Forest Service plans spruce management project

The U.S. Forest Service is looking to introduce a forest-wide project to increase resiliency by diversifying the tree species within the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF). The Public has until March 24 to submit comments regarding the proposal.

“The purpose of the Spruce Vegetation Management Project is to reduce the number of acres dominated by white spruce (Picea glauca) and increase the number of acres of pine and aspen forest-wide with the objective of increasing overall forest resiliency,” said Jerry Krueger, Deputy Forest Supervisor, in a press release.

“This project will also reduce undesirable future fire behavior across the Black Hills National Forest landscape.”

The BHNF will prepare an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for this project, which would see treatments implemented on up to 25,000 acres of spruce stands across the forest.

This would include regeneration harvests with reserve trees, overstory removal, group selection, machine piling, pile burning and prescribed fire using a condition-based management approach.

Follow-up maintenance would aim to ensure regeneration requirements are met and to encourage pine and aspen seedlings and saplings over spruce.

“The purpose and need for this project is derived from the differences between the existing forest vegetation conditions and the desired forest vegetation conditions, as defined by the Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan,” state scoping documents for the project.

The Forest Service is looking to tackle the current situation of “large, uninterrupted blocks of over-mature spruce-dominated stands that have increasing fuel loads and ladder fuels.” The Forest plan includes an objective to manage for 20,000 acres for spruce.

Speaking historically, mixed conifer, pine and aspen stands were more prevalent but, between 1897 and 1987, the total area of forestland considered to be white spruce has expanded from 15,000-20,000 to around 50,000 acres.

“It is well documented that dense, over-stocked, even-age, closed canopy stands are more susceptible to insect outbreaks and stand replacing fire events,” state the scoping documents.

“It is also well documented that a lack of structural diversity corresponds directly to a reduction in forest resiliency and consequently long-term resistance to detrimental natural and human-caused disturbance events.”

According to the scoping documents, both types of white spruce habitat will be targeted. The first habitat type is stands that have always been dominated by spruce (described as “pure spruce” and containing 80% or more of the trees within the stand’s area).

Ponderosa pine and aspen are sporadic in these stands, which have historically always been present in this area.

The second habitat type includes stands that are dominated by spruce, but, “in the pre-settlement era were dominated by pine and aspen, and can be described as ‘mixed conifer’,” according to the scoping documents. The proportion of white spruce within these stands is between 50 and 80%.

More information about the project can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61599. If you wish to comment, an electronic form can be found on the page.

Alternatively, submit your comment to Jeff Underhill, 1019 N. 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730, including your name and postal address, the project title of “Spruce Vegetation Management” and your signature or other verification of identity on request. Comments must be received by March 24, 2022 and will be considered part of the public record.