In the spring of 1995, cutting units 2, 3 and 4 were interplanted with lodgepole pine 

 containerized stock. Proposed harvesting under all action alternatives are designed to 

 meet one of two silvicultural goals. 1 ) Harvesting that simulates a low intensity ground 

 fire is being proposed to improve health and radial growth of the existing stand. There 

 would be between 302 and 436 trees per acre left within thinned areas. This is an 

 equivalent between tree spacing of 10 to 12 feet. There is no current need for 

 regeneration in these stands. 2) Stand replacing and mixed severity fire simulation areas 

 are being proposed to regenerate the existing stands. Mixed severity simulation areas 

 would have most of the trees removed, mainly lodgepole pine, and would retain any 

 Douglas fir or ponderosa pine. Pfister (1977) indicates that there may be problems, in the 

 Abies lasiocarpaA'accinium caespitosum (ABLAA'ACA) habitat types, with regeneration 

 of Douglas fir and spruce due to frequent summer frosts. The frost problems do not seem 

 to affect the regeneration of lodgepole pine. The presence of pine grass (Calarnagrostis 

 rubescens) may also cause regeneration problems due to direct competition with 

 seedlings. Several site-specific mitigation measures would be implemented to encourage 

 regeneration. These include, retention of 10-15 tons of woody debris per acre to provide 

 micro sites. Bare mineral soil would be exposed on approximately 40% of each cutting 

 unit to prepare a good seed bed. Where fiscally and mechanically feasible, broadcast 

 burning would be used instead of dozer piling and burning. These actions are designed to 

 provide a substantial number of microsites to encourage tree regeneration. Disease free 

 trees, which are not cut during the harvesting operation, would be left standing. Those, 

 which are mistletoe infested, would be cut down to reduce spread of mistletoe. Soil 

 compaction/displacement would be kept to a minimum by allowing the dozer piling 

 operations only when the soil moisture content is less than 20% and by using broadcast 

 burning where economically and physically applicable. Within 5 years following the 

 completion of the sale a regeneration survey would be conducted. If a stand has not 

 regenerated naturally, it would be recommended for planting. 



No further analysis of this issue is planned. 



Harvesting of timber and associated construction of roads could negatively impact 

 sensitive plant species, possibly Lady Slippers (Cypripedium). 



To address this concern, DNRC contracted with Lisa Schassberger-Druckenmiller. 

 Botanist, to do an inventory for plant species of special concern within the sections 

 involved in this project. The overall survey protocol used was an intuitive control method 

 where the surveyor conducts an examination of specific areas within each parcel, in 

 addition to walking through the general area. The Upper Willow Creek tracts involved in 

 this proposal were surveyed July 8, 9, 17 and August 22, 23, 1999. 



One plant species, northern golden-carpet (Cypripedium parviflorum) of special interest 

 was found in the SE1/4SE1/4 Section 21, Township 8 North, Range 15 West, along 



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