What We Do

Issue

Urban sprawl in the vicinity of Camp Williams is occurring at an accelerated rate, resulting in obstructions to achieving and maintaining mission ready military forces and loss of wildlife habitat. Camp Williams’ training ranges and facilities provide the Army National Guard and other military forces with a realistic training environment for complex combat missions that support national defense and state domestic response. Unfortunately, incompatible development began to inhibit certain training activities and restrict access to training areas around 2010. Furthermore, it encroaches on the West Traverse’s critical wildlife migration corridors, breeding grounds, and winter sustainment range.

Our Role

We protect critical lands adjacent to Camp Williams to minimize development that constrains the installation’s training mission, preserve wildlife habitat, provide greater public access to nature, and strengthen local economies with compatible economic interests. These efforts are conducted under the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. Learn more by visiting the About WSTL page.

Impact

WTSL has secured over $90.1 million in federal and state funds to preserve agricultural and conservation land uses since its designation as a sentinel landscape in 2016. Collaborative efforts with local agencies, non-profits, businesses, and landowners, purchased over 3283 acres of land in conservation easements or public open space for recreation and quality of life initiatives.

These are enduring efforts and aim to ensure that the protection of the sentinel landscape remains in perpetuity. Our committee emplaces resources to provide studies, monitoring, and stewardship of properties within the designated area.