Sound Watershed
  • Sound Watershed
  • Core
  • Expertise
    • Collaborative Facilitation
    • Natural Resource Policy
    • Sustainable Forestry
    • Monitoring & Adaptive Management
    • Technical Studies
    • Design Services
    • BMP Documents
    • Field Services
  • Portfolio
  • About Michael
  • Contact Us

Lower Squaw Creek Restoration

Sound Watershed Consulting is supporting the Friends of Squaw Creek in a project that is refining several conceptual restoration alternatives along a sensitive sub-alpine meadow with significant historic and current land-use impacts. 

Squaw Creek has been extensively degraded due to numerous land-use impacts.  Past erosion control efforts have experienced mixed success.  Project goals are to restore eco-geomorphic functions by identifying restoration opportunities and constraints and developing alternatives that meet ecological, economic, social and political objectives.

Design solutions for the site includes an integrated set of features designed to improve floodplain interactions, restore bank stability, and regulate natural sediment loads in a manner that is consistent with a dynamically stable channel system.
The Project is ramping up for Phase 3 - Preliminary Design and CEQA.  We've been awarded a SWRCB 319(h) Grant that should be available in early 2011, and we have some initial funding from Placer County and the Lahontan RWQCB to complete some technical sub-tasks.  We also have an outstanding Grant applications to complete our funding needs.

The project enjoys broad support by a diverse group of landowners, residents, stream restoration experts and agencies. 
 
Picture

Project Partners & Collaborators include:

The Friends of Squaw Creek
The Truckee River Watershed Council

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Placer County
The Resort at Squaw Creek
Squaw Valley Ski Corp

The Poulsen Family

Squaw Valley Public Services District

Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board

FOSC Organization Primer

Sound Watershed provided a Primer on Collaborative Stakeholder Processes based on our experience with numerous other multi-stakeholder forums.  These ideas are intended to support the Friends of Squaw Creek in its effort to formally organize, but are relevant to any multi-stakeholder process.
swc_organizational_primer.pdf
File Size: 602 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

October 15, 2009 Project Update

Below is a summary of slides presented during Sound Watershed's project status update at the October 14, 2009 Friends of Squaw Creek Meeting.  It outlines the project milestones to date, and outlines potential future scope of work tasks (and estimated costs).  This was the basis for discussion for how to proceed with existing funding.
project_status_update_oct09.pdf
File Size: 1442 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

External Links


Scoping Documents

The documents below outline our current thinking about the next phase of work.  These have been reviewed on multiple occasions at Friends of Squaw Creek meetings, and are the basis for recent grant applications.
squaw_working_master_plan_100609.pdf
File Size: 1694 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1014_phase_2_scope_draft_051909.pdf
File Size: 327 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Technical Workshop Documents

A series of technical workshops were developed to engage input from stream restoration experts, the landowners associated with the project, and other stakeholders.
1014_floodplain_workshop_report_draft.pdf
File Size: 138 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1014_creek_workshop_report_draft.pdf
File Size: 120 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1_squaw_ck_presentation_intro.pdf
File Size: 497 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

fosc_workshop_minutes_5_15_08_final.pdf
File Size: 99 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Public Workshop Presentation

A public meeting was held to discuss restoration alternatives on Thursday, May 15, 2008.  The  minutes from the workshop can be reviewed by clicking below.  The presentation outlining the work done to date, including current project alternatives, was delivered at this public workshop by Sound Watershed Consulting.  The various elements of the presentation can be found by clicking on the links below:
4_squaw_ck_presentation_alternatives.pdf
File Size: 1172 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

7_squaw_ck_presentation_next_steps.pdf
File Size: 791 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

6_squaw_ck_presentation_reach_details.pdf
File Size: 4152 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2_squaw_ck_presentation_existing_conditions.pdf
File Size: 2906 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

5_squaw_ck_presentation_components.pdf
File Size: 9650 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

3_squaw_ck_presentation_technical_basis.pdf
File Size: 2996 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The photos below provide a summary of the various alternatives under consideration.

Alternative 2)  Preferred Restoration

Picture
The historic channel alternative will partially restore Lower Squaw Creek by re-establishing planform geometry similar to conditions that likely existed prior to the 1800s. The desired channel configuration would be highly sinuous, low-gradient, and relatively shallow. Additional analysis tasks are being developed to extend the project area upstream to the confluence of its headwater tributaries.

Alternative 3)  Modified Pre-European Channel Restoration

Picture
The Modified Historic Channel Alternative would restore existing historic channels, but would retain the existing mainstem channel in areas where the old channel is not clearly evident. This would take advantage of existing conditions, but would reduce the design risk associated with developing new sinuous channel(s). 


Alternative 4)  Floodplain Channel Enhancement

Picture
This design alternative for Lower Squaw Creek involves restoring habitat and functions primarily through restoring and enhancing floodplain channels. This alternative relies on bed and bank stabilization strategies and mainstem flow diversions to improve existing channel conditions, prevent encroachment on existing land use, and restore natural floodplain conditions.


Alternative 1)  No Action

Picture
This image shows the existing conditions for the project area.

20th Century Channel Changes.

Channel Changes
Squaw Creek configuration during the 20th Century. Note the remnant channels along the northeastern portion of the valley. These were likely the primary channel prior to European settlement in the mid 19th Century.

Alternative 5)  Bank & Stream Enhancements

Picture
A fifth design alternative for Lower Squaw Creek focuses on improving the existing channel condition by preventing future bank erosion and bed incision. This alternative relies on bed and bank stabilization strategies to improve existing channel elements, prevent encroachment on existing land use, and restoration of limited habitat conditions.

trwqmpfinalplan.ashx.pdf
File Size: 7560 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Document Library

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.