Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 1
recreational sites that occur on private, state, and federal lands within or adjacent to the
project area. All visitors to the City of Custer will travel through the project area.
The Black Hills National Forest, Forest Supervisor, Craig Bobzien, has determined that a
MPB epidemic is occurring in the project area (Appendix H). Over the past 3-4 years
there has been a rapidly growing amount of beetle caused mortality in the southern Black
Hills around the City of Custer, on both National Forest and private lands. All measures
of MPB activity indicate a rapidly growing MPB epidemic with a substantial increase in
tree mortality over the past 3 years. Approximately 61% of ponderosa pine stands, on
National Forest lands in the project area are at high risk for MPB caused mortality.
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February 2009-Hwy16/385, mountain top in photo is approximately one mile in
distance. MPB killed trees appear red/brown along the horizon.
September 2011-Hwy16/385, from approximately same location as photo above. MPB
killed trees appear red/brown along the horizon.