Table Of ContentNellis AFB, Nevada 89191
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE
PPLLAANN 112266--44
FINAL INTEGRATED NATURAL
RREESSOOUURRCCEESS MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT PPLLAANN
February 2010
FINAL
INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE / CREECH AIR FORCE BASE/
NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
99th Civil Engineering Squadron
Environmental Management Flight
In accordance with Public Law 105-85, the Sikes Act Improvement Act of
1997
This Plan was prepared in coordination with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
Nevada Division of Wildlife
February 2010
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Nellis Air Force Base, February 2010
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ X
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................ XI
LIST OF APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................... XII
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... XIII
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 THE MILITARY MISSION ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.1 Military Operations and Training ................................................................................................... 8
1.1.2 Public Safety .................................................................................................................................. 10
1.1.3 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 10
1.2 THE INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (INRMP) ........................................... 11
1.2.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 11
1.2.2 Goals .............................................................................................................................................. 12
1.2.3 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 13
1.2.4 Monitoring and Evaluating Attainment of Goals and Objectives .................................................. 13
1.2.5 Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 14
1.2.6 Authority ........................................................................................................................................ 15
1.2.7 Management Philosophy ................................................................................................................ 18
1.2.8 Conditions for Implementation and Revision ................................................................................. 20
1.2.9 Addressing Natural Resource Concerns During Planning ............................................................ 21
1.2.10 Approvals and Revisions ........................................................................................................... 22
1.2.11 Responsibilities ......................................................................................................................... 22
1.2.11.1 Responsibilities of BLM ...................................................................................................................... 23
1.2.11.2 Responsibilities of the USFWS ............................................................................................................ 24
1.2.11.3 Responsibilities of NDOW .................................................................................................................. 24
1.2.12 Environmental Documentation ................................................................................................. 29
1.2.13 Exempted Resources ................................................................................................................. 29
1.2.14 References ................................................................................................................................. 29
2.0 INSTALLATION OVERVIEW................................................................................................................ 31
2.1 LOCATION AND AREA ....................................................................................................................... 31
2.1.1 NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 32
2.1.2 NTTR/CAFB ................................................................................................................................... 33
2.2 INSTALLATION HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 34
2.2.1 NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 34
2.2.2 NTTR .............................................................................................................................................. 35
2.3 LAND CLASSIFICATION WITHIN NTTR, CAFB AND NAFB ......................................................... 36
2.4 MILITARY MISSION ............................................................................................................................ 38
2.4.1 Natural Resources Required to Support the Military Mission ....................................................... 40
2.4.2 Effects of the Military Mission on Natural Resources ................................................................... 41
2.4.2.1 Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 41
2.4.2.2 Fire ............................................................................................................................................................ 41
2.4.2.3 Hazardous and Toxic Materials ................................................................................................................. 41
2.4.2.4 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................................................... 41
2.4.2.5 Water Resources........................................................................................................................................ 42
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2.4.2.6 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................................. 42
2.4.2.7 Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................................... 42
2.4.3 Potential Impacts of the Military Mission on Natural Resources in the Future ............................ 44
2.4.3.1 Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Sites ............................................................................................ 44
2.4.3.2 Ordnance ................................................................................................................................................... 45
2.4.3.3 Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 45
2.4.3.4 Hazardous Wastes ..................................................................................................................................... 46
2.4.3.5 Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................. 46
2.4.4 Natural Resources Constraints to the Mission and Mission Planning .......................................... 47
2.5 SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES ....................................................................................................... 47
2.6 LOCAL PROMINENT NATURAL AREAS .......................................................................................... 48
2.7 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 49
3.0 NATURAL RESOURCES DATABASE .................................................................................................. 53
3.1 CURRENT STATUS OF GIS ................................................................................................................. 53
3.1.1 NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 53
3.1.2 NTTR 98th Range Wing ................................................................................................................. 55
3.2 NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GIS ....................................................... 55
3.2.1 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................. 55
3.2.1.1 Issues or Problems ..................................................................................................................................... 55
3.2.1.2 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 56
3.2.2 Natural Resources ......................................................................................................................... 56
3.2.2.1 Issues or Problems ..................................................................................................................................... 56
3.2.2.2 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 56
3.2.2.3 Actions Taken to Develop and Improve the NR Database ........................................................................ 63
3.3 TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR GIS ....................................................................................................... 64
3.4 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 64
4.0 NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT .................................................................. 65
4.1 CLIMATE AND GENERAL ECOLOGICAL SETTING ....................................................................... 65
4.1.1 NAFB ............................................................................................................................................. 65
4.1.2 NTTR/CAFB ................................................................................................................................... 65
4.1.3 References ...................................................................................................................................... 69
4.2 TOPOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................... 70
4.2.1 Description of Current Conditions ................................................................................................ 70
4.2.2 Needs Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 73
4.2.3 Management Goals within the Mission .......................................................................................... 74
4.2.4 Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 74
4.2.5 References ...................................................................................................................................... 75
4.3 GEOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 76
4.3.1 Description of Current Conditions ................................................................................................ 76
4.3.2 Needs Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 77
4.3.3 Management Goals within the Mission .......................................................................................... 79
4.3.4 Management Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 79
4.3.5 Projects .......................................................................................................................................... 80
4.3.6 References ...................................................................................................................................... 80
4.4 MINERAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 83
4.4.1 Description of Current Conditions ................................................................................................ 83
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Description:USAF included NDOW, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the USFWS, Nevada Division of Forestry The USFWS is responsible for enforcing and administering the ESA and management of the channeled below Lake Las Vegas, the center of a private home and golf course development.