
the problems being addressed.
Under Action Alternative B, the
newly established stands would be
healthier and the overstory would
not be laden with insect and
disease activities that would
infect/infest the seedlings. This
alternative would also treat the
most acres with insect and disease
problems, which, in turn, would
lead to healthier forest stands
for the future.
Action Alternatives C and D also
propose harvesting insect-infested
and disease-infected stands.
These alternatives would not treat
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-31
as many acres as Action
Alternative B, but would have
similar effects on the acres that
were treated. Overall, these
alternatives would do less than
Action Alternative B to address
the insect and disease problems
prevalent in the project area.
Action Alternative E would do the
least to address insect and
disease problems in the project
area. Treatments in stands
currently affected by insect and
disease problems would provide
benefits to the newly developed
stands. Treated stands that do
not have current problems may be
more resistant to future insect
and disease activities. However,
the avoidance of known insect and
disease hotspots would provide a
dissemination source, which would
increase the future spread of
insect and disease problems, when
compared to the other
alternatives .
Cumulative Effects
• Cumulative Iffiectx of, 111 , llternalirex to
Insect* mu! Diseases
Timber-management activities on
Swan River State Forest have
generally implemented
prescriptions that would reduce
losses and recover mortality due
to stem rots, bark beetles, white
pine blister rust, western larch
dwarf mistletoe, blowdown, and
other causes. Stand-regeneration
treatments are producing stands
with species compositions more
resilient to the impacts of forest
insects and diseases and more in
line with historic forest
conditions. Thinning treatments
have further reduced bhe
percentage of infected 'or infested
trees .
The cumulative effects of these
treatments are shown in FIGURES C-
7 (8, 9, 10) - AGE CLASS
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE PROJECT
AREA FOLLOWING APPLICATION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE B (C , D, E) ,
where the increase in the 0-to-39-
year age class is a result of
silvicultural treatments. Older
trees are the most susceptible to
many of the identified insect and
disease problems in the project
area .
FIRE EFFECTS
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST HISTORY
The fire regime across Swan River
State Forest is variable. The
forest displays a mosaic pattern of
age classes and covertypes that have
developed due to variations in fire
frequency and intensity. In areas
that have experienced relatively
frequent fires, Douglas-fir, western
larch, and ponderosa pine
covertypes, with a component of
lodgepole pine and western white
pine, were produced. As fire
frequencies become longer in time,
shade-tolerant species (grand fir,
subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce,
western hemlock, western red cedar)
have a better chance to develop.
Higher elevation sites within the
forest have longer fire frequencies,
and the resultant stands are
multistoried with a dominant shade-
tolerant covertype. Where fire
frequencies were short, the stands
are open and single storied,
occasionally two storied. As fire
suppression began, covertypes and
fire frequencies were altered.
Stands of ponderosa pine, western
larch, and/or Douglas-fir have
become multistoried with shade-
tolerant species. Ponderosa-pine-
dominated stands that were once open
now have a thick understory of
Douglas-fir. Fires that do occur
are generally kept small and natural
fire effects are limited. If a
larger scale fire were to start,
many acres could be affected due to
ladder fuels, heavy fuel
accumulation, and other
environmental factors.
Swan River State Forest has
identified 67 fires over the last 25
years. Over the last 25 years, 48
lightning fires have burned 98.5
Page C-32
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
acres, with the largest occurring in
1994 during a dry lightning storm;
that fire burned 65 acres in the
upper subalpine fir habitat types.
Lightning causes approximately 72
percent of all fire starts on Swan
River State Forest. On average,
2.68 fires per year occur;
approximately 2 are from natural
events and 1 is human-caused.
Human-caused fires are typically
started from campfires, debris
burning, or incidents directly
related to powerline sparks. Within
the project area, an average of 1
fire per year occurs and is usually
caused by lightning. ( Personal
communication Allen Branine, 2006).
Past research has been conducted
that looked at fire history within
the Swan valley. The following
summaries describe the fire history
and the patterns they created on the
landscape .
Hart (1989) summarized the
historical data as follows:
Although most of the burns...were
of stand- replacement intensity ,
many less intense fires had
also crept over wide areas.
The upper (southern) half of
the Swan valley had been
extensively burned , and was
blanketed by fallen trees. In
this area, fires were moderate ,
thinning the forest. The lower
(northern) Swan also was
scarred by fires, but it had a
great deal of older mixed
forest; species typical of
mesic sites were found in this
region... .
Antos and Habeck (1981), working
mostly in the northern portion of
the Swan valley, emphasized the
dominance of low-frequency, high-
intensity fires (stand-replacement
fires) in determining stand
patterns :
During most summers , the
occurrence of frequent rain
makes intense fires unlikely ;
but in some years, dry summers
set the stage for large crown
fires. Most stands were
initiated on large burns.... An
average frequency of
replacement burns of between
100 and 200 years was
characteristic... . Stands over
300 years old do occur, and
repeat burns less than 20
years apart have also
occurred . In some forests
initiated by replacement
burns, ground fires have
occurred after stand
establishment , with variable
effects on the overstory .
Very wet sites, such as stream
bottoms and lower north
slopes, often experience
partial burns when located
within the perimeter of large
replacement burns.
The analysis of fire history
indicates that the lower elevations
of the Swan valley were burned
frequently; in the drier southern
half, the intervals were shorter
than on the more moist northern
part. Between 1758 and 1905, this
portion of the range had fire-free
intervals of about 30 years, and the
presence of western larch and even-
aged lodgepole pine suggests the
fires were of higher intensity. The
remaining samples are from the
southern end and these have a
shorter interval of 17 years
( Freedman and Habeck, 1984).
Historical data indicates that
forests in Swan River State Forest
and the project area were cooler and
moister than the broad scale
Climatic Section and western Montana
averages. They were also
considerably older with a far higher
proportion of western larch/Douglas-
fir covertypes than at the broad
scale. Although the forests of Swan
River State Forest were old, the
representation of shade-tolerant
covertypes was low, indicating
disturbance was frequent or recent
enough to prevent widespread
covertype conversion through
succession .
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-33
FIRE GROUPS
The Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area is primarily represented by 2
different fire regimes that are
classified as fire groups: Fire
Group 11 and Fire Group 9 ( Fischer
and Bradley, 1987). Five other fire
groups are within the project area,
but due to minor representation (5
percent or less), these fire groups
will not be addressed further in
this document. The project file at
the Swan River State Forest office
contains information on the other
fire groups.
Fires burned in the project area at
intervals of 15 to 200-plus years.
The various fire intervals and
intensities created a mosaic of
stands in the forest across the
project area. Management in the
project area is attempting to mimic,
at least in part, historic fire
patterns and intensities. The
species representation in the
project area has also been
influenced by fire disturbances.
Where feasible, in terms of
covertypes (western larch/Douglas-
fir, western white pine, etc.),
treatments would attempt to move the
forest toward desired future
conditions and maintain these
covertypes by future management
activities ( FIGURE C-l - PROPORTION
OF HISTORIC CONDITIONS BY COVERTYPE
FOR SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST and
FIGURE C-2 - CURRENT COVERTYPE
PROPORTIONS FOR SWAN RIVER STATE
FOREST) .
The Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area is primarily represented by
Fire Group 11 (62 percent of the
project area), Fire Group 9 (25
percent) being the next most common,
and minor representation'^in Fire
Groups 10 (5 percent), 7 (4
percent), 6 (3 percent), 8 (2
percent) , and 5 (less than 1
percent) ( Fischer and Bradley,
1987) .
The majority of the proposed stands
fall into Fire Group 11, which
represents a warm, moist, grand fir
habitat type where fires are
infrequent but severe, and the
effects are typically stand
replacing. Fire-free intervals
range from 100 to 200 years between
stand-replacing fires. This fire
group has predominately moist
conditions, which can allow these
areas to serve as a fire break for
low-intensity ground fires. The
sites are also known to have high
fuel loadings, high plant
productivity, and, when combined
with drought conditions, these lead
to severe and widespread fires.
The next common fire regime in the
project area is Fire Group 9, which
is characterized by moist, lower
subalpine habitat types where fires
are infrequent, but severe, and the
effects may be long lasting. Past
studies show an average fire-free
interval of 30 years, with extremes
of 10 to 100 years. The dominant
representation of ponderosa pine,
western larch, and Douglas-fir
reflects the relatively high fire
frequency. Due to the moisture
content of these stands, moderate to
severe fires may have been
restricted to brief periods in the
summer. Flare-ups may have caused
openings that allowed the
establishment of serai species.
The other 5 fire groups identified
in the project area are represented
in lesser amounts. Fire group 10 is
a cold, moist, upper subalpine fir
type where fire plays a secondary
role to site factors. The main
influencing factors in this habitat
type are climate and soils, which
influence forest development on
these sites. Fires are infrequent,
with a range of 35 to 300 years.
More pronounced effects of fire
frequency are when stand-replacing
fires occur at 200 years or more.
Fire group 6 is a moist Douglas-fir
habitat type. Prior to European
settlement, this group was a fire-
maintained open forest. A typical
fire interval ranged from 15 to 40
years, which maintained an open
forest and kept brush at low levels.
Page C-34
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
The frequent fires would favor
western larch and ponderosa pine
over Douglas-fir.
Fire group 7 is a cool type often
associated with forests dominated by
lodgepole pine. Periodic
disturbances, from low-intensity to
stand-replacement fires, are common
to these stands. Stand-replacement
fires generally occur in 50- to 100-
year cycles, but may extend to 500
years in some cases. Typically by
60 to 80 years, the stand is in a
condition where an ignition source
may generate a stand-replacing fire.
Fire group 8 is a dry, lower
subalpine habitat type. This group
falls between group 7 with a burn
cycle of 50 years and group 9 with a
fire frequency of 90 to 130 years.
Periodic low- to moderate-severity
fires favored Douglas-fir and
lodgepole pine and held back shade-
tolerant species like subalpine fir
and Engelmann spruce.
Fire group 5 is a dry Douglas-fir
site and occupies less than 1
percent of the project area. This
group has short fire intervals of 35
to 45 years. These short fire
intervals are typical of open
forests that generate park-like
stands .
HAZARDS AND RISKS IN THE PROJECT
AREA
The hazards and risks associated
with wildfires include a potential
loss of timber resources, effects to
watersheds, and loss of property.
The majority of timber stands being
considered for harvesting are in the
mature or older age classes in
stands that have not burned since
pre-European settlement. Fire
hazards in these areas range from
above- to near-natural levels with
moderate to high accumulations of
down and ladder fuels relative to
stand densities. Some of the
western larch/Douglas-f ir stands
have a dense understory of grand
fir, a significant hazard due to its
density and structure and the
increased risk that a low-intensity
ground fire could develop into a
stand-replacing crown fire.
Many of the old-growth stands in the
project area are relict stands.
Stand-replacing fires have not
occurred in the area for 200 or more
years. As the stands continue to
age and mortality occurs from
various biotic and abiotic factors,
fuels would accumulate. These
stands have an in-growth of shade
tolerant-trees, which provide ground
and ladder fuels, thus increasing
their susceptibility to intense
fires, especially during drought.
Accessible stands have had salvage
logging and firewood cutting that
has reduced the larger diameter down
fuels in the area. The continued
encroachment of shade-tolerant
trees, accumulations of down woody
debris, and mortality increases the
fire risks.
Increased recreational use in the
area is another potential ignition
source that may result in a
hazardous condition due to fuel
accumulation .
Nonindustrial forestland adjacent to
the project area has a similar
amount of fuel loading. Much of the
adjacent USFS ownership has not been
managed for several years. The
resulting stands have a moderate to
high risk of stand-replacement
wildfires due to continued heavy
fuel loadings.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS TO FIRE EFFECTS
Direct Effects
• Direct Inflect* ofJXo -» Icfioii . Hfernatire . / to
Fire Effect#
The wildfire hazard would not
change substantially in the short
term. With continued fuel
accumulation from downed woody
debris, the potential for
wildfires increases. Large-scale,
stand-replacing fires may be the
outcome .
L
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-35
• Direct Effect* of f iction . Ilternafire* It, C, I),
an ft E to Fire Effect*
Immediately following timber
harvesting, the amount of fine
fuels would increase. Hazards
would be reduced by scattering
slash, cutting limbs and tops to
within a maximum height to hasten
decomposition, spot-piling by
machine in openings created by
harvesting, and burning landing
piles .
Broadcast burning would be
utilized as a site preparation
method in some seedtree units,
while others would be treated by
simultaneously piling slash and
scarifying soil with an excavator,
followed by the burning of piles.
Scarification and broadcast
burning both prepare seedbeds for
natural regeneration. Broadcast
burning would consume fuels and
return nutrients to the soil at a
faster rate than unburned areas.
Indirect Effects
• Indirect Effect* of % Xo-, let ion . Alternative . A to
l ire Effect*
Eventually, due to the continuing
accumulation of fine fuels, snags,
ladder fuels, and deadwood
components, the risk of stand-
replacement fires would increase.
• Indirect Effect* of . let ion . I /tern a fire* It, C\
D, and E to Eire Effect*
The hazards of destructive
wildfires in these stands would be
reduced because larger, more fire-
resistant species would be left at
wider spacings. Grand fir, some
Douglas-fir, western red-cedar,
and subalpine fir, which pose a
higher crown-fire hazard because
of their low growing branches and
combustible nature, would be
removed. This would reduce the
potential mortality from low- to
moderate-intensity fires, but
would not "fireproof" the stands
from the high-intensity stand-
replacing fires brought on by
drought and wind.
Seedtree and shelterwood harvest
treatments would cause wildfire
hazards to be reduced.
Regeneration harvests, where slash
has been treated but trees are
still small, have proven to be
fire resistant in many cases.
However, contrary conclusions have
been put forth wherein timber
harvesting is believed to have
increased the risk of wildfires,
especially in the short term,
where logging slash was not
treated. Fire hazards would
slowly increase over time as trees
reach pole size and crown
densities increase and fuels
accumulate .
Cumulative Effects
• Cumulative Effect* of.Xo-. let ion • llternative
. / on Eire Effect *
The risk of wildfires would
continue to increase as a result
of long-term fire suppression.
• Cumulative Effect* of . let ion . Alternative * It,
C, D, and E on Eire Effect*
Fuel loadings would be reduced in
treated stands, decreasing
wildfire risks in these specific
areas .
The Goat Squeezer II and III
timber sales will have a
combination of broadcast burning
and excavator piling and burning
to be completed this fall and the
following spring. Ongoing salvage
sales across Swan River State
Forest will also have excavator
piling and burning associated with
slash at the landings. The net
cumulative effect would be a
reduction in wildfire risks.
Page C-36
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
OLD GROWTH
DNRC defines old growth as stands
that meet minimum criteria for
number, size, and age of trees per
acre for a given combination of
covertype and habitat-type group.
The definitions are adopted from
those presented by Green et al.,
(1992). DNRC' s definition has
evolved over the years; previous
analysis may appear to contradict
the analysis presented in this DEIS
because of that evolution. The
multitude of diverse old-growth
definitions used by various
researchers, organizations, and
individuals tends to further confuse
the discussion of old growth, so we
attempt to clarify the basis for the
source of the old-growth information
we present.
HISTORIC ESTIMATES OF OLD GROWTH
Many previous efforts have been made
to estimate the historical amounts
of old growth in the Swan valley.
The following approaches have been
used :
• DNRC estimated the quantity of old
growth that may have existed
historically ( Montana DNRC 2000) ;
results suggested that, given the
definition used in the analysis,
approximately 22 percent of Swan
River State Forest represents the
expected amount of naturally
occurring old growth. That
analysis used a more restrictive
definition for old growth than
DNRC currently uses.
• The Flathead National Forest (FNF)
Plan Amendment 21 (1998) estimated
that 29 percent of low-elevation
forests on FNF was old growth, 8
percent of mid-elevation forest
was old growth and none of the
high-elevation forest was old
growth, as derived from historic
surveys (Ayers 1898, 1899) . Using
various sources of information,
the FNF Amendment 21 also
estimated that old growth in FNF
had an historical range of
variability from 15 to 60 percent.
Using a computer modeling process,
FNF estimated that approximately
36 percent of the Swan valley
existed as late-seral forest;
however, not all late-seral stands
would qualify as old growth.
• Lesica (1996), in an effort to use
fire history to estimate the
proportions of old-growth forests
in the Swan valley, estimated that
approximately 52 percent of the
area was occupied by stands that
were 180-years or older. Lesica
used stand age as a surrogate for
old growth in his mathematically
derived estimations.
• Using covertype conditions and
historical data from the 1930s
( Losensky 1997), 29 percent of the
forested acres in the Upper
Flathead Climatic Section were
estimated to have historically
been occupied by stands 150 years
and older and contained a minimum
of 4 mbf/acre ( South Fork Lost
Creek FEIS, 1998). The old-stand
definition from Losensky was
previously used as DNRC' s old-
growth definition, adding to the
confusion over old-growth
reporting and discussion.
• Hart (1989) indicated that
approximately 48 percent of the
area represented in the 1930s
stand data for the Seeley and Swan
valleys had forests with a
significant component of trees
older than 200 years.
Therefore, using a wide variety of
old-growth definitions, the
estimates of the historic amount of
old growth on Swan River State
Forest suggest a range from 15 to 50
percent. The estimates above are
primarily age-based estimates that
do not consider the other attributes
often deemed necessary to call a
stand "old growth", and, therefore,
old-growth amounts are overestimated
compared to when it is defined with
additional attribute thresholds; for
example, only DNRC' s estimate has
any criteria related to the size and
number of large trees per acre,
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-37
leading one to the conclusion that
old growth would necessarily be
lower than the other estimates
provided because not all old stands,
late-seral stands, or modeled stands
would have sufficient numbers of
large live trees to meet DNRC' s old-
growth definition.
Emphasis should be made that the
estimates presented defined old
growth in a variety of ways and none
of them represent estimates based on
the Green et al definitions that
DNRC currently uses; most provide
estimates that are higher than they
would be if they included additional
attribute criteria.
Based on available estimates, the
amount of old growth on Swan River
State Forest is currently within the
historically occurring range.
ANALYSIS METHODS
DNRC uses criteria set forth in
Green et al. (1992) to define old
growth. The definition sets minimum
thresholds for the number and size
of large trees based on habitat type
and covertype. The SLI data
categorizes many stands within the
project area as old growth. As part
of the field reconnaissance for this
project, stands identified as old
growth via the SLI data, or those in
question, were field-checked to
verify that they meet DNRC' s
definition .
EXISTING OLD-GROWTH DISTIBUTION
Swan River State Forest currently
has 12,478 acres of old growth,
which is equal to 32.4 percent of
the total acreage. The project area
contains 4,483 acres of old growth,
which is equal to 42.2 percent of
the project area. Old-growth
acreages may change as field surveys
are completed and the SLI database
is updated. TABLE C-9 - CURRENT
OLD -GROWTH ACRES AND ALTERNATIVE
EFFECTS BY FOREST TYPE FOR SWAN
RIVER STATE FOREST shows the amount
of acres in old-growth status per
covertype according to the current
SLI database information. The
current analysis also looks at the
old-growth spatial distribution to
analyze the effects of a proposed
action .
TABLE C-9 - CURRENT OLD-GROWTH ACRES
AND ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS BY FOREST
TYPE FOR SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
presents total acres of old growth
by forest type. Covertypes reflect
the interactions of disturbance
history, species requirements for
regeneration, physiography, and
availability of a seed source. The
old-growth definitions used by DNRC
are expressed in terms of covertype,
thus allowing comparisons to
Losensky' s (1997) historic
information for amounts of old-age
stands. Mixed conifer, western
larch/Douglas-f ir, and western white
pine ( TABLE C-3 - CURRENT AND
TABLE C-9 - CURRENT OLD-GROWTH ACRES AND ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS BY FOREST TYPE
FOR SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
OLD-GROWTH
TYPE
OLD -GROWTH
ACRES
POSTHARVEST
ACTION ALTERNATIVE
B
C
D
E
Douglas-f ir
8
8
8
8
8
Western larch/Douglas-f ir
1, 830
1,968
1, 901
1, 960
1,710
Western white pine
2,016
2,016
2,016
2,016
2, 016
Mixed conifer
6, 926
6,253
6, 397
6, 200
6, 699
Subalpine fir
1,114
1,114
1, 114
1,114
1,114
Lodgepole pine
0
0
0
0
0
Ponderosa pine
584
584
584
584
584
Totals
12, 478
11, 943
12,020
11,882 .
12, 131
Page C-38
Three
Creeks Timber Sale Project
DEIS
POSTHARVEST STAND STRUCTURE OF UNITS
PROPOSED FOR HARVEST IN THE THREE
CREEKS PROJECT AREA) are currently
the 3 dominant old-growth types on
Swan River State Forest. The
increase in acres of specific old-
growth types shown in TABLE C-9 -
CURRENT OLD-GROWTH ACRES AND
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS BY FOREST TYPE
FOR SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST occurs
as a result of commercial-thin and
shelterwood treatments, where
sufficient large live trees are
retained to meet DNRC' s old-growth
definition, but removal of certain
species of trees results in a
reclassification of the "type" of
old growth.
FIGURE C-12 - CURRENT OLD-GROWTH
STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST is
a map of old growth within the
project area. In addition to old-
growth stands identified by the SLI
in the project area, approximately
992 acres of old growth have been
field verified.
Appendix C - Vegetation
rage L-jy
FIGURE C-12 - CURRENT OLD-GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
2S ' » ;>»
• -) * R k
r — 7 , * —
r
-23.
VICINITY MAP
Swan River State Forest
Lake County, Montana
■
LEGEND
\j/A Stands Meeting CHd Growth Criteria Post Harvest
Proposed Otd Growth Treatment (all alternatives)
Existing Old Growth Stands
□ Three Creeks Project Area
” % ■* Open Roads
Highway 83
] Swan River State Forest
Page C-40
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
OLD-GROWTH ATTRIBUTES
The diversity of old-growth
definitions and the relative
importance of old growth as a
specific stand condition led DNRC to
develop a tool to analyze and
understand old growth. This tool
indexes attribute levels in stands
using DNRC' s SLI and is called the
Full Old Growth Index ( FOGI ) .
The old-growth attributes making up
FOGI are:
— number of large live trees,
— amount of coarse woody debris,
— number of snags,
— amount of decadence,
— multistoried structures,
— gross volume, and
— crown density.
Old-growth "quality" was raised as
an issue. Old-growth quality
depends on the type of old growth,
associated wildlife species being
considered, where old growth exists
on the landscape, and other factors
that do not lend themselves to
consistent or meaningful
quantification. For the purposes of
this analysis, we are using
attribute levels (FOGI) as an
indicator of quality, but are also
cognizant that quality is too
nebulous a concept for a
quantitative analysis. Using FOGI
provides an indication of the
relative levels of "old
growthedness" . FOGI could be
construed as providing an indication
of old-growth "quality", but is more
appropriately considered an
indication of overall attribute
levels. So, while the highest
attribute levels may be high quality
for some wildlife species and old-
growth types (for example mixed-
conifer old growth, which tends to
exist in a dense and structurally
diverse condition) , other species
and types are highest quality at
relatively lower attribute levels,
in particular the ponderosa pine
type (which tends to exist in a
more-open condition that is less
structurally diverse) . Therefore,
the analysis focuses on quantitative
or qualitative assessment of
attribute levels rather than relying
on the value-laden concept of
"quality" .
Indicators of Old-Growth Attributes
We recognize that our desired
management strategy under the SFLMP
is to retain, in reasonable
proportions, stands that contain all
the naturally occurring combinations
of attributes, including those
associated with old-growth stands.
Thus, in this section, we display
current conditions with regard to
attributes often associated with old
growth. The attributes displayed
are numbers of large live trees,
amount of coarse woody debris,
snags, vigor, stand structure, and
gross volume per acre.
Lacking are surveys specifically
oriented to clearly identify all
stand characteristics that would
characterize old growth. However,
indices were derived from data in
our SLI that summarized the
abundance of 4 attributes that
often, but not always, characterize
stands in the latter stages of
development: large live trees,
snags, down coarse woody debris, and
decadence among live trees. In each
case, a standard step-by-step
procedure was used that integrated
information from more than 1 field
in the SLI to produce a single index
number ( OLD-GROWTH INDEX ATTRIBUTES
AND POINT ASSIGNMENTS [project
file] ) . Briefly, the "large tree"
index measures the relative
abundance of trees more than 21
inches dbh. The snag index measures
the relative abundance of large dead
trees, with greater weight given to
larger-diameter snags, but equal
weight given to snags by their
species and other characteristics.
Similarly, the index of down coarse
woody debris measures the relative
abundance of down woody material,
with greater weight given to the
logs of larger diameter, regardless
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-41
of species or degree of rot. Vigor
of old-growth stands is discussed as
a surrogate for stand decadence.
Stands with higher vigor ratings are
those with lower decadence and vice
versa .
In each case, only 4 categories of
abundance were used, which
corresponded roughly to the 4
adj ectives :
— none
— few (or little)
— some (i.e., a typical amount for a
stand of that forest type and age,
neither particularly few nor many)
— many (or much)
This description is necessarily
crude; existing conditions or model
future effects cannot be described
with greater resolution than our
current inventory allows. However,
our understanding of the naturally
occurring abundances and dynamics of
these old-growth attributes is
similarly crude. Thus, even if a
more precise description or
assessment were possible, we are
unsure the additional resolution
would be informative. We believe,
moreover, that despite their
inevitable approximations, these
descriptions and assessments are
generally accurate and objective and
serve as useful proxies to guide our
more general evaluation of diverse
forest types and structures.
The FOGI process assigns an index
rating to each old-growth attribute
that, when summed, indicates its
total score, or old-growth index,
for the stand. For analysis
purposes, these scores can be
grouped into low, medium, and high
categories. This provides an
indication of the condition of the
stand in regards to attributes often
associated with old growth. These
indices do not necessarily indicate
old-growth quality, but can be used
to compare and classify a collection
of older stands across the
landscape. The expected variation
between covertypes is based on
numerous factors, including habitat-
type groups, tree species,
covertypes, elevations, past
management activities, and proximity
to roads. Many of these attributes
relate to wildlife habitat and are
discussed in APPENDIX F - WILDLIFE
ANALYSIS of this DEIS. TABLE C-10 -
FOGI CLASSIFICATION FOR THE PROJECT
AREA AND POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS shows
the current amounts of old-growth
acres in each of the FOGI
classifications and effects of the
action alternatives.
TABLE C-10 - FOGI CLASSIFICATION FOR THE PROJECT AREA AND POSTHARVEST
AMOUNTS
FOGI
CLASSIFICATION
CURRENT
ACRES
ACTION ALTERNATIVE
B
C
D
E
Low
68
722
719
615
167
Medium
1, 352
1,149
1,076
1, 023
1,318
High
3, 063
2,049
2,222
2, 249
2,652
Totals
4,483
3, 920
4,017
3, 887
4,137
Page C-42
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
STAND STRUCTURE OF OLD GROWTH
The structure of forested stands
indicates one characteristic often
associated with "old growth", namely
whether or not the stand is in a
multistoried condition. The
multistoried condition arises when a
stand has progressed through
succession to the point that shade-
tolerant species are replacing a
shade-intolerant overstory. This
condition can also occur when a
stand is already dominated by large,
old, shade-tolerant species, and
through gap replacement the
regeneration that occurs is also
shade tolerant. The former is the
more common case in forests of
Montana. In both cases, the time
since a major disturbance tends to
be long, helping to create many of
the attributes important in old
growth .
FIGURE C-13 - CURRENT AND
POSTHARVEST STRUCTURES BY
ALTERNATIVE FOR OLD-GROWTH STANDS ON
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST displays the
current conditions for stand
structure of old growth on Swan
River State Forest and the
postharvest effects of each action
alternative. As shown, the vast
majority of old-growth stands have
multiple canopy levels. This figure
also shows the postharvest
distribution of stands for those
that would retain old-growth
classification. Many of the
treatments are regeneration-type
harvests, which completely change
the stand structures and remove the
stands from old-growth
classification. Following
harvesting activities, there would
only be one distinct canopy level.
For stands that receive a partial
treatment, two or more distinct
canopy layers would remain. FIGURE
C-13 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST
STRUCTURES BY ALTERNATIVE FOR OLD-
GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE
FOREST illustrates the slight
changes in structure from
multistoried stands to single- or
two-storied stands. Also reflected
in the figure is the removal of
stands that no longer meet the old-
growth definition.
FIGURE C-13 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST STRUCTURES BY ALTERNATIVE FOR OLD-
GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
Appendix C - Vegetation Page C-43
STAND VIGOR OF OLD GROWTH
Vigor of old-growth stands is used
to indicate relative decadence.
Old-growth stands of low vigor are
more likely to have more snags and
greater amounts of large down woody
debris than would be expected with
stands of high vigor. Stand vigor
is explained further below. FIGURE
C-14 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST
DISTRIBUTION OF VIGOR
CLASSIFICATIONS FOR OLD-GROWTH
STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
shows the vigor classes, by
percentage for old-growth stands on
Swan River State Forest. As would
be expected, no old-growth stands
are at full vigor. Most stands are
in the fair to poor class.
This figure also illustrates the
changes that would take place
following harvest prescriptions.
The changes are subtle, but stands
with full vigor would be increased.
The treated stands would have
reduced density and a more-open
canopy, which would allow more light
in and free up nutrients in the soil
for the remaining trees to utilize.
Stands would shift from the fair or
poor vigor to the good or full vigor
classification.
The 4 generally recognized vigor
classes are: full, good-to-f air ,
fair-to-poor , and very poor.
• Vigor 1 - Full Vigor - Forests
have an open canopy and growth is
optimal. An example of a stand in
this class is young, immature, and
probably in the seedling or
sapling stage. Currently, no
acres of old growth within the
project area are at full vigor.
• Vigor 2 - Good Vigor - Stand
canopies are mostly closed with
crown ratios (the vertical height
of a tree' s crown compared with
the total vertical height of the
tree) between 33 and 50 percent.
Growth rates exceed mortality in
these stands. A stand in this
class would be young, merchantable
sawtimber. Old-growth stands of
good vigor represent 1,979 acres
in the project area.
• Vigor 3 - Fair Vigor - Stand
canopies are tightly closed with
crown ratios less than 33 percent.
Growth and mortality rates are
nearly balanced. An example of a
stand in this class would be an
old stand of merchantable
sawtimber. Old-growth stands of
fair vigor occupy 1,799 acres in
the project area.
• Vigor 4 - Poor Vigor - Stands are
similar to the fair-to-poor class,
but generally are in a decadent
condition caused by competing
FIGURE C-14 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST DISTRIBUTION OF VIGOR CLASSIFICATIONS
FOR OLD-GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
Page C-44
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
vegetation, insects, diseases,
and/or old age. Typically,
mortality rates exceed growth
rates. Old-growth stands of poor
vigor occupy 705 acres in the
project area; all are at risk to
insects and diseases.
LARGE TREES PER ACRE
FIGURE C-15 - CURRENT AND
POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS OF LARGE TREES
PER ACRE IN OLD-GROWTH STANDS ON
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST shows the
relative abundance of large trees in
old-growth stands on Swan River
State Forest. As shown,
approximately 28 percent of all old-
growth stands are within the highest
abundance category for numbers of
large live trees, with 71 percent
having 'some' the next highest
amount .
This figure also shows the subtle
changes in the percent of stands
with large trees on a per-acre
basis. Some stands would no longer
meet the old-growth definition and
are not included, but for those that
are included, the change is very
slight. Action Alternative E
retains the highest proportions of
large trees in the "Some" and "Lots"
categories, while the other
alternatives show greater reductions
in the numbers of large live trees.
FIGURE C-15 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS OF LARGE TREES PER ACRE IN OLD-
GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-45
SNAGS PER ACRE
FIGURE C-16 - CURRENT AND
POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS OF SNAGS PER
ACRE IN OLD-GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN
RIVER STATE FOREST shows the
relative abundance of large snags in
old-growth stands on Swan River
State Forest. The preponderance of
stands has some or lots of large
snags. The 'few' category
represents DNRC' s minimum for snag
retention postharvest. The amount
of snags fluctuates across the
landscape due to salvage harvesting,
which reduces the numbers and
continued mortality from insect and
disease activity, which increases
snag amounts. This figure also
illustrates the postharvest levels
of snags per acre. The change in
the percentage of stands with the
minimum requirements for retention
is minor. Over 99 percent of old-
growth stands would still have 2
snags or better per acre.
FIGURE C-16 - CURRENT AND POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS OF SNAGS PER ACRE IN OLD-GROWTH
STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
(A
0)
o
<
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
□ NONE
□ FEW
□ SOME
Current Alt B Alt C Alt D Alt E
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-47
GROSS VOLUME PER ACRE
Another attribute of old-growth
stands often deemed important and
for which distributions can be
quantified and effects assessed is a
measure of density, or stocking. In
this case, the stand's gross board-
foot volume per acre is used ( FIGURE
C-18 - POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS OF GROSS
VOLUME PER ACRE (MBF) IN OLD-GROWTH
STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST) .
Higher volumes indicate more densely
stocked stands. One value of this
measure is that effects of in-growth
and lack of wildfires are minimized
because only trees larger than 9
inches dbh are included. Thus, this
becomes another measure through
which impacts on the character of
old-growth stands can be measured.
As shown, a very small proportion
(about 5 percent) of old growth on
Swan River State Forest contains
less than 10 mbf per acre.
Approximately 22 percent of old
growth contains over 25 mbf per
acre. The majority of the old-
growth stands (64 percent) have
between 15 and 24 mbf per acre.
FIGURE C-18 also illustrates the
affects to gross volume per acre
following harvesting operations.
Old growth with less than 10 mbf per
acre would remain around 5 percent.
Stands that have 25 mbf per acre and
greater would decline slightly to 21
percent of the old-growth stands.
The majority of the stands would
still have between 15 and 24 mbf per
acre, but would decline to 60
percent; the exception would be
those harvested under Action
Alternative E, where the percentage
of stands would remain at 64 .
FIGURE C-18 - POSTHARVEST AMOUNTS OF GROSS VOLUME PER ACRE (MBF) IN OLD-
GROWTH STANDS ON SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
u
<
□ <4
D 04-06
□ 07-09
□ 10-12
D 13-15
□ 16-20
□ 21-25
□ 26+
Current
k
Alt B
Alt C
Alt D Alt E
Page C-48
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
PREVIOUS TREATMENTS IN CLASSIFIED
OLD GROWTH
Swan River State Forest has had an
ongoing salvage and sanitation
program for years. This program has
resulted in the reduction of some
old-growth attributes in many
current old-growth stands through
the effects of timber harvesting.
The effects of these previous
entries include lower attribute
levels in the following categories:
fewer acres with high numbers of
large trees, lower snag numbers, and
less coarse woody debris.
OVERALL EFFECTS TO OLD-GROWTH STANDS
TABLE C-ll - OLD-GROWTH FOG I
ATTRIBUTE CLASSIFICATION CHANGES
PREHARVEST AND POSTHARVEST BY
ALTERNATIVE shows old-growth type
and FOGI values for all old-growth
stands proposed for treatment in the
project area. This table also shows
postharvest FOGI values and whether
the stands would remain old growth.
Seedtree and seedtree-wi th-reserves
treatments would not retain
sufficient large live trees
postharvest to meet DNRC' s old-
growth definition, while commercial
thinning and shelterwood harvests
are expected to meet the definition.
Appendix C - Vegetation
Page C-49
TABLE C-ll - OLD-GROWTH FOGI ATTRIBUTE CLASSIFICATION CHANGES PREHARVEST AND POSTHARVEST BY ALTERNATIVE
OLD-GROWTH
POSTHARVEST
o
2
O
2
1 Yes 1
1 Yes 1
o
2
o
2
o
2
O
2
o
2
w
CLASS
Low
Low |
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
I INDEX #
CM
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VO
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CM
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00
CO
00
00
00
w Q
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Eh
OLD-GROWTH
POSTHAVEST
o
2
Low
O
2
o
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
o
2
O
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
o
2
o
2
Yes
Yes
O
2
o
2
CLASS
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
INDEX #
00
o
rH
CM
rH
VO
CM
rH
o
rH
CM
rH
rH
rH
00
CM
rH
00
CM
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00
00
CM
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CM
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OO
00
EFFECTS BY ACTION A
C
OLD-GROWTH
POSTHARVEST
Yes
Yes
Yes
o
2
o
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
o
2
Yes
Yes
O
2
O
2
O
2
Yes
Yes
O
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
o
2
CLASS
Low
Low
Medium
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
INDEX #
o
rH
o
rH
CO
rH
00
00
o
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CM
rH
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00
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CM
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CM
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00
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CM
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CM
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CM
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CM
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00
m
OLD-GROWTH
POSTHARVEST
o
2
o
2
O
2
Yes
O
2
O
2
Yes
O
2
Yes
Yes
O
2
Yes
O
2
O
2
Yes
Yes
O
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
o
2
CLASS
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Low
Low
Low
Low
LOW
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
INDEX #
a
o
«— <
CM
T— 1
CO
rH
00
00
O
rH
00
CM
t — i
CM
i — 1
00
CM
rH
CO
00
CM
rH
CM
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00
CM
rH
CM
rH
CM
rH
CM
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00
CURRENT
FOGI CLASS
High
High
High
High
High
High
Medium
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
Medium
High
Medium
Medium
High
High
High
High
High
High
High
Medium
High
High
High
PRE HARVEST
INDEX #
00
CM
T— 1
CM
■^r
CM
CM
m
CM
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CM
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CM
CM
CM
CM
m
CM
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CJ
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CJ
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CJ
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WL/DF
CJ
2
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WWP
WL/DF
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D
2
CJ
2
CJ
2
CJ
2
J
s
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2
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*
*4
□
A
5
CURRENT STAND NUMBER
01-03
01-09
03-08
03-09
03-11
03-12
04-15
04-18
04-19
o
CM
1
O
04-22
09-07
O
rH
1
03
O
09-12
09-13
09-15
09-18
10-06
10-10
14~13
14-14
16-24
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Page C-50
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS TO OLD GROWTH
Direct Effects
• Direr/ an// Indirert I^ffeet* o/'.Yo-. lei ion
. /Her no tire . / !o Oh/ Growth
In the short term, existing old-
growth stands would continue to
experience substantial mortality
of large Douglas-fir trees,
increasing the snag and down-
woody-debris components of those
stands. Some stands may no longer
be in the old-growth
classification as a result of the
gradual or sudden loss of many
large trees due to Douglas-fir
bark beetles, mountain pine
beetles, dwarf mistletoe, drought,
competition, etc. These factors
can reduce the number of large,
live trees below the minimum
described in Green et al. (1992).
Over the long term, existing old
growth would continue to age and
become more decadent.
• Direr/ Effect# of* ic/ion • 1/ternatiren It, C, D,
and E /o Old Growth
The proposed harvest treatments
for all of the action alternatives
would affect old growth, as
illustrated in TABLE C-12 - AREA
OF OLD GROWTH PROPOSED FOR
HARVESTING BY COVERTYPE.
Old-growth stands would be
harvested with seedtree, seedtree-
with-reserves, shelterwood, and
commercial-thin treatments. The
main objectives for entering these
old-growth stands are to remove
insect-infested and disease-
infected trees, maintain
historical covertypes, and remove
or reduce shade-tolerant species.
Some commercial thinning and
shelterwood units may be
classified as old growth following
harvesting; postharvest data
collection in the particular
stands would determine their
classification.
The primary effects to old growth
would be the removal of stands
from their old-growth
classification or a reduction of
attribute levels associated with
old-growth stands. The old-growth
attributes that would be affected
include :
— Stocking levels in all treated
stands would be reduced. The
stocking levels in the
TABLE C-12 - AREA OF OLD GROWTH PROPOSED FOR HARVESTING BY COVERTYPE
MIXED CONIFER
WESTERN LARCH/
DOUGLAS-FIR
WESTERN WHITE PINE
PONDEROSA PINE
<
1
3
0
rj
i
H
0
SUBALPINE FIR
TOTALS
Current conditions in project area
3,359
418
346
24
8
328
4,483
Proposed for harvest
967
120
126
0
8
0
1,221
Postharvest
2,592
630
346
24
0
328
3, 920
f
Proposed for harvest
844
120
126
24
8
0
1,122
Postharvest
2,770
549
346
24
0
328
4,017
is
Proposed for harvest
891
173
55
24
0
0
1, 143
M ^
D
Postharvest
2, 633
548
346
24
8
328
3, 887
<
PI
Proposed for harvest
307
120
19
0
0
0
446
E
Postharvest
3, 133
298
346
24
8
328
4,137
Appendix C - Vegetation Page C-51
commercial-thin units would be
approximately half the current
levels. Shelterwood units would
be reduced to approximately 20
percent of current stocking
levels. The stocking levels for
seedtree and seedtree-with-
reserves units would be
approximately 10 percent of
current levels (the stands would
not be old growth postharvest) .
— Stand vigor would improve or
remain at existing levels for
harvested stands.
— Stand structure in seedtree,
seedtree-with-reserves, and
shelterwood units would be
reduced to single- or two-
storied stand structures
following harvesting.
Commercial-thin units would be
reduced to 2- and 3-storied
(multi) stand structures
following harvesting.
— Minimum snag retention per acre
for all units would consist of 2
trees, 21-inches dbh or greater;
if no trees that large are
present, the next largest trees
would be retained. In addition,
2 snag-recruit trees per acre,
21-inches dbh or greater, would
be retained.
— Slash would be piled and burned
or otherwise treated on site;
approximately 15 tons of coarse
woody debris per acre would be
retained. Seedtree or seedtree-
with-reserve units may, where
feasible, have broadcast-burn
treatments applied.
— Large, live trees would be
removed if they are dying from
insect or disease attacks or to
provide openings for
regeneration. Seedtree and
seedtree-with-reserve units
would retain 6 to 8 trees per
acre, with emphasis given to
larger diameter trees. Health,
vigor, cone production, and
other factors would be
considered when selecting trees
for retention purposes.
Shelterwood units would have a
retention level of 12 to 16
trees per acre, with the same
selection criteria as used on
seedtree units. Commercial-thin
units would retain 90 to 100
trees per acre, or 40- to 50-
percent canopy cover, with
priority given to the healthier,
better-formed individuals in the
stand.
Indirect Effects
• Indirect Inflect* of JX SEDIMENT DELIVERY
Timber harvesting and related
activities, such as road
construction, can lead to water-
quality impacts by increasing the
production and delivery of fine
sediment to streams. Construction
of roads, skid trails, and
landings can generate and transfer
substantial amounts of sediment
through the removal of vegetation
and exposure of bare soil. In
addition, removal of vegetation
near stream channels reduces the
sediment-filtering capacity and
may reduce channel stability and
the amounts of large woody
material. Large woody debris is a
very important component of stream
dynamics, creating natural
sediment traps and energy
dissipaters to reduce the velocity
and erosiveness of stream flows.
> WATER YIELD
Timber harvesting and associated
activities can affect the timing,
distribution, and amount of water
yield in a harvested watershed.
Water yields increase
proportionately to the percentage
of canopy removal, because removal
of live trees reduces the amount
of water transpired, leaving more
water available for soil
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction D-l
Analysis Methods D-l
Analysis Area D-2
Existing Conditions D-3
Alternative Effects D-9
saturation and runoff. Canopy
removal also decreases
interception of rain and snow and
alters snowpack distribution and
snowmelt, which lead to further
increases in water yield. Higher
water yields may lead to increases
in peak flows and peak-flow
duration, which can result in
accelerated streambank erosion and
sediment deposition.
ANALYSIS METHODS
> SEDIMENT DELIVERY
Methodology for analyzing sediment
delivery was completed using a
sediment-source inventory. All
roads and stream crossings were
evaluated to determine sources of
introduced sediment. In addition,
in-channel sources of sediment
were identified using channel-
stability rating methods developed
by Pfankuch (1975) and through the
conversion of stability rating to
reach condition by stream type
developed by Rosgen (1996) . These
analyses were conducted in 1999 by
a contracted firm and verified by
a DNRC hydrologist. In addition,
data were collected in 2003 to
quantify sediment delivery using
procedures adapted from the
Washington Forest Practices Board
( Callahan , 2000).
> WATER YIELD
The water-yield increase for the
watershed in the project area was
determined using the Equivalent
Clearcut Area (ECA) method as
outlined in Forest Hydrology Part
II (Haupt, 1976) . ECA is a
function of total area roaded and
harvested, percent of crown
removal in harvesting, and amount
of vegetative recovery that has
occurred in harvest areas. This
method equates area harvested and
percent of crown removed with an
equivalent amount of clearcut
area. For example, if 100 acres
had 60 percent crown removed, ECA
would be approximately 60, or
equivalent to a 60-acre clearcut.
The relationship between crown
removal and ECA is not a 1-to-l
ratio, so the percent ECA is not
always the same as the percent
canopy removal. As live trees are
removed, the water they would have
evaporated and transpired either
saturates the soil, or is
translated to runoff. This method
also calculates the recovery of
these increases as new trees
vegetate the site and move toward
preharvest water use.
In order to evaluate the watershed
risk of potential water-yield
increase effectively, a threshold
of concern must be established. In
order to determine a threshold of
concern, acceptable risk level,
resource value, and watershed
sensitivity are evaluated according
to Young (1989). The watershed
sensitivity is evaluated using
qualitative assessments, as well as
procedures outlined in Forest
Hydrology Part II (Haupt, 1976).
The stability of a stream channel
is an important indicator of where
a threshold of concern should be
set. As water yields increase as a
result of canopy removal, the
amount of water flowing in a creek
gradually increases. When these
increases reach a certain level,
the bed and banks may begin to
erode. More stable streams will be
able to handle larger increases in
water yield before they begin to
erode, while less stable streams
will experience erosion at more
moderate water-yield increases.
RISK-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Where risk is assessed in both
sediment-delivery and water-yield
analyses, the following definitions
apply to the level of risk reported:
- low risk means impacts are
unlikely to result from proposed
activities.
- moderate risk means there is
approximately a 50-percent chance
of impacts resulting from proposed
activities, and
- high risk means impacts are likely
to result from proposed
activities .
Where levels or degrees of impacts
are assessed in this analysis, the
following definitions apply to the
degree of impacts reported:
- very low impact means that impacts
from proposed activities are
unlikely to be measurable or
detectable and are not likely to
be detrimental to the water
resource ;
- low impact means that impacts from
proposed activities would likely
be measurable or detectable, but
are not likely to be detrimental
to the water resource;
- moderate impact means that impacts
from proposed activities would
likely be measurable or
detectable, and may or may not be
detrimental to the water resource;
and
- high impact means that impacts
from proposed activities would
likely be measurable or
detectable, and are likely to have
detrimental impacts to the water
resource .
ANALYSIS AREA
> SEDIMENT DELIVERY
The analysis area for sediment
delivery is the Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project area and the
proposed haul routes. This
includes portions of the South
Fork Lost Creek, Cilly Creek, and
Soup Creek watersheds. South Fork
Lost Creek is a 10,503-acre,
perennial, third-order tributary
to Lost Creek and Swan River. The
Cilly Creek watershed is a 5,266-
acre third-order tributary to Swan
River. The Soup Creek watershed
is a 9,787-acre third-order
tributary to Swan River. Analysis
Page D-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
will cover stream segments within
these watersheds that may be
affected by the proposed project
and all roads and upland sites
that may contribute sediment to
South Fork Lost, Cilly, or Soup
creeks .
> WATER YIELD
The analysis areas for water yield
are the South Fork Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, and Soup Creek
watersheds. The South Fork Lost
Creek is a 10,503-acre third-order
watershed. Precipitation in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
ranges from 30 inches at its
confluence with North Fork Lost
Creek to 90 inches at the ridge
tops. The Cilly Creek watershed
is a 5,266-acre tributary to Swan
River; annual precipitation ranges
from 30 inches in the lower
elevations to 80 inches at the
ridge tops. The Soup Creek
watershed is a 9,787-acre
tributary to Swan River; annual
precipitation ranges from 30
inches in the lower elevations to
90 inches at the ridge tops.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Montana Surface Water-Quality
Standards
According to ARM 17.30.608 (2) (a),
the Swan River drainage, including
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks, is classified as B-l. Among
other criteria for B-l waters, no
increases are allowed above
naturally occurring levels of sedi-
ment, and minimal increases over
natural turbidity. "Naturally
occurring, " as defined by ARM
17.30.602 (17), includes conditions
or materials present during runoff
from developed land where all
reasonable land, soil, and water
conservation prac-tic-es (commonly
called BMPs) have been applied.
Reasonable prac-tices include meth-
ods, measures, or practices that
protect present and reasonably
anticipated beneficial uses. These
practices include, but are not
limited to, structural and
nonstructural controls and oper-
ation and maintenance procedures.
Appropriate practices may be applied
before, during, or after completion
of potentially impactive activities.
Designated beneficial water uses
within the project area include
cold-water fisheries and
recreational use in the stream,
wetlands, lake, and surrounding
area. The Cilly Creek watershed has
domestic water use and irrigation
water rights as beneficial uses.
Water-Quality-Limited Waterbodies
None of the streams in the proposed
project area are currently listed as
water-quality-limited waterbodies in
the 1996, 2002, or 2004 Montana 303
(d) list. Swan Lake is currently
listed on the 2004 Montana 303(d)
list, but was not listed in the 1996
list. The 303(d) list is compiled
by the Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) as
required by Section 303 (d) of the
Federal Clean Water Act and the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Water Quality Planning and
Management Regulations (40 CFR, Part
130) . Under these laws, DEQ is
required to identify waterbodies
that do not fully meet water-quality
standards, or where beneficial uses
are threatened or impaired. These
waterbodies are then characterized
as "water quality limited" and thus
targeted for TMDL development. The
TMDL process is used to determine
the total allowable amount of
pollutants in a waterbody of a
watershed. Each contributing source
is allocated a portion of the
allowable limit. These allocations
are designed to achieve water-
quality standards.
The Montana Water Quality Act (MCA
75-5-701 through 705) also directs
DEQ to assess the quality of State
waters, ensure that sufficient and
credible data exists to support a
303(d) listing, and develop TMDL for
those waters identified as
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-3
threatened or impaired. Under the
Montana TMDL Law, new or expanded
nonpoint-source activities affecting
a listed waterbody may commence and
continue provided they are conducted
in accordance with all reasonable
land, soil, and water conservation
practices. DNRC will comply with
the TMDL Law and interim guidance
developed by DEQ through
implementation of all reasonable
soil and water conservation
practices, including BMPs and the
Rules .
Swan Lake is currently listed as
threatened for aquatic life support
and for cold-water fisheries. The
current listed cause of impairment
in Swan Lake is siltation; the
probable sources include building
construction, highway /road/bridge
construction, logging road
construction and maintenance, and
silviculture. Through the Swan Lake
Watershed Group and its associated
Swan Lake Technical Advisory Group,
a water-quality restoration plan was
developed for Swan Lake in June
2004. The Swan Lake Watershed Group
and Technical Advisory Group are
comprised of local stakeholders and
include :
- the Swan Ecosystem Center,
Flathead Lake Biological Station
at Yellow Bay, and Friends of the
Wild Swan;
- landowners, including the USDA
Forest Service, Montana DNRC, Plum
Creek Timber Company; and
- regulatory agencies, including DEQ
and EPA.
The Water Quality Restoration Plan
was approved by EPA in August 2004,
and activities are ongoing to
correct current sources and causes
of sediment to Swan Lake and its
tributaries. DNRC is an active
partner and participant in this
process. All proposed activities
within the project area would
implement actions to alleviate
identified sources of sediment and
comply fully with all TMDL
requirements .
Montana SMZ Law
By the definition in ARM 36.11.312
(3), the majority of the South Fork
Lost Creek, Cilly Creek, and Soup
Creek watersheds are class 1 streams.
All of these streams and many of
their tributaries have flow for more
than 6 months each year. Many of
these stream reaches also support
fish. Some of the smaller first-
order tributaries may be classified
as class 2 or 3 based on site-
specific conditions.
> SEDIMENT DELIVERY
• South Fork Loxt Creek
Based on field reconnaissance
from 2003 to 2005, stream
channels in the South Fork Lost
Creek watershed are primarily in
good to fair condition. One
reach was rated in poor
condition and is located on and
around the section line between
Sections 2 and 3 where USFS
lands are intermixed with DNRC
lands. The reach represents
less than 5 percent of the total
length of streams in the
watershed and is located on both
State trust and FNF lands. The
primary reason for the poor-
stability rating is a midchannel
gravel bar that is a result of
debris jams. The South Fork
Lost Creek watershed has a high
supply of small- to moderate-
sized woody material due to
large avalanche chutes in the
headwater portions of the
drainage. Material deposited
after an avalanche is prone to
forming debris jams that
periodically break. With
continuous forming and reforming
of debris jams, gravel bars
frequently form upstream of the
jam features.
Most reaches of channel were
rated as B3 and B4 channels
using a classification system
developed by Rosgen (1996) .
Channel types rated as "B" are
typically in the 2- to 4-percent
gradient range, and have a
Page D-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
moderate degree of meander
(sinuosity) . Channel-bed
materials in B3 and B4 types are
mainly cobble and gravel. Given
the cobble and gravel beds and
the gradient of these stream
types, bed materials commonly
move. Gravel bars have formed
on point bars in these reaches
(point bars are areas of natural
deposition found on the inside
of a meander bend) . No areas of
down-cut channels were
identified during field
reconnaissance. Large woody
debris was found in adequate
supply to support channel form
and function. Woody material in
a stream provides traps for
sediment storage and gradient
breaks to reduce erosive energy
and work as flow deflectors to
reduce bank erosion. Large
woody debris is also assessed
for its ability to provide
habitat for aquatic species.
These issues are discussed
further in APPENDIX E -
FISHERIES ANALYSIS. Little
evidence of past streamside
harvesting was found, and where
past logging took place in the
riparian area, no deficiency of
existing or potential downed
woody material was apparent in
the streams.
• Cilly Creek
Based on field reconnaissance
from 2003 to 2005, stream
reaches in the Cilly Creek
watershed were rated in good to
fair condition. Cilly Creek
flows perennially in most
reaches, but flow becomes
subsurface during the summer and
fall in some low-gradient
reaches in the valley bottom.
Stream reaches in the upper
portions of the watershed are
mainly A3 and A4 channels using
a classification system
developed by Rosgen (1996).
Channel types rated as "A" are
typically steeper than 4-percent
gradient and have a low degree
of meander (sinuosity) .
Channel-bed materials in A3 and
A4 types are mainly cobble and
gravel. Stream reaches are
mainly B4 and B5 in the lower
portions of the watershed.
Channel-bed materials in B4 and
B5 channels are mostly gravel
and coarse sand. Given the
cobble, gravel, and coarse sand
beds and the gradient of these
stream types, bed materials
commonly move. No areas of
down-cut channels were
identified during field
reconnaissance. Large woody
debris was found in adequate
supply to support channel form
and function. Woody material in
a stream provides traps for
sediment storage and gradient
breaks to reduce erosive energy
and work as flow deflectors to
reduce bank erosion. Large
woody debris is also assessed
for its ability to provide
habitat for aquatic species.
These issues are discussed
further in APPENDIX E -
FISHERIES ANALYSIS. Little
evidence of past streamside
harvesting was found, and, where
past logging took place in the
riparian area, no deficiency of
existing or potential downed
woody material was apparent in
the streams.
• Soup Creek
Based on field reconnaissance
from 2003 to 2005, stream
channels in the Soup Creek
watershed are primarily in good
to fair condition. An unnamed
tributary to Soup Creek had
reaches in the lower elevations
rated in poor condition. This
tributary begins in Section 23
on FNF land and flows west
through Section 22 of the
proposed project area. About
0.5 mile of stream on this
tributary is rated in poor
condition. This reach represents
less than 3 percent of the total
length of streams in the
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-5
watershed. The primary reason
for poor reach rating is a gully
cutting through an alluvial fan.
Alluvial fans are areas where
stream material has been
deposited for millennia, are
similar to a river delta, and
are usually found where a stream
comes out of a steep canyon onto
a broad, flat valley bottom.
Alluvial fans commonly have
streams that shift and jump from
one channel to another because
the material is easily moved by
flowing water. The rest of the
channel stability in Soup Creek
is described below.
Most reaches of the channel were
classified as B3 using a
classification system developed
by Rosgen (1996). Channel types
rated as "B" are typically in
the 2- to 4-percent gradient
range, and have a moderate
degree of meander (sinuosity) .
Channel bed materials in B3
types are mainly cobble with
some boulders and gravel . No
areas of down-cut channels were
identified during field
reconnaissance. Large woody
debris was found in adequate
supply to support channel form
and function. Woody material in
a stream provides traps for
sediment storage and gradient
breaks to reduce erosive energy
and work as flow deflectors to
reduce bank erosion. Large
woody debris is also assessed
for its ability to provide
habitat for aquatic species.
These issues are discussed
further in APPENDIX E -
FISHERIES ANALYSIS. The lower
reaches of the watershed flow
through a series of wetlands and
beaver ponds. The beaver dams
can lead to changing water
levels in the stream, but the
wetlands and beaver ponds tend
to moderate the high runoff
periods and settle out sediment
and channel bed materials that
may be carried downstream during
runoff. Past management of
streamside stands occurred in
the lower reaches of the
watershed. Where past logging
took place in the riparian area,
no deficiency of existing or
potential downed woody material
was apparent in the stream.
• Hoad SyKtem
The existing road system located
within and leading to the
proposed project area was
reviewed for existing and
potential sources of sediment.
In-channel and out-of-channel
sediment-source reviews were
conducted by DNRC hydrologists
and fisheries biologists, and by
PBS&J Consulting (formerly Land
and Water Consulting) in
association with the development
of the Swan Lake Water Quality
Protection Plan and TMDL ( DEQ
2005 ) . Based on the sediment-
source review conducted for the
Swan Lake TMDL, several existing
sources of sediment were
identified on the existing road
system. Each of the sources
identified in this analysis are
either found on DNRC ownership
or are associated with roads
that are under a Cost-Share
Agreement entered into by DNRC
and FNF. Most of the delivery
sites are located at stream
crossings, but a portion of the
South Fork Lost Creek road
system was also identified as a
chronic source of sediment
delivery to South Fork Lost
Creek. On this segment of road,
portions of the road fill are
located within the normal high-
water mark of the stream, and
has over 0.5 mile of road
capable of delivering sediment
to the stream. Another site
that was found to contribute
large volumes of sediment is
located in the Soup Creek
canyon. An existing bridge over
Soup Creek is aging and becoming
rotten. The east road approach
to this crossing is on a steep
grade and has no surface-
Page D-6
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
drainage relief, making it a
chronic source of sediment
delivery. The total estimated
sediment delivery from roads in
the project area to South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Soup creeks are
displayed in TABLE D-l -
ESTIMATED SEDIMENT DELIVERY TO
STREAMS FROM THE EXISTING ROAD
SYSTEM. These sediment-delivery
values are estimates based on
procedures outlined above and
are not measured values .
TABLE D-l - ESTIMATED SEDIMENT DELIVERY TO
STREAMS FROM THE EXISTING ROAD SYSTEM
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Existing tons
per year
19.8
2.9
35.6
Estimated sediment delivery
occurs primarily at stream
crossings, and sediment comes
from a variety of sources. The
South Fork Lost Creek and Soup
Creek watersheds each contain
existing crossings constructed
of wood and earth that are in
various stages of decay. These
crossings are located on DNRC-
managed lands on roads that have
not been used for several
decades. South Fork Lost Creek
has 2 wooden bridges with log
crib abutments that were
constructed in the 1960s; the
wood is very rotten and the
bridge decking is starting to
collapse. These 2 sites are not
currently a major source of
sediment in the watershed, but
the bridges are a high risk of
failure due to the decay of the
wood. Each abutment is
supporting 8 to 10 tons of fill
material that would be washed
down the creek should they fail.
In the Soup Creek watershed, 5
old crossing sites are a high
risk for sediment delivery to
Soup Creek. Two of these sites,
located in the Soup Creek
canyon, consist of dirt fill
material over logs spanning the
creek. The upper site has
approximately 35 tons of fill
material placed over the top of
the logs, and the lower site has
approximately 500 tons of
material placed over the top of
the logs. These 2 sites may
contribute minor amounts of
sediment to the stream during
high runoff, but these bridges
are a high risk of failure due
to the decay of the wood.
Should either or both of these
structures fail, most, if not
all, of the 35 tons and 500 tons
of material, respectively, would
be delivered to the stream. A
wooden bridge in the Soup Creek
canyon is constructed of log
crib abutments and is very
decayed. This site was
identified in the Swan Lake
Water Quality Protection Plan
(DEQ, 2005) as a major source of
sediment in the Swan Lake
watershed due to lack of surface
drainage and erosion control on
the road surface approaching the
bridge. In addition to this
finding, the site is a high risk
of failure due to decay of the
wood on the bridge abutments.
Each abutment is supporting 8 to
10 tons of fill material that
would be washed down the creek
should they fail.
Two additional old bridge sites
exist in the lower reaches of
the Soup Creek watershed. One
is the original Swan Highway
bridge site. The deck was
removed years ago, but the
wooden bridge abutments are
still in place and are badly
decaying. Each abutment is
supporting 8 to 10 tons of fill
material that would be washed
down the creek should they fail.
The other, an old wooden bridge
site with no decking, is located
on a secondary road off Soup
Creek Road. The log stringers
and abutments are still in
place, but are decaying to the
point that the bridge is a high
risk of failure. The bridge
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-7
abutments are supporting 8 to 10
tons of fill material that would
be washed down the creek should
they fail.
Other sources of sediment
delivery found during the
inventory are located on sites
needing additional erosion
control and BMP upgrades. These
sites occur on older roads that
were constructed before the
adoption of forest management
BMPs.
Much of the existing road system
in the proposed project area
meets applicable BMPs. Past
project work installed surface
drainage on the road systems in
the lower portions of the Soup
Creek and Cilly Creek
watersheds .
> WATER YIELD
According to ARM 36.11.423,
allowable water-yield increase
values were set at levels to
ensure compliance with all water-
quality standards, protect
beneficial uses, and exhibit a low
to moderate degree of risk. All
allowable water-yield increases in
project-area watersheds were set
using a low level of risk. This
means that the allowable level is
a point below which water yields
are unlikely to cause any
measurable or detectable changes
in channel stability. The
allowable water-yield increase for
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed has been set at 10
percent based on channel-stability
evaluations, watershed
sensitivity, and acceptable risk.
This water-yield increase would be
reached approximately when the ECA
level in South Fork Lost Creek
reaches the estimated level of
2,626 acres. The allowable water-
yield increase for the Cilly Creek
watershed has been set at 11
percent based on channel-stability
evaluations, watershed
sensitivity, and acceptable risk.
This water-yield increase would be
reached approximately when the ECA
level in Cilly Creek reaches the
estimated level of 1,448 acres.
The allowable water-yield increase
for the Soup Creek watershed has
been set at 9 percent based on
channel-stability evaluations,
watershed sensitivity, and
acceptable risk. This water-yield
increase would be reached
approximately when the ECA level
in Soup Creek reaches an estimated
2,202 acres. Based on review of
1963 aerial photography and DNRC
section records in the project
area, timber-harvesting and
associated road-construction
activities have taken place in the
South Fork Lost Creek, Cilly
Creek, and Soup Creek watersheds
since the 1950s. These
activities, combined with the
vegetative recovery that has
occurred, have led to an estimated
1.2-percent water-yield increase
over an unharvested condition in
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed, 2.3 percent over an
unharvested condition in Cilly
Creek, and 1.0 percent over an
unharvested condition in Soup
Creek. TABLE D-2 - CURRENT WATER-
YIELD AND ECA INCREASES IN THREE
CREEKS PROJECT AREA summarizes the
existing conditions for water
yield in the project area
watersheds. Estimated water yield
TABLE D-2 - CURRENT WATER-YIELD AND ECA INCREASES IN THREE CREEKS PROJECT
AREA
South Fork
Lost Creek
Cilly
Creek
Soup
Creek
Existing % water-yield increase
1.2
2.3
1.0
Allowable % water-yield increase
10
11
9
Existing ECA
310
348
428
Allowable ECA
2, 626
1,448
2,202
Page D 8 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
and ECA levels are very low in all
3 watersheds.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS
SEDIMENT DELIVERY
Direct and Indirect Effects
• Direct an ft Indirect Effect* 0JW0-. let ion
• Iffernafire ,1 to Sediment Del i eery
No-Action Alternative A would have
no direct effects to sediment
delivery beyond those currently
occurring. Existing sources of
sediment, both in channel and out
of channel, would continue to
recover or degrade based on
natural or preexisting conditions.
Indirect effects of No-Action
Alternative A would be an
increased risk of sediment
delivery to streams from crossings
that do not meet applicable BMPs.
These sites would continue to pose
a risk of sediment delivery to
streams until other funding became
available to repair them.
• Direct and Indirect l^ffect* to Sediment
Detieery Common to . Id ion , Ilternatieex H,
C, D and E
Each of the proposed action
alternatives would replace the
wooden bridge over Soup Creek on
Soup Creek Canyon Road. Each
action alternative would also
permanently remove and
rehabilitate 2 log-and-earth-f ill
crossings in the upper reaches of
Soup Creek, an old wooden bridge
in the lower portion of the Soup
Creek watershed, and 2 old wooden
bridges on South Fork Lost Creek;
the abutments and fill from the
original Swan Highway bridge in
the lower reaches of Soup Creek
would also be permanently removed
and rehabilitated.
Replacement of the existing bridge
over Soup Creek on the Soup Creek
Canyon Road would involve removal
of the log crib walls and the fill
material they are currently
retaining. The existing structure
is beginning to decay and, over
time, would become an increasing
risk of failure due to decay in
the wood. A potential failure of
the wood cribbing could allow
several tons of sediment to enter
the stream. The proposed new
bridge would be designed to allow
the stream to flow freely through
with no constriction of the bank-
full channel. This would reduce
the potential for bank erosion and
channel downcutting that may occur
with vertical bridge abutments.
The new crossing would also
redesign the road approach on the
north side of Soup Creek to allow
runoff to be diverted from the
road surface away from the
crossing site in both directions.
These improvements would lead to a
decrease in delivery of
approximately 23.8 tons of
sediment per year at this site.
Removal and rehabilitation of the
2 log/earth crossings in the upper
Soup Creek canyon would remove 2
potential sources of sediment. As
stated above, these 2 sites
contain 500 to 600 tons of fill
material. Removal of this
material and disposal outside of
the SMZ would remove the risk of
this material being delivered to
Soup Creek and Swan River. In the
short term, increases in the risk
of sediment delivery at
rehabilitated sites would
increase. This risk would be
highest in the year immediately
following the rehabilitation
activity and would decrease within
2 to 3 years to below preproject
levels as bare soil revegetates.
The rehabilitation activity would
produce some direct sediment
delivery, but this would be
minimized through the application
of sediment-control measures as
prescribed by a DNRC hydrologist
and fisheries biologist and a DFWP
fisheries biologist.
Removal and rehabilitation of the
2 wooden bridges over South Fork
Lost Creek, the existing wooden
bridge in the lower Soup Creek
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-9
watershed, and the existing log
cribs and abutments on the old
Swan Highway bridge site would
remove potential sources of
sediment. As stated above, each
of these 4 sites contain 16 to 20
tons of fill material (8 to 10
tons behind each abutment) .
Removal of this material and
disposal outside of the SMZ would
remove the risk of this material
being delivered to Soup Creek and
Swan River. In the short term,
increases in the risk of sediment
delivery at rehabilitated sites
would increase. This risk would
be highest in the year immediately
following the rehabilitation
activity and would decrease within
2 to 3 years to below preproject
levels as bare soil revegetates.
The rehabilitation activity would
produce some direct sediment
delivery, but this would be
minimized through applying
sediment-control measures as
prescribed by a DNRC hydrologist
and fisheries biologist and a DFWP
fisheries biologist.
Where South Fork Lost Creek Road
exists very near or within the
bankfull channel of South Fork
Lost Creek, portions of the road
would be permanently closed and
rehabilitated. The road would be
relocated up the slope, in general
keeping the road 200 feet or more
away from the stream. No live
stream crossings would be required
for the new construction, and the
old road would be rehabilitated,
revegetated, and permanently
reclaimed. This would reduce the
estimated sediment delivery to
South Fork Lost Creek by
approximately 18.9 tons^per year
from the existing condition. In
the short term, increases in the
risk of sediment delivery at
rehabilitated sites would
increase. This risk would be
highest in the year immediately
following the rehabilitation
activity and would decrease within
2 to 3 years to below preproject
levels as bare soil revegetates.
The rehabilitation activity would
produce some direct sediment
delivery, but this would be
minimized through the application
of sediment-control measures as
prescribed by a DNRC hydrologist
and fisheries biologist and a
fisheries biologist from DFWP.
• Direct and Indirect Effects of
Action Alternative B to Sediment
Delivery
Several stream crossings would be
replaced in the watersheds of the
proposed project area and along
the proposed haul routes, and
erosion control and BMPs would be
improved on approximately 47 miles
of existing road. This work
would:
- decrease the estimated sediment
load to South Fork Lost Creek by
an additional 0.4 tons of
sediment beyond the reduction
shown in Effects Common to
Action Alternatives B, C, D, and
E, for a total reduction of
approximately 19.3 tons of
sediment per year;
- reduce the estimated sediment
load to Cilly Creek by
approximately 1.0 ton per year;
and
- reduce the estimated sediment
load to Soup Creek by an
additional 9.8 tons of sediment
beyond the reduction shown in
Effects Common to Action
Alternatives B, C, D, and E, for
a total reduction of
approximately 33.6 tons per
year .
