Trout Creek Stream Restoration and Wildlife Enhancement Project

South Lake Tahoe, CA

City of South Lake Tahoe
Summer/Fall 2000

Hanford ARC (prime contractor) and Frontier Contracting (sub contractor, operating specialized equipment) constructed this second phase of a comprehensive floodplain and habitat restoration project. Designed by Watershed Restoration Associates of South Lake Tahoe, restoration involved construction of approximately 5,700 linear feet of stream channel with features including sod bank revetments, rootwads and placed gravel bars and riffles.

In the project area, Trout Creek flows through a meadow at a low gradient (<2% slope). Historically, the stream was relocated to allow for a railroad bed. During this relocation, the stream was straightened, effectively shortening the channel length in the valley (reducing sinuosity), and increasing the gradient. The channel incised, limiting flooding on the floodplain terrace. The groundwater table dropped simultaneously, changing the vegetation composition in the wet meadow.

With the railroad gone, the opportunity existed to return Trout Creek and the surrounding meadow to historic conditions, and improve the habitat value of the local environment.

A new, meandering channel, with an 18-foot wide (average) cross-section and greatly increased sinuosity, was constructed. The channel substrate, including gravel bars, riffles and pools was constructed at an elevation 2 to 3 feet higher than the existing creek. Rootwads were placed at the outside bends of the meanders and four grade control structures with sills were installed at the downstream end of the project to transition the new channel to the old.

The revegetation component included harvesting of meadow sod for a stacked sod revetment on outside bends (coined 'deformable bank structures'), and replacement of sod on the channel banks. The sod revetment was staked with live willow cuttings. Also, willows that were removed for channel excavation were transplanted as encountered.