SUMMER 2020 TRUCKEE CURRENTS

Connecting Connections are what make Forever— a watershed work—from Together Establishing a resilient to their habitat in , from wildlife Coldstream to its habitat, Coldstream Canyon is a mecca for and from recreational users including backpackers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, and us to our bird watchers. But, it has been degraded community. from a long history of overuse. Railroad

construction in the 1850s, logging, road BRENDA GILBERT building, and gravel mining have severely impacted Cold Creek and the 12 miles functions of the watershed by restoring Recreating a natural and resilient of rugged watershed it drains. What • a one-mile reach of . ecosystem that can withstand high was once a dynamic stream system now stream flows. pulses tremendous amounts of Through our projects in Coldstream during high-flow events, damaging Canyon, we will be: habitat and eroding the streambanks. It takes a dedicated team to do what we do. • Restoring one mile of Cold Creek, Thank you to our partners: California State Parks In partnership with California State Parks, which will reconnect 50 additional and Sierra Pacific Industries. we now have the opportunity to re-create acres of stream channel and , and reestablish riparian habitat. Thank you to the funders who are making this wetland habitat in areas impacted work possible: The donors of the Truckee River by the railroad and gravel mining, to • Improving drainage on 13 miles Watershed Council, Martis Fund, US Environmental improve stream channels on improperly of dirt roads, reducing and Protection Agency, and CA Water Resources constructed roads, and to re-establish the amount of sediment entering Control Board. the natural Cold Creek.

Coldstream Canyon’s INSIDE THIS ISSUE railroad Volunteer for a Resilient Future 2 impedes the normal function of Cold Creek, COVID-19 Update 3 causing pollution from sediment Sardine Meadow 4 during high flow events and Bear Creek Meadow 5 damaging habitat downstream. Giving With Greater Impact 5 Restoration will create a more TRWC Donors 6 resilient system. Together for the Truckee Society 7 Donated photos credited; others Martis Wildlife Area 8

owned by TRWC. EBEN SWAIN TRUCKEE RIVER CURRENTS

CONTACT US Volunteer for a Resilient Future Phone 530.550.8760

Mailing Address Everyone can be part of the solution. Help connect the P.O. Box 8568 watershed and your community. Truckee, CA 96162 Street Address River Talks—now also virtual! The Truckee River 10418 Donner Pass Road watershed is a place full of beautiful meadows, Truckee, CA streams, and that we all experience How Do I Get involved? [email protected] and appreciate. Join us for a 45-minute virtual SUBSCRIBE to our weekly www.truckeeriverwc.org presentation about how human impact has e-newsletter and follow us on damaged the Truckee River watershed, what we social media to stay up to date are doing to reverse the damage, and what you BOARD OF DIRECTORS can do to help keep our shared home resilient with upcoming events. Organizations are for for the future. FIND A PROGRAM OR EVENT identification purposes only • Hear about our restoration projects and you’re interested in and RSVP John M. Eaton get updates on our work to the staff member. Dave Giacomini, Treasurer • Meet and connect with fellow -lovers Sierra Mountain Mortgage Call Sue at 530.550.8760, 5#

Amy Horne Become an Ambassador. Connect others to help address the problems facing our watershed. Invite Jake Hudson, Chair 10 of your friends and host your own River Talk! All you need to do is tell your friends, we take care NV 5 of the rest. Call Sue at 530.550.8760, 5# Tony Lashbrook, Vice Chair Truckee River Day, October 18, 2020.

Michael Park Connect at the source. Engage in a solution and work with family, friends, and your Annie Rosenfeld Tahoe Donner Association community to help repair our mountain home. Volunteers will: Joanne Roubique, Secretary • Restore selected sites Deb Ryan • Plant native Gerry Salontai • Protect sensitive areas

Mike Witherspoon • Create resiliency to buffer drought, and wildfire • Repair our mountain home Call Michele at 530.550.8760, 4# STAFF MISSY MOHLER Beth Christman Adopt-A-Stream. Participate in important biology and chemistry monitoring through our Adopt- Director of Restoration Programs A-Stream program. There are several ways to practice watershed science. We train and equip you. Sue Drake Be a biologist: Development Director • Collect aquatic organisms Ally Holmes • Learn field collection techniques Communications Associate and habitat assessment skills Michele Prestowitz • Learn about aquatic insects Program Manager • Identify benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) Eben Swain Call Beth at 530.550.8760, 1# Program Manager *Unfortunately, we will not be holding field collection this summer. Stay tuned for updates on the winter lab season! Lisa Wallace Executive Director Be a chemist: • Monitor water temperature Sam Zabell Intern • Measure conductivity • Assess chemical pH readings • Evaluate dissolved oxygen @TruckeeRiverWatershedCouncil • Measure turbidity • Collect nutrient samples @trwcnews Call Eben at 530.550.8760, 7# JOHN BAIOCCHI

