Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MCB Camp Pendleton, California Common Name Scientific Name State Status; Date Listed Mammals Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys stephensi Threatened; 1971 Base management programs do not focus specifically on California listed species, but have been designed to programmatically manage the major ecosystems on the Base (riparian, beach, estuarine and upland) for the benefit of all species and military training activities that use those systems. Monitoring and surveys are conducted with a focus on federally listed species at intervals and frequencies determined in consultation with the USFWS. Other species of interest (State listed Species of Special Concern, etc.) are noted during those surveys and other events such as the Christmas bird count, project-specific surveys, and other authorized research projects. The sporadic and limited focus of these events provides information on presence and location of these species, but little regarding population trends that can be compared with regional data. Each of the State listed threatened and endangered species that are known to occur on, breed within or migrate through the Base are discussed in Appendix F. 3.2.3.2. ESA Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Marine Species Known to Occur, Breed, or Migrate Offshore of Camp Pendleton The Base’s jurisdictional responsibility for management of species ends at the mean high tide line, however, the ESA candidate, threatened and endangered species described below have been included for ecosystem-based management awareness when planning or performing coastal activities on Base (see Chapter 4, Section 4.3.6. for further details). Four federally listed threatened or endangered sea turtles species are known to occur in the ocean waters off Camp Pendleton: Pacific loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) – federally threatened, green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) – federally threatened, leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) – federally endangered, and Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) – federally threatened. Since the Base ends at the mean FIGURE 3-7. LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE high tide line, management of these species (PHOTO SOURCE: USFWS 2010D) is under the jurisdictional responsibility of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) while in the water, and the USWFS while onshore (see 4.3.6. Marine Fisheries Issues). None of the listed turtles are known to breed or come ashore on Base, and any such occurrence would be rare and appropriately addressed on an individual basis if encountered. Any sightings of sea turtles along the coast should be reported to the AC/S Environmental Security Office, and this information forwarded to Dr. Scott Eckhart at Scripps and to the NMFS office in Long Beach. Any strandings – either as carcasses or live animals – should similarly be reported. Photos should be taken of the dorsal (carapace) and 3-28 Chapter 3 – Natural Resources
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update] ventral (plastral) surfaces, as well as the dorsal surface of the head whenever possible to assist in the identification of the species (Holland 1998b). The Pacific loggerhead turtle is the least common aquatic reptile to pass through ocean waters off Base, and only a single record of observation is known (Holland 1998b). Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The carapace (top shell) is slightly heart-shaped and reddish-brown in adults and sub-adults, while the plastron (bottom shell) is generally a pale-yellowish color. The neck and flippers are usually dull-brown to reddish-brown on top and medium to pale-yellow on the sides and bottom. Carapace length of adults is approximately 36 in (92 cm) long; corresponding weight is about 250 lbs (113 kg) (USFWS 2009c). The only know breeding locations in the North Pacific are in Japan (USFWS 2007g). On 22 September 2011, the USFWS issued a final rule which divided existing loggerhead turtle populations into 9 distinct population segments; the potential loggerhead habitat offshore of the Base is considered part of the Northern Pacific Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (USFWS 2011g). There is a resident foraging population of green sea turtles in the San Diego Bay area that breed throughout Mexico; no know breeding sites are along the coast of California (USFWS 2007h). The species is known to pass through the ocean waters off Base, however, the quantity and frequency is unknown without further study (Holland 1998b). The green sea turtle grows to a maximum length of about 4 feet and a weight of 440 pounds. It has a heart-shaped shell, small head, and single-clawed flippers. Color is variable. Hatchlings generally have a black carapace, white plastron, and white margins on the shell and limbs. The adult carapace is smooth, keelless, and light to dark brown with dark mottling; the plastron is whitish to light-yellow. Adult heads are light-brown with yellow markings. Identifying characteristics include four pairs of costal scutes, none of which borders the nuchal scute, and only one pair of prefrontal scales between the eyes (USFWS 2009d). Leatherback sea turtle records are scarce, but it is likely that the species passes through the offshore waters of the Base on a frequent basis; however, further study would have to be conducted to affirm the frequency of its presence (Holland 1998b). No know breeding sites are along the coast of California (USFWS 2007i). The leatherback is the largest, deepest diving, most migratory and widest ranging of all sea turtles. The adult leatherback can reach 4 to 8 feet in length and 500 to 2000 pounds in weight, and is the largest living reptile in the world. Its shell is composed of a mosaic of small bones covered by firm, rubbery, oil-saturated skin with seven longitudinal ridges or keels. The skin is predominantly black with varying degrees of pale spotting; including a notable pink spot on the dorsal surface of the head in adults. A toothlike cusp is located on each side of the gray upper jaw; the lower jaw is hooked anteriorly. The paddle-like clawless limbs are black with white margins and pale spotting (USFWS 2009e). The olive ridley was named for the olive color of its heart-shaped shell, and is one of the smallest of the sea turtles, with adults reaching 2 to 2.5 feet in length and weighing 80 to 110 pounds. The species may be identified by the uniquely high and variable numbers of vertebral and costal scutes. Although some individuals have only five pairs of costals, in nearly all cases some division of costal scutes occurs, so that as many as six to nine pairs Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-29
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Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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