Attach__No__1B_-_MacDill_AFB_INRMP.pdf

U.S. AIR FORCE

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan

MacDill Installation Supplement

Cover Page

Table of Contents

About This Plan

Document Control

INRMP Approval/Signature Pages

Executive Summary

1 Overview and Scope

1.1 Purpose and Scope

1.2 Management Philosophy

1.3 Authority

1.4 Integration with Other Plans

2 Installation Profile

2.1 Installation Overview

2.1.1 Location and Area

2.1.2 Installation History

2.1.3 Military Missions

2.1.4 Natural Resources Needed to Support the Military Mission

2.1.5 Surrounding Communities

2.1.6 Local and Regional Natural Areas

2.2 Physical Environment

2.2.1 Climate

2.2.2 Landforms

2.2.3 Geology and Soils

2.2.4 Hydrology

2.3 Ecosystems and the Biotic Environment

2.3.1 Ecosystem Classification

2.3.2 Vegetation

2.3.2.1 Historic Vegetation Cover

2.3.2.2 Current Vegetation Cover

2.3.2.3 Future Vegetation Cover

2.3.2.4 Turf and Landscaped Areas

2.3.3 Fish and Wildlife

2.3.4 Threatened and Endangered Species and Species of Concern

2.3.5 Wetlands and Floodplains

2.3.6 Other Natural Resource Information

2.4 Mission and Natural Resources

2.4.1 Natural Resource Constraints to Mission and Mission Planning

2.4.2 Land Use

2.4.3 Current Major Mission Impacts on Natural Resources

2.4.4 Potential Future Mission Impacts on Natural Resources

3 Environmental Management System

4 General Roles and Responsibilities

5 Training

6 Recordkeeping and Reporting

6.1 Recordkeeping

6.2 Reporting

7 Natural Resources Program Management

7.1 Fish and Wildlife Management

7.2 Outdoor Recreation and Public Access to Natural Resources

7.3 Conservation Law Enforcement

7.4 Management of Threatened and Endangered Species, Species of Concern, and Habitats

7.5 Water Resource Protection

7.6 Wetland Protection

7.7 Grounds Maintenance

7.8 Forest Management

7.9 Wildland Fire Management

7.10 Agricultural Outleasing

7.11 Integrated Pest Management Program

7.12 Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH)

7.13 Coastal Zone and Marine Resources Management

7.14 Cultural Resources Protection

7.15 Public Outreach

7.16 Climate Change Vulnerabilities

7.17 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

8 Management Goals and Objectives

9 INRMP Implementation, Update, and Revision Process

9.1 Natural Resources Management Staffing and Implementation

9.2 Monitoring INRMP Implementation

9.3 Annual INRMP Review and Update Requirements

10 Annual Work Plans

11 References

12 Acronyms

13 Definitions

A Annotated Summary of Key Legislation Related to Design and Implementation of the INRMP

B Wildland Fire Management Plan

C Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Plan

D Golf Environmental Management (GEM) Plan

E Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP)

F Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP)

G Threatened and Endangered Species Management Plans

H Forest Management Plan

I Grounds Maintenance

J Ecosystem Restoration Conceptual Masterplan

ABOUT THIS PLAN

This installation-specific Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is based on the United States Air Force’s (USAF) standardized Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) template. This INRMP has been developed in cooperation with applicable stakeholders, which includes Sikes Act cooperating agencies and/or local equivalents, to document how natural resources will be managed. Where applicable, external resources, including Air Force Instructions (AFIs); Department of Defense Instructions (DoDIs);

USAF Playbooks; federal, state, and local requirements; Biological Opinions; and permits are referenced.

Certain sections of this INRMP begin with standardized, USAF-wide “common text” language that address USAF and Department of Defense (DoD) policy and federal requirements. This common text language is restricted from editing to ensure that it remains standard throughout all plans. Immediately following the USAF-wide common text sections are installation sections. The installation sections contain installation-specific content to address local and/or installation-specific requirements. Installation sections are unrestricted and are maintained and updated by the approved plan owner.

NOTE: The terms “Natural Resources Manager,” “NRM,” and “NRM/POC” are used throughout this document to refer to the installation person responsible for the natural resources program, regardless of whether this person meets the qualifications within the definition of a natural resources management professional in DoDI 4715.03, Natural Resources Conservation Program.

DOCUMENT CONTROL

Standardized INRMP Template

In accordance with (IAW) the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) Environmental Directorate (CZ) Business Rule (BR) 08, EMP Review, Update, and Maintenance, the standard content in this INRMP template is reviewed periodically, updated as appropriate, and approved by the Natural Resources Subject Matter Expert (SME).

This version of the template is current as of 06/26/2020 and supersedes the 2018 version.

NOTE: Installations are not required to update their INRMPs every time this template is updated. When it is time for installations to update their INRMPs, they should adopt the most recent version of this template available in the Plan Tool.

Installation INRMP

Record of Review – The INRMP is updated no less than annually, or as changes to natural resource management and conservation practices occur, including those driven by changes in applicable regulations. IAW the Sikes Act and AFMAN 32-7003, Environmental Conservation, the INRMP is required to be reviewed for operation and effect no less than every five years. An INRMP is considered compliant with the Sikes Act if it has been approved in writing by the appropriate representative from each cooperating agency within the past five years. Approval of a new or revised INRMP is documented by signature on a signature page signed by the Installation Commander (or designee), and a designated representative of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), state fish and wildlife agency, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries when applicable (AFMAN 32-7003).

