6) Stand covertypes and tree age classes, in reference to historic 

 conditions, were considered at a landscape scale. Treatments were 

 designed to move the forest toward historic conditions. 



7) Harvest units were designed to reduce fragmentation of large 

 continuous timber stands and considered connectivity for wildlife 

 species . 



8) Existing roads were surveyed to identify surface-drainage problems 

 that could be improved or eliminated. Those identified will be 

 addressed as part of the proposed project. 



9) Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be implemented. 

 10) Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) will be protected. 



• DNRC is required to administer these lands to produce the largest 

 measure of reasonable and legitimate long-term return for beneficiaries 



(Montana Codes Annotated 77-1-202) . DNRC meets this obligation by 

 managing intensively for healthy and biologically diverse forests. 



• The proposed timber sale project contributes to harvest levels mandated 

 by State Statute {Montana Codes Annotated 77-5-222) . 



SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACTS - No impacts are determined to be significant. 



I find that none of the project impacts are regarded as severe, enduring, 

 geographically widespread, or frequent. Further, I find that the quantity 

 and quality of various resources, including any that may be considered 

 unique or fragile, will not be adversely affected to a significant degree. 

 I find no precedent for future actions that would cause significant 

 impacts, and I find no conflict with local. State, or Federal laws, 

 requirements, or formal plans. In summary, I find that the identified 

 adverse impacts will be avoided, controlled, or mitigated by the design of 

 the project to an extent that they are not significant. 



• Vegetation - None of the timber-stands harvested by Action Alternative B 

 are classified as old growth. Although a potential exists for blowdown 

 in old-growth stands adjacent to harvest units, the harvest units may 

 also provide an opportunity for a fuel break in the event of a wildfire. 

 Treatments harvest trees that were infested with bark beetles; retain 

 trees that are more resistant to insect and disease attacks; retain 

 species that are less susceptible to root and stem rots; and, regenerate 

 a tree-species composition that is more diverse. Most of the stands 

 entered have been entered previously. The proposed harvest will convert 

 546 acres of overrepresented covertypes (mixed-conifer, subalpine fir, 

 and lodgepole pine) to an underrepresented covertype (western 

 larch/Douglas fir) . An estimated 614 acres of 40-to-99-year, 100-to-old 

 stand, and old-stand age classes will convert to the O-to-39-year age 

 class. Where available, approximately 2 to 5 snags per acre will be 

 retained. Four known populations of sensitive plants have been 

 documented on State trust land near where harvesting activities are 

 proposed. The meadows, wetlands, and fens where these plants are 

 located were buffered with retention trees and vegetation to reduce 

 direct impacts or limit increases in water level. 



• Noxious Weeds - Heavy equipment used for sale activities will be washed 

 thoroughly before being brought on site; disturbed areas will be seeded 

 with a native grass seed mix concurrently with disturbance. Site- 



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