Santa Margarita River
SanctuaryMap Satellite
The Santa Margarita River is one of the few, if not the only, major watercourses in Southern California that flows unchecked, and its estuary is one of the few that have not been spoiled.
The estuary, covering several hundred hectares of coastal salt marsh, is dominated by pickleweed, Salicornia ambigua, iodine bush, Allenrolfea occidentalis, and Scirpus robustus. In the open waters various algae are found.
On a small beach at the mouth of the estuary there is the largest known breeding colony of the endangered California least tern, Sterna albifrons browni.
Some 40 species of fish have been recorded from the river and the ocean by the river mouth. (See Camp Pendleton).
Integrity: The United States Marine Corps has established a tern sanctuary at the mouth of the river and it is managed to insure optimum breeding conditions for the bird.
Use: Research. For information contact Natural Resources Office, United States Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, 92055.
May 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