Annual reviews and updates are accomplished by the installation Natural Resources Manager (NRM), and/or a Section Natural Resources Media Manager. The installation shall establish and maintain regular communications with the appropriate federal and state agencies. At a minimum, the installation NRM (with assistance as appropriate from the Section Natural Resources Media Manager) conducts an annual review of the INRMP in coordination with internal stakeholders and local representatives of USFWS, state fish and wildlife agency, and NOAA Fisheries, where applicable, and accomplishes pertinent updates. Installations will document the findings of the annual review in an Annual INRMP Review Summary. By signing the Annual INRMP Review Summary, the collaborating agency representative asserts concurrence with the findings. Any agreed updates are then made to the document, at a minimum updating the work plans.

INRMP APPROVAL/SIGNATURE PAGES

MacDill Air Force Base's 2021 Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan Annual Report can be found on the installation's eDASH page or by following the link below:

2021 MacDill AFB INRMP Annual Report https://usaf.dps.mil/:b:/t/10623/MacDill/EVmb758TQqRCmjOZMZwyGMIBcb8asU5uylZeC5e9HLInXQ

[SIGNATURE]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) is a comprehensive guide for natural resources management for the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW) at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) in Florida. This INRMP represents a commitment by the United States Air Force to protect the integrity and value of the natural resources at MacDill AFB. The INRMP integrates the Air Force (AF) mission with an interdisciplinary approach to ecosystem management to ensure that MacDill AFB continues to support present and future mission requirements while preserving, improving, and enhancing ecosystem integrity.

MacDill AFB is proud of its contribution toward the defense of the United States of America. Since its inception in 1939, the installation has trained and based aviators in aircraft ranging from B-17 Flying Fortresses to F-16 Fighting Falcons to KC-135 Stratotankers. Today, MacDill’s global air refueling footprint, and hosting of the headquarters for the United States Central Command and United States Special Operations Command, makes it critical to worldwide defense operations.

MacDill was constructed on land with abundant wetlands, wildlife, forests, and other valuable natural resources. Land use and landscapes have changed considerably in the last 75 years as infrastructure and facilities were developed to support the varied missions.

Nevertheless, as time and environmental awareness have evolved, so too has MacDill’s commitment to the natural resources that support the military mission. Through habitat conservation and restoration, prescribed burning, comprehensive endangered species protection, invasive plant control, water quality initiatives and many other programs, MacDill proactively seeks balance between the well-being of its mission and the environment. MacDill is committed to this stewardship role. Our lands are critical to our military mission and important to the wellbeing of our community.

This INRMP is MacDill’s plan of action for the care and wise use of the lands entrusted to us. MacDill AFB will manage its natural resources using this INRMP to pursue five overall themes:

Military Readiness - Provide a natural resources management program that supports MacDill’s vital military mission to the maximum extent.

Stewardship - Manage natural resources to assure good stewardship of public lands entrusted to the care of MacDill AFB.

Quality of Life - Provide outdoor recreational opportunities that promote the mental, physical, and social well-being of installation personnel.

Compliance - Protect and improve the quality of water, land, and biological resources present on MacDill, thereby complying with pertinent regulations.

Integration - Promote cooperative relationships with outside agencies, organizations, and interested parties and integrate elements of natural resources management into a single program.

MacDill’s natural resource goals and objectives for our INRMP were formulated based on mission needs, assessment of past natural resources-related projects, assessment of current environmental conditions, and changes (if any) in guidance or requirements of various federal/state agencies. The goals, objectives and projects identified for this INRMP are intended to enable MacDill to meet the five overall natural resource goals: military readiness, stewardship, quality of life, compliance, and integration.

1 OVERVIEW AND SCOPE

This INRMP was developed to provide for effective management and protection of natural resources. It summarizes the natural resources present on the installation and outlines strategies to adequately manage those resources. Natural resources are valuable assets of the US AF. They provide the natural infrastructure needed for testing weapons and technology, as well as for training military personnel for deployment. Sound management of natural resources increases the effectiveness of USAF adaptability in all environments.

The USAF has stewardship responsibility for the physical lands on which installations are located to ensure all natural resources are properly conserved, protected, and used in sustainable ways. The primary objective of the USAF natural resources program is to sustain, restore, and modernize natural infrastructure to ensure operational capability and no net loss in the capability of USAF lands to support the military mission of the installation. The plan outlines and assigns responsibilities for the management of natural resources, discusses related concerns, and provides program management elements that will help to maintain or improve the natural resources within the context of the installation’s mission. The INRMP is intended for use by all installation personnel. The Sikes Act is the legal driver for the

INRMP.

