Arbuckle Gulch. This population extends from the eastern boundary of the parcel 

 downstream to a point below the north-south two-track road. Plants occur in moss on 

 cobble-gravel substrate within and along edges of the creek. 



Recommendations provided by the Botanist were to maintain a 100-foot buffer of uncut 

 trees on each side of the drainage where golden-carpet exists. Approximately 3 acres of 

 land has been deferred from harvest to meet this mitigation. She also recommended that 

 the creek bottom not be broadcast burned. These recommendations would be 

 incorporated into an action alternative if one were selected. All of the action alternatives 

 include realignment of an existing road in Section 28, where it crosses Arbuckle Gulch. 

 The Botanist was contacted for recommendations on mitigation measures for the 

 relocation of this road. Her suggestions were to locate the crossing on or slightly 

 upstream from the existing crossing where there is less suitable habitat conducive to the 

 occurrence of golden-carpet. This recommendation would be implemented if an action 

 alternative were selected. 



No further analysis will be done on this issue in Chapter 3 or 4. 



> The proposed action may lead to future salvage sales due to the wind throw of leave 

 trees. 



Each action alternative contains two types of harvesting, low intensity and mixed 

 severity, which could have the possibility of wind throw occurring. Healthy Douglas fir 

 and ponderosa pine are being proposed for retention within cutting units where they 

 occur. This type of harvesting simulates the occurrence of a mixed severity fire which 

 would kill the thin barked lodgepole pine while allowing larger diameter thicker barked 

 trees to survive. This type of harvesting has the highest potential for occurrence of wind 

 throw. Trees that are to be retained make up the scattered over story and in the case of 

 Douglas fir a suppressed under story. In the earlier Upper Willow Creek timber sale, 

 located in Section 16, T8N, R15W. some Douglas fir were retained to ensure species 

 diversity. Some wind throw did occur. This involved individual trees and was not 

 widespread. Those trees, which were blown over, were left to provide for long term 

 nutrient cycling, large woody debris and to provide micro sites for regeneration. If an 

 action alternative is selected and wind throw were to occur an evaluation would be done 

 of the value at risk. If there were enough value to make a salvage operation viable then it 

 would be prepared for sale/permit. Any proposed action would be done in compliance 

 with MEPA. 



The low intensity simulation is designed to mimic a low intensity ground fire carried by 

 grass and other light fuel which would thin the stand, generally leaving larger, older, 

 thicker barked lodgepole pine. The DNRC has conducted this type of operation in past 

 years in the Upper Willow Creek Valley. Results of these past operations, in terms of 

 wind throw, have been that individual trees are tipped over, but not large patches. 



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