Trout Creek Restoration Project

The Engineering Division is working on the design and implementation of the Trout Creek Restoration Project. The originally envisioned Trout Creek Restoration Project encompassed 6 reaches extending from the Highway 80 crossing to the Truckee River. Restoration work has been implemented throughout most of the restoration area, including a portion of Reach 1 and all of Reaches 2 through 5. Reach 6 is almost entirely within the Union Pacific Railroad right of way, posing significant challenges associated with right of way and constructability adjacent to and under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and is not currently being pursued by the Town. Therefore, the completion of Reach 1 would effectively complete the Town's near-term plans to restore the creek. 

The purpose of restoring Trout Creek is as follows:

• Restore the natural function of the creek.
• Improve ecological value by creating riparian and aquatic habitat.
• Improve water quality by managing local water runoff.
• Provide flood protection.
• Improve recreational and aesthetic value of the creek.

The remaining Reach 1 segment (see Figure 1 below) extends from the Trout Creek pocket park, under Jibboom Street, along the north side of the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District (TDRPD) Community Arts Center, under School Street and to the limits of the Reach 1, Phase 1 project. Preliminary designs were prepared for all Reach 1 in 2012, but with limited funding and a lack of land control over the entire reach, the reach was phased and only the downstream portion was constructed in 2014 and 2015.

The Reach 1, Phase 2 project is identified in the 2023/2024 through 2024/2025 Work Plan as Task 3.15 under Infrastructure and Community Connectivity, with design initiating after completion of the 2024 construction season. A contract with Waterways Consulting, Inc. was awarded in January 2025 to develop updated Reach 1 Phase 2 designs.

If you have any questions regarding the Trout Creek Restoration Project, please email Becky Bucar, Assistant Public Works Director or call 530-582-2932.