Area: 60 Acres
Location: Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA
Date Acquired: 2006
Acquisition Type: CNLM holds a conservation easement as well as a long-term agreement to protect the imperiled species and their habitats on the preserve. The preserve is owned by third party.
Key Habitats: Valley Foothill Riparian and Perennial and Seasonal Wetland
Species of Special Interest to CNLM: Swainsons Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), Migratory songbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds common to the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta ecosystem
Introduction
The Medford Island Preserve was established in 2006 for the purpose of protecting wetland and riparian habitat, as well as supported species. The Preserve is located northwest of Stockton in the San Joaquin River Delta and is owned by L&L Farms. The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) holds the conservation easement and conducts monitoring, enforcement, and defense of the conservation values found on the 60-acre Medford Island Preserve.
Conservation Significance
The conservation values at this Preserve include wetland and riparian habitats that provide habitat for wintering and migrating raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds. The seasonal wetlands exhibit varying pond bottom topography to provide a diversity of water depths and habitat for a diverse plant and aquatic invertebrate community. The restored riparian habitats within and adjacent to the Preserve include arroyo (Salix lasiolepis), sandbar (Salix exigua), and black willows (Salix nigra), western sycamore (Plantanus racemosa), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), valley oak (Quercus lobata), California buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), blue elderberry (Sambucas caerulea), and wild grape (Vitis californica).
Our Work
The goal for the Medford Island Preserve is to protect the habitats and species that depend upon the Preserve for survival. Management is the responsibility of the owners, L&L Farms, in compliance with the conservation easement and management plan goals. The managed wetland units provide forage, nesting and roosting habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors.
Public Access
Due to the vulnerability of the species and habitats that exist on this preserve, it is not open to the public.
Contact
For information and inquiries, please contact Preserve Manager, Erik Gantenbein, at 760.731.7790 extension 213 or email egantenbein@cnlm.org.