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topography. Therefore this alternative has the greatest potential to decrease clk habitat effectiveness. The construction of a temporary road and GVB drill sites in Long Draw would have greatest potential of negatively impacting the hairy woodpecker due to possible disuubance to aspen, Douglas-fir and/or spruce trees. Other riparian dependent species mentioned in the alfected environment section will also have greater potential of being negatively impacted under this alternative. Drilling activities during the winter months (December l -April 30) may impact winrering elk in the area. CDOW indicated that allowing access along one corridor to access the proposed 5 drill sites and not allowing use off this route will minimize effects to wintering ells. In addition, CDOW recommended that the area be closed to vehicular traffic other than snowmobile during this time. Nighttime lighting and noise from the drilling and associated activities may displace individual wildlife species for the duration of drilling (approximately 50 days), this is anticipated to have little to no long term affects to wildlife, MIS or TES species. Noxious weeds may establish iu Gambel oak, aspen and meadow habitat after disturbance from drilling activities. The spread of noxious weeds would negatively affect wildlife species by decreasing [he vegetative diversity iu the area. Seeding these sites and monitoring for successful reclamation will be established as part of this proposal therefore affects to wildlife habitat diversity would be minimal. Alternative 3: Under this alternative elk habitat effectiveness would also be maintained at the current percentages of 40% during summer and 34% during fall. Placement of [he temporary road on the north hillslope, in oakbrush habitat and out of Long Draw has less impacts to wildlife species than the proposed access needs described in Alternative 2. Obliteration of this road has a much higher chance of success due to placement on a sideslope. This topography is much easier to bring back to contour and keep motorized use from utilizing. Placing the road in thick oakbrush also has a much higher chance of obliteration success because oakbrush comes back easily and prolifically after disturbance. The effects to wintering elk are the same as Alternative 2. The effects of nighttime lighting ,noise and spread of noxious weeds would lie the same as Alternative 2. 3.A.3 Cumulative Effect:=: Surface disturbance in the wildlife analysis area includes the exis'~ing GVBs, the access used for the Thermal Event site west of the project area, and future GVB needs. In order to assist with the cumulative effects analysis for this proposal MCC has provided speculation as to their needs in the next 1-2 years. MCC speculates the possibility of needing approximately 6.8 miles of road construction reconstruction for access to drill 26 additional GVB sites. This plan wc:~uld 18