The Affected Environment and Consequences 3-8.3. Timber Production 3-8.3.1. Affected Environment The Forest administers approximately 1,246,985 acres of which approximately 92 percent is forested. Approximately 89 percent of the forested land is ponderosa pine. The 1999 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) conducted by the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the Black Hills NF estimated net volume of sawtimber (i.e., growing stock greater than 9-inch dbh) presently stocked on the Forest is about 6.1 billion board feet (International One-Quarter Scale). The Black Hills NF estimates that approximately 5 billion board feet have been harvested since the completion of the first federal timber sale (Case No. 1) in 1899 on the Black Hills Forest Reserve (now the Black Hills NF). Case No. 1 timber sale is documented in the Journal of Forestry (Ball and Schaefer 2000) and Evergreen magazine (1999). Table 3-54. Black Hills National Forest Timber Inventory Harvest volume Year Billion Bd.Ft. Source Remarks Year / Bd.Ft. Black Hills NF 50th 1897 1.5 saw lumber anniversary Black Hills 50th 1948 2.3 trees 10 inches and larger 1947 1 billion anniversary 1963 2.9 1977 TM Plan growing stock volume 1969 2 billion 1977 4.5 1977 TM Plan growing stock volume 1979 3 billion FP1996 Final EIS app. 1987 5.1 trees greater than 8 inches dbh 1987 4 billion G-2 1999 6.1 1999 FIA report p.5 growing stock trees >9.0 dbh 1997 5 billion The timber production section of the Final EIS for the 1997 Revised LRMP (USDA Forest Service 1996a p. 111-447) provides an overview of timber production and the timber industry in the Black Hills through 1995. Table 3-55 depicts timber production volumes on the Forest since 1997. “Sawtimber offered” is advertised for sale. “Sawtimber sold” is a contract award. Occasionally sawtimber is offered during one fiscal year but not awarded until the next fiscal year. III-382 Black Hills National Forest The Affected Environment and Consequencies Table 3-55. Annual Volume of Sawtimber Offered, Sold, Cut on the Black Hills National Forest Sawtimber Sawtimber Sold Sawtimber Cut Year Offered (MMBF) (MMBF) (MMBF) 1998 77.0 78.6 62.0 1999 82.7 73.5 73.0 2000 2.8 36.2 65.7 2001 36.5 38.2 75.4 2002 49.5 52.3 62.4 2003 70.5 40.8 67.7 2004 74.5 84.9 75.3 Source: Black Hills NF In the Black Hills region, there are currently 22 firms involved in processing forest products, distributing and selling forest products, or using forest products to manufacture secondary products. Thirteen firms are primary producers, firms that directly process raw logs purchased from the Forest, other agencies and private landowners, nine of which are sawmills (i.e., dimension product producers). Nine firms are secondary producers, which process sawn timber or mill residue (i.e., cants, wood chips, pellets). The wood product industry has an annual capacity of approximately 190 million board feet (MMBF). Three major mills, Pope and Talbot in Spearfish, South Dakota and Neiman Timber Company in Hulett, Wyoming and Hill City, South Dakota, make up 90 percent of this capacity. Refer to Forest Product Industry Market Study (Teasley 2004). 3-8.3.2. Direct And Indirect Effects There is no change in ASQ among alternatives. The ASQ for the decade in all alternatives is 83.8 MMBF of sawtimber and 2.7 million cubic feet of products other than logs (POL). The ASQ is a maximum. Annual timber sale offer may vary depending on funding but the decadal total may not exceed the ASQ. The 1997 Forest Plan Decision documented the last ASQ calculation. These figures are annual totals for the first decade. See tables in Appendix B for resource estimates If the relevant objectives, standards, and guidelines within any alternative are followed and met, harvest volumes up to the ASQ could be offered in any of the alternatives that may be implemented. The 1996 Final EIS (USDA Forest Service 1996a) discloses the effects of roads relating to timber. Final Environmental Impact Statement Phase II Amendment III-383 The Affected Environment and Consequences 3-8.3.2.1. Effects Of Species-viability Management On Timber Production The effects of species viability on timber production are addressed within specific species assessments relative to their desired habitat. For example, greater annual treatment acres will have a greater effect on some species than others. Likewise, less annual treatment acres will have a greater effect on some species than others. Structural stage is a key variable for effects on specific species for viability. The structural stage percentages in Alternatives 3 and 6 are directed at displaying the best range of all structural stages that will accommodate all species given the objectives of each alternative. Requirements for late successional species limit the amount of certain treatments in structural stage 4C and 5. Thinning structural stage 4C or 5 to basal area 50 or 60 may be too open to meet late successional habitat requirements for some species; thus more trees would be retained. Consequently these stands will retain their high insect and fire hazard, and loss to fire or insects is more probable. Some plant or animal species require an open grown forest. Management options for those species may compliment Forest Plan goals to reduce insect and fire hazard. 