Ward Creek (Lake Tahoe) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ward Creek |
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The mouth of Ward Creek on Lake Tahoe
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 Location of the mouth of Ward Creek in California
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| Native name | dagásliʔ |
| Other name(s) | Wards Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Placer County |
| Cities | Pine Land, Timberland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Between Ward Peak and Twin Peaks in the Granite Chief Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains 7,940 ft (2,420 m) 39°07′10″N 120°14′20″W / 39.11944°N 120.23889°W |
| River mouth | Lake Tahoe Tahoe Pines 6,234 ft (1,900 m) 39°07′45″N 120°09′18″W / 39.12917°N 120.15500°W |
Ward Creek is a cool stream in Placer County, California. It flows for about 6.1 miles (9.8 km) towards the east. This creek eventually empties into the beautiful Lake Tahoe. It joins the lake about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) south of Tahoe City, California.
Ward Creek is super important for keeping Lake Tahoe clean. People have worked hard to restore the creek. Their goal is to stop dirt and runoff from getting into the lake. This helps keep Lake Tahoe's water clear and pure.
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History of Ward Creek
Ward Creek and a nearby mountain, Ward Peak, are named after a person named Ward Rush. He claimed land there on April 1, 1874. In the early 1980s, the McClatchy family gave some land next to the creek to California State Parks. This land became part of a protected area.
Understanding the Ward Creek Watershed
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or lake. The Ward Creek watershed is quite large. It covers about 6,200 acres (2,500 hectares). This makes it the fourth biggest watershed among the 63 that feed into Lake Tahoe.
Ward Creek contributes about 6% of all the water flowing into Lake Tahoe. In the past, a lot of dirt and mud (called sediment) came from this area. This was due to building new neighborhoods and logging roads. Now, efforts are made to reduce this sediment.
Where Ward Creek Starts
Ward Creek has two main branches. The North Fork starts on the south side of Ward Peak. The South Fork begins on the north side of Twin Peaks. These peaks are part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Ward Creek watershed is located just north of the Blackwood Creek area. It's also south of the Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. You can find Ward Creek Road running alongside the main part of the creek.
Protecting Nature: Ward Creek Ecology
From 2006 to 2013, Ward Creek Park went through a big restoration project. This project was a team effort by California State Parks and other groups. Their main goals were to:
- Reduce erosion, which stops dirt from getting into Lake Tahoe.
- Remove too many trees that could easily catch fire.
- Take out an old dam that was changing the creek's natural flow.
Beavers Helping the Creek
Did you know that beavers are natural engineers? Beaver dams on Ward Creek are very helpful. They slow down the water, which reduces the amount of sediment and nutrients (like phosphorus) flowing into Lake Tahoe. This helps keep the lake clean.
Scientists have found that beavers are native to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Their dams usually don't block fish like trout from moving up and down the creek. This means beavers and fish can live together happily.
Fun Things to Do: Ward Creek Recreation
Ward Creek Park is a California State Park. It covers about 180 acres (73 hectares) of land. Ward Creek forms the northern border of the park, and Highway 89 is on its eastern side. The California State Parks system protects the area along the creek.
The park has many trails for you to explore. These trails connect to the bike path along Highway 89. They also link up with USFS trails. You can hike to Stanford Rock or even connect to the famous Tahoe Rim Trail from here. It's a great place to enjoy nature!
