The fight against beetles gaining a louder voice

Black Hills Map — This map, dated Aug. 2, 2011, from beatthebee
tles.com, shows the United States Department of Agriculture’s proposed action on mountain pine beetle infested areas. Currently, many areas in the Southern Hills are not addressed on that map. [Submitted Photo]

By Carrie Moore

The fight against the mountain pine beetles is gaining momentum and a stronger voice thanks to the work of Nort Johnson, president & CEO of Black Hills Badlands & Lakes Association, a 500-member tourism marketing organization based in Rapid City. Johnson has been discussing the beetle problem with representatives in Pierre and Washington D.C., as well as writing letters to governmental department heads.
Johnson will travel to Washington, D.C. for the third time in the next few weeks. The first time he went was September, as part of a contingency from the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, when state and local elected officials and industry representatives made their concerns known with the Forest Service and the Council on Environmental Quality. The group also visited the offices of Sens. John Thune and Tim Johnson as well as Congresswoman Kristi Noem to make sure they understand the concerns of the business community in South Dakota.
Johnson then made a stop on his way back from another trip to personally deliver additional letters of support for alternative arrangements from the Visitor Industry Alliance, the South Dakota State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Save Our Black Hills Coalition and many local chambers and businesses.
This time, Johnson met with Jay Jensen, aide to Nancy Sutley, chairwoman for the Council of Environmental Equality, to discuss solutions and assistance for fighting the mountain pine beetles.
The proposed solutions have been designed to give the Forest Service some leeway with treatment. The solution will hopefully include a shorter environmental review process. However, no plans have been approved.
“It’s difficult to stand by and not take action,” Johnson said. “The mountain pine beetles are multiplying at rates 350 percent to 1,300 percent per year. On average, five new trees are affected by each bad tree.”
Johnson also said options in fighting the beetles are limited to removing, thinning and burning trees to destroy beetle larva.
“We have to get them before they are fully grown,” he said. “Otherwise it’s nearly impossible.”
There are two main concerns for Johnson and those fighting for the Black Hills. The first is getting plans and policies approved and the other is speaking with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service about funding.
“Most of the Black Hills is on federal land,” Johnson said. “And the Forest Service is severely under funded when it comes to fighting the mountain pine beetles.”
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