Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 5
setting for legendary, historic, or prehistoric events, such as a sacred area for
native peoples) of an area.
Ignition (Fire Management)
The initiation of combustion.
Infrastructure
The facilities, utilities, and transportation systems needed to meet public and
administrative needs.
Insect Epidemic
High population levels of insect pests that cause substantial injury to plant or
animal hosts. Used synonymously with “Outbreak”.
Intensity (Fire Management)
How hot a fire is. Specifically, a measure (in BTUs per foot per second) of the
energy released per unit of time in an area of actively burning fire. The amount of
heat released per foot of fire front per second.
Interdisciplinary Team (IDT)
A group of individuals with different specialized training assembled to solve a
problem or perform a task. The team is assembled out of recognition that no one
discipline is sufficiently broad to adequately solve the problem. Through
interaction, participants bring different points of view and a broader range of
expertise to bear on the problem.
Intermittent Stream
A stream or portion of a stream that flows, in its natural condition, only during
certain times of the year when ground water provides water for streamflow.
During dry periods intermittent streams may not have flowing water. Runoff from
rainfall or snowmelt is a supplemental source of flow.
Landscape Character
Particular attributes, qualities, and traits of a landscape that give it an image and
make it identifiable or unique. Valued landscape character creates a "sense of
place" and describes the image of an area. The landscape character provides a
reference for defining the inherent scenic attractiveness classes.
Late Succession
Ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural features (Mehl,
1992). This term encompasses the later stages of stand development that typically
differ from earlier stages in structure, composition, function, and other attributes.
There are two types of late-successional ponderosa pine defined for the Black
Hills. The first type, open-canopy late-successional ponderosa pine, occurs where
periodic, low-intensity fires have been part of the ecosystem. These latesuccessional
stands would consist of clumps or groups of trees with grasses in the
openings between the clumps. They would contain large old trees with open
branches, irregular, and flattened crowns. The clumps or groups of trees would
contain little down dead material and few small trees. The second type, closedcanopy
late-successional ponderosa pine occurs where periodic, low intensity
high-frequency fires have not been a significant part of the ecosystem. These
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