Dear Truckee River Supporter,

Do you know where your wastewater goes after you flush? How about native plants you can add to your garden to ease yard care and prevent runoff into the Truckee River? Keep reading to learn more! Also in this month’s newsletter: tons of upcoming events for Northern Nevadans interested in better understanding the state of our riverbank, water resource management, and how to create a drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly yard.

Here’s what’s inside April’s newsletter:

1. One Truckee River Events – Join Us!

2. Water Reclamation – Getting to Know one of our Partnership Council Members, Casey Mentzer

3. Native Plant Alternatives for Common Landscaping Plants

4. Partner Events – Smart About Water Day, World Bee Day & Great Community Cleanup

5. Get Ready! May is Truckee River Month

Through our new event series, it's easier than ever to get out and about on the Truckee, while learning more about the river and getting to know your neighbors. Don’t forget to SIGN UP up to reserve your spot.

Spring Seed Swap

Sunday, April 26th – Lake Park

Exchange seeds with your neighbors & pick up free native seeds. Bring extra seeds sitting idle around your home…or if you’re new to gardening, just bring yourself - and check out the River-Friendly demonstration garden at Lake Park!

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

Landscaping architect and horticulturist Tom Stille shares key strategies for using water efficiently in our home gardens. In this workshop, we’ll talk about mini meadows, buffer strips, and drought-tolerant native plants. All great ways to make your yard easier to manage while protecting the river!

Casey Mentzer is the Treatment Plant Director at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility and represents the City of Sparks on OTR’s Partnership Council. As head of Northern Nevada’s largest water reclamation facility, he oversees the processing of 30 million gallons of wastewater per day, coming in from Reno, Sparks, and unincorporated Washoe County – as it’s treated to level of water quality that meets local, state, and federal standards for safe reintroduction back into our environment, into the Truckee River.

“How does all of that work?” you might ask. After all, wastewater management is an all-too-necessary aspect of our lives that most of us prefer to think very little about.

Are you getting your garden ready for summer? A River-Friendly Yard protects the Truckee River by using water wisely and by reducing excess fertilizers and pesticides that could flow down the storm drain and into the river. Adding native plants to your yard is a beautiful way to achieve both of these goals. 

Native plants are adapted to our local climate and soils. This means that they usually require less water and fertilizers than many common landscaping plants. If you incorporate them into your yard, that can save you money on your water bill and reduce the potential for fertilizers and pesticides washing down the storm drain. They also provide more habitat and food resources for local wildlife, including pollinators.

How can you get started? We’ve put together a list of 5 common landscaping plants in the Truckee Meadows and native plant alternatives that look very similar - but with added benefits that support the Truckee River.

Great Community Cleanup – May 2

Pick your spot and jump in! Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is organizing their annual community clean up volunteer event. While One Truckee River’s worksite at Fisherman’s Park is already filled, there are many more opportunities to beautify and clean up spots along the Truckee River and throughout its watershed. KTMB is organizing the event and will be tackling 20+ illegal dumpsites, neighborhood parks, and other beautification projects.

Smart About Water Day – May 9

Come visit OTR at our booth at Smart About Water Day. Learn all about the programs and strategies that go into managing our local water resources. This is a free, family-friendly annual event with food trucks and big rigs to explore, packed with fun and interactive ways to learn about water resource management in the Truckee Meadows. Event is hosted by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.

World Bee Day – May 20

Visit our booth! Biggest Little Bee City, in partnership with the City of Reno Parks and Recreation Department, will be hosting a World Bee Day celebration on May 20th at Idlewild Park from 2-6 PM.

This family-friendly event aims to educate the community about the vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem and to promote practices that support their health and habitats - including mulching, native plants, and sustainable gardening practices! Stop by to explore vendors, food trucks, educational presentations, and a special visit from the American Honey Princess.

Get ready for Truckee River Month! One Truckee River invites you to celebrate our local gem, the Truckee River, in the month of May. This month, let's raise public awareness and engagement around our important waterway, the Truckee River. 

Take an afternoon to enjoy its beauty. Hike, bike, picnic, paddle, fish, or swim - and appreciate the clean alpine water running through our urban desert hometown. The more we enjoy the river, the more we'll care for it. The Truckee provides 85% of the drinking water to the Truckee Meadows region, and ongoing protection for our shared resource is more important than ever.

Looking to learn more? Celebrate the Truckee River by checking out one of the DOZENS of upcoming events.