) 



Action Alternative; 



a. Water Quality 



Risk of sediment delivery in the proposed project area would be reduced from 

 current levels. Improvement of erosion control and surface drainage on the 

 existing road system would reduce erosion rates from current levels and reduce 

 the risk of sediment delivery to other areas. 



b. Water Yield 



Past activity in and around the proposed project area has mainly consisted of 

 timber management. On sites where timber was harvested, there has been 

 substantial vegetative and hydrologic recovery with no apparent impact to stream 

 channels or draws from water yield increases. Watershed cumulative effects are 

 not anticipated for the following reasons: 1) The well-drained nature of the soils 

 would produce little or not detectable change in water yield, 2) The ephemeral 

 draws within the project area are stable and vegetated with a dense mat of grass 

 and forb vegetation, making them capable of handling potential water yield 

 increases without destabilizing, and 3) All but approximately 20 acres of the 

 proposed harvesting would occur in ephemeral draws with no surface delivery to 

 another body of water, and the remainder of the harvest would be located near an 

 intermittent stream channel with no surface delivery to another body of water, 

 therefore potential increases in sediment or water yield from harvest activities 

 would not affect downstream waters. 



V. AIR QUALITY EFFECTS 



1. Direct and Indirect Effects 



No Action Alternative: Under the no action alternative, air quality would not 

 change from the existing condition. No slash or site prep burning would be done. 

 Wildfires are possible and would temporarily reduce air quality. 



Action Alternative: Under the action alternative, timber harvesting and road 

 building activities have the potential to reduce air quality in the project area. All 

 slash burning would be done in cooperation with the Montana Airshed Group. 

 This would provide for burning when conditions are acceptable in terms of 

 ventilation and dispersion. No slash burning would be done when inversions or 

 other stable weather systems are present. Site preparation burning under the 

 action alternative would be accomplished under a written bum plan that provides 

 for burning when conditions are acceptable in terms of ventilation, dispersion and 

 consumption of fuels in meeting bum objectives. Wildfires are still possible 

 under the action alternative. 



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