Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve

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Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve
Albany Mudflats ER - January2015.pdf
Map of Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve
Ecology
Biome Tidal wetlands
AnimalsShorebirds, Herons, Egrets
Geography
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
Coordinates37.8930° N, 122.3120° W
Climate typeHumid
Conservation
Conservation status Vulnerable

The Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve is a 160-acre nature reserve in the San Francisco East Bay in Albany, California. It encompasses the Albany Mudflats State Marine Park and belongs to the greater McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. [1]

Contents

History

The property was leased to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) from the California State Lands Commission in 1982, as a means to preserve local endangered marine wildlife. [2] Four years later, the Fish and Game Commission designated the territory as an ecological reserve. [2]

The mudflats were incorporated into the Albany Beach restoration project that began in 2011 to remove pollution and reinstate endemic flora and fauna. The region is currently under the control of the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). [3] A legal description of the boundaries of each ecological reserve is on file at the department's headquarters (1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento). [4]

Wildlife

The reserve is home to a range of biodiversity. Particularly during the winter, the Albany Mudflats are inhabited by shorebirds, many of them migratory, like the Western Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, and Semipalmated Plover. Egrets, ducks, and geese are commonly seen in the region, as well as land birds, such as sparrows, swallows, and the California Towhee. [5] [2] [6]

Shorebirds acquire a large proportion of their nutrients from intertidal zones and mudflats. [7] Thus, there have been ongoing efforts to restore and protect species endemic to the Albany Mudflats, such as eelgrass and native oysters, to support the shorebirds and prevent erosion. [8] [9]

Regulations

As a subregion of the Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve, the Albany Mudflats State Marine Park is demarcated by the average height of the water at high tide. Due to its distinction as a state park, visitors are not permitted to enter the water in any capacity. However, fishing and hiking along the shoreline are permitted. [1] [10] These restrictions of public entry have been imposed because ecological reserves intend to protect terrestrial and aquatic organisms from pollution and disturbances that may increase their susceptibility to extirpation or extinction. [4]

The ecosystems fostered in the Albany Mudflats are prioritized. Restoration efforts such as the Albany Beach Habitat Restoration and Public Access Project aim to preserve and improve beach and dune habitat, as well as expand public access. [9] [11]

References

  1. 1 2 "San Francisco Bay Marine Protected Areas". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. March 1, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 1 2 3 "Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. October 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "The San Francisco Bay Trail at McLaughlin Eastshore State Park - A Historic Transformation | East Bay Parks". www.ebparks.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  4. 1 2 Commernet, 2011. "§ 630. Ecological Reserves., Chapter 11. Ecological Reserves, Subdivision 2. Game and Furbearers, Division 1. Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game, Title 14. Natural Resources, California Code of Regulations". California Code of Regulations. Retrieved 2025-10-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Albany Mudflats | Birdingplaces". Birdingplaces.eu. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  6. ↑ Shoot, Brittany. "Explore | The Trail Around the San Francisco Bay - Bay Nature Magazine". Bay Nature. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  7. ↑ Howe, Marshall A.; Geissler, Paul H.; Harrington, Brian A. (1989-01-01). "Population trends of North American shorebirds based on the International Shorebird Survey". Biological Conservation. 49 (3): 185–199. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(89)90035-9. ISSN   0006-3207.
  8. ↑ Boyer, Katharyn E.; Zabin, Chela; Cruz, Susan De La; Grosholz, Edwin D.; Orr, Michelle; Lowe, Jeremy; Latta, Marilyn; Miller, Jen; Kiriakopolos, Stephanie (2017). San Francisco Bay living shorelines: Restoring Eelgrass and Olympia Oysters for habitat and shore protection. ISBN   978-1-4987-4002-9.
  9. 1 2 "San Francisco Bay Living Shorelines Project (PDF)" (PDF). Coastal Conservancy. August 5, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ Parks, California State. "Rules and Regulations Summary". California State Parks. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  11. ↑ "Albany Beach Habitat Restoration and Public Access Project | East Bay Parks". www.ebparks.org. Retrieved 2025-10-25.

37°53′39″N122°18′55″W / 37.89417°N 122.31528°W / 37.89417; -122.31528


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