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ERDC/CRREL SR-02-2
Early succession plants, such as weeds, dominate newly seeded bank-
sloped sites the first few years, but we have observed that the seeded
perennials are coming in and gradually dominating the site. We do not
use chemicals downrange for such species. Such a practice on the early
succession plants would be costly and, in many instances, unnecessary.
If necessary, we will mow.
We have not observed there being a problem with seed predation with
drill seeding. Obviously, there will be seed predation with broadcast
seeding, but to reduce this we require that an attachment such as a
harrow be used to incorporate the seed into the soil.
Yakima Training Center (part of Fort Lewis, Washington)
Clark Reames
Yakima Training Center is on the dry, eastern side of the Cascades and it
hosts a wide spectrum of training, from the 3rd Brigade out of Fort Lewis and the
National Guard Bureau (NGB) to the Japanese ground defense force. It receives
six to nine inches of precipitation per year, and sagebrush and bunchgrasses are
the predominant vegetation. Current issues include water quality impacts on the
salmon in the Columbia and Yakima Rivers; rerouting of roads and the associ-
ated control of drainage and siltation; control of noxious weeds using spray and
biological controls; and wildfires and the problem of re-establishing sagebrush
after such fires. There is currently some tracked vehicle traffic, but the training
activities are transitioning to rubber-tired light armored vehicles (LAVs), and it
is not known what type of damage the tires will cause.
National Guard Bureau
Dana Quinney, Orchard Training Area, Idaho
The Orchard Training Area in Idaho serves as a multi-purpose training range
for four states. All of this area is within the Snake River Birds of Prey National
Conservation Area, which is Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. The
entire training area is heavily grazed. The area receives 4 to 12 inches of rain per
year. About a third of the training area was burned many years ago and there are
severe exotic weed problems. We plant mostly tough, low natives, such as
squirreltail, sagebrush, and rabbit brush. We don't plant high grasses, such as
bluebunch wheatgrasses, because of the high grazing pressure.
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