Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Delevan NWR is mostly closed to the public, but does offer hunting and limited photography.
Wildlife viewing from the Observation Platform at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Plan Your Visit
Learn about Birdwatching, Photography, Hiking, Biking, Hunting and Education at Sacramento NWR Complex

Visit Us

collage of 12 symbols representing visitor activities
Image Details

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is just one of the 5 National Wildlife Refuges and 3 Wildlife Management Areas that make up the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Delevan NWR is only open to the public for hunting and photography (by reservation only). Delevan is not open to the public for wildlife watching other than Maxwell Road and Four Mile Road, which border the refuge. We recommend visiting the Sacramento NWR and Colusa NWR for wildlife watching.  

Find out more about Delevan NWR by exploring the menu to the left (desktop) or hamburger menu top-right (handheld device), or see our Plan Your Visit page (link below) to find everything the Complex has to offer.

 

  PLAN YOUR VISIT <-- Click here to find all the information you need to visit the Complex.....

      • ACTIVITIES
            • visitor center
            • auto tours
            • trails
            • photography
            • bicycling
            • hunting
            • environmental education
      • HOURS
      • FEES AND PERMITS
      • RULES AND POLICIES
      • ACCESSIBILITY
      • DIRECTIONS
      • OTHER LOCAL INFORMATION

VISITOR QUICK-LINKS for Sacramento NWR Complex

Refuge
Home
Pages:

Maps with
Driving
Directions:

Trail Maps/
Visitor
Leaflets:

Wildlife
Checklists
& Surveys

Hunt
Maps:

PLAN YOUR VISIt to the complex
(Complex includes
all refuges, below) 		(see specific
refuges, below)		-TRAILS page
-AUTO TOUR page
-BICYLCING page
-PHOTOGRAPHY page
-EDUCATORS page
-River NWR MAPS page		-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		-HUNTING page
-Riv NWR HUNTING page
Sacramento NWRDirections - Sac NWR-Visitor Maps -Sac NWR
-Wetlands Walk guide		-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Sac NWR
Delevan NWRDirections - Del NWR--Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Del NWR
Colusa NWRDirections - Cls NWRVisitor Map - Cls NWR-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Cls NWR
Sutter NWRDirections - Sut NWRVisitor Map - Sut NWR-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Sut NWR
Sacramento River NWRRiv NWR MAPS pageRiv NWR MAPS page-Wildlife ChecklistRiv NWR MAPS page
Llano Seco Unit (STNCV WMA)Directions - Llano SecoVisitor Map - Llano Seco-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		-
Butte Sink WMA---Waterfowl Surveys-
Willow Creek/Lurline WMA----

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      snow geese in water and flying at delevan nwr
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      Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.  It is situated about 80 miles north of Sacramento and four miles east of the town of Maxwell in Colusa County. The refuge consists of 5,877 acres consisting primarily of wetlands with some riparian riparian
      Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

      Learn more about riparian       and grassland habitats. 

        Click on the link below to learn more about us!

      What We Do

      tractor mowing levee road with mountains in background
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      • Resource Management

      To help plants and wildlife, Refuge staff uses a variety of habitat management techniques to maintain, recover or enhance plant and wildlife values. Refuge staff carefully consider any management techniques and employ them in varying degrees according to the situation.

      • Conservation and Partnerships

      The Complex is involved in many conservation endeavors, including Comprehensive Conservation Plans, Private Landowner Programs, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.

        Click on the link below to learn more about what we do!

      Our Organization

      National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997:The NWRS Improvement Act defines a unifying mission for all refuges, including a process for determining compatible uses on refuges, and requiring that each refuge be managed according to a CCP. The NWRS Improvement  Act expressly states that wildlife conservation is the priority of System lands and that the Secretary shall ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of refuge lands are maintained. Each refuge must be managed to fulfill the specific purposes for which the refuge was established and the System mission. The first priority of each refuge is to conserve, manage, and if needed, restore fish and wildlife populations and habitats according to its purpose.

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 560 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
      Program
      Washington,DC

      Our Species

      male tricolored black bird
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      Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is best known for migratory waterfowl. Waterfowl are present September through April and numbers regularly peak at over 300,000 ducks and 100,000 geese. The refuge supports one of the largest known populations of palmate-bracted birds-beak (Federally listed endangered plant species) and significant breeding colonies of tricolored blackbirds. Delevan is also an important wintering grounds for Tule Greater White-fronted Geese.

      Species and Habitats  <-- Click here to learn more about our species and habitats!

      Wildlife Checklist  <-- Click here to view our Wildlife Checklist