Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Alternative 3: Suspend ITAM ProgramUnder Alternative 3, ITAM activities would not continue on USARAK installations. This action wouldhave severe adverse impacts to water quality. Discontinuing TRI, SRA, and RTLA would have negativeimpacts to water resources by not allowing for monitoring of damage, not integrating training withenvironmental protection, and not educating soldiers about procedures for training near waterways. GISwould not be available to store and present spatial data relevant to water resources. Maintenance andrepair activities under the LRAM program would not take place under Alternative 3. This would result insediment in waterways from uncontrolled erosion.The following table presents a summary of qualitative impacts to water resources resulting from eachalternative. Descriptions of the qualitative terms are provided in Chapter 2, Description of ProposedAction and Alternatives.Table 3.4 Summary of Impacts 1 to Water Resources.ITAM Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3Activity Short Term Long Term Short Term Long Term Short Term Long TermTRI Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Severe SevereLRAM Minor Beneficial Minor Beneficial Severe SevereSRA Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Severe SevereRTLA Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Severe SevereGIS Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Beneficial Minor Minor1 Short-term impacts are defined as impacts lasting for the duration of a project (approximately ten days) or until vegetation isstabilized.Cumulative ImpactsThe region of influence for water resource impacts resulting from the proposed action would be limited toUSARAK lands and areas immediately adjacent. Past impacts to water resources include sedimentation,explosive munitions training, and localized contamination (USARAK 2004). Current and futureconstruction, training, and non-military activities may all impact water resources. The purpose of ITAM,however, is to monitor and repair the impacts caused by training and recreation. Additionally, bestmanagement practices serve to mitigate construction impacts to water quality. ITAM activities wouldtherefore contribute long-term beneficial cumulative impacts to water resources.3.5 WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES3.5.1 Affected EnvironmentWildlife and fisheries management on USARAK lands has traditionally supported recreational andsubsistence use, maintenance of populations and habitats, and preservation of biological diversity.Wildlife and fish populations and their habitats are managed cooperatively by USARAK, the AlaskaDepartment of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.No federal or state listed threatened or endangered species have been found on USARAK lands(USARAK 2002d,e,f). The State of Alaska maintains a list of sensitive species, endangered species, andspecies of special concern for wildlife. Table 3.5.a lists wildlife species of concern found on USARAKlands. These state listed species are not afforded legislative protection (Alaska Department of Fish and_____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 37