• Fire suppression: Human and natural caused fires have been suppressed. 



• Hunting and other recreational uses: Deer, elk, and upland game 

 hunting is ongoing under the rules of the Montana Department of Fish, 

 Wildlife, and Parks. Walk in and non-motorized vehicle recreational use is 

 allowed. 



• Biological control for weeds: 2 insect species have been released to 

 control leafy spurge and 3 insect species have been released to control 

 knapweed. 



• Public vehicle access: All existing roads are closed to motorized use 

 except during emergencies, such as fire suppression and rescue operations. 

 Existing roads are also used for other uses such as use by the grazing 

 permit holder, DNRC administrative use, and Bonneville Power 

 Admmistration (BPA) maintenance. 



2.2.1.2 Present Relevant Actions Not Part of the Proposed Action 



Same as Past Relevant Actions 



2.2.1.3 Reasonably Foreseeable Relevant Actions Not Part of the 

 Proposed Action 



All of these activities would also occur if Alternative B: Harvest, which is 

 described in Section 2.2.2 below, were implemented. 



2.2.1.3,1 Right of Way Easements 



Plum Creek has expressed interest in attaining permanent access to their 

 land through section 16. 



2.2.2 Alternative B: Harvest 



• The proposed harvest would yield between 1.5 and 2.5 million board feet 

 (MMBF) of saw timber, from approximately 645 acres (see Figure 2-1 and 

 2-2). 



• 



Approximately 2.5 miles of permanent road would be constructed in order to 

 access the project area. Following harvests, all new roads would be closed to 

 motorized public traffic. 



Approximately 600 feet of county road would be improved or relocated. 



Harvesting would remove approximately 60% of the tree canopy cover. In 

 areas of Douglas-fir mistletoe infection, all infected trees would be harvested 

 or cut down and removed; this would leave some openings in the stand. The 

 residual stand would be composed of roughly 25% ponderosa pine, 15% 

 western larch and 60% Douglas-fir on north aspects and 90% ponderosa and 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 2-2 



