self-thinning with increases in average stand diameter, which would subsequently increase 

 downed wood and risk of stand replacement fire. Thus, through all proposed harvest actions, the 

 risk of insect infestation and stand replacement fire would be reduced. As a result, over a long 

 time frame (20 - 70 years), reduced stand densities would have an indirect negative effect on 

 black-backed woodpeckers because there would be a possibility that future habitat might not be 

 created. Thus, the risk of negative effects to black-backed woodpeckers would be low as a result 

 of all action alternatives. 



Flanunulated Owl 



Alternative A-No Action 

 Project and Analysis Areas 



Under this alternative, no changes from current conditions are expected with the exception of 

 gradual successional changes to the forested community within both project and analysis areas. 

 With no action, the risk of stand-replacing fires or insect outbreaks would increase. 



Alternatives B, C, and D~Harvest 

 Project and Analysis Areas 



Due to the flammulated owl's relatively small home range (<50 acres), analysis and project areas 

 are the same. Thus, within this area, there are approximately 33 1 acres of preferred habitat types 

 (e.g., Douglas-fir/pinegrass, Douglas-fir/dwarf huckleberry), of which, approximately 55 acres 

 would be considered suitable habitat because they are mature to old aged, mixed pine and 

 Douglas fir stands (Stand Level Inventory database). Proposed action alternatives would affect 

 approximately 141 ac. (Alt. B), 231 ac. (Alt. C), and 126 ac. (Alt. D) of preferred flammulated 

 owl habitat types. Of the affected portions of stands proposed for harvest with preferred 

 flammulated owl habitat types, only a few acres would be considered suitable habitat (Table 4-9), 

 with the remaining acreage containing smaller diameter lodgepole pine. Under all three action 

 alternatives, approximately 53% of the 55 acres of suitable habitat would be harvested to some 

 degree, with harvests that resemble stand replacement fires impacting flammulated owl habitat 

 the most. Depending upon the intensity of each harvest, harvests that resemble low intensity and 

 mixed severity fires could benefit flammulated owl habitat through reductions in stem densities 

 that would promote understory shrub growth and subsequent insect production. Over sufficient 

 time (possibly >30 years), harvests that resemble low intensity and mixed severity fires would 

 benefit flammulated owls because competitive exclusion within affected stands would be 

 reduced, facilitating accelerated growth among remaining individuals and would promote multi- 

 storied conditions within the future stand. As a result, there would be low risk of negative effects 

 to flammulated owls under action alternatives. Of the action alternatives. Alternative D would 

 likely have the least impact on flammulated owls because no suitable habitat would be subject to 

 a harvest that resembles a stand replacement fire (Table 4-9). 



Affected acres of suitable flammulated owl habitat, by action altemative and harvest intensity. 

 Within the project and analysis areas, there are approximately 33 1 acres of flammulated owl 

 preferred habitat types (Stand Level Inventory database), of which, approximately 55 acres could 

 95 



