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Department of Defense Range Tours A Look at How Military Training Operations Impact Natural Resources and Endangered Species The Sierra Club and other Range Tour participants hear how local nonprofits and the U.S. Army joined forces to preserve Waimea Valley on the island of O'ahu's North Shore. A consortium of public and private groups raised $14 million to buy Waimea Valley and keep it undeveloped. Local groups and government entities pulled together the bulk of the funds, but the U.S. Army's contribution of $3.5 million helped secure the deal and prevent the construction of a planned housing development that would have marred the scenic natural areas and closed the lands to public access. In December 2002, Congress provided legislative authority to expand the Private Lands Initiative allowing the military to partner with government or private organizations to establish buffer areas around active training and testing areas. The Army implements this authority through the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (ACUB). O'ahu's Waimea Falls, which in the Hawaiian language means reddish water, benefits from the North Shore's Waimea Valley Conservation Partnership. The Partnership provides a forum for conservationists, the community, and government entities such as the Army to collaborate on protecting and restoring Oahu's natural resources. O'ahu Island's Army Garrison As part of its natural resources plan, the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii works to replace invasive species with plants native to the habitat. Annually, the Army spends over 3,000 person-hours controlling weeds on over 3,300 acres of land. They regularly monitor endangered plant species to track their health, and collect seeds for propagation and to control threats. The Army's Natural Resource staff currently monitors over 500 populations representing more than 100 endangered plants in Hawaii alone. The Army is transforming the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Several native Hawaiian organizations continue to have concerns about the environmental impacts of having the Stryker Brigade in Hawaii. The Army has responded by stating they plan to manage the dust and erosion of soil caused by training operations related to the Stryker vehicles (above). Read more: Back to Range Tour main page. Day 1, O'ahu Island: U.S. Marine Corps Base Day 2, O'ahu's Waimea Valley: The Community and the Army Working to Protect the North Shore Day 3, Kauai: The Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility Photos: Maribeth Oakes/Sierra Club Collection; all rights reserved. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club