Climate Watch, Spring/Summer season 5/15/24-6/15/24
2024-05-15 00:00 - 2024-06-15 23:59 (America/Denver)
Climate Watch is Audubon’s biannual community science program that enlists volunteer bird-lovers across North America to tally for twelve target bird species
Climate Watch – Summer Season – May 15th-June 15th, 2024 Climate Watch
Climate Watch is sponsored by the National Audubon Society (NAS) & takes place during two distinct seasons—winter (January 15-February 15) and summer (May 15-June 15). Below is the alert for any season (winter or summer) .
Like the Christmas bird count this is a chance to help create “citizen science” for birds. Climate Watch focuses on these target species: Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Painted Bunting, Eastern Towhee, and Spotted Towhee.
These birds are easy to identify, have an enthusiastic constituency, and Audubon’s climate models for these species offer strong predictions for range shifts for us to test. In future years, Climate Watch may include additional target species threatened by climate change. We believe that western bluebird and painted bunting are not normally in SD. All the other birds occur in all or parts of SD.
Visit this page to see where these birds are in SD, and which are near you:
https://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_main.htm
Location Climate Watch focuses on areas of predicted change for these 12 species at each location across the continent. Audubon provides volunteers with online mapping tools with a grid of 10 km x 10 km squares showing species-specific predictions for each square based on the climate models. A Climate Watch Coordinator can help select your location and survey square. If you are participating on your own, use the online maps to decide in which square to do your surveys. You will be able to see which squares are already “claimed”.
How to count Volunteers should first make sure to read through all of the materials including the full protocol manual. The Climate Watch protocol is different than any other birding program. Then using the planning done with the online maps, volunteers survey appropriate habitat for the target species within a square and conduct 12 point counts of five minutes each within one morning, then record the number and species of all birds seen or heard within 100 meters. Participants send the data to the National Audubon Society.
How data will be used Audubon’s 2019 climate change report, ‘Survival By Degrees, – https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees – reveals that up to two-thirds of North American birds are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change. For example, the beautiful Mountain Bluebird is vulnerable because in the vast majority of its summer range, the climate conditions that this bird needs—temperature, amount of rainfall, and other environmental factors—will shift northward and eastward. This bird may be able to move into new areas over time, or it may struggle to adapt. To test the report’s predictions, Audubon has developed Climate Watch, which aims to document species’ responses to climate change and test Audubon’s climate models by having volunteers in the field look for birds where Audubon’s climate models predict they will be in the 2020s. This information helps Audubon target our conservation work to protect birds. See the Climate Watch results page here to see our early reports and results from the data received by Climate Watch volunteers so far!
Link to the Climate-watch program on the National Audubon Society web page
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch
Climate watch instructions for participants
https://www.audubon.org/news/participant-resources-climate-watch
Climate watch for beginners webinar, – this has much of the same info as our November meeting
https://audubon.zoom.us/rec/share/xe9NAZTe6WVOf7fz2kbRAYAQMI66eaa8hCFL_fNZn0k3a8uNjHkvp4-EZzq7vlq_?startTime=1588186808000

Wharf Ground Water Discharge Plan Renewal and Water Quality Variance review- Intervenor filing deadline
2024-06-17 22:50 - 22:59
Wharf Ground Water Discharge Plan Renewal and Water Quality Variance review- Intervenor filing deadline

Wharf Ross Valley
Ground Water Discharge Plan Renewal and Water Quality Variance review.
Lawrence County
6/17/2024

Quote from DANR:
“Any interested person may file a petition to initiate a contested case and request a hearing on the Ground Water Discharge Plan renewal and the Department’s recommendation pursuant to the Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 74:50:02 within 30 days of publication of this notice. If no petition to initiate a contested case is filed during the 30-day public notice period, the Department’s recommendations on the Ground Water Discharge Plan renewal will become final at the close of this 30-day period.”..
Any person desiring further information may contact Matt Hicks at the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water Quality Program, Phone: 605.773.3351;
Public notice – https://danr.sd.gov/officeofwater/surfacewaterquality/pn/2024RossValleyGWDPPublicNotice.pdf
Application
https://danr.sd.gov/officeofwater/surfacewaterquality/pn/2024RossValleyGWDPApplication.pdf
Staff Report
https://danr.sd.gov/officeofwater/surfacewaterquality/pn/2024RossValleyGWDPTechnicalReviewAnalysis.pdf
Conditions:
https://danr.sd.gov/officeofwater/surfacewaterquality/pn/2024RossValleyGWDPPermitDocumentDRAFT.pdf

Deadline to Comment on Nebraska Game and Parks proposed rule changes to Mt. Lion season
2024-06-19 11:50 - 11:59
Wednesday June 19th, at 1 pm CT, is the deadline to submit written comments on Nebraska Game and Park’s proposed rule changes to its’ mt. lion seasons in Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Wildcat Hills Units. Go to our events calendar web page for Thursday June 20- Friday 21 for more information. Thursday/Friday are the dates the Commission will be meeting & that is where we have put the details.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission June 20-21st, 2024 meeting

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission June 20-21st, 2024 meeting
2024-06-20 08:00 - 2024-06-21 17:00
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has a June 20-21st 2024 meeting at Ogallala
RESULTS:
https://outdoornebraska.gov/about/press-events/news/commissioners-approve-a-2025-mountain-lion-season/

Meeting at Petrified Wood Gallery, 418 E 1st St.,Ogallala, NE, 69153
Visit this web site when close to the date for the agenda. At this site the Commission agenda is posted online before each meeting. and minutes from previous meetings also are posted after each meeting.
https://outdoornebraska.gov/about/notices/public-notices/
Friday’s agenda, (hearing for Mt lion season at about 8:30 am CT))
https://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024_JUNE_GeneralMeetingAgenda.pdf
Thursday’s afternoon agenda (information meeting )
https://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-APRIL-Information-Meeting-Agenda-General.pdf
Send comments to – sheri henderson <sheri.henderson@nebraska.gov>, Hearing contact phone
402-471-5539
Sheri Henderson, Division of Administration, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 North 33rd, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503 The written comment period will close at 1 pm CT on June 19th, 2024 – you can still testify in person on Friday.
There is also an on-line petition about adding cigar hunting at Wildcat Hills at:
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-sport-hunting-mountain-lions-Wildcats
Here is a copy of PHAS comment letter:
https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/nebraska-Mt-lion-2024_FP2.pdf
We suggest folks object to scheduling hunting in Niobrara and WildCat Hills before a formal population estimate has been done. We suggest folks object to the harvest caps set for all 3 units as too high. We write about this in our letter.
We watch the Nebraska Game and Parks around June, as in this month they often propose new mountain lion hunting season. Here are their proposed changes for 2024, Amendments to Title 163, Admin. Code Chapt. 4, – Regulations Wildlife, Section 037 on Mountain lions.
For mountain lions I think these are the existing rules:
Current rule title 163:
file:///Users/mac/Downloads/163%20NAC%204%20(05-05-2024)-4.pdf
Explanat0ry statement of reasons to proposed rule changes
file:///Users/mac/Downloads/3610d934-9605-4b98-b740-81b6f045a9d0.pdf
Here is a link to find other related docs
https://rules.nebraska.gov/docket
Here is a link to review the Booklet that Nebraska Game and Parks created on this years Mountain lion population information.
https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/NE.Mountain-Lion-Booklet-June-2024.pdf
It looks like they are proposing increasing the harvest limit at the Pine Ridge Unit from 4 any sex/2 females to 12 any sex/6 females (triple increase) , looks like increasing Niobrara Unit from 2 any sex/1 female to 4 any sex/2 females (double increase) and adding a new unit at WildCat Hills to 3 any sex/2 females. That appears in the sheet on explanation of rule changes. This seems like excessive increases.
We, in SD, care very much about NE cougar hunting as the Pine Ridge Ecosystem exists in 3 states – Wyoming, NE and SD. Also 3 of the Reservations in southern SD, that have mountain lions, are north of various NE mt. lion populations (Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Missouri River) and we expect that dispersal from NE helps SD reservation populations.
There is a shorter afternoon meeting on afternoon of 20th and a longer meeting on 21st. The public hearing is on the second day, mountain lions at about 8:30 am CT.
For community for people who care about Nebraska lions – visit Colin Croft of Gering Nebraska, Facebook page “Nebraskans Living with Mountain Lions”. He has a petition opposing the new hunting unit at Wildcat Hills.
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/426003722258026>

Annual Great Plains Conservation Network Meeting & Tour of Southern Plains Land Trust - Colorado
2024-06-20 13:00 - 2024-06-21 17:00
This year’s annual GPCN Steering Committee Meeting will take place on June 20-21 at Heartland Ranch in southeastern Colorado. Heartland is a 43,000-acre nature preserve protected by the Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT). Located 35 miles southwest of Lamar in Bent County,
Heartland is home to a growing conservation herd of American bison, as well as a reintroduction site for the critically endangered black-footed ferret. SPLT looks forward to welcoming you to Heartland to experience the beauty and expansiveness of Colorado’s shortgrass prairie!
We are unsure of meeting times, having not seen an agenda, so we just guessed at meeting start/end times on the 2 days
There will be a tour of the preserve on morning of 21st at 8 am -12 pm
GPCN Annual Meeting and Tour of Southern Plains Land Trust

Documentary shown - "On Common Ground"
2024-06-22 18:00 - 21:30
Documentary shown – “On Common Ground” at the Dahl Fine Arts Center, Rapid City,
This movie is a screening of a new documentary about regenerative farming.
Event presented by Isaak Walton League, supported by Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Black Hills Environmental Protection. Social at 6 pm, movie at 7 pm MT. We are not sure how many hours into the evening the event will last.

Deadline to comment on SD ambient air quality monitoring plan
2024-06-22 22:50 - 22:59
DANR develops an annual ambient air monitoring network plan which is a review of the ambient air monitoring network each year. The 2024 Annual Plan is open for public comment through June 22, 2024.
Link to proposed Ambient Air Monitoring Annual plan, https://danr.sd.gov/Environment/AirQuality/AirMonitoring/docs/Annual%20Plan%202024.pdf
Link to submit comments
https://danr.sd.gov/public/comment.aspx?d_comment=06/22/2024&name=South%20Dakota%27s%202024%20Ambient%20Air%20Monitoring%20Annual%20Plan&pntype=aq_nplan&description=DANR%20develops%20an%20annual%20ambient%20air%20monitoring%20network%20plan%20which%20is%20a%20review%20of%20the%20ambient%20air%20monitoring%20network%20each%20year.%20%20The%202024%20Annual%20Plan%20is%20open%20for%20public%20comment%20through%20June%2022,%202024.
We are not sure of the time of day for the deadline, but assume it is midnight Central Time.

Deadline for petitions contesting the BME recommendation on bentonite mine - Bentonite Performance Minerals, LLC
2024-06-25 22:50 - 22:59
Quote from DANR public notice: https://danr.sd.gov/Press/docs/publicnotices/MineralsMining/BPMSecurityNOF2.pdf
“Bentonite Performance Minerals, LLC, 554 US Highway 212, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
57717, hereby gives notice that an application for a permit to mine bentonite has been filed
with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for its proposed
Security Project. …
The application is available for review at the Minerals, Mining, and Superfund Program, 523
East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota, or on the Minerals, Mining, and Superfund web
page at http://danr.sd.gov/Environment/MineralsMining/Exploration/NewMinePermits.aspx.
The application is also available for public review at the Butte County Register of Deeds
office in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Comments may be submitted in writing or online at
http://danr.sd.gov/public/default.aspx. Written objections to, statements in support of, or
petitions to intervene and become a party to the proceedings pursuant to ARSD 74:29:01:09
must be filed with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources no later than June 4,
2024. Information about the contents of a petition can be found in ARSD 74:09:01:01 at
https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/26972.
The permit will be issued by the department if no petitions to intervene are received and if the
department’s recommendation is for approval or conditional approval. The department will
issue its recommendation on June 18, 2024. If no petitions contesting the recommendation
are received within seven days after the issuance of the recommendation, the department’s
recommendation will become effective June 25, 2024. The permit application will be
approved, conditionally approved, or denied accordingly.
Persons desiring further information may contact Eric Holm, Minerals, Mining, and Superfund
Program, at (605) 773-4201
Application:
https://danr.sd.gov/Environment/MineralsMining/Exploration/NewMinePermits.aspx
https://danr.sd.gov/Environment/MineralsMining/Exploration/docs/BPMSecurityMinePermitApp1.pdf
We are not sure of time-of-day for deadline to file, but we assume before midnight Central Time

Comment Deadline on Furbearer Season (mountain lions & beaver), ND
2024-06-25 23:30 - 23:59
There is actually no specific day for the deadline to comment to ND on their furbearer regulations except – “late June”, so I just picked June 25th, for late June. The Department sends recommendations to the Governor who issues a proclamation about the hunting seasons in mid July.
ND has a 365 day (year long) beaver trapping season statewide.
You send your comments to Stephanie Tucker – <satucker@nd.gov>
Current regulations for cougars- To view map: https://gf.nd.gov/hunting/mountain-lion
To read cougar regulations: https://gf.nd.gov/regulations/small-combined#spp-mountain-lion
To read beaver regulations: https://gf.nd.gov/regulations/small-combined#spp-beaver

Elaine Ebbert Wonder-Crawl at Dugout Gulch, BHNF, Wyoming, a tributary east of Sand Creek
2024-06-29 09:30 - 14:00
This is an annual Norbeck Society event – the 15th year it happens. June 29th. 9:30 am
Prepare for several hours of easy walking with many stops. Bring your own snacks, lunch, and beverages, sunscreen, good hiking footwear, and plant books. Distance 1 – 5 miles. No dogs please. Dugout Gulch is a Black Hills National Forest Botanical Area home to unique relic boreal plants. Dugout Gulch is a tributary of Sand Creek located to the east of Sand Creek in the BHNF. As boreal forests retreated northward after the Ice Age, moist, cool areas like Dugout Gulch became holdouts for these unique plant communities known as “boreal disjuncts”.
PLEASE RSVP: info@norbecksociety.com
DIRECTIONS: From Spearfish, SD, or Sundance, WY, take I-90 to Exit 205 at Beulah. Meet at the Beulah gas station at 9:30. Caravan will leave at 9:35. It may take at least 20 minutes to drive to Dugout Gulch, due to speed limit on gravel roads

We have no idea how long the hike will last, but announcement says ” several hours” so we chose 2:00 pm as a guess for the hike’s ending time, which gives it a 4 hours duration.

Deadline to Vote for the Norbeck Society in Thriving Communities Initiative poll
2024-06-30 23:50 - 23:59
The Deadline is before July 1st.
Norbeck Society friends and members are strongly encouraged to go to Thriving Communities Initiative – Black Hills Area Community Foundation (bhacf.org) and vote for “Beautiful Black Hills” which, if chosen, gives the Norbeck Society an avenue to pursue a grant.
The Norbeck Society steering committee has met with the BHACF to discuss funding opportunities for the Norbeck Society. Our opportunities will be enhanced if “Beautiful Black Hills” is the chosen emphasis.
The Norbeck Society works to protect the Black Hills from unsustainable cutting by the BHNF, a goal that PHAS supports.
We are not sure if the deadline is COB on June 30th or just before midnight, but we are quesing at a midnight deadline

Comment Deadline, BHNF Vegetation Management Project, Antelope Canyon
2024-07-03 23:50 - 23:59
Decision Memo was signed on July 11th, 8 days after close of comment period.
file:///Users/mac/Downloads/Decision_Memo_Signed_AntelopeCanyon20240711.pdf
Quotes from FS scoping packet:

“The Antelope Canyon project area is located approximately 15 miles south of the city of Custer, SD,
and 7 miles northwest of Hot Springs, SD. The eastern boundary of the project area borders Wind
Cave National Park,”

“This project is designed to create and maintain a wildfire resilient and sustainable forest with a
combination of non-commercial and commercial treatments designed to protect communities
by lowering the intensity, severity, and effects of a wildland fire while providing a healthy forest
and continuing to provide wildlife habitat.”

“The Antelope Canyon project area lies within Management Area
5.4 Big Game Winter Range Emphasis as identified in the Black Hills Land and Resource
Management Plan”

“The project area is designated as Fire Regime Condition Class 1: vegetation patterns and time
between wildfires resemble pre-settlement characteristics.”

Comment Deadline, BHNF Vegetation Management Project, Antelope Canyon, Hells Canyon District.
Scoping comments are most useful if arrive by July 3rd, 2024. For more information: https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/folder/267037239673

The preferred method to submit comments is via the “Comment/Object on Project” link on the project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=66307. The project’s website is also a way to view a larger map of the project. Other ways to comment include by phone, 605-673-9200, or you can hand-deliver or mail your comments to the District office at 1019 N. 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730.

SD Game, Fish and Parks July Hybrid Commission Meeting
2024-07-11 12:00 - 2024-07-12 12:00
SD Game, Fish & Parks Commission’s July Meeting is in Sioux Falls, Thursday-Friday, July 11-12th, 2024, at Good Earth State Park,
Results – Mt Lions:
The GFP staff presented the Draft Mt. Lion Action Plan and a powerpoint about their mt. lion public opinion survey. The draft Action Plan did not change the population objective of 200-300. It did not recommend hound hunting in the Black Hills Fire Protection District (BHFPD) outside of Custer State Park.
We believe that the draft Action Plan is available for public comment and will be writing talking points on that in the future. We wish a reduction in hound hunting of lions and a reduction in the year round unlimited harvest in the Prairie Unit (Statewide outside of BHFPD), with a recognition of need for sustainable populations on Oglala and Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s reservations. Due to various Allotment Acts Tribal lands can contain checker board land ownership patterns, with SDGFP having jurisdiction over parts of the checker board.
Results- Turkey
The Commission rejected a petition to lower the non-resident turkey hunting licenses, but instead redid the spring turkey season proposal to reduce the non-resident turkey hunting licenses, but with a more modest reduction in number of licenses.
===============
Folks can testify for 3 minutes at 2 pm CT in person or by Zoom or phone. Visit this web page closer to the meeting date, for more details: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/

Agenda https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Agenda_-_July_2024_Public_Copy.pdf

Commission Book – written material discussed at the meet is in the Commission book
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/July_2024_Commission_Book.pdf

There are proposals for changes to bobcat hunting season, spring and fall turkey hunting, antelope hunting, air gun use, and park entrance licenses. The proposals can be found in the July Commission Book.

We had anticipated that the SDGFP staff would bring forward a new draft Mountain Lion Action Plan for an approximate 60 day comment period, with comments due in early Sept (see our Sept Commission meeting event notices for Sept. 1st & Sept 5th-6th). There is a draft Mt Lion Action Plan in the Commission book and on the agenda as an information item.
We also anticipated that the GFP staff would be submitting a proposal for new cougar hunting season rules that would apply to the Black Hills Fire Protection District (outside Custer state Park) & would allow some small amount of hound hunting of cougars in the BHFPD – with comments due in early Sept. They did not do so and did not propose that change in the draft Action Plan. We don’t know what that means, if they have dropped the idea, will take direction from the Commission or are planning to bring it up in September. If you look at the public comments, advocates for hound hunting were organized to submit pro-hound hunting comments.
We urge people to object hound hunting of wildlife (not just cougars – bobcats are also hunting with hounds) & you can testify/comment against it at any of many Commission meetings, but especially July 11th & September 5th.
You can object due to 1. animal cruelty to both dogs and lions, 2. not fair chase, 3. provides huge advantage of success for hound hunters vs “boot” hunters – there are many more “boot” hunters than hound hunters 4. creates trespass risk, 5. disturbs non-target wildlife, livestock and other human users, 6. contributes to commercialization of wildlife, as folks can hire hound hunter guides to significantly increase hunting success.

