North Fork Blanchard Creek. Plum Creek and DNRC's application of forestry BMPs, Plum Creek's 

 Native Fish Habitat Conservation Plan and DNRC's Watershed Resource Management Standards 

 would protect water quality and fish habitat. 



The North Fork Blanchard Creek parcel would be exchanged to Plum Creek; subsequent harvest may 

 have a small adverse effect on stream channel stability through increased runoff. This effect would 

 likely be offset by vegetative recovery elsewhere in the watershed within a couple of years. 



• Soils 



Plum Creek and DNRC's application of forestry BMPs are expected to protect soil resources. Roads 

 on all ownerships would be repaired as part of management activities. DNRC would acquire two 

 parcels from Plum Creek with limited operability due to high water tables, and DNRC would dispose 

 of a parcel with limited operability and low productivity due to scree/talus slopes. 



• Grazing Leases, Water Rights, and IVIineral Rights 



Existing grazing on the BCWMA would be allowed to continue, but new grazing use would be 

 restricted under the Cooperative Management Agreement. Three grazing lease/license holders 

 would need to apply to new landowners, and one lessee may need to be compensated for grazing 

 improvements on one parcel. Water rights would be transferred or retained, and would not be 

 adversely affected. Split-estate ownership of mineral rights would increase through the land 

 exchanges, but the potential for mineral development (and associated conflicts) is low. 



• Cultural Resources 



There would be no adverse effects to cultural resources. No cultural properties were found on the 

 DNRC scattered tracts to be exchanged to Plum Creek. Cultural properties on state ownership would 

 be protected under the Montana Antiquities Act. 



• Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources 



The land exchanges and Cooperative Management Agreement would help prevent a future potential 

 loss of big game winter habitat from sale or development of lands on the BCWMA. The land 

 exchange process assures that the land values are essentially equal. 



• Short Term Uses and Long Term Productivity 



There may be short term effects on existing DNRC grazing leases. The exchange of lands between 

 DNRC and Plum Creek would result in a short term reduction in available standing merchantable 

 timber on DNRC lands. Long-term management efficiency (productivity) would be increased for all 

 owners through land consolidation. Long term timber productivity would increase on DNRC property 

 due to acquisition of better growing sites with good operability. Long term big game productivity 

 would be enhanced due to acquisition of critical big game winter range by FWP and DNRC. 



4. RATIONALE FOR THE PROPOSED DECISION 



FWP: 



Implementation of Alternative D will complete Phase II of the four-phased 5Cf^ Anniversary Project to 

 ultimately bring a total of 7,800 acres of Plum Creek inholdings within the BCWMA into state or federal 

 public ownership. Phase I, involving the fee-title purchase of 856 acres by FWP and the Rocky Mountain 

 Elk Foundation, was completed in June 2000. Completion of Phase II will transfer another 3,040 acres 

 (approx.) within the heart of the BCWMA elk winter range from Plum Creek to DNRC ownership, moving 

 our interagency and grassroots community partnership halfway to its overall project goal. 



BCWMA Land Exchanges Final Environmental Impact Statement 40 



