CCPs provide long term guidance for management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to 

accomplish refuge purposes and identify the Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program 

planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for 

Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for 

staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. 


Table of Contents 

Introduction ....................................................................................................1 

National Wildlife Refuge System.................................................................1 

Our Vision for the Refuges............................................................................1 

Background .....................................................................................................3 

Issues ...............................................................................................................4 

Vegetation........................................................................................................5 

Wildlife.............................................................................................................6 

Federally-Listed Species ..............................................................................9 

Visitor Services.............................................................................................11 

Current Management ..................................................................................13 

Refuge Goals .................................................................................................14 

Future Management Direction ..................................................................14 

Plan Implementation ...................................................................................20 

Map of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Lieutenant G.H. Derby, 1850.

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 1 

Introduction 

Kern and Pixley Refuges are part of a network of 15 national wildlife 

refuges and wildlife management areas in California’s Central Valley and 

San Francisco Bay region that provide wintering habitat for migratory 

waterfowl and other waterbirds in the Pacific Flyway. The Refuges are 

located in the southern end of California’s San Joaquin Valley (Figure 1), 

also known as the Tulare Basin. Kern Refuge is about 19 miles west of 

Delano in northern Kern County. The Refuge consists of a single 10,618-

acre unit. It is surrounded by privately owned non-native grassland used 

for pasture or agriculture and privately owned wetlands managed as duck 

clubs. Pixley Refuge is located approximately 19 miles south of the city 

of Tulare in southwestern Tulare County. It consists of 11 units ranging 

in size from 40 to 900 acres, surrounded by agricultural croplands and 

pasture. 

National Wildlife Refuge System 

Established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the 95-millionacre Refuge System now includes over 540 National Wildlife Refuges, 

thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas in 50 

states and several territories. Most National Wildlife Refuges are 

strategically located along the major bird migration corridors, ensuring 

that ducks, geese, and songbirds have rest stops on their annual 

migrations. Many refuges were established to protect threatened or 

endangered species or key sensitive habitats, such as wetlands or 

offshore nesting seabird colonies. 

Our Vision for the Refuges 

Kern Refuge 

Kern Refuge is representative of a once extensive complex of native 

wetlands and uplands and is currently the largest wetland complex 

managed for wildlife in the southern San Joaquin Valley. With a secure 

water supply, Kern Refuge will provide reliable, high-quality wetland 

habitat to meet the needs of wintering and migrating waterfowl and 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Photo 

Refuge System Mission: 

“ . . . to administer a national 

network of lands and waters 

for the conservation, 

management, and where 

appropriate, restoration of the 

fish, wildlife, and plant 

resources and their habitats 

within the United States for 

the benefit of present and 

future generations of 

Americans” 

Waterfowl at Kern 

Refuge 
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Pixley

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CA/NV Refuge Planning Office - Sept 2004

CALIFORNIA

Area

Enlarged

Figure 1. Location Map

Kern and Pixley

National Wildlife Refuges

I

0 10 20 30

Miles

2 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges

Summary
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 3 

waterbirds. The Refuge’s riparian corridors and seasonal wetlands will 

support a rich diversity of migratory songbirds, colonial nesting species, 

and raptors. Remnant valley-floor uplands will be preserved and 

restored for native plant and animal species. These uplands will support 

populations of threatened and endangered species including the bluntnosed leopard lizard, Tipton kangaroo rat, San Joaquin kit fox, and Buena 

Vista Lake shrew. To meet the demands of the rapidly growing 

population of the southern San Joaquin Valley and accommodate more 

than 50,000 visitors annually, the Refuge will provide opportunities for 

high-quality wildlife-dependent visitor services, including hunting, 

wildlife observation, environmental education, and interpretation. These 

visitor services opportunities will increase the public’s understanding of 

and appreciation for wildlife and the importance of conserving their 

habitat. 

Pixley Refuge 

Pixley Refuge represents one of the few remaining examples of the 

grasslands, vernal pools, and playas that once bordered the historic 

Tulare Lake. Management of these diverse natural communities will 

focus on providing high-quality habitat for threatened and endangered 

species including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Tipton kangaroo rat, 

San Joaquin kit fox, and vernal pool fairy shrimp. Natural lands between 

the Refuges will be protected through conservation easements, 

partnerships, and willing-seller acquisition to provide linkage areas for 

these species. Managed wetlands and adjacent grasslands will provide 

high-quality habitat for wintering and migratory waterfowl and 

waterbirds, including sandhill cranes. Restored riparian corridors will 

support a rich diversity of migratory songbirds and raptors. Pixley 

Refuge will provide unique opportunities for compatible wildlifedependent visitor services which will increase the public’s understanding 

of and appreciation for wildlife and the importance of conserving wildlife 

habitat. 

Background 

Kern Refuge was established in 1958 under the authority of the 

Migratory Bird Conservation Act for use “. . . as an inviolate sanctuary, 

or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds” (16 U.S.C. § 

715d). Between 1960 and 1963, the Service purchased 10,616 acres under 

this authority from various landowners. In 2004, a 631-acre tract of 

upland habitat was donated to the Service under the authority of the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973. According to the memorandum of 

agreement which stipulated the terms of the donation, the land is “to be 

managed as part of the Kern NWR, for the preservation, conservation, 

and management for the benefit of listed threatened and endangered 

species.” 

Pixley Refuge was established in 1959 to provide wintering habitat for 

migratory birds and protect habitat for the endangered blunt-nosed 

leopard lizard. The authorities and corresponding purposes for which 

Pixley Refuge was established are: 1) the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant 

Act “. . . a land-conservation and land-utilization program . . .” 7 U.S.C. § 

1011; 2) Secretarial Order 2843, dated Nov. 17, 1959 “. . . for migratory 

birds and other wildlife . . .”; and 3) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 

“. . . to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species 
Summary 

4 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Photo. 

or threatened species . . . or (B) plants . . .” 16 U.S.C. § 1534. Since 1959, 

the Service has acquired approximately 6,385 acres within the 10,300-acre 

approved boundary. 

