Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 5
associated with the application of these products) and to the prey upon which birds may forage
(due to pesticide drift).
AquaAnvil and Anvil 10+10 ULV are applied as ultra-low volume sprays meant to target adult
mosquitoes as they fly. When applied, the mist consists of very small liquid droplets that range in
size from eight to 30 microns (Davis et al. 2007). The insecticide in the droplets is absorbed
through the insect cuticle and takes effect soon after contact. If these droplets were to enter the
shallow tidal waters of the Refuge’s marsh habitat, estuarine invertebrates in these areas could be
adversely affected, as both phenothrin and piperonyl butoxide are considered highly toxic to
estuarine invertebrates (USEPA 2006c and 2008b). The result could be a temporary decrease in
the availability of waterbird prey species in some portions of the Refuge. The effects of pesticide
drift and disturbance would be reduced through restrictions in the SUP on when and where
adulticides can be applied on the Refuge; the concurrent application of approved larvicides and/or
pupacides on the site to prevent future adult outbreaks, thus reducing the potential for subsequent
spraying of adulticides; and strict adherence to label requirements.
Public Use
As no new public use opportunities are proposed under Alternative B, the effects to waterbirds
would be the same as those described for Alternative A.
5.4.2.2 Effects to Landbirds
Wildlife and Habitat Management
All of the actions described in Alternative A (e.g., predator management, invasive plant control,
culvert maintenance and/or replacement, monitoring) would also be implemented under
Alternative B. Therefore, the effects of implementing these specific actions on landbirds would be
the same as those described for Alternative A.
New actions proposed under Alternative B include the restoration of approximately 36 acres of
disturbed upland to tidal wetland and wetland/upland transition habitat; the replacement of the
existing culverts in the Bolsa Cell levee with a water control structure; the removal of concrete
debris from the marsh; and the implementation of an IPM program for the Refuge. The
restoration proposals included under Alternative B would eliminate some of the low-quality upland
habitat present on the Refuge, replacing it with salt marsh and wetland/upland transition habitats.
The proposal to convert disturbed upland habitat to native tidally influenced habitat would displace
some resident or migratory landbirds, however, the numbers of landbirds affected would be low
and no listed or special status landbird species would be affected. Therefore, the effect on
landbirds of restoring habitat in accordance with Alternative B would be less than significant.
Changes to the water control structures in the Bolsa Cell and the removal of concrete from the
marsh would have no effect on landbirds.
Pest Management
The potential for direct effects to landbirds from the implementation of the IPM Plan and
Mosquito Management Plan would be similar to those described in Section 5.4.2.1.
The expansion of mosquito control to include the use of a spinosad, monomolecular films, and
adulticides with the active ingredient sumithrin could result in temporary and generally localized
reductions in the availability of insect prey for upland birds due to the potential for these products
to kill some non-target insect species (see Section 5.4.2.4 for additional details). This situation
could adversely affect biological integrity and diversity on the Refuge through disruptions in food
5-46 Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge