San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Beginning in 1972, a series of National Wildlife Refuges - Seal Beach, Tijuana Slough, and Sweetwater Marsh - were established to preserve and protect the rare birds of southern California's coastal marshes. In the mid-1990's, San Diegans joined with state and federal agencies to protect larger areas of open space under the Multiple Species Conservation Program .  Our inland refuge, San Diego NWR was acquired as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s contribution to that effort and in 1998 San Diego Bay NWR was established on the south bay.

The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex supports habitats as diverse as coastal marshes and uplands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, freshwater marsh, rare vernal pool wetlands, and the incredible breeding and nesting grounds for a suite of migratory and resident bird species in south San Diego Bay.  

These refuges help conserve the rich biological diversity and quality of life for which the region is famous.