From Drought to Flood

From Drought to Flood. . , The Fickle Truckee River , Flooding is a normal event in the life cycle of a river. The Truckee River has a history of major floods, including those in 1950, 1955, 1963, 1986 and 1997. Upstream reservoirs help protect against vevry high water in a typical flood, big rains come, and the river becomes swollen with water, sediment and debris. Sometimes the river overflows and finds a new bed; sometimes it reverts to its old one., Big water is not a problem until you build a city around the river. When it floods, sediments begin to choke the river adding sandbars, silt, rocks and logs. The river cannot change its course, and since the city around it defines its shape, when it does spill over its banks the water threatens property and lives., Before settlement, the river had the ability to spread out into the wetlands and meadows on the east side of the valley. With each consecutive flood, there is more sediment and less ability for the water to flow through its natural corridor. In other words, it takes less water to overflow the banks, and there is greater danger of flooding. The community has dedicated continuous efforts to protect property while not damaging our living river system. , Watching Our Water , Upstream from this sign, the United States Geological Survey uses a cableway gauging station to measure water flows. Using a pressure sensor and satellite communications, these water flows are measured on a constant basis. These measurements are monitored and reviewed by hydrological technicians. This information helps the community plan for both short and long-term flood situations and effectively manage upstream reservoirs., Desert Life , Reno lies in what is known as the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada. Storm systems carrying precipitation from the Pacific Ocean slam into 9,000 - 10,000 foot peaks that draw moisture onto the west side of the range. This means the eastern slopes that feed the Truckee River do not receive as much precipitation; the lower Truckee River receives less than 10 inches of precipitation each year. Mother Nature is fickle, as annual runoff into the river has ranged from 133,000 acre-feet to more than 1.7 million acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover one football field one-foot deep, enough water to supply two homes for a year. Living in the driest state of the Union, the community is constantly mindful of conservation and has embarked on programs to reduce water consumption in homes, businesses and for outdoor landscaping.