3.0 Affected Environment 



3.1 Introduction 



Chapter 3: Affected Environment succinctly describes the relevant resources that 

 would affect or that would be affected by the alternatives if they were implemented. 

 This chapter also describes relevant factors of the existing environment and includes 

 effects of past and ongoing management activities within the analysis area that might 

 affect project implementation and operation. 



From the description of Alternative A: No Harvest (No Action) and Alternative B: 

 Harvest in Chapter 2 in conjunction with the predicted effects a comparison can be 

 made of the effects of both alternatives. 



3.2 Description of Relevant Affected Resources: Existing 

 Conditions 



3.2.1 Water Quality, Water Quantity, Soils, Fisheries, and 

 Weeds 



3.2.1.1 Water Quality 



3.2.1.1.1 Analysis Area 



The analysis area for water quality, water quantity, soil, fisheries, and 

 weeds are those portions of the Fish Creek watershed affected by the Fish 

 Creek Complex fires. The proposed salvage timber sale project is located 

 on several parcels of State land situated within the South Fork of Fish 

 Creek. This area includes the tributary watersheds of Deer Creek, 

 Thompson Creek, and several unnamed tributaries to South Fork Fish 

 Creek. Descriptions of these tributaries are included in the segments of 

 this analysis concerning water, soils, weeds, and fish. The area burned was 

 approximately 36,710 acres. There are small segments of wetlands directly 

 adjacent to Deer Creek in Section 8, T13N, R24W and Thompson Creek 

 in Section 14, T13N, R24W. No large wetland complexes including 

 marshes, bogs, fens, or potholes were identified on State land within the 

 Fish Creek Salvage project area. Land ownership within the fire area is 

 noted in Table 3-1. 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 3-1 



