Maximizing Waterbird Habitat on CA Ricelands
Year Awarded: 2025
USDA Funding: $7,815,311.00
Partner-Contributed Funding: $5,707,789.51
Project Timeline: 2025-2030
Conservation Program Funded: Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): Land Management
California Counties: Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Madera, Merced, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba Counties
Lead Partner: California Rice Commission
Collaborating Partners:
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- California Ricelands Waterbird Foundation
- Audubon California
- Point Blue Conservation Science
Project Summary
The Maximizing Waterbird Habitat on CA Ricelands RCPP Project is a conservation partnership that can provide financial and technical assistance to implement management practices that create seasonal surrogate wetland habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds, and increase nesting habitat through cover crop retention. Together, these practices and this partnership program will benefit migratory and resident waterbirds and other wildlife in the Central Valley.
Project Goals
- Create surrogate wetlands by working with farms to flood their rice fields during the winter.
- Provide critical habitat needed to support waterfowl and other waterbirds that travel the Pacific Flyway annually.
- Refine an innovative multi-benefit cover cropping practice that provides nesting habitat on fallowed fields while building soil health and sequestering carbon.
Conservation Practices/Activities
- 340 – Cover Crop
- 644 – Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
- 645 – Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
- 646 – Seasonal Water Management for Wildlife
NRCS Contact
Shanna Farmer
Acting RCPP Coordinator
Davis State Office, California
Phone: (530) 902-7339
Email: shanna.farmer@usda.gov