2 PUBLISHED BY THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL SUMMER 2020

A Note from Lisa Wallace, Executive Director COVID-19 update

We hope that this newsletter find you doing well and staying healthy, mentally and physically. As we all adapt to the realities and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we take comfort in our incredible community, full of compassionate, resilient people who consistently help others. We are grateful to the essential workers who make it possible for us to stay safe, to the medical professionals on the front lines, and for the strength that our community has shown. We want to take a moment to emphasize that the Truckee River Watershed Council has been fortunate to be able to continue working and that we are on track to achieve our restoration and policy goals for 2020 and 2021. Watershed assessments, restoration designs, construction of meadow and projects, and monitoring of completed restoration sites are all underway. Over this summer and the next, we will assess hundreds of acres of forests, and restore 400 acres of meadow, 11 acres of , and over 4 miles of stream. These projects will buffer the impacts of flooding, drought, and fire, while improving water quality and habitat for wildlife, , and birds—all of which are vitally important. As we have seen people turning to the outdoors in greater and greater numbers over the past few months, we know that everyone reading this note deeply values the beauty and

importance of fresh air, clean water, and natural systems. SUE DRAKE We are committed to preserving and restoring these places, TRWC staff have been getting out in the field, with social distancing, working for both the watershed and for our community. completing project improvements and water quality monitoring.

How Does My Gift Make a Difference?

Every donation to the Truckee River Watershed Council is invaluable, but did you know when you donate to TRWC, your gift doesn’t just help us keep on lights on— it can be leveraged in grant applications to fund our projects. Each project first requires building a partnership,

FAERTHEN FELIX, UC BERKELEY SAGEHEN CREEK FIELD STATION FAERTHEN planning, permitting, fundraising, and engineering design well before dirt can be moved or vegetation can be planted. Your $100 donation grows to $10,000 through grants! Interested in giving? Visit our website: www.truckeeriverwc.org

COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT, ENHANCE AND RESTORE THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED 3 TRUCKEE RIVER CURRENTS

Sardine Meadow Reconnecting Davies Creek to 350 acres of meadow floodplain

Located north of Stampede Reservoir, Sardine Meadow is the largest meadow in the Davies Creek watershed. The meadow has been degraded by historic logging, road and railroad construction, and grazing. What was once a lush wetland is now primarily a sagebrush plain. Davies Creek is confined to a single, straightened channel—with eroding stream banks and threatened aquatic habitat.

In partnership with the U.S. Service, we restored meadows along Davies Creek, upstream and downstream of Sardine Meadow. Now we have the opportunity to further

improve the resilience of this watershed by bringing back BETH CHRISTMAN Sardine Meadow. Between now and the end of summer Historic surface channels like this one crisscross Sardine Meadow. 2021, we will be: Davies Creek used to regularly flow through them, recharging groundwater and sustaining wet meadowlands across the plain. • Restoring 350 acres of meadow and three miles Now, with the channels empty, the soil has dried out and sagebrush has pushed out the native grasses. of stream. Returning Davies Creek to its numerous natural channels on the meadow surface will reconnect the floodplain, elevate the shallow groundwater table, and allow wet meadow habitat to return.

• Revegetating meadowlands and reconnecting habitats. Sardine Meadow is an important link in a chain of meadow habitat, forming a critical migration corridor.

• Defending from drought, fire, and flood.A healthy meadow slows down the flow of water, providing a steadier stream, preventing damaging , and mitigating droughts. The wetter meadow will also hinder fast moving wildfires.

It takes a dedicated team to do what we do. Thank you to our partner, The Trust for Public Land.

Thank you to the funders who are making this work possible: The donors of the Truckee River Watershed Council, Bella Vista Foundation, BETH CHRISTMAN California Wildlife Conservation Board via Prop 68, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This photo, taken in Perazzo Meadows this , is an ideal example of what Sardine Meadow could look like in the future. After we reconnect Sardine’s dry surface channels to Davies Creek, water will once again pool and spread over wide areas of the meadow, restoring valuable wetland habitat.

