Little Truckee River Fish Habitat Improvement
HRS was the prime contractor on this marquee project for Trout Unlimited that improves wild trout habitat.
Project Facts
- Trout Unlimited
- Truckee, California
- Improving trout habitat 2 miles downstream Stampede Dam
- 2015 Rise to the Future Award – Aquatic Recreational Accomplishment
The Challenge
Flows within this reach of the Little Truckee River, located approximately 2 miles downstream of the Stampede Dam, have been regulated for years causing muted peak flows and the absence of a coarse sediment supply. This modified the project reach from an actively-braided channel to semi-confined, single-thread channel.
The Solution
With its limited complexity of habitats, the key elements of the project included re-introducing large woody debris and boulders; excavating backwater pools for juvenile trout rearing; transplanting willows to provide shade and cover; and adding spawning gravels to help wild trout reproduction. The combination of rootwad/boulder/willow structures will dramatically enhance fish habitat by providing refuse, cover, and deep water pools. HRS implemented several techniques for localized clean water diversion and impounding of turbid water from the construction activities.
Cost Savings
Per the project permits, no equipment was allowed to drive across the river or impact the streambed. A temporary bridge crossing would have cost over $90,000 to install and maintain for the duration of the project. The HRS team proposed to the client a value engineered alternative which included laying logs over the river to create a simple bridge so that the equipment could cross with no contact with the water. And, when the equipment work was complete these conifer logs were used on the project site. The total cost for this option was approximately $2,500. This cost-saving alternative was approved by the client and HRS successfully completed the project tasks.
US Forest Service Award
Team partners from Trout Unlimited and the Tahoe National Forest received the US Forest Service the “2015 Rise to the Future Award – Aquatic Recreational Accomplishment” for this project.
What We Did
Our restoration expertise provides the right staff and equipment to meet permit requirements.
- Backfill and Compaction
- Creek and Bank Stabilization
- Creek Diversion
- Fish Habitat Creation
- Floodplain Creation
- Log and boulder construction
- Material staging
- Revetments
- Riffle and Pool Creation
- Rootwad Structure Construction
- Slope shaping and preparation
- Vegetation Establishment
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