Galiano Fen Restoration Project

The Galiano Fen Restoration Project is a 64-acre initiative within the Tahoe National Forest aimed at restoring degraded fen, meadow, aspen, and upland habitats along Rock Creek through a combination of ecological engineering techniques and land management practices. The project will employ beaver dam analogs and post-assisted log structures to reestablish natural hydrologic functions, along with directional tree felling, heavy equipment to build large debris jams, and targeted forest thinning. Additional efforts will mitigate historical disruptions caused by roads and relic mining ponds that have altered the natural water flow and ecosystem integrity of the area. These interventions are designed to enhance approximately 22 acres of wetland habitat and 2 acres of stream channel, totaling 870 linear feet of improved riparian conditions. The project is forecasted by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 5 – Sacramento, and is intended to improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and restore natural stream processes in a landscape historically affected by anthropogenic disturbances. Environmental Scientist Nicholas Savino and Watershed Science Director Alecia Weisman serve as the primary points of contact for the initiative, providing oversight and coordination across technical and community stakeholders. Although the solicitation number and NAICS code are not yet specified, the project is positioned as a long-term ecological restoration effort focused on resilience and recovery of native habitats within California’s Sierra Nevada region.