Project Map
California Waterfowl biologists are looking at another aggressive construction season in 2012. Working hard to improve habitat on both the public and private fronts, California Waterfowl will be enhancing habitat across the state. Healthy waterfowl populations will mean happy hunting come fall, so thank you for your continued support of our conservation efforts.
1 Northeastern California
Project Locations: Modoc National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), McArthur Swamp, 10 Private Properties
Acres Affected: 3,000
Wetland enhancement and restoration projects will concentrate on improving waterfowl spring staging habitat, upland nesting cover, wet meadow habitat, and seasonal wetland acreage. Activities will take place at the PG&E-owned McArthur Swamp, throughout the Pit River watershed, the Modoc NWR, and various private properties. Efforts are currently underway to submit a second phase grant proposal for wetland projects in the region, worth over one million dollars.
2 Sacramento Valley
Project Locations: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (WA), Upper Butte Basin WA, Sacramento NWR, Delevan NWR, Colusa NWR, and 8 Private Clubs
Acres Affected: 2,600
The state wildlife area projects (Little Dry Creek, Howard Slough, and Llano Seco units) will concentrate on increasing waterfowl production and upland nesting cover while also increasing management capabilities for feed production in the hunt areas. The federal refuge projects will improve the infrastructure, including levees and islands, while improving water movement across these wetland units. The private projects will be accomplishing similar types of improvements while making the properties more water efficient and improving diversity within the wetland and upland units.
3 Yolo Bypass and Delta
Project Locations: Yolo Bypass WA and 2 Private Properties
Acres Affected: 2,435
Projects will focus on enhancing nesting grounds and wintering habitat as well as the restoration of brood ponds and other waterfowl habitat. An additional grant proposal has been submitted for the Yolo/Delta region, and California Waterfowl is awaiting the funding status.
4 Suisun Marsh
Project Location: Grizzly Island WA, Island Slough WA, Joice Island WA, and 25 Private Clubs
Acres Affected: 5,000
California Waterfowl will be completing 40 habitat projects throughout the Suisun Marsh. Funding will be supplied from 20 grants secured from a variety of agencies and private contributions. Most projects will focus on infrastructure upgrades that will improve the ability to manage wetlands effectively and efficiently.
5 Grasslands
Project Locations: Volta WA, Los Banos WA, North Grasslands WA, 8 Private Properties
Acres Affected: 2,800
Work will focus on restoration of marginal farmlands, as well as improvements to existing wetlands and uplands. Wetland restoration will include work on the Gadwall Unit, while other improvements include work on Volta WA, where 150 acres will be added to the WA. Private club work will concentrate on rehabilitating water delivery and drainage systems and other components of wetland infrastructure. Upland seeding is also a part of the restoration plans.
6 Southern San Joaquin/Tulare Basin Region
Project Locations: Kern NWR, Mendota WA
Acres Affected: 801
Construction in 2012 on Kern NWR and Mendota WA will focus on the installation of water control structures, removal of exotic salt cedar, and construction of levees, islands, and swales. Project components will allow for active moist soil management, improved management capabilities, reduced water needs for irrigation and flood up, and improved mosquito control. With the noted success of recent projects in the Tulare Basin, California Waterfowl will be submitting a second million-dollar grant this spring.
7 Southern California
Project Location: Imperial WA
Acres Affected: 750
Project activities will take place at the Y16 portion of the Wister Unit and will include tamarisk removal, levee refurbishment, swale construction, and the installation of new water control structures. California Waterfowl has submitted a million-dollar grant proposal for the region. We are currently awaiting the funding status of the proposal. If funded, additional project work will be done throughout the Imperial Valley.