Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update]
• MHCP, City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan.
• MSCP, City of Chula Vista Subarea Plan.
• MSCP, City of La Mesa Subarea Plan.
• MSCP, City of Poway Subarea Plan.
• MSCP, City of San Diego Subarea Plan.
• MSCP, County of San Diego Subarea Plan.
• Orange County Central/Coastal NCCP/HCP.
• Orange County Southern Subregion NCCP/HCP.
• SDG&E.
MCBCP Status
The Base is in consultation with the USFWS regarding management of Upland habitats and
species basewide, including the San Diego fairy shrimp and the pools it occupies. When
this species was listed, the Base instituted measures to prevent and minimize impacts to the
San Diego fairy shrimp and the vernal pools they inhabit. These measures are published as
programmatic instructions for users and residents of the Base via Camp Pendleton’s Base
Order P3500.1M (Range and Training Regulations). Management details, survey
information, etc., for the San Diego fairy shrimp are located in Appendix F, Section F.16.
DISTRIBUTION
Global
The San Diego fairy shrimp is restricted to vernal pools in southwestern coastal California
and extreme northwestern Baja California, Mexico. All known localities are below 700
meters (2,300 feet) and within 65 kilometers (40 miles) of the Pacific Ocean, from Santa
Barbara County south to northwestern Baja California (USFWS 1997c). They are also
found in southern Orange County, California and in shallow pools on a mesa perched
above the Santa Ana River (NatureServe 2005).
Regional
In 2003, approximately 22 ac of vernal pool habitat was mapped for the MHCP (AMEC et
al., 2003). In 1998, approximately 78 ac of vernal pool habitat was mapped for the MSCP
(City of San Diego 1998). During the 2002-2003 rainy season, a total of 2,516 vernal pool
basins at 62 sites were mapped for the City of San Diego’s MSCP (City of San Diego
2004b). As of 2006, the City reported that approximately 54 percent (1,369 pools) of all
currently identified vernal pool habitat within the boundaries of the City subarea plan were
conserved by covenant of easement, conservation easement, or dedication in fee title to the
City (USFWS 2008i). According to USFWS files, about 7 occupied complexes are covered
by the County of San Diego’s subarea plan; 2 have been conserved, and development has
been proposed on at least 2 others. Management goals set forth in the Regional plan have
not yet been realized on the conserved lands in the County subarea plan (USFWS 2008i).
MCBCP
San Diego fairy shrimp occur primarily in Victor, Oscar One, and Oscar Two training areas
and in the Wire Mountain housing area (Figure 3-33). Basewide survey efforts conducted
since 2005 indicated that 279 pools were occupied by San Diego fairy shrimp (USFWS
Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-71