California Waterfowl Association (CWA) will soon be soliciting applications for the Rice Levee, Road Edge, and Ag Corridor Program. This program is funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, through the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which pays private landowners 80 cents per linear foot for the management of their internal rice levees or road edges for upland nesting bird species (Mallard, Gadwall, and Pheasant). To participate in this program, vegetation on rice levees and roads must be left from the previous growing season. Enrolled areas must be left undisturbed until July 15th. To find out more about the program or to apply, visit the California Waterfowl Association’s website.
The application period will be open from October 13th to November 30th, 2025. Applications will be ranked, and successful applicants will be notified by December 19th, 2025.
Key Program Requirements:
- Vegetation on levees or road edges must be left from the previous growing season.
- Road edges must be at least 5 feet wide.
- Rice levees and road edges must be left undisturbed until July 15th.
- Participating farmers must allow monitoring to document nesting activities.
- Enrolled fields will be paid per linear foot of levee or road edge enrolled.
- Enrolled rice fields must be planted for the 2026 growing season. Landowners may be given flexibility to enroll in the Fallow Ag Program if their fields go unplanted.
For questions, please contact Jason Coslovich: 408-644-3525 or jcoslovich@calwaterfowl.org
