The Wildlife Conservation Board

Inland Wetlands and Riparian Habitat Conservation Programs

Inland Wetlands Conservation Program

The Inland Wetlands Conservation Program (IWCP) was created within the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) by legislation in 1990. The goal of the IWCP is to carry out the mandates of the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture (CVHJV) which are to protect, restore, enhance and maintain wetland habitat to increase waterfowl populations in the Central Valley of California.

California is the winter home to more than 60 percent of the migratory waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway. Over the years, approximately 95 percent of this wintering habitat for ducks, geese, swans, and millions of other birds that utilize the Pacific Flyway have been lost.

In recognition that public funds alone are not sufficient to address the multitude of tasks that need to occur to arrest the continuing decline of existing wetlands and waterfowl habitat, the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture (CVHJV) was established. The CVHJV is a coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring wetlands and waterfowl populations in the Central Valley of California. In creating the IWCP the importance of public and private partnerships and forming coalitions necessary to implement the very specific CVHJV objectives was recognized.

The IWCP has a basic mission to create and implement conservation efforts that make economic as well as social and environmental sense. Working in conjunction with other CVHJV partners, the program has become very innovative at protecting and managing wetlands in the Central Valley. To achieve the goals of protecting, restoring, enhancing and maintaining wetland habitat to increase waterfowl populations in the Central Valley of California, the CVHJV developed the following six objectives:

1. Protect 80,000 acres of existing wetlands through acquisitions of fee title or perpetual conservation easements.
2. Secure and incremental, firm 402,450 acre-foot quality water supply for use by National Wildlife Refuges (NWR's), State Wildlife Areas (WA's), and the Grassland Resource Conservation District (GRCD).
3. Secure Central Valley Project power for NWR's, WA's, GRCD, and other public and private land dedicated to wetland management.
4. Increase wetland acres by 120,000 acres and protect these wetlands in perpetuity by acquisition of fee-title or conservation easements.
5. Enhance wetland habitat on 291,000 acres of public and private lands.
6. Enhance waterfowl habitat on 443,000 acres of agricultural lands.

To accomplish the CVHJV objectives and maximize the use of available resources, the WCB, through the IWCP, is authorized to award grants and loans to nonprofit organizations, local governmental agencies, and state departments. In addition, the WCB is authorized to acquire, lease, rent, sell, or exchange any land or options acquired, with the proceeds going directly to the Inland Wetlands Conservation Fund to support the efforts of the IWCP and the CVHJV.

California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program

The California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program (CRHCP) was created within the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) by legislation in 1991. The program has a basic mission to develop coordinated conservation efforts aimed at protecting and restoring the state's riparian ecosystems.

Riparian habitat is composed of the trees and other vegetation and physical features normally found on the streambanks and floodplains associated with healthy streams. Scientists have long recognized the unique value riparian habitat holds for fish and wildlife species. Unfortunately, this valuable habitat has been removed, degraded, and disturbed at an alarming rate since the first settlers arrived in California.

In recognition of this major loss of California's riparian habitat and in an effort to reverse this trend, many private organizations, state and federal agencies, and local governments are actively developing programs to protect these valuable streamside ecosystems. The legislation which enabled the CRHCP also recognized that the responsibility for protecting and restoring riparian habitat must be shared by all state agencies whose activities impact riparian habitat. The CRHCP is therefore a cooperative effort involving state and federal agencies, local government, non-profit conservation groups, private landowners, and concerned citizens. Flexibility is the keyword for the program to ensure that all available approaches and solutions are explored.

The goal of the CRHCP, as noted in its enabling legislation, is to protect, preserve, restore and enhance riparian habitat throughout California. To achieve this goal, the program has adopted the following seven objectives:

1. Assess the current amount and status of riparian habitat throughout the state.
2. Identify those areas which are critical to the maintenance of California's riparian ecosystems.
3. Identify those areas which are in imminent danger of destruction or significant degradation.
4. Prioritize protection needs based on the significance of the site and potential loss or degradation of habitat.
5. Develop and fund project-specific strategies to protect, enhance, or restore significant riparian habitat.
6. Develop, administer, and fund a grants program for riparian habitat conservation.
7. Provide a focal point for statewide riparian habitat conservation efforts.

To accomplish these objectives while maximizing available public funds, the WCB is authorized to award grants and loans for riparian conservation purposes to non-profit organizations, local government agencies, state departments and federal agencies.