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The Army is at a critical crossroad in maintaining the ability to train and exercise weapons capability. To maintain capabilities and readiness, the Army must take an immediate, professional, and local approach to influencing land use planning and management around installations. The issue of sustaining the military land base results from encroachment of adjacent land development Encroachment recently came to the forefront of sustaining base issues as a result of a Department of Defense (DoD) Senior Readiness Oversight Council (SROC) initiative. In 2000 the SROC tasked the Defense Test and Training Steering Group (DTTSG) to examine encroachment issues. Both the series of Encroachment Action Plans developed for the SROC and a 1999 DoD Sustainable Planning report identify tools, including the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) and the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) programs, that can assist in dealing with encroachment. While the time is optimal for planners to engage communities and regional governing bodies on land use controls, the key to opening these and other opportunities requires a local, dedicated staff trained in community planning and conversant in the requirements of the Army mission.

At Fort Carson, CO, the impact of long-term, intense military training on vegetation and topography is becoming increasingly evident. After more than 20 years of intense training, vegetation is so reduced that it adversely impacts the quality of military training. In addition, large gullies have developed in some locations, making navigation by tracked vehicles difficult, if not impossible. Unless training use and proper land management are brought into balance, similar results can be expected to develop at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) as training expands in that area. This report presents a return-on-investment (ROI) study of the benefits that should result from implementing a long-term vegetation management program at Fort Carson and PCMS. Study results show that rehabilitation and maintenance are cost-effective for the Army. Estimates of the Government's savings as Fort Carson and PCMS vary from over $299 million to more than $1.65 billion. Depending on assumptions about the replacement value of site facilities used, the ratio of cost savings to expenses for implementing a rehabilitation program varies from a low of 5, if original facility and land costs are held constant, to a high of more than 27, if current replacement costs are considered.

Sediment control networks are important to Army training lands because they reduce the amount of sediment transported downstream. To evaluate the effectiveness of sediment control networks in training areas, the Army needs to know the water and sediment yield under natural conditions and under conditions produced by training activity. A study was conducted at the Hohenfels Training Area, Federal Republic of Germany, to evaluate the existing sediment control network and to make recommendations for rehabilitation of damaged check dams. Data gathered during watershed and check dam surveys was used in the Army Multiple Watershed Storm Water and Sediment Runoff (ARMSED) model to simulate the results of various activities and improvements. Recommendations include using fewer, larger check dams in the drainageways; properly locating and designing check dams; constructing improved crossing points; and prohibiting training vehicles from operating in the drainageways. The procedures used in this study can be used to develop sediment control plans at other Army training areas and installations.

This report describes a method to evaluate land areas on Army installations for use by off-road recreational four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles. The method describes how to identify incompatible land uses and noise conflict, choose candidate areas, evaluate soil and biological suitability, and develop trails. Also discussed are 4WD user participation, trail design, vehicle operating conditions, and environmental assessment and monitoring. The information in this report focuses on the purely recreational use of 4WD vehicles. The evaluation method is designed to be as nontechnical as possible, so Army personnel normally charged with installation land management can perform the evaluation. The method can also be used for many public and private applications. (Author)

This report describes a recommended method to evaluate land areas on Army installations for use by recreational snowmobiles. Personnel normally charged with land management responsibilities can perform this evaluation. The method includes recommended procedures to identify incompatible land uses, establish noise buffer zones, evaluate biological and terrain suitability, choose candidate areas or corridors, and establish trails. Factors considered in the evaluation method include user participation, existing trail systems, user demand, trial signing, vehicle operating conditions, and environmental assessment and monitoring. (Author)