Naval Air Station Whidbey Island recently received the Chief of Naval Operations environmental award for cultural resources management at a large installation.
The award recognizes efficiency and effectiveness in meeting cultural resources stewardship and regulatory requirements while also minimizing mission impacts, according to the Navy.
NAS Whidbey Island Cultural Resources, a department at the base, worked with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to ensure construction and renovation projects went smoothly.
Historic buildings on the installation were updated while preserving their historic characteristics and some buildings were offered up to the community for relocation, a press release states.
The Navy worked with Pacific Northwest Communities, LLC, and the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in an effort to preserve eight historic farmhouses in Clover Valley that the company had slated for demolition.
The houses were offered for free to anyone willing to move them.
The base also negotiated with the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to find a way to camouflage cement blocks surrounding the Outlying Field Coupeville.
The state department ruled that the blocks had an “adverse effect” on the landscape of the neighboring Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve.
As a result, the Navy agreed to plant a hedgerow of Oregon grape, Nootka rose and snowberries in front of the blocks to shield them from sight.
In addition, the Navy agreed to create a report on the historical legacy of OLF Coupeville to the history of Whidbey Island
“This exceptional Cultural Resources program has fully enabled the installation’s commands to execute their missions on a daily basis,” said Capt. Geoff Moore, NAS Whidbey’s commanding officer.
“Through the combination of superior cross-organization and cross-cultural teamwork, Cultural Resources management programs have successfully supported existing and emerging missions and new battlefield capabilities.”
NAS Whidbey Cultural Resources worked with 50 different tribes for the Northwest Training and Testing Environmental Impact Statement process.
The Navy proposal was to conduct training and testing activities at sea and airspace within a giant area that included areas within the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and the Western Behm Canal in Alaska.
The outreach by Cultural Resources helped ensure continued use of the range by aviation, surface and submarine assets, the Navy reported.
“We have gone above and beyond to ensure positive working relationships with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribes, and community members,” said Kendall Campbell, Whidbey Island, Cultural Resources officer.
“We incorporated planning and projects that help to maximize positive relationships but also streamline Cultural Resources processes.”
