fir and lodgepole pine in the rock piles left by hydraulic 

 mining. The north-facing slope has a dense canopy of 

 Douglas-fir, with fewer spruce and lodgepole pine. 



« the Fairmont, Spangler and Stauffer options pass through 



or near several stands of Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine, 

 some of which have been logged. 



Very little commercial timber will be impacted by access roa:' 

 construction, regardless of the option selected. 



Noxious ^{eeds 



Unlike the permit area, where noxious weeds are relatively uncommon, 

 portions of the access road options have high populations of noxious 

 weeds. Canada thistle is restricted to mesic microsites, however, 

 spotted knapweed is abundant along lower reaches of the Fairmont and 

 Stauffer roads. 



On the existing Fairmont road, knapweed is abundant from the Hot 

 Springs turnoff to the boundary of the Mt. Haggin Wildlife Management 

 Area. Knapweed decreases substantially on the WMA and occurs only as 

 scattered plants by the time the road crosses German Gulch. 



49 



