Impact Comparison - The various alternate transmission line routes differ
substantially in their
impacts to natural resources. They have less significant differences in their
effects on existing
human developments. The differences between the alternate routes are discussed
below, with;9
emphasis on how the proposed route compares to the alternate routes.

Forests - All transmission line routes would involve clearing forests on
the right-of-way. Tree,
tall shrubs would be removed to eliminate potential contact between vegetation
and the line ' s
conductors. Regrowth of cut vegetation and new growth would be periodically
recleared, about
five years.

Many of the forest lands in this region are periodically logged for lumber
and pulpwood.
Right-of-way clearing removes that land from future lumber and pulp production.
The two "Ni
routes would involve clearing the fewest acres of forest lands, 77 acres
for the proposed route,
acres for "North B." The three "Center" routes and the
three "South" routes would require ci
about twice as many acres, ranging from about 136 to 170 acres. The affected
forests can be g
as upland forests (aspen-birch, northern hardwoods) and lowland forests (swamp
conifers). Tab
shows the number of acres of upland and lowland forests to be cleared on
each route. In all caO
three-fourths or more of the forest to be cleared would be upland forest.

                                            Table 4-10
                            Forest Clearing on Transmission Line Routes

                                                                        
           Total
                                   Type, Acres            Ownership, Acres
        Forest#
                               Lowland   Upland         Private     Commercial
    Acre$,
    North A (Proposal)            5         72            53           24
            77
    North B                      13         56            57           12
           69
    Center A                     27        142            61          108
          169
    Center B                     34        133            86           81
          167,~
    Center C                     30        112            63           79
          142
    South A                      25        111            83           53
           136
    South B                      24        125            96           53
           149
    South C                      40        112            90           62
           152

The forests along the routes are owned by a combination of private and commercial
forestry
enterprises. None of the forest lands are in county, state, or federal ownership.
A breakdowx
private vs. commercial ownership is shown in Table 4-10. The least private
ownership is alon
"North" routes (53-57 acres). The "Center" routes have
an intermediate level (62-86 acres)a
private ownership and the "South" routes have the most (83-96 acres).
The "North" routes h
least commercial ownership (12-24 acres), while the "Center" routes
have the most (79-108
The "South" routes have an intermediate level of commercial ownership
(53-62 acres). In s
the "North" routes would require clearing significantly less forest
lands than any of the "Ce
"South" routes.

Wildlife - The major impact of a new transmission line on the wildlife of
the region would r
habitat changes on the right-of-way. Clearing the right-of-way in forested
areas would ch
primary vegetative cover from trees to grasses and shrubs. Animals which
live in the forest
removed from the right-of-way would lose suitable habitat, lowering their
populations in the
Species inhabiting grasslands and shrublands would benefit, as more habitat
would be created
right-of-way clearing. The two "North" routes would involve the
least change of forest to
grass/shrub habitats (69-77 acres). About twice as much forest to grass/shrub
conversion
with the "Center" and "South" routes (136 to 169 acres).
The "North" routes would thus ha
least impact to wildlife populations resulting from habitat changes.

All routes would cross a winter deer yard bordering Swamp Creek along with
the proposed E
access road. The impact to the deer herd would be lessened by selective treatment
(minimize
clearing) of conifer trees, which provide winter cover and food along this
section of right-ofU
No other deer yards are crossed by any of the routes.



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