Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement

Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection
and Habitat Enhancement Project

We are excited to announce that the next phase of our multi-year project to maintain and enhance the Arboretum Waterway is about to get started. The waterway is not just iconic to the Arboretum, it’s an amenity for our community and an important component to how our campus manages its storm water. The Arboretum Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement Project addresses core UC Davis sustainability goals, including a Low Impact Development (LID) approach, storm water management, and key elements of the Living Landscape Adaptation Plan, which prepares campus for the impacts of climate change.

The success of Phase 1 has allowed us to secure the next level of funding. A $5.4 million Urban Flood Protection grant from the California Natural Resources Agency and $2.5 million in matching funds from UC Davis will support the remaining phases of the Waterway Project. (See all the phases)

New project elements include increased storm water capacity, wetland and riparian habitat, pumps and weirs for water circulation, and concrete edges replaced with gently sloped banks of native vegetation. See the vision.

We expect to resume construction on the Waterway during 2024. 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 learn how we are re-designing the Waterway to improve its future maintenance, aesthetics and habitat value, to stay informed about the timing and location of detours, as well as to find out how you can help!