McCarran Ranch / Truckee River Pilot Restoration Project
Fall 2003

Cat in Truckee River
© The Nature Conservancy

What:
The pilot project will restore approximately 1 mile of channel by raising the bottom and narrowing the width from roughly 200 to 120 feet. Before being straightened in 1962 as part of a flood control project, the channel at McCarran Ranch averaged 75 feet in width. As a result of the alterations in 1962 the channel has entrenched downward by roughly 3 feet, causing groundwater to drop beyond the reach of river-side vegetation. The restored channel will reconnect the river to the floodplain. The pilot will also create rearing ponds for threatened Western Pond Turtles and Leopard Frogs. Two wetland areas will be constructed and over 15 acres of floodplain will be revegetate with native willow, cottonwood and other plants.

Who:
The Nature Conservancy is overseeing the restoration work, having acquired the property, completed the restoration design, raised the funds, selected contractors and secured construction permits. Funding for the $1.2 million project comes from the Cities of Reno and Sparks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the Regional Water Planning Commission, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

When:
Channel and wetland construction will occur most of October and into early November. Revegetation will occur in November and December, and again in the spring of 2004.

Where:
McCarran Ranch is located approximately 15 miles east of Reno on the Truckee River. The 305 acre property runs along both sides of the Truckee River for 5 miles. It was purchased by the Conservancy in September of 2002 after seven years of on-and-off negotiations.

Will the project help wildlife?
Approximately 90 percent of the riparian forest that existed at the beginning of the 20th century has been lost, along with 70% of the hundreds of species of nesting birds that were once common along the river. Native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout also have been lost from the Truckee River. The restoration addresses the very foundation of the ecosystem by raising groundwater levels for forest regeneration, and by creating in-river habitat for insects that are critical to both birds and fish. Protection of the 5 miles of river from development will allow deer, mountain lions and other mammals access to the river.

Will the project improve water quality?
The restored forest will naturally absorb nitrogen and phosphorous that currently exist in excessive quantities. The new narrower and deeper channel, shaded by the new forest, will keep the water cooler and prevent unhealthy algae blooms and low oxygen levels in the river.

How does the project fit into the new flood control project?
The draft flood control plan for the Truckee Meadows is expected to call for restoration of the river downstream of the Truckee Meadows. Restoration will enable flood waters to flow onto the floodplain, thereby dissipating the energy, velocity and erosive tendencies of floods on the lower river. The pilot project is the first demonstration of the restoration techniques to be used on the lower river.

How will success be measured?
TNC, the Cities of Reno and Sparks, and NDEP are conducting an extensive monitoring program to measure the effects of the restoration over time. Data is being collected for water quality and chemistry, ground and surface water levels, in stream insects and macroinvertebrates, algae, snakes, frogs, turtles, birds and vegetation. A qualitative photo-monitoring plan has also been established to compliment the scientific data collection and analysis.

When will the property open to the public?
The Nature Conservancy plans to open the property to the public once restoration is complete in late 2005 or 2006. Trails and other facilities are expected to be provided by Washoe County.

What happens next?
The pilot project will implement roughly 20% of the total restoration designed for McCarran Ranch. The remainder of the restoration will be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of their Continuing Authorities Program (Section 1135). Restoration by the Corps is scheduled to occur in late summer and fall months of 2004 and 2005. The $8 million cost of the remaining work will be covered by the Corps, the Cities of Reno and Sparks and Washoe County.

Funding Partner Contacts:
The Nature Conservancy - Michael Cameron, (775) 322-4990
City of Reno - Greg Dennis, (775) 334-2165
City of Sparks - Wayne Siedel, (775) 353-2330
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Lisa Heki, (775) 861-6300
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection - Jason Kuchnicki, (775) 687-9450
Regional Water Planning Commission/Washoe County - Jim Smitherman, (775) 954-4657
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - Csilla Csaplar, (415) 778-0999
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Caryn Huntt DeCarlo, (775) 884-8342

McCarran Ranch / Truckee River Pilot Restoration ProjectFall 2003

McCarran Ranch / Truckee River Pilot Restoration Project
Fall 2003