Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map of the United States
Location	Sacramento County, California, United States
Nearest city	Elk Grove, California
Coordinates
Area	17,641 acres (71.39 km2)
Established	1994
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/stonelakes/

The Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, located south of Sacramento, California, lies within the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta, the destination of thousands of migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and other water birds. The refuge was established in 1994 and is one of the few urban refuges that have the potential to attract and educate thousands of visitors in a region that is becoming the "New Silicon Valley" of California.

Habitats

Through a number of innovative partnerships, the refuge is protecting scarce natural habitats and agricultural resources in an area threatened by urban sprawl and agricultural changes. Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge contains both seasonal and permanent wetlands, riparian forest, and grasslands, as well as some of the last remaining freshwater lakes in the central valley.

These habitats support large populations of migratory water birds, a major rookery for several colonial nesting species such as great blue herons, and a warm water fishery. Several endangered, threatened, and special-status species benefit from these habitats: the valley elderberry longhorn beetle, Swainson's hawk, and greater sandhill crane.

Visitors

Visitor numbers increase every year; they topped 8,500 in 2001, despite a lack of developed facilities such as a visitor education center and restrooms. Volunteers from the local area dedicate their time on weekends guiding visitors through grasslands and tree-lined waterways to educate the public about the refuge in their backyard.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

External links

• official Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge website
• Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge profile