These projected sediment
reductions are net values for each
watershed. These values include
the projected increases in
sediment delivery from new stream
crossings and new road
construction, as well as projected
sediment reductions from BMP
improvements and road and stream-
crossing rehabilitation and
removal. A more detailed summary
of sediment delivery estimates is
Page D-10
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
found in TABLE D-3 (4, 5) -
ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK, SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
Action Alternative B would also
construct approximately 13.0 miles
of new road and approximately 5.3
miles of temporary road to access
proposed harvest units. The
impacts of proposed new roads are
primarily associated with new
stream crossings. These impacts
are discussed above and in TABLE
D-3 (4, 5) - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT
DELIVERY IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
(CILLY CREEK, SOUP CREEK)
WATERSHED. The remainder of the
impacts of new and temporary road
construction is related to the
risk of erosion resulting from
exposure of bare soil. The risk
of sediment delivery from new
permanent roads is low where these
roads are located away from stream
crossings. As cutslopes and
fillslopes revegetate, this risk
would decrease. Installation of
surface drainage and the
implementation of other BMPs and
the Rules would further reduce the
risk of erosion or sediment
delivery from new roads.
Temporary roads would be
decommissioned immediately
following the completion of
activities in the proposed units.
The decommissioned road would
present an increased risk of
sediment delivery until bare soil
is revegetated.
Action Alternative B proposes to
replace 4 existing stream
crossings in the proposed project
area. Two replacements are
existing culverts on unnamed
tributaries to Soup Creek, one is
the existing wooden bridge over
Soup Creek on Soup Creek Canyon
Road, and the fourth is an
existing culvert on an unnamed
tributary between Cilly Creek and
South Fork Lost Creek that does
not deliver surface flow to a
stream. Crossings proposed for
replacement do not currently meet
all applicable BMPs; in order to
meet applicable standards, a
bridge would be required on the
Soup Creek Canyon Road and a new
culvert would be required on the
following stream crossing sites:
two unnamed tributaries to Soup
Creek and the unnamed tributary
between Cilly Creek and South Fork
Lost Creek. The replacement of
existing stream crossings would
contribute sediment directly to
the streams where work would be
conducted. This sediment would be
minimized through application of
standard erosion-control measures.
The sediment delivery anticipated
from this project would be short
term and would comply with all
applicable permits and State
water-quality laws. In addition,
several sites would have
additional erosion control added
to lower the risk of sediment
delivery to a stream or draw. In
some cases, the addition of
erosion-control measures may
increase the risk of sediment
delivery in the short term by
creating bare soil. However, as
these sites revegetate, the long-
term risk of sedimentation to a
stream would be reduced to levels
lower than the existing condition.
Two new stream crossings proposed
with Action Alternative B would be
installed in the upper reaches of
an unnamed tributary to Soup Creek
that flows through Section 22 of
the proposed project area. These
crossings would be located in deep
"v" shaped valleys with steep
sideslopes (60 to 80 percent).
Due to the steepness of the
sideslopes coming into the
proposed crossings, cutslopes
would be much higher than those on
standard stream crossings. This
type of road construction does not
use fill material; all material
cut in order to construct these
portions of road would be hauled
away in trucks, so the only risk
to assess at these sites is
associated with the cutslopes and
road travel surface. This
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-ll
increase in cutslope height would
increase the risk of cutslope
material being eroded and routed
to streams. The soil parent
material is glacial till at these
sites, which also may increase the
risk of material either being
eroded or having small cutslope
failures fill and plug the road
ditches. With all applicable BMPs
in place at these sites, the risk
of erosion problems sending
sediment to a stream is moderate.
This means that there is
approximately a 50-percent chance
that impacts may occur as a result
of construction. Potential
impacts to water guality are
moderate. Therefore, if impacts
would occur, they would be
detectable or measurable, and
these impacts may or may not be
detrimental to downstream
beneficial uses.
Action Alternative B would have a
low risk of sediment delivery to
streams as a result of proposed
timber-harvesting activities. The
SMZ law, Rules, and applicable
BMPs would be applied to all
harvesting activities, which would
minimize the risk of sediment
delivery to draws and streams.
The Montana BMP audit process has
been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
BMPs since 1990; this process has
also been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
the SMZ Law since 1996. During
that time, evaluation of ground-
based skidding practices near
riparian areas has been rated 92-
percent effective, and these same
practices have been found
effective over 99 percent of the
time from 1998 to present ( DNRC ,
1990 through 2004) . Since 1996,
effectiveness of the SMZ width has
been rated over 99 percent (DNRC,
1990 through 2004) . As a result,
with the application of BMPs and
the SMZ Law, proposed activities
are expected to have a low risk of
low impacts to sediment delivery.
Harvesting activities are proposed
within the South Fork Lost Creek
and Cilly Creek SMZs. These
activities would follow all
requirements of the SMZ Law and
Forest Management Rules, and would
have a low risk of affecting
channel stability and sediment
transport through reduced
recruitment of large woody
material to South Fork Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, or their tributaries.
A more in-depth discussion of the
impacts of riparian harvesting can
be found in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
• Direct amt Indirect l\(fectx »J\ Jet ion
. Ilternatire C to Sediment Detirery
Several stream crossings in the
proposed project area watersheds
and along the proposed haul route
would be replaced, and erosion
control and BMPs would be improved
on approximately 65 miles of
existing road. This work would:
- decrease the estimated sediment
load to South Fork Lost Creek by
an additional 0.4 tons of
sediment beyond the reduction
shown in Effects Common to
Action Alternatives B, C, D, and
E, for a total reduction of
approximately 19.3 tons of
sediment per year;
- reduce the estimated sediment
load to Cilly Creek by
approximately 1.0 ton per year;
and
- reduce the estimated sediment
load to Soup Creek by an
additional 9.8 tons of sediment
beyond the reduction shown in
Effects Common to Action
Alternatives B, C, D, and E, for
a total reduction of
approximately 33.6 tons per
year .
These projected sediment
reductions are net values for each
watershed. These values include
the projected increases in
sediment delivery from new stream
crossings and new road
Page D-12
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
construction, as well as projected
sediment reductions from BMP
improvements and road and stream-
crossing rehabilitation and
removal. A more detailed summary
of sediment delivery estimates is
found in TABLE D-3 (4, 5) -
ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK, SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
Action Alternative C would also
construct approximately 12.4 miles
of new road and approximately 6.9
miles of temporary road to access
proposed harvest units. The
impacts of proposed new roads are
primarily associated with new
stream crossings. These impacts
are discussed above and in TABLE
D-3 (4, 5) - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT
DELIVERY IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
(CILLY CREEK, SOUP CREEK)
WATERSHED . The remainder of the
impacts of new and temporary road
construction is related to the
risk of erosion resulting from
exposure of bare soil. The risk
of sediment delivery from new
permanent roads is low where these
roads are located away from stream
crossings. As cutslopes and
fillslopes revegetate, this risk
would decrease. Installation of
surface drainage and the
implementation of other BMPs and
the Rules would further reduce the
risk of erosion or sediment
delivery from new roads.
Temporary roads would be
decommissioned immediately
following the completion of
activities in the proposed units.
The decommissioned road would
present an increased risk of
sediment delivery until bare soil
is revegetated.
Action Alternative C proposes to
replace 4 existing stream
crossings in the proposed project
area. Two replacements are
existing culverts on unnamed
tributaries to Soup Creek, one is
the existing wooden bridge over
Soup Creek on Soup Creek Canyon
Road, and the fourth is an
existing culvert on an unnamed
tributary between Cilly Creek and
South Fork Lost Creek that does
not deliver surface flow to a
stream. Crossings proposed for
replacement do not currently meet
all applicable BMPs; in order to
meet applicable standards, a
bridge would be required on Soup
Creek Canyon Road, and new
culverts would be required on the
following stream-crossing sites:
two unnamed tributaries to Soup
Creek and the unnamed tributary
between Cilly Creek and South Fork
Lost Creek. The replacement of
existing stream crossings would
contribute sediment directly to
the streams where work would be
conducted. This sediment would be
minimized through the application
of standard erosion-control
measures. The sediment delivery
anticipated from this project
would be short-term and comply
with all applicable permits and
State water-quality laws. In
addition, several sites would have
additional erosion control added
to lower the risk of sediment
delivery to a stream or draw. In
some cases, the addition of
erosion-control measures may
increase the risk of sediment
delivery in the short term by
creating bare soil. However, as
these sites revegetate, the long-
term risk of sedimentation to a
stream would be reduced to levels
lower than the existing condition.
Two new stream crossings proposed
with Action Alternative C would be
installed in the upper reaches of
an unnamed tributary to Soup Creek
flowing through Section 22 of the
proposed project area. These
crossings would be located in deep
"v" shaped valleys with steep
sideslopes (60 to 80 percent) .
Due to the steepness of the
sideslopes coming into the
proposed crossings, cutslopes
would be much higher than those on
standard stream crossings. This
type of road construction does not
use fill material; all material
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-13
cut in order to construct these
portions of road would be hauled
away in trucks, so the only risk
to assess at these sites is
associated with the cutslopes and
road travel surface. This increase
in cutslope height would increase
the risk of cutslope material
being eroded and routed to
streams. The soil parent material
is glacial till at these sites,
which also may increase the risk
of material either being eroded or
having small cutslope failures
fill and plug the road ditches.
With all applicable BMPs in place
at these sites, the risk of
erosion problems sending sediment
to a stream is moderate. This
means that there is approximately
a 50-percent chance that impacts
may occur as a result of
construction. Potential impacts
to water quality are moderate.
Therefore, if impacts would occur,
they would be detectable or
measurable, and these impacts may
or may not be detrimental to
downstream beneficial use.
Action Alternative C would have a
low risk of sediment delivery to
streams as a result of proposed
timber-harvesting activities. The
SMZ law, Rules, and applicable
BMPs would be applied to all
harvesting activities, which would
minimize the risk of sediment
delivery to draws and streams.
The Montana BMP audit process has
been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
BMPs since 1990; this process has
also been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
the SMZ Law since 1996,. During
that time, evaluation Of ground-
based skidding practices near
riparian areas has been rated 92-
percent effective, and these same
practices have been found
effective over 99 percent of the
time from 1998 to present ( DNRC ,
1990 through 2004). Since 1996,
effectiveness of the SMZ width has
been rated over 99 percent (DNRC,
1990 through 2004). As a result.
with the application of BMPs and
the SMZ Law, proposed activities
are expected to have a low risk of
low impacts to sediment delivery.
Harvesting activities are proposed
within the South Fork Lost Creek
and Cilly Creek SMZs. These
activities would follow all
requirements of the SMZ Law and
the Rules, and would have a low
risk of affecting channel
stability and sediment transport
through reduced recruitment of
large woody material to South Fork
Lost Creek, Cilly Creek, or their
tributaries. A more in-depth
discussion of the impacts of
riparian harvesting can be found
in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
• Direct an ft Indirect !\(fectx of. let ion
•If fern afire D to Sediment Delivery
Several stream crossings would be
replaced in the proposed project-
area watersheds and along the
proposed haul route, and erosion
control and BMPs would be improved
on approximately 84 miles of
existing road. This work would
create an estimated net increase
of 0.6 tons of sediment load to
South Fork Lost Creek. This
projected increase, when combined
with the estimated reduction shown
in Effects Common to Action
Alternatives B, C, D, and E,
amounts to:
- a total estimated reduction of
approximately 18.7 tons of
sediment per year;
- a reduction in the estimated
sediment load to Cilly Creek by
approximately 0.6 ton per year;
and
- a reduction in the estimated
sediment load to Soup Creek by
an additional 9.8 tons of
sediment beyond the reduction
shown in Effects Common to
Action Alternatives B, C, D and
E, for a total reduction of
approximately 33.6 tons per
year .
Page D-14
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
These projected sediment
reductions are net values for each
watershed. These values include
the projected increases in
sediment delivery from new stream
crossings and new road
construction, as well as projected
sediment reductions from BMP
improvements and road and stream-
crossing rehabilitation and
removal. A more detailed summary
of sediment-delivery estimates is
found in TABLE D-3 ( 4 , 5) -
ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK , SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
Action Alternative D would also
construct approximately 15.6 miles
of new road and approximately 3.9
miles of temporary road to access
proposed harvest units. The
impacts of the proposed new roads
are primarily associated with new
stream crossings. These impacts
are discussed above, and in TABLE
D-3 (4, 5) - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT
DELIVERY IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
(CILLY CREEK , SOUP CREEK)
WATERSHED . The remainder of the
impacts of new and temporary road
construction is related to the
risk of erosion resulting from
exposure of bare soil. The risk
of sediment delivery from new
permanent roads is low where these
roads are located away from stream
crossings. As cutslopes and
fillslopes revegetate, this risk
would decrease. Installation of
surface drainage and other
implementations of BMPs and the
Rules would further reduce the
risk of erosion or sediment
delivery from new roads.
Temporary roads would be
decommissioned immediately
following the completion of
activities in the proposed units.
The decommissioned roads would
present an increased risk of
sediment delivery until bare soil
is revegetated.
Action Alternative D proposes to
replace 5 existing stream
crossings in the proposed project
area. Two replacements are
existing culverts on unnamed
tributaries to Soup Creek, one is
the existing wooden bridge over
Soup Creek on Soup Creek Canyon
Road, and the fourth is an
existing culvert on an unnamed
tributary between Cilly Creek and
South Lost Creek that does not
deliver surface flow to a stream.
Crossings proposed for replacement
do not currently meet all
applicable BMPs; in order to meet
applicable standards, a bridge
would be required on Soup Creek
Canyon Road and new culverts would
be required on the following
stream crossing sites: two
unnamed tributaries to Soup Creek,
an existing Cliff Creek culvert,
and the unnamed tributary between
Cilly Creek and South Fork Lost
Creek. The replacement of
existing stream crossings would
contribute sediment directly to
the streams where work would be
conducted. This sediment would be
minimized through the application
of standard erosion-control
measures. The sediment delivery
anticipated from this project
would be short term and comply
with all applicable permits and
State water-quality laws. In
addition, several sites would have
additional erosion control added
to lower the risk of sediment
delivery to a stream or draw. In
some cases, the addition of
erosion-control measures may
increase the risk of sediment
delivery in the short term by
creating bare soil. However, as
these sites revegetate, the long-
term risk of sedimentation to a
stream would be reduced to levels
lower than the existing condition.
Two new stream crossings proposed
with Action Alternative D would be
installed in the upper reaches of
an unnamed tributary to Soup Creek
that flows through Section 22 of
the proposed project area. Action
Alternative D also proposes to
install a new stream crossing in
the upper reaches of Cilly Creek
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-15
in the eastern portion of Section
14. These crossings would be
located in deep "v" shaped valleys
with steep sideslopes (60 to 80
percent) . Due to the steepness of
the sideslopes coming into the
proposed crossings, cutslopes
would be much higher than those on
standard stream crossings. This
type of road construction does not
use fill material; all material
cut in order to construct these
portions of road would be hauled
away in trucks, so the only risk
to assess at these sites is
associated with the cutslopes and
road travel surface. This
increase in cutslope height would
increase the risk of cutslope
material being eroded and routed
to streams. The soil parent
material is glacial till at these
sites, which also may increase the
risk of material either being
eroded or having small cutslope
sloughs fill and plug the road
ditches. With all applicable BMPs
in place at these sites, the risk
of erosion problems sending
sediment to a stream is moderate.
This means that there is
approximately a 50-percent chance
that impacts may occur as a result
of construction. Potential
impacts to water quality are
moderate. Therefore, if impacts
would occur, they would be
detectable or measurable, and
these impacts may or may not be
detrimental to downstream
beneficial uses.
Action Alternative D would have a
low risk of sediment delivery to
streams as a result of proposed
timber-harvesting activities. The
SMZ law, Rules, and all applicable
BMPs would be applied to all
harvesting activities, which would
minimize the risk of sediment
delivery to draws and streams.
The Montana BMP audit process has
been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
BMPs since 1990; this process has
also been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
the SMZ Law since 1996. During
that time, evaluation of ground-
based skidding practices near
riparian areas has been rated 92-
percent effective, and these same
practices have been found
effective over 99 percent of the
time from 1998 to present ( DNRC ,
1990 through 2004). Since 1996,
effectiveness of the SMZ width has
been rated over 99 percent [DNRC,
1990 through 2004). As a result,
with the application of BMPs and
the SMZ Law, proposed activities
are expected to have a low risk of
low impacts to sediment delivery.
Harvesting activities are proposed
within the South Fork Lost Creek
and Cilly Creek SMZs. These
activities would follow all
requirements of the SMZ Law and
the Rules and have a low risk of
affecting channel stability and
sediment transport through reduced
recruitment of large woody
material to South Fork Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, or their tributaries.
A more in-depth discussion of the
impacts of riparian harvesting can
be found in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
• Direct an ft Indirect Ijffecf# of , let ion
Jit tern a tire E to Sediment Detirery
Several stream crossings would be
replaced in the proposed project
area watersheds and along the
proposed haul route, and erosion
control and BMPs would be improved
on approximately 90 miles of
existing road. This work would
create an estimated net increase
of 0.6 tons of sediment load to
South Fork Lost Creek. This
projected increase when combined
with the estimated reduction shown
in Effects Common to Action
Alternatives B, C, D, and E
amounts to:
- a total estimated reduction of
approximately 18.7 tons of
sediment per year;
- a reduction in the estimated
sediment load to Cilly Creek by
approximately 1.0 ton per year.
Page D-16
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
and a reduction in the estimated
sediment load to Soup Creek by
an additional 10.1 tons of
sediment beyond the reduction
shown in Effects Common to
Action Alternatives B, C, D, and
E, for a total reduction of
approximately 33.9 tons per
year .
These projected sediment
reductions are net values for each
watershed. These values include
the projected increases in
sediment delivery from new stream
crossings and new road
construction, as well as projected
sediment reductions from BMP
improvements and road and stream-
crossing rehabilitation and
removal. A more detailed summary
of sediment delivery estimates can
be found in TABLE D-3 (4, 5) -
ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK , SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
Action Alternative E would also
construct approximately 8.2 miles
of new road and approximately 4.8
miles of temporary road to access
proposed harvest units. The
impacts of the proposed new roads
are primarily associated with new
stream crossings. These impacts
are discussed above and in TABLE
D-3 (4, 5) - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT
DELIVERY IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
(CILLY CREEK, SOUP CREEK)
WATERSHED. The remainder of the
impacts of new and temporary road
construction is related to the
risk of erosion resulting from
exposure of bare soil. The risk
of sediment delivery from new
permanent roads is low where these
roads are located away from stream
crossings. As cutslopes and
fillslopes revegetate, this risk
would decrease. Installation of
surface drainage and the
implementation of other BMPs and
the Rules would further reduce the
risk of erosion or sediment
delivery from new roads.
Temporary roads would be
decommissioned immediately
following the completion of
activities in the proposed units.
The decommissioned roads would
present an increased risk of
sediment delivery until bare soil
is revegetated.
Action Alternative E proposes to
replace 5 existing stream
crossings in the proposed project
area. Two are existing culverts
on unnamed tributaries to Soup
Creek, one is the existing wooden
bridge over Soup Creek on Soup
Creek Canyon Road, and the fourth
is an existing culvert on an
unnamed tributary between Cilly
Creek and South Fork Lost Creek
that does not deliver surface flow
to a stream. Crossings proposed
for replacement do not currently
meet all applicable BMPs; in order
to meet applicable standards, a
bridge would be required on Soup
Creek Canyon Road and a new
culvert would be required on the
following stream crossing sites:
2 unnamed tributaries to Soup
Creek, an existing Cliff Creek
culvert, and the unnamed tributary
between Cilly Creek and South Fork
Lost Creek. The replacement of
existing stream crossings would
contribute sediment directly to
the streams where work would be
conducted. This sediment would be
minimized through the application
of standard erosion-control
measures. The sediment delivery
anticipated from this project
would be short term and comply
with applicable permits and State
water-quality laws. In addition,
several sites would have
additional erosion control added
to lower the risk of sediment
delivery to a stream or draw. In
some cases, the addition of
erosion-control measures may
increase the risk of sediment
delivery in the short term by
creating bare soil. However, as
these sites revegetate, the long-
term risk of sedimentation to a
stream would be reduced to levels
lower than the existing condition.
Appendix D — Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-17
Action Alternative E would have a
low risk of sediment delivery to
streams as a result of proposed
timber-harvesting activities. The
SMZ law, Rules, and applicable
BMPs would be applied to all
harvesting activities, which would
minimize the risk of sediment
delivery to draws and streams.
The Montana BMP audit process has
been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
BMPs since 1990; this process has
also been used to evaluate the
application and effectiveness of
the SMZ Law since 1996. During
that time, evaluation of ground-
based skidding practices near
riparian areas has been rated 92-
percent effective, and these same
practices have been found
effective over 99 percent of the
time from 1998 to present (DNRC,
1990 through 2004). Since 1996,
effectiveness of the SMZ width has
been rated over 99 percent [DNRC,
1990 through 2004) . As a result,
with the application of BMPs and
the SMZ Law, proposed activities
are expected to have a low risk of
low impacts to sediment delivery.
Harvesting activities are proposed
within the South Fork Lost Creek
and Cilly Creek SMZs. This
harvesting activity would follow
all requirements of the SMZ Law
and the Rules and would have a low
risk of affecting channel
stability and sediment transport
through reduced recruitment of
large woody material to South Fork
Lost Creek, Cilly Creek, or their
tributaries. A more in-depth
discussion of the impacts of
riparian harvesting can be found
in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
• Cumulative Effect* qf .Vo-. Irl ion .Uternative
,1 to Sediment Delivery
The cumulative effects would be
very similar to those described in
the EXISTING CONDITIONS portion of
this analysis. All existing
sources of sediment would continue
to recover or degrade as dictated
by natural and preexisting
conditions until a source of
funding became available to repair
them. Sediment loads would remain
at or near present levels.
• Cumulative !\ffedx qf, let ion , Uternative It to
Sediment Delivery
Cumulative effects to sediment
delivery would be primarily
related to roadwork and stream-
crossing replacements. Sediment
generated from the replacement of
existing culverts would increase
the total sediment load in project
area streams for the duration of
activity. These increases would
not exceed any State water-quality
laws and would follow all
applicable recommendations given
in the 124 and 318 permits. In
the long term, the cumulative
effects to sediment delivery would
be a reduction from approximately
19.8 tons of sediment per year to
approximately 0.5 tons of sediment
per year in South Fork Lost Creek,
reduced from 2.9 tons per year to
approximately 1.9 tons per year in
Cilly Creek, and reduced from 35.6
tons per year to 1.9 tons per year
in Soup Creek. These values
include projected increases from
new road and stream-crossing
construction, potential increases
from the replacement of existing
stream-crossing structures, and
the projected reductions in
sediment delivery from upgrading
surface drainage, erosion control,
and BMPs on existing roads. A
summary of sediment-delivery
estimates is found in TABLE D-3
(4, 5) - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT
DELIVERY IN THE SOUP CREEK (CILLY
CREEK, SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK)
WATERSHED at the end of the
SEDIMENT DELIVERY effects. As the
sites stabilize and revegetate,
sediment levels resulting from
culvert replacements would
decrease further from projected
levels as work sites are closed
and reclaimed roads revegetate and
Page D-18
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
stabilize. Over the long term,
cumulative sediment loads would be
reduced due to better design on
the crossings. The improved
design would reduce the risk of
failure of the structures, which
would reduce the risk of sediment
delivery to Swan River and other
downstream waters.
The construction of new roads and
stream crossings and installation
and improvement of erosion-control
and surface-drainage features on
existing roads would also affect
the cumulative sediment delivery
to South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Soup creeks as described above.
In the short term, new road
construction and the installation
and improvement of surface
drainage features would expose
bare soil. This would increase
the risk of short-term sediment
delivery to the streams in and
around the proposed project area.
The application of all applicable
BMPs during this work would
minimize the risk of potential
short-term sediment loading to
downstream waters. Over the long
term, cumulative sediment delivery
to South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Soup creeks are projected to be
lower than existing conditions.
Projected increases in sediment
delivery from new road and stream-
crossing construction would be far
less than the sediment-delivery
decreases expected with the
installation of more effective
surface-drainage and erosion-
control features on the existing
road system. The net long-term
effect to sediment delivery from
this alternative is expected to be
a cumulative decrease from
preproject levels.
The harvesting of trees within an
SMZ would have a low risk of
adverse cumulative effects to
channel stability and sediment
transport due to reduced downed
woody material in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks or their
tributaries. Tree-retention
requirements of the SMZ Law and
Forest Management Rules would
ensure a future supply of woody
material to project area creeks.
A more in-depth discussion of the
impacts of riparian harvesting is
discussed in APPENDIX E -
FISHERIES ANALYSIS.
Action Alternative B has a low
risk of adverse cumulative impacts
to sediment yield in project-area
watersheds and presents a low risk
to adversely affect downstream
beneficial uses. Implementation
of BMPs, the SMZ Law, and Forest
Management Rules would ensure low
risk of increased sediment
delivery, and improvements to the
existing road system would
substantially reduce cumulative
levels of sedimentation from
current levels. All activities
would comply with applicable laws,
rules, and regulations.
• Cumulative /fflecte of.Icfion . Alternative Cto
Sediment Delivery
Cumulative effects would be
primarily related to roadwork and
stream-crossing replacements. The
sediment generated from the
replacement of existing culverts
would increase the total sediment
load in project-area streams for
the duration of activity. These
increases would not exceed any
State water-quality laws, and
would follow all applicable
recommendations given in the 124
and 318 permits. In the long
term, the cumulative effects to
sediment delivery would be a
reduction from approximately 19.8
tons of sediment per year to
approximately 0.5 tons of sediment
per year in the South Fork Lost
Creek, reduced from 2.9 tons per
year to approximately 1.9 tons per
year in Cilly Creek, and reduced
from 35.6 tons per year to 1.9
tons per year in Soup Creek.
These values include projected
increases from new road and
stream-crossing construction,
potential increases from
replacement of existing stream-
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-19
crossing structures, and the
projected reductions in sediment
delivery from the upgrading of
surface drainage, erosion control,
and BMPs on existing roads. A
summary of sediment delivery
estimates is found in TABLE D-3
( 4 , 5) - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT
DELIVERY IN THE SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK (CILLY CREEK , SOUP CREEK)
WATERSHED at the end of the
SEDIMENT DELIVERY effects. As the
sites stabilize and revegetate,
sediment levels resulting from
culvert replacements would
decrease further from projected
levels as work sites are closed
and reclaimed roads revegetate and
stabilize. Over the long term,
cumulative sediment loads would be
reduced due to a better design on
the crossings. Improved design
would reduce the risk of failure
of the structures, which would
reduce the risk of sediment
delivery to Swan River and other
downstream waters.
The construction of new roads and
stream crossings and installation
and improvement of erosion-control
and surface-drainage features on
existing roads would also affect
the cumulative sediment delivery
to South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Soup creeks as described above.
In the short term, new road
construction and the installation
and improvement of surface-
drainage features would expose
bare soil. This would increase
the risk of short-term sediment
delivery to the streams in and
around the proposed project area.
The application of all applicable
BMPs during this work yould
minimize the risk of potential
short-term sediment loading to
downstream waters. Over the long
term, cumulative sediment delivery
to South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Soup creeks are projected to be
lower than existing conditions.
Projected increases in sediment
delivery from new road and stream-
crossing construction would be far
less than the expected sediment
delivery decreases expected with
the installation of more effective
surface-drainage and erosion-
control features on the existing
road system. The net long-term
effect to sediment delivery from
this alternative is expected to be
a cumulative decrease from
preproject levels.
Harvesting of trees within a SMZ
would have a low risk of adverse
cumulative effects to channel
stability and sediment transport
due to reduced downed woody
material in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup Creek or their
tributaries. Tree-retention
requirements of the SMZ Law and
the Rules would ensure a future
supply of woody material to creeks
in the project area. A more in-
depth discussion of the impacts of
riparian harvesting is discussed
in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
Action Alternative C has a low
risk of adverse cumulative impacts
to sediment yield in project area
watersheds and presents a low risk
to adversely affect downstream
beneficial uses. Implementation
of BMPs, the SMZ Law, and the
Rules would ensure a low risk of
increased sediment delivery, and
improvements to the existing road
system would substantially reduce
cumulative levels of sedimentation
from current levels. All
activities would comply with
applicable laws. Rules, and
regulations .
• Cumutatire Efflecte of. let ion .llternafire l) to
Sediment Delivery
Cumulative effects would be
primarily related to roadwork and
stream-crossing replacements. The
sediment generated from the
replacement of existing culverts
would increase the total sediment
load in project-area streams for
the duration of activity. These
increases would not exceed any
State water-quality laws and would
follow all applicable
Page D-20
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
recommendations given in the 124
and 318 permits. In the long
term, the cumulative effects to
sediment delivery would be a
reduction from approximately 19.8
tons of sediment per year to
approximately 1.1 tons of sediment
per year in South Fork Lost Creek,
reduced from 2.9 tons per year to
approximately 2.3 tons per year in
Cilly Creek, and reduced from 35.6
tons per year to 1.9 tons per year
in Soup Creek. These values
include projected increases from
new road and stream-crossing
construction, potential increases
from replacement of existing
stream-crossing structures, and
the projected reductions in
sediment delivery from the
upgrading of surface drainage,
erosion control, and BMPs on
existing roads. A summary of
sediment-delivery estimates is
found in TABLE D-3 (4, 5) -
ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN
THE SOUP CREEK (CILLY CREEK , SOUTH
FORK LOST CREEK) WATERSHED at the
end of the SEDIMENT DELIVERY
effects. As the sites stabilize
and revegetate, sediment levels
resulting from culvert
replacements would decrease
further from projected levels as
work sites are closed and
reclaimed roads revegetate and
stabilize. Over the long term,
cumulative sediment loads would be
reduced due to a better design on
the crossings. Improved design
would reduce the risk of failure
of the structures, which would
reduce the risk of sediment
delivery to Swan River and other
downstream waters.
The construction of new roads and
stream crossings and the
installation and improvement of
erosion-control and surface-
drainage features on existing
roads would also affect the
cumulative sediment delivery to
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
Creek as described above. In the
short term, new road construction
and the installation and
improvement of surface-drainage
features would expose bare soil.
This would increase the risk of
short-term sediment delivery to
the streams in and around the
proposed project area. The
application of all applicable BMPs
during this work would minimize
the risk of potential short-term
sediment loading to downstream
waters. Over the long term,
cumulative sediment delivery to
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks are projected to be lower
than existing conditions.
Projected increases in sediment
delivery from new road and stream-
crossing construction would be far
less than the expected sediment-
delivery decreases expected with
the installation of more effective
surface-drainage and erosion-
control features on the existing
road system. The net long-term
effect to sediment delivery from
this alternative is expected to be
a cumulative decrease from
preproject levels.
The harvesting of trees within an
SMZ would have a low risk of
adverse cumulative effects to
channel stability and sediment
transport due to reduced downed
woody material in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks or their
tributaries. Tree-retention
requirements of the SMZ Law and
the Rules would ensure a future
supply of woody material to creeks
in the project area. A more in-
depth discussion of the impacts of
riparian harvesting is discussed
in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
Action Alternative D has a low
risk of adverse cumulative impacts
to sediment yield in project-area
watersheds and presents a low risk
to adversely affecting downstream
beneficial uses. Implementation
of BMPs, the SMZ Law, and the
Rules would ensure a low risk of
increased sediment delivery, and
improvements to the existing road
system would substantially reduce
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-21
cumulative levels of sedimentation
from current levels. All
activities would comply with
applicable laws, Rules, and
regulations .
• Cumnlrtlire htffect* of , let ion , Itternatire E to
Sediment Deli eery
Cumulative effects would be
primarily related to roadwork and
stream-crossing replacements. The
sediment generated from the
replacement of existing culverts
would increase the total sediment
load in project-area streams for
the duration of activity. These
increases would not exceed any
State water-quality laws, and
would follow all applicable
recommendations given in the 124
and 318 permits. In the long
term, the cumulative effects to
sediment delivery would be a
reduction from approximately 19.8
tons of sediment per year to
approximately 1.1 tons of sediment
per year in South Fork Lost Creek,
reduced from 2.9 tons per year to
approximately 1.9 tons per year in
Cilly Creek, and reduced from 35.6
tons per year to 1.7 tons per year
in Soup Creek. These values
include projected increases from
new road and stream-crossing
construction, potential increases
from the replacement of existing
stream-crossing structures, and
the projected reductions in
sediment delivery from the
upgrading of surface drainage,
erosion control, and BMPs on
existing roads. A summary of
sediment delivery estimates is
found in TABLE D-3 (4, 5) -
ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN
THE SOUTH FORK LOST (CILLY CREEK ,
SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED at the end
of the SEDIMENT DELIVERY effects.
As the sites stabilize and
revegetate, sediment levels
resulting from culvert
replacements would decrease
further from projected levels as
work sites are closed and
reclaimed roads revegetate and
stabilize. Over the long term,
cumulative sediment loads would be
reduced due to better design on
the crossings. Improved design
would reduce the risk of failure
of the structures, which would
reduce the risk of sediment
delivery to Swan River and other
downstream waters.
The construction of new roads and
stream crossings and the
installation and improvement of
erosion-control and surface-
drainage features on existing
roads would also affect the
cumulative sediment delivery to
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks as described above. In the
short term, new road construction
and the installation and
improvement of surface-drainage
features would expose bare soil.
This would increase the risk of
short-term sediment delivery to
the streams in and around the
proposed project area. The
application of all applicable BMPs
during this work would minimize
the risk of potential short-term
sediment loading to downstream
waters. Over the long term,
cumulative sediment delivery to
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks are projected to be lower
than existing conditions.
Projected increases in sediment
delivery from new road and stream-
crossing construction would be far
less than the sediment-delivery
decreases expected with the
installation of more effective
surface-drainage and erosion-
control features on the existing
road system. The net long-term
effect to sediment delivery from
this alternative is expected to be
a cumulative decrease from
preproject levels.
The harvesting of trees within an
SMZ would have a low risk of
adverse cumulative effects to
channel stability and sediment
transport due to reduced downed
woody material in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks or their
tributaries. Tree-retention
Page D-22
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
requirements of the SMZ Law and
the Rules would ensure a future
supply of woody material to creeks
in the project area. A more in-
depth discussion of the impacts of
riparian harvesting is discussed
in APPENDIX E - FISHERIES
ANALYSIS.
Action Alternative E has a low risk
of adverse cumulative impacts to
sediment yield in project-area
watersheds and presents a low risk
to adversely affect downstream
beneficial uses. Implementation of
BMPs, the SMZ Law, and the Rules
would ensure a low risk of
increased sediment delivery, and
improvements to the existing road
system would substantially reduce
cumulative levels of sedimentation
from current levels. All
activities would comply with
applicable laws, Rules, and
regulations .
TABLE D-3 - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN THE SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
WATERSHED
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Existing delivery (tons/year)
19.8
19.8
19.8
19.8
19.8
Estimated reduction^
0.0
19.3
19.3
19.3
19.3
Estimated increase"1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.6
0.6
Post-project delivery (tons/
year)
19.8
0.5
0.5
1.1
1.1
Reduction (tons/year) 1
0
19.3
19.3
18.7
18.7
Percent reduction4
0
97%
97%
94%
94%
‘These sediment-delivery values are estimates based on procedures outlined in
Analysis Methods, and are not measured values.
2 Includes projected decreases from rehabilitation and BMP work on existing roads and
crossings .
3 Includes projected increases from construction of new roads and new stream
crossings .
4Percent reduction values are estimates based on procedures outlined in Analysis
Methods, not on measured values.
TABLE D-4 - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN THE CILLY CREEK WATERSHED
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Existing delivery (tons/year)1
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
Estimated reduction"1
o
o
1 . 4
1 . 4
1.4
1 . 4
Estimated increase"*
o
o
0.4
0.4
CO
o
0.4
Postproject delivery (tons/year)
2.9
1.9
1.9
2 . 3
1.9
Reduction (tons/year)1
0
1.0
o
1 — 1
0.6
o
1 — 1
Percent reduction4
0
34%
34%
21%
34%
1T hese sediment-delivery values are estimates based on procedures outlined in
Analysis Methods, and are not measured values.
2 Includes projected decreases from rehabilitation and BMP work on existing roads and
crossings .
3Includes projected increases from construction of new roads and new stream
crossings .
4 Percent reduction values are estimates based on procedures outlined in Analysis
Methods, not on measured values.
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-23
TABLE D-5 - ESTIMATES OF SEDIMENT DELIVERY IN THE SOUP CREEK WATERSHED
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Existing delivery (tons/year)1
35.6
35.6
35.6
35.6
35.6
Estimated reduction^
0.0
34.3
34.3
34.3
34.3
Estimated increaseJ
0.0
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.4
Postproject delivery (tons/year)
35.6
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.7
Reduction (tons/year) J
0
33.6
33.6
33.6
33.9
Percent reduction’
0
95%
95%
95%
95%
sis Methods, and are not measured values.
2 Includes projected decreases from rehabilitation and BMP work on existing roads and
crossings .
3 Includes projected increases from construction of new roads and new stream cross-
ings.
’Percent reduction values are estimates based on procedures outlined in Analysis
Methods, not on measured values.
WATER YIELD
Direct and Indirect Effects
• Direct and Indirect Fffectit of.Xo-. let ion
,1/fernafire ,1 to Winter Yield
No-Action Alternative A would have
no direct or indirect effects on
water yield. Water quantity would
not be changed from present levels
and the harvest units would
continue to return to fully
forested conditions as areas of
historic timber-harvests
regenerate .
• Direct and Indirect Iffleelx of , let ion
• llternafire It to II 'a ter Yield
The annual water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
would increase by an estimated 0.6
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed would
increase by an estimated 6.8
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the Soup
Creek watershed would increase by
an estimated 2.1 percent over the
current level. These levels of
projected water-yield increase are
incremental values that refer only
to water yield generated by this
action alternative and do not
include water yield increases from
past activities. The cumulative
water-yield increase will assess
the impacts of the proposed action
alternative when added to the
impacts of past and planned future
activities; this will be discussed
in Cumulative Effects portion of
this analysis. These levels of
water-yield increases would
produce a low risk of creating
unstable channels in any of the
project-area streams.
• Direef and Indireef Effect* of , let ion
• llternafire C to Wafer Yield
The annual water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
would increase by an estimated 0.5
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed would
increase by an estimated 6.4
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the Soup
Creek watershed would increase by
an estimated 1.5 percent over the
current level. These levels of
projected water-yield increase are
incremental values that refer only
to water yield generated by this
action alternative and do not
include water-yield increases from
past activities. The cumulative
water-yield increase will assess
the impacts of the proposed action
alternative when added to the
impacts of past and planned future
activities and will be discussed
later in this analysis. These
levels of water-yield increases
would produce a low risk of
Page D-24
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
creating unstable channels in any
of the project-area streams.
• Direct amt Indirect Effects of. let ion
• Uternatiee D to II * ater ) 'iefd
The annual water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
would increase by an estimated 1.3
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed would
increase by an estimated 9.3
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the Soup
Creek watershed would increase by
an estimated 1.1 percent over the
current level. These levels of
projected water-yield increases
are incremental values that refer
only to water yield generated by
this action alternative and do not
include water-yield increases from
past activities. The cumulative
water-yield increase will assess
the impacts of the proposed action
alternative when added to the
impacts of past and planned future
activities and will be discussed
later in this analysis. These
levels of water-yield increases
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in any
of the project-area streams.
• Direct and Indirect Effects of. Iction
. Uternatiee K to IT a ter Yield
The annual water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
would increase by an estimated 1.2
percent over the current level .
The annual water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed would
increase by an estimated 9.6
percent over the current level.
The annual water yield in the Soup
Creek watershed would increase by
an estimated 0.9 percent over the
current level. These levels of
projected water-yield increases
are incremental values that refer
only to water yield generated by
this action alternative and do not
include water-yield increases from
past activities. The cumulative
water-yield increase will assess
the impacts of the proposed action
alternative when added to the
impacts of past and planned future
activities and will be discussed
later in this analysis. These
levels of water-yield increases
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in any
of the streams in the project
area .
Cumulative Effects
• Cumulative Effects of.Xo-. Iction Uternatiee
.1 on W'ater Yield
No cumulative effects on water
yield would be expected. Existing
harvest units would continue to
revegetate and move closer to
premanagement levels of water use
and snowpack distribution.
• Cumulative Iff eels of . Iction .Uternatiee It on
W 'ater Yield
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative B would
increase the water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
from its current level of
approximately 1.2 percent over
unharvested to an estimated 1.8
percent. This water-yield
increase, and its associated ECA
level, includes the impacts of all
past management activities,
existing and proposed roads,
proposed timber harvesting, and
vegetative hydrologic recovery in
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed. The water-yield
increase expected from this
alternative leaves the watershed
well below the established
threshold of concern established
in the EXISTING CONDITIONS portion
of this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in
South Fork Lost Creek or its
tributaries .
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative B would
increase the water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed from its
current level of approximately 2.3
percent over unharvested to an
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-25
estimated 9.1 percent. This
water-yield increase and its
associated ECA level includes the
impacts of all past management
activities, existing and proposed
roads, proposed timber harvesting,
and vegetative hydrologic recovery
in the Cilly Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative B leaves the
watershed below the established
threshold of concern established
in the existing conditions portion
of this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in
Cilly Creek or its tributaries.
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative B would
increase the water yield in the
Soup Creek watershed from its
current level of approximately 1.0
percent over unharvested to an
estimated 3.1 percent. This
water-yield increase, and its
associated ECA level, includes the
impacts of all past management
activities, existing and proposed
roads, proposed timber harvesting,
and vegetative hydrologic recovery
in the Cilly Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative B leaves the
watershed below the established
threshold of concern established
in the existing conditions portion
of this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in Soup
Creek or its tributaries.
Action Alternative B is expected
to have a low risk of bumulative
impacts to water yield as a result
of the proposed timber harvesting.
A summary of the anticipated
water-yield impacts of Action
Alternative B to the South Fork
Lost Creek and Cilly Creek
watersheds and Soup Creek drainage
is found in TABLE D-6 (7, 8) -
WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES IN
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK, SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
• ('it mu fa tire Effect* oJ\ Icfion Alternative Con
Water Yietft
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative C would
increase the water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
from its current level of
approximately 1.2 percent over
unharvested to an estimated 1.7
percent. This water-yield
increase, and its associated ECA
level, includes the impacts of all
past management activities,
existing and proposed roads,
proposed timber harvesting, and
vegetative hydrologic recovery in
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed. The water-yield
increase expected from Action
Alternative C leaves the watershed
well below the threshold of
concern established in the
existing conditions portion of
this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in
South Fork Lost Creek or its
tributaries .
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative C would
increase the water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed from its
current level of approximately 2.3
percent over unharvested to an
estimated 8.7 percent. This
water-yield increase, and its
associated ECA level, includes the
impacts of all past-management
activities, existing and proposed
roads, proposed timber harvesting,
and vegetative hydrologic recovery
in the Cilly Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative C leaves the
watershed below the established
threshold of concern established
in the existing-conditions portion
of this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in
Cilly Creek or its tributaries.
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative C would
Page D-26
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
increase the water yield in the
Soup Creek watershed from its
current level of approximately 1.0
percent over unharvested to an
estimated 2.5 percent. This
water-yield increase, and its
associated ECA level, includes the
impacts of all past management
activities, existing and proposed
roads, proposed timber harvesting,
and vegetative hydrologic recovery
in the Soup Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative C leaves the
watershed well below the
established threshold of concern
established in the existing-
conditions portion of this
analysis. This cumulative level
of water-yield increase would
produce a low risk of creating
unstable channels in Soup Creek or
its tributaries.
Action Alternative C is expected
to have a low risk of cumulative
impacts to water yield as a result
of the proposed timber harvesting.
A summary of the anticipated
water-yield impacts of Action
Alternative C to the South Fork
Lost Creek and Cilly Creek
watersheds and the Soup Creek
drainage is found in TABLE D-6 (7,
8) - WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES
IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK , SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
• C'n/nnfatire Inflect* of. let ion . Uternatire 1) on
Water Yield
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative D would
increase the water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
from its current level of
approximately 1.2 percent over
unharvested to an estimated 2.5
percent. This water-yield
increase, and its associated ECA
level, includes the impacts of all
past management activities,
existing and proposed roads,
proposed timber harvesting, and
vegetative hydrologic recovery in
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed. The water-yield
increase expected from Action
Alternative D leaves the watershed
well below the threshold of
concern established in the
existing conditions portion of
this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in
South Fork Lost Creek or its
tributaries .
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative D would
increase the water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed from its
current level of approximately 2.3
percent over unharvested to an
estimated 11.6 percent. This
water-yield increase, and its
associated ECA level, includes the
impacts of all past management
activities, existing and proposed
roads, proposed timber harvesting,
and vegetative hydrologic recovery
in the Cilly Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative D leaves the
watershed slightly above the
established threshold of concern.
It is possible that increases in
flow could be observed through the
implementation of Action
Alternative D. Changes in channel
conditions are unlikely, but could
occur in individual reaches that
have lower channel stability.
These changes could include
increased streambank erosion,
channel down-cutting, and
migration of channels away from
current locations. Should in-
channel erosion occur, deposition
of bed and bank material could be
deposited in flatter, gentler
reaches. Deposition of cobble and
gravel material in high enough
quantities could lead to
additional reaches of Cilly Creek
losing surface flow during summer
and fall months due to porous bed
materials. Another possibility of
the projected water-yield
increases is that reaches of Cilly
Creek that currently have
subsurface flow during summer and
fall months could have surface
flow for a longer period of time
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-27
or become perennial due to a
higher volume of water available.
These projections are unlikely
given the channel-stability
ratings of Cilly Creek, and Action
Alternative D would most likely
not have measurable impacts to the
stream channel. However, the
estimated water-yield increases
would leave a low to moderate risk
of the described potential
negative impacts in the less
stable reaches and in isolated
instances .
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative D would
increase water yield in the Soup
Creek watershed from its current
level of approximately 1.0 percent
over unharvested to an estimated
2.1 percent. This water-yield
increase, and its associated ECA
level, includes the impacts of all
past management activities,
existing and proposed roads,
proposed timber harvesting, and
vegetative hydrologic recovery in
the Soup Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative D leaves the
watershed well below the
established threshold of concern
established in the EXISTING
CONDITIONS portion of this
analysis. This cumulative level
of water-yield increase would
produce a low risk of creating
unstable channels in Soup Creek or
its tributaries.
Action Alternative D is expected
to have a low risk of detrimental
cumulative impacts due to water-
yield increases resulting from the
proposed timber harvesting. A
summary of the anticipated water-
yield impacts of Action
Alternative D to the South Fork
Lost Creek and Cilly Creek
watersheds and the Soup Creek
drainage is found in TABLE D-6 (7,
8) - WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES
IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK, SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
• (nimi/ii/ire Effect* oJ\ let ion « I/termifire K on
IV'ater Yield
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative E would
increase the water yield in the
South Fork Lost Creek watershed
from its current level of
approximately 1.2 percent over
unharvested to an estimated 2.4
percent. This water-yield
increase, and its associated ECA
level, includes the impacts of all
past management activities,
existing and proposed roads,
proposed timber harvesting, and
vegetative hydrologic recovery in
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed. The water-yield
increase expected from Action
Alternative E leaves the watershed
well below the threshold of
concern established in the
existing conditions portion of
this analysis. This cumulative
level of water-yield increase
would produce a low risk of
creating unstable channels in
South Fork Lost Creek or its
tributaries .
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative E would
increase the water yield in the
Cilly Creek watershed from its
current level of approximately 2.3
percent over unharvested to an
estimated 11.9 percent. This
water-yield increase, and its
associated ECA level, includes the
impacts of all past management
activities, existing and proposed
roads, proposed timber harvesting,
and vegetative hydrologic recovery
in the Cilly Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative E leaves the
watershed an estimated 0.9 percent
above the established threshold of
concern. It is possible that
increases in flow could be
observed through the
implementation of Action
Alternative E. Changes in channel
conditions are unlikely, but could
occur in individual reaches that
have lower channel stabili.ty.
Page D-28
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
These changes could include
increased streambank erosion,
channels down-cutting, and
migration of channels away from
current locations. Should in-
channel erosion occur, deposition
of bed and bank material could be
deposited in flatter, gentler
reaches. Deposition of cobble and
gravel material in high enough
quantities could lead to
additional reaches of Cilly Creek
losing surface flow during summer
and fall months due to porous bed
materials. Another possibility of
the projected water-yield
increases is that reaches of Cilly
Creek that currently have
subsurface flow during summer and
fall months could have surface
flow for a longer period of time
or become perennial due to a
higher volume of water available.
These projections are unlikely
given the channel-stability
ratings of Cilly Creek, and Action
Alternative E would most likely
not have measurable impacts to the
stream channel. However, the
estimated water-yield increases
would leave a low to moderate risk
of the described potential
negative impacts in the less
stable reaches and in isolated
instances .
The removal of trees proposed in
Action Alternative E would
increase water yield in the Soup
Creek watershed from its current
level of approximately 1.0 percent
over unharvested to an estimated
1.9 percent. This water-yield
increase, and its associated ECA
level, includes the impacts of all
past management activities,
existing and proposed roads,
proposed timber harvesting, and
vegetative hydrologic recovery in
the Soup Creek watershed. The
water-yield increase expected from
Action Alternative E leaves the
watershed well below the
established threshold of concern
established in the EXISTING
CONDITIONS portion of this
analysis. This cumulative level
of water-yield increase would
produce a low risk of creating
unstable channels in Soup Creek or
its tributaries.
Action Alternative E is expected
to have a low risk of detrimental
cumulative impacts due to water-
yield increases resulting from the
proposed timber harvesting. A
summary of the anticipated water-
yield impacts of Action
Alternative E to the South Fork
Lost Creek and Cilly Creek
watersheds, and the Soup Creek
drainage is found in TABLE D-6 (7 ,
8) - WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES
IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (CILLY
CREEK, SOUP CREEK) WATERSHED.
TABLE D-6 - WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK WATERSHED
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Allowable percent water-yield
increase
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Percent water-yield increase
1.2
1.8
1 . 7
2 . 5
2.4
Acres harvested
0
318
303
512
449
Miles of new road1
0
3.6
4.3
4 . 9
2.9
ECA generated
0
290
262
468
374
Total ECA
310
600
572
778
684
Allowable ECA
2, 626
2,626
2, 626
2, 626
2, 626
includes only permanent new roads
Appendix D - Watershed and Hydrology
Page D-29
TABLE D-7 - WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES IN THE CILLY CREEK WATERSHED
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Allowable water-yield increase
11%
11%
11%
11%
11%
Percent water-yield increase
2.3
9.1
8.7
11.6
11.9
Acres harvested
0
896
883
986
1,140
Miles of new road1
0
2.3
2.3
5.3
3.8
ECA generated
0
703
691
782
947
Total ECA
348
1,051
1,039
1,130
1,295
Allowable ECA
1,448
1,448
1,448
1,448
1,448
includes only permanent new roads
TABLE D-8 - WATER YIELD AND ECA INCREASES IN THE SOUP CREEK WATERSHED
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Allowable water-yield increase
9%
9%
9%
9%
9%
Percent water-yield increase
1.0
3.1
2.5
2 . :
1.9
Acres harvested
0
642
566
443
377
Miles of new road1
0
7.1
5.8
5.4
1.5
ECA generated
0
563
500
368
308
Total ECA
428
991
928
796
736
Allowable ECA
2,202
2,202
2,202
2,202
2,202
includes only permanent new roads
K
Page D-30
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
APPENDIX E
FISHERIES ANALYSIS
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this analysis is to
assess potential impacts to cold-
water fisheries within the Three
Creeks Timber Sale Project area as a
result of any one of the project
alternatives .
INTRODUCTION
The Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area includes State trust lands
within Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22,
24, 25, 26, and 27, T24N, R17W,
which all lie entirely within the
Swan River drainage ( 5th code HUC
17010211030) . Up to 1,999 acres of
total harvest area is proposed
within the project area.
The project area includes specific
portions of the watersheds of 3
major tributaries of Swan River.
From north to south, these are South
Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup creeks.
The downstream reaches of Swan River
and Lost Creek are not within the
project area and will not be
included in the analysis portion of
the direct and indirect effects in
this resource appendix. With
respect to downstream fisheries, no
project alternatives are expected to
have measurable or detectable direct
or indirect effects in the
downstream reaches of Swan River and
Lost Creek. Both Swan River and
Lost Creek will be included in the
cumulative effects analysis as
deemed applicable.
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks are not identified on the
1996, 2002, or 2004 Montana 303(d)
lists as impaired streams.
The Swan River drainage, including
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks, and any contributing
subbasins, is classified as B-l in
the Montana Surface Water Quality
Standards (ARM 17 . 30 . 608 [b] [ i] ) .
The B-l classification is for
multiple beneficial use waters,
including the growth and propagation
of cold-water fisheries and
associated aquatic life. Among
other criteria for B-l waters, a 1-
degree Fahrenheit maximum increase
above naturally occurring water
temperature is allowed within the
range of 32 to 66
degrees Fahrenheit
(0 to 18.9 degrees
Celsius ) , and no
increases are
allowed above
naturally occurring
concentrations of
sediment or
suspended sediment
that will harm or
prove detrimental to
fish or wildlife.
In regard to
sediment, naturally
occurring includes
conditions or
materials present
from runoff or
percolation from
developed land where
all reasonable land,
soil, and water
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Objective E-l
Introduction E-l
Species E-2
Fisheries-Specif ic Issues Raised During Scoping.. E-3
Streams Excluded From Fisheries Analysis E-3
Analysis Methods and Subissues E-5
Summary of Alternatives E-6
Existing Conditions E-7
South Fork Lost Creek E-7
Cilly Creek E-25
Unnamed Creek E-30
Soup Creek E-34
Environmental (Alternative) Effects to Fisheries. E-51
Direct and Indirect Effects E-51
Cumulative Effects E-91
Specialist Recommendations E-98
Summary of anticipated Project Level Monitoring
if an Action alternative is Selected E-99
conservation practices have been
applied (ARM 17 . 30 . 603 [ 19] ) .
Reasonable practices include
methods, measures, or practices that
protect present and reasonably
anticipated beneficial uses ( ARM
17 . 30 . 603 [24] ) . The State has
adopted BMPs through its Nonpoint
Source Management Plan as the
principle means of controlling
nonpoint source pollution from
silvicultural activities ( Thomas et
al 1990) .
SPECIES
Native cold-water fish species
within the project area include bull
trout ( Salvelinus confluentus) ,
westslope cutthroat trout
(Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) , slimy
sculpin ( Cottus cognatus) ,
largescale sucker ( Catostomus
macrocheilus) , and longnose dace
( Rhinichthys cataractae ) . The 1
nonnative species known to persist
within the specific project area is
eastern brook trout ( Salvelinus
fontinalis) .
Neither slimy sculpin, largescale
sucker, nor longnose dace is
identified as endangered,
threatened, or sensitive species
( MNHP 2004) . Although all 3 species
are an integral component of the
aquatic ecosystem within the project
area, any foreseeable issues or
concerns regarding these species'
populations or habitats can be
addressed through an effects
analysis for bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout. Eastern
brook trout is an invasive species
that is not a component of the
region' s historical biodiversity,
but any foreseeable issuqs or
concerns regarding this species'
populations or habitats can also be
addressed through an effects
analysis for bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout.
Bull trout and westslope cutthroat
trout are the primary cold-water
species that will be addressed in
this analysis. The USFWS has listed
bull trout as "threatened" under the
Endangered Species Act. Both bull
trout and westslope cutthroat trout
are listed as Class-A Montana Animal
Species of Concern. A Class-A
designation is defined as a species
or subspecies that has limited
numbers and/or habitats both in
Montana and elsewhere in North
America, and elimination from
Montana would be a significant loss
to the gene pool of the species or
subspecies (DFWP, MNHP, and Montana
Chapter American Fisheries Society
Rankings) . DNRC has also identified
bull trout and westslope cutthroat
trout as sensitive species
(Administrative Rule of Montana
[ARM] 36.11.436).
Both bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout exhibit resident,
fluvial, and adfluvial life forms.
Resident life forms spend their
juvenile and adult life in natal or
nearby low-order tributaries.
Fluvial and adfluvial life forms
generally leave their natal streams
within 1 to 3 years of emergence
( Shepard et al 1984, Fraley and
Shepard 1989) to mature in
downstream river and lake systems,
respectively, and then return again
to headwater or upstream reaches to
spawn. Fluvial and adfluvial life
forms of bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout are typically larger
than resident fish, and bull trout
have been observed returning to
upstream reaches during successive
or alternating years to spawn
(Fraley and Shepard 1989). Overall,
the life forms and stages of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat trout
have evolved to exist in sympatry
(Nakano et al 1992, Pratt 1984,
Shepard et al 1984).
Fluvial and adfluvial bull trout
generally mature at ages 5 to 6,
begin upstream spawning migrations
in April, and spawn between
September and October in response to
a temperature regime decline below 9
to 10 degrees Celsius (Fraley and
Shepard 1989). Spawning adult bull
trout are known to construct redds
in close association with upwelling
Page E-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
groundwater and proximity to
overhanging or instream cover
( Fraley and Shepard 1989) .
Naturally occurring stream-
temperature regimes and substrate
compositions having low levels of
fine material are closely related to
bull trout embryo and juvenile
survival ( MBTSG 1998, Weaver and
Fraley 1991, Pratt 1984) .
Resident westslope cutthroat trout
have been observed maturing at ages
3 to 5 (Downs et al 1997) , and all
life forms are known to spawn during
May through June ( Shepard et al
1984) . Naturally occurring stream-
temperature regimes and substrate
compositions having low levels of
fine material are closely related to
westslope cutthroat trout embryo and
juvenile survival (Pratt 1984).
FISHERIES -SPECIFIC ISSUES RAISED
DURING SCOPING
Issues, in respect to this
environmental analysis, are not
specifically defined by either MEPA
or the Council on Environmental
Quality. For the purposes of this
environmental analysis, issues will
be considered actual or perceived
effects, risks, or hazards as a
result of the proposed alternatives.
Fifteen written concerns and issues
regarding fisheries resources were
raised through public participation
during the scoping process. These
concerns and issues are contained in
a separate document (Public Comments
to Scoping of Proposed Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project - Fisheries-
Related Comments) that can be found
in the project file. Each concern
and issue is identified and followed
with a statement describing how the
concern or issue will be addressed
by this analysis.
The issues raised both internally
and through public comment during
the scoping process are: the
proposed actions may adversely
affect fisheries populations and
fisheries habitat features,
including flow regime, sediment,
channel forms, riparian function,
large woody debris, stream
temperature, and connectivity, in
fish-bearing streams within the
project area. These issues will be
addressed under EXISTING CONDITIONS
and ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS.
STREAMS EXCLUDED FROM FISHERIES
ANALYSIS
All potential fish-bearing streams
within and immediately adjacent to
the project area were surveyed
during 2003, 2004, and 2005 for
fisheries presence (see FIGURE 1 -
THREE CREEK TIMBER SALE FISH
PRESENCE) . Streams that were
surveyed for fish presence and
determined not to contain any fish
populations or provide fish habitat
are considered non-fish bearing.
Non-fish-bearing stream reaches are
not individually addressed in this
fisheries analysis and include:
• Tributary A - Field surveys
indicate that the isolated,
disconnected perennial reach of
this stream is non-fish-bearing.
• Cilly Creek Tributary 1 - Field
surveys indicate that this
tributary (except for the lowest
approximately 200-foot reach of
the tributary immediately upstream
of Cilly Creek) does not provide
fish habitat. The lowest
approximately 200-foot reach
provides marginal habitat for
eastern brook trout.
• Cilly Creek Tributary 2 - Field
surveys indicate that this
tributary does not provide fish
habitat .
• (Upper) Cilly Creek - Field
surveys indicate that the
isolated, disconnected perennial
reach of this stream is non-fish-
bearing .
• Cliff Creek - The lower 780 feet
of this stream provides marginal
habitat to westslope cutthroat
trout, but this stream is outside
of the project area.
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-3
FIGURE E-l - THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE FISH PRESENCE
THHHJ7W*
Cl lit O’ Tnb
Unnamed Cl
TI4NRI7W2*
TJ+NRITMMii
MAP 1 - Three Creeks TS Fish Presence
— bu>l troul f westlope cutthroat trout V eastern brook trout present
— eastern brook trout present
ntermillent, non- fish bearing
- perennial, non-fish bearing
1 si slope cullhioat Iroul present
Dnrc_forested_paicels shp
7777\ ALT B master sli 122005
ALT C master $ti 122005
{ ■ - -j ALT D master sli 122005
_J ALT E master sli 122005
So Wh Folk Lost Ci
City Ci Tun 1
n-/
(Upper) City Cl
Cliff 0
|1 ipprrJUnnamooCr
N' les
Page E-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
• Cliff Creek Tributary - Field
surveys indicate that the lower
reach of this stream is a
migration barrier, and the upper
reach is non-fish-bearing.
• (Upper) Unnamed Creek - Field
surveys indicate that the
isolated, disconnected perennial
reach of this stream is non-fish-
bearing .
The streams identified above are
excluded from specific, detailed
analysis. However, these streams
may be included as part of the
EXISTING CONDITIONS , ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECTS , and SPECIALIST
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOUTH FORK LOST,
CILLY, UNNAMED, AND SOUP CREEKS.
ANALYSIS METHODS AND SUBISSUES
The existing conditions of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat trout
populations and habitat will be
described under EXISTING CONDITIONS
of this analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL
(ALTERNATIVE) EFFECTS will compare
those existing conditions to the
anticipated effects of the project
alternatives to determine
foreseeable impacts to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout.
Analysis methods are a function of
the types and quality of data
available for analysis, which varies
among the different watersheds in
the project area. The analyses may
either be quantitative or
qualitative. The best available
data for both populations and
habitats will be presented
separately for South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
Existing conditions and foreseeable
environmental effects for South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks will be
explored using the following outline
of subissues:
- Populations - Presence and
Genetics
- Habitat - Flow Regimes
- Habitat - Sediment
- Habitat - Channel Forms
- Habitat - Riparian Function
- Habitat - Large Woody Debris
- Habitat - Stream Temperature
- Habitat - Connectivity
- Existing Collective Impacts and
Cumulative Effects
Existing conditions and foreseeable
environmental effects for Cilly and
Unnamed creeks will be explored
using a simplified set of accounts,
which do include the more detailed
outline of subissues. Where data is
available regarding each subissue,
that information will be described
for Cilly and Unnamed creeks in the
simplified accounts.
Existing road density and road
stream-crossing density are other
variables that have been indirectly
correlated to native fisheries
population trends across large
regional areas ( Quigley and
Arbelbide 1997 ) . The mechanisms
through which road density and road
stream-crossing density affect
native fisheries populations include
sedimentation, fishing access,
poaching, recreational access,
timber harvest access, and grazing
and agriculture ( Quigley and
Arbelbide 1997, Baxter et al 1999) .
As road density and road stream-
crossing density are, therefore,
very broad surrogates of multiple
potential actions, these variables
are tools to describe potential
cumulative effects to fisheries. In
the absence of site-specific
fisheries data to describe the
existing conditions of the project
area, road density and road stream-
crossing density could be considered
simple, viable measures of potential
cumulative effects. However, the
level of detailed, project-specific
fisheries population and habitat
data to be utilized throughout this
analysis is expected to provide a
much more accurate and precise
baseline for the cumulative-effects
analysis of fisheries in the project
area. Therefore, road density and
road stream-crossing density will
not be used as a measure of
potential cumulative effects in this
analysis .
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-5
Existing road density and road
stream-crossing density are other
variables that have been indirectly
correlated to native fisheries
population trends across large
regional areas (Quigley and
Arbelbide 1997) . The mechanisms
through which road density and road
stream-crossing density affect
native fisheries populations include
sedimentation, fishing access,
poaching, recreational access,
timber harvest access, and grazing
and agriculture ( Quigley and
Arbelbide 1997, Baxter et al 1999).
As road density and road stream-
crossing density are, therefore,
very broad surrogates of multiple
potential actions, these variables
are tools to describe potential
cumulative effects to fisheries. In
the absence of site-specific
fisheries data to describe the
existing conditions of the project
area, road density and road stream-
crossing density could be considered
simple, viable measures of potential
cumulative effects. However, the
level of detailed, project-specific
fisheries population and habitat
data to be utilized throughout this
analysis is expected to provide a
much more accurate and precise
baseline for the cumulative-effects
analysis of fisheries in the project
area. Therefore, road density and
road stream-crossing density will
not be used as a measure of
potential cumulative effects in this
analysis .
Existing road density and road
stream-crossing density are other
variables that have been indirectly
correlated to native fisheries
population trends across large
regional areas ( Quigley add
Arbelbide 1997). The mechanisms
through which road density and road
stream-crossing density affect
native fisheries populations include
sedimentation, fishing access,
poaching, recreational access,
timber harvest access, and grazing
and agriculture ( Quigley and
Arbelbide 1997, Baxter et al 1999) .
As road density and road stream-
crossing density are, therefore,
very broad surrogates of multiple
potential actions, these variables
are tools to describe potential
cumulative effects to fisheries. In
the absence of site-specific
fisheries data to describe the
existing conditions of the project
area, road density and road stream-
crossing density could be considered
simple, viable measures of potential
cumulative effects. However, the
level of detailed, project-specific
fisheries population and habitat
data to be utilized throughout this
analysis is expected to provide a
much more accurate and precise
baseline for the cumulative-effects
analysis of fisheries in the project
area. Therefore, road density and
road stream-crossing density will
not be used as a measure of
potential cumulative effects in this
analysis .
SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVES
See CHAPTER II - ALTERNATIVES in the
DEIS and FEIS of THREE CREEKS TIMBER
SALE PROJECT for detailed
information, specific mitigations,
and road-management plans pertaining
to No-Action Alternative A and
Action Alternatives B, C, D, and E.
• .Vo-, let ion , Ilfernnfire ./
Existing conditions relative to
bull trout and westslope cutthroat
trout in the project area would
remain unchanged as a result of
the selection of this alternative.
• • let ion , liter not it v* H
Approximately 1,884 acres
involving 34 proposed units would
be harvested using various
silviculture plans.
• •lefion , llternntire ('
Approximately 1,787 acres
involving 33 proposed units would
be harvested using various
silviculture plans.
• •lefion •llternatire D
Approximately 1,970 acres •
involving 33 proposed units would
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Page E-6
be harvested using various
silviculture plans.
• . let ion . l/fernn/ire E
Approximately 1,999 acres
involving 49 proposed units would
be harvested using various
silviculture plans.
Actions associated with Action
Alternatives B, C, D, and E,
including associated road
construction and maintenance, would
occur in the South Fork Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, Unnamed Creek, and Soup
Creek watersheds, all of which
provide varying degrees of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat trout
habitat .
EXISTING CONDITIONS
A very low impact means that the
impact is unlikely to be detectable
or measurable, and the impact is not
likely to be detrimental to the
resource. A low impact means that
the impact is likely to be
detectable or measurable, but the
impact is not likely to be
detrimental to the resource. A
moderate impact means that the
impact is likely to be detectable or
measurable, but the impact may or
may not (50/50) be detrimental to
the resource. A high impact means
that the impact is likely to be
detectable or measurable, and the
impact is likely to be detrimental
to the resource.
> SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
South Fork Lost Creek is a third-
order stream and the entire reach
within the project area is
considered fish-bearing.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek
Populations - Presence and
Genetics
The South Fork Lost Creek
watershed has been identified as
a core habitat area within the
Swan River drainage bull trout
conservation area ( MBTSG 1996,
MBTRT 2000) . Core areas are
watersheds, including tributary
drainages and adjoining uplands,
used by migratory bull trout for
spawning and early rearing, and
by resident bull trout for all
life history requirements ( MBTRT
2000) . Although bull trout may
exhibit the resident life form
in South Fork Lost Creek, this
stream is used by bull trout
primarily as spawning and
rearing habitat for adfluvial
populations associated with Swan
Lake. South Fork Lost Creek
supports westslope cutthroat
trout exhibiting adfluvial,
fluvial, and resident life
forms .
Genetic data suggests that
migratory bull trout adults in
the upper Flathead River system
have been found to frequently
return to their natal or near-
natal streams ( Kanda et al
1997) , and populations of
migratory spawning bull trout in
the Flathead River system have
been observed returning to the
same stream reaches during
subsequent spawning runs ( Fraley
and Shepard 1989 ) . This
propensity for habitual adult
migration to natal or near-natal
streams and the consequent
selection of unique spawning
locations would make the use of
redd counts in South Fork Lost
Creek a useful measure of
overall bull trout success in
occupying this specific
subbasin. Similarly, westslope
cutthroat trout redd counts
would be expected to express
that species' overall success in
occupying spawning and rearing
habitats provided by South Fork
Lost Creek.
The protocol for collecting redd
count data in South Fork Lost
Creek is described in Weaver and
Fraley (1991). Experienced
crews and fixed survey reaches
are used for result consistency.
TABLE E-l - BULL TROUT REDD
COUNTS IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK,
1994 THROUGH 2005 shows that the
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-7
number of bull trout redds
constructed in the South Fork
Lost Creek reference reach has
ranged from 9 to 47 during the
years 1994 to 2005. The data is
insufficient to describe a trend
in bull trout redd counts with a
high degree of certainty. An
analysis of bull trout redd
counts from throughout the Swan
River drainage suggests that the
larger bull trout population may
be increasing ( Rieman and Myers
199 7) , but the same study also
indicates that a larger data set
than that provided in this table
is likely needed in order to
begin identifying long-term
trends of bull trout populations
in individual streams. However,
Weaver (2005) has indicated that
the existing Swan River drainage
bull trout population appears to
be stable, and redd counts from
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
are generally representative of
trends in other bull trout
spawning streams within the
drainage. Weaver (2005) noted
that increases in bull trout
redd counts from 1996 through
2000 may have been due to a
strong bull trout population
response to Mysis shrimp
densities in Swan Lake. ( Mysis
is an introduced
macroinvertebrate to Swan Lake
that has contributed to the food
base of adfluvial bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout.)
