The Tulare Basin is located in the southern most end of California's Central Valley. Historically, the Basin contained the largest contiguous freshwater wetland west of the Mississippi. In heavy rainfall years, the Basin would swell and cover more than 500,000 acres, creating a vast expanse of shallow seasonal and deeper perennial wetland habitats. This landscape lured waterfowl, shorebirds, and waterbirds by the millions. The Tulare Basin radically transformed in the late 19th century when agriculture came to the Valley and began to divert water from the Basin's tributaries. Levee construction and water diversions confined and eventually reduced the wetland habitat to less that 15,000 acres.

Since the natural hydrology of the Basin has been all but eliminated, wetland habitat must now be maintained with artificial water supplies that are increasingly expensive. Because of this and other factors, the number and acreage of privately owned and managed wetlands continues to dwindle, further comprising the habit and the birds that depend upon it.

The results of the Poso Creek Flood Plain Wetland Habitat Project affected over 9,811 acres on private land and federal refuges. Projects included restoring wetland habitat as well as enhancing existing habitat on the sites. Over 1,800 acres was protected by perpetual conservation easements; over 2,000 acres were restored from prior converted cropland back to wetland and upland habitats and nearly 6,000 acres of existing wetlands were enhanced. Improving water delivery systems has been a significant part of this project and has won it the enthusiastic support of participating landowners.

Though the wetlands within this portion of California have been reduced to just a fraction of their historic acreage, the  improvements accomplished through this NAWCA grant will help ensure that the remaining and newly expanded wetlands base within the Poso Creek Flood Plain will persist into the future. With dedicated landowners and the commitment of the partners to continue habitat improvement efforts this may be the first step in what will become a trend within the Tulare Basin.