Kinnikinnick Chapter Of The Idaho Native Plant Society

 November 18, 2005

Bill Cook Bureau of Land Management 
Coeur d’Alene Field Office 
1808 N Third Street  
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814-3407 

RE: Two Tail Forest Health/Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project Environmental Assessment 

Dear Mr. Cook: 

Thank you for the opportunity to provide additional input on the “Two Tail” project.  On behalf of the Kinnikinnick chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society, we appreciate the modifications made to this project since the site visit of last April;  we feel that these changes have improved the project from the standpoint of native plant habitat. 

By decreasing the diameter size threshold for trees to be retained and by increasing the number of trees per acre to remain on site the chances for natural regeneration of site-adaptive species has been significantly enhanced.   

Roads are a significant vector for the introduction of noxious weeds.  By reducing the amount of new road construction and road renovation, the threat of introduction of noxious weeds has also been reduced.   

The benefit of Alternative 2 of the EA is the fact that it contains the least amount of new road or road re-construction.  However the additional helicopter logging on the south side of Katka creek provided for in this alternative would disturb an area that perhaps may be best left in its natural state due to soil sensitivity.  We would encourage the final alternative to combine the further reduction in roads of alternative 2 with the same acres as Alternative 1. 

In addition to the follow up monitoring for weeds, we would also encourage follow up monitoring to gauge whether or not the 100 foot setback surrounding the Water howellia habitat was indeed sufficient to retain its suitability.

 Bill, once again, thank you for considering these comments.

 Sincerely, 

Phil Hough
Conservation Chair 

Molly O’Reilly
President