Doty Tributary Riparian Restoration Project - Placer Resource Conservation District

Placer County is made up of 14 watersheds. Though ecologically connected, the streams and rivers are fragmented across private and public lands. In fact, most of the land in Placer County is under private ownership. Thus, upstream changes, such as development, erosion, or restoration, can have both positive or negative impacts on downstream users. Based on the large percentage of privately owned sections of streams, Placer RCD works hard to encourage private landowners in the community to engage in best management practices that will benefit watershed health. We partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to pursue a streambank stabilization and restoration project on a tributary of Doty Creek in Auburn. The project site exhibited severe signs of erosion due to livestock impacts. To rehabilitate the stream, Placer RCD installed 400’ of fencing to prevent livestock congregation along the streambank, slow bank erosion, and create conditions to allow vegetative regrowth. The landowner, staff, and partners helped plant dozens of native grasses and willows to restore wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and enhance stream conditions. Working directly with landowners promotes the application of informed stewardship in our community.