San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Encyclopedia
The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a series of wildlife refuges established by the United States National Wildlife Service beginning in 1972. The complex incorporates six locations in San Diego County
and Orange County
in California.
's coastal marshes. In the mid-1990's, the system was expanded to protect larger areas of coastal and inland open space under the Multiple Species Conservation Program
, a cooperative project involving city, state, and federal authorities. The wildlife refuge complex now supports a diverse array of habitats including coastal marshes and uplands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub
, oak woodland, freshwater marsh, vernal pool
areas, and breeding and nesting grounds for migratory and resident birds.
Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge
This refuge is located on the grounds of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station in Orange County. It includes 965 acres of saltwater marsh in the Anaheim Bay estuary. It was established in 1972 for the benefit of migrating birds up and down the Pacific Flyway
as well as a variety of local birds, fish, and plants. Public access is limited to once-a-month guided tours.
San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
This is an inland refuge in San Diego’s back country. Habitats include coastal sage scrub and chaparral to oak woodland and freshwater marsh. It is part of the Multiple Species Conservation Program
and includes 44,000 acres.
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
This area was dedicated in 1999 and includes 3,940 acres. It includes intertidal salt marsh and submerged areas with eelgrass
beds. It is the largest remaining contiguous mudflat in southern California and is an important stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway. The area has walking and biking paths as well as vantage points for bird watching. It includes some former salt evaporation ponds which the wildlife service is trying to turn back into natural wetland. The state Wildlife Conservation Board contributed a grant in 2010 to try to restore 65 acres of highly damaged habitat in the refuge.
enters San Diego Bay
. It was established in 1996. It includes the Chula Vista Nature Center, an interpretive and educational center run by the city of Chula Vista. The center includes interpretive and interactive exhibits, outdoor aviaries, a shark and ray exhibit, and hiking trails. Guided hikes are available as well as educational programs for elementary school children. The center is located at the foot of E Avenue in Chula Vista, just west of Interstate 5
. Some highly endangered species have been seen returning to the marsh since its establishment as a refuge.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,051 acre wetland where the Tijuana River
enters the Pacific Ocean
. It is also part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
. It is the only coastal lagoon in California which does not have any roads or rail lines built across it. More than 370 species of birds have been recorded in the refuge and the adjacent Tijuana River valley. A visitor center is open to the public featuring educational programs and exhibits, four miles of trails, and a native plant garden.
s are temporary pools that form for a few months during the wet season and are dry the rest of the year. They house some of the area’s rarest animals, including the San Diego fairy shrimp and the Western spadefoot toad
, which lie dormant under the ground during the dry season and emerge when the pools refill with water. Vernal pools are of special interest within the complex because they are so rare. It is estimated that only 3% of the area’s original vernal pools remain.
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
and Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
in California.
History
The first refuges were established to preserve and protect the rare birds of Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
's coastal marshes. In the mid-1990's, the system was expanded to protect larger areas of coastal and inland open space under the Multiple Species Conservation Program
Multiple Species Conservation Program
The Multiple Species Conservation Program will preserve a network of habitat and open space, protecting bio-diversity and enhancing the region's quality of life.The City of San Diego is one of several jurisdictions participating in the MSCP...
, a cooperative project involving city, state, and federal authorities. The wildlife refuge complex now supports a diverse array of habitats including coastal marshes and uplands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
, oak woodland, freshwater marsh, vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
areas, and breeding and nesting grounds for migratory and resident birds.
Seal Beach National Wildlife RefugeSeal Beach National Wildlife RefugeThe Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge encompassing located in the California coastal community of Seal Beach. Although it is located in Orange County it is included as part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
This refuge is located on the grounds of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station in Orange County. It includes 965 acres of saltwater marsh in the Anaheim Bay estuary. It was established in 1972 for the benefit of migrating birds up and down the Pacific FlywayPacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to...
as well as a variety of local birds, fish, and plants. Public access is limited to once-a-month guided tours.
San Diego National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in California. It is part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex.A variety of habitats from coastal sage scrub and chaparral to oak woodland and freshwater marsh describe this inland refuge in San Diego's backcountry.The...
This is an inland refuge in San Diego’s back country. Habitats include coastal sage scrub and chaparral to oak woodland and freshwater marsh. It is part of the Multiple Species Conservation ProgramMultiple Species Conservation Program
The Multiple Species Conservation Program will preserve a network of habitat and open space, protecting bio-diversity and enhancing the region's quality of life.The City of San Diego is one of several jurisdictions participating in the MSCP...
and includes 44,000 acres.
San Diego Bay National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego Bay National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is an urban refuge located on San Diego Bay in San Diego County, California. It is part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
This area was dedicated in 1999 and includes 3,940 acres. It includes intertidal salt marsh and submerged areas with eelgrassEelgrass
Eelgrass may refer to:* Zostera, marine eelgrass* Vallisneria, freshwater eelgrass...
beds. It is the largest remaining contiguous mudflat in southern California and is an important stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway. The area has walking and biking paths as well as vantage points for bird watching. It includes some former salt evaporation ponds which the wildlife service is trying to turn back into natural wetland. The state Wildlife Conservation Board contributed a grant in 2010 to try to restore 65 acres of highly damaged habitat in the refuge.
San Diego Bay Sweetwater Marsh
The Sweetwater Marsh area comprises 316 acres of salt marsh estuary where the Sweetwater RiverSweetwater River
Sweetwater River may refer to:*Sweetwater River , a river in San Diego County, California, USA*Sweetwater River , a river in Natrona County, Wyoming, USA...
enters San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
. It was established in 1996. It includes the Chula Vista Nature Center, an interpretive and educational center run by the city of Chula Vista. The center includes interpretive and interactive exhibits, outdoor aviaries, a shark and ray exhibit, and hiking trails. Guided hikes are available as well as educational programs for elementary school children. The center is located at the foot of E Avenue in Chula Vista, just west of Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
. Some highly endangered species have been seen returning to the marsh since its establishment as a refuge.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife RefugeTijuana Slough National Wildlife RefugeTijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located in the most southwestern corner of the contiguous United States. It is part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It was established in 1980....
The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,051 acre wetland where the Tijuana RiverTijuana River
The Tijuana River is an intermittent river, 120 mi long, on the Pacific coast of northern Baja California in Mexico and southern California in the United States.-Location:...
enters the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. It is also part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
National Estuarine Research Reserve
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a program of the United States government. The program establishes federal-state partnerships under the Coastal Zone Management Act to create a system of estuarine research reserves representative of the various regions and estuarine types in the...
. It is the only coastal lagoon in California which does not have any roads or rail lines built across it. More than 370 species of birds have been recorded in the refuge and the adjacent Tijuana River valley. A visitor center is open to the public featuring educational programs and exhibits, four miles of trails, and a native plant garden.
Vernal Pools
Vernal poolVernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s are temporary pools that form for a few months during the wet season and are dry the rest of the year. They house some of the area’s rarest animals, including the San Diego fairy shrimp and the Western spadefoot toad
Western Spadefoot Toad
Western Spadefoot or Western Spadefoot Toad is the common name of two different species of toads*Spea hammondii, found in North America*Pelobates cultripes, found in Europe...
, which lie dormant under the ground during the dry season and emerge when the pools refill with water. Vernal pools are of special interest within the complex because they are so rare. It is estimated that only 3% of the area’s original vernal pools remain.