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Briggs Spring Project

Scoping Document

Hell Canyon Ranger District

Black Hills National Forest

Pennington County, SD

Project Area Description

The Briggs Spring project area is located approximately twenty-five miles northwest of the town of 

Custer (see Figure 1) in Pennington County, South Dakota. The project area is located within T01N, 

R01E Sections 11-14, 21-28, 33-36; T01S, R01E Sections 1-5, 9-16, 21-24, 28-30, 33-36; T01S, R02E 

Sections 6-8, 18, 19, 30-32; T02S, R02E Sections 5-8, 18, 19; and T02S, R01E Sections 1-5, 9-13, 24. 

The project area lies entirely within Management Area (MA) 5.1 Resource Production Emphasis.

The gross acreage of the 

project area is 28,916 acres,

with approximately 24,547

acres of National Forest 

System land and 4,369 acres of 

interspersed private land. 

Major arterial roads that access 

the project area include 

National Forest System Road 

(FSR) 117.1 (Boles Canyon)

which provides north-south 

access throughout, FSR 301 

(Six Mile) which provides 

east-west access centrally, and 

FSR 284 (Custer Limestone) is 

the southern-most boundary. 

All proposed actions within the 

Briggs Spring project apply to 

National Forest lands only.
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Management Direction

The Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), as amended (2006), provides 

direction for the management of the forest. The Forest Plan contains management Goals and 

Objectives, Management Area direction, and identifies desired future conditions for the forest. 

Resource specialists reviewed the current condition of the project area and compared these conditions 

with the desired conditions identified in the Forest Plan, as well as other applicable goals and 

objectives. Opportunities for improvement were identified.

Management Area 5.1, Resource Production Emphasis: lands are managed primarily for wood 

products, water yield, and forage production while also providing other commercial products, visual 

quality, diversity of wildlife and a variety of other goods and services. 

Goals and objectives within the Forest Plan were used to develop the proposed action for the Briggs 

Spring project. 

Goal 3: Provide for sustained commodity uses in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Objective 303: Offer the following allowable sale quantity (ASQ) of timber on suitable and 

available timber lands in the next decade: 

Allowable Sale Quantity from Suitable Lands: 

(Decade Total)

Million cubic feet Million board feet

Sawtimber 181 838

Roundwood 21 NA

 Total 202 838

 (FY2008 Monitoring and Evaluation Report, USFS)

Goal 4: Provide for scenic quality, a range of recreational opportunities, and protection of heritage 

resources in response to the needs of the Black Hills National Forest visitors and local communities.

Objective 420b: Provide recreation facilities, trailheads, trail crossings and other road corridor 

components to meet demand.

Goal 10: Establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions to reduce occurrences of 

catastrophic fire, insect, and disease events, and facilitate insect and disease management and 

firefighting capability. Three objectives associated with this goal that pertain to this project include:

Objective 10-01: Manage for 50 to 75 percent moderate-to-low fire hazard in the wildlandurban interface and reduce fire hazard within proximity of structures to current NFPA 

standards...

Objective 10-04: Reduce or otherwise treat fuels commensurate with risks (fire occurrence), 

hazard (fuel flammability), and land and resource values common to the area, using the criteria 

in Forest-wide Guideline 4110.
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Objective 10-07: Where outbreaks of mountain pine beetle could present risks to management 

objectives for ponderosa pine, reduce acreage of ponderosa pine stands that are in medium or 

high risk for infestation.

Existing Conditions

Table 1 displays existing cover types of National Forest land and approximate acreage/percent within 

the project area. 

 Table 1. National Forest cover types within the project area

Cover Type Acreage/Percentage

Meadow 2,697 / 11%

Aspen 331 / 1%

Ponderosa Pine 21,519 / 88%

Table 2 shows approximate acreage of structural stages by cover type on National Forest land within 

the project area.

 Table 2. Structural stages present (in acres) within the project area.

Cover Type →

Structural Stage 

↓

Ponderosa

Pine Aspen Meadow Total

Meadow/grassland 2,697 2,697

SS1 497 0 0 497

SS2 485 65 0 550

SS3A 49 130 0 179

SS3B 132 47 0 179

SS3C 42 0 0 42

SS4A 12,724 42 0 12,766

SS4B 7,590 47 0 7,637

SS4C 0 0 0 0

SS5 0 0 0 0

 TOTAL 21,519 331 2,697 24,547

Tables 3 through 7 show approximate mileages of existing roads and trails within the Briggs Spring

project area. These mileages reflect the March 22, 2010 Travel Management decision to be 

implemented Dec. 1, 2010. 

Table 3. Total miles for all roads within the project area. 

Existing

Road Miles – Total 143

System Roads 106

Unauthorized Roads* 37

*Unauthorized roads are typically user-created
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Table 4. Total miles of National Forest system roads within the project area.

Existing

System Roads – Total 106

Roads Closed to All, Yearlong (as storage) 8

Roads Open to All, Seasonal 11

Roads Open to All, Yearlong 14

Roads Open to Highway Legal Vehicles Only, 

Seasonal

5

Roads Open to Highway Legal Vehicles Only, 

Yearlong

68

Table 5. Miles of unauthorized* roads within the project area.

Existing

Unauthorized Roads – Total 42

*Unauthorized roads are typically user-created

Table 6. Road density for all roads within the project area.

Miles Miles/Sq. Mile

Total 143 3.2

 Closed Roads 8 0.2

 Open Roads 105 2.3

 Seasonal Roads 30 0.7

Table 7. Miles of National Forest System Trails within the project area.

Existing

System Trails 13

 Seasonal Closure 8

 Open Yearlong 5

Purpose and Need

The purpose of and need for action in the Briggs Spring project area is to maintain forest health, to 

manage ponderosa pine within this portion of MA 5.1 in order to provide for a sustainable supply of 

commercial timber, to manage fuels in order to reduce losses of timber and other desired forest habitat 

and the risk of large-scale, high intensity wildfire, and to provide a developed recreation campground 

facility which is designed for OHV recreational use, including large trailers, in support of the recently 

decided Travel Management OHV trail system within the Briggs Spring project area.

The need for action within the Briggs Spring project area is indicated by 

(1) the current mountain pine beetle outbreak in forest stands near the Briggs Spring project area 

and the opportunity to reduce potential mountain pine beetle caused mortality by thinning 

dense timber stands (Forest Plan, Goal 10 and Objective 10-07), and 
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(2) the opportunity to contribute to the Forest-wide objective (Forest Plan, Goal 3 and Objective 

303) through timber harvest throughout the project area, and 

(3) the opportunity to reduce fire hazard through fuels treatments (Forest Plan, Goal 10 and 

Objective 10-01 & 10-04). 

(4) In light of the recently closed Moon Campground, which is adjacent to the project area, the 

opportunity exists to create a recreation campground in support of the newly developed OHV 

trail system (Forest Plan, Goal 4 and Objective 420b). A new campground designed for OHV 

users would encourage OHV use away from Redbank Spring Campground, which was not 

designed to handle the impacts of OHV users and has heritage and botany concerns. In 

addition, there is an opportunity to convert existing roads into OHV trails adjacent to the new 

campground.

Proposed Action

The proposed action is designed to be responsive to the purpose and need by moving the project area 

toward desired conditions from the Forest Plan. The March 22, 2010 Travel Management decision 

will be implemented in the project area. The forest website ( www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills ) provides 

the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for viewing. The following treatments are proposed to fulfill the purpose 

of and need for the project. (See Maps 1-3 for all proposed actions)

Table 8. Commercial and non-commercial treatment descriptions and total acres within the project area.

Commercial Treatments Acres Description

Commercial Thin (CThin) 2,146 Thinning of immature stands generally 9-12” in diameter. 

Objective is to reduce basal area in stands to improve 

health, tree vigor, and future growth capacity of the stand 

and to reduce stand susceptibility to mountain pine beetle 

attack. This treatment would reduce stand basal area (BA) 

to 50 or 60 ft2/ac depending upon existing and desired 

condition of the stands. A 60 BA will be used in stands to 

minimize stand susceptibility to MPB and wildfire where 

MPB has spread from adjacent areas of the Forest. 

Reducing the basal area will minimize the expansion of the 

MPB infestation. A 50 BA will be used in stands that are 

located within or adjacent to areas of existing mountain 

pine beetle infestations.

