What We Do
Most of the lands that comprise the Grasslands Wildlife Management Area consist of private waterfowl hunting clubs, as well as wildlife-friendly agricultural lands. Habitat management activities on hunting clubs--primarily intensive moist soil management within wetland basins--are conducted by the private landowners. Refuge personnel are often available to provide technical assistance to landowners, and funding opportunities periodically arise to cost-share on habitat improvement projects for the benefit of wildlife. Landowners within the Grasslands WMA are encouraged to contact the refuge complex office at (209) 826-3508 with any questions or for more information about these programs.
Management and Conservation
Refuge Planning
National Wildlife Refuge planning sets the broad vision for refuge management and the goals, objectives, strategies, and actions required to achieve it. Planning ensures that each refuge meets its individual purposes, contributes to the Refuge System’s mission and priorities, is consistent with other applicable laws and policies, and enhances conservation benefits beyond refuge boundaries.
Comprehensive Conservation Plans
Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCPs) are the primary planning documents for National Wildlife Refuges. As outlined in the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is required to develop CCPs that guide refuge management for the next 15 years. CCPs articulate the Service’s contributions to meeting refuge purposes and the National Wildlife Refuge System mission. CCPs serve as a bridge between broad, landscape-level plans developed by other agencies and stakeholders and the more detailed step-downs that stem from Refuge CCPs.
The joint CCP for San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Merced National Wildlife Refuge, and Grasslands Wildlife Management Area is currently in development. The Final CCP will be posted here upon completion.
Step-down Plans
CCP step-down plans guide refuge-level programs for: (1) conserving natural resources (e.g., fish, wildlife, plants, and the ecosystems they depend on for habitat); (2) stewarding other special values of the refuge (e.g., cultural or archeological resources, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, etc.); and (3) engaging visitors and the community in conservation, including providing opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation. Like CCPs, step-down plans contribute to the implementation of relevant landscape plans by developing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) objectives, strategies, implementation schedules, and decision support tools to fulfill refuge visions and goals. This ensures that refuges are managed in a landscape context and that conservation benefits extend beyond refuge boundaries.