SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected Environment3.3.5 LAND USE AND RECREATIONThis section discusses the existing land uses and recreational resources in and around FTC andPCMS.3.3.5.1 Fort CarsonFTC occupies portions of El Paso, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties in east central Colorado. FTC coversapproximately 137,000 acres, and extends from 2 and 15 miles east to west and approximately24 miles north to south. Fort Carson is bounded by Interstate 25 (I–25) and mixed development to theeast and State Highway (SH) 115 to the west. Colorado Springs and Denver lie 8 miles and 75 miles,respectively, to the north, while the City of Pueblo is located 35 miles south of the FTC cantonmentarea. The following subsections describe the current land uses in and around FTC, and land use managementplans that provide guidance for operations at FTC.FTC is an active military training facility for both weapons qualification and field training. Land useon FTC can be divided into three primary categories: cantonment, training areas, and non-military/recreation uses.The cantonment consists of developed land and the training areas and non-military/recreation areasare undeveloped land. The cantonment, located in the northern portion of the installation, covers approximately6,000 acres.Military field training areas encompass approximately 96,000 acres of unimproved or open lands thatare used for live-fire artillery practice, small-arms practice, tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle maneuveroperations, and bivouac training. Air operation ranges on FTC consist of the Air Burst Rangeand Butts Army Airfield. Remaining land is used for recreation and other purposes (DECAM 2005a).The primary training activities that occur within the range area include maneuver training and livefiretraining. Other areas within the range are restricted from training.Although FTC’s primary land use is for military training, FTC also has approximately 3,710 of specialuse lands, including recreation areas and a wildlife refuge (DECAM 2002a). Recreational uses onFTC include hunting, angling, dog training, and activities such as picnics and trail rides. Militarytraining is generally off limits at these sites, and the intensity, level, and type of recreational activitiesvary by site. Most of the sites that support recreational uses are also waterfowl nesting refuges; somesites also protect other species including fish. Recreational uses are also allowed on training rangelands(with the exception of firing ranges and impact areas) when they are not being used for militaryactivities (DECAM 2001b, 2002a).As part of the ACUB program, FTC is implementing a comprehensive strategy to mitigate physicalencroachment and environmental regulatory issues at FTC. The goal of this project is to enhance militaryutility of DoD’s primary military training areas through protection of properties adjacent to FTCboundaries. These properties have been identified as having high conservation value and/or high potentialfor current and future encroachment from development along Installation boundaries. Thestrategy entails working with activities/agencies such as TNC and El Paso County to work towardsencumbering upwards of 82,000 acres of permanent conservation easements, annual leases and acquisitionsby collaboratively initiating administrative actions on private lands adjacent to the Installation.The project was initiated during 2002 and focuses on private lands that border FTC, primarily within1.5 to 2.0 miles of its southern and eastern boundaries. The ACUB protects available habitats, openspace values and reduces current and future training restrictions by providing conservation easementsFebruary 2008 3–156 2/25th SBCT Final EIS