Welcome to Truckee River Month!
Did you know?
May is Truckee River month! One Truckee River invites you to celebrate our local gem, the Truckee River, in the month of May. This month, let's raise public awareness and engagement around our important waterway, the Truckee River.
Take an afternoon to enjoy its beauty. Hike, bike, picnic, paddle, fish, or swim - and appreciate the uniqueness of clean, mountain-fresh water running through our urban desert hometown. The more we enjoy the river, the more we'll care for it. The Truckee provides 85% of the drinking water to the Truckee Meadows region, and ongoing protection for our shared resource is more important than ever.
Looking to learn more? Celebrate the Truckee River by checking out these upcoming events:
GET OUT and enjoy the truckee river - every day!
The Truckee River is the gem of our region – offering countless opportunities for recreation in Northern Nevada, as well as just over the California stateline. From adrenaline-fueled whitewater kayaking excursions to mellow camping trips and celebratory downtown events, you probably already know your favorite ways to enjoy our waterway.
Looking for more things to do on the Truckee River? Click here for our favorites places to paddle, hike, bike, fish, camp, picnic, wildlife-watch, dine, dance, and enjoy nature from a new perspective this season.
SATURDAY MORNING CLEAN UP - May 3
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is organizing their annual community clean up. Join KTMB across the Truckee Meadows at over 20 beautification and cleanup sites throughout the Reno/Sparks area. They’ll be tackling illegal dumpsites, neighborhood parks, and other beautification projects.
Your participation is crucial as litter can disrupt our natural ecosystem. Once it washes into the Truckee River, it can significantly impact our aquatic species. By removing trash, you are directly contributing to the protection of the main source of our drinking water, approximately 85% of which comes from the Truckee River.
Dancing on the river - May 3rd & Throughout summer
Get ready to move to the rhythm of the river! Join High Sierra Entertainment and The City of Reno for Dancing on the River, the first Saturday of May, June, July, and August from 6-10 PM at City Plaza in downtown Reno, right next to the iconic BELIEVE sign. Experience an electrifying evening of Cumbia, Bachata, Salsa, country line dancing, and more under the open sky. Free entry, local food trucks, and drinks await you. Fun for the whole family! Let's make memories this summer that dance on the river's flow.
Lahontan Audubon Society - Multiple Dates
Whether you’re just beginning to discover birds or are already a part of the birdwatching community, May is the perfect time to attend a Lahontan Audobon Society bird walk, class, or garden tour!
BIRD WALKS
Learn more about the local birds of the Truckee River Watershed by taking a free bird walk. Sign ups for all walk become available through the Lahontan Audubon Society Calendar as the bird walk dates draws near and spaces are limited.
White's Creek Canyon (May 3), Birds in the the Garden (May Arboretum event) (May 4), Damonte Ranch Wetlands (May 10), Valley Wood Wildlife Gardens (May 10), Crystal Peak Park (May 14), Rosewood Nature Study Area (May 18)
BIRDS OF THE TRUCKEE MEADOWS CLASSES
This popular class series features experts in birds, who share their knowledge on the identification of birds that we see in northern Nevada. Whether you are just beginning to discover birds or would like to improve your birdwatching skills, come learn how to identify Nevada birds!
Introduction to Birding, presented by Lauren Whitenack (May 1), Wetland Birds, presented by Mike Goddard (May 8), Woodpeckers, presented by Ned Bohman (May 15), Flycatchers and General Birding Principles, presented by Don Molde (May 20)
VALLEY WOOD PARK WILDLIFE GARDEN TOUR
Come visit the community gardens on Saturday, May 10 from 9-11am! Learn about plants installed in the park that benefit pollinators and birds. Ryan Sharrer with City of Reno Parks will be leading this tour and highlighting plants installed by volunteers. Many of these plants are available locally and can be used in your own yard, to create a wildlife-friendly garden.
Smart About Water Day - May 10
Learn all about the programs and strategies that go into managing our local water resources. This is a free annual event with food trucks and big rigs to explore, 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.
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
Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Workshop series - May 7, 21 & 28
Join the Truckee Meadows Water Authority workshops about where Northern Nevada’s water comes from - and learn what you can do to manage your water use and home irrigation systems more efficiently! On May 7th, they’ll lead a tour of the Glendale Water Treatment Plant with experts presenting the rigorous regulations, testing and treatment procedures your water goes through prior to reaching your tap. On May 21st and 28th, attendees will be introduced to the basic concepts of operating, maintaining, and repairing residential drip systems and sprinkler systems.
