Welcome to
Smart About Water
A place to understand approaches to water-resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
Summertime Outdoor Watering
Maintain good conservation habits while meeting your landscaping needs
During the summer, demand on the drinking water system in the Truckee Meadows can increase by 400%. Outdoor watering is the primary reason for this increase, and the following are three conservation actions to help waste at a minimum:
Follow Assigned-Day Watering.
Since the mid-1980s, a mandatory watering schedule has been in place for the sprinkler systems of Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) customers. Assigned-Day Watering ensures equal water use for everyone, and also prevents overwhelming the system if everyone were to water at the same time! This includes resting all sprinklers on Mondays. (Get your watering days reminder below!)
Prevent Runoff.
A steady stream of water moving off landscapes and onto hard surfaces not only drains contaminants into the river but also is an unnecessary expense. Test with this ‘water and wait’ method, which makes sure your lawn gets only the water it needs.
Landscape Wisely.
Make the right investment when planting flowers, shrubs and trees. Choose to landscape with plants that are well-suited for our high-desert environment and can tolerate drought.
Truckee River and Tahoe Basins: Daily Water Update
Daily SNOTEL Basin Index
Year-to-date indexes represent % of normal snow water equivalent compared to median value on this day for the 1981-2010 period.
This provisional data is provided from the California/Nevada SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report by the Natural Resources Conversation Service, and is subject to revision. Null percentages mean there is no measurable snowpack on that day.
Current Truckee River Flow
A key location where Truckee River flows are measured (in cubic feet per second or cfs) is near the California-Nevada state line, at the USGS Farad gaging station. This is the gaging station where required rates of flow are measured.
From March through September the required rate of flow is set for 500 cfs, and between October and February required rate of flow is 400 cfs. Flow rates are managed by the Federal Water Master and all data is provided by the United States Geological Survey.
For responsible recreational enthusiasts who monitor these flows, this map outlines all access points, features, diversions and portage options along the Truckee River from Truckee, CA to Tracy, NV.
Upstream Water Storage
Volume of water is measured in Acre Feet (AF). While many stakeholders also store water upstream, information shown here only reflects the upstream reserves held by Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
Water stored by TMWA is updated daily:
| Boca Reservoir | 793 Acre Feet |
| Donner Lake | 9,179 Acre Feet |
| Independence Lake | 17,411 Acre Feet |
| Prosser Reservoir | 0 Acre Feet |
| Stampede Reservoir | 13,374 Acre Feet |
| Lake Tahoe | 0 Acre Feet |
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Current Lake Tahoe Level
The Dam at Tahoe City controls the amount of water released into the Truckee River. It can retain 6.1 feet of Lake Tahoe, or at maximum 744,600 acre feet of water. This maximum volume is met when water behind the dam reaches an elevation of 6229.10 feet.
Water Treatment Plant Production
Water from the Truckee Meadows is treated at two locations: the Chalk Bluff Treatment Plant in northwest Reno and the Glendale Water Treatment Plant in Sparks. Treatment plant output varies by season, as peak summertime customer demand can be as much as 4 times typical wintertime customer demand.
Many residents in the region are also served by groundwater wells.
Hydroelectric Production
The Truckee River is an excellent source of hydroelectric power. In fact, Fleish, Verdi and Washoe hydroelectric power plants produce an average of 50,000 kWh per year. This clean energy offsets the operational power costs for Truckee Meadows Water Authority and is a key contributing factor for keeping water rates as low as possible for customers. Benefits to the environment are sizable as well. Every day that the hydroelectric plants run at full capacity, over 90,500 pounds of CO2 emissions are effectively eliminated from our atmosphere.
Participate and Learn
June 2025
Saturday, June 7 - Dancing on the River
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Happening on the first Saturday of each month. Free entry to dance lessons with food and drink trucks.
Wednesday, June 4 - Draft 2025-2045 Water Resource Plan Open House
VIRTUAL EVENT
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Join Truckee Meadows Water Authority and hear about the next update the region's long-term drinking water resource plan. Learn how to access the full plan and submit comments.
Partners
