CHECKLIST ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CEA) 



, Project Name: Big Slowdown Salvage 

 Project 



Proposed Implementation Date: Summer 

 through winter 2003 



Proponent: Montana Department of 

 Natural Resources and Conservation 

 (DNRC) 



Type and Purpose of Action: On 



April 14, 2002, a strong windstorm 

 blew down approximately 1 million 

 board feet (MMBF) of live timber on 



approximately 550 acres of Swan 



River State Forest . Swan River 

 State Forest also has an ongoing 

 severe infestation of Douglas-fir 

 bark beetles, which has caused heavy 

 tree mortality to another 0.5 MMBF 

 in the same area. In response to 

 these events the Department of DNRC, 

 as manager of the Swan River State 

 Forest, is proposing a forest- 

 management project that would 

 salvage trees killed and damaged by 

 wind, insect infestations, and 

 disease infections. 



The lands involved in the proposed 

 project are held by the State of 

 Montana in trust for the support of 

 specific beneficiary institutions. 

 These include public schools. State 

 colleges and universities, and other 

 specific State institutions, such as 

 the School for the Deaf and Blind 



(Enabling Act of February 22, 1889; 

 1972 Montana Constitution, Article 

 X, Section 11) . The Montana State 

 Board of Land Commissioners (Land 

 Board) and DNRC are required by law 

 to administer these trust lands to 

 produce the largest measure of 

 reasonable and legitimate return 

 over the long run for these 

 beneficiary institutions. Section 

 77--1-202, Montana Codes Annotated 



(MCA) . 



The State is required by law to 

 establish a salvage timber program 

 that provides for the timely harvest 

 of dead and dying timber that is 

 threatened by insects, disease, 

 wildfires, or wind on State Forests. 

 Under this requirement, the 

 Department shall, to the extent 

 practicable, harvest dead and dying 



timber before there is substantial 

 wood decay and value loss (Section 

 77-5-207, MCA) . 



In 1996, DNRC adopted the State 

 Forest Land Management Plan (SFLMP) 

 under an Environmental Impact 

 Statement (EIS) Record of Decision 

 and subsequent approval by the Land 

 Board. This project is conceived 

 and proposed in accordance with the 

 direction provided by the SFLMP. 



The objectives of the Big Slowdown 

 Salvage project: 



Recover revenue for the school 

 trust by salvaging wind-damaged/ 

 blown-down trees and trees that 

 have been killed or damaged by 

 attacks from Douglas- fir bark 

 beetles or white pine blister 

 rust . 



Contribute 1 to 1.5 MMBF to the 

 Northwestern Land Office (NWLO) 

 portion of the annual timber 

 harvest on State trust lands that 

 is required by State law (77-5- 

 221 through 223, MCA) . 



Reduce the risk of catastrophic 

 fire to DNRC lands and adjacent 

 landowners by reducing forest 

 fuel loading caused by blowdown, 

 insect infestations, and disease 

 infections. 



Provide funding for streamside 

 rehabilitation projects at 

 culvert crossings and old bridge 

 sites to reduce the likelihood of 

 sediment delivery to streams. 



Improve drainage, water quality, 

 and safety, as recommended by 

 current Best Management Practices 

 (BMPs) , by completing road 

 improvement at sites on existing 

 roads . 



Comply with the Swan Valley 

 Grizzly Sear Agreement (SVGBCA) 

 and other applicable rules, 

 standards, and guidelines. 



Location: Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 



29, and 30, T24N, R17W (see maps on 

 the back of the front cover) 



County: Lake 



Big Blowdown Salvage 



Page CEA-1 



