Central Valley Joint Venture

10/06/2026

A levee declared useless in the early 1980s stood for four more decades, cutting the San Joaquin River off from its floodplain. Last October, crews began cutting strategic gaps in it. Reconnecting the floodplain opens rearing habitat for endangered juvenile salmon, adds to the largest contiguous block of wetlands in California, and reduces both flood risk and long-term maintenance costs. Read the full story on the CVJV blog: https://www.centralvalleyjointventure.org/restoring-a-floodplain-at-great-valley-grasslands-state-park/

The work is advancing through collaboration among CVJV Management Board member River Partners and other partners, including American Rivers, California State Parks, and local Tribal communities.

09/17/2026

Bats rely on many of the same habitats that support migratory birds in the Central Valley. Yet there's still much we don't know about their behavior and habitat use.

A new study led by CVJV Management Board member organization River Partners is helping fill those gaps.

Through acoustic monitoring at restoration sites in Merced and Stanislaus counties, researchers are documenting bat activity before and after habitat restoration to better understand how conservation efforts benefit multiple species.

https://www.centralvalleyjointventure.org/studying-bats-in-the-central-valley/

09/15/2026

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge has completed its Lift Station Project.

Made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, and the Bureau of Reclamation (all of them CVJV Management Board members), the infrastructure upgrade replaces the Refuge’s reliance on gravity flow with a more flexible and reliable pumping system.

Now, the Refuge can reliably support all 1,540 acres of its managed wetlands in the Sutter Bypass. This new water infrastructure strengthens habitat reliability for waterfowl and migratory birds

https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/sutter-national-wildlife-refuge-celebrates-completion-of-lift-station-project-supporting-critical-wetland-management

09/02/2026

CVJV joined the annual Walk on the Wildside last May.

We had a wonderful time connecting with birding enthusiasts, conservation partners, and community members who came together to experience the sights and sounds of migratory birds at Sacramento Area Sewer District’s 2,100-acre Bufferlands.

As an exibitor at the event, CVJV shared local birding opportunities and highlighted the partnerships and habitat work that help make the Central Valley one of the most important stopover and wintering regions for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating the incredible wildlife that calls the Valley home!

CVJV Connects With Sacramento-Area Community at 2026 Walk On The Wildside Event Every May, Sacramento Area Sewer District’s 2,100-acre Bufferlands...

09/02/2026

Did you know female black-headed grosbeaks sometimes change their song to keep their mate close to the nest?

While females typically sing a simpler version, they will mimic the full male song, possibly to mimic the presence of intruders and keep their mate closer to the nest.

In the Central Valley, these birds are most common in the north, with smaller populations further south. While their overall population remains resilient, the riparian habitats they depend on have declined dramatically.

Once spanning more than 1.2 million acres, only about 173,500 acres of high-quality riverside habitat remain today.

That's why CVJV aims to restore an additional 32,000 acres by 2030 to help sustain birds and wildlife that rely on these critical ecosystems.

Learn more about our 2020 Implementation Plan at centralvalleyjointventure.org

08/18/2026

A new tracking technology is helping researchers better understand how birds move across the Central Valley.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System, developed by Birds Canada, uses small, lightweight radio tags that weigh as little as 0.2 grams and emit unique signals that can be detected by receiver towers up to 9–12 miles away.

Find out how this system can help direct conservation dollars to specific basins where they’ll be most useful.

https://www.centralvalleyjointventure.org/motus-wildlife-tracking-is-revealing-bird-movements-across-the-central-valley/

08/12/2026

A new bird viewing platform is coming to Staten Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The San Joaquin County Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for a 2,875-square-foot viewing platform at The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Farms & Ranches near Thornton. Designed to accommodate up to 80 visitors at a time, the platform will provide a safe, comfortable, and accessible space for the thousands of birders who visit annually to view sandhill cranes and other migratory species of the Pacific Flyway.

The project reflects a growing recognition that connecting people to wildlife and wild places is an essential part of conservation.

https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_2911f272-e939-4815-aad9-18c0521c738e.html

08/03/2026

New state parks are on the horizon for the Central Valley, and they are set to bring important benefits for both wildlife and communities.

The proposed Feather River State Park and San Joaquin River Parkway State Park will expand access to nature, offering more opportunities for recreation, education, and connection to the region’s rivers and landscapes.

At the same time, these parks will place key riverside forest habitats into permanent protected status for birds and other wildlife.

In a region with fewer protected public lands than other parts of the state, these parks are a meaningful step forward for conservation.

https://www.islands.com/2189389/three-new-state-parks-california-heart-central-valley-preserve-outdoor-fun-natural-beauty/

07/29/2026

California now has a statewide Bird Atlas project.


Thousands of participants across the state documented breeding birds in as many habitats and locations as possible during the inaugural June 4-7 event, while dozens of local bird and conservation groups hosted community events.


This collective effort is helping build one of the most comprehensive statewide snapshots of bird distribution and breeding activity ever assembled. CVJV Management Board member Audubon California is a founding partner of the California Bird Atlas.


Everyone can participate in this ONGOING project through eBird! Go to https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/ to learn more and find out how you can get involved.

07/23/2026

Hello Board Members and Partners,

I’m excited to share an upcoming event that promises to be both informative and inspiring. On August 11th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Road to Recovery and several of our partners are hosting a dynamic conversation about the role of incentive programs on private lands in advancing bird conservation. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from experts from across North America representing Audubon, Birds Canada, Delta Wind Birds, Point Blue, Smithsonian, TNC, Virginia Tech, and more.

The event will feature discussions on incentive program design, share stories of success and lessons learned, and explore strategies for effective monitoring and growth. Whether you’re curious about new approaches or eager to learn from past experiences, this gathering will offer valuable insights for everyone involved in bird conservation.

If you’re interested in joining, please click the link below to register.
Click Here to Register

R2R hosts webinars, forums, and engagement sessions that support collaboration and shared learning among conservation practitioners, researchers, and partners