BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Prairie Hills Audubon Society - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://phas-wsd.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Prairie Hills Audubon Society REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20240310T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20241103T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20260308T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20261101T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250515T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250615T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250407T204536Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T204536Z UID:18215-1747267200-1750031940@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Climate Watch Spring Season DESCRIPTION:Climate Watch Spring Season \nClimate 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) . \nLike 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. \nThese 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. \nVisit this page to see where these birds are in SD\, and which are near you: \nhttps://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_main.htm\nLocation 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”. \nHow 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. \nHow 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! \nLink to the Climate-watch program on the National Audubon Society web page \nhttps://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch \nClimate watch instructions for participants \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/participant-resources-climate-watch\nClimate watch for beginners webinar\, – this has much of the same info as our November meeting \nhttps://audubon.zoom.us/rec/share/xe9NAZTe6WVOf7fz2kbRAYAQMI66eaa8hCFL_fNZn0k3a8uNjHkvp4-EZzq7vlq_?startTime=1588186808000\n\n\nOur web page on community science efforts: \n https://phas-wsd.org/citizen-science/ \n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/climate-watch-spring-season/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250605T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250606T110000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250203T233923Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250603T152415Z UID:17117-1749124800-1749207600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SD Game Fish & Park's June hybrid Commission meeting Aberdeen and Zoom DESCRIPTION:SD Game\, Fish and Parks June Commission hybrid meeting\, in Aberdeen and Zoom\,  Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. \nThe Dakota Event Center is located at 720 Lamont St. S in Aberdeen. \nThis meeting will be held via Zoom/conference call and livestream. The meeting will begin Thursday\, June 5 beginning at 1 pm CDT the public hearing and open forum will begin at 2 p.m. CDT. . The livestream can be found at https://www.sd.net. \nWhen close to the date visit- the agenda\, public comments and “Commission book” will eventually be up here: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/ \nCommission book Link (you find the agenda\,  proposals\, action plans and public comments in this document): \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Book_June_2025_.pdf \nAgenda link: \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Agenda_June_2025_.pdf \nYou can testify in person or remotely by Zoom at 2 pm MT. It is requested  (but not required) that you register in advance for remote testimony w/ Gail Buus \, gail.buus@state.sd.us . Testifiers should provide their full names\, whom they are representing\, city of residence\, and which proposed topic they will be addressing. \nClick on the link below to join the Zoom Webinar. Depending on the application you use\, you may be required to enter the meeting ID and password. \nThe agenda for this meeting can be found here. \nZoom Webinar Link: \nTo join via conference call: \n\ndial 1.669.900.9128\nWebinar ID: 912 6417 6710\nPasscode: 970458\n\nWritten Comments are due  the Sunday before the Thursday\, before midnight MT: \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/ \nTo comment in writing\, do so ideally by  June 1st\, 2025 midnight CT at their public comments web page. Late comments end up in the July Commission book\, so they see them after they make some immediate decisions.\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/\n\nThey will be voting on the beaver  & otter trapping/hunting seasons rewrite. \nBeaver hunting season change proposed to beaver is a BHs moratorium  but no change to seasons for 5 species which are hunted under Nest Predator Bounty Program.\n1. Support the moratorium on beaver hunting/trapping in the Black Hills Fire Protection District.\n2. Ask for 5 month beaver trapping/hunting season in the prairie outside of the Black Hills\, to allow for recovery of beaver state wide and avoid trapping beaver moms when raising children (starts in May)  and incidental take of otter  and especially otter moms when raising pups (starts in April).\nLink to look at season proposal\n https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Beaver-and-NPBP-species-rule.pdf\n\nThe rule change proposed otter hunting/trapping season – propose increase harvest cap from 20 to 30 otters.\nWe suggest you oppose such because\n1.  population monitoring results show contradictory information  and\n2. we need extra otters for west River reintroduction.\nLink to look at season proposal.\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Otter.Proposal.-May_2025_Commission_Book_.pdf\n\nMink/weasel/muskrat hunting/trapping season rule change\nThe proposed change is a correction to the description of the Black Hills Fire Protection District\, which was inaccurate\, thus this is a  “clean up” & also a  positive sort of change.  They are not changing season lengths (except to decrease season length in the in south part of BHFPD) or harvest limits\, thus no large  substantive changes are proposed.\n\n========== \nACTION PLANS \nOTTER\nThey will be voting on a Draft Northern River Otter Action Plan. https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/River_Otter_Action_Plan_2025_2029_Comm.pdf \nWe are asking folks to testify on the  Northern River Otter Action Plan and ask it to plan to reintroduce river otters to western SD and to improve riparian and aquatic habitat along the major tributaries leading from the Missouri River to western SD.  We have river otter in eastern SD\, but if river otter exist in western SD\, they are anecdotal reports on occassional isolated individuals\,  not known to be breeding.  We also need for the corridors along the rivers to be more hospitable to otter by improving the riparian habitat along their edges or creating beaver habitat in side tributaries.   The proposed plan does not provide for these objectives. Please ask for them to be added. Please ask for the Eastern SD population to be managed to be robust enough to send migrating individuals to western SD or support capture of some otters to translocate to western SD. \n2025 River Otter Action Plan\, comment deadline was May 23rd (go to that date on calendar)\, however they will review and approve it at the June 5th-6th Commission meeting\, so you can still comment on it (for Commission vs. Staff reading)\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/RiverOtterd.-ActionPlan.April_2025_Commission_Book_FIN_s.pdf\n========== \nBEAVER \nThey may be reviewing or discussing  a draft Beaver Action Plan\, however the official comment deadline is after the June  (July 2nd) Commission meeting so voting on it will be at a later Commission meeting (July 10th-11th) .   https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/beaverActionPLan-May_2025_Commission_Book_-2.pdf \nList of commissioners\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-parks-june-hybrid-commission-meeting-aberdeen-and-zoom/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250606T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250607T160000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250727T153602Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250727T173401Z UID:19405-1749200400-1749312000@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Open House at the Great Plains Botanic Garden in Hermosa\, SD 6/6-6/7 2025 DESCRIPTION:Friday & Saturday – June 6 & 7\, 9:am-4:pm Open House at the Great Plains Botanic Garden. This event will be cancelled in case of serious rain making the grounds muddy.\nFind Garden a short distance east of Hwy 79 five miles south of Hermosa SD. The physical address is 14229 Windbreak Road\, Hermosa\, SD. From Hwy 79 five miles south of Hermosa\, turn east on Windbreak Road\, just a bit north of mile-marker 55 on Hwy 79.\nCome see their Penstemon Display\, the new expansion project for the Cactus Garden\, the Grass Section being installed and stroll through more of the grounds on our Trail of Two Hills. Volunteer members will be on hand to show you around.\nThe bookstore in the Log Cabin Visitor Center will be open and offering free coffee and snacks.\nBring your human friends\, but not your pets. Sorry\, no pets are allowed at the Botanic Garden. Bring your camera\, sunscreen\, hat and so on. They will have non-refrigerated bottled water available. \nhttp://gpnps.org/events.php?d=1 \nfieldtrips@gpnps.org\, 605-673-3159 or GPNPS Fieldtrips\, PO Box 321\, Hermosa\, SD 57744 USA. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/open-house-at-the-great-plains-botanic-garden-in-hermosa-sd-6-6-6-7-2025/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250607T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250607T150000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250607T144639Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250607T145312Z UID:19117-1749286800-1749308400@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SDSU Native Plant Sale Spearfish\, SD DESCRIPTION:June 7\, 10 am – 3 pm:  The SDSU Native Plant Initiative will be selling native plants in Spearfish at the Snapper’s Club\, URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sdsu-native-plant-sale-spearfish-sd/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250608T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250608T150000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250503T030240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250503T030344Z UID:18572-1749380400-1749394800@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SDSU Native Plant sale\, Rapid City DESCRIPTION:SDSU Native Plant sale\, Gardens behind Canyon Lake Activity Center\, \nRapid City\, June 8th\, 2025 \n  \nhttps://www.facebook.com/events/canyon-lake-activity-center/rapid-city-garden-club-hosting-sdsu-native-plant-sale/563122586809562/ \n  \nNative Plant’s Sale and Free Gardening Seminar— 11am Pollinator Habitat— 1pm Planting for Birds—2pm Germinating Native Seeds URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sdsu-native-plant-sale-rapid-city/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250610T165000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250610T165900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250520T140720Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T193151Z UID:18887-1749574200-1749574740@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comment deadlines June 10th Wyoming Game & Fish changes to Mt Lion and Wolf hunting seasons DESCRIPTION:CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has opened a comment period to gather public input on the following regulations: \nLIST OF REGULATIONS BEING CHANGED/REVIEWED AT JULY COMMISSION MEETING \n\n\n    Chapter 22\, Watercraft Regulation. \n\n\n    Chapter 42\, Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons. \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/32271/download?inline \nhttps://wgfapps.wyo.gov/WGFD_WebSurvey/CommentOnly.aspx \n\n\n\n    Chapter 44\, Regulation for Issuance of Licenses\, Permits\, Stamps\, Tags\, Preference Points and Competitive Raffle Chances. \n\n\n    Chapter 46\, Fishing Regulations. \n\n\n\nChapter 47\, Gray Wolf Hunting Seasons. \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/32274/download?inline \nhttps://wgfapps.wyo.gov/WGFD_WebSurvey/CommentOnly.aspx \n\nFor more information visit: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/get-involved/public-meetings \nHOW TO COMMENT\nTo Comment on-line by COB on Tuesday June 10th\n1. Follow this link to the WGFD Public Input Page https://wgfd.wyo.gov/get-involved/public-input \n2. Scroll to Chapter 42: Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons and/or Chapter 47 Grey Wolf\n\n3. Click “Comment”\n\n4. Submit comment\n\n\n\n  \nGREY WOLVES TROPHY SEASON \n              We (PHAS) have yet to fully study the proposed changes to wolf regulations to have our own opinion on them – we instead give you Wyoming’s Untrapped talking points that reviews the issue. What we want with respect to wolves in Wyoming requires legislative change\, which is outside the Commission’s purview. We want rules and objectives in the predator area – which area abuts SD – changed. \n         However they are proposing an increased harvest limit of 38 to 44 wolves\, because population estimate is 3 wolves above WGF Departments stable population’s  objective (160 wolves). In some subsets the harvest limit is raised & in other subsets reduced\, but cumulatively 6 extra wolves can be killed in the trophy game areas. We are not sure when wolf season will be revisited by Commission.. Here is a newspaper article on increases to wolf & cougar harvests:  https://mountainjournal.org/wyoming-looks-to-increase-wolf-and-mountain-lion-kills \n              The wolf habitat in Wyoming is divided into an area with basically unlimited hunting and areas with limited hunting. The only sections that come up for review by the Commission are in the subsets that have limited hunting.  The unlimited hunting is set by the legislature and can only be changed there (most of Wyoming – including the Black Hills – is in this section).  Here is a link to map of Wyomings wolf hunting areas https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/31129/download?inline  or \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/large-carnivore/wolves-wyoming \nHere is a link to Wyoming Untrapped’s talking points for use in commenting on the wolf and mt lion hunting proposals \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Wyoming-Untrapped-on-WolvesMt-Lion25.pdf \n==== \nCOUGARS SEASON – TRIENNIAL REVIEW \n\nWyoming only changes its’ mountain lion hunting season every 3 years. \nHere is a link to Wyoming Game and Fish Mortality report on cougars for 2022-2024 (Black Hills in in the NE section- units 1\, 30 & 32 –  and the Pine Ridge Ecosystem in the SE section – unit 25) \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/32512/download?inline \n\nPHAS comment letter on Wyoming Mt lion triennial review : https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/PHAS-Wyomings-mt-lion-comments.pdf \n\nALERTS: \nHere attached is Penny Maldonado of Cougar Fund’s review of what is happening with Mt Lion management summer 2025 in Wyoming: \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Wyomings-Cougars-need-your-May-2025.pdf \nA link to a  Cougar Fund PDF of their alert (new\, corrected version): \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-Cougar-Fund-WY-comment-ask-public-1.pdf \nHere is a link to Wyoming Untrapped’s talking points for use in commenting on the wolf and mt lion hunting proposals \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Wyoming-Untrapped-on-WolvesMt-Lion25.pdf \nDISCUSSION BY PHAS: \n          We focus on the hunting season in NE Wyoming near the Black Hills and western SD.  Three fifths of the Black Hills habitat is in SD and two fifths in Wyoming.  Harvest limits for both states are very similar\, SD’s being 60 lions either sex and Wyoming’s 60  lions either sex.   Thus if you care about cougars in the Black Hills\, you  need to watch both States seasons. \n\nWyoming proposes no changes to harvest limits for the 3 areas that overlap the Black Hills (60 cougars is the cumulative limit). It proposes  no changes to limits to prairie area to the west of the Black Hills (unlimited Sept-May 31st).  It does propose changes in the prairie area to the SW of the Black Hills\, down by Lusk\, Hartville\, Guernsey.   This is the area that continues the Pine Ridge Ecosystem into Wyoming. That ecosystem exists in 3 states (SD\, NE & WYO. and across Tribal/non-tribal boundaries). They would be changing a harvest limit from 12 cougars to unlimited from Sept 1st to March 31st. This is thus relevant to 3 states and 2 tribes. \n\nNorth East Wyoming lions killed last year were mostly subadults\, hunters had a hard time finding them. Few adults killed!\nNo emigration from Wyo. to SD. Only immigration coming from SD keeps the population going.\nBlack Hills functionally managed as a sink\, but the Mt. Lion Management Plan (MLMP) objective is source-stable. MLMP was commission approved\nPressure on mt. lions needs to be reduced\, not increased.  Advances in science show positive results\, being replicated across multiple studies\, supporting the important role of lions in prey’s disease management.\nArea 25\, abutting Nebraska is proposed to become unlimited harvest (unlimited harvest replaces a 12 lions harvest cap)- very few lions are killed there\,  so no reason for the new designation\, please object to it.\nAreas 30\, 32 and 1. Object to harvest limits as too high and needing to be reduced so this area is managed as a stable population\,\,not a sink.\n=========\nThus >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.OBJECT TO THE HARVEST LIMIT CAP IN AREAS 1\, 30 and 32 and the UNLIMITED HARVEST CAP in AREA 24 & 25.  Express a desire for more mountain lions in the Black Hills (exists in 2 states) and the Pine Ridge Ecosystem (which exists in 3 states\, 2 reservations)\n\nVarious states further\, to the west of us are having some more extreme cougar seasons – changes such as unlimited statewide killing or  increases to harvest limits are recent occurrences. \n=============== \nPROCESS \n Wyo. Game and Fish will host public meetings throughout the state to present and discuss these regulation proposals. Online comments for the regulations are also being accepted through 5 p.m. June 10\, you can submit on-line. \n\n\nGame and Fish biologists and game wardens will be available to answer questions and discuss the regulation proposals during these meetings. Link to meetings schedule :  https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/32280/download?inline \n\n\nThere was a virtual meeting on May 19th at 3 pm. The Sheridan meeting was at  5 p.m. May 19 at Sheridan Game and Fish Regional Office\, located at 700 Valley View Drive in Sheridan\, and cover Chapters 42\, 44 and 47.  