Truckee River Yacht Club
Founded 1988

June 2001 Newsletter
Truckee River Yacht Club

Table of Contents

Mike Hess Paints Truckee River
Elections
Dues
Annual (almost) Meeting
102 Ranch
Ghiglieri Acts as Commodore
Whitewater Park/Recreation Plan
Lower River Progress
TMWA Purchase of Sierra Water Approved
Changes in Employment
Low Water Year In River
Raft Trip a Slow Success
Fishin' Facts
Truckee Meadows Regional Plan Developing

The task of restoration, it's like...

Prayer, work, eating--it makes me feel alive and part of the land, with other
people, doing something worthwhile.

Making quilts--one stitch, or one seed, at a time and
in the end the result is fantastic, beautiful

It's kind of like, if you make a mistake on a test, you go back and erase it.
We're trying to erase our mistakes.

--from Ecological Restoration, Winter 2000

ELECTIONS

TRYC has been remiss in not holding elections. If you are interested in joining the Board, please call (786-99550) or email (sbl@gbis.com). There are usually 4-6 meetings a year of about 2 hours each. Time is negotiable. We ask that each board member assume responsibility for some aspect of keeping the Club running--membership renewals, projects, mail list update, website updates, etc. We welcome diversity and passion for the river. Don't be afraid to volunteer. It is rewarding! And every group needs fresh faces and new ideas. You will get a ballot automatically if your membership is up to date.

DUES

Thanks to John Currie, for his many hours and contributions on membership renewals. John has volunteered in this position for 4 years or more. John is taking more personal time in a very busy life of homebuilding. Won't you review the numbers next to your name (month and year your membership expires) and send us a minimum of $20. All money is spent on projects and education with none on overhead. To those who have already responded--THANK YOU!!!!!

ANNUAL (ALMOST) MEETING

It's time to have an annual meeting and social get together. Watch for the notice in your mailbox in June.

102 RANCH

The Washoe County Commissioners voted to support the BLM's purchase of this property. The Ranch joins the list of lands to be included on the purchase list using Southern Nevada Public Land sale generated funds. Thanks to all of you who send emails and made phone calls. While it has problems now with weeds and lack of proper channel because of levee breaks, it still has good potential for wetlands, water quality, recreation and flood mitigation.

DENNIS GHIGLIERI ACTS AS COMMODORE

Dennis Ghiglieri is acting Commodore following the step-down of long time Commodore, Susan Lynn. For twelve years, Susan has worked with the Club, but she felt the Club needed new leadership in order to continue. Dennis brings a long-time love of the river, an analytical mind, a good rationale and a strong partner. Dennis has been the webmaster for www.truckeeriver .org and will continue in that position. During elections, the membership will elect the Board members. The Board will elect the permanent Commodore.

WHITEWATER PARK/RECREATION PLAN

The Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) along with consultants, Lynn Zonge of Resource Concepts and Jim Litchfield of KJC are promoting their Truckee River Recreation Plan. From first glance at the Flood meeting to first glance at the whole plan, the project looks stimulating. NCOT and consultants want to increase the tourism potential of the river through Reno. The plan involves providing a continuous bike/pedestrian path under bridges, a whitewater kayak/rodeo site downtown, creation of safe river access points and removal of obstructions dangerous to boaters. Low flow channels are part of the plan, so that in low water years, boaters can still use the river.

The project starts at Crystal Peak Park near the stateline and continues through town to Lockwood possibly. The groups are currently gathering buy-in and support and will look for funds for the proposed $2.8 million project which they say can pay for itself in the first year.

We see benefits: working in conjunction with the flood protection project, more accessibility with bank improvements to the river, more recreation opportunities in our wonderful region, and potential national recognition for our river if the kayakers come. The only drawback we see might be the potential conflict between anglers and boaters during low flow years.

This plan deserves support and provides exciting opportunities for all of us.

LOWER RIVER PROGRESS

Spearheaded by Michael Cameron of The Nature Conservancy, numerous governments, agencies and groups have come together informally to provide coordination for the many downstream Truckee River projects: riparian and river restoration for water quality; fish habitat improvements; and potential future flood mitigation sites. The Nature Conservancy is acquiring about 420 acres of floodplain or 4 river miles. For their project to be successful, they needed to understand and work in coordination with TMWRF (sewage treatment plant), Storey County, land developers, Regional Water Planning Commission (their water plan calls for restoration of about 13 miles or downstream river to improve water quality). The group is in the process of developing a "whitepaper" stating the principles of the group: Reno, Sparks, Washoe County, Storey County and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Water Resources Dept and the Fisheries Dept.. When and if that is adopted, then the official river restoration planning process will begin, but it must be done separately, though with the flood protection project in mind.

