The South Dakota and Wyoming delegations wrote to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell last week, calling on the department to increase its timber sale program for the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) in Fiscal Year 2016.
The letter, signed by U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and John Barrasso (R-WY), and U.S. Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), says that increasing timber production in the BHNF will aid in mitigating the damage caused by the mountain pine beetle while helping to reduce the risk of fire and sustaining the existing forest products infrastructure.
“Approximately 17,000 acres of trees were killed in 2015 in the BHNF as a result of the mountain pine beetle infestations, which is an increase over the 2014 acreage killed by the mountain pine beetle,” the letter said. “Equally as concerning, according to recent Forest Service statements, approximately 50 percent of the BHNF remains at high risk for mountain pine beetle infestation. Salvaging and utilizing those trees is far more preferable than allowing them to become fuel for forest fires that threaten the communities and forests of the Black Hills.
“We request an increased FY 2016 sale program, with a sawtimber target of 220,000 ccf, which would: 1) sustain the current forest products industry; 2) salvage more acres of trees already attacked by mountain pine beetles; 3) treat additional acres resulting in reduced potential for further mountain pine beetle infestations; and 4) reduce fire danger.”