Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update]
Angeles County to northern San Diego County (USFWS 2007b).
Regional
In San Diego County, the tidewater goby is present in Estuaries on Camp Pendleton. The
species' southernmost known locality is currently Cockleburr Canyon, (USFWS 2008e).
MCBCP
Overall, gobies are not present in all habitats year-round, and their distribution and density
may vary seasonally and spatially. On Camp Pendleton, the extirpation and recolonization
of gobies fluctuate yearly between lagoons. Tidewater goby presence/absence surveys are
conducted annually in the following lagoons: San Mateo, San Onofre, Las Flores, Hidden,
Aliso, French, Cocklebur, and the Santa Margarita (Figure 3-28). Management details,
presence/absence surveys, etc., for the tidewater goby are located in Appendix F, Section
F.22.
3.2.4.13. Arroyo Toad (Anaxyrus californicus)
The arroyo toad is a light-brown to
greenish-grey, blunt-nosed, and wartyskinned
toad. The belly is buff or white
and often lacks spots. A light-colored
stripe outlines the bottom of the eye and
glands (paratoid) behind the eyes are
oval-shaped. Arroyo toads utilize a
variety of habitats for breeding, foraging
and hibernating. Sandy washes, dry
streambeds, arroyos, and adjacent
upland habitat (desert, shrubland,
referred to as the upland component) are
primarily used for burrowing (February
– July) and hibernating
(August/September – February/March)
(AmphibiaWeb 2009). Breeding and
FIGURE 3-30. ARROYO TOAD
egg laying occurs on rivers that have
(PHOTO SOURCE: PHIL ROULLARD, USFWS)
shallow, gravelly pools adjacent to
sandy terraces (referred to as the
riparian component) (NatureServe 2005). The riparian area Special Management Season of
the arroyo toad extends from 15 March through 15 August.
MANAGEMENT STATUS
Federal Status
The arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus) was listed as a federally endangered species on 16
December 1994 (USFWS 1994e). The USFWS designated approximately 182,360 ac of
critical habitat for the arroyo toad on 7 February 2001 (USFWS 2001b, c). A court order
set aside the designation on 30 October 2002, and ordered a new critical habitat designation
for the arroyo toad. On 28 April 2004, a proposed rule to designate approximately 138,713
ac of critical habitat in Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino,
Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties, California was published (USFWS 2004g).
Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-63