Maintaining harmony between Mother Nature and training readiness

Photo By Maj. Dan Marchik | During the reconstruction of the troop marching trail at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany, signs were added to clearly mark the trail. Personnel at Grafenwoehr's Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) office ensured that the trail was not only safe but also easy to identify.  

GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY

09.15.2014

Story by Capt. Dan Marchik 

7th Army Training Command

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Working with the forces of Mother Nature when trying to maintain the Grafenwoehr Training Area can be a delicate balance of conservation and readiness. Personnel at Grafenwoehr’s Integrated Training Area Management office faced this battle when a section of the troop marching trail became unusable and caused safety issues for troops who were forced to cross a heavily-used road.

The trail was repeatedly washed away as a result of beavers causing water levels to rise from the dams they built. While the trail is an integral part of unit training, it could not be simply moved, and due to host nation policies and environmental considerations, the beavers’ habitat could not be disturbed.

ITAM worked with the Directorate of Public Works to design a section of trail for the troops that rose above the water line. The project consisted of installing drainage pipes that would keep the water from affecting the trail while maintaining a level to accommodate the beavers’ habitat. As a result, the new section of the trail keeps troops from having to cross the road, is safe from changing water levels and requires no maintenance.

ITAM’s success is due not only to a creative solution but also in ITAM’s ability to work with other internal agencies such as DPW. The DPW environmental section provided environmental oversight of the project, such as ensuring trail materials would not affect the water’s chemistry, as well as helping the project approval process. ITAM also took advantage of DPW’s ability to perform the needed construction in an efficient and cost effective manner.

“The Grafenwoehr Training Area ITAM program has gained huge successes due to its unique and strong partnerships with other US Army installation agencies as well as host nation authorities via our environmental division. This high level of trust and open communication enables GTA ITAM to meet changes in training land requirements quickly and effectively,” said Colleen Bergmanis, ITAM program coordinator at the Grafenwoehr Training Area.

The result of these efforts is a sustainable area, capable of providing accessible training for a host of nations at GTA that offers protection for Mother Nature, beavers included.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2014
• Date Posted: 09.15.2014 03:56
• Story ID: 142127
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, DE