The UC Davis Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement project is nearing a major milestone, with earthwork and infrastructure set to finish this year—months ahead of schedule. Originally planned to be completed in November 2025, the revised timeline allows Arboretum and Public Garden teams to focus on establishing native plantings on the Waterways’ banks, testing the newly installed infrastructure and restoring areas impacted by the construction – about a year earlier than expected.
On Thursday, February 24, we hosted a virtual community meeting to engage the public on the upcoming Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement Project.
A new $5.4 million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency will allow UC Davis to complete the Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement Project.
Undergraduate researcher Kim Luke with the Center for Watershed Sciences is working with the Arboretum and Public Garden to conduct an experiment about how different fishes in the Arboretum Waterway may influence water quality. She is particularly interested in how one kind of fish, common carp, influence algal blooms.
Tule (Schoenoplectus acutus) offers wildlife habitat for birds and other animals, prevents erosion and adds to the aesthetic appeal of the landscape along the Arboretum Waterway.
Now that phase one of the Arboretum Waterway Maintenance and Enhancement Project is complete, we are enjoying watching the wildlife explore some of the new features of the waterway.
