ex d SCI INRMP 2013.pdf

Integrated

Natural Resources

Management Plan

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field

San Clemente Island

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Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan Naval Auxiliary Landing Field

San Clemente Island, California

Public Draft February 2013

Prepared for:

Naval Base Coronado 3 Wright Avenue, Building 3 San Diego, CA 92135 Point of Contact: Ms. Melissa Booker, Wildlife Biologist

Under Contract with:

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest 2730 McKean St Bldg 291 San Diego, CA 92136 Point of Contact: Ms. Michelle Cox, Natural Resources Specialist

Contract No. N62473-06-D-2402/0026

Prepared by:

Tierra Data Inc.

10110 W. Lilac Road Escondido, CA 92026 Point of Contact: Ms. Elizabeth Kellogg, President

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island Public Draft February 2013

INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island, California

APPROVAL

This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) fulfills the requirements for the INRMP in accordance with the Sikes Act (as amended), DoDINST 4715.3, and OPNAVINST 5090.1C (as amended). This document was prepared and reviewed in coor-dination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wild-life Central Region in accordance with the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding for a Cooperative Integrated Natural Resource Management Program on Military Installations.

Approving Official–U.S. Navy, Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island

Approving Official–U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Environmental Department

Approving Official–U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Environmental Conservation (Natural & Cultural Resources) (EV5)

Captain Gary A. Mayes, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer Naval Base Coronado, Coronado, California

Date

Melissa Booker, U.S. Navy Natural Resources Manager Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Environmental Department San Diego, California

Date

Douglas Powers, U.S. Navy Conservation Manager (EV5) Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Environmental Conservation San Diego, California

Date i

Public Draft February 2013 Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan

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INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island, California

APPROVAL

This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) fulfills the requirements for the INRMP in accordance with the Sikes Act (as amended), DoDINST 4715.3, and OPNAVINST 5090.1C (as amended). This document was prepared and reviewed in coor-dination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wild-life Central Region in accordance with the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding for a Cooperative Integrated Natural Resource Management Program on Military Installations.

Concurring Agency - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Jim A. Bartel, Field Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101 Carlsbad, California 92011

Date iii

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INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island, California

APPROVAL

This Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) fulfills the requirements for the INRMP in accordance with the Sikes Act (as amended), DoDINST 4715.3, and OPNAVINST 5090.1C (as amended). This document was prepared and reviewed in coor-dination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wild-life Central Region in accordance with the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding for a Cooperative Integrated Natural Resource Management Program on Military Installations.

Concurring Agency - California Department of Fish and Game:

Ed Pert Regional Manager-South Coast Region California Department of Fish and Wildlife 3883 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 92123

Date v

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Executive Summary The U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) is revising the 2002 Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island (SCI) Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) for Naval Base Coronado. The revision is required due to the following: the SCI INRMP marine management footprint expanded from 300 yards offshore from the Mean Lower Low Water tide line to 3 nautical miles (6 kilometers); changes in military operations on SCI as described in the 2008 Environmental Impact Statement for the Southern Califor-nia Range Complex (Navy 2008); new natural resources data; new proposed projects; and additional U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy guidance (DoD Instruction 4715.03, Natural Resources Conservation Program; Navy Chief of Naval Operations Guid-ance of April 2006).

In 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard established permanent safety zones (Federal Register Vol.

75, No. 97) off the shore of SCI in order to conduct training essential to successfully accomplish U.S. Navy missions relating to military operations and national security. The safety zones are intended to protect the public from hazardous, live-fire, and testing operations, and to ensure operations proceed as scheduled. With the establishment of safety zones, the Navy withdrew such areas from unrestricted public use in favor of uti-lizing these areas for military training. To achieve compliance with Navy INRMP Guid-ance (2006) regarding INRMP coverage of “lands that are withdrawn from the public domain for military uses,” the SCI INRMP boundary has been extended to align with the safety zone boundaries.

