# List of California Department of Fish and Wildlife protected areas

This is a list of California Department of Fish and Wildlife protected areas. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), through its seven regional divisions, manages 262 protected areas statewide. This agency was formerly known as the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG).

## Types

The protected areas are broadly categorized as:
* Wildlife areas
* Ecological reserves
* Marine protected areas — under the 1999 Marine Life Protection Act

## List of DFG protected areas

| Site | Designation | DFG region |
| Albany Mudflats | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Alkali Sink | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Allensworth | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Atascadero Creek Marsh | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Bair Island | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Baldwin Lake | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Ballona Wetlands | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Batiquitos Lagoon | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Blue Sky | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Boden Canyon | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Boggs Lake | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Bolsa Chica | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Bonny Doon | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Buena Vista Lagoon | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Butler Slough | Ecological Reserve | Northern |
| Butte Creek | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Butte Creek House | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Buttonwillow | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| By Day Creek | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Calhoun Cut | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Canebrake | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Carlsbad Highlands | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Carmel Bay | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Carrizo Canyon | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Carrizo Plains | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| China Point | Ecological Reserve | Northern |
| Clover Creek | Ecological Reserve | Northern |
| Coachella Valley | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Coal Canyon | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Corte Madera Marsh | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Cosumnes River | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Crestridge | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Dairy Mart Ponds | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Dales Lake | Ecological Reserve | Northern |
| Del Mar Landing | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Eden Landing | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Elkhorn Slough | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Estelle Mountain | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Fall River Mills | Ecological Reserve | Northern |
| Fish Slough | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Fremont Valley | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Goleta Slough | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Indian Joe Spring | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Joshua Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve | Ecological Reserve | Monterey County |
| Kaweah | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Kerman | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| King Clone | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Laguna Laurel | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Loch Lomond Vernal Pool | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Lokern | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Magnesia Spring | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Marin Islands | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Mattole River | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| McGinty Mountain | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Morro Dunes | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Morro Rock | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Napa River | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| North Table Mountain | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Oasis Spring | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Panoche Hills | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Peytonia Slough | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Piute Creek | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Pleasant Valley | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Point Lobos | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Rancho Jamul | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Redwood Shores | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| River Springs Lakes | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Saline Valley | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| San Dieguito Lagoon | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| San Elijo Lagoon | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| San Felipe Creek | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| San Joaquin River | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Santa Rosa Plateau | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Springville | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Stone Corral | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Sycamore Canyon | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Sycuan Peak | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Thomes Creek | Ecological Reserve | Northern |
| Tomales Bay | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| Upper Newport Bay | Ecological Reserve | South Coast |
| Watsonville Slough | Ecological Reserve | Bay Delta |
| West Mojave Desert | Ecological Reserve | Inland Deserts |
| Woodbridge | Ecological Reserve | North Central |
| Yaudanchi | Ecological Reserve | Central |
| Anacapa | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Año Nuevo * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Atascadero Beach | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Big Creek * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Cambria * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Cardiff and San Elijo | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Carmel Bay | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Crystal Cove | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Doheny | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Duxbury Reef | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Edward F. Ricketts * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Elkhorn Slough * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Encinitas | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Estero de Limantour | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Farallon Islands | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Farnsworth Bank | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Fort Ross | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Gerstle Cove | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Greyhound Rock * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Julia Pfeiffer Burns | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| La Jolla | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Lovers Cove (Catalina Island) | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| MacKerricher | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Manchester and Arena Rock | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Mia J. Tegner | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Morro Beach | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Pacific Grove Marine Gardens | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Painted Cave | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Piedras Blancas * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Pismo | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Pismo-Oceano Beach | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Point Buchon * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Point Cabrillo | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Point Lobos | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Point Reyes Headlands | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Point Sur * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Portuguese Ledge * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Pyramid Point | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Refugio | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Robert W. Crown | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Russian Gulch | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Salt Point | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| San Diego-Scripps | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Sonoma Coast | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Soquel Canyon * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Van Damme | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| White Rock (Cambria) * | State Marine Conservation Area | Marine |
| Abalone Cove | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Albany Mudflats | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Bair Island | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Batiquitos Lagoon | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Bolsa Chica | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Buena Vista Lagoon | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Corte Madera Marsh | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Dana Point | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Del Mar Landing | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Doheny | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Fagan Marsh | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Goleta Slough | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Irvine Coast | State Marine Park | Marine |
