Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Refuge Resources
and the Pacific Ocean, and numerous offshore islands. The California LCC will provide a forum for
information exchange and feedback among partners and, secondarily, among other interested
parties (e.g., organizations, scientists, and managers).
4.3.2.2 Applicable Species Recovery Plans
The Service has prepared recovery plans for the federally listed species that occur or historically
occurred on the lands included within the Refuge. These recovery plans, which include the
California Least Tern Recovery Plan (USFWS 1985a), Salt Marsh Bird’s-Beak (Cordylanthus
maritimus maritimus) Recovery Plan (USFWS 1985b), and Light-footed Clapper Rail Recovery
Plan (USFWS 1985c), are intended to serve as guidance documents for agencies, landowners, and
the public. Each plan includes recommendations for actions considered necessary to satisfy the
biological needs and assure the recovery of the listed species. These plans also emphasize
opportunities for improved management of listed species on Federal and state lands.
Recommended actions generally include protection, enhancement, and restoration of those
habitats deemed important for recovery, monitoring, research, and public outreach.
The recommendations provided in the recovery plans for those listed species that occur or have
historically occurred on the lands included within the Refuge have been considered during the
development of the CCP. Recommendations specific to the Seal Beach NWR are reflected in the
CCPs goals, objectives, and strategies.
4.3.2.3 Shorebird Conservation Planning
The Seal Beach NWR is located within the Southern Pacific Shorebird Planning Region, as defined
by the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (Brown et. al. 2001). The Southern Pacific Region is an
important wintering area for shorebirds that breed in the arctic and temperate zones, but is also
important during migration, particularly for arctic breeding species traveling long distances
between their wintering and breeding grounds. There are also important breeding populations in
the region. The major regional goal of the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan is “to ensure that
adequate quantity and quality of habitat is identified and maintained to support the different
shorebirds that breed in, winter in, and migrate through each region.” A critical management
activity identified in the Shorebird Plan for the Southern Pacific Region is increasing the area and
quality of tidal wetlands along the southern Pacific coast.
The Southern Pacific Shorebird Conservation Plan (Hickey et al. 2003) includes several priorities
for conservation of shorebird populations that are relevant to Seal Beach NWR. These include
increasing or maintaining the breeding populations of the black-necked stilt, American avocet, and
killdeer by restoring, enhancing, or creating nesting habitat; and increasing migratory and
wintering populations of all key shorebird species in the region using various protection,
restoration, enhancement, and management strategies. Refuge-related general habitat goals in
the Shorebird Plan include restoring tidal flats and marshes on the southern California coast;
enhancing tidal action in existing wetlands as needed; and limiting human disturbance to
shorebirds in all seasons.
The Shorebird Plan acknowledges Seal Beach NWR as a “wetland of importance on the California
coast.” Thousands of shorebirds are supported on the Refuge during migration and/or throughout
the winter. In addition, a few species, including black-necked stilt and killdeer, regularly nest
within the Refuge.
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment 4-39