The Irvine Ranch Water District owns the land where San Joaquin Marsh is located. With more than 11 miles of nature trails, the Marsh is a place that offers visitors:
- A great location to hike
- A place to watch birds
- And a venue to study nature
Open to the public for free, you can access the Marsh from dawn to dusk, seven days a week.
Outstanding Partnership – In 1992, IRWD joined efforts with the Sea and Sage Chapter of Audubon; an organization founded with the mission to protect birds and their habitats through conservation, science and education for people of all ages. Through this outstanding partnership, both organizations designed and launched collaborative programs and activities to increase the public’s appreciation and awareness of the beauty and diversity of wildlife in the San Joaquin and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Audubon House – Through this partnership, the Sea and Sage Chapter was given access to the Audubon House that once served as a bunk house for the members of the two duck clubs that operated at the Marsh up until 1988. The old bunk house and the Duck Club facility were both moved to their present location from what became the Tustin Marine Base in the 1940s. The club was used for gathering.
Today, through the partnership, IRWD provides the Audubon House facility to the Sea and Sage Chapter of the National Audubon Society. The House is open to visitors from 8 am to 4 pm on a daily basis, offering public tours of the Marsh, educational programs, materials and displays, and a reference library for birders, students and nature lovers.
Activities also include:
- Monthly general meeting and program
- Monthly bird walks at the Marsh
- Monthly bird walks at the Upper Newport Bay
- Visit the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Volunteering (If you are interested in helping out, call Judy Fritts at 949-551-4513)
If you’re interested in learning more about the sanctuary, please call the Sea and Sage Audubon House at (949) 261-7963 or the Irvine Ranch Water District at (949) 453-5500.
For more information, also visit
https://www.irwd.com/san-joaquin-marsh/san-joaquin-marsh]]>