SD GFP normally meets on the first Thursday-Friday of the month, unless those days are close to a holiday and then the meeting week may shift. They normally don’t meet in February and August.
Written comments can be submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the next meeting, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting) If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting.
You can testify at GFP meetings which are held in person and by Zoom, generally at 2 pm on the Thursday of the meeting, in time zone of the meeting. If there is rule finalization(s) you get 3 minutes per each rule you want to testify on. During the Open Forum, you get 3 minutes to testify on anything.
Unless you want to communicate directly with each Commissioner (those comments will not be in the public record)– https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ (no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link. Here are likely e-mails for them.
“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” <Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us>, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” <Jon.Locken@state.sd.us>, “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” <Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” <Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us>, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” <Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us> or Julia.Bartling@state.sd.us, “charles.spring@state.sd.us” <charles.spring@state.sd.us> ,
The two new commissioners e-mails likely are:
Jim.White@state.sd.us or James.White@state.sd.us, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us

Meeting on F3 Gold Exploration near Custer
2024-07-16 17:30 - 19:30
There is a meeting arranged by opponents of F3 Gold Exploration, near Custer SD. The exploration has been approved – the Forest Service issued a Decision Memo to approve exploration, in later June 2024 and the exploration will occur on Forest Service lands
The meeting is at 5:30 pm at the Custer Library.
We actually don’t know how long the meeting will last and we don’t know who is arranging it, but we were told about it, by BHCWA.

Black Hills National Forest - Advisory Board Meeting - CANCELLED
2024-07-17 13:30 - 16:30
Black Hills National Forest – Advisory Board July 2024 meeting IS CANCELLED
It likely would have been at Mystic Ranger District from 1 pm to 4:30 pm.
New terms for NFAB members have begun, but the members have not yet been appointed for new term.
Check for updates: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=stelprdb5114550

Beaver dam analog building project, northern Black Hills -
2024-07-20 09:00 - 2024-07-21 16:00
Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21st. Join Black Hills Fly Fishers to help build beaver dam analogs in Silver Creek. Join for for as many hours/days as you can. Some volunteers plan on camping up at Silver Creek Saturday night to work both days.
BDA is an acronym for Beaver Dam Analog, a habitat restoration method utilizing natural products to simulate a real beaver dam. Volunteers will be tasked with hammering stakes into the ground, digging up sod and dirt for patching, and finding small sticks that can be laid down in between to slow the flow of water and expand the water table. The goal is to encourage riparian habitat development through artificial beaver dam installation.
Where? Silver Creek is located just east of Rochford Road a little north of the town of Rochford. Lat Long is: 44.162900, -103.714895.
Estimated time from Spearfish and Rapid City are both about 1 hour and 15 minutes. See map in discussion for directions. The road to the site is a little rough so a car/truck with some clearance is recommended.
Directions
From Rapid City

Take Hwy 44 to Hwy 385.
At 385 take a right. Travel 11.8 miles on 385 to the Custer Crossing Rd intersection.
Turn left on Custer Crossing Rd.
Travel about 4.8 miles and then turn left on Minnesota Ridge (Forest Service Road 203.1C)
Travel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.
Follow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.

From Spearfish

Take I-90 to Deadwood
Take exit 17 and travel to Deadwood
In Deadwood continue on Pioneer Way to 85 Bypass towards Central City
Continue on 14A past Lead.
About 4 miles south of Lead take a left onto North Rochford Road
Travel about 9.5 miles on North Rochford Road and then take a left onto Custer Crossing Rd.
Travel about 1.4 miles on Custer Crossing and then take a right onto Minnesota Ridge (Forest Service Road 203.1C).
Travel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.
Follow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.

When?
Saturday July 20th from 9am to 4pm and Sunday July 21st 9 am to 4pm. Volunteers are invited on both days and can attend both days or just attend one day. BHFF appreciate any help people can give. Volunteer check in will begin at 8:30 am and a quick orientation and demonstration will start at 9:00 am each day. If folks need to leave early that is okay, we just ask that everyone make it to the volunteer orientation at 9:00 am.
Please let BHFF know that you plan to attend- email us at blackhillsflyfishers@gmail.com to let BHFF know

Pennington County Planning Commission hearing on Wind/Solar Farm west of Badlands NP
2024-07-22 09:00 - 13:00
Pennington County Planning Commissioners Meeting
Monday, July 22 at 9:00 am

Pennington County Administration Building in the Commissioners Meeting Room Downstairs
130 Kansas City Street

The people that own the old Lemley Ranch are wanting to put in a wind and solar farm south of Buzz Johnson’s and on Highway 44 northwest and west of mile marker 75.
It is estimated that this will be near Imlay, Conata, & Interior which is west of Badlands National Park.

There is a hearing on this request July 22nd at 9 am. Meeting starts at 9 am, but the wind/solar facilities are the 13 and 14th items on the agenda, just after consent calendar items – we have no idea how long it takes to get through consent calendar, but Wind/Solar project won’t be up exactly at 9 am. You can call the planning dept. for an estimate of when it would be discussed.
https://www.pennco.org/vertical/sites/%7B94B870DC-F4F5-409E-B25D-A72449C5D7C0%7D/uploads/07-22-24.pdf
Packet for meeting. Discussion of project is from page 92 to the end (over 200 pages)
https://www.pennco.org/vertical/sites/%7B94B870DC-F4F5-409E-B25D-A72449C5D7C0%7D/uploads/07-22-24_PC_Packet.pdf
Link to map of Pennington with one of the three parcels involved highlighted in blue
——————–
13. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT / COCU 24-0022: Yarotek, LLC; Mark Tippett – Agent.
To allow a utility-scale solar energy system in an Agriculture District in accordance with
the Pennington County Zoning Ordinance.
SE1/4 of Section 12, T1S, R11E; E1/2SW1/4, Lot 3-4; SE1/4 of Section 7; T1S, R12E;
and GL 1-4; E1/2W1/2; E1/2 of Section 18, T1S, R12E, BHM, Pennington County,
South Dakota.
14. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT / COCU 24-0023: Yarotek, LLC; Mark Tippett – Agent.
To allow a utility-scale wind energy system in an Agriculture District in accordance with
the Pennington County Zoning Ordinance.
SE1/4 of Section 12, T1S, R11E; E1/2SW1/4, Lot 3-4; SE1/4 of Section 7; T1S, R12E;
and GL 1-4; E1/2W1/2; E1/2 of Section 18, T1S, R12E, BHM, Pennington County,
South Dakota.

