CDFW News

Public Invited to Celebrate Salmon, Community at CDFW’s Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:54:46 GMT

Canceled Due to Weather: After much deliberation and with disappointment, CDFW and CalTrout have decided to cancel the Oct. 25 event. The quantity of rain predicted in combination with a high wind advisory led to this decision.

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** Joint news release issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Trout **

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Trout (CalTrout), joined by several community and conservation partners, invite the public to join in celebrating the fall return of Chinook salmon to the Shasta River in the Klamath Basin.

CDFW’s Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area in Siskiyou County will host the free community event Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re excited to highlight the return of Chinook salmon to the Klamath Basin as well as the strong conservation and community partnerships that will help safeguard this iconic species into the future,” said Michael Harris, Environmental Program Manager of CDFW’s Klamath Watershed Program.

“This event is about connecting people to the river and the incredible wildlife that depend on it,” said Ada Fowler, Senior Project Manager at CalTrout. “By bringing the community together to experience salmon spawning firsthand, we’re celebrating both the resilience of these fish and the importance of protecting and restoring our shared natural heritage.”

Partnering with CDFW and CalTrout on the day’s family-friendly and educational activities are the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, the Siskiyou Science Festival, the Scott River Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center and the Salmon and Steelhead Coalition (Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and CalTrout).

Attendees can look forward to:

Guided Chinook salmon viewing along the Shasta River during their spawning season
Educational presentations on the geology of the Shasta Valley and its importance to salmon
Family-friendly activities such as nature journaling hosted by community partners
Opportunities to learn about the ecological significance of salmon in the Klamath Basin

Families, neighbors and community members of all ages are encouraged to attend. For questions about the event, including requests for reasonable accommodation, please reach out to CDFW staff.

Event Details:

When: Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Big Springs Ranch Wildlife Area, 4415 E Louie Rd, Montague, CA 96064
Admission: Free

For more information and directions, visit caltrout.org/events/big-springs-community-day-2025.

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Media Contacts:
Mike Harris, CDFW Northern Region, (530) 410-5334
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858
Kara Glenwright, CalTrout Communications

Nonprofit Organizations Encouraged to Apply for Fundraising Hunting Tags

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:04:12 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites nonprofit organizations to assist with conservation efforts by auctioning special big game tags for the 2026-27 hunting season.

Proceeds from the sale of these tags are returned to CDFW to fund projects for bighorn sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn antelope. Last year’s auctions raised more than $1 million for the conservation and management of big game species. Past projects funded by the sale of these and other hunting tags have included crucial habitat conservation, post-wildfire forest restoration, wildlife population studies and the installation of artificial watering devices to support wildlife during drought conditions.

Up to 18 tags will be reserved for nonprofit organizations to sell or auction. Nonprofit organizations compete through an application process for a chance to auction these special tags, which can only be purchased by members of the public through these auctions. The application process is designed to ensure maximum proceeds are received from the tags to benefit wildlife.

Offering the tags through fundraising banquets and other in-person and online auctions can attract greater participation and overall turnout for the conservation groups awarded the tags, amplifying their own conservation efforts and benefits to California’s big game species.

A call for applications and the required application form are available at CDFW’s Fundraising with Big Game License Tags web page. Applications must be received by 3 p.m. on October 20, 2025.

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Media Contacts:
CDFW Wildlife Branch, BigGame@wildlife.ca.gov
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858

Wildlife Conservation Board Releases 5-Year Strategic Plan

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:40:13 GMT

Updated Plan Shaped by Public, Tribal and Partner Input Statewide

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) today announced the release of its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan that will guide the Board’s conservation and public access investments over the next five years.

The updated plan builds on WCB’s 2014 Strategic Plan and reflects California’s current conservation priorities, including Pathways to 30x30, Outdoors for All and the Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets (PDF). It emphasizes collaboration with Tribes, community partners and agencies to protect biodiversity, advance climate resilience, expand equitable access to nature and improve organizational effectiveness.

