3.6 Roadless Areas and Unroaded Areas

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1 3.6 Roadless Areas and Unroaded Areas Introduction This analysis focuses on the direct and indirect effects of activities proposed in the Meadow Vapor project on roadless area values, including unroaded areas. The assessment of existing condition and potential effects are based on the wilderness attributes defined in FSH , Chapter 70. The combination of the Sapphire, Needle Creek and Swift Creek Areas (IRA) and adjacent unroaded areas make up the roadless expanse (Figure 3.6-1). Overview of Issues Addressed The primary issue for roadless area values, including unroaded areas is how the activities associated with timber harvest would affect the wilderness attributes of the roadless expanse. Components of timber harvest, non-commercial thinning, and prescribed burning that may affect the wilderness attributes are: increased log truck, logging equipment, and administrative traffic; smoke from prescribed burning activities; increase in dust on National Forest System Roads; changes to scenery; noise from skidding and tree cutting; log hauling; road and landing construction; tracked line machine trail and skid trail development; rehabilitation of temporary roads, TLM and skid trails, and landings; creation and rehabilitation of slash piles; and Prescribed burning activities. Bitterroot National Forest Plan Direction The Bitterroot National Forest Plan (Forest Plan) describes recreation management goals and standards for each Management Area (MA). The Meadow Vapor project area includes MAs 1, 2, 3a. Recreation management standards for each MA are as follows: MA 1 - Manage for recreation activities associated with roads and motorized equipment. The recreation opportunity spectrum setting is roaded natural (1987); (3) Pending resolution by Congress, that portion of the management area within the boundary of the Montana Wilderness Study Act areas will be administered according to the goals and standards established for management area 6. (USDA, Forest Service 1987, pg. III-3). MA 2 Manage for recreation activities associated with roads and motorized equipment. Off-road vehicle use will be controlled during critical periods on susceptible ranges such as high-use winter range, spring range, and densely roaded fall range. The recreation opportunity spectrum setting is roaded natural (USDA Forest Service 1987, pg. III-9). MA 3a Manage to provide recreation opportunities associated with main access roads and fishing streams. The recreation opportunity spectrum setting is roaded natural or semi-primitive motorized (USDA Forest Service 1987, pg. III-16). Applicable laws, regulations, and policy that govern the management of Designated Wilderness, Recommended Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, and Inventoried Roadless Areas, are as follows: The Wilderness Act of 1964 (PL )

2 Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2320, 36 CFR Part 294 Special Areas, Roadless Area Conservation; Final Rule RARE II, (CFR 292 subpart B, ) Forest Service Handbook (FSH) The Montana Wilderness Study Act (PL ) S393 Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement Blue Joint and Sapphire Montana Wilderness Study Act Areas, March 1985 Forest Plan Direction for the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, and Bitterroot National Forests, May In 2007, the Forest Service Northern Region Leadership Team identified the large land base, and abundance of relatively primitive and undeveloped landscape as a very important asset or niche to the American people. This niche includes wilderness, recommended wilderness areas, inventoried roadless areas, wilderness study areas, and the importance of backcountry and dispersed recreation settings. The Bitterroot National Forest also defined their niche and the opportunities it provides to local, regional, and national visitors. The Bitterroot National Forest niche matches the Regional niche by recognizing the unique expanse of undeveloped backcountry, designated wilderness, recommended wilderness, inventoried roadless areas, wilderness study areas, and wild river qualities of the National Forest. Affected Environment Existing Condition Portions of the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness (41,000 acres) are adjacent to the Meadow Vapor project area. Approximately 1.5 acres of the 44,416 acre Sapphire Roadless Area (01421)/Wilderness Study Area, 5 acres of the 744 acre Swift Creek Roadless Area (01065), and 141 acres of the 1085 acre Needle Creek Roadless Area, (01066), overlaps the Meadow Vapor Project. (Figure 3.6-1) Sapphire, Needle Creek and Swift Creek Roadless Areas were inventoried by the Forest Service for possible inclusion in the wilderness preservation system in the 1970 Roadless Area Review and Evaluation process. None of the areas were recommended for inclusion as wilderness in the Forest Plan. Unroaded areas adjacent to the Inventoried Roadless Areas are less than 5,000 acres and portions of these are contiguous to the roadless area, with some portions contiguous to the designated Wilderness. The original inventory of roadless lands took place through the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE I) process, and then again in the late 1970s during RARE II. The RARE process was intended to evaluate the potential for such roadless areas to be included in the wilderness preservation system. Roadless areas outside of Idaho and Colorado are those areas designated as Inventoried Roadless Areas pursuant to 36 CFR Subpart B. This includes areas identified in a set of inventoried roadless area maps, contained in the Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation, Final Environmental Impact Statement, and Volume 2, dated November Effective March of 2001, 36 CFR Part 294 Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation; Final Rule was adopted to provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas with the National Forest System in the context of multiple-use management. No activities are proposed in the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness though the Meadow Vapor project area is adjacent to the Wilderness boundary along the portions of the eastern boundary. No treatments are proposed in the areas of overlap of any of the Inventoried roadless areas. The Forest Service is proposing timber harvest, moderate and low severity prescribed fire, noncommercial thinning and temporary road construction in unroaded areas adjacent to the roadless areas