Bioblitz for counting Bumble bees
2024-07-23 00:00
Please join other volunteers for the 6th Annual Backyard bumble bee count will take place July 23-August 1, 2024! Each bumble bee record submitted during the Backyard Bumble Bee Count helps researchers learn more about how bumble bees are doing and how to protect them and the environment we share. All observations collected July 23- August 1 will be included. You need ani naturalist member acccount to participate. Visit web site for details: https://backyardbbcount.wixsite.com/bumblebeecount
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/backyard-bumble-bee-count

Tree protection event, beaver/human conflict mitigation, Rapid City,
2024-07-27 09:00 - 16:00
Tree damage mitigation along Rapid Creek in Rapid City, Event sponsored by Black Hills Fly Fishers (BHFF)
Join BHFF July 27th to paint trees with sandy paint to deter beaver from killing specific trees. This is for mitigation of beaver/human conflicts and also habitat restoration.
Civic Center parking lot, east side. 9am. For info: blackhillsflyfishers@gmail.com

Deadline to comment on SDGFP's draft Antelope Action Plan
2024-08-14 22:50 - 22:59
Deadline 8/14/24 to comment on SDGFP’s draft Antelope Action Plan
Pronghorn Antelope Action Plan
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is seeking comments on a draft Pronghorn Antelope Action Plan.
The draft Pronghorn Antelope Action plan, 2024-2028, is a document that will be used by GFP to guide pronghorn antelope management in South Dakota through identified management objectives and measurable strategies to meet those management objectives. All individuals interested in pronghorn antelope management in South Dakota may provide suggestions and comments on the action plan by August 14, 2024.
The draft Pronghorn Antelope Action Plan can be found here.
Draft Action Plan:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Pronghorn_ActionPlan_June_2024.pdf

Written comments on the plan can be sent to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D. 57501, or submitted online. Comments must be received by the deadline and include your full name and city of residence.
On-line form: https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/

South Dakota Wildlife Federation Annual Board Meeting, Rapid City
2024-08-16 17:00 - 2024-08-17 21:00
South Dakota Wildlife Federation (SDWF) Annual Board Meeting, Rapid City Saturday Aug 17th
Saturday night there will be a banquet and small auction. All SDWF or Black Hills Sportsmen (BHSM ) members are free to attend, The door will open at 6pm at the Hilton Garden Inn. There will be door prizes and conservation awards will be given. RSVP is required for Saturday. blackhillssportsmenclub@gmail.com
BHSM will also be sponsoring a cocktail hour Friday night 5 pm, Aug 16th, for the the SDWF board members at the Hilton Garden Inn bar. Members can attend that event also and meet the board members that spend a lot of time on issues that are important to SDWF and BHSM

Comment deadline to SDGFP on draft Mountain Lion Action Plan
2024-08-16 22:00 - 22:59
August 16th is the written comment deadline for SDGFP on their draft Mountain Lion Action Plan, however the Commission will make the decision on it at their Sept 5-6th Commission meeting. There are other later opportunities for written & oral comments associated with that meeting.
See also our calendar’s notice of July 10th-11th and September Commission meetings Sept 5th-6th for more details – click on the event notices on those dates. We include action alerts in meeting notices – https://phas-wsd.org/events-alerts/
Mountain Lion Action Plan
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is seeking comments on a draft Mountain Lion Action Plan.
At the July Commission meeting they reviewed a draft Mountain Lion Action Plan, which was to be put out for public comment. Info at this link https://gfp.sd.gov/management-plans/. To view draft Mountain Lion Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/MtLion-ActionPlangfp.July_2024_Commission_Book-3.pdf
“The draft Mountain Lion Action plan, 2024-2028, is a document that will be used by GFP to guide mountain lion management in South Dakota through identified management objectives and measurable strategies to meet those management objectives. All individuals interested in mountain lion management in South Dakota may provide suggestions and comments on the action plan by August 16, 2024.”
Written comments on the plan can be sent to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D. 57501, or submitted online. https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/

Here is a copy of the letter that PHAS sent in on August 16th on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/PHAS-Comments-on-the-Mountain-Lion-Action-Plan-.pdf
Here is a copy of the letter that PHAS sent on Sept 1st on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/gfp.PHAS_.2nd-Letter-Mt-Lion-Action-Plan.pdf
Here is a copy of a set of handouts that PHAS gave the Commission during public testimony on the draft Action Plans: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/cover-letter_ActionPlans6.pdf
Go to Sept 1st event notice to see all comments received by Commission
GFP says comments must be received by the deadline (8/16/24) and include your full name and city of residence.
We suggest there is actually a second & later deadline of Sept 1st, which is the deadline to send written comments to the Commission before the Commission meeting, at which they will make decisions on the Action Plan.
The important part is the strategies and objectives on the last few pages (pages 10-11).
We may have an informal meeting to discuss this plan and bobcat season before Sept 5th. Contact Nancy if interested in attending: nhilshat@rapidnet.com, 605-787-6466.
TALKING POINTS
We thank the staff and the C0mmission for deciding not to expand hound hunting of lions to the Black Hills Fire Protection District outside of Custer State Park, but we fear that the hound hunters will continue to relentlessly push for this.
However, we always

Object to the 365 day – year round hunting season on the Statewide/Prairie Unit – which is all of SD that is outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District (BHFPD).
We object to hound hunting of lions on Custer State Park and the Statewide/Prairie Unit.

