Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, and Monitoring 

APPENDIX B 

DESIGN CRITERIA 

MITIGATION MEASURES 

AND 

MONITORING 

Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 1 

APPENDIX B – DESIGN CRITERIA, MITIGATION MEASURES, AND MONITORING 

Specific design criteria, mitigation measures, and monitoring procedures described herein have 

been developed to be used as part of the action alternative. It may be determined that certain 

Federal, State, local, or other permits, cooperative agreements, MOUs, etc., are necessary or 

required as part of implementing Calumet Project Area project actions. The appropriate 

documentation will be obtained prior to initiation of applicable actions. 

Geology, Soil, and Water Resources

• Project design criteria and mitigation measures include USFS Region 2 Watershed 

Conservation Practices (WCPs), Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, USFS National Core 

Best Management Practices (BMPs), South Dakota Forestry BMPs, and other industry 

standard methods for protecting geologic, soil, and water resources. 

• Refer to Appendix B of the Geology, Soils, and Water Resources Specialist Report for a 

complete and detailed listing of all requirements that are summarized here in the interest of 

saving space. 

• The listed design criteria apply to all Federal actions associated with the Calumet Project, 

including Federal actions taking place across non-federal lands with permission of the land 

owner (i.e., access road or stream crossing on private lands adjacent to USFS).

• All applicable USFS Region 2 WCPs will be implemented. WCPs are the required BMPs for 

all Federal actions to ensure compliance with state and national water quality laws. WCPs 

meet or exceed South Dakota Forestry BMP requirements. 

• In special situations, adjustments to WCPs can be made with approval from the Hydrologist, 

but South Dakota Forestry BMP requirements will be complied with as the absolute 

minimum protective requirements. This case should be the exception rather than the rule. 

• Timber sale layout crews, contract preparers, timber sale administrators and harvest 

inspectors, fire and fuels managers, and engineering personnel should consult the 

Hydrologist prior to operations to confirm applicable WCPs and identify site-specific needs. 

• Refer to Appendix D of the Geology, Soil, and Water Resources Specialist report for a 

checklist of compliance with Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, and a cross-walk 

between each source of project implementation measures. Associated maps and GIS 

information pertaining to locations where certain measures should be applied are available in 

the electronic project file. 

Protected Water Bodies and Buffer Requirements: 

1. All Protected Stream Courses, lakes, ponds, wetlands, springs, and other water bodies require 

a 100-foot buffer referred to as the Water Influence Zone (WIZ). Maps and GIS data for 

these areas are located in the electronic project file. 

2. For streams, the WIZ includes the geomorphic floodplain (valley bottom), riparian 

ecosystem, and inner gorge. Its minimum horizontal width (from top of each stream bank) 

is 100 feet on both sides of the stream. For wider valley bottoms with flatter-gradient stream 

sections, the WIZ may extend beyond 100-feet due to the wider floodplains and riparian 

corridors associated with these sections (i.e., Spring Creek). 

3. For other water bodies, the WIZ is a minimum of 100 feet surrounding lakes, ponds, 

wetlands, springs, fens, etc. and their associated wetland and riparian vegetation 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 2 

communities. Consult the Hydrologist for assistance in determining the edge of these 

features and communities, from which the 100-foot buffer should start. 

Protected Stream Courses: 

1. Protected Stream Courses include all perennial and intermittent stream segments. All known 

protected stream courses will be identified on the Sale Area Map. A map and GIS data for 

Protected Stream Courses are contained within the electronic project file. These include, but 

are not limited to all or portions of the following streams in the project area: Bitter Creek, 

“Calumet Creek,” Clog Gulch, Coon Hollow, Deadman Creek, Dutch Creek, Gordon Gulch, 

Horse Creek, Johnson Gulch, Joe Dollar Gulch, Rockerville Gulch, Spring Creek, “Twin 

Sisters Creek,” Victoria Gulch, and numerous other un-named channels. 

2. Protected Stream Courses – the following Timber Sale Contract Requirements apply: 

a) Timber Sale Contract Special Provision RO-C(CT)6.50# – Streamside Management 

Zones will be used in addition to standard contract provisions B(BT)6.5# and 6.62# to 

control purchaser's activities near protected streams and within the WIZ buffer areas (aka, 

Streamside Management Zone) in accordance with specified project design criteria. 

b) Timber Sale Contract Special Provision RO-C(CT)6.50# – Streamside Management 

Zones should address: 

i. 100-foot WIZ buffer requirements; 

ii. Types of activities that may or may not occur within Protect Stream Courses and 

their WIZ buffers (described below). 

iii. Management activities can still occur within the WIZ buffer, unless specified otherwise, 

so long as activities are done carefully and in such a manner as to limit damage to 

riparian vegetation, soil disturbance, rutting, sediment delivery to waters, etc. 

iv. Avoid ground-based equipment operations within stream-related WIZ buffers to 

the extent possible, except at designated crossings or where otherwise approved 

by the Hydrologist. 

v. Approved equipment operations within stream-related WIZ buffers will take place

during frozen soil conditions (at least 2 inches of frozen soil or at least 1 foot of 

packed snow is present), unless otherwise approved by the Hydrologist. 

vi. Do not construct new roads, temporary roads, or skid trails within stream-related WIZ 

buffers except for designated crossing points or where otherwise approved by the 

Hydrologist. Consult the Hydrologist and engineer to determine site specific needs 

for crossing points. Refer also to requirements listed under Stream Crossings. 

vii. Remove slash and debris that inadvertently enters stream courses as a result of 

management activities (i.e., felled trees, etc.); do not remove naturally occurring debris. 

Wetlands and Other Water Bodies: 

1. Wetlands – All known wetlands, including lakes, ponds, marshes, wet meadows, springs, 

fens, and other jurisdictional wetlands meeting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/EPA 

definitions will be identified on the Sale Area Map. The following additional requirements 

also apply specifically to wetlands: 

a) Timber Sale Contract Special Provision WO-C(CT)6.62# – Site Specific Wetlands 

Protection Measures will be used in addition to standard contract provisions B(BT)6.62# 

– Wetlands Protection to control logging activities near wetlands in accordance with 

specified project design criteria. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 3 

b) Timber Sale Contract Special Provision WO-C(CT)6.62# provision specifications for 

wetlands should address: 

i. 100-foot WIZ buffer around all wetlands; 

ii. Wetlands discovered during operations and not already on the Sale Area Map will 

have the same protective measures applied as those shown on the map in 

accordance with E.O. 11990 – Protection of Wetlands and U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers/EPA regulations under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act; 

iii. General restrictions on activities and additional protective measures specific to 

fens (described below in 1c – 1j). 

c) Do not construct new roads, temporary roads, skid trails, or crossings within the WIZ

buffer associated with wetlands, particularly springs and fens. 

d) Relocate existing roads, trails, and crossings outside of the WIZ buffer surrounding

wetlands where possible. 

e) Do not allow ground-based equipment operations within the WIZ buffer surrounding 

wetlands, unless site-specifically approved otherwise by the Hydrologist. 

f) Do not disrupt water supply or drainage patterns into, within, or from wetlands: 

i. Avoid locating road drainage structures where they will drain into wetlands; 

ii. Do not divert water upstream, within, or downstream of wetlands; 

iii. Do not draft or pump water from wetlands; 

g) Avoid any activity that would reduce the long-term organic ground cover in wetlands. 

h) Remove slash and debris that inadvertently enters the wetland as a result of management 

activities (i.e., felled trees, etc.); do not remove naturally occurring debris. 

i) Avoid any loss of rare wetlands such as fens and springs – these wetlands cannot be 

replaced in kind – by implementing the following: 

i. Avoid management activities within the WIZ buffer surrounding these features, 

unless site-specifically approved otherwise by the Hydrologist. This applies to all 

potential operating seasons and includes crossing locations, use of existing roads 

adjacent to known or potential fens and springs, etc. 

ii. Avoid any activity that would reduce organic soil layers (peat) in known or 

potential fens. 

iii. Do not treat vegetation or fuels or allow fire within WIZ buffers surrounding 

known or potential fens and springs, unless site-specifically approved otherwise 

by the Hydrologist. 

j) Sheridan Lake/Reservoir: 

i. All WIZ buffer requirements apply to Sheridan Lake/Reservoir. 

ii. If ground disturbance within 300 feet of the normal pool elevation (about 4,624 feet) 

or water’s edge, whichever is higher at the time of project implementation, is 

necessary to accomplish silvicultural objectives, consult with the Hydrologist to 

determine if additional erosion control measures are necessary at the edge of harvest 

and fuels activities to prevent sediment transport or delivery of floatable woody 

debris to the reservoir. These measures may include wood mulch, erosion control 

fiber rolls, silt fencing, or other industry standard runoff and erosion control devices.

iii. Maintain recommended levels of course woody debris (CWD) on hill slopes adjacent 

to the reservoir wherever possible to catch and filter runoff and so long as this would 

not contradict with WUI interface needs. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 4 

iv. Keep landing and slash pile locations out of drainage bottoms within 300 feet of the 

water’s edge within the Sheridan Lake concentrated public use area so that floatable 

organic material is not transported to the lake during runoff events. 

k) Timber Sale Contract Standard Provisions B(BT)6.24c and B(BT)6. 422 in addition to 

Special Provision C(CT)6.62 should be used by Sale Administrators to restrict equipment 

use in wetlands discovered during the course of logging operations and not already 

identified on the Sale Area Map. 

All WIZ Buffers (streams, wetlands, and other waterbodies): 

1. Do not locate landings and slash piles within any WIZ buffer. This includes decks, 

mechanical and hand-piled slash piles, and the working area associated with landings.

2. Do not locate temporary labor or logging camps inside any WIZ buffer. 

3. Do not locate vehicle service and fuel areas, chemical storage and use areas, and portable fire 

pumps and fuels within any WIZ buffer. Locate these areas on gentle upland sites that do not 

drain towards water features to the extent possible. Refer also to requirements listed under 

Use of Chemical and Petroleum Products. 

4. Do not excavate earth material from or store excavated soil, fill, or other debris in any WIZ buffer, 

Protected Stream Course, wetland, riparian areas, floodplains, or drainage bottoms (including 

swales) except where engineered stream crossings are installed. This includes slash debris.

5. Refer to Prescribed Fire Operations within or near the WIZ for a detailed listing of 

additional requirements pertaining specifically to prescribed fire activities. 

Vegetation Management within WIZ Buffers: 

For silvicultural prescriptions that include vegetation management within WIZ buffers (including 

commercial and non-commercial treatments, fuel breaks, and roadside treatments), the following 

requirements also apply: 

1. Consult the Hydrologist prior to unit layout and implementation of harvest within WIZ buffers. 

2. Timber Sale Contract Special Provision RO-C(CT)6.50# – Streamside Management Zones 

should address the following: 

a) Ground-based equipment operations should not occur within 50-feet of streams, 

wetlands, and other water bodies. 

b) Do not cut vegetation within 50-feet of the each stream bank, lake, pond, wetland, spring, 

or other water body unless site-specifically approved otherwise. This includes all tree 

and shrub species that provide bank stability or shade to these water features. 

c) Fell trees and conduct yarding in such a way that protects vegetation and soils in the WIZ 

from damage. Ensure at least one-end log suspension in the WIZ. 

100-Year Floodplains: 

100-year floodplains are associated with Spring Creek, Horse Creek, and the un-named stream 

originating in the Twin Sisters peaks area that is tributary to Spring Creek (aka, Twin Sisters 

Creek). A map and GIS data of 100-year floodplains are located in the electronic project file. 

