Elena Rich 

She/her 

• Major: Environmental Science and Management 
• Apprentice, Waterway Stewardship 2022-2024; 
• Intern, Ecological Land Management 2024; 
• Propagation Specialist for Headquarters Nursery 2021-2022 

As a Waterway Stewardship Apprentice, I help maintain the habitat value, water quality, and functionality of the Arboretum and Public Garden’s Waterway. The Waterway’s multifaceted nature and position as a novel ecosystem is fascinating to me, fueling my passion in stewarding such landscapes. Situated on the UC Davis campus and within a public garden, the Waterway serves as both a natural space for wildlife refuge as well as space for human recreational use. Additionally, the Waterway is the campus’s stormwater basin, so it is also an important functional infrastructure for the campus. I enjoy working in this landscape that serves such variety of purpose, as it has helped me gain valuable experience in balancing trade-offs and considering the often conflicting needs of different stakeholders. 

Though it is hard to choose, my favorite project has been the conduction of a wildlife survey along the Waterway and the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve using wildlife camera traps. With the help of Khatia Basilashvili, a wildlife biologist and former Humphrey Fellow at UC Davis, the Arboretum began a wildlife survey in 2022 to gain a better understanding of which species are utilizing the Waterway and where wildlife “hotspots” are. In 2023, I took up the project and expanded it to include a few sites in the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve. We are still in the data analysis phase, but so far we have captured photos of foxes, coyotes, rabbits, herons, a beaver, and even an otter! I am interested in seeing how the habitats differ from each other in the species they support, and am especially interested to see if the variety and abundance of species at the Waterway increases after the completion of the Waterway Flood Protection and Habitat Enhancement Project. It has been so fun to explore the wildlife that utilize the Arboretum and I hope that my team’s research can help inform future wildlife management and habitat enhancement. 

My time on the Waterway Stewardship Team has made me a stronger communicator, problem solver, and collaborator. Nearly every day, our team deals with some kind of challenge, whether it be a massive log obstructing the flow of the water or a broken irrigation line. We always have to work together and strategize how to fix it, encouraging me to think critically and to collaborate with others. Being a leader does not mean that you need to do everything alone; I have found that I come up with more efficient solutions after I discuss a challenge with my coworkers. I am grateful to have had such hardworking, kind, and smart teammates that have helped me grow as a leader and an individual. 

I am particularly grateful to my staff mentor, Nina Suzuki, for providing me with opportunities to take leadership positions and for inspiring me as a land steward. Nina has always supported me as I took charge in planning projects such as the wildlife camera survey, Biodiversity Museum Day, and various planting activities with student interns. Planning theseprojects never felt intimidating when I knew that I could always reach out to her for support. Whenever we have meetings, Nina encourages me to think about the big picture and helps me solidify my goals. As a mentor and land steward, Nina has also shown me how to be an empathetic, collaborative, and confident leader. I admire her unwavering commitment to the Waterway and the Arboretum and Public Garden as a whole. 

Working at the Waterway while also interning on the Ecological Land Management team has further inspired my passion for habitat conservation and restoration. I have now seen firsthand how rewarding land stewardship is as a career and how critical effective stewardship is for both wildlife and people. My time in the Learning by Leading program has even taught me that I love field work: the feeling of coming back from the field covered in dirt, knowing that I made my mark, is unmatched. I love that I can point out a particular patch of sedges and tell my friends, “I planted that!” 

The Waterway is a special place, both to me, personally, and to the entire Davis community. There have been countless times that people have walked up to me and my coworkers while we are weeding to thank us for the work we do in keeping the Arboretum beautiful. People come to the Arboretum for a variety of reasons, whether that be to relax, reflect, create art, or do research. I am glad that I am able to serve the community in this way. It brings me so much joy that the Arboretum is valued by both humans and wildlife and that it allows people to connect with nature. After all the memories I’ve made, I feel such a strong sense of belonging and responsibility for the Arboretum. Now, I look forward to discovering new places that I can help flourish.