Burke Creek is a small stream in the Lake Tahoe Basin which passes just north of the intersection of Highway (HWY) 50 and Kahle Drive.  It has an approximately 4.5 square mile drainage area to Lake Tahoe.  Burke Creek passes through Rabe Meadow, which is a popular recreation area in close proximity to Nevada Beach and Round Hill Pines Resort and is used by pedestrians and bike riders that travel through the meadow along the bike path.

Project Goals

  • Restore ecological function and processes within the Burke Creek channel and its adjacent floodplain;
  • Reduce pollutant loading to Lake Tahoe;
  • Improve public safety on Highway 50 related to flooding.

 

NTCD partnered with the USFS, NDOT, Douglas County and NDSL to propose the Burke Creek Highway 50 Crossing and Realignment Project (Project). The Project achieved these goals while minimizing impacts to private property, recreation infrastructure, and traffic flow on HWY 50.

Photos

 

Downstream Boulder Moving
Rocks are placed downstream of Burke Creek.
Creek Willow Structures
Measuring and placing of willow structures.
Sediment Can
Sediment Can that infiltrates Highway 50 runoff around Burke Creek.
Culvert Runoff
Rain runoff flows into Burke Creek and through the new arched pipe culvert under Highway 50.
Upstream of Burke Creek
The new Burke Creek Restoration project included a side channel (right) for high flows.
Re-Vegetation of Burke Creek
The landscape around the new Burke Creek channel is irrigated.
Re-Vegetation Implementation
NTCD Staff plant Lake Tahoe native plants around Burke Creek.
Downstream Pond
The new pond downstream of Burke Creek is observed to be filling up for the first time.
Arched Pipe Installation
The corrugated arched pipe is placed and filled in under Highway 50.
Water through the Culvert
Water begins to flow to the new Burke Creek culvert for the first time.
Rock-Lined Channel
The new Burke Creek Channel features a trapezoidal rock base for the runoff to flow through.
Arched Pipe
The arched pipe is ready to be placed under Highway 50.
Burke Creek High Flow
A high flow through Burke Creek was observed in early April from a large amount of snow melt.
Willow Structure in Action
Sediment from the fall and winter of 2016 has built up from the willow structure.
Burke Creek in the Winter
A large amount of water flows down Burke Creek as the snow begins to melt.
Spring Vegetation
Plants begin to grow around Burke Creek in late spring.
Spring Flow
A large of amount of runoff is observed flowing down Burke Creek in May 2017.
Willow Structure Sediment
Sediment builds up high around the willow structure as the water attempts to create a new path around it.
Upstream Willow Structure
A small willow structure slows the flow of Burke Creek and collects sediment.
Burke Creek Upstream Aerial
The new Burke Creek channel is observed from above.
New Burke Creek Channel
Many improvements to the new Burke Creek channel can been seen in this photo.
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