Truckee River Parks and Open Space Weed Management and Revegetation

Project Description:

This project would remove noxious and invasive weeds and reestablish native vegetation in Washoe County Park and Open Space areas along the Truckee River corridor. Project implementation would include weed inventory, GIS mapping and reporting, chemical and mechanical treatments, re-vegetation, and monitoring. A combination of Washoe County staff time, contracts, and volunteer efforts would be used to implement the project. An Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Plan was developed for Washoe County Parks in June 2020. Treatments would follow the guidance and recommendations in the IVM Plan to establish stable perennial plant communities which will help to improve fish and wildlife habitat, enhance recreational opportunities, improve water quality through soil stabilization, reduce fire hazard, and increase the visual quality of parks along the Truckee River.

TMWA Benefit:

The proposed project advances Truckee River Fund grant priorities II, IV, VII, and VIII. Managing noxious weeds and re-establishing native vegetation along the Truckee River corridor helps to improve water quality by stabilizing soils and reducing erosion potential and sedimentation as identified in Priority II. The proposed project advances Priority IV through re-vegetation of upland areas which will help to improve watershed resiliency and establish stable perennial plant communities within previously disturbed areas. The project meets multiple objectives as identified in Priority VII. Priority VIII is advanced through Washoe County’s partnership with multiple stakeholders including the Nevada Land Trust, One Truckee River Partnership, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Agriculture, and Nevada Division of Forestry to identify restoration needs and leverage funding sources for projects in the Truckee River Corridor.