Table of Contents. Abstract i Summary S- 1 - Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action 1

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1 Table of Contents Abstract i Summary S- 1 - Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action 1 Document Structure 1 Background 1 Management Direction 3 Forest Service Direction on Management of Fire in Wilderness 4 Purpose and Need for Action 5 Proposed Action 6 Decision Framework 7 Public Involvement 7 Issues 8 Chapter 2. Alternatives 11 Introduction 11 Alternatives Considered in Detail 11 Alternative 1 No Action 11 Alternative 2 - Proposed Action 11 Alternative 3 17 Alternative 4 23 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study 27 Monitoring 29 Comparison of Alternatives 29 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 39 Introduction 39 Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions 39 Wildlife Habitat 40 Existing Conditions 40 Environmental Consequences 46 Alternative 1 No Action 47 Alternative 2 52 Alternative 3 60 Alternative 4 67 Wildlife 76 Focus Species 77 Management Indicator Species (MIS) 112 Species of Local Concern (SOLC) 124 Threatened, Endangered and R2 Sensitive Species 161 ii

2 Raptors 163 Migratory Birds 164 Silviculture 166 Alternative 1 No Action 166 Common to All Alternatives 166 Alternative Alternative Alternative Black Elk Wilderness 168 Existing Condition 168 Environmental Consequences 170 Fire and Fuels 174 Existing Conditions 174 Environmental Consequences 183 Soils and Hydrology 201 Soils 201 Hydrology 208 Scenery 218 Existing Conditions 218 Environmental Consequences 219 Recreation 228 Existing Conditions 228 Environmental Consequences 231 Range, Noxious Weeds and Botany 235 Existing Condition 235 Environmental Consequences 238 Heritage Resources 249 Existing Conditions 249 Environmental Consequences 251 Transportation 252 Existing Condition 252 Environmental Consequences 255 Economics 258 Financial and Economic Efficiency 258 Short Term Uses and Long Term Productivity 260 Unavoidable Adverse Effects 260 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources 261 Cumulative Effects 261 Other Required Disclosures 261 Chapter 4. List of Preparers and Distribution of the DEIS 263 Preparers 263 Distribution of this DEIS 266 iii

3 Chapter 5. Literature Cited, Glossary, Index 271 Literature Cited 271 Glossary 286 Index 302 Table of Tables TABLE 1. MANAGEMENT AREAS ACREAGE AND PERCENT WITHIN THE NORBECK WILDLIFE PRESERVE PROJECT AREA 3 TABLE 2. SITES PROPOSED FOR MECHANICAL TREATMENT WHERE WHOLE TREE YARDING IS PREFERRED IN ALTERNATIVE 2 17 TABLE 3. SITES PROPOSED FOR MECHANICAL TREATMENT WHERE WHOLE TREE YARDING IS PREFERRED IN ALTERNATIVE 3 22 TABLE 4. ACRES OF HABITAT OBJECTIVES PROPOSED FOR ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH MECHANICAL (MECH) AND PRESCRIBED BURNING (RX BURN) TREATMENTS BY ALTERNATIVE 30 TABLE 5. ACRES OF HABITAT OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED WITH PRESCRIBED BURNING CONCURRENT OR SEPARATE FROM MECHANICAL TREATMENTS 30 TABLE 6. TYPES OF TREATMENTS PROPOSED FOR EACH HABITAT OBJECTIVE 31 TABLE 7. ACRES OF MECHANICAL AND PRESCRIBED BURNING TREATMENTS BY ALTERNATIVE 31 TABLE 8. EFFECTS TO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES BY ALTERNATIVE 33 TABLE 9. EXISTING AND PROJECTED PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR ALL ALTERNATIVES AT YEAR 2020; FOR AREAS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK ELK WILDERNESS 37 TABLE 10. EXPECTED TIMBER VOLUMES BY ALTERNATIVE 37 TABLE 11. COVER TYPES OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND IN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA (26,727 ACRES) _ 41 TABLE 12. EXISTING ASPEN STRUCTURAL STAGES WITHIN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 41 TABLE 13. EXISTING PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES WITHIN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 42 TABLE 14. EXISTING WHITE SPRUCE STRUCTURAL STAGES WITHIN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 43 TABLE 15. REGION 2 STRUCTURAL STAGES AND CORRESPONDING CONIFER SUCCESSIONAL STAGE 46 TABLE 16. ACRES AND PERCENTAGE OF CONIFER SUCCESSIONAL STAGES IN MANAGEMENT AREA 5.4A 46 TABLE 17. COMPARISON OF COVER TYPES FOR EXISTING CONDITION AND ALTERNATIVE 1AT YEAR TABLE 18. ALTERNATIVE 1 ASPEN STRUCTURAL STAGES IN YEAR TABLE 19. COMPARISON OF PONDEROSA PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR THE EXISTING CONDITION AND ALTERNATIVE 1PROJECTED TO YEAR TABLE 20. EXISTING AND PROJECTED PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR ALTERNATIVE 1 AT YEAR 2020; FOR AREAS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK ELK WILDERNESS 50 TABLE21. ALTERNATIVE 1 PROJECTED WHITE SPRUCE STRUCTURAL STAGES WITHIN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA IN YEAR TABLE 22. COMPARISON OF COVER TYPES FOR EXISTING CONDITION, NO ACTION AND ALTERNATIVE 2 AT YEAR TABLE 23. ALTERNATIVE 2 ASPEN STRUCTURAL STAGES IN YEAR TABLE 24. COMPARISON OF PONDEROSA PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR THE EXISTING CONDITION, ALTERNATIVE 1 NO ACTION, AND ALTERNATIVE 2, PROJECTED TO YEAR TABLE 25. EXISTING AND PROJECTED PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR ALTERNATIVE 2 AT YEAR 2020; FOR AREAS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK ELK WILDERNESS 57 TABLE 26. ALTERNATIVE 2 PROJECTED WHITE SPRUCE STRUCTURAL STAGES, PROJECT AREA IN YEAR TABLE 27. COMPARISON OF COVER TYPES FOR EXISTING CONDITION, NO ACTION AND ALTERNATIVE 2 AND 3 AT YEAR TABLE 28. ALTERNATIVE 3 ASPEN STRUCTURAL STAGES IN YEAR 2020: 62 iv

4 TABLE 29. COMPARISON OF PONDEROSA PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR THE EXISTING CONDITION, ALTERNATIVE 1 NO ACTION, AND ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3, PROJECTED TO YEAR TABLE 30. EXISTING AND PROJECTED PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR ALTERNATIVE 3 AT YEAR 2020; FOR AREAS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK ELK WILDERNESS 64 TABLE 31. ALTERNATIVE 3 PROJECTED WHITE SPRUCE STRUCTURAL STAGES WITHIN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA AT YEAR TABLE 32. COMPARISON OF COVER TYPES FOR EXISTING CONDITION AND ALL ALTERNATIVES AT YEAR TABLE 33. ALTERNATIVE 4 ASPEN STRUCTURAL STAGES IN YEAR TABLE 34. COMPARISON OF PONDEROSA PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR THE EXISTING CONDITION, AND ALL ALTERNATIVES, PROJECTED TO YEAR TABLE 35. EXISTING AND PROJECTED PINE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR ALTERNATIVE 4 AT YEAR 2020; FOR AREAS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK ELK WILDERNESS 69 TABLE 36. PROJECTED WHITE SPRUCE STRUCTURAL STAGES FOR ALL ALTERNATIVE WITHIN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA IN YEAR 2020: 69 TABLE 37. FOCUS SPECIES WITHIN THE NORBECK WILDLIFE PRESERVE (GRIEBEL ET AL. 2007) 77 TABLE 38. HABITAT OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS SPECIES WHICH WOULD BENEFIT 78 TABLE 39. ACRES OF MECHANICAL AND BURNING TREATMENTS FOR HABITAT OBJECTIVES BY ALTERNATIVE 79 TABLE 40. CONIFER STRUCTURAL STAGES, IN PONDEROSA PINE, AT YEAR 2020 UNDER ALTERNATIVE 1 ( NO ACTION ) 81 TABLE 41. CONIFER STRUCTURAL STAGES, IN PONDEROSA PINE, AT YEAR 2020 UNDER ALTERNATIVE 2 82 TABLE 42. CONIFER STRUCTURAL STAGES, IN PONDEROSA PINE, AT YEAR 2020 UNDER ALTERNATIVE 3 82 TABLE 43. CONIFER STRUCTURAL STAGES IN PONDEROSA PINE AT YEAR 2020 UNDER ALTERNATIVE 4 82 TABLE 44. MIS LIST AND RATIONALE FOR INCLUSION IN PROJECT-LEVEL ANALYSIS 113 TABLE 45. SOLC LIST AND RATIONALE FOR PROJECT-LEVEL ANALYSIS 124 TABLE 46. R2 SENSITIVE SPECIES ANALYZED IN THE NORBECK WILDLIFE PROJECT 161 TABLE 47. ACRES OF PONDEROSA PINE MECHANICALLY TREATED TO A LOW OR MEDIUM INSECT RATING BY ALTERNATIVE 168 TABLE 48. EXPECTED TIMBER VOLUMES BY ALTERNATIVE 168 TABLE 49. FIRE REGIMES IN THE BLACK HILLS (USDA FOREST SERVICE, 2005) 175 TABLE 50. FIRE REGIME CONDITION CLASS (FRCC) RATING DESCRIPTIONS (HANN ET AL., 2003) 176 TABLE 51. FIRE HISTORY IN NORBECK FROM 1950 TO TABLE 52. NORBECK PROJECT LARGE FIRE HISTORY 178 TABLE 53. BLACK ELK WILDERNESS LARGE FIRE HISTORY 178 TABLE 54. EXISTING FIRE HAZARD RATINGS IN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA TABLE 55. FIRE HISTOGRAM SUMMARY 199 TABLE 56. SOIL MAP UNITS IN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 201 TABLE 57. EROSION HAZARD RATINGS OF MAJOR SOIL MAP UNITS IN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 202 TABLE 58. ACRES OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON SOILS SUBJECT TO COMPACTION, BY ALTERNATIVE 206 TABLE 59. HUC 6 WATERSHEDS 208 TABLE 60. HUC 7 WATERSHEDS 209 TABLE 61. WATERSHED CONDITION 209 TABLE 62. WATERSHED CONDITION 210 TABLE 63. BENEFICIAL USES 211 TABLE 64. DEVELOPED RECREATION: CAMPGROUND SITE STANDARDS 228 TABLE 65. DEVELOPED RECREATION: DAY USE SITE STANDARDS 229 TABLE 66. DEVELOPED RECREATION: TRAILHEAD SITE STANDARDS 229 TABLE 67. DEVELOPED RECREATION: RESIDENCE TRACTS 230 TABLE 68. TRAILS IN THE NORBECK WILDLIFE PROJECT AREA 230 TABLE 69. TRAIL USE 232 TABLE 70. HISTORICAL GRAZING USE BY ALLOTMENT 236 TABLE 70. HABITAT PREFERENCES OF FOUR R2 SENSITIVE AND SIX BLACK HILLS SOLC PLANTS 242 TABLE 71. ROAD JURISDICTION FOR ALL ROADS IN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 252 TABLE 72. NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM ROADS IN THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 253 v

