units along the landscape, the ephemeral nature of the local stream channels 

 and mitigation designed to minimize erosion. 



Erosion control measures and other mitigation measures are expected to 

 minimize long term impacts to downstream water quality and beneficial uses. 

 There is little risk of measurable adverse impacts to downstream water quality 

 and beneficial uses occurring as a result of the proposed Alternative B: 

 Harvest. 



4.3.3 Cumulative Watershed Effects (Issue #3) 



4.3.3.1 Alternative A: Deferred Harvest (No Action) - Direct and 

 Indirect Effects 



Alternative A: Deferred Harvest (No Action) would maintain measurable 

 cumulative effects from past management activities however, as hydrologic 

 recovery continues to occur it is reasonable to assume that these effects would 

 decline. 



4.3.3.2 Alternative B: Harvest - Direct and Indirect Effects 



There are no cumulative watershed effects (CWE) constraints associated with 

 the proposed sale area. This is due to the following reasons: 



• The area receives a low amount of precipitation annually. 



• No perennial streams within the project area. 



• The proposal is for a selective harvest in stands that are stocked at a higher 

 level than that which occurred prior to organized fire suppression. 



Results from the cumulative watershed effects analysis show that projected 

 harvest levels are below those levels normally associated with detrimental 

 water yield increases and thus channel impacts. 



It is unlikely that the proposed levels of harvest would contribute to detectable 

 increases in water yield or have any measurable influence on downstream 

 channel conditions. 



The risk of only minor detectable increases in water and sediment yield is 

 very low in the areas outside of the Deadman Gulch watershed as a result of 

 the proposed harvest. Increases in sediment yield are expected to be negligible 

 due to the area treated, location along the landscape, and mitigation designed 

 to minimize erosion. 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 4-5 



