March 2003 Newsletter
Truckee River Yacht Club
Table of Contents
“Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.” --William Penn
“There is, of course, no guarantee of success. But politics is not about observations or predictions. Politics is what we create by what we do, what we hope for, and what we dare to imagine.” -- Senator Paul Wellstone
"Our demands upon the earth
are determined by our ways of living with one another; our regard for one another is brought to light in our ways of using
the earth." --Wendell Berry
Truckee River Yacht Club Membership
The Truckee River is the lifeblood of a 110-mile corridor of unique and diverse human and wildlife habitat. From the river’s headwaters in the Lake Tahoe Basin to its terminus at Pyramid Lake, our river supports human-life with drinking water, electricity, agriculture irrigation, flood control and recreation for hundreds of thousands of Nevadans and visitors from around the world.
The Truckee River landscape includes verdant meadows, towering canyon walls, plummeting waterfalls, secret tributaries and aromatic sagebrush hills. It is also part of an urban landscape of city parks, cultural sites, homes, schools, industry and even blight.
The waters of the Truckee support us as well as scores of fish, wildlife and plant species.
But who supports the Truckee River?
For 14 years the Truckee River Yacht Club has worked with local grassroots groups, utilities and the government agencies playing a leading role in planning the future of the watershed by ensuring that strong scientific, economic and management knowledge is applied to the decision-making process. The Yacht Club is there to amend a history of exploitation and promote successful watershed stewardship by finding a balance between existing developments in the waters and conservation of the remaining natural areas and functions.
But the Yacht Club needs your support and the support of people who think and believe like you do.
We need members who want to get involved in such things as:
- Flood protection and the ongoing Truckee River Flood Coalition
- Downtown redevelopment and the river’s urban corridor
- Water resource management and the regional planning process
- River restoration and clean up
- Bike paths and walking trails
- Watershed protection and management
- Fishing and good river etiquette
- Kayaking and rafting
- River education for children and adults
- Political activism on behalf of the Truckee River
The success of Truckee River Yacht Club can only continue with a large and active membership. We touch many areas and aspects of the river; surely there is one that interests you. If you want to touch the river and help in our progress in protecting and restoring this gem, please join today, keep your membership current or ask a friend to come aboard.
May 3 & 4, 2003
The Past, Present, and Future of the Truckee River
A field study course sponsored by LAS
Cost: $29 for 1 day; $50 for both
Instructors:
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Janet Carson, former Director of Water Policy and Planning for Sierra Pacific (1989 - 2001) and Deputy Federal Water Master in Reno (1982 - 1985)
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Allan Gubanich, VP of LAS and Associate Professor of Biology at UNR
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Jim Lytle, Board Member of LAS and field biologist.
From Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake the course of the Truckee River flows just over one hundred miles. Lifeblood of northwestern Nevada, the Truckee River is rich in history and controversy. In the 1800’s emigrants used it to navigate and sustain themselves during their long, sometimes perilous journey to find their fortunes and new life in California. Its resources have been diverted, mined, contested, and litigated for more than a century. Home to several endangered species, it has been the focus of state and national agencies, Native Americans, and environmental groups for many years.
This two-day field study course will cover natural history, cultural history, endangered species, water flow controls, power generation, restoration projects, legal issues, jurisdictions, and the future of the Truckee River.
Learn who really controls the water in the Truckee River. See and learn about the small water diversion structures and canals that have irrigated the farms and ranches in the Truckee Meadows since before 1900; most are still in use today. Discuss the impact of land development on the availability of water in and around the Reno area; the projected impacts and availability may surprise you. See firsthand the new multi-million dollar fish ladder and flood control structure just constructed at Derby Dam.
Day one will cover the south Truckee Meadows, Mount Rose Highway, Lake Tahoe, and the upper Truckee River from Lake Tahoe to Reno (including Donner Lake, Donner Memorial State Park, Boca Reservoir, Stampede Reservoir, Dog Valley, and the Verdi Nature Trail). Day two will include Reno (Oxbow Nature Study Area), the Reno/Sparks sewage treatment plant area, the McCarran Ranch Scenic Overlook, Derby Dam, Numana Fish Hatchery and Wetlands Trail, Lake Winnemucca, a Marble Bluff Dam tour, and Pyramid Lake. Sign up for one or both days. The group will caravan from point to point (bring along your 14 channel radio; carpooling is encouraged). We will stop for lunch at local Restaurants.
For more information and registration contact Alan Gubanich at (775) 746-3526, e-mail aag@scs.unr.edu or Jim Lytle at (775) 577-9641, e-mail lytleja@aol.com.
Truckee River Birds by Jim Lytle
Anyone who has visited the Truckee River can’t help but notice the birds
that also visit or live in or along the waterway. Many are large and relatively
easy to spot. Some examples are the Canada Geese, Mallards, Steller’s and
Western Scrub Jays, blackbirds, American Ravens, and Killdeers. There is one
bird that may not have caught your attention but has one of the most unique
behaviors of all of our feathered friends. It is nondescript with its dark
gray color, short tail, and about the size of a starling. As a matter of
fact, at first glance, it may look a lot like a starling. It is called the
American Dipper, formerly the Water Ouzel. It is a songbird that forages underwater!
Not just shallow water but to depths of twenty feet! It uses the fast moving
portions of the river to help it “fly” underwater. Using powerful beats of
its wings to push it down to the bottom it feeds on aquatic insects and their
larva as well as other invertebrates, small fish, and fish eggs. This is
a sight worthy of your pause.
The Dipper is also found in most mountain creeks in the area, diving and swimming in the fastest moving waters or standing on a rock in the middle bobbing and “dipping”(hence the name) up and down to the rhythm of the flowing water that surrounds it.
Most of the dippers found in the Sierras stay year-round. They stay as long as the rivers and creeks don’t freeze solid. They will move up or down the river or creek depending on food availability and ice cover. They are hardy birds and can withstand the coldest water and air temperatures of any other songbird in North America. They can do this because of the tremendous amount of insulating down and contour feathers they have, up to twice as many as nonaquatic songbirds of comparable size. To keep their feathers in good shape they spend a copious amount of time preening and applying oils from their oil gland, which is up to ten times larger than other birds of its size.
Dippers nest near or in the river or creeks; on rocks, behind waterfalls, or under bridges. The nest is usually placed where it remains continuously wet from water spray. It is domed shaped about a foot in diameter with a large entrance low on one side. To keep it waterproof it is made of mosses, twigs, and grasses then lined with a layer of living moss inside and out.
The most downstream dipper nest known on the Truckee is under the Virginia Street Bridge in the middle of downtown Reno. This breeding pair of dippers has been active for at least three years. Farther upstream there are several nests behind small waterfalls. The dippers fly right through the waterfalls to access the nest behind. This behavior is unique among North American birds and is quite something to observe.
Next time you’re down on the river, keep a look out for these interesting birds. When you spot one take a few minutes to observe their behavior, watch them forage along the shallows, jump up on a rock and start to “dip”, fly out to a favorite rock in the middle and dive straight down into the fast moving water only to pop up several seconds later and dive back in again. The dipper is many birders favorite; not because of its beauty but because of its unique way of life and beautiful mid-winter song.
TRYC WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
TRYC welcomed two new Board members: Janet Carson and Joe Cendagorta, both active volunteers and knowledgeable about the river. At their first Board meeting, they jumped right in with new ideas for this coming year. But first a little background on each.
Janet Carson is retired (at a very young age!) from Sierra Pacific. She was the lead negotiator on TROA for a number of years while heading up Sierra’s water policy section. She is actively pursuing the extension of the Tahoe to Pyramid Trail. She says she’s in the reconnaissance phase right now, meeting with various park people and planners up and down along the river.
Joe Cendagorta is also retired, and a doting grandfather, to say nothing of his wife, Chris, whom many of you know from the Truckee Meadows Trails Association. But above that, Joe knows and avidly fishes the river. He has agreed to take on helping us develop a workshop on healthy river habitat and why the fish like to hang out in good habitat. We think he knows all the good spots, but may not tell all.
Continuing to serve on the Board are Dennis Ghiglieri, Rose Strickland, Sue Donaldson, Don Vetter and Susan Lynn. If any of the rest of you are interested in joining the board, let us know by calling 786-9955. Unfortunately, because of our varied schedules, we call meetings at varying intervals when we can get everyone together.
SO MUCH IS HAPPENING!
Lower river restoration, stormwater management, new land acquisitions at Mustang, updated water, wastewater and flood policies, watershed protection plans and implementation, Q1 money, Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act funds, flood projects, and more are occupying many agendas and many committees. The cast of participants continues to grow as people and agencies recognize the importance of the river to many of our everyday activities.
Water supply planners are now edging towards conservation enforcement this summer. Latest snow and water figures are indicating another below average water year.
Floodplain management is becoming the hot new issue. How do we protect ourselves without increasing our risks and investment? How do we protect the community’s $260 million flood project and people who are in danger from encroachment into the critical flood pool on the east side of the valley? There is a danger that we will displace more of the floodplain, losing the benefits of the current flood project now being planned. The Corps is beginning the EIS process to examine the alternatives and costs.
What is particularly exciting is that people are working together, some with more enthusiasm than others, but they ARE working together.
Restoration is a key to improving water quality and allowing flooding to occur on the floodplain. It will also provide habitat and recreation. Steve Walker is facilitating the Lower River Restoration group.
The Nature Conservancy’s McCarran Ranch project has undergone peer review. A number of restoration specialists were invited to DRI to critique the project. Each professional shared a variety of thoughts during the day. Ornithologists, plant ecologists, geomorphologists, fishery biologists, flow experts and more generally gave the project an enthusiastic thumbs up with ideas for improving the project. The Cities of Reno and Sparks have contributed sewer fees towards restoration efforts. Our Senators have been instrumental in leveraging additional federal funds. TMWRF benefits and so do the residents of the Truckee Meadows.
BLM has acquired the major portion of the old Mustang Ranch. Public comment will be solicited about future uses, similar, we hope, to McCarran Ranch improvements. These projects have forced us to work with Storey County and the Tribe.
Water is being acquired to meet the conditions of the Water Quality Settlement Agreement. This water provides instream flows during the months when TMWRF discharges may not meet water quality standards prescribed for the river. 4000AF have been acquired by the Tribe and local governments.
USFWS now has funds to improve fish passage, and
boat passage, over several diversion structures this year.
The kayak course has a cadre of supporters who are raising money to promote
international kayaking on our river.
The Nevada Land Conservancy is coordinating funding efforts on the river, bringing together all interested parties to ensure that we maximize our dollars through leveraging various funding sources.
Great job!
EARTH DAY – Sunday, April 27, 10 AM – 5 PM
Truckee River Yacht Club will have a presence at Earth Day on April 27 at Idlewild Park. Two river specialists will lead walks along the Truckee River to look at fish habitat and fishing and what makes a healthy river. One will talk about where our water supply comes from. Tours will start at the front of the California Building at 11AM and noon.
You may also visit the Truckee Meadows Trails Association booth (Joe Cendagorta will be there) at Earth Day for additional information. Also check out our website www.truckeeriver.org.