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San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge San Pablo Bay National the Tidal Wetlands

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San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge San Pablo Bay National the Tidal Wetlands U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge San Pablo Bay National the tidal wetlands. Wildlife Refuge can offer The refuge provides vital stretches of knee-high habitat for threatened and pickleweed, open bay endangered species, as well waters with rafts of as millions of migrating Canvasback ducks riding waterfowl, shorebirds and the currents, and the our local resident wildlife. timeless ebb and flow of Pickleweed © Peter Baye Welcome 121 More than 300 species of By the 1950s, only 25 percent of the wildlife can be found in the historical tidal marshes remained in Vallejo greater San Francisco Bay the estuary. Today, only 15 percent 37 estuary which includes of the bay’s historic tidal lands remain. San Pablo Bay NWR San Pablo Bay. Most use San Pablo Bay the estuary as a resting, Partnerships – Since the 1960s, conservation San feeding or wintering stop Our Roots agencies, non-profit organizations and Rafael 101 80 during their Pacific local grassroot efforts have worked to 580 Richmond Flyway migration. protect the Bay for its significance to migratory birds and resident wildlife. 580 San Pablo Bay National The northern Bay’s Napa-Sonoma Wildlife Refuge was Marshes are jointly managed with the 80 Oakland established in 1974 to California Department of Fish and Pacific 580 conserve, restore and Game. The Lower Tubbs Island Unit Ocean 101 San protect bay wetlands for was acquired with assistance from The Francisco San endangered species and Nature Conservancy. While the Solano AreaArea of 1 map Francisco Shown Bay migratory birds. County Farmlands and Open Space CALIFORNIA Foundation and California State USGS A variety of habitats can be found on Lower Tubbs Coastal Conservancy helped acquire the refuge along the north shore of the Cullinan Ranch/Napa Marsh Unit. Island Unit San Pablo Bay, including open bay waters, salt marsh, intertidal mudflats, Largely comprised of thousands of upland habitat and restored wetlands. acres of tidelands leased from the These habitats provide a multitude of Aerial view of the California State Lands Commission, microscopic creatures which support refuge showing the Refuge’s ultimate plans include the food chains that provide nutrients open bay, tidal protection and conservation of more for birds, mammals and fish. wetlands and than 20,000 acres of critical wildlife Mare Island habitat in northern San Pablo Bay. Historically Less than 150 years ago, the Napa- Wetland Marshes Sonoma marshes surrounding San Pablo Bay comprised one of the most extensive wetland systems along the Pacific Coast. This system provided habitat for millions of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds Rafts of as well as resident wildlife. Plants Canvasbacks dot specialized to live in aquatic habitats the bay during grew bountifully, sheltering and winter months. feeding a rich diversity of species. Rapid development in the area began with the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills in the 1850s. Hydraulic mining operations contributed huge amounts of sediment to the rison San Francisco Bay Estuary. For the next one hundred years, the marshes were filled, diked or drained to support the bay’s development as a USGC major center for commerce. Caltrans, Lynn G. Har Wildlife Calendar Fall, winter and spring offer the best Raptors, such as red-tailed hawks, opportunities to observe concentrations white-tailed kites, northern harriers of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and American kestrels, are abundant wading birds and raptors. One of from November through February. the best places to see wildlife is the They can be seen hunting over the © Anthony Battiste Green-winged Lower Tubbs Island Trail which refuge’s marshes and on adjacent USFWS teal provides a spectacular view of agricultural fields. A sharp observer San Pablo Bay, its wildlife habitat White-tailed kite may spot a peregrine falcon pursuing and numerous tidal marsh species. a shorebird on the edge of the bay. Fall & Winter Starting in September, waterbirds Spring & Summer By May, most of these migrants begin to arrive from their northern move north to nest, while residents breeding grounds. From November and visitors from the south nest on through January, peak numbers of the refuge. Nesting species on the refuge include black-necked stilt, Marbled Godwits mallard, and gadwall. Migrant and other © Anthony Battiste nesters from the south include shorebirds Barn swallows Caspian terns and barn swallows. A variety of resident gulls, herons, egrets and perching birds can be seen year-round nesting on or adjacent to the refuge. Non-breeding white pelicans are commonly observed during summer and stay into the fall. Established trails at the © Anthony Battiste Tolay Creek and Cullinan Ranch units provide the best diving ducks and shorebirds, including wildlife observation and canvasback, scaup, scoter, bufflehead, USFWS photography opportunities ruddy duck, goldeneyes, sandpipers, White pelican during these seasons. plovers, dowitchers, willets, godwits and curlews, can be seen using the Snowy egret and Great blue heron USFWS bay’s wetlands. Semi palmated Plovers Dowitchers USFWS USFWS Watching Wildlife Dawn and dusk are the best times Leave young animals alone. Even Spot a to see wildlife. Use binoculars or though you may think they are spotting scopes for a closer look and abandoned, a parent is probably vey observe from the sidelines. close by waiting for you to leave. Quick movements and loud noises Do not feed wildlife. It disrupts their will scare away most wildlife. digestive systems and compromises Staying quietly in one location will Roy Lowe, FWS their natural instinct for survival. let wildlife adjust to your presence. Avocet nest Many animals that have hidden will Always walk quietly in designated reappear once they think you areas. Other wildlife watchers will SFSU/Richmond Bridge Harbor Seal Sur Harbor seal are gone. appreciate your consideration. Be aware of sounds and smells. Often you will hear more than you will see. Look for traces of animals including tracks, scat, feathers and nests that tell interesting stories. Please leave this evidence for others to observe. Monarch butterfly or a stilt mother and chicks looking for a meal on the tidal mudflat Mike Boylan, FWS USFWS r. S C Skaggs Island uth ina loug a So Ch h m Naval Reservation o n Na o pa Slo Island No. 2 S ugh Russ Island Sears Lakeville Road Point uth Tubbs So Napa Island Island No. 1 River Slough Dutchman Knight P e t Cullinan Island a Railroad l Tolay Cr. u Ranch m a Unit R SloughVallejo i v Lower Tubbs San Pablo Bay NWR e r Island Hunting and Fishing Area Midshipman Boat Point Mare Launch Island Petaluma Point Refuge San Pablo Bay Headquarters Novato Cr. Complete hike: Area of map down, around and back = 8.15 miles Sears California Point San San Pablo Bay Rafael National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Photography Parking Area Hunting Restrooms Fishing 2.75 Miles Miles Accessible Boat Launch 012 Lower Tubbs Wildlife 0 1.6 3.2 Viewing Trail Island Trail Kilometers Power Line Tolay Cr. Railroad Refuge Boundary Major Road Trail/Road Creek 2.65 Miles Midshipman Long Point Tidal Seasonal Point Marsh Marsh San Pablo Bay Wildlife and Their Habitats Open Bay San Pablo Bay’s open bay waters are a mix of fresh and salt waters. Winds and tidal current mix Pacific Ocean tidal flow and fresh waters from the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Petaluma and Napa rivers in the bay. Fresh water from California’s 60,000 square-mile Central Valley also USFWS passes through the bay to the sea. Open waters serve as the home or migratory corridor for many species of fish and aquatic invertebrates including herring, anchovy, salmon, USFWS steelhead, crabs and shrimp. Open Salt marsh animals are eaten by tiny young fish harvest mouse waters also provide important resting that grow to reproduce, as well as by larger fish, birds and mammals. © Anthony Battiste and feeding habitat for millions of Canvasback male migratory birds each year. The refuge’s marshes also support Mudflats and Large expanses of fine-grained silt several rare and endangered animals Intertidal and clay mudflats are found around including the California clapper the bay. Twice daily, tides inundate rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, these mudflats, distributing California black rail and San Pablo enormous quantities of nutrients Bay song sparrow. which support an extensive community of diatoms, amphipods, Perennial worms, shellfish and algae. Many of Pickleweed these species are burrowers, which protects them from wave action, enemies and from drying out. At high tide, fish feed on the worms, snails, USFWS Shorebirds clams and crabs that live in the mud. At low tide, shorebirds and water- birds forage in the mud for their daily meal. Tidal Marsh Tidal marshes occupy a transition USFWS zone between mudflat habitat and drier upland habitat. A variety of Uplands Mostly located on levees or land tidal marshes including salt marsh, adjacent to marshland, upland brackish marsh, fully tidal marsh and habitat is dry land not subject to managed marsh can be found on the tidal inundation. Species such as the USFWS refuge. They are some of the most jackrabbit, California vole, gopher productive habitat types on earth. snake, western meadowlark and golden-crowned sparrow inhabit the variety of grasses, shrubs and Vegetation adapted to living in salty FWS Ken Crowley, environments, like pickleweed and Jackrabbit herbaceous vegetation found in cordgrass, provide food for the the uplands. billions of microscopic animals in the marshes and open water of San Pablo Bay. These microscopic Refuge Management Environmental Education Environmental education is an integral part of the refuge objectives. Teachers, youth group leaders, adult volunteers and students are invited to actively explore the diverse habitats and wildlife of the north San Pablo Bay through educator-led field trips along the marsh on Mare Island.
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