Ep. 93 Building Southern California’s Wetland Future

A deep-dive with Chadd Santerre (Director of Wetland Programs & NAWCA Coordinator) and field-rep Chad Thomas

Carson Odegard sits down with Chadd Santerre for a data-driven look at the engineering, funding, and on-the-ground work now reshaping waterfowl habitat from San Jacinto to the Colorado River. In the back half, Chad Thomas details the banquets, workdays, and youth hunts that let Southern California hunters roll up their sleeves and keep the momentum going.

Episode highlights

• Funding surge fuels action – NAWCA and California Wildlife Conservation Board grants have steered $18.9 million since 2022, locking in projects through 2029
• Imperial (Wister) overhaul – miles of buried pipeline and consolidated units are cutting evaporation losses and speeding flood-ups for managers and hunters alike
• San Jacinto recapture system – a new storage complex is designed to recycle 700-1,000 acre-feet each year, creating reliable brood water and a much-needed sanctuary
• Palo Verde Ecological Reserve – 500 acres of former cropland now function as seasonal wetlands and high-yield dove plots after full pipeline and grading upgrades
• Public-land priority – more than 70 percent of CWA habitat dollars land on refuges and wildlife areas every year, keeping improvements accessible to everyone
• Get involved – summer banquets, August habitat days at San Jacinto and Wister, and the unique San Vicente Reservoir draw hunt where hunters pick their own dates from a boat

Whether you’re chasing teal at Wister, volunteering at a San Jac workday, or planning your first San Vicente boat hunt, this episode lays out the roadmap—and the resources—to keep Southern California’s flyway thriving.

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