and steep slopes which will be avoided or protected through implementation of BMPs . 

 equipment restriction zones and site specific mitigation measures of the Soil Scientist and 

 Hydrologist to minimize the area and degree of soil effects associated with proposed harvest and 

 road construction. We expect harvest effects on soils would be similar on a per acre basis for 

 conventional and post and rail harvest for each alternative (refer to table 4-12). 



Harvest and brush piling operations would be planned to retain organic matter, avoid excessive 

 displacement of topsoils and restrict season of use to minimize effects. Maintaining a portion of 

 coarse woody debris similar to natural conditions (Graham et al. 1996) and a majority of fine 

 needles/foliage helps insure nutrient cycling essential for future plant growth. Woody debris 

 would be retained at 10 to 15 tons/acre on stand replacing harvest areas and 5-10 tons/acre on the 

 mixed severity harvest areas, to promote long-term soil stability and productivity. Site 

 preparation will limit the amount of surface disturbance to the minimum required for silvicultural 

 goals. Site preparation would cause slight soil disturbance by mixing surface duff to expose 

 mineral soil and would have low, short-term effects to soils and promote tree regeneration. 

 Impacts to soils would be minimized and soil productivity maintained if BMPs, and 

 recommended mitigation measures are implemented to control or reduce the area and degree of 

 soil impacts. Forest health would improve on thinned areas, due to reduced competition for 

 limited soil nutrients and moisture. 



Table 4-12 

 Summary of Timber Harvest Effects on Soil Resources 



* Assumes up to maximum 15 % of area impacted by skid trails and disturbance. 



# Assumes up to maximum 10 % of area impacted by skid trails and disturbance 



Road Access & Effects of action alternatives: 



Road systems were designed to minimize the number of road miles, control erosion and provide 

 resource protection with the most economical construction and lowest maintenance required. 

 New road construction through forested sites would reduce forest soil productivity and convert 

 these sites to mainly grass, but would have little effect on range sites, (refer to table 4-13). All 

 action alternatives will implement BMPs, and site-specific mitigation measures on roads and 

 harvest areas to maintain slope stability and provide adequate drainage to control erosion and 

 sedimentation. Construction of all stream crossings will implement mitigation measures to 

 control sediment. 



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