Lower Sardine Meadow Adaptive Management Project

The Lower Sardine Meadow Adaptive Management Project aims to enhance the long-term stability and ecological health of a tributary meadow to the West Walker River in California by addressing localized issues that persist despite prior restoration efforts. Past disturbances from grazing, road construction, and recreational use have caused channel incision, concentrated flows, and disrupted natural hydrology, resulting in reduced floodplain connectivity. Although an earlier project successfully reconnected major hydrologic pathways and mitigated large-scale incision, ongoing monitoring has revealed specific areas requiring targeted adjustments to fully restore ecological function and resilience. This adaptive management initiative will implement precise, science-based interventions to refine the meadow’s hydrologic regime and promote natural self-regulation. Efforts will focus on stabilizing vulnerable zones, reestablishing natural water distribution, and improving vegetation recovery to ensure sustainable meadow performance. The project is overseen by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 6 – South Lake Tahoe, with key coordination from USDA Forest Service and American Rivers. Primary contact is Meghan Walsh, Engineering Geologist, supported by Aaron Coogan and Sarah Hecocks, reflecting a collaborative approach among state, federal, and nonprofit stakeholders to achieve lasting ecological outcomes.