Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany 

APPENDIX D 

BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT / BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION 

WILDLIFE, FISHERIES, 

AND 

BOTANY SUMMARIES 

Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 1 

APPENDIX D – SUMMARY OF BIOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS FOR WILDLIFE, 

FISHERIES, AND BOTANICAL RESOURCES IN THE PACTOLA PROJECT AREA 

This document is a synthesis for the Wildlife and Fisheries Resource in the Pactola Project Area. 

The summary is an effort to reduce redundancy and improve reading ease while retaining important 

content. It is not intended to meet all the legal requirements and policies associated with the BE. 

The parent BE is contained in the Pactola Project administrative record. 

The main purpose of a BE is to disclose, in detail, the potential effects of all alternatives to 

federally-listed and Forest Service sensitive species.1 The BE also provides a “determination 

statement” to help decision-makers and other readers see how the project might affect the longterm persistence of a species. This summary document provides simplified effects disclosures 

and determination statements for all species relevant to the Pactola Project Area, and provides 

the reader with some of the information sources used in the analyses. 

Pre-field Review and Field Reconnaissance 

Pre-field review and field reconnaissance are essential in determining which species could occur 

in a project area, and how they might be affected. Pre-field reviews were completed using past 

survey results, district records, literature reviews, on-line databases, and Forest Plan monitoring 

reports. Field visits were performed with intent to identify suitable and/or occupied habitat for 

sensitive species. These surveys were conducted by qualified biologists, including Forest Service 

employees and contractors. In addition to species-specific surveys, additional field visits to the 

Pactola Project Area were conducted with the general intent of identifying habitat and potential 

issues for other status species. Data from all sources mentioned above were used to determine 

design criteria needs and effects relevant to the Pactola Project Area. 

Effects and Associated Determination Statements for Relevant Species 

The parent BE discloses the full set of federally-listed and sensitive species that are known to 

occur on the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF). The BE also identifies which of those species 

potentially have habitat within the Pactola Project Area. This latter subset of species are 

considered relevant to the Pactola Project Area, and are the main subject of this summary as well 

as the detailed analyses in the BE. The assumption is that if habitat is present, the species could 

be present and be affected by project activities. Project activities can directly impact most 

individual sensitive species in all alternatives. Indirectly, MPB infestations would likely affect 

sensitive wildlife species (positive and negative) in Alternative A by changing mature/late 

successional pine habitat to a more open habitat, increasing snags and down woody material and 

increasing the potential for large-scale wildfire. Alternatives B and C treatment actions increase 

the chance of direct and indirect effects on most sensitive species (individuals) as compared to 

Alternative A. The action alternatives reduce MPB and wildfire hazard by moving dense 

mature/late successional pine habitat to more open, early seral habitat through proposed 

 

1

 Federally-listed species are those that have been designated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered or 

threatened (i.e., under the Endangered Species Act), including those that have been formally proposed for listing. 

Sensitive species are designated by the Regional Forester. Both categories imply rareness or sensitivity to 

management actions. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 2 

treatments. These treatments may provide both positive and/or negative effects to sensitive 

species to varying degrees based on each alternative. 

There are no federally-listed species with potential to occur in the Pactola Project Area. No 

“critical habitat” has been designated for any species on the BHNF. Therefore consultation is 

not required with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 

There are twenty-seven R2 sensitive wildlife species that have suitable habitat within the Pactola 

Project Area. Comprehensive effects analyses were provided for all of these species in the parent 

BE. A list of the species, description of their habitats, basic effects of the project, and their 

project-specific determination statements are summarized in Table 1 below. The determination 

statements primarily reflect the most aggressive combination of management activities (e.g., 

number of acres treated). Implementation of a less aggressive combination of activities would 

likely have a lesser effect, but usually result in the same determination. Therefore, only one 

determination statement is given here, and is intended to apply to all alternatives. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 3 

Table 1: Habitat Description, Effects Summary, and Determination Statement for R2 Sensitive Species Relevant to the Pactola 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Mammals Black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus 

Short and mixed grass prairie with soils conducive to burrowing (Higgins et al. 2000).

