Encroachment Management: Growing Greener Beyond the Fence

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Encroachment Management Growing Greener
Beyond the Fence

• Federal Planning
• Division
• Annual Workshop
• April 13, 2007

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Potential Partnerships
• The Nature Conservancy
• U.S. Fish Wildlife Service
• On-Going Encroachment Management Actions
• U.S. Navy
• NAS Whiting Field Complex
• NSA Panama City
• Questions

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Introduction

• Will Ballard, AICP
• Senior Planner - Woolpert, Inc.
• 314.436.0865
• will.ballard_at_woolpert.com
• Robert Barnes, Brigadier General, US Army, Ret.
• Senior Policy Advisor - The Nature Conservancy
• 703.841.5300
• bbarnes_at_tnc.org
• Eric Schrading
• Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist - US Fish
  Wildlife Service, Region 5
• 609.646.9310
• Eric_Schrading_at_fws.gov

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IntroductionEncroachment

• Encroachment
• pressures that limit the military use of land,
  air and sea-space.
• any non-DOD action or constraint that causes or
  may cause the loss of, restriction to, the use of
  land, air, frequency and sea maneuver areas
• Encroachment Challenges varies slightly by
  service, but all agree on
• urban growth
• endangered species / critical habitat.

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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionEncroachment
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IntroductionNatural Resource Conservation

• Individual Parcel

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IntroductionNatural Resource Conservation

• Multi-County - Northwest Florida Greenway

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IntroductionNatural Resource Conservation

• Regional
• Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and
  Sustainability

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Potential PartnershipsThe Nature Conservancy

• Robert Barnes, Brigadier General, US Army, Ret.
• Former Assistant Judge Advocate General of the
  Army
• Senior Policy Advisor - The Nature Conservancy

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Question One

• What is the Nature Conservancy and what is it all
  about?

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The Nature Conservancy
The Mission of the Nature Conservancy is to
conserve the plants, animals and natural
communities that represent the diversity of life
on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they
need to survive
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The Nature Conservancy

• We work in all 50 states and 33 countries
• 3500 staff in 430 offices
• Own 1,500 nature preserves in US totaling 2
  million acres
• Have protected 15 million acres in US and 101
  million acres overseas
• Science-based organization
• Voluntary actions with partners
• We are NOT an environmental advocacy group - we
  DO NOT sue folks to compel or prevent actions

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Question TwoWHY THE HECK AM I HERE, ANYWAY?

• The answer to that is straightforward..
• We share common problems
• We have overlapping objectives
• Keep DoD test training ranges open and
  operating now and in the future
• Why does TNC care about that?
• Permanently preserve open space and natural areas
• Why does DoD care about that?
• And we now have a powerful new way to work
  together - the buffer authority

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TE Species on Federal Lands
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DoD and Land Use Planning

• DoD has engaged local officials in land use
  issues in the immediate vicinity of military
  installations for many years
• Traditional programs like AICUZ and JLUS have
  focused on military airfields and near-in
  incompatible development in clear zones, APZs,
  explosive safety fans, and high noise/dust areas
• Traditional programs did not and do not address
  protection of TE habitat off base, even though
  that is a major encroachment issue

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So Whats New?

• Recognition that planning alone is not enough
• Recognition that compatability of near-in
  development, while essential, is insufficient -
  must look at all areas of military concern -
  habitat for TE species, flight paths, MOAs,
  SUAs, etc even if hundreds of miles from the
  nearest installation
• Recognition that DoD has a legitimate role as an
  active, and influential, participant in federal,
  state, and local civilian land use planning at
  all levels

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The Paradigm Shift

• Absolutely perfect planning limited to actions
  inside the fenceline will not result in success
• Must view the area for required planning more
  broadly in space and more extended in time -
  area/ecosystem-wide, and decades into the future
• DoD-controlled land is just a part of the broader
  concept of planning for the future use and
  condition of areas of DoD concern - which can
  be many miles away

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The Paradigm Shift

• Successful DoD master planning now requires
  convincing others outside of DoD to do what you
  want them to do with their land locking in that
  use for the long haul
• Lead times are very long, but reaction times can
  be very short - need to be able to move quickly
• DoD cannot succeed acting on its own - success
  requires active partnership with others who have
  shared or overlapping interests

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Crisis Reaction vs Crisis Avoidance

• If you wait until you have a problem, you are
  about ten years late
• Need to project at least ten years into the
  future and determine the following
• The full geographic range of lands of DoD
  concern based on projected (not current)
  mission, tactics, techniques, and systems
• The conditions you need those off-base lands to
  be in - including TE habitat
• The conditions those lands will likely be in if
  you dont intervene

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Crisis Reaction vs Crisis Avoidance

• Need to be willing to disclose the desired future
  condition of non-DoD lands to local and state
  governments, other federal agencies, and private
  sector partners and landowners - even if you
  arent sure - best guesses are required
• Planning inside the fenceline is based on
  assumptions about future conditions outside the
  fenceline - DoD needs to change those
  assumptions into assurances
• The new buffer authority is one highly
  effective way to do that, and fully address
  biological as well as physical encroachment

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The Buffer Statute

• Based on the Army-TNC project at Fort Bragg to
  protect off-base TE habitat to relieve on-base
  training restrictions
• Authorizes agreements with conservation NGOs and
  units of State or local government.
• Anticipates cooperative approach to preserve
  habitat and/or limit incompatible development
• Costs to acquire real property interests from
  willing sellers may be shared with partners
• Military Dept may demand an immediate interest in
  the property acquired or simply a contingent
  right.

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The Buffer Statute

• Original statute limited action to lands in the
  vicinity of military installations
• In order for the buffer program to be more
  effective in addressing biological and regional
  encroachment, in FY 2006 Congress broadened the
  scope of the buffer statute
• Statute now authorizes action with regard to
  lands and waters in the vicinity of, or
  ecologically related to, military installations
  or military airspace
• Change allows effective use of the authority in
  area and regional planning and action

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The Buffer Statute

• Program has grown rapidly
• Started with two initial pre-statute Army
  projects at Fort Bragg and Fort Huachuca
• In FY 07, Services under their implementing
  programs submitted 54 projects from 40 different
  installations and ranges with an FY 2007 funding
  requirement of 154 million
• FY 08 likely to see a continued growth in
  participating installations and projects and in
  funding requirement

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Leveraging Non-DoD Programs

• Other Federal Programs
• Numerous federal programs provide funding for
  conservation and habitat restoration and
  protection
• Major opportunity in the 2007 Farm Bill
• State and Local Programs
• Traditional State conservation programs
• New programs and bond initiatives specifically
  targeted at protecting DoD bases
• Groups like TNC know these programs and can help
  bring their funds (and our own funds) to the
  table

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Working with TNC - The Process

• Compare mission-essential land use objectives
• Example GIS overlay of critical airspace with
  TNC conservation objectives, find matching goals
• Form partnership to pursue coincident objectives
• Bring other private and public stakeholders on
  board
• Form action plan
• Secure funding from multiple sources
• Implement
• Evaluate results, adjust, run through cycle again

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The TNC Approach Identification of the Portfolio
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Joint Gulf Range Complex
Navy
Air Force
Air Force
Navy
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Joint Use Regional Airspace

Extends to Jacksonville connects with Camp
Blanding Restricted Airspace
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Potential DoD Corridors
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Some Key Issues

• Active DoD participation in land use planning by
  other federal agencies
• Who in DoD should do this?
• Active DoD participation in state and regional
  land use (including transportation) planning
• Working with local governments is essential, but
  insufficient
• Who in DoD should do this?
• Distributed training and protection of land
  maneuver corridors between ranges

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Some Observations From The Peanut Gallery

• The buffer program is new, and is about three
  years into about a five year maturation process
• To date, action has been largely driven by
  reacting to existing problems rather than a
  rigorous DoD-wide, requirements-based approach
  designed to avoid future problems
• DoD needs to be willing to disclose possibilities
  and projections about future requirements, not
  just certainties and decisions

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The Way Forward

• Re-establish a comprehensive program to influence
  land use planning by other federal agencies
• Required future conditions needs to include
  comprehensive habitat protection on non-DoD land
  for TE species and candidate species found on
  DoD land
• Push USFWS hard to develop detailed,
  geographically specific recovery plans for all
  TE species found on DoD land
• Based on these plans, work with partners like TNC
  FWS to protect sufficient habitat outside of
  DoD lands to support recovery end biological
  encroachment

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Potential PartnershipsU.S. Fish Wildlife
Service

• Eric Schrading
• US Fish Wildlife Service, Region 5 - New Jersey
  Field Office
• Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist
• Private Lands Coordinator
• Started his USFWS career in 1994

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Wildlife Management and Restoration Opportunities
in Lands adjacent to Military Installations
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USFWS Perspectives

• Responsible for conservation of federal trust
  resources (National Wildlife Refuges, federally
  listed species, migratory birds, and migratory
  fish).
• Roles of USFWS in association with military
  installations
• Endangered Species Act (e.g., Section 7
  consultation)
• Technical assistance to DoD regarding natural
  resource management.
• Assistance with contaminants investigations.
• Voluntary partnerships with private landowners on
  adjacent properties (Partners and Coastal
  Program).
• Coordination with NWRs on adjacent lands and land
  transfer/management on closed DoD facilities
  (e.g., Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR).
• Use of military equipment/personnel through
  Innovative Readiness Training Program for habitat
  restoration projects off military installations.

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Habitat For Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mamma
ls TE Species
Restore Create Enhance Improve
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Voluntary Technical Assistance Pro-active Fina
ncial Assistance Private, Tribal, Municipal,
County
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Partnerships and Stewardship
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Project Types o Wetlands o Riparian o Uplands o
Fish Passage
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Freshwater Wetlands Restoration
Before
After
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Estuarine Wetland Restoration
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Riparian Restoration
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Fencing
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Revegetation
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Upland Restoration Grasslands
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Upland Restoration - Reforestation
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Fish Passage
o Dam Removal o Fish Ladders
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Accomplishments in New Jersey since 1991
Wetlands 6,499 acres Riparian 49.3
miles Uplands 3,009 acres
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Success requires many partners including
assistance from military installations
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Partnerships with military installations

• Allows comprehensive management for fish and
  wildlife.
• Improves habitat in areas adjacent to military
  installations providing alternate use areas.
• Improves connection and partnerships with
  off-installation landowners.

