Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Encyclopedia
Buffalo Gap National Grassland is a National Grassland located primarily in southwestern South Dakota
, United States
. It is also the second largest National Grassland. Characteristics of the grasslands include mixed prairie
and chalky badlands
. The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and is a division of Nebraska National Forest
. In descending order of land area it is located in parts of Fall River
, Pennington
, Jackson
, and Custer
counties. It is managed by the Forest Service together with the Nebraska
and Samuel R. McKelvie
National Forests and the Fort Pierre
and Oglala
National Grasslands from common offices in Chadron, Nebraska
. There are local ranger
district offices located in Hot Springs
and Wall
.
In what is known as the Conata Basin region of the grassland, the most successful Black-footed ferret
reintroduction program undertaken by the federal government, has established a small but sustainable population of these previously expirated mammals.
In 2010, South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson introduced the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010, a bill that would designate over 48000 acres (194.2 km²) of the National Grassland as protected wilderness. The act would allow the continuation of grazing and hunting on the land and would create the first national grassland wilderness in the country.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is also the second largest National Grassland. Characteristics of the grasslands include mixed prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
and chalky badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
. The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and is a division of Nebraska National Forest
Nebraska National Forest
The Nebraska National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The total area of the national forest is ....
. In descending order of land area it is located in parts of Fall River
Fall River County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,453 people, 3,127 households, and 1,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 3,812 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, Pennington
Pennington County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 88,565 people, 34,641 households, and 23,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 37,249 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Jackson
Jackson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,930 people, 945 households, and 675 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,173 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, and Custer
Custer County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,275 people, 2,970 households, and 2,067 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 3,624 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
counties. It is managed by the Forest Service together with the Nebraska
Nebraska National Forest
The Nebraska National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The total area of the national forest is ....
and Samuel R. McKelvie
Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest
The Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest is located in the north-central Sandhills region of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Created on October 15, 1971 , the forest is named after former Governor Samuel R. McKelvie...
National Forests and the Fort Pierre
Fort Pierre National Grassland
Fort Pierre National Grassland is a United States National Grassland in central South Dakota, south of the capital, Pierre. It is primarily a short grass prairie. It has a land area of 115,890 acres . In descending order of acreage it lies in parts of Lyman, Stanley, and Jones counties. Part of the...
and Oglala
Oglala National Grassland
The Oglala National Grassland is a United States National Grassland in the northwest corner of Nebraska. It is in northern Sioux and northwestern Dawes counties, on the borders with South Dakota and Wyoming...
National Grasslands from common offices in Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron is a city in Dawes County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dawes County. Chadron is the home of Chadron State College....
. There are local ranger
National Park Ranger
National Park Service Rangers are among the uniformed employees charged with protecting and preserving areas set aside in the National Park System by the United States Congress and/or the President of the United States...
district offices located in Hot Springs
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
and Wall
Wall, South Dakota
Wall is a town in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 766 at the 2010 census...
.
In what is known as the Conata Basin region of the grassland, the most successful Black-footed ferret
Black-footed Ferret
The Black-footed Ferret , also known as the American polecat or Prairie Dog Hunter, is a species of Mustelid native to central North America. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN, because of its very small and restricted populations...
reintroduction program undertaken by the federal government, has established a small but sustainable population of these previously expirated mammals.
In 2010, South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson introduced the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010, a bill that would designate over 48000 acres (194.2 km²) of the National Grassland as protected wilderness. The act would allow the continuation of grazing and hunting on the land and would create the first national grassland wilderness in the country.