News

The Klamath Refuges have long faced challenges in securing enough water to sustain their habitats and wildlife. However, CWA has made notable progress in establishing a more dependable water supply for these areas. Read our report about the region's complex water struggles, CWA's achievements and what’s to come.

CWA has fought for years to get hunters an increased pintail bag limit, and it has finally paid off. Read on to learn about our efforts over the years.

Learn how this bond measure will improve wetland habitats and secure water for wildlife refuges across the state.

Discover how 3,400 acres of restored tidal marsh are opening up exciting new hunting possibilities.

In late September, Congressman Garamendi, Congressman Huffman, Congressman Thompson, and Senator Padilla introduced the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act (HR 9826). This bill, if enacted, would add 5,658 acres to the 24,390 acres that currently make up the refuge. The legislation also directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enter into a cooperative agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage the federal refuge and adjacent state lands at a landscape scale. Following on our previous efforts to support hunting opportunities at the refuge (e.g. Cullinan Ranch), California Waterfowl worked closely with the bill sponsors to ensure that the legislation includes language clearly stating that hunting and fishing are priority activities within the new refuge lands. We have also made it clear that we oppose any new restrictions on waterfowl hunting in areas of San Pablo Bay where it is already available to the public.

California Waterfowl recently provided detailed feedback on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Klamath Project Operating Procedures 2024-2029. These procedures are crucial in determining how water is allocated across the Klamath Basin, affecting endangered species, tribal rights, agriculture, and the Klamath Refuges. CWA strongly supports the proposed changes, which would allocate more water to the refuges, helping restore critical wetland habitats and support waterfowl populations.

Two separate pieces of legislation that would better conserve managed wetlands in California are still pending.  CWA needs your help to urge the Governor to sign them into law.

The Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Complex held its annual hunt program meeting on September 7, and refuge staff announced that both Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges will be open for limited waterfowl hunting.

Once again, the State of California wants to make it more expensive and burdensome for you to exercise your gun rights!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that the pintail bag limit will increase from 1 to 3 birds per day for the 2025-26 waterfowl season, following a new interim harvest strategy. This change is the result of years of advocacy by CWA and the work of the USFWS and Flyway Councils. The impact of this new limit will be assessed over several seasons to determine if it should become a long-term strategy or be modified. Recent research suggests that habitat changes, not hunting, have primarily affected pintail populations, and additional harvest opportunities may be sustainable.

Two separate pieces of legislation that would help to better conserve managed wetlands in California are currently pending in the State Legislature. Read more about AB 828 (Connolly) and AB2875 Friedman)

The California State Legislature approved a $10 billion climate bond, which includes $25 million for wetland and waterfowl conservation, particularly for water deliveries to the Klamath Refuges, and will appear as Proposition 4 on the 2024 ballot.

Two separate pieces of legislation that would help to better conserve managed wetlands in California are winding their way through the legislative process.

According to reports, a new harvest strategy for northern pintail has at last been approved by the Service Regulations Committee that will provide an opportunity for 3-bird bag beginning for the 2025-26 season.  It will also reportedly not significantly increase the likelihood of a closed pintail season.

Updates on firearm related bills AB 3067 and SB 1160. The CWA advocacy team worked with other partners to gut both harmful bills of responsible gun owners.

The California Fish and Game Commission voted today to approve the seasons and bag limits for the 2024-25 waterfowl season.  California Waterfowl provided testimony at the hearing in San Jose.

Here’s how we’ve been fighting for wetlands, waterfowl and hunting.

Welcome to the 2024 CWA End of Season Survey. You may notice that we reduced the number of questions significantly for this year’s survey to focus only on waterfowl seasons and bag limit issues

Amongst many other responsibilities, the 5-member Commission approves annual waterfowl seasons and bag limits, other hunting regulations and the allowable uses for the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s State Wildlife Areas.

In January, Assembly Bill 828 (Connolly), which would provide a 3-year exemption for managed wetlands from much of the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), passed the floor of the State Assembly and will next be heard in the State Senate. 

California Waterfowl has joined with our partners at Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited to support federal legislation that would provide critical breeding habitat for waterfowl both in California and the Prairie Pothole Region of the Upper Midwest.

CWA went to San Diego and spoke with CA Fish and Game on a number of key advocacy focused initiatives and programs. Topics discussed on site ranged from securing additional support for water rights for Klamath to adding a new Wildlife Area in El Dorado County and much more.

Here’s how we’ve been fighting for wetlands, waterfowl and hunting.

An unfortunate bill that adds an additional tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition.