Morro Bay National Estuary

Morro Bay National Estuary is found in Morro Bay, California. Like many estuaries it is a fresh water creation of nature that is fed by creeks and rivers before it mixes in the estuary with salty ocean water. Estuaries throughout the world are rich in habitat, and Morro Bay National Estuary is no exception. With its many creeks, salt marshes, wetlands, mudflats, open water, and sand dunes several wildlife visitors come each year and others live there permanently.

Morro Bay is a small estuary of 2,300 acres. It is mainly fed by Chorro and Los Osos Creek before splitting up and running into the Pacific Ocean. The estuary is foremost a fish nursery. Several different species come into the estuary as adults to lay their eggs in the shallow water and eelgrass beds. The wetlands work to protect the eggs from being eaten or fried by the sun.

Morro Bay National Estuary is considered a living fossil because human damage to the earth is impacting the estuary's ability to survive. Thus any visitors to the area are restricted to proper trails. As of 2007 the Central Coast Region and estuary became a protected area by the state.