Dear Truckee River Supporter,

With a touch of fall color along its shorelines, the Truckee River is looking especially beautiful this fall! Have you had a chance to get out and explore?

This month, we’re once again asking you, our readers, to complete our annual community survey for a chance to win $100. The data we collect from this annual survey is instrumental in tracking progress and use trends along the Truckee River. Then, keep reading for the 411 on OTR’s 2 big events this Saturday: our Tree Planting Volunteer Day in Lake Park and our Bird and Wildlife walk in Fisherman’s Park #2. We can’t wait to see you there! There’s so much more happening in our Watershed this fall - including new restrooms along the Truckee River, in Idlewild Park.

Keep reading to hear more about:

1. 2025 Community Survey - Tell Us What You Think

2. THIS SATURDAY: 2 OTR Events - Tree Planting in Lake Park & Bird and Wildlife Walk in Fisherman’s Park

3. OTR News & Gratitude for our Supporters

4. Partner Highlight: City of Reno Installs New Public Restrooms

5. River-Friendly Living: Pest Control

6. PSA: Your Yard is a Sponge

How have you been enjoying the Truckee River? Where do you spend most of your time? And, how would you like to see our river improved? Complete our 2025 Annual Survey to let us know! It should take about 5-10 minutes.

Since 2021, One Truckee River has conducted region-wide surveys to gain input from Truckee Meadows residents like you. We’re using our annual survey input to help evaluate the effectiveness of the One Truckee River Management Plan, as well as to gain general community insight. 

In appreciation for your time, we’ll be selecting one survey participant to win $100 through a free drawing. The winner will be selected in December.

Day of Service at Lake Park (Saturday, October 25th, 9am-12pm and 1-3pm)

Join One Truckee River, the City of Reno, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, and Friends of Lake Park for a day of service. Together, we'll plant trees to beautify our public park, create new habitats for wildlife, and improve the River-Friendly Living Demonstration Garden. Stop by to lend a hand for an hour or two, or spend a full day working side by side with us. Volunteer solo and get to know your neighbors, or include your family on this fun, family-friendly outing.

In the morning, we'll be moving mulch and getting trees ready for planting. In the afternoon, we'll be placing different tree species throughout the park - just in time for them to grow strong roots throughout our upcoming wet season.

Bird & Wildlife Walk in Fisherman’s Park #2 (Saturday, October 25, 10am-12pm)

What’s that duck that looks like it has spiky red hair? Who is that big bird perching stock-still on a rock with its wings spread out? What’s that tiny duck that just dove beneath the surface of the water? Explore Fisherman’s Park #1 at our upcoming events and see if you can spot mergansers, double-crested cormorants, buffleheads, red-tailed hawks, and more!

Get to know your community while learning about the birds and wildlife that call our neighborhood parks home – and why they matter. One Truckee River and Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance members will lead us along the Truckee River, helping us spot and identify the birds and other animals that depend on our watershed.

Tree Planting Volunteer Day (John Champion Memorial Park - November 8, 10am-12pm)

Winter on the River Open Mic (John Champion Memorial Park - December 6, 12am-3pm)

Reno-Sparks Indian Colony 

This month, we’re grateful to announce that the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (RISC) has donated $10,000 to One Truckee River. The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Michon R. Eben shares “In our traditional values, the Truckee River is one of the most significant cultural resources of the Truckee Meadows. Without our great body of water, we would be nothing, when every citizen learns to respect this great flowing entity of water; it will continue to replenish us.”

Iris Jehle-Peppard, Executive Director of OTR reports, “RSIC’s generous donation underscores our shared commitment and how much RSIC values our collaboration to ensure a healthy river ecosystem.”

Truckee River Fund 

We also thank the Truckee River Fund for the grant we received this month to continue our watershed coalition building and River-Friendly Living efforts. Throughout One Truckee River’s history, we’ve appreciated their ongoing support of our organization and its programming. We couldn’t do what we do without them.

Community Foundation of Northern Nevada

We’re honored to have been selected to participate in the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Philanthropy in Practice program. Over the course of five months, we look forward to participating in a blend of group learning, one-on-one support, and real-world practice opportunities alongside other nonprofit leaders.

In a recent press release, the City of Reno announced that new 2 ADA-accessible restrooms have been installed at Idlewild Park, along the Truckee River Water Trail. New restrooms have also been installed in Huffaker and Manzanita Parks, which both fall within the Truckee River Watershed.

The purchase and installation of these ADA restrooms comes from $1,056,000 in funds sponsored by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen, and Congressman Mark Amodei. The funds came from the Fiscal Year 2022 Congressional allocation for Community Project Funding (CPF), administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  

At One Truckee River, we understand the crucial role restroom accessibility plays in promoting ease of community access to shoreline parks. Iris Jehle-Peppard, One Truckee River Executive Director, shares “I commend the City of Reno’s commitment to increasing the availability of public restrooms along the Truckee River. These facilities are vital to protecting Truckee River water quality.”

Did you know? Fall is a key time of year for local wildlife seeking shelter for the winter. Unfortunately, they sometimes consider our homes to be safe and cozy options.

To protect the Truckee River Watershed we all live in, we recommend sealing up your home to reduce easy entry points for problematic insects and rodents and prevent the future need for chemical solutions. ‘Tis the season to install or fix screen doors, windows, cracks, and holes. In your yard, remove leaves and vegetation from your gutter and the 1-foot border around your house. Consider leaving some leaves and mulch a greater distance from your house to provide alternative overwintering habitat for our local wildlife.

Are you watering your sidewalk instead of your lawn? Does water run to the street after every rainstorm? Fall is the perfect time to make your yard a sponge. Check out this short video about sustainable yards, from our friends and neighbors at the Carson Water Subconservancy District.

In it, you’ll see how you can plant perennials as part of buffer strips, adjust your irrigation before you shut it off for the winter, and gather leaves to compost or chop up as a soil amendment or mulch. All of these actions can help your landscape retain water while looking great and supporting our pollinators!

One Truckee River’s mission is to work towards a healthier, thriving, and sustainable river connected to the heart and minds of its community.

At One Truckee River, we only email sporadically. To stay up to date on the latest news along the gem of our region, the Truckee River, give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.