Sierra Sun
Petra Molina, reporter
The Truckee River Watershed Council is breaking ground on three restoration projects along Donner Creek that will repair approximately 3,200 feet of the creek and restore 1.3 acres of habitat, while helping protect the community from major storm events.
“Our climate events are getting bigger and more drastic, and those swings between flooding and drought are both mitigated and addressed by healthier meadows, healthier wetlands, and healthier watersheds. I think of it as a solution, not just a habitat or biodiversity solution, but one that makes our community more resilient,” said Addison Wingate, TRWC lead storyteller.
Since the mid-1800s, Donner Creek has been modified to accommodate various land uses, from cattle grazing and highway construction to residential and other development. According to TRWC, those modifications have contributed to eroded streambanks, degraded wildlife habitat and diminished downstream water quality.
The restoration projects will repair and reinforce creek banks while enhancing aquatic and riparian, or water-adjacent, habitat. TRWC will excavate and repurpose excess sediment that has accumulated in the channel over time, reconnecting the creek with portions of its floodplain. This will allow water to slow down, reducing the risk of erosion both locally and downstream.
Native vegetation planted along the banks will also improve stability and protect against erosion while increasing riparian habitat. Rock and wood structures will also be embedded in the creek to create greater variation in water depth and flow speed, improving habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.
Planning for the multi-phase project began in 2017.
“Really, the more thoughtful we can be on the front end of a project, the more successful the outcome is for both the watershed and our community,” Wingate said.
According to Wingate, TRWC takes an in-depth approach to planning each restoration project. The organization brings in what it calls its “-ologists;” including biologists, geologists, hydrologists and geomorphologists, to assess the site.
“They look at all of the unique needs and opportunities within the site. When we hire contractors and begin the design process, we conduct cultural surveys, botanical surveys, and other assessments so that we’re going into the project as informed as possible. Then we bring in engineers,” Wingate said.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of October. The three projects have a combined construction cost of approximately $850,000, funded through multiple sources, including the California Department of Water Resources’ Urban Streams Restoration Program.
The current work builds on similar restoration efforts completed by TRWC in 2024 along 5,000 feet of Donner Creek just upstream from the Truckee River. Root wads were installed and native vegetation was planted along the creek’s shoreline to stabilize banks and prevent erosion. Large boulders installed within the streambed improved variation in flow and enhanced aquatic habitat.
To view the article online, visit this link: https://www.sierrasun.com/news/restoration-project-brings-new-life-to-coldstream-canyon/