The following requirements also apply specifically to 100-year floodplains, in addition to other 

listed stream and WIZ requirements: 

1. Do not locate landings and piles (including hand piles and burn piles) within the 100-year 

floodplain so as not to restrict any potential flood flows or damage floodplain areas and processes. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 5 

2. Any vegetation that is felled and left in place should not restrict potential flood flows or 

create a debris-dam hazard. Consult the Hydrologist to determine adequacy of these 

treatments in relation to floodplain regulations. 

3. Do not locate any temporary labor camps, staging areas, or service and refueling areas in the 

100-year floodplain. 

4. Any new or upgraded structures and facilities or other development in the 100-year

floodplain must be designed to pass the 100-year flood without raising the flood stage more 

than 1.0 foot. This applies whether the structure is temporary or permanent in nature. 

Examples include culverts, bridges, roads, buildings, land shaping, etc. 

USGS Stream Gages on Spring Creek: 

USGS stream gage station #06406920 is located on Spring Creek above Sheridan Lake near the 

inlet and station #06407500 is located downstream in the Stratobowl area. Maps and GIS data 

for this gage site are located in the electronic project file. The following protective measures 

apply in addition to those already listed related to streams and WIZ buffers: 

1. USGS Gage locations will be shown on the Timber Sale Area Map as an Area to Protect (ATP). 

2. Other management activities not associated with a timber sale will adhere to the same criteria 

specified below. This includes non-commercial treatments, fuel reduction, slash treatment, 

and prescribed fire activities (e.g., pile burning). 

3. Include appropriate Timber Sale Contract Provisions to control logging activities near the 

USGS gage locations in accordance with the specified project design criteria: 

a) 100-foot buffer surrounding the gage house, equipment, and associated control and 

measurement sections on Spring Creek; 

b) No ground-based equipment operations should take place within the buffer around the 

USGS gage site, unless approved otherwise by the Hydrologist. 

c) Directionally fell trees away from the gage house, equipment, and associated control and 

measurement section of Spring Creek. Do not fell trees into the stream as this alters the 

gage rating curves for stream flow. 

d) Do not create high concentrations of slash or piles within the buffer surrounding the USGS gage. 

e) No burning should take place within the buffer surrounding the USGS gage to protect the 

sensitive equipment at the site (both above and below ground) from heat damage. 

General Soil Requirements for All Operations: 

Manage land treatments to limit the sum of severely burned and detrimentally compacted, eroded, 

and displaced land to no more than 15% of any land unit by implementing the following practices: 

1. Timber Sale Contract Special Provision RO-C(CT)6.42# – Skidding and Yarding will be 

used in addition to standard contract provisions B(BT)6.42# – Skidding and Yarding and 

B(BT)6.6# - Erosion Prevention and Control where necessary to protect soils during groundbased logging activities. Contract Provision RO-C(CT)6.42# will specify the operational 

requirements as listed in the following design measures in this section. 

2. Restrict roads, landings, skid trails, concentrated-use sites, and similar soil disturbances to 

designated sites to limit additional soil disturbance. 

3. Areas with potential for slope failures: 

a) Ground-based equipment operations, including temporary roads, road construction, and 

off-road travel, should be avoided. A map and GIS data for these locations is located in 

the project file. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 6 

b) Large, contiguous areas intended for vegetation management will require suspended or 

aerial logging systems (i.e., cable or helicopter logging). 

c) If access across small, isolated areas is absolutely necessary, the Hydrologist and 

engineer will be consulted prior to work to identify a stable travel route, if possible, and 

any necessary mitigation measures. 

4. All off-road, ground-based equipment operations should take place during dry or frozen 

conditions to limit soil compaction, rutting, and soil erosion. This applies to all soil types. 

a) Dry soil conditions: soil cannot be rolled into 3 mm threads or larger without breaking or

crumbling (i.e., soil is below the plastic limit). 

b) Frozen conditions: at least 2 inches of frozen soil or at least 1 foot of packed snow is present. 

c) When soil moisture is higher, low-impact equipment operations on slash may be used 

with close monitoring in order to complete project activities in a timely manner. 

d) The above criteria do not apply to moist soils associated with wetlands, riparian areas, or 

aspen/spruce bottoms. Refer to Treatments within Hardwood Stands or Spruce Bottoms. 

5. Avoid soil-disturbing actions during periods of heavy rain or wet soils to prevent rutting, 

compaction, erosion, and sediment delivery to surface water bodies. Shut down harvest 

operations and apply travel restrictions as necessary to protect roads, soil, and water 

resources until soil has dried out. 

6. Avoid ground-based harvest and skidding equipment operations on sustained slopes steeper 

than 40%. 

7. Dispersed skidding operations should generally be avoided to protect soils. Track-mounted 

felling equipment may be operated off trail as long as soil moisture conditions allow. 

Consider operating on slash mats for further protection of soils. 

8. Designated skid trails should be spaced ideally, an average of 100 feet apart center to center, 

but not less than 60 feet apart (approximately one tree length), except where trails converge. 

9. Keep harvest and skidding equipment out of ephemeral channels and drainage bottoms to the 

extent practical in order to prevent soil rutting and compaction and connection to surface waters. 

a) Avoid construction of temp roads, skid roads, and primary skid trails in ephemeral 

streams, swales, and drainage bottoms as much as possible. 

b) Secondary skid trails in swales and ephemeral drainage bottoms are generally acceptable. 

c) Rehabilitate these areas following use. Such actions could include, but are not limited to: 

scarifying skid trails and/or landings to alleviate soil compaction; adding slash to 

scarified surfaces to aid in hydrologic recovery; and seeding the site with weed-free, 

native species to aid in establishment of vegetation. 

10. If Timber Sale Administrators or Watershed personnel find detrimental soil disturbance 

levels have exceeded the 15% threshold during or following implementation of logging

activities, immediate rehabilitation actions will be taken to improve soil conditions with an 

overall net improvement in soil quality. Rehabilitation costs will be charged to the fund 

code(s) associated with the cause(s) of any such detrimental soil disturbance. 

Treatments within Hardwood or Spruce Stands: 

Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to moist soils, riparian vegetation, and water 

resources associated with hardwood stands and spruce bottoms by implementing the following 

practices, in addition to the standard practices already listed: 

1. Ground-based equipment operations within and immediately surrounding hardwood and 

spruce stands should take place during frozen soil conditions, unless approved otherwise by 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 7 

the Hydrologist. Frozen conditions are those where at least 2 inches of frozen soil or at least 

1 foot of packed snow is present. 

2. Skidding through hardwood and spruce stands should also be minimized, except at 

designated crossings, in order to protect the moist soils in these areas and prevent soil 

compaction, rutting, and disturbance of riparian vegetation. 

3. Avoid locating landings and piles scheduled for burning within hardwood and spruce stands 

to protect moist soils associated with these forest types. 

4. Many hardwood and spruce stands coincide with streams and riparian buffers. Refer to the 

Protected Water Bodies and Buffer Requirements section for other practices that also apply. 

5. Conduct prescribed fire operations within hardwood and spruce stands with the minimum fire 

intensity necessary to achieve desired regeneration but limit adverse soil heating. Refer to 

Prescribed Fire Operations for soil and duff moisture requirements and ground cover requirements. 

Landing Locations and Slash Piles: 

Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil and water resources associated with landing 

locations (including decks and piles) and slash piles by implementing the following practices: 

1. Locate landings outside of meadows, including Meadows Contributing to Waters of the

United States. Maps and GIS data for meadows can be found in the electronic project file. If 

unavoidable, slash piles and log deck areas should be placed on the edges of these meadows.

2. Existing landing locations and roads should be used where practical versus creating new locations. 

3. Do not re-use previously created landing sites within WIZ buffers or meadows that contribute 

to Waters of the United States. An alternate location outside of these areas should be found. 

4. Locate slash piles scheduled for burning outside of WIZ buffers and meadows that contribute 

to Waters of the United States. 

5. Locate and construct piles in such a manner to create compact, dense piles that minimize the 

overall size and “burn footprint” on the land. 

6. Design landings to have proper drainage. Do not direct drainage into streams, wetlands, and 

other water bodies. 

7. Machine piling of slash: leave topsoil in place and avoid displacing soil into piles or windrows. 

8. After use, rehabilitate landings and burned slash piles by scarifying and seeding. Install and 

maintain erosion control measures around burned or barren landing areas upslope or adjacent 

to water bodies or WIZ buffers until vegetation has established. This measure also helps 

prevent weed spread from upland sites into streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. 

Examples include wood straw mulch, runoff and erosion control wattles or rolls, silt fence, or 

other measures to separate burned piles from water resources until vegetation has recovered. 

Consult the Hydrologist for site-specific needs. 

Coarse Woody Debris (CWD): 

Provide for long term soil productivity, moisture retention, and wildlife habitat requirements by 

implementing the following: 

1. Retain 5-10 tons/acre of coarse woody debris (CWD) on site after harvest and slash disposal, 

except where this would contradict with WUI and pest management objectives. 

2. CWD should be dispersed throughout the unit and should include both a diversity of size and 

decay stages. 

3. Of the 5-10 total tons/acre of CWD, retain the following pertaining to stand type: 

a) Ponderosa Pine Sites: retain an average of at least 50 linear feet per acre of CWD with a 

minimum diameter of 10 inches. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 8 

b) Spruce Sites: retain an average of at least 100 linear feet per acre of CWD with a 

minimum diameter of 10 inches. 

Meadow Treatments: 

Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to soil resources associated with meadows by 

implementing the following practices: 

1. Consult with the Hydrologist prior to cutting any vegetation within the WIZ buffer (100-feet) 

surrounding streams, wetlands, and other water bodies that may be located within meadows 

designated for treatment in order to retain enough trees for shade and bank stability. 

2. Do not place or fell slash into stream channels, wetlands, or other water bodies. 

3. Refer also to requirements for Protected Water Bodies and Buffer Requirements. 

4. Refer also to requirements for General Ground Operations. 

5. Refer also to requirements for Landing Locations and Slash Piles. 

Fuel Breaks and Roadside Vegetation Treatments: 

1. Fuel break and roadside vegetation treatments along streams and within floodplains will avoid 

ground-based equipment operations to protect soil and water resources within the 100-ft WIZ, 

unless site-specifically approved otherwise by the Hydrologist. 

2. Fuel break and roadside vegetation treatments should use manual labor where slopes exceed 40%. 

3. Refer also to requirements for Protected Water Bodies and Buffer Requirements.

4. Refer also to requirements for General Ground Operations. 

5. Refer also to requirements for Landing Locations and Slash Piles. 

Roads and Trails: 

Road Location, Construction, Maintenance, and Use 

1. Use existing roads and trails to the extent practical. Minimize construction of new and 

temporary roads. 

2. Construct roads on ridge tops, stable upper slopes, or wide valley terraces if practicable. 

3. Avoid locating roads on unstable or highly erodible soils, or slopes steeper than 70%. 

Stabilize soils onsite by retaining stabilizing vegetation on unstable soils and slopes. Endhaul soil if full-bench construction is required. 

4. Construct roads with out-sloped and rolling grades instead of ditches and culverts where possible. 

5. All roads and trails (including forwarding and skid trails, and temp roads) will have drainage 

control structures installed and regularly maintained prior to, during, and following operations. 

6. Drainage structure spacing should use the following guidelines shown in Table B-1. Refer 

also to Prescribed Fire Operations, Fire Control Lines for construction and spacing 

guidelines pertaining specifically to water bars (Table 2, Figure 1). 

Table 1. Drainage Structure Spacing Guidelines for Roads and Trails 

Road or Trail Grade Maximum Spacing 

between Structures 

2% 250 feet 

5% 135 feet 

10% 80 feet 

15% 60 feet 

20% 45 feet 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 9 

7. Drainage structures should be maintained prior to and following storm events occurring 

throughout the life of operations. Drainage structures will be in good working order prior to 

leaving the work area for seasonal shut down and upon final acceptance and closure of 

Timber Sale units. 

8. Armor rolling dips as needed to prevent rutting damage. 

9. Empty cross drains onto stable slopes that disperse runoff into filter strips. Avoid locating 

cross-drain outlets at heads of streams, unstable soils, and highly erodible soils. 

10. On soils that have a high erosion potential, armor outlets to disperse runoff. Tighten crossdrain spacing as necessary so gullies are not created. 

11. Limit road construction, reconstruction, and maintenance actions during periods of heavy

rain or wet soils. Apply travel restrictions to protect soil and water until soil has dried out. 

12. Do not disturb ditches during maintenance and/or reconstruction activities unless needed to 

restore drainage capacity or repair damage. Do not undercut the cut slope. 

13. Properly compact road fills. Keep woody debris out of road fills. 

14. Apply seed to road cuts and fills upon final shaping to restore ground cover. Use certified 

weed-free seed with local native plants; avoid persistent or invasive exotic plants. Provide 

sediment control measures until vegetation has re-established. Consult with Engineering and 

Watershed personnel to determine appropriate erosion control measures for each site. 

15. Existing seasonal travel restrictions on roads that are applied for soil and water resource 

protection should be adhered to during logging activities, fuels treatment, and prescribed 

burning as much as possible, unless otherwise specified (i.e., winter operations are specified 

on roads that are usually closed during winter months). 

16. Winter operations and road use: 

a) Maintain roads as needed to keep the road surface drained during thaw and break-up periods. 

b) Do not use riparian areas, wetlands or streams for snow storage or disposal. 

c) Remove snow berms and/or create a drainage point in the berm at drainage structures 

(i.e., rolling dips, culverts). 

d) Use the minimum amount of sand, salt, or other de-icing substances (i.e., Mag-Chloride) 

necessary to provide safe winter travel conditions. Avoid dispersal of these de-icing 

agents into streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. 

17. Temporary roads: 

a) Limit temporary roads to the bare minimum needed to accomplish project objectives. 

b) Rehabilitate temporary roads as soon as possible after activities are completed (ideally 

within one year following completion of use and definitely prior to accepting Timber 

Sale and/or unit as complete). 

c) Rehabilitation will include at a minimum scarification of the road template, seeding, and 

slash placement. Partial or full re-contouring should be done where cut slopes are greater 

than 4 feet high. Refer also to requirements listed under Stream Crossings for 

rehabilitation requirements related to temporary stream crossings. 

d) Where temporary roads cross or join National Forest System Roads (NFSR), block access 

through slash placement, boulders, berms, and/or other means. 

18. Existing road segments immediately adjacent to wetlands (including springs and fens) will 

implement the following requirements in addition to others already listed: 

a) Relocate existing road segments identified as access or haul routes for timber harvest 

activities that are adjacent to these wetlands outside the 100-ft WIZ where possible. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 10 

b) Road segments that cannot be relocated further away will receive road surface armoring 

to minimize erosion and sediment transport to wetlands; rolling dips will be installed on 

the road corresponding to the outer extents of the wetland area to direct road runoff 

through filter strips and away from the wetland; and erosion control devices such as silt 

fence, wood-straw mulch, and/or fiber rolls will be installed parallel to the road edge to 

prevent sediment delivery to the wetland. 

c) Refer also to site-specific requirements related to individual roads adjacent to or within 

streams, wetlands, and other water bodies outline under Road Specific Requirements for 

Selected Protected Water Bodies and WIZ Buffers. 

Stream Crossings: 

1. Avoid crossing Protected Stream Courses to the extent practical. 

2. If a stream crossing is absolutely necessary, the Hydrologist will be consulted to identify a 

stable crossing location and any site-specific mitigation needs. 

3. Favor bridges, bottomless arches or buried pipe-arches, and elevated road prisms over

circular pipe culverts for permanent stream crossing installations on perennial streams and 

intermittent streams. 

4. Avoid creating permanent low water crossings or “fords” on perennial streams, and for 

intermittent streams where aquatic organism passage is a concern. 

5. Avoid un-improved low water crossings or “fords” on perennial and intermittent streams. 

Upgrade existing un-improved low water crossings or remove by relocating road segments. 

Refer to the Road Specific Requirements for Selected Protected Water Bodies and WIZ 

Buffer section for specific site locations.

6. Favor armored fords for those streams where vehicle traffic is either seasonal or temporary; 

the stream is ephemeral or intermittent; and where the ford design maintains natural and 

stable channel widths, depths, and slope.

7. Existing problems at improved stream crossing on the following roads must be repaired prior 

to road use. Refer to the Road Specific Requirements for Selected Protected Water Bodies 

and WIZ Buffer section for specific site locations.

8. Engineering personnel should work with Watershed personnel to appropriately size and place 

stream crossing structures. 

9. New and replacement stream crossing structures must be designed to pass flood flows, 

sediment, bed load, and debris, as well as provide for aquatic organism passage. 

10. Install stream crossings on straight and resilient stream reaches, as perpendicular to flow as 

possible. Install stream crossings to sustain bankfull dimensions of width, depth, and slope 

and keep streambeds and banks resilient. 

11. Stream crossings will meet U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and State permits where applicable. 

12. Discharge of dredged or fill material shall not take place between October 15 and April 1, 

when water flow is present, in the following streams identified as supporting coldwater 

fisheries by the SD DENR: Spring Creek and Horse Creek. These activities are typically 

bridge or culvert placement at road-stream crossings. This regional condition meets the 

mandatory provision to avoid discharges into spawning areas if practicable alternatives exist 

(33CFR§323.4). Consult the Hydrologist and Fisheries Biologist prior to stream crossing 

installations on these streams for site-specific design needs. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 11 

13. Equipment used to install, maintain, or replace stream crossing structures should work from 

stream banks as much as possible and avoid working in the stream itself. Equipment 

crossings during construction should be minimized. 

14. Installation and construction work should be accomplished during low stream flows to 

minimize sediment transport downstream. Temporary coffer dams or routing of water 

around the site may be necessary. 

15. Stream Crossings on Spring Creek: 

a) No additional permanent stream crossings (culvert, low-water) should be established. 

b) Temporary bridge crossings may be established if cross-stream access is necessary and 

unavailable through existing routes. 

16. Remove temporary crossings as soon as possible following end of use (not to exceed one 

year) and prior to unit acceptance as complete (if part of a Timber Sale Contract). 

a) Remove all fill material from the active channel and floodplain. 

b) Restore the channel width, depth and slope to match natural, stable conditions. 

c) Apply certified weed-free seed, with local native plants. 

d) Install erosion control measures such as wood straw mulch, erosion control wattles, etc. 

until vegetation is re-established. 

Prescribed Fire Activities: 

Avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects of prescribed fire activities to soils, streams, 

wetlands, and other watershed resources by implementing the following practices: 

Prescribed Fire Operations: 

1. Conduct prescribed fires and pile burning when soil and humus are moist to minimize fire 

intensity and soil heating. The recommended minimum soil and humus (duff) moisture 

levels to prevent lethal soil temperatures, based on current research conducted by USFS 

Research Stations (Busse 2006) are: 

• Soil moisture content greater than 20% by volume. 

• Humus (duff) moisture content greater than 55%. 

2. Manage fire intensity to maintain sufficient levels of duff and residual ground cover to 

prevent erosion on burned sites: 

a) Conduct prescribed burning so that 50-70% vegetative ground cover is maintained. Seed 

and/or slash areas that have less than 50% ground cover at the end of the first growth 

season following prescribed burning. 

b) Following broadcast burning on slopes greater than 30%: apply approved seed if ground 

cover is less than 60%. 

3. Use low intensity prescribed fire on steep slopes or highly erodible soils. GIS data and maps 

of these areas can be found in the electronic project file. 

4. Include monitoring of hydrophobic soil conditions following prescribed burning in burn plans. 

5. Avoid fire equipment operation on unstable or steep slopes (greater than 40% slope). 

6. Use fire initiation techniques, control methods, and access locations for ignition and control 

(holding versus escape conditions) that minimize potential effects to soil, water quality and 

riparian resources. Refer to the Interagency Standards for Minimum Impact Suppression 

Tactics (M.I.S.T.). 

7. Locate access and staging areas outside of WIZ buffers and to the extent possible, out of 

meadows. Re-use existing disturbed sites such as landings where possible. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 12 

8. Keep staging areas as small as possible while allowing for safe and efficient operations. Design 

staging areas to have proper drainage to minimize and control concentrated water flow and 

sediment where necessary. Do not direct drainage into streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. 

9. Store fuel for ignition devices in areas away from surface water bodies and wetlands. This 

includes gas-powered pumps used for drafting. Absorbent cloths will be used under pumps 

for spill protection. 

10. Restore and stabilize staging areas after use: 

a) Collect and properly dispose of trash and other solid waste. 

b) Scarify and seed where necessary. 

c) Install and maintain erosion control measures upslope or adjacent to water bodies or WIZ 

buffers until vegetation has established. This measure also helps prevent weed spread 

from upland sites into streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. Examples include 

wood straw mulching, runoff and erosion control wattles or rolls, silt fence, etc. Consult 

the Hydrologist for site-specific needs. 

Fire Control Lines: 

1. Use existing and natural barriers such as existing roads and trails, utility corridors, barren or 

low fuel hazard areas (rock talus or meadows, etc.), where possible, to minimize the need for 

fire line construction and minimize soil disturbance. 

2. Locate and construct fire control lines to minimize soil disturbance, runoff and erosion: 

a) Construct fire control line to the minimum size and standard necessary to contain the fire 

and meet overall resource objectives. 

b) Build fire control lines with rolling grades and minimum downhill convergence. 

c) Construct fire line cross-contour on steep slopes rather than vertically up and down the 

slope where possible. 

d) Construct or install, and maintain runoff and erosion control measures until fire line is 

stabilized by vegetation. These include construction of water bars, slash filters, seeding 

or other erosion control measures. 

e) Water bars should be located and constructed the appropriate distance apart and at a

diagonal to the road surface, so that they divert, discharge, and dissipate the erosive

energy of the flowing water. Refer to Figure 1 from the Five-D System for Effective 

Fireline Water Bars (Furniss, 2001). 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 13 

Figure 1. Five components for effective waterbars (Furniss, 2001).

f) Space runoff and erosion measures according to the following commonly used rule of thumb: 

i. Stand at a water bar or other drainage feature and look upslope at the fire line surface. 

ii. Extend the line of sight to the ground and place another water bar at that location. 

iii. With this general guideline, steeper sections will have more and closer-spaced water 

bars, while flatter sections will have fewer water bars spaced further apart. 

iv. Table 2 presents the maximum spacing distances for water bars on fire control lines 

based on slope. These guidelines can also be applied to roads. 

Table 2. Recommended waterbar spacing based on fireline or road slope (Furniss, 2001). 

Fire line or 

Road Slope 

Maximum 

Spacing 

1 - 6 % 300 ft 

7 - 9 % 200 ft 

10 - 14 % 150 ft 

15 - 20 % 90 ft 

21 - 40 % 50 ft 

41 - 60 % 25 ft 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 14 

3. Do not build fire control lines in or around streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, springs, fens, and 

other wet areas within the 100-ft WIZ buffer unless needed to protect life, property, or 

prevent fire from entering these areas. If fire control lines are necessary in these areas, use 

hand lines or wet line to minimize disturbance to soil and riparian or wetland vegetation. 

4. For the Calumet Project, protected stream courses, ponds or wetland features generally 

should not be used as natural fire barriers unless the Hydrologist approves this on a sitespecific basis. This is because of the presence of springs and potential fens and the sensitive 

karst landscape. GIS data and a map of water features that should not be used as natural fire 

breaks can be found in the electronic project file (denoted as Areas to Protect). 

