The removal of 890 cubic yards of limestone from the navigation channel on the Mississippi River near Thebes, Ill., began Dec. 17, 2012. This is just one phase of the action the Corps is taking to improve the navigation channel for the river industry. Photo by Romanda Walker

DVIDS
Story by Romanda Walker

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rock removal work is underway on the Mississippi River near Thebes, Ill.

Work began Dec. 15, upstream of the Thebes railroad bridge. Low water on the river has allowed rock removal to be accomplished using excavating equipment. The progress of the excavation reduces the need for marine blasting, although that remains one of the options for permanently improving the channel for low water periods.
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U.S. Army Capt. Jill Lynn, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion Functional Specialty Team veterinarian, and community animal health worker Mohammed Isaq -second from left- work together to treat a young camel during an eight-day Veterinary Civic Action Program in Negele, Ethiopia, Aug. 23, 2011. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force Capt. Jennifer Pearson

More than 25,000 cattle, camels, chickens and other animals received necessary veterinary treatments Aug. 16-24 in an effort to help livestock in the Miesa and Siminto, Ethiopia, region survive the current drought.

A partnership between local Animal Health Assistants (AHAs), Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), the district veterinary office of the Negele Borena Region of Ethiopia, and members of the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion Functional Specialty Team (490 CABN FXSP) from the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa conducted a Veterinary Civic Action Program, or VETCAP.

According to Dr. Dejene Taye, Negele Borena District Veterinary Officer, a similar VETCAP in December helped more than 90 percent of the livestock in the region survive a drought, and the current support will continue to help the livestock make it through the next drought.

“It is very satisfying working with the Americans and it is good for the communities,” said Dr. Dejene. “Thanks to the government, this support helps the pastoralists and will help to save more than 20 thousand breeding cattle.”

The CAHWs gave multivitamin injections as well as treatments for trypanosomiasis, the most economically important livestock disease of Africa, especially in cattle. Trypanosomiasis, known as sleeping sickness in humans, affects all aspects of animal production – fertility, birth weights, lactation, growth and survival.

The CAHWs also cleaned and treated animal’s wounds and administered injections of antibiotics and medications for other parasitic diseases.

Gera Huka, a local villager, traveled more than 10 kilometers to have his livestock treated against worms and to receive multi-vitamins. “Some of my cattle are sick or have wounds,” said Huka. “I thank the government and America for helping my cattle.”

Dr. Dejene Taye -right- and Animal Health Assistant Behailu Fekede -center- clean an infected head wound on a calf while U.S. Army Capt. Jill Lynn, 490th Civil Affairs Functional Specialty Team veterinarian, assists during an eight -day Veterinary Civic Action Program in Negele, Ethiopia Aug. 24, 2011. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force Capt. Jennifer Pearson

The VETCAP was also a good learning experience for the Civil Affairs team to better understand the types of illnesses and injuries of the livestock and how the CAHWs identify and treat the animals.

“Dr. Dejene, the AHAs and the CAHWs have been great to work with in the classroom and in the field,” said U.S. Army Capt. Jill Lynn, 490 CA BN FXSP veterinarian and mission commander. “Working together we have made a difference for the animals and the community. I know Dr. Dejene and his team will continue to do good things to help keep the livestock healthy for the community.”

During the completion ceremony, Boru Cherfole, an AHA, stated, “Though you could not understand the people at the crush site because they speak a different language, it echoed throughout the day that everyone was very happy that you were here to help with the treatment of animals. It was great to see the U.S. Army Civil Affairs vet team side by side with us treating animals. You weren’t just sitting there; you were out there with us helping our community.”

Other community health workers echoed the sentiment by thanking the team and their hard work.

“You showed great commitment in the field when we worked together,” said AHA Behailu Fekede. “You helped us at the beginning and now it is up to us to continue and help our community.”

By Capt. Jennifer Pearson, USAF
Combined Joint Task Force — Horn of Africa Public Affairs
U.S. Army

As the remnants of Hurricane Don fizzle out over southernmost Texas, the exceptional drought that has plagued the South continues. Texas, in particular, is bone dry.

Texas Palmer Drought Severity Index for 7/29/2011

The picture was different a year ago.

Texas Palmer Drought Severity Index for 7/31/2010

The situation is similar in other areas of the Southern United States.

US drought severity for week ending July 23 2011

The drought has already added to record wildfire seasons in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The cost to crops at mid year can only be estimated. The Associated Press reports that Texas alone may see a record loss of over $8 billion. WPTV in Palm Beach, Florida, reports that the local sugar cane crop may have losses of $100 million. Agricultural losses will be reflected on the dinner table as the price of meat, sweeteners and fruits and vegetables all rise.

Not all of the United States is short of rain as those Americans living along the Missouri and Mouse Rivers in the Midwest can testify. They have been experiencing precipitation rates 150% and more of normal, leading to flooding.

90 precipitation rates for the United States

Those of us in New York State have wondered about our drought conditions with a lack of rain over the last month. The snowfall and spring rains have kept us wet, and we are just beginning to see effects from the recent dryness.

Northeast US drought conditions

For more information on drought conditions in the United States, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln maintains the U.S. Drought Monitor. University College London maintains a similar site for world drought conditions.

A C-130 Hercules from the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing in Colorado Springs,Colo., equipped with a Modular Airborne Firefighting System, drops a line of fire retardant in West Texas, April 27, 2011. MAFFS-equipped planes are capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in under five seconds. MAFFs aircraft have been sent to New Mexico to support the ongoing firefighting efforts in the southwestern U.S. U.S. Air Force photo - Staff Sgt. Eric Harris

Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component commander for Air Forces Northern here, two C-130 Hercules aircraft from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, both equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, or MAFFS, deployed to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., June 15 to conduct fire containment missions in support of wildfire suppression efforts in the southwestern U.S.

The aircraft are being deployed at the request of National Interagency Fire Center officials in Boise, Idaho. Members of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group will provide command and control of the aircraft from Boise. This year, the 302nd AEG, which is composed largely of personnel from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., has supported firefighting efforts in Texas and Mexico.

Fire containment missions, which are assigned by NIFC officials or the respective wildland fire manager, are scheduled to begin June 16.

The MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 60 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, a MAFFS can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

The MAFFSs are owned by the USDA Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that comprise the NIFC in Boise, Idaho. Department of Defense aircrews are flying at the request of NIFC officials.

The Department of Defense, through the commander of U.S. Northern Command, provides support to the NIFC in conducting wildland firefighting operations within the continental U.S., Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as approved by the secretary of Defense.

AFNORTH is the air component for U.S. Northern Command and when tasked, provides support to local, state, tribal, regional and federal emergency service agencies.

Air Force
by Tom Saunders
Air Forces Northern Public Affairs

Photo taken by Ron Sander. Credit: US Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

Sunrise in Western Arizona finds the Wallow wildfire still growing and only 5% contained. The morning situation report from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) show that the fire grew by over 50,000 acres in the last 24 hours, to a total burned area of 386,453 acres. 67 structures have been lost including 22 homes in the community of Greer.

The fire is being fought by 3,137 people, using 221 fire engines and 14 helicopters. Costs for this fire to date have reached $19 million. According to the website for the Wallow fire, bulldozers are being used to construct fire lines along the north and northeastern edges of the fire. Controlled burns are planned for tonight.

Two other large wildfires are also burning in Arizona.

The Horseshoe Two fire is 40% contained. It has burned at least 128,000 acres in and around the Coronado National Forest. It is burning south of the Wallow fire also along the New Mexico border.

The Murphy Complex fires are burning to the northwest of Nogales, Mexico. The fire is burning on both sides of the international border. It is 75% contained and has burned 68,000 acres. This fire is also burning in portions of the Coronado National Forest.

NIFC has recorded 31,115 wildfires in the United States in 2011 through June 10. This is less than the ten year average of 33,387 fires. Total acreage burned, however, is two and a half times greater with 3,959,427 acres burned this year compared to the ten year average of 1,523,983 acres. The combination of the current wildfires and those earlier this year in Texas (1.6 million acres) accounts for much of the increased burned acreage.

Exceptional and extreme drought conditions reach from the region of the Arizona fires east to the Atlantic coast in Georgia.

• Arizona: 18.4%, the southeastern counties
• New Mexico: 67.9%, the southern 2/3 of the state
• Texas: 85.4%, all but the northeastern corner of the state
• Louisiana: 70%, all but the northeastern corner of the state. Mitigated in part by Mississippi River flooding
• Mississippi: 7.9%, the southeastern panhandle
• Alabama: the panhandle and the southeastern counties
• Florida: 32.5%, the panhandle, eastern Everglades and Atlantic coast from Vero Beach to Homestead
• Georgia: 54.9%, almost the entire southern half of the state

15.7% of the contiguous U.S. is in either exceptional or extreme drought conditions. Last year it was 0.5%. In 2009, that figure was 1.9% and in 2008 2.4%. The last time the U.S. experienced drought conditions this severe was the winter of 2003-2004.