PurposeProjectsResources & DocumentsFAQsMeetingsNewsContact Us
 

Here are some answers to questions you may have regarding the Truckee River Fund. For further information, please contact Ron Penrose, Project Manager, Truckee Meadows Water Authority (775) 834-8017, or Chris Askin, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Western Nevada (775) 333-5499.

1. Why does Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) use customer monies to create a fund that protects and enhances water quality or water resources of the Truckee River, or its watershed?

  • TMWA is charged with the task of ensuring it is supplying customers with water that is safe, clean and meets all Federal EPA Standards.  Proper management of the Truckee River, which provides 85% of the water delivered in the Truckee Meadows, is vital to sustaining a healthy community. TMWA is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the Truckee River as our primary water resource.

  • In 2005, the Nevada Attorney General concluded that Truckee Meadows Water Authority could legally make "charitable contributions" to the Truckee River Fund as long as the money would be spent on projects within the utility's jurisdiction, such as protecting its water source.

  • The 2006 TMWA Audit by the Nevada State Bureau of Consumer Protection sponsored by Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert, also confirmed this Fund: TMWA's creation of the Truckee River Fund "was appropriate to assure continued access and use of TMWA's primary water supply commodity."   Conclusion D3, j

  • The Truckee River Fund is a thoroughly public process. All Fund Advisor meetings and TMWA Board meetings, where projects are discussed and approved, are publicized in advance and open to the public. The Truckee River Fund website contains detailed information on fund allocation, the advisory committee, the application process and more. TMWA also held a public informational workshop for the whole community on the Truckee River Fund on February 16, 2006.

  • The projects funded by the Truckee River Fund are projects that TMWA would normally have undertaken in order to protect our water supply.  However, the creation of a fund gives TMWA a mechanism to secure matching funds that it would not otherwise have had the ability to access; thus, our customers actually have to spend less money than they would have had to otherwise to protect our river and our watershed.

2. How does TMWA determine what kind of projects the Truckee River Fund will fund?

  • All projects are recommended for funding by the Truckee River Fund advisors through a stringent selection process and are then taken to the TMWA Board of Directors at a public meeting for final approval.  All projects must meet strict criteria requirements and have to prove a direct benefit to TMWA and TMWA customers in the form of protecting and enhancing water quality or water resources.  

  • The Truckee River Fund utilizes an Advisory Committee of nine members. The Advisory Committee equally represents and is appointed by the three political entities in the area: Washoe County, City of Reno, and City of Sparks.
     

  • Projects are solicited through an open and competitive Request for Proposal process and must target specific projects needed to protect the water supply.

  • Each project must secure matching funds from a partner organization or agency in order to be eligible for funding, thus maximizing and leveraging funds.

3. If the Truckee River Fund goes away will my water bill go down?

  • No.   If the Truckee River Fund were to go away, TMWA would still fund these projects as part of its responsibility to protect our community's primary water resource.  The Truckee River Fund makes it possible for non-profit organizations and other agencies to leverage TMWA's contribution to improve water quality and the watershed through a significant matching of funds and resources. If the Truckee River Fund were to go away, the additional money and resources would not be available in the same capacity.  Also, the community input through the advisory board may be lost.

4.   Examples of funded projects include:

University of Nevada, Reno: Quantification of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Originating from Natural Sources and Wastewater Effluent.  Amount: $81,093

City of Reno/City of Sparks:  Installation of Flow and Water Quality Monitoring Equipment on Chalk Creek.  Amount: $25,000

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources at UNR: Funding for baseline studies of fish movement and entrainment prior to construction of the Glendale Water Supply Improvement Project. 
Amount: $25,000

Business, Residential and Environmental Partnership with Champions of the Truckee River:  Funding to assist implementation of the Community Coalition's Living River Alternative for flood control. Amount: $24,000

Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful and Environmental Leadership:  Funding for litter and trash pick-up, tree wrapping, weed pulling and graffiti removal at selected locations between Verdi Dam and Vista Boulevard.  Amount: $9,402.50

Rainshadow Community Charter High School: Funding to engage ten students in 72 hours of community service and artistic exploration of the Truckee River. Amount: $7,500