Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
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Integrated <strong>Natural</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> Management Plan [March 2012 - Update]<br />
most recent confirmed observation of steelhead on <strong>Base</strong> was of one individual within San<br />
Mateo Creek in December 2003. Extensive surveys conducted in June 2005 indicated no<br />
steelhead were present in existing pools on <strong>Base</strong> (Rouse pers. comm. 2009); however, the<br />
portion of the San Mateo Creek within <strong>Base</strong> boundaries serves only as a migration corridor<br />
(December – March) to suitable off <strong>Base</strong> habitat, so the continued presence of O. mykiss on<br />
<strong>Base</strong> was not expected (Figure 3-26 illustrates the general locations of recent steelhead<br />
observances).<br />
3.2.4.12. Tidewater Goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi)<br />
The tidewater goby is a<br />
small fish, rarely<br />
exceeding 2 inches in<br />
length and is characterized<br />
by large pectoral fins, a<br />
blunt elongated tail, and a<br />
ventral sucker-like disk<br />
FIGURE 3-28. TIDEWATER GOBY<br />
formed by the complete<br />
fusion of the pelvic fins<br />
(USFWS 2005i). The male<br />
goby’s body is a mottled<br />
(PHOTO SOURCE: GREG GOLDSMITH, USFWS)<br />
dark-olive color and is<br />
nearly translucent, while<br />
females develop darker colors, often black, on the body and dorsal fins (USFWS 2004f).<br />
Tidewater gobies are a California endemic species and are unique in that they are restricted<br />
to coastal brackish water habitats (USFWS 2000a). The spawning season of the tidewater<br />
goby extends from 1 March to 15 September, and possibly as late as November/December.<br />
The major threats affecting the tidewater goby are loss of wetland habitat, flooding and<br />
drought.<br />
MANAGEMENT STATUS<br />
Federal Status<br />
The tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) was federally listed as an endangered<br />
species by the USFWS on 4 February 1994 (USFWS 1994d). On 20 November 2000, the<br />
USFWS designated 10 coastal stream segments, totaling approximately 9 linear miles of<br />
rivers, streams, and estuaries in Orange and San Diego Counties as critical habitat for the<br />
tidewater goby (USFWS 2000a) including 1,014 ac on <strong>Camp</strong> <strong>Pendleton</strong>, 39 ac of which<br />
occur on lands leased from the <strong>Base</strong>. On 28 November 2006, the USFWS proposed to<br />
exclude critical habitat designation for the tidewater goby on <strong>Camp</strong> <strong>Pendleton</strong> (USFWS<br />
2006b) in accordance with Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the ESA. The USFWS has determined<br />
that conservation efforts on <strong>Base</strong> provide benefits to the tidewater goby occurring in<br />
habitats within or adjacent to the <strong>Base</strong> that are subject to this INRMP. A final recovery<br />
plan for the tidewater goby was published in 7 December 2005 (USFWS 2005i). The final<br />
ruling for the proposed re-designation of tidewater goby critical habitat was published in<br />
the Federal Register on 31 January 2008, and went into effect 3 March 2008 (USFWS<br />
2007f). On 19 October 2011, the USFWS published a proposed rule to re-designate critical<br />
habitat, however, all 989 ac of critical habitat proposed on <strong>Base</strong> were excluded under<br />
4(a)(3)(B) of the ESA (USFWS 2011d).<br />
<strong>Chapter</strong> 3 – <strong>Natural</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> 3-61