Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Lands Expansion + Translocation

Specialized Mitigation for Listed SpeciesBiological Resources Support for Federal Lands Management + Department of Defense InfrastructurePermit Compliance Biological Assessments Mitigation Plans Reporting

Aug 10

Written By Nate Jones

OVERVIEW:

The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) at Twentynine Palms has expanded the footprint of training activities through an acquisition of approximately 150,000 acres of adjacent BLM land.

Proposed Impact Areas were surveyed for Desert Tortoise. Radio transmitters were placed on more than 1,100 tortoises that were encountered during surveys conducted in 2014 and 2015, and these were tracked at regular intervals throughout 2015-2017 using radio telemetry. Prior to translocation in 2017 and 2018, protocol USFWS Health Assessments were conducted on all tortoises to determine their disposition and suitability for translocation. In the spring and fall seasons of 2017 and 2018 the tortoises were then moved to comparable habitat adjacent to the installation, where a representative sample of 700+ animals was monitored intensively through 2022.

This represents by far the largest land clearance and translocation action undertaken to date in the Mojave desert.

A comprehensive long-term study is still underway to determine the effects of the action. It includes telemetry tracking to study tortoise movement and home ranges, yearly health assessments, genetic studies, predator surveys and control, and other inquiries.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

Wilder Ecological Principal Biologists Nate Jones and Liana Harp were sub-contracted to provide field leadership, USFWS health assessments and tissue sampling, data processing, and GIS for clearance surveys for desert tortoise.

Nate Jones: co-lead for radio telemetry tracking activities, providing field training in telemetry techniques and tortoise processing, management of staffing and data collection, and development and implementation of an effective GIS monitoring program that tracks hundreds of animals at regular intervals (1x/week to 1x/month), year-round. He has sampled more than 300 desert tortoises for USFWS protocol Health Assessments.
Liana Harp: USFWS certified Health Assessment specialist, survey team lead, and radio telemetry tracking field work. She has sampled more than 600 desert tortoises for USFWS protocol Health Assessments.

SEE MORE CASE STUDIES:

Case Studies

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Lands Expansion + Translocation

Wilder was sub-contracted to provide field leadership, data processing, and GIS for clearance surveys for desert tortoise on approximately 150,000 acres, followed by translocation of resident animals, then continued long-term tracking through radio telemetry and ongoing yearly USFWS health assessments.

Fort Irwin NTC Southern Expansion + Translocation

Wilder conducted desert tortoise clearance surveys on 36 square miles of US Army training lands yielded more than 500 animals.

Athos I&II Solar Project

Wilder conducted clearance surveys, mitigation, and construction monitoring on a 3,440 acre 450MW solar site.

National Fish + Wildlife Foundation funded Common Raven Mitigation Studies

Wilder was contracted to conduct aerial drone surveys and ground-based raven population mitigation through use of egg-oiling techniques.

Enterprise Sanborn Solar Project

Nate Jones was contracted to serve as Project Field Lead on 3,500+ acres of photovoltaic solar development.

Alta-Mesa Wind Repower Project

Wilder was sub-contracted to provide a USFWS Desert Tortoise Authorized Biologist to assist in environmental compliance monitoring during a two-year upgrade to the 27 MW Alta Mesa Wind Project.

Desert Breeze Solar Project

Wilder Ecological was sub-contracted to effect a USFWS clearance for desert tortoise, western burrowing owl, and desert kit fox on a 667-acre photovoltaic project, and completed a successful translocation of 11 desert tortoises during a compressed fall season time line.

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station (ISEGS) is a 377 MW solar thermal power plant, constructed on 3,500 acres of BLM land. At the time of construction, it was the largest such power plant in the world.

Nate Jones

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Lands Expansion + Translocation

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Range 01 MEC Removal

Fort Irwin NTC Southern Expansion + Translocation