Johnson Meadow is situated in the heart of the city of South Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, California. It is located within the largest watershed in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Upper Truckee River (UTR) watershed, which drains over 56 square miles and provides some of the most significant wet meadow floodplain habitat in the entire Sierra Nevada. Tahoe RCD acquired title to the approximately 206 acre property in April 2018, completing nearly continuous public ownership of the lower nine miles of the Upper Truckee River. This reach of the UTR is directly downstream of property owned by the City of South Lake Tahoe and California Department of Parks and Recreation (Washoe Meadows State Park) and upstream of the Upper Truckee Marsh, owned by the California Tahoe Conservancy. Johnson Meadow is within the floodplain of the UTR and prior to acquisition by Tahoe RCD, it was the largest privately-owned meadow in the Lake Tahoe Basin. 

Tahoe RCD purchased Johnson Meadow to provide ecosystem and watershed protection benefits through preservation, management, and the restoration of meadow, riparian, aquatic and upland habitats. Prior to acquisition, Johnson Meadow was used as a dairy during the Gold Rush (1850s) and was purchased in the 1920s by the Mosher family. The dairy operations ceased in the 1930s and the equipment was removed. From the 1930s to the early 2000s, the meadow was used as summer pasture for cattle. Acquisition of Johnson Meadow was a critical step in the larger restoration efforts in the UTR watershed. The river reaches encompassed by Johnson Meadow contain significant wildlife habitat including; river, riparian, meadow, and upland areas. Acquisition was made possible through funding from the California Tahoe Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Tahoe Fund.

• Lake Tahoe watersheds are the natural drainage systems that supply the Lake with water. The precipitation that falls as rain or snow within the watersheds of the Lake Tahoe Basin flows overland and through the ground to creeks and streams which ultimately discharge to the Lake. Runoff conveyed by an undisturbed watershed is usually quite clean, because the watershed’s soil, plants, and organisms act as a natural purification system. In fact, in an undisturbed forest, more than ninety-five percent of rain and snowmelt percolates into the ground, where it is filtered on its way to the nearest stream.
• Acquisition of undeveloped, environmentally sensitive land (meadows, creeks and streams, highly erosive soils, and steep topography) ensures that they are protected and helps to mitigate the negative impacts of current and future development in the Lake Tahoe Basin by providing habitat and open space.

Johnson Meadow is public land and sustainable access, and public use are permitted and encouraged. Please observe all El Dorado County ordinances  and practice Leave No Trace principals  and always pack out anything you brought in with you. There are a few important things to remember when using Johnson Meadow.

Fires, use of gas, liquid, or solid fuel stoves is not allowed at any time. Please observe all local fire restrictions concerning smoking on public lands. Motorized vehicles, including over snow vehicles, are not allowed at any time in the meadow without official written permission from Tahoe RCD. When boating, floating, or accessing the river you are recreating at your own risk. River environments are inherently dangerous and not maintained for recreational access. It is your responsibility to be aware of all hazards and obstructions and you assume all risk of loss of property and/or serious injury, including death. Please stay on established trails as much a possible to reduce impacts to the meadow. Always clean up after your pet and keep all pets on leash and under control at all times.

• There is absolutely no camping allowed at any time, day or night, in Johnson Meadow.

• Johnson Meadow is within the jurisdiction of El Dorado County and is therefore subject to the County Animal Control Ordinance Sec. 6.12.070. No person owning or having control of any animal, livestock or poultry shall permit such animal, livestock or poultry to stray or run at large upon any public street or other public place, or any unenclosed private lot or other unenclosed private place in the County with the exception of livestock on open range as defined in Chapter 6.36.

If a loose dog is acting strange, is aggressive or has bitten someone, call El Dorado County Animal Services (530) 573-7925, or after hours, call the Sheriff’s Dispatch at (530) 621-6600.

Tahoe RCD understands that the loss of the bridge crossing over the Upper Truckee River in Johnson Meadow has broken a crucial connection and made non-motorized travel difficult. The bridge was washed out following a large rain on snow event in the winter of 2017. El Dorado County is planning a replacement as part of the extension of the South Tahoe Greenway.

More information can be found here.