truckee meadows water authority board of directors …€¦ · survey in december 2018january 2019-...

1.The Board may adjourn from the public meeting at any time during the agenda to receive information and conduct labor-oriented discussions in accordance with NRS 288.220 or receive information from legal counsel regarding potential or existing litigation and to deliberate toward a decision on such matters related to litigation or potential litigation.

D

TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY Board of Directors

AGENDA

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Sparks Council Chambers, 745 4th Street, Sparks, NV

Board Members Chair Vaughn Hartung Vice Chair Kristopher Dahir Member Neoma Jardon Member Jeanne Herman Member Jenny Brekhus Member Naomi Duerr Member Paul Anderson

NOTES:

1. The announcement of this meeting has been posted at the following locations: Truckee Meadows Water Authority (1355 Capital Blvd., Reno), Reno City Hall (1 E. First St., Reno), Sparks City Hall (431 Prater Way, Sparks), Sparks Justice Court (1675 E. Prater Way, Sparks), Washoe County Courthouse (75 Court St., Reno), Washoe County Central Library (301 South Center St., Reno), Washoe County Administration (1001 East Ninth St., Reno), at http://www.tmwa.com, and State of Nevada Public Notice Website, https://notice.nv.gov/.

2. In accordance with NRS 241.020, this agenda closes three working days prior to the meeting. We are pleased to make reasonable accommodations for persons who are disabled and wish to attend meetings. If you require special arrangements for the meeting, please call (775) 834-8002 at least 24 hours before the meeting date.

3. Staff reports and supporting material for the meeting are available at TMWA and on the TMWA website at http://www.tmwa.com/meeting/ or you can contact Sonia Folsom at (775) 834-8002. Supporting material is made available to the general public in accordance with NRS 241.020(6).

4. The Board may elect to combine agenda items, consider agenda items out of order, remove agenda items, or delay discussion on agenda items. Arrive at the meeting at the posted time to hear item(s) of interest.

5. Asterisks (*) denote non-action items.

6. Public comment is limited to three minutes and is allowed during the public comment periods. The public may sign-up to speak during the public comment period or on a specific agenda item by completing a “Request to Speak” card and submitting it to the clerk. In addition to the public comment periods, the Chairman has the discretion to allow public comment on any agenda item, including any item on which action is to be taken.

7. In the event the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are absent, the remaining Board members may elect a temporary presiding officer to preside over the meeting until the Chairman or Vice-Chairman are present (Standing Item of Possible Action).

8. Notice of possible quorum of Western Regional Water Commission: Because several members of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority Board of Directors are also Trustees of the Western Regional Water Commission, it is possible that a quorum of the Western Regional Water Commission may be present, however, such members will not deliberate or take action at this meeting in their capacity as Trustees of the Western Regional Water Commission.

1. Roll call*

2. Pledge of allegiance*

3. Public comment limited to no more than three minutes per speaker*

4. Approval of the agenda (For Possible Action)

http://www.tmwa.com/

http://www.tmwa.com/

https://notice.nv.gov/

https://notice.nv.gov/

http://www.tmwa.com/meeting/

http://www.tmwa.com/meeting/

Truckee Meadows Water Authority Board of Directors Agenda for September 18, 2019

1.The Board may adjourn from the public meeting at any time during the agenda to receive information and conduct labor-oriented discussions in accordance with NRS 288.220 or receive information from legal counsel regarding potential or existing litigation and to deliberate toward a decision on such matters related to litigation or potential litigation.

5. Approval of the minutes of the August 15, 2019 Water Resource Plan Workshop meeting of the TMWA Board of Directors (For Possible Action)

6. Approval of the minutes of the August 21, 2019 meeting of the TMWA Board of Directors (For Possible Action)

7. Discussion and action on establishing a Legislative Subcommittee for the 2019-2020 Interim Legislative Session and appointment of Board members to Subcommittee — John Zimmerman (For Possible Action)

8. Presentation of preliminary fiscal year 2019 unaudited financial performance — Matt Bowman*

9. Public Hearing, consideration of written bids and consideration of possible oral bids for sale of Farad property and discussion and possible action regarding approval of sale or other disposition of Farad property consisting of approximately 111 acres in Nevada County, California generally referred to as Assessor’s Parcels 48-030-14, 48-050-01, 48-050-10, 48-060-07, 48-040-02 and 48-130-04 — John Zimmerman and Pat Nielson (For Possible Action)

10. Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding parameters for the sale of the Farad Property — John Zimmerman and Pat Nielson (For Possible Action)

11. Discussion and action on Resolution No. 279: A Resolution to approve funding for the projects recommended by the Truckee River Fund Advisory Committee and an authorization for the Community Foundation to fund such projects from Fund proceeds — John Enloe (For Possible Action)

12. Presentation regarding operational readiness for fire emergencies — Andy Gebhardt*

13. Discussion and action regarding General Manager performance review for contract year 2018/2019 and discussion and action on possible lump sum award and/or other compensation adjustment — Jessica Atkinson and Mark Foree (For Possible Action)

14. Discussion and action on request for Board input and acceptance of General Manager performance objectives for contract year 2019/2020 — Mark Foree (For Possible Action)

15. General Manager’s Report*

16. Public comment limited to no more than three minutes per speaker* 17. Board comments and requests for future agenda items* 18. Adjournment (For Possible Action)

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 5

August 15, 2019 TMWA Board Workshop Minutes Page 1 of 5

DRAFT – NOT APPROVED BY BOARD

TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 15, 2019

DRAFT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-2040 WATER RESOURCE PLAN WORKSHOP

The Board of Directors met on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Truckee Meadows Water Authority, 1355 Capital Blvd., Reno, Nevada. Chair Hartung called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.

1. ROLL CALL

Members Present: Paul Anderson, ***Jenny Brekhus, **Kristopher Dahir, *Naomi Duerr, Vaughn Hartung, and Jeanne Herman.

Members Absent: Neoma Jardon

A quorum was present.

*Member Duerr arrived at 9:02 a.m.

**Member Dahir left at 11:34 a.m.

***Member Brekhus left at 12:16 pm

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Member Anderson.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Upon motion by Member Duerr, second by Member Brekhus, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board approved the agenda.

5. PRESENTATION ON CURRENT STATUS OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FROM THE 2016-2035 WATER RESOURCE PLAN

Michael Pagni, TMWA General Counsel, informed the Board that the Water Resource Plan (WRP) update occurs every five years by statute. The function is to plan for conservation and water resource planning of




the utility pursuant to Chapter 540, and also in conjunction with water resource planning obligations under the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA).

John Enloe, Director of Natural Resources and Planning, thanked the Board and staff for attending. Mr. Enloe informed the Board that staff is in the middle of updating the 2020-2040 Water Resource Plan (2040WRP) with the intent of getting it approved by summer 2020. During the last WRP update, staff received comments by the Board to obtain more public input and to focus on policy issues facing TMWA. The current update will have less emphasis on the background of TROA (since its 2015 adoption, staff will refer to previous WRPs) and history of TMWA, and the WRP will be more user-friendly and address concerns of growth, drought and climate change.

Kara Steeland, TMWA Hydrologist, provided a brief overview of the progress of the recommended actions in the 2016-2035 Water Resource Plan (2035WRP). Many have been completed (most notably the consolidation of TMWA, former Washoe County Department of Water Resources and South Truckee Meadows General Improvement District (STMGID), the implementation of TROA, and acquisition of the other half of the storage rights in Donner Lake), but there are many ongoing actions (notably, climate variability, groundwater/conjunctive management, and future water resources), which will be carried over to the new 2040WRP.

The Board discussed the possibility of capturing earlier runoff in reservoirs (TMWA staff and multiple partners have submitted a grant proposal to Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to work with the Army Corp of Engineers re-write the control manuals on how reservoirs are operated); working with Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) to prevent future contamination and maintain source water quality (for example, nitrate contamination in Spanish Springs); water resource availability and TMWA’s Rule 7 setting the ceiling price for water rights; and providing information regarding growth and water demand (staff is conducting population projections and can provide a brief report to the Board when projections are completed). The Board also requests for staff to communicate the WRP to legislators and be more active with legislators so they are more aware of what TMWA is doing, how legislation affects TMWA’s operations, and how TMWA is planning for the future.

6. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING THE PROPOSED POLICIES AND RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES SECTION OF THE 2020-2040 WATER RESOURCE PLAN

Ms. Steeland provided the outline of the goals and objectives of the 2040WRP, primarily the new section, Recommended Policies and Management Strategies. She reported that staff conducted a public online survey in December 2018-January 2019 (the summary of the results were presented as an infographic at the Smart About Water Day in May) and presented the 2040WRP survey results; the summary of which will be provided to the Board.

Mr. Enloe informed the Board that one of the new policies adopted since the 2035WRP is the new Rate Stabilization Fund (adopted in 2018), which creates 3 years of funding in preparation for the next drought




to defer and/or minimize a rate increase; currently it is fully funded at $9.1 million and no more funds will be added unless it is scheduled to be used.

John Zimmerman, TMWA Water Resources Manager, informed the Board of another policy recently adopted (January 2019) to replace the meter retrofit program. The new Water Resource Sustainability Fee, which is a fee on new development using surface water, is $1,600/acre-foot of demand and will be applied to projects, in conjunction with Developer Fees, in the Capital Improvement Plan; such as aquifer storage and recovery, and Category A+ water initiatives. Future customers will benefit from continued research and evaluation of enhanced water supply initiatives.

Discussion followed regarding the relationship of potable water and wastewater (TMWA has an interlocal agreement between TMWA, Cities of Reno and Sparks at American Flat to determine the feasibility of groundwater augmentation using Category A+ advanced purified reclaimed water); the return flow management agreement with Reno, Sparks, and Truckee River Industrial General Improvement District (TRI GID) to assist with wastewater issues in water resource management; and modifying the Rule 7 demand estimates/dedication requirements.

Mr. Enloe presented the first proposed policy, Small Water System Acquisitions, where acquisition would not proceed unless the small utility wants to be acquired, there is a regional benefit and there are no long-term adverse impacts to existing TMWA customers. In the case of the Verdi Business Park, the Park approached TMWA to take over the system and had to bring up their system to TMWA standards at a cost of about $600k. TMWA is not actively approaching small systems; TMWA needs to be approached first.

Public Comment

To provide an example of the type of small water system that TMWA may, in future, look into acquiring, Scott Schoenfeld, on behalf of Rosemount Water Company, provided a brief history of his water company, which operates in the Mt. Rose area. The company has three developed springs that produce about 30 million gallons per year. Mr. Schoenfeld has about 80 acres of developable land and 90 acre-feet of water rights. Water levels have never changed, but his system has uranium issues. He is only eligible to receive private money or a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan. If TMWA determined that it was interested in acquiring the system, then the state grant system (State Revolving Fund loan forgiveness program and/or AB198, which assists small water systems to get into compliance) may be available.

End of Public Comment

Discussion followed regarding the StoneGate development (they will develop groundwater and/or an emergency connection with Great Basin Water Company); TMWA’s requirement that there be a connection with Great Basin or back-up Cold Springs wells for improved reliability; whether acquired spring sources need to be filtered; whether there should be a more coordinated approach in consolidating the smaller water systems and having the local jurisdictions bring forward their recommendations; how AB198 is limited to public, not private, water systems with less than 10,000 customers; and whether TMWA should expand AB198 legislation in its policy.

Chair Hartung called for a recess at 10:55 am.

Chair Hartung reconvened at 11:09am




Mr. Zimmerman presented the proposed policy for water rights acquisition, which is to maintain an inventory for future growth and focus more on strategic water right acquisitions, which include large blocks of water rights needed for specific projects (for example, Whites Creek water rights for Mt. Rose Water Treatment Plant), and rights with unique benefits to TMWA (for example, senior priority rights such as Pioneer Ditch and Marlette water system). Mr. Zimmerman provided a brief presentation on the major water rights holders and the current status of the water rights classes. He noted that there are about 40,000 AF of water rights remaining to be acquired. The Board recommended the WRP reflect that staff continue to be active, and have foresight, in acquiring resources now for the future.

With respect to the proposed policy, the Board discussed a significant concern of water rights leaving the basin as happened in the case of Rancharrah selling Lake Ditch (Truckee River) water rights to TRI GID, which was a private water sale, noting TMWA should be more involved, creative and proactive to keep water rights in the basin. The Board also discussed the status of Marlette Lake (the State has a draft purchase water agreement with Carson City); recognition that the TMWA General Manager has the authority to purchase water rights, but, if an acquisition involved another agency (for example, Marlette Lake or an agreement with UNR for Pioneer Ditch water rights), the acquisition could be brought to the Board; maintenance of a base number of water rights in inventory (about 1,500-2,500 AF); and recognition that Fish Springs owns its infrastructure and about 8,000 AF of groundwater rights.

Mr. Enloe discussed the third proposed policy, the feasibility of using Category A+ advanced purified reclaimed water to enhance TMWA’s water resource sustainability, drought resiliency and efficient use of water resources in the region. TMWA is engaged in a leadership role for OneWater Nevada, conducting feasibility testing and establishing a pilot study to prove that TMWA staff can operate A+ water reclamation and storage reliably and produce high level quality water. It is a collaborative process where all parties involved are contributing time, expertise, and money to move this effort forward. At the Reno Stead Water Reclamation Facility, staff is injecting treated municipal drinking water from TMWA’s distribution system into one well and taking it out from another well, and directing it back to the wastewater plant to observe water quality. Category A+ water will be recharged later this year as part of a pilot study to assess the feasibility of the treatment processes to meet water quality goals. At Bedell Flat, another study is underway which will take about four years and approximately $5m to prove up the feasibility of creating an underground water storage reservoir.

Discussion took place regarding the proposed policy to confirm that the pilot studies are currently using drinking water from TMWA’s distribution system; regarding the fact that staff have worked with representatives at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (PLPT) and the Reno Sparks Indian Colony regarding the Bedell Flat recharge project; regarding the fact staff has established that American Flat is a feasible site to recharge up to 2 million gallons per day and to store 2,000 AF for 5-years; regarding the fact OneWater Nevada is collaborating with NDEP to consider the possibility of issuing will-serve commitments with A+ reclaimed water that is recharged as a future water rights strategy.

Upon motion by Member Duerr, second by Member Anderson, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board approved staff to move forward with the proposed recommendations and to update the Board of the status of the draft 2020-




2040 Water Resource Plan in future meetings. Members Brekhus and Dahir were not present for this vote.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT


8. BOARD COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

There was no board comment.

9. ADJOURNMENT

With no further discussion, Chair Hartung adjourned the meeting at 12:18 p.m.

Approved by the TMWA Board of Directors in session on _______________.

Sonia Folsom, Recording Clerk

Vice Chair Dahir was present for agenda items 1 thru 5 and a portion of agenda item 6 only.