Issues 

Issues, concerns, and opportunities were identified through discussions 

with planning team members, key contacts, and the public scoping 

process, which began with two public workshops in August 1999. Oral 

and written comments were received at the meetings. The following 

issues, concerns, and opportunities are a compilation of information 

developed by the Service throughout the planning process. 

General 

 Coordinate CCP with other conservation efforts in the region. 

 Keep Kern Refuge in its current condition. 

 Maintain or increase water allocations. 

Wildlife and Habitat Management 

 Replace chain link fencing with larger mesh to avoid a possible choking 

hazard to kit foxes. 

 Emphasize management of tricolored blackbirds. 

 Continue cattle grazing as a management tool on refuge uplands. 

 Control vegetation in Unit 1 to provide more open water habitat. 

 Ensure that vegetation management practices in the marsh are 

sensitive to migratory birds that use vegetation in the spring and 

summer. 

 Reintroduce large native mammals, such as tule elk. 

 Offer incentives to adjacent landowners to grow wildlife-friendly crops. 

 Update the status and distribution information for all the natural 

resources on the Refuges. 

Visitor services 

 Build more public restrooms at Kern Refuge. 

 Ensure Service staff is on the Refuge at all times to prevent vandalism. 

Tipton Kangaroo Rat 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 5 

 Construct more parking at Kern and Pixley Refuges. 

 Note that hunting and trapping are not compatible with the Refuge 

purposes. 

 Plan more youth-hunt days. 

 Increase the hunting area at Kern Refuge 

 Eliminate hunting in some units. 

 Rotate the open and closed units throughout the season. 

 Open Pixley Refuge to hunting. 

 Keep existing hunter reservation system. 

 Modify hunt reservation system. 

 Offer three types of hunting passes: hunting from blinds, free roaming, 

and hunting from dikes. 

 Accommodate more hunters on hunt days. 

 Add Sunday as a hunt day. 

 Allow hunters to start a half-hour or an hour earlier than currently. 

 Maintain current 25-shell limit. 

 Increase enforcement of hunting regulations. 

 Prohibit motion decoys. 

 Adopt a limit of two adult hunters per blind. 

 Establish a birder’s board outside the Refuge Complex office. 

 Establish a second tour route at Kern Refuge that could be used by 

non-hunters on hunt days. 

 Develop a signed nature trail and viewing platform at Pixley Refuge. 

 Address the liability issues of concurrent public use public of areas 

where permittee livestock may interact with visitor services, such as 

birdwatching. 

Outreach/Environmental Education 

 Produce an educational video about the Refuges and involve area 

schools. 

 Conduct a publicity campaign highlighting Refuge Complex 

restoration efforts and the resulting benefits. 

 Place a Watchable Wildlife sign on Highway 99 to direct visitors to 

Pixley Refuge. 

Acquisition 

 Expand the Refuges to provide protected corridors between the 

Refuges and other conservation areas in the San Joaquin Valley. 

 Acquire lands at the boundaries of Kern Refuge to secure feeding 

habitat for tricolored blackbirds. 

 Acquire the remaining private lands within the Pixley Refuge 

approved boundary. 

Vegetation 

Kern Refuge 

Kern Refuge supports a variety of wetland and upland vegetation over 

the 11,249 acres managed for waterfowl and endangered species. Eight 

plant communities have been identified, including grassland, seasonal 

marsh, alkali playa, grassland/alkali playa, moist soil wetland, riparian, 

valley sink scrub, and salt cedar. The salt cedar plant community covers 

approximately 1,600 acres and is in former wetland and grassland habitat 

types. Wetland habitat covers approximately 5,300 acres and includes 

3,800 acres of seasonal marsh, 1,200 acres of moist soil wetlands, and 215 

acres of riparian habitat. An additional 1,200 acres of moist soil wetlands 
Summary 

6 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

are being restored. The grassland plant community covers about 2,900 

acres on the west side of the Refuge. The west side of Kern Refuge also 

supports about 500 acres of grassland/alkali playa complex. The valley 

sink scrub plant community covers about 950 acres primarily on the west 

side, but small patches occur in higher areas in seasonal wetlands on the 

east side. 

Pixley Refuge 

Eight major types of land cover are found within the Pixley Refuge 

approved boundary: grassland, alkali playa, northern claypan vernal 

pool, valley saltbush scrub, riparian, Great Valley willow scrub, 

intensively managed moist soil units, and agricultural croplands. About 

74 percent (7,347 acres) of the lands within the approved boundary are 

annual grassland. Of the wetland plant communities, managed moist soil 

communities cover the greatest area (755 acres). Riparian vegetation 

covers about 15 acres in a narrow band along Deer Creek on the southern 

border of the Pixley Refuge. The alkali playa community covers about 39 

acres. Another 1,300 acres of grassland contains numerous alkali playas 

which were too small to map. Vernal pools are found only on the Two 

Well Tract and Big Deer Creek Unit and total about 36 acres. Valley 

saltbush scrub covers about 246 acres in the area just east of the 

managed wetland units. About 1,058 acres of private land within the 

approved Pixley Refuge acquisition boundary are actively farmed to 

provide feed for several dairies adjacent to the Refuge. Dairies now 

occupy about 704 acres within the approved boundary. 

Wildlife 

The variety of unique habitats at the Refuges support a diversity of 

wildlife species. More than 359 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, 

and reptiles have been documented on the Refuges. Some 15 specialstatus wildlife species are known or believed to use the Refuges. 

Birds. 

