The Upper Truckee River runs through the southern Lake Tahoe Basin and empties into Lake Tahoe. The document discusses the geological features formed by magmatic intrusion and glaciation in the area, including plutons, moraines, and erratics. It also describes some of the plant and animal species found along the Upper Truckee River, such as beavers, coyotes, northern chickadees, willow trees, and tamarack pines. Pollen from tamarack pines was noted to fill the air in spring, leading locals to call it the "spring orgy".