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A Home for Salty (The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse)

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A Home for Salty (The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse)

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Inspire a lifetime of reading and discovery with our award-winning digital library.

Inspire a lifetime of reading and discovery with our award-winning digital library.

Inspire a lifetime of reading and discovery with our award-winning digital library.
Families, Start Reading Educators, get it free

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Explore 40,000+ online story books, audiobooks, fairy tales and more. Get access to the Epic Unlimited today.

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There are 3 types of marshes, and this video describes what they are and the life that inhabits them.

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Marsh - More Science on the Learning Videos Channel

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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This video talks about what a tidal salt marsh is, how it was formed, and the kinds of animals and food chains that exist.

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. Get Started

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Driving Question: How can we protect an endangered species in our area?

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Driving Question: How can we protect an endangered species in our area?

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What species currently live in our community?

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. Get Started

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Read Wetlands: Learning About the Earth on Epic

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Read Wetlands: Learning About the Earth on Epic

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Instantly access Wetlands: Learning About the Earth plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

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See what a beautiful healthy salt marsh looks like and learn about how salt marshes help. At the end, hear about the troubles that salt marshes face and what people can do to protect this precious habitat.

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I took some photos of the signs and infographics I saw at the park. Please skim and scan the infographics to see if it is relevant to answering your questions before you read it all!

Do you have any more questions or signs you're hoping to see? Ask your team, write it down, and ask me!

Best,
Mrs. Sun

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Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

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Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

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1979- The Visitor Center opened in Fremont, California and the Environmental Education Center opened in Alviso, California.

1995- The refuge name changed to Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge by President Clinton to honor Congressman Don Edwards who was pivotal in the establishment of the refuge.

2004- South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the west coast begins. When completed it will restore 15,100 acres of wetland habitat.

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Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

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1979- The Visitor Center opened in Fremont, California and the Environmental Education Center opened in Alviso, California. 1995- The refuge name changed to Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge by President Clinton to honor Congressman Don Edwards who was pivotal in the establishment of the refuge.

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“Salt Marsh Safari”, Santa Clara County Parks - Aug. 15, 2019

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Virtual Walk at Sunset (before construction started)

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Virtual Walk at Sunset (before construction started)

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[4k Binaural] Alviso Marina County Park California Sunset Walk,  San Jose California

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Alviso Marina County Park Official Website 

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Alviso Marina County Park Official Website 

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By San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail

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TRAILHEAD INFORMATION

Highlights

Alviso Marina County Park is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay along Alviso Slough adjacent to the salt ponds and marshes of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Alviso Slough meanders its way through the salt marshes of the Refuge and from the park, it is approximately four miles to the open waters of San Francisco Bay.

The boat launch ramp provides one of the few clear routes in the San Jose area through the salt marshes out to the open waters of San Francisco Bay. The park offers a great variety of recreational opportunities within its boundaries and leads visitors to the Refuge for bird watching, hiking along the pathways, boardwalks, and on regional trails including the San Francisco Bay Trail.

The park offers sweeping views of the mountains surrounding the Bay and of the wildlife that use these ponds as their home. There are endangered species that live in and around the Refuge, so please keep a respectful distance from wildlife and respect the sensitive nature of this unique ecosystem.

Boat Facilities

There are two concrete boat launch ramps and two floating docks. One of the docks is high-freeboard and the other is low-freeboard. There is a rigging area and a boat washing spigot. Motorized and non-motorized boats both use the launch.

The 18.9 acre park is owned and managed by the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department ("Santa Clara County Parks").

Directions

The park is located at Mill Street, Alviso (City of San Jose).

Transit

Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority bus route #58 stops near the park.

From Highway 880

Take Highway 237 (Alviso-Milpitas Road) west to North First Street exit. Turn right on North First Street (which becomes North Taylor); turn right on Gold Street, left on Elizabeth Street and right on Hope Street.

From Highway 101

Take Highway 237 (Mt. View-Alviso Road) east to Great America Parkway exit. Turn left onto Great America Parkway, turn right on Gold Street connector, left on Gold Street, left on Elizabeth Street and right on Hope Street.

There are two parking lots in the park, including one near the launch facility with boat-trailer-sized parking spaces. Parking is free with no time limits during regular park hours.

