San Francisco Bay Reserve, California
State
California
State Partner
San Francisco State University
Acres
3,710
Est. Date
2003
The San Fransisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses more than 3,700 acres of tidal marshes and undeveloped uplands that serve as research sites, outdoor classrooms, and recreation destinations for surrounding communities. These lands also provide habitat for many animals, including river otters, raccoons, badgers, northern harriers, ruddy ducks, great blue herons, and bobcats, as well as the endangered California red-legged frog and clapper rat. Reserve staff work to restore tidal marshes and strengthen the coastal community using research, monitoring, training, and education.
Explore the impact of San Francisco Bay’s educational program in 2019, including a guided investigation of local climate change impacts for teachers that brought real lessons to the classroom.
Did You Know…
The Reserve’s China Camp was the site of a thriving Chinese shrimp-fishing village in the late 1800s, a legacy that informed a successful new fishery on the shores of the San Francisco Estuary.
Latest News from the San Francisco Bay Reserve
Bringing Science Downtown
“Why is the ocean salty?” “Why do pigeons bob their heads when they walk?” “Can crows remember faces?” These are just a few of the questions that have popped up on the San Francisco Bay Reserve’s nature walks with Downtown Streets Team.
A Bird’s Eye View of the NERRS
The rufous-breasted red knot migrates more than 9,000 miles every year, wintering as far south as Tierra Del Fuego at the southernmost tip of South America. Along the way, many take a break at South Carolina’s ACE Basin Reserve.
Keeping the Bay Wild—And Accessible
The San Francisco Bay Reserve’s China Camp site is home to a vibrant ecosystem. Unfortunately, barriers can make it difficult for those with disabilities to have the same opportunities to explore.