San Joaquin River National Wildlife RefugeProposed ExpansionPlanning Update #4 – January 2017

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Aerial view of San Joaquin River Refuge. Photo: River Partners

ContentsFinal Plan Released ......................1

Map of the Expansion Area .........2

Frequently Asked Questions .......3

Who to Contact..............................4

Final Plan ReleasedThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has released a final plan authorizing the expansion of the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) by up to 10,738 acres. The expansion builds on three decades of success at the refuge by the Service and its partners, including implementation of the largest contiguous riparian restoration in California.

The expansion area would link the refuge with the Grasslands Ecological Area, a 160,000-acre mosaic of Central Valley floor habitats located in the historic floodplain of the San Joaquin River. Together, this network of restored riparian corridors, freshwater marshes and alkali grassland is the result of decades of collaborative conservation involving private landowners, conservation organizations and State and federal agency partners. Maintaining connectivity between the remaining natural areas and minimizing further fragmentation is crucial to the long term viability of California’s natural heritage.

The draft Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment, released for public review in November 2012, evaluated two alternatives for expanding the refuge by protecting and restoring up to 16,561 acres along the San Joaquin River north and south of the existing lands. Based on feedback received, the Service selected the southern expansion alternative (Alternative 2) for implementation. All comments received are addressed and summarized in Appendix E of the final plan.

Now that the plan has been approved, the Service can begin working with willing and interested landowners to expand the refuge through acquisition of fee-title or conser-vation easements.

2

M e r c ed Ri ver

Tu ol u m ne R i v er

Stan is la us R.

§̈5

UV99S T A N I S L A U SS T A N I S L A U S

C O U N T YC O U N T Y

M E R C E DM E R C E DC O U N T YC O U N T Y

S A N J O A Q U I NS A N J O A Q U I NC O U N T YC O U N T Y

MODESTO

TURLOCK

MANTECA

Sources: Esri, USGS, NOAA

San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge U .S . F is h & W i ld l i fe S e rv ic e

Sa n Joaquin

R.

EnlargedArea

San JoaquinRiver National Wildlife Refuge

Expansion area

Lands protected in fee

Approved refuge boundary

Conservation easement

0 4 8 miles

SanJoaquin

River

CA NV

PA

CIF

I CO

CEAN

Sources: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S Bureau of Reclamation, ESRI, CA Protected Areas Database, Natural Resources Conservation Service, CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

IGr a s s l a nd s E c o l og i ca l A r e a

3

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy is the Service expanding the Refuge?

Over the past century, over 95 percent of riparian habitat in the Central Valley has been cleared for development. As this habitat has disappeared from much of the landscape, the populations of wildlife that depend on it have plummeted. The expansion of the refuge will allow the Service to work with willing sellers to conserving and restoring land to benefit riparian-dependent wildlife, including endangered species such as the riparian brush rabbit and least Bell’s vireo; and migratory birds such as yellow warbler, spotted towhee, black-headed grosbeak and common yellowthroat.

Over what period of time does the refuge anticipate acquiring lands within the expansion area?

Service policy is to work with willing sellers as funds become available. We expect it may take decades to reach the 10,738 acre acquisition goal.

What does it mean for me if my property is located within an area the refuge has identified for possible acquisition?

Refuge acquisition boundaries identify areas the Service believes are important for federal trust resources. The acquisition boundary merely gives the Service the approval to negotiate with landowners that may be interested in selling their land or may become interested in selling their land in the future. Lands within the acquisition boundary do not become part of the refuge unless their owners sell or donate them to the Service; the boundary has no impact on property use or who an owner can choose to sell to. Landowners are under no obligation to sell to the Service.

How is a value assigned to my property?

The Service is required by law to offer fair market value for lands to be acquired. This estimate of value is based upon a professionally prepared appraisal, which in turn is reviewed and approved by an experienced review

appraiser. This review assures that the price offered is reflective of the sale prices of comparable properties in the vicinity.

Do I have to accept this appraised price?

If the seller is not satisfied with the appraised value there is no obligation to sign the Service’s offer. However, the Service does not negotiate the value of an offer; the price is established by the appraisal. A seller may provide an appraiser with reportedly relevant comparative sales or other information that may affect the appraised value.

What funding sources are used to acquire property?

Refuge lands are acquired with funds from two primary sources that are not Federal tax dollars – the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (MBCF). LWCF was established by Congress in 1965 to provide funds to federal, state, and local governments for the acquisition of land and water for the benefit of all Americans. The primary source of income to the fund is royalties paid by companies drilling offshore for oil and gas. MBCF dollars are generated through the sale of federal Duck Stamps and certain import duties, and are used to acquire important wetland habitats.

How will the Service’s acquisition of my neighbor’s property affect my property (e.g., what I can/can’t do, property values)?

The Service is obligated to maintain the integrity of those lands acquired with public funds. Therefore, the only concern for neighboring properties would involve contaminated or adulterated air or water entering onto the refuge or for noxious species entering the refuge from surrounding lands. Data show that the presence of a refuge generally increases the value of neighboring properties.

Will I be reimbursed for expenses incurred in selling?

Yes. The Service strives to minimize or eliminate any adverse impact on the landowner due to the acquisition process. The Service pays for title evidence,

mortgage pre-payment penalties, mortgage releases, boundary surveys, recording fees, relocation assistance and moving costs (if applicable), and other expenses incidental to the transfer of title. However, it cannot pay for realtor brokerage fees or for fees charged by attorneys retained by the landowner.

What does Service acquisition of private property mean for the tax rolls?

Although land acquired by the Service is removed from tax rolls, the affected county or other taxing authority receives annual revenue sharing payments. The baseline for these payments is calculated using one of the following, whichever is largest: 75 cents per acre, three-quarters of one percent of the fair market value, or twenty-five percent of net refuge receipts. The market value is generally updated every five years. If refuge receipts are insufficient to allow full payment, the disbursement may be reduced proportionally. Congress may appropriate additional funds to increase payments up to the calculated baseline amount as authorized by the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act of 1935, as amended. Due to a shortage of refuge receipts and congressional appropriations, payments to localities have been averaging about 24 percent of the baseline amount in recent years.

Are there potential economic benefits to my community from refuge lands?

Refuges can benefit communities in many ways. National wildlife refuges in the United States are visited 47 million times a year by birdwatchers, photographers, educators and researchers, hunters, anglers, hikers, and many others. These visitors are an important source of revenue for the local economy. Refuges also enhance the quality of life for local residents, both by preserving the region’s aesthetic beauty and by affording numerous recreational and educational opportunities.

National wildlife refuges are strong economic engines for local communities across the country. A 2015 national report, Banking on Nature, found that refuges pump $2.7 billion into the economy and support more than 39,000 jobs.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region2800 Cottage Way, W-1832Sacramento, CA 95825

4

For More InformationThe plan and all related documents are available at:https://www.fws.gov/cno/refugeprogram/Planning/sjrnwr-expansion.html

If you have questions, please feel free to call or write us at the following address and phone number:

Kim Forrest, Project LeaderSan Luis National Wildlife Refuge ComplexP.O. Box 2176Los Banos, California 93635Phone: (209) 826-3508

fw8plancomments@fws.gov (Please use “San Joaquin River” as the subject.) River otters. Photo: USFWS

Final Plan to Expand the San Joaquin River Refuge Released