3 Figure 3.6-1: Roadless Map 3.6-3

4 The unroaded areas do not have a special designation; the Forest Plan and Management Area designations guide management. Timber has been harvested from the unroaded areas since the early 1950 s. Units of Measure for Roadless Areas for Inclusion to Wilderness System The 1964 Wilderness Act identified attributes of natural integrity, apparent naturalness, opportunities for solitude, and opportunities for a primitive recreation experience to determine the wilderness qualities of an area. Forest Service Handbook (FSH) , 72.1 discusses the attributes of wilderness, and additional attributes considered when evaluating potential wilderness areas (roadless characteristics). A cross walk between wilderness attributes and roadless characteristics is presented in Table These attributes are used to compare existing and desired conditions and the effects of project activities on wilderness quality of the roadless expanse. Table 3.6-1: Attributes of Wilderness and Roadless Characteristics defined in FSH , 72.1, 36 CFR WILDERNESS ATTRIBUTES Natural Integrity: The extent to which long-term ecological processes are intact and operating. Apparent Naturalness: Environment looks natural to most people. Solitude and Primitive Recreation: Personal subjective value defined as the isolation from the sights, sounds, and presence of others and the developments of man. ROADLESS CHARACTERISTICS High quality or undisturbed soil, water, and air. Source of public drinking water. Diversity of plant and animal communities. Habitat for threatened, endangered, candidate, proposed, and sensitive species dependent on large areas. Natural appearing landscapes with high scenic quality. Reference landscapes Primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, semiprimitive motorized ROS classes of dispersed recreation. Remoteness: Perceived condition of being secluded, inaccessible, and out of the way. Unique Features: Unique and/or special geological, biological, ecological, cultural, or scenic features. Other locally identified unique characteristics. Traditional cultural properties and sacred sites. Manageability/boundaries: Ability to manage a roadless area to meet the minimum size criteria (5,000 acres) for wilderness. No criteria. Roadless Expanse Portions of the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness (41,000 acres) are adjacent to the Meadow Vapor project area. Approximately 1.5 acres of the 44,416 acre Sapphire Roadless Area (01421)/Wilderness Study Area, 5 acres of the 744 acre Swift Creek Roadless Area (01065), and 141 acres of the 1085 acre Needle Creek Roadless Area, (01066), overlaps the Meadow Vapor Project. The portions of the three roadless areas and adjacent unroaded lands form the roadless expanse and is approximately 53,562 acres and are discussed as such in the affected environment and environmental consequences. The following section describes the characteristics of this roadless expanse. Sapphire Roadless Area (01421) Affected Environment The Bitterroot National Forest portion of this roadless area is 44,416 acres, with the entire Sapphire Roadless Area totaling 115,699 acres. The other acres are in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

