Submitted by Truckee Carson Irrigation District
With higher than anticipated run-off forecasts for the Carson River Watershed, the Truckee Carson Irrigation District began “flood operations” throughout the Lahontan Valley this month. Such operations consist of releasing water from Lahontan Reservoir to balance the inflow of water to the reservoir from the Carson River. Current projections reveal a potential run-off of as much as 350,000 acre feet from the Sierra Nevada. The current volume of water in Lahontan is approximately 207,000 acre feet. Full capacity, with the use of 20-inch flashboards, is approximately 308,000 acre feet.
Expect higher water flows in river, canals
Accordingly, residents living along valley waterways, such as the Carson River, will see a significant increase in water levels as water is being released from the reservoir. In a continuing response to up-stream run-off conditions, flow rates in the Carson River channel may rise to as much as 800 cubic feet per second (cfs). In comparison to flood operations conducted in 2017, the highest rate of flow in the Carson River that year exceeded 1,200 cfs. While the water level is not expected to reach 2017 levels, adverse impacts may be experienced. Flood operations will likely continue through the month of April in response to changing up-stream conditions.
We encourage homeowners living near the Carson River to monitor water levels. While actual flooding is not anticipated, we ask that homeowners to inform TCID of any problems they may encounter.
Not anticipating using V-line weir
We do not anticipate the use of the emergency weir on the V-Line Canal at the present time. The weir is capable of discharging of as much as 1,000 cfs - which would be directed to the Carson Lake.
All water releases made during flood operations are available to any lands in the Newlands Federal Reclamation Project, whether water righted or not, with the consent of a landowner. Water has already been made available to the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, the Carson Lake Pasture and Marsh, and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. Such water deliveries are not charged against the annual allocations of any water right owner who receives such water or against the project’s annual diversion.
Please contact TCID at (775)423-2141 for further information.