prosper in edge habitats. 

 Connectivity under historical fire 

 regimes (Losensky 1997b) likely- 

 remained relatively high as fire 

 differentially burned various 

 habitats across the landscape. 

 Currently, connectivity across 

 Stillwater State Forest remains 

 relatively high with considerable 

 forested interior habitats and a 

 network of riparian areas. The 

 network of open roads through 

 Stillwater State Forest has reduced 

 some of the landscape-level 

 connectivity. Patch size on 

 Stillwater State Forest is likely 

 similar to the historic conditions 

 {Losensky 1997b) dominated by mixed- 

 severity and stand-replacing fire 

 regimes . 



ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS TO EXISTING 

 CONDITION 



Direct and Indirect Effects 



• Direct and Indirect ^ffectH ofJWo-, Id ion 

 . 7/ternative . 1 on Conme Filter 



Under No-Action Alternative A, 

 forest conditions would continue 

 to move toward denser stands of 

 shade-tolerant tree species with 

 high canopy cover. No immediate 

 changes are anticipated in the 

 patch size, shape, or 

 connectivity. Edge habitats 

 associated with past harvests 

 would gradually be replaced by 

 forested habitats, resulting in a 

 loss of edge habitats, an increase 

 in patch sizes, and an increase in 

 interior forested habitats. Over 

 time, shade-intolerant species in 

 the proposed units would die, and 

 dense shade-tolerant species in 

 the midstory would prevent 

 replacement of shade-intolerant 

 species. A stagnated, dense stand 

 of Douglas-fir, grand fir (Abies 

 grandis) , subalpine fir (Abies 

 lasiocarpa) , and Engelmann spruce 

 (Picea engelmanni i ) would likely 

 result. Wildlife favoring dense 

 stands of shade-tolerant tree 

 species would benefit, while those 

 requiring conditions likely found 



under natural disturbance regimes 

 would continue to be 

 underrepresented. Habitat for 

 forested interior and old-stand - 

 associated species, such as the 

 American marten, northern goshawk, 

 and pileated woodpecker, would 

 likely improve with this 

 alternative . 



Direct and Indirect t<^ectit of.lctinn 

 .ilternntice li on Conrae Filter 



Under Action Alternative B, 

 approximately 939 acres of forest 

 canopy would be opened up to 

 varying degrees. Additionally, 

 shade-intolerant trees would be 

 preferentially retained, while 

 mostshade-tolerant mixed conifers 

 would be removed in harvest units. 

 These conditions would lead to 

 more-open stands of mature western 

 larch and western white pine. 

 Based on silvicultural 

 prescriptions, the regeneration of 

 shade-intolerant trees would be 

 expected. Openings from the 

 proposed harvests would be 

 additive to existing openings, 

 increasing mean opening patch size 

 from 18 to 40 acres, while 

 decreasing mean forested patch 

 size from 609 to 199 acres. 

 Regeneration within the patches 

 that are additive to past 

 harvesting would yield larger 

 blocks of relatively homogeneous 

 forested habitats in the long 

 term. Landscape connectivity 

 would be retained through buffers 

 along riparian areas. The 

 proposed harvests would create an 

 additional 26 miles of edge 

 habitats, which would benefit 

 those species using these 

 habitats, while negatively 

 impacting those that require 

 forested interior habitats. 

 Reverting stands to earlier serai 

 stages on approximately 614 acres 

 would bring Stillwater State 

 Forest closer to perceived 

 historical conditions {Losensky 

 1997b) . This change would likely 

 reduce habitats for species 



Page E-4 



Dog/Meadow Timber Sale Project Draft EA 



