Always Ready

Partnering for Success “Camp Ripley’s Story”

MINNESOTA

ARMY

NATIONAL GUARD

CAMP RIPLEY TRAINING CENTER

AND

ARDEN HILLS ARMY

TRAINING SITE

2014

CONSERVATION

PROGRAM

REPORT

Always Ready

Camp Ripley

Always Ready

Environmental (Conservation) & ITAM Team

After Action Review 3

Current DMA PositionsCurrent Federal PositionsCurrent DNR Positions (IAA)

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Environmental Programs

•Wildlife•Fisheries•Forestry•Protected Species•Cultural Resources•Pest Management•Wetlands•Land Use (ACUB)•Noise•Wildland Fire• ITAM•GIS•Environmental Review•Outreach & Recreation

Managing Today’s Resources for Tomorrow’ s Mission

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2009-2014 Program Funding

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INRMP----Conservation Report

MINNESOTA

ARMY

NATIONAL GUARD

CAMP RIPLEY TRAINING CENTER

AND

ARDEN HILLS ARMY

TRAINING SITE

2014

CONSERVATION

PROGRAM

REPORT

Always Ready

2014 Conservation ReportDecember 9-12, 2014 Local planning meetings

with DNR USFWS, Local StaffPlanning Meeting (Goals and Objectives)Annual Meeting Feb 26, 2015 (Ripley)

Natural Resource Planning

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DNR Signature

Garrison Commanders

Signature

USFWS Signature

Signature Page

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Partnerships

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Forestry

Timber sales of 300 acres

Provide browse protection on planted pines

Remove dead/dying trees in cantonment stands

Re-inventory (Check Cruise) 1500 acres

Update Camp Ripley Forest Management Plan

Land Fund

Always Ready

Prescribed Fire

• Implement Rx fire treatment to 13,700 acres of hazard mitigation burns and 1,002 acres of troop training enhancement burns

• Host annual fire refresher and field day in April

• Advanced training

• Continued partnership with Fire and Emergency Services/Roads and Grounds to implement Rx fire.

Always Ready

Invasive Species Management

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• Continued partnership with SCSU for invasive species control (12 Years)

• Continuous identification and mapping of existing and new infestations

• Target large infestations of common tansy and spotted knapweed in red areas with large scale herbicide treatment

• Closely monitor aquatic invasive species

Always Ready

Wildlife Surveys

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State Wildlife Action Plan

• “Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild and Rare”

•Stabilize and increase populations of SGCN, •Improve knowledge about SGCN, and•Enhance people’s appreciation and enjoyment of SGCN.

•Additional research will be directed toward identifying other SGCN species on Camp Ripley, and management or conservation actions that could be implemented to benefit these species.

Always Ready

Bald Eagle/ Gray Wolf

Always Ready

Reptile and Amphibian Surveys

Blanding’s Turtle

Always Ready

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) Listing

Always Ready

• Proposed for listing as

Federally Endangered under Endangered Species Act in Oct. 2013

• Primary threat white nose syndrome

• Section 7 of ESA requires conservation measures to minimize impacts to species proposed for federal listing

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Northern Long-eared Bat

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Fisheries

Ferrell Lake SurveyCompleted April 30 to May 2

Crappie stocking has proven successful with some natural reproduction

Bluegill sunfish are abundant and likely a major forage base for walleye largemouth bass

No rearing ponds used in 2014

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• Statewide MNDNR projectObjectives

• Survival rates & causes of mortality.

• Den sites & litter sizes

• Forest attributes, prey abundance, & weather conditions

Fisher Project

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• CLC student volunteers:

1,406 trap nights 495 hours

• 100 telemetry locations

•Three female and two male fisher captured and radio-collared

Fisher Project

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Camp Ripley Cultural Resources Program

As of February 2014

1985-2014 Cultural R Resources

Currently there are 27761 acres surveyed for cultural resources at Camp Ripley

• 5671 acres are under review and contracted to be surveyed in 2015

• There are 12717 acres in MA’s J, G, and F remaining to

Always Ready

Federal = $23,099,000 State = $3,973,000

• 220 Interested Landowners representing 27,500 acres

• 14,092 acres completed, plus 17,018 acres of other compatible lands and 2,700 acres in process

• Goal is 78,000 acres of compatible lands

PartnersMinnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

DNR BWSR

19 Land Transactions 88 Land Transactions

1,920.35 acres 12,172 acres

ACUB 2004 – 2014

Always Ready

New Partnerships in Sustainability

New Environmental Partners Camp Ripley/MN Army National Guard & MN PowerAugust 2014, a formal agreement

WhatA highly suitable location for the proposed ten(10) Megawatt solar field

AssessmentThe site is 86 acres of suitable slopes and land condition, minimal safety and training concerns and within MN Power distribution and interconnection system.

Determine ideal site to meet end users objectives for design and construction with minimal impacts to CRTC mission.

Anticipated Start dateFall of 2015

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New Partnerships in Sustainability

Description: • District heating system for 3 separate areas. •Capable of replacing 90% of the total natural gas usage at buildings•The biomass boiler sized to cover the vast majority of heating loads and the natural gas boilers provide full backup, peaking, and coverage of low demand times.

Cost:

• Project Cost $7,400,000 for all 3 sites•First year dollar savings $165,000 for all sites• Simple payback in years (14)•Avoid replacement of 23 boilers beginning FY 17 saves approximately $3,500,000.

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Recreational Opportunities

•DAV:-Turkey, Deer: Firearms•Deployed Soldiers- Turkey, Deer: Archery and Muzzleloader•Youth Deer Archery•Public Deer Archery Hunts

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Trolling for the Troops

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Always Ready

Public Outreach

Camp Ripley is available for environmental presentation and tours. Using the Martin J. Skoglund environmental classroom has been a great way to introduce students to conservation and hands-on science. In 2014, the environmental team gave 81 presentations, tours and briefs to 4,500 people.

Always Ready

Participant in several national, state and local committees:

GIS Committee (National)Conservation (National) ITAM (National)Prescribed Fire Committee (State-wide, MNICS)MN Chapter of the Wildlife Society (State)MN Ornithological Union (State)Water and Land Use Planning (Local)Morrison County Healthy Community Partners (Local)CLC Advisory Board (Local)Mille Lacs Cultural Resource Committee (Local)

Natural Resource Professional Participation

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Questions