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Map Satellite Established in 1969, this is the newest of the San Joaquin Valley wildlife refuges (see Merced National Wildlife Refuge and San Luis National Wildlife Refuge). Though it includes a variety of natural sloughs, marshes and wetlands, many of the seasonal marshes are being restored and expanded and permanent marshes created.
Vegetation is primarily grassland which, having been grazed, is now largely exotics, plus some freshwater marsh with Typha sp. and Scirpus sp. present. There is also some riparian woodland, predominantly cottonwood, Populus fremontii, and willow, Salix sp., along some of the sloughs.
Some 170 species of birds have been observed on the Refuge, including both the sandhill and greater sandhill cranes, Grus canadensis canadensis and Grus canadensis tabida. During the migratory season the most numerous ducks are pintail, Anas acuta, green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis, shoveler, Spatula clypeata, mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, and gadwall, Anas strepera. The latter two species nest on the Refuge. There are also various geese and numerous shorebirds.
Integrity: Managed for waterfowl and water reclamation.
Use: Research, educational, observational, hunting.
April 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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