Member Brekhus was present for agenda items 1 thru 5 and a portion of agenda item 6 only.


August 21, 2019 TMWA Board Minutes Page 1 of 7


TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 21, 2019

DRAFT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors met on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at Sparks Council Chambers., 745 4th Street, Sparks, Nevada. Chair Hartung called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

1. ROLL CALL

Members Present: Jenny Brekhus, Kristopher Dahir, Naomi Duerr, Vaughn Hartung, Jeanne Herman, and Neoma Jardon.

Members Absent: Paul Anderson

A quorum was present.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Janet Phillips, Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT


4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Upon motion by Member Dahir, second by Member Duerr, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board approved the agenda.

5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 19, 2019 MEETING OF THE TMWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Upon motion by Member Brekhus, second by Member Herman, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board approved the June 19, 2019 minutes.




6. UPDATE AND POSSIBLE ACTION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING THE SOLICITATION OF BIDS FOR THE POTENTIAL SALE OF THE FARAD PROPERTY AS SURPLUS PROPERTY

John Zimmerman, TMWA Water Resources Manager, and Pat Nielson, Director of Distribution, Maintenance & Generation presented this agenda item.

Mr. Zimmerman reported at its June meeting the Board directed staff to proceed with the sale of Farad as surplus property. Staff published the notice of sale in numerous newspapers, sent the notice to interested parties, created a website with additional information, and acquired two appraisals, $265k and $60k (the reduced value took into consideration certain demolition costs). The result was there were 13 interested parties and one sealed bid for presentation to the Board at today’s meeting.

The Board discussed the zoning restrictions, the access easement granted for the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail and the value of structures on the property.

No action taken.

7. PUBLIC HEARING, OPENING OF SEALED BIDS AND CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ORAL BIDS FOR SALE OF FARAD PROPERTY AND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF FARAD PROPERTY CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 111 ACRES IN NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS ASSESSOR’S PARCELS 48-030-14, 48-050-01, 48-050-10, 48-060-07, 48-040-02 AND 48-130-04

Michael Pagni, TMWA General Counsel, informed the Board of the procedure to follow regarding consideration of the sealed bid submitted. Once it is opened, the bid should be reviewed to determine whether it is a conforming or non-conforming. If conforming, the Chair can inquire if there is someone in the audience who would like to submit an oral bid and the Board can conduct an auction. Any oral bid has to be at least 5% over the sealed bid amount given. The Board can decide whether they wish to accept or reject the bids.

Sonia Folsom, Board Clerk, opened the sealed bid received from Navitas Assets, LLC for $12,321.00.

Mr. Pagni confirmed the bid is conforming to the terms and conditions without exceptions, and that the 5% increment for any oral bid is $616. At the time the Board adopted the resolution to accept sealed bids they did not mandate a minimum price for bids as appraisals were in process.

Chair Hartung set the base at $1,000 increments to start bidding and opened the floor for competing bids.

Thomas Hartline, President of Navitas, inquired about the process and whether oral bidders were required to submit the $10k deposit in advance. Mr. Pagni replied oral bidders would be required to submit the deposit to escrow by August 23 and the contract executed today, if the bid was approved.

Bill Black, on behalf of himself, started the bidding at $14k. Mr. Hartline countered with $15k and bidding between the two parties continued. Mr. Black bid $26,000 and Mr. Hartline conceded.




Mr. Hartline explained their initial low bid was due to the issue of the exclusion of all water rights, and in their view the land is worthless without them.

Mr. Pagni inquired if Navitas Utility would be the back-up bidder in case Mr. Black failed to pay. Mr. Hartline replied yes, at $21k. Mr. Pagni explained the water rights excluded from the sale are used for hydro purposes and that the conditions of sale included prohibitions against diverting water from the Truckee River anywhere on the property to protect the TMWA’s priority rights upstream.

Discussion followed regarding the parameters of consumptive/non-consumptive use, restrictions on diversion of surface water, change in application of water rights, the geographic area acts as a protective mechanism in prohibiting diverting water. Discussion also ensued on appraised values, and whether it was in the best interests of TMWA to proceed with bids at this level.

Mr. Pagni reiterated that the Board can take any direction they so choose, and could either to accept or reject bids and reopen agenda item #6 to readdress intent and give additional direction to staff.

The Board discussed not accepting any bids today since they were too low and holding onto the property to reopen the process at a subsequent time. Mr. Nielson expressed concern with holding onto the property opining that for many reasons it may expose TMWA to liability and it would be better to sell it sooner rather than later.

The Board discussed the Farad property, the condition it is in, liability and current real estate market. The Board further discussed bringing a sale back in the future for economic development purposes or setting a minimum price to accept future bids.

Mr. Black voluntarily increased his final bid to $63,000, which he noted was $3k over the lowest appraisal. He explained he is a good steward of the land and access to his property is paramount in minimizing the dangers of wildfires.

Member Herman stated she has been a realtor for many years and believes this appears to be a good deal in all directions.

The Board further discussed general concerns about the low value of the bid, the disparity between appraised values, and whether it was in TMWA’s best interests to accept bids at this level.

Public Comment


Closed Public Comment

Upon motion by Member Brekhus, second by Member Duerr, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board rejected the auction bids

Chair Hartung reopened agenda item 6.




6. UPDATE AND POSSIBLE ACTION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING THE SOLICITATION OF BIDS FOR THE POTENTIAL SALE OF THE FARAD PROPERTY AS SURPLUS PROPERTY

The Board discussed broader parameters for the next round of notice of sale, to include, but not limited to: setting a minimum bid price, explore the possibility of an economic development sale, possibly contract with a broker to assist staff in reaching a broader public audience, provide clarity on the use of water rights and TMWAs permits, etc.

Upon motion by Member Brekhus, second by Member Dahir, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board approved staff to return with updated parameters to reopen the bidding process for the sale of Farad property as surplus property and to include a minimum bid price.

8. PUBLIC HEARING ON RATE AMENDMENT

A. RATE AMENDMENT, SECOND HEARING AND ADOPTION: DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 278: A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO TMWA RATE SCHEDULE BSF - BUSINESS SERVICES FEES AND RATE SCHEDULE WSF - WATER SYSTEM FACILITY CHARGES REVISING AREA FEE, SUPPLY AND TREATMENT, AND STORAGE UNIT COSTS

Scott Estes, Director of Engineering, provided a brief overview of the staff report.

The Board thanked Mr. Estes and staff in reaching out the public, developers, etc. to ensure everyone had the opportunity to provide comments and feedback. Member Brekhus stated the method of establishing rate structures geographically is best practice to ensure growing in conformity with the regional plan.

Mr. Estes stated for the record that these rates do not impact existing customers, only new development, and do not affect water rates.

B. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comment.

Upon motion by Member Dahir, second by Member Duerr, which motion duly carried by unanimous consent of the members present, the Board adopted Resolution No. 278: A resolution to adopt amendments to TMWA Rate Schedule BSF - Business Services Fees and Rate Schedule WSF - Water System Facility Charges revising area fee, supply and treatment, and storage unit costs effective October 1, 2019.

CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING




9. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING LEASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1905 E. 4TH STREET, RENO, NEVADA DESCRIBED AS APN 008-382-01 TO THE CITY OF RENO FOR THE PURPOSE OF TEMPORARY NUTRITION SITE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE

Heather Edmunson, TMWA Land Agent II, presented this agenda item. Ms. Edmunson reported that the agreement is for a twelve-month term with the option for two additional twelve-month terms to follow without it having to return to the Board or City of Reno Council unless there were amendments to the agreement that needed to be addressed.

Discussion followed regarding the security of the property as it is neighboring a TMWA well-site (there is no issue, the City of Reno will pay $5k for additional security improvements); terms of the lease (either party can give 30 days notice to terminate the lease); TMWA’s liability (TMWA would be released of obligations and City of Reno return the property as is); if there were any services or utilities on the property (there are no services); and to ensure the City of Reno is responsible for zoning code and improvements (Section 2.2 in the agreement requires City of Reno to comply).

Member Brekhus expressed her concern whether it was appropriate for TMWA to enter into an inter-agency cooperation in this regard when questions remain about the core service the City of Reno wants to provide and that it needs to be brought back to the Reno City Council.

John Enloe, Director of Natural Resources and Planning, stated when the City of Reno approached TMWA to use the property, TMWA staff reached out the City of Reno Manager and Assistant Manager to agree to cooperate with TMWA regarding relocating the planned Portland Loo from TMWA’s property to the City of Reno’s property at Broadhead Park, in exchange for the 1905 E. 4th Street property to house the Nutrition Site, as TMWA’s property site was not feasible for numerous reasons.

Upon motion by Member Jardon, second by Member Herman, which motion duly carried five to one with Member Brekhus dissenting, the Board approved the lease of property located at 1905 E. 4th Street, Reno, Nevada described as APN 008-382-01 to the City of Reno for the purpose of temporary nutrition site for individuals and families that are food insecure.

10. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION, AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING THE PORTLAND LOO PUBLIC RESTROOM PROJECT ALONG TRUCKEE RIVER CORRIDOR

Mr. Enloe thanked the City of Reno for their cooperation in this endeavor. To secure additional funding staff has been working with Washoe County, to secure available funds, $265k, from State Question #1 (SQ1) that needs to be spent by June 30, 2020. The State has agreed to allow Washoe County to use this funding towards buying two Portland Loos. The biggest challenge is securing funding for operations and maintenance (O&M); Renown has partnered with One Truckee River and has donated $13k for next fiscal




year. In addition, Nevada Land Trust and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful have redirected $17k towards O&M for this project. The State is very supportive of the restroom effort, from water quality perspective to improve water quality upstream from the Glendale Water Treatment Plant.

Mr. Enloe asked for the Board to concur moving in this direction and will bring back to the Board: 1. Agreement with Washoe County to use SQ1 funding to purchase two Portland Loos; 2. Direct staff to work with City of Reno on easement to install the first Portland Loo at Broadhead Park and establish metrics for success; and 3. Give Mr. Enloe the authority to have flexibility with $150k TMWA Board approved in funding for the installation and put the remaining TMWA Board approved funds into a reserve account for O&M to draw upon as they get this started.

No action taken.

Chair Hartung recessed at 11:50am

Chair Hartung reconvened at 11:56 am

11. PRESENTATION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON TMWA’S SUCCESSION PLANNING PROCESS

Jessica Atkinson, TMWA Human Resources Manager, and Andy Gebhardt, Director of Operations and Water Quality presented this agenda item.

Ms. Atkinson presented the process by which staff conducted exercises in support of a succession plan to help to ensure business continuity, capture and transfer knowledge, encourage employee growth, development and engagement, and hire, retain and develop talent for the future. Employees were given the opportunity to provide feedback about their career aspirations, goals and desires and to learn more about the organization.

The Board expressed their approval of the extreme effort, due diligence, and forward-thinking approach in realizing the need to establish a succession plan in anticipation of a large number of employees retiring within the next several years.

No action taken.

12. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION FROM BOARD REGARDING THE EVALUATION PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING GENERAL MANAGER’S PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Mark Foree, TMWA General Manager, informed the Board that the General Managers evaluation is set for September, but Ms. Atkinson will go over the process in preparation for the meeting.

Ms. Atkinson informed the Board to confirm the process staff has utilized to garner feedback on the General Manager’s performance from Board members and senior management staff, using Survey Monkey. The survey will include a report from the General Manager summarizing performance on the




goals and objectives that were set and approved by the Board last year. Once all evaluations have been submitted, a report will be provided to the Board for its September meeting. She stated the survey will be open from August 26th through September 9th.

No action taken.

13. GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Foree reported that all reservoirs are still near full, Lake Tahoe is only 5 inches below its maximum elevation, and we expect normal river flows in the next 2-3 years no matter what happens during that period of time.

Member Brekhus commended TMWA staff who worked on the California Avenue and Booth Street project. They were there after hours working diligently on connections, traffic control, etc., and they were very pleasant.

14. PUBLIC COMMENT


15. BOARD COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Member Brekhus inquired about a possible bill adopted in the 2019 legislative session which provides for discounted rates for subsidized housing and asked staff to review and advise whether it poses any policy implications on TMWA rates.

16. ADJOURNMENT

With no further discussion, Chair Hartung adjourned the meeting at 12:36 p.m.

Approved by the TMWA Board of Directors in session on _______________.

Sonia Folsom, Recording Secretary


Page 1 of 8

TO: Board of Directors THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: Michele Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer Matt Bowman, Financial Controller DATE: September 10, 2019 SUBJECT: Presentation of fiscal year 2019 unaudited financial performance _____________________________________________________________________________________ Summary Please refer to Attachments A-1 and A-2 for full Statements of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position for both actual to budget and year-over-year comparisons as discussed in the report below. Budget to Actual

Actual Budget YTD 2019 YTD 2019 Variance $ Variance % CHANGE IN NET POSITION 50,154,355 19,409,032 30,745,323 158 %

Change in net position (or overall P&L) in FY 2019 was $30.7m higher than budget. This is due primarily due to non-cash developer contributed assets which totaled $19.1m for the year. This is typically not budgeted for due to the uncertainty of the amount and timing of receipts. Additionally, higher investment earnings and higher developer cash contributions led to the variance from budget. These variances will be discussed in further detail in the sections below. Year over Year

Actual Actual YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Variance $ Variance % CHANGE IN NET POSITION 50,154,355 37,748,630 12,405,725 33 %

Year over year, change in net position was $12.4m higher in FY 2019 compared to FY 2018. This is due to higher operating income ($3.2m), lower nonoperating expenses ($4.5m), higher capital contributions ($4.8m). These variances will be discussed in further detail in the sections below.


Page 2 of 8

Revenue Budget to Actual

Actual Budget YTD 2019 YTD 2019 Variance $ Variance %

OPERATING REVENUES Charges for Water Sales 101,496,912 100,626,513 870,399 1 %

Hydroelectric Sales 2,624,285 2,812,568 (188,283 ) (7 )%

Other Operating Sales 2,968,321 3,404,500 (436,179 ) (13 )%

Total Operating Revenues 107,089,518 106,843,581 245,937 — %

Operating revenue was $0.2m higher than budget due to $0.8m (1%) more in water sales offset by lower hydroelectric and other operating sales of $0.6m. Through the first half of FY 2019, water sales were $2.0m (3%) over budget driven by additional services (growth) and higher usage by customers. However, during the third and fourth quarters, we saw water sales drop due to lower consumption. Hydroelectric revenue came in less than budget due to work at the Fleish plant during the year to replace the tail race and to repair the flume.