25th Annual Tahoe Truckee Snapshot Day
Be a Watershed Steward!
Join in hands-on water quality monitoring of our watershed. Monitoring teams will collect data that is used for restoration projects and overall watershed protection. Snapshot Day covers as much geographic area as possible in order to capture a “snapshot” in time of water quality for the entire Truckee River watershed. Samples are taken from the Lake Tahoe Basin and follow the Truckee River watershed all the way to Pyramid Lake.
truckee meadows trail days - May 17
Join Washoe County Parks, Biggest Little Trail Stewardship, and Truckee Meadows Trails for 2025 Truckee Meadows Trail Days!
Give back to the trails community in Carcione Open Space, May’s monthly trail day and one of the first of the season. TMT Trail Days will consist of light maintenance of trails throughout the Truckee Meadows. Training, tools and helmets will be provided.
Native & Adaptive Native Plant Sale - May 17
Switch things up with a visit to the Carson River, and pick up some new native plants for your yard!
Located where the east and west forks of the Carson River meet near Genoa, River Fork Ranch is both a nature preserve and a working cattle operation. The ranch’s riparian corridor and patchwork of pastures, meadows and wetlands support a robust and diverse wildlife population including bald eagles, sandhill cranes, leopard frogs, monarch butterflies and mule deer.
tahoe pyramid trail cookie ride - May 18
Cookies and Lemonade served from 10-11:30 AM, Sunday, May 18 at Crystal Peak Park, Verdi
Each year, individuals, families, riding clubs, running clubs, and friends' groups celebrate the Mogul-Verdi Trail's opening in 2005 by planning a ride or run ending at Crystal Peak Park in Verdi. Everyone is welcome and given the opportunity to mingle with others attending and sample the delicious treats. Don’t forget that this is very close to the Quilici Ranch Road Trailhead. Bring your mountain bikes or hike and jump on the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail after a few cookies!
World Bee Day celebration - May 20th
Biggest Little Bee City, in partnership with the City of Reno Parks and Recreation Department, will be hosting a World Bee Day celebration on May 20th at Idlewild Park.
This family-friendly event aims to educate the community about the vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem and to promote practices that support their health and habitats - including mulching, native plants, and sustainable gardening practices!
This year's theme, "Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all", highlights the critical roles bees and other pollinators play in agrifood systems and the health of our planet's ecosystems. Indeed, pollinators are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change and pollution. Their decline jeopardizes food production, increases costs and exacerbates food insecurity, particularly for rural communities.
Spring Plantapalooza - DATE TBD
Join the Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation for their annual Spring Plantapalooza. In this fun, hands-on event, you’ll have the opportunity to volunteer with your community in the Rosewood Nature Study Area – planting native upland and riparian species to restore the natural ecosystem, stabilize stream banks, and reduce invasives.
Washoe County Parks - Pollinator garden maintenance days & washoe county rocks
Join Washoe County Parks & Open Space for a plethora of events this month. On Pollinator Garden Maintenance days, volunteer to help maintain the beautiful Pollinator Garden at Rancho San Rafael. Spend your morning helping mulch, weed and care for the garden - with 3 dates available in May. Or, join them at Washoe County Rocks! to explore geology at Crystal Peak park, along the Truckee River. The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology will lead a talk and short walk to learn about the rocks up close.
WaterPalooza - May 30
Water Palooza is a free half day-long education fair hosted at a local elementary to engage and encourage students to become stewards of their own water environment. The goal of Water Palooza is to engage students in hands-on and demonstrative activities that promote the value of water and encourage students to become stewards of their own water environment. Water Palooza is organized by Nevada Water Environment Association (NWEA).
Reno River Festival - May 30-June 1
Celebrate summer at the Reno River Festival, featuring a full weekend 20+ musical acts, crave-worthy food and beverage vendors, and one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts made by local artists. This year’s Festival is temporarily moving to Idlewild Park. The signature Northern Nevada event will feature all the community’s favorite experiences including three days of live music, drink experiences, food, shopping, rafting, and rides - plus some new elements for 2025. New park. Same iconic adventure.
The festival has something for everyone, including guided rafting trips, biking and golfing events, and a pet-friendly Bark Park. Highlights include musical headliners the Spin Doctors, Alien Ant Farm, and Iriefuse.