Final Environmental Assessment for Maintaining the Rim Canal at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida

• Main Authors: BuChans, William, Morgan, Clarence, Brown, Cynthia, Sweeney, Marianne, Couturier, Kathy J, Orzell, Steve L, Fredlake, Mark, Zechiel, Tod, Grebing, Roger
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: AIR FORCE FACILITIES; AIR QUALITY; AIR SPACE; CANALS; CATTLE GRAZING; CLEANING; COASTAL ZONES; CULTURAL RESOURCES; ENDANGERED SPECIES; ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT; Environmental Health and Safety; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE; ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION; FISHES; FONPA(FINDING OF NO PRACTICABLE ALTERNATIVE); GEOLOGY; HAZARDOUS WASTES; Hydrology, Limnology and Potamology; Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies; Military Aircraft Operations; NOISE; RANGES(FACILITIES); RECREATION; RIM CANAL; SAFETY; SOILS; VEGETATION; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WATER; WILDLIFE

The Rim Canal is the main canal that drains the airfield at Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR). The canal is approximately 6.2 miles long. The Preferred Alternative would maintain the canal by cutting and mulching vegetation that is currently growing in the canal and recontouring the channel. All materials would be left in place within the channel. The Alternative Action would excavate the canal by removing, then mulching, vegetation and excavating sediment from the canal. All materials would be transported off-site to grazing pastures adjacent and south of the canal and airfield. Both the Preferred Alternative and Alternative Action would only maintain the southern portion of the Rim Canal for a total of 2.3 miles. The No-Action Alternative would not maintain the canal. The Preferred Alternative would improve safety by more efficiently draining water off the runways and taxiways. Soil disturbance within the canal would temporarily attract foraging birds and increase the BASH hazard. The Alternative Action would improve safety by more efficiently draining water off the runways and taxiways. Soil disturbance within the canal would temporarily attract foraging birds and increase the BASH hazard. The mulch and sediment mixture placed on grazing pastures would have a slight fertilizing effect. Cogongrass, a noxious grass found along the canal, would likely be established in the grazing pastures where the mulch and sediment would be deposited. Vultures would temporarily be attracted to the mulch and sediment in the grazing pastures and slightly increase BASH south of the airfield for the short term. The No-Action Alternative would increase the risk to safety as the vegetation would continue to grow in the canal and thus reduce stormwater drainage and increase the risk of inundating the airfield . The vegetation would continue to encourage an increase in wading birds resulting in an increased BASH risk long term.