| Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar supports the largest contiguous block of habitat and highest number of vernal pools occupied by the federally endangered San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis) within the range of the species - approximately 4,051 basins out of 7,531 total mapped basins on station (including pools, road ruts, ditches, and other seasonally ponded features) that support vernal pool plant and animal species. Cardno was contracted to recontour and restore a suite of vernal pools on MCAS Miramar occupied by San Diego fairy shrimp, as well as the federally endangered vernal pool plants, San Diego mesa mint (Pogogyne abramsii) and San Diego button celery (Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii). By applying low-impact techniques - manual salvaging of soil containing fairy shrimp cysts and vernal pool plant seeds; recontouring/restoring vernal pool basins using hand tools; surveying and mapping pre- and post-restoration basin topography; and replacing salvaged soil - we were able to fully recontour/restore vernal pools without the need for potentially impactful heavy machinery. We conclude that manual restoration of vernal pools is a low-impact, viable option for small-scale restoration projects. |