Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 There are currently only 42 acres of designated spruce stands in the project area. Spruce also occurs within some pine and meadow sites, which would also be used by this species. Black-backed Woodpecker (R2 Sensitive Species and MIS) Black-backed woodpeckers were selected as an MIS to evaluate the effects of Forest Plan implementation and natural change on the ability of the Forest to support species that rely on mature and late successional forest, burned forest, insects, and snags to meet their needs. The black-backed woodpecker is also a Region 2 (R2) sensitive species. The effects to this species are evaluated in the Biological Evaluation. Overall, habitat for this species is being provided consistent with Objectives 221 and 238b. The “aging” of large burned areas into habitat less suitable for black-backed woodpeckers is likely being offset by the increasing acreage of insect-infested timber stands. Although ponderosa pine is the typical nest tree in the Black Hills, Bonnot et al. 2009 also reported black-backed woodpecker nests in live and dead aspen. Black-backed woodpecker relative densities (birds/km 2 ) in burned habitat reached a high in 2002 and declined thereafter until 2009 when it reached the highest density. The jump in relative density in 2009 could be from the abundance of insect activity occurring across the Forest (USDA Forest Service 2010). The Forest-wide relative density for this species is probably higher than “normal” given the current habitat conditions. Blackbacked woodpecker populations are “eruptive” as reflected in their densities in burned habitat. This pattern of rapid colonization and subsequent decline is consistent with findings of other studies (Anderson 2003). The overall condition on the Forest is still for a high beetle infestation. This translates into a short-term favorable habitat condition for the black-backed woodpecker (USDA Forest Service 2010). This species’ Forest-wide population trend is likely to decline in the future as vegetation management efforts to reduce the fire-hazard and insect-risk continue (USDA Forest Service 2010). Additionally, SS4C and 5 (habitat needed when no burned or MPB areas are available) combined declined in 2009. Potential suitable habitat is present in the project area. Late succession stands containing large diameter dead trees (snags) created by natural events (wind, lightning), and areas of MPB activity are currently present within or adjacent to the Vestal project area. Observations have occurred within the project area. Brown Creeper (MIS) The brown creeper is selected as an MIS to evaluate the effects of Forest Plan implementation and natural change on the ability of the Forest to support species that rely on a variety of spruce, late-successional and dense mature pine conditions to meet their needs. This small forest bird occurs in low abundance throughout the Black Hills and is associated with mature and late succession forest (SS4C and 5) conditions and spruce forests. The preferred nesting habitat for this species is mature, old growth forest (SS5) that is undisturbed and contains a closed canopy (Hejl et al. 2002, Wiggins 2005). Results from monitoring data identify white spruce and late successional pine as the most important habitat type for this species (Panjabi 2001, 2003, 2005). Other important 54
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 habitat requirements are areas of large trees (i.e., >10” dbh), loose bark, areas infested with bark beetles and snags (DeGraaf et al. 1991, Wiggins 2005). Dead or decaying trees and snags provide substrate for nests and foraging. Nesting habitat generally contains trees that are >9” dbh (Hejl et al. 2002). Evidence also suggests that this species is sensitive to the effects of forest fragmentation (Wiggins 2005). It is considered an uncommon permanent resident of the Black Hills (Tallman et al. 2002), largely tied to late successional pine and white-spruce habitats (Panjabi 2003, 2005). In 2009, brown creeper relative densities continued to decline in northern pine habitat, rebounded slightly in white spruce habitat and rebounded considerably in southern pine and late successional habitat (SS 4C and 5). Blakesly et al. (2008) determined it may take 25 years to detect a 3% annual decline for this species in pine-north, late successional and white spruce habitats and 30 years in pine-south habitat. However, in the short-term, relative densities declined in 2007 compared to previous years, but rebounded in 2009 in most habitats sampled (USDA Forest Service 2010). Observation data for the brown creeper reveals a short-term downward Forest-wide population trend. It appears that Objective 238a is being met, although short-term activities to meet the SS 4C objective may be affecting the Forest’s ability to provide very large trees in SS 4C. Continued effort and additional time is needed to increase the acres of SS 5 (USDA Forest Service 2008, 2009). The species was observed in low numbers but scattered throughout the project area in SS 4B and 4C ponderosa pine sites. Currently, there are a total of about 13,000 acres of SS 4B, 4C and 5 ponderosa pine, and 42 acres of white spruce in those same structural stages. However, the preferred large diameter trees are only found occasionally. Additionally, there are pockets of MPB that have opened up some of these stands. Ruffed Grouse (MIS) The ruffed grouse is selected as a Forest MIS to be an indicator of aspen quantity and vigor in pure and mixed stands. It was selected to evaluate the effects of Forest Plan implementation and natural change on the ability of the Forest to support species that rely on a variety of conditions in aspen to meet their needs (USDA Forest Service 2005a). Ruffed grouse prefer young to medium -aged aspen stands (Tallman et al. 2002) but have been observed in other habitat types in the Black Hills, including open pine forests (Panjabi 2001, 2003). Ruffed grouse can survive on a diverse diet in the spring, summer and fall (Bolen & Robinson 2003), which may explain the range of habitat types the species has been recorded in from RMBO monitoring data (Panjabi 2001, 2003). However, ruffed grouse feed on tree buds in the winter and are almost completely dependent on aspen for food, shelter and escape cover. Ideal ruffed grouse habitat consists of plentiful aspens in all age-classes (i.e., sapling, pole-sized and mature; Bolen & Robinson 2003). Ruffed grouse are a resident species where found and range from central Alaska to northwestern California, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. They extend east through Minnesota, Ohio and the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to northeastern Georgia (DeGraaf et al. 1991). It is considered an uncommon permanent resident in the Black Hills (Tallman et al. 2002) with greatest abundance in the northern Hills (Panjabi 2003). 55
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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