1.1 Purpose and Scope

This INRMP guides the implementation of the natural resources program at MacDill AFB and represents the principal tool and guidance for managing the natural resources at MacDill AFB under the Sikes Act, U.S.C. §670 et.seq. These resources include plants and wildlife, hydrologic and topographic features, upland and coastal environments, and certain aspects of pest management. This plan applies to internal and external organizations that are involved with, or interested in, the management or use of MacDill AFB’s natural resources. It helps to ensure the conservation of MacDill AFB’s natural resources, as well as, compliance with related environmental laws and regulations. The INRMP encompasses all land at MacDill AFB, whether leased to others or not, including privatized housing areas.

This INRMP serves as the umbrella and guiding document for other various management plans implemented at MacDill AFB with respect to natural resources management, including the base Wildland Fire Management Plan, Ecosystem Restoration Masterplan, and others. This INRMP encompasses specific features of such plans and/or references them where applicable

1.2 Management Philosophy

MacDill AFB personnel, including military, civilian, and contractor, will act responsibly and in the public interest when managing natural resources that are an integral part of the installation. There shall be a conscious and active concern for the inherent value of these resources in installation plans, decisions, actions, and programs. The conservation of natural resources and the military mission is not mutually exclusive. Current and planned installation activities (e.g., master planning, construction requests, site approval requests, training exercise plans) are conducted to ensure effective and timely coordination with installation natural resources personnel. The 6 CES/CEIE (Civil Engineer Squadron/ Environmental Element) shall review all necessary work orders for impacts of such activities on natural resources, with the following specific management goals and processes in mind.

Overall Management Goals

MacDill AFB will manage its natural resources to meet five overall goals:

Military Readiness - Provide a natural resources management program that supports MacDill's military mission with no net-loss of military mission activity.

Stewardship - Manage natural resources to assure good environmental stewardship of public lands entrusted to the care of MacDill AFB.

Compliance - Maintain and improve the quality of water, land, and biological resources present on MacDill by complying with pertinent regulations.

Integration - Promote cooperative relationships with regional and state agencies, conservation organizations, and other interested parties. Integrate elements of natural resources management into the planning and implementation processes of the

6 ARW.

Quality of Life - Provide outdoor recreational opportunities to military personnel that promote the mental, physical and social well-being of installation personnel.

Ecosystem Management

Ecosystem management is not articulated formally in law, but its basic concepts have strong legal compliance aspects, especially within the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Sikes Act, and other laws such as the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The Implementation of Ecosystem Management in the DoD (DoD, 1994) states an overall goal as: "The goal of ecosystem management is to preserve, improve, and enhance ecosystem integrity. Over the long term, this approach will maintain and improve the sustainability and biological diversity of terrestrial and aquatic (including marine) ecosystems while supporting sustainable economies and communities." Ecosystem management is a management philosophy that will help achieve biodiversity protection and maintain fully functional natural resources.

The ESA and Sikes Act clearly mandate biodiversity protection, and many other environmental laws are aimed at protecting natural processes and landscapes. Ecosystem management is a way to package a natural resources program so that it encompasses legal compliance, land stewardship, and the production of renewable products of the land. Ecosystem management is the best way to provide quality lands and natural resources to support MacDill AFB's military mission.

The DoD and USAF endorses ecosystem management within the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 4715.03 (Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan Implementation Manual) and Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 32-7003 (Environmental Conservation). This endorsement states that ecosystem management is the basis for management of DoD lands and waters.

Principles and guidelines to achieve this goal are:

Maintain and improve the sustainability and native diversity of ecosystems.

Administer with consideration of ecological units and time frames.

Support sustainable human activities.

Develop a vision of ecosystem health.

Develop priorities and reconcile conflicts.

Develop coordinated approaches to work toward ecosystem health.

Rely on the best scientific information available.

Use benchmarks to monitor and evaluate outcomes.

Incorporate adaptive management techniques.

Implement through installation plans and programs.

MacDill AFB intends to use these ecosystem management principles and guidelines to guide its program into the future. This management philosophy allows MacDill AFB to proactively manage and protect its natural resources and conduct its military mission.

Concurrently, ecosystem management will ensure both compliance with environmental laws and the maintenance and improvement of natural resources values.

Adaptive Management

Ecosystem management is best implemented through adaptive management, a process by which implementing actions occur simultaneously with the collection of data before, during, and after completion of the action. This helps identify changes that need to be developed and implemented to reduce uncertainty and help achieve desired goals.

MacDill AFB will use current status information to choose the best management options to implement this INRMP. With every management practice implemented, MacDill AFB will monitor the systems response to these actions and adjust management options as needed, in order to continually improve the management of the natural resources and the restoration of the ecosystems found at MacDill AFB.

This INRMP is a living document that changes as necessary. It reports the current status of the natural resources program and is updated annually. Any changes to this INRMP are captured in the annual INRMP review. This includes a summary of changes to the INRMP since the previous year's update, an INRMP summary report, and a work plan implementation table. It identifies actions and projects currently planned for implementation to meet the needs of natural resources management at MacDill AFB and serves as the implementing document to meet those needs. However, this INRMP will be reviewed annually and adjusted as needed to compensate for changes in the status, or to document and implement new management options.

Integration with Base Comprehensive Planning Process

This INRMP is an integral part of the base comprehensive planning process. It is consistent with other plans for the development and/or use of the lands associated with MacDill AFB. This INRMP has been coordinated with all appropriate personnel and organizations at MacDill AFB. The INRMP has been reviewed and approved by the installation Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Council (ESOHC) and the Patrick Air Force Base Installation Support Section. It is consistent with the overall MacDill AFB environmental program.

