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Open‑space subcommittee lays groundwork for 'greenprint,' seeks GIS datasets and drainage mapping
Summary
A Davis Open Space subcommittee, led by Michelle, is inventorying consultant maps and public GIS layers (drainage channels, land cover, crop types) to create a multi‑layer 'greenprint' to inform the general plan update; commissioners emphasized merging drainage basins and considering daylighting for connectivity.
The Davis Open Space Commission’s subcommittee reported progress collecting GIS datasets and consultant maps to create a composite ‘greenprint’ of open‑space priority areas to inform the pending general plan update.
Michelle, the subcommittee lead, said the group has begun identifying the most relevant datasets — drainage channels, detention basins, land cover, crop‑type maps from the Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) layers and USDA soil data — and will import public agency layers into the city’s GIS for analysis. "Rather than trying to reproduce those maps, we said, oh, this is interesting ... once we gather those different, GIS layers ... then we will decide what kind of analysis," Michelle said.
Commissioners discussed practical mapping choices and presentation. They agreed to produce a handful of component maps (for example: habitat values, hydrology, soils) and one simplified summary map that synthesizes stacked values for the general plan. Several commissioners urged the subcommittee to merge drainage channels and stormwater basins to make hydrologic and habitat connectivity clearer; one commissioner argued drainage channels "should remain open and not undergrounded when possible," citing long‑term capacity and wildlife benefits.
Chair noted that Matt Wolf from the city had provided GIS access and that the subcommittee will keep refining the dataset inventory over the next several months before bringing draft maps back for discussion. The group also flagged specific local features to include, such as an old landfill that appears as public land on some overlays and a drainage corridor near the Interstate bicycle path that could be important for connectivity.
Next steps: the subcommittee will continue identifying and obtaining public GIS datasets, produce component maps and then synthesize a summary greenprint to feed into the general plan update process; commissioners and staff expect to return with draft maps for discussion before the February meeting.