Kern Refuge. A total of 214 bird species have been sighted on Kern 

Refuge. Fifty-nine different species have nested on the Refuge. Species 

recorded on the Refuge wetlands include waterbirds, such as northern 

pintails, green-winged teal, and northern shoveler, which account for the 

largest number of ducks wintering on the Refuge. Other species also use 

Kern Refuge, including mallards, American wigeon, gadwall, cinnamon 

teal, canvasbacks, redheads, lesser scaups, ring-necked ducks, 

buffleheads, ruddy ducks, Canada geese, white-fronted geese, white 

pelicans, double-crested cormorants, belted kingfishers, egrets, herons, 

American and least bitterns, grebes, rails, gulls, terns, plovers, blacknecked stilts, American avocets, greater yellowlegs, western and least 

sandpipers, dunlins, and long-billed dowitchers. Red-winged, tricolored, 

and Brewer’s blackbirds use the marshes. 

Birds of prey, such as red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, Swainson’s 

hawks, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, kestrels, barn owls, burrowing 

owls, and great-horned owls, have been observed on Kern Refuge. 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 7 

Dave Menke photo. 

Kern Refuge’s upland habitats support a variety of birds, including ringnecked pheasants, mourning doves, and turkey vultures, hummingbirds, 

swallows, horned larks, flycatchers, crows, ravens, and sparrows. 

In the spring and fall a variety of neotropical migratory birds can be 

found in the riparian areas of the Kern Refuge. Some of the species 

include common yellowthroats, western tanagers, warblers, vireos, 

kinglets, thrushes, and cedar waxwings. 

Pixley Refuge. One hundred nine species of birds have been documented 

using Pixley Refuge, including some of the same species that use Kern 

Refuge. Since Pixley Refuge consists primarily of the grassland plant 

community, it is largely grassland bird species that nest on the Refuge. 

The moist soil wetlands provide habitat for migrating and wintering 

birds. Sandhill cranes are the most prominent species that roost on 

Pixley Refuge wetlands. Cranes begin arriving in September and 

numbers may peak at up to 6,000 birds in January. 

In the fall and winter, the wetlands also support many of the same 

dabbling ducks found at Kern Refuge. In the past five years, greenwinged teal, northern shovelers, and mallards have been the three most 

abundant ducks counted during mid-winter aerial surveys. Other 

wintering waterfowl species abundant on the Refuge include gadwalls, 

wigeons, and northern pintails. 

Pixley Refuge also provides wintering habitat for white-faced ibis. In 

recent years, more than 2,000 white-faced ibis have been counted in a 

single day roosting in the wetlands. Wintering and migrating shorebirds 

also use the Refuge. Some of the more common shorebirds include blacknecked stilts, yellowlegs, American avocets, killdeer, long-billed 

dowitchers, and western and least sandpipers. Occasionally marbled 

godwits and Wilson’s phalaropes are observed. In the uplands, longbilled curlews are frequently sighted in the winter; mountain plovers are 

a rare occurrence. Waterbirds using the Refuge include American coots, 

pied-billed grebes, various species of gulls, as well as wading birds, such 

as great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, great and snowy 

Northern pintail
Summary 

8 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

egrets, and American bitterns. Birds of prey occur on the Refuge, 

including red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, American kestrels, 

burrowing owls, barn owls, and occasional sightings of great horned owls, 

prairie falcons, peregrine falcons, black-shouldered kites, turkey 

vultures, and Cooper’s hawks. Other common birds include mourning 

doves, western meadow larks, horned larks, loggerhead shrikes, and 

various species of sparrows and blackbirds. 

Mammals 

Kern Refuge. A total of 27 species of mammals have been sighted on 

Kern Refuge. Some of the mammals found on the Refuge include desert 

cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, coyotes, kit foxes, bobcats, opossums, 

raccoons, muskrats, beavers, badgers, long-tailed weasels, striped and 

western spotted skunks, California voles, Heermann’s kangaroo rats, 

Tipton kangaroo rats, deer mice, western harvest mice, San Joaquin 

pocket mice, Botta’s pocket gophers, house mice, roof rats, endangered 

Buena Vista Lake shrews, California ground squirrels, and San Joaquin 

antelope ground squirrels. The Refuge is home to at least two flying 

mammals, the Mexican free-tailed bat and the western mastiff bat. 

Pixley Refuge. At least 16 species of mammals use Pixley Refuge as 

habitat. Of the 16 mammals known to inhabit Pixley Refuge, five are 

carnivores, such as coyotes, endangered San Joaquin kit foxes, badgers, 

striped skunks, and long-tailed weasels. Other species present include 

black-tailed jackrabbits, Audubon cottontails (desert cottontail), 

California ground squirrels (Beechey ground squirrel), Botta’s pocket 

gophers (valley pocket gopher), endangered Tipton kangaroo rats, 

Heermann’s kangaroo rats, deer mice, western harvest mice, house mice, 

and muskrats, on rare occasions in the water delivery canals. 

Reptiles and Amphibians 

Kern Refuge. Kern Refuge is home to 12 species of reptiles and 4 species 

of amphibians. The four species of lizards that inhabit Kern Refuge are 

the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard, coast horned lizard, 

California side-blotched lizard, and Western (California) whiptail. Seven 

species of snakes have been recorded using the Refuge. One species, the 

western (northern Pacific) rattlesnake. is venomous. The remaining 

species include Pacific gopher snakes, California (common) kingsnakes, 

western long-nosed snakes, California glossy snakes, southwestern blackheaded snakes, and common garter snakes. The amphibians found on 

Kern Refuge include the Pacific treefrog, bullfrog, western toad, and 

western spadefoot toad. 

Pixley Refuge. Pixley Refuge provides habitat for 13 species of reptiles 

and amphibians. The four species of lizards inhabiting Pixley Refuge are 

the endangered blunt-nosed lizard, coast horned lizard, California sideblotched lizard, and western (California) whiptail. The five species of 

snakes present on the Refuge include Pacific gopher snakes, California 

(common) kingsnakes, western long-nosed snakes, southwestern blackheaded snakes, and one poisonous species, the western (northern Pacific) 

rattlesnake. The four species of amphibians that inhabit Pixley Refuge 

are the Pacific treefrog, western (California) toad, western (Pacific) 

spadefoot toad, and bullfrog. 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 9 

Federally Listed Species 

The following section provides information on Federally-listed species 

that may exist or are known to exist on Kern or Pixley Refuges. 