Alviso Marina County Park is open year-round from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Santa Clara County Parks has a special permit program for vessel owners to access the launch ramp outside of park hours (8:00 AM to sunset) for the sole purpose of launching or retrieving a vessel at the park. Overnight parking is not allowed. Those interested in launching or retrieving vessels outside of park hours will need to purchase an annual Gate Key which includes a parking tag from the Parks and Recreation Department. Visit Santa Clara County Park website for more information about the application and fee.

The restroom (ADA-accessible) is located near the entrance to the park and has flush toilets.

Amenities at the park include picnic tables, BBQs, drinking fountain, benches, boat rigging and washing area with washing spigot (no hose provided), and safety and informational signs such as tide charts, and interpretive signs.

Accessibility

The path of travel from the parking lot to the launch is flat and paved. The slope of the boarding piers (the docks located next to the boat ramp) changes with the tide, but is generally level at higher tides. The distance from the closest ADA parking space to the launch is approximately 110 feet.

The ADA accessible restroom is located in the lot closest to the entrance. The boat washing and rigging areas are accessible from the launch and parking area. There is an accessible picnic table and accessible drinking fountain near the restrooms and entrance to the park.

Nearby Trails

The park is located along one of the longest continuous stretches of the San Francisco Bay Trail and is also on the National Park Service Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Trails around the salt ponds in the adjacent Wildlife Refuge can be accessed from the park.

Safety Tips

Mudflats become exposed during low tides which can cause boaters to get stranded. There is a tide chart and other boater safety information located on the information bulletin board near the launch ramp to assist boaters in planning their trip. Navigational charts can be obtained through NOAA's website or a local retailer (Ref. No. 18AHA18651).

Seasonal hunting is allowed within the Refuge, generally from October through January. Check the Refuge website or call 510 792-0222 for current hunting information.

Wildlife Tips

This area provides critical habitat for migratory birds as well as resident species. The slough is a nursery for many fish, bird, and mammal species including these sensitive species: leopard shark, salt marsh harvest mouse, harbor seal, Ridgway's rail, and steelhead. Please observe buffer distances, do not disturb or harass wildlife, and do not land on levees, wetlands, or Refuge land (Refuge property surrounds Alviso Slough).

The endangered Ridgway's rail is found in the marshes surrounding Alviso Slough. Ridgway's rails become vulnerable to predation during high tide events when they seek refuge in higher ground. The Water Trail recommends boaters maintain a buffer distance of 50 feet from Ridgway's rail habitat and not enter channels that are less than 100 feet wide, particularly during high tide events.

Pacific harbor seals are the only marine mammal resident in the Bay year-round. Harbor seals tend to use the same terrestrial sites year after year, called "haul-out sites." Research has shown that harbor seals using haul-out sites are sensitive to disturbance by humans. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires a distance of 300 feet from marine mammals, but the Water Trail recommends keeping a distance of approximately 500 feet from a harbor seal haul-out during the pupping season (March - July). To help you visualize what these distances mean, 100 feet is approximately the distance of six sea kayaks.

Keep an eye out for the annual Day on the Bay Festival usually held in October in the Park. The festival is a fun event with food booths, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and kayak trips. Alviso has several nearby restaurants within walking distance of the park and nearby hotels.

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Alviso Marina County Park | Bay Water Trail

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TRAILHEAD INFORMATION Highlights Alviso Marina County Park is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay along Alviso Slough adjacent to the salt ponds and marshes of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge).

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Alviso Marina County Park Official Website

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Alviso Marina County Park Official Website

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By Santa Clara County Parks

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Welcome to Alviso Marina County Park, gateway to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This 20.6 acre bayside park, located along Alviso slough and adjacent to the salt ponds and marshes of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Though small in size, the Park offers a great deal of activities within its boundaries and on into the Wildlife Refuge. The pathways and boardwalks of the County Park and trails around the ponds in the adjacent Wildlife Refuge, and the regional trails which include the San Francisco Bay Trail and San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail, offer fantastic views of the mountains surrounding the bay, and of the wildlife that call these ponds home.​

How to Get There

Alviso Marina County Park is located at:

1195 Hope St San Jose, CA 95002

Park Office: (408) 262-6980

Directions
From Highway 880:
Take Highway 237 (Alviso-Milpitas Road) west to North First Street exit. Turn right on North First Street (which becomes North Taylor); turn right on Gold Street, left on Elizabeth Street and right on Hope Street.
From Highway 101:
Take Highway 237 (Mt. View-Alviso Road) east to Great America Parkway exit. Turn left onto Great America Parkway, turn right on Gold Street connector, left on Gold Street, left on Elizabeth Street and right on Hope Street.

