56th Fighter Wing. Interagency Collaboration at the Barry M. Goldwater Range. I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

Transcription

1 56th Fighter Wing Interagency Collaboration at the Barry M. Goldwater Range Mr. Chas Buchanan Director of Operations 56th Range Management Office I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e

2 Overview Background Information Formation of the Interagency Team Recovery of the Sonoran Pronghorn Response to Undocumented Aliens Conclusion

3 BMGR Complex Bagdad MOA Gladden MOA Luke AFB #Y # # Jackel-Outlaw MOA (Tucson ANG) MCAS Yuma # # #Y R4 NTAC STAC R2 R1 R3 ETAC LATN Area #Y Cabeza Prieta NWR E A Sells MOA B #Y #Y Davis-Monthan AFB C D Rub y MOA N Mexico Organ Pipe Cactus Natl Monument Fuzzy MOA # Miles Tohono O odham Nation

4 BMGR-E Specifics 1.05 M acres land / 1.8 M acres restricted airspace Capability 4 Manned ranges 3 Tactical ranges 5 live target areas Uniqueness No mining No grazing No agriculture No residential No air routes Consulting agencies Cabeza Prieta NWR Organ Pipe CNM USMC BLM

5 Strategic Importance Luke: Only Active USAF F-16 Training Unit 450+ Students per year (3 yr avg) Davis Monthan: Only A-10 Training Unit 150 Students per year (3 yr avg) Tucson: Largest ANG F-16 Training Unit 180 Students per year (3 yr avg)

6 BMGR Complex User Scope Irreplaceable National Training Asset Regular Users 23 Flying Squadrons 56 FW / 944 FW (Luke) 9 x F-16 Sq 162 FW (Tucson) 4 x F-16 Sq Snowbirds Guard / FMS 355 WG (DM) 3 x A-10 Sq 563 RQG (CSAR) MC-130 / HH-60 / SERE 305 RQS (AFRC) HH-60 WAATS (Silverbell) 2 x AH-64 Co 1-285th BN AH-64 Co Exercises OTHER USERS: WTI, JAGCE Navy, USMC, Army, other USAF

7 Scope of Use: Aviation Military Aviation Activities Sorties/year (FY04) BMGR East Users (USAF) ~46,000 BMGR E Complex (incl Sells) ~60,000 BMGR West Users (USMC) ~18,000 Other Aviation Activities: ~1,000 DHS Customs and Border Protection US Fish & Wildlife Service Arizona Game & Fish Dept

8 Minimal Surface Disturbance Negligible ~7% disturbance; natural features dominate landscape Natural ~87% features/processes dominate landscape Natural features & ~4% processes still dominate - military use is apparent Military 1.8% surface use dominates landscape

9 Team Formation Goldwater Range is BLM withdrawn land 1986: BLM assigned land management, began developing management plan Very high public interest and involvement Mid-1990s: Public still interested, but few meetings Complaints: agencies all doing their own thing Gaps and overlaps Late 1996: BLM meetings for whoever was interested Well attended by the public and interest groups Agency reps: two BLM offices, Air Force, Marine Corps, Arizona Game & Fish Dept, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Topics included agency updates, Q&A with the public, open dialogue

10 Team Formation Late 1990s confluence of events Expiring land withdrawal required Environmental Impact Statement to Congress for renewal Air Force needed others as cooperating agencies EIS triggered need for many environmental studies Endangered Sonoran pronghorn on range subject of lawsuits and consultations with USFWS High level of public interest but from people with divergent perspectives Conservation, recreation, etc.

11 Team Formation 1997 Strengthen our alliances Formalized the Partners Group agencies into a cooperative forum Established the BMGR Executive Council (BEC) Drafted a charter, signed an MOU Agreed on participants, chairmanship, meeting venues Information exchange for better management

12 Team Formation BMGR Executive Council (BEC) An advisory group Each agency retains its authorities Information sharing and coordination Established subcommittees to focus on topics Law Enforcement Transportation Public Relations Sonoran Pronghorn Recovery Team

