Upper Truckee River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Upper Truckee River |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Lake Stream, Lake Valley Creek, Little Truckee River |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Cities | Meyers, California, South Lake Tahoe, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Red Lake Peak Sierra Nevada, Alpine County, California 9,480 ft (2,890 m) 38°43′06″N 119°59′21″W / 38.71833°N 119.98917°W |
| River mouth | Lake Tahoe El Dorado County, California 6,224 ft (1,897 m) 38°56′32″N 119°59′46″W / 38.94222°N 119.99611°W |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Upper Truckee River is a stream in California. It starts on the western side of Red Lake Peak in Alpine County, California. The river then flows north into Lake Tahoe through an area called the Truckee Marsh. This river is about 23 miles (37 km) long. It is the biggest river that flows into Lake Tahoe.
Contents
History of the River
How Grass Lake Got Its Name
In 1859, a land surveyor named George H. Goddard explored the area. He crossed Luther Pass and found a "swampy valley." This valley had a pond full of tall grass. Because of this, he named it Grass Lake.
About the River's Watershed
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or lake. The Upper Truckee River watershed is the largest one that feeds into Lake Tahoe. It covers about 56.5 square miles (146 km2). This is about 18% of all the land that drains into Lake Tahoe.
Rivers and Lakes in the Watershed
Many smaller streams and lakes feed into the Upper Truckee River. These include:
- Angora Creek
- Echo Creek
- Grass Lake Creek
- Big Meadow Creek
- Upper and Lower Echo Lake
- Round Lake
- Dardanelles Lake
- Showers Lake
- Elbert Lake
- Tamarack Lake
- Ralston Lake
- Angora Lakes
Lake Valley Area
The part of the river between Meyers and South Lake Tahoe is known as Lake Valley.
Changes to Trout Creek
In the past, Trout Creek used to flow into the Upper Truckee River near Lake Tahoe. However, when the Tahoe Keys area was built, the Upper Truckee River was changed. Now, the two streams only join together when there is a lot of rain or melting snow.
Nature and River Health
Plants Along the River
The Upper Truckee River watershed has many types of trees. These include:
- Lodgepole pine
- Ponderosa pine
- Jeffrey pine
- White fir
- Red fir
- Western white pine
- Mountain hemlock
- Sugar pine
You can also find alders, aspen, and willows growing right along the riverbanks.
Important Wetland Areas
The watershed is home to several important wetland areas. Wetlands are lands that are covered by water, either all the time or for part of the year. They are very important for wildlife.
- Grass Lake
- Osgood Swamp
- Truckee Marsh
- Benwood Meadow
- Big Meadow
Grass Lake and Osgood Swamp are special types of wetlands called sphagnum bogs. The California Department of Fish and Game considers them "Significant Natural Areas." Grass Lake is also a U.S. Forest Service Research Natural Area. This means it is protected for scientific study.
Wildlife and Protected Species
The river is a home for special fish. The native Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) have been brought back to the river in the Meiss Meadows area. These fish are a threatened species, meaning their numbers are low.
Near where the river meets Lake Tahoe, you can find a rare plant called Lake Tahoe yellowcress (Rorippa subumbellata). This plant is endangered, which means it is at risk of disappearing forever.
Efforts to Help the River
Over the years, some parts of the river have been changed by human development.
- Much of the large Truckee Marsh was filled in to build the Tahoe Keys neighborhood.
- The river was also straightened in some places to build the South Lake Tahoe airport.
However, there have been efforts to help the river.
- In November 2011, a straight, man-made part of the river near the airport was changed back. It was made to flow in a more natural, winding path.
- In the mid-1980s, California State Parks bought land along the river. This includes Washoe Meadows State Park (WMSP) and Lake Valley State Recreation Area (LVSRA). These areas help protect the wet meadows and floodplains along the Upper Truckee River.
