Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
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Headquarters 49th Fighter Wing Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO For Plan Period January 1999 - January 2004 1 INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO PREPARED BY Holloman Air Force Base 49th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight Building 55 550 Tobosa Avenue Holloman AFB, New Mexico New Mexico Natural Heritage Program University of New Mexico Biology Department 851 University Blvd. SE Suite 101 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 December 1999 2 INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO APPROVAL This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan meets the requirements of the Sikes Act (16 USC 670a et seq.), as amended. William J. Lake Brigader General, U.S. Air Force Holloman Air Force Base Date Jennifer Fowler-Propst Field Supervisor New Mexico Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date Daniel C. Frederick Field Supervisor Austin Field Office U.S. Fissh and Wildlife Service Date 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ 7 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 1 - PLAN INTRODUCTION..................................................................... 10 INTRODUCTION TO INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .......................... 11 POLICY GUIDANCE ......................................................................................................... 12 PURPOSE OF PLAN........................................................................................................... 13 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 14 INRMP PROCESS AND PARTNERSHIPS ........................................................................... 15 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DOCUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES ............................................ 16 INRMP AND NEPA FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS....................................... 17 MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY........................................................................................... 18 Natural Resource Management at Holloman AFB .................................................... 19 PLAN STRUCTURE........................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2 - INSTALLATION LOCATION AND FACILITIES ......................... 22 SETTING.......................................................................................................................... 23 HISTORY OF INSTALLATION ............................................................................................ 27 CURRENT MILITARY MISSION ........................................................................................ 29 MILITARY ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................... 29 FACILITIES AND TENANTS............................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER 3 - NATURAL SETTING .......................................................................... 38 CLIMATE......................................................................................................................... 39 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY............................................................................ 39 SOILS AND GEOLOGY...................................................................................................... 41 HYDROLOGY................................................................................................................... 46 RANKING SENSITIVE SPECIES ......................................................................................... 48 VEGETATION .................................................................................................................. 51 FAUNA............................................................................................................................ 55 CULTURAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................. 60 CHAPTER 4 - MANAGEMENT UNITS AND ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS 64 ORGANIZATION OF MANAGEMENT UNITS ON HAFB...................................................... 65 CANTONMENT................................................................................................................. 68 DUNELANDS ................................................................................................................... 71 NORTHERN SHRUBLANDS ............................................................................................... 75 4 TEST TRACK ................................................................................................................... 80 LAKE HOLLOMAN WETLANDS........................................................................................ 84 BOLES WELLS WATER SYSTEM ANNEX ......................................................................... 90 Boles Wells Well Field ............................................................................................... 91 Southern Well Fields (Douglas and San Andres)...................................................... 93 GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATED UNITS............................................................................ 94 Red Rio Bombing Range ............................................................................................ 94 Oscura Bombing Range ............................................................................................. 97 Radar Target Scatter Complex................................................................................. 100 RATSCAT Advanced Measurement Site................................................................... 100 Air Force Special Weapons Complex - Weapons Impact Target............................. 101 CHAPTER 5 - MISSION IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENT................................... 103 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 104 MAJOR IMPACTS ........................................................................................................... 104 Military Ground-Based Training ............................................................................. 104 Military Ground-Based Operations ......................................................................... 119 Grounds Maintenance.............................................................................................. 121 Landscaping .......................................................................................................... 121 Pest Control........................................................................................................... 124 Outdoor Recreation.................................................................................................. 129 POTENTIAL FUTURE IMPACTS ....................................................................................... 136 CHAPTER 6 - MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS................................. 138 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 139 SENSITIVE NATURAL AREAS ........................................................................................ 139 SENSITIVE SPECIES ....................................................................................................... 143 WETLANDS ................................................................................................................... 152 WATERSHED PROTECTION ............................................................................................ 159 FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................. 165 FIRE MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................... 171 EXOTIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS .................................................................................... 174 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)................................................................ 181 RESEARCH AND MONITORING....................................................................................... 185 CHAPTER 7 - MANAGEMENT GOALS GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................. 187 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 188 Matrix of Ground-Based Training by Management Unit (MU)............................... 189 CANTONMENT............................................................................................................... 191 DUNELANDS ................................................................................................................. 205 NORTHERN SHRUBLANDS ............................................................................................. 207 TEST TRACK ................................................................................................................