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4.2.11 Environmentally Sensitive Habitat
Fort Carson has a diverse ecosystem with large numbers of big and small game, fisheries, non-game wildlife, forest, rangeland, soil, and mineral resources.
In Fort Carson's case, once wildlife and plant species distributions, and their associated living requirements, are linked to habitats and those habitats mapped, military mission planning is facilitated through awareness and avoidance of sensitive areas and timeframes.
The fragile balance of plants, water, and soils on land is required for sustainability of both the ecosystem and the military training mission. Factors to consider in sustainable land use efforts include:
- Forest resources help stabilize soils and provide concealment for tactical vehicles and personnel, allowing for realistic training.
- Non-native plant species can harm wildlife, cause soil erosion, compete with native species, consume water, affect channel geomorphology, and invade wetlands.
- Prescribed fires prevent wildfires that degrade training lands, save significant training time and money used to fight wildfires, and allow for increased training by creating buffer zones at live fire ranges.
- Soil erosion, caused by training practices, water flow fluctuation, and wildfires, can degrade land, rendering it useless for training. Soil moisture is an important factor in erosion and training. Proper instrumentation and a central database can reduce training-related soil damage.
- Sustained wildlife requires a focus on ecosystems, rather than man-made borders. Efforts towards sustainable wildlife include education, conservation, recreation, and enforcement.
4.2.11.1 Training Lands
Installation training lands provide superior training opportunity and simultaneously provide multiple-resource benefits. Fort Carson and Pinon Canyon resource managers have developed a comprehensive plan that combines application of regulatory, mechanical, and biological controls to training lands. Consult the Integrated Natural Resource Management PLAN (INRMP 2006) for specific training land maintenance topics.
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