In mid-November, the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) bestowed the Envision™ Platinum Award on the Snow Creek Stream Environment Zone restoration project, located in North Lake Tahoe, California. This is the highest level of ISI’s rating system, and the Snow Creek project is only the second to receive it.

The project involved the restoration of a brownfield site, where Placer County Department of Public Works worked with CDM Smith to remove fill and debris and reestablish vegetation and wildlife habitat.

Low impact development site improvements will help protect Lake Tahoe from sediment and nutrient pollution, which is key for the lake’s water quality. The site also was designed to protect the area’s wetlands and floodplain functions while enhancing the site’s resiliency to hazards, such as flooding and wildfires. Natural vegetation will eliminate the need for pesticides and fertilizer. Willow trees planted near the natural stormwater channel will provide shade for water temperature control. Read more.