Community-Led Research Along the Truckee River’s Urban Corridor in Nevada

 
trcat community-led research survey team of 8 alongside truckee river in winter in downtown reno nevada
 

Working with community stakeholders from many diverse backgrounds is a key strategy for protecting and enhancing just about any urban river. Here in Nevada, the Truckee is no exception. 

That’s why One Truckee River, with support from the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program and River Network, set out to engage community members more deeply along a degraded stretch of the Truckee River east of downtown Reno. The River Network brought their  community-led research (CLR) model to the table, defining it as , “a process through which community members come together to gather and synthesize their collective wisdom and knowledge in order to more fully understand how a problem—or set of problems—impact their community, to identify solutions that will work best for their specific community, and to build a case for support.”

River Network has helped implement the CLR research method throughout the nation, with projects ranging from helping communities work together to address flooding after Hurricane Harvey in Houston to restoring the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams, and harbor. 

In Reno and Sparks,, the CLR project evolved into establishing a local community group, the Truckee River Community Advisory Team (TRCAT). This group includes residents who live and work near the river east of downtown Reno, as well as  representatives from the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC) and Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality (RISE). 

TRCAT worked together to survey their shared neighborhood. Their goal? To increase their understanding of the community’s perceptions and experiences along the river – with the hope of using these findings to guide development and improvements in this critical corridor.

Iris Jehle-Peppard, Executive Director of One Truckee River, shares, “I’m excited about this eclectic group of people from so many different backgrounds, coming together to support their shared interest in protecting and enhancing the Truckee River.” The Truckee is the gem of the Truckee Meadows region. It’s surrounded by public spaces, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to look after these natural areas. 

What Made the CLR Survey Unique? 

The survey focuses on respondents residing or working betweenBroadhead Park (just east of Reno’s City Plaza) and John Champion Park (neighboring the RSIC Tribal Health Center). While previous studies looked at the whole Truckee Meadows region, narrowing this survey’s range  allowed the team to focus on the lived experiences of people along this section of the Truckee River. 

TRCAT members reached survey respondents through a variety of methods. They flyered door-to-door at businesses and houses in the area, as well as apartment complexes along the river corridor., They also set up info tables in highly frequented areas along the river, posted announcements to the NextDoor app, engaged human service outreach groups, and reached out through the  Reno-Sparks Indian Colony communication systems. 

In total, 157 residents and local workers responded to the CLR survey. This group was unique in showing a broad, equitable distribution across demographics - including both homeowners and currently homeless individuals. The CLR project surveyed residents on how they use the Truckee River and what improvements they hoped to see along the river corridor. Overall, this model requires a significant investment of time and effort to capture a narrower demographic. Yet, it offers a deeper understanding of the lived experience of residents in a targeted area, elevating their specific needs and interests that might otherwise get overlooked. 

What Did We Learn From the CLR Project Survey? 

TRCAT’s  Key Survey Results Include:

  • The Truckee River corridor, east of downtown Reno, is used by the majority of residents living between Brodhead Park and John Champion Park. 72% of homeowners and 54% of renters in the nearby neighborhoods frequent the Truckee River corridor daily/weekly. This includes 59% at Brodhead, 55% John Champion Park, and 50% in the river corridor     

  • The most popular activity locals enjoy along the Truckee River corridor is walking (59% to 55% depending on location) 

  • Residents want to see more benches and picnic tables (56%), better lighting (53%), and more trash cans (53%). 

  • Homeowners want to see more green space in this section of the Truckee River Corridor (42%)

  • 16 respondents mentioned the new restrooms as something they noticed in recent years along this stretch the Truckee River corridor 


Why does the Truckee River Corridor east of downtown Reno Matter?

The Truckee River corridor east of downtown Reno is important because:

  • It provides a continuous natural corridor for residents in the dense urban neighborhoods surrounding it. These neighborhoods have only 5-13% canopy cover and lack green space, with only two small non-riparian parks (Pickett and Stewart) which totaling only 0.0126 square miles of green space in a 1.81 square mile area.

  • It is a “Disadvantaged Community Status” area defined by the White House Council on Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. 

  • There are opportunities to increase kayaking and rafting experiences east of the whitewater park, including increased access on and off the Truckee River.

  • The Corridor is a valuable linkage in the legendary Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. This trail is a biking and walking path that, at 85% complete, is already,, strengthening connections from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake.



One Truckee River extends a big thank you to the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and River Network for supporting Community-Led Research in Northern Nevada. We look forward to continuing to work with the TRCAT group and collaborate with the local community.

Iris Jehle-Peppard