3.0 Affected Environment 



3.1 Introduction 



Chapter 3: Affected Environment succinctly describes the relevant resources that 

 would affect or that would be affected by the alternatives if they were implemented. 

 This chapter also describes relevant factors of the existing environment and includes 

 effects of past and ongoing management activities within the analysis area that might 

 affect project implementation and operation. 



In conjunction with the description of the Alternative A: Deferred Harvest (No 

 Action) in Chapter 2 and with the predicted effects of the alternatives the public can 

 compare the effects of Alternative B: Harvest. 



3.2 Description of Relevant Affected Resources 



3.2.1 Soil Resources (Issue #1) 



The terrain within the project area is moderate to very steep mountain sideslopes 

 with some abrupt slope breaks and deeply incised draws that reflect the structural 

 bedrock control of the landscape. The general pattern of the topography consists 

 of flat, benchy ground with steep, dissected draw features scattered throughout the 

 project area. The steeper slopes on south and southwest aspects have shallow soils 

 with little vegetation cover. The bedrock is mainly stable, Missoula Group 

 Argillites and Siltites, with lucustrine deposition in the draw bottoms. Scree slope 

 and rock outcrops are common on the steeper slopes. 



Soil types are closely related to the bedrock type and were derived from alluvium 

 and colluvium. Soils mapping units within State Sections 16 and 15 are 

 summarized in table 3-1. 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 3-1 



