The Truckee River Watershed Council is starting three new restoration projects to address 3,200 feet of Donner Creek that have been impacted since the 1800s. Photo courtesy of TRWC

TRUCKEE, CA (MPG) – The Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) is breaking ground on three restoration projects in and along Donner Creek that will repair 3,200 feet of the creek, restore 1.3 acres of habitat and better protect the community from major storm events. 

Since the mid-1800s, Donner Creek has been modified to accommodate various land uses – from cattle grazing to highway construction to building development – that have eroded streambanks, degraded wildlife habitat and diminished downstream water quality.

“Restoring Donner Creek is an important part of our regional effort to improve both fish and wildlife habitat, as well as overall water quality,” said Rachel Robin, project director at TRWC. “By integrating restoration with repairs to infrastructure, we are addressing sediment at its roadside source, improving our community’s resilience to major stormwater events and improving the synergy between our built environment and the natural systems at play in our watershed.”

Restoration efforts will repair and reinforce creek banks while also enhancing aquatic and riparian or water-adjacent, habitat. TRWC will excavate and repurpose excess sediment that has accumulated in the channel over time, reconnecting the creek and floodplain areas. This will allow water to slow down, reducing the risk of erosion both locally and downstream. Native vegetation planted along the banks will further improve stability and protect against erosion while also increasing riparian habitat. Rock and wood structures will be embedded in the creek to promote variation in flow depth and speed, improving habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.

In 2024, TRWC completed similar restoration work along 5,000 feet of Donner Creek just upstream from the Truckee River. Root wads were installed and native vegetation planted along the creek’s shoreline to help stabilize banks and prevent erosion. Large boulders installed within the streambed improved flow variation and enhanced habitat.

Current restoration is being funded in part by the California Department of Water Resources’s Urban Streams Restoration Program.

Learn more about TRWC’s efforts to restore Donner Creek and support the Truckee River Watershed at truckeeriverwc.org.