Merced National Wildlife Refuge is a 10,262-acre protected area in California established in 1951 under the Lea Act to draw wintering waterfowl away from nearby cropland. Along the Pacific Flyway, it provides vital seasonal habitat for more than 20,000 lesser sandhill cranes, about 60,000 geese from Alaska and Canada, and many other birds, while also supporting breeding species and year-round wildlife. Its wetlands, grasslands, riparian areas, and distinctive vernal pools sustain amphibians, shrimp, and seasonal wildflower displays. The refuge also uses farming and grazing, in cooperation with local landowners, to provide food, manage habitat, control invasive weeds, and maintain grasslands for grazing birds.