OLD GROWTH 



Existing Condition 



The SLI lists 2 of the 4 stands being analyzed for this salvage harvest project as old growth; these 

 are Stand 24 in Section 16 and Stand 8 in Section 15. Field verification confirms that both of these 

 stands qualify as old growth under current DNRC criteria. In addition, the remaining 2 stands (Stand 

 16 in Section 16 and Stand 10 in Section 15), which are located just north of Stands 8 and 24, were 

 field-checked and were determined to not meet current old-growth criteria. Stand 16 was checked 

 by collecting field data and Stand 10 was visually inspected. 



DNRC has adopted Green et al (1992) to define old growth on State lands. This definition is based 

 on the number, age, and size of trees over a specified diameter at breast height (dbh) per acre 

 based on habitat type and covertype. The SLI provides the initial data for labeling stands as old 

 grovirth. At the project level, stands identified as old growth through the SLI are verified through field 

 reconnaissance and/or the collection of field data from the project stands. 



Direct and Indirect Effects 



Portions of the 2 old-growth stands would be harvested. However, since the only trees harvested 

 are either dead or dying, any effect from this salvage operation would mimic natural events with 

 regard to these stands meeting the old-growth criteria. Old-growth attributes would be effected by 

 reducing snags in larger diameter classes and by removing a minor amount of down and woody 

 material greater than 3 inch diameter. After harvest it is anticipated that there would be 1 5 to 20 

 tons per acres of down woody material, and the number of snags reserved in all size classes would 

 still provide diversity. The number of large snags reserved would exceed requirements under the 

 Forest Management Rules and would consist of all commercial species. 



Cumulative Effects 



General site characteristics and past road construction, timber harvesting, insect and disease 

 events, weather events, and wildfires have led to the current forest structure and composition. The 

 overall composition of the forest is not expected to change under either alternative since only dead, 

 down, damaged, diseased, and dying trees are being considered for harvesting. Other active timber 

 sales in the area include the Big Slowdown, Goat Squeezer, and Goat Squeezer II timber sales. 

 Both Goat Squeezer sales harvested green trees, but no old growth. The Big Slowdown sale 

 salvages timkjer that is dead, down, damaged, diseased, and dying in old-growth stands. 

 Essentially, that same approach would be followed in this project. Based on the harvesting of trees 

 as described above, the impacts to old-grov\rth stands would be very similar to what would occur 

 naturally. Impacts from this project would be minimal under either alternative. 



FIRE EFFECTS 



Existing Conditions 



Wildfire hazards in these stands are above natural levels, with moderate to high accumulations of 

 downed woody debris in all size classes and increased ladder fuels. On-the-ground fuel loads 

 would increase significantly if the current and future snags killed by the current cycle of insect and 

 disease attacks begin to fall over or break off above the ground. The encroachment and 

 establishment of young shade-tolerant trees, coupled with the continuing mortality of dominant and 

 co-dominant trees caused by beetle kill and windthrow, are increasing fuel loads and, therefore, 

 catastrophic fire risks. 



Page CEA-14 Checklist Environmental Assessment 