Relationship of INRMP to Military Mission

This INRMP is designed to support the AF military mission at MacDill AFB by protecting and enhancing the lands entrusted to the DoD.

This INRMP is not designed to evaluate the installation's military mission, nor is it intended to replace any needs for environmental documentation of the military mission at MacDill AFB.

1.3 Authority

Preparation and implementation of this INRMP are required by the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Air Force, and the Sikes Act (16 USC 670 et. seq.). In addition, this INRMP helps ensure that MacDill AFB complies with other federal and state laws, most notably laws associated with environmental documentation, wetlands, endangered species, water quality, and management of wildlife in general.

This INRMP describes how MacDill AFB will implement provisions of DoD Instruction (DoDI) 4715.3 (Environmental Conservation Program) and Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 32-7003 (Environmental Conservation). This INRMP is prepared within the scope of Air Force Policy Directive 32-70 (Environmental Quality).

Installation-Specific Policies (including State and/or Local Laws and Regulations)

Hillsborough County, Chapter 84-446

"Environmental Protection Act"

Hillsborough County, Chapter 1-11

"Rules of the Environmental Protection Commission - Wetlands"

Florida Administrative Code (FAC) Chapter 62-312

"Dredge and Fill Activities"

FAC Chapter 62C-20 "Aquatic Plant Management"

FAC Chapter 62-4 "Water Quality Standards"

Sections 403.9321-403.9333, Florida Statutes

"1996 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act"

1.4 Integration with Other Plans

INRMP revisions, updates and concurrence with the final INRMP must be coordinated through the 6 ARW chain of command at MacDill AFB with the guidance and cooperation of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries), and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The MacDill AFB Natural Resource Manager (NRM) must ensure that the INRMP, Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980/Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (CERCLA/RCRA) cleanup plans, Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP), Invasive Species Management Plan (ISMP), Installation Development Plan (IDP), Wildland Fire Management Plan (WFMP), Grounds Maintenance contract, Air Installation Compatible Ground Use Zone (AICUZ) studies, and any additional plans that may affect natural resources, are mutually supportive and not in conflict. The INRMP identifies natural resource features that are considered and incorporated into the IDP including, but not limited to, federal and state-listed wildlife species, vulnerable ecosystems, wetland, and other hydrologic features. The INRMP also addresses natural resource concerns associated with wildlife hazards around the installation airfield and has been reviewed by the MacDill AFB BASH team. Due to the outsized proportion of the airfield compared with the size of MacDill AFB, wildlife hazards are considered within all habitat management techniques.

2 INSTALLATION PROFILE

Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) 6 ARW Commander has overall responsibility for implementing the natural resources management program and is the lead organization for monitoring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Natural Resources Manager/Point of Contact

(POC)

Name: Andrew Rider (Environmental Element Chief – government oversight of contracted NRM) Phone: 813-828-2718 Email: andrew.rider.2@us.af.mil

State and/or local regulatory POCs (Include agency name for Sikes Act cooperating agencies)

US Fish & Wildlife Service Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission National Marine Fisheries Service

Total acreage managed by installation 5,695

Total acreage of wetlands 1,195

Total acreage of forested land 1,200

Does installation have any Biological Opinions?

(If yes, list title and date, and identify where they are maintained)

No

Natural Resources Program Applicability (Place an X in the brackets "[ X ]" next to each program that must be implemented at the installation. Document applicability and current management practices in Section 7.0 )

[ X ] Fish and Wildlife Management [ X ] Outdoor Recreation and Access to Natural Resources [ X ] Conservation Law Enforcement [ X ] Management of Threatened, Endangered, and Host Nation-Protected Species [ X ] Water Resource Protection [ X ] Wetland Protection [ X ] Grounds Maintenance [ X ] Forest Management [ X ] Wildland Fire Management [ ] Agricultural Outleasing [ X ] Integrated Pest Management Program [ X ] Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) [ X ] Coastal Zone and Marine Resources Management [ X ] Cultural Resources Protection [ X ] Public Outreach [ X ] Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

2.1 Installation Overview

2.1.1 Location and Area

MacDill AFB is located in west central Florida at the southern tip of the Interbay Peninsula in Hillsborough County. The base covers an approximate area of 5,695 acres, and is surrounded by Tampa Bay to the south (Middle Tampa Bay), west (Old Tampa Bay) and east (Hillsborough Bay), and the City of Tampa to the north and west. All or parts of the counties of Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota are within a 50-mile radius (USAF, 1994a). MacDill AFB does not have any Geographically Separated Units (GSU) under the command of the 6 ARW. The closest military installation of interest to MacDill AFB is the 106,000-acre Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR) located ~65 miles to the East. MacDill AFB, and other visiting units, utilize APAFR for flight and munitions training. Figure 1 shows the location of MacDill AFB within the city of Tampa and in relation to the surrounding Tampa Bay region.

Figure 1: Location of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay region

Installation/GSU Location and Area Descriptions

Installation/ Geographically Separated

Unit (GSU)

Main Use/ Mission

Acreage Addressed in INRMP? Describe Natural Resource Implications

N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2.1.2 Installation History

The history of MacDill AFB is rooted in its location. The base comprises 5,695 acres on the southern tip of the Interbay Peninsula.

