SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentHazardous WasteNo hazardous waste is stored at the PCMS. Hazardous wastes generated at PCMS are properly disposedof at an off-post, permitted hazardous waste facility.3.3.9 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES3.3.9.1 Fort CarsonVegetation Community DescriptionsThe eastern side of FTC is characterized by flat to rolling, open terrain dominated by grasslands andshrublands. Woodlands and a variety of shrub communities occupy higher ground on the western sideof the installation, and large grassland areas are also present. The cantonment area on FTC is highlydisturbed and developed, and vegetation consists primarily of nonnative ornamental landscaping includingbluegrass turf and landscape trees. Only small areas of native vegetation remain within thecantonment. Native grasslands occur primarily in the eastern and southwestern portions of FTC. Severaldeciduous shrubland types are found on FTC, and these are often restricted to special edaphic(soil-related) conditions (USACE 2005a; DECAM 2002a).Coniferous woodlands dominated by one-seed juniper (Sabina monosperma) or a combination of oneseedjuniper and pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) are the most common woodlands on FTC, occupying theelevated landscapes on the western side of the installation. Pinyon-juniper woodlands are found primarilyon mesas and hills with gravelly soils where they out-compete grasses (USACE 2005a, DE-CAM 2002a).WetlandsThe USFWS National Wetland Inventory identified 543 wetland areas totaling approximately1,050 acres on FTC, of which 383 wetlands totaling approximately 507 acres are man-made (USFWS1991). The majority (70 percent) of wetlands on FTC are palustrine emergent wetlands (USFWS1991). Most of these are less than 1 acre. In the downrange training area of FTC, isolated wetlandscan occur where a dam has been built for erosion control or water storage, and most are only 1 to2 acres size. The largest downrange wetland area, totaling approximately 100 acres, is on the upperreaches of Teller Reservoir. About six very small springs occur on FTC, and each has a small associatedwetland area. Wetland areas are also distributed throughout the cantonment area, typically innatural or stormwater runoff drainages and in an area south of Butts Army Airfield (site of the oldgolf course and now a wildlife management area) (DECAM 2002a).In 2002, USACE issued a Regional Permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344)for FTC and the PCMS Erosion Control Activities (USACE 2002b). This regional permit authorizesFort Carson to conduct erosion control activities on post that may result in minimal individual andcumulative impacts to wetlands from dredge and fill activities. Typical erosion control measures includeerosion control and stock watering impoundments, banksloping of erosion courses, check dams,rock armor, hardened crossings, culverts and bridges, erosion control terraces and water diversions,water turnouts, and other erosion control activities approved by USACE.Noxious WeedsA number of Colorado State- and county-listed (El Paso, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties) noxiousweeds have invaded both natural and developed landscapes on FTC. FTC has targeted noxious weedsfor priority control by preventing them from populating disturbed areas, controlling infestations toFebruary 2008 3–171 2/25th SBCT Final EIS