f : 



hauling. Following harvesting, site-prepara- 

 tion, and hazard-reduction activities, this 

 segment would be obliterated using methods 

 described in Table IV-7 - Road Obliterations 

 (under Transportation System). 



EFFECTS COMMON TO BOTH ACTION 

 ALTERNATIVES 



• Road obliteration 



Road segments considered to be a high 

 '" risk to water quality (as identified in 

 Chapter III) would be obliterated vmder 

 Alternatives A and B and greatly reduce 

 recreational use and lakeshore disturbance 

 *'>' in the analysis area. Based on the severity 

 of existing disturbance and desired future 

 use and condition of these areas, various 

 methods for obliteration would be applied 

 (see Table IV-7 - Road Obliterations under 

 Transportation System). Methods of closure 

 and obliteration include: 



installation of barriers at road access 

 points, 



placement of slash, rootwads, and 

 debris to discourage vehicular traffic, 

 ripping and seeding of road surface, 

 installation of surface drainage 

 (ditches, slash water bars), and 

 recontouring unstable cutslopes and 

 fillslopes. 



While foot traffic and walk-in access may 

 be maintained in these areas, the expected 

 long-term benefits would be the reclama- 

 tion of approximately 4.0 miles of 

 lakeshore riparian habitat. This would 

 improve lake water quality through a long- 

 term reduction in sedimentation and 

 enhance nearshore habitat critical to many 

 aquatic-dependent wildlife species. 



• Road reconstruction 



Approximately 11.8 and 9.8 miles of road, 

 respectively, would be reconstructed to 

 improve drainage and meet other resource 

 requirements, such as safety and wildlife. 

 Reconstruction activities would incorpo- 

 rate improvements to ditch relief and 



installation of drainage features, including 

 drive-through drain dips, relief culverts, 

 and flappers on grades in excess of 8%. 

 Roads with steeper grades and /or low 

 strength-bearing soils would be gravel 

 surfaced. The consequences of these 

 improvements would be to protect the 

 long-term integrity of isolated wetlands 

 and riparian corridors in the analysis area. 

 In addition, the removal of loop roads 

 would likely reduce recreational use in the 

 vicinity of the lakeshores. 



• Equipment restriction zones/SMZs 



Designation of 20 to 25 acres of SMZs and 

 equipment restriction zones is consistent 

 with both action alternatives. These areas 

 were identified based on their high sensi- 

 tivity to ground-disturbing activities. In 

 general, these areas represent zones of high 

 soil moisture, low rock content, and are 

 likely to support riparian vegetation and 

 sensitive plant species. 



FISHERIES 



The anticipated effect to the existing lake 

 fishery through implementation of an action 

 alternative is a general decrease in fishing 

 pressure due to changes in access. As noted, 

 several miles (-4.0) of existing lakeshore roads 

 would be obliterated and vehicle access would 

 be limited to numerous lake access points in 

 the analysis area. However, popular access 

 points would be maintained to provide for 

 public recreational and sport fishing opportu- 

 nities. 



As described above, woody-debris-recruit- 

 ment levels would remain unchanged, with 

 the exception of areas that require thinning for 

 fire hazard reduction (existing Beaver Lake 

 lease sites) and potential cabin development 

 sites (Murray Lake). Due to the undeveloped 

 nature of these lakes, the anticipated effects 

 would be insignificant and have no effect on 

 fish populations and habitat. 



iW-lOV 



Stillwater State Forest • Beaver Lake Timber Sale Project 



