December 2002 Newsletter
Truckee River Yacht Club
Table of Contents
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October & November 2002 are Good Months for the Truckee River
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Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Returned to River at Idewild Park in Reno
- Derby Dam Fish
Passage Nearing Completion
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER ARE GOOD MONTHS FOR THE TRUCKEE RIVER!
October and November, 2002 have been banner months for good news on the Truckee River! The Nature Conservancy celebrated the acquisition of 304 acres of the McCarran Ranch. Washoe County Commissioners voted to acquire the long awaited Canepa parcels that straddle an existing parcel on the south side of the river near Mogul. Lahontan cutthroat trout from Pyramid Lake were released into the river near Idlewild Park as a demonstration of good will. The IRS has announced that it will be transferring the Mustang Ranch to the BLM in December. The Bureau of Reclamation is nearing completion of the fish passage at Derby Dam. The Club held a successful cleanup day on October 20. Nearly 100 people helped with wrapping trees to prevent beaver depredation, pruning, scrubbing, raking, painting, picking up trash and more. It was exciting to see babies and grandfathers and mothers and “kids” of all ages in between working together to make our river a cleaner, tidier place. The day was gorgeous!
Recognition should go to Don Vetter for his organizing efforts and to Jo and Ken Simpson for their continued leadership on the Sparks portion of the river. They also acknowledged the good work done by the Hansen twins and Jenny Francis at the Washoe Storey Conservation District.
TRYC RIVER CLEANUP
A bright, beautiful autumn day greeted the 70-plus volunteers who participated in the 5th annual Champions of the River/Truckee River Yacht Club River Work Day on Oct. 20. Crews worked from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a variety of locations along the river and then gathered at John Champion Park for drinks, snacks, thanks and recognition.
Much of this year’s work focused on wrapping trees to prevent damage from beavers. Along with their aesthetic beauty, the trees are important for the river’s fish, who rely on the shade provided by the tree canopy to protect them from soaring water temperatures.
Crews wrapped trees at Ivan Sack Park. Idlewild Park and between Champion and Broadhead parks. General clean up occurred in the downtown area and in Sparks, while gardening chores and bridge painting occupied the volunteers at Champion Park.
The John Champion fountain at Champion Park got scrubbed. The bridge crossing there was partially painted. The corkscrew willow was beautifully pruned. Washoe High students helped wrap trees with chicken wire. Port of Subs sandwiches were consumed following the hard work. Special thanks go to the Reno Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department for keeping a watchful eye while participants had a great day! Our “river police” also report illegal activities along the river and make sure the river is a safe place to be. A little TLC goes a long way.
The day honors John Champion, the river pied piper who single-handedly took care of his stretch of the river to show others what could be done. John passed away 5 years ago. The day also honors people who care about their river and give something back.
It is truly a pleasure to visit Champion Park and remember the Reno-Gazette Journal’s Ward Bushee who spearheaded the construction of the park. Ward’s vision was for the community to develop a park. So it began. The Reno Gazette-Journal contributed the land. Louise Kehmeier, then working for Schoenberg & Co., designed the park. Associated General Contractors jumped in along with the labor unions to move dirt and sculpt the land. Plants were contributed as were the blacktop, concrete and tile for the fountain. Then about 200 individuals volunteered their time to create the false creeks and rock retaining walls, plant trees and shrubs, spread DG on paths and more. It was a dream come true, one that John Champion would love.
Thanks to all who participated along with a special Yacht Club salute to these “first mates:”
Bureau of Land Management; City of Reno Parks and Reno Police Department – River Patrol; Great Basin Brewery; Hands on Nevada, United Way; Innerwest Advertising & Public Relations; Next Media; Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful; Port of Subs; Public Resource Associates; employees of Pfizer, Inc.; Q & D Construction; Reno Urban Forestry Commission; Sani-Hut; Truckee Meadows Water Authority; Washoe County Sheriff’s Office; and everyone who gave their time and energy to clean up our River.
For those who missed it, you missed a wonderful morning of community camaraderie and good feelings.
