4.3.6.2 Alternative B: Harvest - Direct and Indirect Effects 



Ground disturbing activities associated with proposed Alternative B: Harvest 

 have the potential to introduce or spread noxious weeds in susceptible habitat 

 types. Under Alternative B: Harvest, DNRC would follow an integrated weed 

 management approach to help prevent the introduction and establishment of 

 noxious weeds and slow the expansion of existing weeds. 



4.3.6.3 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



Disturbance of soils and vegetation from the construction of roads and from 

 skid trails could cause an increase of competition between noxious weeds and 

 native species and decrease soil productivity and stability. A combination of 

 prevention, revegetation and monitoring would be implemented to reduce the 

 possible infestation and spread of weeds associated with this project. 



4.3.7 Natural Forest Conditions (Issue #7) 



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

 Indirect Effects 



Under the Alternative A: Deferred Harvest (No Action) no harvesting would 

 take place at this time. The stand would remain in its current dense condition. 

 Trees would gradually thin out as they die from competition stress and insect 

 attack. The more shade tolerant Douglas-fir would increase at the expense of 

 ponderosa pine. The stand would remain at high risk for high intensity stand 

 replacing wildfire due to the dense stand structure and increasing fuel load 

 from dying trees. 



4.3.7.2 Alternative B: Harvest - Direct and Indirect Effects 



Under Alternative B: Harvest 675 acres would be commercially thinned. The 

 proposed harvesting would reduce the tree canopy cover in the harvested areas 

 by approximately 40-60%. Harvesting would leave the dominant ponderosa 

 pine and western larch whenever possible. Following harvesting the site 

 would have approximately 50 trees per acre ranging from 8" to 26" dbh with 

 an average of 10" dbh. Species composition after harvest would be roughly 

 50% ponderosa pine, 30% Douglas-fir, and 20% western larch. These 

 percentages equate to those that would have been present on the site under pre 

 fire suppression conditions. Growth rates should increase dramatically due to 

 the thinning, as competition between trees would be substantially reduced. 

 Other plant species currently on the site such as grass, forb, and shrub species 

 should also experience an increase in growth and vigor as a result of tree 

 thinning. The residual stand dbh would be much smaller than that of the stand 

 present on the site during the pre-settlement era. The remaining trees should 

 grow at a greatly increased rate after thinning, averaging 2 inches of diameter 

 growth per decade for at least the next 20 years, at that time another harvest 

 may be called for. With thinning, the stand will be closer to its pre European- 

 settlement condition than it would be without any harvest. Removal of 

 understory and suppressed trees would give the stand an open nature, similar 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 4-8 