5 The area lies along the crest of the Sapphire Mountains in Ravalli County of west central Montana. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness borders the area to the south. Remaining lands outside the boundary have been developed for minerals and timber production. Access is provided into many points along the boundary from State Highway 38 and from Forest roads in Rock, Copper, Moose, Martin, and Skalkaho Creeks. A network of 17 trails provides access within. The area has a north-south orientation of about 25 miles with width varying from 2 to 10 miles. Road corridors in Copper Creek and the West Fork of Rock Creek which extend towards the crest of the Sapphires reduce the width of both the northern and southern portions. Practically the entire boundary is midslope, lying above existing roads, timber harvest or mineral development. Glacial scouring has produced steep, rocky cirque basins and trough walls along the crest and southern boundary. Remaining lands, primarily in the West and Ross Forks of Rock Creek are rolling hills with flat creek bottoms. Moraine and glacial deposits reworked by flowing water characterize most valleys east of the crest. Elevations range from 5,000 feet, at some points along the lower boundary, to 8,998 feet at Kent Peak. Sixty percent of the area is above 7,000 feet. Prominent landmarks include Bare Hill, Kent, and Congdon Peaks, and Signal Rock. The Sapphire Mountain crest divides the area into nearly equal parts. Drainages flowing to the east are Copper Creek and the Ross and West Forks of Rock Creek, a nationally recognized blue ribbon trout fishery. Moose, Martin, and Skalkaho Creeks flow to the west and are tributaries of the Bitterroot River. Fifteen small lakes and numerous potholes occur along the crest. Geology is primarily granite intrusions. Landforms have been modified by past alpine glaciation with soils derived from the parent geology. Moose, Martin, and Skalkaho Creeks flow to the west and are tributaries of the Bitterroot River. Fifteen small lakes and numerous potholes occur along the crest. Geology is primarily granite intrusions. Landforms have been modified by past alpine glaciation with soils derived from the parent geology. Streamside meadows break the forested landscape at lower elevations; exposed bedrock and rubble predominate along the Sapphire crest, Whetstone Ridge, and the southern portion bordering the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine are the primary tree species with whitebark pine and subalpine larch at the highest elevations. Bunchgrass with scattered Douglas-fir occupies severe south- to west-facing sites. Douglas-fir is common on north exposures at lower elevations and lodgepole pine is common elsewhere. Ground cover is mainly snowberry, ninebark, and beargrass on drier sites, willow and redosier dogwood on cool moist sites, and grouse whortleberry or wood rush on severe cold sites at higher elevations. Within the Sapphire IRA, no acres are recommended Wilderness in the Bitterroot National Forest Plan. A large portion of this area (37,806 acres) is a congressionally designated wilderness study area. Assessment of Roadless Characteristics Natural Integrity Old mining prospects and development are found on 250 acres of patented lands. Mining operations continue at Frogpond Basin on the Sapphire crest and just outside the southern boundary near Senate Mountain. Firelines and primitive roads built during the Sleeping Child Fire are evident in the Martin Creek portion. Those firelines that were built by clearing vegetation are healing rapidly, while dozer cuts on sideslopes have permanently altered the landscape. There are approximately 9 miles of dozer line ranging in width from 15 to 100 feet. Several roads penetrate the area, including those at Frogpond Basin; along Congdon Creek, Moose Meadows Creek, Lone Pine Ridge, Skalkaho Creek; and old firelines in Martin and Moose Creeks. Both Trout and Kent Lake dams are breached, although application has been made for reconstruction

6 There is evidence of past heavy, domestic sheep use on the crest, although the area has mostly recovered and the disturbance would not be evident to most visitors. Cattle drift from Frogpond Basin and from lower elevation lands outside the area. Recent fire suppression impacts show evidence of old helispots on some of the ridges. Popular snowmobile play areas in meadows near the Sapphire Divide. The Chain of Lakes Trail #39, a 13 mile long ATV trail runs through the IRA, and is one of the few designated ATV trails on the Forest. The trail is very popular, but is deeply rutted due to use and steepness of trail. A total of 9 system trails totaling 50.5 miles are within or border the IRA. These trails are most obvious to users. Apparent Naturalness This roadless area has retained a high degree of naturalness, with little evidence of man's imprint. However, on about 3 percent of the area, some impacts are evident. Mining impacts are visible on 250 acres of patented land in the southeast most just old holes. Old fire line in the Martin Creek is 15 to 200 wide, averages miles of system trail are open to ATV use along the Chain of Lakes Trail #39 and the Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail #313. There are breached dams at Kent and Trout Lake. Old fire lines in Sleeping Child Fire area. There has been recent fire suppression and there are helispots. Snowmobile play areas in meadows. Opportunity for Solitude-Remoteness A core area of about 50,000 acres composed of the Ross Fork of Rock Creek, headwaters of Copper Creek south of the Copper Creek road, Moose Creek, and the headwaters of Skalkaho and Sleeping Child Creeks contain the highest potential for solitude due to good topographic boundaries, size and compactness and few off-site intrusions. This core area has outstanding opportunities away from others on weekdays except during hunting season and the best potential for visual solitude. Civilization appears close at hand near the boundary, most of which is located at midslope, above existing roads, timber harvest, or minerals development. The south end has an ATV trail and is close to timber harvest activity. Winter solitude impacted by snowmobile trail use and play areas. In the south a low concentration of users can only be expected on weekdays or away from the Chain of Lakes Trail. Opportunity for Primitive Recreation Opportunities exist for hiking, horseback riding, big and small-game hunting, fishing, and viewing a moderate diversity of vegetation, wildlife, and historic mining activity. The combination of accessible drainage bottoms, gentle ridges, and meadows provides opportunities for cross-country travel. Otherwise not a high degree of challenge and risk. Large enough to provide a range of opportunities. There appears to be vastness of scale for the motorized user, however opportunities are limited because Trail #313, the main connector trail is closed for motorized use. This eliminates loop trip opportunities for motorcycles in the north. Throughout the area the degree of challenge and risk for motorcycle rider is provided for more by remoteness than by topography. Approximately 32 miles of system trail open to motorcycles. There are approximately 8 miles of system trail open to ATVs that access a high Lake Basin with moderate degree of challenge and risk. Opportunities are limited for motorcycle users in the north to experience a low concentration of other users in an area that appears predominantly natural, with a vastness of scale because of the short, in and out trails. Mountain use is becoming popular along the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail #313, Chain of Lakes Trail # 39, Railroad Creek #77, Weasel Creek #156, Jerry Lake Trail #503, and Sign Creek Trail #