MCCARRAN RANCH DEDICATED
The Nature Conservancy threw a bash that highlighted our two Senators who have been generous to the Truckee River. Senator Harry Reid was the keynote speaker who praised the cooperation of many levels of government and the private sector to make the day possible. Also acknowledged were the partners who helped bring the concept to fruition. Thanks go to Michael Cameron and Ame Hellman who worked diligently to bring all the parties on the lower river together. Washoe County Commissioner Jim Shaw, Storey County Commissioner Bob Kershaw, Director of Public Works for Sparks Wayne Seidel, and Reno City Councilman Dave Aiazzi came to show their support. Michael also expressed his thanks to the Truckee River Yacht Club for their support.
Amidst a light lunch catered by Silver Peak Restaurant and Brewery, walks on the Nature Trail, a lecture by Phillip Earl on the history of the ranch and a visit to Shamrock House, Senator Patrick McCarran’s old home, the crowd of about 100 enjoyed the warm afternoon sun and the spectacular color of the golden cottonwoods. Michael reminded us of the legal title tangles and the contributions of many, including the land developers to the project. Restoration of the portion of the river is a cooperative effort and potentially sets the tone for restoration of the downstream river.
LCT RETURN TO THE MID RIVER
“Put ‘em in the river!” said Mary Conelly as she recounted Senator Harry Reid’s remarks. Excitement reflected on the faces of Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe members, staff of the Nevada Division of Wildlife and other participants as approximately 24 “whoppers” or big Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) from Pyramid Lake were turned into the Truckee River near Idlewild Park.
In a symbolic goodwill gesture to begin the restoration efforts for LCT, Alan Mandell, Chairman at Pyramid Lake and officials from the State staged a ceremony. Guests relived the history of these native fish that flourished in the Truckee River. Historic reports indicated that thousands of tons of fish were caught to send to markets in Sacramento and San Francisco. The price of the fish were regularly reported in Reno’s newspapers. At sometime in the 1940’s LCT were essentially gone from our system. Diversions and overfishing seemed to be the cause. “This is the symbol of success!” said Terry Crawforth of NDOW. Representatives from the Governor’s office, Senator Ensign and Congressman Gibbons each bestowed their greetings to the crowd.
Each fish has been tagged. Those catching any of the tagged fish should inform NDOW. The fish were released in hopes of a fall spawn in the mid-section of the river. Mike Sevon, NDOW fisheries biologist, watched as each fish zipped from shore to hit the riffles and turn upstream. He is hopeful that they will survive and multiply, saying, “this habitat is good. The water is cold, filled with oxygen and there’s a good ratio of pools and riffles for the fish. The water quality is good, here.” Mike’s eyes were dancing with excitement.
In the next fish census of the river, they hope to find the newly planted LCT and some fry. We shall see! It surely was exciting to watch the cooperative effort worked out by tribal staff and NDOW.
DERBY DAM FISH PASSAGE NEARING COMPLETION
On a frosty Saturday field trip with Bureau of Reclamation Area Manager, Betsy Rieke, we visited the new, nearly completed, fish passage channel at Derby Dam. Designed by a channel specialist, the passage is rock lined with large boulders interspersed to form resting pools for both cui-ui and LCT. The channel is barely visible from I-80 and lies between the main gates of the dam and the emergency spillway. While the channel looks raw now, ultimately sediment, water and plants, will make it more natural looking.
Betsy discussed the possible need to run 25cfs through the channel so that the invertebrates may establish themselves. She also recognized that BOR needs to be a good neighbor by working with the Lower River Restoration Group that is working to restore the Truckee River habitat and improve water quality. She credited Lock Hahne for requesting the project funds before she arrived on the scene. Then she went on to praise Karen Huntt-DeCarlo for bringing the project to completion. While Betsy acknowledged the tall whitetop problem, and we offered the “goat/sheep solution” to consume the tall whitetop. She also wanted to see birds and fish and native vegetation.
She also recognizes the political implications. As with all water in the West, there is conflict, she admitted. She explained to us that they had already flushed some water down the channel and it appeared to work like it should. The designer, who does these fish channels all over the West, adjusted the boulders to make sure both water and fish could move through, Betsy said. Then she indicated that BOR would have a celebration next spring. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to leave a legacy of migrating fish, a healthy riverine habitat and to some extent the reduction of tension between parties. We had to agree.
