| Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
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  Map of theUnited States | |
| Location | Monterey County, California,United States |
| Nearest city | Castroville, California |
| Coordinates | 36°44′30″N121°48′14″W / 36.74162°N 121.80384°W /36.74162; -121.80384[1] |
| Area | 367 acres (1.49 km2) |
| Established | 1974 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge |
Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately 11 miles north ofMonterey, California, and 3 miles south ofCastroville, California, at the point where theSalinas River empties intoMonterey Bay. The 367-acre (1.49 km2) refuge encompasses several habitat types includingsand dunes,pickleweedsalt marsh, riverlagoon,riverine habitat, and a saline pond. The refuge was established in 1974 because of its "particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program."[2]
The area provides habitat for severalthreatened andendangered species, including theCalifornia brown pelican,Smith's blue butterfly, thewestern snowy plover, theMonterey sand gilia, and theMonterey spineflower. The refuge is used by a variety of migratory birds during breeding, wintering, and migrating periods. Refuge mammals include muskrat,golden beaver, gray fox, red fox, striped skunk,longtail weasel, Virginia opossum, vagrant shrew, broad-footed mole, brush rabbit, raccoon, duskyfooted woodrat, deer mouse, and coyote.[3]
Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge is open to the public though there are no facilities beyond a parking lot and footpaths.
Dogs,horseback riding, andcamping are not permitted due to the sensitivity of the habitat.
NorthwesternMonterey County has aMediterranean climate with warm and dry summers. The weather is generally wet and mild in the winter. The area receives about 16 inches of rain in an average year, mostly between November and April. Wind comes from the southeast during the summer and fall, and there is a steady northwest wind during winter and spring.[4]
TheSalinas River water is contaminated due to pumping and industry. Alteration of water flow disrupts the natural concentration of salt. The worst threat to water quality isagricultural pollution originating in the broad stretches of farmland upstream. The water experienceseutrophication and algae overgrowth. Pesticides in local waters includedichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and otherorganochlorine insecticides.[4]
Salinas River water pollution is a main threat to theCalifornia slender salamander and other endangered species. Federal authorities routinely test water quality.[5]
The refuge is located in theCalifornia Coast Ranges. Basement rocks along the coast are from theMesozoic, 65 to are 245 million years old. About seven million years ago the local ranges experienced most of their uplift, and there are several geological faults, such as theSan Gregorio-Hosgri fault system. The majority of the refuge itself is located on inactivePleistocene dune deposits and clay.[4]
Analysis of the geology of the riverbanks revealed sand beneath the clay, but dense clay farther down.Liquefaction is unlikely in this area.[6]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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