Woodbridge Ecological Reserve California Delta

B

Bluechablis

New member
Thinking of using Walnut Grove Marina as a home base on our C-Dory while visiting the Woodbridge Ecologica Reserve to photograph the Sandhill Cranes. I have been adding to my "California Delta Map" with points of interest, feel free to edit the map to add or update anything.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... xhw0NJzf9g

For those of you that know the area well can you recommend a vantage point to see the cranes. It looks like to channels off the S Mokeiumne River can get you pretty close by boat, would you be able to observe the cranes from there? How is the Walnut Grove Marina? Do they have boat trailer storage?

we plan to arrive on wed Jan 21st and head back home that Sunday if anyone else is in the area. We love to eat at Guisti's Restaurant and the hamburgers at Al the Wop's are fantastic!
 
I can't help you with the cranes, but for scenic wildlife habitat in general, check out The Meadows Slough and vicinity (take it slow and watch your tides and depths), and also take a leisurely cruise down Georgiana Slough.
 
Thank you for the response Darkwater Doug!

We were in the area for a week after last years Delta Cruise and I tried to get up to "The Meadows Slough" from Walnut Grove when I noticed I was "chopping" through some sort of underwater plant that the whole channel was infested with. I don't know if there was a part of the channel that was clear of that stuff but I didn't want to get up into the boonies and get trapped!

Will definitely take a spin on Georgiana Slough
 
Well its been 14 years since I fished the area but from my experience you can not see over most of the dikes from the water. You might on a high tide but I doubt. You would have to leave the boat and walk up the dike to get a good view.

From your map the reserves is off the water in a field. You might want to call some one that has been to the reserve and knows for sure. Just a idea.
 
Hi Floyd,

I would not consider Walnut Grove a marina. All you have is a dock and gangway to shore. You can stay overnight for a fee but there is no water or electric as I recall.

You can walk to the historic town of Locke but it is a long way to the area where the Cranes are. I don't know if you can see Cranes from the Meadows area. I think the main area to see them is an area north of the Consumnes River Preserve which is east of Int 5.

You may be able to get east of 5 on Lost slough but I don't know if there is enough water.

Here is a link about the Cranes:

https://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region3/woodbridge.html

Steve
 
Thank you all for the information

I was hoping to stay in Walnut Grove and use the jeep to pop over to the reserve, although it would be nice to see the wildlife from the boat trying to see over the levees is indeed difficult. Maybe just a couple of nights at the marina in Walnut Grove to do our photography and then pop over to Rio Vista to get some amenities.

Definitely a great area to explore by boat and if I can just get the birds to say "Cheese" that would be a fantastic way to pursue boating and photography at the same time! I will post any good shots I get on this thread.
 
Call Romeos bait and tackle in Rio vista fr any info on the rivers, water passages , docking ,etc. they fish everyday and know the area really well. They have a facebook page. All those guys sturgeon fish and know every little canal in the delta.
 
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