5. For other water features identified as being acceptable for natural fire control lines, retain 

organic ground cover in filter strips during prescribed fires. 

6. Do not ignite fire or allow fire to burn through wetlands including springs, fens, and other

areas with organic soils. Do not use these features as natural fire containment lines to avoid 

irreversible damage to these wetland ecosystems. 

7. Rehabilitate or otherwise stabilize fire control lines when operations are complete and risk of 

rekindle is no longer a concern. Refer to examples of rehabilitation techniques listed 

previously under Roads and Trails, Temporary Roads. Consult the Hydrologist for sitespecific needs and adequacy of rehabilitation efforts to prevent runoff and erosion. 

Slash Piling and Burning: 

1. Pile and burn only the slash that is necessary to be disposed of in order to achieve treatment 

objectives while still meeting Forest Plan requirements for levels of dead, downed wood. 

Refer to the Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) section for specific retention requirements. 

2. Locate burn piles in areas where the potential for soil and water effects is lessened (previously 

disturbed sites, rock outcrops, etc.) and that do not interfere with natural drainage patterns. 

3. Construct piles in such a manner as to create compact, dense piles that minimize the overall 

pile size and “burn footprint” on the land. 

4. Avoid burning large stumps and sections of logs in slash piles to reduce the fire residence 

time and intensity and prevent severely burned soils. 

5. Avoid pile burning when conditions will cause the fire to burn too hot and damage soils. 

6. Avoid piling and burning for slash removal in the WIZ unless site-specifically approved 

otherwise by the Hydrologist. 

7. If burned piles have ash depths greater than 3 inches, scatter the ash, and/or scarify and mix 

with mineral soil before applying seed. 

Prescribed Fire Operations within or near Watershed Influence Zones (WIZ): 

1. Avoid fire-related vehicle and earth-moving equipment operation within the WIZ except 

where roads already exist or when necessary to provide for fire fighter safety or protection of 

property or resources. Prevent fire-related vehicle and earth-moving equipment operations 

through streams, wetlands, riparian areas, springs, and fens at all times. 

2. Do not build fire control lines in or around streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, springs, fens, and 

other wet areas within the 100-ft WIZ buffer unless needed to protect life, property, or 

prevent fire from entering these areas. 

3. If fire control lines are necessary in these areas, use hand lines or wet line to minimize 

disturbance to soil and riparian/wetland vegetation. Maximize the distance from water 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 15 

bodies as much as possible. Fire control lines in organic soils will not be effective due to the 

high combustibility of these soils despite saturated conditions. 

4. Avoid piling and burning for slash removal in the WIZ unless site-specifically approved 

otherwise by the Hydrologist. 

5. Use prescribed fire in the WIZ only when suitable to achieve long-term desired conditions 

and management objectives. Prescribed fire should generally be avoided in the WIZ for the 

Calumet Project unless the Hydrologist determines otherwise, based on site-specific 

conditions for each individual WIZ buffer. 

6. Where approved to use prescribed fire in the WIZ, manage fire intensity to produce only low 

intensity burning to minimize removal of organic layers and damage to fire-intolerant 

riparian/wetland vegetation. Do not ignite within the WIZ. 

7. Avoid high fire intensity in the WIZ by pre-treating the WIZ and drainage ways to reduce 

excessive fuel loadings and prevent severely burned soils and associated runoff and erosion. 

For example, hand pile fuels in these areas and burn prior to broadcast burning or move fuels 

outside of the WIZ, dispersing for broadcast burn or spot pile. Avoid concentrations of fuels

that would result in intense fire burning and damage to soils and wetland/riparian vegetation. 

8. Avoid slash placement and reduce fuel loadings within and immediately adjacent to drainage 

channels, streams, and wetlands to avoid intense burning in these areas and prevent flow blockages. 

9. When burning steep ground adjacent to the WIZ, it may be necessary to retain a slash-free 

zone to prevent intense burning and maintain vegetation for buffering any runoff and erosion 

generated from these steep slopes. 

10. Fully rehabilitate fire control lines in the WIZ after prescribed fire operations are complete. 

This includes full restoration of slopes and drainage features. Water bars alone are not 

enough to prevent runoff, erosion, and sediment delivery within the WIZ. Consult the 

Hydrologist for site-specific fire line restoration needs. Refer also to Post-Fire Operations 

Rehabilitation and Cleanup. 

11. Do not store or locate refueling sites within 150 feet of streams, wetlands, springs, and other 

water bodies; karst sinkholes and caves; and out of ephemeral streams and drainage bottoms. 

Inspect equipment used for transportation, storage or application of fire ignition fuels daily 

for leaks. If leaks or spills occur, use absorbent pads or install emergency traps to contain 

them and clean them up. Refer also to Use of Petroleum and Chemical Products section. 

Water Sources for Prescribed Fire: 

1. Consider establishing a network of permanent water sources in the project area for fire 

control and suppression (i.e., dry hydrants, reinforced road approaches to drafting sites, etc.). 

2. Temporary coffer dams should be constructed with materials and means that do not introduce 

sediment into the stream (i.e., existing log jams or rock dams, Watergate© temporary coffer 

dams, etc.). Overflow should go directly back into the stream and should not cause scour or 

erosion of the stream banks or channel bed. 

3. Minimize disturbance to stream banks and channel bed such as excavation or moving rocks

and boulders to create a drafting pool. 

4. All temporary facilities for gathering water will be removed or modified to allow water flow 

prior to high flow periods and when no longer needed. 

5. Any damage to resources caused by water development shall be remediated and restored to 

original conditions to the extent possible. Consult the Hydrologist for site-specific 

restoration needs. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 16 

6. Locate fuel-powered pumps as far away from surface water and wetland sites as possible and 

use absorbent spill cloths under pumps at all times to contain any leakage. 

7. Conduct water drafting at suitable locations and in a manner that avoids or minimizes 

adverse effects to water quality, aquatic life, and water-dependent terrestrial species: 

a) Drafting should not take place within or near fens or springs. 

b) The pumping rate generally should not exceed 10 percent of the stream flow, or 350 

gallons per minute, whichever removes the greater volume of water. 

c) The effect of single or multiple pumping operations at the same location should not result 

in obvious draw-down in stream pools upstream or downstream of the drafting site, or in 

ponds and impoundments. 

Post-Fire Operations Rehabilitation and Cleanup: 

1. Reclaim and stabilize disturbed areas including safety zones, fire lines and staging areas: 

a) Reshape the ground surface and install suitable drainage features to promote dispersed 

runoff from the site and prevent erosion and sediment delivery to water bodies. 

b) Mitigate soil compaction to improve infiltration and vegetative recovery where necessary. 

c) Out-slope or back-blade, permanently drain, slash, and seed fire lines when burn 

operations are complete. 

d) Use certified weed-free seed, and local native plants; avoid persistent or invasive exotic plants. 

2. Repair roads, trails and other facilities damaged by prescribed fire activities that may adversely 

affect water quality and riparian resources: 

a) Reconstruct roads damaged by mechanized equipment to stabilize the road prism and 

running surface, and restore drainage features. 

b) Close or decommission roads opened for access in a condition that limits human, vehicle

and livestock access and reduces the risk of adverse effects to hydrologic function and 

water quality. Refer to rehabilitation techniques listed previously under Roads and 

Trails, Temporary Roads for examples. Consult the Hydrologist for site-specific needs. 

c) Repair and clear any debris from water conveyance structures, such as ditches and 

culverts, to reduce the potential for blockage and damage during runoff events. 

3. Clearing of large concentrations of fire-created debris within the 100-year floodplain and 

from streams channels may be necessary to reduce the potential for transport in runoff events 

(floods), formation of debris jams, and other flood-related damages. Consult with the

Hydrologist prior to removing debris to determine if necessary and any additional sitespecific requirements. 

4. Evaluate the completed burn to identify sites that may need stabilization treatments or 

monitoring to minimize soil and site productivity loss, or deterioration of water quality both 

within and downslope/downstream of prescribed fire units. 

Use of Petroleum and Chemical Products: 

1. Prepare Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan per the requirements of 40 CFR 112. 

2. Keep vehicle service and fuel areas and petroleum or chemical storage and use sites at least 

150 feet from streams, wetlands, springs, and other water bodies; karst sinkholes and caves; 

and out of ephemeral streams and drainage bottoms. 

3. Install contour berms and trenches around vehicle service and refueling areas, chemical 

storage and use areas to fully contain spills. Use liners, absorbent material, contour berms, or 

other as needed to prevent soil contamination and seepage to ground water. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 17 

4. Inspect equipment used for transportation, storage or application of chemicals daily during 

use period for leaks. If leaks or spills occur, report them and install emergency traps to 

contain them and clean them up. 

5. Immediately report any accidental spills of petroleum or other chemicals. Notify the South 

Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources at (605) 773-3296 or after hours 

(605) 773-3231. Spills should also be reported to the National Response Center at (800) 424-

8802. A release or spill of a regulated substance (includes petroleum and petroleum-based 

products) must be reported to immediately if any one of the following conditions exists: 

• Spill threatens or is in a position that could threaten Waters of the State (surface water 

or ground water), or causes an immediate danger to human health or safety; 

• Exceeds 25 gallons; 

• Causes a sheen on surface water; 

• Any substance that exceeds the surface or ground water quality standards of SD 

Administrative Rules Chapter 74:54:01; 

• Any substance that harms or threatens to harm wildlife or aquatic life; 

• Crude oil greater than 1 barrel (42 gallons). 

6. Any contaminated soil must be temporarily stockpiled and sampled to determine the necessary 

disposal requirements. Contaminated soil and other material will be removed from NFS lands 

and disposed of in a manner according to state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. 

Transportation

Best Management Practices (BMP) Site Specific Concerns

Below is a list of specific soil and water problems identified during inventory and reviewed by the 

District Hydrologist and a Transportation/Road Engineer. The areas of concern do not fully meet 

some BMP and design guidelines; see Appendix C and D of the Transportation Report for the 

BMP and Design Guidelines. These roads may not be utilized during project implementation, 

depending on the alternative selected. If the roads are used, the proposed corrective action would 

be included in the road design. 

Table 3 Site Specific Concerns and Proposed Corrective Actions 

Road No. 

(Trail No.) 

Area of Concern Proposed Corrective Action: 

160.2C Road crosses spring and water is running 

down the road. 

Harden crossing and shape to drain off road.

221 Located in drainage bottom and crosses 

stream. 

Realign and harden crossing 

243.2B Crosses Creek. Harden crossings. 

243.1E Crosses draw, was wet during inventory. Harden crossing if needed. No corrective 

action needed if used during dry periods. 

243.1F Soft wet roadbed. Harden if needed. No corrective action needed 

if used during dry periods.

243.2D Road in drainage, wet at intersection. Realign and harden intersection.

243.2I Road adjacent to stream. Relocate to provide adequate vegetative

buffer. 

244.1B Drainage dips are not functioning and Reshape drainage dips and strengthen closure. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 18 

closure gate not effective. 

358.1A Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road. 

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements. 

358.1B Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road. 

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements. 

358.1E Road is holding water, located on level area 

with no place to drain. 

Shift road where feasible and install drainage 

structures. 

358.1F Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road.

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements.

358.1H Drainage structures not functioning 

properly, deep ruts present. 

Reconstruct or reshape drainage dips. 

381 Road is rutted. Perform maintenance. 

390 Road is located in drainage bottom. Realign road. 

392.2D Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road.

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements.

405.1A Road is located in drainage bottom and 

rutted.

Relocate out of drainage where feasible and 

construct drainage structures. 

