And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 11:49:39 -0600 To: "Wild Rockies Alerts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: Wild Rockies InfoNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Black Hills Roads Alert Protect Dugout Gulch in the Black Hills National Forest YOUR COMMENTS NEEDED BY APRIL 20, 1999 Dugout Gulch is a relatively undisturbed area in the northern Black Hills National Forest. Dugout Gulch is also special because of its important populations of rare plants and plant communities. Plus Dugout Gulch is a tributary to Sand Creek, an important Class 1 fishery. Right now there is a rough "road" going through Dugout Gulch, FDR864, which travels along and through the stream bed. It is badly eroding and undercutting in some places, and is contributing sediment to the stream channel--which eventually reaches Sand Creek. In a March 15, 1999 scoping notice, the Forest Service asked the public to comment on management of Dugout Gulch by April 20. Please call or write to Forest Service and tell him to protect Dugout Gulch by closing the Road to motorized use. LOCATION Dugout Gulch is in Wyoming, about 2.5 miles west of the WY-SD state line. Dugout Gulch, which runs north-south, is a tributary to Sand Creek, and comes into Sand Creek just south (upstream) of the Class 1 fishery at Ranch A (approx. 5 miles south of Beulah). SPECIAL VALUES OF DUGOUT GULCH: ***Dugout Gulch is home to rare plants and plant communities. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recommended Special Botanical Area status for Dugout Gulch because it contains high quality stands of rare plant communities and rare plants. The Forest Plan manages the area as a Botanical Area but NOT a Special Botanical Area as recommended by TNC. It also contains large undisturbed stands of birch/hazelnut that merit protection. ***Dugout Gulch is one of the few tracts on the 'Hills with a semiprimitive nonmotorized emphasis. These opportunities should be protected by closing the area to motorized vehicles. ***In addition to being designated a Class 1 fishery by Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Sand Creek is a Class 1 water as ranked by Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. ***As of 1989 there were few weed infestations in Dugout Gulch. Opening the area to more motorized access will potentially harm the rare plants/communities and bring in weeds. HERE ARE SOME POINTS YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER: ***The USFS should prohibit motorized vehicles in Dugout Gulch. Allowing ORV access would harm the rare plants and make the sedimentation situation worse. ***We've heard the road reconstruction for vehicles could cost up to $200,000 for only 2 miles. This is an incredible waste of taxpayer money and you, the taxpayer, should not pay for it. ***Sediment flow into Class 1 Sand Creek is not allowed under Wyoming DEQ rules. Encourage the USFS to restore the watershed and improve stream health. ***If the USFS wants to proceed with reconstructing the road for motor vehicles, they must prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than a smaller Environmental Assessment (EA). ***The USFS has considered the following alternatives: reconstructing the road, eliminating the road and developing a trail, or stabilizing the area to reduce erosion and sedimentation but without a road or trail. At the VERY least, we are supporting closing the road and making a nonmotorized trail. Please write or call the Forest Service BY APRIL 20 to express your support for closing Dugout Gulch Road. Use the information provided above, and the additional information below. Send letters to: John Macy Black Hills National Forest Bearlodge Ranger District PO Box 680 Sundance, WY 82729 (307) 283-1361 ****ADDITIONAL INFORMATION************************************* -Recommendations by TNC were: "Human disturbance should be kept to a minimum... withdrawal from locatable mineral entry... exclusion from other development... exclusion from grazing... exclusion from logging... Botanical values include unusual and pristine vegetation, and a concentration of plant species at the periphery of or disjunct to their overall range...." Allowing ORV access would almost certainly harm the are plants and make the sedimentation situation worse as well. -Sediment flow into Class 1 Sand Creek is not allowed under Wyoming DEQ rules. The problems should be fixed by putting the road to bed. The USFS should be encouraged to restore the watershed and improve stream health and to protect the downstream fishery. -Dugout Gulch should have been considered for Research Natural Area (RNA) designation during the forest plan revision. However, the revision didn't analyze RNA's. This is one of the reasons citizens appealed the Plan. This issue hasn't been resolved yet. If the agency proceeds with rebuilding the road for motorized use, they are opening themselves up for a lawsuit on the RNA/Forest Plan issue. -We have heard that there is political pressure to keep the road open. Citizens need to call for strong protection of Dugout Gulch to overcome the political pressure. -If the USFS wants to proceed with reconstructing the road for motor vehicles, they must prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than a smaller Environmental Assessment (EA). An EIS is required because harming the special values in Dugout Gulch would be a "significant impact." However, an EIS is not necessary to close the road and repair the damage. ********************For more information contact:******************* Jeff Kessler Biodiversity Associates and Friends of the Bow PO Box 6032 Laramie, Wy 82073 (307) 742-7978 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> News Submissions or Problems: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This list is a public service provided by WIN: http://www.wildrockies.org &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
