Lost Bear Timber Sale EA - Attachment D 



With the no action aUemative, there would be no change from current conditions, with the 

 exception of the proposed construction of approximately 0.7 miles of new road within Section 36 

 under the Sunset Hills Reciprocal Access Agreement (see Sunset Hills Environmental Analysis for 

 effects of road construction). With construction of the new road for Sunset Hills, total roads inside 

 the project area would increase from 7.8 miles to approximately 8.5 miles, for a total of 4.25 miles 

 of total road per square mile within the project area. There would be no increase in open road 

 densities because access to the project area would be controlled by locked gates on private lands 

 within the analysis area, f herefore, there is low likelihood for direct or indirect negative effects for 

 this alternative. 



Action 



Under the action alternative, approximately 573 acres would be selectively harvested, 

 approximately 104 acres would be clearcut with reserves, and harvest operations would likely 

 occur between June 1 and November 30. A riparian-like area, which is adjacent to stand 36-3 and 

 would be deferred from harvest at this time, may provide visual screening cover for grizzly bears. 

 The riparian-like area consists of a lodgepole pine overstory with dense alder shrubs in the 

 understory. Additionally, a ridge in the northern portion of the unit could be used to break up sight 

 distance for objects on the other side. With this mitigation and use of topography, only 15 acres of 

 the 104 acre clearcut with reserves are further than 300 feet from hiding cover. Other mitigations 

 to reduce the likelihood of negative effects on grizzly bears, in addition to minimizing distance to 

 hiding cover, include ( 1 ) providing visual screening cover adjacent to the riparian area within the 

 clearcut with reserves (unit 36-3), (2) managing food storage during harvest operations to minimize 

 risk of bears obtaining food rewards, and (3) managing roads within the project area so that 

 motorized access is through locked gates. While the Sunset Hill Reciprocal Access Agreement 

 may be constructing approximately 0.7 miles of new road within section 36, the new road would be 

 considered a closed road because motorized access would be controlled through a locked gate. 

 Although 15 acres of unit 36-3 would be further than 300 feet from hiding cover for grizzly bears, 

 other mitigations (e.g., closed roads, stringent sanitation guidelines, and riparian visual screening 

 cover) would render a low likelihood of direct or indirect negative effects for grizzly bears within 

 the project area. 



Cumulative Effects 



No Action 



With the no action alternative, there would be no change from current conditions, with the 

 exception of construction of approximately 0.7 miles of new road within Section 36 under the 

 Sunset Hills Reciprocal Access Agreement (see Sunset Hills Environmental Analysis for effects of 

 road construction). With construction of the new road for Sunset Hills, total roads would increase 

 from 65 miles to approximately 65.5 miles, for a total of 1.8 miles of total road per square mile 

 within the project area. There would be no increase in open road densities because access to the 

 project area would be controlled by locked gates on private lands within the analysis area. 

 Therefore, there is low likelihood for cumulative negative effects for this alternative. 



Action 



The proposed action along with the proposed construction of the 0.7 miles of road under the Sunset 

 Hill Reciprocal Access Agreement would cause minor disturbances for grizzly bears. However, 



10 



