4.3.3.4.1.3 Alternative B: Harvest 



Effects of the proposed action on white-tailed deer, elk, and moose 

 relate to the project's handling of thermal cover and open roads for 

 potential overharvest during the hunting season. The proposed action 

 would harvest fire-killed timber, and would not harvest live green trees 

 unless they have been recently infested with Dendroctonus beetles. 

 However, the proposed action does contain the possibility of re-entry 

 for harvest of future insect-killed timber within the project area. 

 Under both conditions of harvest, fire-salvage and bug-salvage, the 

 proposed action would not be removing tree canopies that would 

 contribute to winter thermal cover for deer. DNRC considered 

 restricting motorized access on 34 miles of currently open roads 

 between Bear Creek and Cyr Flats for big game security. However 

 DNRC could not gain cooperation from other landowners for 

 implementation of the restriction. As such, all roads that would be 

 constructed under the proposed action and the Fish Creek Roads 

 project would be closed to motorized access upon completion of the 

 projects (i.e., installation of gates, tank traps, etc., where necessary). 

 Thus, on School Trust land, there would be low risk of direct and 

 indirect effects to white-tailed deer, elk, and moose as a result of the 

 proposed action. 



4.3.3.4.1.4 Cumulative Effects of Alternative B: Harvest 



As discussed under direct and indirect effects, the proposed action 

 there would be low likelihood that the proposed action would 

 contribute to additional loss of thermal cover because the proposed 

 action would focus on salvage of dead timber related to recent fires 

 and potentially subsequent insect infestations (the infestations would 

 themselves create a loss of thermal cover). In development of the 

 proposed action, DNRC attempted to create additional security areas 

 through a proposal to reduce open road density, but could not obtain 

 required cooperation from other landowners within the analysis area. 

 When the proposed action would be completed, all roads that would be 

 newly constructed or reconstructed would either be located behind 

 locked gates or other closure devices would be installed for big game 

 security. Thus, there would be low risk of cumulative effects to white- 

 tailed deer, elk, and moose as a result of implementing the proposed 

 action. 



4.3.4 Cumulative Effects Associated with other DNRC 

 Projects 



Several other DNRC projects are either ongoing or have undergone scoping in the 

 general area around the Fish Creek Project Area. The following table displays the 

 name of the proposed activity, the year when activity is planned, and the type of 

 activity proposed. Of the projects listed, all are outside of any Analysis Area used 



Fish Creek Salvage Environmental Assessment 4-32 



