By Katie Cahill
The Rice Footprint is a landmark conservation science study that – for the first time – quantifies exactly how many rice acres are needed in California’s Sacramento Valley in order to support native wildlife populations.
Conducted by researchers at UC Davis and Point Blue Conservation Science, the study analyzed habitat requirements for dozens of species and arrived at a clear, data-backed threshold: 470,000 – 500,000 acres of rice must be planted each year to sustain this ecosystem.
Full Ecosystem: 470,000 – 500,000 acres
- The full conservation target – supporting waterfowl, shorebirds, Sandhill Cranes, Giant Gartersnakes, salmon and 230+ species – requires 470,000 – 500,000 acres of planted rice in the Sacramento Valley.
Ducks: 500,000 acres
- To feed, fuel and give resting space to the upwards of 10 million ducks and geese that transcend on California’s Central Valley every year, a critical threshold of at least 500,000 acres of planted rice annually, with at least 257,727 acres of winter-flooded rice is needed.
Shorebirds: 373,000 acres
- Millions of shorebirds migrate through California’s Central Valley along the Pacific Flyway. Rice fields mimic historical wetlands by providing shallow water for foraging grounds they need.
Salmon: 30,000+ acres
- Juvenile salmon use winter flooded rice fields as critical rearing habitat, gaining weight – up to 8 times faster – in the food-rich, shallow water before migrating to the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, there is also the Fish Food program which delivers the nutrient-rich water (zooplankton) back into the food-scarce Sacramento River.
Giant Gartersnakes: 80,000 acres
- Designated as California’s state snake and listed as a federally “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, this highly aquatic species is endemic to the Sacramento Valley. As part of a recovery strategy, priorities include ensuring consistent planting and flooding of rice fields close to remaining wetlands and identifying ways of enhancing habitat, especially in canals.
SEE THE SCIENCE IN ACTION
On the California Rice Commission’s website, there is a page dedicated to the Rice Footprint. In a film series of short videos (most under 5 minutes), the researchers behind the report delve into how flooded rice fields benefit these different species groups.
Deeper Dive with Downloadable Reports
The landmark 173-page Report, Summary, Guide and additional facts are all available for download at https://www.calrice.org/rice-footprint.
