Complex fire perimeter (Fig. 4-1). Thus, there would be the potential 

 of repeated entries over the next 5 years under the proposed action. 



Figure 4-1: Acres affected by insects within a 5-mile radius of the Fish Creek 

 Complex Fire, 1999 - 2002 (USPS Insect and Disease Activity Maps 2003). 



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800 

 700 

 600 

 500 

 400 

 300 

 200 

 100 

 



Acres Affected by Insects 1999 - 2002 



S1999 

 ■ 2000 

 02001 

 02002 



Western Mountain Douglas- Spruce 

 Pine Pine fir Beetle Beetle 



Beetle Beetle 



Western 



Balsam 



Bark 



Beetle 



Pine Fir 



Engraver Engraver 



Under the proposed action approximately 6.1 miles of road will be 

 newly constructed or reconstructed within the project area. Upon 

 completion of the proposed action, all of the aforementioned road 

 would either be behind locked gates or made impassable through tank 

 traps and logging slash. Thus, there would be no increase in open road 

 density within the project area. 



While areas that experienced stand replacement fire currently have 

 open understories, devoid of forbs and shrubs, tree boles do inhibit 

 sight-distance, thusly providing hiding cover (McTague and Patton 

 1989). Additionally, 50-foot buffers would be implemented along 

 SMZ's, as well as provision for visual screening along the south side 

 of Deer Creek in section 8. Along Deer Creek, there would be a 50 

 foot SMZ buffer along both sides of the creek, as well as leaving all 

 trees <12 inches dbh between Deer Creek and the Deer Creek road for 

 visual screening. Much like Alternative A: No Harvest (No Action), 

 the affected area will be gradually re-vegetated through natural 

 succession. Thus, under Alternative B: Harvest, hiding cover will 

 likely be replaced in approximately 20 years through natural 

 vegetative succession. Additionally, the proposed action would gate 

 roads on School Trust land within section 12, T 13N, R 25 W. 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 



4-16 