CHANNEL INCISION: When a stream bed becomes deeper over time, disconnecting the stream from its floodplain HEADCUT: When erosion results in an abrupt vertical drop in a stream bed OVERBANK FLOW: When flows leave the stream channel and water the meadow FLOODPLAIN: Low-lying area adjacent to a stream that receives flow during high flow seasons DEFINITIONS

4 PUBLISHED BY THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL SUMMER 2020

Bear Creek Meadow Giving with Bringing back a disconnected meadow Greater Impact Tucked in the shadow of Ward Peak, the Bear Creek Lower Meadow is often overlooked. Many people drive past it on their way to the Five Lakes Trailhead or There are many ways you can become Alpine Meadows Resort, but don’t realize that it used to be a vibrant, wet meadow a supporter of the Truckee River with multiple small channels crisscrossing its surface. Unfortunately, a long history Watershed Council’s work: of past land uses and rapid development beginning in the 1960s has degraded 1. You can support critical restoration the meadow. Bear Creek is now confined to a single channel, accelerating erosion efforts and may be able to enjoy and cutting off the meadow’s supply of surface and groundwater. tax benefits when you make a gift of stock. By making a gift of It is time for us to fix this. Our restoration will work to slow the flow of water appreciated securities, you may be through the channel, redirect flows towards their historic channels, and reconnect able to deduct the value of the meadow to Bear Creek’s floodplain. By building in-stream features to slow the gifted security while avoiding down the flow of water, stabilize the banks, and encourage multiple stream the taxation of capital gains channels, this project is set to restore: 2. The IRS Charitable Rollover allows • 30 acres of meadow • Native wetland and riparian plant species individuals 70½ and older to make • 3,000 feet of Bear Creek • Habitats for fish, birds, and mammals charitable gifts directly from a traditional IRA account without The benefits of this project will have rippling effects through the meadow and the incurring federal income tax on rest of the watershed. Once restored, the Bear Creek Lower Meadow can filter up the withdrawal. to 60% of the excess sediment and remove it from the stream before it connects 3. Giving “In memory of” honors to the Truckee River. The re-watered meadow will also be able to support diverse, a friend or loved one’s passion for native vegetation, and sustain the wildlife like frogs, birds, and mammals that restoring and protecting our , depend on it. streams, meadows and forests. 4. It takes a dedicated team to do what we do. Thank you to our partner, the US Forest Service, Tahoe Create a birthday fundraiser on National Forest. Facebook and ask your friends to share in your support of our projects. Thank you to the funders who are making this work possible: The donors of the Truckee River Watershed Council, Martis Fund, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife via Prop 68, and Placer County. ALLY HOLMES ALLY BRIAN HASTINGS, BALANCE HYDROLOGICS

Bear Creek’s stream banks are eroding and water is cut off from the Eroded banks and headcuts add significant amounts of sediment to meadow, causing it to dry out. Bear Creek. Without a functioning meadow to filter this sediment, it makes its way to the Truckee River, polluting it.

COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT, ENHANCE AND RESTORE THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED 5 TRUCKEE RIVER CURRENTS

