Conserving Bird Habitat in
California’s Central ValleyBob Shaffer, CVJV Coordinator
JVC Meeting Austin, TexasDecember 2006
Central Valley Joint Venture
formed in 1988
Central Valley Wetlands Decline
CVJV Coordination Office
• Coordinator: Bob Shaffer
• Assistant Coordinator: Ruth Ostroff
• Science Coordinator: Rob Holbrook
• Communications Coordinator: Jill Shirley
It’s all about the Partnerships!
Who Comprises the Central Valley Joint
Venture Board
Management Board Private Partners
• 9 mgt board partners• 11 ex-officio members
• Audubon California• CA Association of Resource Conservation
Districts• California Waterfowl Association• Defenders of Wildlife• Ducks Unlimited, Inc.• PRBO Conservation Science• River Partners• The Nature Conservancy• The Trust for Public Land
NGO Partners
• CA Dept. of Water Resources• CA Dept. of Fish and Game• CA Resources Agency• CA State Parks• CA Wildlife Conservation Board• US Natural Resources Conservation Service• US Army Corps of Engineers• US Bureau of Land Management• US Bureau of Reclamation• US Environmental Protection Agency• US Fish and Wildlife Service
State/Federal Ex-Officio Partners
CVJV Area of Influence
Nine Basin Focus Area
The CVJV ToolboxSome of the ways the Joint Venture gets things done
• CA Inland Wetlands Program (WCB)• Comprehensive Wetland Habitat Program (DFG)• Presley Program a.k.a. CA Waterfowl Habitat Program
(DFG)• State and Federal Easement Programs (FWS, DFG)• Farm Bill Programs (NRCS/FSA)• Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (FWS)• Valley-Bay CARE & MARSH Programs (DU)• NAWCA grants• Pintail, Mallard and Wood Duck Programs (CWA)• Central Valley Conservation Program (BOR)• CVPIA Programs (BOR/FWS)
– 56 NAWCA projects – 502,000 ACRES Protected, Restored
and Enhanced.– $37 million in NAWCA grant funding– $202 million Federal/non-Federal
leveraged.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants in the
Central Valley
2000 North American 2000 North American Bird Conservation Bird Conservation
InitiativeInitiative
www.nabci-us.orgwww.nabci-us.org
2006 Implementation Plan
2006 Plan Expanded Role:
• Wintering waterfowl• Wintering shorebirds• Breeding waterfowl• Breeding shorebirds• Riparian birds• Waterbirds
Conservation issue #1:
American Basin
American Basin
Location
CVJV American Basin Working Group: A forum for land protection planning in
CVJV priority area
• Needs 25K acres of additional wetlands.• Focus area has high development threat, high
wildlife values.• Working with landowners to establish a core
wildlife refuge in the area (5K ac).• Ag/Wetland easements to surround core area
(10K ac).
CVJV American Basin Working Group (cont’d)
• Multi-partners w/funding and resources.• Landowners contacted and many
interested.• Within multiple counties – NCCP/HCP
areas. • Giant Garter Snake Recovery Plan.
American Basin Work Group• California Department of Fish and Game• Central Valley Joint Venture• Ducks Unlimited• Placer County Planning Department• Placer County Resource Conservation District• Sutter County Planning Department• Sutter County Resource Conservation District• The Placer Land Trust• The Trust for Public Land• Wildlife Conservation Board• US Fish and Wildlife Service
Core Area Identified
American Basin
American Basin
Agriculture, Wetland, Riparian, and Urban Interaction
Focal Area and
NCCP/HCP Efforts
American Basin Where are we now?
• Have we waited too long?
• Unanticipated urban development = skyrocketing land values.
• Now appears to be high effort for small gain.
• Too late to continue efforts?
• Should efforts be redirected where acquisition/restoration is easier (cheaper)?
Conservation issue #2:
Tulare Basin
Tulare Basin Location
– Public agencies, private organizations, and private individuals share information, coordinate, and collaborate on conservation projects led by the participant organizations
– Concerned with the protection and restoration of natural communities in the Tulare Lake Basin.
Tulare Basin Working Group
Tulare Basin Wildlife Partners Mission: To protect, enhance, and restore
wildlife and their habitats in the Tulare Lake Basin
Provides strategic assistance to:– Tulare Basin Wetland Association– DFG– FWS– BLM– CVJV
Current Projects
• BOR funded three conservation plans in Tulare Basin– Goose Lake– Tulare Lake – Sand
Ridge– Kern Lake – Buena
Vista Lake
Current Projects
Proposal to link endangered species habitat and wetland areas on the West side of the Tulare Basin to East side undeveloped lands
Tulare Basin Where are we now?
• Projected urban growth, dairies, sludge farms high in basin.
• New NGO galvanizing partnerships, seeking new funding sources.
• Lack of Water is the key Issue.• Number of Endangered species high.• There’s still time - CVJV will continue high level
of support to achieve the protection and restoration of all existing wetlands in the basin and restore 26,000 acres of wetlands.
Thank You!
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