Grasslands Wildlife Management Area
Encyclopedia
Grasslands Wildlife Management Area lies within the San Joaquin River
basin and supports the largest remaining block of wetland
s in the Central Valley, containing 70000 acres (283.3 km²) of private wetlands and associated, and surrounding 53000 acres (214.5 km²) of state and federal lands. Perpetual conservation easement
s on private lands have been purchased by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
.
Land management activities are the responsibility of the landowners, not the Service. These wetlands and associated grassland
s, complemented by two national wildlife refuge
s and four state wildlife areas, comprise over 160000 acres (647.5 km²) and are collectively known as the Grasslands Ecological Area.
This area is extremely important to Pacific Flyway
populations of 19 duck
species and 6 goose
species. The Grasslands Ecological Area has been officially recognized as an integral unit of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network.
Large concentrations of migratory waterfowl
, wading birds, and shorebirds are common and easily observed during late winter and early spring.
San Joaquin River
The San Joaquin River is the largest river of Central California in the United States. At over long, the river starts in the high Sierra Nevada, and flows through a rich agricultural region known as the San Joaquin Valley before reaching Suisun Bay, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean...
basin and supports the largest remaining block of wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s in the Central Valley, containing 70000 acres (283.3 km²) of private wetlands and associated, and surrounding 53000 acres (214.5 km²) of state and federal lands. Perpetual conservation easement
Easement
An easement is a certain right to use the real property of another without possessing it.Easements are helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property or allowing an individual to fish in a privately owned pond...
s on private lands have been purchased by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
.
Land management activities are the responsibility of the landowners, not the Service. These wetlands and associated grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s, complemented by two national wildlife refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
s and four state wildlife areas, comprise over 160000 acres (647.5 km²) and are collectively known as the Grasslands Ecological Area.
This area is extremely important to Pacific Flyway
Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to...
populations of 19 duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
species and 6 goose
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
species. The Grasslands Ecological Area has been officially recognized as an integral unit of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network.
Large concentrations of migratory waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, wading birds, and shorebirds are common and easily observed during late winter and early spring.
See also
- Category: Grasslands of California
- Category: Native grasses of California