South Lake Tahoe, Calif. –The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin work on the Upper Truckee River Reach 5 Restoration Project on Monday, June 24, 2013. The project will replace the existing stream channel with a new channel that is more stable and is connected to the adjacent floodplain, which will provide a better aquatic habitat, support a healthier meadow ecosystem, and reduce the amount of fine sediment that reaches Lake Tahoe.
The first stage of the work will involve the installation of a temporary bridge. Block nets will be placed upstream and downstream of the temporary bridge location for fish protection during the bridge installation. The block nets will be placed starting Monday, June 24, and removed on Friday, June 28, 2013, after the bridge is installed. Once the temporary bridge is in place, passage underneath the bridge will not be possible. Boaters will need to remove their vessels from the river and carry them around the bridge, which is located approximately 5,000 feet downstream from the U.S. Highway 50 crossing at Elk’s Club. Signs will be posted along the river to alert boaters of the temporary bridge obstacle.
The next step will be the construction of a temporary access road and the installation of construction and boundary fencing. Once these structures are in place, construction of the new channel will begin. Approximately 7,400 feet of new channel will be constructed in two phases, over a period of four years.
For public safety, the Forest Service has issued a forest order closing the project area. Due to minor delays in project implementation, the project area will be closed to the public beginning July 1, 2013, instead of June 15, 2013, and will remain closed through October 15, 2013. The Forest Order and map of the closure area is posted at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/
For more information, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/