Group Shelterwood (GRSH) 6,266 This is a shelterwood system treatment that is applied 

within pine sites which are not homogenous, but rather 

have patches or groups of trees of various age classes 

throughout the stand. A GRSH prescription may include all 

phases of a shelterwood system such as a commercial thin, 

seed cut or overstory removal.

Hardwood Release (HWDR) 250 Removal of encroaching conifers from existing hardwood 

stands. No change of cover type results. Removal of noncommercial conifers will follow commercial removal.

Hardwood Conversion 

(HWDC)

123 Removal of conifers from sites that contain an abundance 

of hardwoods for the purpose of converting the site to an 
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aspen stand. Removal of non-commercial conifers will 

follow commercial harvest.

Overstory Removal (OSR) 138 Removal of mature to over-mature trees in the overstory of 

stands which have been successfully regenerated.

Shelterwood Seed Cut (SWSC) 537 An even-aged regeneration cutting in mature stands. The 

most desirable seed trees are retained at basal areas of 30-

50 ft2/ac. Opening the canopy creates a favorable growing 

environment for pine regeneration.

Pine Encroachment (PE)* 2,697 Removal of pine trees from existing meadows to maintain 

the meadow into the future. Both commercial and noncommercial sized trees may be removed. No change in 

cover type results.

Sanitation 6,172 Sanitation is used to remove individual green trees, which 

have live mountain pine beetle brood in them. These trees 

are already dead, however, the foliage will not change color 

until the following summer. This is a suppression strategy 

designed to remove live beetles from the site. The stands 

prescribed for sanitation are in areas of high beetle 

concentration. This treatment will also be used within 

commercially treated stands if there is beetle infestation 

occurring.

 Total Acres 18,329

Non-Commercial Treatments Acres Description

Pine Encroachment (PE)* 2,697 See description above.

POL Thinning 8,443 Non-commercial thinning of dense stands of pine that are 

less than 9-inch in diameter. Stands of trees will be thinned 

to reach a desired tree spacing of 18’ x 18’ or 24’ x 24’. 

The objective is to reduce stand density to concentrate 

future growth on the most desirable trees.

POL Thinning** 1,021 See description above. A hardwood release treatment 

would occur in areas that have hardwood inclusions. See 

description of HWDR above.

Fuels Treatments

 Mechanical 1,362 Mechanical thinning of pine up to 9-inch in diameter and to 

desired tree spacing of 16’ x 16’ spacing. This treatment 

may include hand cutting and piling. Slash piles resulting 

from this treatment would be burned, however no broadcast 

burning would occur. 

 Prescription (Rx) Burning 8,066 Management-ignited fire used for reducing woody material 

fuel loading in order to modify potential fire behavior 

which can reduce risks to life and property associated with 

wildfire. The objective of using prescribed fire in this 

project is to consume a portion of the dead/down fuels as 

well as limb a portion of the green trees in support of 
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decreasing overall fire behavior. This treatment contributes 

to creating a mosaic of burned and unburned areas which 

results in an appearance of a naturally-burned landscape. 

Ignition may include but is not limited to both hand and 

aerial ignition. 

 Deadfall 1,646 Mechanical treatment of existing slash to a height within 

18-24 inches of the ground. May include various methods 

but not limited to lopping, chipping, crushing, piling, and 

burning, or mastication. No snags would be removed as 

part of this treatment. Some of these sites include 

hardwood inclusions that would be released (HWDR). 

Hardwood Release (HWDR) 564 See description above.

POL Thinning/Deadfall 300 See both descriptions above. Both types of treatment 

would occur on these sites.

 Total Acres 24,099

 * Commercial and non-commercial treatments occur on the same acres.

** These are pine sites that include hardwood inclusions that would be treated.

The proposed OHV recreation campground facility would be a semi-primitive Recreation Opportunity 

Spectrum (ROS) Design, located within site 040704-23, 25 (See Map 1-Tile 3), which would include: 

• Campground facility will be 17 acres, total, in size, with approximately 15 units of OHV 

Specialized Fee Campground and 4 units of OHV Day Use Trailhead. 

o Campground –15 acres 

o Day Use Trailhead –2 acres 

• Pull through design for camping units, with parking spurs for two vehicles with trailers.

• Defined and fenced training lot for hands-on learning of common OHV trail features.

• Direct access to OHV Trail System.

