The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Central Region, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), will hold an online outreach meeting to hear comments and recommendations regarding northern San Joaquin Valley wildlife area hunting opportunities. The meeting will include updates on habitat conditions and the availability of water for wetlands.
Scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the meeting will be held using Microsoft Teams. Email Lara Sparks at Lara.Sparks@Wildlife.ca.gov for a link to attend and instructions on how to submit comments and questions.
State lands to be discussed are the Mendota, Los Banos, Volta and North Grasslands wildlife areas, including the Salt Slough, China Island, Gadwall, Widell/Ramaciotti and Mud Slough units. Federal refuge personnel will also be available to speak about the Kern and Merced national wildlife refuges, including the Lone Tree Unit, as well as the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge’s, Kesterson, Blue Goose, Frietas and East and West Bear Creek units.
Also on the schedule, CDFW is hosting an online outreach meeting Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to hear comments and recommendations from licensed hunters regarding Yolo Bypass and Grizzly Island wildlife area hunting opportunities.
During this meeting CDFW staff will also discuss completed and ongoing habitat enhancement/restoration projects, habitat conditions for the 2026-27 waterfowl season, hunting opportunity highlights and changes, updates on local waterfowl and pheasant production, and fall flood-up predictions, including anticipated hunter quotas for opening day of waterfowl season.
Interested participants can email GrizzlyIsland@wildlife.ca.gov to receive a link to the Microsoft Teams virtual meeting and instructions for submitting comments and questions.
CDFW annually offers opportunities through public meetings and outreach for licensed hunters to comment on hunting programs and provides anticipated habitat conditions in the hunting areas on Type A wildlife areas. A wildlife area designated as Type A is a wildlife area with restricted hunter access during waterfowl season.
