September CreekSpeak: New Public Accessibility Improvements at South Fork Preserve
CreekSpeak, Putah Creek Council’s six-month series of community talks about the nature, culture, and history of our region continues on Thursday, September 16th with a presentation going over the new improvements happening at the City of Davis South Fork Preserve located on Putah Creek.
In 2017, the City of Davis was awarded a $230,000 grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Habitat Conservation Fund Program (Trails), to help fund much-needed public accessibility improvements at South Fork Preserve, a 122-acre nature preserve located along the South Fork of Putah Creek. This 122-acre nature preserve is owned and maintained by the City outside the city limits along the South Fork of Putah Creek. It is the only publicly accessible nature preserve the City owns outside the city limits. The preserve, which spans both sides of Mace Boulevard/County Road 105, includes three types of habitat (i.e., grassland, oak savannah, and riparian habitat). The public accessibility improvements include upgrading existing trails, including making a portion accessible to people with disabilities, adding about 2,500 feet of new trails, adding a short boardwalk and viewing deck, improving the parking lot area, and adding modest amenities, like seating areas, trail signage, and interpretive signage. The total cost of this project is estimated to be about $460,000, with the grant covering 50% of that cost. The other 50% of the cost will be covered with City of Davis open space parcel tax funds (Measure O) and open space development impact fees. Construction is estimated to begin in June 2021 and end in October 2021.
Tracie Reynolds is the manager of the City’s Open Space Program and staff liaison to the Open Space and Habitat Commission. She has held this position since 2015. The City’s formal Open Space Program was established in 1990 to implement long-standing policies that called for the protection of farmlands and wild areas surrounding the City of Davis. Since its inception, the City’s Open Space Program has led to the protection of about 5,300 acres of agricultural land and habitat areas, mostly under conservation easements.
CreekSpeak events are at 7 PM on the third Thursday of the month (May through October), held via Zoom (in order to accommodate social distancing guidelines). These talks are free to Putah Creek Council members and open to the public (registration will be capped at 100 people). A $5 donation is requested from those who have not yet joined the Council.
When
September 16th, 2021 7:00 PM through 8:00 PM
Contact
Mobile: 530-795-9000
Email: alli@putahcreekcouncil.org
Register for Event Here