We commend the group for being inclusive. At the request of Elwood Lowery, Tribal Fisheries Director, he will also be included. His concerns seemed to focus on LCT recovery. The group is not making choices between fish, but does want to improve fish habitat for whatever fish remain in the river.

The Regional Water Planning Commission will listen to a proposal to be submitted by June 6. Hopefully at that time, the Commission will recommend a Request for Proposal to facilitate and develop a coordinated plan for the lower river up to and/or including, with Tribal participation, Pyramid Lake. However, the Tribe has its own plans for the river. The communication and coordination should help enhance and meet the goals of all parties.

TMWA PURCHASE OF SIERRA WATER APPROVED

After months of negotiations, hearings and speculation, local governments will acquire the water portion of Sierra Pacific in June. Local governments had too much to lose by letting the control of water go to out-of-state or out-of-country companies. They wanted to control their own destiny.

Malyn Malquist has just been selected as the CEO and will soon begin filling other positions. Many of Sierra's water employees may transfer over. TMWA (TUMWAH as it's pronounced) stands for Truckee Meadows Water Agency may initially contract for fleet and billing services with the City of Reno. Those of you who receive water bills from Sierra will soon be getting them from the City. Do not be surprised!

CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT

ELISA MASER JOINS MIG ON FLOOD PROJECT. Elisa Maser, head of Champions has taken on the job as local facilitator for MIG, Inc., our flood consultant. Elisa has wonderful capabilities of taking very complex issues and making them understandable for Joe or Josette Citizen. In spite of being wife and mother of three including a two-year-old, she has amazing energy and a great way of working with diverse interest. She says of the flood project, "Why shouldn't I be involved in the largest expenditure of money for the best possible gains for the river? I want to help this process along."

STEVE WALKER LEAVES RWPC. Steve Walker has left his position at Washoe County Water Resources as water planner. Steve's 5+ years with the Water Planning Commission were highly productive, producing the first regional water plan for the area. Steve joins his wife as a consultant for Walker and Walker.

JIM SMITHERMAN IS NEW WATER PLANNER. Jim Smitherman, formerly of the State Division of Environmental Protection, and a geologist is now staff for the water planning commission. Jim has worked in mining and water quality. He admits to a steep learning curve, but expresses great willingness to keep the ball rolling.

JEANNE RUEFER REPLACES LEONARD CROWE.. Jeanne Ruefer, former State Flood Planner in the former State Water Planning Office has replaced long-time employee, Leonard Crowe who has "mostly" retired. Jeanne's former work in California and her desire to work with people in the planning process now place her in charge of Water Planning for Washoe County Water Resources. She reports to Ed Schmidt. Jeanne had been actively involved in the floodplain management portion of the flood protection community process. She brings good experience in that area. KIM GRONEWOLD REPLACES JEANNE RUEFER AT STATE. Kim Gronewold has been selected by Hugh Ricci, State Engineer, to take on flood planning coordination at the State level. Kim is learning the ropes fast. ROB RYAN DIRECTS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT. Rob Ryan has been appointed to fill the position of Reno Redevelopment Director. He's the cheerleader for downtown Reno, but also the person who will try to leverage funding for projects and draw new interests to the center of the City.

LOW WATER YEAR IN RIVER

DROUGHT PROSPECTS

Federal Water Master Gary Stone, spoke to the Water Planning Commission recently. The good news is that we will have water for this summer. The river will carry about 500 cfs (the Floriston rate decreed by the Orr Ditch court) all summer long. That does not translate to 500 cfs of water downtown because water is diverted to Chalk Bluff to become our drinking and landscape water.

Gary reviewed the reservoir capacities, but indicated most of our water would be coming out of Lake Tahoe this summer which will lower that lake to about 1 foot above the rim. He quipped that the only time we wanted to hear from him was during a drought or a flood.