TABLE E-2 - WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT
TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK , 1994 THROUGH 2004
shows that the number of
westslope cutthroat trout redds
constructed in the South Fork
Lost Creek reference reach has
ranged from 7 to 26 during the
years 1994 to 2004. Although
the data is insufficient to
describe a trend in westslope
cutthroat trout redd counts with
a high degree of certainty, this
data is likely indicative of a
generally stable westslope
cutthroat trout population
associated with the South Fork
Lost Creek drainage.
Leathe et al (1985) describes
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout population
densities in 2 different reaches
of South Fork Lost Creek as
ranging from low to moderate
(see TABLE E-3 - SPECIES
DENSITIES IN SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK , 1982 THROUGH 1983 [LEATHE
TABLE E-l - BULL TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK , 1994 THROUGH
2005
Bull trout redd counts on South Fork Lost Creek (T. Weaver, FWP Kailspell)
Year
Page E-8
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-2 - WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK,
1994 THROUGH 2004
TABLE E-3 - SPECIES DENSITIES IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK, 1982 THROUGH 1983
(LEATHE ET AL 1985)
NUMBER OF FISH GREATER THAN 75
MILLIMETERS PER 300 METERS
NUMBER OF FISH GREATER THAN
150MILLIMETERS PER 300 METERS
REACH /YEAR
SURVEYED
BULL
TROUT
WESTSLOPE
CUTTHROAT
TROUT
EASTERN
BROOK
TROUT
BULL
TROUT
WESTSLOPE
CUTTHROAT
TROUT
EASTERN
BROOK
TROUT
1/1983
24 ('low')
36 ('low')
93 ('mod')
5 ('low')
16 ('low')
11 ('low')
2/1982
99 ( 'mod' )
23 ('low')
0
12 ('low')
12 ('low')
0
ET AL 1985]). Reach 1 starts at
the confluence of North Fork
Lost and South Fork Lost creeks
and extends upstream to river
mile 1.86. Reach 2 includes
that portion of South Fork Lost
Creek from river miles 1.86 to
6.21.
Independent of current
population status, present are
considerable existing and future
risks to both bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
populations and genetics in
South Fork Lost Creek and
throughout the Swan River
drainage. Perhaps the greatest
future threats to bull trout in
the Swan River drainage are from
the introduction and spread of
nonnative fish ( MBTSG 1996).
The recently confirmed
introduction and reproduction of
lake trout ( Salvelinus
namaycush) in Swan Lake is
expected to have some level of
acute negative effect to bull
trout within the Swan River
drainage. Lake trout will
likely have a negative affect on
bull trout populations in Swan
Lake through the predation of
juvenile and subadult life
stages and niche displacement.
These foreseeable interactions
will likely be expressed through
lower rates of bull trout redd
count construction in South Fork
Lost Creek.
Bull trout are also negatively
affected by nonnative eastern
brook trout primarily through
hybridization and, to some
extent, by the displacement of
juvenile fish in rearing
habitats. Data suggests that
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-9
bull trout and eastern brook
trout hybridization has occurred
throughout the Swan River
drainage ( Kanda et al 1997) .
Although samples from South Fork
Lost Creek in 1993 ( MFISH 2005)
show that 100-percent
genetically pure bull trout may
exist in the stream, that
particular sample set may not
have conclusively ruled out
hybridization in South Fork Lost
Creek at that time ( Kanda et al
199 7). Weaver (2005) has noted
that bull trout x eastern brook
trout hybrids are occasionally
captured during sampling efforts
in South Fork Lost Creek.
Several factors point toward
hybridization as a lower overall
risk to bull trout than that of
displacement by lake trout:
migratory bull trout tend to
have a reproductive size
advantage over resident eastern
brook trout ( Rieman and McIntyre
1993), and offspring can have a
considerable chance of being
sterile or exhibiting other
progressive growth problems
(Leary et al 1983) .
Westslope cutthroat trout also
face considerable threats from
the introduction and spread of
nonnative fish. Introgression
from hybridization with rainbow
trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and
other cutthroat trout subspecies
may pose the foremost risk to
westslope cutthroat trout in
Montana ( Liknes and Graham
1988) . Westslope cutthroat
trout within South Fork Lost
Creek below migration-barrier
falls at river mile 4.94 are
known to exhibit levels of
genetic purity between 75 and 90
percent (NRIS 2004) . Westslope
cutthroat trout upstream of the
migration barrier falls are
potentially 100-percent
genetically pure ( NRIS 2004) .
Westslope cutthroat trout are
susceptible to displacement by
introduced salmonids, especially
eastern brook trout; however,
the variable mechanisms through
which this occurs are not well
understood (Griffith 1988) .
Existing impacts to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
populations and genetics in
South Fork Lost Creek are due
primarily to the introduction of
nonnative salmonids. Existing
impacts to bull trout in South
Fork Lost Creek include an
imminent moderate to high impact
due to the propagation of lake
trout in the drainage and a low
to moderate impact due to
hybridization with eastern brook
trout. Existing impacts to
westslope cutthroat trout
include a moderate impact due to
introgression from rainbow trout
hybridization and a low to
moderate impact from
displacement by eastern brook
trout (where the 2 species'
distributions overlap below the
migration-barrier falls).
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Flow Regimes
Flow regime is the range of
discharge freguencies and
intensities in a specific
watershed that occur throughout
the year. (Flow regime is
analogous to 'water yield' in
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS . ) The
analysis of hydrologic data for
South Fork Lost Creek indicates
that the existing average
departure in flow regime is
approximately 1.2 percent above
the range of naturally occurring
conditions (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) , which is primarily a
result of past forest-crown
removal. The range of naturally
occurring conditions is
considered representative of
those flow regimes in a 20- to
30-year-old forest (or,
alternatively, a forest that
exhibits evapotranspiration and
precipitation interception rates
Page E-10
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
that are similar to a mature
forest) .
Changes in flow regime can
affect bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout fisheries
through modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. However, the
existing levels of increased
flow regime in the project area
are generally not associated
with detectable impacts to fish
habitat variables. As a
consequence, the likelihood is
very low for very low existing
direct and indirect impacts to
these habitat characteristics as
a result of the estimated 1.2-
percent increase in flow regime
to South Fork Lost Creek within
the project area.
Changes in flow regime have been
known to affect bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
spawning migration, habitat
available for spawning, and
embryo survival. Although, in
general, the existing levels of
increased flow regime described
for the project area are not
likely to have adverse impacts
to fisheries spawning and embryo
survival. For this reason, the
likelihood is very low for very
low existing direct and
indirect impacts to native and
nonnative fish species as a
result of flow-regime
modifications to South Fork Lost
Creek within the project area.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Sediment
The existing stream-sediment
processes of South Fork Lost
Creek are described using the
Rosgen stream morphological
type, several different sediment
composition surveys, and
streambank stability. The
stream morphology of 5 separate
reaches of South Fork Lost Creek
within the project area (see
FIGURE E-2 - SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH
BREAKS IN THE THREE CREEK
TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA) is
described using the Rosgen river
classification ( Rosgen 1996) .
From the confluence with North
Fork Lost Creek (river mile
0.00) upstream to river mile
1.76 (Reach 1), the creek
exhibits a 'C3' channel type;
from river mile 1.76 to 3.42
(Reach 2), the creek exhibits a
'B3' channel type; from river
mile 3.42 to 4.22 (Reach 3), the
creek exhibits a 'C3' channel
type; from river mile 4.22 to
4.94 (Reach 4), the creek
exhibits a 'B3a' channel type;
and from river mile 4.94
upstream to the USFS property
boundary at river mile 6.27
(Reach 5) , the creek exhibits a
'B3' channel type. The B
morphological type broadly
includes riffle-dominated
streams in narrow, gently
sloping valleys, which typically
exhibit infrequently spaced
pools ( Rosgen 1996) .
Furthermore, the B3
morphological type is
characteristic of channel
compositions dominated by
cobbles and codominated by
boulders with lesser amounts of
gravel and sand ( Rosgen 1996) .
The C morphological type broadly
includes meandering streams with
both riffles and pools in low
gradient, broad, alluvial valley
bottoms ( Rosgen 1996). More
specifically, the C3
morphological type is indicative
of cobble-dominated systems with
well-developed floodplains.
Several surveys have been
conducted to describe the
sediment composition of South
Fork Lost Creek, including
McNeil core, substrate score,
and Wolman pebble count. The
McNeil core sampling methodology
( McNeil and Ahnell 1964) has
been demonstrated to be an
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-ll
FIGURE E-2 -SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH BREAKS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA
Dnrc_foresied parcels shp
R1 R4 Reach Breaks
South Folk Lost Ci
End Reach 1 1
Start Reach 2
End Reach 2/
Start Reach 3
End Reach 3/
Start Reach 4
End Reach 4
TMNRIM/tt
End Reach 2J
Start Reach 3
End Reach 3/
Start Reach 4
End Reach 1 /
Start Reach 2
TJ4NR17I an
T24N R17W27
mN»l?MU}S
End Reach 4
MAP 2 -Three Creeks TS: South Fork Lost Creek and Soup Creek Reach Breaks
bLill trout /vuestlope cutthroat trout /eastern brook trout present
eastern brook trout present
nlermitlent, non- fish bearing
perennial, non-fish beanng
~ vrestslope cutlhroal trout present
Page E-12
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
effective technique for
measuring temporal changes in
the streambed permeability of
spawning gravels. McNeil core
data has been collected in South
Fork Lost Creek in a known bull
trout spawning reach in the
NE1/4SE1/4 of Section 3, T24N,
R17W, between 1994 and 2005 (see
TABLE E-4 - MCNEIL CORE SAMPLES
FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK, 1994
THROUGH 2005) . Weaver and
Fraley (1991) found that the
percentage of substrates less
than 6.35 millimeters in
spawning beds was inversely
proportional to bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout embryo
survival in the Flathead River
basin. The Flathead Basin
Commission (FBC) , a cooperative
program involving private,
State, and Federal landowners in
the river basin, subsequently
determined that streams with
spawning gravels having 35 or 40
percent of substrates less than
6.35 millimeters in any given
year were "threatened" or
"impaired", respectively, in
regards to bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout embryo
survival ( FBC 1991). McNeil
core sample results from South
Fork Lost Creek are collected
using Weaver and Fraley (1991)
and displayed to show the
proportion of substrates less
than 6.35 millimeters in size.
The sample sets show that the
proportion of substrates less
than 6.35 millimeters is under
the 35-percent threshold for
"threatened" status.
Embeddedness is generally
described as the degree to which
fine sediments surround coarse
substrates on the streambed
surface ( Sylte and Fischenich
2002) . The substrate score is
one technique for measuring
embeddedness, where higher
scores indicate lower
embeddedness and typically
better juvenile bull trout
habitat ( Shepard et al 1984). A
modified substrate score
methodology ( Weaver and Fraley
1991 citing others) has been
employed on South Fork Lost
Creek from 1994 through 2005
(see TABLE E-5 ~ SUBSTRATE SCORE
SAMPLES FROM SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK, 1994 THROUGH 2005) in a
TABLE E-4 - MCNEIL CORE SAMPLES FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK, 1994 THROUGH 2005
McNeil core samples from South Fork Lost Creek (T. Weaver, FWP Kalis pell)
Year
Appendix E - Fisheries Page E-13
TABLE E-5 - SUBSTRATE SCORE SAMPLES FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK , 1994 THROUGH
2005
known juvenile bull trout
rearing reach (NW1/4SW1/4 of
Section 4, T24N, R17W) . The
Flathead Basin Commission (FBC)
has subsequently determined that
streams with substrate scores
less than 10 or 9 in any give
year were "threatened" or
"impaired", respectively, in
regards to bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout embryo
survival and juvenile rearing
habitat (FBC 1991). The sample
sets show substrate scores
higher than 10, which indicate
low levels of embeddedness.
The Wolman pebble count ( Holman
1954 ) is another method that can
be used to describe temporal
changes in substrate size
classes on the streambed
surface. Sample data from
Reaches 1 through 4 on South
Fork Lost Creek (see FIGURE E-2
- SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK AND SOUP
CREEK REACH BREAKS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA)
is available from 2002 (see
TABLE E-6 - WOLMAN PEBBLE COUNT
RESULTS FROM SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK, 2002 ) . Considering
Reaches 1 through 4, the maximum
TABLE E-6 - WOLMAN PEBBLE COUNT RESULTS FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (KOOPAL
2002A)
Wolman pebble count results from South Fork Lost Creek (Koopal 2002a)
— ♦-
- Reach 1
-»
- Reach 2
— A—
- Reach 3
— X-
- Reach 4
Page E-14
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
combined percentage of
substrates less than 8
millimeters is 9.6 percent
(Reach 4), which is considerably
lower than the results
calculated for the similar size
class in the McNeil core samples
(percentage of substrate less
than 6.35 millimeters ranges
from 23.4 percent to 31.6
percent). This difference
suggests that there could be a
greater level of interstitial
spaces in the streambed surface
(cobble) substrates than may be
indicated by the McNeil core
data .
The final assessment of stream-
sediment processes includes a
description of streambank
stability. Streambank stability
is a measure of bank erosion
rates per stream length, and
changes in the rates can be used
as one indicator of potential
existing impacts to fish
habitats. Streambank stability
data for South Fork Lost Creek
is available for the year 2002
(see TABLE E-7 - STREAMBANK
STABILITY RESULTS FROM SOUTH
FORK LOST CREEK [KOOPAL 2002A ])
and includes all stream habitats
from the confluence with North
Fork Lost Creek (river mile
0.00) upstream through the
project area and to the end of
Reach 4 (river mile 4.94) (see
FIGURE E-2 - SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH
BREAKS IN THE THREE CREEKS
TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA) . The
protocol used for collecting the
streambank stability data is
that outlined in Overton et al
(1997). Overall, the results of
this data set show very high
levels (98.61 to 100.00 percent)
of streambank stability through
Reaches 1 to 4 in the project
area. Quantitative data of
streambank stability is not
available for Reach 5, but
qualitative field reviews of the
reach have also revealed very
high levels of streambank
stability .
(In terms of the sediment
component of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat, the potential effects
of past and present road
construction in the South Fork
Lost Creek drainage are
considered an unspecified,
collective effect. This broad
variable is consequently
addressed in the Existing
Collective Past and Present
Impacts section of EXISTING
CONDITIONS in this analysis.)
McNeil core data indicates that
the substrates of known spawning
reaches are not "threatened",
substrate scores describing
streambed substrate embeddedness
also indicate that known bull
trout rearing habitat is not
"threatened", and Wolman pebble
counts suggest that high levels
of streambed substrates are in
the gravel, cobble, and boulder
classes. Additionally, a recent
streambank-stability assessment
shows very low levels of
potential streambank erosion, a
TABLE E-7 - STREAMBANK STABILITY RESULTS FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK (KOOPAL
2002A)
REACH
BANK LENGTH
(FEET)
PERCENT
STABLE BANK
PERCENT
UNSTABLE BANK
PERCENT
UNDERCUT BANK
LEFT
RIGHT
MEAN
MEAN
MEAN
1
9, 355.0
9,346.0
99.89
0.11
2.13
2
8,794.0
9, 164.0
100.00
0.00
1.36
3
4,232.0
4,229.0
98.61
1.39
2.05
4
3,888.0
3, 892.0
100.00
0.00
0.84
Appendix E - Fisheries Page E 15
natural source of sedimentation.
Based on these observations, no
direct and indirect impacts to
the sediment component of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout habitat likely exist in
South Fork Lost Creek.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Channel Forms
Two descriptions of channel
formation will also be used to
describe existing bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat in South Fork Lost
Creek: Montgomery /Buff ington
classification ( Montgomery and
Buffington 1997) and R1/R4 Fish
Habitat Standard Inventory
(Overton et al 1997) . The
stream gradient of Reaches 1 and
3 (see FIGURE E-2 - SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH
BREAKS IN THE THREE CREEKS
TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA)
primarily ranges from 1 to 3
percent, and the stream gradient
of Reaches 2 and 4 primarily
ranges from 3 to 7 percent. The
stream formations of South Fork
Lost Creek are broadly described
as exhibiting 'forced pool-
riffle' , 'forced step-pool', and
'plane bed' Montgomery/
Buffington classifications. The
'forced pool-riffle' channel
form is generally a function of
large-woody-debris recruitment
to the bankfull area of the
stream, and the channel form
typically has pool freguencies
of 1:5 to 1:7, where the later
ratio is channel width
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . 'Forced step-pool'
channel forms are also generally
a function of large-woody-debris
recruitment to the bankfull area
of the stream, and the channel
form typically has pool
frequencies of 1:1 to 1:4 and
gradients of 3 to 8 percent
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . The 'plane bed' channel
form typically does not have
pools and generally occurs in
gradients of 1 to 4 percent
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) .
The R1/R4 Fish Habitat Standard
Inventory is a useful protocol
for describing detailed existing
conditions and tracking temporal
changes in the relative
proportions of different stream
microhabitats used by bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other native
fisheries. Inventory data for
South Fork Lost Creek is
available for the year 2002 (see
TABLE E-8 - R1/R4 FISH HABITAT
STANDARD INVENTORY RESULTS FROM
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK [KOOPAL
2002A ]) and includes all stream
habitats from the confluence
with North Fork Lost Creek
(river mile 0.00) upstream
through the project area and to
the end of Reach 4 (river mile
4.94) (see FIGURE E-2 - SOUTH
TABLE E-8 - R1/R4 FISH HABITAT STANDARD INVENTORY RESULTS FROM SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK (KOOPAL 2002A)
REACH
HABITAT
TYPE
TOTAL
NUMBER
OF
UNITS
MEAN
HABITAT
LENGTH
(FEET)
MEAN
WIDTH
(FEET)
MEAN
HABITAT
DEPTH
(FEET)
MEAN
WIDTH/
DEPTH
RATIO
MEAN
HABITAT
AREA
(SQUARE
FEET)
MEAN HABITAT
VOLUME
(CUBIC FEET)
1
Fast
70
122.8
19.4
0.38
53.34
2,385.8
901.4
1
Slow
20
33.4
19.4
1.17
17.84
649.5
759.3
2
Fast
76
95.9
18.6
0.38
50.54
1,782.6
683.3
2
Slow
41
36.0
21.0
1.15
20.40
755.9
866.3
3
Fast
35
91.3
16.2
0.31
55.65
1,481.5
461.9
3
Slow
22
47.3
17.7
1.08
18.21
838.1
907.3
4
Fast
25
122.6
16.6
0.35
48.12
2,031.1
714.2
4
Slow
19
37.5
18.0
1.31
15.50
674.5
881.8
Page E 16 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
FORK LOST CREEK AND SOUP CREEK
REACH BREAKS IN THE THREE CREEKS
TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA]). In
order to simplify the
description of existing
conditions, detailed habitat
data from Reaches 1 through 4
has been consolidated into fast
and slow habitat types. Fast
habitats include stream features
such as cascades, high and low
gradient riffles, runs, and
glides. Slow habitats include
dammed pools, lateral scour
pools, midchannel scour pools,
plunge pools, and step pools.
Bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout utilize all of
the habitat types with varying
frequency throughout the
different life stages, although
long-term persistence within a
stream by all life stages of
each species is generally
limited by the amount and
frequency of different slow
habitat types. Increasing
amounts of different pool
habitats are typically
proportional to increasing
levels of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout stream
habitat quality.
The following existing
conditions can be deduced from
the 2002 habitat inventory:
- The habitat data for Reach 1
indicates that 78 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 22 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 7 percent of the
total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 19 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
- The habitat data for Reach 2
indicates that 65 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 35 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 19 percent of
the total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 41 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
- The habitat data for Reach 3
indicates that 61 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 39 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 26 percent of
the total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 55 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
- The habitat data for Reach 4
indicates that 57 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 43 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 20 percent of
the total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 48 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
This information portrays Reach
1 as having a relatively low
proportion of slow, or pool,
habitat features, and Reaches 2
through 4 are described as
having relatively higher
proportions of pool-habitat
features. It can also be
inferred that Reaches 2 through
4 have relatively higher levels
of channel complexity, in-stream
cover, and potential wintering
habitat. Considering reach
gradients, valley location, and
geomorphological processes, the
observed proportions of habitat
types for each reach are within
the broad ranges of expected
conditions .
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-17
No specific conclusions
regarding trends in channel form
can be drawn from these current
observations, but this data will
be indispensable in future
habitat assessment and
monitoring efforts. Although
insufficient data is available
for describing specific trends
in channel forms, no direct and
indirect impacts to the channel-
form component of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat are apparent in South
Fork Lost Creek.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Riparian Function
The stream riparian area is
broadly defined as the interface
or linkage between the
terrestrial and aquatic zones,
and this area is critical for
regulating large-woody-debris
recruitment, the interception of
solar radiation, stream nutrient
inputs, and other variables
( Hansen et al 1995) . This
section will consider the
following important existing
conditions of the riparian area:
stand type, site potential tree
height, and stream shading.
The predominant riparian stand
type along South Fork Lost Creek
within the project area is
western red cedar/oak fern.
Although western red cedar is
typically the dominant species
during late serai and climax
stages, other species such as
grand fir, Engelmann spruce,
Douglas-fir, and western larch
are also major components of the
overstory ( Hansen et al 1995).
Furthermore, the riparian stand
type as it relates td the
associated geology and soils can
be classified as exhibiting both
SL2B and SL3B characteristics,
which primarily occur adjacent
to B and C channel types with
stream gradients ranging from 1
to 12 percent (Sirucek and
Bachurski 1995) . Where the SL2B
and SL3B riparian landtypes
occur with the stand type
described above, expected
conditions are somewhat poorly
drained sites with deep, weakly
developed, gravely or bouldery,
sandy loams or loams ( Sirucek
and Bachurski 1995).
Five riparian forest surveys in
Section 3, T24N, R17W, assessed
specific riparian stand
conditions adjacent to South
Fork Lost Creek. During the
surveys, all trees (live and
dead) with a dbh (4.5 feet above
the ground) were recorded.
Results of the surveys indicate
that the quadratic mean diameter
of riparian trees is 9.1 inches,
the average number of trees per
acre is 764, and the average
basal area per acre is 346.0
square inches.
Studies of large-woody-debris
recruitment to the stream
channel suggest that the primary
zone of recruitment is equal to
the height of the tallest trees
growing in the riparian zone
( Robinson and Beschta 1990,
Bilhy and Bisson 1998) . The
site potential tree height of
dominant and co-dominant trees
at 100 years ( ARM 36 . 11 . 425 [5] )
is used to estimate the extent
of the primary zone of large-
woody-debris recruitment for
riparian areas adjacent to
proposed harvest units in
Section 3, T24N, R17W. The site
potential tree height along
riparian zones adjacent to the
proposed harvest units is
approximately 95 feet, and
calculations of the measure are
displayed in TABLE E-9 -
CALCULATIONS OF SITE POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT ALONG SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK.
Riparian areas also provide
stream shading, which
contributes to the regulation of
stream-temperature regimes by
intercepting direct solar
radiation to the stream channel.
During winter seasons, riparian
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Page E-18
TABLE E-9 - CALCULATIONS OF SITE POTENTIAL TREE HEIGHT ALONG SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK*
SAMPLE
SPECIES
HEIGHT
(FEET)
AGE
(YEARS)
SITE
INDEX
(BEST
FIT)
SITE
POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT
@ 100 YEARS
(FEET)
MEAN SITE
POTENTIAL TREE
HEIGHT
6 100 YEARS
(FEET)
REFERENCE
1
Grand fir
70
55
45
116
USFS RN-71
2
Grand fir
92
102
30
91
USFS RN-71
3
Grand fir
43
90
30
91
USFS RN-71
4
Grand fir
53
135
30
91
USFS RN-71
5
Grand fir
56
95
30
91
USFS RN-71
6
Western
red cedar
87
95
N/A**
92**
N/A**
95
*Samples were taken by DNRC personnel during July 2004 from random dominant and co-dominant trees
with average growth at a distance of 50 feet from the bankfull slope break.
**Wes tern red cedar height relative to age is generally inconsistent, which does not lend well to
reliable index curves for the species. The site potential tree height at 100 years for this
sample was estimated.
areas may also function to
regulate stream temperatures by
inhibiting temperature loss
through evaporation, convection,
or long-wave radiation from the
stream ( Beschta et al 1987) .
The degree to which a riparian
area blocks direct solar
radiation to the stream can be
determined by measuring the
angular canopy density, which is
a function of riparian tree
species composition, stand age,
and tree density ( Beschta et al
1987) . Samples of angular
canopy density were taken at 6
locations from the center of
South Fork Lost Creek during
2004, and measurements were
taken for the months of July and
August (the months during which
direct solar radiation has the
greatest potential effect on
stream-temperature regimes).
Results of these measurements
indicate that the existing
riparian tree vegetation blocks
an average of 65 percent of
direct solar radiation during
July and an average of 81
percent of direct solar
radiation during August.
A past disturbance to the
riparian area includes the
construction and location of
USFS Road 680, which lies north
of South Fork Lost Creek through
the project area. The majority
of the road corridor lies
outside of the area encompassed
by the site potential tree
height, but approximately 1,300
linear feet of the road corridor
lies within 10 feet to 95 feet
of the bankfull slope break of
South Fork Lost Creek. Based on
field estimates, the average
distance between the road
corridor and the bankfull slope
break within the 1,300 linear
foot zone is approximately 70
feet. As the road lies to the
north of the stream, stream
shading has likely been little
affected; however, the road
corridor is likely having a low
existing impact through reduced
recruitable large woody debris.
Other past disturbance in the
riparian area includes the
harvest of isolated western
larch. Based on field
observations, this past harvest
of western larch occurred at
least 30 years ago at a rate of
approximately one tree per 200
linear feet.
Due to the location of the USFS
Road 680 corridor, low direct
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-19
and indirect impacts to the
riparian function component of
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout habitat exist in
South Fork Lost Creek.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Large Woody Debris
Large woody debris is recruited
to the stream channel from
adjacent and upstream riparian
vegetation; this material is a
critical component in the
formation of complex habitat for
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout. All life
stages of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout have
been observed closely
associating with large woody
debris in the Flathead River
basin (Pratt 1984, Shepard et al
1984). Large-woody-debris
recruitment rates to South Fork
Lost Creek throughout the
project area can be described
using large-woody-debris counts
per stream length, and this data
was collected during 2002 as
part a R1/R4 Fish Habitat
Standard Inventory ( Overton et
al 1997) (see TABLE E-10 -
LARGE-WOODY-DEBRIS COUNT RESULTS
FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
[KOOPAL 2002]). Large-woody-
debris counts for South Fork
Lost Creek include all stream
habitats from the confluence
with North Fork Lost Creek
(river mile 0.00) upstream
through the project area and to
the end of Reach 4 (river mile
4.94).
Data from reference reaches
( Harrelson et al 1994)
throughout the Flathead River
basin region indicate that the
expected frequency of large
woody debris in undisturbed B
channels ranges from 74 to 172
pieces per 1,000 feet (Bower
2006) . This data suggests that
the existing frequencies of
large woody debris in Reaches 2
and 4 of South Fork Lost Creek
are within the expected range of
frequencies when compared to
reference reaches in the region
with similar morphological
characteristics. Likewise, data
indicates that the expected
frequency of large woody debris
in undisturbed C channels in the
region ranges from 1 to 121
pieces per 1,000 feet (Bower
2006) . This data suggests that
the existing frequencies of
large woody debris in Reaches 1
and 3 of South Fork Lost Creek
are within the expected range of
frequencies when compared to
reference reaches in the region
with similar morphological
characteristics .
No apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
habitat exist in South Fork Lost
Creek .
TABLE E-10 - LARGE-WOODY-DEBRIS COUNT RESULTS FROM SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
(KOOPAL 2002)
REACH
1
2
3
4
Channel type
C
B
C
B
Total reach length (feet)
9,264
8,763
4,238
3, 778
Total number of single pieces
99
106
48
36
Total number of pieces in
aggregates
458
696
289
334
Total number of root wads
20
23
10
14
Total pieces of large woody debris
in reach
577
825
347
384
Number of pieces per 1,000 feet
62
94
82
102
Page E 20 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Stream Temperature
Stream-temperature data for
South Fork Lost Creek is
available for 2001, 2003, 2004,
and 2005 and is displayed in
TABLE E-ll - STREAM-TEMPERATURE
DATA FOR SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK.
FIGURE E-3 - THREE CREEKS TIMBER
SALE PROJECT SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK, CILLY CREEK, AND SOUP
CREEK STREAM-TEMPERATURE LOGGERS
displays the locations of
stream-temperature data
recorders on South Fork Lost
Creek .
Stream-temperature data
indicates that the annual
maximum weekly maximum
temperature at the water-quality
sample site has ranged from 11.5
to 12.7 degrees Celsius for the
years 2001, 2003, 2004, and
2005. During these years the
maximum seasonal temperature
recorded at the water-quality
sample site ranged from 11.7 to
12.9 degrees Celsius. For
comparison, a maximum seasonal
temperature of 12.2 degrees
Celsius was recorded during 1983
approximately 1,000 feet
downstream of the water-quality
sample site ( Leathe et al 1985),
which suggests that maximum
seasonal temperatures in the
vicinity of this location of
South Fork Lost Creek may not
have been markedly variable
during the past 2 decades.
Rates of change in stream
temperature are typically
variable between different
stream segments, as rates of
change in stream temperature are
generally a function of
variations in stream shading,
aspect, stream volume, net
radiation, evaporation,
convection, conduction,
groundwater interactions, and
inputs from tributaries ( Beschta
et al 1987). During 2004, the
rate of change in maximum weekly
maximum stream temperature
between SFKLost#3 and SFKLost#2
is approximately -0.5 degrees
Celsius per half mile, +0.2
degrees Celsius per half mile
between SFKLost#2 and SFKLost#l,
and +0.4 degrees Celsius per
half mile between SFKLostttl and
SFKLost_NWLO_WQsite . During
2005, the rate of change in
maximum weekly maximum stream
temperature between SFKLost#3
and SFKLost#2 is approximately -
0.8 degrees Celsius per half
mile, +0.2 degrees Celsius per
half mile between SFKLost#2 and
TABLE E-ll - STREAM- TEMPERATURE DATA FOR SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK*
SITE
NAME
MAXIMUM WEEKLY
MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE
(CELSIUS)
WARMEST DAY OF
MAXIMUM WEEKLY
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
(CELSIUS)
DAYS
GREATER
THAN
DATE
MAXIMUM
10.0
15.0
21.1
CELSIUS
SFKLost NWLO WQsite_2001
11.7
08/15/01
11.8
58
0
0
SFKLost NWLO WQsite_2003
12.7
07/23/03
12.9
69
0
0
SFKLost NWLO WQsite_2004
12.1
07/16/04
12.6
52
0
0
SFKLost#l Lower 2004
11.4
07/15/04
11.9
44
0
0
SFKLost#2 Middle 2004
11.2
07/16/04
11.7
40
0
0
SFKLost#3 Upper 2004
11.7
07/16/04
12.2
45
0
0
SFKLost NWLO WQsite 2005
11.5
08/09/05
11.7
45
0
0
SFKLosttl Lower 2005
10.7
07/19/05
10.9
33
0
0
SFKLost#2 Middle 2005
10.5
07/19/05
10.7
31
0
0
SFKLost#3 Upper 2005
11.3
08/06/05
11.4
38
0
0
* Samples obtained by DNRC resource specialists using Water Temp Pro (Onset
Corporation) data loggers.
Page E-21
Appendix E - Fisheries
SFKLost#l, and +0.4 degrees
Celsius per half mile between
SFKLost#l and
SFKLost_NWLO_WQsite . It is
highly likely that inputs from
cooler groundwater influenced
the stream-temperature regime
between SFKLost#3 and SFKLost#2,
where the maximum weekly maximum
stream temperature dropped
appreciably at the rate of
approximately -0.5 degrees
Celsius per half mile during
2004 and at the rate of
approximately -0.8 degrees
Celsius per half mile during
2005. Groundwater interactions
are known to affect many of the
streams in the Swan River valley
( Baxter 1997, Stanford and Ward
1993), and the stream-
temperature effects of
groundwater interactions likely
occur periodically in other
reaches of South Fork Lost
Creek. However, the extent to
which different groundwater
interactions affect stream
temperatures is generally a
function of a multitude of site-
specific variables and not
consistent across drainages.
In respect to bull trout, the
temperature ranges described in
TABLE E-ll - STREAM-TEMPERATURE
DATA FOR SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
are within the species'
tolerances as observed in
various studies. Fraley and
Shepard (1989) rarely observed
juvenile bull trout in streams
exceeding 15 degrees Celsius.
Garnett (2002) did not find bull
trout where maximum stream
temperatures exceeded 20 degrees
Celsius. Reiman and Chandler
(1999) found that bu\l trout are
most frequently observed in
streams having summer maximum
temperatures of approximately 13
to 14 degrees Celsius.
No apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the stream-
temperature component of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout habitat exist in South
Fork Lost Creek.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek Habitat -
Connectivity
The project area has 2 bridge
crossings over South Fork Lost
Creek in the NW1/4SW1/4 of
Section 4, and the NW1/4SE1/4 of
Section 2, all in T24N, R17W.
These crossings provide full
passage of all life stages of
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout.
A set of naturally occurring
waterfalls in the NW1/4SE1/4 of
Section 2, T24N, R17W (river
mile 4.94) pose complete
migration barriers to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout.
Both bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout exist below the
barriers, and only westslope
cutthroat trout are known to
exist upstream of the barriers.
Although the waterfall migration
barriers limit bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
migration in South Fork Lost
Creek, the stream features are
naturally occurring and not
considered an existing impact.
No direct and indirect impacts
to the connectivity component of
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout habitat exist in
South Fork Lost Creek.
♦ South Fork Lost Creek - Existing
Collective Past and Present
Impacts
Existing collective past and
present impacts to fisheries in
the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project area are determined by
assessing the collective
existing direct and indirect
impacts and other related
existing actions affecting the
fish-bearing streams in the
project area. In order to help
convey a summary of collective
existing impacts within the
South Fork Lost Creek portion of
the project area, a matrix of
Page E-22
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
FIGURE E-3 - THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT: SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK, CILLY
CREEK, AND SOUP CREEK STREAM- TEMPERATURE LOGGERS
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-23
existing effects to fisheries in
the project area is displayed in
TABLE E-12 - MATRIX OF
COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK.
Other related actions that are
considered in the existing
collective impacts are a very
low impact due to fishing and
other related recreational uses,
a low impact from past forest-
One related action includes past
and present construction on the
road system construction in the
project area. This variable is
considered here since the
related potential impacts to
native fisheries are nonspecific
and may include the collective
inconsistent effect of
sedimentation, localized
suspended solids, channel
constriction, channel widening,
and modifications to temperature
regimes. The road system has
been assessed for specific
sources of sedimentation to
streams in the South Fork Lost
Creek watershed. Estimates
indicate that approximately 19.8
tons per year of road material
are contributed to streams in
the South Fork Lost Creek
watershed by the existing road
system (see WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS) . The
collective effect from the
existing road system, as
represented by the estimated
amount of material contributed
to streams, likely represents an
existing low to moderate impact
to bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout in South Fork
Lost Creek.
management activities on
upstream land ownerships, and a
low impact from road and road
stream-crossing construction and
maintenance activities on
upstream land ownerships.
The determination of existing
collective effects in this
fisheries analysis is based on
an assessment of all variables,
but the variables are not
weighted equally in making the
determination. For example,
impacts from nonnative fish
species, connectivity, and
sedimentation tend to have a
greater level of existing risk
to native fisheries than the
existing impacts from flow
regimes and riparian function.
Determinations of existing
collective impacts are,
therefore, primarily a
consequence of the overwhelming
impact to native fish species
from nonnative fish species in
conjunction with existing
impacts to other habitat
variables. As a result of these
considerations, existing
collective impacts to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout in
South Fork Lost Creek is likely
moderate .
TABLE E-12 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
.... J
Populations - presence ahfl genetics
EXISTING IMPACTS TO BULL TROUT
AND WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT
IN SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
Low to high
Habitat - flow regimes
Very low
Habitat - sediment
None
Habitat - channel forms
None
Habitat - riparian function
Low
Habitat - large woody debris
None
Habitat - stream temperature
None
Habitat - connectivity
None
Other related actions
Very Low to moderate
Existing collective impacts
Moderate
Page E-24
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
> CILLY CREEK
Cilly Creek is a second-order
stream and only a very short reach
within the project area is
considered fish bearing.
♦ Cilly Creek Populations -
Presence and Genetics
Eastern brook trout are the only
fish inhabiting Cilly Creek
within and adjacent to the
project area. Although bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout likely inhabited Cilly
Creek to some degree prior to an
eastern brook trout invasion,
several different surveys
confirm that the native species
no longer utilize the stream as
habitat. A redd count survey
during 1982 revealed no bull
trout spawning in Cilly Creek
( Leathe et al 1985). Another
redd count survey during 1996
revealed no westslope cutthroat
trout spawning in Cilly Creek
(T. Weaver, FWP Kalispell) .
Electrofishing surveys of
species presence during 1983
( Leathe et al 1985), 2004 (T.
Weaver, DFWP Kalispell) , and
2005 (J. Bower, DNRC Missoula)
also confirmed that native
species do not utilize Cilly
Creek as habitat.
As eastern brook trout currently
thrive in Cilly Creek, a
presumption that bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
historically occupied the stream
to some unknown degree is
reasonable. The complete
displacement by eastern brook
trout, therefore, constitutes a
high existing impact to bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout populations and genetics
in Cilly Creek.
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat - Flow
Regimes
Flow regime is the range of
discharge frequencies and
intensities in a specific
watershed that occur throughout
the year. (Flow regime is
analogous to 'water yield' in
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS.) The
analysis of hydrologic data for
Cilly Creek indicates that the
existing average departure in
flow regime is approximately 2.3
percent above the range of
naturally occurring conditions
(see APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS) , which is
primarily a result of past
forest crown removal . The range
of naturally occurring
conditions is considered
representative of those flow
regimes in a 20- to 30-year-old
forest (or, alternatively, a
forest that exhibits
evapotranspiration and
precipitation interception rates
that are similar to a mature
forest ) .
Changes in flow regime can
affect fisheries through
modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. However, the
existing levels of increased
flow regime in the project area
are generally not associated
with detectable impacts to fish-
habitat variables. As a
consequence, a very low
likelihood for very low direct
and indirect impacts to these
habitat characteristics exists
as a result of the estimated
2.3-percent increase in flow
regime to Cilly Creek within the
project area.
Changes in flow regime have been
known to affect fish spawning
migration, habitat available for
spawning, and embryo survival.
Although, in general, the
existing levels of increased
flow regime described for the
project area are not likely to
have adverse impacts to
fisheries spawning and embryo
survival. For this reason, a
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-25
very low likelihood for very low
direct and indirect impacts to
native and nonnative fish
species exists as a result of
flow-regime modifications to
Cilly Creek within the project
area .
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat - Sediment
The stream morphology of the
fish-bearing reach of Cilly
Creek within the project area is
described using the Rosgen river
classification (Rosgen 1996) .
The fish-bearing reach of the
stream exhibits a 'B4' channel
type. The B morphological type
broadly includes riffle-
dominated streams in narrow,
gently sloping valleys, which
typically exhibit infrequently
spaced pools (Rosgen 1996).
Furthermore, the B4
morphological type is
characteristic of channel
compositions dominated by
gravels (Rosgen 1996). As this
condition appears consistent
with those found in Leathe et al
(1985), the existing sediment
characteristics of Cilly Creek
are likely representative of
historic trends. Furthermore,
field surveys of the stream
during 2004 and 2005 did not
reveal channel or riparian
disturbances that would
otherwise point toward a
deviation in the expected
characteristics of sediment. No
direct and indirect impacts to
the sediment component of fish
habitat likely exist in Cilly
Creek.
(In terms of the sediment
component of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat brout
habitat, the potential effects
of past and present road
construction in the Cilly Creek
drainage are considered an
unspecified, collective effect.
This broad variable is
consequently addressed in the
Existing Collective Past and
present Impacts section of
EXISTING CONDITIONS of this
analysis . )
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat - Channel
Forms
The description of channel
formation used to describe
existing fish habitat in Cilly
Creek is the Montgomery/
Buffington classification
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997). The stream gradient of
the fish-bearing reach of Cilly
Creek primarily ranges from 1 to
3 percent. The stream
formations of the reach are
broadly described as exhibiting
the 'forced pool-riffle' and
'pool-riffle' Montgomery/
Buffington classification. The
'forced pool-riffle' channel
form is generally a function of
large-woody-debris recruitment
to the bankfull area of the
stream. Both 'pool-riffle'
channel forms typically exhibit
pool frequencies of 1:5 to 1:7,
where the later ratio is channel
width (Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . No direct or indirect
impacts to the channel-form
component of fish habitat are
apparent in Cilly Creek.
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat - Riparian
Function
The stream riparian area is
broadly defined as the interface
or linkage between the
terrestrial and aquatic zones,
and this area is critical for
regulating large-woody-debris
recruitment, the interception of
solar radiation, stream nutrient
inputs, and other variables
(Hansen et al 1995 ) . This
section will consider the
following important existing
conditions of the riparian area:
site potential tree height and
stream shading.
Studies of large-woody-debris
recruitment to the stream
channel suggest that the primary
zone of recruitment is equal to
the height of the tallest trees
Page E-26
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
growing in the riparian zone
(Robinson and Beschta 1990,
Bilby and Bisson 1998). The
site potential tree height of
dominant and co-dominant trees
at 100 years ( ARM 36 . 11 . 425 [5])
is used to estimate the extent
of the primary zone of large-
woody-debris recruitment for
riparian areas adjacent to
proposed harvest units in
Section 16, T24N, R17W. The
site potential tree height
calculated by DNRC personnel
during 2004 is 91 feet. The
measure was calculated from 2
samples of grand fir adjacent to
the fish-bearing reach.
Riparian areas also provide
stream shading, which
contributes to the regulation of
stream-temperature regimes by
intercepting direct solar
radiation to the stream channel.
During winter seasons, riparian
areas may also function to
regulate stream temperatures by
inhibiting temperature loss
through evaporation, convection,
or long-wave radiation from the
stream ( Beschta et al 198 7).
The degree to which a riparian
area blocks direct solar
radiation to the stream can be
determined by measuring the
angular canopy density, which is
a function of riparian tree
species composition, stand age,
and tree density ( Beschta et al
198 7). Samples of angular
canopy density were taken at 6
different locations from the
center of the fish-bearing reach
of Cilly Creek during 2004, and
measurements were taken for the
months of July and August (the
months during which direct solar
radiation has the greatest
potential effect on stream-
temperature regimes) . Results
of these measurements indicate
that the existing riparian tree
vegetation blocks an average of
76 percent of direct solar
radiation during July and an
average of 83 percent during
August .
Past disturbance in the riparian
areas of Cilly Creek include the
random, selective harvesting of
large trees until approximately
30 years ago. The potential
existing impacts are low since
the result of the past
associated action poses an
existing low risk of reduced
recruitable large woody debris
over the foreseeable near
future .
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat - Large
Woody Debris
Large woody debris is recruited
to the stream channel from
adjacent and upstream riparian
vegetation, and the material is
an important component in the
formation of habitat for fish.
The frequency of existing large
woody debris in the fish-bearing
reach of Cilly Creek is likely
consistent with the range of
frequencies observed in other B
channels on nearby South Fork
Lost Creek and Soup Creek and
described within this analysis.
No direct and indirect impacts
to the large-woody-debris
component of fish habitat likely
exist in Cilly Creek.
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat - Stream
Temperature
Stream temperature data for
Cilly Creek is available for
2004 and 2005 and is displayed
in TABLE E-13 - STREAM-
TEMPERATURE DATA FOR CILLY
CREEK. FIGURE E-3 - THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT:
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK, CILLY
CREEK, AND SOUP CREEK STREAM-
TEMPERATURE LOGGERS displays the
locations of stream-temperature
data recorders on Cilly Creek.
Rates of change in stream
temperature are typically
variable between different
stream segments, as rates of
change in stream temperature are
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-27
TABLE E-13 - STREAM- TEMPERATURE DATA FOR CILLY CREEK *
SITE NAME
MAXIMUM
WEEKLY
MEAN
TEMPERATURE
(CELSIUS)
WARMEST DAY OF
MAXIMUM WEEKLY
MEAN TEMPERATURE
(CELSIUS)
DAYS
GREATER
THAN
10.0
15.0
21.1
DATE
MAXIMUM
CELSIUS
Cilly#l Lower 2004
7.5
08/13/04
7.6
0
0
0
Cilly#2 Lower-Middle 2004
12.1
08/17/04
12.5
50
0
0
Cilly#3 Upper-Middle 2004
10.6
08/17/04
10.8
34
0
0
Cilly#4 Upper 2004
9.3
08/16/04
9.7
0
0
0
Cilly#l Lower 2005
7.9
06/21/05
8.7
0
0
0
Cilly#2 Lower-Middle 2005
10.9
08/07/05
11.0
29
0
0
Cilly#3 Upper-Middle 2005
10.4
08/09/05
10.5
13
0
0
Cilly#4 Upper 2005
8.8
08/09/05
8.9
0
0
0
*Samples obtained by DNRC resource specialists using Water Temp Pro (Onset Corpora-
tion) data loggers.
generally a function of
variations in stream shading,
aspect, stream volume, net
radiation, evaporation,
convection, conduction,
groundwater interactions, and
inputs from tributaries (Beschta
et al 198 7). During 2004, the
rate of change in maximum weekly
maximum stream temperature
between Cilly#4 and Cilly#3 is
approximately +1.1 degrees
Celsius per half mile, +1.0
degrees Celsius per half mile
between Cilly#3 and Cilly#2, and
-3.2 degrees Celsius per half
mile between Cilly#2 and
Cilly#l. During 2005, the rate
of change in maximum weekly
maximum stream temperature
between Cilly#4 and Cilly#3 is
approximately +1.4 degrees
Celsius per half mile, +0.3
degrees Celsius per half mile
between Cilly#3 and Cilly#2, and
-2.1 degrees Celsius per half
mile between Cilly#2 and
Cilly#l. It must be noted that
between Cilly#2 and Cilly#l
field surveys have observed the
stream losing all surface flows
to subsurface flows during the
period of seasonal maximum
stream temperatures. It is,
therefore, readily apparent that
inputs from cooler groundwater
influenced the stream-
temperature regime between
Cilly#2 and Cilly#l, where the
Page E-28
maximum weekly maximum stream
temperature dropped appreciably
at the rate of approximately -
3.2 degrees Celsius per half
mile during 2004 and at the rate
of approximately -2.1 degrees
Celsius per half mile during
2005. Groundwater interactions
are known to affect many of the
streams in the Swan River valley
( Baxter 1997, Stanford and Ward
1993 ) , and the stream-
temperature effects of
groundwater interactions likely
occur periodically in other
reaches of Cilly Creek.
However, the extent to which
different groundwater
interactions affect stream
temperatures is generally a
function of a multitude of site-
specific variables and not
consistent across drainages.
No direct and indirect impacts
to the stream-temperature
component of fish habitat are
apparent in Cilly Creek.
♦ Cilly Creek Habitat -
Connecti vi ty
Cilly Creek has 1 bridge
crossing in the project area
located in the NW1/4SE1/4 of
Section 7, T24N, R17W. The
bridge crossing provides full
passage of all life stages of
eastern brook trout (and bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
trout, if those species were
present). Also, 3 culvert
crossings of Cilly Creek are in
the project area in the
NW1/4SW1/4 of Section 8, the
NW1/4NW1/4 and the NE1/4SW1/4 of
Section 16, all in T24N, R17W.
These 3 crossings provide full
passage of most adult eastern
brook trout (and most adult bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout, if those species were
present). These crossings
represent low direct and
indirect impacts to the
connectivity component of fish
habitat existing in Cilly Creek.
One related action includes past
and present construction on the
road system construction in the
project area. This variable is
considered here since the
related potential impacts to
native fisheries are nonspecific
and may include the collective
inconsistent effect of
sedimentation, localized
suspended solids, channel
constriction, channel widening,
and modifications to temperature
regimes. The existing road
system has been assessed for
specific sources of
sedimentation to streams in the
♦ Cilly Creek - Existing
Collective Past and Present
Impacts
Cilly Creek watershed.
Estimates indicate that
approximately 2.9 tons per year
of road material are contributed
Existing collective past and
present impacts to fisheries in
the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project area are determined by
assessing the collective
existing direct and indirect
impacts and other related
existing actions affecting the
fish-bearing streams in the
project area. In order to help
convey a summary of collective
existing impacts within the
Cilly Creek portion of the
project area, a matrix of
existing effects to fisheries in
the project area is displayed in
TABLE E-14 - MATRIX OF
COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN CILLY CREEK.
to streams in the Cilly Creek
watershed by the existing road
system (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) . The collective
effect from the existing road
system, as represented by the
estimated amount of material
contributed to streams, likely
represents an existing low
impact to fish in Cilly Creek.
Other related actions that are
considered in the existing
collective impacts are a very
low impact due to fishing and
other related recreational uses,
a low impact from past forest-
management activities on other
land ownerships, and a low
impact from road and road
TABLE E-14 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN CILLY
CREEK
EXISTING IMPACTS TO NATIVE
AND NONNATIVE FISH IN SOUP CREEK
Populations - presence and genetics
High
Habitat - flow regimes
Very Low
Habitat - sediment
None
Habitat - channel forms
None
Habitat - riparian function
Low
Habitat - large woody debris
None
Habitat - stream temperature
None
Habitat - connectivity
Low
Other related actions
Very low to low
Existing collective impacts
High
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-29
stream-crossing construction and
maintenance activities on other
land ownerships.
The determination of existing
collective effects in this
fisheries analysis is based on
an assessment of all variables,
but the variables are not
weighted equally in making the
determination. For example,
impacts from nonnative fish
species, connectivity, and
sedimentation tend to have a
greater level of existing risk
to native fisheries than the
existing impacts from flow
regimes and riparian function.
Determinations of existing
collective impacts are,
therefore, primarily a
consequence of the overwhelming
impact to native fish species
from nonnative fish species in
conjunction with existing
impacts to other habitat
variables. As a result of these
considerations, a moderate
collective impact to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
likely exists in Cilly Creek.
> UNNAMED CREEK
Unnamed Creek is a second-order
stream, and the fish-bearing reach
of the stream is downstream of the
project area.
♦ Unnamed Creek Populations -
Presence And Genetics
Based on a thorough
electrofishing survey of Unnamed
Creek during 2005 (J. Bower,
DNRC Missoula) , eastern brook
trout were determined to be the
only fish inhabiting Unnamed
Creek downstream fron( the
project area. Measurements of
relatively high stream
temperatures (see UNAMED CREEK
HABITAT - STREAM TEMPERATURE)
likely indicate that the stream
is a thermal barrier to bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout. Neither native species
has likely ever utilized Unnamed
Creek as habitat for any period
of time. No direct and indirect
impacts to bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
presence and genetics exist in
Unnamed Creek.
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat - Flow
Regimes
Flow regime is the range of
discharge frequencies and
intensities in a specific
watershed that occur throughout
the year. (Flow regime is
analogous to 'water yield' in
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS.) The
analysis of hydrologic data for
Unnamed Creek indicates that the
existing average departure in
flow regime is approximately 0.5
percent above the range of
naturally occurring conditions,
which is primarily a result of
past forest crown removal. The
range of naturally occurring
conditions is considered
representative of those flow
regimes in a 20- to 30-year-old
forest (or, alternatively, a
forest that exhibits
evapotranspiration and
precipitation interception rates
that are similar to a mature
forest) .
Changes in flow regime can
affect fisheries through
modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. However, the
existing levels of increased
flow regime in the project area
are generally not associated
with detectable impacts to fish
habitat variables.
Consequently, the likelihood is
very low for very low direct and
indirect impacts to these
habitat characteristics as a
result of the estimated 0.5-
percent increase in flow regime
to Unnamed Creek downstream of
the project area.
Page E-30
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Major sections of the fish-
bearing reach of Unnamed Creek
seasonally dewater and exhibit
intermittent flows.
Changes in flow regime have been
known to affect fish spawning
migration, habitat available for
spawning, and embryo survival.
Although, in general, the
existing levels of increased
flow regime described for the
project area are not likely to
have adverse impacts to
fisheries spawning and embryo
survival. For this reason, the
likelihood is very low for very
low direct and indirect impacts
to nonnative fish species is
very low as a result of flow-
regime modifications to Unnamed
Creek downstream of the project
area .
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat - Sediment
The stream morphology of the
fish-bearing reach of Unnamed
Creek downstream of the project
area is described using the
Rosgen river classification
( Rosgen 1996) . The fish-bearing
reach of the stream alternates
between 'B4', 'C4', and 'E5'
channel types. The B
morphological type broadly
includes riffle-dominated
streams in narrow, gently
sloping valleys, which typically
exhibit infrequently spaced
pools ( Rosgen 1996) . The C
morphological type broadly
includes meandering streams with
both riffles and pools in low-
gradient, broad, alluvial valley
bottoms ( Rosgen 1996) . The E
morphological type broadly
includes riffle-pool-dominated,
low-gradient streams in broad
alluvial valleys with well-
developed floodplains ( Rosgen
1996). Furthermore, the B4 and
C4 morphological type is
characteristic of channel
compositions dominated by
gravels, while the E5
morphological type is
characteristic of channel
compositions dominated by sands
( Rosgen 1996). Several large
beaver dam complexes exist
within the 'E5' and 'C4' channel
types. Field surveys of the
stream during 2005 did not
reveal channel or riparian
disturbances that would
otherwise point toward a
deviation in the expected
characteristics of sediment. No
direct and indirect impacts to
the sediment component of fish
habitat likely exist in Unnamed
Creek .
(In terms of the sediment
component of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat, the potential effects
of past and present road
construction in the Unnamed
Creek drainage are considered an
unspecified, collective effect.
This broad variable is
consequently addressed in the
Existing Collective Past and
Present Impacts section of
EXISTING CONDITIONS of this
analysis . )
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat - Channel
Forms
The description of channel
formation used to describe
existing fish habitat in Unnamed
Creek is the Montgomery/
Buffington classification
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . The stream gradient of
the fish-bearing reach of
Unnamed Creek primarily ranges
from 1 to 4 percent. In those
reaches of the stream that flow
through forested areas, the
stream formations are broadly
described as exhibiting the
'forced pool-riffle' and 'pool-
riffle' Montgomery/Buffington
classification. The 'forced
pool-riffle' channel form is
generally a function of large-
woody-debris recruitment to the
bankfull area of the stream.
Both 'pool-riffle' channel forms
typically exhibit pool
frequencies of 1:5 to 1:7, where
Appendix E - Fisheries Page E-31
the later ratio is channel width
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . In those reaches of the
stream that flow through various
sedge meadow complexes, the
stream formations are broadly
described as exhibiting the
'plane bed' Montgomery/
Buffington classification. The
'plane bed' channel form
typically does not have pools
and generally occurs in
gradients of 1 to 4 percent
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . Several large beaver dam
complexes exist within the fish-
bearing reach of Unnamed Creek.
No direct and indirect impacts
to the channel-form component of
fish habitat are apparent in
Unnamed Creek.
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat - Riparian
Function
The stream riparian area is
broadly defined as the interface
or linkage between the
terrestrial and aquatic zones,
and this area is critical for
regulating large-woody-debris
recruitment, the interception of
solar radiation, stream-nutrient
inputs, and other variables
( Hansen et al 1995) . The
proposed forest-management
activities associated with each
alternative are not expected to
occur adjacent to the fish-
bearing reach of Unnamed Creek.
For this reason, a description
of the existing condition of
site potential tree height is
not needed for the fisheries
analysis .
Riparian areas also provide
stream shading, which
contributes to the regulation of
stream-temperature regimes by
intercepting direct solar
radiation to the stream channel.
Field surveys of the stream
during 2005 did not reveal
extraordinary riparian
disturbances that would
otherwise point toward a
deviation in the expected range
of stream-shade conditions.
However, past disturbance in the
riparian areas of Unnamed Creek
may include the random,
selective harvesting of large
trees up to approximately 30
years ago. This random,
selective riparian harvesting
likely represents a potential
low-existing impact to nonnative
fisheries in Unnamed Creek. A
potential low impact exists
since the result of the past
associated action poses an
existing low risk of reduced
recruitable large woody debris
over the foreseeable near
future .
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat - Large
Woody Debris
Large woody debris is recruited
to the stream channel from
adjacent and upstream riparian
vegetation, and the material is
an important component in the
formation of habitat for fish.
The frequency of existing large
woody debris in the fish-bearing
reach of Unnamed Creek is likely
consistent with the range of
frequencies observed in other B
and C channels on nearby South
Fork Lost Creek and Soup Creek
and is described within this
analysis. In those reaches of
the stream that flow through
various sedge meadow complexes,
field surveys did not reveal
large woody debris as playing an
important role in stream
function. No direct and
indirect impacts to the large-
woody-debris component of fish
habitat likely exist in Unnamed
Creek.
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat - Stream
Temperature
Instantaneous daytime stream
temperatures were recorded at 3
different locations of the fish-
bearing reach of Unnamed Creek
on June 23, 2005. The 3
measures were 15.5, 17.0, and
Page E-32
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
21.5 degrees Celsius. These
daytime stream temperatures are
relatively high for the month of
June compared to other fish-
bearing streams in the project
area, and the stream
temperatures during July and
August are expected to be even
complete migration barrier to
all life stages of eastern brook
trout. The 2 culvert crossings
represent an existing moderate
to high direct and indirect
impact to the connectivity
component of fish habitat in
Unnamed Creek.
greater. The simple measures
from June 23, 2005 are likely
indicative of a stream that
presents a thermal barrier to
♦ Unnamed Creek - Existing
Collective Past and Present
Impacts
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout. Although these
temperatures are relatively
high, the field surveys of the
stream during 2005 did not
reveal extraordinary riparian
disturbances or stream
conditions that would otherwise
point toward a deviation in the
observed range of stream
temperature. No apparent direct
or indirect impacts to the
stream-temperature component of
fish habitat exist in Unnamed
Creek .
♦ Unnamed Creek Habitat -
Connectivity
Two culvert crossings of Unnamed
Existing collective past and
present impacts to fisheries in
the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project area are determined by
assessing the collective
existing direct and indirect
impacts and other related
existing actions affecting the
fish-bearing streams in the
project area. In order to help
convey a summary of collective
existing impacts within the
Unnamed Creek portion of the
project area, a matrix of
existing effects to fisheries in
the project area is displayed in
TABLE E-15 - MATRIX OF
COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN UNNAMED CREEK.
Creek exist in the project area
in the NE1/4NE1/4 of Section 29,
T24N, R17W and the SW1/4NW1/4 of
Section 28, T24N, R17W. The
culvert crossing in Section 29
poses a migration barrier to
eastern brook trout except for a
portion of the strongest
swimming adults. The culvert
crossing in Section 28 poses a
One related action includes past
and present construction on the
existing road system in the
project area. This variable is
considered here since the
related potential impacts to
native fisheries are nonspecific
and may include the collective
inconsistent effect of
sedimentation, localized
TABLE E-15 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN UNNAMED
CREEK
EXISTING IMPACTS TO NONNATIVE FISH
IN UNNAMED CREEK
Populations - presence and genetics
None
Habitat - flow regimes
Very Low
Habitat - sediment
None
Habitat - channel forms
None
Habitat - riparian function
Low
Habitat - large woody debris
None
Habitat - stream temperature
None
Habitat - connectivity
Moderate to high
Other related actions
Very low to low
Exist inp collective impacts
Modera te
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-33
suspended solids, channel
constriction, channel widening,
and modifications to temperature
regimes. The existing road
system has not been assessed for
specific sources of
sedimentation to streams in the
Unnamed Creek watershed.
However, the impacts in the
Unnamed Creek watershed are
likely similar to those found in
Cilly Creek, since both
watersheds are comparable in
size, historic-management
regimes, and past road
development. The collective
effect from the existing road
system then likely represents an
existing low impact to fish in
Unnamed Creek.
The determination of existing
collective effects in this
fisheries analysis is based on
an assessment of all variables,
but the variables are not
weighted equally in making the
determination. For example,
impacts from nonnative fish
species, connectivity, and
sedimentation tend to have a
greater level of existing risk
to native fisheries than the
existing impacts from flow
regimes and riparian function.
Determinations of existing
collective impacts are,
therefore, primarily a
consequence of the overwhelming
impact to native fish species
from nonnative fish species in
conjunction with existing
impacts to other habitat
variables. As a result of these
considerations, a moderate
collective impact to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
likely exists in Unnamed Creek.
> SOUP CREEK
Soup Creek is a third-order stream
and the entire reach within the
project area is considered fish-
bearing .
♦ Soup Creek Populations -
Presence and Genetics
The Soup Creek watershed has
been identified as a core
habitat area within the Swan
River drainage bull trout
conservation area ( MBTSG 1996,
MBTRT 2000) . Core areas are
watersheds, including tributary
drainages and adjoining uplands,
used by migratory bull trout for
spawning and early rearing, and
by resident bull trout for all
life history requirements ( MBTRT
2000) . Although bull trout may
exhibit the resident life form
in Soup Creek, this stream is
used by bull trout primarily as
spawning and rearing habitat for
adfluvial populations associated
with Swan Lake. Soup Creek
supports westslope cutthroat
trout exhibiting adfluvial,
fluvial, and resident life
forms .
Genetic data suggests that
migratory bull trout adults in
the upper Flathead River system
have been found to frequently
return to their natal or near-
natal streams ( Kanda et al
1997) , and populations of
migratory spawning bull trout in
the Flathead River system have
been observed returning to the
same stream reaches during
subsequent spawning runs ( Fraley
and Shepard 1989) . This
propensity for habitual adult
migration to natal or near-natal
streams and the consequent
selection of unique spawning
locations would make the use of
redd counts in Soup Creek a
useful measure of overall bull
trout success in occupying this
specific subbasin. Similarly,
westslope cutthroat trout redd
counts would be expected to
Page E-34
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
express that species' overall
success in occupying spawning
and rearing habitats provided by
Soup Creek.
The protocol for collecting
redd-count data in South Fork
Lost Creek is described in
Weaver and Fraley (1991).
Experienced crews and fixed-
survey reaches are used for
result consistency.
The data in TABLE E-16 - BULL
TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUP CREEK ,
1992 THROUGH 2005 shows the
number of bull trout redds
constructed in the Soup Creek
reference reach has ranged from
2 to 12 during the years 1992 to
2004. This table contains
insufficient data to describe a
trend in bull trout redd counts
with a high degree of certainty.
An analysis of bull trout redd
counts from throughout the Swan
drainage suggests that the
larger bull trout population may
be increasing ( Rieman and Myers
1997) , but the same study also
indicates that a larger data set
than that provided in TABLE E-16
- BULL TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUP
CREEK , 1992 THROUGH 2005 is
likely needed in order to begin
identifying long-term trends of
bull trout populations in
individual streams. However,
Weaver (2005) has indicated that
the existing Swan River drainage
bull trout population appears to
be stable, and redd counts from
South Fork Lost Creek and Soup
Creek are generally
representative of trends in
other bull trout spawning
streams within the drainage.
Weaver (2005) noted that
increases in bull trout redd
counts from 1996 through 2000
may have been due to a strong
bull trout population response
to Mysis shrimp densities in
Swan Lake. ( Mysis is an
introduced macroinvertebrate to
Swan Lake that has contributed
to the food base of adfluvial
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout.) The data in
TABLE E-l 7 - WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT
TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUP CREEK ,
1994 THROUGH 2004 shows the
number of westslope cutthroat
trout redds constructed in the
Soup Creek reference reach has
ranged from 9 to 29 during the
years 1994 through 2004.
Although this table also has
insufficient data to describe a
trend in westslope cutthroat
trout redd counts with a high
TABLE E-16 - BULL TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUP CREEK, 1992 THROUGH 2005
Bull trout redd counts on Soup Creek (T. Weaver, FWP Kalispell) (no data for year 2002)
15
- 10
O
O
TD
S
K 5
0
12
■
12
1
10
8
. 1
t ,
if
• 1
■ ■ ■ 1 1
1 . 1 1
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Year
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-35
'
TABLE E-l 7 - WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT REDD COUNTS IN SOUP CREEK , 1994
THROUGH 2004
degree of certainty, this data
is likely indicative of a
generally stable westslope
cutthroat trout population
associated with the Soup Creek
drainage .
Leathe et al (1985) describes
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout population
densities in 3 reaches of Soup
Creek as ranging from low to
high (see TABLE E-18 - SPECIES
DENSITIES IN SOUP CREEK, 1982
THROUGH 1983 [LEATHE ET AL
1985]). Reach 1 starts at the
confluence of Swan River and
Soup Creek and extends upstream
to river mile 6.34. Reach 2
includes that portion of Soup
Creek from river mile 6.34 to
7.64, and Reach 3 extends from
river mile 7.64 to 9.32.
Independent of current
population status, there are
considerable existing and future
risks to both bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
populations and genetics in Soup
Creek and throughout the Swan
River drainage. Perhaps the
greatest future threats to bull
trout in the Swan River drainage
are from the introduction and
spread of nonnative fish (MBTSG
1996). The recently confirmed
introduction and reproduction of
TABLE E-18 - SPECIES DENSITIES IN SOUP CREEK, 1982 THROUGH 1983 (LEATHE ET AL
1985)
NUMBER OF FISH
GREATER THAN
75 MILLIMETERS
PER 300 METERS
NUMBER OF FISH
GREATER THAN
150 MILLIMETERS
PER 300 METERS
REACH /YEAR
SURVEYED
BULL
TROUT
WESTSLOPE
CUTTHROAT
TROUT
EASTERN
BROOK
TROUT
BULL
TROUT
WESTSLOPE
CUTTHROAT
TROUT
EASTERN
BROOK
TROUT
1/1983
3
( ’low’ )
0
279
( ' high ' )
0
0
48
( 'mod ' )
2/1982
0
240 ( ' high ' )
0
0 ■
46
( 'moderate ' )
0
3/1983
0
0
0
0
0
0
Page E 36 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
lake trout ( Salvelinus
namaycush) in Swan Lake is
expected to have some level of
acute negative effect to bull
trout within the Swan River
drainage. Lake trout will
likely have a negative affect on
bull trout populations in Swan
Lake through the predation of
juvenile and subadult life
stages and niche displacement.
These foreseeable interactions
will likely be expressed through
lower rates of bull trout redd
count construction in Soup
Creek.
Bull trout are also negatively
affected by nonnative eastern
brook trout primarily through
hybridization and, to some
extent, by the displacement of
juvenile fish in rearing
habitats. Data suggests that
bull trout and eastern brook
trout hybridization has occurred
throughout the Swan River
drainage ( Kanda et al 1997).
Although several factors point
toward hybridization as a lower
overall risk to bull trout than
that of displacement by lake
trout: migratory bull trout tend
to have a reproductive size
advantage over resident eastern
brook trout ( Rieman and McIntyre
1993) and offspring can have a
considerable chance of being
sterile or exhibiting other
progressive growth problems
( Leary et al 1983) .
Westslope cutthroat trout also
face considerable threats from
the introduction and spread of
nonnative fish. Introgression
from hybridization with rainbow
trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) and
other cutthroat trout subspecies
may pose the foremost risk to
westslope cutthroat trout in
Montana ( Liknes and Graham
1988) . Westslope cutthroat
trout within Soup Creek below
migration- barrier cascades at
approximate river mile 7.50 are
expected to express some level
of introgression ( NRIS 2004) .
Westslope cutthroat trout
upstream of the migration
barrier falls were determined to
be 100 percent genetically pure
from samples taken in 1983
( MFISH 2005) . Westslope
cutthroat trout are quite
susceptible to displacement by
introduced salmonids, especially
eastern brook trout; however,
the variable mechanisms through
which this occurs are not well
understood ( Griffith 1988).
Eastern brook trout are not
known to exist upstream of the
migration-barrier falls.
Existing impacts to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
populations and genetics in Soup
Creek are due primarily to the
introduction of nonnative
salmonids. Existing impacts to
bull trout in Soup Creek include
an imminent moderate to high
impact due to the propagation of
lake trout in the drainage and a
low impact due to hybridization
with eastern brook trout.
Existing impacts to westslope
cutthroat trout include a likely
moderate impact due to
introgression from rainbow trout
hybridization and a moderate
impact from displacement by
eastern brook trout (where the 2
species' distributions overlap
below the migration-barrier
falls) .
♦ Soup Creek Habitat - Flow
Regimes
Flow regime is the range of
discharge frequencies and
intensities in a specific
watershed that occur throughout
the year. (Flow regime is
analogous to 'water yield' in
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS) . The
analysis of hydrologic data for
Soup Creek indicates that the
existing average departure in
flow regime is approximately 1.0
percent above the range of
naturally occurring conditions
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-37
(see APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS) , which is
primarily a result of past
forest crown removal. The range
of naturally occurring
conditions is considered
representative of those flow
regimes in a 20- to 30-year-old
forest (or, alternatively, a
forest that exhibits
evapotranspiration and
precipitation interception rates
that are similar to a mature
forest) .
Changes in flow regime can
affect bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout fisheries
through modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. However, the
existing levels of increased
flow regime in the project area
are generally not associated
with detectable impacts to fish
habitat variables. As a
consequence, the likelihood is
very low for very low existing
direct and indirect impacts to
these habitat characteristics as
a result of the estimated 1.0-
percent increase in flow regime
to Soup Creek within the project
area .
