leucanthemum) . Small isolated 

 concentrations of orange hawkweed 

 {Hieracium aurantiacum) , Saint- 

 John' s-wort (Hypericuiii perforatum) , 

 dalmation toadflax {Linaria 

 dalmatica) , sulphur cinquefoil 

 {Potentilla recta L) , and several 

 species of thistle (Cirsiujn spp.) 

 were also located. Within existing 

 harvest units were invasions of 

 spotted knapweed, oxeye daisy, and 

 thistle that tended to follow areas 

 where the greatest disturbance, such 

 as landings, skid trails, and areas 

 that received heavier scarification, 

 had occurred. Generally, the weed 

 infestation was more extensive in 

 the recently (occurring in the last 

 15 years) harvested areas; once 

 units have successfully regenerated 

 with seedling- to sapling-sized 

 trees, the area of infestation 

 appears to decrease, with only 

 small, scattered patches of weeds 

 remaining. Orange hawkweed appears 

 to be increasing in the area and is 

 able to tolerate some shade. 



SENSITIVE PLANTS 



A sensitive plant survey was 

 conducted in the project area in the 

 summer of 2000 by contracted 

 botanists. Two substantial 

 populations of poor sedge (Carex 

 paupercula) were found in the lower 

 elevations of the project area 

 associated with a wet meadow and a 

 fen. Seed production was in 

 evidence. Two populations of 

 Buckler fern {Dryopteris cristata) 

 were found in the project area. 

 These plants also occupy wet sites 

 such as the edge of swamps and fens . 

 The Buckler fern populations 

 appeared to be healthy with mature, 

 fertile fronds. 



ALTERNATIVE EFFECTS 

 COVERTYPB DISTRIBUTION 

 Direct Effects 



• Direct E^ffech qfA'o^ Iclioii . Illeriiative ,t on 

 Cocei'tt/jtes 



No-Action Alternative A would not 

 directly affect covertypes in the 

 analysis area. 



• Direct J^'ectH qf, Iclion , lllernatice U on 

 Cocertype» 



The proposed treatments would 

 convert approximately 546 acres 

 (60 percent) of the area where 

 treatment is proposed from mixed- 

 conifer, subalpine fir, and 

 lodgepole pine covertypes to a 

 western larch/Douglas-fir 

 covertype. Areas where natural 

 lodgepole pine regeneration 

 becomes established at heavy 

 stocking levels might retain the 

 lodgepole pine covertype. Rust- 

 resistant western white pine would 

 be planted over much of the 

 proposed harvest area and, 

 depending on the regeneration 

 success of other tree species, 

 some of the area may convert to a 

 western white pine covertype. 



Indirect Effects 



• Indirect ^ectjt qfJVo-, let ion , liter native *1 on 

 Cocertypen 



Over time, as ingrowth of shade- 

 tolerant species continues with 

 the ongoing mortality of western 

 white pine, the western white pine 

 covertype would likely decrease in 

 the area and the mixed-conifer 

 covertype would likely increase. 



• Indirect E^'ectn qf. Iction . Ilternatice li on 

 CocertypcA 



As follow-up treatments such as 

 precommercial thinning occur in 

 proposed harvest units, the 

 species mix percentages of western 

 larch, Douglas-fir, and western 

 white pine would likely increase 

 in addition to the direct effects. 



Appendix C-Vegetation Analysis 



Page C-7 



