The Navy will restore nine acres of dune habitat along Silver Strand Highway over the next three years, in order to improve habitat for two species of sensitive shorebirds.
The areas targeted for replanting supported 669 nests of federally endangered California Least Terns and 53 nests of federally threatened Western Snowy Plover in 2012, said said Tiffany Shepherd, wildlife biologist for Naval Base Coronado.
The dune restoration will include removing invasive iceplant, and planting native dune flora, including sand verbena, beach bur, beach evening primrose and beach morning glory, Shepherd said.
Removing iceplant and restoring native flowers will open up space where terns and plovers can place their camouflaged eggs in small nest scrapes in the sand, and will also stabilize the dunes.
The entire Naval Base Coronado installation supported 1078 tern nests and 146 plover nests that year, making it one of the last remaining dune ecosystems in the region.
Throughout Southern California coastal dunes have been lost to urbanization, leaving sensitive animal and plant species dependent on vanishing habitat, she said.
“Removing invasive species from the site and planting native species will protect and enhance the biodiversity of an ecosystem that already supports many native species, including several threatened and endangered species,” Shepherd said.
The work is being done under a cooperative agreement between the Navy and San Diego State’s Soil Ecology and Restoration Group.
Dune restoration will take three years, and will include installation of drip irrigation systems and protective cones and wire cages for 12 to 18 months to prevent animals from eating the new plants.