Renee Hanna 

 2/24/03 

 Page 4 of 6 



Lost Bear Timber Sale EA - Attachment C 



No Action Alternative 



Under the No Action Alternative cumulative effects would remain the same as a result of 

 past management activities. However, these effects would most likely decline as 

 hydrologic recovery occurs. 



Action Alternative 



The results from the cumulative watershed effects analysis for the proposed action are 

 summarized in the table below. Although the proposed water yield would increase 1.3% 

 in the tributary to Bear Creek, stream channel conditions would accommodated this level 

 of water yield increase (see channel stability characteristics in existing conditions). 



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Equivalent Clear Cut Area (ECA) is a fiinction of total area roaded or harvested, 

 % crown removal in harvest areas and the amount of vegetative recovery that has 

 occurred in the harvest areas. 



% water yield Increase (%WYI) is the predicted increases in average annual water 

 yield due to timber harvest and road construction. 



No cumulative watershed impacts due to WYI are anticipated in the Fish Creek watershed 

 due to the following reasons: 1) Negligible levels of water yield increases. 2) Lack of 

 direct and continuous surface drainage features draining most of the proposed harvest area. 

 3) The relatively stable condition of the stream channel below the proposed sale area. 4) 

 The presence of a substantial amount of canopy cover in the previously harvested area. 5) 

 The success and advanced level of tree regeneration throughout the harvest area. 6) 

 Selective nature of the proposed harvest prescription would generate only small amounts of 

 ECA. The resulting water yield increases would be negligible. 7) The cumulative ECA and 

 water yield increase are below the 1 2% threshold developed for the watershed by the 

 DNRC hydrologist. 



No cumulative watershed impacts are expected in the unnamed tributary to Bear Creek 

 despite the moderate high level of estimated existing water yield increases. The risk of 

 cumulative impacts occurring in Bear Creek as a result of the action alternative are low due 

 to the following reasons: 1) There is no evidence of existing channel instability or other 

 detrimental impacts due to increased water yields or increased peak flows in the drainage. 



3) The drainage receives only a small amount of precipitation (average annual of 18-20"). 



4) Most of the main drainage bottom does not contain a discemable stream channel. Those 

 segments that do were evaluated and found to be in stable condition and do not appear to be 

 susceptible to relatively small incremental increases in surface discharge. 4) The presence 

 of residual canopy cover in the previously harvested areas. The success of tree 

 regeneration throughout the harvested areas. 6) Selective nature of the proposed harvest 

 prescription will retain a well-stocked healthy residual stand. This should result in 



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