“California’s natural landscapes are changing rapidly, and WCB’s role is more important than ever,” said Jennifer Norris, executive director of WCB. “This plan will help us meet the biodiversity and climate challenges of our time while ensuring all Californians — including future generations — can connect with the state’s incredible natural heritage.”

To shape the plan, WCB hosted public listening sessions across the state in fall 2024, conducted an online survey and held multiple Tribal listening sessions. Input from communities, Tribes and partners directly informed the final framework.

“This Strategic Plan reflects the collective wisdom of communities, Tribes and partners across the state,” added Charlton H. Bonham, chair of WCB and director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It reaffirms WCB’s commitment to collaboration, science-driven decision making and delivering meaningful benefits for people and wildlife.”

The 2025–2030 Strategic Plan is available at wcb.ca.gov.

About the Wildlife Conservation Board

Established in 1947, the Wildlife Conservation Board protects, restores and enhances California’s spectacular natural resources for wildlife and the public’s use and enjoyment. WCB works in partnership with Tribes, conservation groups, government agencies and the people of California to safeguard biodiversity and expand access to nature.

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CDFW Seeks Public Comment on Draft Guidelines for Recovery Planning

Fri, 30 May 2025 13:22:43 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking public comment on the draft Guidelines for Recovery Planning, a document intended to guide development of effective recovery plans to recover threatened and endangered species listed under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA; Fish and Game Code section 2079.1).

CDFW has posted the draft Guidelines for Recovery Planning to CDFW’s Recovery Planning web page for public review. CDFW respectfully requests comments be submitted no later than July 31, 2025. Submit written comments to CDFW by email at CESArecovery@wildlife.ca.gov and include “Guidelines for Recovery Planning” in the subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Branch, Attn: Austin Roy/Recovery Guidelines, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.

During the comment period, CDFW will host a public meeting from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The meeting will be held at 715 P St., Room 201, Sacramento, CA 95811. For those who would like to attend remotely over Zoom, registration for the meeting is available using this link:

https://wildlife-ca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I4hSqGxeR8GTPoDkLgbt9Q

Following the public comment period, information received will be reviewed and considered during development of the final guidelines. Once approved, the final Guidelines for Recovery Planning will be available on CDFW’s Recovery Planning web page.

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Media Contacts:
Austin Roy, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 768-0564
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Wildlife Conservation Board Awards $59.5 Million in Grants to 25 Habitat Conservation and Restoration Projects

Fri, 23 May 2025 11:29:13 GMT

Grants Will Protect Nearly 23,000 Acres Across California, Including Key Wildlife Corridor in Ventura County

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved $59.5 million in grants to support 25 habitat protection and restoration projects in 21 counties across California. Awarded at WCB’s May 22 meeting, the projects will safeguard nearly 23,000 acres of the state’s most ecologically important landscapes.

Among the awards is a $14.75 million grant to the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to acquire approximately 6,475 acres near the city of Ventura. Known as Rancho Cañada Larga, the land features coastal sage scrub, native grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral and riparian habitats that support at least 20 special-status wildlife species and eight rare plant species. The site provides critical habitat for the California red-legged frog and Southern California steelhead, and lies within the year-round range of the California condor.

The acquisition includes 4.25 miles of Cañada Larga Creek — one of five major tributaries to the Ventura River — and protects a vital section of the Sierra Madre-–Castaic Linkage, a wildlife corridor that connects two major watersheds and national forests.

The property also holds cultural significance, and active consultation is underway with the Barbareño-Ventureño Band of Mission Indians to ensure access rights for ceremonial gatherings, native plant collection and other cultural uses.

“This support is a critical milestone in our effort to conserve one of Ventura County’s most iconic open spaces,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, TPL Pacific Region vice president and California state director. “Rancho Cañada Larga is a landscape of extraordinary ecological and cultural value, and this funding will help to ensure it will be protected for generations to come.”

The WCB’s grants advance Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal of conserving 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, an initiative known as 30x30. The initiative seeks to protect biodiversity, expand access to nature for all Californians and adapt to climate change.

