PR -- Ward Creek watershed project ideas

Date: July 10, 2009 Contact: Public Affairs, Cheva Heck 530-543-2608 or Rex Norman 530-543-2627
COMMENT SOUGHT ON WARD CREEK WATERSHED RESTORATION
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is seeking comments on a proposed action for the Ward Creek Watershed Ecosystem Restoration. Ward Creek is located on Tahoe’s West Shore north of the Homewood area. The purpose of the project is to correct effects from old land uses that are causing erosion and impacting water quality, and to promote a higher level of ecosystem function. The proposal consists primarily of breaching and re-vegetation of an old ditch berm in 2 to 3 locations within a roughly 70 foot reach. This will help to re-establish natural drainage patterns. In addition, a series of hand constructed features called “water bars” would be placed on an old logging road to re-establish more natural drainage and reduce erosion. The due date for comments on the proposed action is July 31, 2009. The full Proposed Action Description is available for review at the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe Calif., and on-line at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/projects