| James V. Fitzgerald | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Laguna Beach | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Marin Islands | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Niguel | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Peytonia Slough | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Point Fermin | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Redwood Shores | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Robert E. Badham | State Marine Park | Marine |
| San Dieguito Lagoon | State Marine Park | Marine |
| San Elijo Lagoon | State Marine Park | Marine |
| South Laguna Beach | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Tomales Bay | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Upper Newport Bay | State Marine Park | Marine |
| Morro Bay * | State Marine Recreational Management Area | Marine |
| Agua Hedionda Lagoon | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Anacapa | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Asilomar * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Big Creek | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Big Sycamore Canyon | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Bodega | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Carmel Pinnacles * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Carrington Point | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Catalina Marine Science Center | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Elkhorn Slough | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Gull Island | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Harris Point | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Heisler Park | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Hopkins | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Judith Rock | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Lovers Point * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Moro Cojo Slough * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Morro Bay * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Natural Bridges * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Piedras Blancas * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Point Buchon * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Point Lobos | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Point Sur * | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Punta Gorda | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Richardson Rock | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Santa Barbara Island | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Scorpion | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Skunk Point | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| South Point | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Vandenberg | State Marine Reserve | Marine |
| Antelope Valley | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Ash Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Bass Hill | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Battle Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Big Lagoon | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Big Sandy | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Biscar | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Butte Valley | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Buttermilk Country | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Cache Creek | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Camp Cady | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Cantara/Ney Springs | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Cedar Roughs | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Cinder Flats | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Collins Eddy | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Colusa Bypass | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Coon Hollow | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Cottonwood Creek | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Crescent City Marsh | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Crocker Meadows | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Daugherty Hill | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Decker Island | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Doyle | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Dutch Flat | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Eastlker River | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Eel River | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Elk Creek Wetlands | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Elk River | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Fay Slough | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Feather River | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Fitzhugh Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Fremont Weir | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Grass Lake | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Gray Lodge | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Green Creek | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Grizzly Island | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Hallelujah Junction | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Heenan Lake | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Hill Slough | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Hollenbeck Canyon | Wildlife Area | South Coast |
| Honey Lake | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Hope Valley | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Horseshoe Ranch | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Imperial | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Indian Valley | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Kelso Peak and Old Dad Mountains | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Kinsman Flat | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Knoxville | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Laguna | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Lake Berryessa | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Lake Earl | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Lake Sonoma | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Little Panoche Reservoir | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Los Banos | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Lower Sherman Island | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Mad River Slough | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Marble Mountains | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Mendota | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Merrill's Landing | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Miner Slough | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Monache Meadows | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Morro Bay | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Moss Landing | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Mouth of Cottonwood Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Napa-Sonoma Marshes | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| North Grasslands | Wildlife Area | Central |
| O'Neill Forebay | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Oroville | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Petaluma Marsh | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Pickel Meadow | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Pine Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Point Edith | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Putah Creek | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Rector Reservoir | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Red Lake | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Rhode Island | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Sacramento River | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| San Felipe Valley | Wildlife Area | South Coast |
| San Jacinto | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| San Luis Obispo | Wildlife Area | Central |
| San Luis Reservoir | Wildlife Area | Central |
| San Pablo Bay | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Santa Rosa | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Shasta Valley | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Silver Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Slinkard/Little Antelope | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| Smithneck Creek | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| South Fork | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Spenceville | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Surprise Valley | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Sutter Bypass | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Tehama | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Truckee River | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Upper Butte Basin | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Volta | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Warner Valley | Wildlife Area | North Central |
| Waukell Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| West Hilmar | Wildlife Area | Central |
| Westlker River | Wildlife Area | Inland Deserts |
| White Slough | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
| Willow Creek | Wildlife Area | Northern |
| Yolo Bypass | Wildlife Area | Bay Delta |
       * Indicates protected area status will come into effect on September 21, 2007.