Review of restoration projects along the Truckee River

1. A Stream System in Transition
Michael Josselyn, PhD
WRA, Inc.

2. Why the Truckee River?
Small western river—100 Small western river—100
miles in length miles
Important water source Intrastate and tribal
to Reno and Lake Tahoe interests—extensive
area—years of litigation litigation on water rights
Encompasses alpine to Encompasses alpine to
great basin desert basin desert biomes
biomes Active restoration efforts
Federal, state, local, and by federal, state, local,
tribal interests in non‐profits, and tribal
restoration agencies

3. Personal interest
Live on the Truckee River
Kayak and float the river
Sail on Lake Tahoe
Volunteer for restoration
activities on the river
Professional activities
involve wetland
restoration in Truckee
watershed

4. Public uses of the Truckee
Drinking water source
Intrastate Water Master
Irrigation
Agriculture in lower reach
Active Recreation
Rafting
Fishing
Passive recreation
Tribal uses in Pyramid
Lake
Numerous agency, public,
and non‐profit
stakeholders

5. Changes to watershed since 1850s
Multiple timber harvests
Increased urbanization
and impervious surface
Land clearing for ski
resorts/golf courses
Filling and alteration of
wetlands and streams
Increased nutrient loading
Introduction of invasive
species
Development in flood
plain

6. Habitat loss in upper reaches

7. Stream incision in middle reach

8. Flooding is major issue in lower Truckee

9. Ranking of Issues per Reach
Impact Upper Middle Lower
Habitat loss +++ ++ +++
Water
impairment +++ ++ +
Lower
Middle Flooding + + +++
Upper
Invasive species +++ + +
Stormwater
management +++ ++ ++
Endangered
aquatic species + +++ +++

10. Habitat Restoration Goals
Upper Watershed (Lake Tahoe)
Restore alpine meadow and high gradient streams
Reduce sediment discharge and nutrient input
Middle Watershed (Truckee River Valley and Canyon)
Restore wet meadows
Restore fish habitat
Reduce water quality impairment
Lower Watershed (Reno and Pyramid Lake)
Flood management
Restore riparian habitat

11. Restoration of Upper Truckee
Alpine meadows feeding
Lake Tahoe filled
Marina and housing
Airport
Golf course
Channel straightened
Flow rates increased
Channel incision
Loss of hydrology to meadow 1960s style development in south
area
Lake Tahoe
Joint Project of California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Bureau of Reclamation and
the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)

12. Project envisioning process (2004‐2009)
Driven primarily by water
quality concerns
Habitat loss recognized,
but of secondary concern
Numerous stakeholders
Both ecologic and
economic drivers
Project phased with first
phase being conducted by
State Parks at golf course
Clear basis for action due
to loss of golf course California DPR

13. Golf Course Phase:
1. Increase stream length
2. Remove fairways and restore
wet meadow
3. Install grade controls in channel

14. Raises thalweg and hydrologic connection to
low terrace wetland
2010 Project status: Design and environmental review complete; State funds frozen

15. Water quality improvement around
Lake Tahoe
Primary goal is to restore lake water clarity—78 feet
Objectives
Reduce sediment input to Lake
Reduce nutrient inputs to Lake
Reduce impervious surface surrounding lake
Control stormwater input from urbanized areas
Funded through federal, state, and local governments‐
‐$1.5 billion over last ten years

16. Sediment control actions
Drainage to swales Curb and cut erosion controls

17. Stormwater Treatment Wetlands
Wetland swales near parking areas Wet meadow detention basins

18. Restore wetland meadows
Recreating ponded areas Removing channelized
behind lake berms sections

19. Small stream restoration
Restore meanders Use logs for grade control

20. Revegetation
Willow plantings Mulching and hydroseed

21. Blackwood Creek Restoration
303 (d) “impaired water”
due to sediment
discharge
Cold water fish habitat
loss
Local flooding and
bridge structure loss
From SWRCB (2007)
Video

22. Grade control action to provide
spawning habitat

23. Blackwood Creek restoration
Redirect stream using
Restore natural gradient
boulder placement

24. Middle Truckee:
Meadow Restoration
Valley floor meadows
degraded over time
Habitat loss
Loss of water storage
Increase in nutrient
discharge
Restoration focused on
restoring natural
hydrology:
Pond and Plug methods

