Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Implementation
increased human impacts to the remaining salt marsh habitat resulted in significant reductions in
the species’ population and ultimately to its listing as endangered by the State of California in 1974.
Since the time of its listing, Belding’s savannah sparrow population estimates in California have
been increasing with 1,084 pairs present in 1973, 2,274 pairs in 1986, 2,350 pairs in 1996, and 3,372
in 2010 (Zembal and Hoffman 2010). However, statewide censuses of Belding’s savannah
sparrows reveal wide fluctuations in local population sizes, with local extirpations occurring in
some years. Since 1996, the Seal Beach NWR has supported relatively large numbers of Belding’s
savannah sparrow territories. The largest number of territories on the Refuge to date were
recorded in 2010, when 326 territories were recorded, the second largest number of Belding’s
savannah sparrow territories in California (Zembal and Hoffman 2010).
Alternative
A B C
Objective 1.5 - Belding’s Savannah Sparrow
Comparison by Alternative
Strategy
Minimize human disturbance during the nesting season in habitat known
to support Belding’s savannah sparrows.
Continue to maintain muted tidal flows within the Bolsa Cell to protect
Belding’s savannah sparrow habitat.
Belding’s savannah sparrow habitat present around the edges of the
islands in Case Road Pond will be protected during restoration activities.
Objective 1.6: Protect Coastal Habitats to Benefit Listed and Other Species of Concern
Over the life of the CCP, protect and maintain 875 acres of coastal wetlands and adjacent
wetland/upland transition habitat to provide foraging, resting, and nesting habitat to benefit
listed and other species of concern.
Rationale: Various conservation planning documents have been prepared that include
recommendations for ensuring the conservation of one or more of the coastal dependent
species found on the Seal Beach NWR. These recommendations include protecting extensive
areas of native habitat to support bird conservation (Pashley et al. 2000, Brown et al. 2001,
Kushlan et al. 2002). Specific recommendations for habitat protection and management are
also included in the California Least Tern and Light-footed Clapper Rail Recovery Plans
(USFWS 1985a and 1985b), while other recommendations for conserving Birds of
Conservation Concern and other species of concern are included in the U.S. Shorebird
Conservation Plan (Brown et al. 2001), North American Waterbird Conservation Plan
(Kushlan et al. 2002), and California Wildlife Action Plan (California Department of Fish and
Game 2007).
Objective 1.6 – Protect Habitat to Benefit List and Other Species of Concern
Comparison by Alternative
Alternative
A B C
Strategy
Continue to protect and maintain the salt marsh complex to the south of
Bolsa Avenue.
By 2013, develop a step-down Habitat Management Plan for the Refuge
that incorporates conservation planning recommendations to benefit
the Refuge’s listed species and other species of concern.
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan 6-7