biodiversity of bases = to nat'l parks

[meuser@cats.ucsc.edu]

Subject: biodiversity of bases = to nat'l parks

I've been having a conversation with a researcher at Harvard. I've included
some of the discussion. I thought it might be of interest to you and may
make us rethink how bases should be used in the future.
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Reply-To: Daniel Cooper <dscooper@husc.harvard.edu>
To: meuser@cats.ucsc.edu
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Mike,

I am a student in conservation biology at Harvard, and have been working on a 
project for two years that you might be interested. I am comparing the 
biodiversity reserves of DOD vs. NPS property in California. I have requested 
and received copious information from all bases (incl. Ft. Ord) in CA, and 
most of the nat'l parks. I am looking at rare species distribution on the 
land, habitat diversity, threats to this biodiversity (incl. threats from 
closure, realignment, off-base habitat conversion, etc.) among other things. 

I am continuing this project at least until June, when I graduate (and 
hopefully grad school, if anyone would be interested). I assume that you too 
have found little information on CA base conversion outside of articles in 
newspapers and anecdotal accounts. I do have one question that you might be 
able to answer. What is the BLM intending to do with the (16,000?) acres its 
getting from Ft. Ord? "Mixed"-use? Also, is any coastal habitat receiving BLM 
protection, or will it be protected by the future Univ.? This was very unclear 
from articles I've seen in the LA Times. Unfortunately, Harvard does not 
catalogue any NoCal papers--par for the course around here. Let me know if I 
can help you out with anything, and please give my name to anyone who's 
interested. 

Sincerely

Dan Cooper
273 Dunster Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
dscooper@husc.harvard.edu
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message: 2

preliminary info indicates several trends:

1) For sheer rare species to area values, the small, So. Cal., mostly Navy, 
holdings exceed everything. The Tijuana Slough in Sw San Diego Co. supports a 
couple dozen listed plants and animals in an area less than 1000 acres. Even 
if Ft. Ord has three dozen (I don't have my graphs handy), its area is an 
order of magnitude larger. Small, non-coastal bases are fairly depauperate, 
although many support the last populations of certain species. I.e.--Palos 
Verdes Blue rediscovered on Navy property in San Pedro, one of the most 
densly-populated regions of L.A. Co.; last Santa Ana River Wooly-Stars 
(Eriastrum sp.) are on the runway and adjacent wash at Norton AFB in San 
Bernardino Co. The base protects less than 500 acres of habitat, much of it 
heavily degraded. 

2) The presence of rare species on the holdings strongly reflects their 
location, and is not really affected by base/park size. Joshua Tree and Seal 
Beach have about the same # of species. Of course, this is not to say that 
Seal Beach supports viable populations of its species, since it is completely 
surrounded by tract housing. Of course, the regions of the state where high 
endemism meets hyper-development (SW CA, Mont Bay, SF Bay) are far in the 
lead, and this is perhaps the only generalization to be made. Camp 
Pendleton/Fallbrook has over 70 listed sp., Ft. Ord has about 35--same as 
Yosemite and Sequoia. The holdings in the coast ranges inland from the coast 
are pretty rarity-poor (Camp Roberts), but if the property contains a good 
soil formation/elevation gradient (Pinnacles NM), the story changes. Central 
Valley bases are variable, with about 20 reported from Beale, and twice that 
from Elk Hills, near Carrizo Plains in the sw San Joaquin Valley. Elk hills 
protects a very rare habitat community called Great Valley Saltbrush Scrub, 
high in endemics and virtually eliminated outside Elk Hills. I could go on . . 
.and on . .. ! 

3) Because they're located in non-forested areas primarily in endemic-rich So. 
Cal., bases generally have more rare species/rare habitat communities than the 
more homogeneous parks.

The biggest threat to the bases' biodiversity is not the military presence, 
but what happens when they clear out. Small, island-like reserves like Norton 
AFB in San Bernardino may be doomed as housing and gravel mining moves in 
without serious intervention by informed citizens. Are they worth fighting 
for? I say yes, esp. looking at the rest of coastal So. Cal. (my homeland). 
Places like Ft. Ord have the most potential as biodiversity reserves (new NPS 
designation?), since they protect many rare organisms, great habitat 
diversity, and are connected to large expanses of fairly undeveloped habitat 
(though, perhaps, not for long!). Needless to say, these studies have to be 
made quickly, because we both know how things get (illegally) developed around 
here. 

My adviser and I are thinking of doing a final revision and then sending it 
out to reviewers. I've got your address. Keep in touch. 

Dan
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message: 3

Here's a quick summary of how Ft. Ord fits into things: Ft. Ord is one of the 
top bases/nat'l parks in the state in terms of rare species distribution, 
presence of rare habitats, and overall habitat diversity. With 10 major 
habitat types (oak woodland, dune scrub, native grassland, etc.) only Pt. 
Reyes has a greater diversity (11). Yosemite has eight, and Joshua Tree NM has 
three. Six of these types have individual plant communities that are 
considered rare by Holland's 1986 description of terrestrial communities of 
California. Vandenberg and Pt. Reyes also have 6, and Camp Pendleton has 9. 
Sequoia and Yosemite have 3, in which the rare communities incl. riparian 
woodland, subalpine meadow, and east-slope Ponderosa Pine forest (falling 
under the major habitat types "Riparian," "Meadow," and "Coniferous Forest." 
As for rare species, Ft. Ord has about 30, similar to Yosemite and Sequoia. 
For comp., Pt. Reyes has 62, Joshua Tree NM has 16, and Pinnacles has 11. I 
don't have species info yet for Lassen and Shasta, although I doubt that can 
compete with the coastal locales. 

You may have all this info, but as for Ft. Ord's unique biodiversity reserves, 
it has several species of plants that are found practically nowhere else: 
Gilia tenuiflora species arenaria (Sand Gilia); Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens (Monterey spineflower); Cordylanthus rigidus var. littoralis (Seaside 
bird's beak); Arctostaphylos montereyensis (Toro manzanita); A. pumila 
(Sandmat manz.); Ceanothus rigidus (Monterey ceanothus); Ericameria 
fasciculata (Eastwood's ericameria); Erysimum ammophilum (Coast wallflower); 
Castilleja latifolia (Mont. Indian paintbrush). 

Also, a few animals in the same predicament: Sorex ornatus salarius (Mont. 
Ornate Shrew) Reithrodontomys megalotis (Salinas Harvest Mouse), and several 
others restricted to the Monterey Endemic Area. Of course, the fact that it 
protects lots of open space is good for migratory birds, large mammals, etc. 

Rare plant communities include coastal bluff scrub, dune scrub, coastal 
grassland, maritime chaparral, native grasslands. 

Call Bill Collins (408) 242-8002 for more info.

Hope this helps.

Dan