Environmental Assessment

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3
due to the inherent stability of dominant landtypes and the lack of seasonally wet soils on steep slopes.
Careful planning and the application of BMPs and project design elements would be used to prevent
irreversible losses of the soil resource.
The development and use of temporary roads and logging facilities is considered an irretrievable loss of
soil productivity until their functions have been served and disturbed sites are returned back to a
productive capacity. The both action alternatives include soil restoration activities (subsoiling) that would
improve the hydrologic function and productivity on detrimentally disturbed soils. There would be no
irretrievable losses of soil productivity associated with reclamation treatments that decommission
unneeded roads and management facilities (Soils Report page 43).
Short-Term Uses of the Human Environment and the Maintenance of Long-Term Productivity
LRMP standards and guidelines, mangement requirements, and mitigation measures built into the action
alternatives ensure that long-term productivity would not be impaired by the application of short-term
management practices. Both action alternatives would improve soil productivity in specific areas where
soil restoration treatments (subsoiling) are implemented on soils committed to roads and logging
facilities.
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