Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

More documents

Recommendations

Info

MCB Camp Pendleton, California (those occurring south of San Francisco Bay) were formerly found in coastal drainages as far south as the Santo Domingo River in northern Baja California. Regional Southern steelhead were formerly found in streams and rivers of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties (McEwan & Jackson 1996). Steelhead were thought to be extirpated from much of their historic range in southern California south of Malibu Creek until 1999. Presently, the Southern California Steelhead DPS distribution extends from the Santa Maria River in San Luis Obispo County, to at least San Mateo Creek on Camp Pendleton. MCBCP The intermittent presence of Oncorhynchus mykiss on Base is noted until the mid to late 1940’s after which their presence is attributed to hatchery trout plants on- and off-Base. The few sightings post 1980 are likely a result of Oncorhynchus mykiss straying from other drainages. Whether planted rainbow trout survived and became steelhead can only be speculated upon; since hatchery rainbow stocks FIGURE 3-27. STEELHEAD LOCATIONS came from various mixtures of coastal steelhead their ability to spawn with native trout is likely, and has been reportedly observed by the CDFG (USFWS 1998g). In 1997, the first reoccurrence of steelhead on Base was observed in San Mateo Creek since 1993 (2 adults) and 1989 (some 38 cm trout) (NOAA 2000 & USFWS 1998g). Information compiled by CDFG is limited, but suggests that native adult steelhead that strayed from another watershed, entered San Mateo Creek and successfully spawned in 1997 (NOAA 2000). The juvenile progeny of those spawning adults were observed by CDFG during their field investigations in the spring and summer of 1999; between 3 March and 3 September 1999, 78 juvenile steelhead observations were made, and genetic testing by the CDFG determined that the steelhead observed were native to the region (Southern California ESU) and offspring of an andromous form (NOAA 2000). In 2000, the numbers of steelhead observed declined from 3 adults and 17 juveniles observed in June, to only 1 juvenile seen in November (Hovey 2000a-f). In cooperation with NMFS and CDFG, existing pools were monitored beginning in summer 2001 and throughout 2002 to determine if O. mykiss were able to survive in San Mateo Creek (MCBCP 2003b). The 3-60 Chapter 3 – Natural Resources
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update] most recent confirmed observation of steelhead on Base was of one individual within San Mateo Creek in December 2003. Extensive surveys conducted in June 2005 indicated no steelhead were present in existing pools on Base (Rouse pers. comm. 2009); however, the portion of the San Mateo Creek within Base boundaries serves only as a migration corridor (December – March) to suitable off Base habitat, so the continued presence of O. mykiss on Base was not expected (Figure 3-26 illustrates the general locations of recent steelhead observances). 3.2.4.12. Tidewater Goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) The tidewater goby is a small fish, rarely exceeding 2 inches in length and is characterized by large pectoral fins, a blunt elongated tail, and a ventral sucker-like disk FIGURE 3-28. TIDEWATER GOBY formed by the complete fusion of the pelvic fins (USFWS 2005i). The male goby’s body is a mottled (PHOTO SOURCE: GREG GOLDSMITH, USFWS) dark-olive color and is nearly translucent, while females develop darker colors, often black, on the body and dorsal fins (USFWS 2004f). Tidewater gobies are a California endemic species and are unique in that they are restricted to coastal brackish water habitats (USFWS 2000a). The spawning season of the tidewater goby extends from 1 March to 15 September, and possibly as late as November/December. The major threats affecting the tidewater goby are loss of wetland habitat, flooding and drought. MANAGEMENT STATUS Federal Status The tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) was federally listed as an endangered species by the USFWS on 4 February 1994 (USFWS 1994d). On 20 November 2000, the USFWS designated 10 coastal stream segments, totaling approximately 9 linear miles of rivers, streams, and estuaries in Orange and San Diego Counties as critical habitat for the tidewater goby (USFWS 2000a) including 1,014 ac on Camp Pendleton, 39 ac of which occur on lands leased from the Base. On 28 November 2006, the USFWS proposed to exclude critical habitat designation for the tidewater goby on Camp Pendleton (USFWS 2006b) in accordance with Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the ESA. The USFWS has determined that conservation efforts on Base provide benefits to the tidewater goby occurring in habitats within or adjacent to the Base that are subject to this INRMP. A final recovery plan for the tidewater goby was published in 7 December 2005 (USFWS 2005i). The final ruling for the proposed re-designation of tidewater goby critical habitat was published in the Federal Register on 31 January 2008, and went into effect 3 March 2008 (USFWS 2007f). On 19 October 2011, the USFWS published a proposed rule to re-designate critical habitat, however, all 989 ac of critical habitat proposed on Base were excluded under 4(a)(3)(B) of the ESA (USFWS 2011d). Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-61
Page 1 and 2:
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 3 NATURAL
Page 3 and 4:
Integrated Natural Resources Manage
Page 5 and 6:
CHAPTER 3 NATURAL RESOURCES 3.1. PH
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14: Integrated Natural Resources Manage
Page 63: Integrated Natural Resources Manage
show all

Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?