Fort Hood’s sediment and erosion cause problems for the base
By Amanda Crawford
Since 1942, Fort Hood has been home to the U.S. Army’s III Mobile Armored Corps. It is the only U.S. military post able to station and train two armored divisions at once. At this base, troops execute weapons qualification tasks and tank gunnery training to equip them to become some of the best soldiers in the country.
The heavy artillery traffic that operates on the 335-square-mile terrain greatly disturbs and deteriorates the soil and vegetation, causing serious topsoil loss and sediment problems. Direct raindrop impact on the pulverized bare soil leads to erosion and sediment-filled runoff, which deteriorates the land and contaminates local water sources. For this reason, the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) and Blackland Research and Extension Center (BREC) are working with the military and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service in attempting to conserve and protect the soils on the base, reduce sedimentation problems, and enhance training opportunities for future soldiers.
Sediment’s Dangers
Sediment-filled runoff ends up in Lake Belton, the water source for Fort Hood and local communities. Ultraviolet light, or sunlight, naturally kills bacteria; therefore, suspended sediment in the area’s water is particularly problematic because of its ability to diminish the water’s light absorption. Sediment can also spread absorbed hazardous chemicals or compounds such as pesticides through the water.
In addition, the trampling of plants deteriorates the vegetation, changing from taller plants to shorter grasses. In extreme cases, the soil is exposed. Erosion at Fort Hood strips the land of essential nutrients that plants need to grow, and destroys any chance that the vegetation will redevelop on its own. Further trampling and erosion exposes the rocks beneath the soil and produces large gullies, or ditches. This has negative effects on military maneuvering and watershed ecology, permanently destroying surrounding habitats, and diminishing the quality of the training grounds.
Hope in Sight
Restoration at an early stage provides hope for success because some of the nutrients are still available in the soil. It also saves money because restoration can be expensive if starting over from scratch.
Proper use of vegetation, the most important element in land rehabilitation, can improve the sediment problem. Vegetation protects the soil from damage, and vegetation and soil work together to maintain a nutrient balance. It also acts as a filter to remove sediment from run-off, preventing the sediment from entering lakes and rivers. Plants also reduce the speed of water flow over the soil, slowing erosion.
The future looks more optimistic for Fort Hood thanks to TWRI, BREC, and NRCS’s introduction of new ways to protect the area’s land and water. One of the new practices being introduced is the use of compost to more rapidly establish protective regetative cover. Another effective solution is installing small check-dams, also called “gully-plugs,” across eroding channels, which prevents further erosion by blocking the flow of water and reducing sediment loads in runoff. Another solution is soil ripping, which rejuvenates the soil and provides opportunities for growth and plant stability improvement. Water flows into the soil, rather than turning off and eroding trenches.
Because of the nature of Fort Hood’s training, erosion and sediment will always be a problem. The efforts of TWRI and BREC on this project minimize the problems and provide hope for safety and excellence at this base.
