California Waterfowl Association (CWA) is an award winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit, hunter-supported conservation organization with a mission to conserve the state’s waterfowl, wetlands, and hunting heritage.

It was founded in 1945, originally named Duck Hunters Association of California, and formed to influence hunting regulations and government activities that affected waterfowl in California. In the early 1980s, California Waterfowl recognized that the challenges faced by their founders had greatly expanded. In 1985, the association initiated waterfowl studies in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game to determine the factors that limited waterfowl populations in California and the Pacific Flyway. By 1991, California Waterfowl had begun introducing youngsters to hunting and the outdoors through educational outreach.

CWA believes hunters have been the most important force for conserving waterfowl and wetlands. At CWA, volunteers and staff work together with dedication to perpetuating CWA’s mission: the preservation, protection, and enhancement of California’s waterfowl resources, wetlands, and associated hunting heritage.

California Waterfowl has established (1) Hunting Heritage and (2) Waterfowl and Wetlands as its core action areas. Each program area incorporates various aspects of public policy, waterfowl management, habitat enhancement, and education. Hunting Heritage efforts focus on both hunting protection and promotion. Waterfowl and Wetlands efforts focus on supporting sustainable populations of waterfowl; the Mallard Legacy Program, Pintail Program, California Wood Duck Program, and Goose Program deliver the full range of habitat requirements for all waterfowl and more than 200 other species of wildlife.