Renee Hanna Lost Bear Timber Sale EA - Attachment C 



2/24/03 



Page 5 of 6 



compensating effect as the remaining canopy utilizes most of the additional soil moisture 

 on site. The cumulative ECA and water yield increase are below the 12% threshold 

 developed for the watershed by the DNRC hydrologist. 



The 12% threshold developed for both the Bear and Fish Creek watersheds was determined 

 by assessing acceptable risk level, watershed sensitivity, resource value, stream channel 

 conditions and riparian habitat conditions. 



Fisheries Existing Conditions 



The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks surveyed fisheries populations in 

 Bear Creek during 1998. These surveys found westslope cutthroat trout, brook trout, 

 rainbow trout and brown trout present from stream mile 0.0 to stream mile 5.7. The 

 abundance of the population of resident westlope cutthroat is unknown. Brook trout, 

 rainbow trout and brown trout are common. Both resident and fluvial populations of 

 brown trout were found. Year round resident populations were found for brook trout. 

 Rambow trout use the stream primarily for spawning and rearing habitat. 



There has been no fisheries information collected on Fish Creek. However, DNRC will 

 assume fish are present in Fish Creek and appropriate mitigations would be implemented. 

 Westslope cutthroat (WCT) have been listed as a Class A Species of Special Concern by 

 the State. This Class A designation indicates limited numbers and/or limited habitats both 

 in Montana and elsewhere in North America. The DNRC entered into a Conservation 

 Agreement as a collaborative and cooperative effort among resource agencies, 

 conservation and industry organizations, resource users and private landowners to protect 

 WCT populations. The basic goal of this effort is to protect existing populations and 

 ensure the long-term persistence of WCT populations within their historic range in 

 Montana. 



Fisheries Habitat- Effects of Proposed Action 



No Action Alternative 



Under the No Action Alternative, direct, indirect and cumulative impacts to cold-water 

 fisheries habitat through erosion and sedimentation as a result of existing road conditions 

 would remain the same. 



Action Alternative 



There are no harvest units located immediately adjacent to Bear Creek or Fish Creek. 

 There is sufficient buffer area between all proposed harvest units and stream channels 

 draining into the proposed project area. Best Management Practices and Streamside 

 Management Zone Laws and Rules would be implemented. Restricting or deferring 

 harvest in the SMZ's and proposed stream and road crossing improvements are expected 

 to result in no direct, indirect or cumulative impacts to cold water fisheries habitat. 



