TRUCKEE, Calif. -- More than 200 volunteers celebrated the 14th annual Truckee River Day at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento DistrictAca,!a,,cs Martis Creek Lake in Truckee, Calif., Oct. 18. Volunteers completed relocation of a trail and planted native grasses and trees along a stretch of Martis Creek running through the park.
A program of the Truckee River Watershed Council, Truckee River Day aims to educate and involve the community in restoration projects in the Truckee River watershed. Martis Creek runs through the Corps-managed Martis Creek Wildlife Area before joining the Truckee below the CorpsAca,!a,,c Martis Creek Lake Dam.
Local residents and volunteers from area Boy and Girl Scout Troops, the Ritz-Carlton Highlands Lake Tahoe hotel and the A Thyme to Plant landscaping company helped advance the Martis Creek Restoration Project, a cooperative effort between the Corps and the Watershed Council to return the stream back to its natural state.
Heavy foot traffic on the trail along the stream had been steadily eroding its banks, disrupting its flow and ecosystem. The trail, a former cattle path adopted by hikers, had become one of the most popular hiking trails in the area. The Corps, with volunteer help and a $37,500 grant from the Martis Fund, finished moving the trail away from the stream Sunday, completing a critical phase of the restoration project.
Aca,!A"With our volunteersAca,!a,,c help today, weAca,!a,,cre finally done with the trail relocation needed to continue to restore Martis Creek,Aca,!A? Martis park ranger Jacqui Zink said. Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs very exciting.Aca,!A?
Stefanie Olivieri, a director of the Martis Fund, said the fund chose to support the Martis project because, Aca,!A"It had a high priority for stewardship of the Martis Valley. The number of visitors we have here are loving it to death. It needs constant attention if weAca,!a,,cre going to restore it to its natural state. Plus, it builds community support and ownership of this special place.Aca,!A?
With the trail successfully moved, volunteers planted native grass and tree seedlings and installed temporary fencing along the old trail to restore the bankAca,!a,,cs natural protections and discourage hiker traffic.
Valerie Forsyth, mother of one of the Girl Scout volunteers from Troop 1310, said the TroopAca,!a,,cs work planting seedlings, Aca,!A"teaches them about the environment, and the importance of preventing erosion. These girls live here, and they want to keep (the park) beautiful.Aca,!A?
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