Funding of projects that include restoration efforts, education initiatives, surveying and invasive weed control were approved unanimously Wednesday by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) board.
The Truckee River Fund Advisory Committee recommended the TMWA board authorize six projects totaling almost $400,000:
° Removing invasive weeds along the Truckee River and its tributaries is planned next spring at sites identified by Nevada Land Trust and Truckee Meadows Weed Coordinating Group. Municipal park employees have indicated weed control is the most challenging part of their jobs.
° The stabilization of Donner Creek’s bank is necessary because of a slope near an existing railroad culvert that shows severe erosion.
“The project will create final designs to re-profile the bank and stabilize the area with a combination of large wood, rock, erosion control fabric, revegetation with native, drought tolerant grasses and sedges and riparian plantings,” a report to the TMWA board said. “This will stabilize a severely eroding stream bank, thus largely eliminating one of the largest sources of fine sediment to the downstream-most portion of Donner Creek.”
° The Truckee River Watershed Committee’s Donner Creek Concept Designs project is supposed to improve water quality and habitat along the creek and decrease sedimentation reaching the Truckee River.
° The Watershed Education Initiative will allow Sierra Nevada Journeys to serve 675 students in 25 area classrooms over a four-week period that includes one field-study experience, pre- and post-assessments, classroom extension lessons for teachers, family and community engagement and citizen science.
° One Truckee River’s Phase I implementation will support Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful and Nevada Land Trust with leadership efforts. Two AmeriCorps volunteers will complete a survey inventory of the Truckee River corridor, a watershed survey and provide management support for two additional volunteers. The additional volunteers will complete and implement curricula for schools and generate a watershed education plan.
° Management of the property encompassing Webber Lake, a 220-acre natural lake at the mouth of the Little Truckee River, will address areas of disease and overstock and assist in prevention of wildfires. This will aid in source water protection and reduce amount of sediment entering water due to erosion, which effects water quality. The Little Truckee River is in eastern California and a tributary into the Truckee River.
