Tidelands of Upper Newport Bay
The mission of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is:
“To manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.”
To report poaching, polluting and other illegal activities that are harmful to habitat or wildlife at Upper Newport Bay or elsewhere contact DFW Wardens 24/7 at (888) 334-2258.
DFW is responsible for managing the 752 acre Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve (UNBER), which includes the tidelands and certain adjacent upland areas stretching northwards from the Back Bay Science Center at Shellmaker Road to Jamboree Road. The Reserve Manager is:
Alys Arenas, Reserve Manager
Back Bay Science Center
600C Shellmaker Rd.
Phone (949) 640-9961
Email Alys.arenas@wildlife.ca.gov
Contact Alys to request access letters for any research or other activities proposed within UNBER.
All CDFW educational programs and outreach at Upper Newport Bay are coordinated by:
Robin Madrid, Northern Lands Program Supervisor
Back Bay Science Center
600C Shellmaker Rd.
Phone (949) 514-1729
Email Robin.madrid@wildlife.ca.gov
Robin is chair of the Back Bay Science Center (BBSC) Program Working Group, and responsible for coordinating education programs at the BBSC. This 13,000 square foot state-of-the-art teaching and research facility was built through a partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the City of Newport Beach, the Orange County Health Care Agency, and the University of California Irvine. It is uniquely situated adjacent with waterfront access to the Bay.
