Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3
3-5 years and would provide a hindrance to grazing of aspen. Mountain pine beetle
caused mortality on other ownerships would have a similar effect. A positive cumulative
effect is expected for aspen under either alternative.
Spruce
The MPB epidemic may benefit spruce over time by reducing competition from pine. .
No treatments for spruce are proposed in the alternatives and none are known on private
lands either.
Meadows
Some meadows have been successfully released from pine competition in the past on
both National forest and private lands. Grazing occurs on many private meadows as well
as Forest service meadows and contributes to meadow maintenance. Approximately
1,458 acres of pine encroachment removal would occur in the proposed action
alternative. These are historic meadow sites which have been encroached upon by pine.
They would be maintained by removing conifers of all sizes. As a result, increased grass
and forage production would occur.
Mountain pine beetle may reduce pine in meadows, generally trees >7” dbh. The smaller
trees are not expected to be killed by MPB. The cumulative effect under No Action
would be that pine would remain in these meadows and seed more trees further into the
meadows. Grass and forage production would continue to decrease.
Wildlife and Fish
Affected Environment
Existing vegetation habitat conditions are discussed under the ‘Forest Vegetation’ section
in this document. Additional discussion of some specific habitat components, snags and
down woody material is presented below. Riparian ecosystems are discussed in the
Hydrology section.
Snags and Down Woody Material
The MPB outbreak that has been occurring for the last 3-4 years has created snag habitat
in the Vestal Project Area, especially in the northern and western portion of the project
area. However, trees killed by MPB are only expected to remain intact on the landscape
for about 5 years (Schmid et al. 2009).
Currently, cutting snags for fuelwood is allowed within 300’ of roads where dispersed
camping is permitted as shown on the Forest Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). The
majority of the Vestal project area is included. No other snag cutting areas occur within
the project area.
Down woody material amounts vary across the project area. Most of the project area
currently contains down woody material at levels noted in Objective 212.
Management Indicator Species (MIS)
The Phase II Amendment to the 1997 Forest Plan-FEIS (USDA Forest Service 2005a)
lists MIS to be considered during project-level planning. The MIS species which have
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