CHAPTER 3: EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 



I. INTRODUCTION 



This chapter describes the existing environment within the project area where the proposed 

 action would occur. This chapter provides the baseline for comparison of the environmental 

 effects discussed in Chapter 4. 



The Richards Peak Timber Sale Project area lies approximately 25 air miles from Plains, 

 Montana, in Sanders County. The Sections involved include Section 4 & 16, T24N, R27W. 

 Total State owned acreage within the project area is 840 acres. 



Plum Creek Timber Company, Thompson River Lumber Company and Forest Service lands 

 surround both State Parcels. Timber management is the main focus for the lands surrounding the 

 State parcels. Both parcels are accessed using existing Plum Creek Timber Company roads. 

 Easements gaining access to the project area were completed with Plum Creek under the 

 Richards Peak Reciprocal Access Project. 



The Project area lies in the Thompson River drainage with elevations ranging from 3,600 feet to 

 5,770 feet at the Richai'ds Peak lookout. The area lies on a predominately North aspect with 

 slopes from to 80%. 



II. VEGETATION 



The State Forest Land Management Plan (SFLMP) directs DNRC to promote biodiversity by 

 taking a 'coarse filter' approach thereby favoring an appropriate mix of stand structures and 

 compositions on State land. Components use to determine an appropriate mix of structures at the 

 landscape unit level include cover type proportion, age class distributions, stand structural 

 characteristics, and the spatial relationships of stands- i.e. size and location on the landscape. 



A. Cover Type Distribution 



1. Plains Unit 



Estimates of current and appropriate cover types were determined at the landscape level 

 for the entire Plains Unit. The Plains Unit Stand Level Inventory (S.L.I.) was used in 

 conjunction with John Losensky's 1997 report Historical Vegetation of Montana to 

 compare what this landscape may have looked like historically in regards to amount and 

 distribution of cover types. 



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