Sacramento NWRC tour participants (from left): Greg Mensik, Marge Kolar, Kevin Foerster, Todd Willens, Paul Henson, Mike Wolder and Craig Isola. Photo: Steve Thompson

Flyout at Sacramento NWRC. Photo: Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson, California-Nevada Operations manager accompanied by Assistant Managers Marge Kolar and Paul Henson, brought Todd Willens, the Department of the Interior's newest Deputy Assistant Secretary, to visit Stones Lakes NWR and Sacramento NWRC. The goal was to illustrate the different challenges facing a newer refuge such as Stone Lakes compared to a more established refuge like Sacramento NWRC.

At Stone Lakes NWR Mr. Willens met with Refuge Manager Tom Harvey, Deputy Manager Beatrix Treiterer and the refuge's small staff.  He was briefed on the status of the CCP and given a tour of the newest public use area, Blue Heron Trails.  The group discussed the history of the land conservation  program for the refuge and local partnerships for public use and wildlife habitat restoration.

The next stop was the nearly 50 year old Sacramento NWRC where the group had lunch with the refuge staff and had a a tour of the Sacramento Refuge. Mr. Willens was also taken to several conservation easements on private property and Partners for Fish and Wildlife projects where efforts are underway to convert rice fields into wetlands.

" It is really important for the folks in Washington to get out on the ground and see for themselves the different challenges refuges face." said Steve Thompson.  " Field trip like this go a  long way to accomplishing this."

The group then convened back at the refuge headquarters to watch the evening flyout of approximately 600,000 birds.