About

Glenshire Drive project

This past September the TU Chapter #103 (Tahoe Trout Bums) completed a major fish habitat enhancement project on the Big Truckee along Glenshire Drive. The Chapter’s Board and local TU staff worked with the California Division of Fish and Wildlife and Rick Poore of Streamwise to develop the design and plan for this exciting project. Rick has designed and constructed numerous stream enhancements throughout the west.

The project area is located in the stretch of the river along the Glenshire Road adjacent to the Sewer Plant just upstream of the Toilet Bowl. The area was selected because of its lack of habitat diversity, high angling pressure and ease of access for construction equipment. Additionally, the property is owned by the California Division of Fish and Wildlife which simplifies the permitting process. This section of the river was significantly altered and degraded by ice manufacturing during the early 19th century.

Project Plan

Habitat for trout is enhanced by maximizing usable holding, feeding and spawning areas. Fish hold in the multiple feeding lanes created by the two thalweg locations and pools. Various age classes of trout also hold in the deep glide created upstream of the structure and against both banks due to the increased depth and reduced velocity of flows in the near-bank region. Spawning habitat is created in the tail-out of the pools due to upwelling currents and a sorting of gravel bed material sizes preferred by trout.

To measure the success of the project the Chapter included a rigorous fish and macroinvertebrate monitoring program. Prior to construction TU Staff conducted a fish population snorkel survey and a macroinvertebrate survey of the project site. Additional fish surveys will be conducted both one and two years after construction and an additional macroinvertebrate survey will be conducted two years after construction. These pre and post construction surveys will allow the Chapter to assess the success of the project in improving fish habitat and increasing fish population. The macroinvertebrate surveys will provide definitive information on bug populations and diversity and the resulting changes due to the installed river features. It is expected and hoped that there will be an increase in fish and bug populations and bug diversity.

The project was completed last September and based on reports, the fish population have already increased, and fishing has improved. This once featureless section of the River now has excellent holding water and should continue to provide improved fishing opportunities well into the future.

 Projects like this are a major undertaking for our small Chapter.  Funds to construct the project were raised over several years through the efforts of Chapter Board members. Fund sources included Fishmas Eve proceeds, grants and donations from California Fly Fishing Clubs and numerous small and large donations. The Chapter worked with Union Pacific Railroad to utilize the Polaris railroad crossing to get equipment and personnel to the River. The Truckee Sanitary District generously allowed the Chapter to use their boulders which were located near the River. This greatly helped control costs and expedite construction. Rick Poore of Streamwise both designed and constructed the project. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the property owner, allowed the project to be built on the property and Department Scientist provided input into the Project design. The California State Water Board and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers provided regulatory oversight. Local TU Staff provided ongoing input, expertise and boots on the ground. Tiffenee Hutton, the California Inland Trout Restoration Project Manager for the Truckee TU Office, was the lead on permiting, construction monitoring and the fish and bug monitoring. Current and future anglers owe a big thank you to these persons and agencies and all the others that made this project possible.