A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
May 8, 2007
3. Watersheds
Protection of species vs. access to beach
Navy moves signs, allowing more room to romp
By Janine Zúñiga , staff writer
Navy officials posted large no-trespassing signs in March just north of
Several residents, including many who said they have let their dogs run unleashed in the area for years, complained to City Council members. They objected to the armed Navy security and to the city's animal control officer, who warned residents she would ticket them for having unleashed dogs.
“I'm angry,” Carlene Hess told the City Council at an April meeting. “There are no reasons for the closure. It seems so arbitrary and doggone arrogant. Then our animal control officer is harassing us.”
About a month after the notices were posted, Capt. Tony Gaiani, commanding officer of Naval Base Coronado, decided to move the signs north about a half-mile, next to the large round antenna at the naval base's Silver Strand Training Complex South.
People and dogs have access to some of the beach area, but still are not allowed on the dunes next to the training complex. When the signs went up, the area was home to two Western snowy plover nests, the only known nests in the southern part of the naval training complex. The eggs in one of the nests have since hatched, but biologists aren't sure whether the chicks survived.
Gaiani said the signs were moved closer to the nests so people know to stay away.
“We want to be good stewards of the environment,” he said. “We have to. We must.”
Sandy Vissman, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, provides consulting and technical assistance for the Navy's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan. She said she applauds the Navy's efforts.
“They've been managing the area for years,” Vissman said. “They've also had those signs there for years.”
Gaiani said vandals destroy the no-trespassing signs or throw them in the ocean.
The Navy conducts land, beach and offshore training exercises at the 566-acre training complex. It is home to 145 wildlife species, including 17 listed as “sensitive” on the federal protected species list, four that are “endangered” and one – the plover – that is “threatened.”
Gaiani said part of his job is to minimize the effects of training on the area's protected species.
“If we don't protect them, we may be limited in our future use of the area,” he said. “This is a vital training area for us. We have to maintain this range.”
Plovers are small, light-colored shorebirds that blend so well into their surroundings they are hard to see.
“The chicks are cotton balls with legs,” said Tammy Conkle, one of two wildlife biologists with the Navy who oversees its management program. “The eggs are the size of quarters and they build their nests right on the sand.”
Plover nests typically contain three small camouflaged eggs. In addition to natural predators in the area, plovers, who live at the complex year-round, also must deal with people and dogs.
Plovers have lived on the
The Navy's signs initially were posted on the beach in front of YMCA Camp Surf, which is property owned by the Department of Defense and leased to the Navy. YMCA leases the land from the Navy.
Andrea Martin, an
“I feel assured that this community would cooperate for the benefit of the Navy and the plovers if the beach remained open,” she said.
Imperial Beach City Manager Gary Brown said signs that have been posted for years in
Gaiani said if people knew how much they and their unleashed dogs disturb the plovers, they might think twice about letting their dogs run free.
“We're asking that people stay off the dunes,” Gaiani said. “The plovers run quickly to the water, eat, then run back to the sand. It is hazardous for them to use this beach.”#
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070508/news_1m8signs.html
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