1.0 Chapter 1: Purpose of and Need for 

 Action 



1.1 Proposed Action: Harvest 



The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) proposes 

 to salvage harvest timber in the Fish Creek area. Under Alternative B: Harvest, the 

 department would harvest approximately 52,000 tons of burned timber from 

 approximately 1,314 acres to generate a net positive rate of return for the Common 

 School (CS) and the Public Building (PB) grants. If significant tree morality occurs as 

 a result of insect infestation brought about by the fire, there could be an additional 

 harvest of subsequent bug killed timber on up to another 1,365 acres. The proposed 

 action would be implemented as early as December 2003 and could be completed by 

 September 2004. These dates are approximate. 



1.2 Location 



The location of the proposed project is: sections 6, 8, 16, and 18, T13N, R24W and 

 sections 12, and 14, T13N, R25W, section 30, TI4N, R24W, Mmeral County. The 

 proposed sale is located approximately 8 miles west of Alberton, Montana in the Fish 

 Creek watersheds. See Appendix A: Figure A-1. 



1.3 Need for the Action 



The lands involved in this 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, February 22, 1889; 1972 Montana Constitution, 

 Article X, Section 11). The Board of Land Commissioners and Department of 

 Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) are required by law to administer these 

 Trust Lands to produce the largest measure of reasonable and legitimate advantage 

 over the long run for these beneficiary institutions (Section 77-1-202, MCA). 



In August 2003 the Fish Creek Complex fires burned 2,900 acres of Montana State 

 Trust Lands. The merchantable value of burned and insect infected timber declines 

 with the passage of time. To maximize revenue to the school trusts, it is necessary to 

 expedite the salvage of burned or insect infested timber. Pursuant to ARM 36.11.409 

 and MCA 77-5-207, the DNRC has conducted the planning process to prepare the 

 salvage harvest in a timely manner. At this time DNRC proposes to salvage harvest 

 1,314 acres, however, up to an additional 1,365 acres may be harvested if significant 

 tree mortality occurs as a result of insect infestation brought about by the fire. 



1.4 Objective of the Action 



In order to meet the goals of the management philosophy adopted through 

 programmatic review in the Administrative Rules for Forest Management (ARM), the 

 Department has set the following specific project objective: 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 1-1 