The Navy's mission is to organize, train, equip, and maintain combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas. This mission is mandated by federal law (Title 10 U.S. Code [USC] § 5062), which ensures the readiness of the nation's naval forces. SCI is part of the Southern California Range Com-plex, the most capable and heavily used military range complex in the eastern Pacific. The mission of the Southern California Range Complex is to serve as the principal Navy train-ing venue in the eastern Pacific to support required current, emerging, and future training (Navy 2008). It is the only remaining contiguous United States range that supports simul-taneous live fire ship to shore, air to ground, and ground troop training. It allows for train-ing in all Primary Mission Areas: Anti-Air Warfare, Amphibious Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Mine Warfare, Strike Warfare, Electronic Combat, and Naval Special Warfare. Forces need to “train the way they fight,” thus, they need to per-form all of the above Primary Mission Areas together. SCI is uniquely capable of support-ing such integrated training and, as such, is a highly valuable, irreplaceable asset to the Navy. In addition to its direct training support value, its proximity to southern California allows sailors and marines to effectively train in closer proximity to their families and sup-port networks, increasing quality of life and force sustainability.

The Sikes Act, as amended (2012), requires preparation and implementation of INRMPs at all DoD installations in the United States that contain significant natural resources.

An INRMP is the primary means by which natural resources compliance and stewardship priorities are set and funding requirements are determined for DoD installations. The main purpose of an INRMP is to help installation commanders more effectively manage natural resources to ensure installation lands remain available and in good condition to support the military mission; conserve and rehabilitate natural resources on military

Executive Summary vii installations; sustain multipurpose use of the resources and public access to military installations to facilitate the use of those resources; participate, as appropriate, in regional ecosystem initiatives; and preclude designation of critical habitat. The Navy is required to ensure ecosystem management is the basis for all management of its lands (Sikes Act, as amended [16 USC 670a]; DoD Instruction 4715.03). While the Sikes Act, as amended, and other instructions, described above, require stewardship for natural resources on military installations, including species not listed under the Endangered Species Act, these projects support the military mission on SCI and do not foreclose cur-rent or future training opportunities. Natural resources funding priorities are estab-lished by regulatory drivers, such as the Biological Opinion on SCI Military Operations and Fire Management Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2008), allowing projects not driven by regulatory compliance to frequently fall below the funding availability cut-off.

The 2013 SCI INRMP was developed by an integrated working group of stakeholders, including state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, and the Navy. The 2013 SCI INRMP establishes planning and management strategies; identi-fies natural resources constraints and opportunities; supports the resolution of land use conflicts; provides baseline descriptions of natural resources necessary for the develop-ment of conservation strategies and environmental assessment; serves as the principal information source for the preparation of future environmental documents for proposed SCI actions; and provides guidance for annual natural resources management reviews, internal compliance audits, and annual budget submittals.

The vision of the SCI INRMP is to ensure the continued ability of SCI to support its cur-rent and evolving DoD mission requirements while conserving its natural resources, cooperatively working with other agencies to manage those resources, and applying the principles of ecosystem management and adaptive management.

The Goal of the SCI INRMP is to utilize adaptive management to maintain long-term eco-system health and minimize impacts to natural resources consistent with the opera-tional requirements of the DoD's training and testing mission. The SCI INRMP will identify key components that:

Facilitate sustainable military readiness and foreclose no options for future require-ments of the DoD.

Conserve, maintain, and restore priority native species and habitats to reach self-sustaining levels through improved conditions of terrestrial, coastal, and nearshore ecosystems.

Promote ecosystem sustainability.

Maintain the full suite of native species with appropriate emphasis on endemics.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) amended the Endangered Species Act (7 USC § 136, 16 USC § 1531 et seq.) to limit areas eligible for designation as critical habitat. Specifically, Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Endan-gered Species Act (16 USC 1533(a)(3)(B)(i)) now provides: “The Secretary shall not desig-nate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management plan prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act (16 USC 670a), if the Secretary determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for designation.”

viii Executive Summary

The federally threatened and endangered species within the SCI INRMP area are the San Clemente Island indian paintbrush (Castilleja grisea), San Clemente Island larkspur (Delphinium variegatum subsp. kinkiense), San Clemente Island woodland-star (Litho-phragma maximum), San Clemente Island lotus (Acmispon dendroideus var. traskiae), San Clemente Island bush-mallow (Malacothamnus clementinus), Santa Cruz Island rockcress (Sibara filifolia), island night lizard (Xantusia riversiana), San Clemente logger-head shrike (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi), San Clemente sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli clementeae), western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus), white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni), black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Guadalupe fur seal (Arctovephalus townsendi), Steller sea lion (umetopias jubatus), southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), hump-back whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The SCI INRMP Chapter 3 Natural Resource Condition and Management Strategies and Appendix F INRMP Benefits for Endangered Species discusses how the plan provides for the con-servation of the essential physical or biological features, the effectiveness of current management, and the monitoring implemented to ensure the conservation measures are effective and can be adapted in the future in response to new information. Appendix B Implementation Summary Table for the SCI INRMP lists all natural resources projects with the implementation year and frequency.

