Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

In the News

What’s new in the Forest Service? To hear the latest news and get a weekly review of people, places, and activities taking place across the country...visit the FS Today at http://www.fs.fed.us/fstoday/.

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• September 25, 2008 - Pack Mule String Keeps Traditional Work Methods Alive The Pack mule string team is part of Forest Service history and this history is being kept alive today.

• September 16, 2008 - Bullock Prescribed Fire Ignition Tomorrow Mystic firefighters will focus their efforts tomorrow, September 17th, on the Bullock Prescribed Burn.

• September 16, 2008 - "Norbeck Kids" Invites Kids on Archaeological Tour The Norbeck Kids are off on their next adventure! A Black Hills National Forest Service archaeologist will lead a guided tour of the Historic Flume Trail.

• September 14, 2008 - Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board to Hear About Forest Science The Forest Service lead scientist in Rapid City will discuss the state of scientific inquiry in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, from fire effects to whether management helps blunt insect attacks.

• September 12, 2008 - Black Hills National Forest Announces Fall Prescribed Fire Projects in Northern Hills Starting as early as next week, firefighters in the northern part of the Black Hills will begin burning portions of the forest to improve public and firefighter safety and improve forest health.

• September 5, 2008 - Fourth Annual Experience the Outdoors Day for Adults with Special Needs Planned There will be singing around the campfire and wagon rides at the annual outdoors day for adults with special needs this coming week.

• September 4, 2008 - Firewood Can Reduce Heating Costs Temperatures are dropping and it is time to think about cost saving ways to heat your home.

• September 3, 2008 - New Citizens Invited to Free Public Lands Day New citizens of the United States are invited to enjoy their national public lands for free on Sunday, September 28.

• September 2, 2008 - Black-Footed Ferrets Featured at September Moon Walk Join the Black Hills National Forest and The Nature Conservancy on Saturday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. for an educational walk on wildlife management and Black-footed Ferrets at the TNC Badland Ranch in Conata Basin.

• August 21, 2008 Black Hills Foresters Combat Mountain Pine Beetles The mountain pine beetle epidemic is spreading in the Black Hills, even as foresters work to stop the problem.

• August 20, 2008 - Firewise Aims at Building Fire Safe Communities in the Black Hills The multi-agency program teaches communities about taking responsibility for planning a fire safe community and an effective emergency response.

• August 11, 2008 - Fire Danger High on Grasslands - Fire danger is rising on the Northern Great Plains.

• August 11, 2008 - Fire Restriction for Black Hills Area Now in One Place Are open campfires allowed in the Black Hills? It depends.

• August 6, 2008 - Governor Rounds Issues Grants to Black Hills National Forest Thanks to South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds, the Black Hills National Forest will have a new trail machine to build motorized trails.

• August 4, 2008 - Black Hills Receives $5000 Yamaha Grant for OHV Trails The Black Hills National Forest received a $5000 Access Initiative Grant from Yamaha Motor Corporation.

• August 1, 2008 - Youth Natural Resource Program helps forests and parks Tribal youth are giving a helping hand to nature.

• August 1, 2008 - Volunteers and Black Hills National Forest Restore Historic Fire Tower Volunteers with the Passport in Time (PIT) program worked with the Black Hills National Forest to repair portions of the Custer Peak fire tower near Deadwood.

• July 31, 2008 - Repair Work on Black Hills Roads and Trails Some Forest Service roads and part of the Mickelson Trail were washed out due to heavy rainfall a few weeks ago, and crews are working steadily to repair the damage.

• July 22, 2008 - Black Hills Celebrates Career of Extraordinary Firefighter – Governor Rounds Proclaims July 25 “Gary Lipp Day” A wiry kid with a great smile and sense of humor wandered into the Custer Ranger District office on July 12, 1970, to begin a storied career, first as a fire control aid and then, by 2008, senior firefighter and fire management officer for the Forest Service in Custer and the Custer Volunteer Fire Department.

• July 16, 2008 - ORA The Off–Road Riders Association (ORA) volunteered with the Black Hills National Forest last Saturday to repair a damaged area of the motorized section of the Centennial Trail.

• June 9, 2008 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for South Project Available for Review The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the South Project is now available for review.

• June 9, 2008 - West Rim Draft Environmental Impact Statement Released District Ranger Rhonda O’Byrne announces the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the West Rim Project.

• May 27, 2008 - We Have the Answers to Your Nagging Questions About the Great Outdoors Frustrated by not knowing whom to contact! The Black Hills National Forest did some forensics and has the answers.

• May 21, 2008 - Keep Safety a Priority When Hiking and Horseback Riding The Hell Canyon Ranger District trail crew is busy clearing trails in the Black Elk Wilderness and Peter Norbeck Wildlife Preserve.

• May 7, 2008 - Forest Announces Campground Upgrades and Recreation Facilities Analysis - Public Comments Sought Officials at the Black Hills National Forest have some ideas for how to manage some of the 110 developed recreation sites on the Forest.

• March 3, 2008 - Virtual Tour Now Online For Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway Tourists planning to visit the Black Hills this summer have a new website to help plan their trip.