Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities

APPENDIX C

PAST, PRESENT,

AND

FORESEEABLE ACTIVITIES

Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 1

APPENDIX C – PAST, PRESENT, AND FORESEEABLE ACTIVITIES

Past Actions

Much of the activity that has occurred within the eight allotments have been related to past 

planning project areas which have included timber sales and related activities. The following 

past timber sales and related activities are listed by allotment.

Common to all Allotments

Records indicate that harvesting within the project area has occurred as far back as the turn of the 

century. Since that time, additional harvesting has occurred on a periodic basis. Much of the 

area has had vegetative treatments within the past 20 years. Commercial harvests and noncommercial thinnings from the late '70's through the early '90's have taken place on about 90% of 

the project area. Many treatments were designed to lower the basal area to promote increased 

growth and vigor, reduce mountain pine beetle hazard and/or regenerate the stands of timber. 

The anticipated effects from past and present timber sales are minor soil disturbance, roads, 

noxious weeds, and improvements to upland forage conditions.

Bald Horse Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

North Canyon Timber Sale 2006 815 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Dark Canyon Timber Sale 2005 976 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Thrall Timber Sale 2005 1,743 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Shanks Timber Sale 2004 2,327 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bald Hills Timber Sale 2002 1,800 ac Pine Encroachment Removal

Gordon Timber Sale 1997 480 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

McGee Timber Sale 1994 185 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Whisper Timber Sale 1994 860 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Sisters Timber Sale 1993 1,061 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Tamarack Timber Sale 1992 2,023 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Horse Creek Salvage Sale 1991 146 ac Salvage

Horse Timber Sale 1987 3,062 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Wild Irishman Timber Sale 1985 2,637 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bluelead Timber Sale 1982 900 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 2

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Commercial Thinnings

Tomaha Timber Sale 1982 1,617 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Commissary Timber Sale 1981 6,403 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Rapid Creek Timber Sale 1981 586 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Victoria Timber Sale 1979 4,517 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Burnt Ranch Timber Sale 1978 3,781 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Victoria Prairie Timber Sale 1969 2,295 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Powerhouse Timber Sale 1968 1,900 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Gordon Gulch Timber Sale 1967 660 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Clog Gulch Timber Sale 1963 650 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests, Clearcuts 

& Commercial Thinnings

Custer Gulch Timber Sale 1963 1,520 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Horse Creek Timber Sale 1963 2,227 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Units UOM

Construction of Fuel Breaks in Natural Fuels 1180 23 Acres

Burn of Activity Fuels Piles 1230 696 Acres

Activity Fuels Underburn 1213 36 Acres

Piling of Activity Fuels 1253 271 Acres

Activity Fuels Broadcast Burn 1211 301 Acres

Compacting/Crushing of Activity Fuels 1252 104 Acres

Thinning of Natural Fuels 1160 130 Acres

Piling of Natural Fuels 1153 31 Acres

Rehab Burn Piles – Natural Fuels 1135 157 Acres

Burn of Natural Fuels Piles 1130 211 Acres

Natural Fuels Broadcast Burn 1111 303 Acres

Chipping of Activity Fuels 1254 45 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 2,540 Acres

Tree Encroachment Control 2400 829 Acres

Range Structural Maintenance – Structures 2220 1 Structures

Range Grazing Structural Improvements - Structures 2010 10 Structures

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 5 Structures

Other Range Improvements – Structures 2240 3 Structures

Range Fence Obliteration – Length 2120 65 Miles

Range Water Source Developments (Pipeline) 2210 1 Miles

Trail Construction 3230 1 Miles
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 3

Activity Code Units UOM

Man-Caused Fire Damage 4260 1,557 Acres

Precommercial Thinning – Individual or Selected 4521 11,198 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration) (EA/ 4143 5,489 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 3,147 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 1,485 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/RN/FH) 4141 120 Acres

Special Cut 4240 54 Acres

Permanent Land Clearing 4270 4 Acres

Sanitation (Salvage) 4230 143 Acres

Precommercial Thinning or Cleaning Need Addition 4502 1,145 Acres

Seed-Tree Seed Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4132 106 Acres

Watershed Resource Road Obliteration – Length 5620 17 Miles

Watershed Resource Non-Structural Improvements Erosion 5510 349 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Grasses and Forbs 6090 36 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Prescribed Fire 6101 3,022 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Access Management – Road Obliteration 6243 45 Miles

Wildlife Habitat Marsh Development 6250 11 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Water Development 6220 22 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Regeneration cut 6104 7 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Mechanical Treatment 6107 519 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Nest Structures (den developments) 6210 41 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Rehabilitate Openings 6131 722 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Release and Weeding 6102 368 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Access Management Development 6240 28 Structures

Leave Trees (Wildlife Reasons) – Area 6111 688 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Seeding and Planting 6080 14 Acres

Inland Fish Habitat Structural maintenance 6681 23 Structures

Inland Fish Brush Cover Structures 6633 5 Structures

Inland Fish Channel Stabilization Construction 6636 6 Structures

Deerfield Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

NICHOLS Timber Sale 1992 2,227 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

HAT Sale 1985 14 ac Commercial Thinnings

ANNABELLE Timber Sale ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

DUCK Sale ac Commercial Thinnings

DEERFIELD Timber Sale 1998 1,488 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Heely Creek Timber Sale 1979 5,707 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bobtail Timber Sale 1987 742 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bitter Timber Sale 2003 2,956 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 4

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Bear Timber Sale 2003 2,551 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Units UOM

Burn of Activity Fuel Piles 1230 352 Acres

Burn of Natural Fuels Piles 1130 16 Acres

Rehab Burn Piles – Natural Fuels 1135 32 Acres

Piling of Activity Fuels 1253 6 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 613 Acres

Range Seeding and Planting 2320 32 Acres

Range Grazing Structural Improvements – Structures 2010 14 Structures

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 1 Structures

Precommercial Thinning – Individual or Selected 4521 4,064 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/RN/FH) 4141 1,552 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 2,942 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4121 1,065 Acres

Special Cut 4240 305 Acres

Post Treatment Timber Stand Improvement Evaluation 4345 372 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 195 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 2,386 Acres

Stocking Surveys 4341 231 Acres

Single-Tree Selection Cut (UA/RN/NFH) 4151 311 Acres

Permanent Land Clearing 4270 25 Acres

Group Selection Cut (UA/RN/FH) 1452 4 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration (EA/ 4143 20 Acres

TSI Certification – Thinning 4392 720 Acres

Watershed Resource Non-Structural Improvements Erosion 5510 12 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Mechanical treatment 6107 80 Acres

Leave Trees (Wildlife Reasons) – Area 6111 800 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Regeneration Cut 6104 188 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Water Development 6220 3 Structures

Palmer Gulch Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Walker Timber Sale 1992 2,227 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Twin Springs POL Sale 1985 14 ac Commercial Thinnings

Oblivion POL Sale ac Commercial Thinnings

Maverick Timber Sale 1998 1,488 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Heely Creek Timber Sale 1979 5,707 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bobtail Timber Sale 1987 742 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 5

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Bitter Timber Sale 2003 2,956 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bear Timber Sale 2003 2,551 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Units UOM

Burn of Activity Fuel Piles 1230 352 Acres

Burn of Natural Fuels Piles 1130 16 Acres

Rehab Burn Piles – Natural Fuels 1135 32 Acres

Piling of Activity Fuels 1253 6 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 613 Acres

Range Seeding and Planting 2320 32 Acres

Range Grazing Structural Improvements – Structures 2010 14 Structures

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 1 Structures

Precommercial Thinning – Individual or Selected 4521 4,064 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/RN/FH) 4141 1,552 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 2,942 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4121 1,065 Acres

Special Cut 4240 305 Acres

Post Treatment Timber Stand Improvement Evaluation 4345 372 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 195 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 2,386 Acres

Stocking Surveys 4341 231 Acres

Single-Tree Selection Cut (UA/RN/NFH) 4151 311 Acres

Permanent Land Clearing 4270 25 Acres

Group Selection Cut (UA/RN/FH) 1452 4 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration (EA/ 4143 20 Acres

TSI Certification – Thinning 4392 720 Acres

Watershed Resource Non-Structural Improvements Erosion 5510 12 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Mechanical treatment 6107 80 Acres

Leave Trees (Wildlife Reasons) – Area 6111 800 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Regeneration Cut 6104 188 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Water Development 6220 3 Structures

Porcupine Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Signal Timber Sale 1990 2,051 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Lowell Timber Sale 1991 1,046 ac Commercial Thinnings

Lemming Timber Sale 2000 6,383 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Crooked/Uncle Timber Sale 1999 4,093 ac Commercial Thinnings

Cooper Ranch Timber Sale 1968 2,161 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 6

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Cat Timber Sale 1990 3,400 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Antelope Timber Sale 1988 2,940 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Units UOM

Burn of Activity Fuels Piles 1230 441 Acres

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 6 Structures

Tree Encroachment Control 2400 58 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 1,050 Acres

