June 2004 Newsletter Truckee River Yacht Club
Table of Contents- Water Rights Conservation Program
- Reno River Festival a Hit
- Lotus Designs/Patagonia Teams with the Yacht Club
- The Nature Conservancy Holds River Health Seminar
- Long Distance Members Stop to Say "Hello"
- Wednesday, June 9 River Cleanup by Boat
- Exploring Watershed Connections
- EarthTalk: What happens to drugs when they leave our "systems"
- City Holds Mapes Site Workshop
WATER RIGHTS CONSERVATION PROGRAM – TRUCKEE RIVER
Do you want to improve the health of the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake? Would you like to help increase flows in the Truckee River to Pyramid Lake, improve our water quality and maintain and preserve the lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake for recreation, fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species? If so, you should help ensure that the goals of the landmark 1996 Water Quality Settlement Agreement (WQSA) are met.
The Water Quality Settlement Agreement ended years of conflict between the Cities of Reno and Sparks, Washoe County (the “Local Governments’), the State of Nevada, the U.S. Departments of Interior, Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The Agreement provided that the Local Governments and the Tribe would each contribute and spend funds necessary to acquire Truckee River water rights to be dedicated, managed and used jointly, to augment instream flows in the Truckee River from the Reno/Sparks area to Pyramid Lake to improve water quality.
You may be able to play an important role in helping save Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River. If you live in the Truckee Meadows and own Truckee River water rights you should consider participating in the Water Rights Conservation Program by donating or selling your water rights to Great Basin Land & Water (GBLW) and Truckee Meadows Water Research (TMWR). Or if you know someone who may have Truckee River water rights you should tell them about this program.
Great Basin Land and Water, a non-profit Nevada corporation established in 1996, has acquired thousands of acre feet of water rights for conservation purposes to benefit the long-term ecological health of the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake. GBLW’s innovative conservation program to acquire Truckee River water rights has already improved water quality, increased river flows, and helped to restore Pyramid Lake.
GBLW works with Truckee Meadows Water Research of Nevada LLC, to acquire conservation water rights in the Truckee Meadows. TMWR specializes in the acquisition of water rights. TMWR has a long and successful history of working with Truckee River water rights and especially in the purchase of small amounts of water.
For more information contact Rob Scanland at Great Basin Land & Water 775/883-2422 to learn more about whether or not you may have water rights and how you can help improve water quality in the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake. Together we can make a difference.
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RENO RIVER
FESTIVAL A HIT
Reno’s first ever River Festival brought in international kayakers to
play and compete in OUR Truckee River Kayak Park. Joining them
were 15,000 people who cheered and clapped for the racers and
performers over the three-day competition. Reno became familiar
with names of these international and Olympic champions. Fans
fell in love with a 10-year old boy who competed against adults and
prompted many kids to request kayak lessons. The crowds
demonstrated a great attitude, and according to the Reno Bike Police,
the crowds behaved themselves.
The weekend temperatures encouraged outdoor activity. The
festival included the boating competitions, music, vendors, and the
opportunity to take some classes. We should say at this point,
you do NEED lessons before you venture out on the river. Life
vests and helmets are a must.
The City of Reno and the RSCVA did a great job organizing the
event. Jim Litchfield, the workhorse of the kayak park, brought
his little kids who seemed to have a wonderful time. Charles
Albright, Lynn Zonge and Tom Gray, all TRYC members, helped with the
event. It was fun to watch families and serious paddlers mix in
the water and on the shores. The event seemed so successful that
it should become an annual event.
LOTUS DESIGNS/PATAGONIA TEAMS WITH THE YACHT CLUB
Lotus Designs/Patagonia invited TRYC and Reno Mountain Sports to share a booth at the River Festival. Patagonia demonstrates strong environmental ethics through its grant program and presented a check for $1,000 to TRYC on behalf of river health. Don Vetter, Janet Carson and Rob Scanland helped to secure new volunteers, educate residents and visitors about stormdrain stenciling (What goes in the gutter goes to the river!), the Tahoe to Pyramid Bikeway and water rights for the river. Thanks go to them for volunteering time. In addition to the check, Patagonia/Lotus supplied t-shirts to give away to volunteers, and the booth space. Patagonia is a local business located on the Truckee River west of Reno. Their building was built on sustainable resources concepts. They practice recycling as well.
This check is a grant. We will use the funds on a couple of projects to be defined. Water conservation for the river is one possibility. Stormdrain stenciling is another for water quality.
Land use Best Management Practices for the river is yet another possibility. More later.
Our thanks to both Patagonia and Lotus Designs, an affiliate of Patagonia that provides kayaking and boating gear—clothing, life vests and more. Ron Hunter, Lisa Beckstead and Mark Blume were the contacts. Thank you all!
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) HOLDS RIVER HEALTH SEMINAR
The Nature Conservancy, in its efforts to restore the natural health of the Truckee River (McCarran Ranch), held a half-day seminar and a half day raft trip to look at the issues surrounding river health and the potential for removing impediments to both fish and boaters. Michael Cameron and Cari Watkins gathered engineers, biologists, hydrologists and river restoration experts to speak about what constitutes good health.
Because TMWA, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, needs to replace the Glendale Diversion, the replacement has precipitated discussion. The Glendale diversion feeds water into the Glendale Treatment Plant across from the Hilton. In looking at the Glendale diversion, TNC identified over 20 diversions that may be replaced over the next 20-30 years. How can we make the diversions safer, more natural, and allow for flooding, fish passage and boating? Do we only concern ourselves with just endangered species? Or should we consider all fish? The strong swimmers and the weak swimmers? Is it time to think about the linear connectivity of habitat? How does it affect water quality? Can it assimilate pollution for cleaner water? How do we continue to use the Glendale Treatment Plant, other irrigation diversions or power production necessary for everyday life? We’re looking at ways to balance things.
