Revision Reporter
Custer National Forest - Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest - Nebraska National Forest
May 1997
Volume 2, Number 2
Douglas-area Residents Focus on
Thunder Basin National Grassland
better avenues of communication
some reality checks on our deciore than 20 Douglas,
between the Forest Service and area
sions.”
WY-area residents
residents.
The Thunder Basin National
voiced their concerns
Wildlife issues drew attention as
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about the environment and manwell.
Some participants showed a
to be analyzed as part of the Northern
agement of the Thunder Basin
keen
interest
in the management of
Great Plains Management Plans
National Grassland on April 21 at
predators and prairie dogs. Some also
Revision process. In all, the U.S.
a U.S. Forest Service-sponsored
questioned the need to reintroduce the
workshop. The
black-footed
workshop was
ferret—an
held in the
endangered
Converse
species—to the
County CourtThunder Basin
house.
National GrassThe Forest
land. The weaService, which
sel-like predator
manages the
is native to the
grassland
”
area, but vanthrough the
Jerry Schmidt, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest Supervisor
ished this century
Medicine Bowfollowing intenRoutt National
sive efforts to
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Forest, is soliciting comments as
reduce
prairie
dog
populations.
The
million acres on the Northern Great
part of a revision of the manageprairie dog is the ferret’s primary
Plains.
ment plan that provides direction
food source.
The
Thunder
Basin
is
well-known
for the grassland.
These kinds of issues, and more,
for its large grazing, minerals, and oil
Addressing workshop particiwill
be considered during the manageand gas programs. It is also an
pants, Jerry Schmidt, forest
ment plan revision process, explained
supervisor for the Medicine Bow- important region to hunters and
Pam Gardner, public affairs officer
w
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s
,
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e
Routt National Forest, said, “There
populations of such species as prong- for the Northern Great Plains planare lots of right ways to do
ning team. "Workshops like this one
horn and prairie dogs.
multiple-use management; lots of
help the Forest Service identify
Douglas-area
citizens
aired
dozens
opportunities. We’re always
issues," Gardner said, "and help us
of concerns. They ranged from
looking for better ways to do
find out what's on the minds of people
grazing levels to public access, from
things,” Schmidt said, “and we
interested in public lands."
minerals
development
to
building
need people like you to give us
M
“There are lots of right ways to do multipleuse management; lots of opportunities. We’re
always looking for better ways to do things,
and we need people like you to give us some
reality checks on our decisions.
Revision Reporter
1
Feedback --public
Y
ou may have seen our booth at the Black
Hills Sport Show in Rapid City; the
Lemmon, SD, Farm and Home Show; or the
Hot Springs, SD, Home and Garden Show. If you
did, you may have pasted some colored dots to
indicate your interest in some of the seven major
revision topics we had posted. We used this technique to draw you and others into national grassland
planning and to gauge public interest in the topics.
Here are the results.
views
Lemmon
Farm and Home Show Results
Rangeland and Forest Health
74
Community and Lifestyle Relationships 32
Livestock Grazing
78
Oil and Gas Leasing
6
Plant and Animal Control
39
Recreation and Travel Management
41
Special Area Designation
54
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
Black Hills Sport Show Results
Rangeland and Forest Health
64
Community and Lifestyle Relationships 15
Livestock Grazing
38
Oil and Gas Leasing
13
Plant and Animal Control
30
Recreation and Travel Management 64
Special Area Designation
59
The Planning Units
Custer National Forest Units
• Cedar River National Grassland
• Grand River National Grassland
• Little Missouri National Grassland
• Sheyenne National Grassland
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
Unit
• Thunder Basin National Grassland
Nebraska National Forest Units
• Charles E. Bessey Tree Nursery
• Buffalo Gap National Grassland
• Fort Pierre National Grassland
• Nebraska National Forest
• Oglala National Grassland
• Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest
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dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
Hot Springs
Home and Garden Show Results
Rangeland and Forest Health
73
Community and Lifestyle Relationships 30
Livestock Grazing
47
Oil and Gas Leasing
4
Plant and Animal Control
52
Recreation and Travel Management 101
Special Area Designation
81
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
dots
Here's
seeing
you. . .
Please come see us -- discuss your
questions, concerns, ideas, values,
special places. Here are some places you'll find us
greet you at their open house at the Hospitality Inn
in the next few weeks. Northern Great Plains
in Dickinson, ND, from 1 to 6 p.m.
planning team members will be present at all events.
We hope to see you!
Wall Ranger District (East Half
Buffalo Gap National Grassland)
Custer National Forest North Dakota Coordinator Office in Bismarck
May 19, Ranger Bill Perry and his staff will open
their doors to discuss national grassland planning
and other topics at National Grassland Visitor Center in Wall, SD, from 1 to 4 pm
June 11, North Dakota Coordinator Steve Williams will update you on North Dakota national
grassland planning and issues at the Kelly Inn in
Bismarck from 5 to 8 p.m.
Fort Pierre National Grassland
Lisbon Ranger District (Sheyenne
National Grassland)
May 26-30, Ranger Tony DeToy and his staff will
station a booth at the Ramkota Inn, 920 West Sioux
Avenue, Pierre, SD. The South Dakota
Stockgrowers Annual Convention is being held
there on May 26-28. The South Dakota Water
Congress Spring Forum is also meeting at the
Ramkota Inn May 29-30. The public is invited to
visit the national grassland booth on any of these
days.
McKenzie Ranger District (North
Little Missouri National Grassland)
June 9, Ranger Spike Thompson and his staff will
host open discussions at the Watford City, ND, Civic
Center from 5 to 8 pm.
Medora Ranger District (South
Little Missouri National Grassland)
June 12, Ranger Bryan Stotts and his staff will
meet and greet you at the Super 8 Motel in Lisbon,
ND. Details on time and format to be announced.
Bessey Ranger District (Nebraska
National Forest)
June 13, Ranger Mack Deveraux and his staff will
host a listening post between 1 and 4 p.m. at the
District Office in Halsey, NE.
Pine Ridge Ranger District (Oglala
National Grassland)
July 22, Ranger Pat Irwin and her staff will sponsor a public workshop to discuss national forest and
grassland issues at the Chadron, NE, Senior Citizens Center from 7 to 9 p.m.
June 10, Ranger Larry Dawson and his staff will
Revision Reporter
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Celebrate
National
Grasslands
S
ixty years ago ravaged prairie lands began the long road to recovery under federal
stewardship. The story of land ethics, pioneering spirit, unique landscapes, and
productivity will be celebrated May 18 through 24, 1997, as National Grassland Week.
The nation's 20 national grasslands can be found in 12 states and hold 3.8 million acres.
They are managed under the same laws, regulations, policies, and ethics as the rest of
the National Forest System.
A special May 22 ceremony at the National Grassland Visitors Center in Wall, SD,
will be attended by Chief Mike Dombeck, USDA Forest Service , and Chief Paul
Johnson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The event will include a
proclamation recognizing the first National Grassland Week.
Do your own celebrating by visiting your national grassland.
"The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is a diverse organization committed to equal
opportunity in employment and program delivery. USDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political affiliation and familial status. Persons believing they have been discriminated against should contact the Secretary, USDA, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 or 202-720-1127 (TTY)."
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