TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) is calling all nature lovers to join its annual Truckee River Day volunteer event on October 18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers and TRWC staff will come together to help restore meadows, creeks, and forests across the Truckee River watershed and protect our area for generations to come.
Over the past 30 years, over 10,000 Truckee River Day volunteers have helped improve the health and resiliency of over 200 sites across our watershed. As a result, places like Martis Wildlife Area, Perazzo Meadows, and Coldstream Canyon now support thriving native plant and wildlife communities while continuing to provide robust opportunities for recreation. TRWC spearheads these efforts to restore, protect and enhance precious parts of our watershed that sustain the Truckee River.
Since the mid-1800s, historic and present-day land uses have impacted our watershed. As a result of logging, cattle grazing, gravel mining, highway and railroad development, and urban expansion, excess sediment is polluting our waterways and native species are struggling to survive.
TRWC is addressing these ongoing impacts while helping our community adapt to the increasing threat of wildfire, drought and flooding – and each October, they invite the community to join in the effort at Truckee River Day.
Volunteers have a choice of half- or full-day projects of varying difficulty levels. Restoration will take place at eight sites throughout the watershed with efforts including:
- restoration of meadow and wetland systems
- habitat enhancement for important wildlife
- native tree planting
- erosion prevention
- and more!
Volunteer registration is open now through October 10, with space available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at www.truckeeriverwc.org to secure your spot or contact Eben Swain at eswain@trukeeriverwc.org to learn more.
After Truckee River Day volunteering events, TRWC’s annual River Fair will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Granite Flat Campground. The fair is open to the public and presented in partnership with Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (SWEP), featuring fun educational activities for all ages and free food while supplies last.
TRWC leads this important effort in partnership with SWEP, Tahoe Donner Association, Town of Truckee, Truckee Donner Land Trust, US Forest Service, Sugar Pine Foundation, Friends of Olympic Valley, and Truckee Fire.
Thank you to this year’s funders, including Truckee River Watershed Council donors, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Town of Truckee, Truckee Chamber of Commerce, and Raley’s.