Tuesday, November 6, 2007 - 9:45 AM
134-2

Military Land Management Framework for Training Load, Environmental, and Economic Considerations.

Daniel Gambill1, Heidi Howard2, William Ochsner3, Arthur Schmidt1, and Ximing Cai1. (1) University of Illinois, 2902 Newmark Drive, Champaign, IL 61822, (2) ERDC-CERL, 2902 Newmark Drive, Champaign, IL 61822, (3) Camp Atterbury, #1 Hospital Road, Edinburg, IN 46124

The objective of this study was to develop a modeling framework that can assist military land managers with sustaining training lands with a focus on environmental and land management decision impacts. The modeling framework consists of a linkage between a watershed-level nonpoint-source model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and a genetic optimization algorithm (GA). The GA uses SWAT to compute the average annual environmental impact of varying military training load distribution and best management practice (BMP) implementation plans. Literature-based and installation-specific economic data for military training and land sustainment practices are incorporated to determine the cost-effectiveness of each plan. The model was applied to two watersheds within Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center near Edinburgh, IN. The results indicate that the framework accurately models environmental impacts of off-road military training and economic costs of sustainment and repair practices. The framework provides near optimal land management plans for a range of specified training loads. Model outputs can also be used to optimize general military land management decisions and locate practices away from environmentally sensitive areas. The framework is extendable to watershed-level or inter-installation level assessments.