Changes in flow regime have been
known to affect bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
spawning migration, habitat
available for spawning, and
embryo survival. Although, in
general, the existing levels of
increased flow regime described
for the project area are not
likely to have adverse impacts
to fisheries spawning and embryo
survival. For this reason, for
the likelihood is very low for
very low existing direct and
indirect impacts to native and
nonnative fish species as a
result of flow-regime
modifications to Soup Creek
within the project area.
♦ Soup Creek Habitat - Sediment
Existing stream sediment
processes that are described in
this analysis are the Rosgen
stream morphological type,
sediment budget, and streambank
stability. The stream
morphology of 4 separate reaches
of Soup Creek within the project
area (see FIGURE E-2 - THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT:
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK AND SOUP
CREEK REACH BREAKS) is described
using the Rosgen river
classification ( Rosgen 1996) .
From the confluence with the
Swan River (river mile 0.00)
upstream to river mile 6.80
(Reach 1), the creek exhibits a
'C4' channel type; from river
mile 6.80 to 7.45 (Reach 2), the
creek exhibits a 'B3' channel
type; from river mile 7.45 to
9.51 (Reach 3), the creek
exhibits a 'A3' channel type;
and from river mile 9.51
upstream to the Forest Service
property boundary at river mile
10.37 (Reach 4), the creek
exhibits a 'B4' channel type.
The C morphological type broadly
includes meandering streams with
both riffles and pools in low
gradient, broad, alluvial valley
bottoms [Rosgen 1996) . More
specifically, the C3
morphological type is indicative
of gravel-dominated systems with
well-developed floodplains. The
B morphological type broadly
includes riffle-dominated
streams in narrow, gently
sloping valleys, which typically
exhibit infrequently spaced
pools ( Rosgen 1996) .
Furthermore, the B3 and B4
morphological types are
characteristic of channel
compositions dominated by
cobbles and gravels,
respectively ( Rosgen 1996) . The
A3 morphological type includes
streams with steep, entrenched,
confined channels that are
dominated by cobbles with lesser
Page E-38
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
amounts of boulders, gravel, and
sand .
Several different surveys have
been conducted to describe the
sediment budget of Soup Creek,
including McNeil core, substrate
score, and Wolman pebble count.
The McNeil core sampling
methodology ( McNeil and Ahnell
1964 ) has been demonstrated to
be an effective technique for
measuring temporal changes in
the streambed permeability of
spawning gravels. McNeil core
data has been collected in Soup
Creek in a known bull trout
spawning reach (NE1/4NE1/4 of
Section 19, T24N, R17W) between
1993 and 2005 (see TABLE E-19 -
MCNEIL CORE SAMPLES FROM SOUP
CREEK , 1993 THROUGH 2005) .
Weaver and Fraley (1991) found
that the percentage of
substrates less than 6.35
millimeters in spawning beds was
inversely proportional to bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout embryo survival in the
Flathead River basin. The FBC,
a cooperative program involving
private, State, and Federal
landowners in the river basin,
subsequently determined that
streams with spawning gravels
having 35 or 40 percent of
substrates less than 6.35
millimeters in any give year
were "threatened" or "impaired",
respectively, in regards to bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout embryo survival (FBC
1991). McNeil core sample
results from Soup Creek are
collected using Weaver and
Fraley (1991) and displayed in
TABLE E-19 - MCNEIL CORE SAMPLES
FROM SOUP CREEK, 1993 THROUGH
2005 to show the proportion of
substrates less than 6.35
millimeters in size. Data from
1993 through 1997 shows that the
proportion of substrates less
than 6.35 millimeters is under
the 35-percent threshold for
"threatened" status. However,
data from 1998 through 2005
indicates that the proportion of
substrates less than 6.35
millimeters are over 35 percent,
which indicates a "threatened"
status in respect to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
embryo survival . The data set
from 1998 through 2005 may also
indicate an increasing trend in
the quantity of substrates less
than 6.35 millimeters in size.
TABLE E-19 - MCNEIL CORE SAMPLES FROM SOUP CREEK, 1993 THROUGH 2005
McNeil core samples from Soup Creek (T. Weaver, FWP Kalis pell)
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Year
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-39
Embeddedness is generally
described as the degree to which
fine sediments surround coarse
substrates on the streambed
surface (Sylte and Fischenich
2002) . The substrate score is
one technique for measuring
embeddedness, where higher
scores indicate lower
embeddedness and typically
better juvenile bull trout
habitat (Shepard et al 1984) . A
modified substrate score
methodology (Weaver and Fraley
1991 citing others) has been
employed on Soup Creek from 1992
through 2004 (see TABLE E-20 -
SUBSTRATE SCORE SAMPLES FROM
SOUP CREEK, 1992 THROUGH 2005)
in a known juvenile bull trout
rearing reach (NW1/4NW1/4 of
Section 20, T24N, R17W) . The
FBC has subsequently determined
that streams with substrate
scores less than 10 or 9 in any
given year were "threatened" or
"impaired", respectively, in
regards to juvenile bull trout
rearing habitat (FBC 1991). All
of the sample sets in this table
show substrate scores higher
than 10, except for 2004 and
2005. The scores of 9.8 in 2004
and 9.2 in 2005 are indicating a
"threatened" status in respect
to juvenile bull trout habitat
quality for that year. The
substrate score data from 1998
through 2005, which corresponds
to those years when McNeil core
readings have exceeded 35
percent, may also indicate a
decreasing trend in substrate
score, or conversely, increasing
embeddedness due to fine
substrates .
The Wolman pebble count (Wolman
1954) is another method that can
be used to describe temporal
changes in substrate size
classes on the streambed
surface. Sample data from
Reaches 1 through 4 on Soup
Creek (see FIGURE E-2 - THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT SOUTH
FORK LOST CREEK AND SOUP CREEK
REACH BREAKS) is available from
2002 and 2004 (see TABLE E-21 -
WOLMAN PEBBLE COUNT RESULTS FROM
SOUP CREEK, 2002 [REACHES 1 AND
2] AND 2004 [REACHES 3 AND 4]).
Within Reach 1, the combined
percentage of substrates less
than 8 millimeters is 54.1
percent. When this value is
considered in conjunction with a
McNeil core reading of 37.2
percent (2002) , this indicates
that fine substrates are well
distributed on both the surface
and subsurface of the streambed
TABLE E-20 - SUBSTRATE SCORE SAMPLES FROM SOUP CREEK, 1992 THROUGH 2005
Substrate score samples from Soup Creek (T. Weaver, FWPKalispell)
Year
Page E-40
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-21 - WOLMAN PEBBLE COUNT RESULTS FROM SOUP CREEK, 2002 (REACHES 1 AND
2) AND 2004 (REACHES 3 AND 4)
Wolman pebble count results from Soup Creek (Koopal 2002b, Koopal 2004)
<2 2-8 8-64 64-128 128-256 256-512 >512
- Reach 1
- Reach 2
—A-
- Reach 3
— X-
- Reach 4
Substrate size class (mm)
in Reach 1. The Wolman pebble
count results from Reaches 2
through 4 are within the
expected ranges of conditions
for the associated morphological
types .
The final assessment of stream-
sediment processes includes a
description of streambank
stability. Streambank stability
is a measure of bank-erosion
rates per stream length, and
changes in the rates can be used
as one indicator of potential
existing impacts to fish
habitats. Streambank-stability
data for Soup Creek is available
for the years 2002 (Reaches 1
and 2) and 2004 (Reaches 3 and
4) and includes all stream
habitats from the confluence
with Swan River (river mile
0.00) upstream through the
project area and to the end of
Reach 4 (river mile 10.37) (see
TABLE E- 22 - STREAMBANK
STABILITY RESULTS FROM SOUP
CREEK [KOOPAL 2002B, KOOPAL
2004]). The protocol used for
collecting the streambank-
stability data is that outlined
in Overton et al (1997) .
Overall, the results of this
data set show very high levels
(99.59 to 100 percent) of
streambank stability through
Reaches 1 through 4 in the
project area.
(In terms of the sediment
component of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat, the potential effects
of past and present road
construction in the Soup Creek
drainage are considered
unspecified, collective effects.
This broad variable is
conseguently addressed in the
Existing Collective Past and
Present Impacts section of
TABLE E-22 - STREAMBANK STABILITY RESULTS FROM SOUP CREEK (KOOPAL 2002B,
REACH
BANK
LENGTH
(FEET)
PERCENT
STABLE
BANK
PERCENT
UNSTABLE
BANK
PERCENT
UNDERCUT
BANK
LEFT
RIGHT
MEAN
MEAN
MEAN
1
36, 100.0
36,165.0
99.59
0.41
3.18
2
3, 440.0
3, 433.0
99.85
0.15
2 .77
3
10, 897.0
10, 919.0
100.00
0.00
2.63
4
4,560.0
4, 542.0
100.00
0.00
1.51
Append
ix E - Fisheries
Page E-41
EXISTING CONDITIONS of this
analysis . )
The most recent McNeil core data
( 1998 through 2005) indicates
that the substrates of known
spawning reaches are
"threatened", and the substrate
scores from 2004 and 2005
describing streambed substrate
embeddedness also indicates that
known bull trout rearing habitat
is "threatened". The Wolman
pebble counts also suggest that
high levels of fine (less than 8
millimeters) streambed surface
substrates are in Reach 1. On
the contrary, a recent
streambank-stability assessment
in Reach 1 shows very low levels
of potential streambank erosion,
a natural source of
sedimentation. Reasons for the
measured levels of fine
substrates in Reach 1 may
include land-management-related
activities, natural cycles in
sediment-transport processes,
drought-related low seasonal
flows, or a combination of two
or more of these and other
factors. As 3 historic, native-
material bridges are in the
process of failing within
Reaches 3 and 4, land-
management-related activities
cannot be conclusively ruled out
as a potential source of a
portion of fine substrates found
in Reach 1. In general,
however, measurements of
substrate within Reaches 2
through 4 are within the
expected ranges of conditions
for the respective morphological
stream type. Based on these
observations, low to moderate
direct and indirect impacts to
the sediment component of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout habitat are likely in Soup
Creek.
♦ Soup Creek Habitat - Channel
Forms
Two descriptions of channel
formation will also be used to
describe existing bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat in South Fork Lost
Creek: Montgomery/Buffington
classification ( Montgomery and
Buffington 1997) and R1/R4 Fish
Habitat Standard Inventory
( Overton et al 1997) . The
stream gradient of Reach 1 (see
FIGURE E-2 - THREE CREEKS TIMBER
SALE PROJECT SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH
BREAKS) primarily ranges from 1
to 2 percent, from 3 to 5
percent in Reaches 2 and 4, and
from 7 to 8 percent in Reach 3.
The stream formations of Reaches
1, 2 and 4 are broadly described
as exhibiting 'forced pool-
riffle' , 'step-pool', 'forced
step-pool', and 'plane bed'
Montgomery /Buffington
classifications. The 'forced
pool-riffle' channel form is
generally a function of large-
woody-debris recruitment to the
bankfull area of the stream, and
the channel form typically has
pool frequencies of 1:5 to 1:7,
where the later ratio is channel
width (Montgomery and Buffington
1997) . 'Forced step-pool'
channel forms are also generally
a function of large-woody-debris
recruitment to the bankfull area
of the stream, and the channel
form typically has pool
frequencies of 1:1 to 1:4 and
gradients of 3 to 8 percent
(Montgomery and Buffington
1997). The 'step-pool' is
similar to the 'forced step-
pool' classification, but the
formations are primarily
sediment dependent as opposed to
large-woody-debris dependent.
The 'plane bed' channel form
typically does not have pools
and generally occurs in
gradients of 1 to 4 percent
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997). The stream formations of
Page E-42
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Reach 3 are broadly described as
exhibiting 'step-pool' and
'cascade' Montgomery/Buffington
classifications. The 'cascade'
channel form generally occurs in
steeper channels where
longitudinal and lateral
disorganization of cobbles and
boulders typically prevent the
development of large pools
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997) .
The R1/R4 Fish Habitat Standard
Inventory is a useful protocol
for describing detailed existing
conditions and tracking temporal
changes in the relative
proportions of different stream
microhabitats used by bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other native
fisheries. Inventory data for
Soup Creek is available for the
years 2002 and 2004 (see TABLE
E-23 - R1/R4 FISH HABITAT
STANDARD INVENTORY RESULTS FROM
SOUP CREEK [KOOPAL 2002B, KOOPAL
2004]) and includes all stream
habitats from the confluence
with the Swan River (river mile
0.00) upstream through the
project area and to the end of
Reach 4 (river mile 10.37) (see
FIGURE E-2 - THREE CREEKS TIMBER
SALE PROJECT SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH
BREAKS ) . In order to simplify
the description of existing
conditions, detailed habitat
data from Reaches 1 through 4
has been consolidated into fast
and slow habitat types. Fast
habitats include stream features
such as cascades, high and low
gradient riffles, runs, and
glides. Slow habitats include
dammed pools, lateral scour
pools, midchannel scour pools,
plunge pools, and step pools.
Bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout utilize all of
the habitat types with varying
frequency throughout the
different life stages, although
long-term persistence within a
stream by all life stages of
each species is generally
limited by the amount and
frequency of different slow
habitat types. Increasing
amounts of different pool
habitats are typically
proportional to increasing
levels of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
stream-habitat quality .
The following existing
conditions can be deduced from
the 2002 and 2004 habitat
inventories :
- The habitat data for Reach 1
indicates that 62 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 38 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 19 percent of
the total reach area includes
TABLE E-23 - R1/R4 FISH HABITAT STANDARD INVENTORY RESULTS FROM SOUP CREEK
(KOOPAL 2002B, KOOPAL 2004)
REACH
HABITAT
TYPE
TOTAL
NUMBER
OF
UNITS
MEAN
HABITAT
LENGTH
(FEET)
MEAN
WIDTH
(FEET)
MEAN
HABITAT
DEPTH
(FEET)
MEAN
WIDTH/
DEPTH
RATIO
MEAN
HABITAT
AREA
(SQUARE
FEET)
MEAN
HABITAT
VOLUME
(CUBIC
FEET)
-1
-L
Fast
318
96.4
11.2
0.36
34.92
1,082.8
389.1
1
Slow
193
27.2
15.7
1.04
16.59
426.9
444 . 9
2
Fast
35
84.0
12.3
0.33
37.52
1,034 . 9
346.1
2
Slow
17
18.4
15.4
1.03
15.44
283.6
289.5
3
Fast
90
96.9
15.0
0.47
33.41
1,452.8
679.2
3
Slow
78
27.4
14.4
0.94
16.34
395.2
370.7
4
Fast
42
87 . 9
11.7
0.29
41.99
1,025.1
299.3
4
Slow
42
19.8
13.6
0.79
18.17
270.2
212.3
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-43
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 41 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
- The habitat data for Reach 2
indicates that 67 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 33 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 12 percent of
the total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 29 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
- The habitat data for Reach 3
indicates that 54 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 46 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 19 percent of
the total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 32 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
- The habitat data for Reach 4
indicates that 50 percent of
all channel forms are fast-
type habitat features, and the
remaining 50 percent of all
channel forms are slow-type
habitat features;
approximately 21 percent of
the total reach area includes
slow-type habitat features,
and approximately 42 percent
of the total reach volume is
in slow-type habitat features.
This information portrays
Reaches 1 and 4 as haying
relatively high proportions of
slow, or pool, habitat features
and Reaches 2 and 3 as having
relatively lower proportions of
pool habitat features. It can
also be inferred that Reaches 1
and 4 have relatively higher
levels of channel complexity,
in-stream cover, and potential
wintering habitat. Considering
reach gradients, valley
location, and geomorphological
processes, the observed
proportions of habitat types for
each reach are within the broad
ranges of expected conditions.
No specific conclusions
regarding trends in channel form
can be drawn from these current
observations, but this data will
be indispensable in future-
habitat assessment and
monitoring efforts. Although
insufficient data is available
for describing specific trends
in channel forms, no direct and
indirect impacts to the channel-
form component of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat are apparent in Soup
Creek.
♦ Soup Creek Habitat - Riparian
Function
The stream riparian area is
broadly defined as the interface
or linkage between the
terrestrial and aquatic zones,
and this area is critical for
regulating large-woody-debris
recruitment, the interception of
solar radiation, stream-nutrient
inputs, and other variables
( Hansen et al 1995). This
section will consider the
following important existing
conditions of the riparian area:
stand type, site potential tree
height, and stream shading.
The predominant riparian stand
types along Soup Creek within
the project area include various
grand fir and Engelmann spruce
series. Although grand fir and
Engelmann spruce are typically
the dominant species during late
serai and climax stages, other
species such as subalpine fir,
Douglas-fir, western larch, and
Sitka alder are also components
of the overstory ( Hansen et al
1995) . Furthermore, the
riparian stand type as it
relates to the associated
Page E-44
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
geology and soils can be
classified as exhibiting NL2A
(Reach 1 only) , SL2B, and SL3B
characteristics, which primarily
occur adjacent to B and C
channel types with stream
gradients ranging from 1 to 12
percent ( Sirucek and Bachurski
1995) . The NL2A riparian
landtype generally occurs at
sites with deep, weakly
developed, very gravelly sandy
loams or very gravelly loams
( Sirucek and Bachurski 1995).
Where the SL2B and SL3B riparian
landtypes occur with the stand
types described above, expected
conditions are somewhat poorly
drained sites with deep, weakly
developed, gravely or bouldery,
sandy loams or loams ( Sirucek
and Bachurski 1995).
Specific riparian stand
conditions adjacent to Soup
Creek were assessed in 2004
through 6 riparian forest
surveys in Sections 26 and 27,
T24N, R17W ("Lower Soup Riparian
Cruise") and 6 riparian forest
surveys in Section 25, T24N,
R17W ("Upper Soup Riparian
Cruise"). During the surveys,
all trees (live and dead) with a
dbh were recorded. Results of
the "Lower Soup Riparian Cruise"
surveys indicate that the
quadratic mean diameter of
riparian trees is 5.9 inches,
the average number of trees per
acre is 1,032, and the average
basal area per acre is 195.9
square inches. Results of the
"Upper Soup Riparian Cruise"
surveys indicate that the
quadratic mean diameter of
riparian trees is 8.5 inches,
the average number of trees per
acre is 262, and the average
basal area per acre is 104.2
square inches. Based on data
reflecting relatively low
quadratic mean diameters and
basal areas from the two
separate surveys, a relatively
low frequency of large trees in
the riparian areas of Soup Creek
is likely within the project
area .
Studies of large-woody-debris
recruitment to the stream
channel suggest that the primary
zone of recruitment is equal to
the height of the tallest trees
growing in the riparian zone
( Robinson and Beschta 1990,
Bilhy and Bisson 1998). The
site potential tree height of
dominant and co-dominant trees
at 100 years ( ARM 36 . 11 . 425 [ 5 ] )
is used to estimate the extent
of the primary zone of large-
woody-debris recruitment for
riparian areas adjacent to
proposed harvest units in
Sections 25, 26, and 27, T24N,
R17W. The site potential tree
height calculated during the
"Lower Soup Riparian Cruise"
surveys is approximately 83
feet, and the site potential
tree height calculated during
the "Upper Soup Riparian Cruise"
surveys is approximately 74
feet. The calculations of each
measure are displayed in TABLE
E-24 - CALCULATIONS OF SITE
POTENTIAL TREE HEIGHT ALONG SOUP
CREEK ("LONER SOUP RIPARIAN
CRUISE") and TABLE E-25 -
CALCULATIONS OF SITE POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT ALONG SOUP CREEK
("UPPER SOUP RIPARIAN CRUISE").
Riparian areas also provide
stream shading, which
contributes to the regulation of
stream-temperature regimes by
intercepting direct solar
radiation to the stream channel .
During winter seasons, riparian
areas may also function to
regulate stream temperatures by
inhibiting temperature loss
through evaporation, convection,
or long-wave radiation from the
stream ( Beschta et al 1987).
The degree to which a riparian
area blocks direct solar
radiation to the stream can be
determined by measuring the
angular canopy density, which is
a function of riparian tree
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-45
TABLE E-24 - CALCULATIONS OF SITE POTENTIAL TREE HEIGHT ALONG SOUP CREEK
("LOWER SOUP RIPARIAN CRUISE")*
SAMPLE
SPECIES
HEIGHT
(FEET)
AGE
(YEARS)
SITE
INDEX
(BEST
FIT)
SITE
POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT
AT 100 YEARS
(FEET)
MEAN SITE
POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT
AT 100 YEARS
(FEET)
REFERENCE
Lower, 1
Grand fir
42
105
30
91
USFS RN-71
Lower, 2
Engelmann
spruce
30
61
25
43
USFS RN-42
Lower, 3
Grand fir
52
101
30
91
USFS RN-71
Lower, 4
Grand fir
23
54
30
91
USFS RN-71
Lower, 5
Grand fir
35
88
30
91
USFS RN-71
Lower, 6
Grand fir
32
57
30
91
USFS RN-71
Average value for "Lower Soup Riparian Cruise"
83
*During July 2004, DNRC personnel took samples from random dominant and co-dominant
trees with average growth at a distance of 50 feet from the bankfull slope break.
TABLE E-25 - CALCULATIONS OF SITE POTENTIAL TREE HEIGHT ALONG SOUP CREEK
("UPPER SOUP RIPARIAN CRUISE")*
SAMPLE
SPECIES
HEIGHT
(FEET)
AGE
(YEARS)
SITE
INDEX
(BEST
FIT)
SITE
POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT
AT 100 YEARS
(FEET)
MEAN SITE
POTENTIAL
TREE HEIGHT
AT 100 YEARS
(FEET)
REFERENCE
Upper, 1
Douglas-f ir
45
42
50
69
USFS RN-47
Upper, 2
Engelmann
spruce
64
96
45
69
USFS RN-42
Upper, 3
Engelmann
spruce
66
66
55
82
USFS RN-42
Upper, 4
Engelmann
spruce
71
79
55
82
USFS RN-42
Upper, 5
Douglas-f ir
72
109
50
69
USFS RN-47
Average value for "Upper Soup Riparian Cruise"
74
♦During July 2004, DNRC personnel took samples from random dominant and co-dominant
trees with average growth at a distance of 50 feet from the bankfull slope break.
species composition, stand age,
and tree density ( Beschta et al
1987). Samples of angular
canopy density were taken at 4
locations from the center of
Soup Creek during 2004, and
measurements were taken for the
months of July and August (the
months during which direct solar
radiation has the greatest
potential effect on stream-
temperature regimes) .\ Results
of these measurements indicate
that the existing riparian tree
vegetation blocks an average of
63 percent of direct solar
radiation during July and an
average of 75 percent of direct
solar radiation during August.
Past disturbance in the riparian
areas of Soup Creek include the
random, selective harvesting of
large trees up to approximately
30 years ago. Based on the
relatively low frequency of
large trees in the "Lower Soup
Riparian Cruise" and "Upper Soup
Riparian Cruise" data sets, this
level of past random, selective
riparian harvesting likely
represents a potential low
existing impact. The potential
existing impacts are low since
the result of the past
associated action poses an
existing low risk of reduced
recruitable large woody debris
over the foreseeable near
future .
Page E-46
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Potential low direct and
indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout habitat exist in
Soup Creek.
♦ Soup Creek Habitat - Large Woody
Debris
Large woody debris is recruited
to the stream channel from
adjacent and upstream riparian
vegetation, and the material is
a critical component in the
formation of complex habitat for
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout. All life
stages of bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout have
been observed closely
associating with large woody
debris in the Flathead River
basin ( Pratt 1984, Shepard et al
1984) . Large-woody-debris
recruitment rates to Soup Creek
throughout the project area can
be described using large-woody-
debris counts per stream length,
and this data was collected
during 2002 and 2004 as part a
R1/R4 Fish Habitat Standard
Inventory (Overton et al 1997)
(see TABLE E-26 - LARGE-WOODY-
DEBRIS COUNT RESULTS FROM SOUP
CREEK (KOOPAL 2002B, KOOPAL
2004) . Large-woody-debris
counts for Soup Creek include
all stream habitats from the
beginning of Reach 1 (river mile
0.00) upstream through the
project area and to the end of
Reach 4 (river mile 10.37).
Data from reference reaches
(Harrelson et al 1994)
throughout the Flathead River
basin region indicates that the
expected frequency of large
woody debris in undisturbed A
channels ranges from 62 to 332
pieces per 1,000 feet, from 74
to 172 pieces per 1,000 feet in
undisturbed B channels, and from
1 to 121 pieces per 1,000 feet
in undisturbed C channels ( Bower
2004) . This data suggests that
the existing frequency of large
woody debris in Reaches 1
through 4 of Soup Creek are
within the expected range of
frequencies when compared to
reference reaches in the region
with similar morphological
characteristics .
No apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
habitat exist in Soup Creek.
♦ Soup Creek Habitat - Stream
Temperature
Stream-temperature data for Soup
Creek is available for 2001,
2003, 2004, and 2005 and is
displayed in TABLE E-27 -
STREAM-TEMPERATURE DATA FOR SOUP
CREEK. FIGURE E-3 - THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT SOUTH
FORK LOST CREEK, CILLY CREEK,
AND SOUP CREEK STREAM-
TEMPERATURE LOGGERS displays the
locations of stream-temperature
data recorders on Soup Creek.
TABLE 26 - LARGE-WOODY-DEBRIS COUNT RESULTS FROM SOUP CREEK (KOOPAL 2002B,
KOOPAL 2004)
REACH
CHANNEL
TYPE
TOTAL REACH
LENGTH
(FEET)
TOTAL
NUMBER
OF SINGLE
PIECES
TOTAL
NUMBER OF
PIECES IN
AGGREGATES
TOTAL
NUMBER
OF ROOT
WADS
TOTAL
PIECES
OF LARGE
WOODY
DEBRIS
IN REACH
NUMBER
OF PIECES
PER 1,000
FEET
\
C
35, 926
551
3, 118
42
4,246
118
2
B
3,427
59
213
7
279
81
3
A
10,859
201
910
3
1,114
103
4
B
4,525
72
371
3
446
99
Page E-47
Appendix E - Fisheries
TABLE E-27 - STREAM- TEMPERATURE DATA FOR SOUP CREEK*
SITE
NAME
MAXIMUM
WEEKLY
MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE
(CELSIUS)
WARMEST DAY OF MAXIMUM
WEEKLY MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE (CELSIUS)
DAYS
GREATER
THAN
DATE
MAXIMUM
10.0
15.0
21.1
CELSIUS
Soup NWLO WQsite 2001
15.6
07/11/01
16.3
101
23
0
Soup NWLO WQsite_2003
19.0
07/23/03
19.4
98
60
0
Soup NWLO_WQsite_2004
18.2
07/16/04
19.1
92
48
0
Soup#l Lower 2004
10.5
07/15/04
11.0
26
0
0
Soup#2 Middle 2004
9.6
07/16/04
10.1
3
0
0
Soup#3 Upper 2004
10.2
08/17/04
10.7
7
0
0
Soup NWLO_WQsite_2005
17.9
08/06/05
18.1
109
40
0
Soup#l Lower 2005
10.0
08/06/05
10.1
10
0
0
Soup#2 Middle 2005
9.2
08/06/05
9.3
0
0
0
Soup#3 Upper 2005
8.8
08/06/05
8.9
0
0
0
*Samples obtained by DNRC resource specialists using Water Temp Pro (Onset Corporation) data
loggers.
The stream-temperature data
indicates that the annual
maximum weekly maximum
temperature at the water-quality
sample site has ranged from 15.6
to 19.0 degrees Celsius for the
years 2001, 2003, 2004, and
2005. During these years the
maximum seasonal temperature
recorded at the water-quality
sample site was 16.3 degrees
Celsius during 2001, 19.4
degrees Celsius during 2003,
19.1 degrees Celsius during
2004, and 18.1 degrees Celsius
during 2005. For comparison, a
maximum seasonal temperature of
16.1 degrees Celsius was
recorded during 1983
approximately 1,500 feet
upstream of the water-quality
sample site (Leathe et al 1985).
A comparison to the 1983
temperature data may suggest
that the maximum seasonal
temperatures within Reach 1 of
Soup Creek during 2003 and 2004
are potentially sliglitly above
average .
Rates of change in stream
temperature are typically
variable between different
stream segments, as rates of
change in stream temperature are
generally a function of
variations in stream shading,
Page E-48
aspect, stream volume, net
radiation, evaporation,
convection, conduction,
groundwater interactions, and
inputs from tributaries ( Beschta
et al 1987). During 2004, the
rate of change in maximum weekly
maximum stream temperature
between Soup#3 and Soup#2 is
approximately -0.3 degrees
Celsius per half mile, +0.5
degrees Celsius per half mile
between Soup#2 and Soup#l, and
+0.7 degrees Celsius per half
mile between Soup#l and
Soup_NWLO_WQsite . During 2005,
the rate of change in maximum
weekly maximum stream
temperature between Soup#3 and
Soup#2 is approximately +0.2
degrees Celsius per half mile,
+0.4 degrees Celsius per half
mile between Soup#2 and Soup#l,
and +0.7 degrees Celsius per
half mile between Soup#l and
Soup_NWLO_WQsite . Inputs from
cooler groundwater likely
influenced the stream-
temperature regime between
Soup#3 and Soup#2 during 2004,
where the maximum weekly maximum
stream temperature dropped
appreciably at the rate of
approximately 0.3 degrees
Celsius per half mile. The
reason for the approximate
increase of 0.2 degrees Celsius
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
per half mile between Soup#3 and
Soup#2 during 2005 is unclear,
except that there may be
fluctuations in groundwater
interception between Soup#3 and
Soup#2 from year to year.
Groundwater interactions are
known to affect many of the
streams in the Swan River valley
( Baxter 1997 , Stanford and Ward
1993) , and the stream-
temperature effects of
groundwater interactions likely
occur periodically in other
reaches of Soup Creek. However,
the extent to which different
groundwater interactions affect
stream temperatures is generally
a function of a multitude of
site-specific variables and not
consistent across drainages.
In respect to bull trout, some
of the temperature ranges
described in TABLE E-27 -
STREAM-TEMPERATURE DATA FOR SOUP
CREEK are not within the
species' tolerances, as observed
in various studies. Fraley and
Shepard (1989) rarely observed
juvenile bull trout in streams
exceeding 15 degrees Celsius.
Garnett (2002) did not find bull
trout where maximum stream
temperatures exceeded 20 degrees
Celsius. Reiman and Chandler
(1999) found that bull trout are
most frequently observed in
streams having summer maximum
temperatures of approximately 13
to 14 degrees Celsius. Reaches
1 and 2 within Soup Creek (see
FIGURE E-2 - THREE CREEKS TIMBER
SALE PROJECT SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK AND SOUP CREEK REACH
BREAKS) are known to provide
habitat to bull trout; however,
the relatively high seasonal
temperatures associated with
Reach 1 likely limit potential
bull trout use only to fall,
winter, and spring. Reach 2
likely provides the only year-
round cold-water refugia for
bull trout.
Appendix E - Fisheries
Maximum seasonal stream
temperatures in Reach 1 of Soup
Creek are historically high, and
these seasonal maximums are
likely a limiting variable to
bull trout populations in Soup
Creek. The apparent swift
increase in seasonal maximum
stream temperature in Reach 1
during 2003 and 2004 may or may
not be a result of regular
fluctuations in stream-
temperature regimes. As a
result of this uncertainty, the
increase in seasonal maximum
stream temperature in Reach 1
during 2003 and 2004 represents
a potential low existing direct
and indirect impact to the
stream-temperature component of
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout habitat in Reach
1 of Soup Creek. No apparent
direct and indirect impacts to
the stream-temperature component
of bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout habitat exist in
Reaches 2, 3, and 4 of Soup
Creek.
♦ Soup Creek Habitat -
Connectivity
Currently 5 bridges cross Soup
Creek within and immediately
adjacent to the project area in
the NE1/4NW1/4 of Section 29,
NW1/4SW1/4 of Section 27,
NE1/4NE1/4 of Section 26,
NW1/4NW1/4 of Section 25, and
SE1/4NE1/4 of Section 25, all in
T24N, R17W. The bridge
crossings in Sections 27 and 29
are the only road stream-
crossing structures that exist
within bull trout habitat, and
these 2 crossings provide full
passage of all life stages of
bull trout. All 5 bridge
crossings provide full passage
of all life stages of westslope
cutthroat trout.
Several sets of naturally
occurring cascades and small
waterfalls on Soup Creek in the
El/2 of Section 27 and Wl/2 of
Section 26 in T24N, R17W pose
Page E-49
complete migration barriers to
bull trout. The cascades and
small waterfalls also very
likely pose complete migration
barriers to westslope cutthroat
effects to fisheries in the
project area is displayed in
TABLE 28 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE
EXISTING IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN
SOUP CREEK.
trout, eastern brook trout, and,
if present, rainbow trout. Both
bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout exist below the
barriers, and only westslope
cutthroat trout are known to
exist upstream of the barriers.
Although the waterfall migration
barriers limit bull trout and
westslope cutthroat trout
migration in Soup Creek, the
stream features are naturally
occurring and not considered an
existing impact. No direct and
indirect impacts to the
connectivity component of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout habitat exist in Soup
Creek .
♦ Soup Creek - Existing Collective
Past and Present Impacts
Existing collective past and
present impacts to fisheries in
the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project area are determined by
assessing the collective
existing direct and indirect
impacts and other related
existing actions affecting the
fish-bearing streams in the
project area. In order to help
convey a summary of collective
One related action includes past
and present construction of the
existing road system in the
project area. This variable is
considered here since the
related potential impacts to
native fisheries are nonspecific
and may include the collective
inconsistent effect of
sedimentation, localized
suspended solids, channel
constriction, channel widening,
and modifications to temperature
regimes. The existing road
system has been assessed for
specific sources of
sedimentation to streams in the
Soup Creek watershed. Estimates
indicate that approximately 35.6
tons per year of road material
are contributed to streams in
the Soup Creek watershed by the
existing road system (see
APPRENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANAYLSIS) . The
collective effect from the
existing road system, as
represented by the estimated
amount of material contributed
to streams, likely represents an
existing moderate impact to bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout in Soup Creek.
existing impacts within the Soup
Creek portion of the project
area, a matrix of existing
Other related actions that are
considered in the existing
TABLE E-28 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE EXISTING IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN SOUP CREEK
EXISTING IMPACTS TO BULL TROUT
AND WESTSLOPE CUTTHROAT TROUT
IN SOUP CREEK
Populations - presence and genetics
Low to high
Habitat - flow regimes
Very low
Habitat - sediment
Low to moderate
Habitat - channel forms
None
Habitat - riparian function
Low
Habitat - large woody debris
None
Habitat - stream temperature
Low
Habitat - connectivity
None
Other related actions
Very low to moderate
Existing collective impacts
Moderate
Page E-50
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
collective impacts are very low
impacts due to fishing and other
related recreational uses, and
low impacts from past forest-
management activities on
upstream land ownerships and
road and road stream-crossing
construction and maintenance
activities on upstream land
ownerships .
The determination of existing
collective effects in this
fisheries analysis is based on
an assessment of all variables,
but the variables are not
weighted equally in making the
determination. For example,
impacts from nonnative fish
species, connectivity, and
sedimentation tend to have a
greater level of existing risk
to native fisheries than the
existing impacts from flow
regimes and riparian function.
Determinations of existing
collective impacts are,
therefore, primarily a
consequence of the overwhelming
impact to native fish species
from nonnative fish species in
conjunction with existing
impacts to other habitat
variables. As a result of these
considerations, a moderate
collective impact to bull trout
and westslope cutthroat trout
likely exist in Soup Creek.
ENVIRONMENTAL (ALTERNATIVE)
EFFECTS TO FISHERIES
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS
The purpose of this analysis is the
assessment of potential impacts to
cold-water fisheries and fisheries
habitat variables within the Three
Creeks Timber Sale Project area as a
result of implementing any one of
the project alternatives. The
assessment of environmental effects
in this analysis is based, in part,
on the assumption that
recommendations (see FISHERIES
ANALYSIS SPECIALIST RECOMMENDATIONS
at the end of this document) will be
implemented through the TIMBER SALE
CONTRACT specifications and
monitoring .
In each of the following subsections
this assessment will describe the
risk of an impact occurring. A low
risk means that the impact is
unlikely to occur; a moderate risk
indicates that the impact may or may
not (50/50) occur; and a high risk
means that impact is likely to
occur. A very low impact means that
the impact is unlikely to be
detectable or measurable, and the
impact is not likely to be
detrimental to the resource. A low
impact means that the impact is
likely to b e detectable or
measurable, but the impact is not
likely to be detrimental to the
resource. A moderate impact means
that the impact is likely to be
detectable or measurable, but the
impact may or may not (50/50) be
detrimental to the resource. A high
impact means that the impact is
likely to be detectable or
measurable, and the impact is likely
to be detrimental to the resource.
♦ Populations - Presence and
Genetics
• Direct an ft Indirect Effect s of. Vo-. let ion
. Hternatire .1 on Population s - Presence
and Genetics
No direct or indirect impacts
would occur to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-51
other fisheries population
presence or genetics in South
Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, or
Soup creeks would occur beyond
those described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect Fffectx of. let ion
. I t tern at i rex It, C, D, and I' on
Po/ta/afionx - Prexence and (ieneticx
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
the current levels of direct and
indirect adverse impacts to bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries
population presence or genetics
in South Fork Lost, Cilly,
Unnamed, or Soup creeks. These
existing levels of impacts are
low to high in South Fork Lost
Creek; high in Cilly Creek; none
EXISTING CONDITIONS. Analysis
of bull trout and, in some
cases, westslope cutthroat trout
populations through redd counts
are expected to continue as part
of fisheries monitoring in the
project area.
♦ Habitat - Flow Regimes
• Direct and Indirect IJflecfx of .Vo-, let ion
. Itternafirc . I on Habitat - Flow Hegimex
No direct or indirect impacts
would occur to the bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat
component of flow regime in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
or Soup creeks beyond those
described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
in Unnamed Creek; and low to
high in Soup Creek. The
existing impacts to native and
other fisheries presence and
genetics in the project area are
primarily the result of
displacement, predation, and
genetic introgression .
Examples of actions that may
negatively affect bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries population
presence or genetics in the
project area include the
introduction of nonnative fish
species, targeted fish
suppression or other removal,
stocking, and species
introduction to previously
uninhabited stream reaches. No
actions associated with this
alternative involve the direct
or indirect manipulation of
species population presence or
genetics in the project area.
Therefore, as a result of the
selection of action
alternatives, no direct and
indirect impacts to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries population
presence or genetics would be
expected in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, or Soup creeks
beyond those described in
• Direct ant! Indirect Itffecfx of. let ion
.Itternafirc It on Habitat - Flow Hegimex
Changes in flow regime can
affect native and nonnative
fish-spawning migration,
spawning behavior, potential
spawning habitat, and embryo
survival. These effects
typically occur through
modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. EXISTING CONDITIONS
describes the very low
likelihood of very low levels of
direct and indirect adverse
impacts to the flow-regime
component of fish habitat in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks.
An analysis of the proposed
actions related to Action
Alternative B indicates that the
resulting cumulative increase in
water yields would be 1.8
percent in South Fork Lost
Creek, 9.1 percent in Cilly
Creek, 5.3 percent in Unnamed
Creek, and 3.1 percent in Soup
Creek (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) . TABLE E-29 -
EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW
Page E-52
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-29 - EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE B
STREAM
BASIN
EXPECTED INCREASE (PERCENT)
IN FLOW REGIMES AS A RESULT
OF IMPLEMENTING ACTION ALTERNATIVE B
South Fork Lost Creek
0.6
Cilly Creek
CO
kO
Unnamed Creek
00
Soup Creek
2.1
REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA
AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE B describes the
expected increases for each
basin as a result of the
proposed actions. The expected
changes to flow regimes in this
table are increases above those
values described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
The expected 0.6- to 6.8-percent
increase in flow regime to
basins in the project area could
affect native and nonnative
fisheries. However, the
expected slight increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks are not likely to
have detectable or otherwise
measurable effects to native and
nonnative fisheries in those
streams. The expected 4.8 to
6.8 percent increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in Unnamed and Cilly
creeks, respectively, may have a
minor detectable and measurable
effect to native and nonnative
fisheries in that stream. The
potential adverse effects in the
Cilly and Unnamed creeks may
include impacts to spawning
habitat and embryo survival
through modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, and
channel formations.
With respect to the existing
conditions described at the
beginning of this analysis,
these potential modifications of
flow regimes as a result of the
selection of Action Alternative
B are expected to have a very
low risk of very low direct and
indirect impacts to the
f isheries-habitat variable of
flow regime in the South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks. The risk
is low for low direct and
indirect impacts to the
f isheries-habitat variable of
flow regime in Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. These potential impacts
to the fisheries habitat
variable of flow regime would be
in addition to those described
in EXISTING CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect Effect# of, Iction
Alternative Con Habitat - Flow Regimes
Changes in flow regime can
affect native and nonnative
fish-spawning migration,
spawning behavior, potential
spawning habitat, and embryo
survival. These effects
typically occur through
modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. EXISTING CONDITIONS
describes the very low
likelihood of very low levels of
direct and indirect adverse
impacts to the flow-regime
component of fish habitat in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks .
An analysis of the proposed
actions related to Action
Alternative C indicates that the
resulting cumulative increase in
water yields would be 1.7
percent in South Fork Lost
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-53
Creek, 8.6 percent in Cilly
Creek, 5.0 percent in Unnamed
Creek, and 2.5 percent in Soup
Creek (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) . TABLE E-30 -
EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW
REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA
AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE C describes the
expected increases for each
basin as a result of the
proposed actions. The expected
changes to flow regimes in this
table are increases above those
values described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
The expected 0.5- to 6.3-percent
increase in flow regime to
basins in the project area could
affect native and nonnative
fisheries. However, the
expected slight increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks are not likely to
have detectable or otherwise
measurable effects to native and
nonnative fisheries in those
streams. The expected 4.5- to
6.3-percent increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in Unnamed and Cilly
creeks, respectively, may have a
minor detectable and measurable
effect to native and nonnative
fisheries in that stream. The
potential adverse effects in
Cilly and Unnamed creeks may
include impacts to spawning
habitat and embryo survival
through modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, and
channel formations.
With respect to the existing
conditions described at the
beginning of this analysis,
these potential modifications of
flow regimes as a result of the
selection of Action Alternative
C are expected to have a very
low risk of very low direct and
indirect impacts to the
fisheries habitat variable of
flow regime in South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks. The risk is
low for low direct and indirect
impacts to the f isheries-habitat
variable of flow regime in Cilly
and Unnamed creeks. These
potential impacts to the
fisheries habitat variable of
flow regime would be in addition
to those described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct anil Indirect Effect* of, let ion
Alternative D on Habitat - Flow Regime*
Changes in flow regime can
affect native and nonnative
fish-spawning migration,
spawning behavior, potential
spawning habitat, and embryo
survival. These effects
typically occur through
modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. EXISTING CONDITIONS
describes the very low
likelihood of very low levels of
direct and indirect adverse
impacts to the flow-regime
component of fish habitat in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks.
TABLE E-30 - EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE C
STREAM
BASIN
EXPECTED INCREASE (PERCENT)
IN FLOW REGIMES AS A RESULT
OF IMPLEMENTING ACTION ALTERNATIVE C
South Fork Lost Creek
0.5
Cilly Creek
6.3
Unnamed Creek
4.5
Soup Creek
1.5
Page E-54
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
An analysis of the proposed
actions related to Action
Alternative D indicates that the
resulting cumulative increase in
water yields would be 2.5
percent in South Fork Lost
Creek, 11.5 percent in Cilly
Creek, 5.7 percent in Unnamed
Creek, and 2.1 percent in Soup
Creek (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) . TABLE E-31 -
EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW
REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA
AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE D describes the
expected increases for each
basin as a result of the
proposed actions . The expected
changes to flow regimes in this
table are increases above those
values described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
The expected 1.1- to 9.2-percent
increase in flow regime to
basins in the project area could
affect native and nonnative
fisheries. However, the
expected slight increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks are not likely to
have detectable or otherwise
measurable effects to native and
nonnative fisheries in those
streams. The expected 5.2- to
9.2-percent increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in Unnamed and Cilly
creeks, respectively, may have a
minor detectable and measurable
effect to native and nonnative
fisheries in that stream. The
potential adverse effects in
Cilly and Unnamed creeks may
include impacts to spawning
habitat and embryo survival
through modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, and
channel formations.
With respect to the existing
conditions described at the
beginning of this analysis,
these potential modifications of
flow regimes as a result of the
selection of Action Alternative
D are expected to have a very
low risk of very low direct and
indirect impacts to the
f isheries-habitat variable of
flow regime in South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks. The risk is
low for low direct and indirect
impacts to the f isheries-habitat
variable of flow regime in Cilly
and Unnamed creeks. These
potential impacts to the
fisheries habitat variable of
flow regime would be in addition
to those described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect Ftffecf* of. Id ion
.liter notice E on Habitat - Flow Regimen
Changes in flow regime can
affect native and nonnative
fish-spawning migration,
spawning behavior, potential
spawning habitat, and embryo
survival. These effects
typically occur through
modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, stream-
temperature ranges, and channel
formations. EXISTING CONDITIONS
describes the very low
likelihood of very low levels of
TABLE E-31 - EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE D
STREAM
BASIN
EXPECTED INCREASE (PERCENT)
IN FLOW REGIMES AS A RESULT
OF IMPLEMENTING ACTION ALTERNATIVE D
South Fork Lost Creek
1.3
Cilly Creek
9.2
Unnamed Creek
5.2
Soup Creek
1.1
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-55
direct and indirect adverse
impacts to the flow-regime
component of fish habitat in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks.
An analysis of the proposed
actions related to Action
Alternative E indicates that the
resulting cumulative increase in
water yields would be 2.4
percent in South Fork Lost
Creek, 12.1 percent in Cilly
Creek, 3.8 percent in Unnamed
Creek, and 1.9 percent in Soup
Creek (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) . TABLE E-32 -
EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW
REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA
AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE E describes the
expected increases for each
basin as a result of the
proposed actions. The expected
changes to flow regimes in this
table are increases above those
values described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
The expected 0.9- to 9.8-percent
increase in flow regime to
basins in the project area could
affect native and nonnative
fisheries. However, the
expected slight increases and
consequent potential adverse
effects in South Fork Lost,
Unnamed, and Soup creeks are not
likely to have detectable or
otherwise measurable effects to
native and nonnative fisheries
in those streams. The expected
9.8-percent increase and
consequent potential adverse
effects in Cilly Creek may have
a minor detectable and
measurable impact to native and
nonnative fisheries in that
stream. The potential adverse
effects in Cilly Creek may
include impacts to spawning
habitat and embryo survival
through modifications of stream
morphology, sediment budget,
streambank stability, and
channel formations.
With respect to the existing
conditions described at the
beginning of this analysis,
these potential modifications of
flow regimes as a result of the
selection of Action Alternative
E are expected to have a very
low risk of very low direct and
indirect impact to the
f isheries-habitat variable of
flow regime in South Fork Lost,
Unnamed, and Soup creeks. The
risk is low for low direct and
indirect impacts to the
f isheries-habitat variable of
flow regime in Cilly Creek.
These potential impacts to the
fisheries habitat variable of
flow regime would be in addition
to those described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
♦ Habitat - Sediment
• Direct and Indirect EjffectH of .Vo-, let ion
. Itternatire . 1 on Habitat - Sediment
No direct or indirect impacts to
the bull trout, westslope
cutthroat trout, or other
fisheries habitat component of
sediment in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, or Soup creeks
would be expected beyond those
described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
TABLE E-32 - EXPECTED INCREASES IN FLOW REGIME FROM BASINS IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE E
STREAM
BASIN
EXPECTED INCREASE (PERCENT)
IN FLOW REGIMES AS A RESULT
OF IMPLEMENTING ACTION ALTERNATIVE E
South Fork Lost Creek
1.2
Cilly Creek
kD
00
Unnamed Creek
3.3
Soup Creek
0.9
Page E-56
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
• Direct mu! Indirect Iffiect* of. let ion
• Htematiees It on Habitat - Sediment
EXISTING CONDITIONS considered
the sediment component of bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other fisheries
habitat by evaluating the Rosgen
morphological stream type,
McNeil core data, substrate-
score data, Wolman pebble-count
data, and streambank stability
in South Fork Lost and Soup
creeks. The Rosgen
morphological stream type and
field assessments of streambank
disturbances were evaluated in
Cilly and Unnamed creeks. No
apparent existing impacts to the
sediment component of habitat
have been observed in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Unnamed creeks.
Low to moderate existing impacts
to the sediment component of
habitat are likely occurring in
Soup Creek.
Modifications of stream-sediment
size classes, especially with
trends toward fine size classes,
could adversely affect bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries in the
project area by reducing the
quality of spawning habitat, in-
stream cover, rearing habitat,
and wintering habitat.
Increased levels of fine
sediments can be introduced to
the stream system from various
sources, including bank erosion
due to stream-channel
instability, road features, root
wads of wind-thrown trees
adjacent to the stream channel,
and adjacent timber-harvesting
operations .
Data from APPENDIX D - WATERSHED
AND HYDROLOGY ANAYLSIS indicates
that the range of potential
water-yield increases as a
result of Action Alternative B
has a low risk of facilitating
the development of unstable
stream channels. Potential
impacts to the sediment
component of fish habitats in
the project area range from very
low to low as a result of
modifications to flow regimes.
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS also
indicates that all road stream-
crossing modifications
associated with Action
Alternative B would reduce
sedimentation by up to
approximately 19.3 tons per year
in South Fork Lost Creek, 1.0
tons per year in Cilly Creek,
and 33.7 tons per year in Soup
Creek. These proposed
modifications represent an
approximate 98-, 35-, and 95-
percent, respectively, maximum
reduction in annual sediment
delivery from existing roads.
Road-modification activities
that remove or mitigate
potential sediment sources may
have temporary, unavoidable, and
short-term impacts to the
sediment component of streams
(see APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS) , which may
correspond to a minor, short-
term impact to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat.
However, these road
modifications would provide a
long-term, greatly reduced level
of impact to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat in
respect to sediment.
New road stream crossings
installed as part of Action
Alternative B may lead to a
disproportionate increase in the
quantities of fine-sediment size
classes in fish-bearing streams
and non-fish-bearing connected
tributaries. Three new road
stream crossings would be
installed on a non-fish-bearing
reach of Unnamed Creek. Two of
the three new road stream
crossings are expected to have a
moderate risk of both short- and
long-term moderate direct and
indirect impacts (see APPENDIX D
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-57
- WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) to the sediment
component of fish habitat in
downstream fish-bearing reaches
of Unnamed Creek. Due to beaver
dam complexes and intermittent
flows in Unnamed Creek,
downstream impacts to Soup Creek
are expected to be very limited
in risk and potential effect.
In-stream sediment size classes
may be affected through inputs
from the root wads of wind-
thrown trees adjacent to the
stream channel. Sediment inputs
from the wind-thrown root wads
of adjacent trees occur
throughout unmanaged stream
channels; however, in some
cases, this process may be
exacerbated by increased levels
of wind-thrown trees as a result
of riparian timber-harvesting
actions. Sediment inputs
through this mechanism may lead
to a disproportionate increase
in the quantities of fine
sediment size classes in fish-
bearing streams and non-fish-
bearing-connected tributaries.
The riparian landtypes where
riparian harvesting is expected
to occur along the fish-bearing
reaches of South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks include SL2B and
SL3B (see EXISTING CONDITIONS) .
Both landtypes are susceptible
to windthrow since the shallow
water tables typically found in
these areas restrict root
penetration ( Sirucek and
Bachurski 1995). Furthermore,
Hansen et al (1995) describes
the western red cedar/oak fern
(South Fork Lost Creek) and
grand fir and Engelmann spruce
(Soup Creek) riparian stand
types as being susceptible to
high levels of windthrow.
Considering the expected extent
of riparian harvesting,
landtypes, and riparian stand
types, a low risk of very low
direct and indirect impacts to
the sediment component of fish
habitats throughout the project
area are expected as a result of
potential sedimentation from the
root wads of wind-thrown trees.
Harvesting activities within the
riparian area may disturb soils,
which can lead to erosion and
increased levels of
sedimentation to streams. Risk
of erosion and consequent
sedimentation is primarily a
function of the types and extent
of soil disturbance, soil types,
and geology (landtype), and
increases in adjacent hill
slope. APPENDIX G - SOILS
ANALYSIS provides information
regarding the types and extent
of soil disturbance and project
area soil types and geology.
According to that analysis, the
landtype associations within the
riparian areas of South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are considered to exhibit
a primarily moderate to high
risk of erosion. TABLE E-33 -
CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED
EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE B provides an
estimate of the total area
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams in the South Fork Lost
Creek, Cilly Creek, Unnamed
Creek, and Soup Creek watersheds
with slope gradients less than
and greater than 35 percent.
Actual soil disturbances within
100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams are expected to range
from 0 to 10 percent of that
total area (see APPENDIX G -
SOILS ANALYSIS) . The precise
gradient threshold at which
disturbed soils within the
project area become increasingly
more mobile is variable and also
fluctuates between different
locations and environmental
conditions. In TABLE E-33 -
CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED
EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE B, 35 percent is
Page E-58
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-33 - CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE B
STREAM BASIN
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
UNNAMED
CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Area (acres) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1
and 2 streams with less than 35-
percent slope gradient
10.8
14 . 8
10.2
23.9
Area (area) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1
and 2 streams with greater than
35-percent gradient
7.9
7 . 4
5.2
14 . 6
Range of slope gradients
(percent) Within proposed harvest
units and within 100 feet of
Class 1 and 2 streams
1 to 55
7 to 76
4 to 88
3 to 95
Average slope gradient (percents)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
36
28
29
32
*Data acquired by using 1:24,000 hydrography data and 10-meter digital elevation
model data developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Areas and slopes in the table
are estimates, and the accuracy of the results is limited by precision of the U.S.
Geological Survey data.
utilized as a descriptive value
since that gradient is applied
in existing SMZ laws as a
general guide for identifying
riparian areas with an increased
risk of erosion.
Timber-harvesting operations
adjacent to South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks
would comply with SMZ laws. The
SMZ laws are designed to provide
adequate mitigations for
avoiding sedimentation to
streams from adjacent timber-
harvest-related activities.
Considering the erosion risk of
landtypes in riparian areas and
the extent of potential riparian
soil disturbance, a low risk of
low direct and indirect impacts
to the sediment component of
fisheries habitat are expected
throughout the project area as a
result of potential
sedimentation from riparian
disturbances .
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative B, an overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries
habitat component of sediment is
expected in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks. An
overall moderate risk of
moderate direct and indirect
impacts to the fisheries habitat
component of sediment is
expected in Unnamed Creek. This
assessment uses data from
EXISTING CONDITIONS as a
baseline for comparison. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
B is selected for
implementation .
• Direct and Indirect litffect* of miction
mUternnticcH Con Habitat - Sediment
EXISTING CONDITIONS considered
the sediment component of bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other fisheries
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-59
habitat by evaluating the Rosgen
morphological stream type,
McNeil core data, substrate-
score data, Wolman pebble-count
data, and streambank stability
in South Fork Lost and Soup
creeks. The Rosgen
morphological stream type and
field assessments of streambank
disturbances were evaluated in
Cilly and Unnamed creeks. No
apparent existing impacts to the
sediment component of habitat
have been observed in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Unnamed creeks.
Low to moderate existing impacts
to the sediment component of
habitat are likely occurring in
Soup Creek.
Modifications of stream sediment
size classes, especially with
trends toward fine size classes,
could adversely affect bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries in the
project area by reducing the
quality of spawning habitat, in-
stream cover, rearing habitat,
and wintering habitat.
Increased levels of fine
sediments can be introduced to
the stream system from various
sources, including bank erosion
due to stream-channel
instability, road features, root
wads of wind-thrown trees
adjacent to the stream channel,
and adjacent timber-harvesting
operations .
Data from APPENDIX D - WATERSHED
AND HYDROLOGY ANAYLSIS indicates
that the range of potential
water-yield increases as a
result of Action Alternative B
has a low risk of facilitating
the development of unstable
stream channels. Potential
impacts to the sediment
component of fish habitats in
the project area range from very
low to low as a result of
modifications to flow regimes.
The impacts to the sediment
component of fisheries habitat
in the project area due to road
stream-crossing removals, new
road stream crossings, and root
wads of wind-thrown trees are
also expected to be the same as
those described in Action
Alternative B.
Harvesting activities within the
riparian area may disturb soils,
which can lead to erosion and
increased levels of
sedimentation to streams. Risk
of erosion and consequent
sedimentation is primarily a
function of the types and extent
of soil disturbance, soil types
and geology (landtype), and
increases in adjacent hill
slope. APPENDIX G - SOILS
ANALYSIS provides information
regarding the types and extent
of soil disturbance and project
area soil types and geology.
According to that analysis, the
landtype associations within the
riparian areas of South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are considered to exhibit
a primarily low to high risk of
erosion. TABLE E-34 -
CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED
EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE C provides an
estimate of the total area
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams in the South Fork Lost
Creek, Cilly Creek, Unnamed
Creek, and Soup Creek watersheds
with slope gradients less than
and greater than 35 percent.
Actual soil disturbances within
100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams are expected to range
from 0 to 10 percent of that
total area (see APPENDIX G -
SOILS ANALYSIS) . The precise
gradient threshold at which
disturbed soils within the
project area become increasingly
more mobile is variable and also
fluctuates between different
locations and environmental
conditions. Thirty-five percent
is utilized as a descriptive
value in this table since that
Page E-60
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-34 - CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE C*
STREAM BASIN
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
UNNAMED
CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Area (acres) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1 and
2 streams with less than 35- percent
slope gradient
1 . 6
22.8
10.2
2.8
Area (area) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1 and
2 streams with greater than 35-
percent gradient
3.5
6.7
5.2
2.9
Range of slope gradients (percent)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
13 to 90
2 to 76
4 to 8 8
8 to 91
Average slope gradient (percents)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
48
23
29
39
*Data acquired by using 1:24,000 hydrography data and 10-meter digital elevation model data
developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Areas and slopes in the table are estimates, and the
accuracy of the results is limited by precision of the U.S. Geological Survey data.
gradient is applied in existing
SMZ laws as a general guide for
identifying riparian areas with
increased risks of erosion.
Timber-harvesting operations
adjacent to South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks
would comply with SMZ laws. The
SMZ laws are designed to provide
adequate mitigations for
avoiding sedimentation to
streams from adjacent timber-
harvest-related activities.
Considering the erosion risk of
landtypes in riparian areas and
the extent of potential riparian
soil disturbance, a low risk of
low direct and indirect impacts
to the sediment component of
fisheries habitat throughout the
project area is expected as a
result of potential
sedimentation from riparian
disturbance .
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative C, an overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries
habitat component of sediment is
expected in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks. An
overall moderate risk of
moderate direct and indirect
impacts to the fisheries habitat
component of sediment is
expected in Unnamed Creek. This
assessment uses data from
EXISTING CONDITIONS as a
baseline for comparison. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
C is selected for
implementation .
• Direct an ft indirect Effect* of fiction
•Alternatives D on Habitat - Sediment
EXISTING CONDITIONS considered
the sediment component of bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other fisheries
habitat by evaluating the Rosgen
morphological stream type,
McNeil core data, substrate-
score data, Wolman pebble-count
data, and streambank stability
in South Fork Lost and Soup
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-61
creeks. The Rosgen
morphological stream type and
field assessments of streambank
disturbances were evaluated in
Cilly and Unnamed creeks. No
apparent existing impacts to the
sediment component of habitat
have been observed in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Unnamed creeks.
Low to moderate existing impacts
to the sediment component of
habitat are likely occurring in
Soup Creek.
Modifications of stream sediment
size classes, especially with
trends toward fine size classes,
could adversely affect bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries in the
project area by reducing the
quality of spawning habitat, in-
stream cover, rearing habitat,
and wintering habitat.
Increased levels of fine
sediments can be introduced to
the stream system from various
sources, including bank erosion
due to stream-channel
instability, road features, root
wads of wind-thrown trees
adjacent to the stream channel,
and adjacent timber-harvesting
operations .
Data from APPENDIX D - WATERSHED
AND HYDROLOGY ANAYLSIS indicates
that the range of potential
water-yield increases as a
result of Action Alternative B
has a low risk of facilitating
the development of unstable
stream channels. Potential
impacts to the sediment
component of fish habitats in
the project area range from very
low to low as a result of
modifications to flov* regimes.
\
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS also
indicates that all road stream-
crossing modifications
associated with Action
Alternative D would reduce
sedimentation by up to
approximately 18.7 tons per year
in South Fork Lost Creek, 0.6
tons per year in Cilly Creek,
and 33.6 tons per year in Soup
Creek. These proposed
modifications represent an
approximate 94 percent, 22
percent, and 95 percent,
respectively, maximum reduction
in annual sediment delivery from
existing roads. Road-
modification activities that
remove or mitigate potential
sediment sources may have
temporary, unavoidable, and
short-term impacts to the
sediment component of streams
(see APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS ) , which may
correspond to a minor, short-
term impact to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat.
However, these road
modifications would provide a
long-term, greatly reduced level
of impact to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat in
respect to sediment.
New road stream crossings
installed as part of Action
Alternative D may lead to a
disproportionate increase in the
quantities of fine sediment size
classes in fish-bearing streams
and non-fish-bearing connected
tributaries. Two new road
stream crossings would be
installed on a non-fish-bearing
reach of Cilly Creek, and 3 new
road stream crossings would be
installed on a non-fish-bearing
reach of Unnamed Creek. One of
the two new road stream
crossings on Cilly Creek and two
of the three new road stream
crossings on Unnamed Creek are
expected to have a moderate risk
of both short- and long-term
moderate direct and indirect
impacts (see APPENDIX D -
WATERSHED AND HYDROLOGY
ANALYSIS) to the sediment
component of fish habitat in
downstream fish-bearing reaches
of Cilly and Unnamed creeks.
Due to beaver dam complexes and
Page E-62
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
intermittent flows in Unnamed
Creek, downstream impacts to
Soup Creek are expected to be
very limited in risk and
potential effect.
The impacts to the sediment
component of fisheries habitat
in the project area due to the
root wads of wind-thrown trees
are expected to be the same as
those described in Action
Alternative B.
Harvesting activities within the
riparian area may disturb soils,
which can lead to erosion and
increased levels of
sedimentation to streams. Risk
of erosion and consequent
sedimentation is primarily a
function of the types and extent
of soil disturbance, soil types
and geology (landtype), and
increases in adjacent hill
slope. The APPENDIX G - SOILS
ANALYSIS provides information
regarding the types and extent
of soil disturbance and project
area soil types and geology.
According to that analysis, the
landtype associations within the
riparian areas of South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are considered to exhibit
a primarily moderate to high
risk of erosion. TABLE E-35
CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED
EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE D provides an
estimate of the total area
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams in the South Fork Lost
Creek, Cilly Creek, Unnamed
Creek, and Soup Creek watersheds
with slope gradients less than
and greater than 35 percent.
Actual soil disturbances within
100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams are expected to range
from 0 to 10 percent of that
total area (see APPENDIX G -
SOILS ANALYSIS) . The precise
gradient threshold at which
disturbed soils within the
project area become increasingly
more mobile is variable and also
fluctuates between different
locations and environmental
conditions. Thirty-five percent
is utilized as a descriptive
TABLE E-35 - CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE D*
STREAM BASIN
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
UNNAMED
CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Area (acres) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1 and
2 streams with less than 35- percent
slope gradient
11.5
16.0
10.2
1 . 9
Area (area) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1 and
2 streams with greater than 35-
percent gradient
14 . 1
12 . 5
5.2
4.2
Range of slope gradients (percent)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
1 to 148
8 to 83
4 to 88
5 to 7 9
Average slope gradient (percents)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
40
33
29
42
*Data acquired by using 1:24,000 hydrography data and 10-meter digital elevation model data
developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Areas and slopes in the table are estimates, and the
accuracy of the results is limited by precision of the U.S. Geological Survey data.
Page E-63
Appendix E - Fisheries
value in this table since that
gradient is applied in existing
SMZ laws as a general guide for
identifying riparian areas with
increased risks of erosion.
Timber-harvesting operations
adjacent to South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks
would comply with SMZ laws. SMZ
laws are designed to provide
adequate mitigations for
avoiding sedimentation to
streams from adjacent timber-
harvest-related activities.
Considering erosion risk of
landtypes in riparian areas and
the extent of potential riparian
soil disturbance, a low risk of
low direct and indirect impacts
to the sediment component of
fisheries habitat is expected
throughout the project area as a
result of potential
sedimentation from riparian
disturbance .
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative D, an overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries
habitat component of sediment is
expected in South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks. An overall
moderate risk of moderate direct
and indirect impacts to the
fisheries habitat component of
sediment is expected in Cilly
and Unnamed creeks. This
assessment uses data from
EXISTING CONDITIONS as a
baseline for comparison. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of| future
monitoring if Action Alternative
D is selected for
implementation .
• Direct and Indirect Inflect* of. Jet ion
. Jflerna fires E on Habitat - Sediment
EXISTING CONDITIONS considered
the sediment component of bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other fisheries
habitat by evaluating the Rosgen
morphological stream type,
McNeil core data, substrate-
score data, Wolman pebble-count
data, and streambank stability
in South Fork Lost and Soup
creeks. The Rosgen
morphological stream type and
field assessments of streambank
disturbances were evaluated in
Cilly and Unnamed creeks. No
apparent existing impacts to the
sediment component of habitat
have been observed in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Unnamed creeks.
Low to moderate existing impacts
to the sediment component of
habitat are likely occurring in
Soup Creek.
Modifications of stream sediment
size classes, especially with
trends toward fine size classes,
could adversely affect bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries in the
project area by reducing the
quality of spawning habitat, in-
stream cover, rearing habitat,
and wintering habitat.
Increased levels of fine
sediments can be introduced to
the stream system from various
sources, including bank erosion
due to stream-channel
instability, road features, root
wads of wind-thrown trees
adjacent to the stream channel,
and adjacent timber-harvesting
operations .
Data from APPENDIX D - WATERSHED
AND HYDROLOGY ANAYLSIS indicates
that the range of potential
water-yield increases as a
result of Action Alternative B
has a low risk of facilitating
the development of unstable
stream channels. Potential
impacts to the sediment
component of fish habitats in
Page E-64
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
the project area range from very
low to low as a result of
modifications to flow regimes.
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS also
indicates that all road stream-
crossing modifications
associated with Action
Alternative E would reduce
sedimentation by up to
approximately 18.7 tons per year
in South Fork Lost Creek, 0.6
tons per year in Cilly Creek,
and 33.9 tons per year in Soup
Creek. These proposed
modifications represent an
approximate 94-, 35-, and 95-
percent, respectively, maximum
reduction in annual sediment
delivery from existing roads.
Road-modification activities
that remove or mitigate
potential sediment sources may
have temporary, unavoidable, and
short-term impacts to the
sediment component of streams
(see APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS) , which may
correspond to a minor, short-
term impact to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat.
However, these road
modifications would provide a
long-term, greatly reduced level
of impact to bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat in
respect to sediment.
New road stream crossings
installed as part of Action
Alternative E may lead to a
disproportionate increase in the
quantities of fine sediment size
classes in fish-bearing streams
and non-fish-bearing connected
tributaries. One new road
stream crossing would be
installed on a non-fish-bearing
reach of Unnamed Creek. The new
road stream crossing is expected
to have a low risk of both
short- and long-term low direct
and indirect impacts (see
APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND
HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS ) to the
sediment component of fish
habitat in downstream fish-
bearing reaches of Unnamed
Creek. Due to beaver dam
complexes and intermittent flows
in Unnamed Creek, downstream
impacts to Soup Creek are
expected to be very limited in
risk and potential effect.
The impacts to the sediment
component of fisheries habitat
in the project area due to the
root wads of wind-thrown trees
are expected to be the same as
those described in Action
Alternative B.
Harvesting activities within the
riparian area may disturb soils,
which can lead to erosion and
increased levels of
sedimentation to streams. Risk
of erosion and consequent
sedimentation is primarily a
function of the types and extent
of soil disturbance, soil types
and geology (landtype) , and
increases in adjacent hill
slope. APPENDIX G - SOILS
ANALYSIS provides information
regarding the types and extent
of soil disturbance and project
area soil types and geology.
According to that analysis, the
landtype associations within the
riparian areas of South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are considered to exhibit
a primarily moderate to high
risk of erosion. TABLE E-36 -
CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED
EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE E provides an
estimate of the total area
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams in the South Fork Lost
Creek, Cilly Creek, Unnamed
Creek, and Soup Creek watersheds
with slope gradients less than
and greater than 35 percent.
Actual soil disturbances within
100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams are expected to range
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-65
TABLE E-36 - CHARACTERISTICS AND ESTIMATED EXTENT OF RIPARIAN AREAS IN THE
THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE E*
STREAM BASIN
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
UNNAMED
CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Area (acres) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1 and
2 streams with less than 35- percent
slope gradient
6.8
36.4
9.1
11.5
Area (area) of proposed harvest
units within 100 feet of Class 1 and
2 streams with greater than 35-
percent gradient
24 . 4
9.4
0.5
6.0
Range of slope gradients (percent)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
9 to 122
1 to 92
4 to 69
5 to 79
Average slope gradient (percents)
Within proposed harvest units and
within 100 feet of Class 1 and 2
streams
52
22
16
30
*D ata acquired by using 1:24,000 hydrography data and 10-meter digital elevation model data
developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Areas and slopes in the table are estimates , and the
accuracy of the results is limited by precision of the U.S. Geological Survey data.
from 0 to 10 percent of that
total area (see APPENDIX G -
SOILS ANALYSIS) . The precise
gradient threshold at which
disturbed soils within the
project area become increasingly
more mobile is variable and also
fluctuates between different
locations and environmental
conditions. Thirty-five percent
is utilized as a descriptive
value in this table since that
gradient is applied in existing
SMZ laws as a general guide for
identifying riparian areas with
increased risk of erosion.
