March 2004 Newsletter Truckee River Yacht Club
Table of Contents- OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERSHIP
- THE TAHOE-PYRAMID BIKEWAY UPDATE
- ALL NEW TRUCKEE RIVER PARK & KAYAK COURSE
- KAYAKERS PLAN RENO RIVER FESTIVAL FOR MAY 14-16, 2004
- FARAD DAM TO BE REPLACED
- NEW GLENDALE DIVERSION STRUCTURE PROPOSED
- TRUCKEE MEADOWS TOMORROW WIZARD
- EARTH DAY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 25 AT IDLEWILD.MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!
OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERSHIP
This year has been a challenge, but an exciting one! More positive things are happening for the good of our beloved Truckee River. Because we are a totally volunteer organization, and because sooooo much is going on, it’s been hard to find the time to communicate with you. Bad excuse, but good too! We inhabit meeting rooms!
We are happy to report that the Community Flood Coalition is moving ahead despite Corps of Engineers budget woes. The Yacht Club’s “Living River” concept shared by the Business, Residential and Environment Subcommittee of the Community Flood Coalition and the Coalition has been widely supported and is beginning to be implemented in part. The “living river” concept means allowing the river more room to flood in a more natural setting with less damage. In turn this means lower or fewer levees and more open space. The downtown historical bridges remain under discussion. Balancing the issues of historic preservation and flood capacity is critical. The flood project is designed to reduce flood losses (including damages, deaths, health and safety and real and indirect costs), restore the river, better water quality and create habitat and recreational amenities. We must continue to work with UNR, Storey County and the Tribe.
In regard to the flood project, we also needed to adopt floodplain protection for a number of reasons. That “work-in-progress” plan is complete for the time being thanks to the committee that worked on that issue. If implemented, Truckee Meadows residents will benefit from lower flood insurance rates, lower flood elevations and more efficient flood protection.
Yet another element and committee have recommended mitigation strategies for flood volume storage designed to protect the current flood plan as required by the Corps. That group recommended strategies for Flood Zones 1 and 2, and are now working on the other zones.
The kayak course around Wingfield Island still looks a little raw, but is being well used and is highlighting attention to the river. Jim Litchfield and Chris Chrystal get kudos for bringing that one home. Their tenacious energy brought the city, TMWA and the tourism industry along. The Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club enthusiastically supported the project. Jim thinks the rawness will disappear with completed landscaping and spring runoff. We’ll be looking for the crawdads, trout and mayflies!
The Bureau of Reclamation has completed its fish passage at Derby Dam. The Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility and the Cities have provided generous funding so that The Nature Conservancy-supervised restoration project at McCarran Ranch could begin. The project will, over time, reduce nutrient loading to the river, thereby improving water quality downstream. Early observations show that the natural functions of the river and wetlands are returning rapidly, just as planned. Truly exciting
Board member Janet Carson is off and running/biking on the Tahoe to Pyramid path. Initial meetings have resulted in contributions and workers to help with engineering, siting, conceptual maps, and title work. The enthusiasm has helped Janet set a goal of 40 in ’04, meaning 40 miles in 2004….from Fleisch to the McCarran Ranch. She has also made presentations to local governments encouraging them to preserve routes when development occurs. Go Janet!
Don’t forget to check on the website:
ably managed by Dennis Ghiglieri.
The Club continues to monitor water quality, Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery plans, and changes in diversion dam structures, both for flood reduction purposes and for recreation. We will conduct our annual raft trip for dignitaries if water, weather and boats cooperate.
While the Truckee River Yacht Club is not directly responsible for all these good things, over the years we have helped lay the groundwork for them to happen. We thank you for your support financially, socially and educationally in helping focus attention on this wonderful river that is asked to do so much.
Our New Years Resolutions are to:
Join the community in refocusing our energy to meet the ideal flood project funding cycle for 2006
- Support the Truckee River path concept for a sustainable river-friendly useable path, and
- Keep up better communications with you.
- Thanks again! Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Truckee River Yacht Club
Dennis
Ghiglieri, Susan
Lynn, Don
Vetter, Janet
Carson, Joe
Cendagorta, Rose
Strickland, Susan
Donaldson
THE TAHOE-PYRAMID BIKEWAY UPDATE
The Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway is off and running (or pedaling) to create a 116-mile trail along the Truckee River from its origin at Lake Tahoe to its terminus at Pyramid Lake. This is an entirely volunteer effort at present, with a nonprofit status under the Nevada Land Conservancy.
Janet
Carson, Project Manager, reports the following current progress:
-The Bikeway has a logo now and the website will be up soon:
www.tpbikeway.org.
-A professional brochure is in the works,
suitable for fundraising and promotion.
-Building an off-freeway
link from Mogul to Verdi is in the design and permitting stage. We
need political, financial and grading/paving help with this project.
-Building a bike bridge near Lockwood is in the title research,
predesign and permitting stage. - We need political and financial
help with this project.
-Legal research is underway to address a
property owner concern about liability if the Bikeway crosses their
land.
-Discussions are underway as to who will own and maintain
the Bikeway long-term.
-Mapping and signage development is
getting started.
Anyone who wants to contribute money or
professional services (not much manual labor at this time) may
contact the project at janet@tpbikeway.org
. The first year goal is 40 miles!
