What Are Cows Doing on Stone Lakes NWR?
SACRAMENTO — If you travel on Interstate 5 near Elk Grove Boulevard, you may have noticed that cattle are back on Sacramento County’s 1,500-acre North Stone Lake property. The cattle are part of an experimental program to improve habitat for migrating waterbirds, such as Canada geese and sandhill cranes. The grazing program should also help reduce the extent of invasive, non-native plants and the fire hazard posed by the layer of thatch that has accumulated over the years. The grazing program is the main component of a grassland management agreement between Sacramento County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that was approved by the County’s Board of Supervisors on December 1, 1998. “Since its early days, North Stone Lake has provided rich pastureland and hosted significant bird populations,” says Supervisor Don Nottoli. “A carefully-implemented grazing program can help revive the grassland and make it more productive for wildlife once again.” Although using cattle as a managemen
