Incline Meadow, Burke Creek projects completed

Winter 2024 - Major erosion control and watershed rehabilitation work aimed at restoring and preserving Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity are underway throughout the Tahoe Basin, and the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) just completed two key projects at Incline Meadow and Burke Creek.

At Incline Meadow a few miles above Incline Village off Mount Rose Highway, restoration crews in recent years have removed unstable dam structures from the previously drained, manmade lake; recontoured the 754-acre area to re-establish its natural topography; and restored natural vegetation and wildlife habitat.

At Burke Creek and Rabe Meadow—located about a mile north of Stateline on the west side of U.S. Highway 50—crews have restored the waterway’s natural channel; expanded the area’s meadow floodplain; and reactivated dormant stream meanders by installing woody structures to encourage beaver recolonization.

Both locations had been extensively altered by human activities, including logging, grazing, recreation, and unnatural alterations to streams and meadows. By mending natural processes within the ecosystem, these projects will directly benefit the lake by naturally filtering runoff before it reaches Lake Tahoe. These projects will ultimately strengthen the resilience of the Lake Tahoe ecosystem, particularly during droughts and extreme rain or snowmelt events.

Shared Restoration Goals

Although located miles apart in different corners of the Tahoe Basin, the Incline Meadow and Burke Creek projects are similar in many ways. Both projects involved:

• Hydrologic restoration: Restoring natural stream channels, improving floodplain connectivity, and revitalizing groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
• Erosion control: Stabilizing streambanks to prevent future erosion and reduce the amount of sediment flowing into Lake Tahoe.
• Vegetation restoration: Both projects have brought back native riparian and meadow vegetation and critical wetland plant communities while removing and discouraging invasive species.
• Habitat enhancement: In repairing these areas, the Forest Service has reintroduced thriving habitats for diverse species. The endangered Tahoe yellow cress now has a foothold in Burke Creek, and beaver colonies, whose dam-building activities help rejuvenate streams, now have opportunities in both areas.
• Invasive species management: Both projects helped remove terrestrial invasive flora to protect native ecosystems.
• Public access and recreation: The work also has benefits for humans! The restoration efforts will discourage damaging human activity while creating opportunities for continued recreational access that doesn’t interfere with these fragile areas’ natural processes.

Incline Meadow Restoration

The LTBMU acquired the 754-acre Incline Lake property in 2011. The property included the human-made lake and dam, which did not meet safety standards. The lake was drained prior to the Forest Service taking ownership, and the dam structures and spillways were removed in 2020. The area was then recontoured to match the natural topography. Subsequent restoration began in 2021.

Here are some of the achievements of that effort:

• Restoration of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, including fens, marshes, and wetland communities.
• Re-establishment of natural surface flow patterns in the meadow by removing human-made berms, filling gullies, and installing log and willow structures.
• Installation of structures designed to mimic natural beaver dams (called beaver dam analogs) and woody debris structures to enhance habitat. Beaver dams trap sediment and pollutants; create habitat for other wildlife and fish; and help to store water. (Read more about beavers on page 24.)
• Stabilization of headcuts and streambanks to prevent erosion.
• Introduction of native plants such as willow stakes, seeds, and small, native plants that are hand-planted to help vegetation grow in wetlands.
• Habitat restoration for native fish and other aquatic species.
• Removal of terrestrial invasive species.
• Implementation of slope stabilization and recontouring upland areas previously occupied with building sites.

These restoration efforts will reverse the negative impacts of the dam and restore the watershed to more natural conditions, creating a more resilient landscape.

This project was funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, which authorizes the sale of Bureau of Land Management-administered federal lands within a designated boundary in the Las Vegas Valley and requires proceeds to be used on projects to fund federal, state, and local projects that benefit communities and public lands.

Burke Creek Restoration

Burke Creek and Rabe Meadow have been damaged by logging, grazing, and development over the past century, resulting in significant modifications to the stream, its tributaries, and surrounding meadows. These impacts on the watershed reduced stream meandering and areas of healthy wetlands.

Increased recreational use of Rabe Meadow over past decades has also created an expansive network of user-created trails and an increase in bare soil areas within the meadow. As a result, Burke Creek’s water quality has declined and aquatic and terrestrial habitat has suffered.

Here are some of the improvements this project has created:

• Realignment of Burke Creek and creation of a lowered floodplain for improved habitat conditions and reduced infrastructure damage.
• Replacement of undersized culverts to enhance water flow.
• Restoration of natural floodplain processes and expansion of the meadow through the decommissioning of Kahle Ditch.
• Removal of invasive species to promote healthy ecosystems.
• Reshaping Rabe Meadow to restore natural floodplain slopes and create a multi-branch stream channel.
• Reactivation of dormant channels through the installation of beaver dam analogs and woody structures to encourage natural channel evolution and increased beaver colonization.
• Partial filling of Jennings Pond with rock and soil and lowering adjacent floodplain surfaces to restore natural hydrology and mitigate flood risks.
• Trail improvements and re-routes to minimize resource impacts.
• Removal of invasive conifers to improve meadow health.
• Revegetation of disturbed areas with native plants.

These improvements reduce flood risks, improve water quality and habitat, and enhance public access to this important recreation area.

This project was funded by the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and completed through a partnership between the LTBMU and the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District.

“The successful completion of the Incline Meadow and Burke Creek Restoration projects represents a significant victory in the fight to protect Lake Tahoe’s future,” said Ecosystem Staff Officer Randy Striplin. “By addressing historical damage, restoring natural processes, and promoting native habitats, these projects not only contribute to cleaner water and a vibrant wildlife population but also enhance the overall resilience of the ecosystem against climate threats.”

The USDA Forest Service and its partners encourage ongoing public interest in the natural splendor of Lake Tahoe and our efforts to restore degraded areas to more resilient and sustainable conditions. Restoration projects usually have some inherent short-term impacts, but the long-term benefits greatly outweigh these. Through continued learning and collaboration with management agencies, we can promote sustainable practices and support future restoration efforts that will secure a healthy and vibrant lake for generations to come.

Theresa Cody is a restoration hydrologist, and Randy Striplin is the ecosystems staff officer for the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.