The challenges are many, the constituents are numerous, the mission is critical, and the team is ready.
The Natural Resources Branch at Fort McCoy, bolstered by a team with 144 years of combined natural resources experience, has created a model for efficiency and lasting partnerships in service of the vital training mission at the installation, while effectively protecting and preserving the environment.
“Understanding our challenges and opportunities and taking a forward approach early and often is key to ensuring projects are completed successfully and that we protect and preserve the environment while never wavering in supporting the training mission,” said Brent Friedl, Environmental Division Chief at Fort McCoy. “We have been able to develop partnerships that not only get things done but save money and time by improving our efficiency and focus.”
The NR team points to one bottom line as the measure of their success: Fort McCoy had no natural resource violations and zero training days lost due to natural resource management issues. The team accomplished this while simultaneously overseeing and partnering to lead efforts to preserve endangered species, conduct land management strategies, including controlled burns, improved fisheries stock, and more.
“Our NR team is committed to providing the very best in mission support while also performing continuous process innovation and improvement that will ensure the wise stewardship of the installation’s natural resources for current and future generations,” said Tim Wilder, Natural Resources Branch chief.
In collaboration with state and federal environmental agencies and the Ho-Chunk Nation, McCoy’s NR team completed a major rewrite of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan in 2022. This comprehensive document identified and completed 251 high-priority projects during the award period -- exceeding a 98% completion rate.
As a major component of understanding its environmental conditions, the team conducted surveys to count monarch, regal fritillary and frosted elfin butterflies; conducted both stationary and mobile acoustic bat surveys to track bat populations; and used specialized telemetry equipment to monitor seven Blanding’s and three wood turtles. These data sets are critical parts of the federal species status reviews which helps determine whether these will be listed as endangered or threatened species. The data also gives the NR team up-to-date data to drive its land management planning.
As another sign of the longstanding excellence of the team’s environmental management efforts, Fort McCoy in 2021 was awarded its 32nd consecutive Tree City USA award. During the past year, the team planted more than 40 urban trees and initiated a tree inventory.
These efforts, while important, were a small part of the comprehensive forest and land management programs run by the NR team. During the reporting period, the NR Branch completed 22 timber sales that totaled 2,060 acres and generated more than $377,000. Sales directly benefited the training mission by improving bivouac sites, reducing fire danger, and clearing trees for construction. This was part of a comprehensive forest management plan that also included 76 prescribed burns completed on 10,721 acres. (Burns are conducted annually to reduce wildfire potential in and around ranges, improve wildlife habitat, control invasive species, and restore native plant communities.)
As part of overseeing these actions, the NR Branch coordinated a multi-agency aerial wildfire suppression training exercise at Fort McCoy. Personnel from the 147th Aviation Regiment, Wisconsin Army National Guard, Fort McCoy Fire Department, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security and the NR Branch coordinated the aerial dropping of water on the prescribed burn. This collaborative training exercise was a win-win for all parties with four pilots receiving valuable wildfire training/certification using Bambi Buckets® and air/ground asset coordination while the installation achieved habitat enhancement and fuel load reduction.
The NR Branch also established a new five-year agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit -- which allows for rapid execution of funding for high priority projects and in approximately $70,000 in savings annually from fees and overhead versus normal contracting channels.
“The work we do is important, and we as a team take pride in the outcomes we help to produce,” said Wilder. “By forming the right relationships to do this work, we are making a difference now and for the future.”
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