Overview

The North Davis Drainage Channel (also known as the Covell drainage channel, Channel A, or the North Davis ditch) is one of the City’s primary stormwater conveyance channels.  It conveys stormwater from West Davis, through North Davis, and out to the Willow Slough Bypass.  Because its primary function is to convey stormwater, the channel is maintained by the City’s Public Works (Utilities and Operations) Department (PWUO) whose primary objective is to ensure the channel is free of obstructions and functions properly as a stormwater conveyance channel.

A 1.25-mile section of the channel underwent a habitat enhancement project between 2013 and 2017, which was primarily funded with a state grant.  In addition to improving the channel’s habitat value and aesthetics, the project also strived to maintain the channel’s functionality as a stormwater conveyance channel and not increase the City’s maintenance costs. 

In 2010, the Putah Creek Council, with the support of the City, submitted a grant proposal to the State of California for $758,000 to enhance the habitat along a 1.25-mile portion of the North Davis Drainage Channel.  The City of Davis did not provide any funding for the project; however the City served as the project’s municipal partner, sponsor, and fiscal agent, and contributed in-kind support in the form of City staff time.

Most of the grant money was spent on removing non-native species of plants and grasses and replacing them with a diverse community of native species.  In total, 240 pounds of native grass and wildflower seeds, 6,000 herbaceous plugs, 3,000 shrubs, and 600 trees were planted in a 17-acre area along the channel.  The plantings were primarily done by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (Yolo RCD) and a dedicated army of community volunteers.

In addition to enhancing the channel’s habitat, water quality and aesthetics, major objectives of the project were to (1) maintain the channel’s functionality as a stormwater conveyance channel and (2) not increase the City’s maintenance costs.  Yolo RCD, which prepared a management plan for the project, maintained the new plantings for several years until the grant funds were exhausted in 2017.  Since then, PWUO staff has continued to mow the channel and remove debris and obstructions, but they have not been controlling for invasive species.  City open space staff took over that work on the banks of the channel in an effort to encourage the growth of the newly planted native species, even though the channel is not an official City open space area.

The grant money for this project was provided through the California Natural Resources Agency (on behalf of the Strategic Growth Council) under Proposition 84 -- the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. 

The channel is #16 on the map below.

The channel is open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. 

• Take a walk/hike/run
• Take a bike ride
• View birds and wildlife

Rules and Regulations

• Dogs allowed, but they must be leashed and stay on trail
• Bikes allowed, but they must stay on paved trail
• No hunting
• No camping
• No watercraft
• No fires
• No smoking
• No drones
• No horses

The North Davis Drainage Channel can be accessed via Sandpiper Drive off of Anderson Road.  The channel can also be accessed via Mockingbird Place, Waxwing Place, Robin Place, Oriole Avenue, Anderson Road (at Bird Entry Park), Harrier Place, Peregrine Avenue, Kestrel Place, Falcon Avenue, Eagle Place, and Valencia Avenue.

    Some photos courtesy of Marc Hoshovsky.