The Land Condition
Trend Analysis (LCTA) program was initiated at Camp Ripley in 1991. LCTA is a program that
provides for inventorying and monitoring biological and physical resource data as a means
of quantifying the condition of the land. An initial inventory of the flora and fauna of
Camp Ripley was completed by the MN DNR. In addition, 189 permanent field plots have been
installed to monitor trends in land condition over time. Over half of the plots (108
plots) are referred to as special use plots since they are intended to monitor intense
land use areas (e.g., maneuver corridors, assembly areas, etc.). The remaining plots (81
plots) are core plots that were randomly located throughout Camp Ripley based on
vegetation cover types. The LCTA program has generated valuable resource data for
performing environmental reviews in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
process, land management decisions, and implementation of the INRMP.
Results to date suggest that most impacts from military use are concentrated in a few
areas. Data have also shown differences in tactical concealment resources between core and
special use plots of the same habitat type, indicating less concealment in special use
plots. Additionally, there was more military disturbance and bare ground on the special
use plots. These trends indicate that military training can damage natural resources. The
results have enabled the Environmental and Operations personnel to assist military
trainers in better distribution of their training exercises which has decreased the impact
of training on natural resources. The results of LCTA have also enhanced the ability to
monitor and evaluate the condition of Camp Ripley’s land resources and, where
necessary, have provided a foundation for implementing land rehabilitation.
Recommendations have included increasing accuracy of data collection and making the
data more usable. Data collection accuracy has been improved through methodological
developments specific to floral and faunal groups at Camp Ripley, and database utility has
been improved with a Range Facility Management Support System (RFMSS). RFMSS provides
detailed military use data that is currently being compared with LCTA data to help
determine cause and effect relationships (e.g., what types and levels of use cause what
types of damage?).