The effects of implementing the 2013 SCI INRMP are addressed under the National Envi-ronmental Policy Act by an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, appended to this document (Appendix I). The Navy will implement recommenda-tions in the 2013 SCI INRMP within the framework of regulatory compliance, national Navy mission obligations, anti-terrorism and force protection limitations, and funding constraints. All actions contemplated in the 2013 SCI INRMP are subject to the availabil-ity of funds properly authorized and appropriated under federal law. Nothing in the 2013 SCI INRMP is intended to be, nor must be, construed to be a violation of the Anti-Defi-ciency Act (31 USC 1341 et seq).

SCI is achieving no net loss of training land through the implementation of the 2013 SCI INRMP. The 2008 Environmental Impact Statement for the Southern California Range Complex (Navy 2008) covers training conducted on SCI. Execution of threatened and endangered species management projects listed in the INRMP support no net loss of training through species recovery that results in long-term operation flexibility and reduced encum-brances. Furthermore, management of candidate species and sensitive species reduce the potential for future Endangered Species Act listings that could inhibit training. Lastly, in capturing the on-going management of species (as required by the Biological Opinion [USFWS 2008] and/or as new candidate species dictate) the INRMP provides an avenue for exemption from critical habitat, which is pivotal to no net loss of military training.

Executive Summary ix

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Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction and Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

1.1 Purpose and Authority ....................................................................................................1-1

1.2 Location and Planning Footprint .....................................................................................1-4

1.3 Real Estate Summary .....................................................................................................1-7

1.4 Achieving Success and No Net Loss to the Military Mission .............................................1-7

1.5 INRMP Vision, Goals, and Objectives ..............................................................................1-8

1.6 INRMP Responsibilities ...................................................................................................1-9

1.6.1 INRMP Working Group ........................................................................................ 1-12

1.7 Stewardship and Compliance........................................................................................ 1-14

1.8 Ecosystem Management, Adaptive Management, and the Environmental

Management System................................................................................................... 1-15

1.9 Revision and Annual Review ......................................................................................... 1-16

1.10 Regional Area Use and Planning Processes.................................................................. 1-18

1.10.1 Planning Processes............................................................................................ 1-18

1.10.2 Regional Area Uses............................................................................................ 1-19

2.0 Military Use and Natural Resources Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

2.1 Abbreviated History and Pre-Military Land Use ...............................................................2-1

2.1.1 Native Americans ..................................................................................................2-1

2.1.2 Spanish and Mexican Periods................................................................................2-2

2.1.3 Early Marine Resource Use (1850s) .......................................................................2-3

2.1.4 Ranching (1850–1934) ..........................................................................................2-3

2.1.5 Early Military Use (1934–1984) .............................................................................2-4

2.2 Current Operations and Activities ...................................................................................2-4

2.2.1 Ranges and Air Space ...........................................................................................2-4

2.2.1.1 SCI Offshore and Nearshore Operating Areas and Ranges ........................2-4

2.2.1.2 San Clemente Island Onshore Ranges ......................................................2-8

2.2.2 Facilities ............................................................................................................. 2-14

2.2.2.1 Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Facilities .................................................. 2-14

2.2.2.2 Fleet Area Control and Surveillance/Southern California Offshore

Range Facilities ..................................................................................... 2-15

2.2.2.3 Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Complex ........................................ 2-15

2.2.2.4 Maritime Operations Complex ................................................................2-17

2.2.2.5 Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific.................................... 2-17

2.2.2.6 Public Works Center Facilities................................................................2-17

2.2.2.7 Naval Undersea Warfare Center.............................................................. 2-17

2.2.2.8 Transient Activity Facilities .................................................................... 2-17

2.2.3 Transportation, Circulation and Utilities .............................................................2-18

2.2.3.1 Transportation and Circulation .............................................................. 2-18

2.2.3.2 Utilities.................................................................................................. 2-18

2.2.4 Airfield and Operations ....................................................................................... 2-21

