The tiger salamander depends on vernal pools for reproduction, its habitat is limited to the vicinity of large, fishless vernal pools or similar water bodies. It occurs at elevations up to 1000 m (3200 ft). Adults migrate at night from upland habitats to aquatic breeding sites during the first major rainfall events of fall and early winter and return to upland habitats after breeding. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Heide Couch)
The vernal pool fairy shrimp are typically 10.9 to 25 mm long and nearly translucent, according to the Fish and Widlife Service. They thrive in Travis' vernal pools and swales, which are marsh-type areas. (courtesy photo)
Contra Costa Goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens), is a member of the Aster
family. It is a colorful spring annual, golden yellow in color and about three to four
inches tall with light green finely divided leaves. (U.S. Air Force photo/Heide Couch)
by Nick DeCicco
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
4/23/2012 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- "This is a detective job," said Ray Hasey as he hunched over and examined a yellow Contra Costa goldfields flower.
Hasey recently examined a patch of them that grew on the northwest side of the base where vacant homes were damaged in a 2008 fire and demolished in 2009. He took a closer look because the flowers are considered endangered according to the federal government.
The goldfields are one of three types of threatened or endangered species that make their home at Travis, along with the California tiger salamander and the vernal pool fairy shrimp.
On this April morning, Hasey traversed the patch of flowers, which wind through a meadow almost precisely where a road used to be, curling toward the edge of the base's perimeter fence and making a sharp northerly turn where the street used to be.
These streets were once Barksdale Court and Bond Street, according to Violet Kaufman, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron project manager. Earlier generations of Travis citizens lived in homes along these roads. Now they are planned to become part of a park near the youth center and Twin Peaks Chapel.
Hasey walked the land to gauge the size of the discovery. While most of the find followed the area where a road used to be, he found single flowers popping up throughout the grass fields near Armstrong and Forbes Streets.
"It's OK to walk on them, but picking one is a $25,000 fine," he said as he bent over to take a closer look.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the flower as endangered. It is native to California, with small, yellow pedals surrounding a dark, circular, yellow center.
Hasey theorizes that the goldfields' seeds thrived underneath the pavement since the roads were laid in the latter part of the 1950s.
The flower thrives in vernal pools, which are temporary bodies of water. Hasey suspects water would seep into the dirt and allow the seeds to survive. Once the roads were removed, the plant was allowed to flourish once again.
Hasey estimates that approximately 10 percent of the planet's population of Contra Costa goldfields makes its home at Travis. The discovery is one of several places where the plant blooms annually at Travis, along with the southeast side of the flightline, the west end of Hangar Avenue and other spots.
At the bend where Barksdale Court used to meet Bond Street near the newly discovered Contra Costa goldfields patch is a gopher hole, the likes of which Hasey said the California tiger salamander makes its home.
The Fish and Wildlife Service lists the salamander as threatened for all locations except California's Sonoma County and Santa Barbara County, where it is endangered.
A fully grown salamander is typically black, seven to eight inches long and its skin is covered in yellow stripes or dots. Theoretically, the entire base is the salamander's habitat, although Hasey said most only travel approximately 1.3 miles.
They feed on earthworms, snails, insects, fish and even small mammals, according to the California Department of Fish and Game.
The salamander breeds by a water tower on the north side of the base and migrates twice annually. The animal typically only comes out at night or during rainstorms, Hasey said.
Hasey said Travis is the only place where urban development has occurred without killing the salamander. He attributes this to controlled use of pesticides, regulations for dogs and cats and, primarily, higher, rolled curbs on the sidewalks, which deters the salamander from slipping into storm drains.
The last of the three endangered species native to Travis is the vernal pool fairy shrimp, a freshwater crustacean that Hasey said is similar to a brine shrimp. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists it as threatened.
The shrimp are typically 10.9 to 25 milimeters long and nearly translucent, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. They thrive in Travis' vernal pools and swales, which are marsh-type areas.
The vernal pools and grassland prairies at Travis are part of the Greater Jepson Prairie Ecosystem, Hasey said. It's the habitat of the Contra Costa goldfields, California tiger salamander and vernal pool fairy shrimp, a place where the species thrive and survive.
Protection of the land is the top priority for the preservation of these species, Hasey said.
"The fundamental conservation at Travis is wetlands conservation," Hasey said. "If we project the wetlands, we protect everything."
Comments
4/27/2012 11:09:32 PM ET @Check Your Facts ...thank you. I learned something tonight. Excellent examples.
Tell The Truth, U.S.
4/25/2012 4:18:24 PM ET Eglin AFB, Rx burning is conducted for ecosystem mgt to include endangered species mgt, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker. A side effect of burning is hazard fuel mitigation for the range, often allowing test missions to be conducted when weather conditions or fire hazard might otherwise not allow.Fort Bragg endangered species critical habitat has created a buffer zone around parts of the installation, alleviating potential encroachment by public development, which might hamper mission ops tempo via noise complaints etc.Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay The Navy designed a propeller guard for its C-tractor tugs, which are used to handle submarines during arrival and departure. The goal was to protect manatees from being pulled into the propellers. When the first guard was installed it was found to improve the efficiency of the tug... i.e. saving . Similar guards have been installed on all tugs in the bay.
Check Your Facts, San Antonio TX
4/24/2012 8:39:13 PM ET @Check Your Facts ...success stories between the mission and endangered species management yes synergies ... not so many. Would you provide three or more specific examples please Synergy implies the total mission effect is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Plans are integrated because it's the right thing to do and equally important it's the law. Picking a bunch of Contra Costa Goldfields would cost Uncle Sam over a quarter of a million dollars in fines
Tell The Truth, U.S.
4/24/2012 2:24:02 PM ET Bummer. When I read endangered species at Travis AFB I wasn't thinking of wildlife but the following endangered AF species. Morale esprit de corps commanders who actually cared candor fun clubs that were hopping squadron beer parties flying hours real job satisfaction focusing on and valuing competence and performance over superficial queep etc. All dying or dead.
Missing the Old Times, Former Castle AFB
4/24/2012 11:58:19 AM ET @Tell the Truth... there are PLENTY of success stories regarding synergies between mission completion and endangered species management throughout the Air Force. That's why natural resource management plans are referred to as Integrated. Check your facts before making such an uninformed statement.
Check Your Facts, San Antonio TX
4/23/2012 9:50:11 PM ET Only on the left coast ...try to get a little mission done amidst the endangered species if possible.
