However, grizzly bear activity has not been observed in the affected 

 area in several years. Thus, fire-salvage operations would likely have 

 little direct or indirect effect on grizzly bears. 



Future harvest operations to salvage insect-killed timber would be 

 more likely to affect grizzly bears. Although grizzly bear activity has 

 not been observed within the affected area, the recent expansion of 

 grizzly bears into the Ninemile Valley allow one to conclude that bears 

 may occupy the affected area within several years' time. Repeated 

 entry over several years to harvest insect-killed timber that was 

 influenced by the Fish Creek Complex fire would lead to potential 

 direct conflicts with grizzly bears with each passing year. Thus, it is 

 recommended that future operations for insect-related salvage occur 

 during the denning period (November 15 - April 15), or strict 

 sanitation guidelines be implemented to reduce the availability of bear 

 attractants. Additionally, it is recommended that, during the course of 

 future bug salvage operations, should additional road construction be 

 required to access affected timber, said road(s) would occur behind 

 effective road closure devices (e.g., locked gates, tank traps, etc.) upon 

 completion of the salvage operation. 



Given the proposed fire salvage, there would be low risk of direct or 

 indirect effect to grizzly bears. For future related harvest of insect- 

 killed timber, there may be low to moderate risk of direct or indirect 

 effects to grizzly bears, depending upon timing of the operations, and 

 the extent, location, and closure status of potential roads, and the status 

 of grizzly bear activity in the area. 



4.3.3.1.1.4 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



There has been a lack of grizzly bear activity within the analysis area 

 over the last several years. In addition to the recent Fish Creek 

 Complex Fire, there is the added impact of recent large scale seed 

 tree/shelterwood harvests and total road density on surrounding private 

 industrial ground. Thus, the proposed fire salvage, potential salvage of 

 insect-killed timber, and new road construction would bring ((1) 

 repeated entries into the project and analysis areas, (2) increase total 

 road density, but not open road density, and (3) reduce hiding cover 

 within the analysis area, while fostering conditions that could produce 

 an ample food source for grizzly bears.) Although there has not been 

 recent grizzly bear activity within the analysis area, the presence of 

 such activity in the nearby Ninemile Valley leads one to believe that 

 grizzly bears may occupy the analysis area in the near future. As such, 

 repeated harvest entries would increase risk of conflicts with operators. 

 To reduce risk of conflicts, it is recommended that sanitation 

 restrictions (i.e., food storage, garbage disposal) be implemented 

 during the non-denning period (April 15 - November 15) for 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 4-17 



