San Joaquin Marsh Reserve
UC Nature
About Us
Adjacent to UC Irvine, the San Joaquin Marsh (SJMR) is a remnant of a once extensive wetland mosaic from the coast to inland Orange County. It is also one of 42 reserves in UC Nature, the largest university-operated network of natural reserves in the world.
The San Joaquin Marsh Reserve serves as an important refuge for local wildlife—supporting over 200 bird species and one of the largest populations of native southwestern pond turtles in the county. As a large protected wetland in an urbanized context, it provides an ideal setting to study topics such as urban watersheds and water quality, wetland functions under climate change, and species interactions, movement, or habitat use.
The marsh serves as an outdoor classroom, allowing students from a range of disciplines to learn about the local ecosystem and engage in research and restoration activities. As one of the last large wetland systems in the county, the marsh reserve fills a key experiential learning gap for classes on water quality, wetlands, and wetland-associated species.
While the area is not open to the public, UCI Nature occasionally holds volunteer events to aid in ecological restoration. Additionally, Sea and Sage Audubon Society hosts monthly bird surveys to census the bird community. Interested parties can contact [email protected] for more information.
Photo Gallery
See photos of the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve and its inhabitants.