No Not Analyzed Not Analyzed 

American marten Martes americana 

Spruce forests with complex near-ground structure, extending into adjacent pine stands Corridor habitat includes conifer and deciduous riparian areas (Buskirk 2002, Fecske 2003).

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

Spruce communities would not be reduced. Open canopy conditions caused by MPB effects could create barriers to dispersal. High levels of CWD would provide cover, increase prey abundance. Increase in hardwoods and deciduous plant species could provide cover and increase habitat for prey species. Increase in water tables would improve riparian habitat. 

Alt. B & C 

Spruce communities would be reduced by varying degrees. Open canopy conditions caused by treatments could create barriers to dispersal and predation. Treatments to reduce fuel hazard would reduce CWD, reducing cover and prey species availability. Increase in roads, especially in riparian areas could provide barriers to dispersal and also mortality. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 4 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Fringed myotisMyotis thysanodes 

Roosts in caves and mines, on snags and rock faces; forages on insects in various habitats, including shrub lands, and forested areas (Schmidt 2003b). 

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

High snag densities would provide roosting habitat. MPB effects would increase understory response increasing prey abundance. Change in cavern microclimate conditions caused by open stand conditions near caverns, reducing roosting capabilities. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Lower snag densities reduce roost habitat. Treatments would increase understory response increasing prey abundance but less than Alternative A due to maintaining pine overstory. Change in cavern microclimate conditions caused by open stand conditions near caverns, reducing roosting capabilities. Treatments to reduce fuel hazard and increase road access would impact roosting habitat. 

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheepOvis canadensis canadensis 

Open habitats, such as grasslands, talus slopes, rocky outcrops but may use deciduous and conifer forest with openings (Beecham et. al. 2007

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

MBP effects increase foraging habitat. Large amount of CWD from MPB effects could create barriers to escape terrain, impede movement into preferred habitat, and increase predation. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by harvest activities and increased road access. Treatments increase foraging habitat. Treatments to reduce fuel hazard would improve access to escape terrain and facilitate movement. Increase in roads would increase travel corridors for predators, humans and livestock, increasing forage competition and 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 5 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

predation while reducing security from disturbance. 

Townsend’s big-eared batPlecotus townsendii 

Roosts in caves and mines, occasionally buildings; forages on insects in various habitats including forested and wet areas (Schmidt 

2003a).

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

High snag densities would provide roosting habitat. MPB effects would increase understory response increasing prey abundance. Change in cavern microclimate conditions caused by open stand conditions near caverns, reducing roosting capabilities. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities and increased road access. Lower snag densities reduce roost habitat. Treatments would increase understory response increasing prey abundance but less than Alternative A due to maintaining pine overstory. Change in cavern microclimate conditions caused by open stand conditions near caverns, reducing roosting capabilities. Treatments to reduce fuel hazard and increase road access would impact roosting habitat. 

Birds Burrowing owl Athene cunicularia 

Short/mixed grass prairie, usually associated with ground squirrels or prairie dogs (Johnson and Anderson 2002, Tallman et al. 2002).

No Not Analyzed None 

Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Nests primarily in dense mature conifer forests; forages in a variety of forested areas and small openings (Kennedy 2003).

Yes 

(both) Alt. A 

Large openings created by MPB would decrease foraging capabilities. Loss of preferred nesting habitat caused by MPB effects. High amounts of snags and CWD would 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 6 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

increase prey abundance. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Open stand conditions from treatment would decrease foraging capabilities. Loss of preferred nesting habitat caused by treatments more so than Alternative A. Lower snag densities and CWD would decrease prey abundance. Increase in human disturbance of nesting habitat due to treatment activities and road access. 

Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum 

Grasslands of intermediate height with bare patches and moderately deep litter (Slater 2004).

Yes 

(habitat) 

Alt. A 

Expansion of grassland habitat due to MPB effects. Pine encroachment would continue to decrease the size of grassland habitat. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Increase in grassland habitat due to treatments but less than Alternative A. Treatment for pine encroachment would increase size of grassland habitat. Prescribed fire could improve productivity of grassland/meadow habitats. Treatment activities and road access increase potential for invasive species spread reducing native grassland communities. 

Ferruginous hawk Buteo regalis 

Open grasslands, shrubsteppe, croplands, desert, and the periphery of western pinyon and juniper (Collins and Reynolds 2005).

No Not Analyzed Not Analyzed 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 7 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Northern harrierCircus cyaneus 

Open areas; prairies, wetlands or grasslands with tall dense vegetation and high residual cover; logged or burned woodlands (Slater and Rock 2005, Tallman et al. 2002).

Yes 

(habitat) 

Alt. A 

Increase in grassland and open areas due to MPB effects, increases prey availability and foraging success. Pine encroachment would continue to decrease grassland habitat. High amount of snag densities and CWD, increases prey abundance. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Increase in grassland habitat due to treatments, increasing prey availability and foraging success but less than Alternative A. Treatment for pine encroachment would increase size of grassland habitat. Prescribed fire could improve productivity of grassland/meadow habitats. Treatment activities and road access increase potential for invasive species spread reducing native grassland communities. 

Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus (Candidate: Western US DPS) 

Low elevation riparian areas and cottonwood/willow or bur oak woodlands with dense shrub understory (Wiggins 2005b).

No Not Analyzed Not Analyzed 

Olive-sided flycatcher Contopus cooperi 

Generally found in coniferous or mixed coniferous forests, along forest edges and openings 

Yes 

(both) Alt. A 

MPB effects increase stand heterogeneity, increasing preferred habitat while increasing prey availability. MBP effects reduces late-succession habitat. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 8 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

caused by disturbances (Kotliar 2007).

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Treatments reduce stand heterogeneity reducing preferred habitat and prey availability. Treatments reduce late-succession habitat more so than Alternative A. 

American peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus anatum 

Forages in open areas and woodland edges; nests on rocky cliffs, buildings sometimes trees. (White et 

al. 2002, Tallman et al. 2002); 

Yes 

(habitat) 

Alt. A 

Large openings from MPB effects improve access to aeries. Increase in prey abundance due to high snag densities and high amount of CWD. Large openings improve prey abundance and foraging success. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Open stand conditions improve access to aeries but less than Alternative A. Lower snag densities reduce prey abundance. Treatments would maintain forest canopy and reduce fuel hazard, reducing prey abundance and foraging success. 

Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 

Usually found near open water or in areas with abundant carrion in winter (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2007a).

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

Loss of nest trees and winter roost sites due to MPB effects. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Loss of nest trees and winter roost sites due to treatment activities but less than Alternative A. Increase in road access may increase potential for nest abandonment due to disturbance. Potential increase in sediment loads into Pactola Lake that could affect foraging success. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 9 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus 

Open areas with scattered, low deciduous thickets, rare in higher elevations of the Black Hills (Wiggins 2005a, Tallman et al. 2002).

Yes 

(habitat) 

Alt. A 

Increase in potential shrub thickets and hardwoods used for nesting and foraging due to MPB effects. Large openings created by MPB effects and higher snag densities increases prey abundance and foraging success. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Treatments increase potential shrub thickets and hardwoods used for nesting and foraging but to a lesser degree compared to Alternative A. Treatments would maintain forest canopy and reduce fuel hazard, reducing prey abundance and foraging success. 

Lewis’s woodpecker Melanerpes lewis 

Burned areas, open pine, oak, or cottonwood forests, with large snags for nesting (Abele et. al 2004).