2.2.4.1 Overview of SCI Range Complex Operations ........................................... 2-21

2.2.5 Security, Safety, and Other Restricted Zones.......................................................2-29

2.3 Other Land Uses...........................................................................................................2-30

2.4 Future Land Use Patterns and Plans............................................................................. 2-30

2.5 Regional Planning Jurisdictions .................................................................................... 2-32

2.5.1 Ownership and Control ....................................................................................... 2-32

2.5.2 Jurisdictional Boundaries ................................................................................... 2-34

Table of Contents xi

3.0 Natural Resource Condition and Management Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

3.1 Ecoregional Setting .........................................................................................................3-1

3.2 Ecological Isolation and Consequences for Island Communities ......................................3-3

3.3 Ecosystem Management .................................................................................................3-5

3.4 Climate and Climate Change...........................................................................................3-7

3.5 Physical Conditions ...................................................................................................... 3-15

3.5.1 Seismicity ...........................................................................................................3-19

3.5.2 Geology............................................................................................................... 3-19

3.5.3 Terrestrial Topography ........................................................................................ 3-21

3.5.4 Nearshore Island Bathymetry and Currents ........................................................ 3-25

3.5.5 Marine Ecoregions .............................................................................................. 3-26

3.5.6 Water Resources and Hydrology .......................................................................... 3-26

3.5.7 Soils and Soil Condition ...................................................................................... 3-29

3.5.8 Water Quality...................................................................................................... 3-37

3.6 Wildland Fire ................................................................................................................ 3-44

3.6.1 Fire History......................................................................................................... 3-44

3.6.2 Current Fire Pattern............................................................................................ 3-45

3.6.3 Ignitions and Ignition Sources............................................................................. 3-49

3.7 Terrestrial Habitats and Communities .......................................................................... 3-54

3.7.1 Vegetation and Land Cover Types........................................................................ 3-54

3.7.1.1 Floristic Relationships............................................................................3-54

3.7.1.2 Early Vegetation Mapping ......................................................................3-54

3.7.1.3 Ecological Units ..................................................................................... 3-55

3.7.1.4 Vegetation Map 2011 Update ................................................................. 3-56

3.7.1.5 Californian Broadleaf Woodlands and Forests ........................................ 3-60

3.7.1.6 California Maritime Chaparral................................................................3-68

3.7.1.7 Central and South Coastal Californian Coastal Sage Scrub .................... 3-70

3.7.1.8 California Perennial Grassland............................................................... 3-76

3.7.1.9 Mediterranean California Naturalized Annual and Perennial Grassland ..3-79

3.7.1.10 California Coastal Evergreen Bluff and Dune Scrub..............................3-84

3.7.1.11 Pacific Dune Mats ................................................................................ 3-86

3.7.1.12 Coastal Baja California Norte Maritime Succulent Scrub ...................... 3-93

3.7.1.13 Coastal Marshes ................................................................................ 3-104

3.7.1.14 Long-Term Vegetation Monitoring Program......................................... 3-106

3.7.2 Jurisdictional Waters and Wetlands .................................................................. 3-116

3.8 Marine Habitats.......................................................................................................... 3-117

3.8.1 Intertidal Habitats............................................................................................. 3-118

3.8.1.1 Coastal Strand..................................................................................... 3-118

3.8.1.2 Rocky Intertidal and Surfgrass............................................................. 3-124

3.8.2 Subtidal Habitats.............................................................................................. 3-128

3.8.2.1 Soft Bottom.......................................................................................... 3-128

3.8.2.2 Rocky Habitat and Kelp Forests ........................................................... 3-134

3.8.3 Deep Water Habitats ......................................................................................... 3-137

3.8.3.1 Rocky Habitat ...................................................................................... 3-137

3.8.3.2 Soft Bottom.......................................................................................... 3-140

3.8.4 Offshore Rocks and Islets.................................................................................. 3-141

3.9 Plant, Fish, and Wildlife Populations........................................................................... 3-146

3.9.1 Flora ................................................................................................................. 3-146

3.9.1.1 Rare Plant Populations and Endemics.................................................. 3-146 xii Table of Contents

3.9.1.2 Genetic Studies.................................................................................... 3-150

3.9.1.3 Cryptogams ......................................................................................... 3-151

3.9.1.4 Macroalgae .......................................................................................... 3-152

3.9.2 Fauna ............................................................................................................... 3-153

3.9.2.1 Terrestrial Invertebrates....................................................................... 3-153

3.9.2.2 Marine Invertebrates............................................................................ 3-156

3.9.2.3 Marine Fishes ...................................................................................... 3-162

3.9.2.4 Terrestrial Reptiles............................................................................... 3-173

3.9.2.5 Sea Turtles .......................................................................................... 3-175

3.9.2.6 Resident and Migratory Birds............................................................... 3-175

3.9.2.7 Mammals............................................................................................. 3-185

3.9.2.8 Marine Mammals ................................................................................. 3-187

3.9.2.9 Pollinators ........................................................................................... 3-199

3.9.3 Federally Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................. 3-201

3.9.3.1 San Clemente Island Lotus (Acmispon dendroideus var. traskiae) ......... 3-201

3.9.3.2 San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja grisea) .................... 3-204

3.9.3.3 San Clemente Island Larkspur (Delphinium variegatum

subsp. kinkiense) ................................................................................. 3-207

3.9.3.4 San Clemente Island Woodland-Star (Lithophragma maximum) ............. 3-210

3.9.3.5 San Clemente Island Bush-Mallow (Malacothamnus clementinus) ......... 3-212

3.9.3.6 Santa Cruz Island Rockcress (Sibara filifolia)........................................ 3-218

3.9.3.7 Island Night Lizard (Xantusia riversiana) .............................................. 3-221

3.9.3.8 San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi) ........... 3-224

3.9.3.9 San Clemente Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli clementeae) ................... 3-230

3.9.3.10 Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) ................... 3-236

3.9.3.11 White Abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) ...................................................... 3-241

3.9.3.12 Black Abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) .................................................... 3-245

3.9.3.13 Sea Turtles (Superfamily Chelonioidea) .............................................. 3-249

3.9.3.14 Marine Mammals (Order Cetacea and Family Mustelidae

and Pinnipedia).................................................................................... 3-251

3.9.4 Other Special Status Species............................................................................. 3-255

3.9.4.1 San Clemente Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis clementae) ......................... 3-255

3.9.4.2 Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)—California Stock and

Experimental Population (South of Point Conception)........................... 3-263

3.9.4.3 Special Status Plant Species ................................................................ 3-266

3.9.5 Management Focus Species............................................................................... 3-270

3.9.5.1 California Dissanthelium (Dissanthelium californicum).......................... 3-270

3.9.5.2 Island Mallow (Malva assurgentiflora) ................................................... 3-272

3.9.5.3 Santa Cruz Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus

subsp. aspleniifolius) ........................................................................... 3-274

3.9.5.4 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) ......................................... 3-276

3.9.5.5 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) .................................................. 3-278

3.9.5.6 White-Tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) ...................................................... 3-279

3.9.5.7 Murrelets (Synthliboramphus spp.) ....................................................... 3-280

3.9.5.8 Ashy Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa) ....................................... 3-284

3.9.5.9 California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) ............... 3-287

3.9.5.10 Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) ............................... 3-289

3.9.6 Plants and Animals Believed Extirpated and/or Extinct at SCI .......................... 3-290

3.9.6.1 Channel Island Tree Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii

subsp. rhamnoides).............................................................................. 3-290

Table of Contents xiii

3.9.6.2 Santa Catalina Island Desert Thorn (Lycium brevipes var. hassei) ........ 3-290

3.9.6.3 Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii leucophrys) ................................. 3-290

3.9.6.4 San Clemente Spotted Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus clementae)....... 3-290

3.9.6.5 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) ........................................................ 3-290

3.9.7 Invasive Species ................................................................................................ 3-290

3.9.7.1 Invasive Terrestrial Plants .................................................................... 3-291

3.9.7.2 Marine Invasive Species ....................................................................... 3-301

3.9.7.3 Non-Native Terrestrial Wildlife.............................................................. 3-305

3.10 Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance ................................................................... 3-308

3.11 Data Integration, Access, and Reporting.................................................................... 3-311

3.12 Natural Resources Law Enforcement......................................................................... 3-312

4.0 Sustainability and Compatible Use at San Clemente Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

4.1 Supporting Sustainability of the Military Mission and the Natural Environment ..............4-1

4.1.1 The Impact to the Military Mission ........................................................................4-2

4.1.2 Offshore, Nearshore, and Onshore Operations Areas and Ranges ..........................4-4

4.1.3 Safety and Other Restricted Access Zones .............................................................4-5

4.2 Range Complex Supporting Infrastructure ......................................................................4-6

4.3 Other Land Uses...........................................................................................................4-14

4.3.1 Real Estate Outgrants ......................................................................................... 4-14

4.3.2 Public Access and Outreach ................................................................................ 4-15

4.3.3 Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Education for On-Island Personnel ........ 4-19

4.4 Natural Resources Documentation and Consultation Requirements ..............................4-22

4.5 Integrating Other Plans and Programs .......................................................................... 4-29

4.5.1 Environmental Restoration Program.................................................................... 4-30

4.5.2 Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan ................................................ 4-32

4.5.3 Oil Spill Hazardous Substance Prevention and Clean Up ..................................... 4-33

4.5.4 Los Angeles Basin Plan ....................................................................................... 4-35

4.5.5 Recovery Planning for Federally Listed Species on Channel Islands .....................4-35

4.5.6 Wildlife Action Plan ............................................................................................. 4-36

4.6 Beneficial Partnerships and Collaborative Resources Planning ...................................... 4-37

5.0 Implementation Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

5.1 Staffing and Personnel Training ......................................................................................5-2

5.2 INRMP Review, Metrics, and Adaptive Management.........................................................5-3

5.2.1 Natural Resources Conservation Measures of Merit and INRMP Metrics.................5-3

5.2.2 Supporting the Natural Resources Data Call .........................................................5-4

5.3 INRMP Project Programming and Budgeting....................................................................5-5

5.3.1 Natural Resources Management Priorities and Funding Classifications .................5-5

5.3.2 Implementation Schedule......................................................................................5-8

5.3.3 Federal Anti-Deficiency Act ...................................................................................5-8

5.3.4 Funding Sources...................................................................................................5-9

5.3.4.1 Department of Defense Funding Sources..................................................5-9

5.3.4.2 External Assistance ...............................................................................5-11

5.3.5 Research Funding Requirements.........................................................................5-12

6.0 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

6.1 Chapter 1 .......................................................................................................................6-1

6.2 Chapter 2 .......................................................................................................................6-1

6.3 Chapter 3 .......................................................................................................................6-3

6.4 Chapter 4 ..................................................................................................................... 6-37

6.5 Chapter 5 ..................................................................................................................... 6-39 xiv Table of Contents

6.6 Appendices ................................................................................................................... 6-39

Appendices Appendix A: Acronyms and Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1 Appendix B: Implementation Summary Table for the SCI INRMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 Appendix C: Species List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-1 Appendix D: Federal and State Laws, Joint Agreements, Biological Opinions, Instructions, and Policies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-1 Appendix E: INRMP Benefits for Migratory Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Appendix F: INRMP Benefits for Endangered Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1 Appendix G: Landscaping Plant List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1 Appendix H: Previous Contracted and Cooperative Natural Resources Survey, Inventory, Monitoring, and Research Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H-1 Appendix I: Environmental Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1 Appendix J: INRMP Cross-Walk to the U.S. Department of Defense Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J-1 Appendix K: Constraints Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K-1 Appendix L: INRMP Updates and Metrics Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-1 Appendix M: INRMP Stakeholder Commentors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M-1

List of Figures Figure 1-1. Ecosystem management-based decision process. ......................................................... 1-17 Figure 2-1. Elements of a typical Joint Task Force Exercise (Navy 2005). ....................................... 2-29 Figure 2-2. Legal control and jurisdictions relevant to managing the San Clemente Island

Range Complex. .......................................................................................................... 2-34 Figure 3-1. Distribution of annual rainfall within the Channel Islands, California

(Data source: Western Regional Climate Center). ...........................................................3-9 Figure 3-2. Monthly temperature regimes at (A) Wilson Cove, (B) Peak, and (C) Observation

Post 3) on San Clemente Island. Data Sources: Southern California Offshore Range weather stations at Wilson Cove and Peak, and Observation Post 3...................3-12

Figure 3-3. Monthly average relative humidity at (A) Wilson Cove, (B) Peak, and

(C) Observation Post 3) on San Clemente Island. Data Sources: Southern California Offshore Range weather stations at Wilson Cove and Peak, and Observation Post 3...................................................................................................... 3-12

Figure 3-4. Total annual rainfall (top) and total Rain Year rainfall (bottom) at San Clemente Island, 1997–2011 (Data sources: California State University Northridge and Southern California Offshore Range weather stations). ........................3-13

Figure 3-5. Average monthly rainfall at San Clemente Island (Data sources:

California State University Northridge and Southern California Offshore Range weather stations, 1997–2011. ........................................................................... 3-14

Figure 3-6. A) Average annual rainfall by elevation level (Low = 4 stations, 45’-225’ elevation; Mid-elevation = 3 stations, 667’-926’ elevation; High = 5 stations, 1060’-1603’). B) Average annual rainfall by island location along a north-south axis (North = 3 stations, Central = 5 stations, South = 4 stations)................................ 3-15

Figure 3-7. Monthly average wind speeds and average maximum wind gusts at A) Wilson Cove, B) Peak, and C) Observation Post 3 on San Clemente Island.

Data Sources: Southern California Offshore Range weather stations at Wilson Cove and Peak, and Observation Post 3. ..........................................................3-16

Figure 3-8. Seasonal wind rose charts for the Target Shop (left), Wilson Cove (center), and Old Nursery (right) weather stations. (Data sources: California State University Northridge and Southern California Offshore Range

Table of Contents xv weather stations.) ....................................................................................................... 3-17 Figure 3-9. Seasonal wind rose charts for the Eel Point (left), Peak (center), and

Observation Post 3 (right) weather stations. (Data sources: California State University Northridge and Southern California Offshore Range weather stations.) ....................................................................................................... 3-18

Figure 3-10. Changes in needlegrass percent cover on Needlegrass Alliance plots by elevation level (number of plots per category is 3-2-3, respectively). ............................. 3-79

Figure 3-11. Examples of vegetation communities monitored by long-term vegetation plots. ......... 3-111 Figure 3-12. Comparison of shrub distribution and abundance in 1992–1996 and

2000–2010. (LEFT) Total number of monitoring plots on which shrub species are recorded. (RIGHT) Number of shrub individuals counted on monitoring plots. ..... 3-113

Figure 3-13. Total number of records for sensitive plant species on monitoring plots in 1992–1996 and 2000–2010....................................................................................... 3-113

Figure 3-14. Changes in overall shrub cover (left) and density (right) on vegetation monitoring plots by elevation (density numbers do not include data on California boxthorn or morning-glory, which are only recorded as presence/absence data; these two species are treated separately below).

*Indicates means significantly different at p=0.2 or less............................................. 3-114

Figure 3-15. Observed changes in percent cover (left) and frequency of occurrence (right) of California boxthorn on vegetation monitoring plots from the first sampling (plot establishment) to the most recent samplings for each plot on which island morning-glory occurs. *Indicates means significantly different at p=0.2 or less. .......................................................................................... 3-114

Figure 3-16. Observed changes in percent cover (left) and frequency of occurrence (right) of island morning-glory on vegetation monitoring plots from the first sampling (plot establishment) to the most recent samplings for each plot on which island morning-glory occurs. *Indicates means significantly different at p=0.2 or less. .......................................................................................... 3-115

Figure 3-17. Observed changes in percent cover (left) and frequency of occurrence (right) of coast prickly pear on vegetation monitoring plots from the first sampling (plot establishment) to the most recent samplings for each plot on which coast prickly pear occurs. ......................................................................................... 3-115

Figure 3-18. The minimum number of San Clemente loggerhead shrike breeding individuals on San Clemente Island separated by origin (wild-born and captive-reared) between 1991–2010. Arrow indicates the year in which Institute of Wildlife Studies began releasing captive-reared shrikes into the wild population (Maley et al. 2010). ..................................................................... 3-226

Figure 3-19. Estimated population sizes with 95% confidence intervals of adult San Clemente sage sparrows on San Clemente Island, California, 1999–2010 (from Docherty et al. 2011)........................................................................................ 3-231

