- August 5 – Soils: The World Beneath Your Feet – This walk is located in the central Black Hills. Join scientists from the USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service as they discuss soil development, GIS mapping and the significance of soil types in natural resource management.
The Black Hills National Forest will hold a Moon Walk program north of Hill City on Saturday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. This 3/4 mile round trip hike on a two track road with little elevation gain will take place on the south side of Sheridan Lake near the campground. Participants will be able to walk into a soil pit while staff from the Natural Resource Conservation Service discuss soils common to the Black Hills and surrounding region.
Featured speakers Kent Cooley, Area Resource Soil Scientist and Denise Miller Geographic Information Systems Specialist from the Rapid City Field Support Office will discuss how soil develops under different environments, the significance of soil, how different soils impact resource management and finally how GIS mapping aids in a better understanding of soils. “Soils are an integral part of everything we do, so understanding and protecting them is important. There are amazing things happening below the soil surface from soil development to the organisms living there,” said Miller.
Moon Walks are held on a Saturday night close to the official full moon and begin at 7:00 p.m. Most programs last for 1-2 hours and visitors walk an average of 1 mile round trip. As each Moon Walk nears, specific directions to individual programs will be posted on the Black Hills National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call (605) 343-1567.
