Dear Truckee River Supporter,

This month, we have so much to celebrate! Just ten years ago, a phone call from an anonymous donor led to holistic look at how the Truckee River could be improved, a stakeholder forum with 130+ representatives from many agencies, and the creation of the One Truckee River Management Plan, Phase I was created – which would become the foundation of our organization, partnership coalition, and work. Over the past decade, we’ve addressed several of the priorities identified in this plan and continue to make progress towards a healthy, thriving, and sustainable Truckee River in Nevada.

This month, we’re excited to announce that we’re embarking on a new, multifaceted project for Alum Creek, which flows into our river at Crissie Caughlin Park. We’re also sharing City of Reno Urban Forester Matt Basile’s perspectives and role in the One Truckee River Workforce Program, taking a closer look at the Truckee River Dashboard’s launch, sharing our guide to getting started composting at home, and seeking support through three new RSOQ contract work opportunities.

Here’s what’s inside September’s newsletter:

1. One Truckee River Events – Join Us!

2. Our Anniversary: Celebrating 10 Years of Protecting the Truckee River

3. Expanding Reno’s Tree Canopy, with Matt Basile

4. River-Friendly Living: Improving Your Garden’s Soils & Protecting the Truckee River

5. Introducing...The One Truckee River Dashboard

6. Alum Creek: New Project & Funding Announcement

7. Work for One Truckee River – Three Request for Scope of Qualifications (RSOQ) Opportunities

Through our event series, it's easier than ever to get out and about on the Truckee in Nevada, while learning more about the river and getting to know your neighbors. Don’t forget to sign up to reserve your spot for these events.

Bird & Bug Blitz

Sunday, September 27th – Lake Park

Explore Lake Park with the Northern Nevada Bird Alliance! Together, let’s discover the wildlife that can be found right in our backyards – including common birds, creepy crawly bugs, butterflies, and more.

State of the Riverbank Walks

Saturday, October 17th – Brodhead Park

Saturday, November 14th – Wingfield 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.

Nevada River Talk: Protecting the Truckee River

Thursday, October 22th – 2601 Plumas Street

Tuesday November 17th – 2601 Plumas Street

Join us for a lunch-and-learn! Because the Truckee River is our community’s greatest asset, we’re discussing the river’s needs for protection – and the work going on to care for it.

River Ecology Walk & Seed Spreading

Sunday, October 25th – John Champion Park

Saturday, November 7th – Brodhead Park

The Truckee River flows through the heart of our city – which impacts its plant diversity, wildlife, and ecology. Get to know the riparian ecosystem and how a healthy ecosystem benefits our communities. Supported by OTR’s sponsor WateringWinds Apartments.

Reaching for the Trees with Matt Basile

Tuesday, October 27th – Lake Park

Which trees do best in our hot and dry Northern Nevada climate? Visit plantings from last year’s volunteer event in Lake Park, with City of Reno Urban Forester Matt Basile. At this evening talk, we’ll discuss tree care, maintenance, and recommendations for your yard.

Ten years ago, the One Truckee River Management Plan, Phase I was unanimously approved by the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, Washoe County, and the Western Regional Water Commission. It represented the first step towards making our shared vision for the Truckee River a reality and a key moment in the creation of One Truckee River as a nonprofit organization. Today, we continue to work alongside our partners to advance towards the goals laid out in the Management Plan.

To commemorate our 10-year anniversary, we spoke with five women who were instrumental in our organization’s founding and growth – to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, why our work is so important, and what’s next for the Truckee River in Nevada.

Matt Basile, Urban Forester for the City of Reno, has played an essential role in the One Truckee River Workforce Program since its inception. As the City of Reno’s Urban Forester, he oversees, maintains, and cares for roughly 30,000 publicly owned trees growing on city-owned property, city-owned right-of-way, within the city parks system, and along the Truckee River. 

With the One Truckee River Workforce Program, his role includes serving as a liaison between the City and the Program, providing skill trainings, and supporting the crew as they build towards careers in landscaping and urban forestry.

What does it take to train our Workforce while expanding Reno’s tree canopy? Keep reading to hear Matt’s perspectives and experiences.

Did you know that approximately half of what Truckee Meadows residents send to the landfill in the summer months is organic material? By composting, we can reduce unnecessary waste, improve soils in our yards, save money, and keep the Truckee River clean - all at the same time! 

Adding compost helps your soil retain moisture, which should help you to use less water and save money on water bills in the summer months. Watering less means less surface runoff down our storm drains, which carry non-point source pollution into the Truckee River.

Composting at home also produces free fertilizers to use in your yard – feeding your plants, keeping them healthy, and reducing the need to purchase synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

This month, Nevada Tomorrow amended its quality of life dashboards, which compare indicators for our community against state averages, county values, and target goals.

The latest addition? The Truckee River Dashboard – which follows the structure of the One Truckee River (OTR) Management Plan, Phase I. The new dashboard provides updated and accessible data, keeping the public informed of the results of the ongoing work to protect and improve the river. The dashboard tracks progress towards three goals, which were identified by the OTR Partnership Council in our Management Plan.

Here are the three goals the dashboard indicators track – and how each connects to  regional successes from both OTR’s partners and our organization’s work.

Alum Creek flows into the Truckee River at Crissie Caughlin Park – and hasn’t been meeting water quality and temperature standards for our municipal and domestic water supply, or for aquatic life. After much planning, we’re excited to announce that we’ve received funding and are getting started improving this area of our watershed!

From 2026-2028, One Truckee River will be working alongside our partner, Washoe County with support from NV Division of Environmental Projection, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Truckee River Fund at the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada to reduce pollution loads into Alum Creek. Our work will include bank stabilization work to reduce erosion and sediment flows into the Truckee River, as well as work to transition conventional cattle grazed land to regenerative practices. We’ll also be building our 2nd River-Friendly Living Demonstration Garden while teaching residents about steps they can take to protect the river.  

Are you excited about ensuring a healthy and thriving river connects to its community? We’ve just added three Request for State of Qualifications (RSOQs) to our website. All three roles are funded by Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Nevada Division of Environment Protection Nonpoint Source 319(h). October 30th is the deadline for all of these opportunities.

1 - Alum Creek Restoration Project’s Grazed Cattle Land Transition Services

Scope of Work: One Truckee River seeks to hire a consultant to provide services towards the Alum Creek Restoration Project Priority Two: Grazed Cattle Land Transition to Regenerative Grazing Practices

2 - Alum Creek Restoration Project’s Priority One and Three Management and Supplementary Labor Services.

SCOPE OF WORK: One Truckee River seeks to hire a consultant to provide management and supplementary labor services towards the Alum Creek Restoration Project’s Priority One: Riparian Zone Revegetation and Invasive Species Removal and Buildout Services for Priority Three: Implement Stormwater Runoff Infiltration Methods Through Building a River-Friendly Demonstration Garden. 

3 - Alum Creek Restoration Project’s River-Friendly Living (RFL) Garden Design Services.

SCOPE OF WORK: One Truckee River seeks to hire a consultant to provide garden design and plant selection services towards the Alum Creek Restoration Project (project) Priority Three: Implement Stormwater Runoff Infiltration Methods Through Building a River-Friendly Demonstration Garden.