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RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – June 12, 2026 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited and the Bureau of Reclamation joined partners to celebrate the completion of the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Lift Station Project, an important milestone made possible through strong partnership and collaboration.
Sutter NWR, established in 1945 and part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, plays a vital role in supporting migratory birds in California’s Central Valley. Alongside Sacramento, Colusa, Delevan and Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuges, the complex provides habitat for more than 1.5 million ducks and nearly 1 million geese each year.
The newly completed lift station project addresses long-standing water management challenges that have limited the Refuge’s ability to fully support its 1,540 acres of managed wetlands within the Sutter Bypass. Historically, the Refuge lacked the equipment and infrastructure needed to pump water at low levels from the nearby East Borrow Ditch. The reliance on limited water supplies meant the Refuge’s wetlands only had 30 to 40% of needed water in many years, restricting the Refuge’s ability to flood habitat during critical seasonal periods.
“This project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration,” said DU’s Western Region Director of Operations Jeff McCreary. “By working together, we’ve delivered a solution that will immediately improve water reliability and enhance habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds.”
“This project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration,” said DU’s Western Region Director of Operations Jeff McCreary. “By working together, we’ve delivered a solution that will immediately improve water reliability and enhance habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds.”
The lift station eliminates the Refuge’s reliance on gravity flow conditions in the East Borrow Ditch by introducing a modern, flexible pumping system. Key features of the project include:
- A lift station with four fish-screened pumps capable of delivering flows ranging from 15 to 78 cubic feet per second
- A 700-foot, 54-inch pipeline connecting the pumps to the Refuge’s canal system
- Infrastructure enabling water delivery to multiple wetland management areas across the Refuge
With these improvements, Sutter NWR can now more effectively utilize its existing water rights year-round and better align wetland flooding with migratory bird needs, particularly in the fall, and do so while supporting the needs of neighboring farmers. Furthermore, this infrastructure enhances conditions on the Refuge for public use, resulting in better opportunities for hunting and birdwatching.
The project positions the Refuge for the future by providing the capacity to convey Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) water supplies once long-term delivery solutions are secured.
The completion of the Lift Station provides an immediate and meaningful benefit, ensuring Sutter NWR can support healthy wetland ecosystems and the millions of migratory birds that depend on them.
This project is a part of the Department of the Interior’s Great American Expedition, a national Freedom 250 journey celebrating America’s public lands, waters, and stewardship.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
Media Contact:
Molly Jarone
(916) 903-9199
