SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USES35

SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USES35

1. Land Uses and Human Receptors 351

From Bellevue southeastward along the Mississippi River, there are several recreational or natural areas such as Bellevue State Park, the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge, and the Green Island State Wildlife Management Area. Land use northeast of SVDA is primarily agricultural or undeveloped. Major field crops in the region include corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and oats (Dames & Moore 1994a).

An inventory of land use at SVDA (SVDA 1979a, SVDA 1986b, Clarke 1996) indicates that of the total 13,062 acres, approximately 300 acres consist of improved grounds (e.g., lawns, ballfields, parade and drill grounds, and landscape plantings); approximately 1,005 acres consist of semi‑improved grounds (e.g., production facilities, isolated mission activities, firebreaks, road and utility borders, and a heliport facility); approximately 5,287 acres consist of unimproved grounds (e.g., roads, buildings and structures, and agricultural leases); and approximately 6,470 acres consist of woodlands (Dames & Moore 1992a).

Population statistics for SVDA indicate that as of 1 January 1996, approximately 165 SVDA employees, 209 USADACS employees, 29 interns, and 10 other employees (e.g., health clinic, DRMO, 300th Quartermaster Co.) were working on SVDA. SVDA also employs the services of 35 onsite contractors. Approximately 4 employees and 10 dependents reside on the installation in the family housing area located at the southern end of the installation. The troop housing area, also located at the southern end of the installation, may house Reserve Components and National Guard personnel while stationed at SVDA. One hundred and twenty‑four Reserves were located on SVDA for weekend drill as of 1 January 1996 (Dahlman 1996).

 A total of 5,980 acres are leased for agricultural purposes. The cattle lease area includes the ammunition storage areas, the buffer areas surrounding the storage areas, and the buffer areas around the ammunition processing plants. Security fences are used for cattle control in most areas. The grazing season extends from 1 May through 1 November (Dames & Moore 1992a). Historic records indicate that sheep, horses, and mules also have been grazed on the installation (Clarke 1996). Milk cattle have not been grazed on the installation (Dames & Moore 1992a).

Recreational hunters and fishermen harvest a variety of fish and wildlife species found on the installation. Current access to the site by wildlife such as deer is somewhat restricted, and deer harvesting is by permit only. There is an abundance of small game. Surface water bodies within the installation include the Apple River, which borders the southern end of SVDA on the east for approximately 3 miles and two small streams, which cross the northwestern end of the installation. Numerous sloughs and lakes, including Crooked Slough, lie within the bottomland of the Mississippi River on the northwest portion of the installation. Recreational fishing takes place at Crooked Slough, the Apple River, and the Mississippi River. Crooked Slough is entirely on the installation and legally fishing is restricted to SVDA personnel and others granted permission by SVDA. However, because restriction of water access is difficult to enforce, Crooked Slough is accessible to the general public for fishing. Commercial fishing is permitted in the portion of the Mississippi River adjacent to SVDA (Dames & Moore 1992a).

A number of water supply wells are located on the installation. The main water supply system for the installation serves the entire lower post and extends to the ammunition area. The system is looped and supplied by three deep (1,114‑ to 1,200‑foot) wells located at Buildings 107, 260, and 701. The water from these wells is treated by chlorination, fluoridation, and polyphosphate at the well head. A fourth deep well located at Building 645 also is connected to the main system, but has been out of service for approximately 15 years. Three small water supply systems, each supplied by one well, serve facilities at the northern end of the installation. The small systems are located at the Open Burning Grounds Change House (Building 2112, 280 feet deep), the Ammunition Washout Facility (Building 2205, 1,078 feet deep), and the Stonehouse (Building 2213, 20 feet deep). These systems are considered transient and are shot‑chlorinated and tested for bacteria once per year. Three additional wells supply nonpotable water and are not treated with chlorine. Two of these wells, a 1,180‑foot well located at Building 1022 (in the ammunition storage area) and a 72‑foot well located at Building 1005, are out of service (the pump houses are not supplied with power). The third well, a 60‑foot well located at Building 2003 (near the Whitton Station Gate House), is used for watering cattle. Four “sandpoint” wells pumped by windmills also are used to provide water for cattle. The four sandpoint wells are located near Building F904, near Building B207, between the A‑ and F‑Areas, and immediately outside the ammunition area near the F‑600 line (Straight 1996).

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