• Larger sized fire ring and two picnic tables per site.

• Two Unisex Vault Toilets.

• An information kiosk at the trailhead.

• One-way traffic campground road.

• Bulletin boards to serve as campground information and a fee collection station.

• The campground would be fenced for cattle exclusion.

• No potable water or garbage collection services-“visitor pack it in-pack it out”.

Design Features

Wildlife 

Snags and Down Woody Material

No snags will be cut unless deemed a safety hazard. Snags determined to be a safety hazard should be 

felled and left in place. Existing snags and down woody material (>10” diameter) will be protected 
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during prescribed burning where feasibility and safety permits. Standards 2301, 2304, 2305, 2308,

and Objectives 211, 212 

Retain existing large woody debris in harvested or thinned sites including the sites proposed for whole 

tree yarding. Do not pull existing logs out of the site while removing recently cut trees. Guideline

2307

Small Mammal Habitat

If piles are created while accomplishing mechanical vegetation treatments, including mechanical fuel 

treatments, leave 1 pile per 2 acres for small mammal habitat. Piles do not need to be any particular 

size; as a pile size guideline aim for approximately 10’ x 10’ and 6’ in height. This will benefit small 

mammal predatory species by creating near-ground structure for prey species. Standard 3117

Big Game

Screening cover for big game will be retained within 200’ of the road in the following areas proposed 

for non-commercial treatments (see Table 9). Guideline 3203

Table 9. Sites proposed for non-commercial treatments that need screening cover 

(seedlings/saplings) retained within 200’ of the road. Guideline 3203

Location Site Road Proposed treatment

040701 10 117.1 Mechanical thin and prescribed fire

040701 18 117.1 Mechanical thin

040701 20 117.1 Mechanical thin

040701 23 117.1 Mechanical thin

040801 9 117.1 Mechanical thin

040805 151 284 Prescribed fire

040806 142- east end 284 Mechanical fuels and prescribed fire

040808 109 284 Mechanical thin

040801 8 284.5D Mechanical fuels

040801 10 284.5D Mechanical thin

040802 47 284.5D Mechanical fuels and prescribed fire

040806 120 284.5D Mechanical thin

040705 126 294 Mechanical thin

040701 38 301 Mechanical thin

040702 50 301 Mechanical thin

040702 54 301 Mechanical thin

040702 55 301 Mechanical thin

040702 56 301 Mechanical thin

040803 101 301 Mechanical thin

In order to allow for some hiding cover for big game allow only 0-5% mortality of pine regeneration in 

site 040702-73 when prescribed burning. 

To allow for hiding cover in sites 040802-30 and 31 do not thin pine regeneration during timber stand 

improvement (post sale) treatments along FSRs 296.2D, 301.2D and 301.2E. 
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Retain a denser canopy in the northern 1/3 of site 040802-51 within 200 feet of the meadow site 

040802-44 for hiding cover. 

Bats/Caves

Any caves or mines discovered during sale layout, sale operations, or post sale layout will be reported 

to the district wildlife biologist and district archaeologist for evaluation. There are no known caves, 

mines or bat hibernacula in the Briggs Spring project area.

Northern Goshawk

Prior to starting any activities in the sites listed in Table 10, consult with a district biologist. The

biologist will check the known raptor nests for any indication of use. If no use is detected the 

treatment activities may be allowed to proceed during the time period buffer. Standard 3111

Table 10. Sites proposed for treatment within a 1⁄2 mile of northern goshawk nest territories requiring protection. 

Protection will consist of a buffer of 0.5 miles and an activities restriction from April 1-August 15 annually. 

Activities such as commercial, non-commercial, and fuel treatments, including prescribed burning is not to take 

place. Standard 3111

Territory Location Site

Alternatives 

proposing

treatment

Treatments proposed

HerrinMiller

040802 11 2 Commercial and non-commercial thinning

040802 22 2 Hardwood release and prescribed burning

040802 23,24,32,

33

2 Sanitation

040802 30 2 Commercial (south 1/3) and non-commercial 

thinning; sanitation

040802 15, 31 2 Non-commercial thinning

040802 42,43,45 2 Commercial and non-commercial thinning; 

prescribed fire

040802 44 2 Pine encroachment treatment and prescribed 

fire

040802 51 2 Commercial and non-commercial thinning

Dumbuk

040804 117 2 Sanitation

040805 101,102,

103,104,

153

2 Sanitation

040805 107 2 Prescribed fire

040805 141,149 2 Mechanical fuels and prescribed fire

040805 142 2 Sanitation and prescribed fire

040806 132 2 Commercial thinning

040806 137 2 Commercial and non-commercial thinning; 

prescribed fire

040806 138,139,

145

2 Sanitation

040806 140,142 2 Mechanical fuels and prescribed fire

040806 141 2 Sanitation, mechanical fuels and prescribed 
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fire

