When Marine Corps helicopters previously based in California's El Toro air base were relocated to the Miramar Naval Air Station near San Diego as part of a base realignment, 116 "vernal pools" were displaced on over four acres of the base, jeopardizing the tiny fairy shrimp (once sold to youngsters as pet "sea monkeys") that inhabit the seasonal puddles and are listed as endangered. In accordance with the law, the Navy is spending more than $300,000 to build 350 new mud puddles on over 10 acres elsewhere at the site. An environmental consulting firm will then receive a five-year contract, cost as yet unknown, to "monitor" the puddles to make sure the sea monkeys are taking to their new home.

A research group in San Diego connected with the Sea World amusement park has also received $2.2 million to study the effects of helicopter noise on two local bird species, the California gnatcatcher and Least Bells vireo. A scientist involved in the research commented that he has never in years of study found any evidence of negative impacts from such noise and "as a taxpayer, I'd be just as happy not to do this [research]."

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