NUTRIENT CYCLING 



NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE 



Nitrogen levels, soil erosion, structure, and 

 absorption rates on uplands and timber har- 

 vest units would continue to exist at current 

 levels as surface organic matter is continu- 

 ously deposited and allowed to decay. Over 

 time, due to the suppression of wildfires 

 within the analysis area, soil nutrient levels 

 would slightly decrease when compared to 

 natural levels. 



ACTION ALTERNATIVES A AND B 



Disturbance to surface soil layers would 

 reduce the amount of nutrients available on 

 treated acres. The prescribed retention of 10 to 

 15 tons per acre of down coarse woody mate- 

 rial following logging would ensure an ad- 

 equate supply of organic matter for replenish- 

 ment of lost nutrients. 



TRANSPORTATION 



SAFETY 





NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE 



Safety on existing roads may be improved 

 depending upon funding with the Forest 

 Improvement (FI) road maintenance funds. 

 Segments of some roads may be brushed and/ 

 or graded to improve sight distances and road 

 surfaces; on a short-term basis, the driveability 

 of these road segments would be improved. 



The vertical and horizontal alignment of the 

 roads would not change; therefore, sight 

 distance over hills and around curves would 

 still be limited. A few additional turnouts may 

 be incorporated during maintenance activities, 

 but overall safety would be minimally im- 

 proved. 



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COMMON TO ACTION 

 ALTERNTIVES A AND B 



-"t«>Jd5^i*j 9/!* 9V6ii biur»w bfeoH "KrvsoQ rfttoM 

 Sight distances would be increased on existing 

 and proposed roads by brushing and clearing 

 the right-of-way along the sides of the roads. 

 Brushing and clearing would be increased to 

 an average of 8' from the edge of the roads. 

 Sight distances would also be improved 

 through the final road design and location by 

 increasing the curve radius to eliminate sharp 

 curves and reducing road grades to eliminate 

 blind spots over the rises in the road. 



The number of turnouts and their sizes would 

 be increased on existing roads; an adequate 

 amount of turnouts would be incorporated 

 into the design of the new roads. Both action 

 alternatives would help facilitate the safe 

 meeting and passing of vehicles on the road 

 system. e \. cv^U ^et-tion (&i 



The road surface on open roads would be 

 improved by removing large rocks and chuck 

 holes, applying a gravel surface in selected 

 areas, and installing surface-drainage features. 

 These improvements would improve both the 

 safety and provide for maintainability. 



Additional safety-related matters common to 

 Alternatives A and B include the design of 

 several intersections. Those intersections at 

 the North Beaver /South Beaver roads and the 

 North Beaver /North Murray roads would 

 have better visibility for oncoming traffic. The 

 intersections would be signed to give motor- 

 ists clear direction on who has right-of-way. 



The existing cul-de-sac where the Beaver Lake 

 Road (county) enters State ownership would 

 be enlarged and improved to allow snow- 

 plows and other road-maintenance machinery 

 to turn around. Additional parking area 

 would be created at the cul-de-sac for 

 recreationists; a new information sign at the 

 entrance could be erected if funding was J,^ 

 available. 



ACTION ALTERNATIVE A 



In addition to the common mitigations and 

 effects of the action alternatives. Alternative A 



Chapter IV: Environmental Consequences 



-{iy-23) 



