San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh Mitigation Site
The San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency began restoration at the San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh in 1996.
Quick Facts
Background
The San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA) began restoration at the San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh in 1996. Adjacent to Upper Newport Bay, the site provides significant habitat for more than 68 species of birds. In partnership with the Natural Communities Coalition Plan (NCCP) and University of California, Irvine (UCI), TCA was awarded a grant for restoring and enhancing habitat at this site for the coastal cactus wren, a small bird whose local population has declined by more than 80 percent since the mid-1990s. The site spans from the saltwater marsh to Coyote Canyon to UCI and is a key water source for Upper Newport Bay.
Current Activities
Today, the San Diego Creek Salt Water Marsh is a thriving habitat that supports native wildlife and requires no maintenance activities.
Species
More than 68 species of birds including the endangered least tern have been sighted using the area as habitat, including:
- Grebes
- Herons
- Egrets
- Least Tern