13 Team Formation BMGR Executive Council (BEC) Consultative management Jim Uken Director, 56 RMO Luke AFB Duane Shroufe Director, AZ Game & Fish Terry Raml Director, Sonoran Desert NM BLM, Phoenix Ron Pearce Range Management MCAS Yuma Kathy Billings Superintendent Organ Pipe Nat Monument Roger DiRosa, Manager Cabeza Prieta NWR, USFWS Tom Zale Field Manager, BLM Yuma Martin Vaughan CBP-Air Mark Haynes US Border Patrol, Yuma Maurice Moore US Border Patrol, Tucson

14 Team Formation Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 (MLWA) Mandated formation of the Interagency Executive Council (IEC) Institutionalized the Partners Meeting New IEC charter Members included tribes and local governments AF hired an Interagency Coordinator and administrator IEC meetings continue to meet 3 times annually Meeting location rotates Yuma, Tucson, Phoenix metro Cabeza Prieta NWR manager is IEC chair

15 Team Formation Arizona Commanders Summit Began in 2000 as an AF initiative to address military training issues on Goldwater Range Initial membership included primary users of the range Commanders recognized many issues of common concern Encroachment, environmental issues, community relations Expanded membership and focus to include commanders of all installations in Arizona Signed a charter, Meeting venue rotates among installations Host also invites local town mayor

16 Teamwork Results Issues Resolved Through Interagency Collaboration Sonoran Pronghorn Recovery Undocumented Aliens

17 Teamwork Results Sonoran pronghorn Endangered species since 1967 US population on BMGR, Cabeza Prieta NWR, Organ Pipe, and BLM land Perilous population decline due to long-term drought 1998: about 140 animals 2002: about 21 animals Emergency measures required to prevent extinction

18 Teamwork Results Sonoran pronghorn emergency measures Water stations provide supplemental water Forage enhancement plots Well water used to irrigate small patches during critical times Prolongs the naturally green patches into the critical early summer Collaborative interagency effort to identify potential locations, complete environmental assessment Four of five plots complete and in operation Collaborative pool of funds for ongoing O&M

19 Teamwork Results Sonoran pronghorn emergency measures Semi-captive breeding enclosure

20 Teamwork Results Sonoran pronghorn emergency measures Semi-captive breeding enclosure 1 sq mile enclosure, subdivided into quadrants Well water to irrigate forage, plus supplemental feed Does from Mexico sub-population provide genetic diversity Bucks captured from US sub-population Collaborative pool of funds for ongoing O&M Successful results Year 1: 10 fawns, 6 survived Year 2: 10 fawns, 9 survived

21 Teamwork Results Sonoran pronghorn emergency measures Semi-captive breeding enclosure The key to recovery of the population Similar setup in Mexico produces over 50 fawns annually Interagency planning for establishing a second population elsewhere (Kofa NWR) Protects against calamity of disease or natural disaster All results achieved through collaborative efforts!

22 Teamwork Results Undocumented Aliens (UDA) 1990s: inhospitable Sonoran Desert was a natural barrier Increased Border Patrol response in California displaced UDA traffic to porous desert crossings Booming US economy plus economic shift in Mexico Resulted in demand and supply of labor Post- 9/11: Greatly increased Border Patrol response Significant increase in number of agents plus other resources Seemingly out-matched by increasing UDA traffic

23 Teamwork Results Undocumented Aliens (UDA) Impacts of UDA traffic and USBP response Environmental trammeling of desert lands Military ops disruption of military training activities Solution better support for USBP and its mission DHS reps join the BMGR Executive Council USBP Tucson USBP Yuma Customs & Border Protection -- Air Borderlands Management Task Force addresses DHS mission on federal lands

24 Teamwork Results Undocumented Aliens (UDA) Collaborative assistance to DHS Shared regional geographical information system data Supported installation of emergency beacons Rescue me call stations for UDAs in distress Supported DHS air operations Established air operations protocol Supported unmanned aerial vehicle ops Working increased regional air ops Coordinated law enforcement activities

25 Teamwork Results Undocumented Aliens (UDA) Successful interagency collaboration Better understanding of the DHS mission Better support for their activities Reduced impact on our mission

26 Conclusion Interagency collaboration is beneficial to all Coordination de-conflicts our actions Collaboration produces synergy Recognition of BMGR Executive Council: BLM Director s Four Cs Award (Apr 2004) Consultation, Cooperation, Communication, and Conservation

27 56 th Range Management Office Support flying operations and pilot training, incorporating dedicated stewardship of the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our care.

28 AMERICA S AIR FORCE- NO ONE COMES CLOSE