Indian Valley Meadow Restoration

Alternative Investment Platforms

Indian Valley Meadow

500- acre meadow

located atop the

Sierra Crest in

Alpine County, CA.

Headwaters of the

Mokelumne River.

Source for

agricultural,

hydropower,

ecological,

recreation, and

drinking water.

Impaired ConditionsImpaired hydrologic

functionDeeply eroded channelsLowered water tableImpacted water quality

and quantity

Converted meadow vegetation typesLoss of riparian floraSensitive species

habitat

Indian Valley Meadow

Historical and Current Factors Past grazing

managementEmphasis on forage

production

Water diversions

Dispersed recreation

Rain on snow and high flow events

Past restoration efforts

Project ObjectivesRestore hydrologic

and meadow ecosystem function

Enhance wildlife and plant habitat

Improve downstream water quality and quantity

Engage stakeholders and downstream users in restoration of public lands and resources

Indian Valley Project

Location

Project area

encompasses

low- gradient

tributary of Deer

Creek.

Indian ValleyProject Design

“Plug and Pond”

6,000 feet of low

gradient stream.

Fill or “plug” to

encourage flows

to reconnect with

remnant channel.

Create ponds to

add complexity to

floodplain.

Proposed TreatmentCreate ponds to add

complexity to floodplain and provide aquatic habitat

Fill or “plug” deep gullies and allow flows to reconnect with historic channels

Approximately 26-35 plug/ponds

Project HistoryBegan project planning

in 2006Difficult to find local

expertise Engaging partners and

outside resources was essential

Nearly ready to implement in 2012

American RiversNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationAlpine Watershed GroupFoothill ConservancyInstitute for Bird PopulationsCoca-Cola

Partners

National organization working to protect and restore nation’s rivers and streams.

Leading efforts in CA to protect the natural benefits of healthy mountain meadows.

Conducted meadow assessments across the Sierra Nevada.Ranked Indian Valley #1 candidate for

restoration.Working to demonstrate and validate restoration

practices through monitoring and evaluation.Connecting diverse interests.

American Rivers

A non-profit charted by Congress in 1984.Sustain, restore and enhance fish, wildlife,

plants.Collaborate among federal agencies, local

governments and the private sector.Leverage public funding with private

donations.The “Sierra Nevada Meadow Restoration”

initiative aims to restore a majority of Sierra Nevada meadows to provide benefits for wildlife, fish and people.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Water is the main ingredient in the production of their beverage products.

Sense of responsibility – water stewardship and sustainability.

Connect with their consumer and communities.Goal: By 2020, safely return to nature and to

communities an amount of water equal to what we use in our finished beverages and their production.

Recognize they must focus their efforts beyond the bottling plants.

Coca-Cola

Works to preserve and enhance the natural system functions of Alpine County's watersheds for future generations.

The group works by inspiring participation to collaborate, educate, and proactively implement projects that benefit and steward the County's watersheds.

Alpine Watershed Group

To protect, restore, and sustain the natural and human environment in Amador and Calaveras counties for the benefit of current and future generations.

Foothill Conservancy

Dedicated to understanding the abundance, distribution, and ecology of birds, and to facilitating scientifically informed conservation of birds and their habitats.

Institute for Bird Populations

Synergy in PartnershipsCombining similar and

diverse interests All benefit from healthy

watershedsWatershed stewardship and

sustainabilityConnecting communities

and broader social interestsLeveraging fundingMonitoring and evaluation

of restoration practicesBringing together expertise

and resources

Mokelumne RiverPhoto courtesy of Katherine Evatt

Questions?

Indian Valley