Goal 1: Water Quality

Our 1st goal is to ensure and protect water quality and ecosystem health in the Truckee River. The overall ecosystem health of the Truckee River is both an indicator of and vital to the health of the surrounding community. So, to improve water quality, the One Truckee River Coalition is working on storm drainages into the Truckee, management of the river and its tributaries, mitigating human impacts, and creating a rich and diverse vegetative ecosystem.

Action Item 1.1.a

Identify location of all high-volume storm drains and the largest storm water contributions to the Truckee River.

Update on 1.1.a: High-volume storm drains were identified and reported in the Truckee Meadows Regional Storm Water Quality Management Program 2017 Stormwater Sampling and Analysis Plan. Eleven fixed sites on eight tributaries of the Truckee River with elevated concentration of constituents and high stormwater runoff volumes were identified. The next step underway are to create geospatial data of the storm drain locations and conduct analyses to identify the highest-volume storm drains. The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency (TMRPA) is using GIS tools to map the stormshed boundaries. 

In partnership with our community, we’ve supported the creation of Washoecountycleanwater.org, a website that makes source water protection and non-point pollution data readily accessible. The information shared on this page includes the 2020 Integrated Source Water and 319(h) Watershed Protection Plan for Public Water Systems and the Truckee River in the Truckee Meadows, a tool developed by our community to help preserve and improve the quality of groundwater, lakes, rivers, springs, and streams that supply drinking water to the general public. This voluntary multi-jurisdictional planning effort is organized on a watershed basis for the Truckee River through the Truckee Meadows. 

Entities currently engaged with 1.1a: Truckee Meadows Stormwater Permit Coordinating Committee including the City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Washoe County, Nevada Department of Transportation, Balance Hydrologics, Inc., and Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency.

Estimated completion date of 1.1.a: Identification of high-volume storm drains is complete.  TMRPA is currently mapping the stormshed boundaries. Defining the largest stormwater contributions to the Truckee River may be complete after the stormwater infrastructure has been mapped.

Action Item 1.3.c

Ensure adequate public restrooms along the Truckee River. Initiate a pilot study of temporary restroom facilities in priority areas along the river corridor.

Work conducted under OTR Water Trail efforts

Completed, work continues with 1.3.c update: OTR efforts to increase public restrooms along the Truckee River were initiated by the OTR Housing and Sanitation Working Group that included representatives from the City of Sparks, City of Reno, Washoe County, Community Foundation of Northern NV, Downtown Reno Partnership, and local residents. The Group researched restroom options and conducted interviews with municipality staff and elected officials. In 2019, project phases were proposed for adding ten new public restrooms in Nevada (an increase from nine to 19) along the 121-mile Truckee River stretch from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. TMWA’s Board approved the transfer of Washoe County AB9-SQ1 funds toward the effort. The City of Reno entered into an interlocal agreement with TMWA for the use of a portion of Brodhead Park for a new restroom facility. 

In August 2020, the first new public restroom (a Portland Loo) opened to the public at Brodhead Park east of downtown Reno. The effort included outreach and engagement with unhoused individuals along the river with Karma Box Project and Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality (RISE). OTR collected data from the involved agencies a month before and a year after the installation to understand the successes and challenges of the project. From August 2020 to Sept 2021, the new restroom averaged 30 flushes per day (more data is available upon request). Overall, the community response for the new restroom has been positive, and the metrics show that Phase I has been successful. 

In early 2022, OTR gained public input through an online survey and various City of Reno public meetings to prioritize future locations. With support from TMWA and NDEP, the second new restroom was installed at John Champion Park in March of 2023. On May 11, 2022, Reno City Council unanimously voted to support the third location at City Plaza in downtown Reno. With support from Washoe County, OTR applied for funding for a proposed fourth restroom at Mayberry Park that is pending.   

Entities engaged currently 1.3.c: Truckee Meadows Water Authority,  Truckee River Fund, Washoe County, City of Reno, Renown Health, Nevada Land Trust, NDEP, and RISE.

Estimated completion of 1.3.c: Phase I is completed. OTR is currently collaborating with partners to complete Phase II with estimated completion in the Summer 2024.

Action Item 1.4.c

Develop and implement a coordinated vegetation management plan along the river.

