Pacific Southwest

Pacific Southwest
About Us

Overview of the Region

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 is headquartered in Sacramento, California, and has federal fish and wildlife management responsibilities in California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon. The Region includes one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States, ranging from the arid sand dunes in the Mojave Desert to the snow-capped crags in the high Sierras; from rich farmland in the Central Valley to rain-soaked redwood forests along the Pacific coast. This highly diverse geography provides habitats for a vast array of wildlife. More than 42 million people live within the Region, and expanding population centers such as San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Reno, San Diego, and Las Vegas are increasing demands on natural resources, presenting unique challenges to the Region’s conservation mission.

The Service is responsible for managing the National Wildlife Refuge System, operating fish hatcheries and fishery resource offices, enforcing federal wildlife laws, managing migratory bird populations, conserving and restoring habitats, and overseeing a federal aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars to state, fish and wildlife agencies.

Regional and Field Offices

Our Pacific Southwest Regional Office is in Sacramento, California. Our region consists of 11 fish and wildlife offices; Arcata, Carlsbad, Klamath Falls, Lodi, San Francisco Bay-Delta, Red Bluff, Reno, Southern Nevada, Sacramento, Ventura and Yreka, 130 Federally-recognized Native American Tribes, 45 national wildlife refuges, 5 wildlife management areas, four national fish hatcheries; Coleman, Klamath Falls, Lahontan and Livingston Stone, and the California-Nevada Fish Health Center.

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In This Region
California
Nevada
Oregon
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Leadership

Regional Highlights

a fisher climbing a tree
Service Reviews Status of Fisher in Northern California and Southern Oregon
PORTLAND, Oregon – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reevaluating the status of the Northern California-Southern Oregon (NCSO) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of fisher to determine if listing under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. The Service encourages the public to...
Press Release
Jodie Delavan
Representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and other partners pose for the Numana Dam groundbreaking.
Numana Dam Fish Passage Project
On September 13, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke ground to commence construction on a fish passage project at Numana Dam in northern Nevada. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, Nevada Department of Wildlife and other partners joined the Service...
Story
Habitat Restoration
A large black bird with a pink and orange face sits on brown and red rock.
Condor Shooting Under Investigation in California
Sacramento, California – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the shooting of an endangered California condor found in Hollister, California in July 2022. The condor was found deceased on private property directly off Lone Tree Road in Hollister. The Service’s Wildlife Forensics...
Press Release
An olive green frog sits partially covered by shallow water
Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog Receives ESA Protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will provide Endangered Species Act protections to four of the six geographically and genetically distinct population segments (DPS) of the foothill yellow-legged frog.
Press Release
low growing green plant without flowers, growing in sandy soil
Sand Dune Phacelia Listed as Threatened
PORTLAND, Oregon – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is announcing the finalized listing of sand dune phacelia as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service also designated 181 acres of critical habitat and completed a 4(d) rule for the coastal plant.
Press Release
Jodie Delavan
a woman looking through a spotting scope
A Desert Oasis
You are walking in the desert. It is hot, scorching hot. You can’t remember how long you have been walking. The only things you know is your throat is growing increasingly dry and you are thirsty, really thirsty. Sand blows in your face. As you stumble along you have grown used to the mirage on the...
Story
Recreation