Viable Populations on Reservations
SD GFP does not manage for viable populations outside of the BHFPD. We believe that SDGFP should managed for viable populations of mountain lions at least on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations, as both tribes manage for viable populations and due to historic Allotment Acts, reservation properties in SD can be checker boarded with mixed tribal and Caucasian ownership. GFP has jurisdiction over properties with Caucasian ownership.
GFP should provide for connectivity corridors between the Black Hills with Reservation properties, as small populations need immigrant lions to refresh population genetics.
GFP should have a goal to cooperate with tribal governments to estimate populations of mt. lions within the checker board of tribal/state jurisdictions on Reservations.
Pro-Hunting Bias
We suggest folks read Goal 2 on the 11th page. We object to this goal in the Plan at the eleventh page: “Objective 2: Manage mountain lion populations for both maximum and quality recreational hunting opportunities, considering all social and biological inputs.”
The word “maximum” should be dropped and/or the entire sentence rewritten. We suggest this clause makes human recreation dominant over ecology. It does not adequately balance the ecological benefits of mountain lions, an apex predator and keystone species with benefits of human recreation. SD has an endangered species act and thus the legislature does not wish for populations of any native species to become extirpated.
Wildlife watchers exceed hunters in USFWS studies and a “harvested” lion or it’s tracks are not available for watching. Wildlife watchers exceed hunters in USFWS study that counts wildlife associated recreators nationwide at-home and away from home. ( Visit: https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/document/id/2321/ and go to Table 2 on page 48 & Table 6 on page 51).
SD is in the West North Central area, which has 16,677,887 persons, who are 16 years or older. 9% of these folks (or 1,518,281 persons) hunted. 58% of these folks (or 9,744.740 persons) wildlife watched. Some people did both. Of the wildlife watchers – 4,624,145 wildlife watched away from home (28% of all persons) & 9,664,190 wildlife watched around home (58% of all persons). Some people did both.
The locally generated statistics the SDGFP uses for number of wildlife watchers vs. hunters in SD, does not count wildlife watchers at home, while it counts hunters at home – thus it is unfairly biased/inadequate. (Link to the Southwick study: SD-Fish-Wildlife-Boating-Economics-Southwick-6-30-22.pdf) This 2017 study at page 25, table 29 shows 173,825 wildlife watchers (residents – 89,277 persons & non-resident -84,548 persons). All are only watching away from home. At page 8, table 1 the study shows 103,619 resident hunters & 112,174 non-resident hunters or 215,793 total hunters. It does not delete at home hunting.
So the USFWS finds the number of hunters are only 15% of the number of wildlife watchers but the 2017 Southwick study found wildlife watchers are just 80% of the hunters. USFWS is only counting the west north central region’s people and Southwick is counting SD residents and non-residents. Southwick does not count at home wildlife watchers, but USFWS does and in so doing more than doubles the wildlife watchers.
Various studies show over-hunting of lions creates more mt. lion v. human/livestock conflicts. See You-tube video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_ZD-PAKhSo
Hunting Regulation Complexity
We also object to this clause: “minimize regulation complexity”. The Department in past has used the goal of simple hunting regulations to oppose changes to regulations designed to address animal cruelty issues. We assume they could also
use this goal of simplicity to oppose changes needed for ecological reasons, as maximizing hunting is “king”
OLDER MT LION PLAN
There is also an older Mountain Lion Management Plan from 2019 that will more detail on mt. lions for reference: https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/docs/LionPlan_FINAL_2019.pdf

He Sapa Tribal Mining Summit
2024-08-20 08:30 - 2024-08-22 17:00
He Sapa Tribal Mining – Protecting the Black Hills From Mining – Summit
The basic information is that it’s on August 20 – 22
at Storm Mountain Retreat Center near Rockerville.
More details are pending.
We are just guessing at the time-of-day for the event.
Check Black Hills Clean Water Alliance web site or facebook pages for updates.
When we learn more, we will post it here.

Deadline to comment on SDGFP's species list for revision of Wildlife Action Plan
2024-08-20 22:50
Wildlife Action Plan
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) is seeking comments on a draft species list associated with the South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan.
The South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan was last updated in 2015 and is revised every 10 years. This strategic planning document is designed to address the needs of South Dakota’s important habitats and representative plant and animal species. An approved Wildlife Action Plan maintains South Dakota’s eligibility for a federal funding match source called State Wildlife Grants.
Wildlife action plans focus on “species of greatest conservation need” but also address broader wildlife issues that can impact species and habitats. GFP has revised the state list of species of greatest conservation need and welcomes feedback on the draft list. The list includes rare species, but also species for which South Dakota constitutes an important part of the species’ range or represents a unique or declining habitat.
Learn more about the South Dakota Wildlife Action Plan and the current revision process here. The draft species list can be found at the Wildlife Action Plan website and the management plan revisions site here.
Feedback on the draft species list for the Wildlife Action Plan Revision 2025 will be accepted through August 20, 2024.
Written comments can be sent to Wildlife Action Plan Revision Comments, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D. 57501, or emailed to swapcomments@state.sd.us. Comments must include your full name and city of residence and be received by the deadline.

Wild 12 - 1 2 TH W O R L D W I L D E R N ESS CONGRESS - Rapid City, SD
2024-08-25 17:00 - 2024-08-31 17:30
Wild 12 – The 12th World Wilderness Congress, held in Rapid City, both at the Dahl and the “Monument (Civic Center)”
here’s the link for the event: https://wild.org/wild12/
To download document with information on speakers and schedule (the schedule is on page 18-31)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bl83-tt0Hc7v6-FVeNeQBMPQ56fw78Fg/view
It starts on Sunday the 25th of August at 5 pm and ends at Saturday evening on the 31st of August at 5:30 pm.
Saturday 8/31/24 is at Fine Arts Theater of the Monument (Civic Center) 8-5:30 pm and “delegates reconvene to vote on/adopt WILD12’s resolutions and set the global wilderness conservation agenda for the next 4-5 years.”
Events are at both “the Monument” (Rapid City’s Civic Center) and at the Dahl Fine Arts Center, you need to check out the schedule to view all the events, times and locations.
A quote from the announcement of event:
“This Congress was convened at the invitation of Philimon Two Eagle. In October 2022, he spoke on behalf of the Oceti Sakowin and asked WILD to “bring the world to the Black Hills so that they can listen to the Lakota speak” about the interconnected burdens of environmental degradation and colonialism.
Philimon’s invitation also presented WILD and the global wilderness community with a unique opportunity to hold a sector-wide, cross-cultural, formal dialogue about the term “wilderness:” what it means to conservation and Indigenous Peoples, as well as an objective assessment of its yields, both harmful and beneficial. We embraced this challenge, consulting with numerous Indigenous Peoples who met in working groups and as appointed advisors, to better understand their approach to what conservation calls “wilderness.” What we learned is their terms encompass a far greater swath of reality and the cosmos than what wilderness, at least as it has been defined by governmental bodies, is permitted to be. Terms like Maka Sitomniya (Lakota), Ubuntu (Zulu), and Whanaungatanga (Māori) possess meanings that not only transcend the physical world, but also stretch across time itself….”

