Welcome to
Smart About Water
A place to understand approaches to water-resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
Sprinkler Times Matter for Assigned Day Watering
TMWA's year-round conservation program gets more specific during summer months
Since the mid 1980s, Assigned Day Watering has been a standard in the Truckee Meadows. Through this conservation program, all Truckee Meadows Water Authority customers have three days each week to use their sprinklers.
In hotter months, evaporation prevention is emphasized in the ordinance with no-watering hours from noon – 6 p.m. Whether you have an odd or even address, clip and save the images below to help you remember when to water your yard. Regardless of the time of year, keeping sprinklers off on Mondays is required as this helps our system rest and replenish.
Does your house or business street address end in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8)? Then Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are your watering days.
Does your house or business street address end in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9)? Then Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays are your watering days.
Want practical knowledge about growing drought-tolerant plants and trees? Before you buy anything, find out what will thrive in our climate with TMWA’s helpful landscape guide!
Want to know more about TMWA’s overall conservation strategy? Take three minutes and read of the Executive Summary in TMWA’s 2020-2040 Water Resource Plan. The Plan also has a chapter focused on conservation and thoroughly addresses planning for growth and climate variability.
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 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 | 797 Acre Feet |
| Donner Lake* | 9,261 Acre Feet |
| Independence Lake* | 17,461 Acre Feet |
| Prosser Reservoir | 61 Acre Feet |
| Stampede Reservoir | 41,255 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
June 2022
Open House: Mt. Rose Water Treatment Plant
Wednesday, June 29 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Join Truckee Meadows Water Authority at the newly finished Mt. Rose Water Treatment Plant. The seasonal facility is an important infrastructure addition to help protect groundwater levels in the Mt. Rose fan area. Please note: Access inside the plant and around the facility will require the ability to walk on stairs and uneven surfaces. The event is free for the public to attend.
Webinar: Promoting Pollinators in Your Yard
Thursday, June 23 from 11 a.m. - Noon
Join OneTruckee River and find out what the buzz is all about! Learn about the importance of pollinators, theories on why they’re in decline, and how you can promote pollinators in your yard. Sign up for this online webinar.
July 2022
Walking Tour: Bio-diverse Gardening at Valley Wood Park
Saturday, July 9 from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m
See how your lawn can be converted to a more bio-diverse garden that will help our honey bees, Monarch Butterflies and other important urban wildlife. Please wear comforable shoes and bring your own refreshments.
Valley Wood Park is located at 6555 Valley Wood Dr. Attendees must provide their own transporation and be a minimum of 10 years of age. Please reserve your spot at rsvp@tmwa.com.
Partners
