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About the Map

If the map below is solid blue:

  • Keep zooming out;
  • Pan over to the United States; then
  • Find Nebraska and South Dakota.

Projects will show up on the map if a latitude and longitude has been entered. Bear with us as we get used to the new system!

Note: Not all projects may appear on map. See list below for complete list of projects with more information or documentation.

SOPA Reports

The Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) contains a list of proposed actions for Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands that will soon begin or are currently undergoing environmental analysis and documentation. It provides information so that you can become aware of and indicate your interest in specific proposals. We encourage your early and ongoing involvement in any proposals of interest to you.

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Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands Projects

The Pine Ridge Ranger District is proposing to expand 25.4 miles of <50" trail and 8.7 miles of motorcycle trail to accommodate off-highway vehicle's (OHV) <64".

Drilling of one exploratory oil well to depth of 3750' and one re-entry to 3708'. Re-entry is previous Piggy Wig Well. Includes construction of 950' of new road and 150' x 240' well pad on Alkali Fed 2-33 and 100' x 40' pit on Alakali Fed 3-33.

Drilling of one exploratory oil well to depth of 3850 ft. Includes constrution of 140' x 220' well pad.

Hand plant 112 container ponderosa pine seedlings throughout & near various areas where forest fires consumed ponderosa pine forested stands & their seed source. Approximately 50-200 seedlings/ac would be planted depending on terrain & microclimates.

Road Access Permit to reach oil and gas well pad on adjacent state property.

Construction of the following facilities: warehouse building, new road intersection at the Road 86B Spur for new shop access, new cooler/concrete slabs near the nursery packing shed, drainage catchment in the recreaton complex and four new greenhouse

Analysis of the effects of authorizing motorized travel on selected, existing user created routes on the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest and the Bessey Division of the Nebraska National Forest.

Removing Eastern red cedar from grasslands

To amend the LRMP to specify a desired range of acres of prairie dog colonies to meet various multiple use objectives, and to identify what actions may be taken if the acreage substantially falls below or exceeds the desired range.

Conserving black-tailed prairie dogs while reducing unwanted prairie dog colonization on adjoining lands using a variety of tools and methods.

A proposed land exchange between the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands and White Ranch near Oelrichs, South Dakota. The purpose of the land exchange is to consolidate landownerships.

Change designation of Forest Road 723 from Open to Highway Legal Only to Open to all Vehicles.

Bovee wildfire restoration and hazardous trees, snags and fuels reduction.

Replacement of damaged utilities from the 2022 Bovee Fire within the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest.

Removal of fire damaged timber, minor infrastructure repairs, and reduction of fuel loading to allow for future management actions.

Analyze the grazing allotments on the Oglala NG and Buffalo Gap NG (West GA) to determine the difference between existing conditions and desired conditions, and make adjustments to implement the new Forest Plan direction.

Analyze and disclose environmental effects that may result from implementing one vertical oil and natural gas well. Project includes proposed construction, drilling, completion, production and reclamation.

A proposed land exchange between The Nature Conservancy, a Not for Profit Corporation and the Forest Service. The primary purpose of the Cain Creek Land Exchange exchange is to consolidate land ownership where private and National Forest System (NFS

Range Allotment Management Plan

Prescribed fire within the Crow Dam pasture, designated a special plant and wildlife habitat area, to enhance native vegetation and reduce invasive and/or non-native grass species.

Construct a 1-acre parking lot and trailhead for access to the motorized trail system.

Construct rock reinforced ford in historic creek crossing, for USFS authorized use only, to reduce environmental impacts, stream degradation, and erosion to complete vegetation management activities.

This project proposes 6.37 miles of waterline and twelve water tanks on four grazing allotments in Pennington County, SD on the Wall Ranger District. New tank locations and pipelines will provide reliable water sources and management of resources.

The project proposal includes installing approximately 9 miles of buried pipeline, including 11 permanent stock tanks and 2 meter pits from an existing West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water Systems, Inc. meter pit on private property.

Removal of invading eastern red cedar in areas identified on the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest to improve timber stand and grassland health.

The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, Fort Pierre Ranger District, proposes to issue special use permits on four existing two-track, dirt roads to three private landowners who are land locked by Forest System lands.

Build 5 exclosures and plant native trees and shrubs in them along Moss Agate Creek.

Project #66550 was canceled because the same project (#66549) already exists on the SOPA. Those interested in this project should refer to project ID #66549.

The purpose of this project is to improve access to recreational fisheries. The project proposes installation of fishing pods, a boat dock, several boat ramps, and several road reroutes.

Modify existing Special Use Permit to allow the crossing of an additional 4.5 miles of Buffalo Gap National Grassland along the East French Creek Road to replace aging copper facility and improve service

Drilling of a new replacement well

Propose to Exchange 3801.38 acres of National Grassland in Custer County for 2956.50 acres of land in Pennington County and Jackson County owned by Dakota Partnership of Rapid City SD

Plaqcement of 10-12 pallets of bee hives (4 hives to pallet) on 12 locations within the Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Remove 3 miles of existing fence and replace with 1/4 mile of wildlife-friendly fence.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to convey 632.95 acres to Don Kelly in exchange for 666.89 acres of private land. The private lands are located in Badlands National Park and would be conveyed to the USA, National Park Service.

