The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves established nationwide as field laboratories for scientific research and estuarine education. Our mission is to improve understanding and stewardship of the San Francisco Bay estuary, with a broader relevance to the ecosystems beyond the Golden Gate.

Our two reserves at Rush Ranch and China Camp serve as research sites for scientists; classrooms for teachers, land managers and naturalists; and inspiring places for Bay Area residents to visit. These sites have long been a focus of environmental and ecological research, providing important baseline data and serving as reference areas for the evaluation of restored, enhanced, or created wetlands around the estuary.

We offer education programs for people looking to learn about or become involved in the latest estuary science. Our goals are to build scientific literacy and understanding, strengthen stewardship of the estuary and our Reserve sites in particular, and support community-level responses to climate change. We accomplish these goals by translating research from the Reserve and the San Francisco Estuary into engaging, accessible programs and products for educators and visitors.