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The Nature Conservancy and Department of Fish and Game Awarded for Sacramento River Wildlife Plan

San Francisco, Calif.—November 9, 2004—A Comprehensive Management Plan for the Sacramento River Wildlife Area, developed through a partnership between the California Department of Fish and Game and The Nature Conservancy, received two awards from the American Planning Association in October.  The plan, which serves as a policy directive for the Sacramento River wildlife area, “is a great example of local, state and federal agency collaboration,” according to comments from American Planning Association reviewers.

The plan was chosen by the California Chapter of the American Planning Association for an Award of Merit and presented at the chapter’s annual conference in Palm Springs on October 19, 2004.  The Sacramento Valley Section of the California Chapter of the American Planning Association selected the plan for an Outstanding Planning Award.

The plan directs the management of 3,770 acres of riparian habitat located along the middle Sacramento River.  It describes how to manage the wildlife area in a way that meets scientific standards yet is clear to the general public. 

“The Nature Conservancy has been conducting and managing much of the scientific research involving the Sacramento River for about 15 years,” said Dawit Zeleke, director  for The Nature Conservancy’s Sacramento River project.  “Because of our knowledge of restoration needs and techniques along the river, we were in a unique position to provide that scientific expertise as the Department of Fish and Game set out to develop its plan.”

The Department of Fish and Game showed innovation in partnering with The Nature Conservancy, which developed an extensive public outreach program.  Outreach efforts included interviews with 36 local government representatives, property owners, recreation and conservation interests and other key people.  Additional activities included two public input meetings in the initial stages of the project, ongoing communication with the Board of the Sacramento River Conservation Area Forum and presentations to the Boards of Supervisors and the Fish and Game Commissions of the counties comprising the wildlife area.

“The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Game worked hard at gathering input from many stakeholders and agencies, as well as the public at large.  Those efforts are reflected in the excellent management plan that they prepared,” said Burt Bundy, manager of the Sacramento River Conservation Area Forum, which worked closely with the two groups on the plan.

The Sacramento River Wildlife Area is owned by the State of California and managed by the California Department of Fish and Game.  The wildlife area is located along a 70-mile reach of the Sacramento River, between Woodson Bridge (just east of Corning) and Colusa.  The region supports viable populations of threatened and endangered species, including bald eagles and other raptors, yellow-billed cuckoo and other songbirds, and four distinct runs of chinook salmon.  The wildlife area is open to public uses that include fishing, hunting, hiking, birding and photography.