increase the potential for the 

 introduction of exotic species 

 that could outcompete sensitive 

 plants. This alternative would 

 not collect funds for weed 

 population monitoring or 

 management. Over time, without 

 adequate funding, the weed 

 management program on Stillwater 

 Unit would be reduced and the risk 

 of exotic plants successfully 

 invading the habitat of the 

 sensitive plants in the project 

 area would increase. 



• Direct and Indirect E^ffect* qf.lcHon 

 .llternative It to Semiitive Plants 



Action Alternative B would reduce 

 the canopy over approximately 93 9 

 acres to varying degrees, which, 

 potentially, could cause some 

 increased water levels at low 

 points in the topography. The 

 meadows, wetlands, and fens in the 

 project area will be buffered by 

 retaining tree canopy cover and 

 additional vegetation along the 

 edges or, in some cases, locating 

 harvest units away from the 

 habitat feature. This buffering 

 also protects SMZs and wildlife 

 habitat. The retention of 

 additional vegetation would absorb 

 much of the water from surrounding 

 areas and should limit increases 

 in water levels in sensitive plant 

 habitat to very minor amounts. 

 Action Alternative B would collect 

 fees that could be used, in part, 

 to fund weed-monitoring and weed- 



control measures, which would 

 allow land managers to react to 

 the future establishment of exotic 

 species within the sensitive plant 

 habitat in the project area. 



Cumulative Effects 



• Cutnulative B}ffectH qfJVo-»1ction *1lternntice 

 »1 and »1ction Jllternatice li to Sensitive 

 PlantH 



Management actions on Stillwater 

 Unit are being initiated with 

 mitigation measures to prevent the 

 spread of weeds more often than in 

 the past; these actions should 

 reduce the spread of weeds from 

 past levels. In contrast, the 

 amount of dispersed recreation on 

 Stillwater State Forest has 

 increased substantially, which has 

 also increased the introduction of 

 weeds to the area. Stillwater 

 Unit's weed management program 

 provides a way to monitor the 

 overall population, identify major 

 problem areas, and treat areas to 

 control populations. Control 

 treatments could prevent future 

 outbreaks of exotic species in 

 sensitive plant habitat. Timber- 

 harvesting projects initiated on 

 Stillwater State Forest analyze 

 potential effects to water yield. 

 Mitigation measures are included 

 in the development of the project 

 to reduce increases in water yield 

 that might affect the habitat of 

 sensitive plants. 



hppendix C-Vegetation Analysis 



Page C-13 