Timber-harvesting operations
adjacent to South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks
would comply with SMZ laws. SMZ
laws are designed to provide
adequate mitigations 'for
avoiding sedimentation to
streams from adjacent timber-
harvesting-related activities.
Considering the erosion risk of
landtypes in riparian areas and
the extent of potential riparian
soil disturbance, a low risk of
low direct and indirect impacts
to the sediment component of
fisheries habitat is expected
throughout the project area as a
result of potential
sedimentation from riparian
disturbance .
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative E, an overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the bull
trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, or other fisheries
habitat component of sediment is
expected. The risk assessment
applies to fisheries in South
Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and
Soup creeks, and the assessment
uses data from EXISTING
CONDITIONS as a baseline for
comparison. The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested as
part of future monitoring if
Action Alternative E is selected
for implementation.
Page E-66
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
♦ Habitat - Channel Forms
• Direr/ and Indirect Effect* of. Xo-. let ion
• I /tenia tire .1 on Habitat - Channel
Form*
No direct or indirect impacts
would occur to the bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat
component of channel forms in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
or Soup creeks beyond those
described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direr f and Indirect Inflect* of. let ion
.Jlfernafire* It and C on Habitat -
Channel Form *
As described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS , no direct or
indirect impacts to the channel-
form component of bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, and
other fisheries habitat are
apparent in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
Potential changes to stream-
channel forms are primarily a
function of modifications to
flow regimes and consequent
relationships with existing
sediment size classes
( Montgomery and Buffington
1997). Adverse impacts to flow
regimes and existing sediment
size classes may affect channel
forms by shifting the relative
quantities of slow and fast
habitat features. The likely
manifestation of this type of
adverse impact is a decrease in
the total volume of slow habitat
features and an increase in the
total volume of fast habitat
features. This shift in channel
forms may lead to a reduction in
the quantity of rearing and
wintering habitat available to
bull trout, westslope cutthroat
trout, and other fisheries.
As indicated in the risk
assessment for flow regime, a
very low risk of very low
impacts is expected in South
Fork Lost and Soup creeks and a
low risk of low impacts is
expected in Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. As indicated in the
risk assessment for sediment, a
low risk of low impacts is
expected in the South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks and a
moderate risk of moderate
impacts is expected in Unnamed
Creek. A comparable, or overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to channel
forms is expected in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Soup creeks as
a result of implementing an
action alternative. A moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to channel forms is
expected in Unnamed Creek. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested in South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks as part of
future monitoring if an action
alternative is selected for
implementation .
Direct and Indirect Effects of. Iction
•Alternative D on Habitat - Channel Form*
The results of risk assessments
for flow regime and sediment are
similar to those identified in
Action Alternative B, except a
moderate risk of moderate
impacts is expected for the
sediment component of fish
habitat in Cilly Creek. As a
result of the selection of
Action Alternative D, the
anticipated direct and indirect
impacts to the fisheries habitat
variable of channel forms in
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
are expected to be the same as
those described for Action
Alternative B. A moderate risk
of low direct and indirect
impacts to channel forms is
expected in both Cilly and
Unnamed creeks. The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested in
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
as part of future monitoring if
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-67
Action Alternative D is selected
for implementation.
• Direct and Indirect llffecfx of. let ion
• llfernafire F on Habitat • Channel Form x
As indicated in the risk
assessment for flow regime, a
very low risk of very low
impacts is expected in South
Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks and a low risk of low
impacts is expected in Unnamed
Creek. As indicated in the risk
assessment for sediment, a low
risk of low impacts is expected
in South Fork Lost, Cilly,
Unnamed, and Soup creeks. A
comparable, or overall low risk
of low direct and indirect
impacts to channel forms is
expected in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks as a
result of implementing an action
alternative. A moderate risk of
low direct and indirect impacts
to channel forms is expected in
Unnamed Creek. The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested in
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
as part of future monitoring if
an action alternative is
selected for implementation.
♦ Habitat - Riparian Function
• Direct and Indirect llffecfx oJ\ V«k let ion
. llfernafire . 1 on Habitat - Hiparian
Function
No direct or indirect impacts
would occur to the bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat
component of riparian function
in South Fork Lost, Cilly,
Unnamed, or Soup creeks beyond
those described under , EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect I'lffeclx of. let ion
. llfernafire It on Habitat - Hiparian
Function
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
low levels of direct and
indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
Low levels of existing impacts
to South Fork Lost Creek are due
to the proximity of the road
corridor and consequent reduced
recruitable large woody debris.
Potential low existing impacts
to Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are primarily due to
general reduced recruitable
large woody debris over the
foreseeable near future.
The proposed action associated
with Action Alternative B that
could further affect riparian
function is selective riparian
harvesting. Specific variables
of riparian function that may be
affected by the selective
riparian harvesting are the
compositions of stand types, the
quantity of recruitable large
woody debris within the riparian
management zone, and stream
shading .
Action Alternative B proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 2,950
feet of South Fork Lost Creek in
in Unit 8 in Section 3, T24N,
R17W; this harvest lies entirely
south of the stream channel.
The proposed riparian harvest
prescription includes a no-cut
buffer of 25 feet from the
nearest bankfull edge of South
Fork Lost Creek; from 25 feet to
95 feet, a maximum of 50 percent
of trees 8 inches dbh or greater
would be harvested. The
proposed selective riparian
harvest, which would extend
approximately 2,950 feet, is
representative of approximately
3 percent of the total linear
riparian area adjacent to the
reaches of the stream that
provide habitat to bull trout or
westslope cutthroat trout.
The riparian stand type along
South Fork Lost Creek (western
red cedar/oak fern) is likely to
remain after implementing the
Page E-68
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
riparian harvest prescription.
(The western red cedar/oak fern
stand type is named after the
climax vegetation community.)
However, as grand fir comprises
a considerable proportion of the
existing low and midlevel
riparian tree vegetation along
South Fork Lost Creek, this
species will likely become co-
dominant throughout the
forthcoming climax stages within
the riparian area. Growth of
early successional tree species
of the existing stand type, such
as western larch and western
white pine, are expected to
remain minor components of the
riparian species composition.
However, the postharvest site
preparation for proposed Unit 8,
in Section 3, T24N, R17W, may
promote the growth of more
western larch and western white
pine and less western red cedar
and grand fir.
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
levels of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
from the riparian area along
South Fork Lost Creek as a
quadratic mean diameter of 9.1
inches, an average of 764 trees
(live and dead standing) per
acre, and an average basal area
per acre of 346.0 square inches.
After modifying the riparian
cruise data to simulate the
residual stand conditions
subsequent to implementing the
proposed riparian harvest
prescription, the expected
levels of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
would (1) remain the same from
the nearest bankfull edge of
South Fork Lost Creek to 25
feet, and (2) from 25 to 95 feet
would include a quadratic mean
diameter of 7.7 inches, an
average of 674 trees per acre,
and an average basal area per
acre of 217.6 square inches.
The estimated trees per acre in
the area between 25 and 95 feet
from the bankfull edge of the
stream would drop approximately
12 percent, but this fraction of
trees would also represent an
approximate 37 percent reduction
of basal area per acre within
the same area. Windthrow and
windsnap within the riparian
area is likely to increase above
existing levels after
implementing the proposed
riparian harvest prescription.
These events may further reduce
the residual standing trees per
acre and basal area within the
riparian area.
The general probability of a
riparian tree providing in-
stream large woody debris (as
part of riparian function) is a
result of many variables, such
as distance from the stream,
height of the tree, other
riparian trees that may deflect
fall direction, tree bole
breakage, riparian sideslope
gradient, and prevailing local
storm winds. Furthermore,
determining the probability of a
particular tree size class
contributing to in-stream large
woody debris is a function of
additional variables such as
average growth rates of
different species,
susceptibilities to windthrow
and windsnap, species canopy
density, the average heights of
different species, and different
species' responses to disease
and shade. The analysis of
these scenarios and variables is
beyond the scope of this
environmental assessment.
However, the results of a simple
quantitative analysis will
follow based on the typical
characteristics of 100-year-old
index trees found through site
review are summarized below.
(The details of this simple
quantitative analysis can be
found in a separate document in
the project file: Fisheries
Analysis of Riparian Function -
Simple Quantitative Analysis of
100-Year-Old Trees.) The 100-
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-69
year-old index tree is an
appropriate indicator since the
tree may represent an average
piece of residual recruitable
large woody debris throughout a
foreseeable riparian-management-
zone entry cycle.
The proposed riparian harvest
prescription is expected to
decrease the proportion of
potentially recruitable 100-
year-old trees to the 2,950-foot
reach of South Fork Lost Creek
by approximately 3 percent.
Although notable, based on the
riparian cruise data, the basal
area equivalent of this
proportion of riparian trees is
comparable to 61.5 square inches
per acre or approximately 18
percent of the existing basal
area per acre.
The estimated 3-percent
reduction in potentially
recruitable 100-year-old trees
carries a moderate level of
error, as errors associated with
the data collection, sampling
error, and probability formulas
were not factored. The true
value is also likely higher
considering an existing road
prism is north of South Fork
Lost Creek, which certainly
eliminates a small portion of
potentially recruitable 100-
year-old trees. The value is
also a snapshot in time, and the
estimated reduction is expected
to be negligible after trees of
smaller diameter grow into the
eligible size criteria used in
this assessment. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
B is selected for
implementation .
By establishing the outer
boundary of the RMZ at 95 feet
in accordance with ARM 36.11.425
(5) and implementing the
proposed riparian harvest
prescription, the majority of
riparian trees that currently
grow between 77 and 95 feet from
the nearest bankfull edge of
South Fork Lost Creek will also
be retained. Seventy-seven feet
is the effective height of an
average 100-year-old co-dominant
riparian tree bole that
comprises potentially
recruitable large wood debris
( Robinson and Beschta 1990) . A
portion of these trees will
undoubtedly be greater than 100
years old and exhibit effective
heights taller than 77 feet for
additional potentially
recruitable large woody debris.
Reductions in recruitable large
woody debris from the riparian
area may affect native and
nonnative fish by altering in-
stream large woody debris
frequency (see Habitat - Large
Woody Debris ) .
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
levels of shading (angular
canopy density) in South Fork
Lost Creek during peak summer
months. Existing riparian tree
vegetation blocks an average of
65 percent of direct solar
radiation during July and an
average of 81 percent of direct
solar radiation during August.
Potential changes to stream
shading during peak summer
months after implementing the
proposed riparian harvest
prescription are a function of
many variables, such as residual
canopy density, residual crown
characteristics, sideslope
gradients, and residual species
composition. Although a
numerical prediction would,
therefore, contain a high degree
of uncertainty, broad
generalizations can be applied
to estimate potential effects.
A compilation of related
literature ( Castelle and Johnson
2000) found that a 49-foot
buffer provides approximately 85
percent of the maximum shade
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Page E-70
available for small streams, a
56-foot buffer provides
approximately 90 percent of the
maximum available angular canopy
density, and a 79-foot buffer
typically provides the maximum
available shading to a stream.
The proposed selective riparian
harvest would occur entirely to
the south of South Fork Lost
Creek, which includes the
riparian area providing the bulk
of existing stream shading.
Considering this data and the
proposed riparian harvest
prescription, which includes a
no-cut buffer from the nearest
bankfull edge of South Fork Lost
Creek out to 25 feet and a
maximum harvest of 50 percent of
trees 8 inches dbh or greater
from 25 to 95 feet, a maximum
reduction in angular canopy
density is expected to be 20
percent during the months of
July and August. This estimated
reduction in shading is also
expected to become negligible as
the riparian area between 25
feet and 95 feet regenerates to
preharvest conditions. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
B is selected for
implementation .
Reductions in shading by the
riparian area may affect native
and nonnative fish primarily by
altering the stream temperature
(see Habitat - Stream
Temperature) .
Other proposed harvest units
that are adjacent to South Fork
Lost Creek include Units 15 and
19 in Section 4, Unit 5 in
Section 3, and Unit 3 in Section
1, all in T24N, R17W. These 4
proposed units are located at
least 140 feet from South Fork
Lost Creek and are not expected
to affect riparian functions.
After an assessment of potential
effects, which includes:
- an affected area equal to
approximately 3 percent of the
total riparian area adjacent
to bull trout or westslope
cutthroat trout habitat,
- no foreseeable adverse effects
to stand type (such as shifts
in stand type ) ,
- a relatively minor reduction
in potentially recruitable
large woody debris, and
- an estimated maximum reduction
in stream shading of 20
percent ,
an overall moderate risk of low
direct and indirect impacts to
the riparian function component
of fish habitat are expected in
South Fork Lost Creek.
No proposed harvest units are
adjacent to fish-bearing reaches
of Cilly and Unnamed creeks. A
selective riparian harvest in
accordance with the SMZ Law and
Rules for Class 1 streams would
occur along approximately 59
percent (6,470 feet) of the
upstream, perennial non-fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek and
along approximately 68 percent
(3,830 feet) of the upstream,
perennial non-fish-bearing reach
of Unnamed Creek. This upstream
harvest is not expected to have
adverse impacts to stand types,
such as shifts in stand type,
and potentially recruitable
large woody debris within the
downstream fish-bearing reaches.
However, moderate reductions in
stream shading may have a low
impact to stream temperatures
within the downstream fish-
bearing reaches.
Action Alternative B also
proposes selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to
approximately 5,890 combined
feet of Soup Creek in proposed
Units 5 and 11 in Section 27,
( 'Lower' Soup area) and Units 12
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-71
and 13 in Section 25 ( 'Upper'
Soup Area) , all in T24N, R17W,
which lie entirely north of the
stream channel with the
exception of one 140-foot reach
south of the stream. The
proposed riparian harvest
prescription includes a no-cut
buffer from the nearest bankfull
edge of Soup Creek to 25 feet,
and harvesting a maximum of 50
percent of trees 8 inches dbh or
greater from 25 to 83 feet.
(Although the site potential
tree height within the 'Lower'
Soup area [83 feet] surpasses
that found in the 'Upper' Soup
area [74 feet]), the data from
the 'Lower' Soup area will be
applied to the proposed riparian
harvest prescriptions throughout
the main Soup Creek drainage.).
The proposed selective riparian
harvest, which would extend
approximately 5,890 feet, is
representative of approximately
6 percent of the total linear
riparian area adjacent to the
reaches of the stream that
provide habitat to bull trout or
westslope cutthroat trout.
The riparian stand types along
Soup Creek (various grand fir
and Engelmann spruce series) are
likely to remain after
implementing the riparian
harvest prescription. Other
early and late successional tree
species of the existing stand
type, such as Douglas-fir and
subalpine fir, are expected to
remain minor components of the
riparian species composition.
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
levels of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
from the riparian arek along
'Lower' Soup Creek as a
quadratic mean diameter of 5.9
inches, an average of 1,032
trees per acre, and an average
basal area per acre of 195.9
square inches. After modifying
the riparian cruise data in this
area to simulate the residual
stand conditions subsequent to
implementing the proposed
riparian harvest prescription,
the expected levels of
potentially recruitable large
woody debris would (1) remain
the same from the nearest
bankfull edge of Soup Creek to
25 feet, and (2) from 25 to 83
feet would include a quadratic
mean diameter of 4.9 inches, an
average of 962 trees per acre,
and an average basal area per
acre of 123.6 square inches.
The estimated trees per acre in
the area between 25 and 83 feet
from the bankfull edge of the
stream would drop approximately
7 percent, but this fraction of
trees would also represent an
approximate 37-percent reduction
of basal area per acre within
the same area. Windthrow and
windsnap within the riparian
area would likely increase above
existing levels after
implementing the proposed
riparian harvest prescription.
These events may further reduce
the residual trees per acre and
basal area within the 'Lower'
Soup Creek riparian area.
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
levels of potentially recuitable
large woody debris from the
riparian area along 'Upper' Soup
Creek as a quadratic mean
diameter of 8.5 inches, an
average of 262 trees per acre,
and an average basal area per
acre of 104.2 square inches.
After modifying the riparian
cruise data in this area to
simulate the residual stand
conditions subsequent to
implementing the proposed
riparian harvest prescription,
the expected levels of
potentially recruitable large
woody debris would (1) remain
the same from the nearest
bankfull edge of Soup Creek to
25 feet, and (2) from 25 to 83
feet would include a quadratic
mean diameter of 7.1 inches, an
average of 212 trees per acre,
Page E-72
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
and an average basal area per
acre of 58.8 square inches. The
estimated trees per acre in the
area between 25 and 83 feet
from the bankfull edge of the
stream would drop approximately
19 percent, but this fraction of
trees would also represent an
approximate 44-percent reduction
of basal area per acre within
the same area. Windthrow and
windsnap within the riparian
area is likely to increase above
existing levels after
implementing the proposed
riparian harvest prescription.
These events may further reduce
the residual trees per acre and
basal area within the 'Upper'
Soup Creek riparian area.
Similar to the assessment of
rates of potential large-woody-
debris recruitment previously
described for South Fork Lost
Creek within this section, the
results of a simple quantitative
analysis for the 'Lower' and
'Upper' Soup Creek riparian
areas will follow based on the
typical characteristics of 100-
year-old index trees found
through site review are
summarized below. (The details
of this simple quantitative
analysis can be found in a
separate document in the project
file: Fisheries Analysis of
Riparian Function - Simple
Quantitative Analysis of 100-
Year-Old Trees.) The 100-year-
old index tree is an appropriate
indicator since the tree may
represent an average piece of
residual recruitable large woody
debris throughout a foreseeable
riparian-management-zone entry
cycle .
The proposed riparian harvest
prescription is expected to
decrease the proportion of
potentially recruitable 100-
year-old trees to the 2,480-foot
reach ('Lower' Soup) of Soup
Creek by approximately 4
percent. Based on the riparian
cruise data, the basal-area
equivalent of this proportion of
riparian trees is comparable to
55.3 square inches per acre, or
approximately 28 percent of the
existing basal area per acre.
The proposed riparian harvest
prescription is expected to
decrease the proportion of
potentially recruitable 100-
year-old trees to the 3,410-foot
reach ( 'Upper' Soup) of Soup
Creek by approximately 6
percent. Based on the riparian
cruise data, the basal-area
equivalent of this proportion of
riparian trees is comparable to
32.8 square inches per acre or
approximately 32 percent of the
existing basal area per acre.
The estimated 4- and 6-percent
reductions in potentially
recruitable 100-year-old trees
to 'Lower' and 'Upper' Soup
Creek riparian areas,
respectively, carries a moderate
level of error, as errors
associated with the data
collection, sampling error, and
probability formulas were not
factored. The true value is
also likely higher considering
existing road prisms are north
of Soup Creek, which certainly
eliminates a small portion of
potentially recruitable 100-
year-old trees. The value is
also a snapshot in time, and the
estimated reduction is expected
to be negligible after trees of
smaller diameter grow into the
eligible size criteria used in
this assessment. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
B is selected for
implementation .
By establishing the outer
boundary of the RMZ at 83 feet,
in accordance with ARM 36.11.425
(5) and implementing the
proposed riparian harvest
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-73
prescription, the majority of
riparian trees that currently
grow between 51 ( 'Lower' Soup
area) and 58 feet ('Upper' Soup
area) and 83 feet from the
nearest bankfull edge of Soup
Creek will also be retained.
Fifty-one and 58 feet are the
effective heights of an average
100-year-old co-dominant
riparian tree bole that
comprises potentially
recruitable large woody debris
( Robinson and Beschta 1990) . A
portion of these trees will
undoubtedly be greater than 100
years old and exhibit effective
heights taller than 51 and 58
feet for additional potentially
recruitable large woody debris.
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
levels of shading (angular
canopy density) in Soup Creek
during peak summer months.
Existing riparian tree
vegetation blocks an average of
63 percent of direct solar
radiation during July and an
average of 75 percent of direct
solar radiation during August.
Potential changes to stream
shading during peak summer
months after implementing the
proposed riparian harvest
prescription are a function of
many variables, such as residual
canopy density, residual crown
characteristics, sideslope
gradients, and residual species
composition. Although a
numerical prediction would,
therefore, contain a high degree
of uncertainty, broad
generalizations can be applied
to estimate potential effects.
A compilation of related
literature (Castelle ‘and Johnson
2000) found that a 49-foot
buffer provides approximately 85
percent of the maximum shade
available for small streams, a
56-foot buffer provides
approximately 90 percent of the
maximum available angular canopy
density, and a 79-foot buffer
typically provides the maximum
available shading to a stream.
The proposed selective riparian
harvest would occur almost
entirely to the north of Soup
Creek, which includes the
riparian area providing the
least amount of existing stream
shading. Considering this data
and the proposed riparian
harvest prescription, which
includes a no-cut buffer from
the nearest bankfull edge of
Soup Creek to 25 feet, and a
maximum harvest of 50 percent of
trees 8 inches dbh or greater
from 25 to 83 feet, a maximum
reduction in angular canopy
density of 5 percent is expected
during the months of July and
August. This estimated
reduction in shading is also
expected to become negligible as
the riparian area between 25 and
83 feet regenerates to
preharvest conditions. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
B is selected for
implementation .
Unit 19 in Section 27, T24N,
R17W is also adjacent to Soup
Creek, though this proposed unit
is located at least 120 feet
from Soup Creek and is not
expected to affect riparian
functions .
After an assessment of potential
effects, which includes:
- an affected area equal to
approximately 6 percent of the
total riparian area adjacent
to bull trout or westslope
cutthroat trout habitat,
- no foreseeable adverse effects
to stand type (such as shifts
in stand type) ,
- a relatively minor reduction
in potentially recruitable
large woody debris, and
Page E-74
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
- an estimated maximum reduction
in stream shading of 5
percent,
an overall moderate risk of low
direct and indirect impacts to
the riparian-function component
of fish habitat in Soup Creek.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative B, a moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
component of fisheries habitat
are expected within South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks. The low expected
impacts are above and beyond
those described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect Iffi'ccf# of. Icfion
Alternative Con Habitat - Riparian
Function
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
low levels of direct and
indirect impacts to the riparian
function component of habitat in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks. Low levels of
existing impacts to South Fork
Lost Creek are due to the
proximity of the road corridor
and consequent reduced
recruitable large woody debris.
Potential low existing impacts
to Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are primarily due to
general reduced recruitable
large woody debris over the
foreseeable near future.
The proposed action associated
with Action Alternative C that
could further affect riparian
function is a selective riparian
harvest. Specific variables of
riparian function that may be
affected by the selective
riparian harvest are the
compositions of stand types, the
quantity of recruitable large
woody debris within the riparian
management zone, and stream
shading .
Action Alternative C does not
propose any selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to South
Fork Lost Creek. Proposed Units
14, 15, 19, 20, and 22 in
Section 4 and Unit 5 in Section
3, all in T24N, R17W, are
adjacent to South Fork Lost
Creek. These 6 proposed units
are located at least 140 feet
from South Fork Lost Creek and
are not expected to affect the
riparian functions of standtype
composition, the quantity of
recruitable large woody debris
within the site potential tree
height, and stream shading. As
a result of selecting Action
Alternative C, no foreseeable,
or otherwise detectable, adverse
direct and indirect impacts to
the riparian function component
of fish habitat are expected in
South Fork Lost Creek.
Action Alternative C proposes
selective riparian harvesting
adjacent to approximately 650
feet of Cilly Creek in proposed
Unit 23 in Section 16, T24N,
R17W, which spans both sides of
the stream channel. The
proposed riparian harvest
prescription includes the
establishment of the RMZ at 91
feet, in accordance with ARM
36.11.425(5) and implementation
of the SMZ Law and Rules for
Class 1 streams. The proposed
selective riparian harvest,
which would extend approximately
650 feet, is representative of
approximately 3 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that currently provide
habitat to eastern brook trout.
Expected impacts to the fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek
over the foreseeable near future
include potential moderately
reduced levels of recruitable
large woody debris and reduced
levels of stream shading.
A selective riparian harvest, in
accordance with the SMZ Law and
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-75
Rules for Class 1 streams, would
occur along approximately 49
percent (5,350 feet) of the
upstream, perennial non-fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek.
This upstream harvest is
expected to have no adverse
impacts to stand types (such as
a shift in stand type) and
potentially recruitable large
woody debris within the
downstream fish-bearing reaches.
However, moderate reductions in
stream shading may have a low
impact to stream temperatures
within the downstream fish-
bearing reaches.
After an assessment of potential
effects in Cilly Creek, which
includes :
- an affected area equal to
approximately 3 percent of the
total riparian area adjacent
to eastern brook trout
habitat ,
- a potential moderate reduction
in recruitable large woody
debris to the fish-bearing
reach,
- a potential moderate reduction
in stream shading to the fish-
bearing reach, and
- a potential moderate reduction
in stream shading to the non-
fish-bearing reach,
a moderate risk of low direct
and indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
fish habitat are expected in
that stream.
No proposed harvest units are
adjacent to the fish-bearing
reaches of Unnamed Creek. A
selective riparian harvest, in
accordance with the SMZ Law and
Rules for Class 1 streams, would
occur along approximately 68
percent (3,830 feet) of the
upstream, perennial non-fish-
bearing reach of Unnamed Creek.
This upstream harvest is not
expected to have any adverse
impacts to stand types and
potentially recruitable large
woody debris within the
downstream fish-bearing reaches.
However, moderate reductions in
stream shading may have a low
impact to stream temperatures
within the downstream fish-
bearing reaches.
After an assessment of potential
effects in Unnamed Creek, which
includes a potential moderate
reduction in stream shading to
the non-fish-bearing reach, a
moderate risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
fish habitat are expected in
that stream.
Action Alternative C proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 140
combined feet of Soup Creek in
proposed Unit 11 in Section 27,
T24N, R17W ( 'Lower' Soup area) ,
which lies entirely south of the
stream channel. The proposed
riparian harvest prescription
includes a no-cut buffer from
the nearest bankfull edge of
Soup Creek to 25 feet and a
maximum harvest of 50 percent of
trees 8 inches dbh or greater
from 25 to 83 feet. The
proposed selective riparian
harvest, which would extend
approximately 140 feet, is
representative of approximately
one-tenth of 1 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that provide habitat to
bull trout or westslope
cutthroat trout. Due to the
very limited spatial extent of
the proposed action, a detailed
analysis of potential effects to
riparian function, such as
described in Action Alternative
B, will not be conducted in this
section. Foreseeable adverse
effects to riparian-type
recruitable large woody debris
and stream shading in Soup Creek
are expected to be very minor if
Page E-76
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Action Alternative C is
implemented.
Proposed Unit 19 in Section 27,
T24N, R17W, is also adjacent to
Soup Creek. This unit is
located at least 120 feet from
Soup Creek and is not expected
to affect riparian functions.
After an assessment of potential
effects, which includes:
- an affected area equal to
approximately one-tenth of 1
percent of the total riparian
area adjacent bull trout or
westslope cutthroat trout
habitat,
- no foreseeable adverse effects
to stand type (such as a shift
in stand type) ,
- a relatively very minor
reduction in potentially
recruitable large woody
debris, and
- an estimated very minor
reduction in stream shading,
an overall very low risk of very
low direct and indirect impacts
to the riparian-function
component of fish habitat are
expected in Soup Creek.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative C, a moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
component of fisheries habitat
are expected within Cilly and
Unnamed creeks. A very low risk
of very low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
component of fisheries habitat
are expected within South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks. The
potential low and very low
impacts are above and beyond
those described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct an ft Indirect IffircfM of. let ion
•Alternative D on Habitat - Riparian
Function
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
low levels of direct and
indirect impacts to the riparian
function component of habitat in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks. Low levels of
existing impacts to South Fork
Lost Creek are due to the
proximity of the road corridor
and consequent reduced
recruitable large woody debris.
Potential low existing impacts
to Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are primarily due to
general reduced recruitable
large woody debris over the
foreseeable near future.
The proposed action associated
with Action Alternative D that
could further affect riparian
function is selective riparian
harvesting. Specific variables
of riparian function that may be
affected by the selective
riparian harvest are the
compositions of stand types, the
quantity of recruitable large
woody debris within the riparian
management zone, and stream
shading .
Action Alternative D proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 2,950
feet of South Fork Lost Creek in
proposed Unit 8 in Section 3,
T24N, R17W. The location and
extent of the proposed action is
identical to that described in
Action Alternative B. Proposed
Unit 22 of Section 4, Unit 5 of
Section 3, and Unit 3 of Section
1, all in T24N, R17W, are also
adjacent to South Fork Lost
Creek. These 3 units are
located at least 140 feet from
South Fork Lost Creek and are
not expected to affect the
riparian functions of standtype
composition, the quantity of
recruitable large woody debris
within the site potential tree
height, and stream shading. As
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-77
a result of selecting Action
Alternative D, effects to the
riparian-function component of
fish habitat in South Fork Lost
Creek are expected to be the
same as those described in the
detailed analysis of riparian
function in Action Alternative
B. The results of that detailed
analysis indicate an expected
moderate risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
fish habitat in South Fork Lost
Creek. The assumptions derived
from this portion of the project
analysis are expected to be
reevaluated and tested as part
of future monitoring if Action
Alternative D is selected for
implementation .
No proposed harvest units are
adjacent to the fish-bearing
reaches of Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. A selective riparian
harvest, in accordance with the
SMZ Law and Rules for Class 1
streams, would occur along
approximately 67 percent (7,260
feet) of the upstream, perennial
non-fish-bearing reach of Cilly
Creek and along approximately 68
percent (3,830 feet) of the
upstream, perennial non-fish-
bearing reach of Unnamed Creek.
This upstream harvest is not
expected to have any adverse
impacts to stand types (such as
shifts in stand type) and
potentially recruitable large
woody debris within the
downstream fish-bearing reaches.
However, moderate reductions in
stream shading may have a low
impact to stream temperatures
within the downstream fish-
bearing reaches.
Action Alternative D proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 2,480
feet of Soup Creek in proposed
Unit 5 in Section 27, T24N, R17W
( 'Lower' Soup area) , which lies
entirely north of the stream
channel. The proposed riparian
harvest prescription includes a
no-cut buffer from the nearest
bankfull edge of Soup Creek to
25 feet, and a maximum harvest
of 50 percent of trees 8 inches
dbh or greater from 25 to 83
feet. The proposed selective
riparian harvest, which would
extend approximately 2,480 feet,
is representative of
approximately 2 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that provide habitat to
bull trout or westslope
cutthroat trout.
Unit 19 in Section 27, T24N,
R17W, is also adjacent to Soup
Creek. This unit is located at
least 120 feet from Soup Creek
and is not expected to affect
riparian functions.
Although Action Alternative D
does not include Unit 11 in
Section 27, T24N, R17W ('Lower'
Soup area), which involves a
selective harvest adjacent to
approximately 140 feet of Soup
Creek, the anticipated impacts
of the selective riparian
harvest are expected to be the
same as the results of the
detailed analysis in Action
Alternative B for the 'Lower'
Soup area. The results of that
detailed analysis indicate an
expected overall moderate risk
of low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
component of fish habitat in
Soup Creek. The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested as
part of future monitoring if
Action Alternative D is selected
for implementation.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative D, a moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
component of fisheries habitat
are expected within South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks. The low expected
Page E-78
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
impacts are above and beyond
those described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direr/ and Indirect Effect* qf, let ion
. l/ternafire K on Habitat - Hi/tarian
Function
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes
low levels of direct and
indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
Low levels of existing impacts
to South Fork Lost Creek are due
to the proximity of the road
corridor and consequent reduced
recruitable large woody debris.
Potential low existing impacts
to Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks are primarily due to
general reduced recruitable
large woody debris over the
foreseeable near future.
The proposed action associated
with Action Alternative E that
could further affect riparian
function is selective riparian
harvesting. Specific variables
of riparian function that may be
affected by the selective
riparian harvest are the
compositions of stand types, the
quantity of recruitable large
woody debris within the riparian
management zone, and stream
shading .
Action Alternative E does not
propose any selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to South
Fork Lost Creek. Proposed Units
14 and 21 in Section 4 and Units
5 and 7 of Section 3, all in
T24N, R17W, are adjacent to
South Fork Lost Creek. These 4
units are located at least 140
feet from South Fork Lost Creek
and are not expected to affect
the riparian functions of
standtype composition, the
quantity of recruitable large
woody debris within the site
potential tree height, and
stream shading. As a result of
selecting Action Alternative E,
no foreseeable, or otherwise
detectable, adverse direct and
indirect impacts to the riparian
function component of fish
habitat are expected in South
Fork Lost Creek.
Action Alternative E proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 1,380
combined feet of Cilly Creek in
proposed Units 18 and 23 in
Section 16, T24N, R17W, which
spans both sides of the stream
channel. The proposed riparian
harvest prescription includes
the establishment of the RMZ at
91 feet in accordance with ARM
36.11.425(5) and implementation
of the SMZ Law and Rules for
Class 1 streams. The proposed
selective riparian harvest,
which would extend approximately
1,380 feet, is representative of
approximately 7 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that currently provides
habitat to eastern brook trout.
Expected impacts to the fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek
over the foreseeable near future
include potential moderately
reduced levels of recruitable
large woody debris and reduced
levels of stream shading.
A selective riparian harvest, in
accordance with the SMZ Law and
Rules for Class 1 streams, would
occur along approximately 49
percent (5,350 feet) of the
upstream, perennial non-fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek.
This upstream harvest is
expected to have no adverse
impacts to stand types (such as
shifts in stand type) and
potentially recruitable large
woody debris within the
downstream fish-bearing reaches.
However, moderate reductions in
stream shading may have a low
impact to stream temperatures
within the downstream fish-
bearing reaches.
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-79
After an assessment of
potential effects in Cilly
Creek, which includes:
- an affected area equal to
approximately 7 percent of
the total riparian area
adjacent to eastern brook
trout habitat,
- a potential moderate
reduction in recruitable
large woody debris to the
fish-bearing reach,
- a potential moderate
reduction in stream
shading to the fish-
bearing reach, and
- a potential moderate
reduction in stream
shading to the non-fish-
bearing reach,
an overall low risk of low
direct and indirect impacts
to the riparian-function
component of fish habitat is
expected in that stream.
No proposed harvest units are
adjacent to the fish-bearing
reaches of Unnamed Creek. A
selective riparian harvest,
in accordance with the SMZ
Law and Rules for Class 1
streams, would occur along
approximately 12 percent (650
feet) of the upstream,
perennial non-fish-bearing
reach of Unnamed Creek. This
upstream harvest is not
expected to have adverse
impacts to stand types and
potentially recruitable large
woody debris within the
downstream fish-bearing
reaches. However, minor
reductions in stream shading
may have a low impact on
stream temperatures wiphin
the downstream fish-bearing
reaches .
After an assessment of
potential effects in Unnamed
Creek, which includes a
potential minor reduction in
stream shading to the non-
fish-bearing reach, an overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the
riparian-function component of
fish habitat are expected in
that stream.
Action Alternative E proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 2,480
feet of Soup Creek in proposed
Unit 5 in Section 27, T24N, R17W
( 'Lower' Soup area) , which lies
entirely north of the stream
channel. The proposed riparian
harvest prescription includes a
no-cut buffer from the nearest
bankfull edge of Soup Creek to
25 feet, and a maximum harvest
of 50 percent of trees 8 inches
dbh or greater from 25 to 83
feet. The proposed selective
riparian harvest, which would
extend approximately 2,480 feet,
is representative of
approximately 2 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that provide habitat to
bull trout or westslope
cutthroat trout.
Unit 19 in Section 27 and Unit
10 in Section 26, T24N, R17W,
are also adjacent to Soup Creek.
These proposed units are located
at least 100 feet from Soup
Creek and are not expected to
affect riparian functions.
Although Action Alternative E
does not include proposed
harvest Unit 11 in Section 27,
T24N, R17W ( 'Lower' Soup area) ,
which involves a selective
harvest adjacent to
approximately 140 feet of Soup
Creek, the anticipated impacts
of the selective riparian
harvest are expected to be the
same as the results of the
detailed analysis in Action
Alternative B for the 'Lower'
Soup area. The results of that
detailed analysis indicate an
expected overall moderate risk
of low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
Page E-80
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
component of fish habitat in
Soup Creek. The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested as
part of future monitoring if
Action Alternative E is selected
for implementation.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative E, a moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to the riparian-function
component of fisheries habitat
are expected in Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks, and a very low
risk of very low direct and
indirect impacts are expected in
South Fork Lost Creek. The
potential low and very low
impacts are above and beyond
those described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
♦ Habitat - Large Woody Debris
• Direct miff Indirect Ifflects of . \o-% let ion
•Alternative %A to Habitat - Large Woody
Debris
No direct or indirect impacts to
the bull trout, westslope
cutthroat trout, or other
fisheries habitat component of
large woody debris would occur
in South Fork Lost, Cilly,
Unnamed, or Soup creeks beyond
those described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect I^ffeets of, let ion
• Alternative II to Habitat - Large IF 'oody
Debris
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes no
apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
The proposed action associated
with this alternative that may
affect in-stream large woody
debris is selective riparian
harvesting. Selective riparian
harvesting may affect in-stream
large woody debris by modifying
the amounts of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
and modifying existing patterns
of windthrow and windsnap. A
specific variable of large woody
debris that may be affected by
the selective riparian
harvesting is the frequency of
in-stream large woody debris.
The assessment of riparian
function noted that reduced
levels of recruitable large
woody debris is expected from
approximately 3 percent of the
total riparian area adjacent to
the fish-bearing reaches of
South Fork Lost Creek and
approximately 6 percent of the
total riparian area adjacent to
the fish-bearing reaches of Soup
Creek. Furthermore, the actual
levels of reduced recruitable
large woody debris from the
riparian areas adjacent to
proposed harvest units are
expected to be relatively minor
compared to EXISTING CONDITIONS.
And a simple assessment of index
trees at least 100 years old
(adjacent to the proposed
harvest areas) suggests
instantaneous recruitment rates
of this tree size class may be
reduced by approximately 3
percent in the South Fork Lost
Creek proposed harvest unit and
4 to 6 percent in the Soup Creek
proposed harvest units.
Considering this outcome only, a
proportional long-term decrease
may occur in in-stream large
woody debris, but frequency
levels are expected to remain
within the ranges of the
frequencies found in nearby
undisturbed reference reaches
(see EXISTING CONDITIONS) .
On the contrary, large-woody-
debris recruitment to South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks through
windthrow and windsnap is likely
to increase some degree after
implementing the proposed
riparian harvest prescriptions.
This event is likely to occur
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-81
since prevailing storm winds are
typically able to have a greater
impact on windthrow and windsnap
within riparian buffers when
relatively more intensive and
adjacent upland harvesting is
implemented. The riparian soil
conditions adjacent to South
Fork Lost and Soup creeks are
also conducive to higher levels
of windthrow. Considering this
outcome only, higher levels of
windthrow and windsnap as a
result of adjacent timber
harvesting are expected to lead
to short-term increases in the
frequency of in-stream large
woody debris to South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks.
A large-woody-debris recruitment
model (Welty et al 2002) also
indicates that higher levels of
in-stream large woody debris in
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
may result for at least 100
years after implementing the
proposed riparian harvest
prescriptions. Model results
are not easily quantified since
the default stand-growth
equations are developed for the
western Cascades region, and to
develop and program project-
specific stand-growth equations
for the model inputs is beyond
the scope of this portion of
this analysis. However, after
applying the proposed riparian
harvest prescriptions, the
default outputs are likely
representative of a general
trend in large-woody-debris
recruitment (and not necessarily
the future rates of large-woody-
debris recruitment). The
potential increased trend in
large-woody-debris recruitment
is likely due to modest
assumptions such as an
anticipated increase in
windthrow and windsnap and stand
regeneration within the
selective riparian harvest area
that may supersede the existing
late-seral stocking levels.
No adverse impacts to the large-
woody-debris component of fish
habitat are anticipated in Cilly
and Unnamed creeks, since no
riparian harvesting is expected
adjacent to the fish-bearing
reaches of these streams.
Primarily due to the relatively
small channel sizes, migration
of in-stream large woody debris
to the fish-bearing reaches from
upstream non-fish-bearing
reaches (where riparian
harvesting would occur) is not
expected to be affected.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative B, a low risk
of very low direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat within South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks are expected.
No direct and indirect impacts
to the large-woody-debris
component of fisheries habitat
are expected within Cilly and
Unnamed creeks. The low impacts
are above and beyond those
described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
CONDITIONS . The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested in
South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
as part of future monitoring if
Action Alternative B is selected
for implementation.
Direct and Indirect luffed* of . lefion
. Itfernafire C to Habitat - Large W*oody
Debris
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes no
apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
The proposed action associated
with this alternative that may
affect in-stream large woody
debris is selective riparian
harvesting. Selective riparian
harvesting may affect in-stream
large woody debris by modifying
Page E-82
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
the amounts of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
and modifying existing patterns
of windthrow and windsnap. A
specific variable of large woody
debris that may be affected by
the selective riparian harvest
is the frequency of in-stream
large woody debris.
Action Alternative C does not
propose any selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to South
Fork Lost Creek. Proposed Units
14, 15, 19, 20, and 22 in
Section 4 and Unit 5 in Section
3, all in T24N, R17W, are near
South Fork Lost Creek. These 6
units are located at least 140
feet from South Fork Lost Creek
and are not expected to affect
the riparian function of
providing recruitable large
woody debris within the site
potential tree height. As a
result of selecting Action
Alternative C, no foreseeable
adverse direct and indirect
impacts to the in-stream large-
woody-debris component of fish
habitat in South Fork Lost Creek
are expected.
Action Alternative C proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 650
feet of Cilly Creek in proposed
Unit 23 in Section 16, T24N,
R17W; that harvest spans both
sides of the stream channel.
The proposed riparian harvest
prescription includes the
establishment of the RMZ at 91
feet, in accordance with ARM
36.11.425(5) and implementation
of the SMZ Law and Rules for
Class 1 streams. The proposed
selective riparian harvest,
which would extend approximately
650 feet, is representative of
approximately 3 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that currently provide
habitat to eastern brook trout.
Expected impacts to the fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek
over the foreseeable near future
include reduced levels of
recruitable large woody debris.
A low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the in-
stream large-woody-debris
component of fisheries habitat
in Cilly Creek is also expected
as a result of implementing
Action Alternative C.
Action Alternative C does not
propose any selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to fish-
bearing reaches of Unnamed
Creek. As a result of selecting
Action Alternative C, no
foreseeable adverse direct and
indirect impacts to the in-
stream large-woody-debris
component of fish habitat are
expected in Unnamed Creek.
Action Alternative C proposes
selective riparian harvesting
adjacent to approximately 140
combined feet of Soup Creek in
proposed Unit 11 of Section 27,
T24, R17W ('Lower' Soup area).
The proposed selective riparian
harvest is representative of
approximately one-tenth of 1
percent of the total linear
riparian area adjacent to the
reaches of the stream that
provide habitat to bull trout or
westslope cutthroat trout.
Foreseeable adverse impacts to
recruitable large woody debris
in Soup Creek are expected to be
very minor if Action Alternative
C is implemented. A comparable,
or very low risk of very direct
and indirect impacts, to in-
stream large woody debris in
Soup Creek is also expected as a
result of implementing Action
Alternative C.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative C, a low risk
of low direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat are expected in Cilly
Creek, and a very low risk of
very low direct and indirect
impacts are expected in Soup
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-83
Creek. No direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat are expected in South
Fork Lost and Unnamed creeks.
The expected impacts are above
and beyond those described for
this habitat component in
EXISTING CONDITIONS.
Direct and Indirect Effects of . let ion
. l/fernafirc D to Habitat - La rtf c W'oody
Debris
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes no
apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
The proposed action associated
with this alternative that may
affect in-stream large woody
debris is selective riparian
harvesting. Selective riparian
harvesting may affect in-stream
large woody debris by modifying
the amounts of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
and modifying existing patterns
of windthrow and windsnap. A
specific variable of large woody
debris that may be affected by
the selective riparian harvest
is the frequency of in-stream
large woody debris .
Action Alternative D proposes
selective riparian harvesting
adjacent to approximately 2,950
feet of South Fork Lost Creek in
proposed Unit 8 in Section 3,
T24N, R17W. The location and
extent of the proposed action is
identical to that described in
Action Alternative B. Unit 22
in Section 4, Unit 5 in Section
3, and Unit 3 in Section 1, all
in T24N, R17W, are alsp adjacent
to South Fork Lost Creek. These
3 units are located at least 140
feet from South Fork Lost Creek
and are not expected to affect
the riparian function of
providing recruitable large
woody debris. The spatial
extent of anticipated selective
riparian harvesting in Action
Alternative D is similar or less
than that proposed under Action
Alternative B. The degree of
anticipated selective riparian
harvesting in Action Alternative
D is also expected to be
similar. As a result of
selecting Action Alternative D,
the potential overall direct and
indirect effects to the large-
woody-debris component of
fisheries habitat within the
project area are expected to be
the same as those described for
Action Alternative B.
No harvest units are proposed
adjacent to the fish-bearing
reaches of Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. As a result of
selecting Action Alternative D,
foreseeable adverse direct and
indirect impacts to the in-
stream large-woody-debris
component of fish habitat are
not expected in Cilly and
Unnamed creeks.
Action Alternative D proposes a
selective riparian harvest
adjacent to approximately 2,480
feet of Soup Creek in proposed
Unit 5 in Section 27, T24N, R17W
( 'Lower' Soup area) , which lies
entirely north of the stream
channel. The proposed selective
riparian harvest would extend
approximately 2,480 feet and is
representative of approximately
2 percent of the total linear
riparian area adjacent to the
reaches of the stream that
provide habitat to bull trout or
westslope cutthroat trout.
Proposed Unit 19 in Section 27,
T24N, R17W, is also adjacent to
Soup Creek. This proposed unit
is located at least 120 feet
from Soup Creek and is not
expected to affect riparian
functions .
Although Action Alternative D
does not include proposed Unit
11 in Section 27, T24N, R17W
( 'Lower' Soup area) , which
involves selective riparian
Page E-84
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
harvesting adjacent to
approximately 140 feet of Soup
Creek, the anticipated effects
of the selective riparian
harvest are expected to be the
same as the results of the
detailed analysis in Action
Alternative B for the 'Lower'
Soup area. The degree of
anticipated selective riparian
harvest in Action Alternative D
is also expected to be similar.
As a result of selecting Action
Alternative D, the potential
overall direct and indirect
effects to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat within the project area
are expected to be the same as
those described for Action
Alternative B.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative D, a low risk
of very low direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat are expected in South
Fork Lost and Soup creeks. No
direct and indirect impacts to
the large-woody-debris component
of fisheries habitat are
expected in Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. The low impacts are
above and beyond those described
for this habitat component in
EXISTING CONDITIONS. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested in South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks as part of
future monitoring if Action
Alternative D is selected for
implementation .
Direct and Indirect l^ffeefx qf miction
. I /fern a fire E to Habitat - Large Woody
Debrix
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes no
apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks.
The proposed action associated
with this alternative that may
affect in-stream large woody
debris is selective riparian
harvesting. Selective riparian
harvesting may affect in-stream
large woody debris by modifying
the amounts of potentially
recruitable large woody debris
and modifying existing patterns
of windthrow and windsnap. A
specific variable of large woody
debris that may be affected by
the selective riparian harvest
is the frequency of in-stream
large woody debris .
Action Alternative E does not
propose any selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to South
Fork Lost Creek. Proposed Units
14 and 21 in Section 4 and Units
5 and 7 in Section 3, all in
T24N, R17W, are near South Fork
Lost Creek. These 4 units are
located at least 140 feet from
South Fork Lost Creek and are
not expected to affect the
riparian function of providing
recruitable large woody debris
within the site potential tree
height. As a result of
selecting Action Alternative E,
no foreseeable, adverse direct
and indirect impacts to the in-
stream large-woody-debris
component of fish habitat are
expected in South Fork Lost
Creek .
Action Alternative E proposes
selective riparian harvesting
adjacent to approximately 1,380
combined feet of Cilly Creek in
proposed Units 18 and 23 in
Section 16, T24N, R17W, which
spans both sides of the stream
channel . The proposed riparian
harvest prescription includes
the establishment of the RMZ at
91 feet in accordance with ARM
36.11.425(5) and implementation
of the SMZ Law and Rules for
Class 1 streams. The proposed
selective riparian harvest,
which would extend approximately
1,380 feet, is representative of
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-85
approximately 7 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that currently provide
habitat to eastern brook trout.
Expected impacts to the fish-
bearing reach of Cilly Creek
over the foreseeable near future
include reduced levels of
recruitable large woody debris.
A moderate risk of low direct
and indirect impacts to in-
stream large woody debris in
Cilly Creek is also expected as
a result of implementing Action
Alternative E.
Action Alternative E does not
propose any selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to the fish-
bearing reaches of Unnamed
Creek. As a result of selecting
Action Alternative E, no
foreseeable, adverse direct and
indirect impacts to the in-
stream large-woody-debris
component of fish habitat are
expected in Unnamed Creek.
Action Alternative E proposes
selective riparian harvesting
adjacent to approximately 2,480
feet of Soup Creek in proposed
Unit 5 in Section 27, T24N, R17W
( 'Lower' Soup area) , which lies
entirely north of the stream
channel . The proposed selective
riparian harvest, which would
extend approximately 2,480 feet,
is representative of
approximately 2 percent of the
total linear riparian area
adjacent to the reaches of the
stream that provide habitat to
bull trout or westslope
cutthroat trout. Unit 19 in
Section 27 and Unit 10 in
Section 26, all in T24N, R17W,
are also adjacent to Soup Creek.
These proposed units are located
at least 100 feet from Soup
Creek and are not expected to
affect riparian functions.
Although Action Alternative E
does not include proposed Unit
11 in Section 27, T24N, R17W
( 'Lower' Soup area) , which
involves selective riparian
harvesting adjacent to
approximately 140 feet of Soup
Creek, the anticipated effects
of the selective riparian
harvest are expected to be the
same as the results of the
detailed analysis in Action
Alternative B for the 'Lower'
Soup area. The degree of
anticipated selective riparian
harvest in Action Alternative E
is also expected to be similar.
As a result of selecting Action
Alternative E, the potential
overall direct and indirect
effects to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat within the project area
are expected to be the same as
those described for Action
Alternative B.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative E, a moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to the large-woody-
debris component of fisheries
habitat is expected in Cilly
Creek, and a low risk of very
direct and indirect impacts is
expected in Soup Creek. No
direct and indirect impacts to
the large-woody-debris component
of fisheries habitat are
expected in South Fork Lost and
Unnamed creeks. The expected
impacts are above and beyond
those described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
CONDITIONS . The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested in
Soup Creek as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
E is selected for
implementation .
Page E-86
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Habitat - Stream Temperature
• Direct tint/ Indit'ccf Aflfect* qf. let ion %\o-
• Hternafire . / on Habitat - Stream
1 cm pc rat a re
No direct or indirect impacts
would occur to the bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat
components of stream temperature
in South Fork Lost, Cilly,
Unnamed, or Soup creeks beyond
those described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct a lift Indirect 1$ fleet* of. let ion
. Alternative It on Habitat - Stream
Temperatare
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes no
apparent direct and indirect
impacts to the stream-
temperature component of habitat
in South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Unnamed creeks. Potential
existing direct and indirect
impacts to the stream-
temperature component of bull
trout and westslope cutthroat
trout habit may be low in Reach
1 of Soup Creek. No existing
direct or indirect impacts to
the stream-temperature component
of bull trout and westslope
cutthroat trout habitat are
apparent in Reaches 2, 3, and 4
of Soup Creek. Whether the
potential low existing direct
and indirect impacts in Reach 1
of Soup Creek are from natural
conditions or land-management
practices is uncertain.
The primary proposed action
associated with this alternative
that could adversely affect
stream temperature is selective
riparian harvesting. Stream
temperature may be affected by
the proposed selective riparian
harvest through decreases in
angular canopy density (shade) ,
sedimentation from increase
rates of wind-thrown root wads,
sedimentation from soil
disturbances adjacent to
riparian areas, and
sedimentation from road stream-
crossing installations.
Sedimentation may directly or
indirectly contribute to
increases in stream temperature
through the aggradations of pool
(slow) stream features. The
aggradations of pool (slow)
stream features may promote
increases in stream width-to-
depth ratios, which may,
consequently, decrease the
capacity of a stream to resist
changes in temperature.
Potential changes in stream
temperature are evaluated by
assessing the anticipated change
in temperature at the reach
scale .
Changes in stream temperature in
South Fork Lost Creek adjacent
to the proposed selective
riparian harvest are an issue
that will be further analyzed
below. Potential impacts to
this f isheries-habitat variable
in South Fork Lost Creek are
likely to be more pronounced
than in other fish-bearing
streams due to the extent of the
proposed selective riparian
harvesting that may occur south
of the stream.
Moderate levels of selective
riparian harvesting are expected
to occur in non-fish-bearing
reaches of Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. These moderate levels
of riparian harvesting are
expected to have a moderate risk
of adverse effects to stream
shading in the non-fish-bearing
reaches and a consequent low
impact to stream temperatures.
However, due to disconnected
surface flows and known
interactions with groundwater
sources, the low impact to
stream temperatures in the non-
fish-bearing reaches of Cilly
and Unnamed creeks are also
expected to have a low risk of
low direct and indirect impacts
to the stream-temperature
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-87
component of fish habitat in
downstream reaches.
Virtually all of the proposed
adjacent selective riparian
harvesting would occur on the
north side of Soup Creek, which
is expected to reduce angular
canopy closure (shading) during
peak temperatures by an
estimated 5 percent. As a
result of the minor reduction in
shading, a very low risk of very
low direct and indirect impacts
to the stream-temperature
component of fish habitat in
Soup Creek is expected.
Two widely acknowledged models
are utilized to analyze
potential changes to stream
temperature in South Fork Lost
Creek as a result of
modifications to angular canopy
density (shade) . The first
model, SSTEMP ( Bartholow 2002) ,
considers a myriad of stream and
riparian variables, including
stream input temperatures,
hydrology, stream geometry,
meteorology, percent shade,
other shade factors, and time of
year. The second model,
described in Currier and Hughes
(1980) and Beschta et al (1987),
is based on a simple
relationship between net rate of
heat added to the stream,
surface area of the stream
exposed to solar radiation, and
streamf low .
In order to evaluate the
potential change in stream
temperature through SSTEMP, the
proposed selective riparian
harvest prescription will be
applied to known stream and
riparian variables dulring the
peak stream-temperatube periods
of 2004 and 2005. The initial
stream-temperature inputs are
those recorded at the
'SFKLost#2_Middle' station
(South Fork Lost Creek) since
these are the approximate
locations of the adjacent,
upstream extent of the proposed
selective riparian harvest. The
estimated reduction in angular
canopy closure for South Fork
Lost Creek (20 percent) will be
used in this model. Weather
archives available for Bigfork,
Montana (approximately 19 miles
northwest of South Fork Lost
Creek) will be used for
meteorological inputs. (A total
of 34 stream and riparian
variables are input to the
SSTEMP model and a total of 22
stream and riparian variables
are input to the Currier and
Hughes [1980] and Beschta et al
[1987] model, most of which are
derived from field
measurements.) The SSTEMP model
outputs will estimate the change
in stream temperature through
the portion of South Fork Lost
Creek that is immediately
adjacent to the proposed
selective riparian harvest (see
TABLE E-37 - ESTIMATIONS OF
CHANGE IN STREAM TEMPERTURE
ADJACENT TO THE PROPOSED
SELECTIVE RIPARIAN HARVEST ALONG
SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK ) . By
using the known stream and
riparian variables from 2004 and
2005, the outputs will reflect
the predicted average changes in
stream temperatures if the
proposed selective riparian
harvest had occurred during
those years.
The potential change in stream
temperature as predicted by
Currier and Hughes (1980) and
Beschta et al (1987) will also
be displayed in TABLE E-37 -
ESTIMATIONS OF CHANGE IN STREAM
TEMPERATURE ADJACENT TO THE
PROPOSED SELECTIVE RIPARIAN
HARVEST ALONG SOUTH FORK LOST
CREEK. These potential changes
in stream temperature reflect
estimated maximum changes in
temperature during late July,
immediately following the
implementation of the proposed
selective riparian harvest
prescription. The estimated
reductions in angular canopy
Page E-88
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-37 - ESTIMATIONS OF CHANGE IN STREAM TEMPERATURE ADJACENT TO THE
PROPOSED SELECTIVE RIPARIAN HARVEST ALONG SOUTH FORK LOST CREEK
STREAM
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
2004
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
2005
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
EXISTING
Estimated total linear distance
(feet) of selective riparian harvest
adjacent to fish-bearing reaches
2, 950
2, 950
2, 950
Model
SSTEMP
SSTEMP
C and H, B*
Actual change in stream temperature
(degrees) (maximum weekly maximum
temperature [Celsius])
+ 0.2
+ 0.2
N/A to
model
Predicted change in stream tempera-
ture (degrees) as a result of imple-
menting selective riparian harvest
(Celsius )
+ 0.5
+ 0.5
+ 0.4
*Currier and Hughes (1980) and Beschta et al (1987)
closure for South Fork Lost
Creek (20 percent) will be used
in this model.
The predicted changes in stream
temperature in South Fork Lost
Creek adjacent to the proposed
riparian harvest range from +0.4
to +0.5 degrees Celsius. The
predicted stream temperature
changes developed by SSTEMP for
both 2004 and 2005 are +0.3
degrees Celsius above the actual
observed changes in stream
temperature. The predicted
stream temperature change
developed by Currier and Hughes
(1980) and Beschta et al (1987)
is +0.2 degrees Celsius greater
than the actual observed changes
in both 2004 and 2005. The
predicted changes in stream
temperature are expected to be
relatively minor and
representative of a moderate
risk of low direct and indirect
impacts to the stream-
temperature component of fish
habitat in South Fork Lost
Creek .
As indicated in the risk
assessment for sediment, a low
risk of low impacts to the
sediment component of fisheries
habitat is expected in South
Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks, and a moderate risk of
moderate impacts is expected in
Unnamed Creek. A proportional ,
or overall low risk of low
impacts is expected to the
channel forms in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, and Soup creeks,
and a moderate risk of low
impacts is expected in Unnamed
Creek. As described above, the
aggradations of pool (slow)
stream features may promote
increases in stream width-to-
depth ratios, which may
consequently decrease the
capacity of a stream to resist
changes in temperature. Because
of this potential chain of
events related to sedimentation
and possible shifts in channel
forms, a risk of adverse impacts
to the stream-temperature
component of fish habitat is
expected in the project area.
As a result of implementing
Action Alternative B, an overall
low risk of low direct and
indirect impacts to the stream-
temperature component of
fisheries habitat is expected in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks. A moderate risk of low
direct and indirect impacts is
expected in Unnamed Creek. The
low impact is above and beyond
those described for this habitat
component in EXISTING
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-89
CONDITIONS . The assumptions
derived from this portion of the
project analysis are expected to
be reevaluated and tested as
part of future monitoring if
Action Alternative B is selected
for implementation.
• Direct and Indirect Inflect* of. let ion
. Hternatire Con Habitat - Stream
Temperature
The overall anticipated direct
and indirect impacts to the
stream-temperature component of
fish habitat in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks
are expected to be similar or
less than those described in
Action Alternative B. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
C is selected for
implementation .
• Direct and Indirect Iffectx oJ\ let ion
. Hternatire D on Habitat - Stream
Temperature
The overall anticipated direct
and indirect impacts to the
stream- temperature component of
fish habitat are expected to be
similar or less than those
described in Action Alternative
B, except a moderate risk of low
direct and indirect impacts is
expected in Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. The assumptions derived
from this portion of the project
analysis are expected to be
reevaluated and tested as part
of future monitoring if Action
Alternative D is selected for
implementation .
• Direct and Indirect Etffect* of. let ion
Hternatire E on Habitat - Stream
Temperature
The overall anticipated direct
and indirect impacts to the
stream- temperature component of
fish habitat are expected to be
similar or less than those
described in Action Alternative
B, except a low risk of low
direct and indirect impacts is
expected in Unnamed Creek. The
assumptions derived from this
portion of the project analysis
are expected to be reevaluated
and tested as part of future
monitoring if Action Alternative
E is selected for
implementation .
♦ HABITAT - CONNECTIVITY
• Direct and Indirect l^ffeelx 0J.X0-. let ion
. Hternatire . I on Habitat - Conner tic iff/
No direct or indirect impacts
would occur to the bull trout,
westslope cutthroat trout, or
other fisheries habitat
component of connectivity in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks beyond those
described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect Ttffect* of . let ion
.Hternatire H on Habitat - Conneetirity
EXISTING CONDITIONS describes no
direct and indirect impacts to
the connectivity component of
fisheries habitat in South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks within the
project area. Existing direct
and indirect impacts to the
connectivity component of
fisheries habitat in Cilly Creek
are likely low and in Unnamed
Creek are likely moderate to
high .
Two existing, failing bridge
crossings of South Fork Lost
Creek within the project area
would be fully removed as part
of Action Alternative B; these
crossings are located in the
NW1/4SW1/4 of Section 4 and the
NW1/4SE1/4 of Section 2, all in
T24N, R17W. Three existing,
failing bridge crossings of Soup
Creek within and immediately
adjacent to the project area
would also be fully removed as
part of Action Alternative B;
these crossings are located in
the NE1/4NW1/4 of Section 29,
NW1/4NW1/4 of Section 25, and
Page E-90
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
SE1/4NE1/4 of Section 25, all in
T24N, R17W. One other existing,
failing bridge crossing of Soup
Creek would be replaced with a
new bridge; this crossing is
located in the NE1/4NE1/4 of
Section 26, T24N, R17W. The new
bridge structure and 5 bridge
reclamation sites on South Fork
Lost Creek and Soup Creek are
expected to provide naturally
occurring levels of connectivity
to all life stages of native and
nonnative fish species.
Existing direct and indirect
impacts to the connectivity
component of fisheries habitat
in Cilly and Unnamed creeks
would not be remediated as part
of Action Alternative B.
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative B, no adverse
direct or indirect impacts to
the fisheries habitat variable
of connectivity in South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup
creeks would occur beyond those
described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
• Direct and Indirect Inflect# of. let ion
• Iffernafires C. D, and E on Habitat -
Connectivity
In terms of fisheries
connectivity, the associated
proposed actions in Action
Alternative B are also expected
to occur if Action Alternatives
C, D, or E is selected. As a
result of the selection of one
of these alternatives, the
anticipated risk of direct and
indirect impacts to the
fisheries habitat variable of
connectivity in South Fork Lost,
Cilly, Unnamed, and Soup creeks
are expected to be the same as
those described for Action
Alternative B.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
Cumulative impacts are those
collective impacts on the human
environment of the proposed action
when considered in conjunction with
other past, present, and future
actions related to the proposed
action by location or generic type
(7 5-1-220, MCA). Future actions
include State-sponsored actions that
are under concurrent consideration
by any State agency through the
environmental-analysis or permit-
processing procedures. The
potential cumulative effects to
fisheries in the Three Creeks Timber
Sale Project area are determined by
assessing the collective anticipated
direct and indirect impacts, other
related existing actions, and future
actions affecting the fish-bearing
streams in the project area. In
order to help convey a summary of
potential cumulative impacts, a
matrix of anticipated impacts to
fisheries in the project area is
displayed in TABLE E-38 - MATRIX OF
COLLECTIVE DIRECT , INDIRCT, AND
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN
THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF THE SELECTION OF
NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE A and TABLE E-
39 (THROUGH E-42) - MATRIX OF
COLLECTIVE DIRECT , INDIRECT, AND
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN
THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA AS A RESULT OF THE SELECTION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE B, (C, D, AND E) .
• Cumulative fffeets oJ\\o~. let ion .Hternatire
.1 to Fixherie h
In order to correctly interpret
the potential for cumulative
impacts in this fisheries
analysis, the anticipated
cumulative impact to a specific
stream is relative to the existing
conditions. For instance, there
is likely a 'moderate' level of
existing collective impacts to
fisheries in South Fork Lost Creek
(see EXISTING CONDITIONS) . As a
result of the selection of No-
Action Alternative A, a potential
'very low to low' level of
cumulative impacts that may occur
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-91
in addition to the 'moderate'
level of existing collective
impacts to fisheries that
currently exist.
Other related actions that are
considered in the existing
cumulative impacts are low impacts
to South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
due to existing adjacent road use
by recreational vehicles, low
impacts to South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks due to recreational
fishing, and low impacts to South
Fork Lost and Cilly creeks due to
historic riparian harvesting on
other land ownerships in the
project area.
No future actions have been
identified for consideration in
the South Fork Lost Creek and Soup
Creek drainages.
Two future actions that have been
identified for consideration in
the Cilly Creek drainage are the
Cilly Bug Salvage Timber Sale
Project and Red Ridge Salvage
Permit. The Cilly Bug Salvage
Timber Sale Project is expected to
include a riparian harvest through
the application of the SMZ Law and
Rules (ARM 36.11.301). The linear
extent of the riparian harvest is
expected to be approximately 1,800
feet adjacent to the north side of
the non-fish-bearing reach of
Cilly Creek. The only fish
habitat variable in the downstream
fish-bearing reach of Cilly Creek
that may be affected by the action
is stream temperature. As a
result of this action, potential
direct and indirect impacts to the
stream temperature component of
fish habitat in Cilly Creek are
very low. The Red Ridge Salvage
Permit proposes to harvest timber
from approximately 30 acires in the
Cilly Creek watershed. The
proposed timber harvest would take
place approximately 0.5 miles from
Cilly Creek, and road use
associated with the timber harvest
is not expected to have any
adverse impacts to Cilly Creek.
As a result of this action, no
potential direct and indirect
impacts to the stream temperature
component of fish habitat in Cilly
Creek are expected.
The Red Ridge Salvage Permit has
been identified as a future action
for consideration in the Unnamed
Creek drainage. This permit
proposes to harvest timber from
approximately 60 acres in the
Unnamed Creek watershed. The
permit is expected to include
riparian harvesting through the
application of the SMZ Law and
Rules (ARM 36.11.301). The linear
extent of the riparian harvest is
expected to be approximately 700
feet adjacent to the northeast
side of the fish-bearing reach of
Unnamed Creek. Stream temperature
is the only fish habitat variable
in the downstream fish-bearing
reach of Unnamed Creek that may be
affected by the action. As a
result of this action, the
potential direct and indirect
impacts to the stream-temperature
component of fish habitat in
Unnamed Creek are very low.
The determination of cumulative
impacts in this fisheries analysis
is based on an assessment of all
variables. As a result of these
considerations, determinations of
foreseeable cumulative impacts in
this analysis are primarily a
consequence of other related
actions and future actions.
As a result of the selection of
No-Action Alternative A,
cumulative impacts to fisheries in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, Unnamed,
and Soup creeks are expected to be
very low to low beyond those
impacts described in EXISTING
CONDITIONS.
Page E-92
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
TABLE E-38 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF THE
SELECTION OF NO -ACT I ON ALTERNATIVE A
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
UNNAMED
CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Presence and genetics
None
None
None
None
Flow regimes
None
None
None
None
Sediment
None
None
None
None
Channel forms
None
None
None
None
Riparian function
None
None
None
None
Large woody debris
None
None
None
None
Stream temperature
None
None
None
None
Connectivity
None
None
None
None
Other related actions
Low
Low
None
Low
Future actions
None
Very low
Very low
None
Cumulative effects
Very low
to low
Very low
to low
Very low
Very low
to low
• Cumulative Effect# of , Action . Alternative It on
Eixheriex
In order to correctly interpret
the potential for cumulative
impacts in this analysis, the
anticipated cumulative impact to a
specific stream is relative to
EXISTING CONDITIONS. For
instance, the level of existing
collective impacts to fisheries in
South Fork Lost Creek is likely
'moderate' (see EXISTING
CONDITIONS) . As a result of the
selection of Action Alternative B,
a potential 'low' level of
cumulative impacts may occur in
addition to the 'moderate' level
of existing collective effects to
fisheries that currently exist.
Other related actions that are
considered in the existing
cumulative impacts are a low
impact to South Fork Lost and Soup
creeks due to existing adjacent
road use by recreational vehicles,
a low impact to South Fork Lost
and Soup creeks due to
recreational fishing, and a low
impact to South Fork Lost and
Cilly creeks due to historic
riparian harvesting on other land
ownerships in the project area.
No future actions have been
identified for consideration in
the South Fork Lost Creek and Soup
Creek drainages.
Two future actions that have been
identified for consideration in
the Cilly Creek drainage are the
Cilly Bug Salvage Timber Sale
Project and Red Ridge Salvage
Permit. The Cilly Bug Salvage
Timber Sale Project is expected to
include a riparian harvest through
the application of the SMZ Law and
Rules ( ARM 36.11.301). The linear
extent of the riparian harvest is
expected to be approximately 1,800
feet adjacent to the north side of
the non-fish-bearing reach of
Cilly Creek. The only fish
habitat variable in the downstream
fish-bearing reach of Cilly Creek
that may be affected by the action
is stream temperature. As a
result of this action, potential
direct and indirect impacts to the
stream temperature component of
fish habitat in Cilly Creek are
very low. The Red Ridge Salvage
Permit proposes to harvest timber
from approximately 30 acres in the
Cilly Creek watershed. The
proposed timber harvest would take
place approximately 0.5 miles from
Cilly Creek, and road use
associated with the timber harvest
is not expected to have any
adverse impacts to Cilly Creek.
As a result of this action, no
potential direct and indirect
impacts to the stream temperature
component of fish habitat in Cilly
Creek are expected.
