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U.S. Forest Service - News Release
Emergency Closure Ordered
Custer, SD – Officials of the Black Hills National Forest are closing about 327 acres near Piedmont and Stagebarn Canyon to cross country motorized travel.
“This is a highly sensitive area with shallow, thin soils in steep terrain that are very easily damaged by cross country motorized travel,” said Northern Hills District Ranger Rhonda O’Byrne. “We try to keep public lands open to the public,” she said. “It is also our mission to protect natural resources, and we cannot do this under current conditions where we are seeing rutting, erosion and other impacts.” The closure area is near the far eastern flank of the Ricco fire. “People can still access the area on Forest Road 546.1, they just won’t be able to leave the road,” O’Byrne said. “This limited closure addresses impacts we are seeing right now and the actions we need to take to protect this sensitive area,” said Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor. Bobzien said the closure does not affect the anticipated forest-wide Travel Plan decision regarding what routes will or will not appear in the final travel plan for the 1.2 million acre Black Hills National Forest. “I will make a decision on the Travel Plan later this year,” Bobzien said. Forest Road 546.1 will remain open May 15 through December 15 each year. It is closed December 15 through May 15 to protect big game winter range.“We have taken these emergency actions in the past in places like the Ricco Fire Area for similar reasons,” O’Byrne said.
Rapid City Journal Article 04.06.09
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Sen. Johnson introduces Buffalo Gap Grasslands Wilderness Bill
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On Wednesday, June 16th the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010 will receive a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. This hearing brings us one step closer to protecting a piece of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland as wilderness.
As this legislation moves through Congress, we will update you on its progress and ask you to occasionally contact South Dakota’s Members of Congress to remind them how important this bill is to you. Now is one of those times. It is crucial that South Dakota’s Senators hear from you again, before the June 16th hearing, to be reminded of the overwhelming and continued support for grassland wilderness in South Dakota.
If enacted, the areas proposed for wilderness in the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act would become the very first national grassland ecosystem represented in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Wilderness designation ensures these places remain wild – allowing for hunting, hiking, camping, rock collecting, horseback riding, access for people with disabilities, and much more. It also provides legal protections for cattle grazing to continue, which keeps South Dakota’s ranching heritage and its customs and cultures going strong.
Please take a moment to contact Senators Johnson AND Thune and deliver the messages below. Even if you have contacted them already, please do so again. Your repeated vocal support is critical at this time, and will truly make a difference!
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!
South Dakota’s two senators need to hear from you that this legislation has your support.
1. Call or e-mail Senator Johnson TODAY and thank him for his leadership and his commitment to protect South Dakota’s grasslands. Tell him you appreciate his introducing this historic legislation.
Rapid City: 605-341-3990
Washington DC: 800-537-0025
E-mail Sen. Johnson
2. Call or e-mail Senator Thune and urge him to support the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010.
Rapid City: 605-348-7551
Washington DC: 866-850-3855
E-mail Sen. Thune We greatly appreciate your ongoing support. It makes all the difference, and we thank you!
For more information on The South Dakota Wild
Grassland Coalition please visit: http://www.sdwildgrassland.org
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