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Outdoors
ENLARGE
A couple of visits to Perazzo Meadows revealed the impressive results of the “plug and pond” restoration project begun by the US Forest Service last summer.
These meadows lie along Jackson Meadows Road running from route 89 outside of Truckee to Jackson Reservoir. In July, Perazzo Meadows was spectacular with lots of flowers and loaded with birds.
The Little Truckee River running through the meadow had created a deep channel. The channel exposed the subsoil causing subsurface desiccation. This drying of the soil seriously impacted the growth of bush willows in the meadow. These willows are the primary nesting habitat for the threatened Willow Flycatcher and many other nesting species including Yellow, Wilson's and MacGillivray's Warblers.
Randy Westmoreland, USFS hydrologist, developed the restoration plan and managed the first phase of its implementation last August. He recently said that after the first phase of restoration the meadow was “looking real good.” The water was spread out in the upper meadow covering a wide area.
The object of the plan was to interrupt the free flow of the Little Truckee River so that the spring runoff would not rush along and increase the channel. Instead, the river was plugged with gravels from the site creating ponds in the flow hence, the name “plug and pond.”
This distribution of the runoff across the meadow also increased the habitat for specie like Common Snipe and Spotted Sandpipers. USFS biologist Chris Boatner, concurring that “the meadows looked wonderful' reported that they were seeing an increase in Spotted Sandpipers this summer during their Bird Banding survey. She also said that they were banding many species of flycatchers , Dusky, Hammond's and Willow. I saw Common snipe this summer that I hadn't seen last summer and twice as many spotted sandpipers.
The completion of the first phase was particularly timely in light of the heavy snowfall and subsequent runoff this year. Without the restoration project this large runoff would have further deepened the channels exacerbating the problem. Westmoreland noted that one of the plugs in the upper or southwestern portion of the meadow was blown out by the runoff and will be repaired.
The second phase of the project begins in August after the Willow Flycatchers have nested. The plan is to apply the” plug and pond” method further down the river by going in with digging equipment and relocating the gravels to further disrupt the Little Truckee. There is an impressive overlook of this work area on the Jackson Meadows Road about five miles from route 89. The public will be able to watch the operation from this point.
The third and last phase of the restoration is planned for August 2011. It will involve the river area from the end of phase two to the diversion dam just above the road to Independence Lake.
This restoration project was planned by a collaboration of the US Forest Service, The Truckee River Watershed Council and the Tahoe Donner Land Trust. The work paid for by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act.
Walt Carnahan, a member of the board of the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society, writes about and photographs birds.
These meadows lie along Jackson Meadows Road running from route 89 outside of Truckee to Jackson Reservoir. In July, Perazzo Meadows was spectacular with lots of flowers and loaded with birds.
The Little Truckee River running through the meadow had created a deep channel. The channel exposed the subsoil causing subsurface desiccation. This drying of the soil seriously impacted the growth of bush willows in the meadow. These willows are the primary nesting habitat for the threatened Willow Flycatcher and many other nesting species including Yellow, Wilson's and MacGillivray's Warblers.
Randy Westmoreland, USFS hydrologist, developed the restoration plan and managed the first phase of its implementation last August. He recently said that after the first phase of restoration the meadow was “looking real good.” The water was spread out in the upper meadow covering a wide area.
The object of the plan was to interrupt the free flow of the Little Truckee River so that the spring runoff would not rush along and increase the channel. Instead, the river was plugged with gravels from the site creating ponds in the flow hence, the name “plug and pond.”
This distribution of the runoff across the meadow also increased the habitat for specie like Common Snipe and Spotted Sandpipers. USFS biologist Chris Boatner, concurring that “the meadows looked wonderful' reported that they were seeing an increase in Spotted Sandpipers this summer during their Bird Banding survey. She also said that they were banding many species of flycatchers , Dusky, Hammond's and Willow. I saw Common snipe this summer that I hadn't seen last summer and twice as many spotted sandpipers.
The completion of the first phase was particularly timely in light of the heavy snowfall and subsequent runoff this year. Without the restoration project this large runoff would have further deepened the channels exacerbating the problem. Westmoreland noted that one of the plugs in the upper or southwestern portion of the meadow was blown out by the runoff and will be repaired.
The second phase of the project begins in August after the Willow Flycatchers have nested. The plan is to apply the” plug and pond” method further down the river by going in with digging equipment and relocating the gravels to further disrupt the Little Truckee. There is an impressive overlook of this work area on the Jackson Meadows Road about five miles from route 89. The public will be able to watch the operation from this point.
The third and last phase of the restoration is planned for August 2011. It will involve the river area from the end of phase two to the diversion dam just above the road to Independence Lake.
This restoration project was planned by a collaboration of the US Forest Service, The Truckee River Watershed Council and the Tahoe Donner Land Trust. The work paid for by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act.
Walt Carnahan, a member of the board of the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society, writes about and photographs birds.
