The City is currently working with UC Davis to develop a final design for a wetland habitat enhancement project on 32 acre of land owned by the Regents of the University of California along the South Fork of Putah Creek near Old Davis Road in South Davis (see project location map below).  Opportunities for the public to provide input into the three draft design concepts for this project can be found at the bottom of this page. 

The property was formerly used by the California Department of Transportation as a source for fill soil for the adjacent freeway overcrossing so it is about 10-12 feet lower than surrounding land.  The University bought the property in the late 1990s from a private property owner who was farming the land in row crops, despite the land’s lowered elevation.  The existing elevation is too high for riparian vegetation to establish and too low for oak woodland to establish because the site floods when Monticello dam spills.  As a result, the land hosts invasive grasses and broadleaf weeds, as well as eucalyptus trees.  If the site were lowered an additional few feet, it could be restored to emergent wetland habitat with better riparian habitat and public access. 

The proposed restoration concept plan is to create an off-channel wetland area, expand the riparian forest, and revegetate with native trees, shrubs and grasses.  The wetland would be a permanent, year-round feature, which would rise and fall with the creek.  A connection between the creek and wetland would allow fish to move between the two.  A trail would create a walking loop around the site, allowing visitors to view wildlife and the restored habitat.  Primary access to the site might be via a pedestrian bridge across the creek from the existing gravel parking area. The following is a quick snapshot of the three draft design concepts: 

Concept 1 - Perennial Side Channel

Concept 2 - Perennial Side Channel and Backwater Lagoon

Concept 3 - High-Flow Swale and Backwater Alcove

The project stems from community feedback the City received in 2016. Residents said they would like to see the City spend more Measure O funds on habitat restoration projects and public accessibility improvements, such as new trails.  Measure O is the City’s special parcel tax for the acquisition and maintenance of open space.

The City and UC Davis are holding three public meetings this winter/spring to gather public input on the three draft design concepts. The three meetings are:

1. February 5 - The first was held on February 5, 2024 at the Open Space and Habitat Commission's regular monthly meeting. 
2. March 13 - The second will be held on March 13, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Vet's Memorial Center at 203 East 14th Street.
3. April 11 - The third will be held on April 11, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 142, Hunt Hall, on the UC Davis campus.

During the month of May 2022, the City and UC Davis also hosted three community events to allow resident to provide input into the design of this project. About 20 people attended. In addition, the City has discussed this project with the ADA Committee for input on how to make the improvements accessible to all.

Additionally, people can provide input at the monthly Open Space and Habitat Commission meetings.  The Commission meets the first Monday of every month (except July and August) at 6:30 p.m. The public can also email comments to treynolds@cityofdavis.org. The City and UC Davis would like to finalize the design by the end of summer 2024.

Predevelopment Work

City staff and UC Davis representatives continue moving forward with the preconstruction work necessary for this project, such as the environmental review, the permitting requirements (since the project is located between the levees on both sides of the South Fork of Putah Creek), the design/engineering services, and the preparation of the construction drawings.  City staff and UC Davis representatives are self-funding this preconstruction work and then they will jointly apply for a grant for the construction phase of the project.  Self-funding the preconstruction work will shorten the time needed to complete the project by a year or two.

To guide the parties through the preconstruction phase of the project, City staff and UC Davis representatives have entered into a Letter of Intent which provides a statement of shared goals, outlines the intended process for completing the project’s preconstruction phase, and lists the anticipated commitments of each party during the preconstruction phase. UC Davis is taking primary responsibility for the environmental analysis and permitting requirements.  The City is taking primary responsibility for the design/engineering contract with ICF Jones and Stokes who is preparing the draft designs and the construction drawings.