VEGETATION 



> Insects and Diseases (Forest Health 

 Conditions) 



DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS 



• Direct and Indirect B^ffects ofJWo-,1ction 

 . ilternatice »1 on Insects and Diseases / 

 Forest Health Conditions 



Tree mortality from some insects 

 and diseases that are currently 

 active in the project area would 

 likely continue. This would 

 increase decadence and lower 

 overall vigor in the timber 

 stand. Loss of sawlog volume 

 (value) in the area would 

 increase as the species mature 

 that are susceptible to root and 

 stem rots. As stand densities 

 and accumulations of down woody 

 debris continue, wildfire 

 hazards would increase. No 

 additional rust-resistant 

 western white pine would be 

 introduced into the area. 



• Direct and Indirect Effects of.Iction 

 »1lternatice li on Insects and Diseases/ 

 Forest Health Conditions 



Mortality from some insects and 

 diseases in the project area 

 would likely continue, but the 

 amount would appreciably 

 decrease as the older, decadent 

 trees are harvested and, 

 eventually, replaced with young 

 vigorous trees . Much of the 

 sawlog volume that is most 

 susceptible to loss of value 

 from stem rot infection would be 

 harvested. Some mortality from 

 root rot may occur shortly after 

 harvesting due to a build-up of 

 the disease, but the species mix 

 that would be retained and 

 regenerated by the proposed 

 harvest would be far less 

 susceptible to root rot. Over 

 the long term, a reduction in 

 the number of trees with root 

 and stem rot infections would be 

 expected. During the first 

 season after harvesting, the 

 hazard of wildfire may increase 

 due to the high amount of 



logging slash. With the 

 completion of the proposed 

 hazard reduction (usually within 

 18 months of harvesting) , fire 

 hazards would be reduced 

 substantially for a long time. 



CUMULATIVE EFFECTS 



• Cumulative ^ects j\o-, Iction ^Ilternatice 

 . 1 and, Iction ^llternative B to Insect and 

 Disease/Forest Health Conditions 



Other forest -management 

 treatments, similar to 

 treatments proposed in this 

 project, are being proposed and 

 initiated in the analysis area. 

 These treatments would promote 

 the regeneration and retention 

 of a diverse mix of tree species 

 that are more vigorous and less 

 susceptible to attacks by 

 insects and diseases. 



> Noxious Weeds 



DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS 



• Direct and Indirect fleets ofJ\o-,Iction 

 .Ilternatice ,1 on j\ojrious JV'eeds 



Under No-Action Alternative A, 

 no new areas of disturbance, 

 which would be at high risk for 

 weed infestation, would be 

 created through timber- 

 management activities. 

 Recreationalists using the 

 project are would continue to 

 introduce and spread weed seeds. 

 Some effort would be made to 

 manage weeds, but no revenue 

 would be collected to fund the 

 noxious weed program. 



• Direct and Indirect J^ects qf. Iction 

 .Ilternatice B on JVoxious ^Veeds 



Under Action Alternative B, 

 additional mineral soils would 

 be exposed by logging equipment 

 within the proposed harvest 

 units and on access roads . 

 Constructing and maintaining 

 roads, skidding logs, and 

 clearing landings would create 

 conditions that are conducive to 

 new weed infestations. 



Page 111-6 



Dog/Meadow Timber Sale Project Draft EA 