040806 144 2 Pine encroachment and prescribed fire

In addition to the sites listed in Table 10, there would be time restrictions (April 1-August 15, 

annually) for new activity on roads adjacent to the two territories. 

(1) If the Herrin-Miller territory is active then FSR 301.2D (entire length) and FSR 296.2D (within 

1⁄2 mile of the junction with 301.2D) will have new use timing restrictions in place. 

(2) If the Dumbuk territory is active then FSR 284.5E (entire length), FSR 296.2B (between FSR 

284.5D and U220036), and FSR 289.1A (from the junction with FSR 296.2B south to 

U220036) will have new use timing restrictions in place. 

A portion of FSR 284.5D is located within 1⁄2 mile of the goshawk nests in the Dumbuk territory. The

timing restriction is not being recommended on this road. Other roads discussed above will have the 

timing restriction in place which will minimize additional disturbance within the territory. Standard 

3111. Use of this road is also required to implement the proposed projects during the summer months.

Northern Leopard Frog/Black Hills Red-bellied Snake

If northern leopard frogs are observed, consultation with a district biologist would occur before any 

project activities are implemented.

If, during any activities in the project area, red-bellied snakes are observed or potential hibernacula are

found, contact a district biologist. If a hibernacula/breeding site is found a buffer may be established 

around the riparian area and the hibernacula.

Retain all spruce trees within 600 feet of the spring near the border of sites 040705-103 and 040705-

106. 

Retain a more dense canopy and lop and scatter slash in the northern 1/3 of site 040802-51 within 200 

feet of the meadow site 040802-44. The denser canopy will allow for more moisture on the ground in 

the site as well as provide some hiding cover for big game. This site may be used as upland habitat for 

sensitive northern leopard frogs if present in the Herrin wildlife ponds within site 44.

Within site 040705-126 retain a more dense canopy and lop and scatter slash within 200 feet of the 

springs in site 040705-135.

The following sites should have slash lopped and scattered within 200 feet of the site edge in the 

direction of the nearby pond/spring; if proposed for prescribed burning, do not burn down woody

material, juniper and regeneration within 200 feet of the site edge:

• 040702 - 40 (Briggs Spring) 

• 040702 - 52, 56, 57 (White Spring)

• 040703 - 14 (Beef pasture spring along private land on north side) – proposed for fuel 

treatment only

• 040705 - 134 (Multiplex Spring)

• 040705 - 156 (Redbank Spring Reservoir)

• 040807 - 111 (Park Spring) – proposed for prescribed burning
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Land Snails

There is one Frest site (040701-36) present in the project area that showed presence of a species of 

local concern snail. No vegetative commercial treatment is planned, however a post-sale POL 

treatment is proposed. The Frest site needs to be avoided during this activity. Standard 3103

Very Large Trees

In the following sites retain very large tree size (16” DBH and greater) ponderosa pine trees:

040701-10

040802-7, 8, 9

040803-110 (east end)

040808-108 (if large pine trees are not producing regeneration within the meadow)

Aspen

Where accomplishing hardwood release as a post sale activity, hinge pine trees that are cut. This will 

help to provide barriers for regenerating aspen and will inhibit browsing by ungulates.

Where it is not a concern for fuels, leave slashed tops from commercially harvested pine trees within 

aspen clones and within 100 feet of the clone. This will help provide barriers to inhibit ungulate 

browsing on regenerating aspen.

Botany/Range/Weeds

Treatment activities will create transitory range, which will help lessen the grazing impact on primary 

range and aid in the distribution of grazing animals. Water sources may need to be developed due to 

the increase in transitory range.

Fences may need to be built, as natural barriers (dense tree growth) are removed.

Treatment activities in areas that have historically been grasslands or meadows will likely benefit 

sensitive plant species. Reduction of conifer encroachment into these areas returns the habitat to a 

more natural condition.

When roads, temporary roads and skid trails are to be constructed, it would be helpful to have them 

built beside existing fences if possible. Such clearing will help with the maintenance of those 

improvements.

Probable habitat (meadows and riparian areas) for sensitive plant species, species of local concern, and 

state-listed species will need to be protected from disturbance. No new roads should be built through 

the meadows or riparian areas. Additionally, large slash piles should not be located within known 

habitat for sensitive plant species or on native grasslands. Large slash piles should be located in areas 

that are invaded by exotic grasses such as timothy, smooth brome, or Kentucky bluegrass or located in 

timbered areas. 

Known noxious weed infestations would be treated with herbicides and biological controls after 

logging operations and/or prescribed burning to reduce infestations and allow native vegetation to 

compete with non-natives.
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Disturbed areas such as skid trails, burned slash piles and temporary roads would be seeded with 

certified native weed-free seed. 

Areas of weed infestation will need to be monitored and the effectiveness of the treatment measured. 

Areas should be retreated as necessary. 

Fire/Fuels

Slash created from proposed vegetation treatments would be treated with one or more of the following: 

• Cut trees would be whole tree yarded to a landing for limbing, processing, and hauling. 

• Limbs and un-merchantable portions of logs would be piled and removed as fuelwoods or 

chipped and burned in place. 

In areas where commercial thinning is deferred, understory fuels adjacent to private property would be 

treated mechanically. 

Prescribed burning would be conducted during the spring, winter, and fall when fuel moistures are 

adequate to reduce detrimental fire effects and to limit escape potential.

The threat of wildfire to public and private developments will be reduced by following the standards in 

the National Fire Protection Association Publication 1144, “Protection of Life and Property from 

Wildfire” and reduce the fuel loading from habitat improvement treatments to acceptable standards. 

All prescribed burn treatments will meet with the provisions of the Clean Air Act. District personnel 

will be monitoring burn conditions and SASEM (Smoke Model), or an equivalent program would be 

used to assure provisions are being met. The impacts of burning on metropolitan areas such as Rapid 

City would be assessed at the time of burning. 

Heritage

All eligible sites would be avoided during project activities.

If additional heritage resources are discovered during project activities, all operations will cease within 

a 10-meter radius of the site location and a District Archeologist be notified immediately. Any 

heritage resources located during project implementation will be protected based on the 

recommendations of the District Archeologist and the SHPO.

Hydrology

All applicable Best Management Practices (BMPs) and R2 Watershed Conservation Practices (WCPs) 

will be implemented. 
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Silviculture

Activity fuel should be removed, lopped, scattered or piled for later burning. Slash piles, other than 

those created for wildlife habitat, should be burned within one year. This will reduce the risk of Ips 

beetle mortality.

Broadcast prescribe burning should be designed to limit mortality in pole size and sawtimber size pine 

stands to 10-20%, 15% being optimum. Trees less than 9-inches DBH should have mortality limited to 

50-75%. 

Whole tree yarding should be used in harvest units where prescribe burning is planned.

The most current Black Hills NF “Visual Marking Guides” would be followed for tree marking within 

distance of arterial and collector roads and private land with dwellings.

The practices outlined in “Best Management Practices for the control of Non-Point Pollution from 

Silvicultural and Related Road Activities” will be followed.

Within harvest units, trees identified as diseased or insect infested would be removed in order to 

prevent any future infestations.

Aspen stands should be whole tree harvested when removing commercial sized conifers to insure 

conifers can be removed without excess damage to remaining aspen. This will also eliminate shading 

of the ground by logging slash. If conifer slash is to be piled and burned, piles need to be placed at 

least one (aspen) tree height away from the edge of the aspen to avoid damage to the roots from the 

intense fire (Sheppard, 10-2004). 

Fencing the aspen regeneration will keep cattle from browsing on the aspen suckers but will not keep 

the elk and deer out. Other temporary barriers will need to be developed to prevent browsing by elk 

and deer.

Lands

If log hauling activities occur on a route desirable for accessing private property, the road would need 

to be kept open. If adverse impacts occur to the road, the road should be reconstructed to pre-use 

condition.

