1. Conserving Bird Habitat in California’s Central Valley Bob Shaffer, CVJV Coordinator JVC Meeting Austin, Texas December 2006

2. Central Valley Joint Venture formed in 1988

3. Central Valley Wetlands Decline

4. CVJV Coordination Office Coordinator: Bob Shaffer Assistant Coordinator: Ruth Ostroff Science Coordinator: Rob Holbrook Communications Coordinator: Jill Shirley It’s all about the Partnerships!

6. Who Comprises the Central Valley Joint Venture Board Management Board Private Partners 9 mgt board partners 11 ex-officio members

7. 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

8. 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

9. CVJV Area of Influence

10. Nine Basin Focus Area

11. The CVJV Toolbox Some 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)

12. –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

13. 2000 North American Bird Conservation Initiative www.nabci-us.org

14. 2006 Implementation Plan

15. 2006 Plan Expanded Role: Wintering waterfowl Wintering shorebirds Breeding waterfowl Breeding shorebirds Riparian birds Waterbirds

16. Conservation issue #1: American Basin

17. American Basin Location

18. 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).

19. 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.

20. 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

21. Core Area Identified American Basin

22. Agriculture, Wetland, Riparian, and Urban Interaction

23. Focal Area and NCCP/HCP Efforts

24. 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)?

25. Conservation issue #2: Tulare Basin

26. Tulare Basin Location

27. –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

28. 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

29. Current Projects BOR funded three conservation plans in Tulare Basin –Goose Lake –Tulare Lake – Sand Ridge –Kern Lake – Buena Vista Lake

30. Current Projects Proposal to link endangered species habitat and wetland areas on the West side of the Tulare Basin to East side undeveloped lands

31. 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.

32. Thank You!