Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 6
Objective 2.6 - Restore Native Uplands
Comparison by Alternative
Alternative
A B C
Strategy
Continue to plant native upland vegetation in areas of the Refuge where
nonnative, invasive vegetation is actively being controlled.
As part of the restoration plan for the area located to the north of Case
Road Pond, include approximately eight acres of native upland habitat
restoration along the northern most portion of this area.
As part of the restoration plan for the area located to southeast of 7
th Street
Pond, include approximately three acres of native upland habitat
restoration along the eastern edge of this area.
Objective 2.7: Protect and Enhance Habitat for Fish and Other Marine Organisms
Protect the habitat quality within the Refuge’s 740 acres of regular, unobstructed tidal area,
maintain adequate tidal flows within an additional 160 acres of restored subtidal and
intertidal habitat, and enhance habitat quality for marine organisms.
Rationale: The Improvement Act requires the maintenance of the Refuge System’s biological
integrity, diversity, and environmental health. This is best achieved by applying the principles of
landscape ecology to Refuge management. Landscape ecology is a sub-discipline of ecology, which
focuses on spatial relationships and interactions between patterns and processes. This emerging
science integrates hydrology, geology, geomorphology, soil science, vegetation science, wildlife
science, economics, sociology, law, engineering and land use planning to conserve, enhance, restore
and protect the sustainability of ecosystems.
Over time, natural patterns of climate, hydrology, geology, soils, vegetation, and wildlife resulted
in a rich natural diversity. Human cultural practices associated with modern civilization have
greatly altered natural physical processes, resulting in declining biological diversity. This is
evident in the areas around the Seal Beach NWR, where vast areas of historic salt marsh have
been filled to first accommodate farming and later accommodate urban development, and where
substantial portions of the area’s major rivers have been channelized in an attempt to address
flooding concerns. As a result of these losses of natural habitat and changes in the natural patterns
of hydrology, it is that much more important to preserve and manage the relatively undisturbed,
natural habitats that remain within the current landscape.
Anaheim Bay and its associated native wetland habitats provide important resources for a wide
variety of organisms including listed birds such as the California least tern and commercially
important fisheries such as California halibut and spotted sand bass. The invertebrate fauna is
also an important component of the Refuge’s salt marsh ecosystem. The loss of wetland areas
throughout California has adversely affected a range of coastal dependent species, therefore, it is
essential that what remains of these habitats be maintained in a manner that will protect and
sustain the long-term health of these coastal habitats, as well as the organisms these habitats
support.
6-12 Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge