Management, and USDI National Park Service. Forest Service Publication #R1 -00-53, Missoula, MT. 

 142 pp. 



Water Quality and Fisheries 



p. 4, para. 4 



The potential cumulative watershed effects resulting from the proposed exchange to Plum Creek Timber 

 are fully disclosed in the DEIS on page 4-53. The risk of additional watershed effects resulting from future 

 harvest of the DNRC parcel to be traded is small. The projected increase in average annual water yield is 

 estimated at less than 0.2%. This rate of increase is expected to be offset by the levels of water yield 

 recovery occurring due to regeneration of previously harvested areas. 



p. 4, para. 6 



Plum Creek Timber Company has demonstrated a high degree of commitment to implementation of 

 Forestry BMPs that have been proven to be effective in minimizing erosion and preventing nonpoint 

 source impacts to water quality. Plum Creek has participated in voluntary BMP compliance audits 

 coordinated by DNRC over the last 10 years. These audits were completed by interdisciplinary teams 

 composed of representatives from Federal and State agencies, industry, small private landowners and 

 the conservation community. In the most recent audits conducted in year 2000, the industrial land 

 ownership group that consist of primarily Plum Creek operations, scored the highest of all ownership 

 groups in BMP application (Ethridge 2000). These sites were found to have 98% of the practices meet or 

 exceed the requirements of the BMPs. Ninety-nine percent of the practices implemented were found to 

 be effective in providing adequate protection of soil and water resources. Ttiese are considered 

 extremely successful rates of BMP implementation and effectiveness. 



As disclosed in the DEIS the watershed analysis completed for Blanchard Creek and Lost Horse Creek 

 included a detailed inventory of all roads and stream crossing on School Trust lands and shared-use 

 roads on Plum Creek and other private ownership. All road segments not meeting BMPs were identified 

 during the inventory. Improvements designed to bring these road segments up to BMP standards were 

 integrated into the Clearwater River Timber Sales contracts. This information was shared with Plum 

 Creek. Plum Creek and DNRC cooperated in a watershed restoration project completed in the North Fork 

 of Blanchard Creek in 1996. Approximately 1.5 miles of high-risk road that was located immediately 

 adjacent to the stream channel was abandoned as part of this project The largest source of impact to 

 water quality in Blanchard Creek is the Missoula County Road located in the lower watershed. Recent 

 reconstruction and widening of this road has created additional impacts and risk. 



p. 5, para. 1 



The Plum Creek HCP has been reviewed and approved by the USFWS as the principal regulatory 

 authority under Section 10A of the ESA. The adequacy of the HCP to ensure long-term protection of 

 native fishes and water quality is beyond the scope of this EIS. 



Reference: 



Ethridge, Rob, and P. Heffernan, 2000. Montana Forestry Best Management Practices Monitoring - The 

 2000 Forestry BMP Audit Report. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Forestry 

 Division, Missoula, MT. 69pp. 



Appraisal and Economics 



p. 5, para. 3 



The underlying philosophy of the economic analysis included in this environmental assessment is to 

 include only estimates for revenue from activities that produce or lose actual dollars for the trust that are 

 related to the proposed project area. Examples of these activities include timber harvesting, post and rail, 

 grazing, conservation license or lease, general recreational license, etc. Benefits to the people of 



BCWMA Land Exchanges Final Environmental Impact Statement 27 



