6.0 Other Considerations Required by CEQA/NEPA
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT
6.8
This section provides an assessment of potential impacts to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of1996
(Public Law 104-267), sets forth a number of new mandates for the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), eight regional fishery management councils (Councils), and other federal agencies to identify and
protect important marine fish habitat. The Councils, with assistance from NMFS, are required to delineate
EFH for all managed species. Federal agencies which fund, permit or carry out activities that may
adversely impact EFH are required to consult with the NMFS and respond in writing to the Fisheries'
Services recommendations.
The Navy performed an EFH assessment of the Regional Beach Sand Replenishment Project. The
proposed action would involve dredging at six potential borrow sites and use of that material to replenish
beaches. The borrow sites would be located outside the littoral cells at water depths generally 40 to 80
feet (Table 2-3). The borrow sites would be located in an area designated as EFH in the Coastal Pelagics
Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) and the Pacific Groundfish FMP.
The CoastalPelagics FMP includes four finfish (Pacific sardine, chub mackeral, northernanchovy, and jack
mackeral) as well as market squid. Coastal pelagic finfish are wide ranging species that generally inhabit
the upper portion of the water column and not found near the bottom. The Pacific Groundfish FMP
includes 83 species, generally having more restricted ranges with many of these species being found on or
near the bottom. Many of the Pacific groundfish are rockfish (Sebastes sp) typically found in association
with hard substrate habitats. Generally, the EFH for both plans is defined as the ocean area from the coastal
lagoons up to 200 miles offshore (Hoffman 2000).
The EFH source documents prepared by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (1998a and 1998b)
identify that dredging is a direct impact to benthic habitats but also has indirect effects to adjacent habitats
due to removal of prey, turbidity, etc. Conservation measures are recommended in the source documents.
Pertinent measures for type of dredging proposed include provisionofthe latitude and longitude coordinates
of the dredge site for Geographic Information System (GIS) tracking, sediment testing for contaminants,
avoidance of kelp beds and subaquatic vegetation in the placement of pipelines and accessory equipment,
and control measures to minimize turbidity.
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Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
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