Mitigation measures that would be 

 implemented to reduce the 

 establishment of additional weed 

 populations include: 



• Surface blading to remove weeds 

 before the seed-set stage on 

 existing road systems affected 

 by the proposal . 



• Monitoring, mapping, and 

 treating existing populations 

 near harvesting activities. 



• All tracked and wheeled 

 equipment would be pressure 

 cleaned prior to beginning 

 operations to eliminate weed 

 seeds; the officer 

 administrating the contract 

 would inspect equipment 

 periodically during project 

 implementation . 



• Disturbed roadside sites would 

 be promptly revegetated; roads 

 used and closed would be 

 reshaped and grass seeded. 



• Site-specific herbicide spraying 

 would occur prior to harvesting 

 activities on all haul roads. 



Approximately 6.25 miles of road 

 that is currently restricted from 

 motorized traffic would be opened 

 and used. In addition, 

 approximately .5 miles of 

 temporary road would be 

 constructed and reclaimed after 

 proposed treatments were 

 completed. These areas would have 

 additional exposed mineral soil, 

 which are potential seedbeds for 

 weeds. Currently, many of the 

 restricted roads have established 

 populations of noxious weeds. 

 Opening these roads for 

 administrative use only and 

 implementing a site-specific weed 

 spraying and management program 

 would likely, over time, reduce 

 the weed population in the project 

 area. 



Ciomulative Effects 



• Cumulative Ejects qfJMo-^lction Mternntice 

 »1 and miction Jllternattve li on JVoarioug 

 JVeeds 



The analysis area has traffic on 

 open roads from dispersed 

 recreation, timber-management 

 activities, and other uses on a 

 regular basis. This traffic, 

 along with road-maintenance and 

 timber-harvesting activities, 

 increases the areas exposed to 

 weed establishment. In addition, 

 illegal motorized use and the 

 corridors for power and utility 

 lines expose areas to weed 

 establishment. With the 

 organization of Stillwater Unit's 

 weed -management program, the 

 County Weed Department's 

 cooperation, and available 

 funding, some of the large 

 populations of weeds in the 

 analysis area should be treated 

 and greatly reduced; ongoing 

 annual weed management on road 

 systems should reduce the current 

 weed populations. 



SENSITIVE PLANTS 



Direct and Indirect Effects 



• Direct and Indirect Effect/* qfJVo-^lction 

 tllternative »1 to Sen^titice Plants 



Sensitive plants in the project 

 area are located in and around 

 fens or wet meadow complexes . The 

 greatest threats to these species 

 are changes in hydrology and/or 

 the introduction of exotic species 

 that would outcompete these 

 plants. No-Action Alternative A 

 would not directly affect water 

 levels or increase the risk of 

 exotic species introduction. Over 

 time, if fuel buildups and fire 

 hazards were allowed to increase, 

 the risk of a very large stand- 

 replacement fire in the area would 

 increase and the result could 

 increase runoff and water levels 

 in the fens and meadow complexes 

 near the burn. A large stand- 

 replacement fire could also 



Page C-12 



Dog/Meadow Timber Sale Project Draft EA 



