The McCarran Ranch was the Conservancy’s first restoration project on the lower Truckee River, and the work done there has become a model for how to fix the Truckee.   As the natural communities recover at McCarran Ranch, it is becoming a unique destination in northern Nevada – a place of natural beauty and diversity for animals and people alike.

The Restoration Program

At McCarran Ranch, like along much of the Lower Truckee River, decades of damage, including severe channel incision due to straightening the river's channel as part of a 1960's flood control project, caused the groundwater to drop beyond the reach of riverside vegetation resulting in a loss of approximately 90% of the riparian forest and as much as 70% of bird species.

The goal of restoration on the lower river is to re-create a functioning ecosystem.  A relatively small-scale pilot project at McCarran Ranch completed in 2003 allowed the Conservancy to test its restoration methods and practices.  Based on the success of that work, large-scale restoration began at McCarran Ranch in 2006. 

Restoration addresses the very foundation of the ecosystem by:

• Creating in-river habitat – riffles and pools – for fish and insects they and other animals feed on
• Rebuilding a meandering channel that allows the river to flow in a more natural pattern
• Reconnecting the river to its floodplain, potentially reducing flood damage in other, more developed areas
• Lowering the floodplain, slightly raising the river’s bottom, and narrowing its width to re-create conditions that can support native vegetation
• Restoring a native plant community that will help improve water quality by keeping the water cooler and filtering out excess nutrients

The restoration model developed at McCarran Ranch has shown success in attracting birds and fish and in supporting thriving native plant commiunities.  In addition, it has been implemented at three other sites on the lower river: 102 Ranch, Lockwood, and Mustang Ranch.

Public Access

The Nature Conservancy is committed to providing public access at the McCarran Ranch Preserve, a stretch of river that has not been available to the public for more than a century.  Recreational opportunities will include hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and canoeing.  The preserve will be complete with site-specific educational exhibits, an outdoor amphitheater that will be a center for public events, and a trail system that guides visitors through the heart of the restoration area - past the new meandering channel and a series of wetlands that support an abundance of wildlife.

The McCarran Ranch Preserve is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010.  Check back to this page for more details on when you can get out and enjoy the site.

Education

The Truckee's future lies with the people who depend on it.  The Nature Conservancy launched an education and outreach program in 2008 to reconnect the community with the river and share the importance of conservation for our well-being.  In the past two years, the education program has reached nearly 1,000 local students.  The program highlights the need for taking care of our precious resources, while introducing students to wetlands, riparian habitats, and restoration.  If you're interested in getting involved wiht our educational program as a participating group or as a volunteer, please contact Patti Bakker at pbakker@tnc.org for more information.

Volunteers

Volunteers play an important role in the ongoing work at McCarran Ranch, as well as other sites on the Truckee River and across the state.  If you're interested in joining our committed team of volunteers and being a part of this exciting work, visit our volunteer page. 

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): McCarran Rancho © Spencer B. Gross, Inc./TNC; Students at education event at McCarran Ranch © Reno Gazette-Journal/Patrick Cummings; Building the meander at McCarran Ranch © Scott Sady; Fishing on the Truckee River © Reno-Spraks Convention and Visitors Authority; Planting native plants © Reno Gazette-Journal/Andy Barron.