Yolo Basin Foundation

Through innovative partnerships, student engagement, and our focus on stewardship, Yolo Basin Foundation promotes habitat preservation, connects people with nature, educates future leaders, and maintains a place of wonder and beauty for all!

Yolo Basin Foundation provides environmental education programs in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Yolo Demonstration Wetlands, and the City of Davis Wetlands. Last year, over 11,000 people participated in our activities, with nearly 3,000 of them being school children. The Foundation is also instrumental in promoting conservation of the area.

Covering 16,700 acres, the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area stretches below the busy I-80 thoroughfare, also known as the Yolo Causeway, that connects Yolo County and the City of Davis to the metropolitan area of Sacramento. This unique Wildlife Area serves many purposes, including flood control, wildlife habitat, wildlife-friendly agriculture, hunting and fishing, recreation such as birding and hiking, and so much more.

Yolo Basin Foundation’s educational programs revolve around the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area’s unique wetland habitat that is incredibly important to our region and beyond. We depend greatly on individual donations, and appreciate all of our financial contributors and nearly 200 volunteers, who, without their support, our programs would not flourish.

Yolo Basin Foundation’s 2025 program highlights include:

• Conducted 102 Discover the Flyway field trips and programs, reaching 2600+ students. Over 85,000 students have participated since Discover the Flyway's inception in 1997.
• Presented 36 guided tours, for 329 participants, at the Yolo Basin Wildlife Area and City of Davis Wetlands. 
• Over 11,000 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
• Collaborated with over 200 volunteers who contributed 6,780 hours toward education programs and community events.
• Partnered with Yolo Basin stakeholders for a collaborative approach to management and use of the Wildlife Area.
• Over 1,400 people participated in our Duck Days family festival.
• Provided 76 Bat Talk and Walk programs that educated over 5,129 participants about the Mexican Free-tailed bats that fly out each night from the Yolo Causeway during the summer months. including guided observations of the bat flyout.
• Conducted work made possible from a $2.5 million State Parks grant to make capital improvement projects including enhancements to the Yolo Demonstration Wetlands where the Discover the Flyway school field trips occur and Yolo Basin Foundation is located, additional and improved signage in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and the purchase and outfitting of a Mobile Visitor’s Center that will be used in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area and at other outreach events.