CDFW News

High-Quality Western Joshua Tree Habitat Acquired, to be Co-Managed by CDFW and Native American Tribes

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:56:31 GMT

Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund Web Page Announced

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has made a significant purchase of western Joshua tree habitat using the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund. The land will be co-managed by CDFW and California Native American tribes.

On August 24, CDFW acquired 640 acres of western Joshua tree habitat northwest of Pioneertown in San Bernardino County. According to research, this property is highly likely to provide the best future suitable western Joshua tree habitat in Southern California based on environmental factors and climate projections.

The land acquisition will contribute to meeting conservation targets laid out in the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan. CDFW is now working with the Native American Land Conservancy on plans for long-term protection and co-management of the property by CDFW and California Native American tribes.

“This is an example of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan successfully put into action, as was intended, to help us protect this unique species in collaboration with tribal partners,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. “There is nothing else quite like the western Joshua tree. They are an important part of Native American cultural traditions, a keystone species for our desert ecosystems and they are also a sight worth taking a road trip for.”

The western Joshua tree is a slow-growing succulent that is culturally significant to Native American Tribes and an icon of the American Southwest. These unique monocots face threats such as wildfire, land development and a warming climate.

“We are so blessed to be able to steward this place into the future,” said Native American Land Conservancy President Michael Madrigal (Cahuilla Tribe). “I will never forget the first time I went to this new preserve. It is such an amazing place with some of the largest Joshua trees I have ever seen.”

This is the second property acquired using funds from the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund. A total of 923 acres of habitat have now been conserved; CDFW is currently looking into additional properties totaling 2,500 acres.

Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund Web Page Launched

CDFW recently launched a new web page that shows revenue and expenses related to the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund, which is where collected take permit mitigation fees are deposited to be used for conservation and management of western Joshua tree habitat.

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act prohibits take of western Joshua tree without a CDFW-issued permit. Permit fees are deposited into the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund and used solely for the purposes of acquiring, conserving and managing western Joshua tree conservation lands and completing other activities to conserve the western Joshua tree. To date, more than $23.5 million has gone into the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund.

This new web page shows money spent, committed and reserved from the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund, and is organized by conservation action categories identified in the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. These categories are land acquisition and conservation easements, restoration, monitoring, endowments for land management and transaction costs.

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund web page will be updated regularly to reflect the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund balance and expenditures.

To learn more, visit the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund web page at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Environmental-Review/WJT/WJTCA/Fund.

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Photo caption: Western Joshua trees are pictured at the recently acquired, 640-acre property near Pioneertown, San Bernardino County, that will provide high-quality habitat for the species. Photo courtesy of the Native American Land Conservancy

Media Contacts:
Kelley Barker, CDFW Habitat Conservation Planning Branch, (916) 805-4307
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120

Reminder of the Importance of Cold Water to Restore and Protect Salmon

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:20:25 GMT

CDFW Scientists Keeping an Eye on River Conditions to Protect Winter-and-Fall-Run Salmon

As California continues to feel the impacts of a heat dome that is bringing higher than normal temperatures to large portions of the state, it’s a good time to remember that fish and wildlife — especially salmon — need cold water, too. River temperature management is critical for salmon’s survival and spawning.

Earlier this year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that commercial ocean salmon fishing was back after being closed for three straight years. To avoid salmon impacts that could result in a return to salmon season closures, we need to ensure cold water pools are preserved, when possible, to help preserve and protect California’s salmon populations.

CDFW and federal and state partners are working to monitor river conditions to give endangered Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon eggs a chance for survival after their spawning was observed several weeks later than usual. The eggs of late-season spawning fish can be at risk due to decreases in river flows and warmer water temperatures.

CDFW and partners are also closely monitoring flow and temperature conditions for Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon spawning that will follow winter-run spawning.

In July, during peak winter-run Chinook salmon spawning, water releases from Shasta Dam were elevated to meet downstream water demand for municipal and agricultural uses, and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta water quality requirements, but those flows will drop significantly heading into fall. At the same time, Shasta Reservoir has below-average cold-water reserves despite high overall storage volume, making it harder to keep river temperatures cool through November and beyond when eggs are still developing.

Monitoring by CDFW, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) will provide fisheries information and recommendations to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to inform adjustments to Shasta Dam operations to protect these salmon that have deep cultural significance for Native American tribes and play a critical role in California’s biodiversity and commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries.

“CDFW and our partners are using a number of tools to help inform Reclamation operations to maximize survival of the next generation of Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon — one of the state’s most endangered fish — and for fall-run Chinook,” said CDFW Northern Region Manager Jason Roberts. “We are committed to providing data and technical input to Reclamation with the goal of maximizing the survival of these salmon eggs through an unfavorable situation.”

Fall-run Chinook salmon begin spawning in the Sacramento River when eggs from winter-run Chinook salmon that spawned in late July and early August may still be in their gravel egg nests, called redds. Great care must be taken to simultaneously ensure winter-run Chinook salmon redds are protected, establish suitable flow conditions prior to the onset of fall-run Chinook salmon spawning and refill Shasta Reservoir for the next season.

CDFW, USFWS and PSMFC teams are surveying 26 miles of river from Keswick Dam northwest of Redding to Balls Ferry east of Anderson. Using boat and aerial surveys, scientists map locations of salmon egg nests and measure water depths to understand which redds may face higher risks as river flows and temperatures change.

CDFW and PSMFC staff are closely monitoring 103 winter-run Chinook salmon redds that were constructed by salmon in shallow water this year when flow releases from Shasta were greatest. Crews will monitor these redds repeatedly as flow conditions change until the fry have emerged from the gravel.

Since May, field crews have also collected data from more than 6,300 winter-run Chinook salmon carcasses. Chinook salmon die after they spawn, and their bodies provide fisheries biologists with information to understand when they were born, where they’ve been and the health of the population.

Temperature loggers placed in the river help scientists estimate when eggs will finish hatching. This data informs Reclamation operations at Shasta Dam as they make flow decisions aimed at supplying enough water for redds to support successful hatching. Dam operators are also able to pull water from different reservoir depths, but cooling the river only works if enough cold water remains in the system.

CDFW scientists monitoring Sacramento River winter-run Chinook Salmon in the upper Sacramento River estimate that approximately 20 percent of the eggs spawned this year may not survive the rising temperatures, based on modeling from UC Santa Cruz and the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

Winter-run salmon are so-named for the winter season in which they leave the ocean and enter the Sacramento River. They spawn in the summertime, building redds in the cool, clean gravel beds near Redding. Their eggs remain in the river for about three months, relying on steady, cold water flowing from Shasta Dam to survive the Central Valley heat. Fall-run Chinook salmon are traditionally the river’s largest run of Chinook salmon, and CDFW expects a robust return of fall-run Chinook salmon to the Sacramento River this fall. Critically important economically and environmentally, CDFW and partners are working to advocate for suitable river conditions this year for both winter-run and fall-run Chinook salmon.

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Media Contact
Alicia de la Garza, CDFW Communications

CDFW and Partners Host Nearly 200 Events Statewide in Celebration of California Biodiversity Day 2026

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:14:46 GMT

This year’s event lineup includes a wide variety of in-person and virtual experiences across the state. Clockwise from top left: Dive into an underwater bioblitz at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, take on the 30 Species Challenge Hike at Mount Tamalpais State Park, tune in to a virtual elephant seal livecast from Hearst San Simeon State Park, learn about tarantulas at Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area and help remove invasive plants during a climate resilience workday at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. California State Parks photos

SACRAMENTO — The California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California State Parks, California Academy of Sciences (CAS) and California Volunteers invite the public to join the celebration for California Biodiversity Day 2026. With more than 180 events taking place across the state from September 5-13, the nine-day celebration will offer opportunities for all to connect with nature and learn simple ways to help protect and steward the environment.

“California Biodiversity Day provides an opportunity to get outside, learn more about the remarkable nature around us, and discover how we can protect it and help it thrive,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “In California, we often celebrate our cultural diversity, but less so our biological diversity. The fact is our state is one of three dozen ‘biodiversity hotspots’ in the world, home to a richness of plants, animals and other life almost unparalleled across our planet. That's something worth celebrating, and something we all have a role in protecting for generations to come.”

“California is a biodiversity hotspot well worth a celebration,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. “California Biodiversity Day gives us not just one day for this celebration but nine days to explore, appreciate and put a spotlight on the incredible natural diversity found across our state. Whether you go somewhere new or visit a familiar place, as part of a California Biodiversity Day event or out on your own, this week is all about taking a closer look at our varied landscape and the vast number of species that call the Golden State home.”

