Soon the NRCS (US Natural Resource Conservation Service) will do the April 1 snow survey.  That survey – generally the last one for the 2015-16 season will undoubtedly be much improved over the last one for the 2014-2015 winter season. However, is it a drought busting winter? Not too likely at this point.  Will it be above or below average or just average?  Stay tuned for the report.

Meanwhile, a much appreciated, surprise “inside slider” snow storm dropped as much as 10 inches of snow in Reno and along the east side (predominately) of the Carson Range and Sierra. Without the rain shadow of the Sierra, Reno got just as much snow as much higher mountain locations.

Drought Monitor for March 22, 2016 shows significant drought remaining in western Nevada and California.

This winter season has been unusual in that the much predicted above normal precipitation for the southwestern US largely did not materialize (at least yet). Currently, the drought monitor still shows significant drought conditions for the southwestern portion of the country.

One average – or even above average – winter season doesn’t make up for the severe deficits built up in the Truckee River basin during the last 4 years and the deficit created in Truckee River flows over the last 16 years of mostly drought conditions. The southwest US drought started in 2000 and has continued with only 2 above average precipitation years. The final survey for the 2015-2016 winter season for the Truckee River watershed may come close to average or better, but the entire southwest US is unlikely to see an end of the long drought.

One good thing; the late snowstorm will likely delay the start of Truckee Meadows residents cranking up their sprinkler systems. TMWA (Truckee Meadows Water Authority, water provider for the region), however, seems poised to declare the drought over.

Water pours into the gutter from excessive watering in August 2014.

Keeping water conservation in place would be a far better approach and making sure the groundwater areas that TMWA pumps from recover fully before dropping conservation measures. It is far too early to pretend drought for the Truckee River has ended.

Related articles across the web

• Spring Outlook for U.S. Drought and Flood: Dry to the Southwest, Wet to the Southeast

In western Nevada and the Sierra to the east of the crest, It did snow; it did rain; there were some cold nights; the snowpack was above average; the snowpack was below average; now with spring here and March two-thirds history, how the snowpack will finish is “up-in-the-air”.

The Truckee River is flowing much more than last year at this time, but with Lake Tahoe still below its rim, it is unlikely that this will be a banner year for Truckee River flows. A very dry February threw cold water on hopes for a double or triple snowpack year. Could that change?  It will depend on whether it rains and snows a lot more into the spring.  So far, most of the storms in March have been much bigger on the west side of the Sierra than on the east, but have helped restore some of the lost Truckee River watershed’s snowpack after a dry February.

As of today, Lake Tahoe’s elevation stands at 6,222.72 and rising as snow melt kicks in. That’s a big gain from Dec. 9, 2015 when the Lake’s elevation was 6,221.37. Tahoe’s rise of 1.35 feet over the winter represents 54 billion gallons of water. That 54 billion gallons, however, merely fills a huge water deficit and isn’t water that represents flow to the Truckee River; and Tahoe needs another 11 billion gallons to repay the deficit so that water can once again reach the Truckee River at Tahoe City.

Truckee River downtown

Pyramid Lake, however, has continued to fall in elevation dropping more than a foot since October 1, 2015 to the last measurement on March 1, 2016.  Continual Truckee River diversions to Lahontan Reservoir are a significant factor in the loss of water for Pyramid Lake, the natural outflow for the Truckee River.

According to USA Today, “[t]he U.S. saw its warmest winter on record – a whopping 4.6 degrees above average.”

Reuters reports, “The rate of carbon emissions is higher than at any time in fossil records stretching back 66 million years to the age of the dinosaurs, according to a study on Monday that sounds an alarm about risks to nature from man-made global warming.”

Warmer temperatures mean more evaporation and more water use to grow crops and water lawns.  More carbon in the atmosphere means ever more warming.

For the moment, however, we see a flowing Truckee River and will still hope for a good spring runoff, fish spawning from Pyramid Lake into the Truckee, and water for kayacking and swimming in the river during the summer. It might even keep snowing into April, right?

Panorama of Truckee River Whitewater and Wingfield Parks in Downtown Reno

Related articles across the web

• Snowpack dips below average as dry spell hits Nor Cal
• Drought conditions affecting Montana; fire season still unclear
• Springlike Warmth in Southwest U.S., Southeast Europe; Sierra Snowpack Below Average

The TROA (Truckee River Operating Agreement) took 27 years to be finished and lawsuits against the Agreement (actually completed in 2008) settled or withdrawn. Now that the celebrations are done and TROA is implemented, what are the benefits to the over all health of the Truckee River?

Mark Foree, Executive Director of TMWA, announcing the purchase of Donner Lake Water Rights.

Water purchases for water quality to increase water in the Truckee River below Derby Dam for the benefit of Pyramid Lake are certainly a benefit; although the amount of water flow is relatively small, it improves the river’s health during periods of lower flow. Also, changes in the timing of water delivery to water rights holders to benefit riparian forest regeneration is a good thing for the River.

The benefits for the urban portions of Washoe County served by TMWA (Truckee Meadows Water Authority)  are very tangible – storage for drought supply in up-stream reservoirs and water exchanges between reservoirs to benefit water supply. This allows TMWA to call for more water during periods of drought to help meet its overall water rights to support urban and suburban customers.

Nevertheless, the majority of water rights owned on the Truckee River benefits urban uses and farmers in the Carson River negatively impacting the urban portion of the river and the areas below Vista.

The Derby Dam diverts Truckee River water away from its natural course which flows to Pyramid Lake. The dam diverts a significant amount of the Truckee River into the Truckee Canal to Lahontan Reservoir on the Carson River.

Are we going to have a healthy and vibrant river system including the Truckee River’s unique inland sea – Pyramid Lake?  Stay tuned and we’ll be discussing the challenges facing the entire Truckee River system in the coming weeks.

Mark Foree, the executive director of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, announced at today’s TROA (Truckee River Operating Agreement) celebration that TMWA has purchased the water rights that the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID) owned in Donner Lake.  TMWA already owed the other half of the water rights to water stored in Donner Lake.

Mark Foree, Executive Director of TMWA, announcing the purchase of Donner Lake Water Rights.

In a followup to his comments, he indicated that the purchase is expected to be completed by the beginning of February.  He also indicated that the TCID has agreed to drop lawsuits it still has regarding the TROA.

The TROA celebration was attended by many of the people who have been working on implementing the Truckee River Negotiated Settlement since the 1980’s.  Senator Harry Reid was instrumental in shepherding TROA for the last 2 and a half decades.  The Senator had planned to attend, but his flight from Las Vegas was cancelled due to the weather.  In remarks delivered by phone to the crowd of more than 75 people,  he acknowledged the many people who helped make TROA possible – including many of the people at the celebration.

Donner Lake with the Carson Range in the background.