7 Snowmobile opportunities limited by trail closures and terrain but some off trail opportunities above 7000 feet elevation and in the Frog Pond Basin area and Mosquito Meadows to Martin Creek areas. Special Features Features include glacial cirques along the Sapphire Mountain crest; historic mining activity; meadows; extensive areas of whitebark pine, subalpine larch and wide panoramas from the major ridge. Needle Creek Roadless Area (01066) Affected Environment Needle Creek IRA lies entirely on the Bitterroot National Forest, and is 1,085 acres in size. It is located in southeast Ravalli County, Montana. Hamilton, the county seat, is about 30 air miles to the northwest. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness borders the eastern boundary. The southeast boundary parallels the East Fork Road which ends at a major trailhead near the present wilderness boundary. Most remaining lands outside the boundary have been developed for timber production. Access to the area is from U.S. Highway 93 and the East Fork Road. Trail #434 passes through the area and provides access along the western boundary of the adjoining wilderness. The area includes all but the very lower portion of the Needle Creek drainage. Elevations range from about 5,400 to 7,000 feet. Forests cover most of the area, interspersed with several rocky talus slopes. North-facing slopes have mostly lodgepole pine, and south-facing slopes have Douglas-fir with scattered, large ponderosa pane. Ground cover is beargrass and huckleberry with bunchgrass on the warmer sites. This area is not recommended for wilderness designation in the Forest Plan. Assessment of Roadless Characteristics Natural Integrity The natural integrity of this area is unaltered and the area has a natural appearance to users. Little-to-no camping impacts. Little to no grazing. Apparent Naturalness Unimpaired other than one system trail totaling 1.4 miles is within, or borders, the IRA. This trail is obvious to most users. ATV incursions at beginning of Needle Creek Trail #434 in 2008 and also Trail #434 has been mentioned by the mountain bike riders as a popular ride for them. Opportunity for Solitude-Remoteness Opportunities for solitude are diminished by the small size of the area, little diversity, limited challenge and risk, and roads which bound two-thirds of the perimeter. It is separated from the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness by a prominent ridge. Opportunities exist to be away from others except during hunting season. Opportunity for Primitive Recreation Primitive recreation opportunities are limited to short duration hikes, big game hunting and berry picking. No ATV trails. Snowmobiles limited by small size and trees. Opportunities are limited for motorcycle users on 1.4 miles of trail, to experience a low concentration of other users in an area that appears predominately natural, because of the small size of the area. Special Features There are no special features

8 Swift Creek Roadless Area (01065) Affected Environment This is a small IRA at 744 acres, but is contiguous with the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. It is located in southeast Ravalli County; Montana. Hamilton, the county seat, is about 32 air miles to the northwest. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness borders the south boundary. Remaining lands outside the boundary have been developed for timber production. Access to the area is from U.S. Highway 93, the East Fork Road, and Forest roads along the boundary. The Swift Creek Trail passes through the middle of the area providing access to the adjoining wilderness. The area includes a portion of Swift Creek, headwaters of which are in the adjoining wilderness. Elevations range from 5,600 to 7,000 feet. Forests cover most of the area. Lodgepole pine is the primary tree species, with some large Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine on south facing slopes. Ground cover is mostly beargrass and huckleberry with Idaho fescue and pinegrass on warmer sites and open ridges. The Swift Creek IRA is not recommended for Wilderness in the Bitterroot National Forest Plan. Assessment of Roadless Characteristics Natural Integrity The natural integrity of the area is intact and the area appears natural to visitors. Grazing impacts are minor. Non system trail exists to hunting camps. Apparent Naturalness The area appears natural to visitors. Area is unimpaired other than one system trail totaling.9 miles is within the IRA. This trail is obvious to most users. Opportunity for Solitude- Remoteness Opportunities for solitude are low because the area is small and proximate human activities are visible from within the area, Dense timber screens most news and reduces sounds of human activities, although these sounds occasionally penetrate the entire area. The adjacent Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness enhances solitude. Opportunity for Primitive Recreation While the opportunity to pursue primitive recreation exists, the lack of special attractions or unique features has limited recreation use primarily to hunting. Challenging opportunities are rare. Small size limits challenge and risk. No trails are open to ATVs. Motorcyclists have little opportunity on 0.9 miles of system trail open to motorcycles. Opportunities are limited for motorcycle users to experience a low concentration of other users in an area that appears predominantly natural, with a vastness of scale because of the size of the area. Snowmobile opportunities off-trail in burned area are limited by size. Special Features The area contains no special features. Manageability (Boundaries) This element relates to the ability of the Forest Service to manage the area to meet size criteria and the elements discussed above. Changes in the shape of an area influence how it can be managed. The locations of projects proposed outside the area also need to be considered. Boundary management effects relate to such factors as the need to provide access to the area and to match boundaries to terrain features that can be easily located. Manageability or boundaries was not a wilderness quality factor rated in RARE II, but is a factor considered since the mid-1990s to evaluate effects on roadless areas (FSH (5))

9 The roadless expanse abuts the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness on eastern edge in a few places. The western boundary traverses mid-slope above roads and timber harvest units. The roadless expanse, excluding the unroaded area of 1956 acres contains good topographic features that facilitate identification of the Wilderness boundary and as such have the potential to be managed as Wilderness. Environmental Consequences The Meadow Vapor project effects on wilderness attributes and roadless area characteristics are analyzed at two levels: the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness the roadless expanse, which includes the, Sapphire, Needle Creek and Swift Creek Roadless Areas and 1956 acres of unroaded areas within the project area. Effects Common to All Alternatives Anaconda Pintler Wilderness There will be no direct effects on wilderness attributes in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness from the Meadow Vapor project because no activities are proposed within Wilderness and the roadless expanse separates the project area from the Wilderness. Indirect effects may include sights and sounds of commercial and small tree thinning activities on non-wilderness lands. The sights and sounds of the work crews and their equipment might affect solitude and primitive recreation in some parts of the Wilderness, although proposed activities are downstream from wilderness boundaries. The distance from proposed activities to the wilderness and intervening landforms would mitigate noise and smoke from proposed activities. Noise would be at levels below ambient wilderness sounds. Roadless Expanse For most of the roadless expanse, the project area is out of sight and inaudible and would have little impact on remoteness. The proposed activities would not markedly diminish the natural appearing nature of the area. Effects on the components of the roadless expanse vary based on their proximity to the proposed activities. Effects specific to the roadless expanse are described for each alternative. The effects of the Meadow Vapor project on the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness are not analyzed further. No Action Roadless Expanse Direct Effects and Indirect Effects There are no direct effects of choosing the no action on wilderness attributes or the roadless characteristics of the roadless expanse. In the event of wildfire, the intensity and severity of fire in the area of overlap with the project area is potentially greater in the No Action than in the Proposed Action because no fuel reduction would occur under the No Action. Wildfire could cause temporary forest road closures and jeopardize public health and safety. Under the No Action, there would be no change to the existing recreational opportunities or travel access since no new management activities would occur. Proposed Action Under the Proposed Action no treatments are occurring in Sapphire, Swift Creek or Needle Creek roadless areas. Under the Proposed Action, commercial, non-commercial, and prescribed fire are proposed on 192 acres of the unroaded lands (approximately 65 acres of commercial harvest and 127 acres of noncommercial thinning). Commercial harvest in and adjacent to the roadless expanse would require the construction of 0.21 miles of temporary road. (Figure 3.6-1)

