species as occurring within the '^ latilong (#26-C) in 1991. Because boreal owls have a small 

 home range, the analysis area for this species will be the project area. 



Northern Goshawks 



Northern goshawks are associated with mid- to late-successional forests, with snags and downed 

 logs providing habitat for prey. Goshawks forage in a variety of forest structural stages, 

 including openings. The project area contains > 1,800 acres of potential foraging, and some 

 nesting, habitat for goshawks. Likely nesting areas include stands on the lower portions of north- 

 facing slopes in the stem exclusion or understory reinitiation stages of stand development (Oliver 

 and Larson 1996, McGrath et al. 2003). Potential nesting areas could be located within Sections 

 5, 8, 21, and 28. 



Soils 



1.) Geology & terrain 



The sale area is located on moderate slopes with glacial outwash and residual soils weathered 

 from sandstone and argillites. Tertiary valley deposits of silty clay loam texture occur in the 

 swales, draw bottoms and footslopes. Granitic bedrock occurs on the East side of the valley and 

 south of the proposed harvest areas. Several pothole ponds and wet areas occur on the glacial 

 outwash deposits. 



There are no especially unusual or unique geologic features in the sale area. Slopes are generally 

 stable. One area of marginal slope stability occurs in SW 1/4 Section 8 and is a concern for road 

 location and construction, but is not part of any proposed action. Past irrigation ditch failures 

 have caused some slope instability and washouts. Roads and cutting units were located and field 

 reviewed to avoid unstable areas. 



Rock outcrops are rare and generally fractured bedrock, where encountered at shallow depth, is 

 common excavation or rippable, and should not limit road construction. One area of well- 

 fractured argillite on a ridge in Section 17 is a good potential source to develop for pit-run and 

 was reviewed for location of an approximate 1 acre borrow source. 



Soil survey data from the Deer Lodge N. F. and Soil Conservation Service were analyzed and the 

 project area field reviewed to verify soil types. Midslopes and ridges have mainly Worock, and 

 Winkler series sandy loam topsoils over gravelly sandy loam and cobbly clay loam subsoils, 

 which are well drained and droughty. Main soil concern is potential displacement. These soils 

 have a long season of use and are well suited to tractor operations. Erosivity is moderate to low 

 and material quality is good for road construction. 



Dominant soils on the forested sites in the project area on the west side of the valley are Garlet 

 and Loberg gravelly loams on moderate slopes of 15-35%. These soils are mainly well drained 

 on convex slopes and include some somewhat poorly drained areas in draws. Garlet soils are 

 very gravelly sandy loams. Loberg soils have shallow gravelly loam topsoils over finer textured 

 gravelly clay loam subsoils. Main soil concerns are potential rutting, compaction and 

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