4.3 Predicted Effects on Relevant Resources of all 

 Alternatives 



4.3.1 Water Quality, Soils, Fisheries, and Weeds 



4.3.1.1 Water Quality 



4.3.1.1.1 Alternative A: No Harvest (No Action) 



Under Alternative A: No Har\'est (No Action),the direct and indirect 

 effects evaluated are those effects associated with recent wildfire 

 activities. Approximately 8.4 miles of dozer line and 16 acres of drop 

 points and safety zones were rehabilitated to reduce the risk of erosion. 

 These mitigations are expected to reduce erosion and potential effects on 

 water quality resulting from the wildfires. 



4.3.1.1.2 Alternative A: Cumulative Effects 



Cumulative Effects of past and present management activities are high. 

 Impacts are expected to increase as a result of the wildfire. 



4.3.1.1.3 Alternative B: Harvest 



There is expected to be low nsk of direct or indirect detrimental impacts to 

 water quality as a result of the proposed action. Mitigation measures 

 implemented for salvage operations are expected to minimize potential 

 impacts to water quality. There are two Class II stream channels located 

 in the project area in the West Fork of Ashby Creek that do not have 

 continuous flow to any class I fish bearing stream channel. There will be 

 no harvest in or near the riparian area. Both Class 11 stream channels in the 

 project area have high components of large woody debris. Deferring 

 har\'est in the SMZ will allow for sufficient numbers of standing dead, to 

 ensure the continued presence of large woody debris in these systems. 

 These trees will also provide shade to the stream channel for other aquatic 

 organism and plants. 



There will be no harvest in or near the riparian area in Wallace Creek. 

 Harvest mitigation measures would include contoured log felling on 

 steeper slopes in high intensity bum areas, as well as the spreading of 

 slash over cable corridors if necessary to reduce erosion and concentrated 

 runoff All tractor harvest operations will be during frozen and snow 

 covered conditions to prevent erosion. 



As a result of the recommended mitigation measures, the risk of direct and 

 indirect impacts to water quality are expected to be low. 



4.3.1.1.4 Alternative B: Harvest Cumulative Effects 



The burned area and project area are located at the top of each drainage in 

 an area with no continuous flow to any perennial Class I stream channels 



Dirty Dee Salvage Environmental Assessment 4-2 



