by Nina Suzuki, Waterway Steward

We’re still finishing up Phase One of the Arboretum Waterway Maintenance and Enhancement Project, but I’m happy to share that the construction fencing located in T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove and Lake Spafford areas, is now removed! (Please note construction fencing remains around our Australian and New Zealand collections.)

We expect the pump controller to be programmed by the end of November. Once it is ready, we can turn the pump on and see the water flow over the weirs.  If the weather holds out, you can also expect to see some new plants getting planted around the weirs in December.

Phase 2 coming soon!

While Phase 1 is still in progress, we are preparing for Phase 2 now. The Phase 2 project area starts at Wyatt Deck and ends just west of Mrak Hall Drive. This phase, which we plan to start this summer, will involve removing sediment and crumbling concrete on the edge of the banks, as well as building two weirs and installing a pump to recirculate water similar to the work we are currently completing in the Phase 1 project area.

LEARN MORE on our Arboretum Waterway Maintenance and Enhancement Project page.