Forest Service opts to restore wetlands, remove Incline Lake Dam
Submitted by editor on Wed, 09/03/2014 - 11:58am
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit plans to restore wetlands and remove the dam at the site of the former Incline Lake, according to a decision by Forest Supervisor Nancy Gibson issued Wednesday.
“Removing the dam will allow us to address public safety concerns, protect water quality and improve aquatic and wetland habitat, while continuing to provide recreational opportunities, such as fishing in streams and enhanced wildlife viewing as a result of the restored wetlands” said Gibson. “Now that we have a decision on the future of the dam, we’ll be working to engage the community in planning for the entire 777-acre property, which is a spectacular addition to public lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin.”
The Forest Service purchased the Incline Lake parcel, located off State Route 431 in Washoe County, Nev., in 2009, for its recreation, scenic and natural resource values. During the acquisition process, a site investigation determined that the Incline Lake dam and spillway do not meet federal, state or local standards for a high-hazard dam. The dam is designated as high hazard due to development downstream along Third Creek. The sellers drained Incline Lake prior to completion of the acquisition by the Forest Service, and the lake has not been allowed to refill.
The Forest Service will remove the major dam and spillway and recontour the area to match the surrounding landscape. The minor dam would become a low-water crossing. A variety of techniques would be used to stabilize the area and reestablish wetland vegetation. In the short term, the work would stabilize the site. Over 15-20 years, the project goal is to restore the 30-acre area disturbed by the dam to a series of small- to medium-sized ponds, fens and marsh.
“While rebuilding a smaller dam could be done in a way that provides some assurance for downstream safety now, risks will increase as the structure ages, and there is no assurance that an extreme weather or geologic event won’t cause a dam failure,“ said Gibson. “Rather than incurring additional liability and operations and maintenance costs for the Forest Service, I am selecting the action that best protects public safety and enhances the environment.”
The decision launches a 45-day period during which anyone who filed a formal comment on the project can file an objection to the decision, for review by Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Randy Moore. For more information, go here.
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