that there is an average of 81 snags per acre, dbh > 9 inches (Figure 4- 

 4). 



Figure 4-4: Diameter distribution for snags located on 157 acres of blactc-backed 

 woodpecker deferred habitat (deferred for a minimum of 5 years) within sections 

 8 and 16. Diameters presented are the midpoints for a range of diameters (e.g., 8 

 inches dbh for 7 < dbh < 9). 



30 

 25 



£ 20 



< 

 a 15 



0) 



M 

 0) 

 0) 



10 

 5 

 



Deer Creek Deferred Area Tree Density 



n 



1^ 



10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 

 Diameter Class (inches) 



26 28 



>29 



The proposed harvest area encompasses 731 acres of forest that 

 experienced stand replacement fire in the Fish Creek Complex fire of 

 2003. Examining Figure 4-3, cruise data for the proposed harvest 

 indicates that there are an average of 84 trees per acre >7 inches dbh, 

 with an average of 3.43 trees per acre >21 inches dbh. Post-harvest, 

 there would likely be an average of approximately 9 trees per acre >7 

 inches dbh, with an average of 1 trees per acre >21 inches dbh, and an 

 average of 3 trees/snags per acre 15 < dbh < 21 inches (pursuant to 

 ARM 36.1 1.41 1). Thus, the proposed action would have low to 

 moderate risk of direct and indirect impacts through reductions in 

 suitable habitat that may affect a few pairs of black-backed 

 woodpeckers. 



4.3.3.2.2.4 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



The proposed action would harvest 731 acres of suitable black-backed 

 woodpecker habitat resulting from the Fish Creek Complex fire on 

 School Trust land. However, the same fire created 6,248 acres of 

 black-backed woodpecker habitat on 20,102 acres of USFS land. 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 



4-26 



