With the community of Bastrop and the Austin metro area growing rapidly, urban encroachment near Camp Swift threatens the Army National Guard’s ability to continue training activities. To mitigate this threat Camp Swift is working with local, state, and national partners to protect compatible use buffers and preserve working farmland and forests in the surrounding landscape. Maintaining these lands reduces the risk of complaints about noise, dust, and smoke from live-fire ranges, demolition activities, and drop zones, while limiting light pollution that impacts realistic dark-sky training.

CLF worked with Camp Swift leadership and adjacent private landowners to acquire conservation easements. These easements preserve the open spaces, ensure continued military readiness, and reward landowners financially to help preserve the economy and the region’s farming and ranching heritage.