5 TABLE 73. ROAD MANAGEMENT - SYSTEM ROADS MILES FOR THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 253 TABLE 74. ROAD MANAGEMENT CLOSED MOTORIZED AND UNAUTHORIZED ROADS MILES FOR THE NORBECK PROJECT AREA 254 TABLE 75. TRAIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TRAIL MILES THAT MAY BE USED FOR HAULING 254 TABLE 76. ALTERNATIVE 2 MILES 256 TABLE 77. ALTERNATIVE 3 MILES 256 TABLE 78. ALTERNATIVE 4 MILES 257 TABLE 79. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS RESULTS BY ALTERNATIVE IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 259 Table of Figures FIGURE 1. TYPICAL STAND STRUCTURE FOR EACH FIRE REGIME CONDITION CLASS (FRCC) FIGURE 2. FIRE HISTORY OCCURRENCE FROM 1950 TO FIGURE 3. NORBECK COMMUNITIES AT RISK FIGURE 4. EXITING FIRE HAZARD RATING FIGURE 5. ALTERNATIVE 1 FINAL FIRE SIZE HISTOGRAM FIGURE 6. ALTERNATIVE 2 FINAL FIRE SIZE HISTOGRAM FIGURE 7. ALTERNATIVE 2 HABITAT OBJECTIVES FIGURE 8. ALTERNATIVE 3, NON-WILDERNESS ONLY, FINAL FIRE SIZE HISTOGRAM FIGURE 9. ALTERNATIVE 3 HABITAT OBJECTIVES FIGURE 10. ALTERNATIVE 3, WILDERNESS ONLY, FINAL FIRE SIZE HISTOGRAM FIGURE 11. ALTERNATIVE 3 FINAL FIRE SIZE HISTOGRAM FIGURE 12. ALTERNATIVE 4 HABITAT OBJECTIVES FIGURE 13. FIRE HAZARD IMPROVEMENT FIGURE 14. FSPRO FIRE SUMMARY FIGURE 15. PRESCRIBED BURNING HABITAT OBJECTIVE COMPARISON FIGURE 16. GRAZING ALLOTMENTS IN THE PROJECT AREA Appendices Appendix A Vicinity Map and Treatment Activities Maps Appendix B Design Criteria Appendix C Monitoring Plan Appendix D Treatments by site Appendix E Findings: Silviculture Appendix F Past, Present, Future Activities Appendix G Biological Assessment and Biological Evaluation Appendix H Post-Sale Projects vi