Range Grazing Structural Improvements – Structures 2010 2 Structures

Range Fences – Length 2110 4 Miles

Range Seeding and Planting 2320 57 Acres

Range Water Source Developments (Pipeline) 2210 1 Miles

Precommercial Thinning – individual or selected 4521 5,926 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/NRH/NFH) 4121 135 Acres

Site Preparation for Natural Regeneration 4490 88 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 2,277 Acres

Full Seeding/Reseeding Concurrent with Site Prep 4421 88 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 48 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 2,734 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/NRN/FH) 4141 3,548 Acres

Stand Clearcutting (EA/RH/FH) 4113 10 Acres

Stocking Surveys 4341 521 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration)(E 4143 31 Acres

Man-Caused Fire Damage 4260 1,134 Acres

Leave Trees (Wildlife Reasons) – Area 6111 410 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Regeneration Cut 6104 82 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Precommercial Thinning 6103 59 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Water Development 6220 6 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Rehabilitate Openings 6131 223 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Mechanical Treatment 6107 70 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Access Management Development 6240 1 Structures

Redfern Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Snugget Timber Sale 1992 2,227 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Reddog Slice Sale 1985 14 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Flanagan Timber Sale ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 7

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Unit UOM

Natural Fuels Broadcast Burn 1111 239 Acres

Burn of Natural Fuel Piles 1130 3 Acres

Rehab Burn Piles – Natural Fuels 1135 3 Acres

Activity Fuels Broadcast Burn 1211 117 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 264 Acres

Range Grazing Structural Improvements – Structures 2010 8 Structures

Precommercial Thinning – individual or selected 4521 1,151 Acres

Stand Silviculture Prescription 4331 949 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/NRN/FH) 4141 100 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/NRH/NFH) 4121 740 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration)(E 4143 323 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 94 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 30 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 419 Acres

Watershed Resource Road Obliteration – Length 5620 6 Miles

Wildlife Habitat Mechanical Treatment 6107 148 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Prescribed Fire 6101 4,209 Acres

Habitat Access Management 6420 60 Acres

Inland Fish Habitat Inventory 6610 108 Acres

Leave Trees (Wildlife Reasons) – Area 6111 571 Acres

Inland Fish Brush Cover Structures 6633 5 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Regeneration Cut 6104 22 Acres

Inland Fish Channel Stabilization Construction 6636 26 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Access Management Development 6240 42 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Access Management – Road Obliteration 6243 5 Miles

Wildlife Habitat Seeding and Planting 6080 24 Acres

Rimmer Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Kinney Timber Sale 2007 1,635 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Dutchman Timber Sale 2005 180 ac Sanitation Thinnings

Mercedes Timber Sale 2004 1,507 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Lost Park Timber Sale 2004 2019 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests, Clearcuts 

& Commercial Thinnings

Angle Timber Sale 2001 704 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Crooked/Uncle Timber Sale 1996 4,093 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Sawbuck Timber Sale 1985 1,649 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bittersweet Timber Sale 1981 3,915 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 8

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Units UOM

Burn Activity Fuels Piles 1230 51 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 177 Acres

Range Seeding and Planting 2320 4 Acres

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 3 Structures

Range Grazing Structural Improvements – Structures 2010 1 Structures

Precommercial Thinning – individual or selected 4521 574 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 220 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/NRN/FH) 4141 607 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/NRH/NFH) 4121 316 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 20 Acres

Site Preparation for Natural Regeneration 4490 86 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration) 4143 142 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 2 Acres

Slate Prairie Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Dutchman Timber Sale 2005 180 ac Salvage/Sanitation Thinnings

Angle Timber Sale 2001 704 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Odakota Timber Sale 1998 3,298 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Crooked/Uncle Timber Sale 1996 4,093 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Flanagan Timber Sale 1994 925 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Bittersweet Timber Sale 1981 3,915 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Unit UOM

Burn Activity Fuels Piles 1230 51 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 177 Acres

Range Seeding and Planting 2320 4 Acres

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 3 Structures

Range Grazing Structural Improvements – Structures 2010 1 Structures

Precommercial Thinning – individual or selected 4521 574 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 220 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/NRN/FH) 4141 607 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/NRH/NFH) 4121 316 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 20 Acres

Site Preparation for Natural Regeneration 4490 86 Acres

Overstory Removal Cut (from advanced regeneration) 4143 142 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 2 Acres
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 9

Tigerville Allotment

Timber sales within the recent past were as follows:

Sale Award Area* Treatments

Reddog Slice Timber Sale 2002 2,416 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

Newton Timber Sale 1992 4,047 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

China Timber Sale 1994 1,730 ac Shelterwood Regeneration Harvests & 

Commercial Thinnings

*Total acres of harvest, not all of the sale is within the project area.