Year over Year

Actual Actual YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Variance $ Variance %

OPERATING REVENUES Charges for Water Sales 101,496,912 95,181,554 6,315,358 7 %

Hydroelectric Sales 2,624,285 3,757,043 (1,132,758 ) (30 )%

Other Operating Sales 2,968,321 2,873,495 94,826 3 %

Total Operating Revenues 107,089,518 101,812,092 5,277,426 5 %

Total operating revenues ended up $5.3m higher in FY 2019 compared to the prior year. This is due to higher water sales of $6.3m driven by the 3% rate increase in May 2018 (in effect for all of FY 2019), increased service connections of approximately 2% and increased water use of approximately 2%.


Page 3 of 8

Operating Expenses Budget to Actual


OPERATING EXPENSES Salaries and Wages 20,973,151 21,078,273 (105,122 ) — %

Employee Benefits 10,184,189 10,125,916 58,273 1 %

Services and Supplies 28,475,961 28,268,124 207,837 1 %

Total Operating Expenses Before Depreciation 59,633,301 59,472,313 160,988 — %

Depreciation 32,791,153 33,862,476 (1,071,323 ) (3 )%

Total Operating Expenses 92,424,454 93,334,789 (910,335 ) (1 )%

Total operating expenses ended up $0.9m or 1% less than budget. This variance is made up of $1.1m in non-cash depreciation that was less than budget, offset by operating expenses before depreciation that was higher than budget by $0.2m. As expected, each category ended the year close to budget. There were not any major surprises during the year from an operating expense standpoint. Any budget overages were generally offset by budget savings. Year over Year


OPERATING EXPENSES Salaries and Wages 20,973,151 18,735,892 2,237,259 12 %

Employee Benefits 10,184,189 12,919,692 (2,735,503 ) (21 )%

Services and Supplies 28,475,961 25,835,318 2,640,643 10 %

Total Operating Expenses Before Depreciation 59,633,301 57,490,902 2,142,399 4 %

Depreciation 32,791,153 32,820,720 (29,567 ) — %

Total Operating Expenses 92,424,454 90,311,622 2,112,832 2 %

Total operating expenses were $2.1m higher in FY 2019 compared to the previous year. Salaries and wages have increased due to additions in headcount and step and cost of living increases. Headcount has risen by approximately 7% since the end of FY 2018, some of which is due to backfilling (or overlapping) positions with upcoming known retirements. These increases are temporary. Employee benefits were lower than prior year by $2.7m due to large non-cash adjustments in prior fiscal year following the implementation of GASB 75 and 82 which required new accounting for OPEB and Pension plans, respectively. Services and supplies were higher due to several factors including general price increases in supplies and labor and also additional workload caused by continued growth in the service area. Specific increases year over year include an increased contribution to the Truckee River Fund of $850k in FY 2019 compared to $450k in FY 2018, higher chemical costs of approximately $0.7m due principally to price increases, higher electric power costs of $0.5m due to the start up of Fish Springs booster pumps, and a property tax assessment related to the acquisition of Donner Lake water rights of $0.2m. The remaining variance is made up of several smaller increases in services and supplies costs.


Page 4 of 8

Non-Operating Expenses Budget to Actual


NONOPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES) Investment Earnings 4,409,486 2,833,548 1,575,938 56 %

Net Increase (Decrease) in FV of Investments 2,843,154 — 2,843,154 — %

Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Assets (225,687 ) — (225,687 ) — %

Amortization of Bond/note Issuance Costs (218,132 ) (215,748 ) (2,384 ) 1 %

Interest Expense (13,268,153 ) (13,436,520 ) 168,367 (1 )%

Other Nonoperating Revenue 19 — 19 — %

Other Nonoperating Expense (233,514 ) — (233,514 ) — %

Total Nonoperating Revenues (Expenses) (6,692,827 ) (10,818,720 ) 4,125,893 (38 )%

Nonoperating expenses are $4.1m less than budget due mostly to higher investment earnings than budgeted. Although interest rates have dropped in recent months, rates were generally higher during FY 2019 compared to FY 2018, especially early in the fiscal year. Of the $4.4m variance from budget due to investment earnings, $1.6m is cash and fully realized. The remaining $2.8m is non-cash and recognized as fair value changes in investments due to investments held at higher rates than market rates. These unrealized gains, can fluctuate as rates increase or decrease and may not result in actual cash gains. Year over Year


NONOPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES) Investment Earnings 4,409,486 2,313,513 2,095,973 91 %

Net Increase (Decrease) in FV of Investments 2,843,154 (934,120 ) 3,777,274 (404 )%

Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Assets (225,687 ) 133,972 (359,659 ) (268 )%

Amortization of Bond/note Issuance Costs (218,132 ) (942,927 ) 724,795 (77 )%

Interest Expense (13,268,153 ) (11,720,356 ) (1,547,797 ) 13 %


Other Nonoperating Expense (233,514 ) (12,749 ) (220,765 ) 1,732 %


Nonoperating expenses are lower than prior year by $4.7m due to several factors. First, both realized and unrealized investment income increased by $5.9m due primarily to the reasons discussed above. This is offset mostly by more interest expense incurred following the bond refunding in April 2018 (see Agenda Item 7 from May 2018 BOD Meeting for additional information on the refunding). This bond refunding decreased the principal of commercial paper which is variable rate debt, while increasing principal on fixed rate debt. While this transaction increased interest expense in the short term, it reduced risk by fixing a portion of the debt at a reasonable rate and limiting exposure to interest rate fluctuations in future years.


Page 5 of 8

Capital Contributions Budget to Actual


CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS Grants 831,116 1,700,000 (868,884 ) (51 )%

Water Meter Retrofit Program 994,706 676,020 318,686 47 %

Water Resource Sustainability Program 689,060 — 689,060 — %

Developer Infrastructure Contributions 19,112,590 — 19,112,590 — %

Developer Will-serve Contributions (Net of Refunds) 4,663,826 3,470,232 1,193,594 34 %

Developer Capital Contributions - Other 6,636,417 5,922,000 714,417 12 %

Developer Facility Charges (Net of Refunds) 9,154,403 4,950,708 4,203,695 85 %

Net Capital Contributions 42,182,118 16,718,960 25,463,158 152 %

Capital contributions were $25.5m more than budget in FY 2019, primarily due to non-cash developer infrastructure contributions which were $19.1m during the year. These represent water infrastructure constructed by developers then dedicated to TMWA following the completion of the project. Contributing another $7m to the variance was all other developer contributions. The volume of projects in the service area has remained high, and while construction continues at the current pace these contributions are expected to continue. Year over Year


CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS Grants 831,116 348,248 482,868 139 %

Water Meter Retrofit Program 994,706 2,379,206 (1,384,500 ) (58 )%

Water Resource Sustainability Program 689,060 — 689,060 — %

Developer Infrastructure Contributions 19,112,590 15,017,446 4,095,144 27 %

Developer Will-serve Contributions (Net of Refunds) 4,663,826 6,652,819 (1,988,993 ) (30 )%




Year over year, capital contributions are $4.8m higher in FY 2019 compared to FY 2018. Certain categories are higher and lower, but primarily, this variance is due to non-cash developer contributed infrastructure which was $4.1m higher than prior year.


Page 6 of 8

Capital Spending

Spending on capital outlays and construction projects during the year was approximately $40.1m. Total planned spend for the year was $52.3m. Top 5 project spending for the year was -

• Mount Rose Water Treatment Plant $9.1m • South Virginia Main Replacement $3.4m • California - Marsh Main Replacement $2.1m • Paloma PRS & Pipeline Improvements $1.8m • Verdi Main Extension $1.6m

Cash Position

At June 30, 2019, total cash on hand was $197.8m or $4.4m higher than at the beginning of the fiscal year. Of the total cash on hand, $152.9m was unrestricted to be used to meet upcoming and future operating & maintenance expenses, principal & interest payments and construction project payments. The remaining $44.9m was restricted to pay for scheduled bond principal and interest payments as well as maintaining required reserves as stipulated in our bond covenants.

Attachment A-1

Truckee Meadows Water Authority Comparative Statements of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position For fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Actual Budget

YTD 2019 YTD 2019 Variance $ Variance %

OPERATING REVENUES

Charges for Water Sales $ 101,496,912 $ 100,626,513 $ 870,399 1 %

Hydroelectric Sales 2,624,285 2,812,568 (188,283 ) (7 )%

Other Operating Sales 2,968,321 3,404,500 (436,179 ) (13 )%

Total Operating Revenues 107,089,518 106,843,581 245,937 — %

OPERATING EXPENSES

Salaries and Wages 20,973,151 21,078,273 (105,122 ) — %

Employee Benefits 10,184,189 10,125,916 58,273 1 %

Services and Supplies 28,475,961 28,268,124 207,837 1 %

Total Operating Expenses Before Depreciation 59,633,301 59,472,313 160,988 — %

Depreciation 32,791,153 33,862,476 (1,071,323 ) (3 )%

Total Operating Expenses 92,424,454 93,334,789 (910,335 ) (1 )%

OPERATING INCOME 14,665,064 13,508,792 1,156,272 9 %

NONOPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES)

Investment Earnings 4,409,486 2,833,548 1,575,938 56 %

Net Increase (Decrease) in FV of Investments 2,843,154 — 2,843,154 — %

Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Assets (225,687 ) — (225,687 ) — %

Amortization of Bond/note Issuance Costs (218,132 ) (215,748 ) (2,384 ) 1 %

Interest Expense (13,268,153 ) (13,436,520 ) 168,367 (1 )%


Other Nonoperating Expense (233,514 ) — (233,514 ) — %


Gain (Loss) Before Capital Contributions 7,972,237 2,690,072 5,282,165 196 %

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Grants 831,116 1,700,000 (868,884 ) (51 )%

Water Meter Retrofit Program 994,706 676,020 318,686 47 %

Developer Infrastructure Contributions 19,112,590 — 19,112,590 — %

Developer Will-serve Contributions (Net of Refunds) 4,663,826 3,470,232 1,193,594 34 %




CHANGE IN NET POSITION 50,154,355 19,409,032 30,745,323 158 %


Attachment A-2

Truckee Meadows Water Authority Comparative Statements of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position For fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Actual Actual

YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Variance $ Variance %

OPERATING REVENUES

Charges for Water Sales $ 101,496,912 $ 95,181,554 $ 6,315,358 7 %

Hydroelectric Sales 2,624,285 3,757,043 (1,132,758 ) (30 )%

Other Operating Sales 2,968,321 2,873,495 94,826 3 %

Total Operating Revenues 107,089,518 101,812,092 5,277,426 5 %

OPERATING EXPENSES

Salaries and Wages 20,973,151 18,735,892 2,237,259 12 %

Employee Benefits 10,184,189 12,919,692 (2,735,503 ) (21 )%

Services and Supplies 28,475,961 25,835,318 2,640,643 10 %

Total Operating Expenses Before Depreciation 59,633,301 57,490,902 2,142,399 4 %

Depreciation 32,791,153 32,820,720 (29,567 ) — %

Total Operating Expenses 92,424,454 90,311,622 2,112,832 2 %

OPERATING INCOME 14,665,064 11,500,470 3,164,594 28 %

NONOPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES)

Investment Earnings 4,409,486 2,313,513 2,095,973 91 %

Net Increase (Decrease) in FV of Investments 2,843,154 (934,120 ) 3,777,274 (404 )%

Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Assets (225,687 ) 133,972 (359,659 ) (268 )%

Amortization of Bond/note Issuance Costs (218,132 ) (942,927 ) 724,795 (77 )%

Interest Expense (13,268,153 ) (11,720,356 ) (1,547,797 ) 13 %


Other Nonoperating Expense (233,514 ) (12,749 ) (220,765 ) 1,732 %


Gain (Loss) Before Capital Contributions 7,972,237 337,803 7,634,434 2,260 %

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Grants 831,116 348,248 482,868 139 %

Water Meter Retrofit Program 994,706 2,379,206 (1,384,500 ) (58 )%

Developer Infrastructure Contributions 19,112,590 15,017,446 4,095,144 27 %

Developer Will-serve Contributions (Net of Refunds) 4,663,826 6,652,819 (1,988,993 ) (30 )%




CHANGE IN NET POSITION 50,154,355 37,748,630 12,405,725 33 %



Page 1 of 1

STAFF REPORT

TO: Chairman and Board Members THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: John Zimmerman, Water Resources Manager Pat Nielson, Distribution, Maintenance and Generation, Director DATE: September 10, 2019 SUBJECT: Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding parameters for the sale of

the Farad Property SUMMARY

The Board directed staff to put an item on the September Board meeting agenda regarding certain parameters related to the sale of the Farad property, to include: exploring the possibility of an economic development sale, contracting with a real estate broker to assist with the sale, setting a minimum bid amount, and providing clarity on the Truckee River water right associated with Farad. The following is a brief update regarding the sale of the Farad property and a list of the items to discuss if the property is not sold at the September Board meeting.

Update on Property Sale

At the August Board meeting Bill Black offered $63,000 to purchase the property, which bid the Board rejected. Shortly after the Board meeting Mr. Black told staff that he was willing to increase his bid to purchase the property and has since submitted a bid of $127,500. Accordingly, in case the Board was willing to accept Mr. Black’s new bid, staff proceeded to re-notice the sale hearing to allow the Board to consider the bid at the September Board meeting. The sale is subject to the same terms and conditions as discussed at the August Board meeting. In addition to again publishing and posting the notice of sale as required by TMWA policy, staff also notified everyone who submitted their contact information and those who had previously expressed an interest in the property. To date, no one other than Mr. Black has submitted a bid.

Parameters to Discuss if the Property is not Sold

If the Board rejects all bids, then the following parameters should be discussed to determine the next steps to proceed with the sale of the property.

1. Selling the property outside the bid process to an entity for economic development; 2. Engaging a real estate broker to assist with selling the property; 3. Setting a minimum bid; and 4. Allowing the buyer to lease the Farad water right for hydroelectric purposes.


Page 1 of 6

STAFF REPORT

TO: Board of Directors THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: John Enloe, Director of Natural Resources & Planning Janet Phillips, Chairman, Truckee River Fund Advisory Committee DATE: September 9, 2019 SUBJECT: Discussion and possible action on adoption of Resolution No. 279: A resolution to

approve funding for the projects recommended by the Truckee River Fund Advisory Committee and an authorization for the Community Foundation to fund such projects from Fund proceeds

Recommendation The Truckee River Fund (TRF) Advisors recommend that the TMWA Board authorize by resolution the funding of the following projects from the TRF. This recommendation stems from a Fund advisors’ meeting held on August 23, 2019 where multiple grant proposals from the fall request for proposal (RFP) process were reviewed and discussed. Corresponding to the TRF Grant Priorities (see attachment), six projects are recommended for funding totaling $537,599 out of six project funding requests for $537,599. Each of the project details are summarized below and all RFPs are also attached.