The Red Ridge Salvage Permit has
been identified as a future action
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-93
for consideration in the Unnamed
Creek drainage. This permit
proposes to harvest timber from
approximately 60 acres in the
Unnamed Creek watershed, and is
expected to include riparian
harvesting through the application
of the SMZ Law and Rules (ARM
36.11.301 ). The linear extent of
the riparian harvest is expected
to be approximately 700 feet
adjacent to the northeast side of
the fish-bearing reach of Unnamed
Creek. Stream temperature is the
only fish habitat variable in the
downstream fish-bearing reach of
Unnamed Creek that may be affected
by the action. As a result of
this action, potential direct and
indirect impacts to the stream
temperature component of fish
habitat in Unnamed Creek are very
low .
The determination of cumulative
effects in this fisheries analysis
is based on an assessment of all
variables, but the variables are
not weighted equally in making the
determination. Anticipated
impacts from sedimentation and
connectivity tend to have a
greater level of risk to fisheries
than the anticipated impacts from
flow regimes and riparian
function. As a result of these
considerations, determinations of
foreseeable cumulative impacts in
this analysis are primarily a
consequence of potential
sedimentation from various
sources, such as flow regime,
potential riparian soil
disturbance, and windthrown root
wads .
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative B, an overall
moderate risk of low cumulative
impacts to fisheries is expected
in South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Soup creeks beyond those impacts
described in EXISTING CONDITIONS.
An overall moderate risk of a
moderate cumulative impact is
expected to fisheries in Unnamed
Creek. No measurable or otherwise
detectable cumulative impacts are
expected to fisheries in
downstream reaches of Swan River
and Lost Creek as a result of
implementing Action Alterative B.
TABLE E- 39 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
TO FISHERIES IN THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF THE
SELECTION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE B
SOUTH FORK
CILLY
UNNAMED
SOUP
LOST CREEK
CREEK
CREEK
CREEK
Presence and genetics
None
None
None
None
Flow regimes
Very Low
Low
Low
Very Low
Sediment
Low
Low
Moderate
Low
Channel forms
Low
Low
Low
Low
Riparian function
Low
Low
Low
Low
Large woody debris
Very Low
None
None
Very Low
Stream temperature
Low
Low
Low
Low
Connectivity
None
None
None
None
Other related actions
Low
Low
None
Low
Future actions
None
Very Low
Very Low
None
Cumulative effects
Low
Low
Moderate
Low
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
Page E-94
• { unndaticc l\(fcctx q/\ Id ion . Iffernnfirr C to
I'is/i cries
The assessment of potential
cumulative effects follows the
same methodology described in
Action Alternative B. Other
related future actions are also
expected to be the same as those
described in Action Alternative B.
In order to help convey a summary
of potential cumulative impacts as
a result of implementing Action
Alternative C, a matrix of
anticipated effects to fisheries
in the project area is displayed
in TABLE-40 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE
DIRECT , INDIRECT , AND CUMUILATIVE
IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS
A RESULT OF THE SELECTION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE C.
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative C, an overall
moderate risk of low cumulative
impacts to fisheries is expected
in South Fork Lost, Cilly, and
Soup creeks beyond those impacts
described in EXISTING CONDITIONS.
An overall moderate risk of a
moderate cumulative impact is
expected to fisheries in Unnamed
Creek. No measurable or otherwise
detectable cumulative impacts are
expected to fisheries in
downstream reaches of Swan River
and Lost Creek as a result of
implementing Action Alterative C.
TABLE E-40 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE DIRECT , INDIRECT, AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF THE
SELECTION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE C
SOUTH FORK
CILLY
UNNAMED
SOUP
LOST CREEK
CREEK
CREEK
CREEK
Presence and genetics
None
None
None
None
Flow regimes
Very low
Low
Low
Very low
Sediment
Low
Low
Moderate
Low
Channel forms
Low
Low
Low
Low
Riparian function
Very low
Low
Low
Very low
Large woody debris
None
Low
None
Very low
Stream temperature
Low
Low
Low
Low
Connectivity
None
None
None
None
Other related actions
Low
Low
None
Low
Future actions
None
Very low
Very low
None
Cumulative effects
Low
Low
Modera te
Low
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-95
• Cumulative Effects of . let ion , /fternutire D to
Fisheries
The assessment of potential
cumulative effects follows the
same methodology described in
Action Alternative B. Other
related future actions are also
expected to be the same as those
described in Action Alternative B.
In order to help convey a summary
of potential cumulative impacts as
a result of implementing Action
Alternative D, a matrix of
anticipated effects to fisheries
in the project area is displayed
in TABLE-41 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE
DIRECT , INDIRECT , AND CUMULATIVE
IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS
A RESULT OF THE SELECTION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE D.
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative D, an overall
moderate risk of low cumulative
impacts to fisheries is expected
in South Fork Lost and Soup creeks
beyond those impacts described in
EXISTING CONDITIONS. An overall
moderate risk of a moderate
cumulative impact is expected to
fisheries in Cilly and Unnamed
creeks. No measurable or
otherwise detectable cumulative
impacts are expected to fisheries
in downstream reaches of Swan
River and Lost Creek as a result
of implementing Action Alterative
D.
TABLE E-41 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF THE
SELECTION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE D
SOUTH FORK
LOST CREEK
CILLY
CREEK
UNNAMED CREEK
SOUP
CREEK
Presence and genetics
None
None
None
None
Flow regimes
Very low
Low
Low
Very low
Sediment
Low
Moderate
Moderate
Low
Channel forms
Low
Low
Low
Low
Riparian function
Very low
Low
Low
Very low
Large woody debris
Low
None
None
Low
Stream temperature
Low
Low
Low
Low
Connectivity
None
None
None
None
Other related actions
Low
Low
None
Low
Future actions
None
Very low
Very low
None
Cumulative effects
Low
Moderate
Modera te
Low
k
Page E-96
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
• ( innn/ofire htffectM qf. Icl ion . Hferttafire E
to / 'ishcrieK
The assessment of potential
cumulative effects follows the
same methodology described in
Action Alternative B. Other
related future actions are also
expected to be the same as those
described in Action Alternative
B. In order to help convey a
summary of potential cumulative
impacts as a result of
implementing Action Alternative
E, a matrix of anticipated
effects to fisheries in the
project area is displayed in
TABLE-42 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE
DIRECT , INDIRECT, AND CUMULATIVE
IMPACTS TO FISHERIES IN THE THREE
CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA
AS A RESULT OF THE SELECTION OF
ACTION ALTERNATIVE E.
As a result of the selection of
Action Alternative E, an overall
moderate risk of a low cumulative
impact to fisheries is expected
in the South Fork Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, Unnamed Creek, and
Soup creeks are expected to be
low beyond those impacts
described in the Existing
Conditions. No measurable or
otherwise detectable cumulative
impacts are expected to fisheries
in downstream reaches of Swan
River and Lost Creek as a result
of implementing Action Alterative
E.
TABLE E-42 - MATRIX OF COLLECTIVE DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO
FISHERIES IN THE THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA AS A RESULT OF THE
SELECTION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE E
SOUTH FORK
CILLY
UNNAMED
SOUP
LOST CREEK
CREEK
CREEK
CREEK
Presence and genetics
None
None
None
None
Flow regimes
Very low
Low
Very low
Very low
Sediment
Low
Low
Low
Low
Channel forms
Low
Low
Low
Low
Riparian function
Very low
Low
Low
Low
Large woody debris
None
Low
None
Very low
Stream temperature
Low
Low
Low
Low
Connectivity
None
None
None
None
Other related actions
Low
Low
None
Low
Future actions
None
Very low
Very low
None
Cumulative effects
Low
Low
Low
Low
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-97
SPECIALIST RECOMMENDATIONS
♦ POPULATIONS - PRESENCE AND
GENETICS
No recommendations
♦ HABITAT - FLOW REGIMES
No recommendations
♦ HABITAT - SEDIMENT and CHANNEL
FORMS
- Apply all applicable Forestry
BMPs (including the SMZ Law and
Rules) and Forest Management
Administrative Rules for soils
riparian management zones.
- Monitor all road stream
crossings for sedimentation and
deterioration of road prism.
- Only allow equipment traffic at
road stream crossings when road
prisms have adequate load-
bearing capacity.
♦ HABITAT - RIPARIAN FUNCTION, LARGE
WOODY DEBRIS, AND STREAM
TEMPERATURE
- Apply all applicable BMPs
(including SMZ Law and Rules)
and Forest Management
Administrative Rules for
fisheries riparian management
zones to fish-bearing streams in
the project area.
- South Fork Lost Creek
Immediately adjacent to proposed
harvest units, establish the
outside edge of the fisheries
riparian management zone at 95
feet from the nearest bankfull
edge of the stream channel.
Within the fisheries riparian
management zone provide adequate
large-woody-debris recruitment
and stream shading by (1)
creating a no-cut buffer from
the nearest bankfull edge of the
stream channel to 25 feet, and
(2) harvesting a maximum of 50
percent of trees greater than 8
inches in diameter at breast
height from 25 to 95 feet.
- Cilly Creek
Immediately adjacent to proposed
harvest units, establish the
outside edge of the fisheries
riparian management zone at 91
feet from the nearest bankfull
edge of the stream channel.
Within the fisheries riparian
management zone, provide
adequate large-woody-debris
recruitment and stream shading
by implementing the SMZ Law and
Rules for Class 1 streams.
- Soup Creek
Immediately adjacent to proposed
harvest units, establish the
outside edge of the fisheries
riparian management zone at 83
feet from the nearest bankfull
edge of the stream channel.
Within the fisheries riparian
management zone provide adequate
large-woody-debris recruitment
and stream shading by (1)
creating a no-cut buffer from
the nearest bankfull edge of the
stream channel out to 25 feet
and (2) harvesting a maximum of
50 percent of trees greater than
8 inches in diameter at breast
height from 25 to 83 feet.
- Apply the SMZ Law and Rules to
all non-fish-bearing streams in
the project area.
♦ HABITAT - CONNECTIVITY
No recommendations
♦ CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
No recommendations
Page E-98
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
SUMMARY OF ANTICIPATED PROJECT-LEVEL MONITORING
IF AN ACTION ALTERNATIVE IS SELECTED
• Bull trout, and, in some cases,
westslope cutthroat trout,
population monitoring through
annual redd counts.
• McNeil core and substrate score
monitoring in bull trout spawning
reaches in South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks.
• Fish habitat monitoring, such as
repeat R1/R4 surveying, in South
Fork Lost and Soup creeks.
• Riparian stand characteristics
(quadratic mean diameter, trees
per acre, basal area) monitoring
in proposed selective riparian-
harvest areas adjacent to South
Fork Lost and Soup creeks.
• Angular canopy density (shade)
monitoring in South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks adjacent to proposed
selective riparian-harvest areas.
• Large-woody-debris frequency and
volume monitoring in South Fork
Lost and Soup creeks.
• Stream temperature monitoring in
South Fork Lost, Cilly, and Soup
creeks .
Appendix E - Fisheries
Page E-99
I
APPENDIX F
WILDLIFE ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
The discussion in this section
pertains to wildlife species and
their habitat in the existing
environment and changes to that
environment due to each alternative.
If habitat does not exist in the
project area or would not be
modified by any alternative, species
that use that habitat were dismissed
from further analysis. Where
species use of the area is probable,
an analysis was performed. To
conduct this analysis, a cumulative-
effects analysis area was defined in
which to assess the effects to the
species in question. The Three
Creeks Project Area, South Fork Lost
Soup Grizzly Bear Subunit, and Swan
River State Forest scales were
considered for possible analysis
areas. The scale of analysis
considered varied according to the
species being discussed, but
generally approximates the size of
seasonal home ranges, total home
ranges, or multiple home ranges
representing a portion of the
population for the species in
question. Once an analysis area for
cumulative effects was defined, the
existing condition within the
analysis boundaries was determined
to set the baseline. The existing
condition (baseline) incorporates
the results of the past actions and
natural processes within the
analysis area.
To assess the effects of each
alternative, the changes that would
occur due to project activities are
described within the area where they
occur (i.e., within the harvest
unit) . These changes are the direct
and indirect effects of the proposed
activities. The cumulative effects
analysis considers how these changes
alter the existing condition (which
includes past actions) and what that
means to the species in question at
the analysis-area scale. After
these changes and the subsequent
effects are displayed and discussed,
other activities that are occurring
or are planned in the foreseeable
future within the cumulative-effects
analysis area are added into the
effects analysis. The combination
of the effects of the current
proposal overlaid on the existing
condition, with the addition of
concurrent and foreseeable future
actions, sum to determine the
cumulative effect to the species in
question .
METHODS
To assess the existing condition on
DNRC-managed lands and the
surrounding landscape within
each cumulative-effects analysis
area, a variety of techniques
were used. Field reconnaissance
, scientific literature,
data from the SLI and MNHP,
aerial photography,
consultations with other
professionals, and professional
judgment provided information
for the following discussion and
effects analysis. In the
effects analysis, changes in the
habitat quality and quantity
from the existing conditions
were evaluated and explained.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction F-l
Methods F-l
Coarse-Filter Analysis F-2
Disturbance F-2
Covertypes and Age Classes F-6
Old-Growth-Associated Species F-7
Forested Connectivity F-8
Patch Size F-13
Coarse Woody Debris F-15
Snag Structure F-16
Fine-Filter Analysis F-23
Threatened and Endangered Species . F-23
Sensitive Species F-40
Big Game F-51
Specialized methodologies are
discussed under the species in which
they apply.
COARSE -FILTER ANALYSIS
DNRC recognizes that it is an
impossible and unnecessary task to
assess an affected environment or
the effects of proposed actions on
all wildlife species. We assume
that if landscape patterns and
processes similar to those that
species adapted to are maintained,
then the full complement of species
will be maintained across the
landscape ( DNRC 1996). This "coarse
filter" approach supports diverse
wildlife populations by managing for
a variety of forest structures and
compositions that approximate
"historic conditions" across a
landscape. In the coarse-f ilter
analysis, disturbance, covertype and
age class, forest connectivity, and
snags and coarse woody debris were
analyzed .
DISTURBANCE
Issue
Timber harvesting and the associated
road use would increase motorized
disturbance in the analysis area,
which could result in displacement
of wildlife species from adjacent
habitats. Displacement from
important habitats could result in
decreased ability for the animal to
survive and reproduce in the
analysis area.
Existing Condition
Motorized disturbances can affect
how wildlife species use their
environment. Some species, such as
grizzly bears and elk, are
particularly sensitive to (the
disturbance related to motorized
access and tend to avoid areas some
distance from the source of
disturbance. Conversely, some
species, such as Canada lynx,
tolerate motorized disturbance and
do not alter their use of adjacent
habitats substantially ( Mowat et al.
2000) . Additionally, the response
to motorized disturbance and the
distance of displacement effects can
vary among individuals within a
species. Therefore, this analysis
focuses on quantifying the area
where disturbance occurs (roads and
harvest units) to rank the potential
displacement effects caused by
disturbance expected under all
action alternatives.
The area where disturbance from
motorized use occurs is the road
surface; however, the displacement
effects caused by the disturbance
can extend well away from the road
surface. Motorized disturbances
related to this project would occur
on the road surface by vehicles
traveling to and from harvest units
and by mechanized equipment and
personnel within the harvest units.
To quantify the minimum amount of
disturbance, the acreage of driving
surface of forest roads (14 feet
wide) and Highway 83 (40 feet wide)
were used to develop a hierarchy of
potential disturbance to wildlife in
the area. The effects of this
disturbance resulting in
displacement would extend some
distance from the point of
disturbance, which would vary by the
species in question.
The South Fork Lost Soup Subunit
cumulative-effects analysis area
consists of the project area and
valley bottom. The project area
lies on the slopes above the valley
bottom and extends upslope toward
the Swan divide. The project area
contains 8.4 miles of open road
covering 14.5 acres (0.1 percent of
the project area) and 20.1 miles of
restricted roads (gated) covering
34.7 acres (0.3 percent) ( TABLE F-l
- ACREAGE OF ROAD SURFACES [PERCENT
OF AREA] AT THE PROJECT LEVEL AND IN
THE ANALYSIS AREA) . Due to the lack
of open roads in the area, the
project area experiences limited
motorized access. The restricted
roads in the area support minor
levels of motorized administrative
use. In the valley bottom, Highway
83 runs north and south near the
Page F-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
western edge of the subunit, with 2
main open roads (Cilly Creek and
Soup Creek roads) running east
towards the mountains. Other open
roads enter the project area from
the north (South Fork Lost Creek
Road) and the south (Soup Goat Cut-
Across Road) . These roads stay near
the valley bottom or, in the case of
South Fork Lost Road, follow the
creek up the drainage bottom. All
other roads are restricted, but
provide for motorized administrative
and public nonmotorized access.
Highway 83 accounts for 4.8 miles,
covering 23.3 acres (0.1 percent of
the analysis area) ; open roads
account for 22.2 miles, covering
37.7 acres (0.1 percent); and
restricted roads (gated) account for
47.8 miles, covering 81.1 acres (0.3
percent) of the 74.8 miles of roads
in the analysis area ( TABLE F-l -
ACREAGE OF ROAD SURFACES [PERCENT OF
AREA] AT THE PROJECT LEVEL AND IN
THE ANALYSIS AREA) .
Consistent high levels of motorized
use occur on Highway 83. There
appears to be a relatively
consistent moderate level of
motorized use along open roads, with
spikes during different seasons
(i.e. big game hunting season). The
motorized use occurring consistently
on these open roads is generally
associated with recreational traffic
(traffic associated with sightseeing
or accessing a recreational area) ,
public firewood harvesting, and
administrative use. Motorized
vehicles on restricted roads are
limited to administrative use while
the subunit is inactive and
TABLE F-l - ACREAGE OF ROAD SURFACES
AREA) AT THE PROJECT LEVEL AND IN THE
ROAD STATUS
PROJECT LEVEL
ANALYSIS AREA
Highway
0.0 (<0.1%)
23.3 (0.1%)
Open
14.5 (0.5%)
37.7 (0.1%)
Restricted -
gated
34.7 (0.3%)
81.1 (0.3%)
Total roads
49.2 (0.5%)
142.1 (0.5%)
commercial use when the subunit is
active .
Predicted Effects to Wildlife
Species Due to Disturbance
• Direct, Indirect, and Camatatire Effect* of
• Vo-, let ion , 'Itternafire , 1 to Disturbance
No additional disturbances along
existing roads or within harvest
units would occur; therefore, no
additional displacement of
wildlife species would be
expected .
• Direct find Indirect Effects of the Disturbance
Resulting from .let ion , Iffernafires It, C, D,
and E
The amount of area that receives
motorized disturbance would
increase under all alternatives.
These increases would result from
the use of existing and newly
constructed roads along with
motorized activities in the
harvest units. The increased
vehicle traffic associated with
each alternative on the highway
and open roads would likely
contribute negligibly to the
displacement effects already
occurring. However, introducing
motorized disturbance within the
harvest units and newly
constructed road, along with
increasing motorized use on
existing restricted roads, would
likely add to the amount of area
where displacement could occur.
To quantify the scale of
disturbance associated with each
alternative, the acreage of
harvest units and driving surface
of restricted roads (14 feet wide)
were summed to develop
a hierarchy of
potential disturbance
to wildlife in the
area. All action
alternatives would be
implemented during a 3-
year period. If the
project is not
completed during this
time period, harvesting
activities could
(PERCENT OF
ANALYSIS AREA
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-3
potentially extend past 2009; but,
if activities were extended, they
would only occur between November
16 and March 31. At any time, any
or all portions of the timber
harvesting and road use could
occur. This analysis considers
each alternative as a whole and
does not try to predict the timing
of any phase of implementation of
the alternative. Since this
project is likely to be split into
3 timber sales, the effects
expected under any alternative
would likely be spread over time
and space in some fashion.
According to this analysis, Action
Alternative E would produce the
greatest amount of area where
short-term disturbance would
occur, followed by Action
Alternatives D, B, and C,
respectively ( TABLE F-2 - ACREAGE
OF DISTURBED AREA WITHIN HARVEST
UNITS AND ASSOCIATED ROAD USE
EXPECTED UNDER EACH ALTERNATIVE) .
The displacement effects due to
motorized disturbance may extend
for some distance away from the
source and may vary by species and
individual animals. Therefore,
the risk of increased motorized
disturbances resulting in
displacement of wildlife species
from important habitats follows
the same trend. These effects are
expected to last for the duration
of the project. After completion
of the project, some displaced
species could move back into the
area. The speed at which
recolonization occurs would vary
by species.
TABLE F-2 - ACREAGE OF DISTURBED AREA WITHIN HARVEST UNITS AND ASSOCIATED
ROAD USE EXPECTED UNDER EACH ALTERNATIVE
DISTURBANCE
ALTERNATIVE
AREA
A
B
C
D
E
Harvest acres
0
1,883
1,795
1,970
1, 998
(Percent of project area)
(17.7)
(16.9)
(18.5)
(18.8)
(Percent of analysis area)
(6.3)
(6.0)
(6.6)
(6.7)
Existing restricted road driving
surface acres
0
39
36
35
45
(Percent of project area)
(0.4)
(0.3)
(0.3)
(0.4)
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.2)
New road construction of
permanent restricted driving
surface acres
0
23
22
27
15
(Percent of project area)
(0.2)
(0.2)
(0.3)
(0.1)
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.1)
New road construction of
temporary driving surface acres
0
9
11
7
8
(Percent of project area)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(0.1)
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.0)
«0.1)
(<0.1)
(<0.1)
Total combined acres affected
0
1,954
1,864
2,039
2, 066
(Percent of project area)
(18.4)
(17.5)
(19.2)
(19.4)
(Percent of analysis area)
(6.5)
(6.2)
(6.8)
(6.9)
Page F-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
• ( umutafire l\ffecf* qf% Vo*» Id ion . Iffernafire
• / to Disturbance
Wildlife species are not expected
to change their use of the
analysis areas.
• (uni a tat ire l^ffects to Disturbance Common to
• let ion , I Her no tires It, C, D, an ft E
In the longer term, the new
construction of permanent
restricted roads under each action
alternative would increase the
ability for administrative
motorized and public nonmotorized
access. Of these alternatives.
Action Alternative D would result
in the greatest potential for
additional disturbance over the
long term due to the greatest
increase in permanent road
construction. Action Alternative
E would require the least amount
of permanent restricted road and
thereby would result in the least
risk of disturbance over the long
term. Since administrative use is
generally light and sporadic, the
risk of additional or continued
displacement is low. Since
nonmotorized use generally results
in fewer disturbances than
motorized use and any increase in
nonmotorized use is expected to be
sporadic and not result in large
changes over the existing
condition, any additional risk to
displacement due to the
construction of new restricted
roads is likely to be low under
any action alternative.
In addition to the potential
disturbance caused by each action
alternative, DNRC is concurrently
considering 2 salvage harvests
that total 120 acres and uses 5
acres of existing restricted road
surface in 2 locations within the
analysis area. These harvests
could add approximately 125 acres
(0.4 percent of the analysis area)
to the amount of habitat affected
if these projects ran concurrently
with the Three Creeks Timber Sale
Project. The duration for the use
of these roads and harvesting is
expected to be less than 30 days.
Therefore, the cumulative effects
to any alternative would likely
result in short-term negligible
increases in displacement ( TABLE
F-3 - CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF ACRES
WITHIN THE ANALYSIS AREA EXPECTED
TABLE F-3 - CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF ACRES WITHIN THE ANALYSIS AREA EXPECTED TO
BE DISTURBED UNDER EACH ALTERNATIVE
DISTURBANCE
AREA
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Existing acres of all roads
142
142
142
142
142
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.5)
(0.5)
(0.5)
(0.5)
(0.5)
Total affected acreage by
alternative in the analysis
area
142
2,096
2,006
2,181
2,208
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.5)
(7.0)
(6.7)
(7.3)
(7.4)
Additional projects (acres)
125
125
125
125
125
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.4)
(0.4)
(0.4)
(0.4)
(0.4)
Total cumulatively affected
acreage in the analysis area
267
2,221
2,131
2,306
2, 333
(Percent of analysis area)
(0.9)
(7.4)
(7.1)
(7.7)
(7.8)
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-5
TO BE DISTURBED UNDER EACH
ALTERNATIVE) .
COVERTYPES AND AGE CLASSES
Issue
Timber harvesting and natural
processes can alter the distribution
of covertypes and age classes found
on the landscape. Changes from
historic conditions could result in
adverse effects to native wildlife
species .
Existing Condition
Covertype and age class proportions
provide a variety of habitats for
wildlife species. It is assumed
that the closer the proportions and
distributions of covertypes and age
classes mirror the "historic levels"
reported by Losensky (1997), the
more likely DNRC-managed lands are
providing adequate levels of habitat
for native species (see APPENDIX C -
VEGETATION ANALYSIS) . Based on the
vegetation analysis conducted on the
SLI data, mixed-conifer covertypes
are overrepresented, while western
larch/Douglas-f ir and western white
pine are underrepresented when
compared to historic levels. When
averaged over all covertypes, stands
on Swan River State Forest tend to
be older than expected. These
conditions likely lead to increased
habitat for species that use older,
denser stands, which include a
variety of tree species at the
expense of species that use more-
open stands dominated by shade-
intolerant tree species.
Predicted Effects to Wildlife
Species Due to Changes in Covertypes
and Age Classes
• Direct and Indirect Effect* of the .Vo-, let ion
. If ter no tire . 1 to Corertype h and • lye Claxxex
No changes in covertypes or age
classes are expected in the short
term. Over time, trees would
continue to age and shade-
intolerant trees would continue to
die and be replaced by shade-
tolerant species. These
conditions would lead to an
increasing deviation from historic
distributions of covertypes and
age classes. These changes would
continue and increase the risk of
not providing adequate levels of
habitat for native species.
• Direct and Indirect l'lffectx of . let ion
. liternatiecH 11, C, D, and l'J to Corertype* and
• lye ( i a xx ex
Under all action alternatives, a
portion of the harvested stands
would be converted from mixed-
conifer covertypes to shade-
intolerant covertypes (western
larch/Douglas-f ir and western
white pine) and also reduce the
average age of stands. These
changes in covertypes and the
conversion of older stands to
younger stands move the stand
proportions toward historic
conditions; however, historic age
distributions may not necessarily
be retained within those
covertypes. Specifically, the
conversion of older western larch/
Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine
stands into younger stand classes
causes movement away from historic
age class proportions in these
covertypes (see APPENDIX C -
VEGETATION ANALYSIS) . Reductions
of older-aged stands in other
covertypes move Swan River State
Forest more toward historic
conditions of age class within the
covertypes affected. The changes
proposed are expected to result in
beneficial effects for species
that use shade-intolerant
covertypes; however, these
benefits may be delayed due to the
conversion of older-aged stands to
younger-aged shade-intolerant
stands. In the short-term,
species that use older, denser
stands with a variety of tree
species would be negatively
impacted; however, these species
would likely still have at least
as much, if not more, habitat
available than would be expected
under historic conditions. Action
Alternative C would result in a
higher rate of conversion from
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Page F-6
mixed-conifer to western larch/
Douglas-fir covertypes, while
retaining a higher proportion of
older-aged stands, followed by
Action Alternatives D, B, and E,
respectively. Action Alternatives
C, D, and E would enter
approximately 18 acres of
ponderosa pine old stands and
reduce the age class to a 100-
year-old stand.
• Cn/natafire Effects ofJXo . /// • Uternatirex
Corertypes and •/ ge ( 't asses
The cumulative effects of recent
forest-management activities on
Swan River State Forest result in
a trend of increasing serai
covertypes and the amount of
younger age classes across areas
where management has occurred.
These trends generally tend toward
historic proportions; therefore,
native species are generally
benefiting from the changes in
covertype and age-class
distributions. However, these
benefits may be delayed due to the
conversion of older-aged stands to
younger-aged shade-intolerant
stands .
OLD-GROWTH-ASSOCIATED SPECIES
Issue
Old growth provides habitat
components for a host of wildlife
species. Decreasing amounts of
habitat available to less than the
amounts expected historically could
adversely affect species that use
old-growth habitats to fulfill their
life requirements.
Existing Condition
Many wildlife species use old-growth
habitats. Warren (1998) indicates
that approximately 31 wildlife
species are associated with old-
growth forests on the FNF.
APPENDIX C - VEGETATION ANALYSIS
indicates that the current acreage
of old growth on Swan River State
Forest is less than the acres
estimated in 1930s inventory, but
greater than would be expected as a
long-term average for the climatic
section ( Losensky 1997 ) . Although
the percentage of the area occupied
by old growth, overall, on Swan
River State Forest is presently
greater than what would have been
expected with long-term average
conditions, function may be
compromised for some species due to
reductions of old growth in some
covertypes and overall reductions in
average patch size, patch shape, and
loss of connectivity. The current
distribution, covertypes, and
attribute levels are displayed in
APPENDIX C - VEGETATION ANALYSIS.
Based on the vegetation analysis of
Swan River State Forest,
overabundances of old growth occur
in the Douglas-fir, western white
pine, mixed-conifer (includes stands
dominated by western red cedar) , and
subalpine fir covertypes, while
shortages occur in ponderosa pine,
western larch/Douglas-f ir , and
lodgepole pine covertypes. These
differences are attributable to the
differential selection of covertypes
that were harvested, covertype
conversions due to fire exclusion
and forest succession, and a minor
degree of classification and
sampling error. Wildlife species
typically associated with old growth
in the covertypes that are
overrepresented presumably benefited
from additional habitat, while those
associated with underrepresented
types likely suffered from lower
amounts of available habitat.
Predicted Effects to Old-Growth-
Associated Species
Direct and Indirect Effects
• Direct and Indirect Effects of the . Vo-. let ion
. //fernafire . / to Old-firfnrth-»'lssociated
Species
No harvesting of timber would take
place; therefore, no changes in
the amount or quality of old-
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-7
growth habitats would occur.
• Direct and Indirect Effects of . lotion
• llfernatires It, C, />, and E to Old-Groirth-
•Associated Species
Some amount of stand-replacement-
type harvesting of old growth
would occur under each action
alternative. Thus, young age
classes of stands would likely
develop for several years
following treatments. In some
harvest units, the number of large
trees retained could meet the
minimum criteria for old-growth;
however, these stands may not
necessarily meet the needs of old-
growth-associated species,
especially those species that
prefer densely forested climax
stands. Where old-growth habitat
is altered, old-growth-associated
species are expected to lose
habitat .
Cumulative Effects
• Cn/nntatire Effects qf* III • l/ternatires to Old-
Clroirf/i— . Issociated Species
Following harvesting, all action
alternatives retain proportions of
old growth within Swan River State
Forest that fall within the
estimated range of historical
amounts of old growth (15 to 52
percent) . Therefore, the overall
risk of adverse effects to species
that use these habitats is low
because levels of old-growth
habitats fall within the historic
range expected on Swan River State
Forest (see APPENDIX C -
VEGETATION ANALYSIS) . However,
local reductions in old-growth
habitats are expected to reduce
habitat availability for species
that use these habitats! The risk
of affecting old-growth-^ssociated
species is greater under Action
Alternative D than under Action
Alternatives C, B, and E,
respectively, due to the amount of
old-growth harvested.
No other harvests in old-growth
stands are concurrently being
considered or planned in the
foreseeable future. Past
activities that affected old
growth were considered in the
existing conditions. Therefore,
no additional cumulative changes
in the amount of old-growth stands
are expected.
FORESTED CONNECTIVITY
Issue
Timber harvesting would remove
forested cover that could result in
the reduced ability of some wildlife
species to move through their home
range. Disruption of these regular
daily, seasonal, and dispersal
movements could result in a reduced
ability of wildlife species to use
and successfully reproduce in the
area .
Existing Condition
Movement corridors that maintain
connectivity between habitat patches
function to allow regular daily and
seasonal movements along with
providing dispersal routes for
juvenile animals ( Dobson et al.
1999) . These movements are
important for species to
successfully move between security
cover (i.e. denning sites, bedding
areas, etc.) and foraging sites to
meet their life requirements.
Additionally, movement corridors are
important to allow for dispersing
individuals to immigrate or emigrate
from one population to the next to
allow for genetic diversity.
Connectivity of forest cover between
adjacent patches is important for
promoting movements of species that
are hesitant to cross broad,
nonforested expanses. In general,
wider, unfragmented, riparian, and
diverse corridors provide the most
effective connectivity ( Fischer and
Fischenich 2000) . The width of the
travel corridor tends to determine
the efficacy of the corridor for
individual species. In general, a
wider corridor would be more
effective and provide for more
species than a narrower one.
Narrower corridors provide some
Page F-8
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
level of connectivity, especially
for smaller species, such as
rodents. However, these narrow
corridors could also serve as
funnels that increase predator
efficiency and reduce survival of
the individual prey species that are
using the corridor (Groom et al.
1999) . Seedling and sapling stands
can also provide connectivity cover
for some species such as snowshoe
hares (Ausband 2004 ) , but may not
provide connectivity for species
that prefer environments with dense
mature forest canopy.
Based on ARM 36.11.403(20) (b) ,
corridors of 300 feet or greater are
assumed to allow adequate
connectivity to the larger mammals
that inhabit the project area, such
as fishers ( Jones 1991 ) and lynx
(Koehler 1990) . To assess
connectivity, semi-closed (40- to
70-percent canopy closure) and
closed canopy (greater than 70-
percent canopy closure) pole and
sawtimber stands greater than 300
feet wide were considered to provide
travel cover for species expected to
benefit from interconnected forest
stands .
The South Fork Lost Soup Subunit
cumulative-effects analysis area
consists of valley bottom and
mountainous terrain. The project
area lies on the slopes between the
valley bottom and the upper
elevations of the subunit.
Generally, high levels of forest
connectivity exist in the
mountainous area, with many
scattered openings existing on the
valley floor portions of the
analysis area. Forest connectivity
is mostly maintained throughout the
analysis area along the ridges,
along 4 major streams running from
the mountains and draining into the
Swan River, and across third-order
drainages (South Fork Lost and Soup
creeks) . Several breaks where
forest cover is reduced to less than
300 feet across the stream occur
along these creeks (FIGURE F-l -
EXISTING FOREST COVER , WHICH ALLOWS
FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED
HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS AREA) .
These openings are natural openings
(wet meadows, shrub fields,
avalanche chutes) or old harvest
units. In most cases, these
openings contain at least some
horizontal cover from shrubs or
regenerating trees, thereby
providing some cover within the
opening. Additionally, these areas
are generally small (FIGURE F-l -
EXISTING FOREST COVER , WHICH ALLOWS
FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED
HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS AREA) .
These conditions provide a well-
connected forest environment for
animals to move relatively unimpeded
through the cumulative-effects
analysis area. However, in the
valley bottom, several open roads,
including Highway 83, present human-
caused impediments to connectivity.
Predicted Effects to Wildlife Due to
Changes in Connectivity
• Direct, Iiiftirect, ft lift Cumulative Effects of
JVo-, let ion . liter native . I to Connectivity
No short-term changes in forest
connectivity are expected. Over
time and in the absence of natural
disturbance, forest connectivity
would be expected to increase due
to the successional conversion of
early serai stands and sparse
stands to older stands providing
overhead forest cover. The
increase in connectivity would
benefit species that depend on
dense interconnected forests by
providing movement corridors
between habitats within the
project area.
• Direct and Indirect Effects Common of. let ion
•Alternatives II, C, D, and EJ to Connectivity
Each action alterative could alter
connectivity of mature forest
patches by creating gaps and
producing large openings in the
uplands (refer to PATCH SIZE in
this analysis) . However, the
project design for each
alternative includes mitigations
to maintain forest connectivity
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-9
FIGURE F-l - EXISTING FOREST COVER, WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED
HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS AREA
along the 4 major streams (Soup,
Cilly, Unnamed, and South Fork
Lost creeks) in the project area.
Where seedtree or shelterwood
prescriptions occur on both sides
of a major stream, a 150-foot
buffer on either side of the
stream (300-foot width total)
would be retained. If harvesting
occurs on only 1 side of the
stream and ample forest cover is
provided on the opposite side of
the stream, a 100-foot buffer from
the stream would be retained along
the harvested portion. Along the
4 main streams, no timber-
harvesting activities would occur
within 25 feet of the stream.
From 25 feet to the buffer width,
up to half of the trees 8 inches
dbh or greater could be harvested,
but an average of 40 percent or
greater canopy cover would be
required to be retained. In these
buffers, small openings of 0.25
acre or less could occur in cable
yarding corridors or in skid
trails .
Forest connectivity through the
project area would be retained in
unharvested stands along the
ridges (south of South Fork Lost,
Cilly, and Soup creeks), across
third-order drainages (Soup and
South Fork Lost creeks), and along
streams with the buffers described
above ( FIGURE F-2 (3, 4, 5) -
FOREST COVER FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE B (C, D, and E) , WHICH
ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF
FORESTED HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS
AREA) . With these mitigations in
Page F-10
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
FIGURE F-2 - FOREST COVER FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE B ,
WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS AREA
LEGEND
DNRC Ownership
Strums
f \ r Intermittent S treAms
A / Perenruel S taverns
Hervest Unit Prescriptions
Commercial Thinning
Regeneretion Hervest
Existing Forest Cover
II Closed Cenopied (>40% CAnopy cover)
| | OpenC enopied (<40% cover)
Location of 300' mitigation buffer
FIGURE F-3 - FOREST COVER FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE C,
WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS AREA
LEGEND
DNRC Ownership
Stneems
Intermittent S Ire Ami
A / Puenmel S taverns
H *rvest Unit Prescriptions
Commercul Thmmng
Rege mretion H erves t
Existing Forest Cover
Closed Cenopied (>40% cenopy cover)
j Open C enopied (<40% cover)
ifr Locetlon of 300' miigetion buffer
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-ll
South Fate
Lost Creek
FIGURE F-4 - FOREST COVER FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE D,
WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS AREA
FIGURE F-5 - FOREST COVER FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION ALTERNATIVE E,
WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF FORESTED HABITATS IN THE ANALYSIS
Page F-12
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
LEGEND
DHRC Ownership
St ntou
^ \ , Intermittent S tnuni
A / Penn mil S tm uni
Harvest Unit Prescriptions
Commercial Thinning
Rage ner ib on H 4mi t
Existing Fonrt Cover
HI Closed C mo pied (>40% canopy cover)
[ 1 Open C mop i»d (<40% cover)
4fr Location of 300' mlbgatxin buff* r
place, a minimum of 300-foot wide
corridors would be retained along
all major creeks that run through
the harvest units. Connectivity
on upland sites would be reduced
under each alternative, but in
areas used by wildlife species for
travel (ridges and streams) ,
adequate forest cover would
remain. Therefore, all
alternatives would result in minor
risk to preventing movement
through the project area.
• Cam a tat ire Inflect# Common to . let ion
. Alternative* it, C, I), a nr! E
Other activities that could affect
forested connectivity in the
analysis area include: open roads,
DNRC salvage harvests, potential
timber harvests on adjacent lands,
and tree mortality due to insects
and diseases.
The highway (4.8 miles) and open
roads (22.2 miles) currently in
the analysis area would continue
to decrease habitat connectivity
to some unknown level. All action
alternatives under this project
result in an additional 0.4 miles
of open road. The new road would
result from rerouting South Fork
Lost Creek Road away from the
creek. Although a slight increase
in the length of open roads would
occur from moving the road out of
the South Fork Lost Creek riparian
area, connectivity could improve
by reducing the disturbance in the
riparian corridor. This action
would enhance forested
connectivity along the 1.3 miles
of stream where disturbance would
be reduced.
In addition to this project, DNRC
is proposing to harvest 120 acres
in 2 projects, while no other
harvests on other ownerships are
planned for the 3-year active
period. The DNRC salvage harvests
would occur on the valley floor,
but away from streams.
Additionally, the harvests would
not likely reduce the canopy
closure to less than 40 percent.
Therefore, wildlife species could
still move through the area,
resulting in negligible additional
reductions in connectivity.
Insect and disease activity
continues to kill trees in the
analysis area. These agents tend
to kill the larger trees, leaving
the smaller trees in the
understory. As the larger
overstory trees die, the younger
trees grow and fill in the gap
left by the dead overstory trees.
In most cases, this situation
results in retaining forested
cover. In some cases, patches of
trees are killed, leaving open
forested cover. If these patches
attain a large size, forest
connectivity could be reduced. In
the analysis area, the effects of
insects and diseases tend to shift
the proportions of tree species in
stands, but retain 40-percent
canopy closure, or at least
horizontal cover in the stand.
Therefore, only small, short-term
additional reductions to forest
connectivity due to insects and
diseases are expected.
Considered in conjunction with
other past, present, and future
activities, any action
alternatives would likely result
in minor cumulative effects to
connectivity .
PATCH SIZE
Issue
Timber harvesting could reduce the
average patch size of age classes.
These changes could reduce habitat
available for species that require a
large patch size or interior
habitats .
Existing Condition
Species that are hesitant to cross
broad expanses without forest cover,
or those that depend upon interior
forest conditions, can be sensitive
to the amount and spatial
configuration of appropriate
habitat. Therefore, patch size,
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-13
patch juxtaposition, and
connectivity of forest patches can
influence habitat quality and
population dynamics for some
species. Some species are adapted
to thrive near patch edges, while
others are adversely affected by the
presence of edge, or by the presence
of other animals that prosper in
edge habitats. Therefore, this
analysis considers the effects of
patch size of age classes of forest
stands (discussed in APPENDIX C -
VEGETATION ANALYSIS) on wildlife
species .
The current patch size in the
project area and within Swan River
State Forest deviates from historic
conditions (refer to APPENDIX C -
VEGETATION ANALYSIS) . Presently,
the average patch size is smaller
than would be expected under
historic conditions. Some of the
decrease can be attributed to
different map-unit minimums, but the
data likely reflects a real
reduction in mean patch sizes, as
harvesting and roads have broken up
some previously intact patches.
These conditions probably lead to an
increase in habitat for species that
use a diversity of age classes or
edge habitats at the expense of
habitat for species that use
interior habitats.
Predicted Effects to Patch Size
• Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effect* of
.Vo-, let ion , Alternative *A to W'itdtfe Specie*
Due to Change* in Patch Size
Patch size and configuration would
not change in the short-term
within the project area or
cumulative-effects analysis area
(Swan River State Forest) . In
the longer term, without
substantial natural disturbance,
patch size is expected to increase
in the older age-class categories,
while diversity of habitats and
edge habitats would decrease.
Since the current mean patch size
is smaller than expected under
historic conditions, this
alternative would allow movement
toward historic conditions.
Species that use large blocks of
closed-canopy forested habitats
would be impacted the least by
this alternative.
• Direct and Indirect Inflect* of , let ion
^Alternative* II, C, D, and E to \V*ild1jfe
Specie * Due to Change* in Patch Size
All action alternatives would
reduce patch size of old-aged
stands and increase patch size of
the 0-to-39-year-old stands within
the project area. All action
alternatives reduce the average
patch size of old stands by 50 to
55 percent. Action Alternatives
B, E, C, and D, respectively,
would result in the highest to
lowest conversion of old stands to
young stands. Conversely, all of
the action alternatives propose
harvests units to combine with
current younger stands, resulting
in increasing patch sizes of the
0-to-39-year-old age class. The
results of all alternatives reduce
the average patch size of old-aged
stands further away from historic
conditions, while increasing patch
size in the 0-to-39-year-old age
class over the historic average.
Therefore, all alternatives trend
away from historic patch size of
old stands, resulting in a
moderate risk of adverse impacts
to species that use large patches
of old-aged stands, while reducing
the risk of adverse effects to
species that use large patch sizes
in the 0-to-39-year-old age class.
• Cumulative Affect* of. Action • Alternative * II,
C, D, and E to Wildlife Specie * Due to
Change* in Patch Size
The effects discussed above are
expected to also occur at the Swan
River State Forest analysis scale.
The current salvage operations
would not alter the age class or
patch size within the cumulative-
effects analysis area. Ongoing
and completed projects (360 acres)
would add to the conversion of
older stands to younger stands,
resulting in a smaller mean patch
Page
t -14
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
size of older stands and a larger
mean patch size in the younger age
class. Over time, these larger
patches of younger stands would
undergo successional processes to
add to the patch size of the older
age classes.
COARSE WOODY DEBRIS
Issue
Coarse woody debris provides
important habitat attributes for a
variety of wildlife species. Timber
harvests could reduce coarse woody
debris, leading to a decline in
wildlife habitat quality. These
declines could result in decreased
survival or reproduction of species
that require these attributes to
fulfill their life or reproduction
requirements .
Existing Condition
The presence of wildlife species
contributes to healthy, functioning
forests. Coarse woody debris
provides structural diversity and
promotes biological diversity by
providing habitat for wildlife
species. Many small mammals require
coarse woody debris to survive. In
turn, these species distribute
ectomycorrhizal fungi, which is
beneficial for seedling
establishment and tree growth
( Amaranthus 1998, Graham et al.
1994). The quality and distribution
of coarse woody debris can affect
habitat quality for these species.
Higher quality habitat tends to be
provided when coarse woody debris
exists in longer lengths of large
diameter logs than smaller and/or
shorter logs. Single scattered logs
provide lookout and travel sites for
squirrels or access under the snow
for small mammals and pine martens,
while log piles provide habitat for
weasels, hares, and other small
mammals. Under natural conditions,
logs tend to occur in patches across
the landscape, with the occasional
lone log.
Presently, the project area
(cumulative effects analysis area)
contains many stands with moderate
to high levels of coarse woody
debris (see APPENDIX C - VEGETATION
ANALYSIS) . Within the analysis
area, past harvests have been
limited, thereby allowing increases
in coarse woody debris. With the
high incidence of insect and disease
activities (see APPENDIX C -
VEGETATION ANALYSIS) , these levels
could continue to increase. High
amounts of coarse woody debris
provide habitat for a variety of
wildlife species, which have likely
gained habitat structure over time
as stands age.
Predicted Effects to Wildlife
Species Due to Changes in Coarse
Woody Debris
• Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects of the
.Vo-, let ion . Alternative A to Coarse Woody
Debris
No changes in amount, type, or
distribution of coarse woody
debris are expected. Overtime,
coarse woody debris would increase
in most stands due to trees dying
and eventually falling to the
ground. Under this alternative,
species that use coarse woody
debris would gain additional
habitat, which would represent a
low to moderate benefit to these
species .
• Direct and Indirect Effect of . Iction
Alternatives It, C, D, and E to Coarse Woody
Debris
Coarse woody debris would be
retained at 15 to 20 tons per acre
within the harvest units (see
APPENDIX C - VEGETATION ANALYSIS) .
In some cases, coarse woody debris
could increase through harvesting;
however, most of this material
would be made up from pieces of
cull boles, limbs, and tops. Few
intact trees would be retained.
Where broadcast burns are used for
site preparation following
harvesting, coarse woody debris
could be further reduced. These
reductions would occur mostly in
the smaller-sized logs. The
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-15
coarse woody debris following
harvesting would provide some
wildlife habitat; however, species
that use large pieces of coarse
woody debris could likely lose a
portion of their habitat
components within the harvest
units .
• Ca/nalatire hjffect* qf\ Id ion , Itfernatires It,
(', D, and E to Coarse W'oitdy Debris
No additional effects to those
listed above are expected, because
no other activities are planned
within the cumulative-effects
analysis area. The current levels
of coarse woody debris in adjacent
stands could mostly offset the
changes expected within the
harvests units. Additionally, the
trees and snags retained in both
harvested and unharvested stands
would continue to provide a source
of coarse-woody-debris recruitment
over time. When past, present,
and future actions were
considered, a low risk that was
projected by the changes in coarse
woody debris under each
alternative could result in
substantial decreases in survival
or reproduction of species that
require these attributes to
fulfill their life requirements.
However, the risk level is higher
in Action Alternative E, than in
Action Alternatives D, B, and C,
respectively .
SNAG STRUCTURE
Issue
Snags provide important habitat
attributes for a variety of wildlife
species. Timber harvests could
reduce the density of snags, leading
to a decline in the quality of
wildlife habitat. These declines
could result in decreased survival
or reproduction of species that
require these attributes to fulfill
their life or reproduction
requirements .
Existing Condition
Snags play an important role in
forested ecosystems by providing
feeding and nesting sites for birds
and mammals. Snags provide foraging
sites for primary cavity-nesting
species, along with structural
components to excavate nesting
sites. The cavities excavated by
primary cavity-nesting species
(woodpeckers) also provide habitat
for secondary cavity users. These
secondary cavity users include both
birds and mammals. Additionally,
these secondary cavity users could
also take advantage of cavities
produced by broken tops and fallen
limbs. Without trees and snags that
provide for cavities or substrate
for cavity excavation, primary and
secondary cavity species would not
be able to survive and/or reproduce
in the area.
The presence of some forest-dwelling
birds is important to forest
management. Several studies suggest
that bird species diversity and
population levels correlate with
snag diversity and density
( McClelland 1979) . Birds provide
many functions in forest ecosystems
from dispersion of seeds to
biological control of many forests
insects that are harmful to wood
production by predation, habitat
modification (bark flaking) , and
providing avenues for disease
transmission that reduces survival
( Ovtos 1979, Steeger et al. 1998).
Maintenance of insectivorous bird
populations over time delays onset
of insect outbreaks, accelerates the
decline following an outbreak, and
increases the time span between
outbreaks (Otvos 1979, Torgenson
1994) . In 27 studies reviewed by
Steeger et al (1998), 26 concluded
that insectivorous birds
substantially reduced bark beetle
survival. Estimates from these
studies indicated a reduction in
insect populations from 2 to 98
percent. Koplin (1972) estimated
that a single three-toed woodpecker
could consume several thousand
beetle larvae per day. In addition
to predation, some studies indicate
that woodpeckers can contribute to
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Page F-16
bark beetle mortality indirectly by
bark flaking, excavating,
puncturing, etc., the bark of
infected trees, thereby increasing
parasite access to beetle brood
(Otvos 1965 ) and altering the
microclimate needed for survival
( Otvos 1979) . In areas with high
densities of insects, woodpecker
abundance can increase up to 7-fold
during the breeding season and 85-
fold during the winter. Downy,
hairy, three-toed, and black-backed
woodpeckers tend to be more apt than
other species to congregate in these
areas ( Steeger et al. 1998). Some
increased reproduction in response
to insect outbreaks could occur,
however, when a time lag between
insect populations and the numerical
response of their predators may take
place. During time lags, the
chance of insect epidemics may be
greater. The ability of these
species to congregate and reduce
prey in such areas is dependent on
maintenance of populations over time
and retention of suitable habitat in
the affected area ( Otvos 1979) .
The tree species, diameter, height,
decay stage, and densities of snags
determine the snag-habitat value for
wildlife species. Larger, taller
snags tend to provide nesting sites,
while shorter snags and stumps tend
to provide feeding sites for birds
(Bull et al. 1997). Cavity-nesting
birds often nest in areas where
several snags are available, using
individual snags as feeding or
roosting sites; therefore,
considering the size and
distribution of these resources is
important. Many birds that use
smaller snags will also use large
snags; however, the opposite is not
true .
To assess effects to primary and
secondary cavity-nesting species,
the project area was used for the
cumulative-effects analysis area.
The project area incorporates 10,636
acres of DNRC-managed lands, which
could provide numerous breeding
ranges for cavity-nesting species.
The past management in this area is
reflected by the existing condition.
For the most part, the analysis area
has been relatively unaffected by
timber harvests in the recent past .
Several open and restricted roads
allow access into the analysis area.
Public firewood cutting has taken
place primarily in areas adjacent to
these open roads, while DNRC-
initiated salvage harvests used both
open and restricted roads to access
dead and dying trees. These
harvests primarily removed Douglas-
fir and grand fir snags, with some
diseased western white pine and
western larch snags also harvested.
Due to the age of the stands and the
presence of insects and diseases,
snag development continues to occur.
To estimate an historic level of
snag densities for the analysis
area, the mean snag densities
reported (snags/acre) from uncut
stands in Harris (1999) were used.
Harris (1999) looked at Forest
Inventory and Analysis plot data
from around western Montana in an
attempt to estimate the abundance of
snags in the absence of timber
harvests. He calculated mean snag
densities based on habitat type
group ( Green et al. 1992, Pfister et
al. 1977) . It is important to note
that the averages based on habitat
type group occurred throughout
western Montana, not just within the
analysis area or Swan valley. In
this analysis, no attempt was made
to modify the plot means to account
for other sources of biases (fire
suppression) . Therefore, the
historic estimates are likely
overestimated ( Harris 1999) .
However, these are the best data
available to estimate historic snag
abundance in the analysis area.
To calculate an estimated average
historic snag density for the
analysis area, the area was divided
into habitat-type group using SLI
data. For each habitat-type group,
only those acres with stands older
than 40 years were assumed to have
snags for this analysis. For each
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-17
habitat-type group, all acres of
stands greater than 40 years old
were multiplied by the corresponding
mean snag density for uncut stands
reported in Harris (1999). This
calculation produced a weighted
average to estimate the mean density
of snags in the analysis area. The
result of this analysis estimated
that the cumulative-effects analysis
area contains 0.89 large snags/acre
and 2.73 medium snags/acre, on
average ( TABLE F-4 - ESTIMATED
HISTORICAL SNAG ABUNDANCE AND
DENSITIES IN THE ANALYSIS AREA USING
HARRIS [1999]).
To understand how the existing
condition relates to the estimated
historic condition, snag estimates
in the SLI dataset were used. The
acres of stands older than 40 years
in the analysis area were summed by
habitat-type group. Using SLI data
for the analysis area, an average
snag density was obtained for each
habitat type group. Habitat-Type
Group C did not have SLI snag data
collected for stands within the
analysis area; therefore, the
average was obtained by using stands
within Swan River State Forest that
had snag data recorded (the
methodology is included in the
project file) . The acres of stands
over 40 years old were multiplied by
the average SLI snag densities in
the corresponding habitat-type
group. This calculation resulted in
a weighted average based on acres to
estimate the current average snag
density in the analysis area.
Following this method, an average of
3.12 large snags per acre and 5.86
medium snags per acre occur in the
analysis area (TABLE F-5 - ESTIMATED
EXISTING SNAG ABUNDANCE AND
DENSITIES IN THE ANALYSIS AREA USING
SLI DATA) . This average density of
large snags is 244 percent higher
and the density of medium snags is
119 percent higher in the analysis
area than the estimated historical
level .
The higher density of snags in the
analysis area over what would be
expected historically is not
surprising. The analysis area
consists of predominantly older
stands that have been, or are being,
afflicted by insect and disease
agents. In these stands, many of
the older, larger trees have
succumbed to old age or the effects
TABLE F-4 - ESTIMATED HISTORICAL SNAG ABUNDANCE AND DENSITIES IN THE ANALYSIS
AREA USING HARRIS (1999)
HABITAT
TYPE
GROUP
ACRES IN
ANALYSIS
AREA
(OVER 40
YEARS
OLD)
AVERAGE
DENSITY OF
LARGE SNAGS
ON UNCUT
STANDS IN
HARRIS (1999)
(NUMBER OF
PLOTS
SAMPLED)
TOTAL
ESTIMATED
LARGE
SNAGS IN
THE
ANALYSIS
AREA
AVERAGE
DENSITY OF
MEDIUM SNAGS
ON UNCUT
STANDS IN
HARRIS (1999)
(NUMBER OF
PLOTS SAMPLED)
TOTAL
ESTIMATED
MEDIUM
SNAGS IN
THE
ANALYSIS
AREA
B
80
0.5
(181)
40
1 . 4
(181)
112
C
90
0,-5
(122)
45
1.4
(122)
126
D
4,775
1L2
(102)
5,730
3.9
(102)
18, 623
E
3,789
0.9
(284)
3,410
2.4
(284)
9, 094
G
75
1.0
(33)
75
1.4
(33)
105
H
228
0.5
(33)
114
2.4
(33)
547
I
69
CO
o
(202)
55
4 . 6
(202)
317
J
30
1.0
(41)
30
2.3
(41)
69
Total
10, 636
9,499
28, 993
Average
snags/
0.89
2.73
acre
Page F 18 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
TABLE F-5 - ESTIMATED EXISTING SNAG ABUNDANCE AND DENSITIES IN THE ANALYSIS
AREA USING SLI DATA
HABITAT TYPE
GROUP
ACRES IN
PROJECT
AREA (OVER
40 YEARS
OLD)
AVERAGE
LARGE SNAG
DENSITY
ESTIMATE
BASED ON
SLI DATA
TOTAL
ESTIMATED
LARGE
SNAGS
AVERAGE
MEDIUM SNAG
DENSITY
ESTIMATE
BASED ON
SLI DATA
TOTAL
ESTIMATED
MEDIUM
SNAGS
B
80
1.0
80
10.0
800
C’
90
5.5
495
5.5
495
D
4,775
3.5
16,713
7.6
36, 290
E
3, 789
4.0
15, 156
5.8
21, 976
G
75
1.7
128
10.0
750
H
228
1.7
388
4.5
1,026
I
69
2.0
138
9.7
669
J
30
2.0
60
11.0
330
Total
10, 636
33,158
62,336
Average
snags/acre
3.12
5.86
of insects and diseases, thereby
increasing the snag densities
experienced in the analysis area.
In addition to SLI data, snag data
was collected in areas where SLI
data indicated the stand might meet
the old-growth definition of Green
et al. (1992) and in other areas of
interest using 1/5-acre fixed plots
(data summaries can be found in the
project file). Additional sampling
was employed to gain a better
understanding of the snag resources
in stands being considered for
harvests. Of the snags sampled,
Douglas-fir, grand fir, and western
larch were the most prevalent tree
species encountered. In the larger
(greater than 21 inches dbh) and
medium (15 to 21 inches dbh) size
classes, western larch and Douglas-
fir provide the majority of snags,
with western white pine the third
most encountered snag species.
Conversely, a majority of the
smaller size class consists of
Douglas-fir and grand fir snags.
Small amounts of subalpine fir,
Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine,
ponderosa pine, and western red
cedar were noted and occurred across
the size classes. The abundance of
shade-intolerant snag species in the
large size classes reinforces the
effects of age and insect and
disease agents afflicting mortality
on these species. In the smaller
size class, grand fir is becoming a
more prevalent snag species,
indicating a shift in proportions of
shade-intolerant to shade-tolerant
tree species in the analysis area
(FIGURE F-6 - SUMMARY OF SNAGS BY
SIZE CLASS AND BY SPECIES SAMPLED
WITHIN THE ANALYSIS AREA) .
To estimate snag losses for each
stand proposed for harvesting under
the action alternatives, the
anticipated amount of snag loss was
subtracted from the estimated amount
of snags existing from TABLE F-5 -
ESTIMATED EXISTING SNAG ABUNDANCE
AND DENSITIES IN THE ANALYSIS AREA
USING SLI DATA. Snag loss was
estimated based on the best site-
specific data. More rigorously
collected sampling plot data is
believed to provide better site-
specific estimates than the SLI
data. So, where sampling data were
present (see the project file for
stands sampled and summarized data) ,
the mean snag density was used to
assess the snag loss and retention
in that harvest unit. Where
sampling data were lacking, the mean
of the SLI snag density for the
specific habitat type group was used
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-19
FIGURE F-6 - SUMMARY OF SNAGS BY SIZE CLASS AND BY SPECIES SAMPLED WITHIN THE
ANALYSIS AREA
ES = Engelmann spruce
GF = Grand fir
LP = Lodgepole pine
WL = Western larch
WRC = Western red cedar
WWP = Western white pine
to assess snag loss and retention.
Under all action alternatives, a
minimum of 2 snags and 2 snag-
recruit trees greater 21 inches dbh
would be retained ( ARM 36.11.411) in
all harvest units. If not enough
snags larger than 21 inches dbh are
available, then the balance needed
to meet the 2 snag/acre riljle would
be retained from the medium size
class. The number of the snags
needed to meet retention guidelines
was removed from the calculated snag
loss, with the assumption that all
other snags in the harvest unit
would be harvested. This
assumption likely underestimates
snags that would remain since
additional snags could be retained
in retention patches required for
grizzly bear cover and scattered
throughout the units. However, the
number of additional snags to be
retained and the number lost through
various attrition sources are not
known. Therefore, to assess the
effects of these alternatives, the
minimum retention requirements under
ARM 36.11.411 were assumed to
disclose the maximum level of effect
due to snag loss. Any retention of
additional snags would lessen the
effects stated.
Page F-20
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Predicted Effects to Snag Structure
• Dirt ‘ft. hut iff ft. and Cumulative b^ffects oJ'.Vo-
. Iftiou . / tier native • / to Snag Structure
No changes in snag density would
occur due to timber-harvesting
activities. Tree mortality,
especially in shade-intolerant tree
species, could increase due to the
age of the stands, insect
infestations and disease
infections, or other natural
events. This situation would
continue to increase snag densities
in the analysis area. Presently,
average snag densities in Habitat
Type Group D and E, which make up
the majority of habitat-type groups
in the project area, show elevated
densities of snags in the larger
size classes. A majority of these
snags are western larch and
Douglas-fir. Full retention of
these snag densities is expected to
benefit or retain current habitat
for species that use deadwood
resources in the short term. In
the longer term, shade-intolerant
snag species are expected to
decline and not be replaced due to
the lack of reproduction of these
species in the analysis area. The
reduction in shade-intolerant
species, over time, could reduce
nesting structure and available
cavities for secondary cavity
users. The increase in shade-
tolerant species is expected to
contribute to snag densities
through time. However, since the
length of time between shade-
tolerant tree species becoming soft
enough for cavity excavation and
the time they fall to the ground is
relatively short compared to shade-
intolerant species, the length of
time that these snag species
provide secondary cavity-nesting
habitat are expected to be
relatively short term.
• Direct and Indirect Effects Common to .Id ion
Alternatives B, C, D, and bl to Snag Structure
In all units proposed under these
alternatives, decreases in feeding
and nesting sites are expected to
occur due to the harvesting of
snags ( FIGURE F-6 - SUMMARY OF
SNAGS BY SIZE CLASS AND BY SPECIES
SAMPLED WITHIN THE ANALYSIS AREA) .
Within the harvest units, a minimum
of 2 snags per acre would be
retained. If adequate preharvest
large-snag densities exist in the
harvest units, these snags would be
retained from the large-size class.
In the event that adequate
densities of preharvest snags are
lacking, all large snags would be
retained with the balance needed to
meet ARM 36.11.411 being retained
from the medium-size class. All
retention snags would be marked to
leave. If snags planned for
retention were felled for safety
concerns, these snags would be left
on site and/or a replacement snag
could be designated to leave for
the purpose of providing feeding
substrate and habitat structure for
wildlife species. Operational and
safety losses of retention snags
are expected to be higher in the
cable and helicopter units as
compared to the ground-based units
due to safety concerns relating to
sawyers and other workers being
injured from an increased risk of
knocking over snags while yarding
the trees from the steep units. In
these units, close sale
administration would be needed to
ensure snag-retention requirements
are met .
The retention of 2 snags per acre
in the large size class
approximates the densities reported
by Harris (1999); therefore,
densities of large snags would
decrease under these alternatives,
but the approximate historical
average density would be retained
within each harvest unit.
Therefore, nesting and foraging
sites would be reduced to near-
average historic levels resulting
in a low risk of decreasing
survival or reproduction of species
that need large snags to fulfill
their life requirements. However,
the heavy reduction in densities of
medium and small snags could result
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-21
in moderate risks to decreasing
foraging and feeding opportunities
by cavity-nesting species,
resulting in reduced survival and
reproduction in the harvest units.
These effects are likely to last
for 80 to 100 years in regeneration
units and 20 to 50 years in
commercial-thin units, at which
time leave trees could start
appreciably contributing to snag
development .
• Cumulative tjffectx Common to. I el ion
• 1 1 ter n a ti rex II, C, D, and bJ to Snag Structure
Large- and medium-sized snags would
be harvested from units within the
analysis area. A majority of these
trees would be Douglas-fir and
grand fir, which primarily are used
for feeding ( Bull et al. 1997).
Even after considering the
reductions in snag abundance under
this alternative { TABLE F-6 -
MINIMUM SNAGS DENSITIES [SNAGS/
ACRE] WITHIN THE ANALYSIS AREA
(THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT
AREA) FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF
EACH ALTERNATIVE) , snag densities
in the analysis area would still be
substantially more than would be
expected by applying the average
densities found in western Montana
by Harris (1999) for large (0.89
snags/acre) and medium (2.73 snags/
acre) snags. Therefore, habitat
attributes of adeguate large and
medium snags would be retained in
the analysis area, albeit reduced.
Based on the existing high
densities of snags in the analysis
area, the reduction expected under
any alternative would not likely
affect the ability of the analysis
area to support species that
require snag structure. However,
the reduction in snag structure and
forest modification caused by the
proposed harvesting could lead to
habitat shifts away from the
harvest units. These shifts could
result in lower use of the harvest
units and higher use of other areas
within the analysis area that
contain higher densities of snags
and denser canopy closures. In
some cases, these shifts could
reduce the number of individuals
that live and breed in the analysis
area. In the long-term (80 to 100
years), the regeneration units are
expected to start contributing
shade-intolerant snag structure
that would otherwise be reduced in
the analysis area due to the lack
of current reproduction. The
increased production of snags of
shade-intolerant species could
result in benefits to cavity-
nesting species by increased high-
quality nesting structure.
No other projects are planned at
the present time or within the
foreseeable future within the
analysis area. Public firewood
cutting occurs in the analysis area
and is generally confined to sites
adjacent to open roads. Due to the
high amount of dead and dying trees
TABLE F-6 - MINIMUM SNAGS DENSITIES (SNAG/ ACRE) WITHIN THE ANALYSIS AREA
(THREE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT AREA) FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Estimated historic density of
medium snags (Harris 1999)
2.73
2.73
2.73
2.73
2.73
Average density of medium snags
following harvests (15-21" dbh)
5.86
5.13
5.12
4.93
4 . 81
Percent reduction of medium snags
0%
12.5%
12.7%
15.9%
18.0%
Estimated historic density of
large snags (Harris 1999)
0.89
0.89
0.89
0.89
0.89
Average density of large snags
following harvests (<21" dbh)
3.12
2.79
2.85
2.78
2.79
Percent reduction of large snags
0%
10.5%
8.8%
10.7%
10.5%
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
in the area and the limited access
into the analysis area, firewood
cutting is expected to result in
small reductions of snags that
result in negligible cumulative
effects .
Considered in conjunction with
other past, present, and future
activities, each of the proposed
action alternatives would likely
result in minor cumulative effects
to snag structure due to the
retention of high densities of
snags (large and medium size
classes) in adjacent stands and the
retention of the historical average
density of large snags within the
harvest units.
FINE-FILTER ANALYSIS
In the fine-filter analysis,
individual species of concern are
evaluated. These species include
wildlife species listed under the
Endangered Species Act, species
listed as sensitive by DNRC, and
species managed as big game by DFWP.
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
> Bald Eagle
No bald eagle nests are in the
area, and bald eagles do not
regularly inhabit the project
area. Since no effects to bald
eagles or their habitat are
expected under any alternative,
bald eagles were dropped from
further analysis.
> Canada Lynx
Issue
Activities associated with timber
harvesting could result in
displacement of lynx from suitable
habitat, which could lessen their
ability to acquire adequate prey
and/or successfully reproduce.
Dismissed
All Action Alternatives would
result in increased human presence
and disturbance associated with
timber-harvesting activities.
Because lynx appear to be
relatively tolerant of human
presence and road use ( Mowat et al
2000 ) , and do not appear to avoid
roads at low traffic volumes
( Ruediger et al. 2000), none of
the action alternatives are
expected to result in displacement
or increase the energetic cost of
individual lynx. Therefore, all
alternatives are expected to
result in very minor risks of
displacing lynx from suitable
habitats that could reduce their
ability to survive and reproduce
in the analysis area.
Issue
Timber harvests would remove
canopy closure or alter stand
conditions, which could result in
the reduction or modification of
habitat components leading to
decreased ability for the area to
support lynx.
Existing Condition
Canada lynx are listed as
"threatened" under the Endangered
Species Act. Currently, no
recovery plan exists for Canada
lynx, but a draft recovery plan
outline has been written ( USFWS
2005) and is being further
developed and considered by the
USFWS. In addition, the USFWS
published a draft rule proposing
designation of critical habitat
for Canada lynx. DNRC-managed
lands within the project area,
which occur above 4,000 feet
elevation, are included in the
proposed critical habitat
designation. The USFWS was
instructed through a court order
to propose critical habitat by
November 1, 2005 and to issue a
final rule for critical habitat by
November 1, 2006 (Fed. Reg. Vol.
70, no. 216 Nov. 9, 2005). If
critical habitat is designated for
a species, section 7(a) (2) of the
Endangered Species Act requires
Federal agencies to ensure that
activities they authorize, fund,
or carry out are not likely to
jeopardize the continued existence
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-23
of such a species or destroy or
adversely modify its critical
habitat. Requirements associated
with designation of critical
habitat for lynx would not be
implemented until after formal
adoption of the final rule, which
is currently scheduled to occur by
November 1, 2006. The rule does
not apply to State agencies,
unless they are conducting
activities that require Federal
funding or Federal permitting.
Due to the critical habitat
proposal being in the draft stage
of the process, the fact that the
designation could change
substantially following the public
comment stage of the process, and
the fact that no Federal
permitting or funding would be
associated with this project, DNRC
anticipates that no aspect of this
project or selection of any of the
proposed action alternatives would
be affected by the draft critical
habitat rule for Canada lynx.
Lynx are associated with subalpine
fir forests in western Montana
( Ruediger et al. 2000). Lynx
habitat in western Montana
consists primarily of coniferous
forest with plentiful snowshoe
hares, stands with abundant coarse
woody debris for denning and cover
for kittens, and dense forested
cover for travel and security.