Activities

Alviso Boat Tour

Join park staff on an interpretive boat ride through Alviso Slough to learn how the South San Francisco Bay's shoreline has changed over time. Click HERE to register for a spot on the FREE Alviso Boat Tour! if you are an educator for grades 6+ and would like to bring your class out on the slough, please check out the EDUCATION PROGRAMS page HERE and scroll down to Exploring Our Changing Bay.​

Self-Guided Opportunities

Hiking, biking and bird watching are favorite activities in both the park and the refuge, while picnicking and strolling along the manicured pathways can be enjoyed within the County Park. Dogs are allowed in the County Park's pathways and picnic areas, but are not allowed on the trails, levees and boardwalks. While bikes are allowed on all pathways and trails in the park, please walk your bikes on the boardwalks.

Boat Launch

The boat launch ramp provides one of the few clear routes in the San Jose area through the salt marshes of Alviso slough out to the open waters of the San Francisco Bay. The boat launch ramp provides access for both motorized and non-motorized boats and includes concrete launch ramps and two floating docks. Alviso Marina County Park is a Designated Site in the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Network. Please see the San Francisco Bay Trail or San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail websites for more information about these regional trails. Navigational charts can be obtained through NOAA or a local retailer (Ref. No. 18AHA18651). When using the waters of the bay, please respect the sensitive nature of this unique ecosystem.

Don Edwards San Francisco National Wildlife Refuge

For more information about the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, visit their website HERE. For inquiries about the Environmental Education Center, field trips, trails, and interpretive programs, call (408) 262-5513.

Hours & Fees

The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. There are no fees collected at this time for vehicle entry or launching.

Santa Clara County's Alviso Marina is the primary access in Santa Clara County for vessel owners to launch into San Francisco Bay. Fishermen and hunters who want access to the launch ramp after hours will need to purchase an annual Gate Key.

To purchase a Gate Key, you must complete the Alviso Marina County Park Gate Key Form, (see below) read, sign and submit with current payment to the Santa Clara County Parks Administration Office, Attention: ALVISO, 298 Garden Hill Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95032. Annual fee is $75.00.

Prices are subject to change.

Accessibility

In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ('ADA'),the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator​.

Attachments

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Welcome to Alviso Marina County Park, gateway to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This 20.6 acre bayside park, located along Alviso slough and adjacent to the salt ponds and marshes of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

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by John Hurley

This park can be good as a quick stop or a day-long adventure, with views of all different kinds of waterfowl, marsh dwellers and shorebirds. Walk along the boardwalks to listen to the noisy song birds and rails, stand at the boat dock to scan Alviso Slough for grebes and other waterfowl, or head out to the salt pond for mesmerizing murmurations of shorebirds and an impressive number of ducks.

Trip Covers: November - April

Key Birds: Northern Harrier, Marsh Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat

Alert: The area around the salt ponds is undergoing construction so some of the trails may be closed. Read more about the salt pond restoration here. (Last update: 3/13/2022)
How to Bird
Alviso Marina County Park is located where the Guadalupe River flows into the Alviso Slough before heading out to the bay. This park features a boat launch and a small marsh with boardwalk trails. The adjacent salt ponds are part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This guide covers the county park and one of those salt ponds, Pond A12.

Choose between two routes (or do them both): a one-mile walking route, the Marina and Marsh Loop; and a longer 3.8-mile route, the A12 Loop, that can be hiked or biked. On the Marina and Marsh Loop you will see marsh birds and some waterfowl. For closer looks at some of the gulls and shorebirds, the A12 Loop may be the way to go. Once you leave the area near the boat dock, the trails have very few people on them. A scope is recommended to view some of the more distant gull flocks.
Marina and Marsh Loop
Start this short loop with a 300-yard walk from the parking lot to the boat launching dock. Along the way, you will see Golden and White-crowned Sparrows darting across the road and into the brush. Nestled in the reeds in the midst of other brush are Black-crowned Night-Herons. You may also see Song Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows and Anna's Hummingbirds.

At the boat launch ramp, look southeast along the channel towards the Guadalupe River for Canvasbacks and Eared and Pied-billed Grebes. There is a short spur of the trail that goes along the Guadalupe River if you want a closer look at something you saw there.