PROJECTS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING

Project #223: Watershed Education Initiative (WEI) Organization: Sierra Nevada Journeys (SNJ) Amount Requested: $37,200 Amount Recommended: $37,200 Organizational Match: $2,667 (Cash) $12,058 (In-Kind) Project Description: Deliver high-quality, experiential watershed education programs based on local issues associated with the Truckee River, such as water quality and invasive species while empowering youth to protect and enhance the quality of the Truckee River. Significantly increase parent engagement, citizen science, and volunteer components to increase the long-term sustainability of our Watershed Education Initiative, thereby fostering protection of the primary water source for our community.


Page 2 of 6

TMWA Benefit: WEI is an education program that addresses water, water quality and watershed protection for K-8th

grade students, directly aligning with grant priority VI: Stewardship and Environmental Awareness. Students gain first-hand experience with the Truckee River, explore human impacts on their water source, and obtain skills and knowledge to help protect the watershed. The overall long-term program impacts include:

• Students understand important science concepts related to the Truckee River watershed and can articulate how their actions affect the Truckee River watershed and local ecosystems.


• Teachers use extension lessons and implement more hands-on exploration of the watershed. Parents and community members engage in watershed education directly through WEI volunteer

• Health of the Truckee River watershed and local ecosystems improves as students and their families adopt environmental stewardship practices that help reduce water pollution and human impacts.

---- Project #224: 2020 Spring Great Community Cleanup, 2020 Fall Truckee River Cleanup, Adopt-A-River & Adult Outreach Education Organization: Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) Amount Requested: $79,245 Amount Recommended: $79,245 Organizational Match: $152,805 (Cash) $154,514 (In-Kind) Project Description: The Truckee River Cleanup is designed to address both the direct and immediate presence of weeds, litter and non-point pollution runoff, and the underlying causes of these challenges by educating and engaging the community. KTMB uses proven approaches to "Cleanups" that have been shown to save tax payers money. According to Keep America Beautiful "about 85 percent of littering is the result of people's attitudes .... Changing individual behaviors is the key to preventing litter -and environmental cues can make a difference." By engaging volunteers and community partners in this effort, as well has having consistent outreach and messaging to support behavior change, KTMB is helping to better protect the water resources of the Truckee River.

• Remove invasive weeds and trash from along the Truckee River corridor and its tributaries during KTMB’s Truckee River Cleanup Day

• Monitor the impact of current cleanup efforts • Engage more year-round cleanup support through KTMB’s Adopt-A-River program • Provide community education and outreach to decrease environmental threats to the river


Page 3 of 6

TMWA Benefit: This project supports the TRF Grant Priorities V, VI, VII, and VIII - Support to Rehabilitation of Local Tributary Creeks and Drainage Courses, Stewardship and Environmental Awareness, Meet Multiple Objectives, and Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation. KTMB educates and informs residents and visitors about the importance of maintaining a healthy river; how noxious weeds negatively affect native plant communities, habitats, and watershed; how litter and pollution are harmful to human health, wildlife, the local environment and economy; and collaborates to create a cleaner community while saving taxpayer dollars.

----

Project #225: Truckee River Invasive Species Control Project Organization: Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) Amount Requested: $19,250 Amount Recommended: $19,250 Organizational Match: $16,000 (Cash) Project Description: TRWC will complete a survey of the treatment areas, collecting GPS-based records for all invasive species infestations. Following these surveys, we will provide three rounds of repeated treatments using chemical and manual methods. Specific methodologies will be selected based on the target species, habitat, and phenology. For example, manual methods will be used near aquatic habitats or sensitive native species. Conversely, certain species, such as spotted knapweed, spread rhizomatously through their roots. As such, manual pulling tends to stimulate growth and chemical applications are necessary for effective control. To improve community awareness and involvement on weed management, TRWC will host two community weed pull or education events in 2020. These events will focus on informing and empowering the public so that they can become advocates for weed management in their community. The events will also teach volunteers how to identify, report, and, where appropriate, treat weeds on their own. TMWA Benefit:

• Watershed Improvements. The project will remove invasive species along 2.5 miles and 525 acres of the Truckee River. These species displace native riparian species and promote runoff and excess erosion to the Truckee River. Their removal supports attainment of the 303 (d) listed TMDL pollutant.

• Stewardship and Environmental Awareness: The project includes a continuation of TRWC’s Weed Warriors community involvement and education program. These events have been very successful in outreach to community members regarding invasive species management and


Page 4 of 6

reporting. It educates and empowers the public to assist TRWC with invasive treatment and survey work in the watershed.

• Meet Multiple Objectives. The projects meet the watershed, water quality, and community awareness objectives listed above. It also benefits habitat quality, recreational access and usability, and fire and fuels loading.

• Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation. The project has leveraged significant landowner participation and assets. All of the private and public landowners are contributing match funding to support on-the-ground treatment.

----

Project #226: Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area: First Year Operational Phase Organization: Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation Amount Requested: $101,526 Amount Recommended: $101,526 Organizational Match: $35,000 (Cash) Project Description: The property formerly known as the Rosewood Lakes Golf Course is one of the last vestiges of wetland habitat in the Truckee Meadows. The proposed Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area (TMNSA) has been overtaken by multiple non-native plant species listed on the Nevada Noxious Weed List and the (WSCWMA) high-priority list. Noxious weeds presently include, but are not limited to, tall whitetop (Lepidium latifolium), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and saltcedar (Tamarix spp.). These invasive plant species are known to outcompete and exclude most native plants. Over the course of the operational year, environmental data will be collected, analyzed and used to evaluate the effectiveness of the different restoration practices. Techniques can then be adjusted to ensure best practices are being utilized for weed removal. These analyses will consist of a multi-year monitoring plan to assess the success of control efforts, as AmeriCorps grants typically run on three-year cycles. Data will also be captured in GIS and provided to the Nevada state weed mapper throughout the project. Furthermore, Steamboat Creek runs contiguous with this parcel, and therefore, restoration of this land reduces the potential for weed spread to the Truckee River and adjacent properties. TMWA Benefit: The Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area project advances priorities VI (Stewardship and Environmental Awareness) and VIII (Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation). The Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area project advances priority VI in that Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation will use the property as an outdoor classroom where community members can participate in volunteer and restoration events and educational programs related to weed awareness, water, water quality, and watershed protection. Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation has leveraged community members from a


Page 5 of 6

breadth of disciplines willing to contribute time and expertise for the Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area advisory board, therefore advancing priority VIII.

---- Project #227: Truckee River Watershed Forest Restoration and Community Outreach, Phase 2 Organization: The Nature Conservancy in Nevada (TNC) Amount Requested: $265,600 Amount Recommended: $265,600 Organizational Match: $264,600.49 (Cash) Project Description: The goals of TNC’s headwaters forest work that would be supported by this proposed grant are: 1) to further facilitate the investment of some portion of a $1.5 million federal grant received by The Nature Conservancy for on-the-ground forest restoration in the Truckee River headwaters, 2) to complete development of effective messaging and outreach strategies, and 3) to utilize the messaging and strategies to implement an awareness campaign to educate the public and potential partners about severe wildfire-associated risks, and help TNC increase investment in the restoration of the headwaters forest through development of public-private partnerships. TMWA Benefit:

• Re-Forestation & Re-Vegetation Projects: The projects that will be developed and implemented under this proposed grant would help reduce the risk of wildfires and associated risks to water resources

• Leverage Stakeholder Assets & Participation: Provide non-federal match for implementing forest restoration projects with the US Fire Services will be leveraged in helping ensure utilization of the remainder of the $1.5 million DTL grant on projects that will benefit river water quality, watershed protection, source water protection and habitat enhancement. Also, help TNC implement an awareness campaign, build partnerships, and increase fundraising will create greater leverage to support more of the same types of projects, beyond the term of the TRF grant.

----

Project #228: Galena Creek Ecological Restoration & Demonstration Project, Phase II Organization: Great Basin Institute (GBI) Amount Requested: $34,778 Amount Recommended: $34,778 Organizational Match: $46,240.05 (Cash) $2,097 (In-Kind) Project Description:


Page 6 of 6

GBI seeks to expand learning opportunities, specifically for Title I students, in service-based outdoor education through collaboration with educational institutions, land management agencies, and local foundations. The Institute delivers educational programs while serving as lead organization at the Galena Creek Visitor Center, a partnership with Washoe County and the US Forest Service now entering its eleventh year. This collaboration aims to ensure students have access to integrated educational activities at outdoor sites of learning, regardless of financial limitations. Utilizing the infrastructure at the Regional Park, including the interpretative center, residential facility and historic fish hatchery, the Institute provides field study programs for schools and the general public. This project builds upon the successful partnerships made possible at this unique urban forest location. For this project, the Institute will establish restoration sites along Galena Creek, an at-risk tributary of the Truckee River. Project staff will present STEM-based curricula to Washoe County classrooms and will introduce students to theories and concepts of applied restoration and watershed stewardship. Students will be challenged with inquiry-based field studies at Galena where students actively develop site plans, then participate in hands-on restoration and monitoring activities. A post-trip classroom visit will capture learning outcomes through testing. This project addresses the need for civic local engagement in active restoration activities, providing integrated learning opportunities and ongoing stewardship of our local watershed. TMWA Benefit: This project supports multiple Truckee River Fund priorities that seek watershed improvements by reducing sediment, suspended solids, or TDS discharges to the Truckee River. The project also supports the development and implementation of educational programs relative to water, water quality and watershed protection.

Truckee Meadows Water Authority Resolution No. 279 (continued)

Page 1 of 7

TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY (TMWA)

RESOLUTION NO. 279

A RESOLUTION APPROVING PROJECTS FOR FUNDING UNDER THE TRUCKEE RIVER FUND

WHEREAS, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority and the Community Foundation of Western Nevada (the "Community Foundation"), a Nevada non-profit corporation, have entered into an agreement creating The Truckee River Fund (the “Fund”) to foster projects that protect and enhance water quality or water resources of the Truckee River, or its watershed;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Fund Agreement, an Advisory Committee has solicited proposals from prospective beneficiaries of the Fund;

WHEREAS, the Advisory Committee has recommended projects for funding, as listed on Exhibit A, attached hereto;

WHEREAS, the Advisory Committee has the responsibility of securing preliminary approval for projects from the TMWA Board, which may disapprove projects for any reason, or may approve projects by resolution, subject to Community Foundation Board approval;

WHEREAS, the Community Foundation has advised the Advisory Committee that the projects’ applicants are eligible beneficiaries of the Fund;

WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the recommendation of the Advisory Committee and has found that the projects as listed on Exhibit A are consistent with the purposes of the Fund and merit funding; and

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority:

The projects set forth on Exhibit A are approved for funding under the Truckee River Fund in the amount set forth in such Exhibit, subject to final authorization by the Community Foundation Board, and subject to the provisions of the Fund Agreement, including without limitation the requirements set forth in Article VC.



NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Upon motion of ______________________, seconded by __________________, the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted on September 18, 2019 by the following vote of the Board: Ayes: __________________________________________________________________ Nays: __________________________________________________________________ Abstain: __________________________ Absent: _____________________________

Approved September 18, 2019 _________________________ Vaughn Hartung, Chairman STATE OF NEVADA, ) : ss. COUNTY OF WASHOE. ) On this 18th of September, 2019, Vaughn Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Truckee Meadows Water Authority, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, and acknowledged that he executed the above instrument freely and voluntarily and for the purposes therein mentioned. _________________________________ Notary Public



Page 3 of 7

EXHIBIT A

Project #223: Watershed Education Initiative (WEI) Organization: Sierra Nevada Journeys (SNJ) Amount Requested: $37,200 Amount Recommended: $37,200 Organizational Match: $2,667 (Cash) $12,058 (In-Kind) Project Description: Deliver high-quality, experiential watershed education programs based on local issues associated with the Truckee River, such as water quality and invasive species while empowering youth to protect and enhance the quality of the Truckee River. Significantly increase parent engagement, citizen science, and volunteer components to increase the long-term sustainability of our Watershed Education Initiative, thereby fostering protection of the primary water source for our community. TMWA Benefit: WEI is an education program that addresses water, water quality and watershed protection for K-8th grade students, directly aligning with grant priority VI: Stewardship and Environmental Awareness. Students gain first-hand experience with the Truckee River, explore human impacts on their water source, and obtain skills and knowledge to help protect the watershed. The overall long-term program impacts include:



• Teachers use extension lessons and implement more hands-on exploration of the watershed. Parents and community members engage in watershed education directly through WEI volunteer

• Health of the Truckee River watershed and local ecosystems improves as students and their families adopt environmental stewardship practices that help reduce water pollution and human impacts.

---- Project #224: 2020 Spring Great Community Cleanup, 2020 Fall Truckee River Cleanup, Adopt-A-River & Adult Outreach Education Organization: Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) Amount Requested: $79,245 Amount Recommended: $79,245



Page 4 of 7

Organizational Match: $152,805 (Cash) $154,514 (In-Kind) Project Description: The Truckee River Cleanup is designed to address both the direct and immediate presence of weeds, litter and non point pollution runoff, and the underlying causes of these challenges by educating and engaging the community. KTMB uses proven approaches to "Cleanups" that have been shown to save tax payers money. According to Keep America Beautiful "about 85 percent of littering is the result of people's attitudes .... Changing individual behaviors is the key to preventing litter -and environmental cues can make a difference." By engaging volunteers and community partners in this effort, as well has having consistent outreach and messaging to support behavior change, KTMB is helping to better protect the water resources of the Truckee River.

• Remove invasive weeds and trash from along the Truckee River corridor and its tributaries during KTMB’s Truckee River Cleanup Day

• Monitor the impact of current cleanup efforts • Engage more year-round cleanup support through KTMB’s Adopt-A-River program • Provide community education and outreach to decrease environmental threats to the river

TMWA Benefit: This project supports the TRF Grant Priorities V, VI, VII, and VIII - Support to Rehabilitation of Local Tributary Creeks and Drainage Courses, Stewardship and Environmental Awareness, Meet Multiple Objectives, and Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation. KTMB educates and informs residents and visitors about the importance of maintaining a healthy river; how noxious weeds negatively affect native plant communities, habitats, and watershed; how litter and pollution are harmful to human health, wildlife, the local environment and economy; and collaborates to create a cleaner community while saving taxpayer dollars.

----

Project #225: Truckee River Invasive Species Control Project Organization: Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC) Amount Requested: $19,250 Amount Recommended: $19,250 Organizational Match: $16,000 (Cash) Project Description: TRWC will complete a survey of the treatment areas, collecting GPS-based records for all invasive species infestations. Following these surveys, we will provide three rounds of repeated treatments using chemical and manual methods. Specific methodologies will be selected based



Page 5 of 7

on the target species, habitat, and phenology. For example, manual methods will be used near aquatic habitats or sensitive native species. Conversely, certain species, such as spotted knapweed, spread rhizomatously through their roots. As such, manual pulling tends to stimulate growth and chemical applications are necessary for effective control. To improve community awareness and involvement on weed management, TRWC will host two community weed pull or education events in 2020. These events will focus on informing and empowering the public so that they can become advocates for weed management in their community. The events will also teach volunteers how to identify, report, and, where appropriate, treat weeds on their own. TMWA Benefit:

• Watershed Improvements. The project will remove invasive species along 2.5 miles and 525 acres of the Truckee River. These species displace native riparian species and promote runoff and excess erosion to the Truckee River. Their removal supports attainment of the 303 (d) listed TMDL pollutant.

