San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan May 2017 Volume 1 Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan Prepared by: San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex 1080 Gunpowder Point Drive Chula Vista, CA 91910 and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1832 Sacramento, CA 95825-1846 Approved: Date: Implementation of this Comprehensive Conservation Plan and alternative management proposals have been assessed consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC 4321 et seq.). Citation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2017. San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Chula Vista, CA. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan May 2017 San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Vision Statement Large, connected, healthy stands of southern California coastal lowland and foothill habitats, including coastal sage scrub, maritime succulent scrub, native grassland, chaparral, riparian woodland, and vernal pools, are conserved through an ecosystem approach to management and monitoring that draws on the talents of Federal, State, and local agencies and other conservation partners to leverage and maximize funds and staffing. Listed and sensitive plant and animal species are protected, and species that historically occurred on Refuge lands are reestablished. One of the last expanses of open space in coastal southern California, with exceptional biological, social, historical, and economic values, is protected as a sanctuary not just for plants and animals but also for people. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1832 Sacramento, CA 95825-1846 May 2017 Disclaimer: CCPs provide long term guidance for management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Wildlife Refuge System ................................. 1-8 1.3.1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ............................................................................................ 1-8 1.3.2 National Wildlife Refuge System ....................................................................................... 1-8 1.4 Legal and Policy Guidance ........................................................................................................ 1-9 1.4.1 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 ......................................... 1-11 1.4.2 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 ..................................................... 1-13 1.5 San Diego National Wildlife Refuge ....................................................................................... 1-13 1.5.1 Location ............................................................................................................................... 1-13 1.5.2 Physical Setting .................................................................................................................. 1-15 1.5.3 Ecosystem Context ............................................................................................................ 1-16 1.5.4 Refuge Purposes ................................................................................................................ 1-18 1.5.5 Refuge Vision Statement and Goals ................................................................................. 1-18 1.5.6 History of Refuge Establishment ..................................................................................... 1-19 2 THE PLANNING PROCESS ......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan ..................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Preplanning ................................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Public Involvement in Planning ................................................................................................ 2-3 2.4 Overview of Issues and Public Scoping Comments ................................................................ 2-5 Wildlife/Habitat Management .......................................................................................................... 2-5 Listed and Sensitive Species Conservation ..................................................................................... 2-5 Public Use ........................................................................................................................................... 2-5 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................ 2-5 Refuge Operations ............................................................................................................................. 2-6 Approved Refuge Boundary/Future Acquisitions .......................................................................... 2-6 2.5 Management Concerns and Opportunities .............................................................................. 2-6 Climate Change .................................................................................................................................. 2-7 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................. 2-8 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 2-8 Wildland Fires .................................................................................................................................... 2-8 Human Activity .................................................................................................................................. 2-9 Refuge Connectivity and Access ...................................................................................................... 2-9 Opportunities .................................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.6 Development of a Refuge Vision ............................................................................................. 2-10 2.7 Development of Refuge Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .................................................. 2-10 2.8 Development of Alternatives ................................................................................................... 2-12 2.9 Selection of the Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 2-12 2.10 Plan Implementation ................................................................................................................ 2-12 ───────────────────────────────────────────────── Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan i Table of Contents ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 3 REFUGE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Refuge Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ................................................................... 3-2 3.3 Management of the San Diego NWR ..................................................................................... 3-33 3.3.1 Establishment and Acquisition Boundaries .................................................................... 3-33 3.3.2 Current Land Ownership and Acquisition History ........................................................ 3-34 3.3.3 Initial Management Guidance 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