433.1B Sections of road are near bottom of drainage 

and road is rutted. 

Relocate out of drainage where feasible and 

construct drainage structures. 

433.1D Sections of road are near bottom of drainage 

and road is rutted. 

Relocate out of drainage where feasible and 

construct drainage structures. 

514 Spring in road, very wet. Harden spring with drain rock or realign road. 

520.1A Beginning of road in drainage bottom. Harden or relocate beginning of road. 

551 Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road.

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements.

669 Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road.

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements.

674 Road crosses creek and parallels creek. 

Heavy use from popular target practice site. 

Install culverts, harden crossings, and relocate 

road segments where feasible and practical. 

674.1C Road crosses creek. Install culverts or harden crossing, or relocate 

road segment where feasible and practical. 

674.1D Road crosses creek. Road is closed but 

vehicles are still driving through creek mud 

bogging. 

Install culverts or harden crossing, or relocate 

road segment where feasible and practical. 

Strengthen road closure physical barricade. 

675 Road crosses stream. Install culverts or harden crossing, or relocate 

road segment where feasible and practical. 

676.1A Not enough drainage structures, water is 

running down road.

Install drainage structures per BMPs 

frequency requirements.

790 Beginning of road in drainage bottom. Harden or relocate beginning of road. 

Closure of roads used for logging operations would be closed as part of the post-use maintenance 

activities by the Timber Purchaser. Cost to close roads would be included in the maintenance 

allowance and shown in the Timber Sale Appraisal. Additional roads would be closed as part of 

the BHNF Travel Management implementation. 

If additional soil and water problems arise before or during project implementation, the District 

Hydrologist and Roads Engineer would determine corrective action required and include the 

work in the proposed action. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 19 

Design Criteria 

Transportation improvements may begin during the 2012 construction season. The following 

recommendations should be considered during project implementation: 

• Road closure devices, including gates, barriers, slash or other devices needed to prohibit 

or eliminate use, would be located on the ground to provide the most effective means of 

accomplishing the desired travel management strategy. 

• Physical closures, such as slash, stumps, rocks and revegetation are to be used to eliminate 

use. Earthen barriers may be used when there is not adequate material available for slash, 

stumps or rock closures. This may be done after activities, to allow use of a road by the 

purchaser, or as funds become available. Closure gates may be utilized where 

administrative access is needed. 

• Whenever possible, roads shall be relocated or constructed out of draw bottoms and 

drainages to improve drainage and protect soil and water resources. Abandoned roadbeds 

shall be revegetated and returned to as natural a state as possible. 

• All temporary roads and newly constructed system roads used to access harvest units would 

be closed or obliterated after management activity is completed, unless the Black Hills 

National Forest Travel Management Plan or Road Management Objective states otherwise. 

• Where sod has effectively stabilized existing roadbeds, efforts would be made to minimize 

disturbance to the sod layer during maintenance and reconstruction activities.

• Unauthorized roads used for temporary access would be decommissioned after use as part 

of the commercial logging operations. 

• Coordination between the Hydrologist, Fish Biologist, Silviculturist and Engineering is 

required for any road reconstruction or realignment along Spring Creek, Horse Creek and 

other protected stream courses. 

• Operations around Sheridan Lake and associated recreational sites would require

coordination between the Recreational Staff, Silviculturist, and Engineering. 

• Minimize the number of road stream crossings. Coordinate between Fisheries Biologist, 

Hydrologist and Engineering for any unavoidable road stream crossings. 

Route verification would be held by engineering, prior to road contract preparation, to show 

Forest and District Specialists the location and design of planned relocation, realignment and 

new construction to ensure the road would not have additional adverse effects on resources.

Mitigation Measures

Maintenance on all roads used for timber harvest would be the responsibility of the Timber Purchaser 

for the life of the Timber Sale Contract. Maintenance includes cleaning out silt from sediment 

collecting ponds and depositing it in upland locations, keeping silt fence upright and functioning by 

cleaning out any sediment collected in front of the silt fence and depositing it in upland locations, 

keeping all drainage structures clear and functional, eliminating erosion of cut and fill slope and 

roadway soils, maintaining vegetative buffers, encouraging revegetation, and blading road surfaces. 

Post use maintenance is required by the Purchaser as part of the Timber Sale Contract. 

Additional mitigation measures: 

• Protect water quality by implementing the BMPs. 

• Revegetate and block temporary roads and closed roads when no longer needed. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 20 

• Equipment shall not be operated when ground conditions are such that excessive damage 

will result, to prevent deterioration of roads. 

• All trails, roads, ditches and other improvements would be kept free of logs, slash and 

debris. Any road, trail or improvement damaged by operations would be promptly repaired. 

• Return roads and trails to suitable conditions after tree removal. 

• Protect and improve roads and trails where soil and water resource damage occurs or is 

likely to occur. 

• Apply native seed mixture as soon as practical, to road cut and fill slopes and other areas 

disturbed during construction and reconstruction activities. 

Monitoring Recommendations

Implementation monitoring of road maintenance, reconstruction and new construction activities 

would be accomplished through site inspections conducted by District personnel and certified 

Engineering personnel to ensure contract specifications and road designs are implemented as 

described in the road contract. Measured and visual monitoring would determine physical 

effects, success of natural and enhanced revegetation, and to ensure traffic safety and compliance 

with state and federal laws. 

Forest Service Road Damage Guidelines would be adhered to in order to limit soil movement 

and road damage during hauling activities (Road Damage Guidelines are found in USDA-FSH, 

2409.15 – Timber Sale Administration Handbook, Chapter 50, Specified Transportation 

Facilities, Black Hills Supplement No. 2409.15-92-1). 

Minerals

• Maintain access to unpatented mining claims per the 1872 Mining Laws and amendments.

• Protect all mining corner posts and active mining developments. 

• Protect all documented National Forest System lands boundary, corners, posts, and bearing trees. 

Vegetation

The objective of monitoring for the silvicultural resource would be to: 

• Insure that decisions made as a result of the analysis are implemented. 

• Determine the effects of harvest activities and related treatments, identify adverse 

impacts and mitigate if necessary. 

All stands treated with shelterwood removals would be examined after harvest to determine if 

planned treatments were successful in establishing a new stand or if additional treatments are 

needed to reforest the stand. During timber sale layout and marking, inspections would be made 

to insure that marking and layout follows decisions made and mitigations outlined in the 

analysis. These inspections would be made by the presale shop and outlined in their inspection 

reports. During the layout and marking process the district silviculturist, or silviculture 

technician acting on his behalf, would inspect the layout and marking process to provide 

assistance with interpretation of marking and layout guides and remedy site specific changed 

conditions that may occur. Minor changes involving stand inclusions will usually require 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 21 

changing marking techniques, while major changes will be evaluated and recommendations 

made to the District Ranger to determine the appropriate course of action. 

The Forest Service Representative (FSR), Timber Sale Administrator (TSA) and/or Sale 

Inspector (SI) would administrate the Timber Sale Contract and harvesting. During the timber 

harvesting activities, additional inspections will be made by the district silviculturist and/or 

silviculture technician to insure harvest activities are accomplishing the objectives and mitigation 

specified. Inspections would also provide feedback for future project analysis. 

Upon completion of the timber harvesting activities, a post sale review would be conducted to 

determine if objectives in the analysis were essentially achieved and if additional cultural 

treatments are needed or if planned post sale cultural treatments may not be needed. 

Regeneration surveys would be conducted to see if site preparation, seeding or planting may be 

necessary. Upon completion of the surveys, the district silviculturist would certify those stands 

that have adequately regenerated. Stands that have regeneration failures would be scheduled for 

either site preparation or artificial regeneration. 

Records of surveys and findings generally would be recorded and filed in the district stand files 

located at the Rapid City office of the Mystic Ranger District. Summaries of accomplishments 

would also be reported electronically in the FACTS database on the Black Hills National Forest 

for upward reporting and district use. 

Table 4. Vegetation Monitoring 

Monitoring 

Objective 

Monitoring 

Procedure 

Frequency/ 

Duration 

Data Storage Projected cost/revenue 

Source 

Responsible 

Shop/Specialist 

Sale Layout and 

Marking 

Inspection Plots 

and Reports 

Ongoing during 

Activities 

Presale Folder NF Management funds, 

Salvage Sale Funds, Pest 

Management Funds 

Presale 

Shop/Presale 

Forester 

Sale Contract 

Administration 

Timber Sale 

Inspections 

Ongoing during 

harvesting 

activities 

Timber Sale 

Folder 

National Forest 

Management funds 

FSR, TSA, and SI

Post Sale Review Walkthroughs 

and/or Plots 

1-2 years post sale Stand Files National Forest 

Management funds 

District 

Silviculturist/ 

Silviculture Tech. 

TSI Layout and 

Administration 

Walkthroughs 

and plots 

Ongoing during 

harvesting 

activities 

TSI Contract 

Folder/RIS Data 

Base 

Knutson-Vandenberg 

Funds (KV), National 

Forest Management 

funds 

TSI Shop/ TSI 

Forester 

Regeneration 

Survival 

Walkthroughs 

and plots 

3 and 5 year post 

treatment 

Stand Files and 

RIS Data Base 

Knutson-Vandenberg 

Funds (KV) 

Silviculture Shop/ 

Silviculturist 

Fire and Fuels

Prescribed burn plans will address burning concerns related to smoke, risk of escape, scenic 

appearance, and air quality. There are several required elements that are addressed when writing 

a burn plan. The elements describe when, under what conditions, and what the expected and 

desired outcomes are for the burn. The most important of these elements describe the conditions 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 22 

under which a burn can be conducted and are based on parameters such as temperature, relative 

humidity, wind speed and direction, and smoke dispersal requirements. The difficulty and 

complexity of a prescribed burn are determined by a very site specific analysis, which dictate 

number of firefighters, equipment, and contingency resources required to conduct the prescribed 

burn. These elements must be documented in a burn plan that is reviewed for technical adequacy 

and approved in writing by the District Ranger prior to initiation of the burn. 

Smoke impacts can be minimized utilizing the following design criteria and are incorporated into 

the burn plan as appropriate. 

• Burn when duff fuel moistures allow for complete combustion or when fire will generally 

be limited to the surface fuel layer to lower particulate emissions. 

• Limit the size of burn blocks and construct sub-unit fire lines to allow for burning to be 

stopped if smoke concerns arise. 

• Specify transport winds by speed and direction to keep smoke from sensitive receptors. 

• Require minimum mixing heights to ensure smoke emissions disperse and do not pool. 

• Determine end ignition times to ensure fuels consumption. This will help reduce smoke 

emissions during night time. 

• Provide notification and attempt to determine public in areas that may be adversely 

affected by smoke concentrations. 

• Set up contingency notification list in case smoke dispersion forecast is inaccurate to 

inform the local public. 

• Prescribed fire implementation along busy travel routes and highways requires special 

mitigations that may include signing and/or emergency vehicles to slow and warn traffic 

or possible hazards. 

Monitoring Recommendations 

Monitoring of fuel treatments and prescribed burns will be completed within one to five years 

post treatment as specified in the fuel treatment plans and prescribed fire plans. Long-term 

monitoring may be necessary to determine the effectiveness of treatments in meeting resource 

goals and objectives. 

Range 

Design criteria include practices such as Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs), Best 

Management Practices (BMPs), and other similar works. They are actions that are applicable 

and expected to be followed or considered as a matter of standard operating procedures, and be 

consistent with the theme of any given alternative. Design criteria are applied in order to protect 

resources and forest users, as well as minimize impacts resulting from implementation of the 

selected alternative. Project implementation would incorporate all applicable FLRMP Standards 

and Guidelines. 

Range improvements and fences to be protected by the service/logging contractor during the life 

of the service contract or forest products sale would be delineated on the project map. Fences 

need to be kept intact during the grazing season, and water developments maintained if damaged 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 23 

to prevent erosion from discharging water. If a service contract or product sale is active, any 

fence crossings created by the contractor need to be repaired each day.

When possible, design vegetative treatments or prescribed burning units so targeted area extends 

to the top of a slope. If additional fencing is needed for livestock control, it would be built along 

ridgelines for ease of construction and to avoid obstructing future logging activities at mid-slope 

or lower in a treatment unit. 

If MPB mortality, timber sale activities, or prescribed fire treatments remove natural barriers to 

livestock distribution, or create roads or trails which allow livestock to enter portions of an 

allotment not previously accessible, then additional range improvements such as allotment 

boundary or pasture fencing, cattleguards, and water developments would need to be funded. 

Such work may include renovation or extension of existing structures. These improvements

allow for livestock control and better distribution across the new range areas. Some stock ponds 

have substantial drainages which need to be maintained and cleared of debris during and after 

service or product sale activities. 

Use integrated noxious weed management practices, in accordance with the Black Hills National 

Forest Noxious Weed Management Plan, January 2003, to provide timely treatments of noxious 

and invasive plants. Refer to specialist report for noxious weeds and invasive plants.

To reduce the potential for noxious and invasive weed establishment, reseed within the project 

area any highly disturbed surfaces (e.g., landings, skid trails) and burned slash piles with 

approved seed mixes using non-invasive, non-persistent annual grasses and perennial native 

plants. Use only approved Black Hills NF seed mixes as a means to stress use of native plants. 

Seeding needs to be started on skidder trails, cleared deck landings and burned/ripped pile areas 

as soon as operations are completed. With proper moisture to generate introduced seeds, this 

new growth should help suppress or prevent weed introduction and growth. Provide for testing 

of seed mixes to verify absence of listed noxious weed seed. Monitor and treat areas within the 

perimeter of the project area and adjacent to known private land weed infestations. 

Consider use of an Aphthona flea beetle insect in leafy spurge areas, and Canada thistle insects 

as a means of integrated noxious weed control for 3 to 5 years following detection and initial 

treatment. Consider use of other or new biological agents as they become available.

Monitor known disturbed soil locations that occurred during service and product sale contracts. 

Treat immediately for noxious weeds and continue follow-up action for 3 to 5 years after initial 

treatment. 

Whole tree skid for processing at a landing is the preferred fuel treatment instead of 

lop/scattering of slash residues. Lop and scatter techniques impede livestock and wildlife access 

to range, forage, and browse because of slash heights and total tonnage left on site. 

Acceptable type of livestock to be grazed is livestock. Acceptable classes of livestock are mature 

(cow with/without calf, bull - as needed for herd breeding) and yearling. Domestic sheep and 

goats are not acceptable due to conflicts with bighorn sheep populations. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 24 

Allowable utilization would range from 0-50% based on Forest Plan guideline 2505. 

Use salting to influence livestock distribution patterns. Do not salt within 1⁄4 mile of water 

sources, eligible heritage sites, or developed recreation sites. 

Reconstruct or replace existing range improvements as their useful life expectancy is amortized 

or to respond to natural disasters. 

Developed recreation sites will be closed or restricted to grazing through use of fencing, as 

opportunities permit. However, grazing may be used as a management tool in these areas. 

Recreational livestock will normally be fed in designated areas. (FP Guideline 2503) 

Use of roads and trails by permittees or their employees should be in compliance with the current 

Black Hills National Forest Travel Management Plan, or comply with the latest instructions and 

policy from any future plan revision or change. Deviations for administrative use needs may 

need evaluation and authorization by the District Ranger. 

Locate new livestock/wildlife water sites out of hardwood communities when feasible. (FP 

standard 2207) 

From April 1 through August 15, minimize additional human-caused noise and disruption 

beyond that occurring at the time of nest initiation (e.g., road traffic, timber harvest, construction 

activities such as new range improvement projects) within one-half mile of all active goshawk 

nests until the nest has failed or fledglings have dispersed. This includes range improvement 

work (FP standard 3111). 

Where livestock management conflicts with bighorn sheep lambing areas, preference shall be 

given to bighorn sheep from April 1 to June 15. (FP Standard 3216). 

Ground disturbing activities such as installation of water developments, pipelines, fences or 

exclosure require both heritage resource and sensitive species surveys and approval by a Forest 

Service archeologist, botanist, and wildlife biologist prior to construction. 

Defer prescribed burn areas from livestock grazing for a portion or all of the following growing 

season to ensure regrowth of forage species. (FP guideline 4107) 

Feature big-game use of forage increases, which result from the vegetative improvements, while 

also allowing for livestock increases. Follow forest-wide proper allowable use guidelines or 

residual levels documented in AMPs or AOIs for combined use by wildlife and livestock. (FP 

Guideline 5.4 -2502) 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 25 

Monitoring 

Table 5: Range Monitoring 

Monitoring 

Objective 

Monitoring 

Procedure 

Frequency/ 

Duration 

Data Storage Projected 

Cost/revenue 

source 

Responsible 

Shop/Specialist

Implementation 

as per annual 

instructions 

Field review of 

pastures & 

examination of 

Distribution & 

Grazing 

(D&G) 

instructions. 

Throughout 

grazing season 

& review of 

submitted D & 

G instructions 

for respective 

permittee 

Respective 

allotment 

folder, 2210 

records from 

field notes and 

D &G copies 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

staff 

Upland proper 

allowable use is 

within desired 

guideline range 

FLRMP Std. 

2505 

Ocular 

Estimate with 

R2-2200-OEH 

form 

Generally 

every one to 

three years; 

conduct 

periodically 

throughout the 

grazing 

season. 

Respective 

allotment 

folder, 2210 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

staff 

Riparian residual 

stubble height 

after grazing is 

within desired 

guideline range 

FLRMP Std. 

2505 

Stubble height 

measurement 

or ocular 

estimate of 

selected 

specie(s). 

Generally 

every year; 

conduct 

periodically 

throughout the 

grazing 

season. 

Respective 

allotment 

folder, 2210 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

staff when 

established by 

allotment 

Utilization level 

of willows & 

woody plants is 

within desired 

guidelines 

FLRMP Std. 

2505 

Ocular 

utilization 

estimate* 

Generally 

every one to 

three years; 

conduct 

periodically 

throughout the 

grazing 

season. 

Respective 

allotment 

folder, 2210 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

staff 

Indication of 

trend at 

Benchmarks for 

Upland 

Vegetation & 

satisfactory 

range conditions 

Cover 

Frequency 

Transect 

Generally 

every four to 

eight years 

Respective 

Allotment 

folder, 2210 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

staff 

Effects of 

grazing use, 

residual levels of 

vegetation, and 

trend in 

Benchmark Sites 

To be 

determined 

By MIM 

(Multiple 

Indicator 

Method) 

Depends on 

objectives; 

generally 

every three to 

six years but 

may be taken 

Respective 

allotment 

folder, 2210 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

other district 

resource staff 

members 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 26 

Noxious Weeds/Invasive Plants 

Use integrated weed management practices, in accordance with Environmental Assessment for 

the Management of Control of Noxious Plants on the Black Hills National Forest, FONSI, 

January 18, 2003, to provide timely treatments of noxious weeds and invasive plants. 

1997 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Black Hills National Forest, as 

Amended by the Phase II Amendment. U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service, Black 

Hills National Forest. Custer, South Dakota, March 2006, page ll-31, ll-36 and lll-139 provide 

for the protection of plants from a noxious weed invasion and prevention measures from new 

invasive plants. 

The Black Hills National Forest Noxious Weed Management Plan addresses appropriate actions 

required to prevent new infestations of noxious weeds. Focus is on road rights-of-ways to and 

from the sale areas, landings, and other heavily disturbed areas. Other prevention practices are 

referenced in the Noxious Weed Management Plan. 

Reseed disturbed ground/soils and burned slash piles with an approved Forest Service seed mix 

(noninvasive annual grasses and perennial native grasses) to reduce the potential for noxious weed 

establishment. Reseed skidder trails, cleared deck landings and burn pile areas as soon as operations 

are completed. Provide for testing of seed to verify the absence of noxious weed seed in mix. 

Continue monitoring known disturbed soil locations that occurred during timber sale efforts. The 

actual areas to be treated would be those already known to have noxious weeds, and those areas 

where future treatment is anticipated as a result of ground disturbing activities that result in 

noxious weed infestations. 

Monitor and treat areas within the perimeter of the project area and adjacent to known private land 

weed infestations. 

Use a 200 feet buffer during road right-of-way treatments to insure areas are treated beyond the 

normal (66 feet) road right-of-way because of weed seed movement by wind or erosion on to the road. 

(One mile is equal to 24 acres at 200 feet as a buffer) Infestations within this buffer area are treated as 

species specific. Use spot treatment strategy along roads to the extent possible and practical. 

for Riparian 

Areas 

FLRMP Std. 

2505 

measurements 

and/or other 

methodology 

after 

establishment 

of transects* 

more 

frequently. 

May be 

measured 

during & after 

use 

Photographic 

record of annual 

growth & use by 

livestock and 

other users 

Digital camera 

photos at photo 

points 

Pre- and Postgrazing use by 

pasture 

 

Respective 

Allotment 

folder, 2210 

NF 

Management 

funds 

District 

Rangeland Mgt. 

Specialist & 

staff 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 27 

After a wildfire, seeding of disturbed areas (e.g., line construction) should occur as soon as the 

weather permits. This burned area should be monitored for new noxious weed infestations because 

of the possibility of ground disturbance from high intensity burns. 

Monitor and consider reseeding of known disturbed soil locations due to prescribed burning. 

Reseed area of disturbed ground with approved Forest Service seed mixture to reduce the potential 

for noxious weed establishment. Control noxious weed infestations with integrated pest

management approach. 

Use certified weed free mulch and erosion materials as required. 

Consider the use of an Aphthona flea beetle insect mix in the leafy spurge areas and Canada 

thistle insects as a means of integrated noxious weed control over a 3 to 5 year period.

Monitor for effectiveness of using the integrated noxious weed management approach such as 

field verification, GPS/GIS data records, and local generated spray sheets, for control of invasive 

weed species. Treat as soon as practical and funding permits for noxious weeds and follow-up 

action need to be 3 to 5 years after initial treatment. 

Wildlife/Biodiversity

The measures included herein apply to the action alternative, and are considered an integral 

component of this specialist report. The effects for each species are contingent upon, to varying 

degrees, implementation of mitigation measures. Any modification to these mitigation measures 

will be reviewed by an Interdisciplinary Team that includes a biologist or ecologist. A thorough 

documentation of the effects to all species potentially affected by changes in design measures 

will be completed and placed in the Calumet Project file. Documentation will include a review 

of the determination of effects to each species, and amendment of determinations, if necessary. 

Specific design criteria and mitigation measures described herein have been developed to be 

implemented as part of the action alternative. Some mitigation measures not included here are 

Forest Service standard operating procedures. An example would be the standard provisions of a 

Timber Sale Contract and road design specifications. Other mitigation measures not included 

here are additional Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines too numerous and lengthy to include 

here (including but not limited to those relating to water, soils, riparian areas, travel and 

transportation, noxious weeds, and livestock grazing). Project implementation will incorporate 

all Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, with the exception of those identified for site-specific 

amendment in the Record of Decision. 

