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Scott Flaherty, External Affairs
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge will add approximately 1,200 acres to its approved refuge boundary this year following with the planned acquisition of the 348 acre Sonoma Baylands and 858 acres of land on Sears Point.  

Sonoma Baylands is a tidal wetland that was restored by the Coastal Conservancy, who owns the property.  The Sears Point unit, owned by the Sonoma Land Trust, provides the refuge with a site for its headquarters office and upland habitat in the form of farm fields and annual grasslands.   Both units will be donated to the refuge by the current owners.

Public use activities on these units include wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation, bicycling, grazing and farming.  The refuge has determined that these uses are compatible with the purpose of the refuge, and intends to continue them following acquisition. Copies of the refuge’s pre-acquisition Compatibility Determinations for these units are available at the refuge headquarters located at the Sears Point unit, 2100 Highway 37 just east of the Lakeville Highway/Highway 37 intersection on Highway 37.

The 13,160-acre San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge lies along the north shore of San Pablo Bay in Sonoma, Solano, and Napa Counties in northern California. The refuge includes open bay/tidal marsh, mud flats, and seasonal and managed wetland habitats. The refuge provides critical migratory and wintering habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl, particularly diving ducks, and provides year-round habitat for endangered, threatened, and sensitive species like the California clapper rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, California black rail, San Pablo song sparrow, and Suisun shrew.

Comments and concerns regarding these units should be directed to the Refuge Manager, Christy Smith at 7715 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, CA 94954 or by email: christy_smith@fws.gov.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov

More information about San Pablo Bay NWR and other Bay Area refuges is available on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/sfbayrefuges/ .