Current Condition of the River
Due to early days of logging, channel manipulation, and gravel mining, the eroding bed & banks cause sediment to flow into Lake Tahoe and it is disconnected from its floodplain, lacking habitat.
Restore the Upper Truckee River
Improving Lake Tahoe's Clarity & River Habitat.
Delivering a Sustainable Golf Course Infrastructure.
Bringing Inclusive Access & Connectivity to our State Park.
Please Join the Effort!
Desired Condition of the River
Connected to its floodplain with healthy riparian vegetation, improved water quality reduces the flow of fine sediments into Lake Tahoe.
The Problem
Over the past century, the Upper Truckee River has been impacted by logging, gravel mining, grazing, channel manipulation, and the subsequent development of the golf course directly on the floodplain/meadow area in 1958. Prior to the 1940’s this section of the Upper Truckee River was straightened, leading to a decrease in sinuosity and steeping of slope, which increased erosive force. The channel down-cut relative to its floodplain, leaving the old floodplain to become a terrace that is only flooded in less frequent events. Meadow habitat and floodplain function has been lost, and erosion continues. The golf course bridges lock the channel into an unstable configuration and accelerate erosion, while the turf extends to the edge of the river, leaving no habitat corridor or buffer zone between fertilizer application and the stream. These impacts have led to a change in the natural processes that originally formed the river channel and sustained the ecosystem. The result is chronic erosion of the bed and banks of the river, degradation of in-stream and riparian habitat, and poor water quality, which in turn contribute to clarity loss in Lake Tahoe.
For more information, visit History & Background.
Eroding River Banks Cause Sediment Loads into Lake Tahoe = Clarity Loss
On average, erosion from this river reach produces 16 dump trucks of sediment per year into Lake Tahoe (source: Swanson Report). Unfortunately, every year for decades, this sediment continues to negatively impact aquatic habitat in the river and the clarity of Lake Tahoe.
The Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course Reconfiguration Project is a vital solution to this erosion problem.
The Upper Truckee River is the greatest contributor of suspended and fine-grained sediment in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Andrew Simon of the National Sedimentation Laboratory
The Solution
Proposed Project
CA State Parks is working on a revised alternative for the Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course Reconfiguration Project. The previous project had included swapping of land between Washoe Meadows State Park (WMSP) and Lake Valley State Recreation Area (LVSRA) in order to accommodate relocating a few golf holes away from the river. The relocated holes were to be moved only on to previously disturbed land areas in WMSP in order to allow more river restoration to occur. While many community members supported this plan, due to some public opposition, this alternative is now being revised to keep the project within LVSRA.
The new proposed project consists of geomorphic-based river restoration, similar to the previous project, coupled with a reconfigured, modernized infrastructure for a reduced-footprint 18-hole regulation golf course to remain within LVSRA. The project will also improve access into the State Park for the general public, as part of the mission of CA State Parks.
Environmental Improvements
The Proposed Project will restore the natural geomorphic and ecological processes to this section of the river by restoring a meandering pattern, and reconnecting the river to its floodplain. This will improve riparian vegetation and wildlife corridors and will reduce erosion and subsequent delivery of clarity-reducing sediment to Lake Tahoe. moved this line up:The golf course would be re-designed and rebuilt within LVSRA to minimize impacts on the SEZ and channel function.
Golf Course Modernization and Recreational Improvements
The 18-hole Audubon award-winning golf course will be reconfigured within LVSRA, relocating golf holes away from the river’s edge and incorporating water conservation efficiencies with an updated irrigation system and a reduction in turf. Existing golf course infrastructure (undersized bridges, fairways, greens, cart paths) near the river would be removed and the area restored and revegetated. New shared-use (golf and non-golf recreation) bridges that span the floodplain would be constructed that would not interfere with stream function. Recreation access would increase to the Upper Truckee River and to Washoe Meadows State Park.
Collaborative Upper Truckee River Restoration Projects
This CA State Parks proposed project, located at the golf course river reach, has a high erosion sediment load into Lake Tahoe and is a high-priority TRPA EIP (Environmental Improvement Project). It is part of a broader, multi-agency collaborative effort, to restore several reaches of the Upper Truckee River and improve Lake Tahoe water clarity. It will significantly improve the environment, recreational opportunities, and local economy. The coordinated interagency and development effort is led by the Upper Truckee River Watershed Advisory Group. To learn more, please view map directly below or go here to enlarge Collaborative Projects Map.
Conceptual Map of Golf Course Reconfiguration Layout (subject to change in the design phase):
The deteriorating infrastructure of the golf course would be modernized and be reconfigured entirely within LVSRA to allow for river and floodplain restoration. The golf course turf, irrigation, drainage and layout will become more sustainable and playable (most golf courses are updated within a 15-year lifecycle; Lake Tahoe Golf Course is 60-years old). The golf course will continue to be a certified Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary.
Recent Endorsements: previous proposed Project
