Federally Endangered Species and Species of Special Concern

San Diego Fairy Shrimp, California Gnatcatcher, Burrowling Owl

San Diego Fairy Shrimp

 

A total of 49 seasonal features were surveyed, according to the USFWS 1996 guidelines, for the presence/absence of federally-listed vernal pool branchiopods. In 8 of the seasonal features, the federally endangered San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis) was positively detected; the common versatile fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lindahli) occupied an additional 26 seasonal features; 7 features were void of fairy shrimp; 3 were considered unsuitable habitat by the USFWS; and, 4 contained limited number of cysts (n=1-4), however, the features were incapable of supporting sufficient inundation duration for shrimp reproduction.     

 

Final Cumulative Fairy Shrimp Report 

Submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

FINAL Cumulative Fairy Shrimp Report_01-29-13 40
San Diego Fairy Shrimp paper_crop
Attach 17 Historical CAGN Survey Data

Historical Surveys 

Gnatcatcher Survey - Attachment C - 2014_Newport BaN_OPT Dudek Wildlife & species

 Current Surveys 2014

 California Gnatcatcher

Burrowing Owl

BUOW Breeding season_RPT_Final 12_down
BUOW Breeding season_RPT_Final 13_down

2009 Burrowing Owl Habitat Assessment

Winter Burrowing Owl Map

fairy-shrimp-outline-01
burrowing_owl
ca gnatcatcher drawing
Gnatcatcher critical habitat

 USFWS Coastal California Gnatcatcher Critical Habitat

Vernal Pools

Vernal or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species. Most pools are dry for at least part of the year and fill with the winter rains. Pools may remain at least partially filled with water over the course of a year or more, but all vernal pools dry up periodically.

They are called vernal pools because they are often, but not necessarily, at their peak depth in the spring (“vernal” meaning of, relating to, or occurring in the spring). Despite being dry at times, once filled they teem with life making them an important asset to the ecology of an area. The Banning Ranch area hosts many vernal pools.

Link to California Coastal Commission PowerPoint Presentation on Vernal Pools

Official Biologist Vernal Pool Surveys – Years 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010/2011, 2012

Complete Banning Ranch Mesa Vernal Pools/Wetlands Second Edition 8/11/2011
(Power Point Slide Show – 17.3 MB)

Link to Rebuttal to the Vernal Pool Topical Response of the draft Environment Impact Report

This first series of slides show the Vernal Pool near Ticonderoga Street (Newport Crest) as it appeared December 22, 2011 – February 5, 2011…….some additional photos are also shown.

This is the same Vernal Pool as it appeared on May 1, 2011

Vernal Pool on May 1, 2011

This is the same Vernal Pool as it appeared on May 26, 2011 – after mowing (more on mowing)

Vernal Pool May 26, 2011

Ticonderoga Vernal Pool – 2005

Vernal Pool - 2005

Ticonderoga Vernal Pool – 1995

Vernal Pool - 1995