CUP for wind/solar facility west of Badlands NP - Pennington City Planning Com
2024-08-26 09:00 - 15:00
The review of the CUP application for a wind and solar facility near Conata Basin was continued from July 22nd to August 26th meetings of the Pennington County Planning Commission. We are not yet sure of the time the CUP will be on the agenda, but we assume the meeting starts at 9 am. Check the Pennington County web site, when closer to the date for the agenda.
https://www.pennco.org/index.asp?SEC=2EDD9723-76E1-440D-99F8-7D7EBA54AF7F&Type=B_BASIC
Go to the PHAS calendar’s July 22nd meeting notice for details. https://phas-wsd.org/event/pennington-county-planning-commission-hearing-on-wind-solar-farm-near-conata-basin/
We were told the meeting room was three/fourth full of people on 7/22/24 who were in opposition to the solar/wind farm. As far as we know, the environmental community did not much know about the CUP being at the July Commission meeting, but the Citizens for Liberty (Tea Party) were very busy organizing against this facility.
Packet for meeting on July 22nd go from page 92 to the end of the packet
https://www.pennco.org/vertical/sites/%7B94B870DC-F4F5-409E-B25D-A72449C5D7C0%7D/uploads/07-22-24_PC_Packet.pdf
——————–
13. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT / COCU 24-0022: Yarotek, LLC; Mark Tippett – Agent.
To allow a utility-scale solar energy system in an Agriculture District in accordance with
the Pennington County Zoning Ordinance.
SE1/4 of Section 12, T1S, R11E; E1/2SW1/4, Lot 3-4; SE1/4 of Section 7; T1S, R12E;
and GL 1-4; E1/2W1/2; E1/2 of Section 18, T1S, R12E, BHM, Pennington County,
South Dakota.
14. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT / COCU 24-0023: Yarotek, LLC; Mark Tippett – Agent.
To allow a utility-scale wind energy system in an Agriculture District in accordance with
the Pennington County Zoning Ordinance.
SE1/4 of Section 12, T1S, R11E; E1/2SW1/4, Lot 3-4; SE1/4 of Section 7; T1S, R12E;
and GL 1-4; E1/2W1/2; E1/2 of Section 18, T1S, R12E, BHM, Pennington County,
South Dakota.

On the map of Pennington County look for a small blue rectangle. That is one of 3 parcels all next to each other, that is the proposed site –

Deadline to send written Comments to SD GFP Commission for September Meeting
2024-09-01 23:50 - 23:59
Before midnight MT is the deadline to send written Comments to SD GFP Commission for their September Meeting.
If folks missed the comment deadlines of August 14th, 16th and 20th on various wildlife action plans, we suggest people still send in comments before this August 1st deadline, as a copy of these comments will still be given to the Commissioners (who make the decisions). Go to those dates on the calendar for alerts. Also go to Sept 5th-6th Commission meeting event item fo more info. Here is PHAS’s comments on the draft Mountain Lion Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/PHAS-Comments-on-the-Mountain-Lion-Action-Plan-.pdf

Written comments can be submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the most immediate meeting, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting) If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting .
Unless you want to communicate directly with each Commissioner (those comments will not be in the public record)– https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ (no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link. Here are likely e-mails for them.

“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” <Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us>, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” <Jon.Locken@state.sd.us>, “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” <Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” <Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us>, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” <Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us>
The three new commissioners e-mails likely are:
Jim.White@state.sd.us, , Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us, Travis.Theel@state.sd.us,

PHAS COMMENT LETTERS FOR TEMPLATES:
Here is a copy of the first letter that PHAS sent in on August 16th on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/PHAS-Comments-on-the-Mountain-Lion-Action-Plan-.pdf
Here is a copy of the second letter that PHAS sent on Sept 1st on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/gfp.PHAS_.2nd-Letter-Mt-Lion-Action-Plan.pdf
Here is a copy of a set of handouts that PHAS gave the Commission during public testimony on the draft Action Plans: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/cover-letter_ActionPlans6.pdf
OTHER LETTERS
Here are a copy of all the short letters about cougars in the Sept 5th-6th public comment file
https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Mt.lion_.ACTION.PLAN_.PublicComment.Sept2024.MERGED.pdf
Here is a copy of all the long formal letters about cougars in the Sept 5th-6th public comment file
https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/LONG.LETTERS1x.PublicComment.Sept2024.SDGFPComm-2.pdf
Here is a copy of the MLF Letter:
https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-08-16-SD-Action-Plan-MLFcomments.pdf

Visit or September 5th-6th Commission meeting event notice for more details
SD Game Fish and Parks Commission Sept Hybrid Meeting- Rapid City

SD Game Fish and Parks Commission Sept Hybrid Meeting- Rapid City
2024-09-05 13:00 - 2024-09-06 12:00
SD Game Fish and Parks Commission September’s Hybrid Meeting is to be in Rapid City, SD
More information will be posted here: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/, but normally when closer to the date (maybe the Friday orvMonday before the meeting.) To see rule change proposals or petitions download the Commission Book once published.
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September 5, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. MT | September 6, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. MTOutdoor Campus West — Rapid City, SD | Livestream link
Zoom Meeting Link | To join via conference call, dial 1.669.900.9128 | Webinar ID: 912 6417 6710 | Passcode: [REDACTED]
September Agenda:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Agenda_-_September_5-6,_2024.pdf
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RESULTS
The Commission adopted the proposed rules. They approved the Antelope Action Plan. They amended the proposed Mt. Lion Action Plan to drop population objectives down from 200-300 lions to 150-250 lions. This will result in overhunting of lions. There will be another 30 day comment period, with changes adopted (or not) at October meeting.
The SDGFP will have an Endangered Species Review on Friday morning, likely after 9 am. This may be the biennial review of the state’s threatened and endangered species list, that is mandated by the legislature. It was expected in July, but this is likely it. The Commission puts or removes species on or off the list as rule making.
RULE CHANGE FINALIZATIONS
In September there will be rule change finalization hearings on spring turkey season, bobcat season and fishing regulations. To view these proposed rules view the Commission Book for the July meeting or the Sept meetings:
JULY
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/July_2024_Commission_Book.pdf
SEPTEMBER
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/September_2024_GFP_Commission_Book.pdf
GFP needs to reduce bobcat hunting in the Black Hills as the bobcat population is dropping below their objectives. They propose to change the unlimited take, to just one bobcat per hunter/trapper in the Black Hills. We support dropping the allowed take per hunter/trapper. Hound hunting of bob cats is allowed and we object to that. Trapping of bob cats is allowed and in SD there is a three and a partial day trap check time requirement. Many states require 24 hour trap check times. We ask for 24 hour trap check times or at least 30 hours as a compromise. Bobcat Action Plan approved this spring https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Bobcat_Management_Action_Plan_2024-2028.pdf
View bobcat season proposal to be approved in Sept: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/bobcatPropgfp.July_2024_Commission_Book-4.pdf
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GFP proposes reductions in out-of-state licenses for spring turkey hunting, to address complaints of in-state hunters over excessive take of turkeys by out-of-state hunters. The reduction offered is less than what the in-state hunters asked for. The South Dakota Wildlife Federation (SDWF) asked for licenses for out-of-state folks to be limited to 22% of the number of total spring turkey licenses or about 661 licenses and the GFP instead offered to limit the number of nonresident licenses to 2,225 one-tag male turkey licenses in the Black Hills hunting unit. SDWF and others express concern for low turkey population numbers.
—
Changes to fish limits at Belle Fourche Reservoir , Lake Oahe salmon snagging and reporting requirements for private fish hatcheries are proposed.
===============
ACTION PLANs
At the July Commission meeting they reviewed a draft Mountain Lion Action Plan, which was to be put out for public comment. The public comment deadline is August 16th. The Commission must act at this meeting to approve the Acton Plan. Info at this link https://gfp.sd.gov/management-plans/. To view draft Mountain Lion Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/MtLion-ActionPlangfp.July_2024_Commission_Book-3.pdf
For talking points see our comments: –
Here is a copy of the first letter that PHAS sent in on August 16th on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/PHAS-Comments-on-the-Mountain-Lion-Action-Plan-.pdf
Here is a copy of the second letter that PHAS sent on Sept 1st on the draft Action Plan: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/gfp.PHAS_.2nd-Letter-Mt-Lion-Action-Plan.pdf
Here is a copy of a set of printed handouts that PHAS gave the Commission during public testimony on the draft Action Plans: https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/cover-letter_ActionPlans6.pdf
PHAS may have an informal discussion meeting by Zoom in an evening just before the Meeting – contact Nancy if you want to attend that – 605-787-6466, has.wsd@rapidnet.com
We always object to the 365 day year round hunting season on the Statewide/Prairie Unit. We object to hound hunting of lions on Custer State Park and the Statewide/Prairie Unit, which is all of SD outside of the Black Hills Fire Protection District (BHFPD). SD GFP does not manage for viable populations outside of the BHFPD. We believe that SDGFP should have objectives for viable populations of mountain lions at least on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations, as both tribes manage for viable populations and due to Allotment Acts reservation properties in SD are checker boarded with mixed tribal and Caucasian ownership. GFP has jurisdiction over properties with Caucasian ownership. It should provide for connectivity corridors between the Black Hills with Reservation properties.
We object to this goal in the Plan at the eleventh page: “Objective 2: Manage mountain lion populations for both maximum and quality recreational hunting opportunities, considering all social and biological inputs.” SD has an endangered species act and thus the legislature does not wish for populations of any native species to become extirpated. We suggest this clause does not adequately balance the ecological benefits of mountain lions, an apex predator and keystone species with benefits of human recreation. Wildlife watchers exceed hunters in USFWS studies and their recreational needs also matter. The word “maximum” should be dropped.