• Stewardship and Environmental Awareness: The project includes a continuation of TRWC’s Weed Warriors community involvement and education program. These events have been very successful in outreach to community members regarding invasive species management and reporting. It educates and empowers the public to assist TRWC with invasive treatment and survey work in the watershed.

• Meet Multiple Objectives. The projects meet the watershed, water quality, and community awareness objectives listed above. It also benefits habitat quality, recreational access and usability, and fire and fuels loading.

• Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation. The project has leveraged significant landowner participation and assets. All of the private and public landowners are contributing match funding to support on-the-ground treatment.

----

Project #226: Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area: First Year Operational Phase Organization: Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation Amount Requested: $101,526 Amount Recommended: $101,526 Organizational Match: $35,000 (Cash) Project Description: The property formerly known as the Rosewood Lakes Golf Course is one of the last vestiges of wetland habitat in the Truckee Meadows. The proposed Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area (TMNSA) has been overtaken by multiple non-native plant species listed on the Nevada Noxious Weed List and the (WSCWMA) high-priority list. Noxious weeds presently include, but are not limited to, tall whitetop (Lepidium latifolium), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and saltcedar (Tamarix spp.). These invasive plant species are known to outcompete and exclude most native plants.



Page 6 of 7

Over the course of the operational year, environmental data will be collected, analyzed and used to evaluate the effectiveness of the different restoration practices. Techniques can then be adjusted to ensure best practices are being utilized for weed removal. These analyses will consist of a multi-year monitoring plan to assess the success of control efforts, as AmeriCorps grants typically run on three-year cycles. Data will also be captured in GIS and provided to the Nevada state weed mapper throughout the project. Furthermore, Steamboat Creek runs contiguous with this parcel, and therefore, restoration of this land reduces the potential for weed spread to the Truckee River and adjacent properties. TMWA Benefit: The Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area project advances priorities VI (Stewardship and Environmental Awareness) and VIII (Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation). The Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area project advances priority VI in that Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation will use the property as an outdoor classroom where community members can participate in volunteer and restoration events and educational programs related to weed awareness, water, water quality, and watershed protection. Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation has leveraged community members from a breadth of disciplines willing to contribute time and expertise for the Truckee Meadows Nature Study Area advisory board, therefore advancing priority VIII.

---- Project #227: Truckee River Watershed Forest Restoration and Community Outreach, Phase 2 Organization: The Nature Conservancy in Nevada (TNC) Amount Requested: $265,600 Amount Recommended: $265,600 Organizational Match: $264,600.49 (Cash) Project Description: The goals of TNC’s headwaters forest work that would be supported by this proposed grant are: 1) to further facilitate the investment of some portion of a $1.5 million federal grant received by The Nature Conservancy for on-the-ground forest restoration in the Truckee River headwaters, 2) to complete development of effective messaging and outreach strategies, and 3) to utilize the messaging and strategies to implement an awareness campaign to educate the public and potential partners about severe wildfire-associated risks, and help TNC increase investment in the restoration of the headwaters forest through development of public-private partnerships. TMWA Benefit:

• Re-Forestation & Re-Vegetation Projects: The projects that will be developed and implemented under this proposed grant would help reduce the risk of wildfires and associated risks to water resources



Page 7 of 7

• Leverage Stakeholder Assets & Participation: Provide non-federal match for implementing forest restoration projects with the US Fire Services will be leveraged in helping ensure utilization of the remainder of the $1.5 million DTL grant on projects that will benefit river water quality, watershed protection, source water protection and habitat enhancement. Also, help TNC implement an awareness campaign, build partnerships, and increase fundraising will create greater leverage to support more of the same types of projects, beyond the term of the TRF grant.

----

Project #228: Galena Creek Ecological Restoration & Demonstration Project, Phase II Organization: Great Basin Institute (GBI) Amount Requested: $34,778 Amount Recommended: $34,778 Organizational Match: $46,240.05 (Cash) $2,097 (In-Kind) Project Description: GBI seeks to expand learning opportunities, specifically for Title I students, in service-based outdoor education through collaboration with educational institutions, land management agencies, and local foundations. The Institute delivers educational programs while serving as lead organization at the Galena Creek Visitor Center, a partnership with Washoe County and the US Forest Service now entering its eleventh year. This collaboration aims to ensure students have access to integrated educational activities at outdoor sites of learning, regardless of financial limitations. Utilizing the infrastructure at the Regional Park, including the interpretative center, residential facility and historic fish hatchery, the Institute provides field study programs for schools and the general public. This project builds upon the successful partnerships made possible at this unique urban forest location. For this project, the Institute will establish restoration sites along Galena Creek, an at-risk tributary of the Truckee River. Project staff will present STEM-based curricula to Washoe County classrooms and will introduce students to theories and concepts of applied restoration and watershed stewardship. Students will be challenged with inquiry-based field studies at Galena where students actively develop site plans, then participate in hands-on restoration and monitoring activities. A post-trip classroom visit will capture learning outcomes through testing. This project addresses the need for civic local engagement in active restoration activities, providing integrated learning opportunities and ongoing stewardship of our local watershed. TMWA Benefit: This project supports multiple Truckee River Fund priorities that seek watershed improvements by reducing sediment, suspended solids, or TDS discharges to the Truckee River. The project also supports the development and implementation of educational programs relative to water, water quality and watershed protection.



Page 1 of 2

STAFF REPORT

TO: Board of Directors THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: Andy Gebhardt, Director Operations and Water Quality DATE: September 18, 2019 SUBJECT: Presentation regarding operational readiness for fire emergencies BACKGROUND In our dry climate and arid region, a devastating fire situation is always a possibility and concern. This concern is only heightened with the recent fire tragedies that have occurred in California. Per Board request, this report is to outline Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s operational readiness if faced with either wildland or structure fires where water service may be impacted. DISCUSSION TMWA’s service territory covers 162.5 square miles, and water service is provided via 2 water treatment plants, 99 wells, 95 water storage tanks and 110 booster pump stations spread throughout the service territory. The primary concern with a fire in our service territory, other than the obvious threat to TMWA facilities themselves, is how the fire may impact the power supply to our facilities.

Fortunately, all booster pump stations and wells are designed to be operated by back-up generators, should the power supply no longer be available. While many of the stations have back-up generators directly installed at the site, TMWA also has portable generators that can power a booster pump station or well, should the need arise. Both of TMWA’s water treatment facilities are also equipped with back-up generators, should the power supply not be available. In addition, TMWA has contracts with local providers to obtain additional generators should that be necessary. TMWA is also part of NVWARN, which is the Nevada Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network. This network of cooperating agencies agrees to provide assistance, whether it be manpower or tools, to any agency that is in need during an emergency.

TMWA works with NVEnergy and their Public Safety Outage Management program to identify any TMWA facilities that may be affected due to a proactive disconnection of utility power for


Page 2 of 2

safety reasons. NVEnergy has a map that identifies any areas that may be impacted during these situations.

Fortunately for TMWA, our service territory is not in the impacted areas identified on the map. With that said, any fire could potentially impact the power supply, and we have to be aware of that. A recent example was the fire north of Sun Valley near Spanish Springs in July. We contacted NVEnergy to see if they were planning on cutting power to any areas near the fire. While they stated that they were not planning on it at the time, we proactively brought out a generator to one of our sites so that if local power supply was impacted, we would be able to continue to supply water to the area.

We've never had an instance where we were not able to supply water for firefighting. During fire situations, we work with fire agencies to identify critical infrastructure that may require protection in order to provide water for firefighting. A prime example would be the Caughlin Fire, in which our Distribution Director discovered fire surrounding one of our booster pump stations. He notified the fire agency that if that booster pump station were to succumb to the fire, water supply would be greatly impacted. The fire agency immediately positioned a fire crew right at the site to ensure it wasn't impacted by the fire.

From an operational standpoint, TMWA’s water operations control room monitors our system 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. They are notified by the local fire agencies anytime there is an active fire. In addition, TMWA operators monitor local news reports, should there be an active fire where prior notification was not provided. The control room operators immediately start flowing water toward the affected areas, both to fill water tanks as well as increase pressure. An example of this would be the recent Pallet fire in Stead. We were notified of the fire by an off-duty employee and immediately started diverting water to the area. As the fire was very large, and had the potential to spread, the fire agency called and asked if there was any more water available. Our operators were able to adjust the system so that we could give the fire agency every last bit of water we could, without sacrificing the water supply in other areas of the system.

CONCLUSION As fires are unpredictable, it would be impossible to account for every possible scenario and situation where fire may break out. The variables are too great between wind, temperature, moisture and fuel. That said, TMWA feels very comfortable our operational plans and system design will allow us to reliably provide water service for customers, as well as the water service needed to battle fires.


Page 1 of 1

STAFF REPORT

TO: Board of Directors THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: Jessica Atkinson, Human Resources Manager DATE: September 9, 2019 SUBJECT: Discussion and action regarding General Manager performance review for

contract year 2018/2019 and discussion and action on possible lump sum award and/or other compensation adjustment

Recommendation The TMWA Board review the General Manager, Mark Foree’s performance results for the past contract year and consider a possible compensation adjustment beyond that which was provided for in Foree’s employment contract and became effective July 1, 2019. Additional compensation adjustments for consideration could include an adjustment to annual salary and/or lump sum award. Discussion In October 2018, the Board adopted the specific objectives that the General Manager would be working to accomplish during the contract year and that the Board would use to evaluate the performance of the General Manager. The General Manager’s evaluation report of accomplishments related to the goals set by the Board last year is shown in Attachment 1. The results of the GM evaluation survey completed by 1) Board members and 2) Division/Department Heads (direct reports to GM) is shown in Attachment 2. During the September 19, 2018 Board meeting, the TMWA Board approved for the General Manager’s salary to adjust to Step 4 of the General Manager wage band and to automatically adjust on July 1, 2019 to the “market” step of the General Manager wage band. Consistent with this direction, on July 1, 2019, Mark Foree’s salary was adjusted from $215,115 annually to the “market step” of the General Manager wage band at $231,342 annually. This 2019 adjustment totaled 7.4%. The TMWA GM’s employment agreement (Attachment 3) limits the annual compensation adjustment (base salary adjustment plus any lump sum award) to 10% of current annual salary.

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 13 Attachment 1

Page 1 of 7

STAFF REPORT

TO: Chairman and Board Members FROM: Mark Foree, General Manager DATE: September 9, 2019 SUBJECT: General Manager’s report related to performance on goals adopted by the

Board for contract year 2018/2019 RECOMMENDATION

The TMWA Board review the General Manager’s performance results for the past contract year. DISCUSSION In September 2018, the Board adopted the following specific objectives that the General Manager would be working to accomplish during the contract year and that the Board would use to evaluate the performance of the General Manager. The following is a brief summary of results.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES RESULTS

A

Direct the preparation of and propose financial plans, investment strategies, funding plans and adjustments to rates and charges that will continue to keep TMWA in long term financial stability; including preparation of budgets and Capital Improvement Plans and financial reporting that comply with Nevada Revised Statutes and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Fiscal budgets including the Capital Improvement Plan were prepared and presented to the Board for preliminary and final approval. Regular updates regarding financial picture and investments were presented. There was no bond refinancing done this fiscal year.

B

Develop proactive communications plans to address upcoming issues (e.g., topics affecting water supply, drought planning, regional water issues, utility water system consolidation and rate changes) and to keep all stakeholders including the Board, the employees, and the customers informed through a variety of mediums. Respond to media inquiries and provide informational interviews.

Communications were delivered through multiple media including newsprint, a myriad of broadcast interviews, various presentations before local groups and legislative sub-committees, bill print messages, bill inserts, TMWA’s e-newsletter, workshops and special events booths. Focus this year was on water supply, conservation, water quality and the continued implementation of TROA. There were also communications around TMWA’s developer fees being updated as well as the meter retrofit fees being changed to a drought resiliency fund.


Page 2 of 7

GENERAL OBJECTIVES RESULTS

C

Continue having and improve on a community presence for TMWA through the Water Leadership program and participation in community committees, boards, and networking organizations and by providing presentations and information to these groups; offer Truckee River, Chalk Bluff Plant and/or other informational Tours to the community.

TMWA staff participates in a multitude of organizations including Rotary, The Chamber, WaterStart, EDAWN, WIN, Nevada Water Innovation Institute (NWII), and participated in multiple community events including Earth Day, forums, One Truckee River (OTR) Month, etc. Presentations to schools and organizations like Rotary, the Builders Association of Northern Nevada, and HOA’s have touched on many topics including water supply, drought planning, conservation, development/growth, TROA implementation and more. Several public tours were given this year including numerous tours of the Chalk Bluff plant and the Verdi Hydroelectric power plant. TMWA held its second Smart About Water (SAW) Day event, in partnership with other local organizations, which was a great success with members of the community. Also, SAW exhibits circulated throughout the region (with great success) in public areas such as libraries, Reno City Hall, Sparks City Hall and Washoe County Commission foyers.

D

Continue to create a highly productive work environment and a highly motivated employee team by developing, training, retaining and recruiting the highest quality employees.

TMWA again achieved favorable rating of over 90% in our annual third party administered Customer Satisfaction Survey – this outstanding result is a tribute to TMWA’s talented and highly motivated employees. TMWA continues to maintain high certification levels for staff and provides both internal and external training opportunities. To further this endeavor, staff has engaged in ride-a-longs with crew personnel, brown bag lunch sessions, and tours of our facilities.

E

Strive for continuous improvements in processes and operations targeting initiatives that will enhance revenues and/or reduce operating costs thus keeping customer rates as low as possible.

TMWA’s Operating Margin (Operating Revenue minus Expenses) ended up $214k more favorable than budget, while capital spend was approximately $8m (17%) under budget. TMWA’s leadership regularly reviews operating costs compared to budget to help develop cost saving measures. TMWA has continued to manage operating revenues and expenses to budget to maintain low customer rates. Evidence of this was the deferral of a 2.5% rate increase which was scheduled for May 2019. TMWA’s financial position justified the deferral of this increase to be considered in FY 2020. Additionally, TMWA established a Rate Stabilization Fund in FY 2019. This fund can be used to avoid, decrease or defer a rate increase would otherwise be required to cover reduced revenue, increased operating or capital spending.


Page 3 of 7

ONGOING OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES RESULTS

a Monitor federal legislation for opportunities to obtain funding for a variety of TMWA projects.

