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Credit 1 Pam Starr
2 Alyn Robert Brereton
3 Julie MacKinnon
4 Linda Pittman
5 Parham Pourahmad
6 Larry Whiting
7 Randall Finley
Visitation: NA
Area: approximat Acres
Lat: 39.113613
Lon: 121.270802
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Gas-Marysville, 24 miles MilesFood-Marysville, 24 miles MilesLodging-Marysville, 24 miles Miles
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Top Banner Photo Credits
Pam Starr
Alyn Robert Brereton
Julie MacKinnon
Linda Pittman
Parham Pourahmad
Larry Whiting
Randall Finley
Spenceville Wildlife Area - Site # 268

Background: Spenceville is prime lower Sierra foothill blue oak woodlands and associated riparian habitat. Although it is home to all the associated species, it is particularly rich bird habitat with over 180 species having been identified and over 80 species nesting in the area.
Spenceville has a rich historic and prehistoric past. It emcompasses part of the early wagon route east from Johnson's Ranch, and the town of Spenceville, of which only a few remnants remain, grew up around a copper mine. Prehistorically, the Dry Creek drainage, that flows through the area, provided an importation yearly migration route from the central valley into the lower foothills and beyond. All this past, however, is not documented nor is much of it easily available to the visitor.

The Habitat: Spenceville is primarily blue oak woodlands (20%) with open grasslands in the leveler areas.

The Experience: Spenceville is among the largest of the publically owned areas of blue oaks and the creek drainage provides a continuous corridor from the valley to the foothills.

Wildlife and Where to Find It: Some areas can be viewed from vehicles, although trails provide the best access to viewing areas. The most popular trail follows the Dry Creek drainage up to Fairy (or Beale) Falls. It is five miles round trip.

Viewing Tips: Peak season at Spenceville is the spring when the birds are plentiful and the wildflowers are at their best.

Site Notes: The site is rolling lower California foothills covered with a fine canopy of blue oaks. Open grass lands cover the broad valleys alongside the riparian corridor of Dry Creek.

Spenceville Wildlife Area located within Yuba County benefits from programs established by the Bureau of Reclamation's Central Valley Project Conservation Program (CVPCP) and the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Habitat Restoration Program. For more information, visit website and for information on endangered species click here

Nearby Viewing Sites: Camp Far West Reservoir Mainstem Yuba River at Parks Bar

Festivals & Events: California Swan Festival
Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway

Visitor Information: Yuba-Sutter Chamber - (530) 743-6501 - http://www.yubasutterchamber.com
Viewing Site Hours of Operation are:
Staff On-site: No
Open: Everday
Hours: 24 hours
Year Round: Yes
Seasonal: The area is closed for the first ten days of turkey hunting season. That is from the last Saturday of March through the Sunday of the following weekend.

Road Information:   Paved.  Gravel. 
Road Hazards: Roads to Spenceville are paved, however the roads in the wildlife area are primarily gravel.
 Number of Parking Spaces: 0
Parking Fee: No
Proximity to viewing area:nearby
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes
Parking Notes: 

How to Get There: From Marysville, travel east on Highway 20 approximately 19 miles. Just past the left hand turn to Smartsville, you will turn right onto Smartville Road, following a sign indicating Beale Air Force Base. There is a state fire station on the left. (1) In one mile turn left to stay on Smartville Road. There will be a sign about Beale Air Force Base again. Follow Smartville Road 4.5 miles and turn left off the pavement onto the gravel Waldo Road. You have been in a narrow neck of the wildlife are for the last four miles. Waldo Road takes you through the main part of the wildlife area. There is an unsupervised shooting range on your left withing a half mile. At just about two miles you cross the Waldo Bridge and Dry Creek. Ample parking is available here, but the most popular area is still ahead. Follow Waldo Road until you reach a Y intersection. Turn left there and follow along 2.1 miles until the road ends at the old Spenceville town and copper mine site. From there the most popular hike and birding area is up the old road on the left side of the creek. That trail (road) takes you to Fairy (Beale) Falls in 2.5 miles. From Grass Valley take HIghway #20 west toward Marysville. In about 14 miles, just after passing the Driftwood Inn (a restaurant) on the right, turn left onto Smartville Road toward Beale Air Force Base (there is a sign). From here the directions match those from Marysville above (1).
 

Contact Information
Managing Agency: California Department of Fish & Wildlife
Agency Site URL: http://www.spenceville.org (Maintained by the Friends of Spenceville- visit website for excellent downloadable map)
Physical Address:Spenceville and Waldo roads (there is no office)
Between Smartville and W, CA
Agency 2:Oroville/Spenceville Wildlife Area, 945 Oro Dam
Oroville, CA, CA 95965
Manager Phone:(530) 538-2236 Contact Us:by Email
Site Phone:NA
County: Yuba and Nevada
Addition Website:  http://www.VisitYubaSutter.com