South Dakota Army National Guard Biological Surveys

Location
Rapid City, Elk Point, SD

To conserve and protect as much of the environment as possible, the South Dakota Army National Guard works with our Environmental team to conduct biological surveys of training areas. Through a combination of site visits, live traps, and trail cameras, the team collects accurate data on the presence of animals and plants in the area. Modern and historical data provide insight into emerging trends, enabling scientifically based decisions for environmental actions.

Project Details

Biological surveys are conducted during field visits. Mammal, avian, reptile, and amphibian species are recorded and compared to historical sightings. Bird count point locations, scent stations, Sherman traps, pitfall traps, trail cameras, and coverboards are all utilized to gain information about the species using the training area. Indicator species, a species of animal or plant that reflects the state of an environment or the impacts of environmental change within an area, are also noted. These indicator species can be used to monitor the effects of SDARNG activities on the training areas.

For this project, we provided:

National Environmental Policy Act Documentation (Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements)
Environmental Compliance
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans
Invasive Species Studies
General Habitat Assessments and Biological Assessment Documentation

Project Disciplines

Environmental