Dear Truckee River Supporter,

How are you getting out and about along the Truckee River this spring? At One Truckee River, we’re excited to be hosting several free events – and can’t wait to get to know our community better as we explore, learn, and volunteer together for the river. Just as importantly - we’ve been busy creating team building opportunities and propagating native trees to plant along the riverbanks. Keep reading for more about our recent work and what you can do to protect the river from home!

Here’s what’s inside March’s newsletter:

1. Spring Events - Join One Truckee River at our FREE Events

2. Restorative Vegetation Management along the Truckee - Gaetano Zorzi Returns to His Roots 

3. Irrigation 411 - The Best Way to Water Your Yard

4. Corporate Team Building Opportunities - Plan Your Next Event with Us

5. Work for OTR - Idlewild Riverbank Repair Engineering and Design Services

There are so many ways to enjoy, appreciate, and spend time along the Truckee River. With One Truckee River's new event series, it's easier than ever to get out and about on the river, while getting to know your neighbors. 

Check out our spring offerings below. Then, click through to our website for event details –and RSVP to claim your spot. Whether you live, work, or spend time along the Truckee River, we look forward to sharing and caring for the river with you.

Bird & Wildlife Walk

Saturday, April 11th – John Champion Park

Learn about the birds and wildlife that call our neighborhood parks home – and why they matter. Featuring guides from the Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance.

Spring Seed Swap

Sunday, April 12th – Lake Park

Exchange seeds with your neighbors & pick up free native plant seeds. Bring extra seeds sitting idle around your home…or if you’re new to gardening, just bring yourself!

One Truckee River at KTMB’s Great Community Cleanup

Saturday, May 2nd – Fisherman’s Park #2

As a part of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful’s Great Community Cleanup, join One Truckee River in planting native plants, cleaning up litter, and spreading mulch.

State of the Riverbank

Saturday, May 16th – Cottonwood Park & Saturday May 23rd – Caughlin Park

Observe and document the state of the Truckee River on a walk with OTR’s Executive Director, while learning about regional coordinated vegetation management efforts.

Gardening Workshop: Making the Most of Water

Saturday, May 30th – Lake Park

Landscape architect and horticulturist Tom Stille shares key strategies for using water efficiently in our home gardens through landscaping & planting choices.

“I’d really like to find a job either in a nursery or working as an arborist on a tree crew,” Gaetano Zorzi began. “The Workforce Program has given me valuable experience. It’s been a great opportunity to talk to the people who do this work on a daily basis – and learn from them. Now, I understand what would be required of me in these roles. I’ve built the skillset I’ll need to be a strong applicant.” 

Through the One Truckee River Workforce Program, we’re caring for the urban stretch of the Truckee River while providing professional development for marginalized community members.

Learn more about workforce crew member Gaetano Zorzi - and how the program is supporting him in his career goals.

With only 8 inches of rain landing on our high desert homes each year, irrigation is usually a must for maintaining our yards. And you might be wondering – what’s the best way to care for my home garden while respecting our most valuable resource, the Truckee River? 

While your needs depend on your landscaping details, drip irrigation is a key tool for making home ownership easier and decreasing runoff that can flow to the Truckee River.

Drip irrigation systems have tons of benefits. Including:

1. Saving water. Studies show that drip irrigation saves 30-70% off your water bill.

2. Reducing weeding. While sprinklers wet your whole yard, drip irrigation reduces the need to weed between emitters, as these areas stay too dry for weed seeds to sprout.

3. Reducing runoff. With a well-designed and maintained system, water won’t flow into the streets and storm drains, carrying fertilizers and pesticides along with it.

Ready to learn more about drip irrigation systems, lawn sprinklers, and the best ways to update your home systems?

We’re excited to announce a new offering: team building, volunteer service, and educational opportunities for corporate groups! For your next company retreat or offsite event, we invite you to join us for a unique experience along the Truckee River. 

Our goal? To help your group understand the importance of the Truckee River while enjoying it together and building your employees’ connection and comradery. We’ll combine team building activities with volunteer service or an educational event to help your team gain a new perspective of the Truckee River in Nevada. 

SCOPE OF WORK: One Truckee River seeks to hire a consultant to support the Idlewild Park
Riverbank Repair Project (project) that will develop and design up to 30% for a riverbank repair on the south bank of the Truckee River at Idlewild Park in Reno located in a crucial source water protection area in the Peavine Creek-Truckee River watersheds.

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY: The project is funded by Nevada Diversion of Environmental
Projection 604(b) funding and Western Regional Water Commission.

SOQ DEADLINE: April 30, 2026