How can you help protect the Truckee River?

The Truckee River flows from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake — and is a vital and complex waterway that provides an irreplaceable 85% of the drinking water to the local region and countless recreational opportunities to its residents. It offers immense benefits and services to people and wildlife in Northern Nevada: from drinking water to crop irrigation. Especially as it passes through the urban corridor, our invaluable river system faces a variety of stresses ranging in size and complexity.  

Here’s how you can make a difference!

 

Visit The Truckee River

Visit the Truckee River and share how special it is with the next generation. Show children how to leave no trace by picking up a few pieces of trash and disposing of them properly.

Stay on paths. Avoid stepping or damaging vegetation when hiking, biking, or rafting the Truckee. 

For walking, hiking, and  biking information along the Truckee River:

By all means, bring Fido along for a walk along the paths on the river! Pick up after your dog. Look for doggy bag dispensers in some of our most popular parks to pack out what you brought in, placed along the trail through the Truckee Meadows Park Foundation. 

Report any issues you see 

Before you place a report, gather as much of the following information as possible. Take note of the:

  • Location of the water quality concern 

  • Date and time the issue occurred or is occurring 

  • Photos of issue 

Next, as soon as possible, use the numbers below to call the agency located nearest to the problem:

 

Protect the Truckee River at Home

Use environmentally friendly and/or biodegradable products 

Be Water Wise

  • Sweep patios and sidewalks, rather than using a hose or power-washer.

  • Wait until your dishwasher and/or washing machine is full before running a cycle. 

  • Fix leaks: leaks in faucets, pipes, and toilets can waste hundreds of dollars annually. Use the Truckee Meadows Water Authorities guide to find leaks in your home. 

  • Visit American Rivers to learn more about how you can be water efficient at home.

Make Your Yard More River-Friendly 

River-Friendly Yards beautify your property, conserve water, reduce yard maintenance and water costs, and protect the water quality of the Truckee River while respecting our region's natural attributes and promoting a healthy  Truckee River watershed. Consider adding River-Friendly features and plant choices to your yard! Hiring a landscaper for a yard redesign or regular maintenance? Ask if they’re QWEL certified, and prioritize hiring those listed as water efficiency pros.

Make the connection between water and energy

Turn off lights when not in use, unplug chargers, and choose energy efficient appliances. Energy production requires a lot of water for cooling thermal power plants. Nation-wide, about 10% of the water we consume is tied to energy consumption.

 

Take Action In Our Community 

Volunteer

Volunteer with one of our partners. Spend time picking up litter and debris along the river's banks, improve community gardens, nurture youth stewardship of the river, and share your professional expertise to protect and enhance the Truckee River.

Shop Locally

By purchasing locally sourced food , you’ll reduce your carbon footprint  and water footprint too! Reducing your water footprint  conserves water, keeping more water in the Truckee River, benefiting the plants and wildlife along its corridor.

Shopping for locally sourced food is easy and fun. To get started, visit your local food Co-op. In Reno, check out the Great Basin Food Coop, your local farmers markets, or urban farms. Alternatively, to simplify your weekly grocery shop, sign up for a CSA box to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables. 

Purchase meat from local, sustainable farms. Find a local, sustainable meat source. There are many local farms in our region where  you can purchase grass-fed beef, pastured lamb, and heritage pork.

Advocate for the Truckee

Talk with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues about the Truckee River, learn what they think about it, and share with them why the Truckee’s important to you - and what you’re already doing to protect it. Engage with current affairs in your local government by attending meetings and speaking out for the river. Then, share what you’ve learned with your family, friends, and neighbors . 

Practice Responsible Giving 

When giving away household, food, or personal care items such as clothes and blankets, practice “responsible giving”- ensuring your items find their way to the people who will use them instead of placing them along the riverbank, utilize a designated source, ensuring your donations are distributed properly. Many local organizations will distribute your items to those in need. You can drop off clothing and household items at designated areas, including Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission,  Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, and Goodwill. Contact Northern Nevada Food Bank and I Got You Reno for food and personal care items. By practicing responsible giving, you’ll maximize your impact on our community and the residents who need  it most, while reducing litter along the Truckee River.

Donate

At One Truckee River, we’re initiating capital improvements along the Truckee River Water Trail, conducting community education, and engaging a broad spectrum of community members as we work towards our shared missions of a healthy and thriving Truckee River connected to our community. You can support our ongoing work by donating to our 501(c)(3) organization.