Effects - Coarse Filter 



• Direct and Indirect F^ecttt of the JVo^lction 

 tllternatice on Coarite Pilter 



No additional disturbance would occur in the 

 area and the amount and distribution of 

 deadwood would not be altered by DNRC- 

 reiated projects. In the near future, canopy 

 cover would decline due to recent insect and 

 disease activity, resulting in an increase in 

 the number of large snags. If insect and 

 disease mortality continues, most to all large 

 trees would be killed within several years. 

 This situation could result in a pulse of snag 

 recruitment in the proposed harvest units, 

 especially in the large and very large size 

 classes. This pulse of snags would provide 

 large amounts of foraging and nesting 

 structures in the near-term, but in the very 

 distant future, snags, especially large shade- 

 intolerant snags, could become rare. Use of 

 the area by cavity-nesting birds and other 

 deadwood-associated species is expected to 

 follow the abundance of snags. Therefore, 

 these species would benefit from an increase 

 in habitat structure in the near future, but 

 these benefits could wane in the very distant 

 future. 



• Direct and indirect Elffecbt qf the miction 

 Mtemative on Coarse loiter 



Under this alternative, harvesting operations 

 would occur during the grizzly bear denning 

 period (November 16 through March 31) or 

 during 30 days or less in the summer period 

 (June 16 through August 31). During 

 harvesting operations, disturbance could 

 affect wildlife species using the area. The 

 response of wildlife species could range from 

 apparently unaffected to displacement from 

 the area. If displacement of individuals from 

 the area occurs, negligible effects would be 

 expected, because most species are highly 

 mobile, not reproducing or rearing young, and 

 able to leave the area during this time period. 

 Additionally, the area affected is small and 

 adjacent habitat is available for animals that 

 are displaced. 



Under this alternative, canopy cover changes 

 would be accelerated and snag densities 

 would be decreased. The Action Alternative 

 proposes to focus harvesting on Douglas-fir 

 trees that are currently beetle-infested brood 

 trees, western larch that are heavily infected 



with mistletoe, and other species 

 experiencing insect or disease mortality. 

 Harvesting of live, infested trees would 

 accelerate canopy cover loss by 

 approximately 1 season, while harvesting of 

 heavily infected western larch would not 

 affect canopy closure substantially. Trees 

 that are infested with bark beetles and would 

 be harvested are expected to lose their 

 needles this summer and are unlikely to 

 contribute to canopy cover by next autumn. 

 Harvesting of these trees also would reduce 

 snag recruitment in the short term. However, 

 if beetle populations are reduced by the 

 removal of brood trees, the unaffected trees 

 are expected to contribute to the snag 

 populations slowly over time. In addition to 

 harvesting, approximately 1 .3 miles of new 

 road would be constructed to harvest Unit 2. 

 This road would be constructed 

 approximately one-half mile behind an 

 existing gate, with most of the road length 

 occurring in the unit. The added disturbance 

 and habitat loss related to this road would be 

 minimal. 



Timber cruising indicates that approximately 

 352 snags would be retained throughout the 

 89 harvest acres, for an average of 4.0 snags 

 per acre. These estimates do not include 

 snags less than 20 feet long nor distinguish 

 between dbh of the leave snags. Ocular 

 estimates indicate that a majority of the leave 

 snags exceed 21 inches dbh and adequate 

 numbers of live trees would be retained, 

 thereby meeting ARM 36. 1 1.41 1(a) (see , 

 TABLE A-2 - SNAG DENSITIES BY 

 PROPOSED HARVEST UNIT AND 

 OVERALL). 



Cilly Bug Salvage Timber Sale Project 



Page C-3 



