Atwell Island Restoration Project (AIP) is located in the historic Ton Tache
Wetland basin and the Sand Ridge on the southern edge of Historic Tulare Lake.
The AIP began in 2000 and consists of 8,000 acres of restored native valley
grassland, a wetland, and alkali sink habitats on an area that has been farmed
for the past century. The Atwell Island Project is an important wintering area
for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds and other water birds in the
southern San Joaquin Valley. The AIP is one of the few remaining wetlands left
in the area providing opportunities to enjoy wildlife viewing, nature study
and photography, particularly during the fall migration. AIP features a
wetland viewing platform as well as a nature trail showcasing the restored
upland habitat for recreational use.

Atwell Island Restoration Project (AIP) is located in the historic Ton Tache Wetland basin and the Sand Ridge on the southern edge of Historic Tulare Lake. The AIP began in 2000 and consists of 8,000 acres of restored native valley grassland, a wetland, and alkali sink habitats on an area that has been farmed for the past century. The Atwell Island Project is an important wintering area for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds and other water birds in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The AIP is one of the few remaining wetlands left in the area providing opportunities to enjoy wildlife viewing, nature study and photography, particularly during the fall migration. AIP features a wetland viewing platform as well as a nature trail showcasing the restored upland habitat for recreational use.

Bird's eye view of the park

Atwell Recreation Area

Bird's eye view of the campground

John L. Whitehead Jr. Campground

Colonel Allensworth SHP

For thousands of years, California's Central Valley has provided habitat for
millions of waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland dependent species. The
southern portion of the Central Valley, known as the San Joaquin Valley, once
contained numerous lakes and marshes comprising over 800,000 acres of natural
wetlands, the largest freshwater marsh in the western United States.

Kern NWR is managed as part of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A
National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more
refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are
primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a
complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a
watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management
needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general
management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are
responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of
administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor
services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all
refuges within the complex.

Other refuges in the Kern NWR Complex include the Pixley National Wildlife
Refuge and the Tulare Wildlife Management Area. The refuge complex
headquarters is located at 10811 Corcoran Road, Delano, California 93215.

For thousands of years, California's Central Valley has provided habitat for millions of waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland dependent species. The southern portion of the Central Valley, known as the San Joaquin Valley, once contained numerous lakes and marshes comprising over 800,000 acres of natural wetlands, the largest freshwater marsh in the western United States. Kern NWR is managed as part of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.Other refuges in the Kern NWR Complex include the <a href="https://fws.gov/node/1259" rel="nofollow">Pixley National Wildlife Refuge</a> and the Tulare Wildlife Management Area. The refuge complex headquarters is located at 10811 Corcoran Road, Delano, California 93215.

Kern National Wildlife Refuge

Visitors to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge may be surprised to see that
it is home to small, seasonal marsh wetlands. What they may not know is that
it has some of the last, significant acres of Southern San Joaquin Valley
grassland habitat. This habitat type provides nesting, foraging, and cover for
a variety of species including the threatened Tipton kangaroo rat, the blunt-
nosed leopard lizard, and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. During the
winter months, it is the best place in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to view
sandhill cranes.

Visitors to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge may be surprised to see that it is home to small, seasonal marsh wetlands. What they may not know is that it has some of the last, significant acres of Southern San Joaquin Valley grassland habitat. This habitat type provides nesting, foraging, and cover for a variety of species including the threatened Tipton kangaroo rat, the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. During the winter months, it is the best place in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to view sandhill cranes.

Atwell Recreation Area

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Colonel Allensworth SHP

Kern National Wildlife Refuge

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge