Part of the University of California's statewide Natural Reserve System.
Owned and operated by UC San Diego, Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve protects a valuable remnant of coastal salt marsh habitats that were once common. Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve is 1 of 4 areas managed by the UC Natural Reserves System at UCSD and is home to 2 endangered species.
05/01/2025
Volunteer research opportunity! Bring a water bottle and clothes that can get dirty.
UC San Diego Biology Assistant Professor Dr. Noah Rose's lab is hosting regular community events to collect and examine mosquitos at Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve. Find more information and sign up here.
03/12/2025
Join us on Thursday March 27 from 9:45 am to 12:30 pm to participate in a local research project led by the Rose lab at UCSD. Event will begin with a brief summary of the lab's research and the role of mosquitoes in our ecosystem. This will be followed by field activities on the Marsh. Volunteers will get the chance to take environmental measurements, identify mosquito larvae, collect environmental samples for DNA sequencing. Bring a water bottle and clothes that can get dirty. Boots can be provided.
Sign up here https://tinyurl.com/582c3say
03/08/2025
What’s the strangest piece of trash you’ve seen in coastal habitats?
From dog toys to couch cushions, unique trash from all over Mission Bay washes up in Kendall-Frost Marsh every day. Guests at our recent Love Your Wetlands Day event gave us a hand removing a large quantity of this trash.
Nearly 100 volunteers collected 75 lbs of trash from around the wetland edge and in the wetland. The volume of trash could have nearly filled two large San Diego household trash cans! Nearly 10% of items (by volume) collected were recyclable CRV items; 44% were plastics including small toys, balls, wrappers, and containers for household products and food; and the rest was other trash including metal and wood debris, and cardboard. Make sure to always pick up after yourself and separate your recyclables!
Thank you to Theresa Talley and Tanya Torres from California Sea Grant for their excellent help sorting and measuring trash. For more volunteer and education opportunities, check links in bio and follow us on Facebook!
Photos 1 and 3 by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego
02/25/2025
Big win for wetlands education and conservation!
On February 1st, over 1,300 community members gathered at Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve to connect with tidal wetlands and learn more about local science and conservation. This event celebrated 20 years of Love Your Wetlands Day, with many more to come. Event activities included kayak tours, guided nature walks and cleanups, construction and launch of traditional tule boats, a showcase of local animal representatives, and more.
This community gathering is co-hosted by UC San Diego Natural Reserve System and the San Diego Bird Alliance in partnership with the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. Thank you to our partners, volunteers, and everyone who participated in Love Your Wetlands Day 2025!
Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego
01/28/2025
Want to learn more about wetlands and the creatures that inhabit them? From habitat conservation to virus ecology, come and learn from our lineup of brilliant speakers at Love Your Wetlands Day on February 1st.
Swipe to meet the speakers and get a sneak peek at their speech topics!
01/24/2025
We hope to see you there!
Join us and on Saturday, February 1, for Love Your Wetlands Day!
Love Your Wetlands Day is an opportunity to explore UC San Diego’s protected Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve in Mission Bay while also learning about the importance of coastal wetlands, the climate threats they face, and the ways local communities are working to restore and protect them.
The event runs from 9 AM to 2 PM, and family-friendly activities will be taking place throughout the day:
- Guided marsh and kayak clean ups
- Guided birding
- Booths from environmental organizations
- Educational presentations by local scientists
- Speeches by elected officials, and cultural activities with Indigenous leaders
- Native planting
- Fish seining
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Learn more and RSVP at the link in bio.
📸 Victor Santos
09/17/2024
Hello Wetland Lovers!
Latino Conservation Week is underway, sponsored by Outdoor Outreach, San Diego Bird Alliance, and many others! The UCSD Natural Reserve System will be tabling at the Sept. 21 event in Chula Vista:
Date & Time: Saturday, September 21, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Location: Chula Vista Bayfront, 980 Marina Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Event Details: https://secure.sandiegobirdalliance.org/np/clients/sandiegobirdalliance/event.jsp?event=8935&