Despite a botulism outbreak, evaporating wetlands and oh, yeah, a FIRE, our waterfowl team, with help from refuge staff, was able to band an even 1,500 birds at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Complex in only a short, two-week period.

Click here for the complete report and species breakdown.

Camp requirements - bill pulled: SB 217 would have imposed additional licensing and staffing requirements on camps, such as the ones California Waterfowl offers. Cumulatively, the requirements were almost impossible to comply with and would have effectively shut down our outdoor camps.

The bill may return next year, but for now it's off the table. Click here to read our letter of opposition (PDF).

Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program funding - bill passed the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee 9-0. AB 2106 is a CWA-sponsored bill would add $5 to the state upland bird and waterfowl validations to give a much-needed boost to California’s waterfowl and pheasant breeding populations, which are suffering habitat declines. In a survey last year, 74% of CWA members and supporters said they would support the additional fee to boost breeding habitat. Click here to read our letter of support (PDF).

African trophy possession/import ban - bill passed the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee 8-3: SB 1175 seeks to stop certain types of legal hunting by Californians by banning the possession of parts – even meat – of certain “iconic” African animals. Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF).

A botulism outbreak at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex is potentially one of the worst ever. Fires, hot temperatures and evaporating wetlands are all contributing to a fast-moving spread among waterfowl. Click here for the complete story.

President Trump this week signed the Great American Outdoors Act, which will provide $900 million annually to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which ensures protection of and access to irreplaceable lands while also supporting recreational facilities in communities across the country. It also includes up to $9.5 billion over five years to address priority repairs to infrastructure managed by the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education Schools. For information about this and other federal bills CWA has supported, click here. To watch a recent Q&A with our federal lobbying team in which they discuss this legislation, please click here.