| San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
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  Map of the United States | |
| Location | San Diego County, California,United States |
| Nearest city | San Diego, California |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge |
32°36′12.39″N117°07′24.29″W / 32.6034417°N 117.1234139°W /32.6034417; -117.1234139San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is an urban refuge located onSan Diego Bay inSan Diego County, California. It is part of theSan Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex and hosts its headquarters. The refuge was established in 1988.
The refuge, comprising 316 acres (1.28 km2) ofsalt marsh and coastaluplands surrounded by urban development, is a critically important area for wildlife because over 90 percent of the historicwetlands of San Diego Bay have been filled in, drained, or diked.
The refuge works to preserve and restore the remaining wetlands, mudflats andeelgrass beds to ensure that the bay's thousands of migrating and resident shorebirds and waterfowl will survive into the next century. The approved refuge boundary is 2,620 acres (10.6 km2).
The 316-acre (1.28 km2) Sweetwater Marsh Unit was established in 1988 on the east side of San Diego Bay. The area was first used by theKumeyaay people for fishing, hunting and gathering.[1] From 1916 to 1920, the site was home to a 30-acre (0.12 km2) kelp-processing plant belonging to theHercules Powder Company which produced acetone and potash.[2]The 2,300-acre (9.3 km2) South San Diego Bay Unit was dedicated in 1999.
San Diego has a year-round mildMediterranean climate.[3] Temperature usually ranges from 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Occasionally, dry easterly winds bring warm temperatures. Fog is often found in this area in the Autumn and Winter months. The average seasonal rainfall is about 10 inches (25 cm).[4]
Global warming poses many risks to San Diego Bay. Global warming may increase the severity of droughts, as well as the likelihood of wildfires. By 2100, the sea level around San Diego’s coast is expected to rise by 1.6–3.2 feet (0.49–0.98 m).[3]
Sweetwater Marsh provides habitat for multiple endangered or threatened species, includinglight-footed rail, theBelding’s savannah sparrow and theCalifornia least tern, as well as endangered plants such as thesalt marsh bird’s beak. The refuge is the site of a very successful breeding program for the light-footed Ridgway’s rail. It is also the only place in the United States whereyerba reuma, a member of the heath family, grows naturally. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded on the refuge.[1]
The South Bay Unit’s shallow subtidal habitat supports a group of twelve species of fish that are indigenous to the bays and estuaries of theSouthern California Bight.
The refuge is located on historiccoastal salt marsh and intertidal mudflats, closely bordered by a highly urbanized area. The refuge focuses on the restoration of tidal flats, salt marsh, subtidal, and native upland habitats.[1] The underlying rock formations of San Diego Bay are mostly sedimentary.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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