Grassland Resource Conservation District
The Grasslands RCD contains approximately 75,000 acres and is composed of private hunting clubs and other privately owned wetland areas, as well as all or portions of several state and federal refuges (such as Kresterson NWR, Volta WA, Los Banos WA, Freitas Unit, Salt Slough Unit, Blue Goose Unit, Gadwall Unit). The area is the largest continuous block of wetlands remaining in the Central valley and is a major wintering ground for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds of the Pacific Flyway. Up to 30 percent of the Central valley wintering population of ducks use this area. The Service ranks the habitat provided by the Grassland RCD as the most important complex of wetlands in the San Joaquin Valley. Wetlands of the Grasslands RCD are a component of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and is now internationally recognized for its importance to shorebirds (Reclamation, 1992).

Lands within the Grassland RCD are primarily managed for waterfowl habitat. The Grassland WD has a Water Management Plan, but no overall habitat management plan exists for the Grassland RCD because of the large number of individual property owners. The management objectives of the Grassland RCD include an active program to encourage natural food plant production (such as swamp timothy, smartweed, and wildlife millet) and habitat protection. Land uses include seasonally flooded wetlands, moist soil impoundments, permanent wetland, irrigated pasture, and croplands.

The Grassland RCD contains most of the 51,530 acre Grassland WD. The Grassland WD is a legal entity that was established to receive and distribute CVP water. The Grassland WD delivers CVP water to the wetland areas within its boundaries. The Grassland WD contains approximately 165 separate ownerships, most of which are hunting or duck clubs. Perpetual easements have been purchased by the Service to help preserve wetland-dependant migratory bird habitat on approximately 31,000 acres serviced by the Grassland WD. These easements authorize the Service to restrict land uses that would diminish wetland habitat values.

Board of Directors
    President - Duane Cosart (Exeter Duck Club)
    Vice President - Dan Whitehead
    Director - Keith Toon (Hollister Duck Club)
    Director - Dennis Campini (Stillbow Duck Club)
    Director - Bill Parham (Coast Cattle Duck Club)

Next Board Meeting is at the GWD Office at 22759 S. Mercey Springs Road, Los Banos, CA 93635. Board meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m.
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