Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Prescribed burns, mechanical thinning, and branch cutting are planned along the boundary of thecantonment area. The Small Arms Complex (2,000 acres) is burned annually, and Husky DZ (400 acres)was burned in 2004. Planning is underway for prescribed burning of Stuart Creek Impact Area, andmechanical hazard fuel reduction projects for the Infantry Platoon Battle Course and Multi-PurposeTraining Range off of Manchu Road. Prescribed burns are also being planned for Alpha Impact Area,Ammo Bunker and Manchu Range, as well as at Tanana Flats and other assorted sites for habitatenhancement.Donnelly Training AreaFifty-nine percent of Donnelly Training Area has burned since 1950, and a considerable portion hasburned more than once (Jorgenson et al. 2001.) Approximately 16% of Donnelly Training Area hasburned within the past 30 years. Based on fires recorded on the installation since 1950, 1.2% of the areahas burned annually. Fires in the outlying training areas include a 1994 fire that burned approximately55% of the Gerstle River Training Area. The last wildfire in the Black Rapids Training Area is believedto have been in 1954 (Dan Rees, personal communication 2002).Most of Donnelly Training Area West is classified for Limited fire management because few resourcesare at risk from fire and USARAK recognizes that fire is a natural process in ecosystem function (AlaskaWildland Fire Coordinating Group 1998). A private hunting lodge, located along the extreme westernboundary of Donnelly Training Area West, is given Full fire suppression status. The northern boundary ofDonnelly Training Area West is classified for Modified fire management to provide a buffer to adjacentstate lands that are classified under Full management status. Donnelly Training Area West is bound byprivate parcels and state lands (USARAK 2002a).Currently, Donnelly Training Area East is a Full fire management area due to the close proximity of thecommunity of Delta Junction and the cantonment area of Fort Greely. This area is subject to high windsand extreme fire behavior, further supporting the Full fire suppression status. The northern portion of theFort Greely Main Post is a Critical fire management area due to the life and property at risk (AlaskaWildland Fire Coordinating Group 1998). The Army does have structures at risk throughout DonnellyTraining Area East. Donnelly Training Area East also surrounds a portion of private and state land knownas the “Key Hole” (USARAK 2002a).Gerstle River Training Area is classified as a Limited fire management area due to risks of unknownordnance and other weapons used on the site (Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group 1998). Adjacentlands are classified for Limited, Modified, and Full fire management status. Gerstle River Training Areais bound by state lands (USARAK 2002a). Black Rapids Training Area is classified under the Full firemanagement option in order to protect the resources of the site (Alaska Wildland Fire CoordinatingGroup 1998). The road corridor adjacent to Black Rapids is classified for Modified fire managementstatus, while the training center is located within a Limited fire management area. The Army has mappedstructures at Black Rapids Training Center and they fall under the Full management option. Black Rapidsis bound by federal and state lands (USARAK 2002a).Fuels management projects on Donnelly Training Area completed in 2004 include a 2,000-acre burn atTexas Range (a 3,000-acre burn was also conducted in 2003), approximately 300 acres of fuels reductionat Jarvis North along the north boundary of Donnelly Training Area, 40 acres of thinning at Bolio LakeTraining Area, a fuels assessment at Gerstle River, and a prescribed burn for reduced fuel loading on60,000 acres of Oklahoma Impact Area. Fire management projects are also being planned for Lakes_____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 46