Figure 4-1. Naval Base Coronado Site Approval and Project Review flow chart. ............................... 4-23 Figure 4-2. Four levels of oil spill response contingency plans. .......................................................4-33

List of Maps Map 3-26. Island night lizard densities on San Clemente Island. .................................................. 3-222 Map 3-27. San Clemente loggerhead shrike nests on San Clemente Island (1993–2012). .............. 3-227 Map 3-28. San Clemente sage sparrow habitat on San Clemente Island. ...................................... 3-233 Map 3-29. Western snowy plover habitat on San Clemente Island. ............................................... 3-238 Map 3-30. White and black abalone habitat in the nearshore waters of San Clemente Island. ...... 3-243 Map 3-31. San Clemente Island fox monitoring grids on San Clemente Island (from

Garcia and Associates 2011)......................................................................................... 3-257 Map 3-32. Coastal area projected to be affected by sea otter range expansion within the xvi Table of Contents ten-year time horizon (Navy 2011). ............................................................................... 3-265 Map 3-33. Existing locations of California dissanthelium (Dissanthelium californicum). ............... 3-271 Map 3-34. Existing locations of island mallow (Malva assurgentiflora). ......................................... 3-273 Map 3-35. Invasive weed treatments locations 2000-2009 on San Clemente Island. ..................... 3-295 Map 4-1. San Clemente Island Exclusive Use, Security, and Danger Zones. .....................................4-7 Map 4-2. Popular recreational fishing areas in the waters surrounding San Clemente Island..........4-16 Map 4-3. Popular recreational diving sites in nearshore waters of San Clemente Island. ................. 4-18 Map 4-4. Current Installation Restoration sites on San Clemente Island. ....................................... 4-31 Map F-1. Distribution of the San Clemente Island lotus on San Clemente Island. .............................F-4 Map F-2. Distribution of the San Clemente Island indian paintbrush on San Clemente Island..........F-7 Map F-3. Distribution of the San Clemente Island larkspur on San Clemente Island. .....................F-10 Map F-4. Distribution of the San Clemente Island woodland-star on San Clemente Island..............F-13 Map F-5. Distribution of the San Clemente Island bush-mallow on San Clemente Island................F-16 Map F-6. Distribution of the Santa Cruz Island rockcress on San Clemente Island. ........................F-18 Map F-7. Island night lizard densities on San Clemente Island. ......................................................F-20 Map F-8. San Clemente sage sparrow densities on San Clemente Island. .......................................F-23 Map F-9. Western snowy plover habitat on San Clemente Island. ...................................................F-26 Map F-10. Known white and black abalone locations around San Clemente Island.........................F-32 Map F-11. Fin whale sightings in the Southern California Bight 2008-2012 (Navy 2012). ...............F-38 Map F-12. Blue whale sightings in the Southern California Bight 2008-2012 (Navy 2012). .............F-38 Map K-1. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 1).................K-3 Map K-2. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 2).................K-5 Map K-3. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 3).................K-7 Map K-4. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 4).................K-9 Map K-5. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 5)...............K-11 Map K-6. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 6)...............K-13 Map K-7. Constraints map for San Clemente Island terrestrial natural resources (Map 7)...............K-15 Map K-8. Constraints map for San Clemente Island marine resources (Map 1). ..............................K-17 Map K-9. Constraints map for San Clemente Island marine resources (Map 2). ..............................K-19 Map K-10. Constraints map for San Clemente Island marine resources (Map 3). ............................K-21 Map K-11. Constraints map for San Clemente Island marine resources (Map 4). ............................K-23

List of Photos Photo 3-61. Island mallow on San Clemente Island. ..................................................................... 3-272 Photo 3-62. Santa Cruz Island Ironwood (Tierra Data Inc. 2006). ................................................. 3-274 Photo 3-63. Peregrine falcon chicks in Cave Canyon, San Clemente Island in 2011

(Navy 2012). ................................................................................................................. 3-277 Photo 3-64. Nesting California brown pelicans on San Clemente Island (J. Stahl, Institute for Wildlife Studies, 2011). ............................................................................. 3-288 Photo F-1. San Clemente Island lotus on San Clemente Island. ........................................................F-3 Photo F-2. San Clemente Island Indian paintbrush on San Clemente Island (Tierra Data Inc. 2008). ..............................................................................F-6 Photo F-3.