Will the Military Take Over the Desert National Wildlife Refuge?
The Department of Defense (DOD) is poised to release details next month regarding its proposal to take over a significant portion of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR), close public lands, and incorporate them into the Nellis Test and Training Range . A review of documents made public so far, however, suggests DOD may be inflating its need to close public lands and assume control of the wildlife refuge. The Nellis Test and Training Range already spans 4,608 square miles, and within those vast lands there probably are opportunities to accommodate DOD's training needs without significantly eroding public access or wildlife protection. The options that DOD has proposed so far, however, seem to ignore innovative management approaches and technological solutions that can limit the impact on our public lands. Lay of the Land: 4,608 Square Miles : Total area of the current Nellis Test and Training Range. 3,292 Square Miles : Portion of the Nellis Test and Training Rang