August 2003 Newsletter
Truckee River Yacht Club
Table of Contents
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GREAT BASIN BREWERY ADOPTS RIVER SECTION
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DEFINING RIVER RESTORATION
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CURIOSITY
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RENO ARTOWN ON THE RIVER
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THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER – August 16 & 17
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WEEDS TAKING OVER LOWER RIVER
The great thing about preservation is that it opens up options. When you have a wider set of choices, you have a better chance of behaving wisely. – Stewart Brand, Preservation, May/June 2003, founder of the Whole Earth Catalogue
GREAT BASIN BREWERY ADOPTS RIVER SECTION
Thanks to Tom Young owner of Great Basin Brewery, river sections 11 & 12 have been adopted by the area’s favorite brewpub.On Saturday, June 7, 25 people turned out to help clean up those sections of the river from Cottonwood Park in Sparks to Vista. Yacht Club board member Don Vetter, Tom and Don DaRue (host of Saturday’s Risky Biscuit Hayseed Hoot on The-X) toured the river to define projects for the future.
When asked by Reno Gazette-Journal reporter why the river adoption, Young responded that "It’s the water. We use Truckee River water for our brews…it is clean, pure and free of salts. We want to keep it that way,” he said.
While Tom learned more about the river, we learned more about brewing beer. Truckee River water is free of magnesium and calcium. Tom says it’s easier to add those ingredients to beer than to take them out. He and his brewmaster have created a new beer, Truckee River Red, an Irish Red beer, in celebration of their partnership with Champions of the Truckee and Truckee River Yacht Club.
Businesses that have adopted sections bring their employees down to the river to get acquainted and to leave the river in better shape for the community. TMWA, Nevada Bell Pioneers, the BLM/USFWS, Patagonia, the Sierra Club, Interpretive Gardens and Q&D Construction have all adopted sections of our river. They believe in community service and giving something back to the "artery" in our community.
Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas mayor, and Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr. have commented at business functions that the river is a key element in attracting people to northern Nevada. As Mayor Goodman said, "Las Vegas doesn’t have and can’t make a Truckee River!"
Business and the environment work together to make this community a great place to work and play. Tom Young recognizes that. We thank him for his dedication to the river. Next time you’re hankering for a good beer, head for Great Basin Brewery-- and say thanks!
DEFINING RIVER RESTORATION
Below are excerpts from a presentation made by Steve Walker to the Lahontan Audubon Society. The presentation focused on what river restoration is and how it can affect bird habitat. Steve is also the consultant to the Lower Truckee River Restoration Advisory Committee (LTRRAC).Before discussing the specifics of river restoration and bird habitat, one needs to better define restoration, specific to the lower Truckee River. Generally the word implies a river restored to its original condition. Due to the dynamic nature of a river and our hydrologic cycles, defining an original condition is problematic. Furthermore our restored river of today would definitely have a different annual hydrology than the 19 century Truckee that did not have reservoir storage, operating agreements, water quality standards and specific and agreed upon flow criteria. Generally the new restored river will have lower spring and winter flows with higher mid and late summer flows. Restoration could then not be defined as restoring past condition, but in my opinion maximizing the complexity of the aquatic and riparian habitat within the expected flow regime. Generally complex environments are more stable than environments managed by humans for a single need – flood control, irrigation diversion, power generation, etc… Then a restored river becomes one that addresses multiple needs such as water quality treatment, flood control, aquatic/terrestrial habitat and recreational opportunities. Hopefully, by managing the river for multiple benefits the environmental complexity will be enhanced and the system will become more stable. A very good and simple monitoring device to measure environmental complexity is the diversity and abundance of bird species.
The loss of terrestrial and aquatic habitat along the lower Truckee River (Vista to Pyramid Lake) has been an on-going process since the arrival of European man. They/we have harvested the mature cottonwood trees, over-grazed the saplings, straightened and dredged the river in the 1960's after severe flooding in the 1950's and below Derby Dam diverted 50% of its flow from 1906 to 1985 for the Newlands Project. Additionally we have introduced exotic plant and animal species that dominate certain habitats, further reducing environmental diversity.
In 1877 Ridgeway, working for the Federal government, did a bird survey of the lower Truckee River - some of the 1st and best work done in the Great Basin to establish basic data. In 1933 Morrison conducted a survey in the same area, noting that the marsh wren, savanna sparrow and common yellowthroat were rarely seen and the American bittern and sora were not observed at all. All these species Ridgeway listed as common. In the 1972 to 76 Professor Klebenow and his graduate student Oakleaf compared current bird population with the original Ridgeway work and noted a near 80% decline in number of species. Graham Chisholm, et al in the mid and late 1990's surveys saw an increase in species and numbers from the Klebenow work particularly in the Reservation portion of the lower river where grazing control and improved riparian habitat had occurred due to timely water releases for cui-ui reproduction and cottonwood recruitment. This same habitat improvement would be expected along all the restoration sites from Vista to Pyramid Lake.
