On Saturday, February 7, our community came together for Love Your Wetlands Day, welcoming more than 1,250 people to celebrate, restore, learn, and connect along the shores of Kendall-Frost Marsh and across Mission Bay. From sunrise kayak launches to afternoon science talks, the day was filled with energy, purpose, and a shared commitment to restoring this extraordinary coastal ecosystem. This long-standing annual event to get deep into the marsh is hosted by UC San Diego and the San Diego Bird Alliance, in partnership with the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve and the City of San Diego.
Photo 1: Kayakers (UC San Diego Erik Jepsen)
A Bay Full of Paddles and Purpose
More than 100 people experienced the marsh from the Bay side by kayak, connecting with wetlands in a way that is both intimate and transformative. Seeing the marsh from the water offers a powerful reminder: these tidal ecosystems are living, breathing systems that protect water quality, support wildlife, and buffer our communities from climate impacts.
Volunteers in Action
Seventy volunteers supported more than ten different activities throughout the day — from habitat restoration and cleanups to educational stations and storytelling.
Photo : Volunteers getting a briefing (Craig Chaddock)
Together, we:
- Removed 323 pounds of trash (480 gallons), with the majority collected along the Campland boundary
- Recorded 72 iNaturalist observations, adding 41 new species and bringing the Kendall-Frost Marsh total to 185 documented species
- Logged 39 species on eBird, reinforcing the marsh’s importance as critical bird habitat
Every datapoint matters. Every bag of trash removed makes a difference. And every person who shows up strengthens the long-term future of this ecosystem.
Science, Stories, and Shared Knowledge
Love Your Wetlands Day continues to be a space where science and community wisdom meet. This year featured:
- 11 science talks from regional researchers and restoration leaders
- 5 scientific posters
- 23 oral history stories shared, preserving lived experiences and community memory connected to Mission Bay
These conversations remind us that wetlands are not only ecological treasures — they are cultural landscapes shaped by generations of stewardship.
Photo : Mission Bay Park Rangers share the wildlife (Criag Chaddock)
A Growing Coalition
We were proud to welcome 54 partner organizations, reflecting the broad coalition working to protect and restore wetlands locally and across borders.
Our strong Baja California partners were present and engaged, reinforcing the reality that birds, tides, and watersheds do not stop at political boundaries. The health of our coastal ecosystems depends on binational collaboration, shared science, and enduring relationships.
Advocacy in Action
More than 200 postcards were written by attendees and the first batch has been mailed out to Mayor Gloria, calling for meaningful investment in wetland restoration and alignment with voter-mandated environmental priorities. We can’t let him forget his commitment to wetland restoration, spoken at previous Love Your Wetlands Days!
Love Your Wetlands Day highlighted the growing community movement to restore and reimagine Mission Bay’s wetlands. Through the ReWild Coalition, we are working alongside partners to ensure that restoration remains at the forefront of future investment decisions–a shout out to Council President LaCava for making that very clear in his remarks, even citing City Charter code! Learn more about the coalition’s work at rewildmissionbay.org.
We were also honored to welcome elected officials and I’ipay and Tipay Kumeyaay leaders who came to show their support for wetland restoration and the long-term health of Mission Bay. All of the speakers spoke of their connection to the marsh, and their desire and actions to see it restored. Their presence reflects the broad and growing commitment to protecting these vital ecosystems for future generations.
Photo : Invited speakers--thanks! (Craig Chaddock)
Jamo North Gathering Garden
Love Your Wetlands Day also marked a meaningful milestone at the LYWD parcel: the soft launch of Jamo North Gathering Garden, our native plant nursery and future meeting site. We’ll work with partners to grow native, culturally-important plants for groups to put in the ground in their home communities.
This space represents the next chapter of growing native plants for restoration, cultivating community leadership, and creating a welcoming place to gather, learn, and organize for the wetlands we love.
Love Your Wetlands Day is more than an annual event. It is a reflection of what is possible when science, community, culture, and advocacy move forward together.
Thank you to everyone who paddled, planted, picked up trash, shared stories, gave a talk, staffed a table, or simply showed up.
The wetlands are stronger because of you. And the work continues.
Photo : The ReWild Table, with vertebrates and invertebrates (Karina Ornelas)
by Rita de la Fuente, Evolution Affairs, and Andrew Meyer, San Diego Bird Alliance