Originally known as Catfish Point, this peninsula sits between Hillsborough Bay on the east and Middle Tampa Bay to the south and Old Tampa Bay to the west. Tampa’s location historically was desirable to the military as it provided access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, and during such conflicts as the Spanish-American War in 1898, it served as a strategic military post (Earth Tech, Inc. 2003).

The establishment of MacDill AFB occurred in part because of the same reasons previous military leaders used the site during the Spanish-American War: its location provided access to the strategic Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. By the 1930s, this area was considered to be inadequately defended. In 1935, the Wilcox Defense Act was passed, which called for the creation of seven air fields in the US, Puerto Rico, and Panama to form what was called a “triangular defense system” (Earth Tech, Inc. 2003). The Wilcox Site Board, which was created out of the defense act and comprised of US Army Air Corps and War Department officers, assessed potential locations and chose Tampa for four specific reasons as a site that could protect U.S. interests and shipping routes in the Caribbean:

Tampa had favorable weather year round.

Land access was restricted to just the north.

The water surrounding three sides of the peninsula provided a safe place to jettison aircraft during training.

Tampa had a well-developed infrastructure, including an established railroad (Earth Tech, Inc. 2003).

Tampa residents lobbied hard, and on 6 September 1939, construction began on Southeast Air Base, now known as MacDill AFB. The Hillsborough County Commission purchased the property for $97,000 and donated it to the Federal government (Florida Aviation Historical Society 2006). The base officially opened on 15 April 1941 just months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was this attack on 7 December 1941 that brought the U.S. into World War II, and MacDill AFB would play a strong role in the training of pilots during the war.

When the U.S. entered the war, MacDill AFB became the staging area for 15 LB-30s and 63 Boeing B-17s that were to be sent to Australia and the Pacific under Project X. Operations such as Project X proved to the War Department that the training of pilots was not keeping pace with the aircraft and weapons being developed and utilized. As a result, MacDill AFB would become the leader in a new method of training pilots, an assembly-line system called Operational Training Units (OTU). Approximately 2,200 new personnel arrived every seven weeks at MacDill AFB to train in the OTU program, and by the end of World War II, approximately 200,000 troops had been stationed at the base. Three units were residents of the base during the war: the 21st Bombardment Group (BG), the 29th BG, and the 44th BG. The base would also house a unit of the Women’s Army Corps and a German Prisoner of War (POW) camp. At its height, this camp held approximately 448 POWs (Earth Tech, Inc. 2003).

Initially, MacDill AFB served as training station for the B-17 “Flying Fortress”. In 1942, the base transitioned to a training site for the B-26 “Marauder,” although its cumbersome handling resulted in a return to the B-17 by 1943. In 1945, MacDill AFB became the training location for the Boeing B-29 “Superfortress”. On 12 July 1948, the Southeast Air Base was officially named MacDill AFB after Colonel Leslie MacDill, an aviation pioneer in the 1st Aero Squadron, who died in 1938.

By 1951, MacDill AFB again changed aircraft. The training transitioned to the B-47 and KC-97 tankers. Within two years, the base housed the B-12s and became an operational base for the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Several SAC units stationed at MacDill AFB, including the 305, 306, and 307 BGs and the 311 Reconnaissance Wing of the 6th Air Division, trained on the B-47s. As a result, MacDill was the location where the operational procedures for the aircraft were developed. Major construction activity occurred on base to accommodate the increasing demand for training facilities and housing.

The Cold War evolved, changing the focus of the USAF from aircraft to ICBMs and radar stations. MacDill AFB was listed for partial closure and reduced activity by the DoD on 28 November 1960. This plan changed within one year as the tumultuous relationship between the U.S. and Cuba escalated. Rumors abounded that Soviet MiG-17s were in Cuba, and defense weapons were supposedly aimed at the US. MacDill AFB was viewed as a location to launch an invasion on Cuba (Hawes 1992). The base changed from being “mothballed” to having a fighter force and being part of the U.S. Strike Command (USSTRIKCOM), which had a mission of being prepared as a strike force worldwide. MacDill AFB became extremely active, and Tampa residents witnessed an increase in air traffic; anti-aircraft rockets on beaches; caravans of trucks with “explosives” signs arriving on base with a police escort; numerous F-101 Voodoo jets, all-weather fighter-interceptors, and four-engine cargo planes; and hotels booked to capacity with soldiers (Hawes 1992). No invasion occurred, although MacDill AFB remained on alert. Afterwards, records indicated that 42 Soviet medium-range missiles were installed on Cuban bases, and the Soviet soldiers stationed on the island were equipped with short-range, tactical nuclear weapons.

That same year, 1962, the mission of the base changed from the SAC to the Tactical Air Command (TAC). The aircraft would again evolve, and MacDill AFB housed two fully operational wings of F-4 Phantoms. Two Tactical Fighter Wings (TFW), the 12 TFW and 15 TFW, deployed to Vietnam, where the 4 Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 15 TFW would be “the first F-4 unit in Vietnam and the first unit to account for an air victory in the region” (USAF 2018). MacDill AFB would continue to serve as a training location during the Vietnam War, and retained its USSTRIKCOM mission.

