Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Annual maintenance on Maintenance Level 3 and 4 roads would have a positive effect on the transportation system. These routes would only require minimal maintenance to support timber harvest activities barring no significant or catastrophic weather events occur. Road maintenance, reconstruction, and construction within the Vestal project, combined with annual and grid maintenance activities, would have cumulative effects on ground disturbance, vegetation loss, dust/noise increases and sediment movement for short durations and in scattered areas within the analysis area. Recreation Affected Environment The Vestal project area provides for substantial developed and dispersed recreational opportunities. The city of Custer is located at the center of the project area. Many businesses support and benefit from the recreational opportunities that this area provides. Some of the non-Forest Service recreation sites located within the project boundary include Crazy Horse Memorial and the Mickelson Trail, as well as numerous private campgrounds, gift shops, restaurants, hotels and other tourist based businesses. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) Three of the four management areas (MA) in the project area, MA 5.1, MA 5.4 and MA 8.2 have a ROS of ‘roaded-natural’. This accounts for approximately 83% of the total project area. The remaining management area, MA 4.1, has a ROS of ‘roaded natural, non-motorized’. Developed Recreation Forest Service developed recreation sites in the project boundary include the Forest Supervisor’s Office Visitor Center, Bismarck Lake Recreation Area and organizational Camp Bob Marshall. Several main highways for visitor access travel through the project area, including State Highways 16, 385, Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway (Byway), Highways 16A, 89 and 87. Attractions located adjacent to or short drives from the project include Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Mt. Rushmore National Monument and Custer State Park. Numerous annual recreation events affiliated with other agencies and the State of South Dakota Mickelson Trail which occur in or near the project area include Sturgis Rally, Anna-Leigh Run, Mickelson Trail Trek, Lean Horse Ultra-Marathon, Buffalo Round-Up, Custer Gold Discovery Days, Crazy Horse Volksmarch and Crazy Horse Marathon/Half-Marathon. Most of these activities occur in the primary summer season and early fall. Dispersed Recreation There are also ample opportunities for dispersed recreation use of public lands year round in the project area to include driving for pleasure, hunting, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, bicycle riding, hiking and horseback riding. These activities are part of the “lifestyle” for local residents who reside either adjacent to or within a very short distance from Forest Service Lands. Year round recreation activity occurs in an interrelated mix of 146
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 public Federal, State, County, City and private lands in the Vestal project area. This is important for the local economy as well as the quality of life for residents. The most popular areas for dispersed recreation are Calamity Peak, Buckhorn Range, Custer Peak, Poverty Gulch and Meeker Ranch, home of an historic ranch farmstead. The Paha-Sapa Trail was decommissioned in the late 1980’s but has continued to be used by private citizens. The Buckhorn Range, both east and west sides, in the project area is a spectacular large granite ridge accessible for dispersed recreation activity from the City of Custer limits and/or Highways 87 and 16/385. Custer Peak is located near Stockade Lake with several adjacent commercial campgrounds east of the Custer. Patrons of these campgrounds frequent Custer Peak mainly for hiking or horseback riding on old FS roads. Dispersed recreation use in these areas is highest during the primary recreation season from May to September annually. There is moderate use during the fall and low use during the winter months. Group use in the project area by hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers, particularly on the old Paha-Sapa trail, occurs on an infrequent basis during the summer months. There are no motorized or non-motorized Forest System trails within the project area. Recreation Special Uses Three Outfitter & Guide and one Organizational Camp (Camp Bob Marshall) Special Use Permits are issued in the project area. Please refer to Map 10 in Appendix A for specific locations. There are authorized roads and trails under recreation outfitter & guide special use permits issued to Rockin R Rides for conducting horse rides, National Outdoor Leadership School for teaching rock climbing/environmental education and to Outlaw Ranch for hiking, horse ride and hiking activities in the project area (see Permit Map 10 in Appendix A). Motorized Recreation The majority of system roads in the project area are open to public licensed vehicles. Open public travel roads are reflected on the Black Hills National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) which is available free to the public and also available on the Forest website. The project area does not allow for off-road motorized use. The use of Forest system roads which are open for public travel in the project area by ATV, UTV and trail motorcycles is common year round except in an unusually heavy snowfall winter. Unauthorized off highway use of the project area is a concern and a challenge to manage since the implementation of the 2010 Black Hills National Forest Travel Management Decision. Environmental Consequences Alternative 1 This alternative would have a negative effect on the recreation resource if the on-going MPB epidemic in project area continues, as expected. The resulting increased mortality of dense stands of timber due to MPB infestation would cause considerable degradation of the visual aesthetics over a broad landscape versus a healthy green forest. 147
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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