25. Restoring natural hydrology
Natural hydrology of
Wet Meadow
Pond and Plug: Create
Watershed
ponds and use soil to
degradation
fill incised channel
Drying and loss of Increased flow flows
hydrology to wet and incision of
meadow channel
Photos: Jim Steele, SFSU

26. From Barry Hill (US Forest Service)

27. Carmen Creek Project
Before After
Downcutting of stream Plug in far background
Isolation of wet meadow Ponds water into meadow
Jim Steele, SFSU

28. Perazzo Meadow Project:
Little Truckee River
Dairy operations in wet
meadow; channel
incision
Water table lowered 3
feet
1.5 miles of pond and
plug (30 plugs)
Funded under ARRA
USDA, FS

29. Perazzo Meadows:
Volunteer Work Day
Back‐filled channel Planting plugs around ponds

30. Restored hydrology: Bear Creek
Hammersmark 2008

31. Truckee River Canyon:
A Natural Area between Truckee and Reno

32. Lower Truckee: Flood management
River highly constrained by development in Reno
Bridges are primary constraint to flow downtown
Outside of urban core: opportunity for riparian habitat

33. Downtown:
Free standing bridges/flood walls
Improve flood flow
Little opportunity for
habitat improvement
along edge of river
Some additional
recreational benefits
I including trails and
river park

34. Raising flood elevation at bridges with public
access to the river

35. Downstream opportunities
Suburban areas Rural areas
Flood protection still vital to Opportunity to expand flood
protect public health and plain and restore natural river
safety hydrology
Some limited area for habitat Major habitat restoration
improvement possible

36. Suburban: Flood walls/terracing

37. River diversion for construction
Creating diversion Diversion channel

38. Under Construction: 2010
Dewatered channel
Flood wall and walkway construction

39. River Park Completed: 2010
Lower part of
Looking upstream to GSR
reconstructed gradient

40. Lower Truckee Ecosystem Restoration
Project Goals
Restore 50 miles of the Truckee River's ecosystem
Restore fisheries, including the threatened Lahontan
Cutthroat Trout and endangered Cui‐ui
Enhance deer, mountain lion, duck, and song‐bird
habitat
Enhance water quality
Provide enhanced recreation opportunities, river
access, and open‐space

41. McCarran Ranch Project
Pilot project to demonstrate restoration of habitat and
natural river hydrology
Meant to stimulate additional restoration on lower
Truckee
Project funded at $1.2 million
Many project participants:
Nature Conservancy, Cities of Reno and Sparks, US Fish and
Wildlife Service, Corps of Engineers, Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection, Regional Water Planning Commission,
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the US Bureau of
Reclamation

42. Riparian habitat restoration
McCarran Ranch Pilot
Project
River previously channelized
for flood control
Loss of wetland and fisheries
habitat
From Chris Dunn, HEC

43. Project goals
Create new river
meander
Pond and riffle
construction for fish
habitat
Oxbow wetland creation
Leopard frog breeding
ponds
Nest boxes; brush piles;
underground dens for
wildlife

44. Corps of Engineers:
Ecosystem Functions Model (EFM)
Links hydraulic parameters with
ecological properties
HEC‐EFM linked to HEC‐RAS
GIS framework
Allows for testing under various
flow regimes
Provides for basis to predict
future conditions under
modified landscape
Developed at Corps ERDC and
U Nevada DRI

45. HEC‐EFM
Functional relationships
with flow and stage
Statistical computational
package developed by
Corps
Translates statistical
results on flow and
stage:
Water depth, velocity,
and inundated area
Linked to GIS

46. From Chris Dunn, HEC

47. From Chris Dunn, HEC

48. Project Design and Construction
Partially Funded under Corps 1135 program
Grade control Oxbox construction
Video

49. Current conditions: 2010

50. Future projects

51. Summary
Truckee River is a unique example of river restoration
Alpine to desert environments
Includes areas of national interest: Lake Tahoe
Watershed impacts include wide range of activities
Restoration includes a wide‐range of technologies
Wetland restoration of alpine meadows
Stream gradient control and channel restoration
Expanded efforts to restore entire length of river and
watershed
Broad governmental and non‐profit partnerships