stands, range = to 22 inches, SD = 7; SLI database), and are 

 generally well-stocked, with a few acres of medium stocking (i.e., 40 

 to 69% crown density). 



The proposed harvest area encompasses 204 acres of forest that 

 experienced stand replacement fire in the Dirty Ike fire of 2003. 

 Examining Figure 4-2, cruise data for the proposed harvest indicates 

 that there are an average of 131 trees per acre >7 inches dbh, with an 

 average of 2 trees per acre >21 inches dbh. Post-harvest, there would 

 likely be an average of 9 trees per acre >7 inches dbh, with an average 

 of 1 trees per acre >21 inches dbh, and an average of 1 tree per acre 

 >I7 inches dbh (pursuant to ARM 36.11.411). 



(Dixon and Saab 2000) report a spacing of approximately 1 mile 

 between individual pairs of black-backed woodpeckers in "good" 

 habitat in Vermont. Given the definition of black-backed woodpecker 

 habitat as fire-killed stands of trees greater than 40 acres, less than 5 

 years since disturbance, and with greater than 40 trees per acre that are 

 >9 inches dbh, at most 1 or 2 pairs of black-backed woodpeckers 

 would likely exist within section 6 and 12, providing the 203 acres of 

 stand replacement bum were "good" habitat for this species. Thus, the 

 proposed action would have low to moderate risk of direct and indirect 

 impacts through reductions in suitable habitat that may affect a few 

 pairs of black-backed woodpeckers. 



4.3.3,2.2.4 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



The proposed action would harvest 203 acres of suitable black-backed 

 woodpecker habitat resulting from the Dirty Ike fire in 2003. Cruise 

 data (Fig. 5) indicates that there would be an average of 9 snags per 

 acre >9 inches dbh retained post harvest, and an average of 88 snags 

 per acre >9 inches dbh harvested during the proposed action. Thus, 

 the suitability of these stand replacement acres for black-backed 

 woodpeckers would be reduced. Additionally, salvage of future 

 insect-killed timber would be permitted within 40 acres that 

 experienced mixed severity fire within the analysis area. 



Within the confines of the analysis area approximately 19,000 acres of 

 potential black-backed woodpecker habitat were created among the 

 Dirty Ike, Boles Meadow, Black Mountain 2, Cooney Ridge, and 

 Mineral Primm fires in 2003 (Figure 4-3). The closest of which, 

 Cooney Ridge, is only 7 miles south of the project area. Thus, the 

 proposed action would reduce the amount of potential black-backed 

 woodpecker habitat within the analysis area by approximately 1%. 

 This represents a relatively small proportion of potential black-backed 

 woodpecker habitat being affected within the analysis area. It is 

 reasonable to assume that a sizable proportion of USES acres that 



Dirty Eke Salvage Environmental Assessment 4-20 