Several changes occurred at the base during the 1970s and 1980s. By 1972, the USSTRIKCOM would be changed to the U.S. Readiness Command (USREDCOM), although it maintained its mission as a quick response strike force. Seven years later, under the same command, the aircraft at MacDill AFB would transition from the F-4 to the F-16. MacDill would ultimately train the largest number of F- 16 pilots in the world (USAF 2018). The major change at the base, though, included transition of the USREDCOM. A taskforce was organized under USREDCOM by President Jimmy Carter in response to the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

This task force, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF), was headquartered at MacDill AFB and had several units under it, including one at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and one at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. The RDJTF would evolve in time and become the US Central Command (USCENTCOM). While the RDJTF was intended to be temporary, President Ronald Reagan officially activated this permanent command on 1 January 1983. All four Armed Services provide component of the command, which would attain national significance in 1991. In 1991, under the command of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm were initiated in response to the invasion of Kuwait, and showed the effectiveness of this command in its rapid deployment and short duration of conflict.

2.1.3 Military Missions

The 6th Air Refueling Wing is the host unit at MacDill AFB. The wing is a subordinate unit of the 18th Air Force, Air Mobility Command, headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois. The mission of the 6 ARW is to deliver unmatched air refueling and installation and mission support.

The Wing provides world-class, worldwide air refueling and installation and airbase support to Headquarters U.S. Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, and 31 other Joint mission partners. In addition, the Wing and MacDill AFB provide support to the MacDill community, including more than 19,000 base personnel and employees, 250,000 retirees, and their families (MacDill 2020).

Listing of Major Mission Partners and Natural Resources Responsibility

Tenant Organization Natural Resources Responsibility

Air Force Reserve Command’s 927th Air Refueling Wing

Host Base is responsible for NR management

Headquarters, United States Central Command

(USCENTCOM)

Host Base is responsible for NR management

Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

Host Base is responsible for NR management

Headquarters, United States Marine Corps Forces Central Command (USMARCENT)

Host Base is responsible for NR management

Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE) Host Base is responsible for NR management

U.S. Naval Reserve Host Base is responsible for NR management

Joint Communication Support Squadron (JCSS) Host Base is responsible for NR management

2.1.4 Natural Resources Needed to Support the Military Mission

The natural resources which support the military mission at MacDill AFB include:

Coastal areas – provides unoccupied space which serves as noise buffer and accident protection, occasionally used for special operations training, provides recreational opportunities, and provides habitat for protected species. These areas are critical in providing a protective buffer around the installation. Mangrove forests provide wind and tidal buffers to prevent potential flooding during large storms. The 6th Security Forces Squadron (6 SFS) patrols the open water coastal areas to ensure compliance from the general public and protection of military operations on installation.

Open space – provides flexibility for future missions/land use, required for security and training exercises, ensures adequate space for noise buffers and accident protection (CZ/APZs), necessary for providing habitat for protected species, Water quality – the City of Tampa provides clean potable water for human consumption at the base, and management plans are in place to ensure that base operations necessary to support the mission do not adversely affect groundwater and surface water quality. Such plans also ensure permit compliance, wetlands and habitat protection, and flood control – which if compromised, could affect the military mission.

Forested land – provides noise and visual buffers for military activities and areas for land training activities including troop movements.

Marina channels – allow for 6 SFS to monitor and patrol marine exclusion zone around the installation.

Although not mission critical, the natural resources provide outdoor recreational opportunities that boost morale and provide daily enjoyment for base tenants, personnel, and residents. These resources provide people with opportunities for hiking, fishing, nature study, camping, boating, and countless other forms of outdoor recreation.

2.1.5 Surrounding Communities

The City of Tampa population is estimated at over 390,000 individuals as of 2019 with over 20,000 veterans as of 2017 (City of Tampa, 2020). The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is defined as Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco County with an estimated population, as of 2019, of 3,194,831 (U.S. Census Bureau). Manatee County, with an estimated population in 2019 of 403,253, is located on the Southern edge of the Tampa Bay MSA and plays a large role in both natural resource management of Tampa Bay ecosystems and utilization by military personnel for residence and flight operations. Due to this, it is included within the surrounding communities of the installation.

These counties range from highly developed and urban (Pinellas and Western Hillsborough) to suburban and largely undeveloped (Eastern Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Manatee) which provides for a diverse and metropolitan demographic and economic picture. Tourism, construction, health care, agriculture, finance, and military defense are some of the largest economic industries within the region.

The City of Tampa has retained planning and zoning jurisdiction over land directly adjacent to MacDill AFB’s Northern and Western boundary. Surrounding land use is primarily residential, commercial, and industrial. Recent zoning has been aimed toward industrial use, with this zoning designed to prohibit noise-sensitive uses, such as residential, within the airfield flight path. In recent years considerable development has occurred directly to the north of the base. The continued development of this land North and West of the installation will continue to provide encroachment issues and future planning for installation growth.