“From the smallest tidepool creature to towering redwoods, every piece of California’s remarkable biodiversity is worth cherishing and understanding,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “California Biodiversity Day gives people of all ages an opportunity to experience that richness firsthand. I invite everyone to take this opportunity to explore one of their 280-plus state parks and come celebrate California’s unparalleled plants and wildlife with us.”

“California Biodiversity Day is a great reminder to slow down, notice, and appreciate the incredible nature of our state,” said California Academy of Sciences Director of Community Science Rebecca Johnson, PhD. “Nature observations made and shared by Californians and visitors to California on iNaturalist not only help us learn about plants and animals all around us, but they are how we gather critical biodiversity data at scale. The California Biodiversity Data Exchange, a partnership with CDFW, iNaturalist, and Cal Academy, provides the state with critical iNaturalist data to inform and strengthen conservation decision-making throughout California. Every observation shared on iNaturalist — during California Biodiversity Day events and beyond — directly supports our efforts to protect the species and places that make our state extraordinary.”

“On California Biodiversity Day, we celebrate the power of service to protect the places and ecosystems that make our state so extraordinary, said Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement Director Josh Fryday. “Across the state, California Service Corps members and volunteers are restoring habitats, planting native species and ensuring California’s diverse landscapes and wildlife continue to thrive. Through Climate Action Counts, every Californian can take meaningful steps to help protect the communities we call home.”

“University of California Agriculture and Natural Resource recognizes the intrinsic value of biodiversity as well as its essential role in generating food and fiber, and providing invaluable environmental services,” said UC Environmental Stewards Director Greg Ira. “Through our programs — including our new statewide Biodiversity Conservation and Stewardship Program Team — we embrace our role as part of this vast community of life that sustains us all.”

This year’s event lineup includes a wide variety of in-person and virtual experiences, from mountain hikes and underwater dives to paint parties and cozy campfires. Find an event near you using our interactive California Biodiversity Day events page. Here are some picks to get you started:

Love to hit the trails? Take on the 30 Species Challenge Hike at Mount Tamalpais State Park, explore the rare pygmy forest at Van Damme State Park, search for glowing nighttime wonders on a biofluorescence walk at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area or join a bilingual (English and Spanish) bioblitz in Oakland.
Fascinated by wildlife? Learn all about tarantulas at Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area, glimpse sea stars and hermit crabs during sunset tidepooling at MacKerricher State Park, or go birdwatching at the California State Capitol.
Feeling artsy, lyrical or curious? Pick up a paintbrush at Los Angeles State Historic Park, enjoy live poetry at Monterey State Historic Park or join trivia night around a campfire at Mount Tamalpais State Park.
Looking to make a difference? Help restore habitat for native wildlife at Año Nuevo State Park or join a climate resilience workday at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Scuba divers can join an underwater bioblitz to document biodiversity at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Interested in the intersection of nature, culture and community? Join our special Elkhorn Slough Reserve event honoring California Biodiversity Day and Latino Conservation Week or learn about native birds and their cultural significance to the Wilton Rancheria's Miwok and Nisenan people.
Curious about the science behind a biodiversity hotspot? Tune in to a virtual talk to learn what makes Santa Barbara County an incredible hub that has led to national environmental protections.
Ready to take action at home? Get outside, discover California’s natural wonders and volunteer to help protect the communities we call home. Explore simple ways to take action with Climate Action Counts, because every action counts.
We’ve got virtual adventures too! Watch elephant seals live at Hearst San Simeon State Park, catch up with beavers at Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park or learn how jellyfish thrive at San Elijo State Beach from wherever you are.

Can’t make it to an event? You can take part in California Biodiversity Day no matter where you are! Simply join the Find 30 Species for California Biodiversity Day project on iNaturalist and record 30 wild species between September 5 and 13.  Every observation adds to a statewide picture of California’s amazing biodiversity, and the information we gather together helps inform the California 30x30 Initiative.

California is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and is home to more species of plants and animals than any other state. California Biodiversity Day, observed annually on September 7, was established in 2018 to safeguard the state's natural heritage. Since then, several executive orders and other actions by the Newsom Administration – such as the Pathways to 30x30 strategy – have built on this foundation to understand and protect the state’s unique natural resources.

