Tijuana Estuary (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve)

Tijuana Estuary (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve) “A Wetland of International Importance” International Ramsar Convention, 2005
(617)

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve preserves, protects, and manages the natural and cultural resources of the Tijuana River Estuary by focusing on research and education with compatible recreation and resource use. The Reserve encompasses beach, dune, mudflat, salt marsh, riparian, coastal sage scrub, and upland habitats surrounded by the growing cities of Tijuana, Imperial Beac

h, and San Diego. Critical issues confronted by the Reserve include habitat restoration, endangered species management, management of the wastewater from Mexico, sediment management, and the integration of recreation and habitat conservation and restoration.

Curious about what's going on behind our "plant rehabilitation" signs?Last winter and spring, we cleaned up some overgro...
09/04/2026

Curious about what's going on behind our "plant rehabilitation" signs?

Last winter and spring, we cleaned up some overgrown saltbush to make room for more native plants. As part of a years-long habitat-enhancement project, we planted mainly bladderpod, California sagebrush, white sage, and California Buckwheat. Biodiversity makes ecosystema strong! 🌱

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!This bird was hopping around our photo archives. Do you know the species?
09/03/2026

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

This bird was hopping around our photo archives. Do you know the species?

One of our missions is to protect the estuary from excess sedimentation. Throughout Southern California, salt marsh habi...
09/01/2026

One of our missions is to protect the estuary from excess sedimentation.

Throughout Southern California, salt marsh habitats are jeopardized by stormwater flows and sedimentation. In the Tijuana River Estuary, tidal channels and salt marsh habitat have been significantly impacted by sedimentation.

The Goat Canyon Sediment Basins were constructed in 2005 to stop excess sediment flowing from a highly disturbed canyon landscape in Mexico. These basins capture up to 60,000 cubic yards of sediment and solid waste each winter and are cleaned out every fall. The Stewardship Program plays an active role in managing this facility.

Learn more about the basins on our website!

©William Bay

At the Tijuana River Estuary, we offer exciting, hands-on educational programs for students, as well as tours and lectur...
08/29/2026

At the Tijuana River Estuary, we offer exciting, hands-on educational programs for students, as well as tours and lectures for adult audiences.

We also put on special events throughout the year. Check out the calendar on our website for an updated schedule!

Have you been to the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center? We found some archived photos of the construction and dedication ce...
08/26/2026

Have you been to the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center?

We found some archived photos of the construction and dedication ceremony in 1990. Come check it out to see what's new!

Happy Friday! Curious about birding? Consider spending some of your weekend at the estuary!Come by the Visitor Center an...
08/22/2026

Happy Friday!

Curious about birding? Consider spending some of your weekend at the estuary!

Come by the Visitor Center and we will set you up with a trail map and a pair of binoculars to borrow, free of charge.

©William Bay

It's a beautiful day to come walk the trails at the estuary. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of our research team in the fi...
08/19/2026

It's a beautiful day to come walk the trails at the estuary. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of our research team in the field!

Can you guess what they are looking for here?

Chances are, if you have visited us at the Estuary, you have walked the North or South McCoy Trail. Those paths are name...
08/17/2026

Chances are, if you have visited us at the Estuary, you have walked the North or South McCoy Trail. Those paths are named after Mike and Patricia McCoy. Pictured here in blue is Mike, the legend himself.

Mike McCoy has been associated with the protection and restoration of the estuary for 55 years. His work led to the establishment of the Tijuana Estuary Foundation and Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, and later, the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“When I first looked across the majestic Tijuana Estuary from north to south, that great sea of spartina grass, threatened with a potential marina, I knew it had to be protected, and the rest is history," said McCoy.

Join us in thanking the McCoys for their dedication to the Tijuana River Estuary.

©Marc Beckmann

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!We found this hatchling in our photo archives. Can you guess the species?
08/12/2026

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

We found this hatchling in our photo archives. Can you guess the species?

Curious about what research we do at the estuary? We have been taking the “vital signs” of local estuaries for many year...
08/10/2026

Curious about what research we do at the estuary?

We have been taking the “vital signs” of local estuaries for many years to track changes over time, provide information for management, offer opportunities for classroom learning through exploration of local data, and deepen our understanding of coastal ecosystems by facilitating further research.

Through the deployment of data loggers, field sampling, and remote sensing, we monitor water quality (e.g., temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen), weather, and plant and animal communities. We also work with other programs that collect data of interest to the Reserve and region.

Learn more about our research program on our website!

©Preserving Legacies

Address

301 Caspian Way
Imperial Beach, CA
91932

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tijuana Estuary (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category