| Martis Creek | |
|---|---|
 Beaver dam upstream of Martis Reservoir creates additional trout habitat.Northstar at Tahoe in background. | |
  Location of the mouth of Martis Creek in California | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Placer County &Nevada County |
| City | Truckee, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Sawtooth Ridge, west of the peak ofMount Pluto |
| • coordinates | 39°14′33″N120°09′21″W / 39.24250°N 120.15583°W /39.24250; -120.15583[2] |
| • elevation | 7,305 ft (2,227 m) |
| Mouth | Confluence with theTruckee River |
• coordinates | 39°21′00″N120°07′06″W / 39.35000°N 120.11833°W /39.35000; -120.11833[1] |
• elevation | 5,666 ft (1,727 m)[1] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | West Fork Martis Creek, Middle Fork Martis Creek, East Fork Martis Creek, Dry Lake Creek |
Martis Creek is a northward-flowingstream originating on Sawtooth Ridge, west of the peak ofMount Pluto inPlacer County, California, United States.[2] After crossing intoNevada County, California, it is a tributary to theTruckee River on the eastern side ofTruckee.
An archaic Native American people known as theMartis people lived in the Martis Creek watershed from 2000 BCE to 500 CE.William Brewer of theCalifornia Geological Survey referred to the area by itsWashoe name "Timilick Valley". It is supposed that the creek, valley and peak were all named after a rancher named "Martis".[3]
The Martis Creek watershed is east of theSierra Nevada crest and drains 42.7 square miles (111 km2).[4] It has four perennial tributaries, in order (heading downstream): West Fork Martis Creek, Middle Fork Martis Creek, East Fork Martis Creek, and Dry Lake Creek. The tributaries join Martis Creek above Martis Creek Reservoir, except for Dry Lake Creek.
TheUnited States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has identified significant problems with Martis Dam, including significant seepage and seismic dangers which they are currently studying. Shortly after its construction in 1972, the seepage was discovered and the water behind the dam has been maintained at a minimal level since.[4]
The Northstar Habitat Management Plan is being developed to enhance the forests, aquatic, riparian, and meadow habitats aroundNorthstar at Tahoe, recognizing that these environments provide habitat for a range of sensitive species, includingnorthern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis),California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis),pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus),American marten (Martes americana), mule deer,willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii),mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa), andmountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa).[4]
North American beaver (Castor canadensis) have re-colonized Martis Creek. The presence of beaver dams has been shown to either increase the number of fish, their size, or both, in a study of brook, rainbow and brown trout inSagehen Creek, which flows into theLittle Truckee River.[5] Recently novel physical evidence demonstrated that beaver were native to the Sierra until at least the mid-nineteenth century, via radiocarbon dating of buried beaver dam wood uncovered by deep channel incision in two locations inRed Clover Creek, aFeather River tributary that is also east of the Sierra Nevada crest.[6] Beaver ponds are associated with highcutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) populations in a study of successful translocations into streams inColorado andNew Mexico because they provide deep pond refugia for adult trout in small headwater streams.[7]
Prior to the arrival of European inhabitants and fish species declines probably related to logging andovergrazing, Martis Creek was an important year-round fishery for theWashoe people. Fishery resources includedLahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) (LCT) and a variety of smaller species, such as sucker and chub.[4] In June 1978 theCalifornia Department of Fish and Game stocked LCT in Martis Creek Reservoir, after reducing non-native resident trout using piscicides. This stocking attempt was unsuccessful.[8]