Campus Water Conservation

Last year, thanks to a variety of water conservation efforts implemented by our Arboretum and Public Garden team, our campus was able to reduce our landscape water inputs by 31% — 6% more than Governor Brown’s 25% water reduction mandate — but we are still planning to do more.

If you didn’t feel the threat of this record-breaking drought affecting your life, that all changed on Wednesday with Governor Brown’s first ever issuance of a state of emergency drought declaration mandating statewide water reductions and calling for the replacement of 50 million square feet of lawns throughout California with drought-tolerant landscaping.

Andrew Fulks, assistant director of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, was featured on KQED radio April 2, 2015 in an interview about the Governor’s mandate on water restrictions, the university’s response, and what homeowners can do to prepare.

LISTEN HERE 

UC researchers study a variety of plants at the UC Davis Plant Science field research station to test plants' ability to thrive with different levels of water.

The Sustainability Showcase, located in one of the main hallways of the Memorial Union, features revolving exhibits highlighting actions our campus units have taken to improve our sustainability. The exhibits may be about conserving our natural resources, being creative with our reuse, engaging with the community, or all of the above.

The Arboretum and Public Garden was featured in May on the home page “Spotlight” of the UC Davis California Drought Watch website (shown above as it appeared in spring).

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden team takes water conservation to new lows!

The mix of meadow grasses planted last year to replace a high-maintenance, high-water lawn west of the Peter J. Shields Oak Grove continues to thrive. See photo below. (Capturing the majestic oaks before they lose their leaves also helps highlight the dramatic makeover!)

Grounds staff have sprayed the turf in the median on La Rue Road and you should see the grass turning brown.  In a couple of weeks, the turf will be removed and work will begin on retrofit of the irrigation from spray to drip.  The Arboretum staff has prepared a list of plants to be considered as CPCR Landscape Architects begin the design.  Watch for heavy equipment in November!

After a long wait and an unusually dry winter, some of the wild flowers planted along the La Rue Road median are finally putting on a show at the intersection of Russell Blvd. and La Rue Road.