Evaluation of 757 species Under U.S. Endangered Species Act review on U.S. Department of Defense lands and their potential impact on Army training

Abstract: Most land bases where U.S. Army installations reside are ecologically significant and provide refuge for a large number of the nation’s threatened and endangered plants and animals. Balancing threatened and endangered species (TES) management with training requirements is an increasingly difficult responsibility as the number of federally listed species grows. This work developed methods for determining impacts of potential future TES listings to Army capabilities and conducted a national level assessment of the risk to Army training by species currently petitioned or under review for federal listing. Of the 757 species reviewed, 233 were found to have the potential to be found on or near Army and Army National Guard installations. Species that were found on a large number of installations, such as the Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii), are those likely to have the most impact on training. Similarly, installations at greatest risk were those that housed a large number of species. Because of the large number of southeastern U.S. petitioned species, the majority of installations identified as at greatest risk are installations found in that region. Proactive management of these species, including leveraging partner opportunities, has the potential to mitigate negative impacts of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing.