Welcome to
Smart About Water
A place to understand approaches to water-resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
One Day in May: Learn all about Water in our Region!
If you have questions about water use or management in the Reno-Sparks metro area, come to Smart About Water Day on Saturday, May 4th at the historic McKinley Arts & Culture Center on Riverside Drive in Reno.
Drop in anytime between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to talk with our region's water experts and stewards. It's a day for learning and fun with representatives from Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the City of Reno, Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, the Northern Nevada Water Planning Agency, Desert Research Institute and more.
Short yet informative presentations are scheduled throughout the day starting at 10:30 a.m. Topics include:
- Advancing Water Recycling in Our Region
- 2024 Water Supply Outlook.
- Starting Up Sprinkler Systems
Tree tours with the around the City of Reno's Urban Forester will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Kids will have fun with interactive learning opportunities. TMWA will have a fleet of big rigs on display to explore too.
Come enjoy learning all about water and visit local coffee and food trucks.See you there!
Truckee River and Tahoe Basins: Daily Water Update
Daily SNOTEL Basin Index
Year-to-date indexes represent % of normal snow water equivalent compared to median value on this day for the 1981-2010 period.
This provisional data is provided from the California/Nevada SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report by the Natural Resources Conversation Service, and is subject to revision. Null percentages mean there is no measurable snowpack on that day.
Current Truckee River Flow
A key location where Truckee River flows are measured (in cubic feet per second or cfs) is near the California-Nevada state line, at the USGS Farad gaging station. This is the gaging station where required rates of flow are measured.
From March through September the required rate of flow is set for 500 cfs, and between October and February required rate of flow is 400 cfs. Flow rates are managed by the Federal Water Master and all data is provided by the United States Geological Survey.
For responsible recreational enthusiasts who monitor these flows, this map outlines all access points, features, diversions and portage options along the Truckee River from Truckee, CA to Tracy, NV.
Upstream Water Storage
Volume of water is measured in Acre Feet (AF). While many stakeholders also store water upstream, information shown here only reflects the upstream reserves held by Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
Water stored by TMWA is updated daily:
Boca Reservoir | 116 Acre Feet |
Donner Lake* | 3,196 Acre Feet |
Independence Lake* | 14,769 Acre Feet |
Prosser Reservoir | 0 Acre Feet |
Stampede Reservoir | 12,679 Acre Feet |
Lake Tahoe | 0 Acre Feet |
*TMWA owns 100% of the storage at both Donner and Independence Lakes.
Current Lake Tahoe Level
The Dam at Tahoe City controls the amount of water released into the Truckee River. It can retain 6.1 feet of Lake Tahoe, or at maximum 744,600 acre feet of water. This maximum volume is met when water behind the dam reaches an elevation of 6229.10 feet.
Water Treatment Plant Production
Water from the Truckee Meadows is treated at two locations: the Chalk Bluff Treatment Plant in northwest Reno and the Glendale Water Treatment Plant in Sparks. Treatment plant output varies by season, as peak summertime customer demand can be as much as 4 times typical wintertime customer demand.
Many residents in the region are also served by groundwater wells.
Hydroelectric Production
The Truckee River is an excellent source of hydroelectric power. In fact, Fleish, Verdi and Washoe hydroelectric power plants produce an average of 50,000 kWh per year. This clean energy offsets the operational power costs for Truckee Meadows Water Authority and is a key contributing factor for keeping water rates as low as possible for customers. Benefits to the environment are sizable as well. Every day that the hydroelectric plants run at full capacity, over 90,500 pounds of CO2 emissions are effectively eliminated from our atmosphere.
Participate and Learn
April
Irrigation System Start-Up Workshop
Two sessions are scheduled:
IN-PERSON: WORKSHOP
Wednesday, April 10 from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
at 1355 Capital Blvd. in Reno
ONLINE WORKSHOP via ZOOM
Wednesday, April 17 from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Link emailed after registration is received
These workshops are provided free of charge by Truckee Meadows Water Authority. It is designed to help you confidently bring your residential irrigation system back online after the cold winter and springtime temperatures rise.
May
Smart About Water Day is Saturday May 4th!
10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
McKinley Arts and Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive in Reno
Get all your questions about water answered by water experts in our community. From long-term water planning with ways to conserve water this summer, the event is a family friendly event with interactive exhibits, food trucks and informative presentations including a Water Supply Outlook that will give you insight into what this past winter means for our drinking water supply.
A full description of activities and schedules about this free community event will be on the homepage of this website on April 15th