Stretching from the Delta north to Shasta Lake, from the foothills of the Northern Coast Range east to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada., the great valley harbors river floodplains with remnant riparian forest, vernal pool grasslands, oak woodlands carved by steep canyons, and the world’s smallest mountain range! Working farms, orchards, ranches, and rice fields produce bountiful crops while creating diverse wildlife habitat. A key stopover on the Pacific Flyway, wetlands in the Sacramento Valley host millions of migratory birds such as sandhill cranes every winter. Most of the state’s water supply flows from the Sierran headwaters above down through the valley where it’s conveyed for many purposes and downstream users. Investment in protection, careful management, and restoration of this region’s natural functions is critical for the benefit of future generations to come.