2010 Nellis AFB Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan

243 Pages·2010·8.54 MB·English

Nellis AFB, Nevada 89191
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE
PPLLAANN 112266--44
FINAL INTEGRATED NATURAL
RREESSOOUURRCCEESS MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT PPLLAANN
February 2010

FINAL
INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE / CREECH AIR FORCE BASE/
NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE

Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
99th Civil Engineering Squadron
Environmental Management Flight

In accordance with Public Law 105-85, the Sikes Act Improvement Act of
1997
This Plan was prepared in coordination with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
Nevada Division of Wildlife

February 2010
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Nellis Air Force Base, February 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ X 
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................ XI 
LIST OF APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................... XII 
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... XIII 
1.0  GENERAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................... 7 
1.1  THE MILITARY MISSION ...................................................................................................................... 7 
1.1.1  Military Operations and Training ................................................................................................... 8 
1.1.2  Public Safety .................................................................................................................................. 10 
1.1.3  Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 10 
1.2  THE INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (INRMP) ........................................... 11 
1.2.1  Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 11 
1.2.2  Goals .............................................................................................................................................. 12 
1.2.3  Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 13 
1.2.4  Monitoring and Evaluating Attainment of Goals and Objectives .................................................. 13 
1.2.5  Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 14 
1.2.6  Authority ........................................................................................................................................ 15 
1.2.7  Management Philosophy ................................................................................................................ 18 
1.2.8  Conditions for Implementation and Revision ................................................................................. 20 
1.2.9  Addressing Natural Resource Concerns During Planning ............................................................ 21 
1.2.10  Approvals and Revisions ........................................................................................................... 22 
1.2.11  Responsibilities ......................................................................................................................... 22 
1.2.11.1  Responsibilities of BLM ...................................................................................................................... 23 
1.2.11.2  Responsibilities of the USFWS ............................................................................................................ 24 
1.2.11.3  Responsibilities of NDOW .................................................................................................................. 24 
1.2.12  Environmental Documentation ................................................................................................. 29 
1.2.13  Exempted Resources ................................................................................................................. 29 
1.2.14  References ................................................................................................................................. 29 
2.0  INSTALLATION OVERVIEW................................................................................................................ 31 
2.1  LOCATION AND AREA ....................................................................................................................... 31 
2.1.1  NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 32 
2.1.2  NTTR/CAFB ................................................................................................................................... 33 
2.2  INSTALLATION HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 34 
2.2.1  NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 34 
2.2.2  NTTR .............................................................................................................................................. 35 
2.3  LAND CLASSIFICATION WITHIN NTTR, CAFB AND NAFB ......................................................... 36 
2.4  MILITARY MISSION ............................................................................................................................ 38 
2.4.1  Natural Resources Required to Support the Military Mission ....................................................... 40 
2.4.2  Effects of the Military Mission on Natural Resources ................................................................... 41 
2.4.2.1  Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 41 
2.4.2.2  Fire ............................................................................................................................................................ 41 
2.4.2.3  Hazardous and Toxic Materials ................................................................................................................. 41 
2.4.2.4  Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 41 
2.4.2.5  Water Resources........................................................................................................................................ 42 
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2.4.2.6  Vegetation ................................................................................................................................................. 42 
2.4.2.7  Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................................... 42 
2.4.3  Potential Impacts of the Military Mission on Natural Resources in the Future ............................ 44 
2.4.3.1  Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Sites ............................................................................................ 44 
2.4.3.2  Ordnance ................................................................................................................................................... 45 
2.4.3.3  Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 45 
2.4.3.4  Hazardous Wastes ..................................................................................................................................... 46 
2.4.3.5  Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................. 46 
2.4.4  Natural Resources Constraints to the Mission and Mission Planning .......................................... 47 
2.5  SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES ....................................................................................................... 47 
2.6  LOCAL PROMINENT NATURAL AREAS .......................................................................................... 48 
2.7  REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 49 
3.0  NATURAL RESOURCES DATABASE .................................................................................................. 53 
3.1  CURRENT STATUS OF GIS ................................................................................................................. 53 
3.1.1  NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 53 
3.1.2  NTTR 98th Range Wing ................................................................................................................. 55 
3.2  NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GIS ....................................................... 55 
3.2.1  Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................. 55 
3.2.1.1  Issues or Problems ..................................................................................................................................... 55 
3.2.1.2  Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 56 
3.2.2  Natural Resources ......................................................................................................................... 56 
3.2.2.1  Issues or Problems ..................................................................................................................................... 56 
3.2.2.2  Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 56 
3.2.2.3  Actions Taken to Develop and Improve the NR Database ........................................................................ 63 
3.3  TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR GIS ....................................................................................................... 64 
3.4  REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 64 
4.0  NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT .................................................................. 65 
4.1  CLIMATE AND GENERAL ECOLOGICAL SETTING ....................................................................... 65 
4.1.1  NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 65 
4.1.2  NTTR/CAFB ................................................................................................................................... 65 
4.1.3  References ...................................................................................................................................... 69 
4.2  TOPOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................... 70 
4.2.1  Description of Current Conditions ................................................................................................ 70 
4.2.2  Needs Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 73 
4.2.3  Management Goals within the Mission .......................................................................................... 74 
4.2.4  Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 74 
4.2.5  References ...................................................................................................................................... 75 
4.3  GEOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 76 
4.3.1  Description of Current Conditions ................................................................................................ 76 
4.3.2  Needs Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 77 
4.3.3  Management Goals within the Mission .......................................................................................... 79 
4.3.4  Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 79 
4.3.5  Projects .......................................................................................................................................... 80 
4.3.6  References ...................................................................................................................................... 80 
4.4  MINERAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 83 
4.4.1  Description of Current Conditions ................................................................................................ 83 
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