Final Environmental Impact Statement

Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3
The long-term habitat trend for ruffed grouse is one of decline. Aspen acreage has been
reduced from the historic condition overall. However, there has been a slight increase in
aspen acres during the past five years. More time and effort would be needed to increase
aspen acreage in the future. Implementation of a ruffed grouse monitoring protocol
should allow for the detection of a long-term population trend (USDA Forest Service
2010).
Aspen acreage in the project area currently totals 431 acres. This does not include
scattered hardwood clones within conifer dominated sites. The hardwood sites represent
all of the structural stages. This species has been observed within the project area.
Song Sparrow (MIS)
This species is an indicator of riparian habitat condition. The song sparrow was selected
as a Forest MIS to evaluate the effects of Forest Plan implementation and natural change
on the ability of the Forest to support characteristic riparian species that rely on a variety
of riparian conditions to meet their needs (USDA Forest Service 2005a).
The song sparrow can be found throughout the Black Hills but is primarily dependent on
riparian habitat with streamside thickets and willows. Highest densities were recorded in
montane riparian habitat and to a lesser extent foothill riparian and white spruce habitat
types. The spruce habitat the species was observed in usually occurred adjacent to
riparian areas (Panjabi 2003). The latest estimate of riparian habitat on the Forest is
about 64,000 acres. This includes riparian areas with an overstory of hardwoods or
conifers. Of this acreage, about 12,000 acres have a shrub (willow) component. No
Forest-wide data on riparian resource condition was collected in FY 2008 (USDA Forest
Service 2009).
Data from the Monitoring the Birds of the Black Hills (MBBH) program show that the
song sparrow is well-distributed throughout the northern Black Hills and Bearlodge
Mountains, with a more localized distribution in the central and southern Hills (USDA
Forest Service 2009). Further monitoring and analysis is required to clarify the
population trend. Because the quality of riparian habitat has decreased since pre-
European settlement, this would indicate a long-term declining habitat trend. However,
in the short-term, small riparian habitat enhancement projects that have improved riparian
conditions in some areas contribute to habitat enhancement and to achievement of
Objective 238a. More monitoring and habitat restoration projects are warranted for a
better assessment of the song sparrow trends (USDA Forest Service 2006a).
Song sparrows have been reported within the Vestal project area. Habitat exists along
most perennial streams and even some ephemeral and intermittent streams.
Mountain Sucker (MIS and R2 Sensitive)
The mountain sucker was designated as a Management Indicator Species (MIS) to
evaluate the quality and connectivity of stream habitat on the Black Hills National Forest.
The mountain sucker is also a R2 sensitive species. The effects to the mountain sucker
are evaluated in the Biological Evaluation.
The Forest-wide trend for this species is one of decline (USDA Forest Service 2005b,
2010). The mountain sucker historically occurred in French Creek. The first recorded
occurrence was in 1893 at Custer, SD (Evermann & Cox 1896). Stream surveys in French
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