Updated May 13, 2025 - 1:30pm
- Starting the week of May 19, the Visitor Center at Sacramento NWR will be open on Fridays only (subject to change, closed on all Federal Holidays). The restrooms, auto tour, and trails remain open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Visit Us
Welcome to Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area (including the Llano Seco Unit)!
This WMA is primarily composed of privately-owned properties under conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement , but does have one Service-owned property that is open to the public: the Llano Seco Unit. Located about 10 miles southwest of the city of Chico in Butte County, the Llano Seco Unit offers a Visitor Area with a Restroom and Information Kiosk, Observation Deck, Observation Mound and a Trail.
There are LOTS of recreational opportunities across the Complex, including a Visitor Center, Auto Tours, trails, bicycling, photography, hunting and environmental education.
VISIT US! <-- CLICK HERE....
to find all the information you need to PLAN YOUR VISIT, like recreational opportunities, what to expect, hours and directions, accessibility, passes and permits, rules and policies, local and contact information. Or jump straight to your favorite activity using these quick links:
VISITOR CENTERAUTO TOURSTRAILSBICYCLINGPHOTOGRAPHYHUNTING-WATERFOWLHunting-RiverMAPS, DIRECTIONS + BROCHURESENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area is one of the 5 National Wildlife Refuges and 3 Wildlife Management Areas that make up the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex:
Location and Contact Information
About Us
TheSteve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Areais part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It is located across 11 counties in California's Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Delta. It consists primarily of conservation easements on privately-owned wetlands, but also includes one 1,732 acre fee-title property known as theLlano Seco Unit .
Click on the link below to learn more about us!
What We Do
- 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 Species
The Llano Seco Unit supports large populations of wintering waterfowl, as well as other species such as: bald eagle, mountain lion, bobcat, State-listed threatened greater sandhill cranes, Swainson's hawk, federally threatened giant garter snakes and valley elderberry longhorn beetle, federally endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp, and species of concern California linderiella and Ferris's milk-vetch.
Click on the link below to learn more about our Seasons of Wildlife, Wildlife Checklist, Wildlife Surveys, and Our Species....