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Smart About Water
A place to understand approaches to water-resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
"Dry January" Gets Doused with Solid February Snowstorm in the Truckee Meadows
(February 20, 2026) For Reno and Sparks, the Truckee River is more than a scenic landmark; it is the source of 85% of the municipal water supply for people living in the metropolitan area which is also known as the Truckee Meadows. The river is fed by mountain snowpack within the Tahoe and Truckee River Basins.
A robust snowpack ensures a predictable, steady supply for municipal, agricultural, and environmental needs. Before February 16, the snow water equivalent (SWE) was 57% of average for the Truckee River Basin. Snow water equivalent (SWE) is the amount of water content in the snowpack.
The February storm increased the snow water equivalent to 78% of normal in the Truckee River Basin and 77% of normal in the Lake Tahoe Basin, an increase of 21% over only four days.
Snowpack as a Frozen Reservoir
This four-day atmospheric event provided a welcome injection of moisture into the region, as the multi-day storm substantially added to the snowpack after a dry January. Precipitation in the form of snow ensures steady, prolonged runoff to fill upstream reservoirs and provide river flows as the weather warms in the spring and summer.
The added snowpack will also help sustain the water levels at Lake Tahoe, which is the primary source of the Truckee River. With Lake Tahoe full or nearly full, the region will have its fourth year in a row of normal flows in the Truckee River.
Managing the Whiplash Effect
Extreme snowpack variability can be striking but is relatively normal for this region. It is something that the Truckee Meadows Water Authority plans and prepares for. With six upstream reservoirs in the Truckee River system, releases are carefully managed and regulated to help mitigate snowpack fluctuations from year-to-year. Additionally, a major shift in river management occurred in 2015, which fundamentally improved the resiliency of the river and its ecosystem.
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 | 49 Acre Feet |
| Donner Lake | 3,181 Acre Feet |
| Independence Lake | 14,749 Acre Feet |
| Prosser Reservoir | 0 Acre Feet |
| Stampede Reservoir | 19,222 Acre Feet |
| Lake Tahoe | 0 Acre Feet |
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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
October 2025 - Time to Winterize!
Wednesday, October 8 - Winterize Your Irrigation System Workshop
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
A step-by-step workshop to prepare your irrigation system for the cold. You will learn what you can do to help prevent damage that comes with frozen lines. Please email rsvp@tmwa.com to reserve your spot to this popular workshop.
Wednesday, October 15 - Winterize Your Irrigation System VIRTUAL
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m..
Attend this popular workshop from home on your computer! Get a step-by-step demonstration to prepare your irrigation system for the cold. You will learn what you can do to help prevent damage that comes with frozen lines. No rsvp required.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://tmwa.zoom.us/j/87280449242
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