TMWA completed the Verdi Main Extension project which will provide water service to the Riverbelle Mobile Home Park which triggered the receipt of a $500,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund principle forgiveness loan.

b

Carefully analyze opportunities to acquire water rights and resources in the market in consideration of current inventory and financial constraints. Insure adequate resources are available through TMWA’s Rule 7.

There was only a small amount of activity here due to large inventory.

c

Provide staff support to the SAC, Truckee Meadows Community Forestry Coalition and the Truckee River Fund (TRF) Advisors and ensure communications regarding TRF projects.

This was done.

d Manage and direct activities relative to legal issues, keeping the Board informed on all such matters.

This was done.

e

Update TMWA Administrative Instructions as required to ensure they are compliant with applicable laws and current practices. Deliver updates to the Board and employees, and implement the changes.

Staff is currently working on updating the TMWA Administrative Instructions which will be presented to the Board at a later date.

f

Minimize cost impacts to customers by maximizing investment and hydroelectric income, pursuing revenue enhancement and collection opportunities, pursuing process improvements and projects that drive savings in TMWA expenses, and actively pursuing grant/low-interest loan funding for projects.

TMWA generated $2.6 million in hydroelectric revenue this year. TMWA meets regularly with investment managers to optimize investment returns while ensuring compliance with TMWA’s investment policy. These items along with recurring operating cost reviews by management will keep TMWA’s rates as low as possible.


Page 4 of 7

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES RESULTS

1

Develop customer conservation communications plan for the 2019 irrigation season, including water supply planning, and detailed public/customer communications/ outreach plan - present to the SAC for their recommendation and Board for approval no later than the April Board Meeting.

The communication plan was completed and presented to, and approved by, the Board in April, and presented to the SAC in June. This plan follows the approved 2016-2035 WRP. As of June 30, 2019, all of TMWA’s reservoirs were at or very close to full capacity due to the significantly above average winter snowpack and runoff. Lake Tahoe was just 0.12 feet below its maximum legal elevation of 6,229.10’ and all of the other reservoirs on the system (besides Boca-see below), were either still filling or at 99 plus percent of maximum storage capacity. With full upstream reservoirs, the Truckee River is in great shape as Floriston Rates are projected to be made for at least the next two years. Because the elevation of Tahoe is expected to remain high and Floriston Rates are projected to be maintained, TMWA’s water supply per the Water Resources Plan will not be impacted. As such, we did not require additional conservation efforts from our customers. Advertising and messaging focused on continued responsible water use and staff continued with the “Smart About Water” campaign as part of the communication plan. The effort has been successful in changing the dialogue with customers by taking a more pro-active stance in educating and informing the community. The campaign has been well received by our customers.

2

Continue working with city and county staff regarding regional water issues, regional economic development initiatives, etc. including pilot testing and analysis related to infiltrating or injecting highly treated wastewater into the ground for later use, and analysis related to possible construction of an effluent pipeline connection between TMWRF and STMWRF, etc.

TMWA staff has continued to work extensively with the cities, TRIGID, Switch and Google regarding the planned delivery of reclaimed water to the Tahoe Reno Industrial General Improvement District system for industrial use, with a focus on water rights and the return flow management agreement. TMWA has also assumed a leadership role along with OneWater Nevada and UNR to investigate the feasibility of groundwater augmentation using Category A+ advanced purified reclaimed water, leading toward the implementation and operation of a small scale pilot treatment process at the RSWRF later this year. Additional work has included an assessment of the hydrogeologic feasibility of infiltrating or injecting advanced purified reclaimed water in Stead, Cold Springs and Bedell Flat. TMWA staff continues to provide technical support to the Regional Effluent Management Team in evaluating various effluent management strategies.


Page 5 of 7


3

Conclude due diligence related to the possible acquisition of the West Reno (Boomtown) water system and if appropriate and as directed by the Board, complete the acquisition. Continue analyzing water supply options related to fringe area development where private systems exist, make recommendations to Board and follow Board direction regarding same.

Staff successfully completed due diligence to acquire the West Reno (Boomtown) water system which the Board approved at its March meeting. Staff continues to analyze water supply options related to fringe area development where private systems exist and will bring any recommendations to the Board when they arise.

4

Monitor and participate in Legislative activities during the 2019 legislative session, prepare and deliver presentations to Legislative Committees as requested, keep the Board updated and informed regarding legislative matters, and pursue Board direction regarding Legislative issues. Facilitate open communications between legislators and the TMWA Board.

Monitored legislative activities and worked closely with TMWA legal counsel and lobbyists, provided reports to TMWA’s Legislative Subcommittee and the Board and received input from same and testified accordingly on various bills. Also, TMWA staff, a Board member, legal counsel and lobbyists met with legislators to amend bills that negatively impacted TMWA. Most notable of the bills were: AB 62 (extend time to complete construction of projects to divert water) passed with language acceptable to TMWA; AB136 (prevailing wage decreased from $250k to $100k); SB236 (allows for replacing a well within 300 feet and across parcels without changing a point of diversion); SB250 (dedication of water rights ), amended and passed; SB358 (revision to definition of what qualifies as a renewable energy system), amendments were passed and TMWA’s hydro facilities are no longer excluded from the bill. The interim session will include a committee on oversight of Marlette Lake, AB30 (3M bill), fire management, and how to implement SB250.

5

Update the 5-year Funding Plan and present to the SAC and the Board. Propose Board actions based on the results of the planning cycle updates. Implement Board direction with regard to funding plan outcomes.

This was done at the Board Strategic Planning Workshop in October 2018.

6

Analyze TMWA’s financial position in regard to the implementation of the third phase of rate adjustment (scheduled to go into effect in May, 2019 – approved by the Board in April, 2017) and provide a report to the Board prior to the scheduled implementation date.

At the May meeting, staff recommended, and Board approved, to delay the third phase of rate adjustment until the next 5-year Funding Plan, which will be presented at the October Strategic Planning Workshop to determine the necessity of implementing the third phase adjustment.


Page 6 of 7


7

Complete Water Facility Plan and analyze the need for any necessary water facility charge adjustments, report results of analysis to the SAC and Board of Directors and follow Board direction regarding same.

Water facility charges were analyzed in detail following completion of the Water Facility Plan (WFP) update. The update, which was presented to the Board at its June 2019 meeting, provided recommended facilities and improvements required to meet future demand. In addition, staff provided extensive public outreach and communication regarding the proposed developer fee revisions for TMWA rate schedules Business Serves Fees and Water System Facility Charges. The amendments were adopted by the Board in August 2019 and will go into effect October 1, 2019.

8

Continue to develop/refine strategies to optimize conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater resources; further develop/refine drought supply operational strategies; and implement plans.

Although groundwater recharge has decreased due to record precipitation and upstream storage, TMWA continues to recharge groundwater to support water quality improvement goals. TMWA now employs 27 fully permitted recharge wells in the system. TMWA is working with the Nevada Division of Water Resources and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection for permit coverage on 27 additional wells. Through conjunctive use, groundwater pumping was reduced by over 2,000 acre-feet between the Mt. Rose, Spanish Springs, Lemmon Valley and former STMGID areas, and 581 acre-feet was recharged system-wide during FY 2019

9

Continue to develop, refine and implement strategies to mitigate pre-merger groundwater conditions on the Mt. Rose fan including commencing construction of the Mt. Rose Water Treatment Plant.

With the completion of the Zolezzi Improvements which convey surface water into the Arrowcreek System (former Washoe County groundwater only supply), TMWA has reduced groundwater pumping on the Mt Rose fan by approximately 35% and has seen regional groundwater levels rise by 15 to 20 feet. TMWA is 10 months into construction of the Mt. Rose Water Treatment Plant (scheduled to be operational in summer 2020) and completed construction of a 16-inch transmission main along Arrowcreek Pkwy to supply Truckee River water to the upper STMGID West system.

10

Conduct the public process regarding the proposal to broaden the meter retrofit fee purpose for drought resiliency and water resources sustainability and present to the SAC and the Board the final recommendation. Based on Board discretion, conduct public/stakeholder workshops prior to bringing a rule change to the Board for approval.

Per Board direction at its June 2018 meeting, TMWA staff moved forward with changing the purpose of the meter retrofit fee. They analyzed the fee amount, which decreased from $1, 830 per acre-foot (AF) to $1,600/AF; and broadened the fee purpose to support projects that enhance water resource sustainability and drought resiliency. Staff held an open house on November 8, 2018 and presented to the SAC and BANN at their November 2018 meetings. The Board adopted the new fee at its January 2019 meeting.


Page 7 of 7


11

Obtain an appraisal for the Farad property and facilities and continue discussions with the Truckee Donner Land Trust and possibly other parties regarding the property related to possible conservation, recreation, education, etc. uses, and return a recommendation to the Board.

TMWA staff ventured into discussions with the Truckee Donner Land Trust (TLDT), but nothing was finalized. In June, the Board directed staff to proceed with the sale of the Farad property as surplus property. Staff engaged two appraisers and received one appraisal at $265,000 for the property. Staff advertised the sale in multiple newspapers and created a website for the sale for interested parties to submit their contact information and learn how to become a pre-qualified bidder. The deadline for sealed bids was August 16, 2019, which only one was received. At the August 21 Board meeting, the Board considered the one sealed bid and subsequent auction bidding between that bidder and another party. The Board then voted to reject the bids and directed staff to return at the September meeting with an updated resolution for adoption to reopen the bidding process.

12

Continue to analyze and estimate feasibility and cost of using existing TMWA water rights to A) increase the generation output at the Fleish hydro and B) to install a hydro generation facility at the Highland Canal at Chalk Bluff and provide a report and recommendation to the Board.

TMWA has provided hydrologic data as well as Chalk Bluff energy consumption data to Kleinschmidt for inclusion in to a proforma analysis. TMWA has received the final proforma from Kleinschmidt and is completing financial vetting. With the hydrologic data provided and potential impacts to available river water as allowed by TROA, the original recommended turbine size was reduced. All analysis has been completed with a conservative approach including considerations to TROA, historical hydrologic data as well as current costs of construction. Further potential savings in project costs may be realized by additional combining of building infrastructure. Permitting costs have not been estimated at this time.

13

Develop succession plan related to retirements that are expected to occur within the next five years and begin implementation of the plan. Focus on leadership team retirements.

TMWA staff conducted an environmental scan, employee career map, identified critical positions, and leadership performance and potential assessments of employees who volunteered to participate. Staff presented the succession planning process to the Board at its August 2019 meeting and the phased approach of addressing the needs in each department that will not only experience many retirements over the next five years, but also address employee professional development needs.

The General Manager’s performance evaluation consists of an annual appraisal by the Board of Directors, as provided for in

the General Manager’s employment agreement.

The purpose of the evaluation process is to maintain a strong Board/Manager team by ensuring open and productive

communication on an annual basis. During this formal review process, there is an opportunity to identify areas of satisfaction

and areas for growth or needing change as identified by the Board.

The evaluation will be completed by each member of the Board.

The Executive Team and Department Heads reporting to the General Manager have been invited to participate in this

performance review process.

The Human Resources Manager is the facilitator for this process, and will gather input from the confidential survey

completed by each of the above-referenced individuals. A staff report and the summary results from the evaluation survey

will be provided as supporting materials for the public meeting at which the TMWA Board reviews the annual performance of

the General Manager.

Rating Criteria:

For each performance criteria, please use the following rating scale:

E – Exceeds your expectations

M – Meets your expectations

AG - Areas for growth

NA – Not applicable

Introduction

General Manager Performance Evaluation forFY2019


Page 1 of 36

Truckee Meadows Water Authority General Manager Performance Evaluation

Survey Data Summary Sheet

Rating Scale E-Exceeds your expectationsM-Meets your expectationsAG-Areas for growthNA-Not Applicable

# of Responses Criteria E M AG NA Interpersonal Skills & Relationships 10 2 Ability to relate well to others and to make people feel at ease, even in difficult times.

9 3 Ability to gain the trust and confidence of the public; fosters contact and cooperation among citizens, community organizations and other government agencies.

10 2 Understands and embraces the concept of inter-local cooperation when appropriate. 8 4 Fosters cooperative communication and working relationships with the Board.

6 6 Has the ability to utilize appropriate media for communication – Internet, social media, TV, radio, newspaper, Board meetings, group interactions, Individual meetings.

8 4 Skilled in negotiation techniques in a variety of scenarios – employee, Board, public, interagency, outside entities.

9 3 Demonstrates sensitivity and empathy towards individuals or groups as appropriate. 10 2 Is forthright and honest in all relationships. E M AG NA Communication Skills

7 5 Verbal Communication Skills – Good command of oral expression; expresses ideas clearly and concisely; easily comprehends ideas expressed by others; able to explain and understand difficult and complex subjects.

7 5 Written Communication Skills – Good command of written expression; expresses ideas clearly and concisely; easily comprehends ideas expressed by others; able to explain and understand difficult and complex subjects through written media.

10 2 Presentation skills – Is able to prepare and present quality presentations using a variety of tools and media; presentations are effective and visually appealing.

E M AG NA Innovation 10 2 Participates with Board and staff in strategic planning 12 Exhibits a forward-thinking approach, both in the short and long term. 8 4 Utilizes effective project management techniques. 8 3 1 Sets objectives for personal performance and manages toward those objectives. 9 2 1 Completes projects agreed upon with Board within given time frame. E M AG NA Leadership 9 3 Coaches, mentors and manages in accordance with TMWA Values and Vision.

11 1 Uses sound judgment in decision making. Seeks out relevant and necessary data. 10 2 Makes decisions in a timely manner. 10 2 Directs Utilization of TMWA resources effectively. 8 4 Directs the TMWA customer service goals and initiatives, both internally and externally.

11 1 Emergencies and crisis situations are handled in an effective, efficient and professional manner.

6 6 Stays current on management practices and techniques. 7 3 Actively pursues ways to increase his value to TMWA. E M AG NA Management of Staff 12 Able to delegate authority appropriately, granting proper authority at proper times. 9 3 Utilizes a positive approach to direct work efforts of staff. 4 8 Addresses employee issues promptly and effectively, utilizing progressive discipline.

10 2 Encourages and rewards initiative. 11 1 Promotes cohesive teamwork with the TMWA Senior Management Team. 259 85 0 2 Total number of responses by rating all categories combined 75% 24% 0% 1% Total % rating all categories combined

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 13Attachment 2

Page 2 of 36

What are you most pleased with in the General Manager’s Performance?

1

Mark is a very engaging, knowledgeable individual. He hires good people and is excellent at rallying the team. He has a very good understanding of what needs to be done, what issues to address, and creative ways to get things done. I think he is a supportive manager who people like to work for. He has helped take TMWA to the next level and makes all of us look good. High marks.

