 The number of western snowy plovers ("Charadrius nivosus") nesting in the ponds in spring improved after active management began in 1995 by the Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science group.In 1999 the ponds were identified as the most critical breeding habitat in the Monterey Bay region for the plovers.In 2006 a managed tidal flow was improved, funded by Ducks Unlimited, the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.