San Joaquin Kit Fox 

The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macroti mutica) is a small fox with 

relatively large ears and a long, bushy, black-tipped tail. They are 

endemic to the Valley and surrounding foothills and a few interior coast 

range watersheds. The San Joaquin kit fox is listed as a Federal and 

State endangered species. This species is commonly associated with 

valley sink scrub, valley saltbush scrub, and annual grassland. Kit foxes 

also exist in some highly modified landscapes, including petroleum fields, 

urban areas, and areas adjacent to agricultural fields. The primary 

threats to the survival of this species are loss and degradation of habitat 

by agricultural and industrial development and urbanization. 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Photo.

Population numbers are low on Kern Refuge with only seven kit foxes 

sighted during night spotlight surveys conducted from 1996 through 

2000. Fifteen kit foxes were sighted on Pixley Refuge during this same 

time. Resident or denning kit foxes have not been confirmed on Kern 

Refuge. Kit fox den sites were confirmed on Pixley Refuge prior to the 

wet winters of the mid-1990s when their prey population numbers 

crashed. Denning has not been confirmed since that time. Dead kit foxes 

are occasionally found dead on the roads near both Refuges. 

Tipton Kangaroo Rat 

The Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides) is a small, 

buff-colored rodent endemic to the southern Valley. This species is listed 

as a Federal and State endangered species. Tipton kangaroo rats inhabit 

arid-land communities, such as iodine bush shrubland, valley saltbush 

scrub, and annual grassland on the floor of the Tulare Basin in level or 

nearly level terrain. Their habitat is typically characterized by one or 

more species of sparsely scattered woody shrubs and a ground cover of 

mostly introduced annual grasses and forbs. In the past, the primary 

reason for the Tipton kangaroo rat’s decline was habitat loss due to 

San Joaquin Kit Fox
Summary 

10 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

agricultural conversion. Today, the greatest threats to this species are 

habitat destruction or modification from industrial and agriculturallyrelated development, cultivation, buildup of heavy thatch by nonnative 

annual grasses, and urbanization. Flooding also poses a threat to this 

species (Service 1998). 

Pixley Refuge provides some of the best remaining habitat for Tipton 

kangaroo rats. The Endangered Species Recovery Program has been 

studying the population ecology of Tipton kangaroo rats at Pixley Refuge 

since 1992. Surveys are conducted on a grid in the Deer Creek East Unit 

twice a year. Few or no animals have been trapped in recent years. 

Population numbers crashed on Pixley Refuge and other areas of the 

southern Valley in the mid-1990s when the areas were flooded two 

consecutive winters. Tipton kangaroo rats historically occurred in the 

upland communities on the west side of Kern Refuge. All of the west side 

was flooded in 1983 and partially flooded in the mid-1990s. In limited, 

small mammal live-trapping surveys conducted in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 

1998, few Tipton kangaroo rats were captured on the west side or near 

Unit 8 on the east side. 

Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard 

The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is a large lizard from the 

iguana family with a long tail, long powerful hind limbs, and a short, blunt 

snout. It is endemic to the Valley. The blunt-nosed leopard lizard is 

listed as a Federal and State endangered species. They are found in 

open, sparsely vegetated areas of low relief in the Valley and the 

surrounding foothills. In the Valley, this species is most commonly 

associated with nonnative grassland and valley sink scrub communities. 

Valley needlegrass grassland and alkali playa also provide habitat for this 

species. In the foothills, the blunt-nosed leopard lizard is found in 

saltbush scrub, upper Sonoran subshrub scrub, and serpentine 

bunchgrass. They generally use small rodent burrows for shelter from 

predators and temperature extremes. 

 US Fish and Wildlife Service Photo.

Blunt-Nosed Leopard 

Lizard 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 11 

The primary threats to blunt-nosed leopard lizards are habitat 

disturbance, destruction, and fragmentation. These threats come from a 

variety of sources, including development and operation of oil and gas 

facilities, overgrazing, pesticide use, and on and off road vehicle use in or 

near blunt-nosed leopard lizard habitat. 

On Pixley Refuge, researchers have found densities of blunt-nosed 

leopard lizards ranging from 0.1 to 4.2 per acre. Biologists from the 

Endangered Species Recovery Program of California State University, 

Stanislaus have been monitoring population numbers in the Deer Creek 

East Unit of Pixley Refuge from 1993 to the present. Population 

numbers experienced a drastic decline in the mid-nineties when there 

were successive years of high amounts of rainfall. On Pixley Refuge, 

lizard populations appeared to be greater in the year 2000 monitoring 

season than they had been in recent years. On Kern Refuge, blunt-nosed 

leopard lizard surveys of limited scope were conducted on the west side in 

1996 and 1998, with no blunt-nosed leopard lizards observed. The most 

recent sighting was one lizard on the east side of Kern Refuge in 1994. 

Four sightings occurred in 1993, three lizards on the east side and one in 

the San Joaquin Desert Research Natural Area (RNA) on the west side. 

Buena Vista Lake Shrew 

The Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus) is a mouse-sized 

mammal with a long snout and tiny bead-like eyes. The fur on its upper 

body is blackish-brown and the lower body is smoke gray. Its tail is 

bicolored and relatively short. Buena Vista Lake shrews were likely 

historically distributed throughout the Tulare Basin. This species is a 

Federally listed endangered species and a State species of special 

concern. Buena Vista Lake shrews prefer moist habitats with an 

abundant layer of leaf litter. Plants typically found in their habitat 

include Fremont cottonwood, willows, glasswort, alkali heath, wild rye 

grass, and Baltic rush. Loss and fragmentation of habitat are the 

primary reasons for the Buena Vista Lake shrew’s historical decline and 

are the current threats to its survival. As a result, this species faces a 

high risk of extinction from catastrophic events, such as floods and 

drought. 