In the reeds around the boat dock, you may see Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Sandpiper, and Greater Yellowlegs. In addition, look for Great Egret and Snowy Egret. Often, a Northern Harrier will fly along the channel and over the marsh.

The channel northwest of the dock is the start of the Alviso Slough. Here you may see various waterfowl, including Greater and Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye.

After taking in the sights at the boat launch ramp, walk back towards the parking lot and head northwest toward the two ochre-colored gates on the boardwalk and Salt Pond A12. When walking along the boardwalk, stop at the little channel that runs under the boardwalk and look up and down for Common Yellowthroat and listen for Marsh Wrens, Sora and Virginia Rails.

Walk north towards Pond A12. Take a right turn and walk east along A12, looking for shorebirds and gulls such as California Gull, Herring Gull, and Short-billed Gull. At the east end there is another small pond and an observation deck. From the deck you can look down into the marsh to get views of some of the birds you may only have heard before. Walk south back to the picnic area and restrooms. At the end of the walk, check the L-shaped boardwalk in front of the restrooms for Marsh Wrens and Song Sparrows. In years past, a Swamp Sparrow was seen around this L-shaped boardwalk.

A12 Loop
As it says on the US Fish and Wildlife site, "10,000 ducks! And solitude!". This may not be too far off the mark, depending on where the ducks are in migration. This section describes a counterclockwise trip around Salt Pond A12.

To reach the trailhead from the parking lot, go east toward, then past, the restrooms. The trail starts at the metal gate (trailhead shown on map). When you go through the gate, the railroad tracks and a small pond are to your right. Look in there for gulls and shorebirds such as Least Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet.

Continuing north for about 0.7 miles, you come to the intersection of Ponds A12, A13, and A16 (#1 on map). To the right (east), the Don Edwards Environmental Education Center can be seen off in the distance. This is a good place to see lots of different gull species and shorebirds. Occasionally, a Peregrine Falcon may be seen waiting on one of the small islands.

When you get to Waypoint A12-2 (#2 on map), you can take a 0.3-mile detour north to check out Salt Pond A14 (#3 on map). This trail is very narrow, so take care if you are biking. After the detour, continue on your loop, keeping Pond A12 on your left. Make a left hand turn when you reach Waypoint A12-4 (#4 on map) to head back towards the marina.

Any of the ponds may have vast numbers of waterfowl, including Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler, and American Coot. For larophiles, there are usually hundreds of gulls, including California Gull, Ring-Billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull and Short-billed Gull. You may see grebes such as Western Grebe, Eared Grebe and possible Horned Grebe or Clark's Grebe. Shorebirds such as Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Dowitchers and Yellowlegs can be seen in the ponds on the way back.
Ready for More?
The full Alviso Slough Trail encloses Ponds A9-A14 and is 9 miles long. The Mallard Slough Trail is accessible from this location as well. You can reach it by crossing the train tracks on the east side of Pond A15 (see map). That trail encloses Pond A16 and goes past the Don Edwards Environmental Center, with views of A17 and A18.
Interactive Map

Directions
From Highway 880: Take Highway 237 (Alviso-Milpitas Road) west to North First Street exit. Turn right on North First Street (which becomes North Taylor); turn right on Gold Street, left on Elizabeth Street and right on Hope Street. The county park is at the end of the road in 0.1 miles.

From Highway 101: Take Highway 237 (Mt. View-Alviso Road) east to Great America Parkway exit. Turn left onto Great America Parkway, turn right on Gold Street Connector, left on Gold Street, left on Elizabeth Street and right on Hope Street. The county park is at the end of the road in 0.1 miles.

Address: 1195 Hope St San Jose, CA 95002. Latitude/Longitude: 37.429895, -121.979785

Parking: Large paved parking lot. Note that there is limited street parking if you want to explore before the auto gates are open.

Fees: There are no fees collected at this time for vehicle entry.

Public Transportation: Nearest VTA bus stop is ½ mile away on Gold St and N Taylor St.

Park Hours: The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Facilities: The restrooms are open and clean.

Trip Mileage: Approximately 1 mile for the short loop including the boat ramp and the marsh boardwalk; 3.8-mile optional loop around Salt Pond A12.

Trail Conditions and Accessibility: The trail around Pond A12 is flat, hard-packed sand and dirt. It becomes muddy when wet, then forms hard ruts when it dries. Most of this trail is wide, but the segment of trail between Pond A12 and A13 is narrower and fairly rutted. The segment of trail from the northwest corner of Pond A12 going north to see Pond A14 is particularly narrow and bordered on the left by the bay. The trail around the pond has no benches and is exposed to the elements, with no sources of shade or shelter.

Bikes: The loop around Pond A12 is a great trip to do via bike! While bikes are allowed on all pathways and trails in the park, please walk your bikes on the boardwalks.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed in the County Park's pathways and picnic areas, but are not allowed on the trails, levees and boardwalks.
More Information More Resources
Banner Photo Credit: Eared Grebe by John Hurley

Last Updated: 3/23/2022
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Tagged: Bayfront, Alviso Marina, Salt Pond A12, Salt Ponds, March Recommendations, Winter, John Hurley, Bird by Bike, Alviso Marina County Park, Pond A12, Public Transportation

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Alviso Marina and Salt Pond A12 (Winter) - Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society

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This park can be good as a quick stop or a day-long adventure, with views of all different kinds of waterfowl, marsh dwellers and shorebirds.

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What endangered and/or threatened species are native to our community?

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Where in the world are species native to our community living and thriving and what are their inherited traits, learned behaviors, adaptations, life cycles, and food chains?

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Science Spotlight: Leopard Sharks at Alviso

When I first learned that there were actual sharks around Alviso, I was in total shock. To me, the idea of the perfect habitat for sharks had always been the open ocean. Thus, you can imagine my surprise when I learned that the area is home to leopard sharks.

Leopard sharks are the most common sharks in the San Francisco Bay estuary, with a range that extends from Oregon to Mexico. They can grow to lengths of up to 7 feet, and feed on invertebrates and fish. To feed, they make a daily migration to shallow areas during high tides.

The San Francisco Bay Area lost much of the tidal marsh and shallow areas utilized by the leopard sharks to development for harvesting salt. As these tidal marshes are restored, researchers are finding that the leopard sharks are returning.

Park History

Visiting Alviso truly feels like a blast into the past: on your way to the park, you pass by an old cannery site, the warehouses, and a Victorian-style home. The area that is now Alviso Marina County Park used to be receive drainage rich in mercury from the New Almaden Mining District. The site also used to be a heavily-trafficked port area supplying San Jose and a launching point for steamboat passage to San Francisco. When these operations shut down, the area was transformed into salt ponds for salt harvest, operated by the Cargill Salt Company.

The area is now rich with wildlife, providing a feeding and nesting area for many species of birds. Alviso Marina County Park has become a part of the nearby Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Today, the area is part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (SBSPRP), one of the largest tidal marsh restoration projects on the west coast. Restoration offers new habitat for California wildlife and offers visitors the chance to see nature reclaiming a formerly industry-dominated area.

For more detailed information on the history of Alviso Marina County Park, check out this article by the Mercury News.

Please note that there is no entrance fee to enter the park. Dogs are now allowed on trails or walkways. For more detailed information on where dogs are and aren't allowed, check out the park map.

Alviso Marina County Park serves as the entrance to the greater Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. We encourage you to explore that area as well, time permitting.

Here are some helpful resources to plan your visit:

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Explore Salt Ponds and Marsh at Alviso Marina County Park

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Alviso, Ca - Connect with a site that's a part of one of the largest tidal marsh restoration projects on the west coast. Alviso Marina County Park was formerly an industry-dominated site, but now serves as an amazing entrance to the greater Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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What are some ways to protect the salamanders from extinction?/How does your work protect the salamanders?The first and most important is to conserve their habitat and  manage habitat to make it better (habitat enhancement): California tiger salamanders need open grassland habitat with lot of burrow availability and vernal pools that will stay inundated for at least 100 days. Then we have to try add more habitat for them ideally right next to existing protected parcels, without busy roads so that they can expand their population. One of the top reasons of salamander mortality is road kills during the wet season, when the salamanders leave their burrows to go find a pool and breed. Usually they do this during the night or early morning and evening. When they are crossing busy streets cars may kill them. A solution to this problem is to preserve large pieces of habitat without roads, or install underground corridors and some special trenches to lead the salamanders to these corridors and allow them to pass safely. Another big problem lately with climate change is the extreme drought that dry the pools too early and the salamander larva is not possible to metamorphose so they die. Finally we have to ensure we do not carry disease around. Lately there are some lethal disease from pathogens spread associated with climate change and from human activities such as using an moving contaminated bait for fishing.   Our work aims to reduce the threats to salamanders and increase their possibility for survival. We manage the land so that salamanders can have ample burrow options to stay. We maintain vegetation low to ease their movements and trigger Ca ground squirrels to dig more. Lately, because of drought, we try to find solutions to extend the inundation of the pools. However, we are careful to ensure that the pools dry every summer to ensure than no pathogens can develop. At Warm Springs Unit, instead of allowing a road to pass through the Refuge, which would result in  many salamander road-kills, the U.S. Fish and Wild life Service required a bridge (causeway ) to be installed instead and allow salamander movement underneath.