Endangered, Threatened, Proposed, and Sensitive Species 

Any sensitive species located after contract or permit formation will be appropriately managed 

by active coordination between permittee, contractor or purchaser, Forest Service line officer, 

project administrator, and biologist. Viable solutions will be based on circumstances 

surrounding each new discovery and must consider the individual sensitive species needing 

protection, contractual obligations and costs, and mitigation measures available at the time of 

discovery (Standard 3115). 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 28 

Manage known sensitive species and species of local concern snail colonies to prevent adverse 

effects caused by management activities (Standard 3103). Management activities include 

vegetation treatment, road maintenance, construction or reconstruction, noxious weed treatment, 

prescribed fire and livestock grazing. 

Avoid creating barriers (i.e., new open roads) between red-bellied snake hibernacula and 

wetlands (Standard 3116). 

Prescribed fire used in native butterfly habitat should have clear objectives developed to enhance 

and protect sensitive butterfly host and nectar species (Guideline 3105).

Use of herbicides and pesticides should be limited to target areas (individual plant or group of 

plants) instead of broadcast treatments (Standard 4304). Other means of Integrated Pest 

Management that do not involve the use of herbicides or pesticides (e.g. biological control 

agents) should be considered to treat noxious weeds (Guideline 4302).

Defer prescribed burn units from livestock grazing for at least one year after burning to ensure 

re-growth of forage species, butterfly host and nectar species, and soil stabilization (Guidelines 

3105 and 4107). 

Do not locate landings or slash piles in hardwood stands or inclusions unless no alternative sites 

are available. Do not locate skid trails in hardwood stands or inclusions unless all other options 

have been explored. When there is no option but to locate a skid trail in such a site, limit the 

number and length of skid trails to those to that are necessary to accomplish objectives. 

Locate slash piles that are scheduled for burning out of grasslands, meadows, and riparian areas 

to protect from invasion of non-native species and loss of habitat for butterfly species. 

Consultation with the South Dakota Game Fish & Parks (SDGF&P) is recommended if 

management activities occur within the bighorn sheep lambing season from May 1 – June 30, 

mitigate if necessary. 

Snags 

During treatment of hardwoods for regeneration and with District Wildlife Biologist review, 

retain live hardwoods that show signs of cavity nesting where this will not conflict with 

management objectives (e.g., regeneration)(Guideline 2204). 

Retain at least six hardwood snags per acre in hardwood stands. Retain all snags in hardwood 

stands with snag density of less than six per acre (Standard 2301b). 

Retain all snags greater than 20-inch dbh unless a safety hazard. If snag densities within a project 

area do not meet objective 211, retain all snags unless they are a safety hazard. If large snags (> 

14 in dbh) are not available, retain snags in the largest size class available (Standard 2301a). 

Cutting of standing dead trees for fuelwood is prohibited, except in designated areas (Standard 2304). 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 29 

Dead and Down Woody Debris 

Leave large woody debris on harvested or thinned sites (Guideline 2307). On conifer forested 

sites, retain an average of at least 50 linear feet per acre large of course woody debris with a 

minimum diameter of 10” DBH (Standard 2308a). 

Leave large woody debris on harvested or thinned sites to help retain moisture, trap soil 

movement, provide microsites for the establishment of forbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees, and to 

provide habitat for wildlife (Guideline 2307). 

Northern Goshawk 

Vegetation management activities within designated goshawk nest areas shall be limited to those 

that maintain or enhance the stand’s value to goshawks (Standard 3108). 

Apply the guidance provided by Burns and Cook (2006), or avoid treatment altogether if the guidance 

is deemed inappropriate upon field evaluation. See below for more information on the guidance. A 

silviculturist and wildlife biologist should lead tree marking efforts in both suitable and replacement 

goshawk nest stands in order to provide maximum assurance that treatments are applied properly. 

From April 1 through August 15, minimize additional human caused noise and disruption beyond 

that occurring at the time of nest initiation (e.g., road traffic, timber harvest, construction activities) 

within one-half mile of all active goshawk nests up until the nest has failed or fledglings have 

dispersed (Standard 3111). The presence of courting birds should be used as evidence of nest 

activity, since this may be the only sign of nesting behavior in April and early May. 

Other Raptors 

Protect known current and historic raptor nests (Standard 3204). Any active raptor nest (other 

than goshawk) discovered during sale layout, sale operations, or post sale treatments will be 

reported to the District Wildlife Biologist for evaluation. Modifications to Forest Service 

contracts, and or mitigation measures such as seasonal or other restrictions (e.g., April 1 – 

August 15) may be required to protect the nest. 

Riparian Habitats 

Avoid disturbance (e.g., road building, trail building, skid trails), non-commercial and 

commercial harvest adjacent to and within riparian communities (Standards 1304 and 1306, and 

Guideline 3212). Buffer distance from riparian habitats will vary on a site-specific basis, and 

will be determined based on topography, vegetation community, etc. 

Prohibit motorized vehicles from entering streams except at specified points (Guidelines 9107 

and 9108). 

Use of chemicals in riparian and wet meadow areas should be evaluated for effects to butterfly 

host and nectar species, and to riparian shrubs and other plant species. Other means of Integrated 

Pest Management that do not involve the use of herbicides or pesticides (e.g., biological control 

agents) should be considered to treat noxious weeds (Guideline 4302).
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 30 

Maintain slash and large woody debris within riparian communities (Guideline 3212). 

Boundaries of riparian habitats will vary on a site-specific basis, and will be determined based on 

topography, vegetation community, etc. Large woody debris and slash should not block stream 

flow or spring flows in these areas.

Sites with moist soil conditions where construction or reconstruction of spring developments, 

water catchments and other water facilities are proposed will be surveyed for sensitive species 

prior to ground-disturbing activities. If sensitive plants or animals are present, alternate sites will 

be selected (Standard 3104). 

Caves and Mines 

Avoid ground disturbance within 100 feet of an opening of a natural cave (Standard 1401). In 

addition, avoid vegetation changes within 500 feet of caves or abandoned mines that are used as 

bat roosts, unless topography or other features protect the openings (Standard 3207). If

topographical or other features are used in lieu of a 500’ buffer, a wildlife biologist and 

silviculturist should evaluate the site and make the final determination of where management 

activities can occur. Slash shall not be piled at the entrance of caves or mines. 

Protect caves or mines identified as bat nurseries or hibernacula, and their microclimates when 

designing management activities (e.g., timber harvest, road construction, recreation facilities, 

trail construction). Protect known bat day and night roosts (Standard 3102). 

Use seasonal closures for known nursery roosts and hibernacula where there are conflicts with 

people (Standard 3208). Close roads and/or trails to such sites if not needed for public access to 

arterial or collector roads, or private land.

Protect and monitor known areas of high bat use, including water sources and feeding sites.

Any caves or mines discovered during sale layout, sale operations, or post sale activities will be 

reported to the District Wildlife Biologist and District Archaeologist for evaluation. If 

determined that the site may be suitable bat maternity or hibernation habitat, buffers will be 

maintained protect the microclimate of the site (Standard 3207). 

Fisheries 

To meet the intent of Management Measure 3 of the Watershed Conservation Practices 

Handbook (FSH 2509.25) to protect fish during the spawning, incubation and emergence period: 

• Prohibit the use of heavy equipment in Spring Creek and Horse Creek between October 

15 and April 1, when water flow is present, to protect fall spawning brook trout and 

brown trout. 

Miscellaneous 

Certified noxious weed-free seed and mulch shall be used for re-vegetation of disturbed areas 

(Standard 4306). Use seed mixtures following Standard 1110 and Guideline 4106 on temporary 

roads, obliterated roads, and landings following harvest, or any other disturbed areas. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 31 

Botany

The design criteria included herein apply to the action alternative, and are considered an integral 

component of the Calumet BA/BE. The determinations of effects for each species are contingent 

upon, to varying degrees, implementation of design criteria. Any modification to these design 

criteria will be reviewed by an Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team) that includes a botanist or 

biologist. A thorough documentation of the effects to all species potentially affected by changes 

in design criteria will be completed and placed in the Calumet Project File. Documentation will 

include a review of the determination of effects to each species, and amendment of 

determinations, if necessary. 

Specific design criteria described herein have been developed to be implemented as part of the 

action alternative. Some design criteria not included here are Forest Service standard operating 

procedures. An example would be the standard provisions of a Timber Sale Contract and road 

design specifications. Other design criteria not included here are additional Forest Plan Standards 

and Guidelines too numerous and lengthy to include here (including but not limited to those 

relating to water, soils, riparian areas, travel and transportation, noxious weeds, and livestock 

grazing). Project implementation will incorporate all Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, with 

the exception of those identified for site-specific amendment in the Record of Decision. 

Design criteria apply to areas designated in the Botany BA/BE as “unique botanical sites” unless 

otherwise noted. Unique botanical sites are small patches of suitable habitat generally located in 

drainage bottoms or wet meadows. 

• Mechanical treatments and ground disturbing activities will be avoided in unique botanical 

sites. If ground disturbing activities cannot be avoided, a botanist will be available and 

consulted during layout of the unit to ensure a minimal amount of impact. Hand cutting 

sanitation treatments, such as cut and chunk, may occur in some of these areas. These 

sanitation efforts will require consultation and/or on site supervision by a botanist. 

• Skidding will be avoided in unique botanical sites unless soil is frozen to a depth of 2 

inches or at least 1 foot of packed snow is present. 

• Mechanical disturbance may occur outside of designated treatment areas (e.g., landings 

and skid trails). These areas will be located away from unique botanical sites. If these 

areas cannot be avoided, a botanist will be available and will be consulted during layout 

of the unit to ensure a minimal amount of impact to habitat. 

• Control lines associated with prescribed burn units will avoid unique botanical sites. If 

control lines (hand or dozer) intersect with unique botanical sites, a botanist will be

available and will be consulted during design of burn plans to ensure minimal amount of 

impact to suitable habitat. 

• Staging and parking of trucks and heavy equipment will not occur within unique 

botanical areas. If these areas cannot be avoided, a botanist will be available and will be 

consulted during layout of the unit to ensure a minimal amount of impact to habitat. 

• During broadcast prescribed burn, application of drip-torch fuel will be avoided in unique 

botanical sites. The fuels used to disperse flame can introduce long lasting toxins into the 

area that can inhibit growth of sensitive plants. Flames can be allowed to creep into these 

sites, but direct application of fire will be avoided. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 32 

• Road construction and conversion activities will avoid unique botanical sites. If these

areas cannot be avoided, a botanist will be available and will be consulted during layout 

of the unit to ensure a minimal amount of impact to habitat. 

• Within six months of completion of ground disturbing activities including skid trails, 

landing sites, and burned piles, revegetation of the area will be initiated using the 

approved native seed mix (see Standard 1110). The impacts of non-native plant invasion 

following ground disturbance can be minimized if the treated area is seeded with native 

plant species soon after mechanical treatment or burning (Haskins & Gehring 2004). The 

following approved seed mix has been developed for the Black Hills for the elevations 

found within the project area. It will be applied at 20 pounds per acre. All seeds will be

certified weed free. 

25% Slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) 

30% Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) 

10% Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) 

10% Canby bluegrass (Poa canbyi) 

20% Green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) 

5% Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) or American vetch (Vicia Americana) 

Travel and Recreation Use

Designated routes are protected improvements, and the purchaser/contractor shall be required to 

return routes used for or in the areas of operations to at least their previous drivable condition 

(e.g., free of slash and down logs). 

Hauling on designated trails shall be discouraged to the extent practicable.

Landing and decking shall be prohibited on designated routes. 

Where possible, maintain a visual screen of trees of various ages and size classes adjacent to 

designated routes in order to better define the path of the route for users and discourage 

pioneering of illegal routes off the designated route. 

Timber sale prep and layout personnel shall coordinate with the District Travel Management 

Coordinator during layout and prior to sale package preparation. 

