Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
Willow, Canal, Davis, CA 95616
Putah Creek Riparian Reserve is one of the last places in America that has a diverse riparian habitat. A riparian habitat, as defined by the National Park Service, is an area of land next to or near water. The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve encompasses more than 6000 acres of natural vegetation and wildlife along its 26-mile stretch from Lake Berryessa to Putah Bay. There are many trails throughout the park- including some for biking and hiking- but what it really offers is solitude with nature. You can see large herds of deer, hawks soaring overhead, waterfalls hidden behind thickets of trees, and so much more without ever having to leave Davis!
The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve is an active channel of the north fork. It's managed by U.C Davis as a teaching and research area, with local residents also able to use it for passive recreation activities like hiking and fishing in its many restored habitats (elderberry thickets along creeks, oak grassland savannas). The reserve provides sanctuary for animals after years of urbanization and agriculture taking over their natural habitat - now they can thrive again!
The University of California owns the land. UC actually has legal ownership over a creek's historic course, as well as roughly 6 miles of its active stream on one side.
What's Fascinating About The Putah Creek Riparian Reserve?
The stream and its riparian corridor are home to beavers, ground squirrels, deer, snakes, lizards, and a variety of fish and other aquatic creatures.
Bear and mountain lion sightings have been reported in the stream corridor, however, they are uncommon.
The reserve offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to undertake riparian system field research in close proximity to the main campus.
Residents of Davis and Dixon can also use the reserve as a local passive recreation place.
Wildlife watching, fishing, hiking, road riding, and canoeing are all popular activities for the general public.
The Putah Stream Council organizes multiple creek cleanups each year, and the City of Davis sponsors an environmental summer program called Camp Putah.
Rangeland and recreation are two major land use in the Putah Creek area. The UC Davis Riparian Reserve, which opened in 1983, is a popular site for bird-watching and picnics with its lush vegetation along the creek bank of clear water running over rocks underneath shady trees on either side of it.
Dixon, California is blessed with some of the area’s most interesting and historically significant attractions. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:
Bohart Museum of Entomology
Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology
Cool Patch Pumpkins
The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven
Berryessa Brewing Co.
Manetti Shrem Museum
UC Davis Arboretum
All of these wonderful points of interest are located just a short distance from our central location at 1150 North 1st Street in Dixon! Stop by for a visit anytime!