Fish and Wildlife Service, California.
The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge located in Stanislaus County encompasses more than 7,300 acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands that host a diversity of wildlife native to California’s Great Central Valley. The refuge is situated where three major Valley rivers – San Joaquin, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus – join creating a mosaic of habitats that provide ideal conditions for great wildlife and plant diversity. The refuge was established in 1987 under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act.
The refuge has played a major role in the recovery of Aleutian cackling geese by serving as an important wintering area and continues to be of major importance to this species. By the mid-1970s, the total population of Aleutian cackling geese was fewer than 1,000. Removing nest predators from the breeding grounds in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and improving wintering habitat in California’s Great Central Valley resulted in the goose being delisted as an endangered species and a population today well over 200,000 and growing. Restoring wetlands, and providing grasslands and croplands at this refuge has provided ideal wintering habitat for the geese.
It is estimated that ninety-five percent of the San Joaquin Valley’s riparian woodlands were lost during the last century due to changing land uses. This critical habitat is being restored on a landscape level at the refuge. Within the borders of the refuge is one of California’s largest riparian woodland restoration projects to date: more than ½ million native trees and shrubs including willows, cottonwoods, oaks, blackberry, and rose have been planted across 2,500 acres of river floodplain, creating the largest block of contiguous riparian woodland in the San Joaquin Valley. This important riparian woodland habitat supports many rare animals.
Through efforts at the refuge, there is hope the highly-endangered riparian brush rabbit will one day join the Aleutian cackling goose as a fully-recovered species. Riparian brush rabbits are endemic to the riparian woodlands of California’s Great Central Valley. By the 1990s, their numbers dwindled to near extinction because of habitat loss and degradation. The last known population was discovered along the Stanislaus River in San Joaquin County. Through a partnership with the Endangered Species Recovery Program at California State University, Stanislaus, captive-bred rabbits have been released into the refuge’s well-suited dense riparian woodlands. By establishing a new large population of rabbits, these efforts will help foster successful recovery for this endangered mammal. The refuge contains the largest population of riparian brush rabbits in the world.
The riparian woodlands on the refuge support a diversity of bird species. Swainson’s hawks nest in the canopy of tall cottonwood trees. Herons, egrets, and cormorants form communal nesting colonies within the tops of the large valley oaks. Breeding songbirds including grosbeaks, orioles, flycatchers, and warblers nest in woodlands on the refuge.
The refuge features the 4-mile Pelican nature trail (open year-round) that meanders through seasonal wetlands, restored riparian woodlands, and stands of old-growth valley oak trees. The trailhead includes a 7-acre native vegetation free-roam exploration area. The Beckwith wildlife observation area (open seasonally) is a favorite location for viewing the Aleutian cackling geese and sandhill cranes along with other waterbirds.
Every national wildlife refuge was created for a specific purpose. Some were created to protect migratory birds, others to protect threatened or endangered species, or unique habitats, while others fulfill another specific purpose. All activities allowed on refuges must be evaluated to make sure no activity conflicts with the reason the refuge was founded.
The San Joaquin River NWR was established in 1987 under the authorization of the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act to provide wintering habitat for endangered Aleutian cackling geese.
Take the CA-132 west exit. Travel westbound on CA-132 for approximately 12 miles to River Road. Turn left on River Road and travel for approximately 3 miles to Diary Road. Turn left on Dairy Road and continue 1.5 miles to the entrance and parking lot on the right.
From Interstate 5 (I-5)
Take the CA-132 east exit and travel eastbound on CA-132 for approximately 7 miles to River Road. Turn right on River Road and travel for approximately 3 miles to Diary Road. Turn left on Dairy Road and continue 1.5 miles to the entrance and parking lot on the right.