John Krupovage
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 1:30-2:00
Preservation and restoration of natural areas on an active, dynamic industrial megacenter— Tinker Air Force Base (TAFB)—began in 1989. Located in central Oklahoma, TAFB covers about 5000 acres and is 89% developed with 717 buildings, almost 700 housing units, 48 miles of roadway, and two 10,000-foot runways. The installation is the largest single-site employer in the state with 26,000 employees. Disjointed conservation efforts have evolved into the development of a simple, proactive, and comprehensive green infrastructure plan to balance rapid gray infrastructure expansion. The plan lays out a base-wide green infrastructure network to include regulated areas, evaluation areas, and network gaps. The plan has been instrumental in averting total loss of natural areas and in maintaining connectivity within the network. GIS technology was used to delineate sensitive resource areas. Goals, objectives, policies, guiding principles, and work plans provided unified direction and purpose and postured land managers for success in dealing with numerous urbanization challenges. Benefits of this integrated spatial network design include conflict reduction, disaster preparedness, money savings, sprawl arrestment, flora and fauna community stabilization, pollution control, enhanced aesthetics, improved military readiness, and others.
Keywords: URBAN NATURAL AREAS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, NETWORK CONNECTIVITY, URBANIZATION, MILITARY