be more effective at preventing ATV's from circumventing the gate 

 and would increase elk security during hunting season. 



The proposed action, as discussed in direct and indirect effects, would 

 not further reduce elk security or thermal cover, as the project would 

 remove only dead trees and is within 0.5 mile of an open road. Thus, 

 the proposed action would have low risk of cumulative effects for elk. 



4.3.3.3.2 Moose 



4.3.3.3.2.1 Alternative A: No Harvest (No Action) 



Under this alternative, there would be no additional disturbance 

 created or direct or indirect effects on moose winter range 

 effectiveness or security. 



4.3.3.3.2.2 Cumulative Effects of Alternative A: No Harvest 

 (No Action) 



Under this alternative, there would be no additional disturbance 

 created or cumulative effect on moose winter range effectiveness or 

 security. 



4.3.3.3.2.3 Alternative B: Harvest 



The proposed action would harvest 204 acres of fire-killed timber, 

 much of which experienced stand replacing fire intensity. As a result 

 of the fire killing overstory trees and understory shrubs, highly 

 palatable vegetation will colonize the site and provide nutritious forage 

 for moose that inhabit the area. Because the forest overstory on 203 

 acres was killed by the fire, the proposed action would not be reducing 

 the amount of thermal cover for moose. Additionally, standard weed 

 control practices would be implemented to reduce the likelihood of 

 noxious weed transmission that would reduce forage availability. 

 Thus, there would be a low risk of direct and indirect effects to moose 

 as a result of the proposed action. 



4.3.3.3.2.4 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



Euler (1981) suggested one way to manage for moose habitat was to 

 increase the interspersion of mature, uncut forest (i.e., cover) with 

 forage producing openings in an attempt to improve cover quality and 

 forage availability. Within the analysis area, past seed 

 tree/shelterwood harvests on private lands, interspersed with mature 

 forest on School Trust and private lands, have created such conditions 

 in the past. The recent Dirty Ike fire augmented this interspersion 

 through creation of a 203-acre opening with a high intensity, stand 

 replacing fire on School Trust lands within the project area. The 

 proposed action would not further reduce the amount of mature forest 

 within the analysis area, but remove standing dead timber within the 



Dirty Dee Salvage Environmental Assessment 4-25 



