

INTRODUCTION 



Chapter FV describes the environmental effects 

 of each alternative on the resources described 

 in Chapter III and provides the basis for the 

 summary of environmental effects table at the 

 end of Chapter 11. Cumulative effects from 

 past management and other known distur- 

 bances are discussed in this chapter. These 

 include other active timber sale projects, 

 projects that are in the planning stage, ongoing 

 maintenance, and other uses of the areas being 

 analyzed. Direct, indirect, and cumulative 

 effects on the resources being analyzed were 

 considered. An economic analysis is also 

 presented. Appendix A lists proposed mitiga- 

 tions common to both action alternatives. 



' I 



VEGETATION [. ^_ 



LANDSCAPE ANALYSISI 

 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS 



EFFECTS TO AGE-CLASS 

 DISTRIBUTION AND COVER 

 TYPE 



NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE 



V! 



The age class in the project area would 

 remain the same for the short term. 



Over time, lacking substantial distur- 

 bances, such as timber harvesting or 

 wildfire, the proportion of seedling/ 

 sapling-sized stands would gradually 

 decrease. ' — - 



As shade-tolerant species continue to grow 

 under the existing canopies, the mixed- 

 corufer cover type would increase and the 



western larch/Douglas-fir cover type 

 would decrease. 



• Stocking densities would, generally, 

 increase and additional competition, 

 mortality, insect infestations, and disease 

 infections would reduce stand vigor. 



i 



• Mature stands would become more 



multistoried as the current overstory dies 

 and is replaced by patches of regenerated 

 shade-tolerant species. 



ACTION ALTERNATIVES A AND B 



Approximately 119 acres of timber stands in 

 the mixed-conifer cover type would be con- 

 verted to a western larch /Douglas-fir cover 

 type. Approximately 136 acres of the lodge- 

 pole pine cover type would also be converted 

 to a western larch /Douglas-fir cover type. As 

 shown in Chapter III, the mixed conifer cover 

 type is presently overrepresented on Stillwater 

 State Forest in reference to appropriate condi- 

 tions. The proposed harvest would move | 

 cover types slightly toward the representation 

 that DNRC feels would be appropriate. Age 

 classes in stands that are currently 150+ years 

 would not change, while some of the 40-to-99- 

 and 100-149-year-old stands would be con- 

 verted through regeneration to the O-to-39- ^ 

 year age class. Table lV-1 shows the projected 

 changes in age class and cover types in harvest 

 units, following the proposed silvicultural 

 treatments. 



™J 



Chapter IV: Environmental Consequences 



iJV-1) 



