4.3.11 Endangered Species (Issue #11) 

 4.3.11.1 Bald Eagles 



4.3.11.1.1 Alternative A: Deferred Harvest (No Action) - Direct 

 and Indirect Effects 



If no harvest were to occur in the Project Area, suppressed and co- 

 dominant trees would continue to compete with dominant trees, reducing 

 overall stand vigor, increasing the risk of mortality to large trees. In the 

 short term (10-20 years), this competition may result in the creation of 

 large snags and coarse woody debris, however loss of large trees will 

 increase over time and the increasing risk of insect infestation and 

 resultant stand level fire disturbance would likely result in reduced stand 

 structure. Consequently, habitat attributes important to bald eagles (i.e. 

 large trees, multi-layered stands) would be reduced over time. 



4.3.11.1.2 Cumulative Effects of Alternative A: Deferred Harvest 

 (No Action) 



From the standpoint of cumulative effects, timber harvesting on adjacent 

 private lands and human development within the Analysis Area has 

 removed structural features important to bald eagle nesting habitat, 

 resulting in an Analysis Area with very limited habitat conditions 

 conducive to use by nesting bald eagles. Some potential nesting habitat 

 does occur on Federal lands to the north and northwest, however these 

 areas are heavily used for motorized recreation and are generally more 

 than 1 mile from the Bitterroot River and hence may be of low value as 

 potential nesting sites. Consequently, the low likelihood of use by nesting 

 bald eagles results in no cumulative effects resulting from selection of 

 Alternative A: Deferred Harvest (No Action) in the short term, with only 

 minor potential negative effects in the long term if fire disturbances 

 resulting from conditions within the Project Area were to affect the limited 

 amount of potential nesting habitat in the Analysis Area. 



4.3.11.1.3 Alternative B: Harvest - Direct and Indirect Effects 



If the proposed harvest activities are implemented, suppressed and co- 

 dominant trees would be removed, resulting in reduced competition within 

 the stand and increasing the vigor of residual trees. Ponderosa pine would 

 be favored for leave trees and ponderosa pine over 21" dbh would be 

 retained, reducing the potential of directly affecting trees that could be 

 used by bald eagles for nesting and roosting. Decreasing the future risk of 

 stand level disturbances such as catastrophic wildfire, insect and disease 

 infestations resulting from overstocking may benefit bald eagles as stands 

 develop greater structural complexity (i.e. multiple layer stand structure) 

 and a higher proportion of large trees for potential use by bald eagles. 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 4-13 



