SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentProperties of Traditional, Religious, or Cultural SignificanceThe USAGAK has been working with many tribes in Interior Alaska, especially those that may beimpacted by actions on FWA or DTA. These include Nenana, Dot Lake, Eagle, Healy Lake, Northway,Tanacross, and Tetlin. Current projects are underway to identify TCPs. These projects may identifygeographical features with Native place names, berry collecting localities, game migration routesimportant to subsistence practices, areas frequently used as camps or subsistence areas, places associatedwith oral histories, or locations of other cultural practices.3.2.5 LAND USE AND RECREATIONThis section discusses the existing land uses and recreational resources in and around FRA and theDTA (Figure 3–2).3.2.5.1 Fort RichardsonThe major land use categories for FRA were identified in the USACE’s Master Planning Instructionsand include range and training land, miscellaneous, maintenance, transportation, housing, community,installation support, and outdoor recreation (USARAK 2004). The land use categories were establishedas the framework for future land use decisions. Each land use category is evaluated against theestablished criteria to determine compatibilities, constraints, and opportunities. Land use categoriesare assumed to be compatible with adjacent land uses.FRA includes 61,376 acres of land, of which 54,416 acres are designated as range and training land.In addition, 2,828 acres are designated as miscellaneous; 2,091 as maintenance; 339 acres as transportation;563 combined acres for housing, community, and installation support; and 901 acres of outdoorrecreation (USARAK 1999a, b, c). The central part of FRA is dominated by the cantonment areaand several training ranges.Public access and recreational use is allowed on FRA in certain areas. Most of northern FRA is availablefor public recreation. The southern part of the post is open to non-motorized forms of recreationaluse; however, the area has few roads or trails and mountainous terrain. Recreational uses ofFRA include hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking, berry picking, bird watching, skiing, anddog sledding. In addition, off-road recreational vehicle (ORRV) use is allowed on maintained roadwaysand trails in designated areas and includes motorized vehicles, such as snowmobiles, all-terrainvehicles (three- and four-wheeled), and airboats, that do not require maintained roads or open waterways.Recreational and subsistence hunting and fishing occur on FRA. However, trapping is no longer allowedon FRA because of human health and safety concerns. Conflicting recreational and trainingland uses, and a generally high volume of use per area, have led USARAK to ban trapping on FRA.Hiking is also popular on FRA because of its proximity to Anchorage and its position next toChugach State Parks. Some trails in the southern part of FRA connect directly to trails from ChugachState Park or Centennial Park. In addition, USARAK allows non-commercial rafting by permit alongEagle River.Moose Run Golf Course and Otter Lake are important recreational areas on FRA. The main cantonmentarea contains hard-surfaced courts, manicured fields, and simple open spaces. A fitness centerand three parks are also used for recreation.February 2008 3–112 2/25th SBCT Final EIS