Additionally, mature forests
provide habitat for red squirrels,
an alternative prey source. These
conditions are found in a variety
of habitat types, particularly
within the subalpine fir series
( Pfister et al 1977) .
The South Fork Lost Soup Subunit
was used as the analysis area to
assess the effects of this project
on lynx. This scale of analysis
approximates the home range size
of a lynx (Ruediger et al. 2000).
The 29,884-acre South Fork Lost
Soup Subunit is comprised of
18,327 acres (61.3 percent) of
State trust lands, 11,010 acres
(36.8 percent) of USFS, 408 acres
(1.4 percent) of private, and 139
acres (0.5 percent) of lands
managed by Plum Creek Timber
Company. The project area is
located on the eastern portion of
the DNRC-managed lands in the
analysis area. This area occurs
on the slopes above the valley
bottom and continues into the
higher elevations. The changes
proposed under each alternative
are considered at the cumulative-
effects analysis area in addition
to other past, present, and
foreseeable future actions that
could affect lynx habitat.
To assess lynx habitat, the DNRC
lynx mapping protocol was applied
to SLI data to determine the
amount and proportions of lynx
habitat elements present in the
cumulative-effects analysis area.
Lynx habitat ( ARM 36.11.403(40))
was assigned to a stand if the SLI
data indicated habitat types
( Pfister et al. 1977) that are
consistent with those reportedly
used by lynx ( Ruediger et al.
2000) . Lynx habitat was further
broken down into 5 specific
habitat elements:
1) denning,
2) young foraging,
3) mature foraging,
4) "other" habitat, and
5) temporary non-lynx habitat
using stand characteristics
such as stand age, canopy
cover, amount of coarse woody
debris, etc.
Denning habitat provides important
structure needed to provide
denning sites and security for
juvenile lynx, while foraging
habitat is critical for the
survival of both adult and
juvenile lynx. "Other" habitat is
a general habitat category that
provides for secondary prey items
and contains modest levels of
forest structure usable by lynx.
Temporary non-lynx habitat
consists of nonforest and open
forested stands that are not
expected to be used by lynx, until
Page F-24
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
adequate horizontal cover
reestablishes .
DNRC-managed lands support lynx
habitat on 14,457 acres (78.9
percent of DNRC-managed lands
within the South Fork Lost Soup
Subunit analysis area) . The
current distribution of lynx
habitat elements on DNRC-managed
lands is a result of, primarily,
past timber harvesting and the
lack of recent wildfire activity
( FIGURE F-7 - EXISTING
DISTRIBUTION OF LYNX HABITAT
ELEMENTS ON DNRC-MANAGED LANDS AND
POTENTIAL LYNX HABITAT ON ADJACENT
LANDS ) . Forest-management
practices over the past 40 to 60
years produced the current amount
of temporary unsuitable and young
foraging habitat. Stands that
were precommercially thinned on
DNRC-managed lands would be
considered "other" habitat and not
young foraging habitat in
accordance with the DNRC lynx-
mapping protocol. Harvests
conducted over 15 years ago likely
recovered to the point of at least
providing "other" habitat. In
addition, the lack of fire,
including the effects of fire
suppression, led to the
development and maintenance of
mature foraging, "other", and
denning habitat. The resulting
acreage and proportions of the
DNRC lynx-mapping protocol are
shown in TABLE F-7 - EXISTING
ACREAGE AND PROPORTIONS OF LYNX
HABITAT ELEMENTS ON DNRC-MANAGED
LANDS IN THE SOUTH FORK LOST SOUP
SUBUNIT CUMULATIVE-EFFECTS
ANALYSIS AREA. Specific lynx use
of the analysis area is unknown.
However, modeling indicates that
lynx habitat is available in
adequate proportions and lynx
tracks have been documented on
several occasions in the South
Fork Lost Creek and Soup Creek
drainages (T. Their , DFWP ,
pers.comm. 2/14/06; M. Parker ,
Northwest Connections , pers . comm.
11/18/05) . This evidence
FIGURE F-7 - EXISTING DISTRIBUTION OF LYNX HABITAT ELEMENTS ON DNRC-MANAGED
LANDS AND POTENTIAL LYNX HABITAT ON ADJACENT LANDS
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-25
LEGEND
□ DNRC Ownership
Lynx HebiUt(DNRC)
■■ DENNING
Kf MATURE FORAGE
■■ OTHER
$$$ TEMP NON-LYNX HABITAT
YOUNG FORAGE
| | NOT LYNX HABITAT
Lyme HebiUt (other ownerships)
I I Closed Forest
H M Open Forest, Open Roed
TABLE F- 7 - EXISTING ACREAGE AND PROPORTIONS OF LYNX HABITAT ELEMENTS ON
DNRC -MANAGED LANDS IN THE SOUTH FORK LOST SOUP SUBUNIT CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
ANALYSIS AREA
LYNX HABITAT ELEMENT
DNRC-MANAGED LANDS WITHIN THE
SOUTH FORK LOST SOUP SUBUNIT ANALYSIS AREA
(PERCENT OF LYNX HABITAT)
Denning
1,868 (12.9%)
Mature foraging
4,591 (31.8%)
Other
6,573 (45.5%)
Temp nonhabitat
1,371 (9.5%)
Young foraging
54 (0.4%)
Grand Total
14,457 (100.00%)
indicates that lynx could be
using, or at least traveling
through, the analysis area.
The past management actions on
adjacent lands in the subunit tend
to follow those discussed above
for DNRC-managed lands. Based on
interpretation of aerial
photographs, approximately 8,909
acres of adjacent lands provide
forested habitats with greater
than 40-percent canopy closure,
providing stand conditions that
could support lynx habitat. The
remaining 2,648 acres is comprised
of regenerating timber stands and
natural openings. A portion of
these regenerating timber stands
and natural openings likely
provide some level of foraging
habitat for lynx.
Predicted Effects to Canada Lynx
• Direct , / 'indirect. , and Cumulative luffed* of
.Vo-, let ion . Uternatire . / to Canada Lynjr
No lynx habitat would be
affected in the project area.
Additionally, no other projects
are expected to alter the
distribution of habitat elements
on State or adjacent ownerships.
Therefore, in the shobt-term, no
changes in habitat elements are
expected within the cumulative-
effects analysis area. In the
longer term (barring natural
disturbances), temporary non-
lynx habitat (1,371 acres) could
develop into young foraging
habitat or "other" habitat.
Concurrently, young foraging
habitat (54 acres) could mature
into "other" habitat. The
amount of developing young
foraging habitat (1,371 acres)
is expected to exceed the amount
of young foraging habitat that
would mature into "other"
habitat. Therefore, snowshoe
hare prey availability is
expected to increase within the
next 10 to 20 years. However,
after this time period, young
foraging habitat is expected to
decline because no regenerating
stands would replace the stands
succeeding out of young foraging
habitat. When this occurs,
habitat quality for snowshoe
hares could decline, thereby
reducing the availability of
prey for lynx. As these young
foraging stands mature, habitat
for red squirrels could
increase, slightly lessening the
effect of reduced snowshoe hare
prey. However, a diet of red
squirrels might not provide the
nutrients needed for the
successful reproduction and
rearing of kittens ( Koehler
1990) . Mature foraging and
denning habitats are expected to
remain at current proportions or
increase in the future as shade-
tolerant trees develop in the
understory and coarse woody
debris accumulates through time
due to natural events. "Other"
habitat is expected to increase
in the future as temporary non-
lynx and young foraging habitat
matures into this habitat
Page
F-Zb
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
element. Therefore, in the
short term, no effects to lynx
are expected. In the longer-
term, without disturbance, young
foraging opportunities could
decrease. However, mature
stands that contain dense
horizontal cover could offset or
compensate for these loses.
• Direct an ft Indirect I\(J'ccIm Common to
• let ion • UternaticeK It, C, D, and A' to
Canada Cyme
Each alternative would alter
lynx habitat in the analysis
area. Harvests using seedtree,
seedtree-with-reserves , and
shelterwood prescriptions are
expected to remove canopy and
horizontal cover to prepare for
regenerating trees. These
prescriptions would convert
available lynx habitat elements
to temporary non-lynx habitat.
Conversely, commercial-thin
prescriptions would retain
greater than 40-percent canopy
cover, thereby converting any
specific lynx habitat element
into the "other" category.
Existing young foraging habitat
would not be affected (TABLE F-8
- ACREAGE CHANGES IN LYNX
HABITAT ELEMENTS FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ON DNRC-
MANAGED LANDS WITHIN THE
CUMULATIVE-EFFECTS ANALYSIS
AREA) . All treated acres
affected would retain 15 to 20
tons of coarse woody debris and
1 slash pile per harvest unit on
site to provide some horizontal
and security structure for lynx.
In harvest units adjacent to
open roads, slash piles would
not be left due to public safety
concerns. In the short-term,
lynx would likely avoid harvest
units that were converted to
temporary non-lynx habitat,
resulting in habitat usage
shifts away from the
regeneration units. Use of the
commercial-thin units is
expected to continue at some
level .
TABLE F-8 - ACREAGE CHANGES IN LYNX HABITAT ELEMENTS FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ON DNRC-MANAGED LANDS WITHIN THE CUMULATIVE
EFFECTS ANALYSIS AREA
CHANGES TO LYNX
HABITAT CAUSED BY TREATMENTS
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Denning Habitat converted to Temporary
Non-Lynx Habitat
0
-163
-145
-171
-105
Mature Foraging Habitat converted to
Temporary Non-Lynx Habitat
0
-217
-4
-456
-460
Other Habitat converted to Temporary
Non-Lynx Habitat
0
-97
-275
21
-54
Total increase in
Temporary Non-Lynx Habitat
0
+ 477
424
605
618
Denning Habitat converted to Other
Habitat
0
0
0
-85
0
Mature Foraging Habitat converted to
Other Habitat
0
-71
0
-107
-136
Other Habitat treated but remaining as
Other Habitat
0
83
83
25
160
Total Other Habitat
resulting from treatments
0
154
83
21 7
296
Changes to
Young Foraging Habitat
0
0
0
0
0
Total Lynx Habitat Affected
0
632
507
823
914
Appendix F - Wildlife Page F-27
• Cnmnfatire EJffeet* Common to . Irt ion
• Alternative h it, C, />, and E to Canada
Lynx
Each alternative alters the
amounts and proportions of lynx
habitat elements in the analysis
area. Denning habitat would be
reduced under all alternatives
(TABLE F-8 - ACREAGE CHANGES IN
LYNX HABITAT ELEMENTS FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ON DNRC-
MANAGED LANDS WITHIN THE
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS
AREA ) . However, following
implementation of each
alternative, enough lynx denning
habitat would be retained on
DNRC-managed lands to satisfy
DNRC' s commitment of retaining
5-percent lynx habitat in the
denning-habitat element (ARM
36.11.435). (TABLE F-9 - ACRES
AND PROPORTIONS OF LYNX HABITAT
ELEMENTS ON DNRC-MANAGED LANDS
IN THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
ANALYSIS AREA [SOUTH FORK LOST
SOUP SUBUNIT] FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE) . No other DNRC
concurrent or foreseeable future
projects are expected to alter
denning habitat in the analysis
area. In addition to denning
habitat on DNRC-managed lands,
denning habitat is likely to
occur within some portion of the
8,909 acres of adjacent lands,
thereby adding to the amount of
denning habitat in the analysis
area. None of this potential
habitat on adjacent lands is
planned for harvesting in the
near future (2007 to 2009) . In
addition, insects and diseases
continue to cause mortality of
trees in the area, which could
lead to the additional
development of denning habitat.
Conversely, public firewood
harvesting could reduce denning
structure primarily along open
roads. Implementation of any of
these alternatives presents a
low risk of interfering with
reproduction of lynx in the
analysis area.
All alternatives would reduce
mature foraging habitat and
would not change young foraging
habitat on 54 acres (TABLE F-8 -
ACREAGE CHANGES IN LYNX HABITAT
ELEMENTS FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ON DNRC-
MANAGED LANDS WITHIN THE
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS
AREA) . Following implementation
of this alternative, adequate
proportions of foraging habitat
on DNRC-managed lands would be
retained (TABLE F-9 - ACRES AND
TABLE F-9 - ACRES AND PROPORTIONS OF LYNX HABITAT ELEMENTS ON DNRC-MANAGED
LANDS IN THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS AREA (SOUTH FORK LOST SOUP SUBUNIT)
FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH ALTERNATIVE
LYNX
HABITAT
ELEMENT
ACRES OF LYNX HABITAT (PERCENT OF LYNX HABITAT)
ELEMENTS FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERED
A
B
C
D
E
Denning
1,868
\ (12.9%)
1,705
(11.8%)
1,723
(11.9%)
1, 612
(11.2%)
1,763
(12.2%)
Mature foraging
4,591
(31.8%)
4,303
(29.8%)
4, 587
(31.7%)
4,028
(27 . 9%)
3, 995
(27.6%)
Other
6, 573
(45.5%)
6, 547
(45.3%)
6, 298
(43.6%)
6, 744
(46.7%)
6, 655
(46.3%)
Temporary nonhabitat
1,371
(9.5%)
1,848
(12.8%)
1,795
(12.4%)
1,976
(13.7%)
1, 989
(13.8%)
Young foraging
54
(0.4%)
54
(0.4%)
54
(0.4%)
54
(0.4%)
54
(0.4%)
Total lynx habitat
14,457
14,457
14,457
14,457
14,457
Page F-28
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
PROPORTIONS OF LYNX HABITAT
ELEMENTS ON DNRC-MANAGED LANDS
IN THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
ANALYSIS AREA [SOUTH FORK LOST
SOUP SUBUNIT] FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE) . Implementation of
any alternative satisfies DNRC' s
commitment to foraging habitat
under ARM 36.11.435. In
addition to foraging habitat on
DNRC-managed lands, foraging
habitat is likely to occur
within some portion of the 8,909
acres with greater than 40-
percent canopy cover and the
2,648 acres of open forest
(assuming that they have
adequate horizontal cover) of
adjacent lands. None of this
potential habitat on adjacent
lands is planned for harvesting
in the near future (2007 through
2009) . In 10 to 20 years, acres
converted to temporary non-lynx
habitat are expected to
regenerate into young forage,
which would result in an
increase in foraging habitat
available in the analysis area.
Therefore, all alternatives
would result in a low risk of
reducing foraging opportunities
to the point where a lynx could
not survive in the area, and, in
the longer-term, this
alternative could result in a
minor beneficial effect by
increasing foraging habitat for
10 to 30 years.
In the short-term, available
lynx habitat would be converted
to temporary non-lynx habitat on
DNRC-managed lands in the
analysis area (TABLE F-8 -
ACREAGE CHANGES IN LYNX HABITAT
ELEMENTS FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ON DNRC-
MANAGED LANDS WITHIN THE
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS
AREA). No other DNRC project or
projects on adjacent lands are
expected to convert any
additional suitable lynx habitat
to temporary non-lynx habitat;
therefore, no additional habitat
conversion is expected. As
these stands regenerate young
trees in 10 to 20 years, young
foraging habitat is expected to
develop. This habitat element
provides habitat for snowshoe
hares, which, in turn, lynx prey
upon. Regenerating stands
provide high quality snowshoe
hare habitat until the branches
of the trees no longer provide
horizontal cover at the ground
or snow level, which is expected
to occur in 10 to 30 years
following successful
regeneration of young trees. If
these regenerating stands were
precommercially thinned prior to
this point, or if regeneration
was less dense, they would be
considered "other" habitat. In
either case, the amount of
temporary non-lynx habitat would
decrease. Some portion of the
existing 1,371 acres (9.5
percent) temporary non-lynx
habitat would likely convert to
young foraging or other habitat
in the near future, thereby
offsetting the loss of habitat
under these alternatives to some
degree. Regardless of the
conversion of existing temporary
non-lynx habitat to usable
habitat, each alternative, in
combination with other
activities in the analysis area,
is expected to retain enough
usable habitat for a lynx to
survive and reproduce in the
analysis area. Therefore, there
would be a low risk of
preventing lynx use and
reproduction in the analysis
area under any of the action
alternatives .
All action alternatives would
result in a short-term reduction
in lynx habitat. However,
adequate amounts of habitat in
suitable proportions of habitat
(denning and foraging habitat)
would be retained. In 10 to 20
years, each action alternative
could result in increased young
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-29
foraging habitat that could
provide increased snowshoe prey
availability for 10 to 30 years.
Therefore, all action
alternatives are expected to
result in a low risk of reducing
the ability of a lynx to survive
and reproduce in the area in the
short-term (10 to 20 years), and
could benefit lynx in 10 to 20
years by increasing foraging
habitat as the harvested stands
regenerate and provide snowshoe
hare habitat.
Other actions that may occur in
the analysis area that could be
cumulative to the proposed
alternatives include the
continued effects from insect
and disease agents, future
harvesting activities on
neighboring ownerships, fire
suppression, and bobcat
trapping .
Concurrently, insect and disease
agents continue to kill trees in
the analysis area, which results
in increased recruitment of
coarse woody debris, resulting
in a possible increase in den
sites. Public firewood cutting
(usually adjacent to open roads)
on all ownerships would reduce
recruitment of coarse woody
debris in those areas. However,
the removal of dead and dying
trees are not expected to
appreciably alter the amount of
suitable lynx habitat, but could
reduce local accumulations of
coarse woody debris available
for denning sites and the
development of denning habitat.
However, denning habitat does
not appear to be limiting in the
subunit; therefore, no,
substantial additional effects
are expected in addition to the
effects discussed under each
alternative above.
No additional harvesting
activities are planned on
neighboring ownerships in the
cumulative-effects analysis area
during the 3-year active period.
However, fire-suppression
activities would continue to
reduce the potential for stand-
replacing wildfires, which could
limit the natural development of
young foraging habitat in the
future. Therefore, the only
foreseeable potential for the
development of young foraging
habitat would be through the
proposed harvests.
Currently, 1 trapper has a
permit to lawfully set traps for
bobcats, consistent with DFWP
trapping regulations, on DNRC-
managed lands in the analysis
area. Incidental captures are
possible, but not expected. In
the event that a lynx is
captured, the trapper is
obligated to release the animal
without harm. Therefore, no
additional impacts from trapping
are expected.
Considered in conjunction with
other past, present, and future
activities, any of the proposed
action alternatives would likely
result in minor cumulative
effects to Canada lynx.
> Gray Wolf
Issue
Gray wolves could be affected by
disturbance at key locations
(denning/rendezvous sites) during
harvesting, which could result in
an increased risk to wolf pups.
Dismissed
Wolves are most vulnerable to
human disturbance at den and
rendezvous sites from April to
September. Denning and rendezvous
sites are unlikely to occur in the
project area due to the steep
topography and the presence of
more suitable den sites outside
the project area in the nearby
valley bottom. If a wolf den were
located, DNRC would temporarily
suspend all mechanized activities
and administrative uses, over
which DNRC has control, in areas
Page F-30
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
that are within a one-mile radius
of the den until such time as
wolves are known to have vacated
the site or it has been determined
that resumption of activities
would not present conflicts with
wolf use {ARM 36. 11.430[1] [a] [i]) .
Harvesting activities would
generally occur outside of the
spring period (April 1 through
June 15), thereby further limiting
the risk of disturbance to wolves
at den sites. When harvests
become active in mid-June, wolves
would likely have moved their pups
to rendezvous sites, where human
disturbance could also be harmful.
If a rendezvous site were located,
DNRC would temporarily suspend
operations within 0.5 mile of the
site until it is determined that
resumption of activities will not
present conflicts with wolf use
( ARM 36 . 11 . 430 [1] [b] ) . With these
mitigations in place, this project
is not expected to disrupt wolves
at key locations. Therefore, a
negligible risk to wolf pups would
be expected under any alternative.
Issue
Gray wolves could be adversely
impacted through increased
motorized access due to road
construction and a reduction in
hiding cover, which could result
in increased risk of human/wolf
conflicts and subsequent mortality
of wolves.
Issue
Timber harvesting could alter
habitat and reduce the ability of
the project area to support wolves
by decreasing the carrying
capacity of the winter range for
native ungulates.
Existing Condition
The gray wolf is listed as
"endangered" under the Endangered
Species Act in the northern
portion of Montana, which includes
the project area. To meet the
delisting criteria, the 3 recovery
areas need to support a minimum of
30 breeding pairs for 3
consecutive years. The 3 recovery
zones have met the recovery
objectives for breeding pairs
since 2000. In 2005, 71 packs
were documented within the tri-
state region ( USFWS et al. 2006).
Of those 71 packs, 46 occurred in
Montana, with 19 of those found in
northern Montana portion of the
recovery area ( Sime et al. 2006).
The delisting process is ongoing,
and DFWP has assumed lead
management authority over the
species in Montana.
The wolf is a wide-ranging, mobile
species. Adequate habitat for
wolves consists of areas with
adequate prey and minimal human
disturbance, especially at den
and/or rendezvous sites. Wolves
prey primarily on white-tailed
deer, and, to a lesser extent, elk
and moose, in northwest Montana
( Kunkel et al. 1999). Wolves
typically den during late April in
areas with gentle terrain near a
water source (valley bottoms),
close to meadows or other
openings, and near big game
wintering areas. When the pups
are 8 to 10 weeks old, wolves
leave the den site and start
leaving their pups at rendezvous
sites while hunting. These sites
are used throughout the summer and
into the fall. When the pups are
5 to 6 months old, they start
traveling with the pack ( DFWP
2003) . Disturbance at den or
rendezvous sites could result in
avoidance of these areas by the
adults or force the adults to move
the pups to a less adequate site.
In both situations, the risk of
pup mortality increases.
To analyze the cumulative effects
to wolves, the South Fork Lost
Soup Subunit was used. This
analysis area represents the
amount of area that a wolf pack
may use during the summer months
while raising their pups ( Mech
1987 , Ream et al . 1988 ) .
Therefore, if a denning site
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-31
occurred in the analysis area,
wolf use would likely remain
within the analysis area. Outside
the denning and rearing period,
the pups travel with the pack and
home ranges can expand greatly
(Mech 1970, FWP 2003, USFWS et al.
2006) . The South Fork Lost Soup
Subunit includes the project area
and the valley floor, which
contains approximately 6, 613 acres
of elk and mule deer composite
winter range. No white-tailed
deer winter range occurs in this
subunit. Wolf tracks and
sightings have occurred in and
near the project area within the
last 2 years; however, no denning
activity has been documented
( USFWS et al. 2006, K.Lauden,
pers . comm. 3/20/06) . Transitory or
sporadic wolf use is expected to
continue in the project area. Due
to the topography and the lack of
white-tailed deer winter range,
denning and rendezvous sites are
not expected to occur within the
project area, but may be
established in the valley bottom
where habitat conditions are
favorable. Wolf use of the
project area would probably be
associated with foraging or
traveling activities.
In addition, this subunit is
cooperatively managed for grizzly
bear habitat and access. Actions
taken by the cooperators to manage
motorized access, hiding cover,
visual screening along open roads,
and spring harvest restrictions to
project grizzly bears also benefit
wolves. Currently, 31.2 percent
of the analysis area exceeds 1
mile per square mile open-road
density and 79 percent pf the
analysis area provides hiding
cover. In addition, 49.6 miles of
restricted road occurs within the
cumulative-effects analysis area.
Cattle and sheep grazing
operations can be a source of
human/wolf conflict; however, no
livestock grazing leases or
licenses occur within the
cumulative-effects analysis area.
Predicted Effects to Gray Wolves
• Direct. Indirect, and Cnmufatire Inflect* of
JVo-» let ion . Iffernafire . 1 to (iray Wot re*
The existing vegetation and
human access in the project area
are not expected to be altered;
therefore, no effects on wolves
are expected.
• Direct and Indirect Iffectx to (iray
W'otrcM Common to . let ion , Itfernafirex It,
C. D, and E
The risk of human/wolf conflicts
and/or wolf mortality in the
project area could be increased
through additional human access
and reduced hiding cover
attributable to new road
construction and logging
operations. Under all
alternatives, a range of 8.4 to
15.8 miles of new restricted
road would be constructed to
harvest the proposed units. Any
new road would be managed as
restricted, except for the new
portion (1.7 miles) of South
Fork Lost Creek Road. The old
portion of this open road would
be abandoned (1.3 miles).
Timber harvesting could remove
between 1,203 and 1,351 acres of
hiding cover for 10 to 20 years,
depending on the alternative
chosen ( TABLE F-10 - PROPOSED
AMOUNTS OF HIDING COVER REMOVED
AND AMOUNT OF LINEAR MILES OF
PERMANENT RESTRICTED ROAD
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED UNDER EACH
ALTERNATIVE) . To mitigate the
risks associated with increased
human access during logging
operations and the reduction of
hiding cover, regeneration units
would be laid out, so that no
point of any regeneration unit
would be greater than 600 feet
to cover, visual screening would
be retained between open roads
and regeneration units (seedtree
and shelterwood harvest units) ,
and contractors would not be
allowed to carry firearms while
on duty. Taken together, these
mitigations are expected, to
Page F-32
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
TABLE F-10 - PROPOSED AMOUNTS OF HIDING COVER REMOVED
AND AMOUNT OF LINEAR MILES OF PERMANENT RESTRICTED
ROAD CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED UNDER EACH ALTERNATIVE
PARAMETER
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Hiding cover
acres removed
0
1,274
1,203
1, 351
1, 322
Linear miles of
permanent ,
restricted road
0
13.3
12.7
15.8
00
result in a low risk for human/
wolf conflicts or increased wolf
mortality if wolves use the
harvest units.
• Cumulative Effects to Gray Wolves
Common to . Id ion .Alternatives It, C, D,
and E
Each alternative was analyzed at
the South Fork Lost Soup Subunit
analysis area level in the
context of the existing
condition. Under all action
alternatives, open-road density
would increase, hiding cover
would decrease, and additional
linear miles of restricted roads
would be constructed, which
could affect wolf use and the
ability to survive in the
analysis area.
Under all alternatives, the
proportion of the analysis area
that exceeds 1 mile per square
mile open-road density would
increase from 31.2 percent to
31.5 percent within the analysis
area ( TABLE F-ll - CHANGES BY
ALTERNATIVE IN OPEN-
ROAD DENSITY , HIDING
COVER, AND RESTRICTED
ROAD MILEAGE FOR THE
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
ANALYSIS AREA) .
(Refer to the
analysis on Grizzly
Bear for analysis
methods.) Since the
increase is small and
occurs due to the
rerouting of a currently open
road in the same area, this
increase is expected to result
in a low risk of increasing wolf
mortality in the analysis area.
Implementation of any
alternative would reduce the
hiding cover in the analysis
area by 4.8 to 5.4 percent for
10 to 20 years, depending on
whether an action alternative is
chosen and which one is chosen
( TABLE F-ll - CHANGES BY
ALTERNATIVE IN OPEN -ROAD
DENSITY, HIDING COVER, AND
RESTRICTED ROAD MILEAGE FOR THE
CUMULATIVE-EFFECTS ANALYSIS
AREA) . Following implementation
of any alternative, a high
proportion of hiding cover
(ranging from 75.2 to 74.8
percent) would still remain in
the subunit. Concurrent salvage
harvests on DNRC-managed lands
are not expected to alter hiding
cover, nor are any projects
planned on adjacent lands that
could reduce hiding cover.
TABLE F-ll - CHANGES BY ALTERNATIVE IN OPEN-ROAD DENSITY, HIDING COVER, AND
RESTRICTED ROAD MILEAGE FOR THE CUMULATIVE -EFFECTS ANALYSIS AREA (IE. , SOUTH
FORK LOST SOUP SUBUNIT)
PARAMETER
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Percent Open-Road Density
greater than 1 mile per square
mile in the South Fork Lost
Soup Subunit
(% increase)
31.2%
(0.0%)
31.5%
(1.0%)
31.5%
(1.0%)
31.5%
(1.0%)
31.5%
(1.0%)
Hiding Cover retained in the
South Fork Lost Soup Subunit (%
reduction )
79%
(0.0%)
75.0%
(5.1%)
75.2%
(4 . 8%)
74.7%
(5.4%)
74 . 8%
(5.3%)
Linear miles of restricted
roads (% increase)
49.6
(0.0%)
62.9
(26.8%)
62.3
(25.4%)
65.4
(31.9%)
58.0
(16.9%)
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-33
Although no threshold levels of
hiding cover have been
established for wolves ( USFWS et
al. 2006), the thresholds
developed for grizzly bears
( SVGBCA 1997) would likely also
provide adequate security for
wolves. Therefore,
implementation of this
alternative is expected to
remove hiding cover, but result
in a low risk of increased
mortality to wolves using the
analysis area.
Additional permanent road access
could lead to additional
disturbance and/or mortality
risk in the future. This
alternative would increase the
linear mileage of restricted
roads from 49.6 to a range of
58.0 to 62.9 miles, a 16.9- to
26.8-percent increase ( TABLE F-
11 - CHANGES BY ALTERNATIVE IN
OPEN -ROAD DENSITY , HIDING COVER,
AND RESTRICTED ROAD MILEAGE FOR
THE CUMULATIVE-EFFECTS ANALYSIS
AREA) . No other concurrent or
foreseeable future projects on
DNRC-managed or adjacent lands
would construct new roads;
therefore, only this project
would increase road access. The
presence and maintenance of
restricted roads produces a
long-term potential for
additional disturbance to wolves
and increased risk of wolf/human
conflicts when compared to areas
without road access. These
disturbances would likely be
associated with administrative
and salvage harvests during
inactive periods and could
include commercial forest-
management activities during
active periods as dictated by
the SVGBCA. Since mitigations
are in place to protect key
sites and restrict carrying
firearms while on duty, these
increases are likely to
represent a negligible risk to
increasing wolf mortality in the
analysis area.
Overall, all alternatives
protect key sites, retain
considerable levels (74.7 to
75.2 percent of the analysis
area) of hiding cover, maintain
approximately the same level of
public motorized access (small
location shift of South Fork
Lost Creek Road) , restrict
contractors from carrying
firearms while on duty, and are
not expected to affect big game
populations (refer to the
analysis on BIG GAME) in the
analysis area. Therefore, each
alterative presents a low risk
to increasing mortality to
wolves or substantially reducing
their prey in the analysis area.
> Grizzly Bear
Issue
Activities associated with timber
harvesting can alter cover,
increase access, and reduce secure
areas, which can adversely impact
grizzly bears by displacing bears
from preferred habitats and/or by
increasing risk to bears of human-
caused mortality.
Existing Condition
Grizzly bears, native generalist
omnivores that use a diversity of
habitats found in western Montana,
are currently listed as
"threatened" under the Endangered
Species Act. Primary threats to
grizzly bears are related to
human-bear conflicts, habituation
to unnatural foods near high-risk
areas, and long-term habitat loss
associated with human development
( Mace and Waller 1997) . Forest-
management activities may affect
grizzly bears by altering cover
and/or by increasing access to
humans into secure areas by
creating roads ( Mace et al. 199 7).
These actions can lead to
displacement of grizzly bears from
preferred areas and/or result in
an increased risk of human-caused
mortality by bringing humans and
bears closer together and/or
making bears more detectable.
Page F-34
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
which can increase their risk of
being shot illegally. Displacing
bears from preferred areas may
increase their energetic costs,
which may in turn lower their
ability to survive and/or
reproduce successfully.
For decades, lands in the Swan
Valley have been aggressively
managed for timber production, the
influences of which are evident
when touring the valley or viewing
recent aerial photographs of the
area. Evidence of past activities
exists on USFS lands, corporate
timberlands, and DNRC-managed
State trust lands associated with
the foothills and valley floor.
Past activities have resulted in
an obvious patchwork comprised of
multiaged forest stands that are
variously shaped, which exist at
differing stages of successional
development. Some old harvest
units now contain productive berry
patches and hiding cover; whereas,
more recent clearcut and seedtree
harvest units provide little in
the way of forage or cover for
bears. Other areas that have been
lightly harvested, intensively
harvested several decades ago, or
never harvested do continue to
provide ample levels of cover in
the valley ( SVGBCA monitoring
report 2004) . Extensive road
systems that have been required
over the years to facilitate
intensive logging are also evident
in the valley. These road systems
have developed over the years and
now provide a number of access
routes into otherwise remote
areas .
In the Swan Valley, DNRC, USFS,
Plum Creek Timber Company, and the
USFWS collaborated to
cooperatively manage grizzly bear
habitat and access under the
SVGBCA. Another main objective
of the SVGBCA is to ensure
connectivity across Swan valley
through special management of
linkage zones. Preliminary
evaluation of data collected from
radio-collared bears indicates
that the use of the valley bottom
by bears is occurring to
facilitate linkage between the Bob
Marshall Wilderness and Mission
Mountain Wilderness bear
populations. However, monitoring
of radio-collared bears has also
indicated a trend of high
mortality rates in Swan Valley,
primarily attributable to illegal
human-caused mortality and
management removals ( SVGBCA
monitoring report 2004) .
Under the SVGBCA, a rotation of
active and inactive subunits was
devised. The rotation schedule
allows for active subunits, where
harvesting activities might
displace grizzly bears, and
inactive subunits, where
commercial activities are
prohibited to provide undisturbed
habitat. These rotations occur on
a 3-year-active and 6-year-
inactive basis. The South Fork
Lost Soup Subunit was scheduled to
become active during the 2006
through 2008 period. However,
DNRC requested and was granted an
exception to the rotation period
for the South Fork Lost Soup
Subunit. Based on the exception,
the South Fork Lost Soup Subunit
would be active for the period of
2007 through 2009. This exception
requires that no commercial
activities occur in the South Fork
Lost Soup Subunit for the 2006
nondenning period, and no
commercial activities occur on
DNRC-managed lands in the Lion
Creek Subunit for the 2009
nondenning period.
When a subunit is active,
harvesting activities would not
occur during the spring period
(April 1 through June 15) in
spring habitat (areas within
linkage zones below 5,200 feet).
After the spring period,
harvesting activity and associated
road use can occur unrestricted in
the active subunit. However, any
restricted road used for
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-35
commercial activities would
require the restriction of public
use through the placement of signs
while harvesting activities are
occurring, and placing a barrier
across the road when harvesting
activities are not occurring
(weekends, nights, inactive
periods etc.)- Other stipulations
under the SVGBCA include:
- retaining of a 100-foot visual
buffer between open roads and
the even-aged harvest units,
- utilizing uneven-aged management
in the riparian zones,
- laying out harvest units so that
no point is greater than 600
feet to cover, and
- restricting contractors from
carrying firearms while on duty.
In addition to the above
stipulations, the SVGBCA provides
defined standards for hiding cover
and open-road density for each
subunit and requires cooperators
to track amounts of total-road
density and secure habitat.
Cumulative effects of the
alternatives considered under this
proposal were analyzed at the
South Fork Lost Soup Grizzly Bear
Subunit scale. All analyses
required by the SVGBCA are also
reported at the grizzly bear
management unit subunit scale,
which approximates the home range
size of a female grizzly bear.
For the cumulative effects
analysis, other past, present, and
foreseeable future actions in the
South Fork Lost Soup Subunit (all
cooperators) and their effects in
combination with this project on
hiding cover, open-road density,
total-road density, and secure
habitat were considered. Past
projects resulting in changes to
hiding cover and the construction
of roads are considered in the
existing condition.
The SVGBCA requires each
cooperator to manage their lands
so that a minimum of 40 percent of
each subunit supports hiding
cover. Presently, hiding cover in
the South Fork Lost Soup Subunit
is comprised of 82 percent of
DNRC-managed, 75 percent of USFS,
and 57 percent of Plum Creek
Timber Company lands, averaging
(weighted on acres) 79 percent for
the subunit. The other defined
standard in the SVGBCA is open-
road density. The SVGBCA requires
cooperators to manage open roads
so that no more than 33 percent of
the subunit exceeds 1 mile per
square mile of open-road density.
Open-road density is calculated by
using a moving-windows-analysis
technique ( Ake 1994). Presently,
31.2 percent of the subunit
exceeds 1 mile per square mile of
open-road density.
The SVGBCA does not contain a
total-road density or secure
habitat standard, but requires the
cooperators to annually report
these values by subunit. To
measure total-road density, a
moving-windows analysis was
conducted to determine that 53.4
percent of the analysis area
exceeds 2 miles per square mile.
To measure secure habitat, the
highway, open roads, gated roads,
and high-use trails were buffered
by 1,640 feet (500 meters). The
buffered area was then subtracted
from the subunit acreage to obtain
the amount of potential secure
habitat in the analysis area. To
be considered secure habitat, the
area in question needs to exceed
2,500 acres. This analysis
yielded 32.2 percent of the
analysis area in secure habitat.
Predicted Effects to Grizzly Bears
• Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative /Effects of
JXo-.1ction • Alternative • / to Grizzly Hears
No alteration of habitat
attributes or increased human
presence would occur; therefore,
no changes in habitat use or
human-caused mortality would be
expected under this alternative.
Page F-36
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
• Direct and Indirect Effect* Common to
, let ion . Htcrnatircs It, (', I), and A' to
( irizzfi / Hearn
Under each alternative, a range
of 1,203 to 1,351 acres of
hiding cover would be removed by
implementation of seedtree and
shelterwood silvicultural
prescriptions ( TABLE F-12 -
PROPOSED AMOUNTS OF HIDING COVER
REMOVED AND AMOUNT OF LINEAR
MILES OF RESTRICTED ROAD
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED UNDER EACH
ALTERNATIVE) . To reduce the
avoidance of harvest units and
provide security if a bear uses
the harvest unit, the seedtree
and shelterwood harvest units
would be laid out to ensure that
no point of the unit exceeds 600
feet to cover and visual
screening would be retained in a
100-foot strip between the
harvest unit and an open road.
With the mitigation measures in
place, a low risk of avoidance
of harvest units and a low risk
to increased mortality while
using the harvest units are
expected. These effects would
be expected to last until hiding
cover reestablishes in 10 to 20
years .
The harvesting activities could
result in short-term
displacement effects, while
construction of new roads could
result in both short-term and
long-term displacement effects.
Under these alternatives,
between 8.4 and 13.3 miles of
new permanent roads and 3.9 to
6.6 miles of new temporary roads
would be constructed ( TABLE F-12
- PROPOSED AMOUNTS OF HIDING
COVER REMOVED AND AMOUNT OF
LINEAR MILES OF RESTRICTED ROAD
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED UNDER EACH
ALTERNATIVE) . All new permanent
roads, except for 1.7 miles,
would be managed as restricted.
The 1.7 miles of new permanent
road would be constructed to
reroute the existing South Fork
Lost Creek Road away from South
Fork Lost Creek. Approximately
1.3 miles of the existing South
Fork Lost Creek Road would then
be abandoned, resulting in a 0.4
mile increase in open roads.
The new permanent restricted
roads would be blocked by a gate
that would allow for
administrative use. The new
temporary roads would be blocked
off with a berm (or like
structure) that would prevent
public and administrative
motorized use. The effects of
displacement during the active
period (2007 through 2009) are
expected to be mitigated by
having inactive subunits within
the Bunker Hill Bear Management
Unit to provide relatively
undisturbed areas for bears to
displace into. Therefore, each
alternative is expected to
represent a minor risk to bear
displacement that results in
mortality. In the longer-term,
bears could avoid habitat
associated with the new roads,
which would result in a loss of
habitat. These effects will be
discussed further under the
cumulative effects section of
this analysis.
TABLE F-12 - PROPOSED AMOUNTS OF HIDING COVER REMOVED AND AMOUNT OF LINEAR
MILES OF RESTRICTED ROAD CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED UNDER EACH ALTERNATIVE
PARAMETER
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Acres of hiding cover harvested
0
1,274
1,203
1,351
1, 322
Linear miles of permanent, restricted
road constructed
0
13.3
12.7
15.8
8.4
Linear miles of temporary, restricted
road constructed
0
5.2
6.6
3.9
4.6
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-37
• Cumntatire fjffeet* Common to • lefion
Jllternatice* It , C, />, and I) to drizzly
lleartt
Under all alternatives, the
amount of hiding cover retained
in the subunit would be reduced
from 79.0 percent to between
74.7 and 75.2 percent (a 5.1- to
4.8-percent reduction),
depending on whether an action
alternative is chosen and which
one ( TABLE F-13 - RESULTS
EXPECTED AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF
EACH ALTERNATIVE FOR HABITAT
PARAMETERS IMPORTANT TO GRIZZLY
BEARS) . In any case, the hiding
cover amounts greatly exceed the
40-percent stipulation required
by the SVGBCA. Additionally,
DNRC is concurrently considering
salvage harvests on an
additional 120 acres in the
analysis area. These harvests
are not expected to alter hiding
cover, so no additional changes
in hiding cover is expected on
DNRC-managed lands. Other
cooperators (USFS and Plum Creek
Timber Company) do not have
plans for projects in this
subunit during the 2007 through
2009 active period. Therefore,
this alternative would result in
small proportional reductions of
hiding cover, resulting in
negligible risk of reducing
availability of grizzly bear
habitat or increasing mortality
risks to bears using the
analysis area.
All action alternatives would
increase the open-road density
the same amount within the South
Fork Lost Soup Subunit. The
rerouting of the South Fork Lost
Creek Road and the abandonment
of portions of the existing
roads would result in an
increase in open-road density
from 31.2 to 31.5 percent. This
increase is within the 33-
percent stipulation of the
SVGBCA. The increase in open-
road density is slight and
within the same area already
affected by this road;
therefore, any additional risk
of an increase in mortality or
decrease in reproduction due to
this change is likely to be
negligible .
The presence and maintenance of
restricted roads produces a
long-term potential for
additional disturbance to
grizzly bears and increased risk
of human-caused mortality when
compared to areas without road
access. Under all alternatives,
the proportion of area affected
by total-road density would
increase and secure habitat
would decrease (TABLE F-13 -
RESULTS EXPECTED AFTER
IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE FOR HABITAT
PARAMETERS IMPORTANT TO GRIZZLY
TABLE F-13 - RESULTS EXPECTED AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH ALTERNATIVE FOR
HABITAT PARAMETERS IMPORTANT TO GRIZZLY BEARS (estimates are for ownership of
all SVGBCA cooperators within the South Fork Lost Soup Subunit analysis area)
PARAMETER
SVGBC
REQUIREMENTS
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Open-road den-
sity
No more than 33%
31.2%
31.5%
31 . 5%
31.5%
31.5%
Hiding cover
retained
No less than 40%
79.0%
75.0%
75.2%
74.7%
74 . 8%
Linear miles of
restricted
roads
No limit
49.6
62.9
62.3
65.4
58.0
Total-road den-
sity
No limit
53.2%
58.3%
57.5%
59.9%
56.9%
Secure habitat
No limit
32.2%
29.7%
30.1%
28.9%'
30.8%
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
BEARS) . The increase in total-
road density and decrease in
secure habitat could result in
increased disturbance of grizzly
bears by nonmotorized dispersed
recreation, administrative
activities (including
motorized) , salvage harvests
during inactive periods, and
commercial forest-management
activities during active
periods. Since no stipulations
for total-road density or secure
habitat are noted in the SVGBCA,
all alternatives are in
compliance. The increase in
total-road density and decrease
in secure habitat could result
in an increased risk of
avoidance of suitable habitat
and human/bear interactions.
However, stipulations placed on
contractors and DNRC personnel
that restrict carrying firearms
reduce the risk of additional
mortality associated with
administrative use. The
availability of roads could
increase nonmotorized use in the
analysis area. However, this
use is not expected to grow
substantially; therefore, the
risk to bears associated with
nonmotorized use would be
negligible .
Concurrent salvage harvests on
DNRC-managed lands (120 acres)
are not expected to remove
hiding cover or construct new
roads in the subunit.
Additionally, no foreseeable
future forest-management
activities are planned on any
cooperator lands in the subunit.
Therefore, no cumulative effects
are expected from concurrent or
foreseeable future actions of
other cooperators.
All alternatives fully meet the
stipulations in the SVGBCA.
These alternatives are expected
to result in a low risk of
increased bear mortality or
decreased reproduction due to
displacement and human-caused
mortality based on:
- the retention of a high
percentage of hiding cover
(74.8 to 75.2 percent),
- the minor increase in open-
road density (0.3 percent),
- the increase in total-road
density (3.5 to 6.5 percent),
- the reduction of secure
grizzly bear habitat (2.1 to
3 . 3 percent ) ,
- the restrictions of firearms,
and
- the availability of
undisturbed habitat in the
adjacent subunits.
Action Alternative D poses the
greatest risk, followed by B, C,
and E, respectively.
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-39
SENSITIVE SPECIES
When conducting forest-management
activities, SFLMP directs DNRC to
give special consideration to
several "sensitive" species. These
species may be sensitive to human
activities, have special habitat
requirements, are associated with
habitats that may be altered by
timber management, and/or may, if
management activities result in
continued adverse impacts, become
listed under the Federal Endangered
Species Act. Because sensitive
species usually have specific
habitat requirements, consideration
of their needs serves as a useful
"fine filter" for ensuring that the
primary goal of maintaining healthy
and diverse forests is met. The
following sensitive species were
considered for analysis. As shown
in TABLE F-14 - STATUS OF DNRC
SENSITIVE SPECIES FOR NWLO IN
RELATION TO THIS PROJECT , each
sensitive species was either
included in the following analysis
or dropped from further analysis for
various stated reasons.
TABLE F-14 - STATUS OF DNRC SENSITIVE SPECIES FOR NWLO IN RELATION TO THIS
PROJECT
SPECIES
DETERMINATION - BASIS
Black-backed
woodpecker
No further analysis conducted - No burned habitat
occurs in the project area.
Coeur d'Alene
salamander
No further analysis conducted - No moist talus or
streamside talus habitat occurs in the project
area .
Columbian sharp-
tailed grouse
No further analysis conducted - No suitable
grassland communities occur in the project area.
Common loon
No further analysis conducted - No lakes occur in
or near the project area.
Fisher
Included - Potential fisher habitat occurs in the
project area.
Flammulated owl
No further analysis conducted - No dry ponderosa
pine or dry Douglas-fir habitats occur in the
project area.
Harlequin duck
No further analysis conducted - No observations of
harlequin ducks have been documented on any streams
in the project area and no alternative would alter
vegetation directly adjacent to the streams in the
project area.
Northern bog lemming
No further analysis conducted - No sphagnum bogs or
other fen/moss mats occur in the area.
Peregrine Falcon
No further analysis conducted - No potential
habitat is expected in the project area.
Pileated woodpecker
Included - Western larch/Douglas-f ir and mixed-
conifer habitats occur in the area.
Townsend' s big-eared
bat
IQo further analysis conducted - No caves or mine
tunnels occur in the project area.
Page F-40
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
> Fisher
Issue
Timber harvesting could reduce
fisher habitat availability and
quality by reducing canopy cover,
snag density, and the amount of
coarse woody debris. Reductions
in fisher habitat quantity and
quality could result in adverse
effects to fishers.
Issue
Timber harvesting could remove
canopy cover, which may impede
fisher movement within their home
range, resulting in decreased
ability for fishers to use the
analysis area.
Existing Condition
Fisher habitat consists of
foraging, denning, and resting
components. Fishers avoid areas
with deep soft snow ( Buskirk and
Powell 1994 ) and are typically
found below 6,000 feet in
elevation ( Powell and Zielinski
1994). Fishers are generalist
predators that prey upon a variety
of small mammals and birds, along
with snowshoe hares and
porcupines. They also take
advantage of carrion and
seasonally available fruits and
berries ( Foresman 2001). Fishers
use a variety of successional
stages, but are disproportionately
found in stands with dense
canopies ( Powell 1982, Johnson
1984, Jones 1991, Heinemeyer and
Jones 1994) and avoid openings or
young forested stands ( Buskirk and
Powell 1994) . However, some use
of openings does occur for short
hunting forays or if sufficient
overhead cover (shrubs, saplings)
is present. Fishers appear to be
highly selective of stands that
contain resting and denning sites
(Jones 1991) . Resting and denning
sites are found in cavities of
live trees and snags, downed logs,
brush piles, mistletoe brooms,
squirrel and raptor nests, and
holes in the ground.
For cumulative effects analysis
purposes, the South Fork Lost Soup
Grizzly Bear Subunit scale was
used (ARM 36.11.440). This scale
includes enough area to
approximate overlapping home
ranges of male and female fishers
(Heinemeyer and Jones 1994) . The
existing condition as it relates
to fisher habitat is primarily
affected by the lack of wildfire
and the effects of past timber
harvests. The project area and
the higher elevations of the
subunit consist of large patches
of mature to old-growth stands
that developed over time in the
absence of recent stand-replacing
fires. Additionally, past harvest
units reduced stand age and canopy
cover near the South Fork Lost
Creek and Soup Creek roads and
natural openings (avalanche
chutes, talus slopes, etc.) near
the divide between Swan Valley and
the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The
lower elevations of the subunit
are a patchwork of past harvest
units and natural openings with
low amounts of canopy closure.
Forested cover is primarily intact
along Soup, Unnamed, Cilly, and
South Fork Lost creeks and along
the major ridges in the analysis
area, resulting in highly
connected forested stands,
especially along the riparian
corridors and across third-order
drainages (South Fork Lost and
Soup creeks ) .
To assess potential fisher habitat
and travel cover on DNRC-managed
lands in the analysis area,
sawtimber stands within preferred
fisher covertypes (ARM 36.11.403
(60)) below 6,000 feet in
elevation with 40-percent or
greater canopy closure were
considered potential fisher
habitat. Fisher habitat was
further divided into upland and
riparian-associated areas. In the
uplands, DNRC-managed lands in the
analysis area consist of
approximately 9,991 acres of
potential fisher habitat (FIGURE
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-41
F-8 - EXISTING DISTRIBUTION OF
FISHER HABITAT ON DNR C -MANAGED
LANDS AND POTENTIAL HABITAT ON
ADJACENT LANDS.
Fisher habitat in and near
riparian areas tend to be used
disproportionally more than their
availability on the landscape
( Jones 1991). DNRC manages
preferred fisher covertypes within
100 feet of class 1 and 50 feet of
class 2 streams, so that 75
percent of the acreage (State
school trust lands only) would be
in the sawtimber size class in
moderate to well-stocked density
[ARM 36.11.440 (1) (b) (i)) .
Moderate (40- to 69-percent canopy
closure) and well-stocked (greater
than 70-percent canopy closure)
density designations are based on
SLI data. To ensure compliance,
the number of moderately to well-
stocked acres of sawtimber in
preferred covertypes along streams
was divided by the total acres of
preferred covertypes in the same
area. At the South Fork Lost
Soup Subunit level, 86.9 percent
of the DNRC-managed acreage
associated with riparian features
currently supports moderate- to
well-stocked densities of
sawtimber .
FIGURE F-8 - EXISTING DISTRIBUTION OF FISHER HABITAT ON DNRC-MANAGED LANDS
AND POTENTIAL HABITAT ON ADJACENT LANDS
LEGEND
I | DNRC Owntnhp
F»ker H tk> it*t
F»Ktr Habitat Riparian
■ ruher Habitat Upland
£& F» he r lUt - other owntn hip
T»t«1 Cow
Page F-42
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
TABLE F-15 - ACREAGE AND PERCENT OF PREFERRED FISHER COVERTYPES CONSISTING
OF SAWTIMBER STANDS PROVIDING GREATER THAN 40 -PERCENT CANOPY COVER IN THE
ANALYSIS AREA.
HABITAT ELEMENT
SOUTH FORK LOST SOUP SUBUNIT
Potential habitat
9, 991 acres
(% preferred upland covertypes)
(77.2%)
Preferred covertypes
731 acres
(% preferred covertypes associated with
stream)
(86.9%)
Total fisher habitat
10,722 acres
(% of preferred covertypes)
(70.5%)
Predicted Effects to Fisher
• Direct, Indirect, and Cnmn/afire Inflect* of
,\o-, let ion 'Alternative %A to Fishers
Fisher habitat, preferred
covertype stocking, and
connectivity would remain
relatively unchanged in the
short term. Fisher habitat
would remain at 9, 991 acres
(77.2 percent) in the uplands
and 731 acres (86.9 percent)
associated with the riparian
areas on DNRC-managed lands
within the cumulative-effects
analysis area. The current
level of connectivity would be
retained. In the longer term,
fisher habitat and the
percentage of fisher habitat in
the uplands and associated with
riparian areas would increase as
stands developed more overhead
cover; resting/denning structure
would develop as trees increase
in size, die, and fall to the
ground. This alternative would
result in negligible effects to
fishers .
• Direct and Indirect /Effects of . Action
. Alternative II, D, and E to Fishers
Each alternative would harvest
within potential fisher habitat.
Within each harvest unit, leave
trees, at least 2 large snags,
and 10 to 15 tons of coarse
woody debris, and 1 slash pile
per unit would be retained. In
seedtree-with-reserve units, a
number of unharvested patches of
approximately 3 acres would be
retained so that no point of the
unit exceeds 600 feet to cover.
In Section 22, where
regeneration harvesting occurs
on both sides of South Fork
Lost, Cilly, Soup, and Unnamed
creeks ( FIGURE F-2 [through F-5]
- FOREST COVER FOLLOWING
IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION
ALTERNATIVE B [C, D , AND E],
WHICH ALLOWS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF
FORESTED HABITATS IN THE
ANALYSIS AREA) , a 150-foot
buffer on either side of the
stream would be retained. No
harvesting would occur within 25
feet of the creek. From 25 to
150 feet, harvesting would
remove up to 50 percent of the
trees 8-inches dbh or larger,
but a minimum of 40-percent
canopy cover would be retained.
In other areas where harvesting
would occur on 1 side of said
streams, a 100-foot buffer would
be used. The same mitigations
would apply within this buffer.
The retention of 40-percent
canopy cover within these
buffers would retain adequate
canopy cover for fishers to use
as habitat or travel cover,
resulting in retaining forest
connectivity along the stream.
The harvesting proposed under
all alternatives would result in
reduced quantity and quality of
fisher habitat by 1,760 to 1,924
acres depending on whether an
action alternative were chosen,
and which one ( TABLE F-16 -
CHANGES IN FISHER HABITAT UNDER
EACH ACTION ALTERNATIVE) . In
the seedtree, seedtree-with-
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-43
TABLE F-16 - CHANGES IN FISHER HABITAT UNDER EACH ACTION
ALTERNATIVE
FISHER
ALTERNATIVE
HABITAT
A
B
C
D
E
Acres of upland
habitat removed
0
1,274
1,218
1,279
1, 185
Acres of upland
habitat altered
0
527
487
508
648
Acres of riparian
habitat altered
0
83
55
84
91
Total acres of
habitat affected
1,884
1,760
1,871
1,924
reserves, and shelterwood
harvest units, timber harvesting
would reduce canopy closure to
less than 40 percent and remove
understory vegetation to provide
for seedling establishment.
Since fishers avoid stands with
less than 40-percent canopy
closure ( Jones 1991) and areas
that lack overhead cover
( Buskirk and Powell 1994) , these
silvicultural prescriptions
would result in a loss of
habitat for 10 to 20 years.
After this time, regeneration of
conifer trees is expected to
provide overhead cover, which
would allow for fisher use.
Retention of snag-recruitment
trees and a minimum of 2 large
snags per acre could provide
denning or resting sites between
the time the stands develop
overhead cover and when the
stands regenerate to a point of
starting to produce large snags
again. As stand matures in 80
to 100 years, canopy cover and
additional structure in the form
of large trees, snags, and
coarse woody debris would
reestablish. Conversely,
commercial-thin units and areas
within riparian buffers
(including preferred covertypes)
would retain a minimum of 40-
percent canopy cover and would
continue to be available for
potential fisher habitat.
Reductions in snag densities and
coarse woody debris would occur,
resulting in a potential
decrease in
habitat quality
for fishers by
removing denning/
resting structure
and prey habitat.
However, mitigation
measures would
include retention
of estimated
average historic
levels of large
snags and coarse
woody debris;
thereby, necessary habitat
components would likely be
retained, albeit at lower
levels, to provide for fisher.
The length of time these
reductions would last depends
upon the growth rate of the
retention trees and resting/
denning habitat development
(snags and coarse woody debris).
Therefore, seedtree, seedtree-
with-reserves, and shelterwood
units would result in decreased
habitat availability for 10 to
20 years, while commercial-thin
units and stream buffers would
retain usable habitat, albeit of
lesser quality, following
harvesting. All action
alternatives pose a moderate
risk of preventing or reducing
habitat use in the harvest
units, which would result in
habitat shifts away from these
areas and increased use of other
stands in the analysis area.
('nmnlafire Ejffect* Common to . Id ion
Alternative It, C, />, and E to I 'ixherx
Available fisher habitat would
be reduced within the
cumulative-effects analysis
area. On DNRC-managed lands,
available fisher habitat in the
uplands would decline from 9, 991
acres to between 8,712 and 8,806
acres (a 11.9- to 12.8-percent
reduction in habitat) .
Additionally, habitat quality
would be reduced on between 487
and 648 acres (4.9 to 6.5
percent of existing habitat) .
Page F-44
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
No losses in the amount of
fisher habitat associated with
streams would occur, but 55 to
91 acres of habitat associated
with riparian areas would be
reduced in quality through
timber harvesting.
Additionally, connectivity would
be maintained along the streams,
ridges, and across third-order
drainages ( ARM 36 . 11 . 441 [ 1] [c] ) .
On adjacent ownerships, an
additional 6,452 acres of fisher
habitat could be present,
thereby, adding to the amount of
fisher habitat in the analysis
area. The reduction in fisher
habitat is expected to result in
avoidance of the seedtree
harvest units, but, since the
remaining portions of fisher
habitat on DNRC-managed lands
provide high densities of snags
and coarse woody debris, the
risk of these alternatives
reducing the quantity or quality
of fisher habitat to the point
where fishers can no longer use
the analysis area is low.
Other activities that could lead
to additional impacts on fisher
habitat include concurrent or
future timber or salvage
harvesting and public firewood
cutting. DNRC is concurrently
considering salvage harvests on
an additional 120 acres in the
analysis area. These harvests
would not affect the quantity,
but could reduce the quality of
fisher habitat. No fisher
habitat is expected to be
harvested from adjacent lands
during the 2007 through 2009
period. Firewood cutting would
be limited to areas near open
roads. Due to the small area
affected by these additional
activities, any additional
changes in fisher habitat are
expected to be minor.
Considered in conjunction with
other past, present, and future
activities, any proposed action
alternative would likely result
in a low risk of cumulative
effects to fishers. TABLE F-17 -
PREDICTED POSTHARVEST FISHER
HABITAT UNDER EACH ACTION
ALTERNATIVE WITHIN THE
CUMULATIVE-EFFECTS ANALYSIS AREA
summarizes the effects to fisher
habi t a t .
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-45
TABLE F-l 7 - PREDICTED POSTHARVEST FISHER HABITAT UNDER EACH ACTION
ALTERNATIVE WITHIN THE CUMULATIVE-EFFECTS ANALYSIS AREA
FISHER
ACRES OF
RETAINED HABITAT
ACRES OF REDUCED QUALITY
HABITAT
(%
REDUCTION)
(% REDUCTION)
(% PREFERRED COVERTYPE*)
(% PREFERRED COVERTYPE*)
9, 991
0
Upland habitat
(0.0%)
(77.2%)
(0.0%)
(0.0%)
731
0
Riparian habitat
(0.0%)
(0.0%)
(86.9%)
(0.0%)
8,717
527
Upland habitat
(12.8%)
(5.3%)
B
(67.4%)
(4.1%)
A
731
83
1
Riparian habitat
(0.0%)
(11.4%)
t
(86.9%)
(9.9%)
e
8,773
487
r
Upland habitat
(12.2%)
(4.9%)
n
P
(67.8%)
(4.1%)
a
731
55
t
Riparian habitat
(0.0%)
(7.5%)
i
(86.9%)
(6.5%)
V
8,712
508
e
Upland habitat
(12.8%)
(5.1%)
n
(67.3%)
(4.1%)
731
84
Riparian habitat
(0.0%)
(11.5%)
(86.9%)
(10.0%)
8,806
648
Upland habitat
(11.9%)
(6.5%)
E
(68.0%)
(4.1%)
731
91
Riparian habitat
(0.0%)
(12.5%)
(86.9%)
(10.8%)
*Percent preferred covertype is the percentage of preferred covertype in the
sawtimber size class with greater than 40-percent canopy cover divided by all acres
of lands within these covertypes .
> Pileated Woodpecker
Issue
Timber harvesting could cut nest
trees or displace adults away from
active nests, resulting in
increased mortality of pileated
woodpecker chicks.
Dismissed
Under all action alternatives,
timber harvesting could result in
direct mortality of nestlings if
nest trees were cut prior to the
nestlings' fledging or if the
adults are displaced from the nest
area. A majority of harvesting
would occur after June 15 due to
stipulations in the SVGBCA (ie.,
would occur outside the spring
grizzly bear season) or would be
delayed due to soil moisture
conditions, and nest trees would
likely be marked to leave.
Therefore, most harvesting
activities would occur after
pileated woodpecker nestlings have
fledged ( Bull and Jackson 1995),
and, if they occurred during the
nesting period, the nest tree
would likely be retained.
Issue
Timber harvesting would remove
canopy cover and snags needed by
pileated woodpeckers to forage and
nest. The reduction of habitat
could lead to a reduced ability
Page F-46
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
for pileated woodpeckers to use
and/or reproduce in the area.
Existing Condition
Pileated woodpeckers play an
important ecological role by
excavating cavities that are used
in subsequent years by many other
species of birds and mammals.
Pileated woodpeckers excavate the
largest cavities of any
woodpecker. Preferred nest trees
are western larch, ponderosa pine,
cottonwood, and quaking aspen,
usually 20 inches dbh and larger.
Pileated woodpeckers primarily eat
carpenter ants, which inhabit
large downed logs, stumps, and
snags. Aney and McClelland (1985)
described pileated nesting habitat
as... "stands of 50 to 100
contiguous acres, generally below
5,000 feet in elevation with basal
areas of 100 to 125 square feet
per acre and a relatively closed
canopy." The feeding and nesting
habitat requirements, including
large snags or decayed trees for
nesting and downed wood for
feeding, closely tie these
woodpeckers to mature forests with
late-successional characteristics .
The density of pileated
woodpeckers is positively
correlated with the amount of dead
and/or dying wood in a stand
( McClelland 1979) .
Pileated woodpecker habitat is
comprised of nesting and foraging
habitats. Pileated woodpecker
nesting habitat was identified by
searching the SLI database for
stands over 100 years old and with
more than 100 square feet basal
area per acre, more than 40
percent canopy cover, and below
5,000 feet in elevation. Foraging
habitat does not include the acres
that meet the definition above,
but includes the remaining
sawtimber stands below 5,000 feet
in elevation with greater than 40-
percent canopy cover. To assess
habitat on other ownerships in the
cumulative-effects area, aerial
photographs were interpreted to
assess forest stands under 5,000
feet in elevation. Where stands
appeared to meet the minimum
potential foraging habitat,
pileated woodpecker habitat was
assumed present. Potential
foraging and nesting habitat were
not differentiated on other
ownerships for this analysis due
to data limitations.
The South Fork Lost Soup Grizzly
Bear Subunit provided the analysis
area to consider the effects to
pileated woodpeckers. Since the
project area occurs toward the
upper elevations used by pileated
woodpeckers and extends across 3
major drainages, the subunit
analysis area was chosen to better
reflect the potential pileated
woodpecker home ranges that are
contained within each drainage.
A majority (73 percent) of this
area is managed by DNRC, with
adjacent lands also providing
potential habitat. On DNRC-
managed lands, 6,130 acres of
nesting and 2,305 acres of
foraging habitats currently exist.
Although nesting habitat is
defined differently than foraging
habitat, nesting habitat also
provides foraging opportunities
for pileated woodpeckers. On
adjacent ownerships, approximately
3,411 acres of habitat could
occur. When combined, SLI
modeling and the interpretation of
aerial photographs for other than
DNRC-managed lands indicated that
approximately 11,846 acres of
potential pileated woodpecker
habitat are in the analysis area
( FIGURE F-9 - EXISTING
DISTRIBUTION OF PILEATED
WOODPECKER HABITAT ON DNRC-MANAGED
LANDS AND POTENTIAL HABITAT ON
ADJACENT LANDS) .
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-47
FIGURE F-9 - EXISTING DISTRIBUTION OF PILEATED WOODPECKER HABITAT ON DNRC-
MANAGED LANDS AND POTENTIAL HABITAT ON ADJACENT LANDS
Predicted Effects to Pileated
Woodpeckers
• Direct an ft Indirect Effect* of JVo-
. let ion *1/ fern a tire */ to Pileated
If * ood pecker h
No disturbance of pileated
woodpeckers would occur. Forest
succession and natural
disturbance agents would
continue to bring about changes
in existing stands. Trees would
continue to grow, mature, and
die, thus providing potential
nesting and foraging structure
for pileated woodpeckers.
However, as shade-intqlerant
trees die and fall to the
ground, barring any sizable
disturbances that would promote
the reestablishment of shade-
intolerant tree species,
preferred nesting trees (shade-
intolerant) and snags could
become rare. Thereby, nesting
habitat structure would decline
and could lead to decreased
reproduction in the analysis
area. Therefore, under this
alternative, pileated woodpecker
habitat would increase through
time, then decline, resulting in
a short- to mid-term moderate
beneficial effect to pileated
woodpeckers, but a long-term
moderate negative effect due to
the declining densities in
quality nesting-habitat
structure (western larch trees
and snags) .
• Direct and Indirect EjffectH Common to
• let ion . liter nati rex It, C, D, and to
Pileated If ’ oodpecker*
Under all action alternatives,
between 1,051 and 1,559 acres of
potential nesting, plus an
additional 140 to 394 acres of
potential foraging habitat,
would be modified ( TABLE F-18 -
CHANGES IN PILEATED WOODPECKER
HABITAT UNDER EACH ACTION
Page F-48
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
TABLE F-18 - CHANGES IN PILEATED WOODPECKER HABITAT UNDER EACH ACTION
ALTERNATIVE
PILEATED WOODPECKER
HABITAT
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Acres of nesting habitat removed
0
950
1,104
731
806
Acres of nesting habitat altered
0
448
455
320
344
Acres of foraging habitat removed
0
255
121
253
176
Acres of foraging habitat altered
0
48
19
104
218
Total acres of habitat affected
0
1,701
1,699
1,408
1,544
ALTERNATIVE) . Where
regeneration harvests are
planned, potential pileated
habitat (nesting and foraging)
would be removed for 30 to 100
years, depending on the density
of trees retained. In
commercial thinning units,
pileated woodpecker habitat
would likely retain a minimum of
40-percent canopy cover, but the
number of snags could be reduced
substantially. However, 2 large
snags per acre would be retained
to approximate the average
historic abundance of snags;
therefore, adequate nesting and
foraging structure would likely
be retained, albeit reduced from
current conditions. Since
pileated woodpecker density is
positively correlated with the
amount of dead and/or dying wood
in a stand ( McClelland 1979),
pileated woodpecker densities in
the analysis area could be
expected to be reduced by all
alternatives. In the longer
term, serai species would be
planted under this alternative
and could provide pileated
woodpecker habitat in the
distant future (100 to 150
years) .
Cumulative Effects
• Cumulative Effects of No-Action
Alternative A to Pileated
Woodpeckers
No projects are planned on
adjacent ownerships; therefore,
the amount of habitat on these
lands is expected to be
retained, while, over time,
shade-intolerant tree species
would become rare on adjacent
lands. In combination with the
effects expected under this
alternative, nesting habitat
structure could become rare on
all lands in the analysis area,
resulting in a moderate risk of
reduced reproduction in the
analysis area.
On DNRC-managed lands, salvage
harvests are planned for 120
acres of nesting habitat in the
analysis area. These salvage
harvests remove dead and dying
trees that could provide
foraging and nesting structure
and generally do not facilitate
regeneration of shade-intolerant
tree species for future habitat
structure. Following
harvesting, these acres would
still qualify as nesting habitat
because large snags and adequate
canopy closure would be
retained, albeit reduced.
Thereby, these activities could
result in both short-term and
long-term reduction in habitat
quality, but at a small scale,
resulting in a low risk of
additional effects to pileated
use and reproduction in the
analysis area.
• Cumulative Ejffects Common to • let ion
• UtematieeH It, C, I), and E to Pileated
If ood 'peckers
Potential habitat would be
reduced to between 6,734 acres
and 7,027 (a 16.7- to 20.1-
percent reduction from the
existing 8,435 acres) on DNRC-
managed lands in the cumulative
effects analysis area ( TABLE F-
19 - ACREAGE OF PILEATED
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-49
TABLE F-19 - ACREAGE OF PILEATED WOODPECKER HABITAT ON DNRC -MANAGED LAND AS A
RESULT OF EACH ALTERNATIVE
PILEATED WOODPECKER
HABITAT
ALTERNATIVE
A
B
C
D
E
Acres of retained nesting
habitat
(% reduction)
6, 130
5, 180
5,026
5, 399
5,264
(0.0%)
(15.5%)
(18.0%)
(11.9%)
(14.2%)
Acres of reduced quality
nesting habitat
(% reduction)
0
448
455
320
344
(0.0%)
(7.3%)
(7.4%)
(5.2%)
(5.6%)
Acres of retained foraging
habitat
(% reduction)
2,305
2,050
2,148
2,052
2,129
(0.0%)
(11.1%)
(5.3%)
(11.0%)
(7.6%)
Acres of reduced quality
foraging habitat
(% reduction)
0
48
19
104
218
(0.0%)
(2.1%)
(0.1%)
(4.5%)
(9.5%)
Total acres of pileated
woodpecker habitat
(% reduction)
8, 435
6, 734
6, 736
7,027
6, 891
0.0%
20.2%
20.1%
16.7%
18.3%
WOODPECKER HABITAT ON DNRC-
MANAGED LAND AS A RESULT OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE) . The proposed
harvests would remove large
patches of potential habitat,
while retaining a majority of
the existing habitat (between
79.9 and 83.3 percent) in the
analysis area. Although
potential habitat would be
reduced under this alternative,
the remaining habitat consists
of high densities of snags that
provide forage and nesting
structure, which could offset
some of the losses experienced
in the harvest units.