Other funded projects include:

A $6.55 million grant to support the return of 1,720 acres of ancestral land to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. The land, located along Tularcitos Creek, is part of the historic 12,452-acre Rana Creek Ranch. The acquisition ensures the Esselen people will own and steward the property using nature-based practices informed by tribal ecological knowledge.

“When TWC acquired the Tularcitos parcels with private financing, our vision was always to see this land returned to its original stewards,” said Frazier Haney, executive director of TWC.

Purchased from The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) with additional funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy, the land includes oak woodlands, vernal pools and riparian habitats, supporting endangered species like the California red-legged frog and California condor. The property also provides access to cultural sites and future wildlife-oriented public use.

This landscape forms a key wildlife corridor between the Sierra de Salinas and Santa Lucia Range, linking to the 1.75-million-acre Los Padres National Forest.

“We are honored to partner with the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County in making that vision a reality,” Haney continued. “This milestone reflects our shared commitment to caring for this remarkable landscape and builds on our ongoing collaboration in co-stewarding Rana Creek Preserve. We are deeply grateful to the WCB and other public agency partners whose support has been essential in protecting these ancestral lands and ensuring they are cared for with the cultural knowledge and reverence they deserve.”

A $1.6 million grant to the American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation (Parks Foundation) to develop the Napa River Ecology Center, transforming a former industrial site into an inclusive, ADA-accessible hub for environmental education. Designed with input from the Suscol Intertribal Council and local communities, the project will include indoor/outdoor classrooms, nature play areas and bilingual signage, serving up to 20,000 visitors annually.

“The Napa River Ecology Center will be a dynamic center for education and stewardship that is designed to inspire connection with the Napa River watershed and protection of the diverse wildlife it supports,” said Janelle Sellick, executive director of the Parks Foundation. “Through a unique adaptive reuse of the site, and a strong public-private partnership between the Parks Foundation and the city of American Canyon, the project sets a new standard for collaborative conservation.”

An $8 million grant to Save the Redwoods League (STRL) in partnership with Sonoma County Regional Parks (SCRP) to permanently protect 1,517 acres of redwood forestland in west Sonoma County, expanding the Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. The acquisition connects more than 22,000 contiguous acres of protected land and will provide new multi-use trail access for residents of Monte Rio — Sonoma County’s most disadvantaged unincorporated community.

“(WCB’s) support of this landmark project enables us to significantly expand public access and connect thousands of acres of protected public lands from Monte Rio to the Sonoma Coast,” said Bert Whitaker, director of SCRP. “This effort safeguards vital redwood forests, wildlife habitat and clean water resources for future generations, while also creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation in one of Sonoma County’s most scenic and ecologically important regions.”

STRL Chief Program Officer Paul Ringgold noted the grant will help conserve a vital stretch of redwood forest, adding to a growing network of protected lands in Sonoma County. “By helping to knit together a larger, more resilient landscape, this project reflects the power of partnership in advancing conservation that will benefit both ecosystems and communities,” Ringgold said.

A $5.2 million grant to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in partnership with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to implement the Bombay Beach Wetland Enhancement Project at the Salton Sea. The project will restore just over 560 acres of wetland habitat for migratory birds and endangered species such as the desert pupfish, while also controlling dust near the disadvantaged community of Bombay Beach. Long-term management will be led by the Salton Sea Conservancy, with support from state agencies and conservation groups.

“The project will enhance and stabilize wetlands and remove non-native species on a 564-acre site and is planned to enhance public access with a new hiking trail and interpretive signage,” said Melinda Dorin, lead program manager of the Salton Sea Restoration Office for the DWR. “The Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) has been working with Audubon California and the landowners to design and implement the project. The WCB money is an important funding piece that provides the bridge from design to construction.”

IID Chairwoman Gina Dockstader added, “The IID is excited to see another Salton Sea project moving closer to implementation. This is a great example of people working together toward a common goal, and we thank the WCB, Audubon and our agency partners for their roles in reaching this milestone.”

For more information about the WCB, visit wcb.ca.gov. To explore the newly funded projects, visit WCB’s StoryMaps pages.
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Media Contact:
Mark Topping, Wildlife Conservation Board, (916) 539-4673