How to Adopt an Area

How to Adopt an Area

Many special areas of the Black Hills are in danger of being lost or degraded by ‘unmanaged recreation’. Any concerned person can do something to help ensure the sustainability of these special public areas by ‘Adopting an Area’.

A. What is your favorite area and why? Spend time in the area and familiarize yourself with every aspect you can, note the interconnections.

B. Evaluate and inventory the current condition of the area:

1. Determine what you value about the area. What are its valuable attributes? Are they Hydrological/Riparian, Historical and Cultural, Wildlife and Botanical, Geological? Is the area aesthetically appealing (big trees, cliffs, wonderful sounds or smells, etc…)? Is it a place of peace and solitude? What is special about this area?
2. Photograph (preferably with a GPS) what is not damaged and what is damaged.
3. Make a list of plant and animal species (especially remarkable, rare, or favorite species).
4. Survey the threats. Are people bringing OHV’s into the area? How many, and how often? Sensitive species (plant or animal) at risk? A view being destroyed? Waterways subject to pollution or erosion? Noise? New trails being created?

C. Make a list of the specific things that you think the Forest Service (and/or volunteers) could do to minimize or eliminate the threat.

D. Outline area on Norbeck map / offer as much of the above support material as possible.

Augment your adoption by:

A. Garnering support from neighbors or others that use the area and care about the values it holds. Collaborate with these people by:

1. Looking after the area, picking up trash.
2. Having a presence in the area.
3. Interacting with Forest Service personnel on issues concerning the area.

B. You may even look on terraserver.com and earth.google.com to further monitor condition.

Remember, what you do to adopt an area now can be of great benefit to yourself and others, both now and in the future. Sustainability of Public Lands for the use and enjoyment by people is our goal.