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Entities Conducting Monitoring

As described earlier, water quality and other monitoring activities are conducted on the Truckee River and its tributaries for a variety of reasons. This CMP seeks to consolidate the information pertaining to these monitoring activities into one comprehensive compendium that is easily accessible and functionally usable by the MOU Parties and the Public. The following monitoring is covered by this CMP:

  • DRI conducts water quality monitoring from Tahoe City to Vista as part of a University of Nevada system long-term study.

  • NDEP conducts water quality monitoring at a number of tributary creeks, including North Truckee Drain, Steamboat, Thomas, Whites, Alum, and Browns Reach of White’s Creek.

  • NDOW does biological monitoring, habitat assessment, and concurrent water quality monitoring at a number of sites.

  • Placer County does biological, habitat, and water quality monitoring at Squaw, Bear, and Martis Creeks.

  • The PLPT monitors for compliance with the Tribe’s EPA approved water quality standards. They are also interested in the quality of the water in the Truckee River and the riverine habitat due to the fact that they are the most downstream user of the water; the quality of the water when it enters Pyramid Lake as it has an effect on the quality of the lake water itself and the health of the threatened and endangered fish on which their tribe’s economy and fishery rely. The Tribe’s original name is “Kuyuidokado” or Cui-ui Eaters, so protecting the Truckee River’s endangered Cui-ui fish is not only important for the health of the Cui-ui, but also it is protecting the Tribe’s heritage. The Tribe’s culture, traditions, and ceremonies involve the use of water, and wish to keep the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake as pristine as possible. Two of the Tribe’s beneficial uses for the river and lake are “Water of Special Ecological Significance” and also “Primary Contact Ceremonial Use” (Mosley 2010).

  • Reno, Sparks and Washoe County (collectively the TMWC) collects water quality data on tributaries of the Truckee River as required by their NPDES MS4 permit.

  • TMWA collects data for an indication of the quality of the water entering their water treatment plants for subsequent treatment and distribution.

  • TMWRF collects water quality monitoring data at prescribed points on Steamboat Creek and the main stem of the Truckee River as a condition of their NPDES discharge permit.

  • The Town of Truckee does discharge and habitat assessment in their region.

  • UNR researchers collect benthic, invertebrate, fish and nutrient data and bacteriological sampling at numerous locations upstream and downstream of the urbanized Reno area for scientific research.

  • USFWS conducts habitat assessments and biological monitoring (fish surveys) throughout the river system.

  • USGS conducts flow and water quality sampling at fixed location throughout the watershed.