Celebrating 10 Years of the Reclamation District 2035 and Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency Joint Intake and Fish Screen Facility
By Jesse Clark, General Manager at RD 2035/Conaway Ranch and Tim Busch, General Manager at Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency
Ten years ago, a bold vision became reality along the banks of the Sacramento River.
The completion of the new intake facility serving Reclamation District 2035 (RD 2035) and the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency (Woodland-Davis) marked more than the construction of critical infrastructure — it represented a transformative investment in water reliability, environmental stewardship and public health for the communities of Woodland and Davis and for UC-Davis. Today, as we celebrate the facility’s 10th anniversary, we recognize the collaboration and long-term vision that made this achievement possible.
This milestone is not simply about pipes, pumps and concrete. It is about creating a modern water system that works in harmony with California’s rivers, protects drinking water quality, and demonstrates how collaborative water management can support communities for generations to come.
A Modern Intake Designed for Fish and River Health
The RD 2035 and Woodland-Davis intake facility is among California’s most advanced river intake and fish screen facilities.
Designed to draw water directly from the Sacramento River while protecting sensitive fish species, the intake facility reflects the evolution of modern water infrastructure. The state-of-the-art fish screens were engineered to protect salmon, steelhead and other native fish while ensuring reliable year-round water deliveries to agriculture, habitat lands and local communities.
Beyond supporting water supply reliability, the screened intake plays a vital role in environmental stewardship. It enables Reclamation District 2035 to deliver water during the fall and winter months to irrigate wetlands that support migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species traveling along the Pacific Flyway. The facility also supports habitat programs that create seasonal floodplain rearing areas and food-rich environments for Chinook salmon and other native fish, helping to sustain healthy ecosystems throughout the region.
The project demonstrated that water supply reliability and environmental stewardship are not competing goals. Through thoughtful engineering and collaboration with regulatory and resource agencies, the intake became an example of how California can modernize infrastructure while supporting healthy rivers and fisheries.
Improving Drinking Water Quality Through Surface Water Supplies
The transition from heavy reliance on groundwater to Sacramento River surface water has provided major drinking water benefits for Woodland and Davis residents.
For decades, groundwater supplies in portions of the region faced growing water quality challenges, including elevated nitrate and hexavalent chromium levels.
By joining the surface water project and intake facility, the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency created a cleaner and more sustainable drinking water source that reduced dependence on stressed groundwater aquifers. The use of Sacramento River water helped communities meet safe drinking water and water quality standards while improving long-term water supply reliability.
The project also supports groundwater sustainability by reducing pressure on local aquifers and contributing to a more resilient regional water future, including the development of aquifer storage & recovery wells (ASR). Three ASR wells are in operation with several more in the planning or construction stages which allow for the storage of treated drinking water during winter months for use in summer months and drought years. The ASR program greatly improves water supply resiliency for the communities of Woodland and Davis.
Water Rights, Transfers and the Importance of Flexibility
A third critical component of the project’s success has been securing and managing the water supplies necessary to serve the communities of Woodland and Davis and UC-Davis.
The development of new water rights associated with the project helped establish a reliable framework for accessing Sacramento River supplies. But equally important has been the ability to use water transfers and other flexible water management tools to address supply gaps during varying hydrologic conditions.
In California, flexibility matters. Water transfers and other management tools help communities adapt to changing conditions, move water where it is needed most, and strengthen regional reliability while supporting broader sustainability goals.
As California continues to confront climate variability, prolonged droughts and increasing demands on water systems, the ability to manage water collaboratively and flexibly will become even more important.
Looking Ahead
Ten years after its completion, the Reclamation District 2035 and Woodland-Davis intake facility remains a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnership, innovation and long-term planning. The project continues to provide reliable water supplies while supporting environmental stewardship and regional resilience. As California looks to the future, this milestone serves as a reminder that lasting water solutions are built through collaboration, vision and a commitment to future generations.
Photos from RD 2035 and Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency Joint Intake and Fish Screen Facility 10 Year Celebration on June 2, 2026
