Direct and Indirect Ejects qfthe »1ctioH 

 tllternatice on Elk 



Harvesting activities during the winter of 2004 

 could draw elk into the proposed harvest 

 units to capitalize on the forage value of 

 logging slash. In the short-term, the 

 harvesting operations could increase this 

 winter's forage availability, thereby reducing 

 winter mortality to an unknown, but expected 

 small, degree. 



Under this alternative, canopy cover losses 

 would be accelerated, a short-lived increase 

 in forage could occur, the future downed- 

 woody-debris load would be reduced, and 

 additional winter disturbance due to the new 

 road could occur. However, the effects 

 related to reduced overstory would be 

 dampened by an increasing understory and 

 midstory. Timber harvesting would reduce 

 canopy cover during the late winter; however, 

 this cover would be expected to be lost by the 

 following winter due to tree mortality caused 

 by insect infestations under the No-Action 

 Alternative. Additionally, removal of brood 

 trees is expected to curb mortality in these 

 stands, thereby conserving canopy cover. 

 Harvesting activities would increase the 

 amount of forage available to big game 

 during harvesting by putting material (green 

 tops) on the ground where animals can 

 access the forage. Harvesting would also 

 reduce the amount of coarse-woody-debris 

 accumulation in the future. The reduction of 

 coarse woody debris could result in easier 

 travel and access to forage by big game. The 

 new road could receive snowmobile use into 

 the future. This use would occur during the 

 time when elk are on winter range. This 

 increased disturbance is expected to result in 

 additional avoidance of habitats adjacent to 

 the new road. Additionally, elk energy 

 expenditures could increase due to 

 snowmobiles. Overall, this alternative is 

 expected to result in a beneficial effect in the 

 short-term by providing forage in late winter 

 and in the longer term by reducing canopy- 

 cover loss and downed-woody-debris 

 accumulations. However, if snowmobile use 

 occurs on the new road, elk energy 

 expenditures could result in increased 

 mortality or decrease reproduction. Since the 

 road affects a small portion of the winter 



range, these effects are expected to be 

 minimal. 



Cumulative Effects to Elk 



The reduction in thermal-cover loss under both 

 alternatives would be cumulative to the ongoing 

 Goat Squeezer Timber Sale Project and current 

 insect-induced tree mortality. However, the 

 Action Alternative could slow or reduce canopy 

 cover to a small, albeit probably negligible, 

 amount. 



Cilly Bug Salvage Timber Sale Project 



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