3-8.3.2.2. Effects Of Research Natural Area Management On Timber Production RNAs could be established with the implementation of Alternatives 3, 4, or 6. RNA establishment would preclude harvest within the boundary, and those lands would be reclassified into a research natural area management emphasis. Alternative 3 would include consideration of 4 candidate RNAs: Canyon City, Fanny Boles, Geis Springs and Sheep Nose Mountain. Alternative 6 would consider 4 candidate RNAs: North Fork Castle Creek, Fanny/Boles, Geis Springs, and North Fork Castle. See Section 3-6.2 and Appendix G for candidate RNA locations and additional information. If all nine candidate RNAs were designated, as is proposed in Alternative 4, their total area would be less than 1 percent of the Forest. Some of the RNAs have very little suitable forest land. 3-8.3.2.3. Effects Of Fire-hazard And Insect-risk Management On Timber Production Fire-hazard and insect-risk ratings were evaluated by linking them to structural stages. FVS strata by structural stage were reviewed to arrive at ratings (Appendix B). The fire-hazard rating scheme is integrated into the national growth and yield process (FVS). One variable output of FVS is the fire-hazard rating. The insect-risk rating scheme is based upon the database protocol directed by Region 2. The insect-risk rating is also output through FVS. III-384 Black Hills National Forest The Affected Environment and Consequencies Table 3-56. Fire-hazard Rating And Insect-risk Rating By Structural Stage Ponderosa Pine Spruce Structural Fire Insect Structural Fire Insect Stage Rating Rating Stage Rating Rating 1 Low Low 1 Low Low 2 Medium Low 2 Medium Low 3A Medium Low 3A Medium Low 3B High Medium 3B High Medium 3C Very high High 3C Very high High 4A>9” Medium Medium 4A High Low 4A<9” Very high Medium 4B Very high Medium 4B>9” High High 4C Very high High 4B<9” Very high High 5 Very high High 4C>9” Very high High 4C<9” Very high High 5 Very high High These ratings were used as indicators for treatment levels. Reducing forest density to reduce fire and insect hazard could be lower than the optimum basal area for wood fiber production. Stocking level graphs for optimum wood fiber and insect management in the 1997 LRMP Appendix H illustrate this difference. It is estimated that management for a more open forest under all alternatives may slightly reduce cubic volume production. This loss of wood fiber production would be a tradeoff for reducing the probability of insect and fire mortality. 3-8.3.3. Cumulative Effects Alternative 1, 3 and 6 have the same estimated commercial harvest acres and volume based upon the goals/objectives/standards & guidelines. The mix of harvest-treatment types will be specific at the project level. Harvest types are predicted to be relatively the same from Alternatives 1, 3 and 6 as displayed in Section 3-1. Forested Ecosystems Table 3-10, which is from the 1996 Forest Plan. Also, based upon the goals/objectives/standards and guidelines, the estimated commercial harvest acres and volume are less for Alternatives 2 and 4. Since all alternatives have the same estimated commercial timber harvest acres, the emphasis is placed on the importance of determining structural stage distribution across a landscape to meet the habitat needs of species and lower fire-hazard and insect-risk ratings. The art of balancing these areas directly affects the level of timber volume for the Forest. Final Environmental Impact Statement Phase II Amendment III-385 The Affected Environment and Consequences 3-8.4. Livestock Grazing 3-8.4.1. Affected Environment The Black Hills is a highly productive area from the standpoint of forage resources with an average of approximately 466 million pounds of forage produced across the Forest each year. At an average proper- use level of 50 percent, up to 233 million pounds of forage is available for harvest each year by livestock and wildlife (USDA Forest Service 1996a p. III-174). Of the 233 million pounds of forage available for harvest, 127 million pounds within designated allotments is allocated to permitted livestock under Forest Plan direction.