For information about the Upper Truckee Marsh Annual Seasonal Dog Closure, click here.
Although 63 streams enter Lake Tahoe, nearly 40% of the water is contributed by the Upper Truckee River alone. The River drains one of the Basin’s largest and most impacted watersheds, discharging more than 2400 tons of sediment and nutrients into the Lake every year. Fine sediment remains suspended and drastically decreases the Lake’s renowned clarity. The Upper Truckee Marsh’s flat expanse serves as a last defense and natural filter, cleansing water before it enters Lake Tahoe.
Restoration Opportunities
In the last 150 years development has eliminated more than half of the original 1300 acre Marsh. The Marsh is not only home to numerous species of concern such as the Willow Flycatcher and Tahoe Yellow Cress; it retains sediment from upstream during flood events before it flows into the lake. The Conservancy has acquired 600 acres to restore the river’s natural cleansing function and subsequently increase habitat quality for plant, wildlife, and fish species.
Approach
In order to achieve the Conservancy’s objectives, four restoration alternatives and a “no action” alternative have been developed in a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS/EIS). The restoration alternatives utilize technical analysis, agency review and community input to reconnect the river with the Marsh. The lead agencies will determine which alternative or combination of features from multiple alternatives will become the preferred alternative after the evaluation of both impact conclusions and public comments.
The restoration alternatives include:
- reactivating historic channels
- constructing a new sinuous channel
- narrowing and aggrading the existing channel
- creating inset floodplains
- providing appropriate public access
There is no preferred or proposed alternative at this time.
Next Steps
These alternatives will be reviewed by regulatory agencies, the science community and the public. Pending required approvals and available funding, the multi-year project could proceed to construction as early as 2015.
Public Meetings and Documents:
Five public meetings and hearings were held to provide interested persons with the opportunity to learn about the project and submit comments on the Draft EIR/EIS/EIS. The comment period ended on April 8, 2013 and are now being reviewed.