Pickel Meadow Restoration Project
Why Restore Pickel Meadow?
Pickel Meadow is a scenic 450-acre mountain meadow on the mainstem of the West Walker River in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada. The project site lies within the ancestral homelands of the Washoe people (Wašiw), whose traditional territory encompasses the West Walker River watershed.
Pickel Meadow provides a home for a range of terrestrial and aquatic species that depend on meadow and riparian ecosystems to survive, but the site has been degraded by nearly two centuries of land use practices that continue today. This degradation has disrupted natural hydrology, accelerated erosion, and reduced habitat quality for sensitive species such as Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, Willow Flycatcher, and Yellow Warbler, all of which are known to occur in the watershed. The historical alluvial fan that once distributed high flows across the meadow surface has been disconnected by an artificial berm, while the ongoing incision of the river channel has lowered the groundwater table throughout the meadow, leading to drier conditions and loss of wetland habitat. The stretch of the West Walker River that runs through the meadow also lacks features such as deep pools, large wood, and riparian cover, which support fish and other aquatic organisms.
Restoration at Pickel Meadow will reconnect the West Walker River to its floodplain to improve habitat and water quality for people and wildlife. The restoration spans 450 acres and will improve 250 acres of meadow and floodplain habitat, 3 miles of the West Walker River, and will also protect sensitive areas from the impacts of grazing while improving recreational access. The project will remove approximately 40,000 cubic yards of artificial fill, regrade historic alluvial fan channels to reactivate the floodplain, upgrade water diversions and recreational infrastructure, install instream habitat features, and implement a comprehensive revegetation and monitoring plan to ensure the impact of restoration.
American Rivers has partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and Waterways Consulting to restore Pickel Meadow, with funding for the project provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board.
Project Highlights
- Reconnection of the West Walker River to its historic alluvial fan— deposits of sediment where streams emerge from steep, mountain canyons onto a flat, open valley floor
- Removal of a large artificial berm—a flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river—to direct flows toward the historical alluvial fan channels
- Revegetation of the site with native plant species
- Improved aquatic habitat in the West Walker River
- Protection of a freshwater spring through the installation of wildlife-friendly fencing
- An upgraded diversion to enhance fish passage and allow flows to enter the upper meadow
- Enhanced access for public recreation, including an ADA-approved parking lot and trail improvements
- Please note that portions of Pickel Meadow, including parking areas, will be closed during construction from July 15–October 31.
- Review the project FAQ here.
Project Benefits
Strengthened climate resiliency through increased groundwater storage
Restored floodplain connectivity for over 3 river miles
Improved water supply for downstream communities and ecosystems
Improved water quality through the reduction oferosion and sedimentation into the West Walker River
Enhanced carbon capture through the reestablishment of wetland hydrology and vegetation
Protection of sensitive areas from livestock through installation of wildlife-friendly fencing
Increased suitable wildlife habitat for sensitive birds, fish, and other animals by installing in-stream and riparian habitat features
Healing Rivers Across California’s Sierra Nevada through Meadow Restoration
In the Sierra Nevada, our headwaters team has been restoring meadows across the range and planning for the future–healthy biomes in one of the world’s most stunning and biodiverse mountain ranges.