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

Epidemic levels of MPB increases prey availability and higher densities of snags, increasing higher levels of primary cavity nesters that increases availability of nesting habitat. Openings created by MPB effects increase prey availability and foraging success. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Treatments reduce the potential for epidemic levels of MPB, reducing prey availability and potential nesting habitat. Open stand conditions would increase foraging success. Treatments would create open stand conditions but would remove larger diameter pine, reducing the potential for large diameter snag recruitment. Prescribed burning could increase foraging and nesting habitat. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 10 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Long-billed curlew Numenius americanus 

Short and mixed-grass prairie habitat with flat to rolling topography. Found at lower elevations of the Black Hills (Sedgwick 2006, USFWS 2009).

No Not Analyzed Not Analyzed 

Flammulated owlOtus flammeolus 

Open ponderosa pine forest, nests in cavities and large diameter snags (Hayward and Verner 1994).

Yes 

(habitat) 

Alt. A 

MPB effects increase nesting habitat and prey availability due to high snag densities and high amounts of CWD. MPB effects increases stand heterogeneity which improves nesting and foraging habitat. 

Late-successional habitat would be reduced and the potential for large diameter snag recruitment would be reduced more than Alternatives B and C. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Treatments decrease late-successional habitat, snag densities, and CWD, reducing nesting habitat and prey availability. Treatments reduce stand heterogeneity reducing preferred habitat. Treatments would create open stand conditions but would remove larger diameter pine, decreasing the potential for large diameter snag recruitment. Prescribed burning could increase foraging and nesting habitat. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 11 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Black-backed woodpecker Picoides arcticus 

Dense pine forests that are recently burned, are in late successional or dense mature condition, or where mountain pine beetle densities are high(Moren and Rumble 2002, Anderson 2003a)

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

High snag densities due to MPB effects increase nesting and foraging habitat. Epidemic levels of MPB attract more blackbacked woodpeckers, improving species genetic diversity. Dense stand conditions and late successional habitat is reduced but to a lesser extent compared to Alternatives B and C. Loss of forest canopy due to MPB effects would reduce potential for snag recruitment and dense stand conditions long-term. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Treatments to improve forest health and reduce fuel hazard reduces snag densities and CWD decreasing nesting habitat and prey abundance. Treatments would maintain forest canopy, increasing potential for snag recruitment and dense stand conditions long-term. 

American three-toed woodpecker Picoides dorsalis

Old-growth conifer forests with large diameter snags, burned areas and beetle infestation areas (Wiggins 

2004).

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

Spruce communities could expand. High snag densities due to MPB effects increase nesting and foraging habitat. Dense stand conditions and late successional habitat is reduced but to a lesser extent compared to Alternatives B and C. Loss of forest canopy due to MPB effects would reduce potential for snag recruitment and dense stand conditions long-term. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by treatment activities. Spruce communities would be reduced by varying degrees. Treatments to improve forest health and reduce fuel hazard reduces snag densities and CWD decreasing nesting habitat and prey abundance. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 12 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Treatments will maintain forest canopy, increasing potential for snag recruitment and dense stand conditions long-term. 

Reptiles and Amphibians Northern leopard frog Lithobates pipiens 

Riparian and wetland areas for tadpoles, subadults, and breeding adults; upland habitats for foraging adults (Smith 2003, Smith and Keinath 2007).

Yes 

(both) 

Alt. A 

MPB effects could reduce soils moisture, increase insolation that would reduce habitat and could create barriers to dispersal. Existing roads have the potential to increase sediment movement decreasing breeding habitat. Large openings in pine canopies increase the potential for hardwoods available for establishment of beaver colonies. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by harvest activities and increased road use. Treatments could affect soil moisture, increase insolation, and compact soils that would reduce habitat and create barriers to dispersal. Treatments to improve hardwood communities but would maintain pine overstory limiting hardwoods available for establishment of beaver colonies. Treatments and increase in roads, increases potential for sediment movement, decreasing breeding habitat more so compared to Alternative A. Increase in road access increases the potential for introduction of predators, introduction of diseases, contamination due to herbicides and disruption of migration corridors. 

