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Chapter 3 -Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences This chapter presents a description of the affected environment based on the issues identified. The discussion is presented by resource elements. Environmental consequences resulting from implementation of each alternative and relating to each resource element are also given in this chapter, which include the cumulative impact analysis. The cumulative impact analysis considers the past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions for the project area as summarized in Table 3.1. Forest Plan Direction The Forest Plan guides all natural resource management activities and establishes management standards and guidelines for the GMUG (1984, amended 1991). The direction given in the Forest Plan is a direct result of identified public issues, management concerns and opportunities. Proposed uses on forest lands must be consistent with management requirements of the Forest Plan. Multiple use management directions se[ forth in the Forest Plan (pages III-114 to 187) for [he project area are designated as Management Area 6B-Livestock Grazing and 9A - Riparian/Aquatic Ecosystems. Area 6B emphasizes maintaining rangeland at or above satisfactory condition. Other activities may occur as long as management goals and objectives are maintained. Area 9A emphasizes management of all the components ofaquatic/riparian ecosystems to provide healthy, self-perpetuating plant communities, acceptable water quality standards, fish and wildlife habitats and stable stream channels. Mineral activities may occur but must minimize disturbance to riparian areas and initiate timely and effective rehabilitation and restore them to a state of productivity comparable to that before disturbance. 3.A. WILDLIFE RESOURCES 3.A.1 Affected Environment The analysis area for this proposed project is the Dry Fork of the Minnesota Creek watershed. This area has been evaluated in previous coal exploration and coal leasing analyses. The use of Management Indicator Species (MIS) in project planning is established by the National Forest Management Act. MIS are species whose response to land management activities can be used to predict the likely response of a wide range of species with similar habitat requirements. The 1991 Amended Forest Plan identifies 17 MIS (Forest Plan, pages II-42 - II-43). These species are elk, mule deer, pine marten, goshawk, red crossbill, hairy woodpecker, goshawk, Abert's squirrel, Lewis' woodpecker, sage grouse, 13