Fort Hunter Liggett maintains mission-ready training lands with Targeted Grazing

Courtesy Photo | Fort Hunter Liggett Garrison Commander Col. Jason McKenzie meets with goat herder, and rancher Katy Martin to learn about the mission at Schoonover Airfield. There, 300 goats are deployed to neutralize the invasive yellow star thistle, protect the natural habitat, and reduce biomass in the San Antonio river, where endangered species, like the arroyo toad, breed. (Courtesy photo)  

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

09.30.2025

Story by Augusta Vargas 

Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, JOLON, CALIF. − What do a BeeLiner C-17, a herd of 300 goats, and an endangered Arroyo Toad have in common? They’ve all shared land space at Fort Hunter Liggett’s Schoonover Airfield.

Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) recently deployed hundreds of goats to Schoonover Airfield in September, as a targeted grazing project designed to neutralize the invasive yellow star thistle. The plant chokes out the natural habitat and reduces the biomass in the San Antonio River, where endangered species, like the arroyo toad, breed.

“This project, launched through a partnership with the Desert Research Institute, is part of IMCOM’s Nature-Based solutions program,” said FHL wildlife biologist Jacquelyn Hancock, “which emphasizes wildfire fuel reduction, invasive species control, and endangered species protection such as the arroyo toad.”

“A mix of goats and sheep were used to help reduce the biomass in the San Antonio River, where the arroyo toads breed. It opens up the channel systems so when the floods come through in the winter, it can redistribute the sand and sediment, so we have some nice pulling areas that are not encroached with vegetation,” said Hancock.

Land restoration using goat grazing is a safe alternative to herbicides, which not only eliminate invasive species, but threaten the life of native plants in the process. During the fire season, the use of herbicides can prove to be a problem. Herbicides run off into the soil and waterways, harming aquatic systems where the native arroyo toads breed each year. They also remove fire-resistant species, replacing the area with less resistant plants, ultimately causing fires to spread hotter and faster during a time when temperatures climb well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

“After a controlled burn or a wildfire, landscapes depend on natural regrowth from native plants. Herbicides interrupt this recovery, giving invasives the advantage, further increasing fire risk,” Hancock said.

Beyond protecting endangered species, these efforts directly affect FHL’s training mission. Overgrown patches of yellow starthistle and unchecked vegetation also clog drainage areas and shrink maneuver space. If not managed, those conditions could restrict access to ranges and limit the kind of training Soldiers need to stay mission-ready.

“This project reflects the Army’s continuous transformation, finding innovative ways to modernize land management while sustaining readiness,” said FHL Garrison Commander Col. Jason McKenzie. “Our partnership with Desert Research Institute is essential to reduce wildfire risk and mitigate invasive species, ensuring our training areas stay postured to build combat readiness.”

By sustaining critical training lands, Fort Hunter Liggett ensures Soldiers remain combat-ready to support the warfighter mission—today and into the future.

• Date Taken: 09.30.2025
• Date Posted: 09.30.2025 14:44
• Story ID: 549735
• Location: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US