59 



cases my Forest Service board members feel that probably they 

 wouldn't be able to continue. 



So in summary, base ranch units in the Black Hills are closely 

 tied with their forest permits. They provide winter range for wild- 

 life, and many people hunt on private property. Without forest 

 grazing permits, many of these foothills ranchers would no longer 

 be economically viable. The loss of the grazing permits would accel- 

 erate the sale of base ranch units, and many would be subdivided. 

 These units would be lost from agricultural production, and wild- 

 life habitat and hunting would be lost as well. We feel the Black 

 Hills Forest Plan must maintain multiple use. A good multiple use 

 plan, as far as the ranching industry is concerned, should include 

 increased forage available for livestock as well as wildlife whenever 

 possible. Permits need to be continued to be issued for 10-year peri- 

 ods. And these are the actions that we feel are necessary to provide 

 a stable environment in which the rancher may operate so he can 

 obtain financing and maintain economic viability. Ranchers will 

 then be able to remain solid tax-paying citizens, contributing to the 

 economic health and well-being of the communities around them. 



And just to kind of summarize to go along with what these gen- 

 tlemen have said, this area was settled by miners, loggers, and 

 ranchers. And that's been the basis of the economy and still is the 

 basis of our economy, I think, today. And we've added tourism to 

 that, which is also a big portion of it. And this is the basis of the 

 economies in the communities here in the Black Hills and in west- 

 ern South Dakota. And we need all of these various industries 

 working together to support the communities in this area. These 

 are our economic bases. 



Thank you. I appreciate very much being able to testify. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Nelson follows:] 



Prepared Statement of Larry Nelson 



Senator Larry Pressler. My name is Larry Nelson and I am president of the South 

 Dakota Public Lands Council. South Dakota Public Lands Council members have 

 permits on the Black Hills National Forest, Custer National Forest, Nebraska Na- 

 tional Forest (National Grasslands) and Bureau of Land Management. 



I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this Small Business Committee 

 Field Hearing concerning the Black Hills National Forest Revision Plan. 



GRAZING 



The 251 permittees in the Black Hills National Forest appreciate being able to 

 run livestock on the Forest and need their permits to help make their ranching op- 

 erations economically viable. 



The consequences of reduced livestock grazing in the Black Hills include: in- 

 creased risk of fire due to unutilized forage buildup; reduced vigor of the plant com- 

 munity due to lack of grazing pressure; and economic loss to the rancher as well as 

 the adjacent communities. 



Grazing management and timber management in the Black Hills are interdepend- 

 ent. Without timber harvest, the understory plants are eventually choked out leav- 

 ing very little forage for livestock or wildlife. Good timber management opens up 

 the canopy, increases forage available for livestock and wildlife, and facilitates 

 better livestock distribution. Good timber management also promotes good water 

 management which is essential for domestic ranch use, livestock and wildlife. 



Therefore, the Forest Plan must work to maintain and, wherever possible, in- 

 crease the available forage for livestock. Allotment goals and management decisions 

 should be based on range condition and trend, rather than utilization studies which 

 do not recognize yearly fluctuation in production due to varying precipitation and 

 temperature. Riparian management must be considered as one part of a complete 

 allotment management plan, not as a single issue. Livestock should not be excluded 



