Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Refuge Resources
Management actions are directed primarily at preserving and managing the habitat to support the
light-footed clapper rail and the California least tern, as well as preserving habitat used by migrant
waterfowl, shorebirds, and other water birds.
Wildlife and habitat management actions on the Refuge include controlling invasive plant species
through mechanical and chemical methods, planting native shrubs and grasses, constructing and
installing nesting platforms in the marsh for light-footed clapper rails, preparing the California
least tern site, species monitoring, and culvert repair and replacement. Ongoing wildlife and
habitat management actions, some of which are funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Navy, may
be divided into four main areas: management for California least terns at NASA Island,
management of light-footed clapper rails, general habitat management, and general wildlife
management. The primary activities for each of these areas include:
Management for California Least Terns at NASA Island
Pre-nesting season site preparation, as needed (weed control, substrate enhancement)
Eyes on the Colony (predator monitoring program supervised by the Refuge)
Weekly nest site monitoring during the nesting season
Predator management
Management of Light-footed Clapper Rails
High tide counts and spring call counts (to obtain breeding population size estimates)
Monitoring during nesting season
Maintenance, construction, and deployment of nesting platforms
Predator management
Habitat Management
Invasive plant species removal
Native plant restoration
Trash and debris removal
Culvert maintenance, as needed to maintain tidal flow
Wildlife Management
Monthly night mammals surveys
Monthly high tide and low tide bird counts
Public Use
Pedestrian pathway along the south side of Bolsa Avenue
Interpretive signs along the pathway
Native plant garden adjacent to the Refuge office
Scientific research when it benefits Refuge management and/or Refuge resources
The Refuge Headquarters occupies approximately five acres of Navy land situated just off the
Refuge near the southwest corner Kitts Highway and Bolsa Avenue. The site includes a Navy
building that is used for Refuge offices and tour group presentations. Several storage facilities
necessary to support refuge operations are located to the southwest of the Refuge office.
Public access to the Refuge is restricted, because of NWSSB’s military mission of storing and
handling ordnance. To enter the Refuge, non-military visitors must have a military escort, possess
a pass indicating a valid purpose for being on the station, or sign up prior to a Refuge event.
Participants in the Refuge’s public events must be escorted by Refuge or Navy personnel. The
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment 4-83