San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge

The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge is located west of Modesto, California, within the historic floodplain of the confluences of the San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Rivers. Refuge lands consist of oak-cottonwood-willow riparian forest, pastures, agricultural fields, and wetlands. This refuge was established in 1987 under authority of the Endangered Species Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, and Migratory Bird Conservation Act. The original refuge land base of 1,638 acres has grown tremendously. Through recent land acquisitions, the refuge has increased to 6,642 acres within an approved refuge boundary of 12,877 acres.

This refuge played a key role in the recovery and the March 2001 de-listing of the Aleutian Canada Goose by providing critical habitat for the species. Active management of roost ponds and foraging habitat is critical for maintaining goose use on refuge lands and retaining the resource values for which the lands were acquired. Interim management (managing pastures for short grass habitat, flooding and maintaining wetlands in lieu of grazing fees, sharecropping corn, and planting winter wheat under contract) is being accomplished through a Comprehensive Land Management Agreement.

These lands form a mosaic of riparian habitat, wetlands, and agricultural fields. It is the primary wintering site of 98 percent of the Aleutian Canada geese that winter in the Valley (October - April), plus it is a major wintering/migration area for lesser and greater sandhill cranes, cackling Canada geese, and white-fronted geese. The refuge's riparian forest contains a large heron/egret rookery and provides important migration and breeding habitat for neotropical migratory land birds. Valley elderberry longhorn beetles may be present and the area is a potential site for re-establishing riparian brush rabbits. Due to proximity of large population centers, great opportunities exist for future public use, such as wildlife observation and nature interpretation and education. Adjacent landowner (Robert Gallo) and the local Rotary Club, with refuge participation, are currently hosting county-wide 3rd grade school class tours on his property twice weekly during winter. The refuge and surrounding wetlands are subject to almost annual avian cholera outbreaks. Most bird losses are Aleutian and cackling Canada geese. Seasonal Aleutian Canada goose observers are used to control disease outbreaks and monitor losses of Aleutian geese. Increases in Aleutian and other goose numbers are starting to cause crop depredation problems with nearby landowners. This will continue until an increased land base and level of management is available to meet fall and early winter foraging needs of the geese on refuge lands.