About Us
Tijuana Slough is a 1,072-acre wetland where the Tijuana River meets the Pacific Ocean. The refuge was established in 1980 and is part of the 2,800-acre Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only 30 such reserves in the United States.
The refuge is also recognized as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The reserve system is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which supports research and education programs in partnership with California State Parks and the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association (SWIA).
Our Mission
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to manage a nationwide network of lands and waters to conserve, protect, and restore fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. These efforts ensure that current and future generations of Americans can benefit from these natural resources.
Our History
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980 under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
In 1982, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to include refuge lands within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve when it was designated as a National Estuarine Sanctuary.
In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed an agreement with California State Parks to manage their lands together as one unified reserve.
You can also learn how Patricia and Mike McCoy helped save the estuary from development in this story.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Refuge complex is comprised of Seal Beach NWR, San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego NWR, and Tijuana Slough NWR.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is also a part of the 2,800-acre Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only 28 such reserves in the United States.
