More stabilization work needed on new Upper Truckee River channel

The winter took its toll on the new Upper Truckee River channel near the Lake Tahoe Airport, and crews from the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) are doing stabilization work in the area.

LTBMU was trying to complete the $7 million dollar project, known as Reach 5, in 2016. In June, the area of the new channels was under water and all was looking good.

“The Upper Truckee Reach 5 Restoration Project was nearly completed last fall when the winter storms rolled in and halted our work,” said Acting LTBMU Forest Supervisor, Teresa McClung. “Additional stabilization measures to repair bank erosion and protect vulnerable areas along the former channel alignment are necessary following the high spring flows we experienced in the project area.”

Forest Service ground crews will resume work on Monday, September 11 and will use heavy equipment to complete the job. For safety purposes, the public is advised to use caution around heavy equipment working near neighborhood trails in the meadow and neighborhood access routes.

Stabilization work is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
The UTR Reach 5 Restoration Project was implemented in partnership with the California Tahoe Conservancy. For more information on the project, visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/UpperTruckeeRestoration.