Upper
Truckee River
... River and Watershed Problems
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Five
bridges cross the river in the state parks reach.
Many of these rivers are undersized — they do not span the
floodplain and in some cases are narrower than the channel itself.
High water flows are constricted through a narrower opening leading to
increased erosion. Note also that golf course green extend to the
rivers edge.
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Eroding Streambanks |
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Because the river has
down-cut, the spring runoff cannot access the historic floodplain.
This leads to higher erosive force in the channel, and many
banks are eroding as seen in this photo. Note also that golf course green extend to the rivers edge.
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Bank
Erosion and Golf Course
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Tall stream banks have been
eroded dropping chunks of eroded fine-grained material into the river.
Logs placed to stabilize the bank near the golf course bridge
are a temporary band aid.
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Failed
Band-aid Treatments
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| A variety of stabilization treatments have been used to reduce bank
erosion, but these have either failed or just transfer the problem to
the next bank. This bank
was treated with rip-rap rock to stabilize it, but that also has
fallen into the river. |
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Lack
of Buffer Zone |
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The golf course fairways
extend right up to the edge of the river.
There is no buffer zone between the golf course and the river
to absorb nutrients. There
is no riparian habitat corridor along the river.
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Channel Lacks Habitat |
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Straight channel with golf
course extending to rivers edge lacks habitat and diversity for both
aquatic and terrestrial critters.
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Gravels Clogged |
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Stream substrate is poor
quality for fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Gravels are clogged with fine-grained sediment.
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Potential golf relocation area
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| Areas considered for
relocation of the golf course include upland areas more distal from
the river to minimize impacts to meadows, wetlands, riparian areas,
and sensitive habitats. Parts
of these areas were historically used for ranching, logging, and parts
have been used for borrow pits (this photo) prior to acquisition by
state parks.
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