Some of the early settlers of the fertile Truckee Meadows included the pioneer rancher Peleg Brown — who introduced alfalfa farming to the area in 1857, the prospectors seeking their wealth in the mining rush of 1859 and all the influx of new people and growth that the 1863 transcontinental railroad brought that led to the establishment of Reno in 1868.
Reno and the surrounding area kept growing, and with gambling being legalized in 1931, it showed no signs of stopping. Today, the area is still experiencing growth.
In February 2023, renowned economist Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D., stated, “The Reno area continues to enjoy one of the best economies in the nation, with the technology corridor continuing to expand into the Reno area and attracting record venture capital, rising incomes and substantial tourism numbers — all indicators point to continued growth.”
With all of the projected growth in our community, protecting our natural surroundings is of the utmost importance. Nature plays an intrinsic role in the health of Nevada’s cities. For Reno, Sparks and surrounding communities, the forests and the Truckee River are crucial to quality of life. The Truckee River watershed supports the area’s booming economy, provides clean drinking water to a rapidly growing population, bolsters a thriving business community and gives both locals and visitors a place to get outside, explore and connect with nature.
This is where thoughtful urban planning and well-thought-out master plans come into play. In planning for population growth, factors like identifying transportation patterns, recognizing food supply demands, allocating social services and healthcare and analyzing the impact of land use are necessary. They lay the foundation for thriving cities and communities and create long-term solutions of harmony and balance between the built and natural environment.
In addition to the factors previously listed, the water supply should be a top priority. The Truckee River is the main source of water — originating at Lake Tahoe and traveling 121 miles through the Reno-Sparks area and eventually emptying into Pyramid Lake.
The Truckee River supplies most of the drinking water for the Reno area, and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) does a great job of delivering high-quality drinking water to approximately 450,000 residents every day.
Operationally, this requires the TMWA to have 380 pressure regulator stations, 118 booster pump stations, 95 water tanks and five treatment plants to meet peak customer water demand and fire-flow requirements. In addition, TMWA relies on 86 groundwater wells to meet peak summer water demands and provide resiliency during droughts.
Additionally, the City of Reno and Washoe County are focused on making the Truckee River a world-class destination where tourists and residents alike can enjoy recreation and so much more. In March 2023, through the American Rescue Plan Act, $3 million was received to invest in the Truckee River and adjacent land. Currently, the city and county are seeking a cohesive plan for the Truckee River as well as an implementation and financing plan to help guide current and future investments in this area.
Knowing that, and adding to the fact that the City of Sparks, Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, our University and Community College, EDAWN and more have invested time and effort into their own individual master plans, how do we ensure that we are sharing the same vision? And, are the goals of the individual community aligned with the overall goals that will protect and contribute to the health of the area?
These questions are ones that AIANN are asking. In efforts to make sure that the area grows to accommodate expanding populations while protecting the beautiful landscape and especially the Truckee River, all interested parties are encouraged to attend The Integrator meetings. For more information, see “The Integrator – Design. Development. Construction.”
