Upper Truckee Marsh

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Johnson Meadow was once used as a post-Gold Rush dairy farm, became a place for summer cattle grazing, and is now being restored as part of the Upper Truckee River watershed. The Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) purchased the Johnson Meadow in 2018, a critical step in restoring the river's watershed that contains significant wildlife habitat, including river, riparian, meadow, and upland habitat areas.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The annual closure of the Upper Truckee Marsh to dogs is underway and will last through July 31. Each year the California Tahoe Conservancy closes the marsh to dogs, both on and off-leash, to protect sensitive habitats for birds and other wildlife during breeding season.

The Conservancy-owned Cove East property, west of the Upper Truckee River, remains open for year-round leashed dog access. Beginning August 1, dogs will again be permitted access to the Upper Truckee Marsh, provided they are on leash.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The largest wetland restoration project in the history of the Lake Tahoe Basin is now underway in the Upper Truckee River Marsh. The major project to restore the marsh in South Lake Tahoe has been years in the making to fix the environmental damage done by the creation of the Tahoe Keys.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) has been awarded a large piece of funding to help its $10.6 million project to restore the 500 acre Upper Truckee River Marsh.

CTC was awarded $2.98M by the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to help with the project at the marsh, the largest wetland in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) will limit public access and temporarily close portions of some south shore beaches starting Friday, June 28, 2019. They announced beaches they own near Lakeview Commons and the Upper Truckee Marsh will close for public safety and to protect sensitive wildlife habitat and areas prone to erosion.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2014, the South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors approved a series of annual rate increases to fund more than $50 million in critical improvements to South Tahoe’s water, wastewater, and recycled water systems. These upgrades lower long-term costs, improve fire flow, protect the environment and ensure longterm, quality service. On Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 6 p.m. the District will host a public meeting on the upgrades to the water, sewer and recycled water systems, and the ongoing improvements still needed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Money is on its way to South Lake Tahoe to restore the Upper Truckee Marsh, the largest remaining wetland in the Sierra Nevada, and reverse damage created by decades of development.

The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) announced Thursday they received $1,700,066 from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife towards their project to redirect the Upper Truckee River to its historic network of channels through the Marsh. Water flowing through the Marsh will slow down, allowing sediment to settle instead of reaching Lake Tahoe.

Due to high water in Lake Tahoe, the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) has announced that they will temporarily close portions of some South Lake Tahoe beaches for public safety and to protect sensitive habitat and areas prone to erosion.

This news affects the Upper Truckee Marsh and three CTC beaches near Lakeview Commons (see map above), both areas heavily used during the 4th of July holiday.

Recreationalists that frequent these beaches will need to make alternative plans. CTC asks for patience and cooperation during this time of high water.

The historic winter in Lake Tahoe continues to leave its mark with high water levels leaving limited beach space, causing sensitive areas to be prone to environmental degradation.

The area the public can access along the south shore just got smaller as the California Tahoe Conservancy has announced they will limit public access and temporarily close portions of some beaches to protect sensitive habitat and limit erosion.

Locations where portions of the beach will be closed include the Upper Truckee Marsh and other Conservancy-owned beaches near Lakeview Commons as shown in the photo.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and other area fire departments have responded to several illegal cooking fires in homeless encampments this summer, some which have spread to burn up to several hundred feet.

The cause of the July 19 fires behind the power station by the Heavenly Gondola and in the Trout Creek area behind Ross are still under investigation, but sources have said they were both most likely started by illegal campfires. Fire crews also responded to transient camp fires on July 27 and August 8 as well as several illegal cooking fires.

It's time again for the Upper Truckee Marsh to be closed to dogs in order to protect the critical breeding habitat for special, threatened and endangered species such as the Willow Flycatcher.

The marsh area will be closed through July 31, 2016. Leashed dogs may once again travel through the the Upper Truckee Marsh starting August 1.

The California Tahoe Conservancy-owned Cove East property, west of the river and marsh, remains open for year-round, leashed dog access.

The El Dorado County Sheriff enforces county and city ordinances and Conservancy staff monitors for compliance.

After decades of planning, analysis, and public input, the California Tahoe Conservancy Board recently approved the final plan to restore the largest remaining wetland in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Upper Truckee River and Marsh Restoration Project will restore over 500 acres of highly disturbed wetland habitat, improving the natural filtration capacity of the Marsh and reducing a major source of fine sediment that clouds Tahoe’s famed lake clarity.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

3/8
12:34 a.m. - Disorderly conduct: under the influence - Creekwood Drive - 18-YEAR OLD MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION; TO BE RELEASED WHEN SOBER PER 849(B) PC.

From May 1 through July 31 each year, dogs are kept out of the Upper Truckee Marsh in order to protect wildlife such as the Yellow Headed Blackbird during their critical breeding season.

Leashed dogs are allowed back into the marsh starting on Friday, August 1.

The California Tahoe Conservancy owns and manages the 600 acre marsh, one of the largest remaining in the Sierra Nevada, for the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat and water quality.

Geotours of the Lake Tahoe basin will highlight environmentally friendly activities during the Tahoe Geotourism Expo held September 7 - 8, 2013. Participants can 17 different tours including an Upper Truckee River kayak tour, an Al Tahoe Heritage Walk, a Tahoe Photo Tour and Wild Mustangs in the Meadow. For more information, click on the tour title below.

Saturday, September 7

Birds of the Wetland -Free 3 hour guided tour of the Upper Truckee marsh.

The California Tahoe Conservancy has released a draft plan for a proposed restoration of Lake Tahoe's largest remaining wetland, the Upper Truckee Marsh.The restoration project would be the larg...

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) will hold conservation events that highlight environmental projects and stewardship opportunities in the Lake Tahoe Basin communities. These gatherings are part of the 2012 Community Watershed Partnership (CWP), a holistic program which provides a place for education, participation, and involvement in your local watershed.