San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge
San Joaquin River Refuge is in the acquisition and development phase, with public use facilities currently being developed. It is located in the Central Valley of California. The refuge is within the historic floodplain of the confluences of the San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne rivers.
Refuge lands consist of oak-cottonwood-willow riparian forest, pastures, agricultural fields, and wetlands. Refuge and private land within the acquisition boundary are the traditional wintering area for virtually the entire population of the threatened Aleutian Canada goose.
The Refuge is the site of a reintroduction program for the highly endangered riparian brush rabbit, and the largest riparian restoration project to date in California. Primary refuge objectives are to provide winter forage and roosting habitat for Aleutian Canada geese, protect species listed as threatened or endangered, improve and manage habitat for migratory birds, and conserve native fauna and flora.
As additional land is purchased, riparian forest, natural oxbows, and wetlands will be restored and managed for a diversity of wildlife species and compatible public use activities.
Directions
The limited facilities of San Joaquin River Refuge can be reached by driving 8 miles west of Modesto on State Highway 132, north on Gates Road, and west on Beckwith Road.
More info at http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=11654