Direct AND Indirect Effects -^ - 



The risks of wildfire would continue to increase over time. With continued accumulations of 

 large and fine fuels, snags, ladder fuels, and deadwood components, the risk of a stand- 

 replacement fire would increase. 



• JtCTION JlLTERJ\JlTIVE 



The proposed salvage would remove a significant portion of the dead and dying large woody 

 fuel material. These treated areas would see short- and long-term fire hazards reduced. 

 Immediately following the salvage harvesting, the amount of fine, flashy fuels would moderately 

 increase. Scattering slash and cutting limbs and tops to lay low to the ground to hasten 

 decomposition, coupled with yarding trees to landings and piling slash for later burning would 

 reduce fire hazards. Residual fuel loads after harvesting would be within the range of 15 to 20 

 tons per acre. 



Cumulative Effects 



• JVO-^CTI()JVJlLTERJV^ITn'E 



The risk of stand-replacing wildfires in historically nonlethal regimes would continue to increase 

 as a result of forest fuel acummulation. 



• *iCTiaN^L,TEItJ\^lTI\-E 



Fuel loads would be reduced in stands that are treated with salvage harvests, thus, wildfire risks 

 in these specific areas would be reduced. Similar treatments on other sales would decrease fire 

 hazards as well. 



FOREST INSECTS AND DISEASES 



Existing Conditions 



A number of insects, pathogens, and abiotic factors are significantly and adversely altering stand 

 productivity, structure, and composition in a large part of the project area (see APPENDIX D - 

 FOREST INSECT AND DISEASE REPORT). Stands are rapidly declining as the number of healthy 

 trees continues to fall. 



Direct and Indirect Effects 



Trees would continue to be lost from the project area due to insects and diseases. Stand growth 

 and vigor would continue to decline as insect infestations and disease infections spread 

 unchecked. Stand composition would be significantly altered as serai tree species are killed 

 and replaced by shade-tolerant species, primarily grand fir. 



• JlcrmjK ,lLTEitJ\jiTiyE 



This salvage harvest would remove Douglas-fir that host active bark beetle broods and those 

 that have been recently killed by insect attacks. Western larch trees would be removed if they 

 are dead or if mistletoe infection is a 5 to 6 on the Hawksworth scale (see APPENDIX D - 

 FOREST INSECT AND DISEASE REPORT). Mortality would be reduced within these stands 

 by reducing beetle populations and, thereby, limiting further attacks. Top-killed or obviously 

 blister-rust-infected western white pine would be harvested. Small amounts of lodgepole pine, 

 Engelmann spruce, and grand fir would also be harvested. All of these efforts would reduce the 

 future and immediate threat of insect attacks and disease infections spreading to the remaining 

 healthy trees. 



Cilly Bug Salvage Timber Sale Project Page CEA-15 



