Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 forests throughout the United States” (USDA Forest Service 2003a). This evaluation shows that BMPs are effective. Since this evaluation has been completed field audits were completed in 2004 and 2009 in SD (Black Hills Forest Resource Association 2005, 2009). Results showed application of BMPs were 92% in 2004, 95% in 2009, compared to 82% in 2001 and effectiveness of the BMPs was 95% in 2004, 95% in 2009, compared to 84% in 2001. This additional information shows the continued application and effectiveness of BMPs in SD. “The audit results from 2001, 2004 and 2009 have established a positive trend of on the ground BMP improvement” (Black Hills Forest Resource Association 2009). Additional BMP/WCP monitoring was completed on the Hell Canyon Ranger District, for 2002 through 2010. A summary report and subsequent yearly reports show that the BMP/WCP are being implemented and are effective and states, “Logging practices on the Hell Canyon Ranger District have not had any negative impact on the watershed and streams and that they do comply with the requirements of the CWA” (USDA Forest Service 2008, 2009 & 2010). The Vestal project would have WCPs and BMPs prescribed and implemented. This would protect the water quality of the streams and creeks in the project area and the activities that are planned would meet the requirements of the CWA. Climate Change The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency recognizes that climate change is an important emerging issue. To help guide agency actions in addressing this challenge, the Forest Service has developed the Strategic Framework for Responding to Climate Change (USDA Forest Service 2008b). One of the stated goals in this framework is to promote the management of forests and grasslands to reduce the buildup of greenhouse gasses, while sustaining the multiple benefits and services of these ecosystems. This project contributes toward meeting the agency’s goal of mitigating the buildup of greenhouse gasses by managing the forest landscape within the project area so that it is more resilient to deforestation or catastrophic loss. Thereby maintaining or increasing its ability to sequester carbon. Socio-Economics This section discusses the pertinent existing social and economic conditions and potential consequences resulting from the Vestal Project. Forest resources provide economic components of community sustainability by providing for a wide variety of uses, values, products, and services. The resources within the Black Hills National Forest have provided an economic array of benefits to the residents of the Black Hills area. These resources range from sustenance for American Indian tribes, logs used to construct early mining camps, towns and mines, ties used for railroad construction, and the lumber harvested by the timber industry, which remains active today. The Black Hills National Forest is annually one of the top timber‐producing forests in the National Forest System. The Black Hills have exhibited an outstanding ability to produce 168
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 ponderosa pine through natural regeneration (i.e., without tree planting), which allows sustainable timber harvest to continue at a relatively high rate. Consequently, many of the communities in and around the Black Hills are at least partially dependent on jobs and revenue generated by the local timber industry. Existing Conditions All data presented in this section was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau website, www.census.gov . Population The Vestal project area is located in Custer County in southwestern South Dakota. Custer County is located within the southern portion of the Black Hills National Forest. Custer County is a rural setting which consists of approximately 48% public lands and 52% private lands. The City of Custer (the County Seat) is the largest community within the county. Other smaller, surrounding communities include Pringle, Hermosa, Fairburn, and Buffalo Gap. Widespread settlement of the Black Hills by Euro-American settlers began in the 1870’s after gold was confirmed in the Black Hills by the Custer Expedition. Initially, settlement of the Black Hills was illegal as the area had been set aside for the indigenous Sioux Tribes. However, the lure of gold proved too great and prospectors engulfed the area and eventually led to the development of communities within the Black Hills. Following the initial ‘gold rush’, logging and ranching became the primary building blocks of the local economy in the early 20th century. Today the economy is much more diversified and recreation and tourism have emerged as large factors in drawing people into the area. Sub-development of private land within the Black Hills has led to increasing populations dispersed across the area rather than localized around the established population centers. Table 54 displays the population of Custer County using data from the 2000 & 2010 Census. Table 54. Area Population Based on 2000 and 2010 Census Location 2000 Census Population 2010 Census Population Net Population Change Percent Change Custer County 7,275 8,216 +941 +12.9 % South Dakota 754,844 814,180 +59,336 +7.9 % Based on the data from the 2000 and 2010 Census, Custer County is growing at a faster rate than the State of South Dakota. Table 55 displays the ethnic background of Custer County compared to the State of South Dakota. Table 55. Percent Population by Ethnicity Based on the 2010 Census Origin or Race Custer County South Dakota Caucasian 94.2 % 85.9 % Native American or Alaska Native 2.9 % 8.8 % Hispanic 2.2 % 2.7 % 169
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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