larch mistletoe infections would 

 continue to increase and intensify 

 in western larch throughout the 

 project area. The mortality from 

 insects and diseases that are 

 currently occurring in the project 

 area will continue. 



• Direct Elffech of JVo-.1ction .llternative ^ on 

 Insects and Diseases/Forest Health 

 Conditions 



No-Action Alternative A would 

 directly affect insect and disease 

 conditions by the continuing loss 

 of sawlog volume due to stem rots 

 and the current level of mortality 

 and infections from stem rots, 

 root rots, and white pine blister 

 rust, and bark beetle 

 infestations. Fire hazards would 

 continue to increase in the 

 project area. 



• Direct f^ffectit qf. let ion . Alternative It on 

 Inttectit and Diiteaiieii/Forettt Health 

 Conditions 



The value of many mature true firs 

 within the harvest units that are 

 already infected by, or highly 

 susceptible to, stem rot infection 

 would be recovered. Mistletoe- 

 infected western larch would be 

 preferentially removed, reducing 

 the incidence and severity of 

 western larch dwarf mistletoe. 

 Rust-resistant western white pine 

 would be planted, increasing the 

 amount of rust-resistant western 

 white pine in the project area. 

 The wildfire risk of ignition may 

 be increased during the first 

 season after harvesting due to the 

 availability of cured logging 

 slash. All treatments would 

 reduce ladder fuels and stocking 

 density in the proposed harvest 

 units, thus, reducing crown-fire 

 hazard. Few large trees that are 

 good candidates for wildlife trees 

 would be harvested. Most of the 

 large western larch and black 

 Cottonwood would be retained. 

 Where available, approximately 2 

 to 5 snags per acre would be 

 retained in a clumpy distribution. 



Indirect Effects 



• Indirect Blffects qfJVo^ Iction ^Alternative *1 

 on Insects and Diseases/Forest Health 

 Conditions 



Over time, the overall decadence 

 within timber stands would 

 increase and, subsequently, a 

 reduction of vigor and an increase 

 in mortality would occur. No 

 rust-resistant western white pine 

 would be planted and, with 

 continued mortality in western 

 white pine, the representation of 

 western white pine in the area 

 would decrease. As the percent of 

 true firs in the area increases 

 due to lack of disturbances that 

 open the canopy, the incidence of 

 root rot and stem rots would 

 likely increase. With no 

 harvesting or follow-up 

 treatments, western larch dwarf 

 mistletoe would spread from 

 infected mature trees to adjacent 

 young western larch saplings, 

 increasing the overall incidence 

 of this parasitic plant in the 

 project area. For a time, stands 

 would become more densely stocked 

 and ladder fuels would increase. 

 Increased mortality would increase 

 the amounts and size of down woody 

 concentrations. These 2 

 conditions would increase the risk 

 of fire starts in the area 

 becoming intense stand-replacement 

 fires . 



• Indirect Flffects qf taction ,Ilternatice li on 

 Insects and Diseases/Forest Health 

 Conditions 



Over time, the removal of 

 infected, low-vigor, highly 

 susceptible trees proposed in 

 Action Alternative B would reduce 

 the levels and risk of insect and 

 disease mortality occurring on 

 sites in the project area. Over 

 time, some loss of retained 

 subalpine fir, grand fir, and 

 Douglas -fir due to root rot would 

 be expected. On sites with 

 existing root rot infestations, 

 where a portion of the mature 



Pagre C-10 



Dog/Meadow Timber Sale Project Draft EA 



