San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex

In the mid-1990s, the system was expanded to protect larger areas of coastal and inland open space under the Multiple Species Conservation Program, a cooperative project involving city, state, and federal authorities.

The wildlife refuge complex now supports a diverse array of habitats including coastal marshes and uplands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, freshwater marsh, vernal pool areas, and breeding and nesting grounds for migratory and resident birds.

[1] This refuge is located on the grounds of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station in Orange County.

It is the largest remaining contiguous mudflat in southern California and is an important stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway.

[4] The state Wildlife Conservation Board contributed a grant in 2010 to try to restore 65 acres of highly damaged habitat in the refuge.

A visitor center is open to the public featuring educational programs and exhibits, four miles of trails, and a native plant garden.

They house some of the area's rarest animals, including the San Diego fairy shrimp and the Western spadefoot toad, which lie dormant under the ground during the dry season and emerge when the pools refill with water.