Their proposals included creating wetlands to help get rid of nutrients that foster algae growth in the pond, and creating narrower, deeper channels to encourage water to flow. Others suggested allowing parts of the creekbed to dry up in the summer. Powell said suggestions made by workshop participants will be used to develop a recommendation to submit to the provost. Efforts such as last week's workshop also will help arboretum director Socolofsky and her staff develop a master plan for the arboretum's collections, some of which are 60 years old, Burke said. Improving the waterway is one of the biggest challenges facing the arboretum, she said.
Visitors frequently comment on the way it looks.
Burke said while the arboretum may seek an outside consultant to help draft a master plan, advice from the garden's many campus and community supporters will be crucial. There's nothing like it in the world. I think we have a wonderful opportunity to collaborate on an arboretum master plan that will make our campus and community proud. Efforts have been made in the past to improve the waterway, which is located where Putah Creek once ran before Davis settlers diverted it away from downtown in 1872. Lake Spafford and the waterway were dug from the old creek bed in 1969, both to enhance the arboretum and campus entrance and to prevent flooding in south Davis.