4.3.1.3.3 Alternative B: Harvest 



Increased levels of sedimentation resulting from the wildfire are expected 

 to occur and will continue to occur until vegetative recovery is complete. 

 The largest "pulse" of sediment from the fire is expected to have already 

 occurred following fall rain events and the spring runoff prior to road 

 construction activities in Deer Creek. Mitigation measures implemented 

 during the proposed harvest operations are expected to present low risk of 

 sediment delivery and subsequent impacts to local fish-bearing streams. 



Forest harvest activities were planned to meet conservation strategies by 

 not harvesting trees in the SMZ's, designating riparian management zones 

 to minimize disturbance, restricting tractor units to winter operations, and 

 maintaining 98% of large trees that could fall into fish bearing streams and 

 benefit aquatic resources. Erosion control would be required on roads, skid 

 trails, and cable corridors as needed. Based on implementation of these 

 mitigation measures, it is unlikely that the proposed timber sale activities 

 would affect large woody debris recruitment, riparian shade, in-stream 

 temperature, or downstream fish-bearing habitat. There is low to moderate 

 risk that the proposed action would result in sedimentation to streams. 

 There is low risk that direct or indirect impacts would occur to fish habitat 

 with the implementation of the proposed action in addition to the effects of 

 the fire as described in the Alternative A: No Harvest CNo Action). 



4.3.1.3.4 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



Cumulative impacts to cold water fish habitat are those impacts caused by 

 the combined effect of past, present and proposed activities within the 

 watershed. These impacts include effects of increased channel stability, 

 increases in water yield and increased sediment yield, stream temperature, 

 nutrients. There is low risk of additional cumulative impacts to cold-water 

 fisheries as a result of the proposed project. Retaining trees in SMZ's and 

 RMZ's would help maintain available shade to moderate stream 

 temperatures and provide LWD essential for fish habitat and stream 

 complexity. , 



4.3.1.4 Noxious Weeds 



4.3.1.4.1 Alternative A: No Harvest (No Action) 



We expect existing populations of noxious weeds in moderate bum sites to 

 be invigorated by the fire. Severe bum sites may initially have fewer 

 noxious weeds due to buming of plants and residual weed seed, but will be 

 the highest risk sites of weed spread. Knapweed and sulfur cinquefoil are 

 expected to increase in the area, as weed seed is transported by wind and 

 animals from existing infestations on roads and open sites within the 

 bumed area. In larger infestations we would have to tolerate some 

 established populations (Category 1) weeds and promote long-term 

 revegetation and biocontrol where suitable. DNRC would monitor sites for 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 4-12 