Three Buena Vista Lake shrews were found on the Kern Refuge in 1992 

and 1994. Two Buena Vista Lake shrews were live-trapped and released 

at the capture site in 1998 in the riparian area of Kern Refuge. In 1999, 

Endangered Species Recovery Program biologists captured and released 

five Buena Vista Lake shrews at the capture site along a remnant slough 

in the moist-soil units of Kern Refuge. In 2000, a limited survey resulted 

in no captures of Buena Vista Lake shrews on Pixley Refuge on the 

southern boundary near Deer Creek. Pixley Refuge has little potential 

habitat for shrews. 

Visitor Services 

The wetlands at Kern Refuge provide numerous opportunities for 

outdoor recreation, including hunting, wildlife observation, photography, 

and environmental education. Over the past three years, Kern Refuge 

has annually averaged about 6,000 visitors. Until recently, the only 

visitor services on Pixley Refuge were guided public talks and tours. 
Summary 

12 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

Pixley Refuge has averaged about 230 visitors per year over the last 

three years. 

Refuge Access 

Kern Refuge’s entrance is located at the intersection of Garces Highway 

and Corcoran Road. The entrance is about 14 miles from Interstate 5 via 

State Highway 46 and Corcoran Road, and 19 miles west of State 

Highway 99 via Garces Highway. Kern Refuge has a small paved 

parking lot at the headquarters with space for about eight vehicles and a 

larger gravel parking lot at the nearby hunter check station with space 

for up to 75 vehicles. Three gravel parking lots with space for 20 to 30 

vehicles each are located along the five-mile gravel auto tour route. 

Pixley Refuge is located about 6.7 miles from Highway 99 via Avenue 56 

and Road 88. The entrance to Pixley Refuge’s parking lot is located off 

Road 88, about one mile north of Avenue 56. The gravel parking lot has 

space for about 12 vehicles. 

Hunting 

Waterfowl hunting has occurred on Kern Refuge since the early 1960s 

and is administered by CDFG through a cooperative agreement. Kern 

Refuge is the only public hunt area in the southern Valley. An average of 

1,800 visitors per year hunt on the Refuge. From 1995 to 2002, the 

number of hunters at Kern Refuge has more than doubled from 1,236 to 

2,830. Hunters account for about 39 percent of the Refuge’s visitors. 

Currently, Kern Refuge has 11 hunting blinds spaced across 479 acres. 

Two of the blinds are wheelchair-accessible. Kern Refuge also provides 

up to 1,867 acres of free roam hunt area. The maximum hunter density in 

this area is one hunter per 20 acres, for a total capacity of 93 hunters. 

The duck-hunting season generally runs from late October or early 

November to mid-January. At Kern Refuge, hunt days are Wednesdays 

and Saturdays, from a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunter success 

at Kern Refuge is consistently higher than the State average. Over a 7-

year period from 1995 to 2002, hunters at Kern Refuge averaged 2.7 

ducks per visit while, the State average over the same period was 1.7 

ducks per hunter visit. Hunting is not permitted on Pixley Refuge. 

Wildlife Observation, Interpretation and Environmental Education 

About 1,500 visitors participate in wildlife observation and 2,000 visitors 

participate in interpretation activities on Kern Refuge each year. The 

Refuge offers wildlife observation and photography opportunities along a 

five-mile self-guided auto tour route. Foot access is also allowed on 

established dike roads. The auto tour route is open year-round during 

daylight hours, except during the waterfowl hunting season. During this 

period, the Refuge is closed to the nonhunting public on hunt days 

(Wednesdays and Saturdays). During the peak waterfowl migration, and 

wintering period (September 15 through February 15), visitor services 

are limited to the self-guided auto tour route, until 1,000 acres of 

wetlands are flooded. Once this initial sanctuary is established, 45 

percent of the remaining wetland units are opened to foot travel as they 

are flooded. 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 13 

Over the last three years, an average of about 445 visitors per year 

participate in staff or volunteer conducted talks, tours, and 

demonstrations at Kern Refuge. Approximately 340 students per year 

participate in Refuge-related environmental education, conducted by 

Refuge staff or volunteers either on or off Refuge. 

 

In 2000, Pixley Refuge staff and Tulare County Audubon Society 

volunteers constructed a parking lot and a 1.5-mile interpretive walking 

trail and observation platform on the wetland unit at the Refuge. The 

trail guides visitors through 13 interpretive stops, and includes six 

interpretive panels and an observation platform overlooking the east end 

of the managed wetland unit. The majority of the use occurs on the trail 

from fall to spring, coinciding with bird migrations and waterfowl and 

waterbird use of the wetland habitat. 

 

Current Management 

Kern Refuge

A Master Plan developed in 1986 guides current management of the Kern 

Refuge. Management efforts are focused on creating and maintaining 

quality wetland habitat for migratory birds with an emphasis on 

waterfowl and water birds; protecting threatened and endangered 

species and enhancing their habitats; and providing quality wildlifedependant recreational opportunities. 

Creating and maintaining wetland habitat have been a major emphasis 

since the inception of the Refuge due to the absence of naturally 

occurring marsh habitat in the southern valley. The Refuge follows water 

management regimes involving specific water draw down dates, spring 

irrigations, and fall flood-up periods to produce quality habitat within the 

wetlands of the Refuge. Non-native grasslands are managed for use by 

several threatened and endangered species through implementation of a 

closely monitored cattle-grazing program. Control of non-native, invasive 

plant species, such as salt cedar, is ongoing to improve both wetland and 

upland habitats. 

Public uses, such as wildlife observation, photography and waterfowl 

hunting, have long been available on limited areas of the Refuge and are 

compatible with the purposes for which the Refuge was established. 

