Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Environmental Consequences
Public Use
The potential effects to water quality from implementing the current public use program, as
proposed under Alternative B, would be same as those discussed under Alternative A.
5.2.2.7 Effects from Climate Change/Sea Level Rise
Wildlife and Habitat Management
The effects of climate change and sea level rise on Refuge resources and facilities would be the
same for Alternative B as those described under Alternative A, above. However, unlike
Alternative A, Alternative B includes strategies intended to assist Refuge staff in identifying and
addressing changes related to sea level rise. These strategies include the development and
implementation of a plan to annually track changes in tidal elevations within various areas of the
refuge and establish benchmarks, based on the duration of inundation, high tide levels, and other
appropriate factors, for implementing actions to address these changes.
Additionally, by 2015 a study will be completed that will analyze various measures that could be
implemented on the Refuge to reduce the effect of sea level rise on sensitive coastal habitats. Such
measures could include retrofitting existing water control structures to manipulate tidal flows
entering the previously restored portions of the Refuge, including Forrester Pond, Case Road
Pond, and 7 th Street Pond; installing new water control structures elsewhere on the Refuge for the
same purpose; and raising the elevations of the existing marsh plain by spraying or otherwise
applying appropriate sediment over the existing marsh vegetation. The implementation of these
types of measures is expected to adequately address the effects of sea level rise over the 15-year
life of this CCP. However, despite these actions, the SLAMM results indicate that sea level rise
over the next 25 to 100 years are likely to have a profound impact on the trust resources protected
within the Seal Beach NWR. Therefore, reevaluation of the goals, objectives, and strategies
addressed in this the CCP may be necessary in the future to determine if and how additional
strategies for addressing the effects of sea level rise on these coastal resources should be
implemented.
Public Use
Alternative B does not propose any changes to the existing public use program implemented on the
Refuge; therefore, the effects of sea level rise on public uses would be the same for Alternative B
as were described for Alternative A.
5.2.2.8 Effects to Air Quality
Wildlife and Habitat Management
Each of the management activities conducted under Alternative A would also occur under
Alternative B. As described in Section 5.2.1.8 above, none of these activities would result in
adverse effects to air quality. The additional management activities included within Alternative B
that relate to habitat restoration, culvert replacement, and concrete debris removal would result in
temporary, localized adverse impacts to air quality related to fugitive dust and tailpipe emissions
generated by construction equipment (e.g., land excavators, motor graders, dump trucks,
excavator with a hydraulic hammer). The various activities would take place over a period of one to
two months and are not expected to generate emissions in excess of current air quality standards.
To ensure that all emissions are minimized to the maximum extent practicable, the following
measures would be included in the construction specifications for all proposed restoration and
enhancement projects implemented on the Refuge:
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan 5-21