2 His willingness to open to new need sand regional work together- also great job investing in his team around him 3 He has assembled a good team to run the operation

4 Mark's forward thinking attitude to keep TMWA in a sustainable position for generations to come is exemplary. Whether from the fiscal perspective, drought planning/storage, TMWA's 90+% approval rating, or succession planning, Mr Foree's leadership fingerprints are all over the organization.

5 The success story of this General Manager is in his ability to get things done and to provide an amazing and congenial atmosphere for the success of TMWA.

6 His ability to always be available when needed.

7 Allows good performers to "do their thing" without undue oversight. He works hard to maintain the TMWA culture. He provides support, historical perspective and key feedback on important issues and/or challenges.

8 Mark doesn't hesitate to support staff and get involved to resolve issues when necessary.

9 Mark allows staff to do their job and provides input and or advise when needed. He trusts his staff to the right things.

What area for growth would you like to see? Please provide specific suggestions on how the General Manager may improve the areas for growth.

1 I think it is sometimes difficult for Mark to fully express his ideas and get his points across. He is very intelligent and knowledgeable in his field - but his communication ability sometimes - not often - gets in the way. An area to work on.

2 He has done a fine job 3 I would like to see TMWA take more of a regional management approach to water in all of its forms. 4 I believe this General Manager has proven himself as a leader and will continue to do so.

5 With increasing interaction and cooperation with local governments, Mark could take a more proactive role in strengthening his relationships with City and County leaders.

6 None at this time. Goals for 2019-2020

1

Make us more aware of some of the internal dynamics of the organization. Hard to evaluate if we are not aware. Continue effort to establish water policy goals for the region. Really appreciate the direction the new water plan is taking. Very glad to see an entire refresh. Looking forward to the end product. Glad to see the continuing effort on public outreach. Think this is an area that can continue to grow to meet the community's needs.

2 Large steps towards regional digital construction plan submittal and permitting 3 Continue reviewing customer rates on an annual basis.

4 Continue to work on the feasibility study for indirect potable reuse as a viable, and sustainable additional water supply for our region.

5 Maintenance of our status in the community and continuation of a very successful organization.

6 Continue to work on succession planning throughout the organization, including development of his eventual replacement, with emphasis on maintaining TMWA's high performance culture.

Any Additional Comments

1

I am really pleased with the direction TMWA is going and how the staff are performing as a group. They work well as a team and deliver a superior product. They are evolving with the times and embracing new concepts. I use them as a benchmark for the whole Truckee Meadows region in terms of evaluating other staff and teams. Outstanding job. A+Kudos.

2 I appreciate his leadership 3 Well done!

4 TMWA is a great place to work, has effective management and Board direction, and is in a strong financial position. Don't let up!


Page 3 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q1 Ability to relate well to others and to make people feel at ease, evenin difficult situations.

Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES

E

M

AG

NA

1 / 33

General Manager Performance Evaluation for FY2019 SurveyMonkey09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 13 Attachment 2

Page 4 of 36

75.00% 9

25.00% 3

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q2 Ability to gain the trust and confidence of the public; fosters contactand cooperation among citizens, community organizations and other

government agencies.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

2 / 33


Page 5 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q3 Understands and embraces the concept of inter-local cooperationwhen appropriate.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

3 / 33


Page 6 of 36

66.67% 8

33.33% 4

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q4 Fosters cooperative communication and working relationships withthe Board.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

4 / 33


Page 7 of 36

50.00% 6

50.00% 6

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q5 Has the ability to utilize appropriate media for communication -Internet, social media, TV, radio, newspaper, Board meetings, group

interactions, individual meetings.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

5 / 33


Page 8 of 36

66.67% 8

33.33% 4

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q6 Skilled in negotiation techniques in a variety of scenarios - employee,Board, public, interagency, outside entities.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

6 / 33


Page 9 of 36

75.00% 9

25.00% 3

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q7 Demonstrates sensitivity and empathy towards individuals or groupsas appropriate.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

7 / 33


Page 10 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q8 Is forthright and honest in all relationships.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

8 / 33


Page 11 of 36

58.33% 7

41.67% 5

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q9 Verbal Communication Skills- Good command of oral expression;expresses ideas clearly and concisely; easily comprehends ideas

expressed by others; able to explain and understand difficult and complexsubjects.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

9 / 33


Page 12 of 36

58.33% 7

41.67% 5

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q10 Written Communications- Good command of written expression;expresses ideas clearly and concisely; easily comprehends ideas

expressed by others; able to explain and understand difficult and complexsubjects through written media.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

10 / 33


Page 13 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q11 Presentation Skills- Is able to prepare and present qualitypresentations using a variety of tools and media; presentations are

effective and visually appealing.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

11 / 33


Page 14 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q12 Participates with Board and staff in strategic planning.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

12 / 33


Page 15 of 36

100.00% 12

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q13 Exhibits a forward-thinking approach, both in the short and longterm.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

13 / 33


Page 16 of 36

66.67% 8

33.33% 4

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q14 Utilizes effective project management techniques.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

14 / 33


Page 17 of 36

66.67% 8

25.00% 3

0.00% 0

8.33% 1

Q15 Set objectives for personal performance and manages toward thoseobjectives.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

15 / 33


Page 18 of 36

75.00% 9

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

8.33% 1

Q16 Completes projects agreed upon with Board within the given timeframe.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

16 / 33


Page 19 of 36

75.00% 9

25.00% 3

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q17 Coaches, mentors and manages in accordance with TMWA Valuesand Vision.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

17 / 33


Page 20 of 36

91.67% 11

8.33% 1

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q18 Uses sound judgment in decision making. Seeks out relevant andnecessary data.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

18 / 33


Page 21 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q19 Makes decisions in a timely manner.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

19 / 33


Page 22 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q20 Directs utilization of TMWA resources effectively.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

20 / 33


Page 23 of 36

66.67% 8

33.33% 4

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q21 Directs the TMWA customer service goals and initiatives, bothinternally and externally.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

21 / 33


Page 24 of 36

91.67% 11

8.33% 1

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q22 Emergencies and crisis situations are handled in an effective,efficient and professional manner.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

22 / 33


Page 25 of 36

50.00% 6

50.00% 6

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q23 Stays current on management practices and techniques.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

23 / 33


Page 26 of 36

70.00% 7

30.00% 3

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q24 Actively pursues ways to increase his value to TMWA.Answered: 10 Skipped: 2

TOTAL 10

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

24 / 33


Page 27 of 36

100.00% 12

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q25 Able to delegate authority appropriately, granting proper authority atproper times.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

25 / 33


Page 28 of 36

75.00% 9

25.00% 3

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q26 Utilizes a positive approach to direct work efforts of staff.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

26 / 33


Page 29 of 36

33.33% 4

66.67% 8

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q27 Addresses employee issues promptly and effectively, utilizingprogressive discipline.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

27 / 33


Page 30 of 36

83.33% 10

16.67% 2

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q28 Encourages and rewards initiative.Answered: 12 Skipped: 0

TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

28 / 33


Page 31 of 36

91.67% 11

8.33% 1

0.00% 0

0.00% 0

Q29 Promotes cohesive teamwork with the TMWA Senior ManagementTeam.


TOTAL 12

E

M

AG

NA

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%


E

M

AG

NA

29 / 33


Page 32 of 36

Q30 What you are most pleased with in the General Manager’sperformance?Answered: 9 Skipped: 3

# RESPONSES DATE

1 Mark is a very engaging, knowledgeable individual. He hires good people and is excellent atrallying the team. He has a very good understanding of what needs to be done, what issues toaddress, and creative ways to get things done. I think he is a supportive manager who people liketo work for. He has helped take TMWA to the next level and makes all of us look good. Highmarks.

9/12/2019 4:51 AM

2 His willingness to open to new need sand regional work together- also great job investing in histeam around him

9/9/2019 1:05 PM

3 He has assembled a good team to run the operation. 9/9/2019 5:25 AM

4 Mark's forward thinking attitude to keep TMWA in a sustainable position for generations to come isexemplary. Whether from the fiscal perspective, drought planning/storage, TMWA's 90+%approval rating, or succession planning, Mr Foree's leadership fingerprints are all over theorganization.

9/8/2019 1:07 PM

5 The success story of this General Manager is in his ability to get things done and to provide anamazing and congenial atmosphere for the success of TMWA.

9/6/2019 2:35 AM

6 His ability to always be available when needed. 9/5/2019 5:08 AM

7 Allows good performers to "do their thing" without undue oversight. He works hard to maintain theTMWA culture. He provides support, historical perspective and key feedback on important issuesand/or challenges.

8/28/2019 8:21 AM

8 Mark doesn't hesitate to support staff and get involved to resolve issues when necessary. 8/26/2019 5:39 AM

9 Mark allows staff to do their job and provides input and or advise when needed. He trusts his staffto the right things.

8/26/2019 4:34 AM

30 / 33


Page 33 of 36

Q31 What areas for growth would you like to see? Please provide specificsuggestions on how the General Manager may improve the areas for

growth?Answered: 6 Skipped: 6

# RESPONSES DATE

1 I think it is sometimes difficult for Mark to fully express his ideas and get his points across. He isvery intelligent and knowledgeable in his field - but his communication ability sometimes - not often- gets in the way. An area to work on.

9/12/2019 4:51 AM

2 He has done a fine job 9/9/2019 1:05 PM

3 I would like to see TMWA take more of a regional management approach to water in all of itsforms.

9/8/2019 1:07 PM

4 I believe this General Manager has proven himself as a leader and will continue to do so. 9/6/2019 2:35 AM

5 With increasing interaction and cooperation with local governments, Mark could take a moreproactive role in strengthening his relationships with City and County leaders.

8/28/2019 8:21 AM

6 None at this time. 8/26/2019 4:34 AM

31 / 33


Page 34 of 36

Q32 Goals for 2019-2020Answered: 6 Skipped: 6

# RESPONSES DATE

1 Make us more aware of some of the internal dynamics of the organization. Hard to evaluate if weare not aware. Continue effort to establish water policy goals for the region. Really appreciate thedirection the new water plan is taking. Very glad to see an entire refresh. Looking forward to theend product. Glad to see the continuing effort on public outreach. Think this is an area that cancontinue to grow to meet the community's needs. Really appreciate the annual customer survey forthe feedback it affords us. Continue effort - in fact try to speed up! - study of injection of reclaimedeffluent. This will become ever more critical to the region's water supply and as a disposal optionas the area grows.

9/12/2019 4:51 AM

2 Large steps towards regional digital construction plan submittal and permitting 9/9/2019 1:05 PM

3 Continue reviewing customer rates on an annual basis. 9/9/2019 5:25 AM

4 Continue to work on the feasibility study for indirect potable reuse as a viable, and sustainableadditional water supply for our region.

9/8/2019 1:07 PM

5 Maintenance of our status in the community and continuation of a very successful organization. 9/6/2019 2:35 AM

6 Continue to work on succession planning throughout the organization, including development ofhis eventual replacement, with emphasis on maintaining TMWA's high performance culture.

8/28/2019 8:21 AM

32 / 33


Page 35 of 36

Q33 Any additional comments?Answered: 4 Skipped: 8

# RESPONSES DATE

1 I am really pleased with the direction TMWA is going and how the staff are performing as a group.They work well as a team and deliver a superior product. They are evolving with the times andembracing new concepts. I use them as a benchmark for the whole Truckee Meadows region interms of evaluating other staff and teams. Outstanding job. A+Kudos.

9/12/2019 4:51 AM

2 I appreciate his leadership 9/9/2019 1:05 PM

3 Well done! 9/8/2019 1:07 PM

4 TMWA is a great place to work, has effective management and Board direction, and is in a strongfinancial position. Don't let up!

8/28/2019 8:21 AM

33 / 33


Page 36 of 36


Page 1 of 8


Page 2 of 8


Page 3 of 8


Page 4 of 8


Page 5 of 8


Page 6 of 8


Page 7 of 8


Page 8 of 8

September 10, 2019

Mr. Mark Foree

I'*, TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER

� ,

/ A U T H O R I T Y

Qualit11. Delivered.

General Manager, Truckee Meadows Water Authority PO Box 30013 Reno, NV 89520-3013

Re: Notice of meeting of the TMWA Board of Directors meeting to evaluate your performance, and consider your professional competence.

Mr. Foree,

The TMWA Board, at its meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 10:00 AM, will conduct an annual evaluation of your performance as General Manager. In the process of these discussions, the Board may consider your professional competence and may take administrative action related to your compensation.

This public meeting will take place at Sparks Council Chambers, 745 4th Street, Sparks, NV.

By signing below, you acknowledge personal receipt of this notice.

This notice is being provided to you in accordance with NRS 241.033.

Sincerely,

Vaughn Hartung, Chair Truckee Meadows Water Authority Board of Directors

RECEIPT

Mark Foree acknowledges personal receipt of written notice of the foregoing as of September/ 0 ';2019.

Mark Foree

775.834.8080 I tmwa.com I 1355 Capital Blvd. I P.O. Box 30013 I Reno, NV 89520-3013


Page 1 of 1


Page 1 of 3

STAFF REPORT

TO: Chairman and Board Members FROM: Mark Foree, General Manager DATE: September 9, 2019 SUBJECT: Discussion and action on request for Board input and acceptance of General

Manager performance objectives for contract year 2019/2020

RECOMMENDATION

The TMWA Board review the objectives proposed herein, provide input to the proposed objectives and approve the objectives as amended by the Board discussion.

DISCUSSION

As in the past the Board has requested an opportunity to discuss and approve specific objectives and criteria that the General Manager would be working to accomplish during the current fiscal year. These objectives and criteria would be used to evaluate the performance of the General Manager at the end of the contract year. Below are suggestions for the Board’s discussion and input:

FY 2019-2020 GENERAL MANAGER

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

A

Direct the preparation of and propose financial plans, investment strategies, funding plans and adjustments to rates and charges that will continue to keep TMWA in long term financial stability; including preparation of budgets and Capital Improvement Plans and financial reporting that comply with Nevada Revised Statutes and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

B

Develop proactive communications plans to address upcoming issues (e.g., topics affecting water supply, drought planning, regional water issues, utility water system consolidation and rate changes) and to keep all stakeholders including the Board, the employees, and the customers informed through a variety of mediums. Respond to media inquiries and provide informational interviews.


Page 2 of 3


GENERAL OBJECTIVES (continued)

C

Continue having and improve on a community presence for TMWA through the Water Leadership program and participation in community committees, boards, and networking organizations and by providing presentations and information to these groups; offer Truckee River, Chalk Bluff Plant and/or other informational Tours to the community.

D Continue to create a highly productive work environment and a highly motivated employee team by developing, training, retaining and recruiting the highest quality employees.

E Strive for continuous improvements in processes and operations targeting initiatives that will enhance revenues and/or reduce operating costs thus keeping customer rates as low as possible.

