Projects
Angora Community Demonstration Garden
The Tahoe RCD is re-vegetating a property burned in the Angora Fire for demonstration purposes. The property is owned by the Allen family and was graciously donated for the project. The purpose of the project is to provide a sample landscape that showcases conservation landscaping ideas tailored to the Angora Burn area for the benefit of homeowners affected by the Angora Fire and also other Lake Tahoe community members.
The demonstration garden will include examples of Tahoe native and adapted vegetation, fire defensible space, water conservation, and erosion control practices specific to properties in the Angora Burn area. Additionally, the garden will feature soil amendment monitoring, irrigation techniques, and a variety of composts and mulches. The demonstration garden, located at 1383 Mount Olympia Circle, will promote backyard conservation and also serve as a beautiful area for the neighborhood to enjoy.
For more information:
http://www.evansfamilygarden.org
Courtney Walker
530-543-1501 ext. 118
Brockway Summit Revegetation Project
The Tahoe RCD has been awarded funding from California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to conduct revegetation and slope stabilization work along the Highway 267 corridor over Brockway summit. Planting trees, shrubs and plants along the bare, eroding cut banks along Highway 267 will reduce the overall contribution of fine sediments and nutrients from entering Lake Tahoe. Research has shown that fine sediments from urban up-land settings (including road development) has been a major contributor to the decline in lake clarity over the past 50 years. Work on the lower end of 267 began this fall. Over 10,000 square feet of hill side has been tilled, revegetated and mulched. Work on the remainder of the slopes along the uphill side of 267 will resume in the spring of 2010.
A mixture of native wildflower, grass and shrub seeds is being applied to the slopes to provide a continuous cover of vegetation and to reduce the potential for transfer of sediment into the roadway and local waterways. In total, approximately 5000 to 6000 plants will be incorporated into the project area by the end of 2011. Monitoring for success of survival of these plants will be conducted through the length of the project and re-planting will occur as needed to ensure plant survivability.
If you have questions about this project, or if you would like further information, please contact Eben Swain at: (530) 543-1501 *110 or eswain@tahoercd.org.
Vegetation Consultations
Summer 2008 proved an extremely successful first field season for the Tahoe RCD’s free vegetation consultation services. Vegetation consultations assist homeowners in re-vegetating their properties utilizing conservation landscaping principles. Each property receiving a vegetation consultation receives a site evaluation of the areas to be planted including information on appropriate plant selection based on soil type, moisture content, and sunlight conditions. Properties are also surveyed for invasive weeds and if found, a removal plan is created and implemented. Homeowners receive an introduction to basic horticulture and conservation landscape practices, in addition to being provided with a copy of the Home Landscaping Guide for Lake Tahoe and Vicinity and other valuable resources to help maintain a Tahoe-friendly landscape.
Landscaping techniques promoted through Tahoe RCD’s vegetation consultations promote water conservation, soil erosion control, and wildlife enhancement. These are a good fit with other Tahoe homeowner assistance programs such as the Tahoe RCD’s Best Management Practices Retrofit Program and South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Turf Buy-Back Program.
To sign up for a vegetation consultation, click here, and for more information, contact:
Tahoe Resource Conservation District
BCP Hotline: (530) 543-1501 ext. 113
info@tahoercd.org
Homewood Erosion Control Project
In 2008, the Tahoe RCD, in collaboration with Homewood Mountain Resort, was awarded funding from the Department of Water Resources to implement erosion control and water quality improvement practices to achieve pollutant load reductions within the Homewood Creek watershed. This goal of this pilot project is to make the Homewood Creek Watershed the first watershed in the Lake Tahoe Basin to achieve the Lake Tahoe Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Clarity Challenge of a 32% reduction in fine sediment loading. Project implementation is expected to begin in spring of 2009.
Aquatic Invasive Weed Removal Projects
- Emerald Bay
- Timber Cove
- Ski Run
- Sunnyside
Asian Clam Control and Monitoring Project
As part of the ongoing effort to keep Lake Tahoe free of destructive aquatic invaders and manage populations of those already in the Lake, a pilot project for removal of Asian clams is occurring in the South Shore of Lake Tahoe and will be continuing through March 2010.
During this time, equipment including a barge, crane and other research vessels will be visible from the beach and US Hwy 50. Some swimming areas may be temporarily impacted. Buoy fields will be avoided as much possible. This work is necessary to help protect Lake Tahoe not only from the Asian clam, but other invaders as well, including quagga and zebra mussels.
The Asian clam is a relatively new aquatic invasive species that is becoming established in Lake Tahoe and is causing environmental impacts. Asian clam can impact Lake Tahoe by:
- Releasing nitrogen and phosphorus to the lake, resulting in nuisance algal blooms.
- Potentially negatively impacting drinking water by clogging intake pipes.
- Their sharp shells litter beaches, negatively impacting recreation.
- Possible adverse impact to native lake organisms that live on the lake floor.
This phase of the Asian clam removal pilot project involves a combination of two methods:
1. Bottom barriers: large plastic sheets used to cover and terminate Asian clam populations by reducing oxygen and food availability.
2. Diver assisted removal: physical removal of clams from the lake bottom.
Although the Asian clam population cannot be eradicated, if action is taken now it can be controlled and other aquatic invasive species can be prevented from entering the Lake.
This pilot project will test the feasibility of control measures that could reduce Asian clam populations and the impacts of this introduced species on water quality in Lake Tahoe.
For more information, contact Nicole Cartwright at 530.543.1501 ext 111 or ncartwright@tahoercd.org