Additionally, estimated historic
densities of large snags (2
snags per acre) would be
retained within the harvest
units to provide foraging and
nesting structure when the
canopy closure recovers to the
point of allowing pileated
woodpecker use. In addition,
approximately 3,411 ^cres of
potential pileated woodpecker
habitat exists on the adjacent
lands. In the long-term (100 to
150 years), these stands are
expected to regenerate with a
major proportion of western
larch, which could provide
nesting and feeding structural
components in the future,
thereby improving pileated
woodpecker habitat. Each
alternative is expected to
remove between 11.9 and 18.0
percent of the existing nesting
habitat, while reducing quality
on an additional 5.2 to 7.3
percent of the available
habitat. Foraging habitat would
be less affected ( TABLE F-19 -
ACREAGE OF PILEATED WOODPECKER
HABITAT ON DNRC -MANAGED LAND AS
A RESULT OF EACH ALTERNATIVE) .
However, the reduction in
nesting habitat would reduce
nesting and foraging habitat
structure available to pileated
woodpeckers, which could result
in a moderate risk of reducing
the use and reproduction of
pileated woodpeckers in the
analysis area in the short term.
These effects could be lessened
to some degree due to the high
density of snags found in the
project area. In 80 to 100
years, each alternative would
likely contribute to the
potential for nesting structure
in the analysis area by
regenerating preferred nest
trees (western larch) .
Other activities in the area
could reduce habitat quality,
but no changes in quantity are
Page F-50
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
expected. DNRC is concurrently
considering salvage harvests on
an additional 120 acres of
nesting habitat in the area.
Following harvesting, these
acres would still qualify as
nesting habitat because large
snags and adequate canopy
closure would be retained. No
other forest-management projects
are expected to occur in the
analysis area during the active
period of 2007 through 2009.
Firewood cutting would likely
continue to remove dead and
dying trees primarily along open
roads on all lands in the South
Fork Lost Soup Subunit. None of
these activities would
substantially add to the effects
expected under each alternative.
Considered in conjunction with
other past, present, and future
activities, any of the proposed
action alternatives would result
in low risk of cumulative
effects to pileated woodpecker.
BIG GAME
Issue
Timber harvesting could reduce
thermal cover on big game winter
ranges. Reductions in thermal cover
could result in a reduced carrying
capacity of the winter range.
Existing Condition
When considering populations of big
game species, the winter-range
component of their habitat is
usually the limiting factor driving
big game populations. During the
winter period, plant dormancy
results in decreased forage quality,
while snow cover limits forage
quantity and increases the energetic
costs of maintaining body heat in a
cold environment and movement
through snow. To increase access to
forage and decrease energetic costs,
big game species seek areas with low
snow cover and higher temperatures,
which are typically found on south
to west aspects. In addition, big
game species seek vegetative cover
to fulfill these same needs. Forest
cover intercepts snow, which
increases an animal's ability to
find forage, while reducing the
energetic costs of movement and
ameliorating the effects of weather.
Forested stands that fulfill these
needs are referred to as thermal
cover .
Thermal cover is defined for elk as
stands with trees greater than 40
feet tall with a crown closure of 70
percent or more ( Thomas 1979) .
Stands with 40- to 70-percent canopy
closure may not provide thermal
cover by definition, but do provide
many of the benefits related to snow
interception. Since western larch
loses its needles during winter,
stands dominated by western larch
generally do not provide much snow
intercept. Therefore, for this
analysis, thermal cover includes
pole and sawtimber stands with
greater than 40-percent canopy
closure that are not dominated by
western larch.
To assess cumulative effects to big
game, winter range within the South
Fork Lost Soup Subunit was used.
This scale of analysis provides
enough area to provide winter
habitat for a herd of elk. DFWP
designated big game species
throughout the State. In the
analysis area, DFWP mapped elk ( DFWP
1999) and mule deer ( DFWP 2004)
winter ranges, but no white-tailed
deer ( DFWP 1996 ) winter range.
White-tailed deer winter range
occurs primarily on the valley floor
to the southwest of the analysis
area in the Goat Creek Grizzly Bear
Subunit. Changes to winter range
caused by the proposed project could
affect elk and mule deer winter
range, but would not affect white-
tailed deer. Therefore, the
following analysis focuses on elk
and mule deer, while not conducting
any further analysis on white-tailed
deer .
Since most of the winter range for
elk and mule deer overlap, a
composite winter range was used for
Appendix F - Wildlife
Page F-51
FIGURE F-10 - THERMAL COVER LOCATED ON DNRC -MANAGED LANDS AND ADJACENT
LANDS WITHIN THE ELK-MULE DEER COMPOSITE WINTER RANGE
analysis purposes. The composite
winter range includes 6,613 acres,
of which 5,434 acres occur on DNRC-
managed lands and 1,179 acres occur
on other ownership in the analysis
area ( FIGURE F-10 - THERMAL COVER
LOCATED ON DNRC -MANAGED LANDS AND
ADJACENT LANDS WITHIN THE ELK-MULE
DEER COMPOSITE WINTER RANGE) . Of
the winter range within the State
ownership in the analysis area,
3,503 acres (64.5 percent) provide
thermal cover. Based on
interpretation of aerial
photographs, approximately 1,100
acres (93.3 percent) on adjacent
lands could provide thermal cover.
When the winter range is analyzed
for all ownerships in the analysis
area, approximately 4,603 acres
(69.6 percent) of thermal cover
exists. However, this estimate is
likely high due to the inclusion of
stands dominated by western larch,
which could not be distinguished
through interpretation of aerial
photographs .
PREDICTED EFFECTS TO ELK AND MULE
DEER
Direct and Indirect Effects
• Hired and Indirect t\ffedx oJ'.Xo-. let ion
,/ffernafire .1 to Elk and .Mute Deer
Thermal-cover levels would not be
affected. Through time, thermal
cover could be reduced by insects
and diseases. However, as
overstory trees die, younger
shade-tolerant trees present in
the understory would likely fill
in the canopy gap resulting in a
short-term loss of thermal cover.
Under this alternative, the
ability of the available habitat
to support the current elk and
mule deer population would remain
largely unchanged.
Page F 52 Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
• liircct and Indirect Effectu !o . let ion
• Iftrmafirr It. ( . I), and E to Elk and .Male
liter
Each alternative proposes to
harvest between 675 and 895 acres
of thermal cover. However, only
regeneration harvests (seedtree
and shelterwood) would reduce
canopy cover to less than 40
percent, resulting in a loss of
thermal cover. Therefore, the
alternatives would remove between
514 and 601 acres of thermal
cover. On the other harvested
acreage, greater than 40-percent
canopy cover would be retained,
which would retain thermal cover,
albeit with reduced quality from
the existing condition ( TABLE F-20
- ACRES OF THERMAL COVER AFFECTED
BY ALTERNATIVE) . These reductions
are expected to result in a
moderate risk of habitat shifts of
wintering elk and deer away from
treated areas. The risk of
avoidance would increase in
relation to greater snow
accumulations in these areas.
the risk of reducing
carrying capacity on
this portion of the
winter range. On
DNRC-managed lands,
enough thermal cover
would be retained
under any
alternative to
provide adequate
winter range habitat
for elk and mule
TABLE F-21 - ACRES OF THERMAL COVER RESULTING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE
THERMAL
ALTERNATIVE
COVER
A
B
C
D
E
Acres of retained
3,503
2, 961
2, 903
2, 989
2, 904
(% reduction)
(0.0%)
(15.5%)
(17.1%)
(14.7%)
(17.2%)
(% of winter range on DNRC)
(0.0%)
(54 . 5%)
(53.4%)
(55.0%)
(53.4%)
Acres of reduced quality
0
149
109
161
294
(% reduction)
(0.0%)
(4.3%)
(3.1%)
(4.6%)
(8.4%)
(% of winter range on DNRC)
(64.5%)
(2.7%)
(2.0%)
(3.0%)
(5.4%)
Total acres affected
0
691
709
675
895
(% of winter range on DNRC)
(0.0%)
(19.7%)
(20.2%)
(19.3%)
(25.5%)
(% affected)
(64.5%)
12.7%)
(13.0%)
(12.4%)
(16.5%)
Appendix F - Wildlife Page F-53
TABLE F-20 - ACRES OF THERMAL COVER AFFECTED BY
ALTERNATIVE
THERMAL
ALTERNATIVE
COVER
A
B
C
D
E
Acres removed
0
542
600
514
601
Acres reduced in quality
0
149
109
161
294
Total acres of habitat
affected
0
691
709
675
895
Cumulative Effects
• ( amnia tire Iffirct* qf\ let ion . Ilfernafiren
It, I), and E to Elk and • M nte Derr
Following implementation of an
action alternative, the amount
of thermal cover on DNRC-managed
portions of the composite winter
range would range between 2,989
to 2,903 acres (a 14.7- to 17.2-
percent reduction) . Commercial-
thin prescriptions would reduce
the quality of thermal cover on
another 3.1 to 8.4 percent of
the existing thermal cover. The
proposed harvests would reduce
the percentage of winter range
in thermal cover from 64.5
percent to between 53.4 and 55.0
percent on DNRC-managed lands
( TABLE F-21 - ACRES OF THERMAL
COVER RESULTING FROM THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH
ALTERNATIVE ) . Concurrent
salvage harvests on DNRC-managed
lands (120 acres) within the
winter range are not expected to
alter thermal cover and,
therefore, would not increase
deer; therefore, a low risk to
the reduction of carrying
capacity is expected under any
alternative .
In addition to the thermal cover
found on DNRC-managed lands, an
additional 1,100 acres of
thermal cover could occur on
adjacent ownerships within the
cumulative-effects analysis
area. When these acres are
considered, the action
alternatives would reduce the
proportion of thermal cover on
the composite winter range from
69.6 percent to between 60.5 and
61.8 percent. No additional
forest-management activities are
expected on adjacent lands
during the 2007 through 2009
active period. Therefore, this
thermal cover would remain
available to winter animals,
thereby reducing the overall
effects of any alternative.
However, the use of harvested
areas is expected to be reduced
when snow accumulations
increase. Considered in
conjunction with other past,
present, and future activities,
any of the proposed action
alternatives would result in low
risk of substantially reducing
the carrying capacity of elk and
mule deer in the analysis area.
k
Page F-54
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
APPENDIX G
SOILS ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
The Swan River watershed is a valley
formed by glaciers and river
processes. The dominant soil types
found in the project area are deep
glacial tills derived from
argillite, siltite, and limestone
from the Belt Supergroup. Upper
slopes and ridges are weathered
bedrock scoured by glaciers. This
analysis addresses the issue that
timber harvesting and associated
activities may affect soil
conditions in the proposed project
area .
ANALYSIS METHODS
Soil effects and conditions will be
analyzed by evaluating the current
levels of soil disturbance in the
proposed project area through the
use of aerial-photo interpretation
and ocular estimates based on field
review of existing and proposed
harvest units. Analysis will also
include assessing slope stability
with aerial-photo interpretation and
field review of proposed roads and
harvest units.
Estimated effects of proposed
activities will be assessed based on
findings of DNRC soil monitoring.
Soil-monitoring efforts have been
ongoing by DNRC over the last 20
years. Through soil monitoring
conducted in Swan River State Forest
on soil types similar to those found
in the proposed project area, DNRC
found that ground-based skidding on
slopes of 0 to 15 percent on the
Goat Creek watershed resulted in
13.8 percent of the area in
detrimental soil effects, with no
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction G-l
Analysis Methods G-l
Analysis Area G-l
Existing Conditions G-l
Alternative Effects G-2
observed soil erosion. Ground-based
skidding on slopes of 20 to 50
percent in the Woodward Creek
watershed in 2002 resulted in 8.1
percent of the area in detrimental
soil effects, and spotty soil
erosion was observed on segments of
skid trails ( DNRC 2004 ) . Based on
analysis in the SFLMP, analysis
found that up to 20 percent of
ground-based harvest areas would be
trafficked by skid trails ( DNRC
1996) , and DNRC soils monitoring has
shown that up to an estimated 75
percent of the skid trails would
result in moderate to severe
impacts. In addition, DNRC
conducted soil monitoring in 2002 on
cable-yarding units in a burned
area. The results of this
monitoring are found in the MOOSE
PROJECT SOIL MONITORING REPORT (DNRC
2003) . Results found that up to 5
percent of cable yarding units were
in an impacted condition.
ANALYSIS AREA
The analysis area for evaluating
soil effects will include State-
owned land within the Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project area. The
proposed project area is found
within the South Fork Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, and Soup Creek
watersheds .
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Soil types in the project area
include deep alluvial and glacial
deposits on the nearly level valley
floor with wetland types in the
lower portions of Cilly Creek and
Soup Creek. The valley sideslopes
have moderate to deep glacial till
deposits with cobbly silt loam
subsoils and, in most cases, a
volcanic ash surface soil. Shallow
bedrock and high-rock-content
residual soils are found on glacial
scoured ridges. A list of soil
types found in the Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project area and their
associated management implications
is found in TABLE G-2 - SOIL MAP
UNIT DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE THREE
CREEKS PROJECT AREA. The FNF Soil
Survey identified one area of soils
at elevated risk for mass movements
in the project area. This soil type
is landtype 77, and is found in the
southern portion of the proposed
project area south of Soup Creek.
During field reconnaissance, several
areas of past slope instability were
identified in the proposed project
area. These areas, mostly small,
are a result of several site-
specific conditions. These
conditions include a combination of
the glacial till, steep slopes,
shallow depth to bedrock, and
avalanche chutes; in one case, past
management may have been a
contributing factor. A more
detailed description of past slope
instability and recommended measures
to mitigate for possible instability
can be found in the project file at
Swan River State Forest.
The proposed project area is
approximately 10,344 acres and is
located in Swan River State Forest.
In the proposed project area, DNRC
has conducted timber harvesting
since the 1950s. Based on review of
aerial photos from the 1960s through
the present, section record cards,
and timber sale records,
approximately 1,463 acres (or about
14 percent of the acres in the
project area) have been harvested on
State land within the proposed
project area using a combination of
ground-based and cable-yarding
harvest methods. Ground-based
yarding can affect soil conditions
through displacement and compaction
of productive surface layers of
soil, mainly on heavily usbd trails.
Cable yarding can also produce
impacts to soils. These impacts
mainly occur where one end of the
logs are dragged on the ground as
logs are lifted to the landing,
especially on convex slopes where
the cable line may be closer to the
ground and logs are not lifted as
high. These impacts are generally
far less in area and degree of
impact than impacts from ground-
based skidding.
Based on field review of past
harvest areas within the proposed
project area, existing soils impacts
are estimated to be 10 percent or
less of the previously harvested
areas. Field reconnaissance using
ocular estimates shows that existing
skid trails are adequately spaced,
many of the existing trails from
past management are well vegetated,
and past impacts are ameliorating
from frost and vegetation growth.
Minimal evidence of isolated soils
erosion was observed on short
pitches of existing skid trails and
landings within the project area.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS
• Direct amt / n ft i reef Effect* of Wo-, let ion
, itternatice . / to Soil 'x
Direct or indirect impacts would
not occur with this alternative.
No ground- or cable-based activity
would take place under this
alternative, which would leave the
soil in the project area unchanged
from the description in EXISTING
CONDITIONS of this analysis.
Existing areas of slope
instability or erosion would
continue to recover or degrade
according to natural and
preexisting conditions and would
not be affected by this
alternative .
• Direct and Indirect l^ffeetn Common to ,1ction
• IffernafireM It, C\ D. and E to Soil*
The estimated range of soil
impacts for all action
alternatives is from 7 to 9
percent, and no individual harvest
unit is expected to have impacts
greater than 15 percent. Fifteen
percent impacts fall within the
range of impacts analyzed for in
the EXPECTED FUTURE CONDITIONS
section of the SFLMP (DNRC 1996).
According to the SFLMP, the level
of concern for compaction and
Page G-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
displacement is elevated when
these impacts exceed 20 percent of
an area (DNRC 1996). DNRC expects
that by maintaining 85 percent of
the area with healthy soil
conditions and limiting the
detrimental effects of moderate
and severe displacement,
compaction, and erosion to less
than 15 percent of the area,
productive and hydrologically
stable sites will be maintained
within harvested areas. This
level of impacts would be achieved
through a combination of skidding
mitigation measures including, but
not limited to:
- slope and equipment
restrictions ;
- restriction for season-of-use to
periods of dry, frozen, or snow-
covered soil conditions;
- utilization of a minimum skid-
trail spacing;
- installation of erosion control
where needed;
- retention of 10 to 15 tons per
acre of woody debris; and
- adherence to all applicable
BMPs.
An assessment of the impacts of
the proposed action alternatives
on slope stability can be found in
the project file at the Swan River
State Forest office.
Timber-harvesting operations in
all action alternatives would
retain adequate coarse woody
debris (greater than 3 inches in
diameter) and green litter to
conserve available nutrients and
maintain long-term soil conditions
similar to the range of natural
conditions. To be effective, the
material would be well distributed
across the management unit.
Current direction for recommended
amounts of debris to retain during
operations would be based on
"Managing Coarse Woody Debris in
Forests of the Rocky
Mountains" (Graham et al. 1994)
and ranges from 4 to 33 tons per
acre based on habitat types. As
more information on the role of
woody debris and litter is
developed concerning tree growth
and site productivity, DNRC may
modify the recommendations. On
sites where levels of coarse woody
debris are below average historic
levels (compared to Graham et al
1994), proposed silvicultural
prescriptions would be designed to
promote larger tree diameters for
future coarse woody debris through
snag management ( ARM 36.11.411 ).
• Direct and Indirect effect# oJ\ let ion
•Alternative It to Soil#
BMPs and a combination of
mitigation measures would be
implemented to limit the area and
degree of soil impacts as noted in
ARM 36.11.422 and the SFLMP (DNRC
1996). This alternative would
have direct impacts on an
estimated 8.7 percent of the area
in proposed harvest units. This
includes skid trails, landings,
cable-yarding corridors, and
impacted spots. The estimate is
based on procedures detailed in
the ANALYSIS METHODS portion of
this analysis. Direct impacts to
soils would include compaction and
displacement resulting from use of
ground-based equipment to skid
logs on approximately 891 acres,
cable yarding on approximately 557
acres, and landings from
helicopter yarding.
Ground-based site preparation and
road construction would also
generate direct impacts to the
soil resource. Site-preparation
disturbance would be intentionally
done, and these impacts are
considered light and promote
reforestation of the site. TABLE
G-l - SUMMARY OF DIRECT EFFECTS OF
ALL ALTERNATIVES ON SOILS WITH
SUMMER HARVESTING summarizes the
expected impacts to the soil
resource as a result of Action
Alternative B. These activities
would leave up to 8.7 percent of
the proposed harvest units in an
impacted condition. This level is
below the range analyzed for in
Appendix G - Soils
Page G-3
the EXPECTED FUTURE CONDITIONS
section of the SFLMP and are well
within the 20-percent impacted
area established as a level of
concern in the SFLMP (DNRC 1996) .
• Direct and Indirect Effect* of . let ion
, ‘ltternatire C to Soil *
BMPs and a combination of
mitigation measures would be
implemented to limit the area and
degree of soil impacts as noted in
ARM 36.11.422 and the SFLMP (DNRC
1996). This alternative would
have direct impacts on an
estimated 8 . 6 percent of the area
in proposed harvest units. This
includes skid trails, landings,
cable-yarding corridors, and
impacted spots. The estimate is
based on procedures detailed under
ANALYSIS METHODS. Direct impacts
to soils would include compaction
and displacement resulting from
use of ground-based equipment to
skid logs on approximately 823
acres, cable yarding on
approximately 543 acres, and
landings from helicopter yarding.
Ground-based site preparation and
road construction would also
generate direct impacts to the
soil resource. Site-preparation
disturbance would be intentionally
done, and these impacts are
considered light and promote
reforestation of the site. TABLE
G-l - SUMMARY OF DIRECT EFFECTS OF
ALL ALTERNATIVES ON SOILS WITH
SUMMER HARVESTING summarizes the
expected impacts to the soil
resource as a result of Action
Alternative C. These activities
would leave up to 8.6 percent of
the proposed harvest units in an
impacted condition. This level is
below the range analyzed\for in
the EXPECTED FUTURE CONDITIONS
section of the SFLMP and are well
within the 20-percent impacted
area established as a level of
concern in the SFLMP (DNRC 1996).
• Direct and Indirect Effect* of . let ion
. Iffernafire D to Soil*
BMPs and a combination of
mitigation measures would be
implemented to limit the area and
degree of soil impacts as noted in
ARM 36.11.422 and the SFLMP (DNRC
1996) . This alternative would
have direct impacts on an
estimated 7.2 percent of the area
in proposed harvest units. This
includes skid trails, landings,
cable-yarding corridors, and
impacted spots. The estimate is
based on procedures detailed under
ANALYSIS METHODS. Direct impacts
to soils would include compaction
and displacement resulting from
use of ground-based equipment to
skid logs on approximately 699
acres, cable yarding on
approximately 679 acres, and
landings from helicopter yarding.
Ground-based site preparation and
road construction would also
generate direct impacts to the
soil resource. Site-preparation
disturbance would be intentionally
done, and these impacts are
considered light and promote
reforestation of the site. TABLE
G-l - SUMMARY OF DIRECT EFFECTS OF
ALL ALTERNATIVES ON SOILS WITH
SUMMER HARVESTING summarizes the
expected impacts to the soil
resource as a result of Action
Alternative D. These activities
would leave up to 7.2 percent of
the proposed harvest units in an
impacted condition. This level is
below the range analyzed for in
the EXPECTED FUTURE CONDITIONS
section of the SFLMP and are well
within the 20-percent impacted
area established as a level of
concern in the SFLMP (DNRC 1996).
• Direct and Indirect I fleet* if . let ion
• Iffernafire E to Soil*
BMPs and a combination of
mitigation measures would be
implemented to limit the area and
degree of soil impacts as noted in
ARM 36.11.422 and the SFLMP (DNRC
1996) . This alternative would
Page G-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
have direct impacts on an
estimated 7.6 percent of the area
in proposed harvest units. This
includes skid trails, landings,
cable-yarding corridors, and
impacted spots. The estimate is
based on procedures detailed in
the ANALYSIS METHODS portion of
this analysis. Direct impacts to
soils would include compaction and
displacement resulting from use of
ground-based equipment to skid
logs on approximately 786 acres,
cable yarding on approximately 629
acres, and landings from
helicopter yarding.
Ground-based site preparation and
road construction would also
generate direct impacts to the
soil resource. Site-preparation
disturbance would be intentionally
done, and these impacts are
considered light and promote
reforestation of the site. TABLE
G-l - SUMMARY OF DIRECT EFFECTS OF
ALL ALTERNATIVES ON SOILS WITH
SUMMER HARVESTING summarizes the
expected impacts to the soil
resource as a result of Action
Alternative E. These activities
would leave up to 7.6 percent of
the proposed harvest urrits in an
impacted condition. This level is
below the range analyzed for in
the EXPECTED FUTURE CONDITIONS
section of the SFLMP and are well
within the 20-percent impacted
area established as a level of
concern in the SFLMP (DNRC 1996).
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
• Cumulative bjffect# of.Xo-. lei ion .llfernafive
.7 to Soil h
This alternative would have no
additional cumulative impacts on
soil conditions. No soil would be
disturbed, and no past harvest
units would be entered.
Previously harvested areas would
continue to ameliorate over time.
Cumulative effects of this
alternative would be similar to
those described under EXISTING
CONDITIONS of this analysis.
• Cumulative Iffleet# to Soil 'h Common to . Id ion
. Alternative tt 11 am t C
Both of these alternatives would
enter one stand (approximately 19
acres) where previous timber
management has occurred.
Cumulative effects to soils may
occur from repeated entries into a
forest stand. Cumulative impacts
may include compaction,
displacement, and erosion on
additional trails beyond those
already existing from past
entries. Additional compaction
and displacement may occur on
existing trails from reuse. Any
amelioration of compaction from
frost action and vegetation is
erased if an existing trail is
TABLE G-l - SUMMARY OF DIRECT EFFECTS OF ALL ALTERNATIVES ON SOILS WITH
SUMMER HARVESTING
DESCRIPTION OF
ALTERNATIVE
PARAMETER
A
B
C
D
E
Acres of harvest
0
1,856
1,752
1, 941
1, 966
Acres of helicopter yarding
0
408
386
563
551
Acres of tractor yarding
0
891
823
699
786
Acres of skid trails and landings1
0
178
165
140
157
Acres of cable yarding
0
557
543
679
629
Acres of yarding corridors^
0
56
54
68
63
Acres of moderate impacts1
0
162
151
139
149
Percent of harvest area with impacts
0%
8.7%
8 . 6%
7.2%
7 . 6%
1 20 percent of ground-based area
2 5 to 10 percent of cable yarding units
3 75 percent of ground-based skid trails and 50 percent of cable corridors (based
on DNRC monitoring as reported under ANALYSIS METHODS )
Appendix G - Soils
Page G-5
reused by equipment, and the
effects may be more extensive with
repeated use. DNRC would maintain
healthy soil conditions and
minimize adverse cumulative
effects by implementing any or all
of the following:
- use of existing skid trails from
past harvesting activities if
they are properly located and
spaced;
- use of additional skid trails
only where existing trails are
unacceptable;
- use of soil moisture
restrictions, season of
operation, and method of
harvesting to mitigate potential
direct and indirect effects; and
- retention of 10 to 15 tons per
acre of coarse woody debris and
fine litter for nutrient
cycling .
Based on soil monitoring conducted
on DNRC land in Swan River State
Forest, DNRC expects cumulative
effects to soil conditions to be
15 percent or less of harvested
areas, including impacts from past
harvesting. In most of the
proposed project area, cumulative
impacts would be less than 10
percent. Each value is within or
below the range analyzed for in
the EXPECTED FUTURE CONDITIONS
section of the SFLMP and well
within the 20-percent impacted
area established as a level of
concern in the SFLMP (DNRC 1996) .
In the remaining previously
unharvested stands, cumulative
effects to soil conditions from
multiple entries would be the same
as those listed under Direct and
Indirect Effects. For slash
treatment, equipment piling of
slash and site preparation would
be limited to less than 30-percent
scarified soils within
regeneration harvest units.
Scarification to mix the surface
duff to promote conifer
establishment, but not remove
surface soil, is considered a
nondetrimental effect to soils.
Future stand entries would likely
use existing trails and landings.
• Cum nla tire EfflectM of. Id ion • ilternative D to
SoUm
This alternative would enter one
stand (approximately 8 acres)
where previous timber management
has occurred. Cumulative effects
to soils may occur from repeated
entries into a forest stand.
Cumulative impacts may include
compaction, displacement, and
erosion on additional trails
beyond those already existing from
past entries. Additional
compaction and displacement may
occur on existing trails from
reuse. Any amelioration of
compaction from frost action and
vegetation growth is erased if an
existing trail is reused by
equipment, and the effects may be
more extensive with repeated use.
DNRC would maintain healthy soil
conditions and minimize adverse
cumulative effects by implementing
any or all of the following:
- use of existing skid trails from
past harvesting activities if
they are properly located and
spaced;
- use of additional skid trails
only where existing trails are
unacceptable;
- use of soil moisture
restrictions, season of
operation, and method of
harvesting to mitigate potential
direct and indirect effects; and
- the retention of 10 to 15 tons
per acre of coarse woody debris
and fine litter for nutrient
cycling .
Based on soil monitoring conducted
on DNRC-managed land in Swan River
State Forest, DNRC expects
cumulative effects to soil
conditions to be 15 percent or
less of harvested areas, including
impacts from past harvesting. In
most of the proposed project area,
cumulative impacts would be less
Page G-6
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
than 10 percent. Each value is
within or below the range analyzed
for in the EXPECTED FUTURE
CONDITIONS section of the SFLMP
and well within the 20-percent
impacted area established as a
level of concern in the SFLMP
(DNRC 1996) .
In the remaining previously
unharvested stands, cumulative
effects to soil conditions from
multiple entries would be the same
as those listed under DIRECT AND
INDIRECT EFFECTS. For slash
treatment, equipment piling of
slash and site preparation would
be limited to less than 30-percent
scarified soils within
regeneration harvest units.
Scarification to mix the surface
duff to promote conifer
establishment, but not remove
surface soil, is considered a
nondetrimental effect to soils.
Future stand entries would likely
use existing trails and landings.
• Cumulative luffed# of . Id ion , Uternative /> to
Soil *
This alternative would enter 2
stands (combined 27 acres) where
previous timber management has
occurred. Cumulative effects to
soils may occur from repeated
entries into a forest stand.
Cumulative impacts may include
compaction, displacement, and
erosion on additional trails
beyond those already existing from
past entries. Additional
compaction and displacement may
occur on existing trails from
reuse. Any amelioration of
compaction from frost action and
vegetation growth is erased if an
existing trail is reused by
equipment, and the effects may be
more extensive with repeated use.
DNRC would maintain healthy soil
conditions and minimize adverse
cumulative effects by implementing
any or all of the following:
- use of existing skid trails from
past harvesting activities if
they are properly located and
spaced;
- use of additional skid trails
only where existing trails are
unacceptable;
- use of soil moisture
restrictions, season of
operation, and method of
harvesting to mitigate potential
direct and indirect effects; and
- the retention of 10 to 15 tons
per acre of coarse woody debris
and fine litter for nutrient
cycling .
Based on soil monitoring conducted
on DNRC-managed land in Swan River
State Forest, DNRC expects
cumulative effects to soil
conditions to be 15 percent or
less of harvested areas, including
impacts from past harvesting. In
most of the proposed project area,
cumulative impacts would be less
than 10 percent. Each value is
within or below the range analyzed
for in the EXPECTED FUTURE
CONDITIONS section of the SFLMP ,
and well within the 20-percent
impacted area established as a
level of concern in the SFLMP
(DNRC 1996) .
In the remaining previously
unharvested stands, cumulative
effects to soil conditions from
multiple entries would be the same
as those listed under DIRECT AND
INDIRECT EFFECTS. For slash
treatment, equipment piling of
slash and site preparation would
be limited to less than 30-percent
scarified soils within
regeneration harvest units.
Scarification to mix the surface
duff to promote conifer
establishment, but not remove
surface soil, is considered a
nondetrimental effect to soils.
Future stand entries would likely
use existing trails and landings.
Appendix G - Soils
Page G-7
TABLE G-2 - SOIL MAP UNIT DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE THREE CREEKS PROJECT AREA
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Appendix G - Soils
Page G-9
FIGURE G-l - THREEE CREEKS TIMBER SALE PROJECT LANDTYPE MAP
Proposed Project Area
Section Lines
Swan Land Types
Streams
Montana DNRC
Trust Land Management
NWLO-Swan River State Forest
1:45,682 1 inch = 0.72 miles
Page G-10
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Appendix H
Economic
Analysis
APPENDIX H
ECONOMICS ANALYSIS
TABLE H-l
FLATHEAD ,
INTRODUCTION
This section analyzes the economic
impacts associated with each of the
alternatives and how they
affect revenue to the
trust, local employment and
income, and other uses of
the area. The Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project is
located in Swan River State
Forest, located in the
southeastern corner of Lake
County and near the
northeastern corner of
Missoula County. The sale
is in an area of relatively
low population density and
has produced timber for the
area mills since the 1800s.
The focus of this section
will be on market
activities that directly or
indirectly benefit the
Montana education system, generate
revenue for the school trust fund,
and provide funding for public
buildings .
EXISTING CONDITIONS
The location of Swan River State
Forest in relation to the lumber and
plywood mills and pulp producers
likely to be interested in the
timber sale necessitates analyzing
economic and demographic data from
several counties. Producers from
Lake, Missoula, and Flathead
counties are all likely to have an
interest in this sale. TABLE H-l -
SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR
FLATHEAD , LAKE , AND MISSOULA
COUNTIES contains selected
demographic information for each of
these counties and the entire State.
- SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR
LAKE, AND MISSOULA COUNTIES
DEMOGRAPHIC
COUNTY
STATE
OF
MONTANA
FLATHEAD
LAKE
MISSOULA
Population
1990
59,218
21,041
78, 687
799, 065
Population
2000
74,471
26, 507
95, 802
902, 195
Growth rate
(%)
2.3
2.3
2 . 0
1.2
Median age
37.2
38.2
33.2
37.8
School
enrollment
13, 000
4,560
9, 400
157, 560
Source: Montana Department of Labor and Commerce
and the Office of Public Instruction
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
. . H-l
Existing Conditions
. . H-l
Alternative Effects
. . H-3
Direct Effects
. . H-3
Indirect Effects
. . H-7
Cumulative Effects
. . H-9
Flathead and Lake Counties are
widely known for their production of
"Flathead cherries" and Christmas
tree farms. Flathead County
includes the northern portion of
Flathead Lake and the west side of
Glacier Park. Lake County
encompasses a large part of Flathead
Lake and includes much of the
Flathead Indian Reservation.
Missoula County includes the
University of Montana as well as
several timber-processing
facilities. Kindergarten through 12
school enrollment in the 3 counties
totals nearly 27,000. Flathead
County is the second largest county
in terms of population, but boasts
the largest school population,
13,000, which is almost half of the
total kindergarten through 12 school
population for the 3 counties.
The data in TABLE H-2 - COVERED
WAGES AND EMPLOYMENT IN 1999 FOR
SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN FLATHEAD,
LAKE, AND MISSOULA COUNTIES shows
employment and income in selected
CO
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Agriculture,
and fishing
Forestry
Construction
Manufacturing
o
3
T3
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a
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Metals
Transportatior
Trade
a)
fd co
•H
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Financial^ ins
and real estat
Services
Hotels, etc
Amusement ai
recreation
Government
Total all indu
3
m
o
■u
-. let ion
. Itternatirc . /
None of the indirect effects that
would result from the action
alternatives would occur.
• Indirect Economic Effect* of ,'lction
. Alternative* If, C, />, and E
Indirect economic impacts are much
broader than those identified
under DIRECT EFFECTS, above. Some
of these impacts are the result of
the money from the sales
"recycling" through the economy
several times. For example, the
money spent for groceries by the
employee of the timber mill, in
part, goes to pay the salary of
the grocery store employee, the
grocery store employee' s use that
money to purchase groceries for
themselves. This, in turn,
generates more income for the
grocery store employees, etc.
Unfortunately, a model of the
county that could be used to
demonstrate secondary effects is
not available. In a broader
State-wide context, money paid to
wood industry workers results in
increased State income-tax
collections, as well as increased
purchases in other areas of the
State. Income-tax collections
from the wages of millworkers
alone are estimated to generate
between $168,000 and $196,000 in
State tax revenue, depending on
which alternative is selected.
Taxes on indirect wages would add
to this tax amount. Since the
State revenue is spent on projects
State-wide, the entire State
shares, in part, in the benefits
that result from the timber sale.
In particular, Montana schools
benefit additionally by being able
to use these revenues to fund
schools throughout the State.
— Nonmarket Issues
Quantitative analysis of the
economic value of nonmarket
benefits and costs will not be
Appendix H - Economics
Page H-7
part of this analysis because
they do not generate income for
the trust, although they do
affect the well-being of Montana
residents. Because of their
effects, a short qualitative
discussion of nonmarket issues
follows: A brief description of
the biological impacts is
included in order to identify
areas where economic values
might be affected. A more
detailed discussion of the
biological impacts is found in
other sections of the report.
- Environmental Modifications
The harvest of timber will
modify the undisturbed
development of the forest and,
as a result, will affect both
the short- and long-term habitat
and wildlife regimes. How
individuals value these
modifications is an empirical
question and may be viewed
either positively or negatively
by different individuals.
Modifying the undisturbed
development of the areas may
change the use of the area by
some species of wildlife in the
short run and may affect the use
by other species in the longer
term. The estimation of the net
social benefit or loss of these
impacts is an empirical issue
that does not directly affect
the school trust fund.
- Human Use
The harvest area has been
historically used for
recreational purposes such as
hiking, hunting, and fishing.
While the use of these areas is
likely to decline or qhange
during the period of lbgging,
long-term overall use of the
area is expected to remain high,
and some nonmarket uses are
unlikely to change. Fishing,
for example, should not be
severely affected by the logging
since SMZ laws protect streams.
The aesthetics will be modified
and some individuals will view
this as a loss, others may
prefer the more-open forest that
will result from the harvest.
Visual changes are minimized to
the extent practicable by
limiting the trees harvested in
some areas and by "sculpting
cuts" to avoid "unnatural"
visual lines. Some activities
may be enhanced. For instance
the logged area may enhance the
habitat of some game species,
and the increased use of areas
by those game species may make
the area more attractive to
hunters. As in the case of the
environmental modifications, the
net social benefit or loss is an
empirical issue dependent on
individual values.
- Social Impact
The area has a substantial
presence in the wood-processing
industry and, as a result, has
institutions established to
handle the social requirements
associated with this industry.
The timber sale is unlikely to
add sufficient pressures to
these institutions to require
their modification. A high rate
of employment (low rate of
unemployment) is associated with
lower rates of crime, domestic
violence, alcohol/drug problems,
and a healthier, more satisfied
community. To the extent that
No-Action Alternative A might
contribute to unemployment, the
harvest might be a short-term
negative social impact on the
community. Conversely, to the
extent that the sale provides
employment, the short-term
impact will be positive.
- Roads
New roads would be constructed
for the sale(s). Existing roads
would be improved to handle the
logging trucks and provide
transport for other equipment
used in logging; because of
terrain each alternative has a
Page H-8
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
significant proportion of the
sale that will be logged using
helicopters. Expenditures for
road improvements are identified
in each action alternatives as
part of the sale development
cost. Some improvements are
also funded through FI fees, as
well as other funds set up for
this purpose. To the extent
that these expenditures are
spent locally, local economic
conditions would improve. A
portion of the money would leave
the area and provide income for
other areas of the State and
national economies. Culverts,
for example, usually come from
manufacturers outside of
Montana; however, most of the
road-improvement expenditures
would remain in Montana.
- Population Impacts
Logging and milling activities
associated with the timber sale
are not anticipated to have any
long-term impact on the
population of the region or the
State of Montana.
- Underlying Assumptions
Project impact estimation and
analysis assumes that most of
the economic impact associated
with the sales will take place
in the 3-county area. The
estimates are intended for
comparative purposes and do not
purport to be the value of the
impacts in any absolute sense.
Stumpage prices were determined
using the current transaction
equation modified by
professional judgment to reflect
current and local market
conditions as much as possible.
The FI fee is for a program that
provides funding for forest
development and improvement and
is collected from the logging
company as part of their bid.
Activities funded under this
program include site
preparation, tree planting,
thinning, roadwork, right-of-way
acquisition, etc. The current
FI fee for the Northwestern Land
Office area is $19.50 per mbf.
Most of the economic impacts
associated with this sale are
short term. If no other trees
were available for harvest after
these sale(s), the tendency
would be to return to a lower
level of economic activity. A
short-term impact that might
occur as the local economy
contracts might be an increase
in unemployment as local
employers adjust to the lowered
production levels.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
• Cumulative Economic /Effects of JVo-.ficfion
Alternative A
No cumulative effects would occur.
• Cumulative Economic /Effect* of .fiction
Alternatives II, C, D, and E
This sale would be part of the
annual harvest of timber from the
State of Montana forested trust
lands. The net revenue from this
sale would add to the trust fund.
Annual trust fund contributions
have varied widely over the years,
because the actual contribution to
the trust is more a function of
harvest than of sales. Harvest
levels and prices can vary
substantially over time; sales
volumes tend to be more
consistent. TABLE H-6 -ANNUAL
GROSS REVENUE FROM TIMBER
HARVESTED FROM MONTANA TRUST LANDS
shows the annual gross revenue
from harvests for the last 5
years. The net contribution to
the trust fund is also affected by
the annual costs experienced by
DNRC for program management, which
varies year to year. DNRC should
continue to make net annual
contributions to the trust from
its forest-management program.
DNRC has a State-wide sustained-
yield annual harvest goal of 53.2
mmbf. If timber from this project
Appendix H - Economics
Page H-9
is not sold, this volume could
come from sales elsewhere;
however, the timber may be from
other areas and not benefit this
region of the State. Long-term
deferral of harvest from this
forest would impact harvest
patterns, changing both the region
where the trees are harvested and
the volumes taken. The other
areas of the State where harvests
would occur if this sale is not
sold would be impacted.
TABLE H-6 - ANNUAL GROSS REVENUE
FROM TIMBER HARVEST FROM MONTANA
FORESTED TRUST LANDS
YEAR
HARVEST REVENUE
2005
$16, 596, 191
2004
$11,043,525
2003
$8,278,792
2002
$9, 686, 844
2001
$8, 524, 150
K
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Page H-10
Appendix I
Recreation
Analysis
APPENDIX I
RECREATION ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
An issue was raised that forest-
management activities may conflict
with hunting and general
recreational use in the area. The
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area currently experiences moderate
recreational use by the general
public .
METHODS
The methodologies used to portray
the existing condition and determine
recreational impacts of the project
include determining recreational
uses, approximate revenue, and the
potential for conflict between
project activities and recreational
uses .
ANALYSIS AREA
The analysis area includes all
legally accessible lands within the
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area (South Lost, Cilly, and Soup
Creek watersheds) and the roads that
would be used to haul equipment and
logs .
EXISTING CONDITION
The Three Creeks Timber Sale Project
area receives moderate recreational
use throughout the year. The area
is primarily used for berry and
mushroom picking, snowmobiling,
cross-country skiing, horseback
riding, bicycling, fishing, hiking,
hunting, and camping that includes
the use of the Soup Creek
Campground. The main roads within
the sale area that provide
recreational access to the Swan
Mountains are South Lost Creek,
Cilly Creek, and Soup Creek roads.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
. . 1-1
MpthriH^
. . 1-1
Analysis Area
. . 1-1
Existing Condition
. . 1-1
Alternative Effects
. . 1-2
There are currently 3 separate
outfitting licenses for hunting: 1
each for spring black bear ($700.00
annually), big game ($2,550.00
annually) , and mountain lion
($1,850.00 annually). In addition,
6 licenses for fishing outfitters on
Swan River are available; 5 are
currently in use. The fishing
outfitters pay an annual fee of
$200.00 each, for a total return of
$1,000.00 a year. Finally, there is
a cross-country skiing recreational
use license ($200.00 annually) and a
pending horseback-riding permit.
The total annual return on hunting
outfitting, fishing outfitting, and
recreational use permits is
$6,300.00, which, spread across
39, 833 acres of Swan River State
Forest, is approximately $0,158/
acre .
State lands are available for
nonmotorized recreational use to
anyone purchasing a General
Recreational Use License. A
recreational fee of two dollars for
each user is also obtained through
the sale of wildlife conservation
licenses required for hunting and
fishing in Montana. These two types
of licenses and fees are not site
specific and allow use of all
legally accessible State lands.
Therefore, determining the amount of
recreational use and income
resulting from the sale of licenses
for a specific area is difficult.
In Fiscal Year 2004, the total gross
revenue to the school trust from the
General Recreational Use Licenses
was approximately $183,660. From
March 1 through June 30, 2004,
$515, 628 in revenue was created
under Conservation License sales.
As a result, the recreational
revenue created totaled $699,288.
School trust lands State-wide total
5,160,692 surface acres ( DNRC Annual
Report 2004) . Therefore, the
average gross revenue is
approximately $0. 136/acre ($699,288
divided by 5,160,692 acres) for the
2004 fiscal year.
Applying the State-wide average
revenue per acre to State land
within the project area
(approximately 10,640 acres), this
land produced estimated revenue of
$1,447.04 from General Recreational
Use and Conservation licenses,
assuming the project area receives
an average amount of paid
recreational use.
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS
DIRECT EFFECTS
• Direct inflect* qf. VfK let ion . Uternatire . 1 to
Recreation
Recreational uses and revenue
would not change.
• Direct Rffectn of. let ion . Uternatire* It, C, D,
an ft R to Recreation
Under any action alternative,
harvesting activities may
temporarily disturb normal game-
movement patterns, which may
affect hunter success during
project implementation. The
activities may also briefly affect
cross-country skiing and hiking
due to increased noise associated
with project activities. The
harvesting of Unit 27-19, adjacent
to Soup Creek Campground, would be
planned for winter (November 16
through March 31); thus, no effect
to hunting or recreational
campground use is anticipated.
Finally, Soup Creek Campground
will be closed during the winter
for a short period to remove
hazard trees during project
implementation. The winter
closure would not be expected to
conflict with periods pf high use.
Short delays due to log hauling,
snowplowing, and road construction
may inconvenience cross-country
skiers, snowmobilers, bicyclists,
and other recreationists.
However, recreational use and
revenue income from outfitting,
General Recreational Use Licenses,
and wildlife conservation licenses
are not expected to change with
the implementation of this
project .
The status of open, restricted,
and closed roads would not change
with the implementation of this
proj ect .
INDIRECT EFFECTS
• Indirect Inflect* of »V-» let ion , Alternative
• 1 to . Air Qn n tiff/
The existing condition would not
change .
• ('urn illative Affect x Common to , Action
,A/ternntirex At, A), amt A V to. Air tin at it y
Additional smoke produced from
prescribed burning on adjacent
USFS, private industrial
forestlands, and State school
trust lands would remain within
the standards for air quality.
The cumulative effects during peak
burning periods could affect
individuals with respiratory
illnesses at local population
centers for short durations. All
known major burners operate under
the requirements of Montana/Idaho
Airshed Group, which regulate the
amount of emissions produced
cumulatively by major burners.
Page J-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
APPENDIX K
AESTHETICS ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
In regards to the Three Creeks
Timber Sale Project, the concern was
raised that forest-management
activities may affect aesthetics.
The public generally views the
project area while sightseeing or
recreating .
ANALYSIS METHODS
The existing conditions and
potential impacts to the current
views are presented from the
perspective of 3 viewing categories.
Foreground views include vegetation
and topography that are next to
roads or trails. Middleground views
take in hillsides or drainages from
roads and trails. Background views
consist of horizons, mountain
ranges, or valleys.
The foreground and middleground
views are discussed in regard to
changes in vegetation, soil, and
timber stands along roads. The
analysis area for these views is
along Soup Creek, Cilly Creek, and
South Lost Creek roads as well as
various hiking and cross-country
skiing trails.
Background views were analyzed based
on the openness of the proposed
harvest areas and the patterns of
trees that would be left in those
areas. The analysis area for this
view is the central Swan Range on
the east side of Swan River State
Forest as viewed from Highway 83.
EXISTING CONDITION
Foreground views along open roads
and trails in the project area
consist of the immediate landscape
up to 200 feet in distance. The
foreground views are of open and
dense forest stands and openings
caused by previous harvesting
activities. Firewood gathering and
salvage logging have caused some
damage to residual live trees; limbs
and tops are scattered along skid
trails, roads, and ditches.
Middleground views along open roads
and trails in the project area are
the visible landscape 200 to 1,000
feet in distance, which usually
consists of hillsides or drainages.
The middleground views are of open
and dense multiple-aged forest
stands. On State ownership, areas
that have been harvested in the past
range from 10 to 150 acres and have
a dense cover of 6- to 40-foot
trees. The old boundaries of
harvest units usually follow
straight lines and, therefore,
appear unnatural .
Background views of the project area
are a collection of drainages and
ridges that make up a portion of the
central Swan Range. The vegetation
is a mixture of dense mature forests
and past harvest units. Past
harvest units range from having few
trees to dense retentions of mature
trees and abundant tree
regeneration. The background
landscape of the project area is
rarely visible unless viewed from
the Soup Creek Road/Highway 83
junction; otherwise, middleground
trees obscure visibility for 200 to
1,000 feet .
ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS
DIRECT EFFECTS
• Direct Inflect* oJ'.Xo-. let ion . ltternatire ./ to
, /exf/ieticx
Due to lack of forest-management
activities, shrubs and trees would
continue to grow along the roads
and limit views.
• Direct Ejffect# oj'.lrtion . Itfernafirex 11, C, D,
a nr! E to .1 ' esthetic*
Treatment methods utilized include
commercial thinning, seedtree,
seedtree with reserves,
shelterwood, and sanitation
(within the Soup Creek
Campground) . As described in
CHAPTER II - ALTERNATIVES, the
acreage proposed for treatment
varies by alternative. These
treatments would aesthetically
affect the harvest area by:
- opening views;
- causing some damage to the
residual vegetation;
- creating logging slash;
- disturbing soil along skid
trails and landings;
- constructing new roads; and
- creating temporary landing piles
along roads within the project
area .
Generally, the foreground views
would be altered because fewer
residual trees would remain. In
portions of the project area, the
treatments would allow visibility
into the middleground, which would
appear altered, more open, and
have fewer residual trees. The
background views, only visible
from the Soup Creek Road/Highway
83 junction, would appear altered
and show a variety of tree
densities remaining on the
landscape .
INDIRECT EFFECTS
• Indirect Effects of .\o-» let ion . I Item a tire . 1 to
. I esthetic*
Aesthetics would not be indirectly
affected by this alternative.
• Indirect Effects of .letion . Iffernafirex It, f.
I). and Eto . I esthetics
For units that would receive
seedtree or seedtree-with-reserves
harvest treatments, tree density
in the affected area would appear
similar to the results c>f a
moderately severe fire. .For areas
of other treatments, the tree
density remaining would appear
similar to the results of a low-
intensity fire of mixed severity.
In both scenarios, the species
retained will typically be those
of early serai stages that would
survive these types of fires.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
The following effects of other
projects may influence the
cumulative effects of aesthetics on
the 3 viewing categories:
1) Environmental processes on the
landscape, such as wildfires,
windstorms, insect infestations,
and disease infections, would
continue to alter views over
time .
2) Salvage harvesting and firewood
gathering would alter the
foreground by damaging vegetation
along roads and leaving some
debris on surfaces of roads and
skid trails and in ditchlines.
Salvage permits administered by
DNRC would keep roadside debris
to a minimum. Middleground views
would appear altered with fewer
trees. Background views would
remain largely unaltered due to
the minimal size of the salvage
harvest areas on the landscape.
3) Previous harvest units of the
Goat Squeezer timber sales south
of the project area, have
resulted in altered views with
fewer trees along all 3 viewing
categories .
• Cunt n tat ire Effects of .Vo-» letion . 1/ternafire
. / to . ! esthetics
Cumulative effects would be those
described above with no additional
impacts from project activities.
• Cmnutatire Effects if . letion .Itternatirex II,
f. />, and E to .lex fit eties
Any of the action alternatives
would result in no additional
changes to aesthetics, beyond
those expected due to
environmental processes and other
proposed or ongoing projects.
Over time, the altered views may
be less visible due to natural
processes and forest succession.
Page K-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
APPENDIX L
SCOPING AND MAILING LIST
JANE ADAMS
1401 4th AVENUE WEST
KALISPELL MT 59901
ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES
JEFF COLLINS SOIL SCIENTIST
FOREST MANAGEMENT BUREAU
2705 SPURGIN ROAD
MISSOULA MT 59804
PO BOX 8731
MISSOULA MT 59807
ROD ASH
PO BOX 1129
CONDON MT 59826
TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI
TRIBES
PO BOX 278
PABLO MT 59855
ROGER BERGERMEIER
MONTANA TRUST
616 SIMMONS DRIVE
MISSOULA MT 59803
ANN DAHL
SWAN ECOSYSTEM CENTER
6887 HWY 83
CONDON MT 59826
BIGFORK EAGLE
BOX 406
BIGFORK MT 59911
BOB SANDMAN AREA MANAGER
NORTHWESTERN LAND OFFICE
2250 HWY 93 NORTH
KALISPELL MT 59901
KATHY BRAMER
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
PO BOX 202501
HELENA MT 59620-2501
ECOLOGY CENTER
314 NORTH 1st ST. WEST
MISSOULA MT 59802
ALLEN BRANINE
FIRE SUPERVISOR
SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
58741 HWY 83 SOUTH
PAUL ENGELMAN FOREST ECONOMIST
FOREST MANAGEMENT BUREAU
2705 SPURGIN ROAD
MISSOULA MT 59804
SWAN LAKE, MT 59911
DAN BUSHNELL MT DNRC, ISS
CENTRALIZED SERVICES DIVISION
PO BOX 201601
HELENA MT 59620-1601
ELLEN ENGSTEDT
MT WOOD PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
21 NORTH LAST CHANCE GULCH SUITE 207
PO BOX 1149
HELENA MT 59624
TOMMY BUTLER
LEGAL COUNCIL
DNRC
WILLIAM ENSIGN
900 RAINBOW DRIVE
BIGFORK MT 59911
PO BOX 201601
HELENA MT 59620-1601
STEVE CALDBECK
21201 BUFFALO BRIDGE ROAD
BIG ARM MT 59910
BRENNAN FERGUSON
FERGUSON FOREST PATHOLOGY CONSULT-
ING, INC
P.O. BOX 2127
MISSOULA MT 59806-2127
KEVIN CHAPPELL
AG & GRAZING MGMT BUREAU
DNRC TRUST LAND MGMT DIVISION
PO BOX 201601
HELENA MT 59620-1601
STEVE FUECHT
PO BOX 1266
CONDON MT 59826
A
.
■
APPENDIX M
GLOSSARY
Acre-foot
A measure of water or sediment
volume equal to an amount of
material that would cover 1 acre to
a depth of 1 foot.
Action alternative
One of several ways of moving toward
the project objectives.
Adf luvial
A fish that out migrates to a lake
as a juvenile to sexually mature and
returns to natal stream to spawn.
Administrative road use
Road use that is restricted to DNRC
personnel and contractors for
purposes such as monitoring, forest
improvement, fire control, hazard
reduction, etc.
Airshed
An area defined by a certain set of
air conditions; typically a mountain
valley where air movement is
constrained by natural conditions
such as topography.
Ameliorate
To make better; improve.
Appropriate conditions
Describes the set of forest
conditions determined by DNRC to
best meet the SFLMP objectives. The
4 main components useful for
describing an appropriate mix of
conditions are cover-type
proportions, age-class
distributions, stand-structure
characteristics, and the spatial
relationships of stands (size,
shape, location, etc.); all are
assessed across the landscape.
Background view
Views of distant horizons, mountain
ranges, or valleys from roads or
trails .
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Guidelines to direct forest
activities, such as logging and road
construction, for the protection of
soils and water quality.
Biodiversity
The variety of life and its
processes, including the variety of
living organisms, the genetic
differences among them, and the
communities and ecosystems where
they occur.
Board foot
144 cubic inches of wood that is
equivalent to a piece of lumber 1-
inch thick by 1 foot wide by 1 foot
long .
Canopy
The upper level of a forest
consisting of branches and leaves of
the taller trees.
Canopy closure
The percentage of a given area
covered by the crowns, or canopies,
of trees.
Cavity
A hollow excavated in trees by birds
or other animals. Cavities are used
for roosting and reproduction by
many birds and mammals.
Centimeter
A distance equal to .3937 inch.
Commercial -thin harvesting
A harvest that cuts a portion of the
merchantable trees within a stand to
provide growing space for the trees
that are retained. For the South
Wood Timber Sale Project, thinning
would reduce stand densities to
approximately 100 trees per acre
Compaction
The increase in soil density caused
by force exerted at the soil
surface, modifying aeration and
nutrient availability.
Connectivity
The quality, extent, or state of
being joined; unity; the opposite of
fragmentation .
Core area
See Security Habitat (grizzly
bears ) .
Cover
See HIDING COVER and/or THERMAL
COVER .
Coarse down woody material
Dead trees within a forest stand
that have fallen and begun
decomposing on the forest floor.
Crown cover or crown closure
The percentage of a given area
covered by the crowns of trees.
Cull
A tree of such poor quality that it
has no merchantable value in terms
of the product being cut and
manufactured .
Cumulative effect
The impact on the environment that
results from the incremental impact
of the action when added to other
actions. Cumulative impacts can
also result from individually minor
actions, but collectively they may
compound the effect of the actions.
Direct effect
Effects on the environment that
occur at the same time and place as
the initial cause or action.
Ditch relief
A method of draining water from
roads using ditches and a corrugated
metal pipe. The pipe is placed just
under the road surface.
Dominant tree
Those trees within a forest stand
that extend their crowns above
surrounding trees and capture
sunlight from above and around the
crown .
Drain dip
A graded depression built into a
road to divert water and prevent
soil erosion.
Ecosystem
An interacting system of living
organisms and the land and water
that make up their environment; the
home place of all living things,
including humans.
Embeddeness
Embeddedness refers to the degree of
armour or the tight consolidation of
substrate .
Environmental effects
The impacts or effects of a project
on the natural and human
environment .
Equivalent clearcut area (ECA)
The total area within a watershed
where timber has been harvested,
including clearcuts, partial cuts,
roads, and burns.
Allowable ECA - The estimated
number of acres that can be
clearcut before stream-channel
stability is affected.
Existing ECA - The number of
acres that have been
previously harvested taking
into account the degree of
hydrologic recovery that has
occurred due to revegetation.
Remaining ECA -The calculated
amount of harvesting that may
occur without substantially
increasing the risk of causing
detrimental effects to stream-
channel stability.
Excavator piling
The piling of logging residue
(slash) using an excavator.
Fire regimes
Describes the frequency, type, and
severity of wildfires. Examples
include: frequent, nonlethal
underburns; mixed-severity fires;
and stand-replacement or lethal
burns .
Fluvial
A fish that outmigrates to a river
from its natal stream as a juvenile
to sexually mature in the river, and
returns to its natal stream to
spawn .
Forage
All browse and nonwoody plants
available to wildlife for grazing.
Page M-2
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Foreground view
The view immediately adjacent to a
road or trail.
Forest improvement (FI)
The establishment and growing of
trees after a site has been
harvested. Associated activities
include :
- site preparation, planting,
survival checks, regeneration
surveys, and stand thinnings;
- road maintenance;
- resource monitoring;
-noxious weed management; and
- right-of-way acquisition on a State
forest .
Fragmentation (forest)
A reduction of connectivity and an
increase in sharp stand edges
resulting when large contiguous
areas of forest with similar age and
structural characteristics are
interrupted through disturbances,
such as stand-replacement fires and
timber stand harvesting.
Geomorphological processes
The observed proportions of habitat
types for each reach are within the
broad ranges of expected conditions.
Habitat
The place where a plant or animal
naturally or normally lives and
grows .
Habitat type
Land areas that would produce
similar plant communities if left
undisturbed for a long period of
time .
Harvest units
Areas of timber proposed for
harvesting .
Hazard reduction
The abatement of a fire hazard by
processing logging residue with
methods such as separation, removal,
scattering, lopping, crushing,
piling and burning, broadcast
burning, burying, and chipping.
Hiding cover
Vegetation capable of hiding 90
percent of a standing adult mammal
from human view at a distance of 200
feet .
Historical forest condition
The condition of the forest prior to
settlement by Europeans.
Indirect effects
Secondary effects that occur in
locations other than the initial
action or significantly later in
time .
Intermediate trees
Characteristics of certain tree
species that allow them to survive
in relatively low-light conditions,
although they may not thrive.
Interdisciplinary team (ID Team)
A team of resource specialists
brought together to analyze the
effects of a project on the
environment .
Landscape
An area of land with interacting
ecosystems .
McNeil Coring
McNeil coring is a method used to
determine the size range of material
in streambed spawning sites.
Meter
A distance equal to 39.37 inches.
Middleground view
The view that is 200 to 1,000 feet
from a road or trail, usually
consisting of hillsides and
drainages .
Millimeter
A distance equal to .03937 inch.
Mitigation measure
An action or policy designed to
reduce or prevent detrimental
effects .
Multistoried stands
Timber stands with 2 or more
distinct stories.
Appendix M - Glossary
Page M-3
Nest site area (bald eagle)
The area in which human activity or
development may stimulate the
abandonment of the breeding area,
affect successful completion of the
nesting cycle, or reduce
productivity. It is either mapped
for a specific nest, based on field
data, or, if that is impossible, is
defined as the area within a H-mile
radius of all nest sites in the
breeding area that have been active
within the past 5 years.
No-action alternative
The option of maintaining the status
quo and continuing present
management activities by not
implementing the proposed project.
Nonforested area
A naturally occurring area, (such as
a bog, natural meadow, avalanche
chute, and alpine areas) where trees
do not establish over the long term.
Old growth
Working definition - Old growth as
defined by Green et al.
Conceptual definition - The term old
growth is sometimes used to describe
the later, or older, stages of
natural development of forest
stands. Characteristics associated
with old-growth generally include
relatively large old trees that
contain a wide variation in tree
sizes, exhibit some degree of a
multi-storied structure, have signs
of decadence, such as rot and spike-
topped structure, and contain
standing large snags and large down
logs .
Old-growth network
A collection of timber stands that
are selected to meet a management
strategy that would retain and
recruit 150+-year-old stands over
the long term (biodiversity,
wildlife, the spatial arrangement of
stands and their relationship to
landscape patterns and processes)
are elements that are considered in
the selection of stands.
Overstory
The level of the forest canopy that
include the crowns of dominant,
codominant, and intermediate trees.
Patch
A discrete (individually distinct)
area of forest connected to other
discrete forest areas by relatively
narrow corridors; an ecosystem
element (such as vegetation) that is
relatively homogeneous internally,
but differs from what surrounds it.
Potential nesting habitat (bald
eagle)
Sometimes referred to as 'suitable
nesting habitat' , areas that have no
history of occupancy by breeding
bald eagles, but contain potential
to do so.
Project file
A public record of the analysis
process, including all documents
that form the basis for the project
analysis. The project file for the
South Wood Timber Sale Project EIS
is located at the Swan River State
Forest headquarters office at Goat
Creek .
Redds
The spawning ground or nest of
various fish species.
Regeneration
The replacement of one forest stand
by another as a result of natural
seeding, sprouting, planting, or
other methods.
Reinitiation
The first phase of the process of
stand development.
Resident
Pertaining to fish, resides and
reproduces in natal stream.
Residual stand
Trees that remain standing following
any cutting operation.
Page M-4
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Road-construction activities
In general, "road-construction
activities" refers to all activities
conducted while building new roads,
reconstructing existing roads, and
obliterating roads. These
activities may include any or all of
the following:
- constructing road
- clearing right-of-way
-excavating cut/fill material
- installing road surface and ditch
drainage features
- installing culverts at stream
crossings
- burning right-of-way slash
- hauling and installing borrow
material
- blading and shaping road surfaces
Road improvements
Construction projects on an existing
road to improve the ease of travel,
safety, drainage, and water quality.
Saplings
Trees 1.0 inches to 4.0 inches in
dbh .
Sawtimber trees
Trees with a minimum dbh of 9
inches .
Scarification
The mechanized gouging and ripping
of surface vegetation and litter to
expose mineral soil and enhance the
establishment of natural
regeneration .
Scoping
The process of determining the
extent of the environmental
assessment task. Scoping includes
public involvement to learn which
issues and concerns should be
addressed and the depth of the
assessment that will be required.
It also includes a review of other
factors such as laws, policies,
actions by other landowners, and
jurisdictions of other agencies that
may affect the extent of assessment
needed .
Security
For wild animals, the freedom from
the likelihood of displacement or
mortality due to human disturbance
or confrontation.
Security habitat (grizzly bears)
An area of a minimum of 2,500 acres
that is at least 0.3 miles from
trails or roads with motorized
travel and high-intensity,
nonmotorized use during the
nondenning period.
Seedlings
Live trees less than 1.0 inch dbh.
Seedtree harvesting
Removes all trees from a stand
except for 6 to 10 seed-bearing
trees per acre that are retained to
provide a seed source for stand
regeneration .
Sediment
Solid material, mineral or organic,
that is suspended and transported or
deposited in bodies of water.
Sediment yield
The amount of sediment that is
carried to streams.
Serai
Refers to a biotic community that is
in a developmental, transitional
stage in ecological succession.
Shade intolerant
Describes tree species that
generally can only reproduce and
grow in the open or where the
overstory is broken and allows
sufficient sunlight to penetrate.
Often these are serai species that
get replaced by more shade-tolerant
species during succession. In Swan
River State Forest, shade-intolerant
species generally include ponderosa
pine, western larch, Douglas-fir,
western white pine, and lodgepole
pine .
Appendix M - Glossary
Page M-5
Shade tolerant
Describes tree species that can
reproduce and grow under the canopy
in poor sunlight conditions. These
species replace less shade-tolerant
species during succession. In Swan
River State Forest, shade-tolerant
species generally include subalpine
fir, grand fir, Douglas-fir,
Engelmann spruce, western hemlock,
and western red cedar.
Sight distance
The distance at which 90 percent of
an animal is hidden from view by
vegetation .
Silviculture
The art and science of managing the
establishment, composition, and
growth of forests to accomplish
specific objectives.
Site Preparation
A hand or mechanized manipulation of
a harvested site to enhance the
success of regeneration. Treatments
are intended to modify the soil,
litter, and vegetation to create
microclimate conditions conducive to
the establishment and growth of
desired species.
Slash
Branches, tops, and cull trees left
on the ground following harvesting.
Snag
A standing dead tree or the portion
of a broken-off tree. Snags may
provide feeding and/or nesting sites
for wildlife.
Spur roads
Low-standard roads that are
constructed to meet minimum
requirements for harvesting-related
traffic .
Stand
An aggregation of trees that are
sufficiently uniform in composition,
age, arrangement, and condition and
occupy a specific area that is
distinguishable from the adjoining
forest .
Stand density
Number of trees per acre.
Stocking
The area of a piece of land that is
now covered by trees is compared to
what could ideally grow on that same
area. The comparison is usually
expressed as a percent.
Stream gradient
The slope of a stream along its
course, usually expressed in
percentage, indicating the amount of
drop per 100 feet.
Stumpage
The value of standing trees in the
forest. Sometimes used to mean the
commercial value of standing trees.
Substrate scoring
Rating of streambed particle sizes.
Succession
The natural series of replacement of
one plant (and animal) community by
another over time in the absence of
disturbance .
Suppressed
The condition of a tree
characterized by a low-growth rate
and low vigor due to overcrowding
competition with overtopping trees.
Texture
A term used in visual assessments
indicating distinctive or
identifying features of the
landscape depending on distance.
Thermal cover
For white-tailed deer, thermal cover
has 70 percent or more coniferous
canopy closure at least 20 feet
above the ground, generally
requiring trees to be 40 feet or
taller. For elk and mule deer,
thermal cover has 50 percent or more
coniferous canopy closure at least
20 feet above the ground, generally
requiring trees to be 40 feet or
taller .
Three Creeks Timber Sale Project DEIS
Page M-6
Timber-harvesting activities
In general, all the activities
conducted to facilitate timber
removal before, during, and after
the timber is removed. These
activities may include any or all of
the following:
- felling standing trees and bucking
them into logs
- skidding logs to a landing
- processing, sorting, and loading
logs at the landing
- hauling logs to a mill
- slashing and sanitizing residual
vegetation damaged during logging
- machine piling logging slash
- burning logging slash
- scarifying, preparing the site as a
seedbed
- planting trees
Understory
The trees and other woody species
growing under a, more-or-less ,
continuous cover of branches and
foliage formed collectively by the
overstory of adjacent trees and
other woody growth.
Uneven-aged stand
Various ages and sizes of trees
growing together on a uniform site.
Ungulates
Hoofed mammals, such as mule deer,
white-tailed deer, elk, and moose,
that are mostly herbivorous and many
are horned or antlered.
Vigor
The degree of health and growth of a
tree or stand.
Visual screening
The vegetation that obscures or
reduces the length of view of an
animal .
Watershed
The region or area drained by a
river or other body of water.
Water yield
The average annual runoff for a
particular watershed expressed in
acre-feet .
Water-yield increase
An increase in average annual runoff
over natural conditions due to
forest canopy removal .
Appendix M - Glossary
Page M-7
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M
ACRONYMS
ARM
Administrative Rules of
GIS
Geographic Information
Montana
System
BMP
Best Management Practices
ID Team
Interdisciplinary Team
CEA
Checklist Environmental
MBTRT
Montana Bull Trout
Assessment
Restoration Team
dbh
diameter at breast height
MBTSG
Montana Bull Trout
DEIS
Draft Environmental Impact
Scientific Group
Statement
MCA
Montana Codes Annotated
DEQ
Department of Environmental
ME PA
Montana Environmental
Quality
Protection Act
DFWP
Montana Department of Fish,
MMBF
Million Board Feet
Wildlife, and Parks
MNHP
Montana Natural Heritage
DNRC
Department of Natural
Program
Resources and Conservation
NWLO
Northwestern Land Office
ECA
Equivalent Clearcut Acres
RMZ
Riparian Management Zone
EIS
Environmental Impact
Statement
Rules
Administrative Rules for
Forest Management
EPA
Environmental Protection
Agency
SFLMP
State Forest Land Management
Plan
FBC
Flathead Basin Commission
SLI
Stand-level Inventory
FEIS
Final Environmental Impact
Statement
SMZ
Streamside Management Zone
FI
Forest Improvement
SVGBCA
Swan Valley Grizzly Bear
Conservation Agreement
FM
Forest Management
TMDL
Total Maximum Daily Load
FNF
Flathead National Forest
USFS
United States Forest Service
FY
Fiscal Year (July 1 - June
30)
USFWS
United States Fish and
Wildlife Service
FOG I
Full Old-Growth Index
124 Permit
318 Authorization
Land Board
Stream Preservation Act Permit
A short-term Exemption from Montana' s Surface Water
Quality and Fisheries Cooperative Program
Board of Land Commissioners
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
SWAN UNIT OFFICE - SWAN RIVER STATE FOREST
34923 MT HIGHWAY S3
SWAN LAKE, MT 59911
(400) 754-2301
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Format of this document should contact DNRC
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At the address or phone number shown above.