City of Reno

Contact for this study: Mark Walker, Ph.D., Professor/Researcher UNCE / UNR: (775) 784-1938

Weekly samples are taken on Chalk Creek at the constructed weir between Int. 80 and West Fourth Street, just west of Reno. New weir installed Winter 2008 is located above the Highland Ditch spillway.

Values less than the reporting limits are non-zero estimated values to simplify mathematical manipulation of the data. Minimum Test Reporting Limits (mg/l) are: Total-P 0.01, NH3-N 0.02, NO3-N + NO2-N 0.005, TKN 0.1, TSS 2, TDS 2. Any values given below these limits are estimates only, based on statistics.

Temporal Coverage:
2006-05-02 – 2008-04-22

Analytical Method:
TDS, Total P, Total N, NO2-N, NO3-N, NH3-N, TKN Metadata is attached.

Geographic Coverage:
Chalk Creek lower reach. GPS data. Chalk Cr above inverted siphon: 39 30' 52.34" Chalk Creek at Weir: 39 30' 50.96" Chalk Cr @ 4th St/Upstream Bridge 39 30' 48.25"

Chalk Creek west of Reno between Int. 80 and West 4th St. Weir coordinates: 39 30' 50.96" x 119 52' 19.17"

Please find attached Figures 16-22.

Attached please find Figures 6-15.

By River Run Consulting, March 2007
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report examines opportunities for restoring geomorphic and ecosystem function of the Truckee River between East McCarran Blvd. and near the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF), herein referred to as Reach Y. The report was prepared for the Cities of Reno and Sparks and TMWRF, who are seeking opportunities to improve water quality and the ecosystem of the Truckee River, especially opportunities for early implementation.

Reach Y is an extraordinarily complex geomorphic environment. There is a distinct transition in fluvial geomorphic processes within the reach. Channel dimensions and hydraulic characteristics are far different in the upper end of the reach than in the lower end. Prior to human disturbance, riparian ecosystems were likely also very different, dominated by shrubs and trees at the upstream end and herbaceous, meadow-forming species at the lower end.

The river has been highly modified by human activities throughout the reach. Straightening, channel enlargement, removal of obstructions and levee construction, undertaken to improve the channel for agriculture and flood control, have resulted in significant incision (lowering of the channel bed through erosion) throughout most of the reach. Channel response to the initial disturbance continues today, with relatively high rates of bank erosion and lateral instability. In the absence of artificial stabilization, the channel will continue to erode, with the eventual formation of a new floodplain at a lower elevation.

Due to the inherent geomorphic complexity within Reach Y, the river has responded to human disturbance in different ways in different locations. Incision has been more rapid in some areas than in others. Streambank erosion and lateral stability subsequent to incision have also occurred in different ways and at different rates throughout the reach.

To be effective, restoration measures implemented for this reach should recognize its inherent geomorphic and ecosystem complexity, which have important implications both for the potential characteristics of the restored system as well as its stability. Restoration measures should also be designed with an understanding of the effects of human disturbance, and should be capable of accommodating continuing channel adjustment to past human disturbance.

Restoration of the floodplain, through benching or similar techniques, represents the best opportunity to restore functional riparian ecosystems. However, this alternative will magnify many of the factors that tend to enforce instability and dynamics:
-Construction of a floodplain or benching will reduce the ability of the channel to transport coarse sediment, thus promoting coarse sediment deposition in the reach and subsequent lateral instability;
-Excavation of the existing streambanks will make likely make them more erosive in the short-term, until they are stabilized by vegetation;
-Constructed floodplains or benches will also be susceptible to erosion until stabilized by vegetation.

Assurance of stability for this alternative will therefore require a relatively high degree of engineering, and thus high cost. Throughout much of the reach, establishing functional native vegetation communities would also require intensive and expensive revegetation and erosion control techniquies, as well as a long-term commitment to maintenance of planted materials.
Because this reach has a high potential for substantial erosion, it is extremely sensitive to modifications of the channel upstream for flood control or restoration. The success of any restoration treatment in Reach Y will require careful integration with upstream restoration and flood control strategies, with consideration of potential changes in sediment transport and flood magnitude. We recommend that restoration in most of Reach Y be implemented in conjunction with upstream channel improvements.

The most feasible project for short-term implementation is bank stabilization in the vicinity of TMWRF, which can be implemented prior to other flood or restoration alternatives. Due to flood control constraints, bank stabilization is the sole feasible riparian restoration alternative in this location, and could be designed to integrate effectively with any restoration alternative upstream. Riparian habitat, aquatic habitat, and water quality improvements provided by bank stabilization would be limited. However, our analysis of geomorphic evolution in this area suggests that bank erosion is likely to continue in this area, even though erosion rates may be relatively slow. Bank stabilization may be required to protect infrastructure.

For entire document, please find initial figures as attachments below, and others listed in Documents and Reports or Resources Sections as subsequent Reach Y volumes (for the 21 figures shown as pdfs).

Truckee Meadows Regional Stormwater Quality Management Program

This site contains copies of the draft guidance documents for the Truckee Meadows region (including: Draft Regional Low Impact Development manual, Construction site BMPs, and the Structural Controls Design Manual - all in pdf format).

THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION. PLEASE CONTACT www.tmstormwater.com.

-as well as regulatory permitting information, descriptions of BMPs for all industries, and more watershed information available in the watershed mapserver and watershed assessments.

Please visit the website to view contents.

Real-time flood stage data on Truckee River at Reno, including flooding descriptions for all stage measurements at Reno on the Truckee in NV - as well as a source of historical flow data.

The City of Reno (and the Truckee Meadows Stormwater Committee) has provided watershed assessments as photo-documented field surveys, for the entire Truckee Meadows watershed. These are provided in an interactive mapserver, where you can click on either your region or creek of choice, in the Truckee Meadows. There are photos, descriptions of the creek reach conditions, and recommendations for restoration and watershed protection for each creek posted. Restoration will be an important component of integrated watershed management as our resources come under greater pressure through utilization, and tools are needed to evaluate priority sites to reduce loads of contaminants in the river.

Creeks and their information can be accessed by turning on navigation tools, once within the server. Watershed assessment information may be accessed two ways: through the name of the creek (top of site, choose "select creek") or by geographical area (top of site, choose "select region"). Within each creek page are photos, and by rolling over the blue buttons indicating sites of assessments, you'll uncover textual descriptions of the reaches, and tips for specific ways to restore that creek or protect waterways throughout our watershed.

Notes:

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