Past Activities (Within the past 30 years):

Activity Code Unit UOM

Natural Fuels Broadcast Burn 1111 554 Acres

Invasive Species Treatment 2510 191 Acres

Range Water Source Developments (Structures) 2200 1 Structures

Precommercial Thinning – individual or selected 4521 1,521 Acres

Commercial Thinning 4220 226 Acres

Shelterwood Final Removal Cut (EA/NRN/FH) 4141 371 Acres

Shelterwood Preparation Cut (EA/NRH/NFH) 4121 1,989 Acres

Patch Clearcutting (EA/RN/FH) 4111 3 Acres

Improvement Cut 4210 19 Acres

Shelterwood Cut (EA/RN/NFH) 4131 35 Acres

Habitat Access Management 6420 272 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Prescribed Fire 6101 1,114 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Nest Structures, dens development 6210 56 Structures

Wildlife Habitat Regeneration Cut 6104 61 Acres

Wildlife Habitat Release and Weeding 6102 64 Acres

Present / Foreseeable Actions within the Project Area

Pennington County Department of Transportation is planning on grading and asphalt placement 

to widen the road and complete shoulder work on FH 17.

The Project Area contains overhead and underground distribution and transmission power utility 

lines under special use permits to Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Quest, and Golden West 

Telephone. Maintenance is ongoing for these facilities.

Firewood gathering and Christmas tree cutting by permit will continue to occur within the area.

Road / Utility right-of-way clearing – Road construction and maintenance and right-of-way 

brushing can be expected to continue on non-National Forest System lands. Road construction, 

reconstruction, and decommissioning are expected to continue to move towards Forest Plan 

Objective 309 based on past project decisions.

Subdivision development - Given current trends, it is likely that additional private lands may be 

subdivided and that new residences may be constructed. With subdivisions and private land 

ownership within the Project Area, special use permits such as utility and water line right-of-way 
Appendix C Mystic Range Project Past and Present Activities C - 10

and electronic tower installation may be addressed. Also, right-of-way and land easement projects 

will foreseeably be assessed for private land owners to access their property across NFS lands.

Private landowners may harvest timber on their own lands for lumber or to reduce fire hazard.

Wildfires - The frequency, size and intensity of possible wildfires will depend upon various 

factors, including weather (drought), ignition means, and fuels loadings.

Mining activity – It is likely that there will be some mining claims reviewed within the project 

area, as well as mine shaft closures due to safety and/or bat/wildlife concerns.

Minerals – Dakota Stone, a local saleable materials business is conducting mining operations on 

several sites in various locations in the Project Area. 

Recreation – Recreation activities, both developed and undeveloped activities (ie hunting, fishing, 

hiking), will continue to increase on the Forest. Trail and Bridge work, as well as additional 

maintenance efforts will continue on the Deerfield Trial, Castle Creek Campground, Rochford 

Road, and other developed recreation sites within the Project Area. Newton Fork Developed 

picnic ground is a destination for fishing, as well as parking to access the Mickelson Trail.

SDGFP currently manages non-native fish, primarily trout, to provide for recreational fishing 

opportunities within the analysis area. Management activities include fish stocking, habitat 

enhancement, fish population surveys, and research.

Treatments to reduce or eliminate noxious weeds and invasive species would continue.

In 2005, the Forest Service published a new rule for providing OHV access to national forests 

and grasslands. The rule itself does not designate roads or areas for OHV’s, but provides a 

framework for making those decisions at the local level. The Black Hills National Forest has 

issued a FEIS/ROD (March 22, 2010) designating routes for motorized use forest-wide. 

Black Hills Electric Cooperative (BHEC) plans to construct a new overhead 69 Kv transmission 

line from approximately Rockerville, SD to Hermosa, SD.

Black Hills Power (BHP) plans to construct a Teckla-Osage-Lange 230 Kv Transmission line 

from approximately Teckla Substation in Wyoming to Osage Substation in Wyoming to Lange 

Substation in South Dakota (NW of Rapid City). The specific route is unknown at this time.

The Hell Canyon Ranger District has an approved EIS entitled the Norbeck Wildlife Project to 

treat overstory and understory vegetation in the Ford, Palmer, Rabbit, and Sunday Pastures of the 

Palmer Gulch Allotment. These vegetative treatments would increase forage and browse 

production for wildlife and livestock.

The Mystic Ranger District is in the process of drafting a timber planning EIS for the Pactola 

Project Area. This project is being carried out under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). 

A Notice of Intent (NOI) for the project was published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2010.