Final Environmental Impact Statement

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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 56
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Creek in 1960 found mountain suckers downstream of Stockade Lake/Dam (Stewart & Thilenius 1964). French Creek upstream of Stockade Lake was not surveyed. Surveys in 1984 and 1992-93 captured mountain suckers in French Creek downstream of Stockade Lake, but not upstream of the lake (Ford 1988, SDGFP 2009). SDGFP fisheries surveys in 2009 in streams within the Vestal project area did not collect any mountain suckers. Species of Local Concern (SOLC) Black Hills Supplement “r2_bh_2600-2011-1” to Forest Service Manual 2600 became effective September 6, 2011 and provides direction for the management of SOLC (USDA Forest Service 2011). As defined by this supplement, a species of local concern is a plant, fish or wildlife species (including subspecies or varieties) that does not meet the criteria for sensitive status. These could include species with declining trends in only a portion of R2, or those that are important components of diversity in a local area. The local area is defined as Forest Service lands within the Black Hills National Forest. This supplement also provides a detailed explanation of the evaluation criteria used to select species of local concern and a current list for the Black Hills National Forest (USDA Forest Service 2011). Table 35 lists potential SOLC for the Black Hills National Forest. Rationale is provided for those species not analyzed. Table 35. SOLC List and Rationale for Project-Level Analysis Species Atlantis fritillary (Speyeria atlantis pahasapae) Tawny crescent (Phycoides batesii) Callused vertigo (Vertigo arthuri) Mystery vertigo (Vertigo paradoxa) Frigid ambersnail (Catinella gelida) Striate disc (Discus shimekii) Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi) Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) Pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) Species Present? (Y/N) Habitat Present? (Y/N) Include in NEPA document? (Y/N) YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES NO YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO NO NO Rationale for not carrying species forward into the NEPA document The project area lacks habitat for this species. This species inhabits clear, fast-flowing streams 57
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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