steep, broken rocky slopes and wet ground 

 northeast of Beaver Lake. This easement was 

 dropped from consideration. 



The collaborative effort of alternative develop- 

 ment was completed in November of 1997. 



An ID Team was formed in January of 1998; 

 several members had participated in the 

 collaborative. The ID Team further defined 

 elements of the alternatives so an analysis 

 could be completed. For instance, an area 

 along Murray Lake was chosen for consider- 

 ation of developing cabinsite leases. Harvest- 

 ing in the proposed Murray Lake cabinsite 

 lease area, approximately 10 acres, would be 

 needed for development. The harvesting 

 objectives would reduce stocking densities to 

 improve recreational values while retaining 

 aesthetic values and protecting water quality 

 in Murray Lake. 



Further reconnaissance of the 2 transportation 

 systems was done to aid analyses of road 

 standards and economics and the develop- 

 ment of mitigation. Private landowners 

 interested in obtaining easement over the State 

 road system in the area were contacted and 

 their requests clarified and summarized. 

 Additional information about the affected 

 environment was collected to assist in design- 

 ing mitigation and completing analysis work. 



ALTERNATIVES 



This section describes the No- Action Alterna- 

 tive and the 2 action alternatives that were 

 developed. Mitigation measures and compo- 

 nents that are common to the action alterna- 

 tives are described in this section. Stipulations 

 and specifications that are designed to protect 

 resources during harvesting and road-building 

 activities are incorporated into the contract 

 clauses and enforced through timber sale 

 administration. These stipulations and specifi- 

 cations are forms of mitigation; those that 

 would be applied to an action alternative in 

 this project are listed in Appendix A. Mitiga- 

 tion designed to reduce impacts on a particu- 

 lar resource is also discussed in Chapter IV. 



NO-ACTION 

 ALTERNATIVE 



No proposed timber harvesting, road con- 

 struction or reconstruction, development of 

 new cabinsite leases on Murray Lake, sale of 

 existing cabin lease sites, or granting of rights- 

 of-way to adjacent landowners would occur at 

 this tirne. Recreational use, firewood cutting, 

 road maintenance, fire suppression, and 

 additional requests for easements and pur- 

 chases may occur. Natural events, including 

 plant succession, windthrow, and wildfire 

 starts, would continue to occur. Future ac- 

 tions, including timber harvesting, could be 

 proposed and would go through the appropri- 

 ate environmental analysis before implementa- 

 tion. Some seasonal or permanent road clo- 

 sures may be installed to protect water quality 

 and investments in road maintenance. 



ACTION ALTERNATIVES A 

 ANDB 



COMPONENTS COMMON TO 

 ACTION ALTERNATIVES A AND B 



The decisionmaker may select a modification 

 or combination of the alternatives. 



TIMBER HARVESTING 



A philosophy of timber management that aims 

 to improve the health and vigor of the forest, 

 manage overall for an uneven-aged forest 

 structure, and lower the risk of wildfire would 

 be pursued. Timber-harvest units would be 

 located in areas: 



affected by mountain pine beetles (lodge- 

 pole pine stands), 



with the potential for root disease and 

 stem disease losses (stands with grand fir 

 and Douglas-fir), 



at substantial risk to wildfires that would 

 be difficult to control, and 

 lacking certain tree sizes and structural 

 stand characteristics that would histori- 

 cally have been present. 



ir-2 



Stillwater State Forest • Beaver Lake Timber Sale Project 



