Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Area.FisheriesDonnelly Training Area West is within the Fairbanks Management Area for fisheries and DonnellyTraining Area East is within the Delta Junction Management Area. Sixteen lakes on Donnelly TrainingArea, ranging from three to 320 acres, are stocked. Naturally occurring populations of lake chub, northernpike, sculpin, and the northern longnose sucker are found in lakes at Donnelly Training Area (BLM andU.S. Army 1994).Major streams on Donnelly Training Area are generally silt laden and do not support fisheries. JarvisCreek and the Delta River are glacially fed and flow from the north side of the Alaska Range to theTanana River. Downstream of Donnelly Training Area, the Tanana River provides year-round habitat forsome species, overwintering habitat for others, and supports migratory species. The mouth of the DeltaRiver is important to chum salmon. Grayling migrate through these glacial streams to clear tributaries tospawn, and a few clear streams provide summer habitat for grayling (Parker 2004).3.5.2 Environmental ConsequencesAlternative 1: Continue ITAM Program without a Management Plan (No Action)TRI would maintain the environmental limitations inventory to protect sensitive habitats, includingwetlands and riparian areas, from training impacts. GIS would assist wildlife and fisheries managementby providing spatial data collection, analysis, presentation, and storage of natural resource data. Theimpacts of LRAM, SRA, and RTLA are discussed below.SRASRA would benefit wildlife by educating soldiers to not harass fish or wildlife. Harassment is defined aspursuit with vehicles or aircraft, feeding, or shooting wildlife. Individuals who harass fish or wildlifewould be subject to prosecution. Additionally, soldiers would be directed to report any injured animals orany wildlife encountered during live-fire exercises to Range Operations. All activity must be suspendeduntil the animals leave the area.Soldiers would be directed to not disrupt large areas of woody vegetation such as willows and birchsaplings important for wildlife. Additionally, SRA would require that all barbed, commo, concertina, andtrip wire is removed immediately after training exercises. These precautions would be beneficial forprotecting wildlife habitat.LRAMLRAM projects would have minor short-term adverse impacts to wildlife and would last for the durationof project activities. Most projects, on average, last approximately ten days. Expansion of drop zones maytake up to two summers to complete, but would be infrequent. Disturbance to wildlife during this timewould result from increased noise from equipment and general human activity. Activities with short-termadverse impacts include gravel extraction, road and maneuver trail upgrades, road crossings, tacticalbridge installation and vegetation removal. Estimated acres impacted from road and maneuver trailupgrades and pad hardening projects for the next five years are approximately 80 acres at FortRichardson, approximately 200 acres at Fort Wainwright, and approximately 100 acres at DonnellyTraining Area (Appendix A). Since LRAM projects involve maintenance and repair of existing range andtraining land infrastructure, the majority of acres affected would be previously disturbed. Long-termlocalized disturbance to habitat would result from projects intended to remove or alter vegetation for longperiods of time. These projects include creation of new gravel pits, drop zones, or fire/fuel breaks._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 41