Unearthing potential: Starting a career in archaeology with CEMML

For recent college graduate Harrison Wehmann, the detailed detective work of archaeology is exactly what he wants to be doing. After earning his bachelor’s degree with a double major in archaeology and history, and a master’s in underwater archaeology, he’s found the perfect opportunity through CEMML’s Early-career Development Program. Now, he’s building a career chasing history at Joint Base Langley-Eustis—and helping a military installation preserve its past.

July 6, 2025

CEMML Early-Career Program supports creek revitalization at McConnell Air Force Base

In June, CEMML Early-Career Development Program participant, Melina Takvorian supported a stream bank revetment project at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The work involved repurposing invasive red cedar trees to stabilize the McConnell Creek in an effort to reduce erosion, improve water quality, and protect critical infrastructure.

June 27, 2025

History in her hands: CEMML intern’s interests piqued at Avon Park Air Force Range

As a CEMML intern, Ellie Azulay focuses on documenting historic turpentine industry sites from the early 20th century on what’s now Avon Park Air Force Range. A recent graduate from Pennsylvania’s Bryn Mawr College with a degree in political science, Ellie’s getting hands-on experience in public history, while learning from experts in her field.

June 16, 2025

Nothing but flowers: On an Air Force base, CEMML helps create pollinator habitat

As a participant in CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program, Rebecca Morse is supporting pollinators and the military mission at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. Morse and her counterparts at the installation planted native wildflowers and grasses in a new pollinator garden they created on land once occupied by military housing and a golf course. Work on the garden has also involved local families as well as airmen from the installation.

May 6, 2025

CEMML staff present as part of Natural Areas Association webinar

CEMML Assistant Director, Mindy Clarke, and Principal Investigators Jennie Anderson and Dave Jones recently presented as part of a webinar hosted by the Natural Areas Association. Clarke began the presentations by providing an overview of CEMML and our work on military lands. Jones then presented on the ‘Importance of DoD Lands to Biodiversity Conservation,’ and Anderson wrapped things up with her insights on ‘Natural Resources Management Planning & Partnerships.’

April 1, 2025

CEMML supports prescribed burn season at Fort McCoy

The 2025 prescribed burn season has been under way in early to mid-March 2025 at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. The prescribed burn team includes personnel from CEMML in partnership with several other entities at the installation. The prescribed burn season continues into the spring with the aim of improving wildlife habitat, controlling invasive plant species, maintaining native plant communities, and reducing wildfire potential.

March 26, 2025

Colorado State University and University of Guam sign MOU

Alonso A. Aguirre, Dean of the Warner College of Natural Resources, and the leadership team from the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands recently traveled to Guam to sign a MOU between the University of Guam and Colorado State University. The MOU aims to provide opportunities for future collaboration and cooperation including internship placement of University of Guam students into natural and cultural resource management opportunities with Warner College/CEMML.

February 27, 2025

CEMML archaeologists unearth Wisconsin dairy history from early 1900s

A glass bottle fragment recovered from Fort McCoy, Wisconsin was found to originate from the Beaver Creek Dairy company in Sparta, WI. The company, established in the early 1910s, remained in operation through the early 1970s. It is unclear if the bottle glass fragment recovered by the CEMML archaeologists was originally delivered to a homestead or soldiers training at Fort McCoy. 

February 6, 2025

CEMML executive director named as key personnel in CSU $326M award

The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have awarded $326 million to three Colorado State University research projects that aim to improve U.S. oil and gas operations and reduce methane emissions nationwide. The executive director of the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, Barker Fariss, has been named as key personnel on one of the three projects. That $300 million grant focuses on reducing methane emissions from low-producing and conventional wells.

January 18, 2025

Restoring native vegetation for endangered plants in Hawai’i

An article by CEMML staff member Lena Schnell was recently published in the U.S. Army’s Ecosystem Management Protection Bulletin. In the article, Schnell highlights how the Natural Resources Program at U.S. Army Garrison, Pōhakuloa Training Area and CEMML are working to restore native habitats of Pu’u Nohona O Hae, a prominent cinder cone on Hawai’i island.

January 14, 2025

CEMML intern wins 2024 Great Plains CESU Award

Levin Brandt, an intern with CEMML’s Early-career Development Program, was presented with the annual Great Plains CESU Graduate Student Award for his outstanding work supporting ecosystems on Air Force installations in Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, and North Dakota. Mr. Brandt is a graduate student in Biology at the University of North Dakota.

November 8, 2024

CEMML helps preserve history of nuclear submarines and ships

In the early 1950s, the U.S. Navy was keen on developing nuclear-powered engines to propel submarines and aircraft carriers. Prototyping and testing of these reactors took place at the Nuclear Propulsion Program’s Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho. CEMML has supported the NRF in documenting and preserving the history of this landmark development site and the engineers who worked there.

November 5, 2024