ALL NEW TRUCKEE RIVER PARK & KAYAK COURSE
Reprinted for Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club newsletter, winter 2003
As you all may have heard by now, the Truckee River has an exciting new river park formally called the Truckee River Park at Wingfield Park. Most people just call it the Whitewater Park. It was completed around Halloween this year. The park is approximately 1400 feet long. Of this, approximately 100 feet is above the island and 200 feet is below the island, with 1100 feet each in the north and south channels. Basic features of the park include:
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Five drop structures in the north channel—great for rodeo play
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Numerous current deflectors in the south channel—perfect for the slalom course
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Strategically placed boulders
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New boulder terraced banks on the island—yes! Access to the water’s edge!
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New pedestrian and bike path on the island, and
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Sleeves for removable slalom gates
In all approximately 530,000 cubic yards of channel were excavated and removed and 242,000 cubic yards of large boulders were brought in, buried, and/or grouted into place.
Word has it that the City of Reno has plans to add ADA accessible ramps to the water’s edge at the top and bottom of the Whitewater Park. (These are in discussion because of the flood project.) This may be constructed sometime this winter. How cool is that!
The river park is designed to be fun for the whole family. The first time I was at the park, I swam in a lifejacket, the second time I was on an inner tube, the third time on a boogie board, and then finally I got into my huge RPM. Any way you want to use the park, it is fun and safe when you have a lifejacket on. So far, we have only seen the river park at 300 to 500 cfs. We can’t wait to see what it does at higher flows.
There are no other parks like this planned for the rest of the Truckee River. However, the Truckee River Steering Committee is actively pursuing funds so that the dams between River Bend and Vista can be removed or modified for safe passage. We also want to improve safe access to the river and along the river. Ultimately, we want to be able to put in at Mayberry park and take out at Rock Park and not worry about the dams or rebar. At the same time, we want to be able to bike or walk the same stretch along the river and not worry about cars or crossing busy streets.
Take
me to the river…………….
KAYAKERS PLAN RENO RIVER FESTIVAL FOR MAY 14-16, 2004
A 2 _ day festival for locals as well as visitors to experience the diversity of our newest downtown amenity! The event will combine a kayak competition, demonstrations, lessons and a beer/food garden with a whitewater expo and concert. This event will create a working/long term partnership with Hooked on the Outdoors and American Whitewater.
Also
ROLL SESSIONS happen every week at Moana Pool. Call 689-2964 for
more information. Cost is $4 per person per session.
Reprinted in part from Friends of the River, “Headwaters”, by Steve Evans
Despite concerted efforts by Friends of the River, the California State Water Resources Control Board is recommending reconstruction of the Farad hydroelectric dam on the Truckee River. The dam was destroyed in the 1997 flood. After a lengthy study and significant public input, the SWRCB issued a Final Environmental Impact Report (required by the State of California and the United States) in March 2003 recommending the dam be rebuilt. SWRBC will require several measures to mitigate the reconstructed dam’s impact. For the first time in the dam’s history, a minimum instream flow of 150 cfs will be required to sustain the downstream aquatic habitat and fisheries in the 2-mile-long diverted reach below the dam. The dam’s design will provide for easy passage of fish and whitewater boats, and a portage will be constructed around the dam. Because of releases from upstream reservoirs dramatically vary the flow at Farad dam, so-called ramping rates will be required below the dam to moderate these flow changes on the downstream river environment. Water temperatures and the impacts of ramping rates will be monitored and minimum flows will be adjusted accordingly.
One
controversial mitigation measure originally proposed in the Draft EIR
required the power company provide sufficient flows one weekend per
month to support whitewater boating below the dam. Although
whitewater boaters supported this mitigation, anglers and people
concerned about the potential negative effects on aquatic habitat and
fisheries opposed it. It may also create some water supply concerns
for TMWA’s water supplies that allow Reno drinking and yard
water. Ramping flows up and down can cause havoc with water intakes
for Chalk Bluff.
NEW GLENDALE DIVERSION STRUCTURE PROPOSED
Truckee Meadows Water Authority is proposing to replace the Glendale Water Treatment Plant diversion structure near the Hilton. The proposal includes removing the current rock structure and replacing it with a boat/fish friendly structure. The structure currently backs up water for the intake at Glendale Water Treatment Plant. At a Flood Working Group, consultants laid out some scenarios that had been studied. Resistance is a polite word for the response given back from the group. TMWA has agreed to go back to square 1 and provide the basis for their work that should include the flood modeling for several different variations of the proposed structure, better knowledge of fish swimming habits, boating hydrology and more.
TRUCKEE MEADOWS TOMORROW WIZARD
In the latest edition of Truckee Meadows Tomorrow’s, Benchmark, readers responded to the Questions, “What would a Wizard Likely Fix in the Truckee Meadows Region?
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Commercial-industrial blight on the river corridor
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Sidewalks/bicycles thoroughfares
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Ridgetop development
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Inconsiderate pet owners who don’t clean up after their pets
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Greater foresight among business leaders and policy makers
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Limited value, ultra-low room rates
Do we want to help focus attention on commercial and industrial blight along the river? Yes, indeed! Another New Years Resolution!
EARTH DAY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 25 AT IDLEWILD. MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!
Environmental Leadership is planning Earth Day again this year. With the theme of “Be the Change You Wish to See”. It is intended to be another waste-free event. Booths and entertainment always prevail. Last year they set a new standard for recycling. All supplies for the Food Court used recyclable goods that were turned into compost! More information will follow,or check www.environleader.org and click on the calendar.
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