There is also meetings in Wheatland\, May 28th  and Casper June 3rd\, These are meetings likely closest to SD \n\n\nThe Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will hold a final discussion and make a decision on approval during its July 15-16 meeting in Evanston.  Go to that date on calendar for more info on that meeting.  You can testify by Zoom if you ask for permission about a week in advance. There is an approximate time slot for discussion of each item\, offered on the agenda. \nSome of the links that were operating earlier in the month have changed on June 10th \nTo Comment on-line\n1. Follow this link to the WGFD Public Input Page https://wgfd.wyo.gov/get-involved/public-input \n2. Scroll to Chapter 42: Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons and/or Chapter 47 Grey Wolf\n\n3. Click “Comment”\n\n4. Submit comment\n\n\nMAPS/Aerial photos\nAerial photo showing bi-state habitat area north of Gillette\n\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-admin/upload.php?item=19145\nAerial photo showing the Pine Ridge 3 state and tribal/non-tribal ecosystem\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-admin/upload.php?item=19141\nWyoming’s map of hunted areas imposed on a topographical map\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-admin/upload.php?item=19140\nWyoming’s map of hunted areas imposed on a street map\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-05-30-at-11.26.06-AM-3.png\nNebraska’s map of its’ hunted areas:\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-admin/upload.php?item=19001 URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadlines-june-10th-wyoming-game-fish-changes-to-mt-lion-and-wolf-hunting-seasons/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-05-30-at-11.26.06-AM-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250611T115000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250611T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250528T172333Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250611T132858Z UID:18979-1749642600-1749686340@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comments due to NE Game and Parks on changes to Mt Lion Season DESCRIPTION:Comments due to NE Game and Parks on changes to Mt Lion Season \nComments are due at 1 pm CT to NE Game and Parks on changes to their mt lion hunting season. They are sent to Sheri Henderson. – of NE G&Ps \nGo to our June 12-13th events/deadline calendar posting for all the details and how to comment: https://phas-wsd.org/event/ne-game-and-parks-commission-june-12-13th-meeting/ \nHere is NE G&P info. booklet on mt lions for 2025 https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Mountain-Lion-Booklet-June-2025-1.pdf \nThey want to increase the harvest limit a Niobrara unit and reduce it at Wild Cat Hills. They are making boundary changes to both areas. \nSeems there is a big threat to mt. lions living  near Scottsbluff in the Wildcat Hills – the population has been tanking \, losing 21 cougars in 17 months – with perhaps only 6 cougars left\, with various causes of deaths.  NE G&P proposes a 2025 hunting season of 3 lions – half the remaining population\,   Folks from NE should be objecting to the 2025 season at Wild Cat Hills (Near Scottsbluff). It should be closed to hunting in 2025.\n\nLink to PHAS comments on this season – https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/nebraska-Mt-lion-comments2025.final_.pdf \nWe are asking for no season in 2025 at Wildcat Hills and smaller harvest caps at Pine Ridge and Niobrara units. \nCommission meeting with public hearing is on 13th in Sidney URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-due-to-ne-game-and-parks-on-changes-to-mt-lion-season/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/NE.lions-Shot-2025-05-30-at-12.35.49-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250612T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250613T170000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250528T164355Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250611T133135Z UID:18963-1749733200-1749834000@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:NE Game and Parks Commission June 12-13th\, 2025 Meeting DESCRIPTION:NE Game and Parks Commission June 12-13th\, 2025 Meeting \nNEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION\, County Inn and Suites Chimney Rock Room 664\,  Chase Blvd.\,  Sidney\, NE Friday\, June 13\, 2025 \nSidney is presently located at the junction of U.S. Route 385 with I-80\, and its location approximately halfway between Cheyenne\, Wyoming\, and North Platte\, Nebraska\, \nMountain lions are on the agenda for 8:15 am on 13th.  We don’t know the time zone for Sidney\, but it might be MT \nJune 12-13\, 2025\n\nhttps://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/6-13-25-Public-Hearing-notice.pdf\nAgenda:\nhttps://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-JUNE-General-Meeting-Agenda.docx.pdf\n\nIn accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-907\, a public hearing will be conducted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on June 13\, 2025\, in the meeting room at the County Inn and Suites 664 Chase Blvd. Sidney\, NE prior to consideration and/or enactment of the following: Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 37-301\, 37-304\, 37-308\, 37-308.01\, 37-314\, 37-228\, 37-404\, 37-405\, 37-411\, 37-426\, 37-452\, 37-473\, 37-613\, a public hearing will be held at 8:15 AM to consider amendments to Title 166 Chapter 20 (formerly Title 163 Chapter 4\, Wildlife Regulations\, Section 037)\, Mountain Lions to clarify unit boundaries and adjust harvest limits in the Niobrara and Wildcat Hills Management Units. \n\nCopies of the proposed regulations and the Fiscal Impact Statement shall be available for public inspection at the Game and Parks Commission office and on-line at the Office of the Secretary of State’s website. All interested persons may attend and testify orally or by written submission at the public hearing. Interested persons or organizations may submit written comments prior to the hearing\, which will be entered into the hearing record if they: 1) include a request to be included as part of the hearing record; 2) include the name and address of the person or organization submitting the comments; and 3) are received by 1:00 p.m. CT June 11\, 2024 by Sheri Henderson at the Lincoln office\, 2200 North 33rd Street\, Lincoln\, NE 68503-0370. Tim McCoy\, Director\n\n\nProposed rule: \nhttps://outdoornebraska.gov/about/notices/public-notices/rules-orders-regulations/ \nSee note regarding NE G&P regs at the top of the page\, then scroll to Game and Parks on the list.  Get to the Game and Parks section and scroll down towards the bottom of their section and look for line item that was posted in 05-09-2025\, ”  – 166 – 20 -New Chapter 20 June 2025″  Click on that and end up at https://rules.nebraska.gov/docket \n\nThey are adjusting boundaries at Niobrara and Wildcat Hills and \n\nincreasing the harvest limit at Niobrara – cougars both sex harvest limit changes from 4 to 6\, & for  females  harvest increase from 2 to 3 and\n\n2. reducing it at Wildcat Hills > cougars both sex harvest limit changes from 3 to 2 either sex and 2 to one for females. \nHere is NE G&P Explanation of Mt Lion season proposed changes and population info. \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Mountain-Lion-Booklet-June-2025-1.pdf \nLink to PHAS 2025 comments on this season – https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/nebraska-Mt-lion-comments2025.final_.pdf \nWe are asking for no season in 2025 at Wildcat Hills and smaller harvest caps at Pine Ridge and Niobrara units. \nWe have been told of a big threat to Mt lions living  near Scottsbluff in the “Wildcat Hills” – the population has been tanking ( 21 mortalities in just 17 months) with perhaps only 6 cougars left and NE G&P proposes a 2025 hunting season of 3 lions – half the remaining population\,   Folks from NE should be objecting to the 2025 season at Wild Cat Hills (Scottsbluff)\n  \nWe also want SD and NE lion populations to be sources of emigrating lions for natural recolonization of lion populations in the east and Canada.   We suspect no state will formally reintroduce them\, so they have to recolonized by natural emigration.  While much of eastern North America is too developed with human housing to support lions\, there are some areas rural and wild enough to support them with less conflicts with humans. \n\n  \nComments are due on June 11th at 1 pm CT. I normally send them to Sheri  >  Ask Sheri  for details – \n\n“Henderson\, Sheri” \n\n\n\n\nSheri Henderson\nAdministrative Programs Officer II\nAgency Safety Program Manager\nNebraska Game and Parks Commission\n2200 North 33rd St.