Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MCB Camp Pendleton, California
MCBCP
On Camp Pendleton, San Diego button-celery has been found in a total of 72 GIS mapped
locations south of the Santa Margarita River basin, inland near the Wire Mountain housing
development (Figure 3-36). For detailed information on San Diego button-celery and its
management on Base see Appendix F, Section F.15.
3.2.4.16. Spreading Navarretia (Navarretia fossalis)
Spreading navarretia is a low,
spreading or ascending, annual
herb that occurs in vernal pools.
Stems are approximately 4 to 6
inches long and are mostly bare on
the lower portions. Leaves are
divided into linear segments.
Flowers (April-June) are white to
pale lavender, borne in small, flattopped,
leafy clusters. Spreading
navarretia is threatened by
urbanization, foot traffic, off-road
vehicles, grazing agriculture and
watershed alteration (drainage).
FIGURE 3-38.
SPREADING NAVARRETIA
MANAGEMENT STATUS
(PHOTO SOURCE: GARY A. MONROE @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS DATABASE)
Federal Status
Spreading navarretia was listed as threatened on 13 October 1998, and is included in the
approved recovery plan for the listed species of southern California vernal pools (USFWS
1998e & 1998b). In response to a court order, critical habitat for this species was proposed
on 7 October 2004 (USFWS 2004i). The USFWS proposed to designate 4,301 ac of
spreading navarretia habitat as critical habitat in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties; the
128 ac of essential habitat on Camp Pendleton (see Figure 3-38) was excluded from the
final critical habitat designation pursuant to Section 4(b)(2) of the ESA (USFWS 2005h).
On 10 June 2009, the USFWS issued a proposed revised critical habitat designation for the
species in order to include all areas essential to its conservation; the 145 ac of critical
habitat on Base within the Stuart Mesa and Wire Mountain subunits were exempt under
4(a)(3)(B) of the Sikes Act. Comments on the proposed revised critical habitat designation
were accepted until 10 August 2009 (USFWS 2009h). On 7 October 2010, a final critical
habitat designation of 6,720 ac was made by the USFWS. On Base essential habitat was
exempted from critical habitat designation due to the Base’s INRMP providing a sufficient
conservation benefit to the species (USFWS 2010f).
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