2.1.6 Local and Regional Natural Areas

MacDill AFB is surrounded on the west, south, and east by portions of Tampa Bay and has a limited number of neighbors directly adjacent to the installation's boundaries. To the northwest is a residential community referred to as Port Tampa City. The Western boundary is bordered by the City of Tampa property and managed by the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation department. Along the northern border of the base between the Manhattan Gate and Bayshore Gate is a mixture of developed and undeveloped land owned by various parties including the City of Tampa, several residential developers, two industrial facilities, and the Bayshore Trails Townhomes Association, Inc. This includes Gadsden Park (City of Tampa) that abuts the installation's Northern boundary. None of these properties have significant impacts with regard to the management of ecosystems on MacDill AFB. The natural areas of appreciable size adjacent, or within close proximity, to the base are Picnic Island Park, Middle Tampa Bay, Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay. Figure 2 shows public conservation lands within 5 miles of the installation's boundaries.

MacDill AFB is part of the larger Tampa Bay watershed that includes the drainage of Hillsborough, Alafia, Little Manatee, and Manatee Rivers. Much of this region's hydrology derives from the drainage of the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem in central Florida, the Green Swamp, and the Pinellas peninsula. Ecosystems within this region range from coastal (tidal flats, salt marshes, coastal and mangrove forests) to upland (sandhill, scrub, and pine flatwoods). A large portion of this region has been developed or converted to rangeland or agriculture. Major public conservation lands within the Tampa Bay watershed include Alafia River State Park, Hillsborough River State Park, Fort Desoto Park, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Duette Preserve, and several other city/county/state/federal properties, state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), and private lands.

Tampa and Hillsborough Bays are rated as Class III with some Class II waters. Both classes include recreation and well-balanced populations of fish and wildlife while Class II includes shellfish propagation or harvesting. Currently, portions of Tampa Bay are listed as impaired by the FDEP for various factors including high levels of dissolved oxygen, bacteria, and other nutrients (DEP 2018).

Figure 2: Conservation Lands Within 5 Miles of MacDill Air Force Base

2.2 Physical Environment

2.2.1 Climate

The general climate at MacDill AFB is humid subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters. MacDill AFB has about a 10-month growing season. Killing frosts do not normally occur in the area, but have been recorded as early as October 31st and as late as March 17th. About 46% of the annual rainfall occurs during the wet season (i.e., June through August). Most rainfall events are heavy thunderstorms of short duration in summer months (USAF, 1994a). Tropical storms and/or hurricanes could affect the area during June through November each year.

The climate projections for MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) represent a moderate emission scenario (RCP 4.5) and a high emission scenario (RCP 8.5) (Moss et al., 2008, 2010) based on National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Climate System Model (CCSM) prepared for the IPCC-AR5 (Gent, P. R., 2011; Hurrell et al., 2013; Moss et al., 2008, 2010). Climate information for historical data are downscaled to approximately 1 km grid resolution and provide daily climate information from 1900 to 2100. Climate model simulations were downscaled to 6 km grid resolution and data from 2026 to 2035 were extracted to represent the decadal average for 2030 and extracted data from 2046 to 2055 for the decadal average for 2050.

Summary of climate projections (Table 1) indicate that minimum and maximum temperatures will increase over time under both emissions scenarios. For the decade centered around 2030, both of the scenarios project a similar increase in average annual temperature (TAVE) of between 1.9 °F (1.0 °C) and 2.0 °F (1.1°C) over the historic average. For the decade centered around 2050, the RCP

4.5 scenario projects an increase of 2.3 °F (1.5 °C). The RCP 8.5 projections estimate TAVE will increase by 3.3 °F (1.8 °C) for this period.

Average annual precipitation (PRECIP) varies between emission scenarios and over time due to larger interconnected ocean-atmosphere dynamics associated with the NCAR-CCSM. For 2030, RCP 4.5 scenario projects an increase in PRECIP of approximately 20% while RCP

8.5 shows an increase of 8%. For 2050 RCP 4.5 projects an increase in PRECIP of 13% while RCP 8.5 shows a smaller increase of approximately 7%.

Table 1. Summary data for the 30-year historical base period and the decadal average data for 2030 and 2050 for RP4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios.

Variabl e Historical RCP 4.5 RCP 8.5

2030 2050 2030 2050

PRECIP (inches) 52.6 63.1 59.6 56.9 56.1

TMIN (°F) 63.8 65.8 66.2 65.8 67.2

TMAX (°F) 82.6 84.4 84.9 84.7 85.9

TAVE (°F) 73.2 75.1 75.5 75.2 76.5

GDD (°F) 8513 9125 9202 9124℉ 9473

HOTDAYS 86.5 115.3 132.9 128.6 148.4

WETDAYS 1.7 2 1.5 1.2 1.1

Notes: TAVE °F = annual average temperature; TMAX °F = annual average maximum temperature; TMIN °F = annual average minimum temperatures; PRECIP (inches) = average annual precipitation; GDD °F = Average annual accumulated growing degree days with a base temperature of 50 °F; HOTDAYS (average # of days per year) = average number of hot days exceeding 90 °F; WETDAYS (average # of days per year) = annual number of days with precipitation exceeding 2 inches in a day.