Black Hills red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata pahasapae 

Moist habitats with welldeveloped ground litter such as wet meadows, woodlands, and forestYes (both) Alt. A 

MPB effects could reduce soils moisture, increase insolation that would reduce habitat and could create barriers to dispersal. Abundance of snags and CWD would 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 13 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

meadow edges (Smith and Stephens 2003).

increase foraging and nesting habitat. Large openings in pine canopies would increase the potential for hardwoods encouraging establishment of beaver colonies that would raise water tables in riparian areas. 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by harvest activities and increased road use. Treatments could affect soil moisture, increase insolation, and compact soils that would reduce habitat and create barriers to dispersal. Treatments to reduce fuel hazard would reduce snag densities and CWD, decreasing foraging and nesting habitat. Treatments improve hardwood communities but would maintain pine overstory limiting increase in hardwoods that would reduce the potential for establishment of beaver colonies. 

Fish Mountain suckerCatostomus platyrhynchus

Occurs most often in cool, clear mountain streams, with moderate stream flow velocities but have been observed elsewhere in large rivers, lakes and reservoirs (Isaak et al. 

2003) 

Yes 

(both) Alt. A 

Loss of pine overstory due to MPB effects could increase water availability, improving riparian communities that would provide bank stabilization and decrease water temperatures. Existing roads have the potential to increase sediments in stream tributaries to Rapid Creek, affecting water quality, reducing spawning habitat, and decrease prey availability. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 14 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Alt. B & C 

No direct impacts. A reduction in pine overstory due to treatment could increase water availability, improving riparian communities that would provide bank stabilization and decrease water temperatures but to a lesser extent compared to Alternative A. Treatment activities and increase in roads increases the potential for sediment movement in to steam tributaries to Rapid Creek affecting water quality, reducing spawning and decrease prey availability. 

Lake chub Couesius plumbeus 

Cool, gravel-bottomed pools and runs of streams; rocky lake margins. Known only from Deerfield Lake (USDA 

Forest Service 2005).

No Not Analyzed Not Analyzed 

Invertebrates Ottoe skipper Hesperia ottoe 

Restricted to undisturbed, mixed-grass to tall-grass prairie habitats with big bluestem, little bluestem and sideoats gramma. 

Yes 

(habitat) Alt. A 

MPB effects would expand grassland communities and increase nectar and larval host plants. Pine encroachment would continue to decrease grassland habitat. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 15 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Found in Pennington, Lawrence, Fall River, and Custer Counties along the foothills of the Black Hills (Shelby 2005, Marrone 2005, 2006). 

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by harvest activities, noxious weed treatment, and prescribed burns. Meadow restoration treatments would increase size of grassland habitat but less than Alternative A. Prescribed fire could improve productivity of grassland/meadow habitats but may reduce habitat depending on burn intensity and severity. Treatment activities and road access increase potential for invasive species spread reducing native grassland communities. Loss of host and nectar species due to herbicide treatments. 

Regal fritillary Speyeria idalia 

Tall-grass or mixed-grass prairie with violets. Found in Pennington, Lawrence, Fall River, and Custer Counties, rare in higher elevations of the Black Hills (Shelby 2007, 

Yes 

(habitat) Alt. A 

MPB effects would expand grassland communities and increase nectar and larval host plants. Pine encroachment would continue to decrease grassland habitat. Pine encroachment would continue to decrease grassland habitat. 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 16 

Species Name

2 Habitat Description 

Species 

or 

Habitat 

Present 

Alternatives Effects Summary 

Marrone 2005, 2006).

