OUR ECOSYSTEM SEEMS HEALTHY, BUT CAN I SHOW IT? Development of an Ecosystem I ndicator and

1. OUR ECOSYSTEM SEEMS HEALTHY, BUT CAN I SHOW IT? Development of an Ecosystem Indicator and Focus Species Management Plan National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Annual Training Meeting Denver, Colorado 10-13 March 2014 Bob Schallmann, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach

2. Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach • Primary Naval munitions facility on west coast • 965 acres designated as Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge • Important refueling station on the Pacific Flyway • Breeding stronghold for several state and federally listed threatened and endangered species

5. Traditional Methodology • Special Status Species Focus • Endangered Species Protection / Management • “Don’t See The Forest For The Trees” • Baseline Surveys • Expensive • Time and Labor Intensive • Often Large Time Gaps Between Efforts

6. Ecosystem Management • “Ten Guiding Principles” • Maintain and improve the sustainability and native biodiversity of ecosystems • Administer with consideration of ecological units and timeframes • Support sustainable human activities • Develop a vision of ecosystem health • Develop priorities and reconcile conflicts • Develop coordinated approaches to work toward ecosystem health • Rely on the best science and data available • Use benchmarks to monitor and evaluate outcomes • Use adaptive management • Implement through installation plans and programs

7. Definitions • Focal Species • Those species of particular management interest (tied to regulations, funding, etc.) • Indicator Species • Species that can signal disturbance in the system by exhibiting a specific response to environmental change.

9. Six Components of the Plan Review Potential Species Review of Scientific Literature Based on Above, Select Species Develop Short-Term and Long-Term Management Strategies Develop Schedule for Monitoring Establish Monitoring Protocols

10. Six Components of the Plan • Review Potential Species • Endangered • Threatened • At-Risk • Cornerstone Species • Species of Regional Interest • Think to the Future

11. Six Components of the Plan • Review of Scientific Literature • Recent Studies • Ongoing Research • Local Expertise • Universities • Government Agencies • Private Sector • Consider Threats/Stressors

12. Potential Stressors • Physical • Climate Change, Erosion, Fire, Human Use • Biological • Habitat Conversion, Invasives, Predators • Chemical • Water Quality, Pollution, Pesticides • Social/Political • Encroachment, Funding, Regulations

13. Six Components of the Plan • Select Species • Based on Prior Two Steps, Select Initial Species • Needs to be Adaptable to Account for Future Changes

17. Six Components of the Plan • Develop Short-Term Strategies • Invasive Species Removal • Habitat Restoration • Develop Long-Term Strategies • Military Mission • Habitat Conversion

18. Six Components of the Plan • Develop Schedule for Monitoring • Rotational Basis by Taxa • Balance Monitoring Frequency with Cost of Implementation • Remain Flexible Based on New Data

19. Six Components of the Plan • Establish Monitoring Protocols • Consistency = Reliable Data Interpretation • Many Protocols Already Developed • Each Survey Period Results in a Snap-Shot in Time • Occasional Baseline Surveys to Capture Existence of New Species

22. Special Thanks to… • Brandon Barr, Rob Lovich, US Navy • USGS • ICF International • Merkel and Associates • MultiMAC JV

23. Thank you! Photo by Jim Salywoda Contact Information: Bob Schallmann Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach robert.schallmann@navy.mil