Welcome to
Smart About Water
A place to understand approaches to water-resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
Dive into all things water at this friendly and FREE community event!
Join us at Idlewild Park’s California Building on Saturday, May 10th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a free community event, packed with fun and interactive ways to learn about water resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
With water agencies from around the community participating, it’s an excellent opportunity to get any of your questions about water answered by experts. From future planning to water quality to planting a water-friendly landscape, there’s something for everyone to learn at this annual event.
Additionally, water management and planning experts will be presenting short, informative sessions on bigger topics a swell. These “mini-sessions” happen every 30 minutes beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Topics include:
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Regional Planning: Growth, Infrastructure Investments and Water
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Water Year in Review
11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Drinking Water Management and Long-term Planning
12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. A+ Advanced Purified Water Facility Update
With food trucks and big rigs for kids to explore, don't miss this welcoming event which happens only once each year! To get more information, please email community@tmwa.com.
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 | 672 Acre Feet |
| Donner Lake | 4,547 Acre Feet |
| Independence Lake | 13,757 Acre Feet |
| Prosser Reservoir | 0 Acre Feet |
| Stampede Reservoir | 15,471 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
March 2025
Events postings will begin again in March 2025.
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