It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex and supports one tenth of the world's dusky Canada goose population.

[3] Chinook and coho salmon, coastal cutthroat trout and steelhead are all native to the Nestucca Bay and River system.

Notable winged residents include a variety of migrating shorebirds, peregrine falcons and bald eagles.

Across the bay to the west is Nestucca Spit and Robert W. Straub state parks.

[5] In 2010, Oregon writer Matt Love published a book about his experience serving as caretaker of the site for nine years during the restoration of the preserve from a one-time dairy farm back to its natural state.