Some of the lodgepole-pine-dominated timber 

 stands in the area have experienced a high 

 percentage of mortality from past mountain 

 pine beetle infestations and other factors due 

 to high stocking densities. This mortality has 

 left a continuous layer of fuels on the ground 

 in these stands, increasing fire hazard and 

 reducing the ability to suppress wildfires in 

 those areas. 



SENSITIVE PLANTS IN 

 BEAVER LAKE PROJECT 

 AREA 



Two sensitive plant populations were identi- 

 fied and listed in the Montana Natural Heri- 

 tage Program prior to the analysis for the 

 Beaver Lake Timber Sale Project. The popula- 

 tions include a small area that is occupied by 

 Giant Helleborine {Epipactis gigantea) and a 

 small population of Yellow Lady's Slippers 

 {Cypripidium parviflorum), both in Section 17. 



DNRC contracted a botanist to conduct a 

 sensitive-plant survey of the Beaver Lake 

 Project area. The botanist has located and 

 surveyed 7 previously undocumented popula- 

 tions or subpopulations of Montana Plant 

 Species of Special Concern: 



Creeping sedge {Carex chordorrhiza)- Sec- 

 tion 8 



Slender cotton grass {Eriophonim gracile) - 



Section 8 



An additional population of yellow lady's 



slipper - Section 21 



Buckler fern {Dn/opteris cristata) - Section 



16 



Kidney-leafed white violet {Viola renifolia) - 



Section 16 

 - - Two populations of spurred gentian 

 \ {Halenia deflexa) - One in Sections 8 and 17, 

 ; the other in Section 20. 



Most of these plants were found in or along 

 edges of wetlands. Spurred gentian, the 

 largest population detected, was found to be 

 common across large areas of varied habitat in 

 the south end of Stillwater State Forest; the 

 number of flowering plants was estimated in 

 the tens of thousands to hundred of thou- 



sands. This species is an annual and its popu- 

 lation undergoes dramatic year-to-year fluc- 

 tuations. Spurred gentian is found regularly - 

 in disturbed sites, such as dirt roads and 

 timber harvest units. This species is listed as 

 proposed sensitive by the USPS, Region One 

 (Heidel 1997); however, this status has been 

 rescinded based on its abundance in disturbed 

 settings (M. Mantas, personal communication 

 with J. Vanderhorst). A recommendation has 

 been made that the Natural Heritage Program; 

 no longer tracks this species. 



The botanist who surveyed the Beaver Lake 

 Project area found evidence of people cutting ■ 

 flowerheads off yellow lady's slippers. He 

 thought this had occurred over several years. 



PAST MANAGEMENT ' ! 

 ACTIVITIES I 



Timber harvesting has occurred in the area 

 since around 1919. Approximately 28 MMBF 

 of sawtimber have been harvested in the area.; 

 There have been approximately 16 separate 

 timber harvests in the area between 1925 and 

 1976, when the last major timber harvest was 

 carried out. Approximately 3,981 acres have 

 been entered. Much of this harvesting was 

 done in a manner that did not remove the 

 entire canopy, and only patchy regeneration 

 occurred. In addition, other product sales 

 have occurred in the area, including post/ 

 poles, firewood, and Christmas trees/boughs. 



NOXIOUS WEEDS 



!v < 



The Flathead County Weed /Parks District 

 conducted a survey of the Beaver Lake Project 

 area during August, 1998. DNRC funded the 

 survey of this area, some other areas on the 

 south end of Stillwater State Forest, and areas 

 on Coal Creek State Forest. The survey found 

 spot populations of the following weeds in the 

 Beaver Lake Project area (See figure III-7 - ^ 



Noxious Weed Map): -■'■' | 



j 



Saint-John's-wort | 

 Orange hawkweed >. ,' I 

 tansy ragwort f 4 f 

 spotted knapweed , l 

 yellow toadflax 



Chapter III: Affected Environment 



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