Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

301 Caspian Way Imperial Beach, CA 91932 619.575.3613 http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/geo_info/so_cal/tijuana_estuary.html

This unique coastal wetland habitat is among the most biologically productive systems on earth. The Tijuana Estuary retains natural, daily tidal flushing and is one of only two intact estuaries in Southern California. Encompassing 2,500 acres, the Tijuana Estuary is the endpoint of the binational 1,735 square-mile Tijuana River Watershed, two-thirds of which is in Mexico, including most of Tijuana and all of Tecate. The Estuary is an essential breeding, feeding, and nesting area for resident birds and for the thousands of migratory birds moving along the Pacific Flyway. Over 370 species of birds have been documented in the Reserve, some of which are endangered and threatened. The light-footed clapper rail, a resident bird that depends on marsh cordgrass and may be the most endangered bird in Southern California, is found here in numbers unlike any other wetland is San Diego County. There are a variety of habitats within the Reserve boundary, including dunes, salt pannes, salt marsh, mudflats, brackish ponds, riparian, coastal sage scrub, and vernal pools. Just a few inches of elevation change determine which plant communities will dominate. The diversity of habitats all in one small area provides excellent examples of the plant communities of Southern California. The Estuary has been a major wetland research site for over three decades. Regular research and monitoring of fish, benthic invertebrates, vegetation, birds, and water quality has contributed to an improved understanding of estuarine processes and restoration possibilities. The Visitor Center provides free scheduled interpretive programs for children and adults, videos, art classes and guided field trips. At the Visitor Center, a variety of permanent exhibits and an award winning native plant garden entertain and educate. Visitor Center displays highlight estuary flora and fauna, estuarine ecology, and natural processes. The Reserve offers miles of trails, taking visitors into prime bird-watching areas and to the mouth of the Tijuana River, where the river meets the sea!