Restoration of Common Murre colonies in central California: annual report 2004

Restoration of Common Murre colonies in central California: annual report 2004 (August 2005)

Gerard J. McChesney, Nathan M. Jones, Travis B. Poitras, Karen J. Vickers, Lisa E. Eigner, Harry R. Carter, Richard T. Golightly, Stephen W. Kress, Michael W. Parker, Kristina Studnicki, Phillip J. Capitolo, and James N. Hall

Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (partial)

The 1986 Apex Houston oil spill off the central California coast killed approximately 9,900 seabirds, including 6,300 Common Murres (Uria aalge). A litigation settlement in August 1994 provided funding for restoration of natural resources injured by the oil spill. To oversee the implementation of restoration actions, the Apex Houston Trustee Council (AHTC) was established and comprised of representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Three restoration projects have been approved to date: 1) the Common Murre Restoration Project; 2) the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) Nesting Habitat Acquisition Project; and 3) seabird habitat restoration at the South Farallon Islands (Farallon National Wildlife Refuge).

Citation: McChesney, G. J., N. M. Jones, T. B. Poitras, K. J. Vickers, L. E. Eigner, H. R. Carter, R. T. Golightly, S. W. Kress, M. W. Parker, K. Studnicki, P. J. Capitolo, and J. N. Hall. 2005. Restoration of Common Murre colonies in central California: annual report 2004. Unpublished report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Newark, California (prepared for the Apex Houston Trustee Council).