Is there a place where the salamanders are thriving? Several National wildlife refuges and other protected lands are home to large and healthy populations of salamanders. However a lot more need to be done. California tiger salamanders
Does the weather affect the salamanders?Yes it does. See above for some examples. Extreme dry conditions means shortest period of inundation (hydroperiod) for a pond and this means loss of reproductive success for the salamanders. Very wet conditions may result in continuous inundation of some ponds and not drying even for a short time period, which may create ideal conditions for parasites and other pathogens.

What do the salamanders eat?
When they are at the larval stage they eat aquatic invertebrates such as copepods, ostracodes, cladocera. When they are adults they feed mainly on insects.

How long do the salamander live?
The oldest salamander found was around 15 years old
Why should we protect endangered species?/Why are you saving the daisies?People, animals, plants and all other living organisms are linked together through the web of life. When a species is removed, there will be an impact on other species because the ecosystem will be unbalanced. Often there is a chain reactions and we do not know how far the consequences from the loss of one species will go. Balanced ecosystems mean healthy ecosystems. Every species is the result of thousands of years of evolution. Once we lost it there is no going back. Humans enjoy a lot of benefits in healthy and balanced ecosystems, such as clean air, clean water, and fertile soils. Another way to think of it that when you loose a species it is an indication that the health of the ecosystem has deteriorated and this may have adverse effects to us humans and/or other organisms

What do you do to take care of the plants?At our National Wildlife Refuges we try to maintain conditions favorable to the native species of plants. Native plants are those that existed on this land for thousands of years and coevolved with other organisms such as insects, bacteria, fungi etc. However, altering the ecosystem balance has resulted to many threats for these and replacement by introduced plant species, which become dominant in huge parts of the habitat since they do not have natural competitors and as a result biodiversity decreases. Loss of biodiversity results in a very unbalanced ecosystem and inferior ecosystem services to all of us. How we care for the native plant species: we try to remove aggressive introduced species, maintain appropriate nutrient cycling in ecosystems and other habitat conditions, which vary depending on the species. We use monitoring to see how the plant populations change. Some times we have to take more active management actions such as growing more of the endangered species in nurseries and plant them back in the wild. Other times we collect seeds to bank seedstocks which will allows us to grow more of these endangered plants and re-introduce them if the danger to loose them is very high. Our approach depends on the species and the situation.

What is causing the harvest field mouse to go endangered? Loss of habitat and deterioration of existing habitat is the main reason the salt marsh harvest mouse (Salty) went endangered. People have converted salt tidal marsh, this species' habitat, in salt ponds, agricultural lands and/or changed the hydrology and developed the sites for offices and houses. We also have fragmented the habitat which created conditions for increased predation on Salty and loss of Refugia. Salty uses higher elevation marshland and/or special taller plants as refugia during the high tides. In recent years the sea level rise which is associated with climate change, further decreased Salty's habitat. Currently the U&.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge along with other partners try to restore habitats for Salty and other plants and animals of the salt tidal marsh. Tidal marsh restoration adds so many benefits to us humans as well since it will protect our cities from seal level rise.

How can we help the vernal pools?
You can help the vernal pools and other natural habitats if you first learn more about them and become a steward of the land by participating on volunteering activities to enhance vernal pool habitat. Wildlife refuges often call for help! You can learn more for your local Refuge by visiting https://www.fws.gov/refuge/don-edwards-san-francisco-bay/news or visit our friends' group the webpage of the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society for fun activities, educational, and volunteer programs https://sfbayws.org/

Finally, you can spread the word to friends and grown ups about the importance of protecting this ecosystems. We are way more powerful when we join our efforts!

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