Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MCB Camp Pendleton, California
The two species of tree-sized oak found at Camp Pendleton, Engelmann oak (Quercus
englemanii) and coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), are drought-hardy and tolerant of fire.
Both will resprout vigorously from the branches and the base when the crowns are severely
burned or killed. Engelmann oak is a species restricted to southern California and adjacent
Baja California. It is considered rare and though it is not in any immediate threat of
extinction, its preservation is of special concern to land managers. Camp Pendleton
contains one of the largest and healthiest populations in the region, with over 3,000 ac
mapped as this type. Coast live oak is the most widely distributed of the evergreen oaks. It
is capable of achieving large size and great age and the widely spreading crowns of old,
open grown trees are one of the distinctive features of the natural California landscape and
especially of Camp Pendleton. Coast live oak occurs at the fringes of riparian woodlands,
scattered in grassland or CSS, and as an element of Engelmann oak woodlands.
WETLANDS
Wetlands occur where there is standing water or continual seepage that maintains saturated
soils. In upland areas on Base, wetlands are primarily vernal pools or isolated ephemeral
wetlands (IEW), and to a lesser extent are thin fringe along riparian areas and margins
along artificial (Lake O’Neill) and natural (Case Springs) standing bodies of water.
UPLAND ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Management of upland ecosystems will be covered by the Base’s Listed Upland Species
Management Program found in Appendix D (this section will be further updated upon
issuance of the applicable BO by the USFWS). The upland conservation program is
designed to sustain and enhance Camp Pendleton’s natural resources throughout upland
areas, exclusive of dud-producing impact areas, which are not entered for safety reasons.
This is done through the management programs discussed in Chapter 4 and through
application of programmatic instructions, avoidance measures and management activities
that will be contained in the Listed Upland Species Management Program (Appendix D).
The emphasis of the upland ecosystem program is ecosystem-based, with special attention
provided to threatened and endangered species and their habitats to prevent “jeopardy” and
to assist in the conservation and recovery of those species, while not constraining the
ability of operational commands to accomplish established military training requirements.
The Base’s management plan is designed to complement regional plans and initiatives.
3.2.2. Species and Communities
Camp Pendleton supports high-quality and in some instances, the last, remaining intact
stands of sensitive-habitat types in coastal southern California. Zedler et al. (1997)
described and mapped 21 native and nonnative vegetation types on Camp Pendleton. Major
vegetation types and descriptions are provided in Appendix I. Most of these vegetation
types are recognized in the classification system developed by Holland (1986).
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