Understanding changes in daily intensity and total precipitation for multi-day precipitation events is helpful to evaluate precipitation patterns in addition to assessment of annual averages. Three-day storm events were generated from projected precipitation data based on RCP 4.5 and 8.5 emission scenarios for target years 2030 and 2050 (Table 2). Historical precipitation data were used to calculate a baseline storm event for the year 2000 for comparison (Table 2). Projected storms were generated from ten years of data surrounding the targeted year and are therefore likely to occur between once per year to once per ten years during the 10-year projection period.

T able 2. Projected precipitation from projected three-day storm events.

Baseline RCP 4.5 RCP 8.5

2000 2030 2050 2030 2050

Day 1 1.4 in 2.1 in 1.1 in 1.5 in 1.9 in

Day 2 2.4 in 2.2 in 1.8 in 2.5 in 1.9 in

Day 3 1.9 in 1.7 in 1.9 in 1.4 in 1.0 in

Total 5.7 in 6.1 in 4.8 in 5.4 in 4.8 in

Change from baseline 8.0% -14.5% -4.1% -15.5%

2.2.2 Landforms

MacDill AFB covers 5,695 total acres. For purposes of this INRMP, the land use at MacDill AFB is defined by the following subcategories:

improved, semi-improved, and unimproved/vacant lands. This INRMP deals primarily with the land classified as unimproved/vacant, especially those lands not paved or occupied by buildings which generally includes wildlands/wetlands, designated Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard areas, and golf courses.

Generally, no routine grounds maintenance occurs in natural areas. Those areas are addressed in this INRMP with respect to management of species, natural habitats, and other resources.

In general, topography at MacDill AFB is flat. MacDill AFB is located in the Pamlico Terrace which rises gently from the coast to about 25 feet above sea level. Ground elevations on the base range from sea level at the southern boundary and gradually rise to about 15 feet above sea level along the northern boundary. The mean elevation of the installation is only 4.7 feet above mean sea level (SERDP). There are no natural large topographic features on the base

2.2.3 Geology and Soils

The geologic features of MacDill AFB are consistent with the surrounding area of southwest Florida, with generally flat, sandy terrain.

Geology

MacDill AFB is situated in the Gulf Coastal Lowlands physiographic region. There are three principal lithologic sequences in the area. The top unit is unconsolidated sand, clay, and marl. This unit may include remnants of the Hawthorn Formation composed of sand, clay, and thin lenses of limestone. Sands in this unit range from 5-20 feet thick with clay layers up to 40 feet thick. This surficial layer is very thin to absent on the eastern side of the base, and underlying limestone formations may outcrop in this area.

The next deepest layer is composed of Tampa and Suwannee limestones which range from 250-500 feet thick. Below this layer are the Ocala Group; Avon Park, Lake City, and Oldsmar limestones; and Cedar Keys Limestone. These formations are about 2,300 feet deep.

Sinkholes are common to this type of geology. These form from dissolution of limestone due to percolation of groundwater followed by subsidence of overlying materials. However, due to overlying layers of clay, limited groundwater recharge, and the presence of a slow discharge zone for the Floridan aquifer, sinkhole activity at MacDill AFB is minimal with only one identified during a 1985 study (Beck et al., 1985; USAF, 1994a).

Soils

There are no prime or unique farmland soils at MacDill AFB (USAF, 1994a), and the primary soil types at MacDill AFB are Myakka Fine Sand, Malabar Fine Sand, Pomello Fine Sand and Wabasso Fine Sand based on characteristics as listed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Survey of Hillsborough County, Florida (USDA, 1989).

Two MacDill AFB soils are hydric and thus have jurisdictional wetland implications. Myakka Fine Sand (frequently flooded) is in tidal areas and occurs mainly on mangrove areas. These soils are subject to tidal flooding, are very level, and are poorly drained. Malabar Fine Sand is generally adjacent to the Myakka Fine Sand. This includes flatwood areas, portions of the golf course, and some development. They are nearly level and poorly drained, often occurring in low-lying sloughs and shallow flatwoods depressions (Dames & Moore, 1994).

2.2.4 Hydrology

The hydrologic features of MacDill AFB include: ponds, drainage ditches, wet weather irrigation fields, and wetlands. Flooding is a concern at MacDill AFB due to tidal surges and rainfall associated with periodic tropical storms and hurricanes, as well as frequent torrential rainfall during the summer rainy season. The figure below illustrates the 100-year floodplain and wetlands at MacDill. Due to space constraints and mission requirements, development within the floodplain is inevitable. The risk of developing in these areas is mitigated by meeting the requirement to raise the finished floor elevation above the floodplain.

Figure 3: 100-Year Floodplain and Wetlands at MacDill

Drainage

MacDill AFB is an independent drainage area with no surface waters entering or leaving the base prior to discharge into Tampa Bay. The road on the northern boundary acts as a drainage divide between the base and the community to the north (USAF, 1994a). The above figure "100-Year Floodplain and Wetlands at MacDill" illustrates the surface drainage pattern at the base. The drainage system at the base is greatly affected by ditches and pipes, primarily constructed to drain the developed portions of the base. There are approximately

24.4 miles of culverts (ranging 6 to 48 inches in diameter), and 56.3 miles of open ditches and canals. There are five drainage basins on MacDill AFB, largely created by ditches. Drainage routes occur in all directions with the exception of north.

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