\nLincoln\, NE 68503\nPhone: 402-471-5539 URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/ne-game-and-parks-commission-june-12-13th-meeting/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/NE.lions-Shot-2025-05-30-at-12.35.49-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250613T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250615T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250421T163522Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250421T163522Z UID:18394-1749801600-1750017600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Greenways Days Rapid City 2025 DESCRIPTION:Greenways Days Rapid City 2025\, June 13th-June 15th \nVisit this link for  more information \nhttps://friendsofrcparks.com/greenway-days/ \nThis is Outdoor Adventures for all ages Friday\, June 13 to Sunday\, June 15\,  2025 with partnership organizations such as Frisbee Golf Tournament\, Black Hills Running Company\, Rapid City Public Library\, Journey Museum Creek Cleanup\, The Monument Greenway Storyboard\, Black Hills Paddlers\, FRCP Memorial Walk\, Fly Fishing Demonstrations\, Ebike Rentals\, Hanson-Larsen Bike and Hike Trails\, Lunch Trucks\, and Black Hills Photography Photo Contest Awards to celebrate Rapid City’s green space and continue to gather the stories of the 1972 flood that claimed 238 lives. \nAlso read the 2024 press release to get an idea of what happens: \nRead the Greenway Days press release  (2024)\n  \nWe have not seen the agenda and don’t know when the events first start and when the events end\, so we have guessed at the start and end times URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/greenways-days-rapid-city-2025/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250613T235000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250613T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250523T165917Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T170150Z UID:18909-1749858600-1749859140@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comment deadline 6/13/25 on Nelson Hazardous Fuels Reduction Bearlodge Ranger District DESCRIPTION:Comment deadline 6/13/25 on Nelson Hazardous Fuels Reduction Bearlodge Ranger District \nhttps://usfs-public.app.box.com/file/1864467479126 \nQuote from the Forest Service notice: \n“The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to reduce fire hazard on seven isolated parcels of National Forest\nlands adjacent to the Bear Lodge Mountains in Crook County\, Wyoming. High fuel loading on these\nlands poses a risk to surrounding lands and communities.\nThe proposed activity area (map below) consists of 852 acres accessible only from non-National Forest\nlands. Detailed maps can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/projects/67815. There is no\nlegal public or Forest Service access to these parcels. For this reason\, the project would be implemented\nprimarily via Good Neighbor Authority agreements with the State of Wyoming\, as authorized by Title\nVIII of the 2018 USDA Farm Bill (Public Law 115–334).\nThese lands include approximately 568 acres of ponderosa pine forest with the remainder consisting of\ngrasslands and bur oak woodland. Pine forest varies from dense\, mature stands to open-canopy woodlands\nwith oak or grass understory.\nAdjacent communities include the town of Alva plus numerous scattered ranches and residences.\nApproximately 24 residences and other developments lie within 1.5 miles of the Forest Service parcels.\nParcel boundaries form 15 miles of interface with non-Forest Service lands.\nProposed activity areas are in wildland urban interface according to the Crook County Community\nWildfire Protection Plan (2005; currently in revision) and/or are in Condition Class 2 or 3 (moderate to\nhigh departure from reference conditions) and Fire Regime Group I or II (short fire return interval) with\nvery high fire hazard according to local and LANDFIRE data (USDI and Geological Survey\, (1)\, (2)).” \nCOMMENTING\nQuote from FS: \n“Opportunity to Collaborate and Comment\nWe welcome your ideas and comments regarding this proposal. Contact Patrick Champa\, Bearlodge\nDistrict Ranger\, or Elizabeth Krueger\, Bearlodge Ranger District resource planner\, at (307) 283-1361\, via\nemail at BearlodgeComments@usda.gov\, or through the U.S mail:\nAttn: Nelson Project\nBearlodge Ranger District\nP.O. Box 680 / 101 S. 21 st St.\nSundance\, WY 82729\nThis opportunity extends through June 13\, 2025. Project status and discussions with collaborators and\ninterested parties will be available on the project web page or on “ URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-6-13-25-on-nelson-hazardous-fuels-reduction-bearlodge-ranger-district/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250614T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250614T123000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250610T211340Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T211548Z UID:19154-1749898800-1749904200@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:"No Kings" protest in Spearfish\, SD June 14th DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nTime\n\n\nSaturday\, June 14\n11am – 12:30pm MDT\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\nLocation\n\n\n\nNorth Main Street & West Jackson Street\n\nSpearfish\, SD 57783 \n\nLink to web page:\n\nhttps://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/786835/?utm_source=indivisible\n\nQuote from the above web page:\n\n\n“About this event\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“In America\, we don’t put up with would-be kings. NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech\, detained people for their political views\, threatened to deport American citizens\, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies. \n🚨On Saturday\, June 14\, we’re taking to the streets nationwide. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.🚨 \nThe flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making it. \nOn June 14th\, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones\, no crowns\, no kings. Check out nokings.org for more information. \nA core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.” \n\nThere are 5 other protest events in SD\, at Sioux Falls\, Brookings\, Watertown\, Pierre and Rapid City. View map: \nhttps://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible#map URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/no-kings-protest-in-spearfish-sd-june-14th/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250614T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250614T153000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250528T181857Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250613T141923Z UID:18989-1749902400-1749915000@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Kick out the Clowns & No Kings Nationwide Protest\, Rapid City 2 local events 12-3:30 pm DESCRIPTION:“Kick out the Clowns”  & “No Kings”  Nationwide Protests\, Rapid City – 2 local events-12 pm -3:30pm – a bunch in SD\n\nhttps://action.womensmarch.com/events/rapid-city-kick-out-the-clowns-end-the-greatest-shit-show-on-earth?akid=22578.3878946.hIHdfi \n================================= \n“No Kings” protest starts at  12 pm \n12 pm-1:30 -pm \n\nLocation\n300 6th Street \n\n\nRapid City\, South Dakota\, 57701\n\n==========================\n“Kick out the Clowns” protest starts at 1:30 pm\nRapid City\, SD 57701 \n\n\n\nStarts & Ends on\nSaturday\, June 14\, 2025 at 1:30- 3:30 PM MDT \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFounders Park\n1510 West Omaha Street\nRapid City\, SD\, 57701\nUnited States\nGet Directions via Google Maps \n\n\n=====\n\n\nQuote from the “Kick out the Clowns” web page: \n\n\n“When you elect clowns\, they don’t become leaders. The country becomes a circus. 🤡”\n\n“On June 14\, Donald Trump will honor himself with a four-mile military parade in our nation’s capitol. Trump’s tacky parade was inspired by dictators he idolizes\, and will cost taxpayers nearly $100 million.\n\nOrganizer and strategist Daniel Hunter has written that “Humor is important for our psyches — and to take fascists down a notch[…] Humor is key for morale and exposing the vulnerability of the strongman image.” This is where the ridiculous meets the resistance—and where the future is on the line.\n\nJune 14 is our chance to reflect the absurdity of the MAGA regime and the clowns who lead it. To meet this moment\, Women’s March will host community circuses nationwide—bold\, creative actions that mirror the chaos MAGA has sown across the country. Together\, we’ll set a national record for the most circuses held in a single day while we simultaneously refuse to celebrate a petty clown who desperately wants to be seen as strong. We won’t stop until we build the country we all deserve.\n`\n\nOur grassroots street circuses turn satire into resistance and reclaim the big tent for democracy. \nFind all our socials at:  https://www.linktr.ee/50501sd \n\n#KickOutTheClowns\n#GreatestShitshowOnEarth\n#CommunitiesNotClowns\n#ClownsAgainstClowns \n#BigTentResistance”\n\n\nKick out the Clowns protest events\, nation wide\, organized at least in part by Women’s March \nWhen: June 14\, 2025 (Trump’s Birthday & his military parade)📍 Where: Everywhere — with the flagship event in Madison\, WI \n  \nYou can register with “Women’s March” at this link\, so as to be informed if an event happens near you: \nhttps://act.womensmarch.com/survey/kick-out-clowns-pledge-mobilize/?t=3&akid=22477%2E3878946%2EqFRjUd \nMobilize also has a map of protest activities during the spring\, and you can look up your town on that \nhttps://www.mobilize.us/map/?org_ids=967 \n\n  \n===== \nThere are 6 “No Kings” protest events in SD\, at Sioux Falls\, Brookings\, Watertown\, Pierre\, Spearfish and Rapid City.  