^^ CHAPTER III t*k 



\ /^EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND y^ ^ 

 ^ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ^ 



Q h3 



INTRODUCTION 



Chapter III is a summary of resource 

 conditions as they relate to the 

 proposed Dog/Meadow Timber Sale 

 Project. The current, or existing, 

 condition can be viewed as a 

 baseline condition to compare 

 changes resulting from the selection 

 of either alternative. How each 

 alternative may affect the 

 environment is also described. For 

 more complete assessments and 

 analyses related to the resources, 

 for both scientific and judicial 

 reviews, refer to the appropriate 

 appendices of this EA. 



PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION 



The proposed action would take place 

 on the western face of Stryker 

 Ridge, approximately 20 miles north 

 of Whitefish, Montana. The project 

 area, on the lower slopes of the 

 ridge, ranges from 3,400 to 4,400 

 feet in elevation. The soils in the 

 area are primarily silty glacial 

 till. The moist and cool area has a 

 relatively short growing season. 

 The vegetation indicates high to 

 very high timber productivity 

 potential. Some timber harvesting 

 has occurred in the area over the 

 past 80 years; many different mixes 

 of tree species and age classes can 

 be found in the timber stands. Most 

 of the area was accessed with a road 

 system that consists of several 

 primary roads, which remain open for 

 motorized use, and many lateral 

 roads, which are restricted from 

 motorized access for most of the 

 year. Some private ownership 

 borders the project area along the 

 western edge near the Highway 93 

 corridor. 