Periodic wildlife surveys within various habitat types are conducted to 

monitor population trends of waterfowl, birds of prey, shorebirds and 

other resident and migratory species. Surveys are periodically conducted 

to determine the presence or absence of threatened and endangered 

species, such as the San Joaquin kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and 

Tipton kangaroo rat. 

Pixley Refuge

As is the case with Kern, a Master Plan developed in 1986 guides 

management of Pixley Refuge. Annual grasslands comprise over 74 

percent of the area within the approved refuge boundary; consequently, it 

is a primary concern to manage the grasslands to threatened and 

endangered species. A closely monitored cattle grazing is the primary 

management tool for reducing the grass cover and providing more open 

habitat suitable to the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard and Tipton 
Summary 

14 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

kangaroo rat. Although very limited in scope, the Refuge has created and 

maintains seasonal wetlands on approximately 300 acres of 

impoundments in the southwestern portion of the Refuge adjacent to the 

Deer Creek channel. These moist soil units are maintained during the 

fall and winter for the benefit of waterbirds including ducks, geese, 

sandhill cranes, and other wading birds and shorebirds. Although 

foraging habitat for cranes on the Refuge is limited, use of Refuge ponds 

as roosting areas is generally increasing on an annual basis. 

Refuge Goals 

Goals are descriptive, open-ended, and often broad statements of desired 

future conditions that convey a purpose but do not define measurable 

units. Goals translate refuge purposes into management direction. 

Following are the goals developed for Kern and Pixley Refuges. 

Kern Refuge 

 Provide high quality wintering and migratory habitat for migratory 

birds in the southern San Joaquin Valley, with an emphasis on 

waterfowl and waterbirds. 

 Protect, preserve, and restore alkali sink scrub, saltbush scrub, iodine 

bush scrub and grassland habitats in the southern San Joaquin Valley 

to contribute to the recovery plan goals for the San Joaquin kit fox, 

blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and Tipton's kangaroo rat. 

 Restore and maintain a representative example of Tulare Basin 

grassland, riparian, and sink scrub habitats on Kern Refuge. 

 Provide visitors with wildlife- dependant recreation, interpretation, 

and education opportunities which foster an appreciation and 

understanding of Kern Refuge’s unique wildlife, plant communities, 

and cultural resources. 

Pixley Refuge 

 Protect, restore, and manage alkali sink scrub, saltbush scrub, iodine 

bush scrub and grassland habitats in the southern San Joaquin Valley 

to contribute to the recovery plan goals for the San Joaquin kit fox, 

blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and Tipton's kangaroo rat. 

 Restore and maintain a representative example of Tulare Basin 

grassland and riparian habitat on Pixley Refuge. 

 Provide high quality wintering and migratory habitat for migratory 

birds in the southern San Joaquin Valley, with an emphasis on 

waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and other waterbirds. 

 Provide visitors with wildlife-dependant recreation, interpretation, and 

education opportunities which foster an appreciation and 

understanding of Pixley Refuge’s unique wildlife and plant 

communities. 

Future Management Direction 

Following is a description of the future management direction for each 

Refuge, organized by goal topic. Figures 2 and 3, respectively, show the 

proposed habitat management and visitor services plans for Kern 

Refuge. Figure 4 shows the proposed habitat management and visitor 

services plans for Pixley Refuge. 
!

!

!

!

!!

!

Restore Valley Sink

Scrub (440 acres)

Plant Riparian

Vegetation (15 acres)

Strengthen Levees

around Unit 14

Prepare Grassland Management

Plan, Eradicate 90 percent

of Salt Cedar in 10 Years, and

Expand Surveys and Monitoring

for Special Status Species

Rehabilitate

Seasonal Marsh

(1,100 acres)

Complete

Moist Soil

Rehabilitation

(1,200 acres)

Expand Aerial Waterfowl

Surveys and Ground Surveys

for Shorebirds, other Waterbirds

and Raptors

Eradicate 90

percent of Salt

Cedar from

Seasonal Marsh

within 5 Years

Eradicate 90 percent

of Salt Cedar from

Riparian Habitat

within 10 Years

1

12 8

2 14

7

3

9

15

11

13

10

6C

2A

6A

4A

5B

5A

1A

6B

7B

4B

CA/N

V

Refuge Planning Office - Sept 2004

I 0 0.5 1 1.5

Miles

Figure 2. Proposed Habitat Management

Kern National Widlife Refuge

Moist Soil

Riparian

Seasonal Marsh

! ! Riparian Expansion Summer Water

Saltbush Scrub

Grassland/Scrub/Playa

Units to be Rehabilitated

Comprehensive Conseervation Plan

Summary

15
!i !i

!i

!i!_

!_

!@

Refuge

HQ and

Entrance

Construct New

Auto Tour Route

Develop Kiosk,

Boardwalk, and

Enhance Pond

at Entrance

Expand Hunt Area

Expand Environmental Education

and Interpretation Programs

15

7B

4B 1A

9

1

4A

5A

5B

10

2A 2

6A

14

6B

11 3

13

6C

7

8

12

0 0.5 1

Miles

CA/N

V

Refuge Planning Office - Sept 2004

!_ Restrooms

!i ParkingLots

!© Hunting Blinds

New Auto Tour Route

Existing Auto Tour Route

Closed Areas

Uplands

Wetland Sanctuary

Hunt Areas

Blinds

Free Roam

I

Figure 3. Proposed Visitor Services Plan

Kern National Widlife Refuge

Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges

Summary

16
!i

!Å

Plant Riparian

Vegetation

(10 acres)

Acquire Remaining

Natural Lands within

the Approved Boundary

(from willing sellers)

Expand Surveying,

Monitoring, and

Research for Special

Status Species and

Prepare a Grassland

Management Plan

Expand Environmental

Education and Interpretation

Programs

Pursue Linkage between

Pixley Refuge Units and

Department of Fish and

Game - Protected Natural

Lands to South

Develop Grain

and Pasture

Unit (272 acres)

Develop Pullout

and Interpretive

Displays

ç

ç

ç

|ÿ99

|ÿ43

1

|ÿ90

CA/N

V

Refuge Planning Office - Sept 2004

Figure 4. Proposed Habitat Management

and Visitor Services Plan

Pixley National Widlife Refuge

0 1 2 3

Miles

I

Grain

Grassland

Moist Soil Wetlands

Riparian

Approved Refuge Boundary

Riparian Expansion

!Å Existing Observation Platform

!i Existing Parking Lot

Comprehensive Conseervation Plan

Summary

17
Summary 

18 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Photo.

