Here in the Truckee Meadows, we're fortunate to have a river, the Truckee, running through our urban core. The Truckee already has many natural strengths - including native vegetation and wildlife alongside residents’ apartments and business, and a continuous river path following much of its banks. Yet, how this space is managed, maintained, and could be improved is often overlooked.

In April 2025, One Truckee River released a report assessing environmental conditions along the Truckee River’s urban corridor, which can be used to determine priority project areas for riverbank repair projects to improve the health and function of the river system.

In some areas, regional OTR partners have already started this work! One such area is a section of the Truckee River Path located on Reno-Sparks Indian Colony land, behind the Walmart at Three Nations Plaza. It’s a stretch of river, where the river is calm, the bank gently slopes, and a collaborative sustainable vegetation management project was conducted to reduce flooding risk and bring back native vegetation.

To better understand the project’s results, we joined Candace Stowell (the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony’s Director of Planning and Community Development) and Danielle Henderson (the Truckee River Flood Management Authority’s Natural Resource Manager and an OTR Board Member) for a tour. We chatted with them about how the project unfolded, what successful coordination can look like, and how the space is currently maintained.

Keep reading to learn more about the report, its prioritization tools, our conversation with Stowell and Henderson, and our thoughts on what’s next as we propel sustainable vegetation management and riverbank repair forward for the Truckee River!

Working Towards Sustainable Vegetation Management

Working towards a priority goal from the One Truckee River (OTR) Management Plan, OTR and the Nevada Land Trust came together, with the support of the Bureau of Reclamation, to develop a Technical Working Group (TWG) in 2020. Tasked with exploring the development of a coordinated vegetation management effort for the Truckee River’s urban corridor, the TWG includes government authorities and nonprofits working together to protect the Truckee River in Nevada. In 2022, the group completed the OTR Framework Vegetation Management and Restoration Plan. In 2023, an in-depth conditions assessment was completed, focusing on gaining a snapshot of the riparian conditions along the Truckee River. In 2024, the TWG created a Project Prioritization Tool, featuring an Ecological Conditions Index, feasibility rating, and public need scoring. All of this work aligns with the Truckee River Vision Plan, a separate effort which was prepared for the City of Reno and Washoe County by a consultant team and was adopted by the Reno City Council in September 2024.

The effort focuses on supporting sustainable vegetation management, an “ecological stewardship approach to plant life, ensuring long-term ecosystem health and societal well-being.” It entails managing plant growth to benefit and protect infrastructure, public safety, public enjoyment, and our natural environment. In the Reno/Sparks urban area, it means creating a path forward to coordinate with multiple land authorities and stakeholders. The aim is to develop and implement strategic sustainable methods and projects to protect and improve native vegetation along the Truckee River.

At One Truckee River, Sustainable Vegetation Management is one of the goals we’re working to achieve. Our vision for the urban corridor of the Truckee River in Nevada, as developed by the TWG, is to “develop and implement a coordinated vegetation management strategy that supports a diverse and high-functioning riparian corridor that provides ecosystem services to sustain a clean, healthy, and resilient river that is a refuge for wildlife and all members of our community.” (Framework Plan, p12)

map showing results of One Truckee River Conditions Assessment and Project Prioritization report, marking areas along the Truckee River in Reno's urban core

Report Summary: One Truckee River Conditions Assessment and Project Prioritization

Our recent report, One Truckee River Conditions Assessment and Project Prioritization, was prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants with support from Desert Research Institute and for our local land authorities’ review and consideration. It covers the stretch of the Truckee River from Crystal Peak Park to Vista Narrows, from the riparian/aquatic zone including the 14,000-cubic feet per second conveyance zone (where the top of the riverbank is most of the time). It assesses and analyzes conditions, then provides specific recommendations of priority sections of the Truckee River for future riverbank repair projects and additional vegetation management work to improve riverbank health.

Curious what’s included in their assessment? Here's our summary of the technical details:

The Truckee River urban corridor has been studied before, and available datasets on elevation, hydrology, soils, wetland, aquatic habitat, aquatic wildlife presence or populations, water quality, and other data were included in this study. Where there were gaps or inconsistencies between these datasets, additional field surveys were designed to address them. These included studies focused on the ecological condition of riparian and aquatic resources: an assessment of channel and riverbank stability, floodplain connectivity, vegetation cover and structure, dominant vegetation species, dominant tree height, soil cover morphology (rocks, woody debris, dead plant ground cover), presence and distribution of noxious and invasive weeds, and aquatic factors that are influenced by conditions of the riparian zone. (such as water quality, periphyton, and benthic and macroinvertebrate data).

For each parcel within the project area, a score was assigned to objectively quantify its condition. (the ECI, or Ecological Condition Index) This allowed for comparison using the Project Prioritization Tool, which looked at ecological outcomes (the ECI), feasibility, and public need. “Feasibility” included accessibility and public use data – and “Public Need” considered accessibility, future growth potential, trail connectivity, and demographics. Flood mitigation and additional costs, including permitting costs, were also considered.

map showing the project area along the Truckee River Corridor, including 14,000 cfs and 6,000 cfs conveyance zones

What Did We Learn?

With support from the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, all the data was inputted into a webtool – which you can access and explore here. Based on what we learned, the report recommends priority project locations based on ecological factors, perceived feasibility, perceived public need, and local knowledge, which was identified for the three local jurisdictions and Reno-Sparks Indian Colony land.

Check out the chart below, or click through to the full report for more details about each of these plots.

chart showing one truckee river condition assessment and project prioritization report's locations with highest needs based on ECI, feasibility, and public need

Case Study: The Truckee River Path at the Three Nations Plaza Walmart Project

The Truckee River Path Project was created as part of a larger project to address flooding. It follows nearly a half mile of the riverbank, between Interstate 580 and East 2nd Street, following the river downstream from Walmart at the Three Nations Plaza. Before the Project was undertaken, the area included industrial use, adult entertainment, and a nearby State Restitution Center.

Today, the Project at the site addresses flooding issues, includes a walking path surrounded by native and pollinator plants, and provides retail space to generate income for the Colony.

Regional Collaboration

The Truckee River Path at the Three Nations Plaza Walmart and former State Restitution Center parcel was completed in 2009 as part of a larger flood protection project, through a partnership between the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA), Walmart, and the RSIC. To learn more about it, we took an afternoon walk with Candace Stowell, RSIC Director of Planning and Community Development and Danielle Henderson, TRFMA Natural Resource Manager and an OTR Board Member.

We began our walk from the back of the Walmart parking lot…which makes sense, considering the project’s history. When RSIC was negotiating with Walmart as a potential tenant, they knew protecting the property from flooding and cleaning up the area were musts. The project would cost $5.8 million, with TRFMA providing $1.72 million, RSIC $1.7 million, and Walmart $2.28 million. Looking back, Henderson notes, “TRFMA was interested in this project because there was an opportunity to partner with several different entities to get the work done.” It provided an opportunity to increase resilience to flooding, protect the community and its infrastructure, and improve public space along the Truckee.

Accomplishments & Lessons Learned

The collaborative Project along the Truckee River Path served as an opportunity to test flood mitigation strategies. One area of the walkway includes a levee (more affordable to build and maintain), another a flood wall (which takes up less space). In completing this project, TRFMA and RSIC not only tested out different flood mitigation techniques, but also different types of native and pollinator plants and hardscape materials, including graffiti-resistant textured walls.

Ultimately, their goals were met. As a collaborative project between a local government, tribal authority, and business, the Project along the Truckee River Path reduced the flood risk in the area to protect the community, reestablished native and pollinator plants, and repaired a section of the Truckee River corridor in the urban core. Today, it provides recreational access and opportunity for residents and visitors. The plants along the path include both native species and other drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly varieties. Penstemon, Euphorbia, Rosemary, Yarrow, and Native Sagebrush are all well adapted to the site and have been successful. TRFMA avoided planting new trees and shrubs near the levees, to prevent damage from their root systems. This had the added benefit of allowing for clear sight lines between the path and the river to create a safer, more enjoyable environment for walking, fishing, and other recreational activities.

On-going maintenance of the space is a collaborative effort, utilizing several methods identified in OTR Framework Plan: removing invasive species like Tree of Heaven and Musk Thistle, planting native and pollinator species in their place, pro-active selective pruning for line of sight to the river, and wrapping native mature trees with chicken wire to reduce beaver damage. Work crews also prune tree branches blocking important signs, like those directing paddlers to portage around the dam downriver. Clean up days, run in collaboration with RSIC and local nonprofits, are helping keep up with litter.

What’s Next for the Project Area?

Today, TRFMA and RSIC are continuing to work together to improve the River Path. They’ve contracted with the River School Farm to enhance plant life and increase biodiversity. In their next round of work, they’ll improve irrigation and add new plants to the site. The River School is helping to choose the right pollinator-friendly species. Like any sustainable vegetative management project, they’re balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders while determining the best fit for the environment.

They’d also like to see the Project area along the Truckee River Path enjoyed more by residents so RSIC is working to raise awareness amongst elders and families in their community. They’re hoping to add more amenities along the Path, including interpretive signs, benches, wildlife viewing and fishing areas, and trash receptacles.

Just as importantly, Henderson and Stowell are thinking about the river from an ecological time scale, instead of a 1-3 year grant funding cycle. They’re asking, “What do you want this place to look like in 5, 10, 20, or 30 years?” They’re considering how they’ll train the next group of people to take on stewardship of the site and follow best practices for vegetation management. They know that when workers conduct pruning and landscaping maintenance, it’s important for them to understand what’s an invasive weed and what has habitat value. Henderson and Stowell want to be proactive because planning and budgeting for regular, long-term maintenance is more cost-effective than intensive work to rehabilitate neglected post-project sites.

Planning for the Truckee River’s Future

At One Truckee River, we’re excited to release the One Truckee River Conditions Assessment and Project Prioritization report and share our findings. By looking at a wide range of ecological and feasibility factors, we are excited to coordinate with the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, and RSIC to identify priority sites for riverbank repair work - when funding becomes available.

In the meantime, there’s more work to be done - in exploring how we can increase sustainable vegetation management practices along the river corridor, and how these projects will have a direct impact on the protection of water quality, wildlife, and our local community. One Truckee River Executive Director Iris Jehle-Peppard shares, “I would like to see a balance between public safety and supporting the beauty of nature along the river corridor, for the protection of water quality and the enjoyment of Northern Nevada families today and for generations to come.”

Large Vegetation Assessment for the Urban Truckee River Completed in 2025