What is happening now?
Volunteers needed!

Oct. 22, 2024

Water will gradually be reintroduced and the newly installed infrastructure including recirculation pumps and concrete weirs will be tested. At the same time, Arboretum and Public Garden staff, working with teams of students, community volunteers, and partner groups, will focus on establishing native plantings on the banks of the Arboretum Waterway and rehabilitating areas impacted by the construction to create a thriving ecosystem for native wildlife – this work will be ongoing for the next few years.

Volunteer on a Saturday to Help Restore the Arboretum Waterway's Habitat!

About the project

The Arboretum Waterway is not just iconic to the Arboretum, it’s an amenity for our community and the largest component to how our campus manages its stormwater. 

The Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement Project addresses core UC Davis sustainability goals, including our low-impact development approach, stormwater management, and key elements of the Living Landscape Adaptation Plan, which prepares campus for the impacts of climate change.

Improvements to the Arboretum Waterway have taken place in two phases.

Phase one, completed in 2018, focused was on enhancing water flow and quality while creating a more resilient ecosystem. Key improvements included the installation of recirculating pumps to prevent stagnant water and surface algae build up, the stabilization of shorelines using native plants to prevent erosion, and a universally accessible walking path from the Wyatt Deck bridge to the eastern end of the Arboretum Waterway near the Davis Commons Shopping Center. The success of this phase allowed us to secure the next level of funding for phase two.

Phase two, began in March 2024 with funding from a $5.4 million Urban Flood Protection grant from the California Natural Resources Agency and $2.5 million in match with deferred maintenance funds from UC Davis. The construction portion, originally scheduled for completion in November 2025, was completed about a year early thanks to the hard work of contractor McGuire and Hester, an amazing team of consultants, Arboretum and Public Garden staff, community volunteers and UC Davis partners and students.

This phase extends from Lake Spafford to the western end of the Waterway, near the Equestrian Center, increases the overall stormwater capacity of the Arboretum Waterway by 6 acre-feet and replaces most of the concrete perimeter with earthen banks, adorned by native trees, shrubs, and understory plants. Sections of the Arboretum Waterway are now narrower to facilitate faster water movement, while floodplain benches and emergent marsh plantings will be incorporated to mimic natural wetland habitats.

As the project enters its final stages, our efforts will shift to ecological restoration. Teams of Arboretum and Public Garden staff, students, community volunteers, and partner groups will begin planting native grasses and wildflowers along the Waterway’s banks, helping to stabilize the newly graded terrain, restore the area’s natural beauty, and create a thriving ecosystem for native wildlife.

Thank you for your patience as construction takes place. We look forward to keeping you up to date as we make progress on this project and hope that you will visit this page often to stay informed and find out how you can help by signing up for our email newsletter, The Leaflet.

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