When diversions were first built, no thought was given to fish and recreation. Now they contribute to the quality of life and the economy. Speakers addressed constraints and opportunities, then discussed solutions and responses. This seminar was the beginning of discussions, not the end. Through dialogue, sharing information and science, we may be able to address and improve the health of the Truckee River.
TNC couldn’t have picked a better day to raft from Crystal Peak Park to Mayberry Park. Several stops included the old Washoe diversion to look at the antiquated fish passage, and the power plant that still produces power that TMWA uses. It was evident that development is rapidly occurring in the floodplain in the Verdi area, prompting the discussion of appropriate buffers, and maintaining the riparian habitat and floodplain. Obviously, permits have been issued; construction is under way with little sensitivity to the river health and flood potential.
LONG DISTANCE MEMBERS STOP TO SAY HELLO
Maggie and Joe Osgood of New Jersey, our members living the most distance from Reno, visit every winter to ski. For the first time they stopped to say hello before leaving town. They want a party next year while they’re here. It’s always fun to meet people who love our area. They say they’ve been coming for over 20 winters in order to ski. Joe at 83 seems forever young. And Maggie is so cheerfully enthusiastic that one would wish for them both to stay. Probably means a party next year! Thanks for stopping by!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 RIVER CLEANUP BY BOAT
Have a boat? Want to help the Reno Police Department pick up trash from the river?
On Wednesday, June 9, the “bike cops” are sponsoring an in-river cleanup. You can help by using your boat to collect trash from the willows and rocks, or you can help by reporting trash, grocery carts, car parts and other trash to Charlie Smith at 745-3733.
They’ll be working the river stretch from Idlewild Park to the Fishermen’s 1 & 2 Parks starting at 9 AM. You must contact Charlie prior to participation. You must have life vests as well. See the number above.
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EXPLORING
WATERSHED CONNECTIONS
The Truckee River Yacht Club has been focused on the Reno Sparks
portion of the river, but there is interest in connecting with other
organizations who foster the river in California and downstream.
Lisa Wallace of the Truckee River Watershed Management Council, Michael
Cameron of The Nature Conservancy, Elisa Maser of Champions of the
Truckee, and Susan Lynn of TRYC have been exploring the idea of
creating an umbrella group for the entire watershed. Each group
would maintain its autonomy, but there is a need to coordinate and
communicate.
The entire
watershed is of importance to the drinking water supply, fish,
recreation, and flood conveyance. Talks are very preliminary.
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EarthTalk: What happens to drugs when they leave our systems?
(reprinted) E/The Environmental Magazine - 5/25/04
Dear EarthTalk: What happens to the chemicals in drugs once they leave our systems?
— Courtney Moschetta, Huntsville, Alabama
Every time you swallow a pill, some of that medicine follows a circuitous path through your body, down the toilet, through the sewage treatment plant (where it is often resistant to traditional treatments) and into the nearest river or lake, where it is eventually tapped again for the public drinking water supply.
According to Christian Daughton, chief of environmental chemistry at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Research Laboratory in Las Vegas, new technologies now allow scientists to detect in water extremely low levels of prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as compounds found in personal care products like shampoo and sun screen.
In Kansas City alone, more than 40 percent of stream samples analyzed recently by the U.S. Geological Survey had detectable amounts of over-the-counter-drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, antibiotics, and prescription medications for high blood pressure.
While the effects on human health of drug residues in water are not yet a serious concern, new studies show that fish and other aquatic species may be affected, said Daughton. Antibiotics make some species more resistant to pathogens, steroids can cause endocrine disruption that interferes with reproductive processes, and antidepressants make fish tranquil and more likely to succumb to predation. Considering the large variety of pharmaceuticals on the market today, our water may have a witch's brew of very small amounts of many different kinds of drugs.
Right now there are no EPA or Food and Drug Administration regulations in place to control levels of residual drugs in water. However, some environmental groups concerned with water quality want to see drug disposal policies enacted, new sewage treatment technologies developed, and source reduction efforts on the part of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies.
Daughton envisions a day when drug companies will take responsibility for the life cycle of their products. Instead of flushing your unused prescription drugs down the toilet, you may be able to send them back to the pharmacy or return them to the maker for proper disposal. Such programs already exist in parts of Europe and Canada.
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CITY HOLD MAPES SITE WORKSHOP
The Mapes site holds true potential as a City Centerpiece. The City Council is to be congratulated for holding the workshop on a Saturday when the public could attend. Lots of good ideas and concerns were expressed to the designers. The site is being called on to do many things and perhaps that is why people are demonstrating some frustration.
The site needs to accommodate the skating rink (winter), a performance area (summer), retail sites, a staging area for skating or performances, history of the site and preservation of the Virginia Street bridge, public art, and the public path.
At first blush, it seems the uses all contradict each other. And at Eaother times, the function is there.
The plan calls for narrowing both Virginia and First Streets which may further inhibit ingress and egress to downtown. The proposed shade for the skating rink protects the ice but inhibits views of the mountains and skies at night. The shade structure is useful in the summer for shade. The question remains: should it shade the performers or the attendees. The slope of the site towards the rink may allow more people to see, but it limits other uses, such as art or flower shows or events needing flat spaces. All in all, the designers have their work cut out for themselves.
The available dollars remain at $4 million. Be watching for more details as the process continues.
Careful listening by the City Council and the designers should make the site a special place that can serve many functions, but maybe not as many as talked about. We’re looking forward to a wonderful place that pays attention to the river it sits beside.
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