I think Indivisible may be organizing theses. There are also virtual events\, during the day.  View the map and click on links for more information: \nhttps://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible#map URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/kick-out-the-clowns-nationwide-protest-rapid-city-event/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250614T233000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250614T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250530T204339Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250603T023054Z UID:19020-1749943800-1749945540@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Deadline to Comment on ND Mt Lion & Furbearer (beaver & otter)seasons DESCRIPTION:June 14\, 2025 @ 11:30 pm – 11:59 pm\n\n\n\nThere is actually no specific day for the deadline to comment to ND on their furbearer regulations that we know of – \, so I just picked June 14th\,.  The Department will send their  recommendations  to the Governor on July 17th. This gives staff 3 days to read your comments.  The Governor issues a proclamation about the hunting seasons\, likely in  July. I will update this post if I learn of a deadline. \nND has a 365 day (year long) beaver trapping season statewide. It has a 25 otter harvest limit. \nIt has 2 mt lion hunting zones. \nZone 1 early-season – Opens: August 30 – Closes: November 24. Mountain lions may be harvested using firearms\, pre-charged pneumatic air guns and archery equipment (including crossbows). Harvest may be no more than 8 mountain lions. \nZone 1 late-season – Opens: November 25 – Closes: March 31.  Mountain lions may be harvested using firearms\, pre-charged pneumatic air guns\, archery equipment (includes crossbows)\, and pursuing with dogs. Harvest may be no more than 7 mountain lions or 3 female mountain lions\, whichever comes first. \nZone 1 conditional season – If the harvest limit for the early-season is not reached on or prior to November 24\, and after the late-season has been closed (due to harvest limit being reached) for 5 consecutive days\, the early-season will reopen until the Zone 1 early-season harvest limit is reached or until March 31. If the late-season closes after March 25\, there will not be a Zone 1 conditional season. \nZone 2 – Opens: August 30 – Closes: March 31 Mountain lions may be harvested using firearms\, pre-charged pneumatic air guns and archery equipment (including crossbows). Beginning November 25\, mountain lions may also be harvested by pursuing with dogs. There is no overall harvest limit for Zone 2. \nThey are not going to propose changes to the season. You send your comments to Stephanie Tucker –  \nTheir most recent report on mountain lions can be found here https://gf.nd.gov/sites/default/files/publications/status-of-mountain-lion-management-in-nd-2023.pdf. \nCurrent regulations for cougars-  To view map:  https://gf.nd.gov/hunting/mountain-lion \nTo read cougar regulations: https://gf.nd.gov/regulations/small-combined#spp-mountain-lion \nTo read beaver regulations: https://gf.nd.gov/regulations/small-combined#spp-beaver URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/19020/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-05-30-at-2.42.51-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250618T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250618T210000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250503T025823Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250503T025823Z UID:18569-1750273200-1750280400@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Beaver Ecology Lecture DESCRIPTION:Beaver Ecology Lecture – Dr. Emily Fairfax presenting \nJourney Museum 7 pm 6/18/25 \n  \nWe don’t know end time\, but have guessed at 9 pm URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/beaver-ecology-lecture/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250620T225000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250620T225900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250523T154733Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250603T022306Z UID:18903-1750459800-1750460340@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Deadline to comment on the SD GFP's Draft rewrite of their Wildlife Action Plan DESCRIPTION:June 20th is a “sort of”   Deadline to comment on the SD GFP’s staff on their Draft rewrite of their Wildlife Action Plan. \nWe call it a “sort of” as the Commission will act to approve it\, likely at the July or September Commission meeting \nThe federal government requires states to do this plan every 10 years if they want to get various federal funds.  This will be at least SD’s 3rd version of a Wildlife Action Plan.  The proposed Recovering America Wildlife Act\, (which is stalled in current GOP controlled congress) is tiered\, in part\,  to these plans. \nYou need to go to the GFP Wildlife Action Plan’s web page to download current version or proposed revision..\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife-action-plan\nCurrently there is just a one sentence note that they are revising the plan\, in white text on a brown background\nclick on those white words to download the new draft revision.\n(These are plans the federal government requires them to do every 10 years to qualify for federal funds)\nLink to draft revision:\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/docs/SDWAP_complete_draft_9_Apr_2025.pdf\n\n\nTo  comment go here:\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/\nFind the Wildlife Action  Plan and select other and type your comment.\n====================\nWe have not yet read it to advise you of commenting issues\, however once published this is a great resource to learn about our at risk species & their habitats\, so all should learn how to find it\, download its’ final version and visit the interactive web pages on GFP web site. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-comment-on-the-sd-gfps-draft-rewrite-of-their-wildlife-action-plan/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-05-30-at-3.01.50-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250620T235000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250620T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250523T170652Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T171051Z UID:18911-1750463400-1750463940@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Scoping Comments due 6/20/25 Triple Seven Vegetation Management Project - Near Black Hawk\,. BHNF DESCRIPTION:The Mystic District of the Black Hills National Forest has initiated public scoping for the Triple Seven Vegetation Management Project. This project is near Black Hawk\, SD. Scoping documents can be found at the following web address: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/projects/68023.\n\nElectronic comments are preferred and must be submitted to the Comment Reviewing Officer via email at (comments-rocky-mounta…@usda.gov) with “Triple Seven Project” as the subject. Comments can also be sent via U.S. mail to Mystic Ranger District Office\, Attn: Triple Seven Vegetative Management Project\, 8221 S. Mount Rushmore Rd.\, Rapid City\, SD\, 57702 or by fax at 605-343-7134. Public comments will be accepted for 30 days following the date of this Scoping Letter [May 21st 2025] . Comments submitted\, including names and addresses of commenters\, are public information. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/scoping-comments-due-6-20-25-triple-seven-vegetation-management-project-near-black-hawk-bhnf/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250702T225000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250702T225900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250513T165052Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T165834Z UID:18811-1751496600-1751497140@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comments due on SDGFP Beaver Action Plan July 2nd\, 2025 DESCRIPTION:Comments due on SDGFP Beaver Action Plan July 2nd\, 2025 \nHere is a link to the plan. \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/beaverActionPLan-May_2025_Commission_Book_-2-1.pdf \nYou normally need to post comments to the SDGFP Commission public comment page or postal mail to SDGFP staff\, but the comment directions have not be posted yet\, I have just been told the written comment deadline for staff review. This will be posted on their Management Plan web page – under plans up for revision –\, once they get around to posting it. https://gfp.sd.gov/management-plans/ \nHowever the SDGFP Commission takes action to approve Action Plans\, so likely the Commission will also consider this Plan at their July 10-11th  meeting\, so go to the Commission’s July meeting and hearing pages for those comment opportunities – it will be on Sunday night 7/6/25 for written comments and Thursday 10th for spoken comments. \nTALKING POINTS \nThe plan is good in that it allows for a moratorium on beaver hunting/trapping in the Black Hills. \nIt is inadequate in that it does not address needed reductions in beaver hunting/trapping season outside the Black Hills especially  in west River SD\, which we need in at least key drainages to facilitate northern river otter reintroduction and because beaver help store ground and surface water. Otter are strongly associated with beaver and if they are both present\, when you trap beaver you also catch otter as incidental take. Water sets drown the trapped beaver/otter. \nWestern SD might have water supply problems in the future and folks are proposing a .5-3 billion dollar water transfer pipeline from the Missouri.  Beaver engineering stores and saves water in western SD (if allowed to happen) & thus minimizes the need for human engineering to transfer that water from Missouri  back to west.  Also other public lands in western SD have inadequate beaver supplies and need their own beaver recovery plans. \nBeaver provide for lots of values. Go to our beaver and otter web pages for information on that. \nWatching of beaver and river otters is fun.  Watching them must be recognized as an important form of recreation\, at least as important as hunting/trapping them. Trapping  might be primarily  a commercial action done for revenue from the sale of furs & may not be primarily a recreation action. However\, it is constantly justified as outdoor recreation and we are told we must restart trapping for recreation’s sake.  Object to this and insist that watching them is important recreation. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-due-on-sdgfp-beaver-action-plan-july-2nd-2025/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250706T225000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250706T225900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250430T225218Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T225414Z UID:18469-1751842200-1751842740@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Deadline to send written comments to SDGFP Commission for July meeting DESCRIPTION:Deadline to send written comments to SDGFP Commission for July meeting is before midnight on the Sunday  before the Thursday meeting. There is a public comment portal on the SDGFP Commission web page \n  \nCommission’s submit public comment link –\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/\n\n\nUnless you want to communicate directly with each Commissioner  (those comments will not be in the public record)–  https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/  (there is no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link.  Here are likely e-mails for them\, we are not sure how well they work. \n“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” \, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” \,  “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” \, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” \, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us”   \nThe three new commissioners  e-mails likely are: \nJim.White@state.sd.us\, \, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us\, Travis.Theel@state.sd.us\, URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-send-written-comments-to-sdgfp-commission-for-july-meeting/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250709T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250709T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250710T160320Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T160452Z UID:19176-1752085800-1752091200@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:PHAS's July Board Meeting DESCRIPTION:PHAS’s July Board Meeting.  Members are welcome at PHAS Board Meetings that are held on Zoom\, non-members need an invitation. . Folks  need to call Nancy for details\,  605-787-6466 or e-mail has.wsd@rapidnet.com. PHAS Board meetings are normally on the eve of the second Wednesday of the month\, unless a quorum can’t be attained on that day. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/phass-july-board-meeting/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250710T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250711T110000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250331T194349Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250712T051850Z UID:18110-1752152400-1752231600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SD GFP Commission's July hybrid meeting - 7/10/25-7/11/25\, Zoom & Yankton DESCRIPTION:SD GFP Commission’s July hybrid meeting – 7/10/25-7/11/25 \nIt will be by zoom\, teleconference and in person in Yankton. \nWhen we are closer to the meeting date\, meeting information will be posted at this site \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/ \nJuly 10\, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. CT | July 11\, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. CT\nNFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center | Yankton\, SD | Livestream link \nZoom Meeting Link | To join via conference call\, dial 1.669.900.9128 | Webinar ID: 912 6417 6710 | Passcode: 970458 \n\nAgenda\nCommission Book\nNotice of Regular Meeting\n\nYou will be able to testify remotely or in person at 2 pm CT on Thursday. \nWritten comment deadline is 72 hours before the day of the meeting (just before midnight CT on Sunday). You submit at this web page. \nWe expect SDGFP to submit their report on the results of the 2024-2025 mountain lion hunting season and their rule proposal for mountain lion hunting for the next 2 years. \nThey have released a proposal to allow hound hunting in the southern and SE side of the Black Hills Fire Protection District – with 15 lions to be killed via hunting.  The proposals can be found in the Commission book. The Commission moved the cougar hunting proposal forward to finalization (vote) at their September meeting. \nGFP summary: \n“Mountain Lion Season \nThe Commission proposed to expand the season dates for hunting intervals allowing the use of dogs and increase the unit size where hunting with dogs is allowed in the Black Hills Fire Protection District. The proposal would eliminate the requirement for access permits to hunt mountain lions in Custer State Park without the use of dogs. \nHunting mountain lions in the designated area with the use of dogs will be allowed for a total of fifteen individuals with access permits\, provided the harvest limits have not been met. Three access permits will be issued in each of the five 21 day intervals\, starting Dec. 26.” \nThe Black Hills Beaver Action Plan was also  up for approval; the final version has  some changes to the draft – it was approved. \nFee schedule for the Shooting Range off of Elk Vale road was up for approval & was approved. Access to some areas of the Range will be free and some will need fee for access. \n  \nSuggested that you contact Gail Buus in advance to register to testify remotely\, see agenda. gail.buus@state.sd.us\, however they allow not-registered folks to testify in person or remotely. \n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-gfp-commissions-july-hybrid-meeting-7-10-25-7-11-25-zoom-yankton/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250711T165000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250711T165900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250710T164158Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250711T101901Z UID:19180-1752252600-1752253140@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Deadline to request opportunity to testify at Wyoming G&F Commission July meeting DESCRIPTION:Deadline to request opportunity to testify at Wyoming G&F Commission July meeting (with extension) \nThe deadline register to testify orally  about Wyo.  Mt lions/wolves hunt seasons  at Wyoming GF Commission  was Thursday July 10th \,however we have been given an extension by Toni Bell so it is now until Friday 7/11th/25 at COB – which is the new deadline\nDownload the agenda\nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/32726/download?inline\nand see  form within the agenda at page 4 \, send form to toni.bell2@wyo.gov.\nYou will  need a printer/scanner to send in filled out form.\nI have in the past just sent in the required information\, without using the form and it worked.\nThey reserve time for you at the appropriate items  wolves – 11 (9:25-10:25 am)  and  mt lions – 13 (1:30-2:30 pm) . You can testify remotely\, by Zoom.\n\n\n11. Presenters: Dr. Dan Thompson\, Large Carnivore Section Supervisor\, and Ken Mills\,\nLarge Carnivore Biologist/Wolf Management Specialist\, Wildlife Division. Chapter\n47\, Gray Wolf Hunting Seasons. The Commission will be asked to vote to approve the\nrevised Chapter 47\, Gray Wolf Hunting Seasons. 1 hour. 9:25-10:25 a.m.\n\n\n13. Presenters: Dr. Dan Thompson\, Large Carnivore Section Supervisor\, and Justin\nClapp\, Large Carnivore Biologist\, Wildlife Division. Chapter 42\, Mountain Lion\nHunting Seasons. The Commission will be asked to vote to approve the revised Chapter\n42\, Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons. 1 hour. 1:30-2:30 p.m.\n\n\n\nWe have a filing extension till Friday Close of Business URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-request-opportunity-to-testify-at-wyoming-gf-commission-july-meeting/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250714T135900 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250714T140000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250712T045354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250712T050845Z UID:19232-1752501540-1752501600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Contact Dusty Johnson to oppose 2 bills (HR 281 & HR 839 ) about Grizzly Bear Delisting DESCRIPTION:Contact Dusty Johnson to oppose 2  bills (H.R. 281 & H.R. 839 )  about Grizzly Bear Delisting and preventing federal land managers from banning lead used in hunting/fishing on their properties. Dusty Johnson’s phone number in DC  is (202) 225-2801 \nDusty Johnson is on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee\, which will meet on  Tuesday 7/15/25 to consider and vote on H.R. 281 and H.R\, 839 \nH.R. 281\, is the the “Grizzly Bear State Management Act\,” which delists grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and bars judicial review. \nH.R. 556\, the so-called “Protecting Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025” \n============ \nH.R. 281\, sponsored by Rep. Harriet Hageman\, requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a 2017 rule delisting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) population of grizzly bears and bars judicial review of the reissued rule. This 2017 delisting rule was already held unlawful by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Further\, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a January 2025 species status assessment and proposed ruling regarding grizzly bears in the “Lower 48” states. There\, FWS\, which must base its decisions on the best available scientific and commercial data\, found that GYE grizzlies should remain listed as threatened under  the ESA. \n\n\nH.R. 281 would override both the court’s decision and FWS’s science-based recognition that GYE grizzlies still need federal protection. \n============\nH.R. 556\,\n\n\n H.R. 556 would prohibit the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture from regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal lands or waters under their jurisdiction. \n H.R. 556 would restrict the ability of federal agencies to promote healthier conditions on their jurisdictional lands. By effectively precluding the replacement of lead ammunition and tackle with commonly used non-lead alternatives\, the bill would also prevent federal officials from protecting hunters and anglers from consuming lead-poisoned game and fish.  \n Lead ammunition and tackle have been shown to harm a wide variety of wildlife. For species like California condors\, bald and golden eagles\, mountain lions\, black bears\, common loons\, and dozens of others\, lead is a persistent threat that hampers conservation and recovery efforts. Ingestion of spent lead ammunition is the leading cause of death for the critically endangered California condor. A 2022 paper demonstrated population-level effects in both bald and golden eagles stemming from ingestion of spent lead ammunition. Aquatic species like loons succumb to lead toxicosis via ingesting loose tackle or fish which have consumed lead tackle.  \nThe bill includes an exception whereby lead use may be regulated only if it can be shown that declines in wildlife populations on a specific unit of land were caused by lead ammunition or tackle. This is an impossible standard to meet as population monitoring data is rarely available at the management unit level. It is inconsistent with widely accepted scientific methods\, dismisses well established facts about the dangers of lead\, and would preclude responsible management actions that could prevent future population declines.  \n Furthermore\, the bill states that any federal regulation of lead that does satisfy the exception must also be approved by the applicable State fish and wildlife agency.  \nBy constraining federal management of federal land\, H.R. 556 may also conflict with conservation statutes including the Endangered Species Act.  \n= \nThis bill will be in committee on Tuesday\, so we suggest you call  Johnson on Monday. We do not know at what time Johnson’s staff summarizes all the calls received and relays that to the Congressman.  We suggest a 4:00  pm EST deadline\, but we don’t know what the calling deadline before a committee hearing should be. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/contact-dusty-johnson-to-oppose-2-bills-hr-281-hr-839-about-grizzly-bear-delisting/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250715T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250716T120000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250520T143032Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T171821Z UID:18892-1752570000-1752667200@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Wyoming Game and Fish Commission July 15-16/ 2025 meeting in Evanston (hybrid) DESCRIPTION:Wyoming Game and Fish Commission July 15-16th\, meeting in Evanston & Zoom  – check here for the agenda \n15-16 ://wgfd.wyo.gov/commission \nAt this meeting they will discuss and vote on proposed changes to mountain lion and wolf hunting seasons. \nYou can attend virtually and make an appointment to testify\, if you do it many days in advance. Deadline to ask for appointment is July 10th\,  See our post on that date for more information. \nWe suggest folks object to the Mountain lions hunting season proposal. \n  \n======================= \n  \n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/wyoming-game-and-fish-commission-july-15-16-2025-meeting-in-evanston-hybrid/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250716T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250716T203000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250716T220950Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T221116Z UID:19248-1752690600-1752697800@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:"Threats to Public Lands"\, Sierra Club Hybrid Meeting at OCW DESCRIPTION:THREATS TO PUBLIC LANDS BLACK HILLS GROUP | SOUTH DAKOTA SIERRA CLUB PRESENTATION BY CHERYL SCHREIER  \n  \nCheryl retired as Superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in 2019. In her nearly 40 years with the National Park Service\, she served as superintendent of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site\, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site\, and completed a detail as acting superintendent at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Cheryl has worked at 10 different national park units\, including Bryce Canyon\, Yellowstone\, and Death Valley National Parks. She lives in South Dakota and was a leader in several positions of the Black Hills Group and South Dakota Chapter Sierra Club. \n  \n6:30 p.m. Wednesday\, July 16\, 2025 Outdoor Campus West\, 4130 Adventure Trail\, Rapid City\, SD 57702 Free and Open to the Public  \nA Zoom link will be offered – contact Suzanne\, Black Hills Group \nWe don’t know how long the meeting will last\, but have guessed at 2 hour meeting. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/threats-to-public-lands-sierra-club-hybrid-meeting-at-ocw/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250717T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250717T193000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250710T223019Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T223019Z UID:19216-1752771600-1752780600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Nation wide Protests - "Good Trouble Lives On" in Spearfish & Rapid City Thursday eve DESCRIPTION:Nationwide Protests – “Good Trouble Lives On” -happening locally  in Spearfish & Rapid City Thursday eve \nhttps://goodtroubleliveson.org/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible \n\n\nThu\, Jul 17\n5:00 PM — 6:30 PM MDT\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRapid City\, South Dakota\, 57701\nRapid City\, SD 57701\n========================\n\n\n\nThu\, Jul 17\n6:30 PM — 7:30 PM MDT\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy We Fight\nSpearfish\, SD 57783\n\n\nOrganized by Indivisible & Mobilize & other groups URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/nation-wide-protests-good-trouble-lives-on-in-spearfish-rapid-city-thursday-eve/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250719T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250719T140000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250711T111959Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250718T170253Z UID:19230-1752917400-1752933600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Visit to Beaver Dam Analog Project in Green Gulch\, Northern Hills DESCRIPTION:Visit to Beaver Dam Analog Project  (BDA) Sites in Green Gulch\, Northern Hills and learn about beaver dam analogs (BDA). \nJuly 19th is a group visit to show beaver dam analogs built in Green Gulch over several years  by volunteers and the Forest Service and Black Hills Fly Fishers.  This is an ongoing project; more BDA get built every year by volunteers. \nFolks are to meet at Dakota Angler Outfitter on 1010 Jackson Blv at 9:30 am  and a caravan from there will drive to Green Gulch. Bill Young of Black Hills Fly Fishers can send a map on request or view map at the top of this notice –  Bill Young - ‭‭‭(605) ‭‭‭391-1002 \nWe are not sure how long this event will be\, but we suspect at least 3 or 4 hours. \nPHAS strongly supports the efforts to recover beaver in SD\, including building BDAs. We urge members to join in helping build BDA and learn how to construct them. \nInstructions from Rapid City area: \n\n\n\n\n“Basically The route is Highway 44 to 385. Turn left on the Custer crossing road. And follow that to Minnesota Ridge Road. Left on Minnesota Ridge continue until you see pink flagging and you’ll take a slight right into Green Gulch.”\n\n\n\n\n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/visit-to-beaver-dam-analog-project-in-green-gulch-northern-hills/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2024-07-18-at-4.16.58-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250721T235000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250721T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250710T155942Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250711T105546Z UID:19173-1753141800-1753142340@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comments due on Ponderosa mining project to BHNF DESCRIPTION:Ponderosa Exploration Drilling Project #64551\nScoping notice was published 7/20/25 by Black Hills National Forest. Comments are requested through 7/21/2025 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time). https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=64551 \nThe Northern Hills District of Black Hills National Forest has released information for the proposed Ponderosa gold drilling project\, with a 30-day comment period.  Your comments are due by July 21\, 2025\, at 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time). \nBlack Hills Clean Water Alliance has an alert at: https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/2025/06/21/attention-ponderosa-project-comment-period-begins-now/ URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-due-on-ponderosa-mining-project-to-bhnf/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-07-11-at-4.32.10-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250724T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250724T193000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250717T002134Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T165033Z UID:19251-1753380000-1753385400@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:The Next Fight for Wildlife and Wild Places - Call to Action (Zoom webinar) DESCRIPTION:Topic\nThe Next Fight for Wildlife and Wild Places – Call to Action\n\n\nDate & Time\n\nSelected Sessions: \n\nJul 24\, 2025 06:00 PM MT \n\n\n\n\nDescription\nCongressional leaders are working on a sneaky way to take away protections for the wildlife and wild places we love. This is a serious moment. Gray wolves and grizzly bears could lose federal protections for good\, going back to a time when they were poisoned\, trapped and shot until they disappeared from the American landscape. Prairie birds\, bats\, wolverines\, national wildlife refuges and more could be lost to unchecked development. Join us to learn how some members of Congress are sneaking these harmful laws into big “must-pass” legislation\, find out what we know about where your House Representative stands on these issues\, and what our movement for biodiversity can do together to keep endangered species protected. Together we are stronger!\n\nSponsored by the Endangered Species Coalition.\, www.endangered.org\nRegistration link:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w0W-pZpqTPuKaD3ptRdTkw?_gl=1*1cw5y6y*_gcl_au*MTU0Mzg1NDk4NS4xNzUyMDc2NzI4LjEzMTc3ODk0NS4xNzUyMDc2NzI5LjE3NTIwNzY3Mjg.*_ga*NDA5OTc1OTk3LjE3NDExMTk3MzU.*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3NTIwNzY3MjgkbzMzJGcxJHQxNzUyMDc3MDI1JGo1OCRsMCRoMA#/registration\n\nWe don’t know how long the meeting will last and have guessed at 1.5 hours.\n\n\nFOR MORE INFORMATION\n  \nFY26 Appropriations Riders: Harm to Endangered Species \nHere is a link that contains the description and status of bills (riders) related to endangered species that are headed to committees or floor for FY26 appropriations cycle . This was dated to mid-july https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OC0_6V8i4tBN3wTskcK8GRlNOffx-Pks1_DohZdGn1Y/edit?tab=t.0\n\nTAKE ACTION – SIMPLE EFFORT\n\nOn-line Pre Fab letter asking congress to protect endangered species  by Animal Commons- “Protect the Endangered Species Act From Trump and Republican Attacks” – you can just add your name to pre-fab text\n\nhttps://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-the-endangered-species-act-from-trump-and-republican-attacks?source=direct_link&referrer=group-endangered-species-coalition&link_id=0&can_id=894d0cc0d439d8d2425a681aec9625bc&email_referrer=email_2816423&&&email_subject=americans-support-the-endangered-species-act-nil-now-we-need-to-defend-it\n\n\n  \n\n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/the-next-fight-for-wildlife-and-wild-places-call-to-action-zoom-meeting/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250725T235000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250725T235900 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250724T222718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250724T223455Z UID:19373-1753487400-1753487940@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Comment deadline for revised logging proposal at Buffalo project BHNF DESCRIPTION:Forest Service says: \nDue to changes in the planning process and proposed action for this project\, an additional comment period will be conducted. . Additional information is available on the Buffalo project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/projects/67248\n\n\n  \nIn notice says: \n” The 30-day public comment period for the Buffalo project was initiated on March 4\, 2025\, via a legal notice published in the Black Hills Pioneer\, the newspaper of record for the Northern Hills Ranger District. On April 3\, 2025\, US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins issued Secretarial Memo 1078-66: Increasing Timber Production and Designating an Emergency Situation on National Forest System Lands. This memo makes an Emergency Action Determination (EAD) under section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Per direction issued by Jacqueline Emmanuel\, Acting Deputy Chief of the Forest Service\, relating to the Secretarial Memo: All actions eligible within the lands covered will use this EAD authority as the default approach including ongoing actions. Because the entirety of the Buffalo project area is within an area identified as being in an emergency situation\, the EAD authorities will be used for the Buffalo Project. As such\, the Buffalo Project will not be subject to the pre-decisional objection process provided by 36 CFR 218\, and the decision on this project\, when rendered\, will be final.  \nIn response to the Secretarial Memo referenced above and Executive Order 14225: Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production issued on March 1\, 2025\, the proposed action for the Buffalo project has been modified. Prior to finalization of the environmental assessment for the Buffalo project\, we will collect additional comments on the modified proposed action for a period of ten (10) days\, beginning the day after the date of this letter. A modified project description is available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/projects/67248. Comments may be submitted online at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=67248\, via email to NorthernHillsComments@usda.gov\, or via hardcop  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-for-revised-logging-proposal-at-buffalo-project-bhnf/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-07-24-at-4.27.44-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250726T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250726T190000 DTSTAMP:20260417T061055 CREATED:20250710T172153Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250714T215432Z UID:19193-1753520400-1753556400@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Spearfish Creek Watershed Festival July 26th\, DESCRIPTION:Spearfish Creek Watershed Festival July 26th\, \nLink to learn more: \nhttps://visitspearfish.com/events/spearfish-creek-watershed-festival \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCome celebrate Spearfish Creek and learn about the watershed from organizations that are working with and within it.\n\n1. TOUR the Spearfish Hydro Plant.\n2. A volunteer community CREEK CLEANUP.\n3. Watershed FESTIVAL activities and education fair at Meier Park (right across the street from Brady Park).\n4. Post-festival SOCIAL at Spearfish Brewing.\n\nSCHEDULE:|\n9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Hydro Plant Tours – to best accommodate flow through the hydro plant and our generous guide\, Ben\, tours are happening every 20 minutes with a maximum of 20 people on each tour. ie if a group is full\, please hang tight and enjoy the park & birds for a bit & join the next tour.\n12:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Community Creek Clean-up. Meet at the Meier Park (just across the street from Brady Park)\, we’ll have garbage bags and gloves available.\n2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Watershed Festival and Education Fair at Meier Park. Activities for all ages. Boat races and Bingo!\n\n5:00 Post Festivus Social at Spearfish Brewing Company\n\n*keep your eye on this page – events & times may be updated. \nFor more info contact:  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/spearfish-creek-watershed-festival-july-26th/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2025-07-14-at-2.30.27-PM.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR