Wetland Cited as a National Model

Sacramento, CA

The Yolo Basin Wetlands Project constitutes a 3,700-acre, $16 million restoration just outside of Sacramento, California. The area is a major stop for migratory water fowl using the Pacific Flyway. This project is unique because is it one of the largest public/private wetlands restoration efforts in the Western U.S. In an interview with LASN, Miki Fujitsubo, Landscape Architect in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, stated that "most importantly, it proves that environmentalists and farmers can work together."

Before the turn of the century, the Yolo Basin area was part of a huge wetland basin that stretched from Sacramento to the Sacramento River delta. As the area developed, the basin was engineered to provide flood control for the urban area of Sacramento. The basin was a flat, open floodplain that was used during dry periods for farming row crops. After several years of drought, the Yolo Basin began to dry up. As a result, local environmentalists and sportsmen recognized a need to restore and conserve the valued wildlife area.

Yolo Basin Foundation Executive Director Robin Kukalow and Steve Chainey, Chairman of the Putah Creek Council, dreamed years ago of re-creating the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. In August 1995, a groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the project; it was completed November 15, 1997. The California wildlife preserve will be utilized to inspire and educate people about wetlands and wildlife. During the dedication ceremony, President Bill Clinton cited the project as a model for all other water development projects. Fujitsubo agrees, because "it is a team partnership approach not only to get the local sponsors and federal government involved, but also the private local grassroots groups together and working toward a common goal."

According to Fujitsubo, "Landscape Architects should keep an eye out for the current and future market for water development and wetland restoration projects. Restoration is the future for the profession." He continues, "Landscape Architects are the perfect mediators between the environmentalist and engineering communities."