Kern Refuge 

Under the selected plan, the Refuge focus will be to provide wintering 

habitat for migratory birds and contribute to the recovery of targeted 

special status species. Management programs for migratory waterfowl, 

colonial nesting birds, threatened and endangered species, riparian 

communities, and native uplands will be expanded and improved. In 

addition, opportunities for hunting, wildlife observation, photography, 

environmental education, and interpretation will be improved and 

expanded from the present conditions. Staffing and funding will need to 

increase to accommodate the changes. 

Migratory Birds. Under the selected plan, the Service will continue 

existing management of moist soil and seasonal marsh units. Wetland 

units will be flooded up in August and draw down will begin in March. 

Moist soils units will be irrigated once or twice in April and May to assist 

in the germination of waterfowl food plants. Each year 25 percent of the 

moist soil and seasonal marsh units will be burned, disked, or mowed. In 

Addition, the Service will rehabilitate Units 7, 7b, and 8 (1,330 acres) to 

improve habitat conditions and water management efficiency. This will 

involve rehabilitating interior levees, eradicating salt cedar from the units 

using mechanical control, and installing new water control structures. 

The Service will also eradicate 90 percent of the salt cedar occurring in 

the other seasonal marsh units within five years, using flooding and 

mechanical removal that could involve digging, mowing, and disking.

To provide sanctuary for wintering birds and other wildlife, the existing 

flexible closed zone will be maintained as follows: the first 1,000 acres of 

wetlands to be flooded are closed to public use; as the remaining wetlands 

are flooded, 45 percent are open and 55 percent are closed. After Unit 14 

is completely developed, the area of permanent sanctuary will total 3,504 

acres. The Service will continue to maintain water through most of the 

summer in the eastern portion of Unit 1 to provide nesting habitat for 

tricolor blackbirds, white-faced ibis, and other colonial nesting birds. 

Prescribed Burn in 

Seasonal Marsh Unit 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 19 

The Service will expand its surveying program to include monthly 

waterfowl surveys of the southern San Joaquin Valley from September to 

March, and biweekly ground surveys of shorebirds, waterbirds, and 

raptors from September to June). 

The Service will also complete a land protection plan that explores 

protection and enhancement of Tulare Basin wetlands and associated 

uplands. 

Threatened and Endangered Species. Under the selected plan, the 

Service will continue to use cattle grazing in the 2,377-acre upland area to 

control the accumulation of thatch and provide suitable habitat for the 

blunt-nosed leopard lizard and Tipton kangaroo rat. Plant cover will be 

periodically monitored using average residual dry matter calculations, 

and cattle stocking rates will be adjusted accordingly. The Service will 

also develop and implement a grassland management plan that will 

explore various options (different grazing regimes, etc.) for managing 

plant cover and improving habitat conditions for the blunt nosed leopard 

lizard and Tipton kangaroo rat. The Refuge will seek approval to prepare 

a land protection plan that explores opportunities to work with Federal, 

State, local agencies and landowners to establish linkages between Kern 

Refuge and other natural lands to the south and east (including Pixley 

Refuge). 

Riparian and Saltbush Scrub Habitat. The Service will continue to 

maintain 450 acres of existing riparian habitat in Unit 9 by periodically 

flooding it in fall, winter, and early spring and irrigating it monthly 

during the summer. In addition, the Service will plant and maintain 15 

acres of new riparian habitat along the deliver canal that forms the 

eastern boundary of Unit 14 in conjunction with the ongoing moist soil 

rehabilitation. Herbicides (imazapyr and glyphosate) will be used to treat 

salt cedar through foliar spray or cut stump application with a goal of 

removing 90 percent within 10 years. In addition, the Service will restore 

400 acres of valley sink scrub in Unit 13. 

Visitor Services. Visitor services will be improved and expanded under 

the selected plan. For example, hunting opportunities will be increased 

by opening an additional 540 acres (Units 5a and 5b) to hunting and 

constructing nine new hunting blinds. Other major new visitor services 

projects under this alternative include: developing new interpretive signs 

and displays and a new refuge brochure; enhancing the pond at the 

refuge entrance and constructing a new kiosk and boardwalk; 

constructing a new 4.3-mile tour route (open every day); and constructing 

two new photo blinds. In addition, if funding becomes available, the 

Service will hire a full time outdoor recreation planner and a full time law 

enforcement officer. 

Pixley Refuge 

Under the selected plan, the focus of Pixley Refuge will remain the same: 

contribute to the recovery of targeted special status species and provide 

wintering habitat for migratory birds. The selected plan will improve and 

expand management programs for threatened and endangered species, 

migratory birds, and riparian communities. 
Summary 

20 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

Threatened and Endangered Species. The Service will continue to use 

grazing to improve habitat conditions for the Tipton kangaroo rat and 

blunt-nosed leopard lizard. In addition, the Service will prepare a 

grassland management plan and conduct habitat management research 

to better define the habitat needs of these species. The Service will also 

substantially expand its surveying, monitoring, and research programs 

for special status species and prepare a comprehensive surveying and 

monitoring plan. The Service will pursue acquisition of remaining natural 

lands within the approved boundary from willing sellers. 

Migratory Birds. The Service will continue existing management of 

moist soil units (755 acres) to maximize production of waterfowl food 

plants. Units will be flooded up in August and draw down will begin in 

March. Moist soils units will be irrigated once or twice in April and May 

to assist in the germination of waterfowl food plants. Each year 25 

percent of the units will be burned, disked, or mowed. In addition, a 272-

acre grain unit will be developed on the Turkey Tract to provide forging 

habitat for sandhill cranes and geese. Aerial surveys for waterfowl and 

ground surveys of shorebirds, waterbirds, and birds of prey will be 

expanded under the selected plan. 

Riparian and Saltbush Scrub Habitat. A grassland management plan will 

be prepared. Approximately 10 acres of riparian vegetation will be 

planted on the north levee and along the service ditch that supplies water 

to the wetland units. 

Visitor Services. Under the selected plan, the environmental education 

program at Pixley Refuge will be expanded. A visitor services plan will 

be developed and implemented and a full time outdoor recreation planner 

will be hired (shared with Kern Refuge). The Service will also seek to 

establish new partnerships with educational institutions and local 

organizations for environmental education on the Refuge. In addition, 

new educational materials will be developed. A new wildlife viewing area 

and interpretive displays will also be constructed on the Turkey Tract 

adjacent to State Highway 43. The displays will focus on sandhill crane 

ecology and wildlife friendly farming. 

Plan Implementation 

The implementation phase for this CCP began when the FONSI was 

signed on September, 30, 2004. During the next 15 years, the objectives 

and strategies presented in this CCP will be realized; the CCP will serve 

as the primary reference document for all Refuge Complex planning, 

operations, and management until it is formally revised. The Service will 

implement the final CCP with assistance from existing and new partner 

agencies, and organizations and the public. 

Many activities called projects in the text below are needed to realize the 

management strategies discussed in this CCP. Every effort will be made 

to implement these projects by the deadlines established here. However, 

the timing of implementation of the management activities proposed in 

this document is contingent upon a variety of factors, including funding, 

staffing, completion of detailed step-down management plans, 

compliance with other Federal laws and regulations, partnerships, and 

the results of monitoring and evaluation. 
Summary

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 21 

Funding and Staffing 

To implement the selected plan and to achieve the objectives and goals of 

this CCP, the Service will need additional funding and staff. Full 

implementation of all of the projects proposed in this CCP will require 

the Service to increase Kern Refuge Complex’s current annual operations 

budget by 43 percent to approximately $820,000. 

When the selected plan is completely implemented, full staffing for both 

Kern and Pixley Refuges will include the following positions. 

 Project leader 

 Deputy project leader 

 Wildlife biologist 

 Private lands biologist 

 Administrative support assistant 

 Office automation clerk 

 Refuge operations specialist 

 Three engineering equipment operators 

 Maintenance worker 

 Outdoor recreation planner 

 Law Enforcement Officer 

 Biological Science Technician 

Step-Down Management Plans 

Some projects or types of projects require more in-depth planning than 

the CCP process is designed to provide. For these projects, the Service 

prepares step-down management plans. In essence, step-down 

management plans provide the additional planning details necessary to 

implement management strategies identified in a CCP. Kern and Pixley 

Refuges currently have a number of step-down plans already completed. 

These include plans for fire management (Appendix K), disease 

prevention and control, and pest management. This CCP proposes 

several new step-down plans that are identified below along with their 

target date for completion. 

 Land Protection Plan – Wetlands (2005) 

 Grassland Management Plan (2006) 

 Land Protection Plan – Upland Linkages and Threatened and 

Endangered Species Habitat1 (2008) 

 Visitor Services Plan (2009) 

 Comprehensive Inventory and Monitoring Plan (2018) 

 Poso Creek Flood Water Management Plan (2018) 

Partnership Opportunities 

A number of partners play an important role in helping the Service 

achieve its goals and objectives for Kern and Pixley Refuges. The 

Service will continue to rely on these and other partners in the future to 

help implement this CCP and provide input for future CCP updates. This 

CCP identifies many projects that provide new opportunities for existing 

or new partners. There is great potential for more public participation 

and assistance in the management and interpretation of the Refuges. 

The Service welcomes and encourages more public participation in the 

Refuges. 

 

1

 Subject to the approval of the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service 
Summary 

22 Kern and Pixley National Wildlife Refuges 

Adaptive Management 

This CCP provides for adaptive management of Kern and Pixley 

Refuges. Adaptive management is a flexible approach to long-term 

management of biotic resources that is directed by the results of ongoing 

monitoring activities and new data. Management techniques, objectives, 

and strategies are regularly evaluated in light of monitoring results, new 

scientific understanding, and other new information. These periodic 

evaluations are used to adapt management objectives and techniques to 

better achieve the Refuge’s goals. Monitoring is an essential component 

of adaptive management in general, and of this CCP. Specific monitoring 

strategies have been integrated into the goals and objectives described in 

this CCP whenever possible. 

Plan Amendment and Revision 

CCPs are meant to evolve with each individual refuge unit, and the 

Improvement Act specifically requires formal revision and updating of 

CCPs at least every 15 years. The formal revision process will follow the 

same steps as the CCP process (see Figure 3). In the meantime, the 

Service will review and update this CCP periodically (at least as often as 

every five years) based on the results of the adaptive management 

program. This CCP will also be informally reviewed by Refuge staff 

while preparing annual work plans and updating the Refuge database. It 

may also be reviewed during routine inspections or programmatic 

evaluations. Results of any or all of these reviews may indicate a need to 

modify the plan. The goals described in this CCP will not change until 

they are re-evaluated as part of the formal CCP revision process. The 

objectives and strategies, however, may be revised to address changing 

circumstances or take advantage of increased knowledge of the resources 

on the Refuge. If changes are required, the level of public involvement 

and associated NEPA documentation will be determined by the Project 

Leader in accordance with Service policy.