We thank the following donors who have contributed since 2018. Together, they provide the resources to fund solutions to protect, enhance the Truckee River Watershed. $10,000 AND ABOVE Marsha and Jim Nicol Mayumi Elegado Jackie Patterson Alison Bermant Anonymous Paradigm8 Jen and Jeb Ellermeyer Carol Pauli Juliet Bradley Overall Family Foundation PlumpJack Squaw Inn Erin and Nate Ellis Judy Mill Peters Coralie and Joe Burgess The Herbst Foundation, Inc. Lynn Richardson Karyn and John Ellis Nancy and Don Petersen Hedi Burkhart $1,000 – $9,999 Shari and Tim Riggs Pam and Mike English Marianne and Jim Porter Marion Burrowes Alisa and Luca Adriani Kayla and Andrew Ryan Epoch Geospatial Quality Automotive Martha Cirata Anonymous (3) Susan Burt and David Schneider Jeanette and Trevor Fagerskog Ila Sandra Rademacher Courtney Clark Daniel Beringer Sharp Real Estate Merle and Michael Fajans Cattarina Teles and Brian Rickauer Karen Ellis and Doug Coulter Mary and Chip Brown Wendy Shelton Jessica Ferguson Toni and Gerald Rockwell Kellie Cutler Cabona’s Jody and Bill Sterling Philip Forsberg Mike Rogers Gayle Dana Sarah and Terry Calvani Tahoe Marina Lakefront Homeowners Eileen and John Foster Stephanie Rogerson Leeds Davis Captiol Avenue Development Mary Alice and Bill Thauvette Irene Fredericks Michelle Roias Erin de Lafontaine Daniel S Haas Fund Ursack Holly Galbo Annie Rosenfeld Stephanie Gantos and Clint Dickson David and Dana Loury Foundation Linda and Rod Whitten Teresa and Greg Garrison Deb Ryan Rachel and Dennis Elste Don Davis Helen Wolfe Victoria Paul and Betsy Garties Laura and Mike Ryan Carol Eyre Nancy and Henry DeNero Lisa and Doug Wright Megan Evans and Emily Gendron Laura and Mike Ryan Mike Finn Dudek $100 – $499 Geo Hydros, LLC Nicole and Eric Sachse Irene and Tom Garvey Dot Ingels and Family Lorin and Peter A’Costa Brenda Gilbert Erica and Bill Sarouhan Connie and Skip Gast Interior Design by JJH Anonymous (2) Glow Salon Saturno Home Inspection Anne and Dan Goeschl Glennis and John Jones Elizabeth and Thomas Archer Sara and Bill Goerke Jill Schmitz Mark Goodenough Carol and Bill Leimbach Jadwiga Auckenthaler Gail and Michael Griesmer Catherine Schnurrenberger Kathe and Rich Gresham Susan Ellis and Mark Linton Tracy Swanborn and Niles Baker Marcia and Charles Growdon Brooke Chabot and David Shaw Barbara and Geoff Griffin Martis Camp Community Association Diane and Charlie Barrett Julie Elmen and Ken Gruys Carol and Jay Shaw Chuck Grooms Laura McCreary Markley Bavinger Jae Gustafson Sue Rae Irelan and Gordon Shaw Sara and David Guido Liz and Bob Nagle Sierra Stevens-McGeever and David Jeneine and Curtis Gustafson Shokunin Product Design Elaine and Michael Hamilton Network for Good Benaron Hall Tree Company Judy Silar Ashley Hannig Northstar Property Owners Association Lesley Berger Denise and George Hastings Naomi Silvergleid Maggie Hargrave and Keenan Hawkins Patagonia Sue and John Henry Beyer Katie and Chris Hawkins Ken Smith Carol & Bob Hicks Raley’s Jennifer Jennings and Michael Bledsoe Deirdre Henderson Sue Spain Megan and Eric Hines Sue Sage in honor of Harriet Q. Johnson Jessica Thompson and Kenny Blum Randy Hill Lydia and Jim Stang Loui and David Janecky Shane McConkey Foundation Gale Rankin and Vicente Bonnard Hilary Hobbs David H. Stanley Johannsson Electric Shell Oil Company Foundation Kathy Mooney and Jack Bonnici Katie and Michael Holley Cathy and Larry Stewart Donald Kelley Silver Sage Center for Family Medicine Dagny and John Borcich Karine Wagner and Bill Houdyschell Carla and Thomas Stokes Kelli Price Photography Sierra Mountain Mortgage Linda Brown Kaitlin Backlund and Ron Hunter Straus Chin Family Fund Sonya Koster Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center