Habitat Management and Surveys, Plant Nursery Management and Invasive Species Control at DFSP San Pedro, California

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There are two federally listed species found at the Defense Fuel Support Point, San Pedro (DFSP): The Palos Verdes blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche lygdamus paloverdesensis; PVB) was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1980 and the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica [CAGN]) was listed as threatened in 1993. Current conservation efforts are conducted in accordance with the USFWS 2010 Biological Opinion, Formal Section 7 Consultation for Routine Maintenance Operations, DFSP, San Pedro, Los Angeles County, California (FWS-LA-08B0606-08F0704). The principal components of this cooperative agreement are plant rearing of PVB host plants at DFSP for the PVB rearing program, rearing and seed collection of other native plants, weed control, habitat restoration, and vegetative monitoring along established transects. The principal components of this cooperative agreement are: (1) annual habitat surveys; (2) habitat management activities; (3) management of the DFSP San Pedro nursery; (4) invasive species control; and (5) report development. These activities will (1) provide assurance against the potential extinction of the Palos Verdes blue butterfly and extirpation of the California gnatcatcher, (2) allow for the re-introduction of the butterfly into additional areas at DFSP without hindering the installation’s mission, (3) evaluate the ongoing habitat suitability at DFSP, and (4) support the PVB rearing program to buffer against the potential extinction of this species. Within a regulatory framework, the proposed cooperative agreement will ensure compliance with the 2010 United States Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion and the 2001 DFSP, San Pedro Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan.

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