By Bob Schallmann, Conservation Program Manager at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach as part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest.
Naval Weapons Station and Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (SBNWR) hosted a volunteer event on 16 October 2010 with the objective of restoring native vegetation to several acres of upper saltmarsh habitat and adjacent upland habitat.
The project included removal of invasive plants, preparing the land for restoration, and planting native plants. These upland restoration areas provide habitat and shelter for state and federally-listed endangered bird species, numerous pollinator species, and a wide variety of mammals, amphibians, birds, and reptiles. They also provide a buffer between wetland habitat and agricultural lands.
The Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service relied heavily on the Friends of SBNWR to assist in the coordination, planning, and implementation of this project. National Public Lands Day proved once again to be an ideal opportunity to involve community volunteers in the upland restoration adjacent to the refuge wetlands. The restoration areas were previously covered in non-native vegetation such at Fountain Grass, Fennel, and Hottentot Fig. The Navy was responsible for the removal of these invasives, clearing the way for soil preparation work by the Friends group. Volunteers from public and community groups, recruited by the Navy and the Friends, planted 500 native shrubs and flowers in the prepared area.
Funds from the Legacy grant contributed to the purchase of plants, soil amendments, transporting volunteers to and from the worksite, rubbish containers, and irrigation supplies.
500 – Number of native plants and shrubs planted.
32 – Cubic yards of soil amendment and mulch spread throughout site
70 – Number of volunteers from Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America and local community members who participated in the event.
3.5 – Average number of hours worked per volunteer.
245 – Approximate total volunteer hours worked.
4,500 – Dollars provided by Legacy funding for event.
46,000 – Dollars in in-kind services from the U.S. Navy and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Friends of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge to support this project.
Enjoy these photos of volunteers planting native plant and shrub species courtesy of the Department of Defense. Make sure to check out Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach on Facebook!