San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge of Sonoma County

It is true that San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refugedams, the management of the San Pablo Bay National
does not limit its boundaries to Sonoma County alone,Wildlife Refuge had formed a partnership with the
but it would be gravely negligent of me to remain silentDepartment of the Interior, the United .States Fish and
about its majestic existence along the north shore ofWildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge
San Pablo Bay just because it is shared with twoSystem.
other neighboring counties in northern California; SolanoSadly, only fifteen percent of this natural treasure
and Napa.remains unblemished but there is great hope for the
In the not-so-distant past, less than 150 years ago, Sanfuture. Presently, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife
Pablo Bay was enveloped by extensive and intricateRefuge is a protected sanctuary for a thriving
marshlands perpetually permeated by surging andyear-round local population of the California Clapper
ebbing tidal waves of the Pacific Ocean and wasand Black Rails, the Salt Marsh Harvest Mice, the Song
regarded as one of the largest systems on theSparrows of San Pablo and the Suisun Shrews.
western coast of North America. These rich andFurthermore, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is
sprawling swamps provided an ideal environment fora welcoming winter resort for various species of birds
aquatic plants which in turn offered safe havens andespecially the diving ducks, as well as eleven kinds of
wealthy feeding grounds for migratory winteringfish that annually cross the San Pablo Bay to their
waterfowl such as canvasback ducks, native shorefresh water spawning grounds.
and water birds as well as an abounding assortmentNow that we have seen what San Pablo Bay National
of other land and water species.Wildlife Refuge does for wildlife, let us examine what it
Spanning over approximately twenty thousand acres,can do for you and me and I am please to inform you
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is just one ofthat it can do plenty with a capital "P." Being open to
sixty-seven wildlife refuges in the San Francisco Baythe public every day of the year from sun up to sun
area, that was established in 1974 to restore thedown it offers: hands-on educational programs for
delicate equilibrium of the wetlands, to secureelementary school classes; off-water fishing in the
threatened wildlife habitats and to protect millions ofopen bay and sloughs accessible by boats; hunting
vulnerable and endangered indigenous species of floragrounds which are subject to State and Federal
and fauna as well as the countless migratory birds. Toregulations and seasonal restriction; hiking and walking
accomplish this gargantuan task by attempting totrails; and wildlife viewing and capturing on film.
reverse the damage inflicted to the local tidal marshesAnd if you wish to turn your visit to San Pablo Bay
by expending agricultural, commercial and industrialNational Wildlife Refuge into a true vacation, you will
activities such as hydraulic gold mining in the 1850s atfind plenty of charming, rustic and beautifully maintained
the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, salt harvesting,local accommodations such as B&Bs and inns.
rerouting and bleeding its waters and constructing