Lahontan Cutthroat Trout spawn for first time since 1938

Today the RGJ’s environmental reporter Jeff Delong reported on the successful spawning of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the lower Truckee River in 76 years.  The fish dug spawning beds and reproduced in the Truckee River between the mouth of the river and Marble Bluff Dam.

Truckee River flows into Pyramid Lake in the summer of 2013

Truckee River flows into Pyramid Lake in the summer of 2013

The article tells the story of how we lost this valuable resource largely to the construction of the Derby Dam on the river which diverts a significant flow of the river to the Newlands Irrigation Project.

We can only hope that the river and the fish can now thrive once again in the 21st century.

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout mount at Sutcliff

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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.