Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Nature reserve along San Joaquin River in Antioch, United States.
Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is a sand dune habitat on the south shore of the San Joaquin River-Stockton Deepwater Shipping Channel near Antioch, California, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The dunes rise about 8 metres above sea level, with Donlon Lake and Lake Alhambra nearby, and are closed to the public except for staff-supervised tours and events.
The refuge was established in 1980 under the management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2013, a habitat restoration project sponsored by the Port of Stockton and carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began dredging sandy spoil from the San Joaquin River and pumping it onto the dunes to support the Lange's metalmark butterfly.
The refuge takes its name from the city of Antioch, not from the ancient city of Antioch in the Middle East. Access is only through tours and events supervised by Refuge staff, so the site is experienced as a guided visit rather than an open park. The three protected species are the Lange's metalmark butterfly, the Antioch Dunes evening primrose and the Contra Costa wallflower.
Visitors must register in advance and join supervised tours to access the refuge and protect the delicate habitats inside. Monthly guided tours offer the best way to explore the area while learning about conservation efforts.
Three species of plants and insects live only in this location: the Lange's metalmark butterfly, the Antioch evening primrose, and the Contra Costa wallflower. These organisms have adapted specifically to the sand dunes and conditions found here.
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