While the formal public comment period on the Plan ends August 16, you can still send in written public comment for the Commission meeting by Sept 1st & testify at the meeting.
============
Public Comments Received
The Public Comments can be found in the Commission Book . The public comments start at page 101 and go on for about 100 pages. Comments on the Mt Lion Action Plan take up about 48 pages of 101. The long formal letters written by groups are at the end of the public comments:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/September_2024_GFP_Commission_Book.pdf
Written comments for the Commission could have been submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the most immediate Commission meeting, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting) If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting. We believe if you hand them comments directly, in person at the meeting, they are included in the meeting’s record.
You can testify at GFP meetings which are held in person and by Zoom, generally at 2 pm on the Thursday of the meeting, in time zone of the meeting. If there is rule finalization(s) you get 3 minutes per each rule you want to testify on. During the Open Forum, you get 3 minutes to testify on anything. To conduct the public hearing and/or open forum as efficiently as possible GFP asks those wishing to testify to register by 1:00 pm CT by email to Liz.Kierl@state.sd.us. However they are polite and at the end of each commenting period, normally ask if anyone who didn’t register wants to testify.
Unless you want to communicate directly with each Commissioner (those comments will not be in the public record)– https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ (no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link. Here are likely e-mails for them.

“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” <Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us>, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” <Jon.Locken@state.sd.us>, “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” <Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” <Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us>, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” <Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us>
The three new commissioners e-mails likely are:
Jim.White@state.sd.us, , Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us, Travis.Theel@state.sd.us,

Norbeck Society Annual Meeting Picnic
2024-09-08 12:00 - 17:00
September 8: 12 noon – Norbeck Society annual meeting and potluck picnic
Where: The Chalet, 9203 South High Meadows Drive, High Meadows.
Directions: From Sturgis Road (Hwy 79), between Black Hawk and Piedmont, on the north edge of Summerset, turn west onto High Meadows Road. Continue up the gravel road keeping right up the hill to High Meadows, turn left at the T-junction, and in 100 yards continue straight ahead on to the asphalt driveway, and park next to the tennis court.
Bring: Food to share and beverage of your choosing, folding chair (optional)
We are not sure of the end time, so have guessed at 5 pm end point.
Please join Norbeck Society (NS) to review their activities of the past year and to learn of plans for the next year, our 20th!!! NS would love to hear your opinions on what you would like NS to do to advocate for management of our public lands.

Help with Beaver Dam Analog Construction in Northern BHs Saturday, Sept 14th & Sunday 15th
2024-09-14 08:45 - 2024-09-15 15:00
Build like a beaver and restore habitat
——
What? Come play in the creek and help support watershed restoration! Beaver Dam Analogs (BDA) are habitat restoration methods utilizing natural material to simulate a real beaver dam. Beaver dams help clean water, provide fish habitat and support wildlife. Volunteers will be tasked with hammering stakes into the ground, weaving branches and digging up sod and dirt. The goal of BDAs is to slow the flow of water and expand the local water table.
Where?
Where? Silver Creek, located just east of Rochford Road a little north of the town of Rochford. Directions and map on next page
Lat Long is: 44.162900, -103.714895
When? Sept 14 & Sept 15th , check in 8:45 am, orientation and demonstration 9:00 am. If some folks need to leave early or to arrive late that is okay. Ends each day at about 3 pm.
Please RSVP to Black Hills Fly Fishers: blackhillsflyfishers@gmail.com
For questions – Bill Young (605) ‭‭‭391-1002 (there is no cell reception at Silver Creek)

Directions – 1.5 hours from Rapid and Spearfish, high clearance vehicle recommended From Rapid City

Take Hwy 44 to Hwy 385.
At 385 take a right. Travel 11.8 miles on 385 to the Custer Crossing Rd intersection.
Turn left on Custer Crossing Rd.
Travel about 4.8 miles and then turn left on Minnesota Ridge (Forest Service Road 203.1C)
Travel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.
Follow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.

From Spearfish

Take I-90 to Deadwood
Take exit 17 and travel to Deadwood
In Deadwood continue on Pioneer Way to 85 Bypass towards Central City
Continue on 14A past Lead.
About 4 miles south of Lead take a left onto North Rochford Road
Travel about 9.5 miles on North Rochford Road and then take a left onto Custer Crossing Rd.
Travel about 1.4 miles on Custer Crossing and then take a right onto Minnesota Ridge (Forest Service Road 203.1C).
Travel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.
Follow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.
