Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Vestal <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong> Chapter 3<br />
Late Succession<br />
Total acres of late succession are expected to be reduced in this alternative due to MPB<br />
caused mortality. Approximately ten acres of late succession (SS5) are projected to<br />
remain within the project area at year 2018 (Allen 2011). The remaining SS4A and SS4B<br />
stands could eventually grow into SS5; however this would take several decades or<br />
longer to achieve. With the current MPB infestation it is highly likely that the<br />
development of SS5 would be delayed due to an increase in MPB caused tree mortality.<br />
Hardwoods<br />
Aspen would benefit from the mountain pine beetle-caused mortality of overstory<br />
ponderosa pine, which decreases competition for sunlight and nutrients. However,<br />
ponderosa pine less than 3” dbh would escape mortality and remain to compete with<br />
quaking aspen. The pine would eventually shade out the aspen within the subsequent 50<br />
years. Increased sunlight warming the ground would immediately stimulate aspen<br />
regeneration through root suckering, expanding existing clones outward a distance up to<br />
1 to 1.5 tree heights (Shepperd & Battaglia 2002). The flush of new aspen suckers<br />
increases browsing damage, however, the large amount of ponderosa pine snags falling<br />
down mitigate the browsing pressure by physically blocking deer and elk from the<br />
suckers. This alternative would move toward Forest Objective 201.<br />
Spruce<br />
This alternative would not have any direct effects on spruce. Indirectly spruce may<br />
increase in time due to dense canopy conditions (stands not affected by MPB) and fire<br />
suppression. Dense mixed conifer stands would likely lose the ponderosa pine<br />
component to MPB caused mortality. The loss of ponderosa pine could affect the<br />
structure of spruce stands by increasing wind-throw (spruce are highly susceptible to<br />
wind throw), coarse woody debris, and subsequent ladder fuels. .<br />
Meadows<br />
Meadow sites in the project area would continue to experience encroachment from<br />
ponderosa pine. The ponderosa pine encroaching on meadow sites is either not large<br />
enough or dense enough to experience heavy mountain pine beetle-caused mortality.<br />
Meadows are not expected to increase as their extent is limited by soil characteristics.<br />
This alternative would not impact achievement of Objective 205.<br />
Alternative 2<br />
Cover Types<br />
The proposed action includes 126 acres of hardwood conversion. These stands were<br />
identified as past aspen sites which had been encroached by pine over time.<br />
This treatment would result in an increase of 126 acres in aspen and a corresponding<br />
decrease in ponderosa pine cover types. No other changes to cover types are anticipated<br />
in the proposed action.<br />
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