Anne Marie and Jack Bruner Mary Bird and Jim Hunter David Stroud Katherine and David Krivan The Turnip Top Foundation Suzanne and Stuart Bryan Ideal Threads, LLC Structerra, Inc. Dwayne Landenberger Suzanne and Charlie Thornton Joan and Dale Bush Nancy and Jerry Ives Suzanne and Shaun Sullivan Jean and Andrew Lange Lynne and Ken Weakley Keegan Byrnes Meghan and John Jewett Eben Swain Linda and Gilbert Larish Felicity Wu Anne Cahill Karen and Norman Justesen Brita Tryggvi and Art Takaki Barb Marsted Stacy and Christian Caldwell Jess and Russ Kaulback Marcy and Bob Thompson Talya Martin $500 – $999 Emma and Roger Cardoza Kerry and Rob Kautz Lorna and David Tirman Jill McClendon Ann and Bruce Ajari Barb and Rod Carpenter Lori Kelley Heather Tone Barbara and Gerald Meral Alison Bermant, Attorney at Law Carmen Carr Kristie Connolly and Todd Kincaid Ben Trustman Patricia Minor Anonymous Paige Derdowski and Kelley Carroll Jeanne and Trent Kirschner Liz and Matt Tucker Barclay Moore Richard Anderson Mary Corley and Pete Castro Anna and Sven Klovstad Robin and Phil Tucker Erin Murphy Benty Properties, Inc. Shara Chador Eileen and Tom Knudson Cathy and David Valle Joy and James Phoenix Denise Bremer Anne Chadwick Joan and Bill Kreamer Linda and David VanderJagt Promotional Concepts Rylan Cordova Paula and John Cherry Mary E. Reilley and James Krieg Debbie and Ralph Vigil Sarah Murphy and John Ramos Tamara and Mark Crownover Dorothy and Don Christman Michelle and Peter Kulchawik Barb and Dwight Walker Aparna Reddy Nancy and Don Davis Christopher Chua Daniel Kwong Nancy and Owens Wallis Sheila and Chuck Reever Kathleen Eagan and Jim Duffy Mary Ellen Clifford Amy Kylberg Maureen and Paul Warmerdam Rachel and Andy Rost Nancy Light and Chris Fichtel Julie and David Coates Lake of the Sky Garden Club Nancy and Steve Wasserman Regina Rubio Patrick Flora Ross Collins Susan Levitsky Irene L. and Claus Weit Jill Sanford Kim and Keith Franke Susie and Kit Collins Laurel and Tom Lippert Bill Wendin Jennifer Scott Brenda Gilbert Jennifer and Frank Coon Little Truckee Ice Creamery Buff Wendt Jennifer Seyfried Carol and Peter Halberstadt Kathy Crawford LSA Associates, Inc. Knute Anscomb and Peter Werbel Nancy C. Shaeffer Carolyn and Jeff Hamilton Barbara and Ed Czerwinski Ann and Robert Lyman Andy Wertheim Carol Meagher and Spin Shaffer Christine and Thom Handley Ann Darby Sally Lyon Jane and Bob Wetzel Aimee and Steve Shihadeh Barbara and Jeff Hartley Carole and Dwight Davenport Kathy and Jerry Manifold Colleen and Paul Wilford Teri Smith Mike Harvey Gary Davis Judy Mayorga Nancy Wilkins Lucetta Swift Heller Construction Inc. Pam Raynak and Hal Dawson Ann McBride Susan Williams Tahoe Food Hub Laura and Ed Heneveld Kevin Day Linda and Skip McCowan Helen Wolfe Tahoe Mountain Lodging Daria and Steve Hodapp Patty and John Dean Ted McDowell Summer Wood Tahoe Mountain Sports Lisa and Jan Holan Gary Deis Meri McEneny Marty and Brad Woods Kristina Tirman Barbara and Fred Ilfeld Designbar Truckee Lynn and Donald McKechnie Word After Word Books Lorna and David Tirman Dorine and Steve Kohn Mary Hetherington and Tom Deurloo Kathy and Tom McLaughlin Deborah and Larry Young Sarah Trebilcock Jeff Loux Sharon and Mike Dixon Karin McMahon Louise and Jan Zabriskie Kelly Turner Barbara and Dan Maher Judy Dowdy Michael K. Miller Insurance Services Inc Chelsea and John Walterscheid Carole and Stephen Mahoney $1 – $99 Sue and Kevin Drake Jim Mitchell Mary Lou and Gene Welch Web Development Mariah Agee Brian Dreyer Linda and Peter Morris Vangela and Bret Wightman Suzanne and Scott Montgomery Jeff Alpert Camille Duvall Rory O’Farrell Nancy Wilkins MWA Inc. Ed Ballman Wyatt Ogilvy Karen Sessler and Fred Zabell