Some trails and roads open to all needed for project activities would be converted to highway 

legal, either seasonally or yearlong, for the duration of the project. 

Scenery

The portions of the project area are visible from US, State, County highways, as well as private 

land. People visit this area for the recreation opportunities at Sheridan Lake, and the “natural” 

appearance (including the fall color) of the area. Each design criteria listed below is intended to 

limit, or reduce, negative visual impacts that could detract from the “natural appearing” 

condition that visitors and local communities expect; some design criteria are intended to help 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 33 

facilitate a quicker recovery. The fewer measures followed - the greater the potential for 

negative impacts that move the planning area away from the LRMP goals for these management 

areas, and Forest Service Manual direction for Scenery Management. 

If Design Criteria is followed, short-term effects that would be evident in the landscape include 

displaced soil (until vegetation is re-established in seeded areas such as obliterated roads, skid trails, 

decking areas, and piling areas), fire-blackened tree boles and fire blackened vegetation (from 

underburning), and open areas along the edges of hardwood stands (where pine trees were removed). 

Long-term effects include corridors through the vegetation where (system and non-system) roads 

and skid/forwarder trails were constructed/re-construct – and would be perceived as “roads;” 

other openings from vegetation manipulation would abruptly change the vegetation texture, then 

slowly fill back in as new vegetation becomes established (5-30 years, depending upon specie), 

during this time, a greater quantity and variety of hardwoods may be evident in the landscape. 

The following Design Criteria should be followed across the project area: 

• Skid trails should only be created / utilized during dry, or frozen, conditions to minimize 

soil disturbance, then seeded with native grasses after use. These techniques have been 

effectively used to reduce soil displacement and speed up the re-vegetation process along 

these skid trails – thus reducing highly visual evidence of skid trails. 

• Transition Zones – Treatments around private lands, in forested areas, should blend with 

the current condition on those lands, where possible. Avoid creating strong lines between 

private and Forest Service boundaries. Avoid creating an obvious edge between the 

treated and un-treated areas, particularly where one boundary line, or more, runs straight 

up a slope (at a right angle to the contours) creating a very un-natural appearing form in 

the landscape. The transition zone width is dependent upon management and use of 

private lands, slope, and variety of vegetation. A feathered horizontal transition zone of

1.5 times the height of the overstory is recommended – at a minimum. Within this zone, 

reduce the tree density to transition from the treated to the un-treated. Units that create 

an obviously un-natural vegetative pattern would draw attention to it and not meet the 

LRMP or national handbook direction. 

• Fuel treatments along private land boundaries should transition into the surrounding forest. 

These areas are essential shaded fuel breaks. Avoid creating “corridors” of cleared 

understory areas by laying out the outer (forest side) of the unit in a curvilinear layout.

• Group Selections – Layout openings parallel to contours of the landscape. This would result 

in openings (forms in the fabric of vegetation) that would blend with the overall “horizontal” 

landscape (landform) – particularly when viewed in the Middleground and Background. 

• When thinning dense stands, avoid creating a residual forested stand with evenly spaced trees. 

• All “Non-system” roads, skid trails, forwarder trails, and log decks - Obliterate (eliminate 

the cut / fill slope to match the adjacent contours) to return to a Natural Appearing, High 

Scenic Integrity condition. Place natural levels of down debris across the routes, and reseed. This is particularly important within the Byway corridor, around developed 

recreation areas (campgrounds and day use areas), non-motorized recreation areas 

(climbing areas), and along non-motorized trails. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 34 

• All machine pile and decks where slash tops limbs are burned - Rehabilitate (mix ash 

with unburned soil) and smooth after use, to return to a Natural Appearing, High Scenic

Integrity condition. Place natural levels of down debris across the routes, and re-seed. 

This is particularly important within the Byway corridor, around developed recreation 

areas (campgrounds and day use areas), non-motorized recreation areas (climbing areas), 

and along non-motorized trails. 

• Hand-pile, chip or mulch activity fuels in the immediate foreground of US and State

Highways, County Roads, Recreation Facilities, Recreation Trails, to limit additional 

disturbance to the area and clean up slash to natural levels (Guideline 5606). 

• Avoid creating strong lines between private and Forest Service boundaries. Remaining 

vegetation should be in a variety of sizes and spacing to maintain a more natural 

appearance. The transition zone width is dependent upon management and use of private 

lands, slope, and variety of vegetation. 

• Avoid creating geometric shapes when implementing proposed activities. Consider

boundaries that follow vegetation types or sizes. 

Design Criteria along the following public access routes: 

US Hwy. 385, Sheridan Lake Road, access to Sheridan Lake Campground and other recreation 

facilities, Flume Trail and Centennial Trail: 

• Where possible along the roads, remaining vegetation should be in a variety of sizes and 

spacing to maintain a more natural appearance. This technique has been very effective in 

maintaining a natural appearance. 

• Clean up log decks within 300 feet of travel corridors by returning to original contours, 

scarify to eliminate compaction (as necessary), and plant with native grass seed. 

• Locate log landings outside the immediate foreground (200’) of the highways and trails 

when possible. Limit equipment use within this distance zone as possible. 

• Remove un-merchantable material piles (“cull decks” and piles of tops/limbs) in the 

immediate foreground (300’) of the highways and trails. 

• Slash should be cleaned up to natural levels within 300 feet of these highways, in 

accordance with Forest Plan Guideline 4112b (i.e., This can be accomplished by piling 

and burning, or chipping and removing chips.), and Forest Plan Guideline 5606. 

• Follow the most current Black Hills NF “Visual Marking Guides & Map” - at the time of 

project layout and marking implementation. 

• Operations restricted to dry or frozen ground conditions to minimize soil disturbance. 

Where soil is displaced, re-contour to adjacent slope and seed with native grasses. 

• Highlight large diameter ponderosa pine when possible, by removing small trees around 

them that block the view of them, could act as ladder fuels in a fire, and out compete with 

them for nutrients. 

Lands and Special Uses

• Protect all documented National Forest System lands boundary corners, posts and bearing trees. 

• Restrict access to areas that have resource damage and not needed for access to National 

Forest System lands and/or private property. 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 35 

• Review existing Special Use Permits, FLPMA Private Road Easements and FRTA 

Easements for permit and easement compliance. 

• Amend special use permits to utility companies for new overhead and underground utility lines. 

• Provide access routes as needed to utility companies for utility line new construction, 

reconstruction and maintenance of existing rights-of-ways corridors. 

• Adhere to Power Line Construction, Reconstruction and Maintenance Best Management

Practices dated 04/03/2002. 

• Avoid and/or protect utility infrastructure in project area during project implementation. 

• Adhere to Land Adjustment Program, Operating Plan for the Black Hills National Forest 

dated 09/21/2011. 

Heritage

Local Native American groups will be contacted and responses solicited concerning this project. 

On-going consultation with members of the local Native American community will aid in 

identification of specific locations and issues of concern. Any identified religious or sacred site 

will be protected in accordance with the Native American Religious Freedom Act (P.L. 95-341). 

Additionally, contemporary Native American resource areas will be identified and protected, and 

perpetuation of traditionally used flora and fauna encouraged by Forest Service land management. 

Guideline 6101 provides for the consideration of long-term Forest Management needs in 

determining appropriate use of mitigation of effects to, or avoidance of, heritage resources 

during project planning. Heritage sites located within treatment areas will be marked according 

to specifications provided in FS Manual 2309.24 and FSH 2361.28. Marked heritage sites will 

be avoided during mechanical tree thinning, firewood collecting, fire line construction, road 

maintenance, and other land disturbing activities associated with the proposed treatments. 

It is recognized heritage resources may be present in the subsurface with no surface 

manifestation. Therefore if additional heritage resources are discovered during earth disturbing 

(e.g., timber thinning) activities, all operations must cease within a 300 ft. (100 meter) radius of 

the site and the District Archeologist notified immediately. Any additional heritage resources 

located during project implementation will be protected based on recommendations of the district 

archaeologist and State Historic Preservation Officer. All sites will be evaluated under the terms 

specified in 36 CFR 60.4 and 36 CFR 800 and applicable Forest guidelines [FP Guidelines 4102, 

6101, 6106] (USDA Forest Service 2001). If a heritage resource site is damaged during project 

implementation, work at and within the immediate vicinity of the site will cease until a Forest 

Service Archaeologist evaluates the damage, make stabilization recommendations, and 

determines what additional protective measures are needed to protect the site. Project work will 

not restart until authorized by the District Archaeologist. 

No timber cutting or related activities (e.g., skidding, decking, etc.) will be allowed within a 35-

meter perimeter of the designated site boundary. No new road construction will be allowed within 

35 meters of the site boundary. Existing roads through the site will not be improved. Logging 

trucks and heavy equipment will not drive through or park within the site boundary, except within 

existing road prisms. During the planning stage, all proposed road construction through known site 

areas will be checked on the ground. On-the-ground flagging of the construction effect through 
Appendix B Calumet Project Area Design Criteria, Mitigation Measures, & Monitoring B - 36 

known sites will be checked and confirmed. Once confirmed, the District needs to decide which 

mitigative steps seem most appropriate given the spatial/vertical extent of the NRHP-significant site 

and its historic values. Additional archeological fieldwork may be required in certain instances to 

address these issues. The management choices then resolve down to mitigation through data 

recovery versus mitigation through avoidance. The latter could include permanently capping the site 

(or portions thereof) that exhibits the significant historic values (e.g., site preservation). 

In order to protect known sites and mitigate damage to sites that may be discovered during ground 

disturbing activities, a special contract provision, Protection of Heritage Resources, will be included 

to assure that such resource damage during harvest operations is minimized. This provision requires 

the purchaser to protect all known, identified, or discovered historic, architecture, or prehistoric sites, 

buildings, objects, and properties related to American History, archaeology, and culture against 

destruction, obliteration, removal or damage during purchaser's operations. The purchaser shall 

immediately notify the Forest Service if damage occurs to any Heritage resource and immediately 

halt operations near the resource where damage occurred until the Forest Service authorizes the 

purchaser to proceed. If such damage is negligently or willfully caused by the purchaser's operations, 

the purchaser shall bear the costs of an investigation and restoration in accordance with 36 CFR 

296.14(c), provided that such payment shall not relieve the purchaser from civil or criminal remedies 

otherwise provided by law. The Forest Service may unilaterally modify or cancel a contract to 

protect an area, object of antiquity, artifact, or similar object that may be entitled to protection. 

Heritage sites with exposed burnable material will be protected by manually removing 

surrounding/interior fuels, foaming wooden structures, building fire lines around sites, using backfires or a combination of measures to be determined on-site by the District Archaeologist. If no 

protective measures can be effectively applied, sites will be avoided during prescribed burning 

activities. Each of the proposed prescribed burn areas has protected sites within their boundaries. 

These sites will need to be avoided by broadcast burn activities. Some pile burning may occur 

within, or adjacent to protected sites but only in if there is coordination between the fire crew and the 

District Archeologist. An information packet will be available for these fuel reduction projects and 

on the ground identification of site boundaries will be accomplished by the heritage resource staff 

prior to implementation. All Forest Service and out-service personnel who may be working in the 

area of a site will be advised that under the provisions of 36 CFR 261.9, the following are prohibited: 

digging in, excavating, disturbing, injuring, or destroying any archeological, paleontological or 

historic site; or removing, disturbing, injuring, or destroying an object in such a site. 

There are no known caves in the analysis area. There are a number of rock shelters in the area, and 

some appear to be suitable bat habitat, as well as containing cultural deposits. As per Guideline 

1401, these resources will be managed to protect or enhance biological, cultural, ecological, 

hydrological and physical characteristics. Mines are located in the Calumet Project Area. Protection 

measures will be implemented and the locations identified during any ground disturbing activity.