Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

The south post has areas classified under Critical, Full, and Limited fire management. Most of the southpost is under Full fire management because the area is mainly used for military training and small armsranges. The alpine zones are classified for Limited fire management because of their remote location.Many military resources are at risk from wildland fire in the training areas of the south post, includingtwo small arms complexes. Additional surveys are needed to ascertain sites where ordnance has been usedand disposed. Cultural resources staff identified sites in the south post area, but management optionsrelated to wildland fire are pending. The south post is bound by private parcels and state lands (USARAK2002b).The spruce bark beetle has killed most of the larger white spruce in the north and south post trainingareas. For the most part, the infestation is over; now the dead spruce are starting to fall down, resulting inhigh fuel loads on the forest floor. Additionally, deaths of larger spruce trees have allowed areas to betaken over by bluejoint reedgrass, increasing potential fire risk. The absence of wildfires may beinhibiting the potential for optimal ecosystem development. Spruce bark beetle infestation in old-agedtimber is one problem that may have been exacerbated by a lack of wildfires (USARAK 2002b). Toreduce this threat, 60 acres of dead spruce were removed along the Stuckagain Heights residential area,and ten acres of dead spruce were removed near another housing area in 2003. Grezelka Range wastreated with 20-acre prescribed burns in both 2003 and 2004, and removal of dead spruce from a 20-acrearea behind Grezelka Range is being considered. Because of the extensive mortality of white spruce in thearea, fire prevention activities were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to reduce fuel loads adjacent to the smallarms ranges (USARAK 2002b).Other fire management projects completed on Fort Richardson include a 20-acre prescribed burn onGrezelka Range and 10 acres of mechanical thinning near Fort Richardson housing areas. In 2004, fourfirefighter access trails were built behind the Small Arms Complex, and prescribed burns were conductedon Malamute DZ (100 acres) and again on Grezelka Range (20 acres). Future fire management projectsinclude mechanical fuel load reduction at Grezelka Range and prescribed burns at the Infantry SquadBattle Course, Infantry Platoon Battle Course, and the Digital Multi Purpose Training Range.Fort WainwrightApproximately 30% of Fort Wainwright has burned since 1950, and a substantial portion of the area hasburned more than once. Records of fire occurrences since 1950 indicate that about 1% of Fort Wainwrighthas burned annually (Jorgenson et al. 1999). The average interval for fire recurrence on any given area atFort Wainwright varies from 100 to 150 years (USARAK 2002c).The Fort Wainwright Fire Department is responsible for fire suppression on Main Post. The cantonmentarea is categorized as Critical fire management due to the urban and residential areas adjacent to it(Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group 1998). On Tanana Flats Training Area, primary responsibilityfalls under the Alaska Fire Service. Currently the training area is classified for Limited fire suppressionbecause relatively few resources are at risk from fire and because USARAK recognizes fire as a naturalprocess in ecosystem function.The eastern portion of Yukon Training Area is under Limited fire management because it is too close toan impact area, few resources are at risk, and USARAK recognizes fire as a natural and desirable processfor ecosystem function. The western portion of the training area is assigned Full fire management due toits proximity to developed residential areas, in addition to resources of value on adjacent military lands.The central portion of the training area is listed for Modified fire management, and this area acts as abuffer between the Limited and Full management areas (USARAK 2002c)._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 45