Alt. B & C 

Direct mortality caused by harvest activities, noxious weed treatment, and prescribed burns. Meadow restoration treatments would increase size of grassland habitat but less than Alternative A. Prescribed fire could improve productivity of grassland/meadow habitats but may reduce habitat depending on burn intensity and severity. Treatment activities and road access increase potential for invasive species spread reducing native grassland communities. Loss of host and nectar species due to herbicide treatments. 

Cooper’s Rocky Mountainsnail Oreohelix strigosa cooperi 

Occurs on limestone rock outcrops/cliffs at higher elevations with developed litter layer, moss, and downed woody material (Frest and Johannes 2002).

No Not Analyzed Not Analyzed 

1Indepth discussion of species found in respective specialist reports. 2Obtained from R2 Sensitive Species List (FSM 2600-2009-1)
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 17 

Possible determinations for sensitive species are 

• No impact; 

• Beneficial impact; 

• May adversely impact individuals, but not result in a loss of viability in the project area, 

nor cause a trend toward federal listing; and 

• Likely to result in a loss of viability in the project area, or in a trend toward federal listing. 

Region 2 sensitive species that may have suitable habitat somewhere on the BHNF, but not 

within the Pactola Project Area, are listed in the parent BEs. Comprehensive analyses and 

determination statements are not necessary for this latter group of species because there is no 

potential that the project would affect them. If habitat is not available, it is very unlikely that the 

species would be present or affected.

Forest Service Sensitive Species – Plants 

The determination of effects for action alternatives (Alternatives B and C) on Region 2 sensitive 

species in this BA/BE were made as the result of the information gathered in the pre-field 

review, field reconnaissance, survey results, and effects analysis for all action alternatives. The 

basis for these determinations was potential habitat, distribution, and effects from proposed 

activities. The determination language is set forth in Forest Service Manual 2670.

Objectives, standards, and guidelines have been identified in the Forest Plan Phase II to conserve 

Region 2 sensitive species found on the Black Hills National Forest (USDA Forest Service 

2005a). This project will follow the objectives, standards, and guidelines that are applicable to 

those species and habitats found in the Pactola Project Area. 

The project area was surveyed for Region 2 sensitive plants species and one occurrence (prairie 

moonwort) was confirmed. For most species with identified suitable but unoccupied habitat 

within the project area (foxtail sedge, yellow lady’s slipper, trailing clubmoss, large round-leaf 

orchid, sage willow, autumn willow, and great-spurred violet) habitat is generally located in 

small areas not designated for mechanical treatments (drainages and wetlands) and is limited 

within the project area. Species with undefined suitable habitat (prairie moonwort and 

narrowleaf grapefern) appear to require a certain amount of historical disturbance to establish. 

Activities such as road construction and prescribed broadcast burning may generate the disturbed 

environment required for establishment. Although negative impacts to suitable habitat 

associated with implementation of this project are possible, they are outweighed by the long-term 

beneficial effects of reducing the risk of unnaturally intense wildfires in the future. The various 

methods of treatments designed to reduce fuel loading within the project area could help prevent 

the occurrence of a stand replacing fire and the resulting effects on suitable sensitive plant 

habitat both within and adjacent to the project area. 

With implementation of the Forest Plan Phase II Amendment and all of the standards and 

guidelines adopted therein, and project specific design criteria, a determination of “May 

adversely impact individuals, but not likely to result in a loss of viability on the planning area, 
Appendix D Pactola Project Area Summary BA/BE Wildlife, Fisheries, and Botany D - 18 

nor cause a trend to federal listing or a loss of species viability range-wide” is made for the 

following species for the proposed action: 

Prairie moonwort Botrychium campestre 

Narrowleaf grapefern Botrychium lineare 

Foxtail sedge Carex alopecoidea 

Yellow lady’s slipper Cypripedium parviflorum 

Trailing clubmoss Lycopodium complanatum 

Large round-leaf orchid Platanthera orbiculata 

Sage willow Salix candida 

Autumn willow Salix serissima 

Highbush cranberry Viburnum opulus var. americanum 

Great-spurred violet Viola selkirkii