Arboretum and Public Garden

Join us to support the Arboretum and Public Garden during Give Day 2025

Help support students working on the continued evolution of one of UC Davis’ most iconic features – the Arboretum Waterway – during our “Waterway Reimagined” community campaign!

Over the last decade, we’ve reimagined the Arboretum Waterway to enhance its function and beauty while preparing it for the challenges of climate change. Contractors recently finished a major construction phase of the project one year ahead of schedule: reshaping the water channel, adding circulation, and building weirs. Now, the project is entering an era where people, plants, and purpose will come together to shape its enduring legacy.

Thanks to a state grant, campus investments, and community support, our vision to enhance the Arboretum Waterway has become a reality. The Arboretum and Public Garden has spearheaded this multi-phase project to improve the Waterway, making it even better for visitors and wildlife, while also enhancing its role in flood protection and stormwater management.

It’s a dramatic transformation! Once a static pond, today the Arboretum Waterway functions as a dynamic system of lakes, meandering channels, and gentle falls. Its waters weave past earthen banks and islands now emerging with newly planted California flora and the sights and sounds of native wildlife.

To ensure the transformation has the foundation it needs to thrive, we’re planning ahead to provide our student interns with the opportunities and resources they will need to care for this rich ecosystem, all while gaining environmental leadership and outreach experience.

Join other Aggies in supporting students through the Arboretum and Public Garden’s “Waterway Reimagined” campaign during UC Davis Give Day. Thank you!