California Waterfowl Habitat Program

Agency: California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) and California Waterfowl Association (CWA)

Program: California Waterfowl Habitat Program

Program Description: This program was created by the California Waterfowl Habitat Preservation Act of 1987 to support landowners' efforts to preserve and enhance their wetland waterfowl habitat. The landowner and CDFG enter into an agreement. This agreement includes a waterfowl habitat management plan developed cooperatively by the CDFG, participating landowner, and, in most cases, a filed biologist from the California Waterfowl Association. The plan contains guidelines for managing the property to provide high-quality seasonal wetland habitat. Management activities may vary year to year based on habitat conditions. Biologists from CDFG typically meet with landowners in the spring to decide on the management strategy for that spring and summer. The CDFG verifies compliance with the agreement at the end of each summer and makes payments accordingly. The landowner must cover any further management costs, including those for obtaining sufficient water. Agreements are automatically renewed each hear, unless the landowner notifies the CDFG of a desire to cancel. After such notification, the agreement remains in effect until the current ten-year period expires. Since funds have not been available to expand this very popular and successful program, the CDFG has initiated a modified version of it referred to as Phase 2. The only differences in the two programs are their source of funding and the fact that Phase 2 contracts terminate after a ten year period instead of being automatically renewed.

Eligible Communities: The program is available statewide.

Funding Information: Participating landowners receive $20 an acre per year for entering into a wetland conservation agreement with the CDFG for an initial period of ten years to protect and manage their wetland property.

Timelines: Enrollments are accepted year-round.

Contact: CDFG at (916) 653-5284 or CWA at (916) 648-1406

Internet: www.dfg.ca.gov