River committee approves plans for bank restoration projects

Two bank areas prone to erosion along the Carson River soon will get much-needed stabilization work, park and conservancy officials said Thursday.

Every year, storms erode sections of bank along the Carson River at Riverview Park and along Eagle Valley Creek. Parks officials are hoping to slow that process by planting vegetation along the eroding bank.

Carson River Advisory Committee members approved plans Wednesday to begin the restoration projects.

Every year the Carson Water Subconservancy District funds the planning and construction of water quality and habitat improvement projects along the Carson River. The funds are directed through the Carson Valley Conservation District.

This year, the district approved $15,000 in funding for the two Carson projects. Last year, the district funded a stream bank restoration project at the Ambrose Carson River natural area.

Staff will look first at completing the Riverview Park project where erosion of the banks occurs more frequently with each storm. With continued erosion of the area, the city may be limited in the amount of space available for the future construction of the proposed multi-use path from the park's trail system to the Empire Ranch Trail.

City staff and Carson Valley Conservation District staff are developing a plan to preserve the 150 feet of bank along the Carson River at Riverview, estimated to cost $5,000.

"We would like to find a way to revegetate that small area," said Paul Pugsley, watershed coordinator for the conservation district in Minden. "It's a lot more than sticking plants in the ground."

The Eagle Valley Creek project will mostly deal with ridding the area of the large population of noxious weeds that are choking out other, healthier vegetation.

"Where there's not noxious weeks, there's not a lot of vegetation," Pugsley said.

The conservation district is working with the Western Nevada Resource Conservation and Development group to develop the Eagle Valley Creek plan.

The main problem is with the abundance of Tall Whitetop weeds that grow into tall white stalks in the summer months. The weed chokes out other more native grasses and vegetation along the bank, absorbs huge amounts of water and yet provides no soil strength, Pugsley said.

The Eagle Valley Creek restoration is expected to cost about $40,000. One portion of the funding, $10,000, will be paid for out of the grant received by the subconservancy district.

The Eagle Valley Creek's bank restoration would cost an estimated $40,000. The city plans to use the $10,000 remaining funds from the subconservancy district and look for other matching funds or in-kind city labor and equipment to ensure the project can be built within the next year.

One the final plan is completed, staff will return to the advisory committee for review and possible approval.