Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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Marsh wetlands of the Wildlife Refuge.
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 Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Orange County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Seal Beach, California |
| Area | 911 acres (3.69 km2) |
| Established | 1972 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge |
The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is a special place for animals. It covers about 965 acres (3.9 km²) in Seal Beach, California. This refuge is in Orange County, California, but it's part of a bigger group called the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It was created in 1972 to protect nature.
This refuge is a team effort between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Navy. It's a super important home and resting stop for many birds. These birds travel along a path called the Pacific Flyway. You can find amazing birds here, like great blue herons. It's also home to three birds that are in danger of disappearing: the California clapper rail, the California least tern, and the Belding's Savannah sparrow.
The refuge is inside the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. Because it's on an active military base, you can't just visit anytime. Public access is usually limited to special tours once a month. These tours happen on the last Saturday of each month.
Contents
What Kinds of Habitats Are at the Refuge?
Underwater Habitats: The Subtidal Zone
The subtidal zone is the shallow area close to shore. It's always covered by water, except during very rare low tides. Think of it as the underwater part of the wetlands.
There are four special ponds here that help restore the wetlands. They are called Forrestal Pond, Case Road Pond, 7th Street Pond, and Perimeter Pond. These ponds get their water from Anaheim Bay.
The main plant you'll see in these underwater areas is eelgrass. The muddy parts of this habitat are home to many small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates.
Muddy Homes: Intertidal Channels and Mudflats
The refuge has a network of tidal channels. These are like small rivers that bring water, oxygen, and food to the habitat. They also act as pathways for fish and other animals to find food.
The soil in these muddy areas is a mix of clay, silt, sand, shells, and natural bits. Algae are the main plants growing here.
Mudflats are full of tiny organisms. These organisms are a major food source for worms and other invertebrates. Fish, sharks, and rays often swim into the mudflats with the tides to eat. Shorebirds also love to hunt for invertebrates in the mud.
Salty Marshes: Coastal Salt Marsh Habitat
Above the mudflats, you'll find the coastal salt marsh habitat. This area has plants that can handle salty water. It's the biggest habitat in the refuge, covering 565 acres.
This marsh is a safe place for birds and fish to nest, eat, and hide. It's especially important for the endangered light-footed clapper rails and Belding's Savannah sparrow.
Scientists have been studying the light-footed clapper rail here since 1979. The marsh environment is mostly flat. It gets very little fresh water, mostly just from winter rains. Many plants here are found in low and middle areas that get covered by tides. Some of the main plants are cordgrass, pickleweed, saltwort, seablite, saltgrass, and glasswort.
Over time, the marsh has sunk because of oil drilling under the bay. Between 1957 and 1970, the land dropped by about 12.5 cm. By 1984, it had dropped by 25 cm.
Higher Ground: Upland Habitat
About 41 acres of the higher, drier areas (uplands) have roads, railroad tracks, or other human-made structures. Most of these areas used to be wetlands. But they were changed for farming or military use in the 1800s.
- Hog Island: This island is in the southern part of the refuge. It used to have native plants, but none are left today. Now, three "arms" of the island have been planted with native plants. These plants help support and shelter birds that live on higher ground, especially during high tides.
- NASA Island: This island was completely built by people in the 1960s. It was used for rocket testing until 1977. Today, it's flat and covered with sand. This makes it a perfect nesting spot for the least tern.
- Other Upland Areas: Some other upland islands have plants that are not native to the area. These include five-horn smotherweed, common thistle, Maltese star-thistle, milk thistle, tumbleweed, and black mustard. One island also has native intertidal plants mixed with some of these non-native ones.
How Has the Refuge Changed Over Time?
In 1944, the Navy bought about 5,000 acres of land around Anaheim Bay. Even though the Navy owned the land, the state of California owned the underwater parts.
In the 1950s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wanted to work with the Navy to manage the land for wildlife. They even suggested growing food for waterfowl.
In 1963, a politician named Congressman Richard Hanna became interested in creating a refuge here. In 1964, the Navy, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Game agreed to protect 600 acres of tidal marsh.
Later, in 1971, there were more talks about making it an official refuge. This led to other politicians, like Congressman Craig Hosmer, getting involved. Thanks to Congressman Hosmer's efforts, President Nixon signed a law in August 1972. This law allowed the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge to be created. The refuge officially opened on July 11, 1974.
What Environmental Challenges Has the Refuge Faced?
Protecting Endangered Birds: The Fox Problem
In 1989, hundreds of red foxes were caught at the refuge. These foxes were a big danger to two endangered bird species: the light-footed clapper rail and the California least tern.
Even though an animal rights group tried to stop it, a judge allowed the trapping to continue. The foxes were removed to help save the endangered birds. Today, you won't see foxes or other large predators at the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge.
Hidden Dangers: Toxic Chemicals
In 1995, a study found high levels of harmful chemicals in dead birds at the refuge. These chemicals included cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. These are all poisonous heavy metals. They were found in dead California least terns and light-footed clapper rails.
These harmful substances were also found in the smaller animals that the birds eat. Small amounts of PCBs and DDT were also found. DDT is a dangerous pesticide that was banned in 1973.
Scientists found that a new pond built by the Port of Long Beach had increased the amount and speed of bay water flowing into the refuge. These toxic materials can harm birds in many ways. They can cause problems with growth, make birds less likely to survive, reduce their appetite, make them tired, make it hard for them to have babies, and even kill them.
What Studies Have Been Done Here?
Scientists have studied the endangered light-footed clapper rail since 1979. This study looked at the biggest groups of these birds in Anaheim Bay, Upper Newport Bay, and Tijuana Marsh.
Another study in 1980 focused on the California least tern nesting season. This study watched how least tern chicks, which had special color bands, behaved at their nesting site in the refuge. A nesting site for these terns was set up in 1978 for the study.
Planning for the Future: The Conservation Plan
In March 2011, a plan called the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment (CCP/EA) was created. This plan helps decide the best ways to manage and protect the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge for years to come.
