TRYC Seal Truckee River Yacht Club
Founded 1988

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Nov-Dec 2000 Newsletter

    "I wake each morning torn between the desire to improve the world or enjoy it. It makes it hard to plan the day."         -E.B. White
     


    WC-1 WINS

    Washoe County Ballot Issue 1 survived well to provide funding for a list of good things: two libraries, open space, ball fields and more land along the Truckee River. In spite of the competition, voters approved the funding after a campaign of walking precincts, mailing postcards and some television. Alicia Reban and Becky Stock of the Nevada Land Conservancy staffed the huge volunteer GOTV effort and deserve community accolades for their efforts. Ginny Kersey and Tina Nappe were active in soliciting funds for the campaign.

    Harrah's contributed to the TV advertising with CEO Phil Satre urging voters to support WC-1.

    The library volunteers made substantial contributions of time and money as did a large number of companies and individuals too numerous to name.

    Washoe County Parks Director, Karen Mullen had attended over 100 meetings to take comments and suggestions from all sorts of people for the expenditure of bond revenue. Karen took that list developed from criteria and listening to set the priorities for acquisition so that voters would know what they were getting.

    The Washoe County Commissioners should also receive applause for putting it on the ballot so that citizens could express their opinion.

    CHAMPIONS DAY A SUCCESS

    Champions of the Truckee, 150 strong, turned out on October 14 at various locations along the river. Interpretive Gardens and Tom Stille took on cleanup and planting at Mayberry Park. Shauna Adams of Sierra Pacific headed up Dorostkar Park efforts to cleanup and remove weeds. Patti Bakker of Public Resource Associates oversaw tree planting at Chrissie Caughlin, while Scott Imus of Reno's Urban Forestry Committee replaced lost trees at Booth Street. Beverly Conway, John Champion's buddy tackled Champion Park. Jo Simpson and the BLM left their usual spot in Sparks to join Don Vetter on Wingfield Island.

    Thanks also go to Elisa Maser who coordinated efforts, Louise Kehmeier who provided training and safety to captains, to Jim Ross and the Urban Forestry Committee for identifying work sites, to the Yacht Club which applied for BOR tree money to buy trees and shrubs to plant (courtesy of Patti Bakker)

    Congratulations to all the participants who helped make our river a better place. It's very satisfying to watch your tree grow and to see it being used by birds or to sit under its shade on a hot summer day.

    FLOOD PROJECT UPDATE

    The Truckee River Flood Project is glacially moving forward--but moving. A deadline imposed by the Corps of Engineers and the Community Flood Coalition cannot slip too far or funding for the project will be in jeopardy. An evaluation of the flood model required by the Corps doesn't seem to match reality. The Hydrology Committee is working overtime with the Corps to find common ground over acceptable modeling.

    In the meantime, the self-named Tripod group (made up of businesses, homeowners and conservationists) is working to find a community alternative that protects development yet enhances the river's ability to flood with less destruction. The Tripod group feels it can reach consensus by mid-December if the Hydrology Committee and consultants can assure them that their plan meets the criteria and guidelines set out by the Coalition. This has been a dedicated group which has been keeping noses to the grindstone with good cause.

    Tentative dates for closure on a draft alternative will be December 15 with a full Coalition presentation to the community on January 13 with presentation to the Corps on January 15--a delayed deadline.

    TRUCKEE RIVER RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has assembled a technical team (Recovery Implementation Team, or RIT) to develop a Restoration and Recovery Implementation Plan for the Truckee River Basin. The primary purpose of the Implementation Plan is to identify and prioritize actions for the improvement of the Truckee River ecosystem functions to facilitate the restoration/recovery of Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-ui populations in the basin. Maintenance of recreational fishing opportunities is another goal of the RIT process.

    The RIT is n the process of developing the Plan; a draft was expected to be released in October, but has been delayed. The process of plan development includes many actions such as compiling pertinent data that assesses the physical and biological health of the river system, prioritizing identified conditions with respect to their severity and potential for treatment, and development of detailed recommendations for the implementation of specific approaches that will reduce adverse impacts to system functions and facilitate LCT and cui-ui recovery.

    Throughout the process, the RIT has made a pint of involving the pubic to a strong degree. Toward this end, several stakeholder working groups have been developed and have been meeting independently. Also, the RIT has held two stakeholders meetings, one in July and one in November. The July meeting focused on sharing with the stakeholders the research being conducted., which will contribute to the recommendations being written in the Draft Plan. The November meeting was scheduled to review the Draft Plan, but the Plan was not yet ready. Instead the meeting focused on an update of the Plan status and an open discussion with stakeholders.

    A major concern of stakeholders, namely the recreation working group, appears to be retaining an active and desirable fishery on the river. The FWS is determined to heed this concern in devising the recovery plan. However, there are also many stakeholders rooting for a successful recover of native fishes in our river for the sake of biodiversity, for restoring our native ecosystems and for showing future generations that mankind can, and sometimes will, put the bigger picture in front of their immediate needs by returning a system to its own natural order. Stay tuned for more updates on the process as the Draft Plan is distributed and more stakeholder workshops are scheduled. 

    McCARRAN RANCH DEAL

    The Nature Conservancy and Great Basin Land and Water brokered separate deals to purchase 5 miles of Truckee River corridor, some oxbows and floodplain plus water for the Water Quality Agreement. At last writing the acquisition was in question. The rest of the ranch was purchased by Tri-Partners who have been developing the South Truckee Meadows.

    The purchase provides so many benefits to the community. We add to the supply of water that helps meet our water quality standards. It leaves the floodplain intact below the Reno-Sparks area. This in turn provides opportunities for river and wetland restoration, habitat improvements for birds and wildlife, some recreation access, possible continuation of the river path downstream of Sparks (there are missing links) and flood attenuation.