Black Hills Power submitted an application for construction of a new powerline within the project 

area. The construction of this powerline would necessitate the need for access to and along the rightof-way which has yet to be determined. This need for access would possibly affect any potential road

closures that may be proposed within the Briggs Spring project area.

Acquire permanent right-of-ways, where applicable, to facilitate completion of management objectives 

and access needs that benefit both the Forest Service and the public.

Issue easements or special use permits for roads, as applicable, for landowners to access their parcel of 

land and close any other roads accessing the parcel.
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Recreation and Scenery

The existing snowmobile trail system would be protected using the following design criteria: 

• Exclude snowmobile trails from harvest activities from December 15 to March 31, annually. 

• Temporary relocation of trails for harvest activities may be used. If relocations are necessary, a 

defined and complete plan would be necessary by August 15, annually. This would allow 

adequate time for new trail markers and changes to the publication of the State of South Dakota 

Snowmobile System Map. 

• Trail signs and markers would be protected during harvest activities.

• Coordination between the State of South Dakota Trails office and the Forest Service 

Snowmobile Trails Coordinator would occur in advance of impacts to the trails. 

• Signing of harvest activities would be placed at trailheads, bulletin boards, and trail 

intersections to ensure public safety. 

The OHV Trail System would be protected during harvest and post treatment activities using the 

following criteria:

• OHV Trail System markers and signs would be protected.

• Temporary relocation of trails for harvest activities may be used. If relocations are necessary, 

advance notice would be given to allow adequate time for trail relocations, required planning, 

trail signing and public map updates.

• Signing of harvest activities would be placed at trailheads, bulletin boards, and trail 

intersections to ensure public safety. 

Developed recreation sites that are included in vegetation treatment areas (sites 040704-23, 25, see

Map 1-Tile 3) would use the following design criteria:

• Identification and removal of high-risk hazard trees. 

• Encourage propagation and health of hardwood and spruce species for site screening and noise 

reduction in and around developed recreation sites. 

• Silvicultural prescriptions would seek a mixture of tree age and tree size classes, including 

understory and overstory trees within and around developed recreation sites.

• Management treatments within a developed recreation site would emphasize the retention of 

large trees on the south side of camping areas to provide long-term shade. 

• Removal of timber within planned improvement areas, such as new toilets, roads, fire rings, 

parking, etc., would be required.

• Vegetative treatments within and around developed recreation sites would include protection 

from insect and disease, such as removal of trees with root fungus or thinning pine stands to a 

60 basal area to help prevent MPB outbreaks. 

• Remove all logging slash from sites prior to campground opening date of May 15, annually.
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Decision to be Made

The Forest Service will evaluate the proposed action and alternatives. After reviewing the proposed 

action, the alternatives, the environmental analysis, and considering public comments, the Responsible 

Official will reach a decision that is in accordance with the purpose of and need for this project.

The decision will include, but not be limited to:

Ø Whether or not to undertake vegetation treatments related to silviculture, fuels, and wildlife.

Ø Whether or not to undertake prescribed burning treatments.

Ø Whether or not to undertake a new OHV campground facility.

Ø Whether or not to modify travel routes.

Ø Determining which actions are appropriate and under what conditions actions will take place.

How You Can Help

The Hell Canyon Ranger District would appreciate any comments or concerns you might have to offer 

regarding this proposal. Your input will help us to identify significant issues related to the project area 

and the proposed action. We will be considering your comments to develop alternatives, design 

resource protection measures, and analyze the potential effects of these actions in a draft environmental 

analysis. In order for suggestions to be most useful to the planning team, please submit your 

comments no later than November 12, 2010.

All comments received will be considered. Please submit your comments to the address listed below: 

Mail:

Hell Canyon Ranger District

Attn: Wendy Steuerwald

330 Mt. Rushmore Rd.

Custer, SD 57730

Telephone: (605)673-4853 (ask for Wendy Steuerwald)

Fax: (605)673-5461 Attn: Wendy Steuerwald

Email: Electronic comments may be sent to comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-hellcanyon@fs.fed.us . The subject line of emailed comments must include “Briggs Spring”. 

Thank you for your participation.
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The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its 

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and 

where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual 

orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an 

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all 

prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, 

audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-

9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer.