Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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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). 3-20 Chapter 3 – Natural Resources
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update] TABLE 3-4. NUMBER OF NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES AT CAMP PENDLETON, GROUPED BY VEGETATION TYPE Vegetation Type a # Native Species # Nonnative Species TOTAL Grasses 80 48 128 Vines 2 1 3 Ferns 17 0 17 Herbs b 399 109 508 Herb/Vine 19 6 25 Herb/Shrub 32 4 36 Shrubs 98 8 106 Shrub/Vine 7 0 7 Shrub/Tree 3 4 7 Trees 13 6 19 TOTAL 670 186 856 a b Categories accommodate plant species that are classified as having more than one plant form (see Appendix J). Not including grasses. Over the years, over 850 plant species have been identified on Camp Pendleton (Table 3- 4). A comprehensive plant list is presented in Appendix J. Included in that list are numerous rare plant species (see Section 3.2.2.2.) and three federally listed threatened or endangered plant species: thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia), spreading navarretia (Navarretia fossalis), and San Diego button-celery (Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii) (see Appendix F for detailed information of each federally listed species on Camp Pendleton). Most of the plants on Base are considered native to the region, but as many as 22% (Table 3-4) are exotic (nonnative), often invasive species that were introduced during the period of European settlement. These nonnative species are believed to have displaced some native plant species in the region. Some of the exotic invasive plant species that occur on Base include giant reed grass (Arundo donax), artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus), perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), mustard (Brassica spp.) fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, Carpobrotos spp. and Aptenia spp.), tamarisk (Tamarix parviflora), and tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca). As additional invasive exotic species are identified, control and management activities are initiated. New additions to managed exotic invasive plant species since 2001 include bridal veil broom (Retama monosperma), scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), yellow starthistle (Cenaurea solstitialis), and cape ivy (Delairea odorata). Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-21
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Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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