TRUCKEE

The Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) is breaking ground on three restoration projects in and along Donner Creek that will repair 3,200 feet of the creek, restore 1.3 acres of habitat, and better protect the community from major storm events. 

Since the mid-1800s, Donner Creek has been modified to accommodate various land uses — from cattle grazing to highway construction to building development — that have eroded streambanks, degraded wildlife habitat and diminished downstream water quality.

Restoration efforts will repair and reinforce creek banks while also enhancing aquatic and riparian habitat. TRWC will excavate and repurpose excess sediment that has accumulated in the channel over time, reconnecting the creek and floodplain areas. This will allow water to slow down, reducing the risk of erosion both locally and downstream. Native vegetation planted along the banks will further improve stability and protect against erosion while also increasing riparian habitat. Rock and wood structures will be embedded in the creek to promote variation in flow depth and speed, improving habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Current restoration is being funded in part by the California Department of Water Resources’s Urban Streams Restoration Program.

Learn more about TRWC’s efforts to restore Donner Creek and support the Truckee River Watershed at truckeeriverwc.org.

~ TRWC press release