Accomplishments
What We’ve Achieved at One Truckee River
At One Truckee River, we’re working alongside our coalition partners to implement projects and programs to improve water quality, create a thriving environment, conduct education and community outreach, and facilitate long-term management of the One Truckee River Management Plan. Our plan identifies over 100 action items to protect the Truckee River.
In 2017, the OTR watershed coalition prioritized nine action items. Today, we’re implementing those nine efforts through our programs and projects.
Here are some of our recent accomplishments:
Continued Development of a Truckee River Water Trail
Planning & Capital Improvements
The Truckee River is an important asset to our community. One Truckee River aims to improve river access and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. We do so through interagency coordination and fundraising for infrastructure improvements.
Working closely with the three local jurisdictions, Nevada Land Trust, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, and other coalition partners, we’ve:
Designed and installed 250+ river trail signs. Our signage provides maps, directions, and stewardship information to paddlers, cyclers, walkers, and other park visitors.
Installed Portland Loos along the Truckee River corridor at Reno City Plaza, Brodhead Park, and John Champion Park. These restrooms are designed for durability and easy maintenance and help make the Water Trail a more inviting space for everyone in our community to enjoy.
Urban Restoration
Fostering Regional Coordinated Vegetation Management for the Truckee River
One Truckee River with the Nevada Land Trust started and continue to lead a regional coordinated vegetation management effort to improve the ecological function of the river system. The work includes: initial planning, vegetation coordination assessment, restoration planning, and fundraising efforts. We manage an active Technical Working Group representing 16 local agencies with authority or involvement in vegetation management along the river and have completed a Framework Vegetation Management and Restoration Plan.
All of our project work is completed in partnership with government agencies, other community organizations, our funders, and other allies.
Our riverbank repair projects include:
Broadhead Park: We’ve achieved our 100% admin design goal - laying the groundwork to replant the eroded southern riverbank in Reno’s urban core with a vibrant, healthy native plant ecosystem and paths for residents and visitors to access the water’s edge.
Gold Ranch: We’re working alongside our partners to repair and stabilize the burn areas from the 2024 Gold Ranch Fire, preventing erosion and helping re-establish native plant communities.
Idlewild Park: With the goal of stabilizing the riverbank and improving the natural ecosystem along the river, we’ve begun working with a contractor to create a 30% design.
Alum Creek: From 2026-27, our work here includes bank stabilization to reduce erosion and sediment flows into the Truckee River, helping transition conventional cattle grazed land to regenerative practices, building our second River-Friendly Living Demonstration garden, and community outreach.
The One Truckee River Workforce Program
In downtown Reno, many urban communities along the river lack access to shady outdoor public spaces. We recognize it’s time for a change. Through our efforts, we’ll cool the river trail pavement, increase enjoyment of public spaces, and create a healthier living environment along the river, both for Northern Nevada families and local wildlife.
Just as importantly, we’re pairing our restorative vegetation management efforts with workforce development, building a job-training program for the members of our community who need it most. In 2024, we began training individuals facing barriers to employment in tree care, urban and community forestry, and biodiversity as they reestablish native trees.
Our 5-person crew is busy removing invasives and cleaning up the Truckee’s riverbanks along the 2-mile stretch of the Truckee River from Lake Street to Galletti Way, thanks to the support from Nevada Division of Forestry, the City of Reno, and the Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality.
Do you support the work of One Truckee River?
If so, consider donating!
River Friendly Living Program
Public Outreach & Education
The River-Friendly Living Program is our education and outreach platform. It includes four main branches for providing care to the Truckee River: individual actions, yards, communities, and voices and hands. The Program is focused on adult education to reduce nonpoint pollution to the river. Check out our web platform, blog, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more - and let us know what you think!
One Truckee River has designed several public River-Friendly Living workshops. Most significantly, we developed our Landscaping Design 101 workshop and continue to offer virtual workshops through our website. This material shares practices to help keep water and nutrients on your landscape and out of the river, outlining easy steps for creating healthy landscapes. For current workshops related to similar topics go to TMWA Free Tours and Workshops and access our video resources to learn more.
In addition, in partnership with Truckee Meadows Stormwater Permit Coordinating Committee we held workshops for Northern Nevada Homeowner Association Managers.
River-Friendly Living Demonstration Garden
Check out the River-Friendly Living Demonstration Garden at Lake Park, built as a One Truckee River collaborative project! The garden showcases landscaping features that prevent runoff into the Truckee River, maximizing our eight annual inches of rainfall while providing healthy habitats for local wildlife. Informational signage explains the significance of River-Friendly gardening features like Rain Gardens and Buffer Strips and identifies recommended native plants. We completed the project in partnership with the City of Reno and Friends of Lake Park, with funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.
Watershed Coalition Building
Partnership Council
The foundation of One Truckee River is its Partnership Council, comprised of dozens of representatives from local agencies and nonprofits sharing resources and expertise as we work together towards our shared mission to have a healthy and thriving Truckee River connected to our community.
Truckee River Community Advisory Team
Along the Truckee River’s urban corridor east of Downtown Reno, we’re working with community leaders from many diverse backgrounds. Through the Truckee River Community Advisory Team, we’re surveying community members about the improvements and stewardship they’d most like to see. This work is possible with the support of the National Park Service and River Network.
Past Work
You’ve just read a sum-up of One Truckee River’s most recent achievements. Explore the page below to learn more about our organization’s earlier projects.