NATURAL RESOURCES
Natural Resources
The Navy shares its training environments with the wildlife, plants, and
animals that rely on the land and ocean marine ecosystems of SSTC. Some
biologically important habitats are found at SSTC, including vernal pools and
eelgrass beds. Understanding these complex environments and taking the necessary
precautions to minimize the effects of Navy activities on these resources are
Navy priorities.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process gives the Navy an opportunity to review and assess its activities, ensuring
that the benefits of recent scientific and technological advances are applied toward minimizing environmental effects. As part of
this process, scientists will compile and analyze currently available information, with a focus on understanding species distribution,
abundance, and behavior with respect to the Navy's Proposed Action.
Examples of scientific information include:
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Integrated Natural Resources Management
Plans - comprehensive and integrated management plans for land-based and
water natural California Least Terns resources protection; and
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Scientific Studies - threatened and
endangered species surveys, assessments, and management plans, such as the
nest and fledgling surveys for the California Least Tern.
On-Going
Protective and Conservation Measures
Environmental protection efforts have been a standard component of Navy training activities on SSTC for decades,
enabling vital Navy training while protecting the terrestrial and marine environments. The Navy has developed a sophisticated set
of procedures and tools to avoid harm and minimize effects on terrestrial and marine species and habitats including:
Comprehensive Biological
Monitoring Program – Identification of least tern and snowy plover nesting
locations and banding by qualified and USFWS permitted experts;
Pre- and post-monitoring for marine mammals
during mine countermeasures training.;
Site Preparation and Habitat Restoration –
Preparation and restoration of Navy lands to enhance their habitat value to
federally protected species, including the removal of invasive species and
replenishment of sand on the beaches for nesting;
Predator Control – Innovative and adaptive
strategies to minimize adverse effects on listed species from a wide range of
predators that may enter Navy lands, including insect, avian,
Bottlenose dolphinand mammalian
species and;
Identification and Protection of Sensitive
Areas – Marking and designation and development of measures to protect sensitive
areas such as nesting locations, eelgrass beds, and vernal pools.
Minimizing the Effects of
Training on Natural Resources
Protecting our environmental and natural resources is an integral part of the
Navy's training program. Through officer training programs, briefings, messages,
scheduling, standard operating procedures, instructions, and on-site signage,
the Navy communicates the natural resource management provisions that apply to
every Navy facility and every Navy activity. The Navy is well-experienced in the
methods of communicating necessary information to a large and dynamic
organization, and the broad implementation of its comprehensive approach assures
that Navy personnel are aware of the natural resources present and understand
their responsibilities for its protection.
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Fairy Shrimp |
Western Snowy Plover |