By the 1990s, it was acquired by the California Department of Fish and Game, who turned it into a wildlife preserve, and allowed it to return to marshland; it is now managed as part of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area, and is open to hunting, fishing, birdwatching, photography and hiking activities.

[1] However, it is mostly flooded:[6][7] in 1998, it was described as "marshy with tall tulles and mud flats, making it impossible to use a wheeled vehicle".

[9][10][3] The land currently comprising Russ Island was shown, on this map, divided between a number of landowners: Harper & Langstaff, L.A. Bly, J.W.

[19] In April 1932, the Napa Fertilizer and Reduction Company (whose partners included one William N. Russ) planned to acquire a 25-year garbage disposal contract with the City and County of San Francisco; it proposed to construct a garbage incinerator on Russ Island.

[24] In response, directors of the Vallejo Chamber of Commerse "ordered a letter of protest sent to the Napa supervisors".

[24] In 1945, the entirety of Russ Island (comprising some 3,600 acres (1,500 ha)) was offered for sale for $190,000 ($3.22 million in 2023); the posting advertised "rich, level soil, well drained [...] perfect climate, no stock pests or cattle rustlers can approach ranch".

[4] Two years later, two cattlemen of Napa Valley (Andrew Pelissa and John Hale) purchased the island from Naylor, for approximately $185,000 ($2.35 million in 2023).

[30] Pelissa and Hale ran sheep and cattle ranches on the island (as well as on other lands in Napa and Modoc counties).

[31] Hubert Fruehauf, a farmer who took a "leading role in Napa County agriculture from the standpoint of both crop production and legislation", also leased Russ Island in the 20th century.

[34] The next year, another crash would occur, when a training aircraft from nearby Hamilton Field "plunged into an oatfield".

The passenger, 1st Lieutenant Williard A. Smith, was seriously injured; he was freed from the wreckage by local farm workers who were out hunting pheasant.

Robert Lassen, supervisor of game for the district, said: "The Leslie Salt people have given the unattached hunter a big break in allowing the Department of Fish and Game to come in and manage their Napa marshes for hunting [...] there will be no limit on the number of hunters allowed into the Department-controlled area and no trespassing will be permitted elsewhere".

[7] In the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area Land Management Plan, Russ Island is referred to as Napa River Unit Ponds 4 and 5.