|
The Yolo Bypass is by far California’s hardest working floodplain. It protects Sacramento from flooding. It’s important to the Sacramento Valley’s farming economy. It’s increasingly seen as key to the recovery of the Central Valley’s endangered fish populations. Twelve years ago, a group of stakeholders from across the state came up with an ambitious $7.5 million plan to improve the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, one of California’s most highly visited public wetlands, just on the outskirts of the state capital.
Their vision: Improve public recreational access, increase educational opportunities and make agriculture, primarily rice, and wetlands in the bypass more resilient to a changing climate, all while helping California’s broader efforts to recover fish. The partnership sought to make it easier for wildlife area staff to flood up waterfowl and shorebird habitat during the fall and winter and draw-down in the spring. The project also would help remove water from the wildlife area when the Yolo Bypass fills with flood waters. The work included improving pumping capacity, excavating the heavily silted-in Greens Lake Unit and improving roads and crossings.
You're invited to join the project's partners as they celebrate all they've accomplished together.
| 
