These densities are likely to decrease as the time since snag creation (beetle mortality) has increased and the snags fall. Measure: Three-toed woodpecker habitat change in quality (tolerance level) due to thinning and salvage operations. Environmental Consequences Alternative 1 No Action (Ecological – Current snag densities would remain on the landscape unchaged for the short-term. Because of the extent of the beetle mortality in the analysis area, a snag gap may develop within the next 12 years as these snags fall and the regeneration is not mature enough to replace these densities. As fall, downed log densities will increase as will fuel loadings. There have been fire starts, most recently Pole Creek in 2012, within the watersheds that have burned at high intensity within some of the older beetle killed stands. A wildfire within the area would set back any current regeneration becoming future snags; prolonging the snag gap. Alternatives 2 and 3- Direct and Indirect Effects Salvage activities proposed under each alternative can directly remove potential nesting sites for this species. Removal of dwarf mistletoe trees, as proposed within the regeneration harvest units, will remove and avenue for rot in an otherwise live tree. Three-toed woodpeckers can nest in a dead or rotted section of an otherwise live tree. As discussed under the snag effects section (page 47-64), areas with the highest densities of snags are either not part of a treatment unit or are retained. These are the areas that also meet the highest densities and high quality habitat in Table 39. Also as part of the snag analysis, it is shown that the proposed salvage does not markedly change the snag density distribution from the existing condition in the LP and MMC habitat types. Because of the elevation of these habitat types they are also the types most apt to be used by three-toed woodpeckers with reduced competition from other woodpecker species. The proposed actions impact areas with snag densities meeting the 50-80% tolerance interval (green stands) for this species the most (>6 to <36 snags/acre). Although the proposed actions do occur within nesting habitat for this species, snag retention mitigation assures some habitat throughout the project area (Table 39) albeit at lower qualities than currently exists.
These densities are likely to decrease as the time since snag creation (beetle mortality) has increased and the snags fall. Measure: Three-toed woodpecker habitat change in quality (tolerance level) due to thinning and salvage operations. Environmental Consequences Alternative 1 – No Action (Ecological Current snag densities would remain on the landscape unchaged for the short-term. Because of the extent of the beetle mortality in the analysis area, a snag gap may develop within the next 12 years as these snags fall and the regeneration is not mature enough to replace these densities. As fall, downed log densities will increase as will fuel loadings. There have been fire starts, most recently Pole Creek in 2012, within the watersheds that have burned at high intensity within some of the older beetle killed stands. A wildfire within the area would set back any current regeneration becoming future snags; prolonging the snag gap. Alternatives 2 and 3- Direct and Indirect Effects Salvage activities proposed under each alternative can directly remove potential nesting sites for this species. Removal of dwarf mistletoe trees, as proposed within the regeneration harvest units, will remove and avenue for rot in an otherwise live tree. Three-toed woodpeckers can nest in a dead or rotted section of an otherwise live tree. As discussed under the snag effects section (page 47-64), areas with the highest densities of snags are either not part of a treatment unit or are retained. These are the areas that also meet the highest densities and high quality habitat in Table 39. Also as part of the snag analysis, it is shown that the proposed salvage does not markedly change the snag density distribution from the existing condition in the LP and MMC habitat types. Because of the elevation of these habitat types they are also the types most apt to be used by three-toed woodpeckers with reduced competition from other woodpecker species. The proposed actions impact areas with snag densities meeting the 50-80% tolerance interval (green stands) for this species the most (>6 to <36 snags/acre). Although the proposed actions do occur within nesting habitat for this species, snag retention mitigation assures some habitat throughout the project area (Table 39) albeit at lower qualities than currently exists.
Ursus_MISAnalysis_Report_Final%2005042016.docx