Tijuana River Reserve, California

Location: The reserve is located near Imperial Beach, in San Diego County, on the Mexican border. Total Acreage: 2,500 Designation: 1982 Lead State Agency: California Department of Parks and Recreation Mailing Address: Tijuana River Reserve 301 Caspian Way Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Phone: 619-575-3613

The Tijuana River Reserve is located in a highly urbanized environment. The reserve encompasses beach, dune, mudflat, saltmarsh, riparian, coastal sage and upland habitats surrounded by the growing cities of Tijuana, Imperial Beach and San Diego.

Three quarters of the reserve’s watershed is in Mexico and the management, education and research issues involve an international perspective. 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.

The reserve is home to eight threatened and endangered species, including the Light-footed clapper rail, California least tern, Least Bell’s vireo, salt marsh bird’s beak, cordgrass, white and brown pelicans, and numerous shorebirds. The reserve environment is a saline marsh habitat for most of the year with the Tijuana River being an intermittent stream system in a Mediterranean environment.

Highlights from the Tijuana River Reserve:

Archaeological Discovery at the Tijuana River Reserve Provides Insight into Local History and Ecology