South Dakota Forests

Forest Types Black Hills Flood Plain Forest Upland Forest Windbreaks and urban forests

South Dakota Forests 1. Black Hills Forest - Includes mostly ponderosa pine, aspen and spruce

Ponderosa Pine

Aspen

Spruce

South Dakota Forests 1. Black Hills Forest - Includes mostly ponderosa pine, aspen and spruce - Encompasses 1.3 million acres in the hills and outlying areas

Tunnel under bark of infected trees Mate and lay up to 75 eggs under bark Once hatched, larvae tunnel away from hatched site, feeding as they go Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic

First major outbreak in – about 30% of the area infected – Estimated around 50% today – Estimated 370,000 acres of ponderosa pine have been affected in the last 10 years. (out of 1.5 million acres) Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic

Methods of control Prescribed burning of affected areas Thinning of forest and infected and threatened areas – Logging – Pile infected logs and burn or woodchip Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic

South Dakota Forests 2. Flood Plain Forest - Elm / Ash trees located along the Missouri river and tributaries

American Elm

Green Ash

South Dakota Forests 2. Flood Plain Forest - Elm / Ash trees located along the Missouri river and tributaries - Cottonwood trees along small rivers and streams

Cottonwood

South Dakota Forests 2. Flood Plain Forest - Elm / Ash trees located along the Missouri river and tributaries - Cottonwood trees along small rivers and streams - Total 175,000 acres

South Dakota Forests 3. Upland forests - Eastern deciduous forest pockets... Newton Hills

South Dakota Forests 4. Windbreaks and Urban forests - Planted by settlers

Forest - Prairie Encroachment – Trees – Shrubs – Smooth Sumac