Author Archives: Dennis Ghiglieri

About Dennis Ghiglieri

My concern for the Truckee River grew over the years. It started with picking up trash and supporting better water quality. I helped create the "living river"plan with other citizens on the Community Flood Coalition; a plan to reduce flood impacts to infrastructure through river restoration and protection of the floodplain. I understand how critical the Truckee River is to the environment – and economy – of our entire region. I'm hoping that through these pages we can all understand our connection to the Truckee River and why we need to protect it.

Reno Recreation and Parks Commission approves a 1/4 acre transfer of Brodhead Park to apartment developer

The Reno Recreation and Parks Commission at its November 15 meeting gave its approval in a 5 to 1 vote to transfer 10,650 square feet (0.24 acres) of Brodhead Memorial Park in downtown Reno to Hokulia Holdings, LLC – a developer proposing to build 36 apartment units on both existing private property adjacent to the park and the park land to be acquired from the City. The City of Reno is an advocate for the project which now moves forward. According to Bill Dunne, Revitalization Manager for the City Manager’s Office, they were surprised by the approval, but pleased. Mr. Dunne wrote that “before any property is transferred, or any building begins, there are still multiple step [sic] in the approval process, which will allow for public input.”

During a walk around I attended with several others concerned about the loss of open space around the existing Truckee River Bike Path and walking trail, the developer stated that they were willing to work to address concerns related to replacement of trees and plants and how to better integrate the project into the remainder of the park, an adjacent alley and street while providing better access. Currently a small part of the bike path is on the developer’s property which would be transferred to the City if the transfer of the park property moves forward as proposed.

The developer during the on site walk said that they were willing to incorporate elements of the One Truckee River Management Plan recently adopted by the City of Reno as well as the City of Sparks and Washoe County.

The area behind the group with the large trees are currently part of Brodhead Park. The trees would have to be removed and the site graded to allow for building.

The area behind the group with the large trees are currently part of Brodhead Park. The trees would  be removed and the site graded to allow for building. The red mark on the bike path in the center of the photo shows the developers property line includes a portion of the existing bike path.

Brodhead Memorial Park in Downtown Reno

Brodhead Memorial Park in Downtown Reno

One of my chief concerns is that if the property is transferred to the developer, how will the City of Reno be assured that the project will actually be built? Will the property revert to the City if the project isn’t built?

An above ground view of the project area with north at the top of the image.

An above ground view of the project area with north at the top of the image.

brodhead-park-plans-2016-11-23-2

The apartment complex is envisioned at this time to have 3 buildings with one adjacent to the existing bike path and just west of Wells Avenue bridge. All site elements at this time are subject to change.

 

 

Truckee River’s Brodhead Park proposed for housing

Fenced in walkway along river near Broadhead Park

The Reno City Council has up for discussion and adoption a proposal by a developer to abandon 10,650 square feet on and adjacent to Brodhead Park in downtown Reno. The agenda item reads:

Council to discuss development options for Brodhead Park property (J.3)
J.3.1 – There will be a presentation, discussion, and potential direction to staff for the authorization to transfer 10,650 square feet of an undeveloped portion of City-owned property identified as Brodhead Park, located at 14 Park Street, to the adjacent property owner, Hokulia Holdings, LLC.
J.3.2 – Council will consider adoption of a Resolution determining that it is in the best interest of the City to convey a vacant and undevelopable portion of Brodhead Park to Hokulia Holdings, LLC, under a development agreement for a multifamily housing development that would increase housing in downtown Reno and enhance Brodhead Park.
Please contact your council member at the City of Reno website or you can comment on the agenda item here and express that you would want the City Council to keep open space along the Truckee River and its Trail and bike path.

Rain with more coming

Boreal Ridge Ski webcam screen capture on morning of 10/28/16

Lake Tahoe once again is seeing a bounce from a wet and warm weather system. As of the morning on Friday, October 28 Tahoe’s elevation has risen about 0.1 feet or just about 1.2 inches. If the rain continues, Tahoe will continue to rise as rain falls directly on the lake as well as additional inflow from streams.

Lake Tahoe Elevation October 28, 2016

Lake Tahoe Elevation October 28, 2016

Tahoe is a big lake so a 1.2″ rise represents a significant amount of water.  Rain should continue on and off today in the mountains and Truckee Meadows and then showers and rain again on Sunday.  The National Weather Service reports that we could set a precipitation record for October in Reno given previous wet storms and this series of storms. Snow levels at this point are high with rain on most of the mountain passes. By Sunday, the National Weather Service says snow levels will lower to around the Lake Tahoe elevation.

Below are captures of webcams from Boreal Ridge Ski and Heavenly Valley Ski areas around 8:38 am on Friday 10/28.  They show a sodden landscape – but free of snow at this point.

Boreal Ridge Ski webcam screen capture on morning of 10/28/16

Boreal Ridge Ski webcam screen capture on morning of 10/28/16. Boreal is on the crest of the Sierra Nevada and is just west of the divide between the Truckee River and the South Yuba River.

Heavenly Valley Ski webcam screen capture on morning of 10/28/16

Heavenly Valley Ski webcam screen capture on morning of 10/28/16. Southeast shore of Lake Tahoe from ski run above Stateline, NV.

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Tahoe rises; still below rim

Pyramid Lake as rain moves in from the west

The recent rain in the northern Sierra and western Nevada was certainly welcome.

I just saw a Facebook post declaring that “11 billion gallons of water added to Lake Tahoe …”. Yes, Tahoe did rise about 3″, so its elevation today is about 6,222.75′ but still 3″ below its rim. So by the Facebook post’s reckoning, there remains an 11 billion gallon deficit.

Lake Tahoe Surface Elevation October 19, 2016

Lake Tahoe Surface Elevation October 19, 2016

To be sure, the water year is just 3 weeks old and the 3 day rainstorm was a good start to the fall and winter season. Will we get a double or triple precipitation and snowpack year? We would need that and a lot more to make up for the 16 year drought the entire southwest has experienced.

While we can hope for a record-setting snowpack this winter, hope is not going to solve our continuing water crisis. We need to recognize the very real possibility that the average annual precipitation of the 20th century is less – perhaps far less – in the 21st century. The first sixteen years of this century have produced snowpack runoff resulting in only about 70% of the 20th century’s average river flows in the Truckee River. Expecting an end to the lower flows of the Truckee River is sticking our heads in the sand.

Not literally, I hope.

For a perspective on just how much less runoff we’ve gotten, look at a past truckeeriver.org article “Just 14 years ago …”  written in 2014.

Truckee River at Tahoe City receives no water from Lake Tahoe.

Truckee River at Tahoe City receives no water from Lake Tahoe.

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Rain welcome after long dry summer

Reno Thunderstorm August 11 2014

This Saturday, October 15 the rain intensified with the new storm. While the temperatures seem  unseasonably warm, rain is always welcome in the desert.  At 9:30 pm it is still raining and the temperature where I live in Reno is  50º F; not close to snowing, that’s for sure.

Rain, however, does result in rapid runoff from commercial and residential properties and parking lots and roads. Oil mobilized by rain in parking areas and roads runs off to adjacent streets, into the storm drains, and then into the Truckee River. Containing this toxic runoff requires a good storm drain plan that works to reduce and clean the runoff before it reaches the Truckee River. The community should focus more resources on cleaning pollution associated with rapid storm runoff.

A rain in Reno results in oil being mobilized and moving from parking lots to storm drains and into the Truckee River.

A rain in Reno results in oil being mobilized and moving from parking lots to storm drains and into the Truckee River.

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