Action Alert: RAF Airstrip within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Badlands Conservation Alliance opposes the proposal by the Recreation Aviation Foundation (RAF) to reestablish the airstrip formerly known as the Eberts Airstrip within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands.
Please email comments to Medora District’s Deputy District Ranger, Robert Schilling:
Robert.schilling@usda.gov.
Hardcopy comments can be mailed to:
Medora Ranger District
Attn: Robert Schilling
99 23rd Ave W
Dickinson, ND 58601
Read the public scoping document from the Medora Ranger District: Subject: Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) proposal to reestablish airstrip
Opposition of Recreation Aviation Foundation (RAF) Proposal to Reestablish the Former Eberts Airstrip in the Medora District
On behalf of the Badlands Conservation Alliance, BCA, and our members across North Dakota, we formally oppose the proposal by the Recreation Aviation Foundation (RAF) to reestablish the airstrip formerly known as the Eberts Airstrip within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. BCA’s mission is a Voice for Wild ND Places, and our membership represents the multi-user groups dedicated to preservation and protection of western ND’s Badlands and grasslands. This proposal raises serious concerns about the long-term health of the Badlands landscape, the integrity of wildlife habitat, and the quality of recreation experiences that many people depend upon.
The North Dakota Badlands are a rare and fragile environment. Designating plane parking and associated camping infrastructure in this area would introduce a level of disturbance that is inconsistent with protecting the diverse landscape that makes this region unique. Increased aviation use in a remote area risks fragmenting habitat and disrupting migration patterns, particularly for sensitive species such as bighorn sheep and other wildlife that rely on quiet, undisturbed terrain.
Noise and air pollution from aircraft activity are also significant concerns. Visitors and residents seek out the Badlands for its peaceful solitude and natural soundscape. Reestablishing an airstrip would undermine the experience of other recreation users, including mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders, and families who value quiet backcountry recreation. Protecting these qualities is essential to maintaining the character of the Medora District and the public lands entrusted to its care.
In addition, this proposal must be considered in the broader context of growing industrial pressures expected in the region over the next decade. With increasing impacts already affecting the Badlands, it is more important than ever to prioritize conservation, intact landscapes, and wildlife connectivity rather than introducing new disturbances that could accelerate cumulative impacts.
There is also a strong equity concern associated with this proposal. Granting a permit to the Recreation Aviation Foundation would primarily benefit a small group of aviation users who have the resources to access the landscape by private aircraft. Meanwhile, many local residents and businesses depend on healthy ecosystems, wildlife habitat, and the quiet recreation economy that supports tourism, guiding, ranching, and outdoor experiences. Decisions about public lands should reflect the interests and long-term wellbeing of the broader community, not just a narrow user group.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Medora District to deny the permit to reestablish the former Eberts Airstrip. Instead, I encourage the Forest Service to continue protecting the ecological integrity, wildlife habitat, and quiet recreation opportunities that define the Badlands and sustain the region’s communities.
Thank you for considering these concerns and for your responsibility in stewarding this important landscape. I appreciate your attention to the voices of local residents and those who care deeply about the future of the Badlands.
Sincerely,
Shannon Straight
Executive Director
Badlands Conservation Alliance