10 Direct and Indirect Effects Prescribed fire treatments in the roadless expanse would not greatly affect the roadless characteristics because low and moderate intensity fires are typical of the forest ecosystems in the area and influence the development of the forest communities. Though the appearance of the vegetation would change, it would be within the parameters of natural integrity and apparent naturalness. In the areas that burn at low severity, visitors would see charred duff, scorched underbrush, and possibly scorched lower branches of the over story forest. The areas of moderate severity fire would have these same characteristics with the addition of individual and small groups of burned trees and areas of scorched ground. Fire scars are evident throughout the area. Fireline construction and the number of personnel on site to manage the fires would compromise the attributes of remoteness and solitude during prescribed fire operations. Other short-term indirect impacts on the undeveloped attribute include smells of the fire and smoke, which could persist for a few days after ignition. Dust from machinery could also be present while operations are occurring. These effects would not cause lasting impacts on the undeveloped attribute. Commercial harvest and non-commercial thins would occur on 0.3% of the roadless expanse in the project area. The commercial harvest units outside the IRA require the construction of temporary roads and tracked line-machine trails to access the timber. The proposed temporary road would be rehabilitated following their use. Impacts from the use of mechanical equipment and motorized vehicles would be more obvious in the short term and would include removal of vegetation for passage, skid trails, tracks of egress and ingress, and brushing and limbing within the project area to allow wider vehicle passage. Short term effects, while mitigated by careful consideration of routes, would be obvious to visitors and could facilitate unauthorized use of these routes by people, resulting in the appearance of temporary roads. The temporary roads would detract from apparent naturalness during project implementation until such time that they are rehabilitated and ground cover is re-established. Impacts would be commensurate with the success of rehabilitation efforts after treatments were concluded. Project implementation activities would reduce the attributes of remoteness and solitude by the presence of workers, vehicles, and the sound of equipment until all the proposed projects are complete and ground cover has re-grown. However, these attributes are already low because units border roaded areas that provide direct views to the sights and sounds of traffic and management activities on adjoining National Forest. Effects to primitive and unconfined recreation would be minor and limited to those time periods when activities are taking place. People could be displaced from favorite areas while project implantation was occurring. An indirect effect of the fire management activities could be displacement of visitors to unburned areas for recreation, both because of visuals and downfall from burned trees. In the long term the proposed action would enhance or help to maintain the roadless resource including high quality soil, water and air; diversity of plant and animal communities; and habitat for those species dependent on large, undisturbed areas of land. Cumulative Effects Common to the Proposed Action The past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions will have minimal cumulative effects on the wilderness attributes and roadless characteristics of the roadless expanse in the project area. The areas with the highest wilderness and roadless attributes would remain unchanged in the long term. Road construction and timber harvest do not affect wilderness attributes in the wilderness because they are not present and the wilderness is buffered from the proposed activities by the roadless expanse. They have had minor effects on roadless characteristics in the roadless expanse as described in the existing condition and Forest Plan monitoring reports (PF-ROADLESS-002)

11 Unroaded areas closest to the roaded areas are most affected by past, present, and proposed management activities. Unroaded areas closest to the roaded areas also have the lowest roadless characteristics and wilderness attributes. Roadless Expanse The roadless expanse consists of 53,562 acres, 51,606 acres of Sapphire, Needle Creek and Swift Creek Inventoried Roadless Areas and 1956 acres of unroaded area in the Meadow Vapor project area. All proposed treatments in the Meadow Vapor project would affect 0.3% of the roadless expanse in the Proposed Action. Under the 2004 Weed EIS, the Forest Service can treat weed infestations in specific locations of the roadless expanse. Weed treatments benefit wilderness and roadless areas by eliminating weeds and potential sources of weed spread. Weed suppression actions in the project area would not have adverse cumulative effects on roadless attributes. Suppressing weeds would favor recovery and spread of desirable native plant species. Annual trail maintenance will be ongoing on Trails 39, 40,102, 168, 313, 420, 421, 433, 435, and 436 within the roadless expanse. This work involves clearing the trail of fallen logs, cleaning waterbars, and brushing. During this time, workers may be visible in the roadless expanse. The activity will be temporary and restricted in area. The potential cumulative effect of this disturbance and the actions in the Proposed Action on solitude would be restricted to a small part of the roadless expanse. Compliance with Forest Plan, Relevant Laws, Regulations, and Policies The Proposed Action is consistent with Forest Plan directions regarding inventoried roadless areas and the Wilderness Act of No treatments are proposed in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness or within the Sapphire, Swift Creek of Needle Creek Roadless areas