Dedicated to the Appreciation of Wildlife!
July 23, 2023
Stone Lakes NWR has been operating with half of its fulltime staffing due to Federal budget cuts and the workload and operational activities cannot be supported by the current workforce. It was decided that the public access at Blue Heron Trails on Hood Franklin Road would be closed from August 1 through September 30, 2023. This time period was chosen for the reasons listed below. We anticipate reopening in October 2023 as migratory birds return to the Central Valley. The Staff and Friends apologize for any inconvenience this necessary action causes.
Blue Heron Trails Closure at this time because of:
Lower visitation and wildlife use during these months
Limited staff to maintain trails and facilities for public use
Habitat management priories elsewhere on the Refuge keeping staff busy (preparing seasonal wetlands for fall; invasive aquatic and terrestrial weed control; flooding damage, including road repair)
If you wish to get more information regarding the Refuge budget crisis, please see the PDF link below.