CANEPA RANCH PURCHASES
Washoe County Parks Director, Karen Mullen, says she has a signed deal and the money to go forward to purchase the Canepa Ranch on the river. Part of the ranch stradles a piece that Ted Schroeder had for sale several years back. TRYC worked with Parks and NDOW to leverage that joint purchase. That parcel was 43 acres on the south side of the river between Mogul and the Belli Ranch. The Canepa purchase also includes possible forest and angler access, deer winter range, and part of the Steamboat Ditch maintenance road. The Canepas have been extremely patient while waiting for funds from either parks and open space bond money or Southern Nevada Public Lands Act funds.
Th purchase also makes possible the extension of the Truckee River Trail. You have to hand it to Karen who keeps plugging away. She recognizes the value of the river to the community. Purchases such as this also help indirectly with the flood program, recreation, water quality, aesthetics and much more. Thank you, Karen and County Commissioners.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
The Yacht Club and the Floodplain Management Committee hosted a successful workshop at Redhawk Golf Club Events Center which provided state of the art projectors and screens—a super meeting room! The restaurant also provides wonderful views. Community planners, committee members, consultants and interested citizens attended the four hour workshop. Three floodplain experts from Colorado, Arizona, and California presented information about how their communities are dealing with protecting people from floods by protecting the floodplain.
Jeanne Ruefer of Washoe County Water Resources began with a very brief history of flooding in the Truckee Meadows.
The lead presentation by Doug Plasencia, CFM PE and Vice President of Kimley-Horn and Associates, is entitled "Looking Beyond the National Flood Insurance Program" and discusses a concept which improves a communities chances of escaping damages when floods occur -- "No Adverse Impact". Doug’s powerpoint presentation appears at www.truckeeriver.org. Other speakers presentations will appear on the Washoe County Water Resources website.
Ben Urbonas from Denver, Chief of Master Planning for the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, discussed land use planning surrounding natural flood corridors. He urged people to consider natural drainages as “green infrastructure.” He told how the Denver Metro area had developed policies, zoning and incentives to encourage developers to build for safety.
Julia Fonseca of Pima County Flood Control District in Tucson discussed inventorying habitat that provides flood protection through safe build zones, community amenities and recreation and wildlife habitat for several listed species in the Sonoran Desert where riparian areas are particularly sensitive. She provided maps and ideas.
Many thanks to Lisa Haldane of ECO:LOGIC who facilitates the discussions on floodplain management locally and who set up the entire workshop for us.
ELECTIONS
Two ballot measures that were to provide for improvements or acquisitions on our river split among voters. Q-1, the statewide issue for wildlife, open space, water and history museum (in southern Nevada) projects was approved by a wide margin. It will provide about $10 million in match money to Washoe County for land acquisition and other projects. R-1, in contrast lost. R-1 would have provided funds for culture and recreation including the whitewater kayak course and possibly turning the Mapes site into a plaza. However, newly elected Mayor Bob Cashell seems to have made that one of his priorities. The baseball stadium proposed for the river may have caused confusion among voters. Also voters may have felt they were approving too many things by the time they got to R-1 on the ballot.
Two new Reno City Council members and a new Mayor were elected. Two new County Commissioners were elected and one was re-elected. We hope the newly elected members of each body will demonstrate intentions that will be favorable to our river.
WINTER STORMS RAISE HOPES FOR NEXT YEAR
Early November storms are raising hopes of a better winter than last. With Lake Tahoe levels at the rim and no water being released, we are now dependent on Prosser and Boca water. Their flows will end in late November. After that we will be on “natural flow” according to the Federal Water Master’s Office. While TMWA still has some water in Donner and Independence Lakes, that is last-resort water. Next spring, unless we have above average winter precipitation, we will be relying on groundwater that has been stored over the winter and natural flows in the river. River flows will not meet Floriston rates, and ditch flows will last only until early summer.
In spite of high hopes, we must not waste any water.