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Joice Island is a small island in
Grizzly Bay Grizzly Bay is a baylet of the San Francisco Bay, and an extension of Suisun Bay, which dips into Solano County, California Solano County () is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United St ...
(part of
Suisun Bay Suisun Bay ( ; Wintun for "where the west wind blows") is a shallow tidal estuary (a northeastern extension of the San Francisco Bay) in Northern California. It lies at the confluence of the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, forming the e ...
) in
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
. It is part of
Suisun Marsh Located in northern California, the Suisun Marsh ( ) has been referred to as the largest brackish water marsh on west coast of the United States of America. The marsh land is part of a tidal estuary, and subject to tidal ebb and flood. The marsh ...
, and has been used for
hunting Hunting is the Human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products (fur/hide (sk ...
since the late 19th century. After a failed attempt to reclaim the land for
asparagus Asparagus (''Asparagus officinalis'') is a perennial flowering plant species in the genus ''Asparagus (genus), Asparagus'' native to Eurasia. Widely cultivated as a vegetable crop, its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable. Description ...
and
alfalfa Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial plant, perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, ...
farming in the early 1900s, Joice Island spent several decades as a wildlife refuge before being opened to the public for hunting in 1964. Currently, the upper portion of Joice Island is part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area The grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos horribilis''), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America. In addition to the mainland grizzly (''Ursus arctos horr ...
; fishing, as well as the hunting of waterfowl and pigs, is permitted there on a limited basis.


Geography

Grizzly Bay Grizzly Bay is a baylet of the San Francisco Bay, and an extension of Suisun Bay, which dips into Solano County, California Solano County () is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United St ...
, in which Joice Island is located, is part of
Suisun Bay Suisun Bay ( ; Wintun for "where the west wind blows") is a shallow tidal estuary (a northeastern extension of the San Francisco Bay) in Northern California. It lies at the confluence of the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, forming the e ...
, itself a part of
San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay (Chochenyo language, Chochenyo: 'ommu) is a large tidal estuary in the United States, U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the cities of San Francisco, California, San ...
. It is part of
Solano County Solano County () is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, its population was 453,491. The county seat is Fairfield. Solano County comprises the Vallejo–Fairfield metropolitan statistical area, which is a ...
, and partially administered by Reclamation District 2141. It is bordered on the east by Montezuma Slough, on the south by
Morrow Island Morrow Island is a small island located off the shore of Grizzly Bay (part of Suisun Bay) in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It is part of Solano County, California Solano County () is a county (United States), county located in th ...
, on the west by
Suisun Slough Suisun may refer to: People *Suisun people Places *Suisun Bay *Suisun City, California **Suisun–Fairfield station *Suisun Marsh *Suisun Valley AVA, wine region Ships

*USS Suisun, USS ''Suisun'' {{disambig, geo ...
, and on the north by Cutoff Slough. Its coordinates are . Joice Island is a
tidal wetland Tidal is the adjectival form of tide. Tidal may also refer to: * ''Tidal'' (album), a 1996 album by Fiona Apple * Tidal (king), a king involved in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim * TidalCycles, a live coding environment for music * Tidal (servic ...
, and is part of
Suisun Marsh Located in northern California, the Suisun Marsh ( ) has been referred to as the largest brackish water marsh on west coast of the United States of America. The marsh land is part of a tidal estuary, and subject to tidal ebb and flood. The marsh ...
; the northern part of the island is administered as part of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. In 2002, Joice Island was described as "a wetland area consisting of thick cattails, tules, some brush and standing water".


History

Prior to European settlement, Joice Island was inhabited by
Patwin The Patwin (also Patween and Southern Wintu) are a band of Wintun people in Northern California. The Patwin comprise the southern branch of the Wintun group, native inhabitants of California since approximately 500. Today, Patwin people are en ...
people, whose name for the broader area - "Suisun" - means "the place of the west wind". An unlabeled island, in the same approximate location as the southernmost part of Joice Island, is shown on an 1850 survey map of the
San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...
made by
Cadwalader Ringgold Cadwalader Ringgold (August 20, 1802 – April 29, 1867) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the United States Exploring Expedition, later headed an expedition to the Northwest and, after initially retiring, returned to service ...
and also on an 1854 map of the area by
Henry Lange Karl Julius Heinrich Lange (13 April 1821 – 30 April 1893) was a German cartographer. Biography He was born at Stettin. He worked with Heinrich Berghaus, Berghaus, and then labored three years in Edinburgh on Alexander Keith Johnston (1804– ...
. It is first seen labeled, along with Deadman Island, Grizzly Island, Simmons Island, Ryer Island and Roe Island, on a 1902
United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...
(USGS) map of the area. In the late 19th century, Joice Island was described as "a very valuable property", known for good hunting; in 1895, it was said that "the recent frosts, rain and cold weather have greatly improved the
snipe A snipe is any of about 26 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and cryptic/ camouflaging plumage. ''Gallinago'' snipe have a nearly ...
grounds" on Joice Island. In 1903, the island was described as a tract of "rich dairy and stock land", one of the largest stock ranches in central California, which had been purchased and
levee A levee ( or ), dike (American English), dyke (British English; see American and British English spelling differences#Miscellaneous spelling differences, spelling differences), embankment, floodbank, or stop bank is an elevated ridge, natural ...
d in by B. F. Rush some years prior. In 1890, one quarter of the island was owned by a mysterious (and possibly fictitious) man named Bertrand G. Chandos, allegedly the brother of a recently deceased Mrs. Bensley. Of this woman, the ''
San Francisco Examiner The ''San Francisco Examiner'' is a newspaper distributed in and around San Francisco, California, and has been published since 1863. Once self-dubbed the "Monarch of the Dailies" by then-owner William Randolph Hearst and the flagship of the He ...
'' said "the answers to letters that were sent abroad some time ago establish beyond any doubt the fact that the stories told to various people here about her birth and early life in England and Scotland were wholly false". Chandos had exchanged letters with Mrs. Bensley in which their relationship was represented inconsistently; "in nearly all of heir lettershe addresses her as 'My dear aunt,' and she writes to her 'Dear nephew.' In a few of his letters he addresses her as 'Dear madam.'" It was alleged by the ''Examiner'' that Mrs. Bensley had woven a "web of intrigue" with its "primary object the defrauding of er husbandJohn Bensley, and later the cheating of his creditors". By 1903, the island was owned by ex-sheriff B.F. Rush, who sold it in June to attorney Louis Titus of San Francisco for "somewhere in the neighborhood of" $10 ($ in ) per acre. The deal was described by the ''Sacramento Bee'' as "the most important real estate transaction that has taken place here for some time". The same month, the Suisun Board of Trade discussed a proposal to construct a road connecting Suisun to Joice Island and nearby Grizzly Island; this road would reduce the distance between Suisun and Joice from to . By October, Titus was "putting his grounds" in condition for a wildlife preserve, which was expected to be "one of the best preserves in the State". The reserve was restricted to "the private use of himself and friends"; their first shoot was planned for October 18. In November, Titus and two friends shot 63 ducks on a single hunt; several days later, he returned with his wife, and the two of them shot 35. A 1905 hunt at the island's Belvedere Club, with twelve guns, shot 376 ducks. However, in June 1905, the owners of Joice Island decided to use the land for agriculture, forming the Joice Island Asparagus Company. This corporation was capitalized with 1,000 shares of stock sold at $100 each, for a total of $100,000 ($ in ). The island was planned to be
reclaimed Land reclamation, often known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to be confused with a waste landfill), is the process of creating new land from oceans, seas, riverbeds or lake beds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ...
and devoted to growing asparagus and
alfalfa Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial plant, perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, ...
. By October, levees were being constructed by W.J. Hotchkiss and John H. Spring. However, the venture was not successful; by 1908, the company's charter was forfeited. By 1927, the island was home to the Mira Monte Gun Club, who in that year began construction of a new clubhouse for $20,000 ($ in ); the island was at that point well known for its large population of mallards,
spoonbills Spoonbills are a genus, ''Platalea'', of large, long-legged wading birds. The spoonbills have a global distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name ''Platalea'' derives from Ancient Greek and means "broad", refe ...
and sprig. In 1932, the entire island was purchased from its then-current owner, former San Francisco police commissioner Andrew Mahonet, by the State of California for $72,000 ($ in ) to serve as a wildlife refuge. In 1934, there was an "unusual flight of
teal alt=American teal duck (male), Green-winged teal (male) Teal is a greenish-blue color. Its name comes from that of a bird—the Eurasian teal (''Anas crecca'')—which presents a similarly colored stripe on its head. The word is often used ...
"; by 1942, the refuge had become "a resting and feeding ground for thousands and thousands of ducks and geese during the shooting season". In 1947, largely due to the volume of ducks on Joice Island, hotel owners in surrounding areas (like Grizzly Island) anticipated a "heavy demand for rooms" during shooting season. In 1942, a project to further develop the refuge was completed; of levees and four flood gates were installed to "allow better control of the refuge water supply and protect the entire area from inundation during the flood season". The water-control system also helped prevent disease among waterfowl; in 1952, while many waterfowl in the region were struck with
botulism Botulism is a rare and potentially fatal illness caused by botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacterium ''Clostridium botulinum''. The disease begins with weakness, blurred vision, Fatigue (medical), feeling tired, and trouble speaking. ...
, at Joice Island "the water was kept fresh and no sick ducks were seen even at the peak of population". In 1952, the Volanti Duck Club was situated on the island, and in 1958, the refuge was estimated to contain "slightly less than a half million" ducks. In 1963, a proposal was made to open the island to the general public for hunting. While a group known as the Humane Affiliates opposed the opening of the preserve on the principle that "hunting will soon be passe", the Department of Fish and Game approved the proposal; in 1964, the eastern portion of the island was made available for public shooting. That hunting season, there were estimated to be some 200,000 birds on Joice Island; the next year, hunters on Joice Island "brought down close to three birds per man". In 1966, the Grizzly Island hunting area (including Joice Island as well as Grizzly Island) had a limit of 550 shooters at a time. Despite unfavorable weather conditions in 1967, there were still an estimated 393,000 ducks at Joice Island during the shooting season. Hunting continued in the following decade; in 1977, hunters at Joice Island took an average of almost three birds per shoot, and in 1980 they took an average of 2.47. In 1982, the island was open to hunters for only two days (which yielded an average of 3.34 birds per hunter). In 1983, duck populations on Joice Island had decreased to the point where the Department of Fish and Game closed it to hunters. Joice Island was open to fishing in 1989, however, and in 1992 it was the site of a pig hunt. By the 1990s, duck populations had recovered, and Joice Island was partially reopened for a "special opportunity hunt during the second half of the 1994–95 waterfowl season". A maximum of 35 hunters were allowed to shoot on the island that season. The island was open for hunting the next season as well (with an average of 2.51 ducks per hunter). However, by 1998, the island was once again protected. More pig hunts would be held at Joice Island in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, and 2017. Currently, access to Joice Island during hunting season is restricted, and hunters are "required to purchase in advance a Type A hunting pass in order to exchange for an entry permit".


References

{{Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Islands of the San Francisco Bay Area Islands of Northern California Islands of Solano County, California Islands of Suisun Bay