An almost-complete upgrade to the city of Davis' wastewater handling institute ways changes are in shop for Davis wetlands. Just those changes likely are practiced news for outdoor enthusiasts, as better public access to the wildlife area could be on the horizon.

The $90 million upgrade to the plant northeast of Davis, near the Yolo County Landfill, volition make the city's sometime reliance on the wetlands for wastewater treatment obsolete, as another level of wastewater treatment has been added to the plant.

"At a minimum, the wetlands will be operated the aforementioned as they are today," said Stan Gryczko, assistant public works director.

The Davis wetlands were caused in 1996 to assist with the final leg of the h2o treatment process. The establish currently deposits treated water into the wetlands, where suspended solids and organics in the h2o can exist absorbed by plants and micro-organisms.

When the new institute goes online in Oct, it will deposit high-quality, recycled water into the wetlands. Untreated tempest water besides will flow into the wetlands, every bit is currently the case.

The change opens the door to expanding public admission to the wetlands, equally visitors will face up fewer constraints on contact with the water.

In the past, monthly tours led past docents through the wetlands were restricted to a route along the area's perimeter, Gryczko explained. With higher-quality water filling the area, visitors may be able to stray off the beaten path into the interior of the wetlands.

For most twenty years, the 400-acre wetlands take provided an oasis for birds flight above Yolo County's sprawling open farm lands, besides as insects and native plants. More than 90 species of birds call the wetlands dwelling and several threatened species — such as Swainson's hawks and giant garter snakes — seek refuge here.

Access to the wetlands has been closed for nigh of the year, however, later winter storms washed out many of the service roads. Officials take requested about $50,000 from the Federal Emergency Direction Agency to cover road repairs.

When the roads aren't washed out, the wetlands are typically open to the public vii days a calendar week from 7 a.thousand. to 1 p.m.

When asked if the city might sell the wetlands, now that they are not necessary for the treatment plant, Gryczko answered firmly that he didn't think that would exist "in the involvement of the people of Davis."

"It does have value for us to put wastewater out there," Gryczko said.

In the future, the urban center potentially could expand the size of the habitat, also as increment public access, education and research opportunities.

City officials will remainder these opportunities against he amount of recycled h2o it might want to redirect for urban uses or other opportunities.

Whereas the old establish took thirty days to treat incoming water, the new establish takes only 12 hours for treatment, dramatically reducing the amount of h2o lost to evaporation, Gryczko said. The new plant is expected to put out 1.five million gallons of water per day.

Gryczko said he expects to bring potential projects concerning the wetlands to the City Council next week.

To reach the wetlands, head due north on County Road 102 (Pole Line Road) and turn right on Route 28H. Go past the Yolo County Landfill and Road 105; the plant will be on your left. The wetlands admission gate and sign-in kiosk are in front of the establish. The wetlands are approximately 1 mile past the plant.

— Reach Felicia Alvarez at falvarez@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8052. Follow her on Twitter at @ReporterAlvarez

Crossposted from the Davis Enterprise

Published online on September 17, 2019 | Printed in the September xviii, 2019 edition on page A7

Not bad Horned owls frequent wetlands; this i was spotted at Julie Partansky Pond in Northstar Park, Davis. Oct 2019. Photograph credit Ken Beck.