SOME GUN CONTROL BILLS ADVANCE, OTHERS TO BE CONSIDERED SOON
On Wednesday the California State Assembly narrowly passed several anti-gun bills, including AB 1674 (Santiago) which would prohibit the purchase of more than one shotgun or rifle within a 30 day period and AB 1664 (Levine) which would effectively ban some semi-automatic rifles and pistols with detachable magazines (aka "bullet button" ban).
 
These bills will next be considered in the Senate Public Safety Committee in June.
 
Several other gun and ammunition control measure that recently passed the Senate are now scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on June 14th, including SB 1235 (De Leon) which would require a background check and payment of a fee to purchase ammunition as well as effectively ban the Internet and mail order sale of ammunition.
 
CWA urges its members to continue to weigh in with the State Legislature and Governor in opposition to these bills via our Voter Voice grassroots electronic advocacy system.

SUISUN MARSH FIELD DAY TOMORROW!
One of our most popular, family-fun events is happening tomorrow! Make plans to attend the 34th annual Suisun Marsh Field Day at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. where most activities are FREE!

(JUST ADDED: Sign up for a youth summer camp at the Field Day and get $100 OFF registration!)

DON'T FORGET: FREE Youth Hunting Licenses for those that bring a previous license or Hunter Ed Cert.!

Enjoy custom stock fitting, renowned waterfowl and wildlife artists, free trap shooting and instruction, BB gun range, junior duck calling contest, free door prizes and MORE!

In addition, this year we will be judging the new Pacific Flyway Decoy Association Hunting Heritage Decoy Rig competition onsite. Watch three-bird canvasback rigs being judged with the top five moving on to the PFDA Wildlife Art Classic on July 9th at the Double Tree in Sacramento.
CWA RECEIVES $2.1 MILLION FOR WETLANDS IN KERN COUNTY
Yesterday our regional biologists secured $2.1 million in grants from the Wildlife Conservation Board for two MAJOR projects in the Tulare Basin.

A $1.3 million project at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge will allow refuge staff to bring reclaimed water to nearly 6,500 acres that haven't had access to irrigation before, which is huge. Spring and summer water there will support breeding waterfowl and a wide variety of other species, including the Buena Vista Lake shrew - a win-win for wildlife.

And a $722,000 project at the Badger Almond unit of California Waterfowl's Goose Lake Property will allow us to restore and efficiently irrigate 350 acres of wetlands in the historic Tulare Basin, providing additional hunting opportunity to 54 hunters a day during duck season.
 
Check out a Facebook post related to these grants for more info.
TWO FAMILY FUN SHOOTS COMING UP
California Waterfowl Fun Shoots (June 11 and August 28) includes activities for all members of the family, whether you're a novice shooter looking for instruction or an experienced shooter looking for some challenging fun. For beginners we have shotgun, rifle, and archery instruction. Experienced shooters can try their hand at our challenging sporting clays course. For more information follow the link below.  http://www.calwaterfowl.org/calendar
ATTN RICE FARMERS: RCPP INCENTIVE PROGRAM DEADLINE APPROACHING
An exciting opportunity for rice growers to create on-farm habitat will have a final enrollment opportunity on July 29th. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), of which CWA is a contributing partner, supports practices in the Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) and provides incentives to farmers to voluntarily modify their field management to benefit birds. Rice provides critical food and other resources for many species of waterbirds year-round. Small changes to farm management can increase the value of rice fields as resources for birds.

New growers and landowners who have not enrolled in WHEP or RCPP in the past are encouraged to apply. New applicants will be preferentially ranked for acceptance into the program. Practices available through the RCPP-WHEP include:
  • Two weeks of continuous shallow flooding August-October
  • Variable drawdown of winter-flooded fields in February
  • Planting and maintaining cover crops for nesting birds
  • Nesting islands for safe breeding habitat
  • Postponing decomp activities until January
No long-term commitment is required in this program. EQIP-eligible producers in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, and Yolo counties can apply.
For more information about this program or to schedule a farm visit, attend the free workshop on Wednesday, June 7th at 10:30 am at the Colusa Casino Resort OR contact Khara Strum at Audubon California, [email protected] OR Paul Buttner at the California Rice Commission,  [email protected].
June 11th
Grizzly Ranch Fun Shoots
EVENT CALENDAR
June 18
North Coast Dinner
June 23
Tracy Chapter Dinner
June 25
Atwater Dinner
July 9
Pacific Flyway Decoy Assoc. Show
July 16
West Sacramento Dinner

CORPORATE PARTNERS 

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California Waterfowl  is an award-winning 501(C)(3) nonprofit, hunter-supported conservation organization with a mission to conserve the state's waterfowl, wetlands, and hunting heritage.  In the last 20+ years, we've completed more than 1,400 individual projects to protect, restore, and enhance more than 490,000 acres, providing habitat for millions of birds and animals.  Our Wood Duck Program has hatched more than 740,000 ducklings, while our Banding Programs have marked nearly 257,000 birds.  Our Youth and Education Programs have reached more than 320,000 children, young adults, and families to help to create a better understanding of biology, conservation, and outdoor heritage.  All efforts are supported largely by donations and the work of nearly 1,500 dedicated and tireless volunteers.

 

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Conserving California's Waterfowl, Wetlands and Hunting Heritage