The Montana TMDL Law (75-5-701MCA) directs the Department of 

 Environmental Quality to assess the quality of state waters and to develop 

 TMDLs for those waters identified as threatened or impaired. Under the Montana 

 TMDL Law, new or expanded nonpoint source activities affecting a listed water 

 body may commence and continue provided they are conducted in accordance 

 with all reasonable land, soil and water conservation practices. DNRC would 

 comply with the rules developed, by DEQ through implementation of all 

 reasonable soil and water conservation practices, including Best Management 

 Practices and Resource Management Standards (RMS) as directed under the 

 SFLMP. There are no 303(d) listed streams within the analysis area. 



The Montana Streamside Management Zone Law (MCA 77-5-301) and Rules 

 (SMZ Law) regulate timber harvest activities that occur adjacent to streams, lakes 

 and other bodies of water. This law prohibits or restricts timber harvest and 

 associated activities within a predetermined SMZ buffer on either side of the 

 stream. The width of this buffer varies from 50-100 feet, depending on the 

 steepness of the slope and the class of the stream. 



The Montana Stream Protection Act (MCA 87-5-501) regulates activities 

 conducted by government agencies that may affect the bed or banks of any stream 

 in Montana. This law provides a mechanism to require implementation of BMPs 

 in association with stream bank and channel modifications carried out by 

 governmental entities. Agencies are required to notify the Montana Department 

 of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MDFWP) of any construction projects that may 

 modify the natural existing conditions of any stream. 



Roads 



Approximately 2.6 miles of existing road provides access to the sale area. This is 

 a high standard forest road that is closed to the public. Portions of this road 

 currently meet BMP standards aimed at protecting soil and water quality. Other 

 segments of this road do not meet BMP standards. These segments contain 

 sustained grades where existing road surface drainage is in need of maintenance 

 reshaping and upgrading. 



The existing road is expected to continue meeting current BMP standards 

 following minor routine maintenance and season of use restrictions. 



3.2.3 Cumulative Watershed Effects (Issue #3) 



Past management activities in both watersheds include grazing; fire suppression, 

 road construction and timber harvest. Timber harvest activities have been 

 moderate over the past 15 years, constituting approximately 273 acres in 

 Deadman Gulch. 



All drainage features in the proposed sale watershed analysis area were 

 inventoried and evaluated by a DNRC hydrologist. All drainage features within 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 3-5 



