Habitat Restoration & Education

As sea level rises, the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex is racing against time to  preserve habitat for the millions of migrating birds and other species that make their home in the preserved lands of our seven local refuges - around the bay and in the Monterey area. Facilitating the upland retreat of habitat for the unique ecosystems where water meets land is a continual challenge for scientists and biologists tasked with preserving endangered and threatened species. Our work helps to support their efforts. 

FOR EXAMPLE: help grow and restore habitat for four endangered or threatened species at the Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge. 

The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) is described as a black salamander with distinct orange patterning on the back and tail, it was recognized as a new long-toed subspecies. Due to its limited range and habitat threatened by development, it was included in the first Endangered Species List in 1967. Since its establishment in 1975,  the Refuge has grown to more than 315 acres and currently protects three additional sensitive species: the federally-endangered Robust Spineflower and the federally-threatened California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog.  

For more info: read https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_8/NWRS/Zone_2/San_Francisco_Bay_Complex/tideline%20fall13%20final%20clr.pdf

Santa Cruz long-toed salamander: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Ellicott_Slough/wildlife.html