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Case example National Biodiversity Parks
Partners Fort Dix, USFWS, and NJCF Plumsted
Township, Ocean County, New Jersey

• Partnership among USFWS (through the Partners
  program), New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and
  Fort Dix.
• Targeting upland forest habitat improvement
  through prescribed fire (fire adapted ecosystem).
• Allows prescribed fire to be initiated over a
  larger ecosystem and not just stop at the border
  of the military installation.
• Improves stewardship on military installation
  and adjacent private lands.

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Thanks for supporting fish and wildlife
conservation!!!!
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Contact Information
Eric Schrading U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New
Jersey Field Office 927 North Main Street, Bldg
D Pleasantville, New Jersey 08232 [phone]
x46 Eric_Schrading_at_fws.gov Website http//ecos.fw
s.gov/partners/
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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NAS Whiting Field Complex
• Primary fixed-wing / advanced helicopter pilot
  training
• Home of TRAWING 5, which is responsible for
• approximately 46 percent of the Chief of Naval
  Air Training Command's total flight time.
• over 10 percent of Navy and Marine Corps' total
  flight time.
• over 1,200 personnel complete their essential
  flight training at NASWF annually.
• Training conducted at NASWF and 14 Naval Outlying
  Fields (NOLFs)

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NAS Whiting Field Complex
• State of Florida
• Santa Rosa County
• Escambia County
• State of Alabama
• Baldwin County
• Escambia County
• Conecuh County

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NAS Whiting Field Complex
• Full-time Aviation Community Planner / Directing
  production of Encroachment Action Plan for NAS WF
• Ex-Officio Member of Santa Rosa County, Florida
  Planning Board also represents Eglin AFB
• Established JLUS for Florida counties working on
  funding for JLUS in Alabama counties
• Chairman, Growth Management and Encroachment
  Working Group Florida Defense Alliance
• Constant coordination with NAS Pensacola planner
  that serves on Escambia County, Florida planning
  board.
• Regular coordination with officials in some
  Alabama communities.
• Proactive involvement in local and regional
  planning and partnerships with NGOs and State
  agencies.
• This is a FULL-Time job!!

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NAS Whiting Field Land Acquisition Partners
• State of Florida
• FDEP Greenways and Trails
• Division of Forestry
• Santa Rosa County
• The Nature Conservancy
• Land Management
• FDEP / County / Florida Division of Forestry /
  NAS Whiting Field
• Protects over 6,000 acres

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NAS Whiting Field Complex - NOLF Choctaw
• Land Acquisitions Partners
• Northwest Florida Water Management District
• The Nature Conservancy
• Land Management
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
• Eglin AFB
• FDEP
• Northwest Florida Water Management District
• Protects 2,900 acres of land

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NAS Whiting Field Complex - NOLF Silverhill
• Land Conservation Partners
• Property Owners
• Baldwin County, AL
• Non-GOV Organization
• USFWS
• State of Alabama

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NSA Panama City
• Mission Research and Development and Training
• Naval Surface Warfare Center
• Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center
• Navy Experimental Diving Unit

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NSA PC
• Water Based Training
• Establishing Training Areas (Restricted Areas)
• Conflicts with recreational boaters / tourists /
  fishermen

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Ongoing ActionsU.S. Navy

• NSA PC Partnerships?
• FDEP
• US National Marine Fisheries Service
• Florida State Parks
• Florida Aquatic Preserves

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What To Do?

• Establish a process (EAP)
• Constant Review and Revision
• Be Proactive, not Reactive
• Be at the table from Day 1.
• Partnerships and Relationships
• Establish Encroachment Management Team Beyond
  the Fence
• Local Officials
• Planning Staff
• Non-Gov / Gov Partners

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Questions?
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Eric Schrading U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New
Jersey Field Office Private Lands Coordinator
Education University of Maine/Orono - B.S. in
Wildlife Management 1988 University of Edinburgh
in Scotland (junior year abroad) Virginia Tech -
M.S. in Wildlife Science -1991 Experience
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge Technician
(summer 1986, 1988) Virginia Geographic
Information Systems Information Specialist
(1991) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Wildlife Biologist (1992-1994) U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Fish/Wildlife Biologist (1994-
2003) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Senior
Fish/Wildlife Biologist (2003- 2005) U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Superv. Fish/Wildlife
Biologist (2005-2007) Honors Xi Sigma Pi Honor
Society (University of Maine) Certified Wildlife
Biologist (The Wildlife Society) Vice President
(New Jersey Chapter, The Wildlife Society) Eagle
Award (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Extracirric
ular Triathlete (7 years) Ironman World
Championship Finisher (3 years)