The potential expansion of the U.S. Army’s Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site could encompass hundreds of thousands of acres in the four counties. This could include the transfer of Comanche National Grasslands and the condemnation of private lands.
Colorado Preservation, Inc. received a grant to undertake a historic resources survey of the region. The first phase of the project began in 2008, when over four hundred sites that possessed significance for prehistoric archaeology, historic archaeology, and architecture were identified. The majority of sites were related to a Homesteading boom that took place during the early 20th century. A second phase has begun that is focused on completing and submitting National Register Nominations and developing cultural tourism.
The Army continues to pursue expansion, recently releasing a draft Environmental Assessment for the stationing and training of a heavy Combat Aviation Brigade. The proposed training area for the CAB includes hundreds of thousands of acres of private lands and the Comanche National Grasslands, as well as a large section of the Historic Santa Fe Trail. With a potential annual average of 22,957 flight hours, at altitudes as low as 50 feet, this training will expose the cultural landscapes, historic resources, and the fragile environment to vibrations, sand blasting, and the introduction of negative visual and noise effects. Any expansion, whether through the acquisition of additional land or through the use of surrounding airspace, will adversely affect the historic resources and the agricultural economics of the region. CPI is working with Santa Fe Trail Partners to participate in the one-hundred-year celebration of the trail.