Bordering the site to the north and west is a park perimeter fence. Gravel roads occur south and northeast of the site. A major paved highway through the park, SD 87, provided a fuelbreak on the east side of the study site. Two distinct plant communities were present on the ridge and meadow sites. Green needlegrass and blue grama were common.
Aspect is level.
Objectives were to control ponderosa pine encroachment onto grassland and to evaluate effects of burning in different seasons. Yields increased after spring burning on the ridge but were slightly reduced on the slope and meadow sites. Spring burning will probably produce more forage of western wheatgrass and other cool-season grasses than will fall burning. Wind Cave National Park is in a semiarid region of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Ponderosa pine was encroaching on the site.