Homeowners awarded cash for river-friendly landscaping

Winners of the River-Friendly Landscaping Program are Susie Urie, Steve Ramos and Eric Premack. They each won a $5,000 rebate and Donner Pines East won a $10,000 rebate for completed river-friendly landscaping soil erosion measures.

The river-friendly landscaping began in September with the objective to restore residential properties with significant erosion problems near rivers and streams in Truckee. Residents were asked to fill out an application and submit photos. Ten Truckee-area residents applied.

The Truckee River Watershed Council and the Sierra Nevada Alliance launched the River Friendly Landscaping Program to counteract the harmful runoff from residential homes. Funded by grants from the state Water Resources Control Board, the program implements erosion-control and landscaping measures on residential properties that reduce pollution and create sustainable landscapes.

In addition to their reimbursements the winners will also receive a custom site evaluation and plan. Awards will reimburse for materials and labor paid by homeowners. River-friendly features can include native plants and flowers, retaining wall structures, gravel and mulch among a multitude of other options.

Even if you are not one of the winners there is still an opportunity participate in the River-Friendly Landscaping program. By signing up, homeowners will receive a custom site evaluation and plan as well as up to $400 rebate.

For more information, go online or contact Andy Otto at (530) 550.8760, ext. 3.