Lori and Bob Belden DONORS If we missed or misidentified you, please let us know: 530.550.8760 5# Allison Paine Mary Ellen and Stefan Benier Jacqui Zink

6 PUBLISHED BY THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL SUMMER 2020 Thank you to these Grantors for supporting our work. Bella Vista Foundation Thank you members of the Together for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Truckee Society. Your multi-year generosity has shaped California Lahontan Region Water Quality Control Board the Truckee River Watershed Council‘s work and inspires meaningful California Natural Resources Agency changes in our community and watershed. Thank you for your support. California Sierra Nevada Conservancy California State Water Resources Control Board California Wildlife Conservation Board PRESERVE THE WATERSHED – $10,000 A YEAR FOR 5 YEARS Lahontan Community Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Laird Norton Family Foundation Gail and Rick Stephens National Forest Foundation Northstar California/ Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation Our Truckee River Legacy Foundation Vail Resorts EpicPromise Cathy and Tom Van Berkem Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Overall Family Foundation Schwemm Family Foundation South Tahoe Public Utility District PROTECT THE RIVER – $5,000 A YEAR FOR 5 YEARS The Martis Fund Anonymous Raley’s Tahoe Resource Conservation District Granite Peak Management Chris Ryman Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Habitat Restoration Sciences, San Francisco Fly Casting Club Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency a Dudek Company Sierra Mountain Mortgage, Inc. Town of Truckee Joan and Russ Jones/Jones Corda Teichert/Stonebridge Properties Truckee River Fund of the Community Foundation Construction/Truckee River Winery of Western Nevada Truckee River / Cheryl and Grady Kromer Bell & Courcier Families Truckee Sanitary District Mountain Hardware and Sports Diane and Bill Zuendt Truckee Tahoe Trout Fund Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District Trust for Public Land RESTORE A STREAM – $1,000 A YEAR FOR 5 YEARS U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Alicia and Andy Barr Mary and James Koons U.S. Forest Service Anonymous (3) Mary E. Reilley and James Krieg Judie and Bill Beaty Lahontan Golf Club Serendipity Fund held at Parasol Patty Lomanto and Bob Bell Marc Lamb Marsha and James Sohn Theresa and Richard Crocker Barb and Ed Larson Sue and John Sorensen Ellen and Joffa Dale Jan and Tony Lashbrook Jody and Bill Sterling Nancy D’Amico Janet and David Lowell Wendy Sumner Dickson Realty/ Lil Schaller/ Christney and Bill McGlashan Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center Aimee and Kane Schaller Don McLaughlin Tahoe Truckee Flyfishers Kathleen Eagan and Jim Duffy Melanie and Jim Nangle TrailRunner International Sue and Kevin Drake Earl Nemser Family Truckee Tahoe Lumber Co. Elizabeth and John Eaton NSM Construction Christine Villaman Karolyn and Dick Gander Pacific Crest Wealth Planning Roxanne Duffield and Hans Wain Mark Girard in memory of Mark Girard Jr. Mary and Rob Palmer Lisa Wallace and Family Nancy and Max Gisko Jean Y. and Dr. Richard K. Park Margaret Ann and Ken Wallace Margaret Lewicki and Ernie Grossman Marti and Michael Park Ward-Young Architecture & Planning Colleen and David Haig PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn Trinkie Watson Cheryl and Dan Hansford Leslie and Andy Price Lynne and Ken Weakley Lauren and Jake Hudson Bonnie and Keith Riley Mike Witherspoon Jax at the Tracks Kathryn and John Rohlf Barbie and William Witmer Cora Lea and WL Jenkins Carol and Michael Sabarese Janet and Chuck Zipkin Melissa Kaime Sue Sage in honor of Harriet Q. Johnson If we missed or misidentified you or Susan and Steve Kitson Cindy and Gerry Salontai your organization, please let us know: 530.550.8760 5#

COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT, ENHANCE AND RESTORE THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED 7 TRUCKEE RIVER CURRENTS

‘After’ doesn’t mean over! Construction has concluded, but the restoration will continue to take its full effect over Martis Wildlife Area the next several years, as vegetation fully regrows and A floodplain reconnected, a landscape revived we continue to monitor its progress.

The Martis Wildlife Area encompasses one of our area’s most It takes a dedicated team to do what we do. Thank you to our partners: breathtaking—and environmentally significant—meadow The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northstar California Resort, and Northstar wetlands. The restoration project last summer restored 70 acres Community Service District. of meadow, 2 miles of stream, and involved planting acres of Thank you to the funders who are making this work possible: the donors of the native grasses and plants. Check out what all that work has Truckee River Watershed Council, Bella Vista Foundation, California Department of turned into so far! Fish and Wildlife via Prop 1, The Martis Fund, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

BEFORE AFTER MICHELE PRESTOWITZ SAM ZABELL Before restoration, Martis Creek did not have access to the During the restoration process, the steep banks were pulled back to meadow floodplain. Steep banks eroded and water was contained allow the creek to flow up and over the banks, watering the meadow in the channel. floodplain surface, creating suitable habitat for native riparian habitat, and reconnecting the creek to the floodplain.

BEFORE AFTER MICHELE PRESTOWITZ MICHELE PRESTOWITZ Before restoration, a straight channel, disconnected from the meadow During restoration, a meandering stream path was created, increasing floodplain surface, carried sediment downstream and limited the the creek’s access to the meadow floodplain allowing water to flow up of water in the surrounding floodplain. and over the banks during high flows. This recharges ground water, creates cooler temperatures for fish habitat, enhances wildlife habitat, and slows the flow of sediment downstream.

8 PUBLISHED BY THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL