Truckee River Watershed Council

WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO

The Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) has been systematically and strategically reversing damage and restoring resilience to forests, meadows, and streams for 27 years. We bring years of experience, data-driven decisions, a robust scientific process, and relationships across agency jurisdictions. The Truckee River region is threatened. Native fish species are at risk. Forests are at risk of catastrophic fire. Sensitive invertebrates are declining. Meadows are drying up. We can trace this to 150 years of mining, grazing, logging, rail and highway expansion. The Truckee River is impaired (polluted) by excessive sediment as determined by the State of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We actively address these challenges, improving the health and resiliency of the Truckee River watershed. Because of the work we do, water in the Truckee River watershed is cleaner, fish and bird populations have started to stabilize, meadows are wetter longer into the season, and forest stands are more resilient. Our work reduces risk of wildfire, flood, and drought and can be described in 3 areas of impact:

1) Projects - We restore degraded meadows, streams, and forests. We spearhead large-scale restoration projects to reverse historic land use impacts to 1) increase forest, meadow, and stream resiliency, and 2) increase our community’s ability to mitigate climate change impacts such as fire, flood, and drought. Each year, our projects restore hundreds of acres of forest, meadow, and wetlands and miles of stream.

2) People - We work with landowners, individuals, and businesses to implement our work. And, volunteers also help us with on-the-ground assistance.

3) Policy - We advocate for beneficial in-stream flows in our rivers and streams.

PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Truckee River Day- Approximately 400 volunteers each year participate in completing restoration projects, planting hundreds of native trees, enhancing fish habitat, building trails, and pulling invasive weeds that will allow native plants to thrive.  NEED: 20 new Group Leaders for Truckee River Day Oct 2023.

Adopt-A-Stream- We monitor 20 sites with 60 volunteers who participate monthly in water quality monitoring across our watershed. NEED: 10 Team Leaders for 2023.

River Talks - River Talks are 1/2 hour presentations about past and present threats to the Truckee River and how you can help restore it. Volunteers can host their own River Talk as an "Ambassador". NEED: 25 Ambassadors in the next 6 months by bringing 8-10 of their own guests.

NEW INITIATIVE THAT NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT: FIX the TRUCKEE RIVER - KEEP IT WILD 

Imagine the Truckee River 50 years from now – winding through rugged canyons and pine forests. A glittering, clear cold river alive with wildlife – trout, beaver, bear, and dragonflies. The Truckee River inspires the imagination. We identify with its wild nature. And you want to believe this one river will be wild forever. But it is fragile -- and needs our help.

The Truckee River underpins a complex system of dams and reservoirs. Ever since the age of westward expansion, this region has given up its natural resources. The result? 

• Riverbanks are literally falling in. The Truckee River is polluted by sediment. 
• Sediment chokes the tiny creatures who form the basis of the food web and congests riverbed gravel making it impossible for trout to spawn. 
• Native plants – forming habitat for wild creatures – must compete with invasive weeds. 

Small changes in precipitation, ambient temperature, or managed stream flows could result in a cascade of degradation. The Truckee River – if we do not act – will lose its ability to regain balance. 

We have a vision and plan for 14 sites along the Truckee River—to fix the Truckee River and Keep It Wild

These projects are designed to work with our changing climate, buffering the effects of drought, fire, and flood cycles. Collectively, this work will improve water quality, recover wetland and riparian habitat for fish and wildlife, and support recreation.

We’re underway with two of the 14 sites. In 2022, we completed 100% design on the Truckee Wildlife Area-Boca site, secured $1.2M in state grant funding for on-the-ground implementation, and completed the work in Oct 2023. The Donner Creek Confluence site has also been implemented in Oct 2023. We have 12 sites remaining in need of restoration!

We are raising $500,000 over the next 5 years to develop these projects. That funding will be leveraged with $5Millon in public funding through state and federal grants for implementation. 

www.truckeeriverwc.org

It takes a dedicated team. Thank you to all the public agencies with land along the Truckee River. Thank you to the funders who are making this work possible - the donors of the Truckee River Watershed Council, California Wildlife Conservation Board, Community Foundation of Northern Nevada – Truckee River Fund, and the Truckee River Legacy Foundation.