Bufferlands
Riparian Habitat
Home to Wildlife and Endangered Species
With a varied mix of upland and wetland habitats, the Bufferlands is an important wildlife area, supporting more than 245 species of birds, 20 species of native mammals and several native fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The Bufferlands is also home to more than 20 species of rare plants and animals, including several threatened and endangered species such as Swainson’s hawk, vernal pool fairy shrimp and giant garter snakes.
Ongoing Restoration Efforts
Habitat restoration and enhancement efforts on the Bufferlands are ongoing. Through these efforts, the size of our riparian forests has more than doubled, and native perennial grasses are now an integral part of the landscape. Also, our staff continues to work with the resident farmers to better structure Bufferlands agricultural operations to benefit wildlife. For example, cattle grazing is used to enhance areas for the western burrowing owl, where vegetation would otherwise become too thick for these small raptors to hunt.
Bufferlands in the Spotlight
The unique nature of the Bufferlands and its relationship with the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant have gained both local and worldwide attention. The Bufferlands has been featured in print and video media as far away as Japan and has hosted visiting natural resource managers from around the globe.