result of tree thinning. Knapweed occurs along the road and in open stands in 

 most of the section. Some south-facing slopes have locally heavy infestations of 

 knapweed. There are areas of spurge on the open hillsides in the eastern portion 

 of section 15 above the highway and some scattered areas of infestation in section 

 16. 



3.2.8 Heavy Truck Traffic and Public Safety (Issue #8) 



3.2.8.1 Dust 



Cochise Drive is an unpaved county road adjacent to residential areas. This 

 road is a main access road to a road system that services a growing number of 

 private residences. Dust is presently produced by a substantial amount of 

 residential automobile traffic as well as truck traffic related to housing 

 development. 



3.2.8.2 Cochise Drive 



Cochise Drive is narrow in places and because of curves and trees visibility is 

 not good. Because of the narrow width of the road passenger vehicles must be 

 cautious when passing oncoming vehicles. In places it would be difficult for a 

 commercial log truck and a passenger vehicle to safely pass each other. 



3.2.8.3 Entering Highway 93 from Cochise Drive 



Cochise Drive was once only a small two-track road called Deadman Gulch 

 Road that accessed a few homesteads and timber harvest areas. Now, traffic 

 on Highway 93 and on Cochise Drive has increased as populations in the 

 Bitterroot Valley and the rural areas surrounding Missoula have increased. 

 There is no traffic light or large turning lane for vehicles attempting to access 

 the highway and travel north. 



3.2.9 Visual Quality (Issue #9) 



The entire project area is visible from the southern portion of the Missoula valley. 

 The project area has a closed canopy, dense forest appearance from both a near 

 and distant prospective. A number of private homes border the project area. There 

 are approximately 2.5 miles of road within the project area, some of which is 

 screened from view by the trees below and some which appear as a gap in the 

 canopy. There is a Bonneville Power Authority (BPA) power line crossing the 

 project area on a east - west line. This is visible from the south side of Missoula 

 and to southbound traffic on Highway 93. 



3.2.10 Economics (Issue #10) 



Currently income from the sections includes proceeds from two active Grazing 

 Permits issued for sections 15 and 16. 



There is no current revenue being generated from the management and sale of 

 timber in these sections. 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 3-10 



