The long fight to undo a 20th-century mistake in a Calif. mountain town

"On a recent fall morning, two excavators chewed up boulder-sized chunks of asphalt with distorted bars of rebar sticking out. A chain-link fence ran along the perimeter of a demolition site, where crews have been razing a 1970s-era Motel 6. The old hotel was a relic of midcentury development that buried wetlands in 8 to 10 feet of dirt and pavement. On the edge of the property, a sign read: "Coming Soon: More Nature.""

"Earlier this summer, workers removed hazardous materials from the site, including asbestos from the drywall in 141 hotel rooms. Tractors hauled trailers full of old mattresses and box springs to a recycling facility. Hotel buildings, a long-vacant restaurant and a manager's residential unit have all been torn down. Now, the excavators are ripping up the outdoor pool. All of the concrete and most of the metals ripped up in the demolition will be recycled."

Birds and a bike path abut a demolition site along the Upper Truckee River where excavators are tearing out a 1970s-era Motel 6 that buried wetlands under 8 to 10 feet of dirt and pavement. The property is the final link in conservation efforts, bringing 96% of the lower nine miles of the river into public ownership. Workers removed hazardous materials, including asbestos from drywall in 141 rooms, hauled mattresses and box springs for recycling, and demolished buildings, a restaurant and a manager's unit. Concrete and most metals will be recycled, and the site will be restored to support wetlands and river protection.

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