Gary and his staff have the difficult job of predicting the amount of water we will have each year and then to balance the flows out of all the reservoirs, depending on water rights, so that we and downstream users have water.

He would not predict what the supply would be next year saying Mother Nature would tell him that next winter. However, after 5 excellent water years, he cautiously speculated that we might have to worry next summer and suggested that beginning water conservation now could only help next summer, IF we don't have a good snowpack.

RAFT TRIP A SLOW SUCCESS

The twenty-two people who rafted the lower Truckee from Lockwood to Eagle Picher found slow currents and stiff headwinds which made the trip hard paddlin' and slow goin'. The way over diversion dams proved difficult in the low water. However, in spite of it all, participants learned about water quality improvement and pollution credit trading, flood mitigation potential (if the Truckee Meadows Flood Project does send more water downstream), weeds, fish and more.

RAM again took us the 10 miles through shallow slow moving water, slower than anyone could remember in the nine years we've been rafting the river. Rocks were exposed and banks were higher, so it seemed.

Dr. Sue Donaldson, Weed and Water Specialist for Nevada Cooperative Extension spoke about tall whitetop, an invasive species that chokes out other native vegetation. She also talked about purple loosestrife and Eurasian milfoil (seeReno Gazette-Journal 5/21 article by Jeff DeLong) which is beginning to choke shallow areas at Tahoe and spread downstream. It consumes oxygen on which fish depend and tangles fishing lines and boat paddles. It is spread by breaking up or cutting the plant. Each small slice becomes a new plant working its way downstream.

Jean Stone of NDEP spoke of water quality testing. There were boat discussions about pollution credit trading at TMWRF (the sewage treatment plant) in return for constructing wetlands and riparian areas that take up our pollutants--nitrogen and phosphorous.

Chad Gourley discussed several sites that have potential for wetland and riparian restoration. He and teammate Tyler Allred are analyzing sites that may have potential. After the analysis is complete, properties or easements acquired, then site specific planning will be next.

Tribal staff, NDEP, USFWS and Washoe County Water Resources all sent representatives as did Champions of the River, the Yacht Club (as sponsors), the Flood Coalition and The Nature Conservancy. For the people who bailed out--you missed a good but slow trip.

FISHIN' FACTS

by Mike Hoffman in Tight Lines (Truckee River Flyfishers)

Catch and Release: Keep em in the Water

It seems that more and more fishermen are practicing catch and execute prior to releasing the trout they so highly prize.

Here are a few facts that will help improve your methods of catch and release while supporting our fish population.

Keep em in the water. Studies show that fish begin to suffocate immediately upon being removed from the water.
Try to land the fish as fast as you can. Long fights will cause a build-up of lactic acid in the bloodstream and make reviving the fish difficult.
Use a soft non-abrasive net and ALWAYS wet your hands before handling the fish. Dry hands will remove the fish's protective mucous film leading to possible infection.
Use a barbless hook. They actually enable the fisherman to spend more time fishing and less time handling the fish and gear.
Make sure the fish is strong enough when released and swims away under its own power.
Hold your breath while the fish is out of the water. This will give you an idea of what the fish is going through when it is high and dry during a long photo shoot.
If you are taking pictures, keep the fish submerged until the last possible moment, then return the fish to the water immediately.

Remember! "Keep em wet and keep em wild."

TRUCKEE MEADOWS REGIONAL PLAN DEVELOPING

Definitions of Open Space and Green Space are evolving in the Draft Plan, but fail to address the river as a watershed, floodplain, open space or green space.

Open space is defined as "properties with free and legal public access that are generally in a natural state. Open space may include spaces that are inappropriate for access or development for any reason such as sensitive environments or hazardous areas (e.g. landslide areas) [but floodplain is missing]. Open spaces provide native plant and wildlife habitat [but nothing about wildlife linkages--they need transportation routes too], passive recreational opportunities, enhance the scenic character of the region and allow for preservation of significant cultural and archeological resources [and watersheds].

Green Space is described as "properties with free and legal access that function as recreational area's corridors and are not designated as primary motor vehicle circulation routes (i.e. road rights of way). Green spaces may or may not have buildings or other improvements on them. Green spaces include open spaces, parks, bicycle and pedestrian paths, public facilities and utility or other corridors that also allow public access."

The plan also looks at infill development, transportation, public facilities and services and economic development.

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