628 acres to be harvested, stand conditions will be more representative of historical valley bottom 

 western larch stands, after treatment. Open canopied stands will consist of higher proportions of 

 western larch and Douglas-fir in both the understory and overstory as a result of favoring these 

 species for retention in the selection of seed trees and following harvest with site preparation and 

 planting of western larch seedlings. General stand health (growth and vigor) will improve with the 

 removal of diseased and insect infested trees and a reduction in overstory stand densities. 

 Although stocking levels will be reduced the number of old, large diameter trees per acre will be 

 sufficient to maintain the amount of existing old growth (23 acres), and improve the growing 

 conditions for young and old western larch in both the understory and overstory. The potential for 

 old growth development on the other treated acres will be maintained with this entry, as well, 

 Seedtrees are usually selected from the larger diameter size classes, exhibiting good stem and 

 crown form. These trees often respond to reduced stocking with increased diameter and/or 

 height growth and may allow for 10 seed trees per acre actually attaining 17 inch or greater 

 diameters on some of the treated acres within the next decade. 



Noxious Weeds - The following measures to be implemented with the action alternative have 

 been effective in minimizing the potential encroachment of noxious weeds on logging sites. Heavy 

 equipment used for felling and skidding activities will be washed thoroughly before being brought 

 on site. Areas disturbed will be seeded with a native grass seed mix. The project area will be 

 monitored and if needed will be scheduled for herbicide treatment as part of the Weed 

 Management Cooperative Agreement with Flathead County Weed District. 



Wildlife - Coarse Filter: Forest stand conditions after implementing the action alternative will 

 improve wildlife habitat conditions on 628 acres for species preferring open stands, serai tree 

 species, and edges created from different tree canopy levels, emulating conditions that were 

 more prevalent in the past. Use of this area by wildlife species preferring low levels of human 

 activity is already compromised due to its proximity to residential development along Ashley Lake 

 and its accessibility from the county road. 



a. Threatened Species: This section lies outside the Northern Continental 



Divide Ecosystem or Cabinet/Yaak Ecosystem recognized for grizzly bear recovery. 

 Preferred Canada lynx habitats are not present. Harvest units will involve 119 acres 

 of bald eagle home range and project design provides for retention of key habitat 

 elements that includes large snags, perch trees, roost trees, and emergent trees 

 complying with ARI*>1 36.11.429 (l)(e). Active gray wolf den sites or rendezvous sites 

 were not identified in the project area, but the provisions are in place for temporary 

 suspension of operations if such sites are discovered. State ownership and actions 

 will involve approximately V2 % of white - tailed deer winter range and even less of 

 the larger elk and moose ranges. The removal of 2 acres of winter thermal cover and 

 much of the hiding cover on 628 acres may result in changing use patterns for 

 wolves and ungulates and higher ungulate hunter success rates, for the next several 

 decades while young forest stands become established and attain sufficient sizes to 

 provide more hiding and thermal cover on site. Limited amounts of hiding and 

 thermal cover will still be provided within the Ashley Lake project area by retaining 

 pockets of advanced regeneration in harvest units, avoiding riparian vegetation within 

 and adjacent to the 15 acre wetland and along the intermittent stream and canyon in 

 the southeast corner. 



b. Sensitive Species: Harvest units will leave potential preferred fisher habitat (riparian 

 vegetation) in the project area mostly unaffected, but will reduce the quality or 

 suitability of treated forest stands for resting and foraging. Since fisher use of the 

 state parcel and adjacent lands is presently limited and potential use is not expected 



