a partnership of stewardship and restoration

By LISA WALLACE , Executive Director of the Truckee River Watershed Council

The Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) brings the community together for the Truckee River to protect, enhance and restore its watershed. Working with multiple public agencies and private organizations, Tahoe Donner remains an integral partner in this process, providing valuable insight and field support to the surrounding lands under their jurisdiction.

For many years, Tahoe Donner and TRWC have worked jointly on small projects for the ecological enhancement of Tahoe Donner’s open space. More recently, we have collaborated on larger projects to protect and restore Euer Valley streams and meadows. Together, we work to preserve Truckee’s natural resources, watersheds and wildlife habitats and maintain a thriving ecosystem amid everevolving residential and urban landscapes. Below are examples of Tahoe Donner and TRWC’s shared initiatives that demonstrate our mutual commitment to environmental stewardship.

Truckee River Day

Every October, TRWC coordinates with Tahoe Donner’s Forestry and Land Management Department on a project within the community. Throughout its 20-year history, on Truckee River Day, volunteers have planted thousands of trees in carefully selected habitats and locations.

near Coyote Crossing. This project will improve the in-stream habitat, protect the stream banks and improve the water quality of Prosser Creek.

Prosser Basin Watershed Assessment

In a multi-agency collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, TRWC and Tahoe Donner worked to assess all public land and open space in the Prosser Basin from the headwaters to the reservoir. Completed in 2021, the report identified flourishing parts of the Prosser Basin and areas needing forest, stream or meadow restoration or additional management. From this assessment, TRWC and Tahoe Donner will work together to restore several reaches of Prosser Creek over the next few years.

get involved!

As a member of Tahoe Donner, there are many ways to get involved with supporting the association's efforts toward maintaining a richly sustainable community: partners with volunteers and the Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) to plant trees in the community. In 2022, trees were planted to reforest open slopes. Long-term trees create shade that curtails brush growth.

• Become a community Weed Warrior by downloading the Invasive Weeds Guidebook from truckeeriverwc.org, familiarizing yourself with the nonnative plants in the local watersheds and reporting them to TWRC.

• Attend river talks to stay informed of past and present threats to the Truckee River Watershed and learn how you can protect and restore it.

• Participate in the Adopt-A-Stream program to monitor water quality in Tahoe Donner’s creeks and streams using fun and easy-to-learn scientific techniques.

• Help the forest grow by planting trees in specially designated areas in Tahoe Donner on Truckee River Day!

Additionally, attend other fun events like the River Breakfast in May 2023 to get to know a team of like-minded and dedicated environmental stewards in your community.

Prosser Creek Restoration

Large reaches of Prosser Creek in Euer Valley are healthy and well-functioning, but there are several sections in need of restoration. This summer, TRWC and Tahoe Donner will restore a reach of the creek

roads + trails inventory and analysis

In another collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy and the Truckee Donner Land Trust, TRWC and Tahoe Donner worked to compile a report on trails and roads identified as functional, impaired or at risk for water capture and possible erosion. Completed in 2022, the Forestry and Land Management Department is now using the report to prioritize ongoing maintenance efforts.

To learn more about TRWC and our important partnership with Tahoe Donner, visit truckeeriverwc.org or contact Lisa Wallace at lwallace@truckeeriverwc.org. To learn more about Tahoe Donner’s land management program, visit tahoedonner.com/land-management or flip to page 12 to learn about the recently adopted Trails and Open Space Master Plan!