This project is designed to reduce fine fuels before repairing Lower Booth Dam

The purpose of this project is to restore and or maintain the functional ecological value of the native grasslands and hand-planted forests in the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest.

Proposes to add 1/2 mile of road to the MVUM for the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest for the purpose of accessing the Chat Canyon Wildlife Management Area, owned and operated by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

A proposal to designate the existing motorized trails for vehicles 64 inches wide or less. It is currently 50 inches wide or less.

Installation of fiber optic line within the boundaries of the Fort Pierre National Grasslands. Installation will occur within the existing road right-of-way.

Update: The Forest will produce one EIS with one decision for all affected units. The decision will be made by the Forest Supervisor instead of individual District Rangers, as previously planned.

Modification of the Nebraska State 4-H Camp's Special Use Permit to include the development and use of a zipline as a part of the camps activities.

Repair and protect Agate, Rock Bass and Bordgate Reservoirs in order to enhance riparian and pond habitat on the Oglala National Grassland.

vegetation treatments on approximately 19,200 acres of Forest Service land within the Pine Ridge Ranger District. Treatments would include prescribed fire, thinning, understory vegetation control, meadow and riparian enhancement.

The project is largely aimed at improving undesired conditions created by the 2006 Spotted Tail Fire and the 2012 West Ash Fire and reducing the threat of stand-replacing wildfires in those few areas not impacted by those large wildfires.

construct 4 miles of trails in order to enhance public access and recreational opportunities on the Pine Ridge Ranger District.

Manage recreational opportunities while continuing to protect natural, cultural, and recreational resources in the Pinnacles area.

Approximately 50% of the Grassland is now dominated by invasive, cool-season exotic grasses, particularly smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass. The proposed project aims to identify techniques to restore a dominance of native vegetation on the FPRD.

Placement of new fiber optic lines using duct system and hand holes. Placement would primarily be within existing SD Department of Transportation and County right-of-ways with small portions intersecting USFS property.

Install 1.25 miles of underground water line and one permanent stock tank.

Replace 14 existing toilets and install one new one with modern facilities.

The proposed action is to install one or two vault restrooms at Richland Dam

The purpose of this project is to repair years worth of erosion damage done to the grade and spillway which currently is jeopardizing the dam's stability.

The purpose of this project is to reforest the Roberts Tract area of the Pine Ridge Ranger District with ponderosa pine seedlings. This area was hit with two large fires in the past which have changed the landscape from forest to grassland.

Ther purpose of this project is to reforest the roundtop/eagle eye rock area of the Oglala National Grassland with pine seedlings. This area burned during the 2012 Douthit wildfire.

Determine the difference between existing and desired conditions on all grazing allotments on the SR McKelvie NF and implement grazing strategies to move toward desired conditions as outlined in the Forest Plan.

The Forest Service proposes a land exchange of approximately 760 acres of national grassland located in Sioux County for 800 acres of land in Sioux and Dawes County owned by Walter Whitcher of Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

Russian olive will be removed mechanically or by hand. All cut trees will be piled and burned.

Analyze and disclose environmental effects that may result from implementing two vertical oil and natural gas wells in previously authorized locations. Project includes proposed construction, drilling, completion, production and reclamation.

Permitting the construction of a 2,000,000-gallon inground storage reservoir by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Issue a special use permit for army national guard to conduct aviation training.

Install 3.6 miles of water pipeline with 5 stock tanks, move one existing fence from Lower Booth Dam north of FSR 227 and convert an electric fence to barbwire in the Camp Flat Allotmen all in the southwest corner of the Fort Piere National Grassland

Issue 3 special use permit amendments to perform shoulder work on Highway 73, which results in the need to move a fiberoptic cable and a water line that serves the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Construct an 8-pen corral at the Steer Creek Campground.

Authorize use of prescribed burning and mowing as well as installing additional water sources to improve vegetative composition and structure. Authorize new access routes to fishing ponds and creation of a new parking area.

Analyze and disclose environmental effects that may result from implementing one vertical oil and natural gas well. Project includes proposed construction, drilling, completion, production and reclamation.

Add 10 camp sites within the established campground area by adding gravel camping pads, fire rings, grills, picnic tables, and pavilions.

Thank you for your continued interest in the projects occurring on your National Forests. The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands has decided to utilize GovDelivery, an electronic messaging program that allows us to provide better communication with interested members of public like you. This new program allows you the ability to manage subscriptions to Forest Service project electronic mailing list(s) and access immediate electronic information to project documents. To sign up, please follow the link "Transition to GovDelivery" above. After you sign up, don't forget to click on the "Add Subscriptions" tab to select your areas of interest to ensure you are kept up to date on upcoming projects.

The US Forest Service is evaluating the potential use of multiple plague management tools which could be used on the Wall Ranger District to combat plague with the objective of enhancing black-footed ferret habitat, and for public health and safety.

The reforestation and site prep work on 1873 acres on the Pine Ridge RD within the West Ash Fire 2012

Update vegetation management activities along 278 miles of transmission lines located on NFS lands in Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah. These activities are intended to protect the transmission lines by managing for stable, low growth vegetation.

Improve motorized access along and in the vicinity of the Whitetail Road, including to Whitetail Campground.

Current Projects

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