4.3.12.2.2 Cumulative Effects of Alternative A: Deferred Harvest 

 (No Action) 



From a cumulative effects standpoint, pileated woodpecker habitat within 

 the Analysis Area is relatively limited due to ownership patterns that result 

 in a landscape dominated by private commercial forestland that has 

 undergone intensive harvesting over the past 20 years. Some habitat does 

 occur to the north and northwest on U.S. Forest Service parcels, however 

 these areas would not be affected by selection of Alternative A: Deferred 

 Harvest (No Action). Without harvesting, risks of long-term reductions in 

 the large ponderosa pine component within the Project Area would 

 continue, as would risks of stand replacing wildfire. Although habitat may 

 increase over the short term, there would be a long term cumulative effect 

 to pileated woodpeckers as the remaining suitable habitat were reduced in 

 value or eliminated over time due to competition and potentially stand 

 replacing disturbances. These potential effects may be somewhat 

 mitigated by the likelihood of fire suppression actions mentioned above, 

 and the availability of quality riverine habitats along the Bitterroot River 

 dominated by large cottonwood trees that would provide quality pileated 

 woodpecker habitat and be only minimally affected by an upland fire 

 event. 



4.3.12.2.3 Alternative B: Harvest - Direct and Indirect Effects 



Removal of large trees within harvest units would affect potential habitat 

 for pileated woodpeckers. However, planned retention of large (over 21" 

 dbh) ponderosa pine and western larch trees would likely result in the 

 retention of the preferred potential nesting trees within the Project Area. 

 In addition, retention of snags, except when a safety hazard, would 

 maintain current levels of foraging, roosting, and nesting habitat. 

 Retention of areas with no or very little removal such as draws and no- 

 harvest areas would provide areas of denser trees, providing recruitment 

 trees into the intermediate and large size classes and protecting snags and 

 coarse woody debris that would function as foraging habitat. 



The proposed harvest activity would reduce the risks of disease, insect, 

 and wildfire disturbances, returning these stands to more historical 

 conditions. Thinning the smaller trees while retaining the large trees 

 would decrease competitive stress on the remaining large trees, especially 

 ponderosa pine, while encouraging medium-sized trees to grow larger and 

 serve as long term replacements to the largest tree cohort. Although this 

 may reduce habitat quality in the short term by thinning the dense forest 

 structures preferred by pileated woodpeckers, over the long term it would 

 provide more stable conditions within the harvest units by slowing the 

 mortality of large ponderosa pine trees, and maintaining them in a 

 condition of lowered risk. 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 4-20 