Restoration of the river will be specific to the river reaches. In some areas simply changing the management that caused it to degrade in the first place - i.e. grazing - can restore the river. In other areas the channel has been straightened and deepened and the river has lost access to its original intermediate flood plain. In these areas the channel would be designed to be more sinuous and the channel would have reduced capacity
causing lower event flows to spill on the adjacent flood plain. This will improve riparian condition and its associated habitat. Riparian habitat in good condition offers several layers - trees, shrubs and ground covered with herbaceous vegetation. This offers three specific areas for birds to use versus the one that is presently there.
Restoration will also improve water quality by processes described above particularly if the active channel becomes deeper and narrow with shading from tree/shrub canopies. These factors work to reduce water temperature and increase dissolved oxygen. Natural water quality improvement makes it easier for the regional wastewater treatment plant to meet its permit requirement without building addition treatment infrastructure so consequently they are investing in restoration. A restored river channel with better access to the flood plain is more resilient to flood flows and can actually benefit if floodwater velocity is reduced and sediment is deposited on the flood plain. This restoration aspect could allow increased flow to be released without significant damage. The same restored rivers aquatic habitat will be much improved due to the factors mentioned above - colder water, more oxygen, better cover - allowing potential endangered and threatened species recovery of the cui-ui lake sucker and the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. The river is where they spawn. All these benefits bring dollars to restoration. Incidental benefits are associated with bird habitat recovery, improved recreational opportunity and increase property values on land adjacent to restoration sites.
Restoration will occur on variety of areas with different jurisdictional control and management philosophies. A cooperative agreement ill is used to encourage sharing of resources, knowledge and energy to the common goal of river restoration.
CURIOSITY
Earth Day provided food for thought. TRYC Board members, Janet Carson and Susan Lynn, stood before a sign announcing tours of the river. One lovely new Reno resident took us up on our offer. She loved the river, and being new to the area, knew little about our river. She asked questions about beaver and plants. We shared information about the differences between Fremont and Black cottonwoods, alder, wild rose, chokecherry and more. She was interested in the fish planting that she’d witnessed.She did not realize that her tap water came from the Truckee River. How many do? She thought the water was pretty good here. Janet told her that we have some of the very best drinking water in the country. But many people don’t know this. Some folks employ filters and water softeners that really do little to improve the quality.
Peggy, who might be referred to as a senior, had the curiosity of a child. She asked questions about her natural world. She was fascinated by river history. She wanted to know what the Yacht Club did. She learned about the trees and shrubs as she lives near the river. She was a curious traveler. She wanted to have knowledge, yet most people are afraid to try to gain that knowledge.
It was curious to us why few others were curious. Do we tune out? Are we too busy? Do we even care? Maybe it’s time to ask what our priorities are and should we be asking questions. Peggy did! Maybe we should all emulate Peggy.
RENO ARTOWN ON THE RIVER
Artown is providing arts and entertainment all during the month of July. Many events including music, movies, dancing, drumming, visual arts and arts tours occur at venues along the river. Try a Thursday Evening Arts Walk to visit all the theaters and galleries along the river. Try Friday night Rollin’ on the River musical events followed by movies in the Park. Buy a table or seats for Pops on the River, July 12 when the Reno Philharmonic plays. The opening Ne Lei Hulu hula dancers were sensational—humorous, graceful, romantic and then hula to rap music? Who’d have guessed that!?We giggled and laughed and learned at this Tuesday night event. Whatever! Spend some time along your river enjoying the arts in the month of July.
THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER – August 16 & 17
A field study course sponsored by LASCost: $29 for 1 day; $50 for both
Instructors:
- Janet Carson, former Director of Water Policy and Planning for Sierra Pacific (1989 - 2001) and Deputy Federal Water Master in Reno (1982 - 1985)
- Alan Gubanich, VP of LAS and Associate Professor of Biology at UNR
- Jim Lytle, Board Member of LAS and field biologist.
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. These people are the most knowledgeable people to give the most information on the river. Consider making reservations for both days. You won’t regret it.
WEEDS TAKING OVER LOWER RIVER
Tall whitetop has infested the entire lower Truckee River watershed. It’s peaking now. The white-flowered weed, a weed used in floral bouquets, has grown very out of handAfter the weeds flower, they go to seed, creating an almost impossible seed bank to float on the wind or water, or attach to vehicle tires to be spread around. Consequently the spread has occurred in a very short time. The 1997 flood certainly didn’t help.
If you think you see tall whitetop in your area (it’s also known as perennial pepperweed), call Dawn Rafferty at the Dept of Agriculture (775-688-1180, X269) or our own Sue Donaldson at Washoe Cooperative Extension (775-784-4848) for identification or mapping. Help us learn where this weed is located.
Do not rototill these nasty weeds. Breaking the root system only creates more plants. There are ways to slow the spread of these weeds, but get professional advice. Weed Warriors also meet in public places to help pull whitetop in the spring. Watch your newspaper for details of these meetings.