Conservancy grants funds to City for purchase of homes in Bijou Park Creek watershed

Submitted by paula on Mon, 04/30/2018 - 12:09am

Two more properties in the Bijou Park Creek flood zone will be acquired by the City of South Lake Tahoe thanks to a $793,991 grant awarded by the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) this week.

This makes three properties that the City will purchase from willing property owners with grant funds provided through Proposition 1 and Proposition 50 funds authorized by the CTC. The two this week, oft-flooded and located at 3593 Shirley Avenue and 3590 Bill Avenue in South Lake Tahoe will join the parcel at 3747 Woodbine Road which was authorized to be purchased in September 2017.

“These acquisitions are essential to achieve the City’s goal of reducing

polluted runoff from the Bijou Park Creek watershed,” said City of South
Lake Tahoe Council Member and Conservancy Board Chair Brooke Laine.

The grant also includes funding for the cost of relocating the owners, demolishing and removing all structures and impervious areas, and restoring the stream environment zones (SEZ) on the parcels. Restoration of the properties will
consist of minor grading and site revegetation to maximize infiltration, enhance soil moisture, and stabilize soils. The City will install boulders and/or fencing along the perimeters of the properties to protect them from vehicle encroachment.

The properties lie within the historical alignment of Bijou Park Creek, within a portion of the watershed that once functioned as valuable meadow and riparian habitat. The construction of residential and commercial development directly
in the path of the creek, along with filling and paving of SEZ, has significantly affected the natural flow and function of the creek. The ability of the floodplain to provide natural filtration and attenuation of flood flows is impaired, resulting in significant water quality impacts and flooding. By removing and restoring impervious coverage in the SEZ, the City will enhance sensitive habitats and improve water quality.

This restoration project is in addition to the Prop. 1 funds previously provided to the City of South Lake Tahoe by the CTC to work further down the creek at the site of the old Super 8 Motel. Bijou Park Creek went under the motel and flowed into Lake Tahoe with sediment gathered as it flowed downhill. The City is pursuing additional water quality and ecosystem improvements upstream in the watershed, which may involve daylighting other sections of the creek.