A Conservation Footprint for California Rice

Rice agriculture, especially winter-flooded rice fields, provides surrogate wetlands that host a diversity of species in the Central Valley. Rice fields are critical for Giant Gartersnakes, wintering waterfowl, wintering and breeding shorebirds, Sandhill Cranes, native fishes, and many other species. However, uncertainties in climate, water availability, agricultural crop markets, and urban expansion are precipitating changes in management practices increased variability and magnitude of fallowing, and, in some cases, crop conversion.