Advocates for the Bay since 1965
Mission
Since leading successful efforts to create the Refuge in 1972, and expand it in 1988, the Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge works to protect the Refuge and potential Refuge lands from development and other threats, and to promote the recovery of tidal wetlands and the diverse ecosystems of San Francisco Bay.
History
It all started in 1965, when frustrated by rampant development being constructed and proposed along the edges of the Bay, Santa Clara County planner Arthur Ogilvie reached out to the public to test a creative and bold approach to protect the Bay’s remaining shoreline. He placed an ad in a local newspaper inviting those concerned about the protection of the Bay’s shoreline and wetlands to attend a meeting. With the small group of people who met at the Santa Clara County Planning Department, Arthur Ogilvie described his dream of establishing a national wildlife refuge in South San Francisco Bay.
The work of CCCR was instrumental in helping to establish the first and largest urban wildlife refuge in the United States. In 1972, after several years of long and tremendous effort to overcome naysayers, and with Congressman Don Edwards’ tireless enthusiasm, savvy, and support, our dreams were realized and a bill passed into law to establish the existing Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In 1977, the first groundbreaking of the refuge occurred in Santa Clara County.
Learn more
Throughout CCCR’s history from our funding in 1965 to today, we have worked tirelessly to oppose harmful development that would impact the Bay’s wetlands and wildlife, to permanently protect our wetlands and baylands and “Complete the Refuge”.
- Our timeline of successful advocacy on our Our Impact page
- Our vision to Complete the Refuge
- The stories of our Board Members and former Board Members and advocates
- Past newsletters and additional resources in our Archive