irrigation

By Jeff DeLong • jdelong@rgj.com • November 16, 2009

If approved by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority board on Dec. 16, the three-day-per-week watering schedule could be in place as soon as the coming spring.

Agency research shows customers restricted to only two days of watering per week "really pour the water on" but that irrigation practices are more moderate over a three-day period.

"We don't think there will be any more water used," said Mark Foree, the utility's general manager.

Leath Hayden, a 35-year Reno resident, said she supports expansion of residential watering. The two-day rule forces her to hand water the flowers at her Scholl Drive home, and she suspects that ends up using more water than if she could use her sprinkler system an extra day.

"I think it would be great," said Hayden, 62. "Our lawn and flowers could do better. I think it would make a difference."

Keystone Avenue resident Liam Campbell doesn't see the need for the change. He's already laid gravel on what used to be much of his front lawn as a means to conserve water.

"I think the two-day (limit) is a good example," said Campbell, 63. "It seems to be plenty. Like anything else in life, do it in moderation."

The twice weekly watering restriction was included in a 1996 settlement agreement with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Tribe in litigation over Truckee River water. It required the limit remain in place until at least 90 percent of flat-rate customers were converted to metered service.

Of the 44,600 residential customers that were on flat-rate service in 1995, more than 98 percent now have meters, billing customers according to the amount of water used.

With that goal exceeded and studies showing an extra day of residential watering would not result in increased use of water overall, the switch appears justified, Foree said.

"Our customers for a number of years have asked us to add another day. It seems to be something that is desired by the community," he said.
The plan concludes there are adequate water supplies to serve the greater Reno-Sparks area from now until 2030, when Washoe County's population is expected to increase from 440,000 residents to 570,500.

"With our water supply, the combination of all our resources, we have sufficient (water) to take us beyond this planning period," said John Erwin, director of natural resources, planning and management for the water authority. "The projections are there are sufficient water resources. It appears we are on track."

The new plan also continues to prepare for a drought up to nine years in duration. Utility officials said backup water supplies could continue to meet demand during a drought that long, and that a nine-year drought is likely only once in 375 years.

In 2006 and 2009, utility experts teamed with scientists with the Desert Research Institute to determine whether climate change should be factored into water management decisions. Results varied and did not indicate the need for a change in water management practices in the Reno-Tahoe area, the report said.

"Thus far, it's just kind of watch for any future trends and adjust if we have to," Foree said of climate change.

Established in 2001 with the purchase of the water system formerly owned by Sierra Pacific Resources, the utility is jointly managed by the cities of Reno and Sparks and Washoe County and serves about 93,000 homes and businesses.

Experts to discuss polluted Chalk Creek
By Jeff DeLong • jdelong@rgj.com • November 14, 2009

Experts will outline plans for Chalk Creek, a tributary of the Truckee River, and discuss ways residents and businesses in the area are contributing to its pollution with everyday practices described as "urban slobber."

Chalk Creek winds about 5 miles from the flanks of Peavine Peak through northwest Reno neighborhoods before entering the river.

Along the way, it picks up dense concentrations of salts and algae nutrients, the result of overwatering of lawns, heavy fertilizing, washing cars on driveways and similar practices, said Lynell Garfield, a hydrologist for the city of Reno.

It's caused Chalk Creek to become one of the region's more polluted streams, tainting quality of Truckee River water that provides 80 percent of the area's water supply.

"If we don't look at the source, we're never going to clean up that creek," said Garfield, who will explain plans to clean up the creek, such as creating a wetlands near Rainbow Ridge Park to help naturally filter creek water.

Cleaning the creek
Officials said residents must make some changes for the effort to clean Chalk Creek to succeed:
Do not overwater and let irrigation water run into storm drains.
Conserve water through drip irrigation, use of soaker hoses, microspray systems and nozzles when washing cars.
Do not over fertilize and never fertilize near ditches, streams over other water bodies.
Store pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals in a covered area.
Use nontoxic, alternative pest control.

If you go
What: Chalk Creek outreach meeting.
Where: Northwest Reno library, 2325 Robb Drive.
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
To learn more: www.tmstormwater.com,
www.tmwalandscapeguide.com.

By Jeff DeLong • jdelong@rgj.com • November 13, 2009

Experts will outline plans for Chalk Creek, a tributary of the Truckee River, and discuss ways residents and businesses in the area are contributing to its pollution with everyday practices described as “urban slobber.”

Chalk Creek winds about 5 miles from the flanks of Peavine Peak through northwest Reno neighborhoods before entering the Truckee River.

Along the way, it picks up dense concentrations of salts and algae nutrients, the result of overwatering of lawns, heavy fertilizing, washing cars on driveways and similar practices, said Lynell Garfield, a hydrologist for the city of Reno.

It’s caused Chalk Creek to become one of the region’s more polluted streams, tainting quality of Truckee River water that provides 80 percent of the area’s water supply.

“If we don’t look at the source, we’re never going to clean up that creek,” said Garfield, who will explain plans to clean up the creek, such as creating a wetlands near Rainbow Ridge Park to help naturally filter creek water.

Officials say residents must make some changes for the effort to succeed:

Do not over water and let irrigation water run into storm drains.
Conserve water through drip irrigation, use of soaker hoses, micro-spray systems and nozzles when washing cars.
Do not over fertilize and never fertilize near ditches, streams over other water bodies.
Store pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals in a covered area.
Use non-toxic, alternative pest control.

By Merry Thomas • Fallon Star Press • November 7, 2008

If Truckee-Carson Irrigation District officials have their way, they will replace a 10-mile segment of the Fernley canal with a new, concrete barrier this winter, according to TCID Project Director David Overvold.

"We would like to build it this winter, using our own forces," Overvold said. TCID has submitted a proposal to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation engineers and the plan is being reviewed this week by BOR engineers from Denver and Sacramento, he explained.

TCID has proposed to build a 12-foot deep, one-foot wide concrete trench along 10 miles of the canal ban, and Overvold said he is certain that locals could do the work. All they need is a nod from BOR officials. A restored canal will mean water flows can be restored to capacity, at 750 to 800 cubic feet per second, rather than the 350 cfs allowed since the breach in January.

By Merry Thomas, Fallon Star Press, via RGJ.com
October 3, 2008

If the dry weather conditions continue into fall and early winter, the region could face a slower water release than usual and create the possibility of diverting water from the Truckee River in December, according to TCID Project Manager Dave Overvold.

Releases from Lahontan Dam resumed Wednesday after having been curtailed for nearly two weeks. As of Friday, Sept. 19, which is the latest numbers available, storage was 28,361 acre-feet. The amount of water and rate at which it is released from Lahontan depends on inflow from the Carson River, Overvold said.

The Lahontan Dam is down this season by about two-thirds the average, historically. This means it's likely area farmers will receive deliveries short by about 2,000 acre-feet this season. The maximum Truckee Canal diversion allowed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is 350 cubic feet per second, which is more than will be available by the time the flow reaches the Derby Dam, the TCID Web site stated.

"We want to keep water diverted from the Truckee River at a minimum," Overvold said.

Water gets diverted from Lake Tahoe or from Prosser or Boca reservoirs to make up the difference when there isn't enough naturally occurring water, such as rain. Tuesday, for instance, the water arriving at Derby Dam was released at 133 cfs below the dam. The rate of release from Tahoe is about 189 cfs, and the rate of flow below Derby is expected to drop this month to 113 cfs.