Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 3
Native American subsistence and settlement patterns in and around the Refuge; and coastal
and inland trading patterns.
Volunteers and Partners
Support for the Friends of Seal Beach NWR and coordination with the Refuge’s other
partners, including NWSSB, would continue as described in Alternative A.
3.4.3.3 Alternative C (Proposed Action) - Optimize Upland/Wetland Restoration, Improve
Opportunities for Wildlife Observation
All of the management activities described in Alternative A, as well as the additional habitat
and wildlife management actions described in Alternative B, with the exception of Alternative
B’s habitat restoration proposals, would also be implemented under Alternative C (Figure 3-5).
The primary differences between Alternative B and Alternative C involve a few additional
wildlife and habitat management actions; enhancement of light-footed clapper rail habitat; a
greater focus on the restoration of upland and wetland/upland transition habitat; and the
expansion of existing opportunities for wildlife observation.
Wildlife and Habitat Management
In addition to the actions described under Alternative B, the following additional actions would
be implemented under Alternative C:
1. Management of Habitat to Support Tiger Beetles
In addition to conducting directed surveys for tiger beetles, as proposed under
Alternative B, Alternative C proposes to seek funding and/or partnerships that would
facilitate the preparation and implementation of a tiger beetle management plan. The
Plan would identify measures for protecting, maintaining, and if necessary, enhancing
habitat to protect current tiger beetle abundance and diversity on the Refuge.
2. Establish Salt Marsh Bird’s-Beak on the Refuge
As part of restoration planning for the Case Road Pond restoration site, potential sites
for the establishment of one or more populations of the Federally listed endangered
plant, salt marsh bird’s-beak, would be evaluated, and if appropriate locations are
identified in this area, salt marsh bird’s-beak seeds would be planted as part of the
restoration project. The site would then be monitored for successful germination and
plant development. If seeding is successful and plants produce flowers and set seeds,
the site would be monitored annually to record the size and quality of the population at
each site. Other potential establishment sites would be evaluated along the eastern
edge of Kitts Highway to the south of Bolsa Avenue and on the south side of Bolsa
Avenue just south of the interpretive trail.
3. Enhancement of Light-footed Clapper Rail Habitat
Management of the light-footed clapper rail would be expanded to include an analysis
of the extent to which the existing habitat quality within the salt marsh complex
supports natural clapper rail nesting activities. Based on this analysis, strategies for
improving habitat quality for nesting rails through the marsh complex would be
developed, and as specific strategies are implemented, monitoring would be conducted
to determine their effectiveness in supporting rail nesting and improving rail
productivity. This proposal for enhancing light-footed clapper rail habitat would be
further developed as part of a step-down habitat management plan for the Refuge.
3-34 Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge