We are pleased to say that Phase 1 of the Arboretum Waterway Maintenance and Enhancement Project is complete! We made a number of improvements to the East End of the Waterway over the past year including a system of pumps and weirs to prevent surface algae build up, slopes along the banks that will be vegetated with California native plants, and a universally accessible walking path. Preparation for these improvements involved removing the failing rock gabions along the Waterway bank and more than 3,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment.

Learning by Leading™ Waterway Stewardship interns and community volunteers have been hard at work planting the banks of the Waterway with California native plants that will hold the soil together, filter water, and provide wildlife habitat and beauty.

We are currently looking ahead to Phases 2, 3 and 4. The construction timeline for Phase 2, which includes Spafford Lake, is tentatively scheduled for summer of 2019 or 2020.

In the meantime, visit our new floating island of wetland plants near Putah Creek Lodge. This innovative project was spearheaded by Waterway Stewardship interns and supported by a grant from The Green Initiative Fund at UC Davis. The floating island improves the water quality, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic appeal of this portion of the Waterway.