Yolo Basin Foundation leads environmental education programs and innovative partnerships for the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, City of Davis Wetlands and Grasslands Regional Park, which are visited annually by more than 35,000 individuals. The Foundation is instrumental in promoting conservation of the area through its education programs.
Covering 16,700 acres, the Wildlife Area stretches below the busy throughway I-80—also known as the Yolo Causeway—that connects Yolo County and the City of Davis to the metropolitan area of Sacramento. This special Wildlife Area functions for flood control, wildlife and habitat management, and recreation and educational uses. It provides a wide variety of benefits:
Carries Sacramento River water at overflow to the Delta, thus providing vital flood protection for the Sacramento Region.
Offers an array of recreational activities for nature enthusiasts, such as hiking, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, vernal pool exploration, and wildlife viewing
Creates research opportunities for environmentalists, conservationists, and educators.
Provides an agricultural zone to produce food for the region and the world through rice farming and cattle grazing.
Yolo Basin Foundation’s 2023 program highlights include:
Conducted 100 Discover the Flyway field trips and programs, reaching 2200 students. Over 80,000 students have participated since Discover the Flyway's inception in 1997.
Presented 15 guided tours, for 175 participants, at the Yolo Basin Wildlife Area and City of Davis Wetlands.
Over 8,000 community members participated in Yolo Basin Foundation programs, activities and events, leading to greater awareness of conservation and stewardship of wetlands and wildlife in the Yolo Basin.
Partnered with Yolo Basin stakeholders for a collaborative approach to management and use of the Wildlife Area.
Collaborated with 200 volunteers who contributed 5,960 hours toward education programs and community events
Over 1,300 people participated in our Duck Days family festival.
Provided 57 Bat Talk and Walk programs that educated participants about the Mexican Free-tailed bats that flyout each night from the Yolo Causeway during summer months. including guided observations of the bat flyout.