The Putah Creek Watershed is home to myriad rare plants and animals (including Western Pearlshell mussels), and a strong community of people who care about its preservation. Putah Creek is probably named for the Pooewin (Patwin) village, Puta-to, located in what is now downtown Davis.
The Putah Creek watershed begins from springs on the east side of Cobb Mountain. The creek is ~70 miles long and its watershed encompasses a vast array of ecosystems whose make up is determined by geology, elevation, and micro-climates.
Defining attributes of the watershed include Monticello Dam (forming Lake Berryessa, one of the largest reservoirs in California) and the Yolo Bypass. The upper watershed lies above Berryessa and is characterized by oak savannas, rolling hills, and steep terrain. The watershed below the dam includes 32 miles of Putah Creek, much of which is flat and flanked by agriculture.
The upper watershed lies above Berryessa and is characterized by oak savannas, rolling hills, and steep terrain. The [lower] watershed includes 32 miles of Putah Creek, much of which is flat and flanked by agriculture.
To learn more about the more recent history of Putah Creek, and its journey from a dried up creek bed to the flowing, thriving community resource it is today, read the five-part Putah Creek legacy series, a joint reporting project from Climate Confidential and The Davis Enterprise.
Public Access
The Putah Creek Watershed provides wonderful and scenic places for recreation, fishing, and camping.
Berryessa Trail Guide
Putah Creek Wildlife Area
Putah Creek Fishing Access
Lake Solano Park and Campground
Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
Yolo Hiker
Our Creekside Neighbors
The Putah Creek watershed is home to myriad rare plants and animals and a strong community of people who care about its preservation. Learn about the lives of plants and animals that live among the Putah Cache Watershed.
