APPENDIX E 



WILDUFE ANALYSIS 



INTRODUCTION 



The discussion in this section 

 pertains to wildlife species and 

 their habitat in the existing 

 environment and the changes expected 

 to that environment due to this 

 proposal . 



This discussion occurs on 2 scales. 

 The Big Slowdown Salvage Project 

 area includes DNRC-managed lands 

 primarily along restricted roads in 

 Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, and 30, 

 T24N, R17W. The second scale 

 relates to the surrounding landscape 

 for assessing cumulative effects. 

 This scale varies according to the 

 species being discussed, but 

 generally approximates the size of 

 the home range of the species in 

 question. Under each grouping or 

 species heading, the description for 

 the cumulative-effects analysis area 

 will be discussed. In the 

 cumulative-effects analysis area, 

 prior State actions and foreseeable 

 future actions, along with current 

 conditions on other ownerships, were 

 considered and discussed. Species 

 were dismissed fi^om further analysis 

 if habitat did not exist in the 

 project area or would not be 

 modified by any alternative. 



To assess the existing condition of 

 the project area and the surrounding 

 landscape, a variety of techniques 

 were used. Field visits, scientific 

 literature, data from the SLI and 

 Montana Natural Heritage Program, 

 aerial photography, consultations 

 with other professionals, and 

 professional judgment provided 

 information for the following 

 discussion and effects analysis. In 

 the effects analysis, changes in the 

 habitat quality and quantity from 

 the existing conditions were 

 evaluated and explained. 

 Specialized methodologies are 



discussed under the species in which 

 they apply. 



COARSE-FILTER ANALYSIS 



INTRODUCTION 



This project proposes to harvest 

 blown down and standing dead trees . 

 No changes in age classes, forested 

 cover, connectivity, or covertypes 

 would occur. Therefore, the coarse - 

 filter analysis will only consider 

 the direct effects of disturbance to 

 wildlife species using the area and 

 the indirect effects of the project 

 related to deadwood habitats. 



Deadwood (downed trees and snags) is 

 an important component of the 

 forested ecosystems . Five primary 

 functions of deadwood in the 

 forested ecosystems are: 1) 

 increase structural diversity, 2) 

 alter canopy microenvironment, 3) 

 promote biological diversity, 4) 

 provide critical habitat for 

 wildlife, and 5) act as a storehouse 

 for nutrient and organic matter 

 recycling agents (Parks and Shaw 

 1996) . This analysis focuses on the 

 importance of deadwood as wildlife 

 habitat and the effects of this 

 project on those habitats. 



Snags and downed trees provide 

 feeding and rearing sites, along 

 with shelter for an array of 

 wildlife species. Deadwood provides 

 insects, fungus, and wood food 

 sources for small mammals. In turn, 

 these small mammals provide prey for 

 predatory birds and mammals. 

 Additionally, deadwood provides 

 areas with stable temperatures and 

 moisture for animals, along with 

 shelter from the environment, 

 lookout areas, and food storage 

 sites. Small mammals, such as red- 

 backed voles, to large mammals, such 

 as black bears, rely on deadwood for 

 survival and reproduction. 



Big Slowdown Salvage 



Page E-1 



