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Map Satellite All but about 100 hectares (250 acres) of this area is in permanent or seasonal marsh managed for waterfowl utilization. There are still traces of the alkali-sink vegetation where the influence of the artificial flooding is least and where no effort has been made to cultivate aquatic plants or maintain water on the area into the summer. The dominant plant of the heavily alkaline soils is Allenrolfea occidentalis. Also present are Distichlis spicata, Suaeda moquinii, and Atriplex lentiformis, among others.
In the permanent freshwater marsh are four species of tule, Scirpus spp., two cattails, Typha latifolia and Typha domingensis, Carex sp., Sagittaria greggii (?), Eleocharis macrostachya, and the non-native Crypsis schoenoides.
Over 200 species of birds have been identified in the vicinity. During the migratory season the area is heavily used by waterfowl and shorebirds. Among the more abundant of the latter are avocets, Recurvirostra americana, black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus, long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolapaceus, and various sandpipers. (See Los Banos Wildlife Area)
The main wasteway channel supports striped bass, Roccus saxatilis, and largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, among others.
Integrity: The area is managed as a wildlife area, with dikes, holding ponds, seasonal flooding, grazing, etc.
Use: Research, educational, observational, hunting, fishing.
July 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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