*Currently, two OTR efforts are underway, related to 1.4.c.: 1) a coordinated vegetation management plan along the river and 2) a River Friendly Landscaping educational pilot.

Update on Effort #1 related to 1.4.c: A regional coordinated vegetation management effort is underway in Nevada along the Truckee River, led by Nevada Land Trust (NLT) and OTR. The overall effort includes three main phases: 1) initial planning; 2) vegetation condition assessments; and 3) restoration. 

Work conducted under OTR Urban Restoration Project

Project Accomplishments: Phase I – Coordinated vegetation management planning work has been underway since 2020, funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The planning effort coordinated with a Technical Working Group with 13 government agencies and nonprofits, including the City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Washoe County.  The OTR Framework Vegetation Management and Restoration Plan (Framework Plan) completed in 2022 aims to address the needs and challenges of multiple entities in vegetation management planning and implementation along the Truckee River from Crystal Peak Park to Vista Narrows. 

Next Step: Phase II (funded by BOR and the Carson-Truckee Water Conservation District). Starting in June 2023 to complete an in-depth vegetation condition assessments and lead OTR Technical Working Group to collaborative prioritization effort to identify future restoration projects for the river in Nevada from Crystal Peak Park to Vista Narrows. The vegetation assessments will address two main goals: 1) synthesize Truckee River data to guide multi-jurisdictional watershed management, and 2) collaboratively prioritize watershed restoration projects and build momentum for site-specific implementation planning.

NLT and OTR staff and their consultants will synthesize new and existing data into a central geodatabase to inform multi-jurisdictional watershed planning, develop a quantitative approach to objectively analyze these data, and create a user-friendly tool to identify and prioritize site-specific watershed improvement projects for the Technical Working Group review and use. The effort will include coordination with parks and recreation, public works, public safety, and human services to develop strategies that ensure future restoration is maintained after implementation. The project prioritization has been requested by many watershed partners and funding agencies and will also complement the existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 319-compliant plans by providing a data-informed action plan for watershed enhancement for the mainstem of the Truckee River.

 Phase III – Future restoration projects including planning, permitting, and implementation will vary based on the size of the project location(s) and complexity of restoration design and construction. After the vegetation assessments are completed, more details related to specific restoration projects and the funds needed to execute them will be identified.

Effort #1:

Entities engage with Effort #1:

• TWG Steering Committee Members: Nevada Land Trust, One Truckee River, SWCA Environmental Consultants, and Resource Concepts, Inc.

• TWG Members: Carson-Truckee Water Conservancy District, City of Reno Parks & Recreation, City of Reno Public Utilities, City of Reno Urban Forestry, City of Sparks Public Works, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada Division of State Lands, Nevada Division of Water Resources, Nevada Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, Truckee River Flood Management Authority, Urban Ecology Solutions, Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space, and Western Regional Water Commission.

• TWG Stakeholders: City of Reno Police Department, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Karma Box Project, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Tahoe Pyramid Trail, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Estimated completion date of Effort #1:  Planning phase completed in 2022. Phase II estimated completion at the end of 2024. 

Update on Effort #2 related to 1.4.c: The 2nd effort underway under 1.4.c is OTR’s River Friendly Living Program, an adult education initiative that aims to reduce nonpoint source pollution and urban runoff to the Truckee River. The Program is broken into four different branches: River-Friendly Actions, River-Friendly Yards, River-Friendly Communities, and River-Friendly Voices & Hands.

Effort #2:

Entities that have engaged with Effort #2: Urban Ecology Solutions, LLC, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, UNR Cooperative Extension, Truckee Meadows Stormwater Permit Coordinating Committee, Rail City Garden Center, Moana Nursery, Wilbur D. May Arboretum, May Arboretum Society, Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Northern Nevada, Arrow Creek Garden Club, Galena Creek Visitor Center, Permaculture Northern Nevada Meetup Group, Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors, Nevada Historical Society, Rotary South Reno, Historic Reno Preservation Society, Lahontan Audubon Society, the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter,  Washoe County Green Team, Sunrise Rotary Club, Nevada American Society of Landscape Architects, and The Nature Conservancy.

Estimated completion date of Effort #2: This effort is ongoing, OTR will continue to seek funding to continue this effort.