Truckee Insider’s Guide: “A River Runs Through It”
Words and photography
This story was originally published in the Truckee.com Insider’s Guide Magazine, Fall 2022
If there is one natural element that ties the Truckee community together, it’s the Truckee River. Like a metaphorical backbone, she runs right through our center, cutting her way through rock and soil near Historic Downtown, the Truckee Regional Park, Glenshire/Devonshire, Deerfield, and more. We raise our children along her shores, refresh our bodies and minds in her cool embrace, raft, float, fish, meditate, walk, read, or simply sit quietly beside her as she runs softly by. One could safely say she is a symbol of our community’s love for Truckee.
Yet, as gentle as she seems, she’s a force to be reckoned with. A true testament to strength and resilience, the Truckee River has sustained incredible challenges. From her shaky geological beginnings to a peaceful relationship with Indigenous Peoples to the devastating migration of Europeans and Americans, her fortitude is a true inspiration and something to behold.
A DELICATE BALANCE
Originating from the high Sierra and flowing through Lake Tahoe to eventually release into Pyramid Lake on the Paiute Tribe’s Reservation in Reno, NV., the river is an integral component of an important watershed — an intricate balance of filtration and storage, erosion control, flood attenuation and habitat. When one factor is thrown off, the entire system is in danger of collapse, affecting native wildlife, habitats and foliage. Yet, she’s survived climate change, geological upheavals and ice ages. What she almost didn’t survive was modern development and human impact.
When humans made their way to the river almost 12,000 years ago, the river helped sustain them. The Native American Washoe and Paiute cultures benefitted from her gifts of large game, medicinal plants, fish and space for tribal celebrations. Families lived on her bounty of Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-cui fish. Called “wakhu wa't'a” by the Washoe Tribe, people and river existed in a symbiotic relationship for hundreds of years. This delicate balance was forever changed following the California Gold Rush.
DISRUPTING THE BALANCE
The human migration west in the 18th century brought industry and development to the region. However, ignorance resulted in a wave of pollution and filth that left the river dirty and exhausted the fish population. The Lahontan cutthroat was thought to be extinct as a result of water diversions that followed the 1902 Newlands Act, while the cui-cui fish almost went extinct in the late 20th century.
But the Truckee River persisted. Things turned around for her after the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act passed in the 1970s, and as Native American efforts and lawsuits finally began to see traction in local and national governments.
While the river is still considered “polluted” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to over 150 years of abuse, erosion, policy, invasive species and climate change, it is still in better shape than it was. Today, she provides drinking water for Reno businesses and residents, “generates hydropower, supplies irrigation water to farms along its banks and in the adjacent Carson River Basin, offers varied recreational opportunities, and serves as a vital ecosystem for fish and wildlife” (Water Education Foundation).
It’s no secret that our community loves the Truckee River and all she provides. However, efforts continue to ensure we don’t love her to death, with local organizations working hard to advocate for her and her fragile ecosystem by creating new stewardship efforts and opportunities for anyone who wants to give back.
PRESERVING HER WILDS
The Truckee River snakes through granite mountains, forests and towns, and her banks are home to Coyote Willow, Desert Peach, Sierra Gooseberry, Chokecherry, and so much more. Preserving her open space, and thus the wildlife and plants that live by her, is one goal of the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
Truckee Springs, a previously inaccessible 26-acre parcel of land that lies on the south side of the Truckee River, was up for sale and zoned for additional development in the form of homes and a hotel that would drastically and negatively affect the health of the river. The Truckee Donner Land Trust recently campaigned to purchase and preserve the space.
“Thanks to strong support from donors, the Land Trust was able to acquire Truckee Springs in June 2021. In early 2022, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife donated their land directly upstream to the Land Trust, growing the property to 67 acres,” says Greyson Howard, Communications Director at the Truckee Donner Land Trust. “Now construction is underway for the continuation of the Truckee River Legacy Trail across the property, as well as the pedestrian bridge planned to connect to West River Street. It's a beautiful property right in the heart of our community, and we're excited for people to enjoy it once construction is complete.”
This important project will provide downtown Truckee River access and enjoyment, a footbridge, and additional trails and connections, eventually linking Glenshire with Donner Lake. Protecting the land as open space creates tremendous benefits for the entire community, regardless of economic status.
MODERN STEWERDSHIP
The Truckee River’s journey back to optimum health is continually threatened by human intervention, as the watershed’s natural processes are often impeded by outside forces. With help from nonprofits like the Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC), her future looks bright. Their mission is to bring the community “Together for the Truckee” to protect, enhance and restore the entire Truckee River Watershed. Their multi-faceted approach focuses on science, management, funding and education.
“We believe a more sustainable tomorrow starts with the watershed. Our goal is to restore the resiliency of our environment—so nature and humanity can thrive together for generations.”
TRWC invites the community to get involved: participate, become stewards, and actively take part in her continued maintenance.
River Talks are short, informational presentations about past and present threats to the Truckee River and how we can help restore and protect it.
Weed Warriors programs involve local citizens, landowners, land managers and public agencies to attack over 2,000 acres of infestation.
Adopt a Stream trains locals to be chemists to monitor the watershed’s health.
Learn more about how you can be an active participant in restoring the health of the Truckee River at truckeeriverwc.org.
The health of the Truckee River depends on us. When we come together in stewardship, she can continue to bestow her gifts—to the ecosystem we live in and for future generations to enjoy.