    Having visited the ranch recently with Michael Cameron, TNC's Truckee Coordinator, I can say this is a beautiful piece of the river. TNC has contracted with Chad Gourley to develop a restoration plan. The contract for grazing is up in February 2001, but until then the contractor is cooperating to keep cattle out of the young cottonwoods growing along the edges of the river.
     

    We've got to credit TNC along with Great Basin Land & Water for pulling this wonderful project out of the fire and into reality. There will be opportunities for workdays and tree planting. We'll keep you posted.

    (Editor's Note: Graham Chisholm, TNC's State Director, who has ably and commendably rebuilt TNC in Nevada will be leaving to head up TNC's largest state program in California. Graham will be missed but promises an equally dynamic new leader.)

    TREE PLANTING GRANT

    The Yacht Club received an $8,000 grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to plant some trees along the river this fall. The planting is for the purposes of improving water quality, providing more consistent wildlife corridors, stabilizing river banks and increasing flood abatement.

    The planting was/will be done in several parts, starting with the Truckee River Work Day, October 14th, when trees and shrubs were planted between Booth Street and Keystone Avenue, and at the Schiappacasse property next to Chrissie Caughlin Park. Approximately 360 quart-sized cottonwood, alder, wild rose and chokecherry were planted in these areas by volunteers on the work day. Planting was focused on the south side of the river where the banks are more barren and most in need of shade on the water.

    Two more planting projects will be completed with the grant. Trees will be planted along the river at Lockwood in an effort to recreate wetlands for flood attenuation and improved water quality. Cottonwood and willow cuttings will also be planted at the Nature Conservancy's newly acquired McCarran Ranch property east of Sparks.

    CANDIDATE SURVEY AND ELECTIONS

    Results with River in Mind

    A number of Truckee Meadows organizations, including the Club, wrote a local candidate questionnaire that both informed candidates of our issues and requested responses. The results were available through truckeeriver.org's website link to Environmental Leadership. Thanks to Dennis Ghiglieri computer knowledge and Sonya Hem's compilation, results were easily read.

    The Yacht Club wishes to thank Environmental Leadership for Sonya's time and efforts, Champions of the Truckee, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Sierra Club, Citizens for Scenic Reno, Trout Unlimited and the Nevada League of Conservation Voters for all their contributions of questions for the survey. All these organizations are tax exempt with the exception of the Sierra Club and could not endorse candidates.

    Even though the elections are over, you're still encouraged to visit the website to see what candidates had to say about the issues. It's a long site, but don't give up. The questions were meant to be provocative and were not designed to be a simple yes or no answer. Of 14 city council and county commission candidates, 9 returned theirs on time. Two returned them late and 3 did not respond.

    NEVADA BIODIVERSITY PHOTO CONTEST
     

    Judging photos in three categories will highlight the Nevada Biodiversity Initiative Photo Contest: native wildlife, plants and landscapes. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top two images in each category. There is a $5 entry fee for as many images as you want to submit. The deadline is January 15, 2001.

    Winter is the perfect time to sort through your images. Remember the Truckee River and its beauty, its wildlife and its plants. You may be a winner!
     

    For more information, visit our website at truckeeriver.org and look for the link or email randi_thompson@fws.gov.

    TROA UPDATE (by Janet Carson)

    The TROA negotiating parties (U.S. NV, CA, Pyramid Lake, Sierra Pacific, Reno, Sparks, Washoe County and others) received a new draft TROA in June and have been working hard to make final edits and revisions before year's end. When the parties have reached agreement on the document to go forward for NEPA/CEQA compliance, it will become the "preferred alternative" for the new Draft EIS/EIR. An earlier Draft EIS/EIR was published in 1998 and resulted in renewed negotiations.

    Once the EIS/EIR process is complete, then the parties will sign the agreement and submit it to the two federal courts for approval. It is expected that completion of all the steps necessary for TROA to take effect will take 3-5 more years.

    It has been a long a difficult process, but the results will be a river operation which provides greater drought protection for Reno-Sparks, improved instream flows, better recreational pool levels in California reservoirs, and many other benefits.

    (Editors Note: Janet Carson has been serving as the local staff person who has been responsible for moving TROA negotiations towards closure. Janet would like to retire from Sierra Pacific--that's her incentive. Atta girls and boys to all those people who have spent over 10 years trying to resolve the many issues.)

    NEW RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES DOWNTOWN

    The Nevada Commission on Tourism has spearheaded an effort to get a recognized kayak course downtown. Sierra Nevada Whitewater Association has sponsored a number of events in the stretch of water around Wingfield Island. Kayaking has become a recognized international sport that fits in with the RSCVA's need to expand tourism opportunities in the area. Our wonderful outdoor sports may be the call to new tourism for the area to be added to gaming and entertainment.

    Don Vetter, TRYC member, also heads a committee to introduce an international corporate challenge involving skiing, mountain biking, kayaking and more. The kayaking could take place on the Truckee River. Biking or roller-blading along the path are possibilities.

    Finally, one of the sites being studied for a new ball park in Reno is on the Truckee River. Watch for more information.

    GAZETTE-JOURNAL REPORTER FAITH BREMNER DEPARTS

    The entire natural resources and conservations communities will miss Faith Bremner as she leaves the Reno area for Washington, D.C. where she will cover "the Hill" for Idaho, Montana and Colorado. As part of Gannett News Service Faith has wanted to expand her opportunities for some time. She wanted a "new beat". 

    Faith is known for her fairness and balance, her protection of sources, her questioning and for taking on issues that had no other champion--lizards, Honey Lake and Walker Lake, for instance. We wish her the very best and marvel that she won't have Helen Chenowith to cover.