Projects & Funding
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District is funded mostly by grants from a variety of sources, including state, federal and local. These grants allow us to provide free services to homeowners, educate the public in conservation issues and provide technical assistance our many project partners.
Watershed Resources Program
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-Prop 13-40
Funding for the Lake Tahoe Watershed Improvement Project has been provided in full or in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board.
Major Project Components: Implementation of BMP's, identification and control of invasive species, fules reduction and water conservation technical assistance
Project Partner Agencies: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Nevada Fire Safe Council, South Tahoe Public Utility District, University of California at Davis, Desert Research Institute, Sierra Watershed Education Partnership
Proposition 50: Integrated Regional Watershed Management Grant Program
The Proposition 50 Integrated Regional Watershed Management (IWRM) Grant Program is a joint program between the Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, which includes grants for planning and implementation. In February of 2007, the Tahoe RCD and 10 partner agencies received $12.5 million through the Proposition 50 IWRM Grant Program to protect and improve water quality in the Tahoe Basin.
Major Project Components: Implementation of BMP's, Habitat and Stream Restoration activities, waterline replacement, water conservation, education and outreach, TMDL monitoring
Project Partner Agencies: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), South Tahoe Public Utility District, University of California at Davis, Desert Research Institute, Sierra Watershed Education Partnership, Town of Truckee, Truckee River Watershed Council, South Tahoe Unified School District, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, Alpine County
California Department of Transportation (Cal-Trans)
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 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 in Fall 2010. 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 2011.
Major Project Components: Brockway Summit revegetation project (Highway 267)
Project Partner Agencies: California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), Integrated Environmental Restoration Services (IERS)
Department of Water Resources
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. The 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.
Major Project Components: Homewood Creek Erosion Control Project
Project Partner Agencies: Homewood Mountain Resort, Integrated Environmental Restoration services (IERS)
SNPLMA--Fire Defensible Space/Erosion Control
The Tahoe RCD is currently sub-contracting with IERS to conduct research and coordinate with local homeowners for implementation related to the integration of fire defensible space and best management practices. Established parameters will be tested for flammability, including flame height and flame spread, as well as for erosion control, including potential for runoff and infiltration. The applications determined to be most functional and cost effective for the two combined practices will be implemented on demonstration properties where the homeowners are willing to participate and to potentially showcase the end product to interested parties.
Major Project Components: Compatibility between recommendations made for fire defensible space activities and erosion control practices
Project Partner Agencies: IERS, US Forest Service, Meeks Bay Fire Protection District, TRPA
Mini-50
The Tahoe RCD and partnering agencies have recently received funding from the Department of Water Resources to implement subsequent phases of projects initially funded through Proposition 50. Because agency partners did not receive the full amount of funding requested through the original Proposition 50 grant the Tahoe Sierra IRWM partnership has chosen seven projects to move forward on additional implementation of stated work tasks and deliverables. Funding for implementation of these projects is expected to be secured by spring of 2011.
Major Project Components: Implementation of BMP's Water Conservation, River and Habitat Restoration Activities, Waterline Replacement, TMDL Monitoring
Project Partner Agencies: TRPA, South Tahoe PUD, Truckee River Watershed Council, Town of Truckee, South Tahoe Unified School District
SNPLMA--Community Watershed Planning
The Tahoe RCD has received initial funding to begin to implement Community Watershed Planning activities with the Tahoe Basin. The Tahoe RCD will be working closely with the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District and NRCS to develop comprehensive and holistic community watershed plans that will examine and address natural resource issues within selected sub-watershed areas throughout the Tahoe Basin. This project will rely on input from local community members and coordination with agency representatives to identify and prioritize natural resource issues and to determine appropriate solutions to address these identified issues. On-the-ground implementation of this project is expected to begin during spring of 2011.
Major Project components: Implementation of BMP's, Information Dissemination, Education and Outreach, Watershed Needs and Assessment, Agency/Community Coordination, Provision of Technical Assistance Related to Backyard Conservation
Project Partner Agencies: NRCS, Nevada Tahoe Conservation District
Biological Resources Program
US Bureau of Reclamation
The Tahoe RCD has been partnering with the Bureau of Reclamation since 2006, for the monitoring and removal of invasive weeds in Emerald Bay. Our current scope of work also includes Asian clam monitoring, and subsidizing the Watercraft Inspection Program. Invasive weed removal has continued to be successful in Emerald Bay, and will continue with a more rigorous approach in 2011.
Major Project Components: Asian Clam Removal, Watercraft Inspections, Near-shore aquatic weed control
Project Partner Agencies: TRPA, California State Parks
Nevada Department of Environmental Protection
The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) has provided funds to remove invasive weeds from marinas during the event of a permitted dredging permit. The NDEP has a vested interest in preserving and enhancing the environment, in order to protect public health, sustain healthy ecosystems, and contribute to a vibrant economy. Tahoe RCD's first project involved removing 2200 pounds or 1.3 cubic yards of invasive weeds from Elks Point Marina.
Major Project Components: Near-shore aquatic weed removal
Project Partner Agencies: TRPA
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is very concerned about the potential and current threats that Aquatic Invasive Species hold on Lake Tahoe. Their continuous and generous funds have kept the prevention, education, control and monitoring projects afloat the past 3 years.
Major Project Components: Asian clam removal, Watercraft Inspection Program, Near-shore aquatic weed control and Aquatic Invasive Specie Education and Outreach
Major Project Agencies: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, University of Nevada, Reno, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board and Private and Public Marina Managers.
Truckee River Fund
The Truckee River Fund was started by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) to be used exclusively for projects that protect and enhance water quality or water resources of the Truckee River, or its watershed. The Tahoe RCD has most recently received these funds to continue our coordination of the Truckee Region Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program. This program consists of voluntary watercraft inspections on 5 waterbodies, strategic planning, partner coordination and program development.
Major Project Components: Truckee Region Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program
Major Project Partner Agencies: Truckee River Watershed Council, US Bureau of Reclamation, University of Nevada, Reno, Town of Truckee and Truckee Conner Parks and Recreation
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Through US Fish and Wildlife Service appropriations, The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency supports Tahoe RCD watercraft decontaminations and off-highway inspection stations with supplemental funding.
Major Project Components: Watercraft Inspection Decontaminations, Off-Highway Inspection Stations
Project Partner Agencies: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Services
Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS)
The NRCS have been awarded funds from Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) to implement Environmental Improvement Projects in the Tahoe Basin. The NRCS has provided over $900,000 for the Tahoe RCD through SNPLMA in the past couple of years to implement a multitude of projects.
Major Project Components: Terrestrial Invasive Weed Education, Identification and Control, Conservation Landscaping and Weed Technical Assistance
Project Partner Agencies: Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Coordinating Group