more open habitats with a higher percentage of shade intolerant trees in the overstory. In 

 proposed seed tree harvests, regeneration of shade intolerant trees is expected. These 

 conditions would benefit species that use these types of habitats and habitat structure. In 

 all harvest units, a minimum of 2 trees per acre of the larger diameter classes would be 

 retained for snags or snag recruits to provide for cavity nesters. The seed tree removal 

 would reduce habitat structure available presently and in the future stand, while 

 producing an open regenerating stand. This situation would benefit species that use open 

 or early serai stages with minimal habitat structure. Approximately 400 acres would not 

 be harvested; thereby closed canopied habitats would be retained in those areas. 



2. Cumulative Effects 



No Action Alternative : No changes in age class or cover types would occur. Stands 

 would continue to age and convert to more shade tolerant cover types. These conditions 

 would favor species that use closed forested habitats with sparse understory, heavy coarse 

 woody debris, and/or shade tolerant tree species to fulfill their life requirements. These 

 conditions are less common on the surrounding lands, therefore this alternative would 

 retain less common habitats, resulting in positive effects to species that use a variety of 

 habitats or require these less common habitats for a portion of their life requirements. 



Action Alternative : The cumulative effects under the action alternative would include 

 converting a 97 acre, stand from the 100-149 years old age class to 0-39 years old age 

 class. Additionally, 143 acres would receive seed tree treatments that would reduce the 

 overstory to scattered shade intolerant trees for regeneration. Additionally, this 

 alternative would convert 35 acres back to WL/DF, while leaving 121 acres in a cover 

 type inconsistent with the desired condition of the stand. These conditions would favor 

 species that use open forested conditions with dense understory and shade intolerant trees 

 to fulfill life requirements. These conditions are common on the surrounding lands, 

 therefore this alternative would reduce the amount of closed canopied habitats resulting 

 in minor negative effects to species that require these less common habitats for a portion 

 of their life requirements. 



B. Threatened And Endangered Species 



Canada Lynx 



1 . Direct and Indirect Effects 



No Action Alternative : Under the No Action Alternative, lynx and their habitat would 

 not be affected. In time, stands would age, while tree diameter and coarse woody debris 

 would increase. These changes would increase denning habitat quality, but would reduce 

 foraging habitat. 



Action Alternative : Under the Action Alternative, lynx could be disrupted by harvest 

 activities if they use the area. However, lynx tend to be tolerant of human activities and 

 the likelihood of lynx using the area is low, therefore the direct effects of this project are 

 expected to be negligible. 



37 