State Parks offers programs and events year-round, with opportunities to explore, learn and connect at parks across the state. Discover more upcoming events this fall using the new statewide event calendar and interactive map at parks.ca.gov/events.

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Media Contacts
Alicia de la Garza, CDFW Communications
Newsroom@parks.ca.gov, California State Parks
Megan Ely, Cal Academy Communications

CDFW Completes Bobcat Population Survey, Finds Stable Statewide Numbers Estimated at 62,000 Animals

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:57:19 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to present the California Bobcat Population Monitoring Project’s Report of Findings (PDF), the most extensive and comprehensive bobcat population survey ever conducted in California, and possibly anywhere in the United States, and one that leveraged the best available scientific tools and techniques in the process.

The 140-page report was developed over five years and found bobcat populations distributed throughout the entire state with the exception of major urban areas and portions of the Central Valley subject to intense agricultural production.

The report estimates a stable, statewide population of 62,000 bobcats. Two previous statewide estimates from the 1970s and 1980s, which relied on less rigorous techniques, estimated 61,000 and 74,000 bobcats, respectively.

CDFW’s latest findings incorporated modern scientific tools such as GPS satellite collars, fecal DNA analysis, camera traps and necropsies of bobcat carcasses from across the state to determine population size and health.

“What we’ve learned is that these charismatic wild felines are incredibly adaptable and can live in just about any part of the state,” said Rachel Roberts, a Senior Environmental Scientist and CDFW’s Statewide Bobcat Coordinator. “They can live in almost any type of terrestrial habitat. They’re strictly carnivores but will eat almost any kind of meat. And while the statewide population seems stable, various factors can cause local growth and decline.”

The California Bobcat Population Monitoring Project was born in 2020 after the enactment of California Assembly Bill 1254, which made it illegal to hunt, trap or otherwise take a bobcat, except under specified circumstances, including under a depredation permit. The legislation directed CDFW to develop a bobcat conservation and management plan before bobcat hunting could again be considered.

The California Bobcat Population Monitoring Project’s Report of Findings is the first step in complying with the legislative mandate. CDFW expects to publish a draft Bobcat Conservation and Management Plan within the next 30 days. The draft plan, which will include bobcat biology, ecology, historical management information, Tribal perspectives and future management recommendations, will be available for a 30-day public and Tribal review period.

Other noteworthy findings within the Bobcat Population Monitoring Project Report include:

Lower densities of bobcats were recorded in areas of major wildfire scars. While some species are well adapted to fire-scarred areas, catastrophic wildfires create large swaths of land with little to no suitable bobcat habitat.
More bobcats were found in higher elevation areas than expected.
Most human-bobcat conflicts involve chickens that are either unprotected or housed in poorly secured coops.

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Media Contacts:
Rachel Roberts, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 387-5112
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120

CDFW Publishes Guidance on Conserving CESA Candidate Bumble Bees

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:41:14 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has published a document intended to assist CDFW staff, project proponents and others in understanding where and when four bumble bee species that are candidates for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) may be present on the landscape and provide examples of measures that may help avoid or minimize impacts to them.

The document, Considerations for Conserving Crotch’s Bumble Bee (Bombus crotchii), Franklin’s Bumble Bee (Bombus franklini), Western Bumble Bee (Bombus occidentalis) and Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus suckleyi) (PDF), provides an overview of life history, seasonal ecology and species-specific information for the four bumble bee species.

As of September 2022, Crotch’s bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini) and Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi) became the first insect species to become candidates for listing under CESA. They are protected by the same take prohibitions given to species listed as endangered and threatened under CESA.

Because information on species distribution, ecology, conservation needs and legal status continues to evolve, this document is intended to be a flexible, science-based resource that may be updated as new information becomes available or as species status changes through future California Fish and Game Commission determinations under CESA.

This document is non-regulatory and provided for informational purposes only. It does not establish legal requirements, CDFW policy or mandatory avoidance and minimization measures, nor does it replace project-specific review or applicable federal, state or local laws and regulations.

If project proponents believe their project may result in incidental take, CDFW recommends contacting the CDFW regional office closest to the project’s location to discuss specific project-related concerns and options to comply with CESA, if necessary, based on proposed project activities.

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Media Contacts:
Ashley Kammet, CDFW CESA Permitting Program
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120