California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program

The California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program (Project) incentivizes rice growers to flood harvested fields in the winter to benefit migrating and wintering waterbird. In partnership with the California Rice Commission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will oversee the administration of funds and implementation of the Project. Winter-flooding of harvest rice fields in the Central Valley provides approximately 75% of the energetic needs of dabbling ducks and a significant portion of the energetic needs of migrating shorebirds. Not only do these practices provide waterbird habitat, but they are also beneficial for landowners and improve California’s climate resiliency by recharging groundwater, allowing flexibility during drought scenarios, reducing flood risk, decomposing rice straw, and improving recreation benefits for rural communities.