The restoration of the approximately 67-acre site will benefit the least Bell’s vireo and the southwestern willow flycatcher, two bird species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The project will reactivate a flood plain, creating a mosaic of natural habitats for multiple species. It will also extend the habitat corridor of adjacent water bodies and improve local water quality and ecosystems.
“We are extremely proud to be a part of this effort and this team,” said Col. Richard T. Anderson, Commanding Officer for Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. “This project not only solves a decades-old aviation safety violation, but does so while supporting endangered species and the community.”
Burns & McDonnell will implement a range of actions, including:
- Removing inactive tennis courts, golf course pathways, and abandoned parking lots
- Reactivating the natural flood plain by cutting a new, high-flow stream channel to improve habitat conditions for plants and wildlife
- Grading to create natural topography and fill in ponds
- Removing and controlling invasive species that are disruptive to natural resources and ecological processes
- Planting native species to restore the overall ecosystem and provide long-term environmental benefits
“We are honored to join the Marine Corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to break ground on this critical restoration project,” said Rashmi Menon, Vice President and General Manager for Burns & McDonnell in California. “Our team has engineered a solution that will span the course of decades, restoring and improving our environment for MCAS Camp Pendleton.”
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The restoration is currently undergoing the environmental review process and is expected to be completed in 2022 with potential adjustments made to account for weather and nesting seasons. Following the completion, Burns & McDonnell and MCAS Camp Pendleton will monitor the restoration with oversight by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