ONGOING OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

a Monitor federal legislation for opportunities to obtain funding for a variety of TMWA projects.

b Carefully analyze opportunities to acquire water rights and resources in the market in consideration of current inventory and financial constraints. Insure adequate resources are available through TMWA’s Rule 7 as directed by the Board at the August 15, 2019 Water Resource Plan workshop.

c Provide staff support to the SAC, Truckee Meadows Community Forestry Coalition and the Truckee River Fund (TRF) Advisors and ensure communications regarding TRF projects.

d Manage and direct activities relative to legal issues, keeping the Board informed on all such matters.

e Update TMWA Administrative Instructions as required to ensure they are compliant with applicable laws and current practices. Deliver updates to the Board and employees, and implement the changes.

f Minimize cost impacts to customers by maximizing investment and hydroelectric income, pursuing revenue enhancement and collection opportunities, pursuing process improvements and projects that drive savings in TMWA expenses, and actively pursuing grant/low-interest loan funding for projects.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1 Develop customer conservation communications plan for the 2020 irrigation season, including water supply planning, and detailed public/customer communications/outreach plan - present to the SAC for their recommendation and Board for approval no later than the April Board Meeting.

2

Complete 2020-2040 Water Resource Plan (WRP) and related outreach plan as reviewed and directed by the Board in previous Board meetings, including the August 2019 workshop; complete public process and provide completed plan to the SAC for their recommendation and to the Board for approval/adoption; forward adopted plan to the Western Regional Water Commission (WRWC) for incorporation into the Regional Water Management Plan.

3

Continue working with city and county staff regarding regional water issues (including wastewater, effluent management stormwater, etc.), regional economic development initiatives, etc. including the OneWater Nevada initiative that includes pilot testing and analysis related to infiltrating or injecting highly treated wastewater into the ground for later use, analysis related to possible construction of an effluent pipeline connection between TMWRF and STMWRF, etc.


Page 3 of 3


SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES (continued)

4 Continue analyzing water supply options related to fringe area development where private systems exist, make recommendations to Board and follow Board direction regarding same.

5

Monitor and participate in Legislative activities during the 2020 interim, prepare and deliver presentations to Legislative Committees as requested, schedule meetings with staff, Board legislative committee members, lobbyists and legislators, keep the Board updated and informed regarding legislative matters, and pursue Board direction regarding Legislative issues. Facilitate open communications between legislators and the TMWA Board.

6 Update the 5-year Funding Plan and present to the SAC and the Board. Propose Board actions based on the results of the planning cycle updates. Implement Board direction with regard to funding plan outcomes.

7

Analyze TMWA’s financial position in regard to the implementation of the third phase of rate adjustment (previously deferred one year and now scheduled to go into effect in May, 2020 – approved by the Board in April, 2017) and provide a report to the Board prior to the scheduled implementation date.

8 Analyze the need for any necessary rule changes, water facility charge adjustments, etc. and report results of analysis to the SAC and Board of Directors and follow Board direction regarding same.

9 Continue to develop/refine strategies to optimize conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater resources; further develop/refine drought supply operational strategies; and implement plans.

10 Continue to develop, refine and implement strategies to mitigate pre-merger groundwater conditions on the Mt. Rose fan including completion of construction and starting up the Mt. Rose Water Treatment Plant.

11 Provide all necessary and requested information to the Board regarding sale of the Farad property and proceed with and complete the sale based on the terms and conditions approved by the Board.

12 Complete the analysis and feasibility and cost of using existing TMWA water rights to A) increase the generation output at the Fleish hydro and B) to install a hydro generation facility at the Highland Canal at Chalk Bluff and provide a report and recommendation to the Board.

13 Continue to refine TMWA’s succession plan (as reviewed with the Board at the August 2019 meeting) related to retirements that are expected to occur within the next five years and continue implementation of the plan. Focus on leadership team retirements.


Page 1 of 1

STAFF REPORT

TO: Board of Directors FROM: Mark Foree, General Manager DATE: September 10, 2019 SUBJECT: General Manager’s Report Attached please find the written reports from the Management team including the Operations Report (Attachment A), the Water Resource and the Annexation Activity Report (Attachment B), the Customer Services Report (Attachment C), and the Monthly Conservation Report (Attachment D).

Included in your agenda packet are press clippings from August 14, 2019 through September 11, 2019. Also, Krishna Pagilla, Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno, announced that International Water Association has accepted a competitive proposal from the Nevada Water Innovation Institute to host the 2020 Leading Edge Technology Conference, June 1-5, 2020. This is one of the prestigious conferences in the world and will bring over 500 delegates from around the world to discuss leading edge technology for both water and wastewater treatment. The last time it was held in the USA was in 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Some of past locations of this conference are Edinburgh, UK, Nanjing, China, Stockholm, Sweden, Zurich, Switzerland, Sapporo, Japan, and so on. Our cities, Reno-Sparks, will join those great cities as the host of the conference in 2020.

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15 Attachment A

Page 1 of 2

STAFF REPORT

TO: Board of Directors THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: Scott Estes, Director of Engineering BY: Bill Hauck, Senior Hydrologist DATE: September 9, 2019 SUBJECT: September 2019 Operations Report

Summary

• The water supply outlook for the region is outstanding • Upstream reservoir storage is 87% of maximum capacity • Lake Tahoe is down only ¾ of a foot from its maximum storage elevation • Upstream reservoirs are virtually full providing our region with an added layer of security

against a prolonged drought • Above average river flows are projected for the remainder of this year • Hydroelectric revenue for August 2019 was approximately $365,000 • Customer demands are beginning to decline as fall approaches

(A) Water Supply

• River Flows - Truckee River flows at the CA/NV state line are slightly above average for

this time of year. Discharge was 549 cubic feet per second (CFS) this morning. The average flow for September 9th based on 110 years of record is 478 CFS.

• Reservoir Storage – As the fall approaches, upstream reservoir storage on the Truckee

River system is in excellent shape at 87% of capacity. The elevation of Tahoe is 6228.34 feet, about ¾ quarters of a foot below maximum storage capacity. Storage values for each reservoir as of 9/9 are as follows:

Reservoir

Current Storage (Acre-Feet)

% of Capacity (Percent)

Tahoe 651,100 87% Boca 15,316 37% Donner 8,220 87% Independence 15,735 90% Prosser 18,526 62% Stampede 215,319 95%

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15 Attachment A

Page 2 of 2

In addition to the 24,000 acre-feet of storage in Donner and Independence reservoirs, TMWA has approximately 10,600 acre-feet of water stored between Lake Tahoe, Boca and Stampede reservoirs under the terms of TROA. TMWA’s total combined upstream reservoir storage is currently 34,600 acre-feet.

• Outlook - Upstream reservoir storage is in excellent shape as we head into the fall with

winter right around the corner. Lake Tahoe and all the other reservoirs on the Truckee River system were filled to capacity just a couple of months ago as a result of another big winter for the region. Some of the bigger reservoirs on the system will be as full as legally permissible to start off the winter.

(B) Water Production

• Demand - Customer demand year-to-date (YTD) is approximately the same as last year through this point in time (100% of 2018). However, demands are beginning to decline now with the shorter days and cooler night time temperatures. Last week demand averaged 119 million gallons per day (MGD). Overall, surface water is providing about 80% of our supply and groundwater the other 20% right now.

(C) Hydro Production Generation - Average Truckee River flow at Farad (CA/NV state line) for the month of August averaged 685 cubic feet per second (CFS). All three of TMWA’s power plants were on the line for the entire month and 100% available. Monthly statistics are as follows:

Hydro Plant

Days On-Line

Generation (Megawatt hours)

Revenue (Dollars)

Revenue (Dollars/Day)

Fleish 31 1,812 $ 132,638 $ 4,279 Verdi 31 1,699 $ 123,245 $ 3,976

Washoe 31 1,485 $ 108,880 $ 3,512 Totals 93 4,996 $ 364,763 $ 11,767

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15 Attachment B

Page 1 of 3

STAFF REPORT

TO: Chairman and Board Members THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: John Zimmerman, Manager, Water Resources DATE: 6 September 2019 SUBJECT: Report Water Resources and Annexation Activity RULE 7

Rule 7 water resource purchases and will-serve commitment sales against purchased water resources through this reporting period: Beginning Balance 4,328.15 AF Purchases of water rights 0.00 AF Refunds 0.00 AF Sales − 84.60 AF Adjustments − 0.00 AF Ending Balance 4,243.55 AF Price per acre foot at report date: $7,700 FISH SPRINGS RANCH, LLC GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

Through the merger of Washoe County’s water utility, TMWA assumed a Water Banking

and Trust Agreement with Fish Springs Ranch, LLC, a subsidiary of Vidler. Under the Agreement, TMWA holds record title to the groundwater rights for the benefit of Fish Springs. Fish Springs may sell and assign its interest in these groundwater rights to third parties for dedication to TMWA for a will-serve commitment in Areas where TMWA can deliver groundwater from the Fish Springs groundwater basin. Currently, TMWA can deliver Fish Springs groundwater to Area 10 only (Stead-Silver Lake-Lemmon Valley). The following is a summary of Fish Springs’ resources. Beginning Balance 7,819.47 AF Committed water rights − 10.04 AF Ending Balance 7,809.43 AF Price per acre foot at report date: $35,0001 1 Price reflects avoided cost of Truckee River water right related fees and TMWA Supply & Treatment WSF charge.


Page 2 of 3

WATER SERVICE AREA ANNEXATIONS There has been one annexation since the date of the last Board meeting (5.96-acre commercial service in the North Valleys). See attached map.


Page 3 of 3

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15 Attachment C

Page 1 of 2

STAFF REPORT

TO: Board of Directors THRU: Mark Foree, General Manager FROM: Marci Westlake, Manager Customer Service DATE: September 18, 2019 SUBJECT: August Customer Service Report The following is a summary of Customer Service activity for August 2019. Ombudsman

• Customer called looking for assistance with bill, we reached out and made payment arrangements for her that were to her liking.

• Customer called asking about connection fees but did not give a good call back number.

Communications Customer outreach in August included:

• Chuck Swegles along with Tom Stille held a Walking Tour of the River School Farm and 32 people attended.

• Will Raymond and Brett Warne held a Water Treatment/Water Quality tour at Chalk Bluff and 9 people attended.

• Brett Warne and James Weingart held a Water Treatment tour for Leading Edge Consulting and 10 people attended.

Conservation (2019 Calendar year to date) • 6,596 Water Watcher Contacts • 1,448 Water Usage Reviews Customer Calls – August • 9,425 phone calls handled • Average handling time – 4 minutes, 9 seconds per call • Average speed of answer – 19 seconds per call Billing – August

• 130,844 bills issued

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15 Attachment C

Page 2 of 2

• 0(0.00%) corrected bills • 20,392 customers (15.7%) have signed up for paperless billing to date. Service Orders –August (% is rounded) • 8,756 service orders taken • 4,584 (52%) move-ins / move-outs • 986 (11%) cut-out-for-non-payment and cut-in after receiving payments, including deposits

and checks for tamper • 655 (8%) zero consumption meter checks • 864 (10%) re-read meters • 565 (6%) new meter sets and meter/register/ERT exchanges and equipment checks • 474 (5%) problems / emergencies, including cut-out for customer repairs, dirty water, no

water, leaks, pressure complaints, safety issues, installing water meter blankets, etc. • 220 (3%) high-bill complaints / audit and water usage review requests • 408 (5%) various other service orders Remittance – August • 28,104 mailed-in payments • 27,741 electronic payments • 35,614 payments via RapidPay (EFT) • 18,038 one-time bank account payments • 8,464 credit card payments • 818 store payments • 2,019 payments via drop box or at front desk Collections –August • 13,631 accounts received a late charge • Mailed 8,535 10-day delinquent notices, 6.5% of accounts • Mailed 2,170 48-hour delinquent notices, 1.6% of accounts • 343 accounts eligible for disconnect • 321 accounts were disconnected (including accounts that had been disconnected-for-non-

payment that presented NSF checks for their reconnection) • 0.12% write-off to revenue Meter Statistics – Fiscal Year to Date • 0 Meter retrofits completed • 204 Meter exchanges completed • 405 New business meter sets completed • 127,313 Meters currently installed

MONTHLY CONSERVATION REPORT – AUGUST 2019

775.834.8080 | tmwa.com | 1355 Capital Blvd. | P.O. Box 30013 | Reno, NV 89520-3013 Page | 1 |

Drive-bys 5967Deliveries 23

Hotline Reports 287Email Reports 318

Total 6595

Waste 1763Wrong Day 4231Wrong Time 826

Total 6820

Educational Visits 3083A.M. Letters 3058

Courtesy Calls 305No Actions 147

Total 6593

Faucet Aerators 0Hose Timers 49

Nozzles 79Low-flow Shower heads 0

Tree Root Feeder 0Total 128

Water Usage Reviews 1448Tree Care Visits 133

Total 1581

Irrigation System Start-up Workshop #1 16Irrigation System Start-up Workshop #2 6

Landscape Planning & Design Workshop 23River-Friendly Landscaping Workshop* 6

Tree Care Workshop 20 Drip System Maintenance Workshop 19Walking Tour - Valley Wood Park #1 10

Watershed Warrior Workshop* 2Sprinkler System Maintenance Workshop 9

Walking Tour - River School Farm 31Walking Tour, Part 2 - Valley Wood Park #2

Winterize Your Irrigation System Workshop #1Winterize Your Irrigation System Workshop #2Winterize Your Irrigation System Workshop #3Winterize Your Irrigation System Workshop #4

Total 142*NEW WORKSHOP FOR 2019

Water Watcher Contact Initiation Type

Attendees at Workshops /Tours

Efficiency Devices Supplied

Other Conservation Actions

Water Watcher Actions Taken

Watering Violations Observed

SUMMARY – Well, we have reached the tail-end of the irrigation

season. Temperatures are expected to cool over the next few

weeks and the days are getting shorter. As we enter the final

month of the season, we are still asking everyone to be smart

about their water usage and will continue to help them do so.

Don’t forget to let people know we still have a few more tours

being held this year and four winterization workshops in October.

Personally, I’m ready for the awesome fall colors! – Consv Dept.

CONSERVATION

CONTACT LOCATION MAP

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15Attachment D

TMWA Board Meeting

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Press Clippings

August 14, 2019 – September 11, 2019

Northgate Pump #2 Installation


|Mysis Shrimp Affecting Lake Tahoe’s Clarity TAHOELAND LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Mysis shrimp, an invasive species introduced into Lake Tahoe in the early 1960s, have gobbled up the tiny creatures that help keep the lake clear. Can the shrimp population be controlled enough to fix the problem? By Emily Zentner Published August 15, 2019

Listen to EPISODES 1 & 2 OF TAHOELAND to hear more about the lake's clarity and the shrimp. As the sun sets across Lake Tahoe, UC Davis researcher Brant Allen and his team lower their sonar machine into the lake. Thousands of little purple dots rise across the screen as they cross the lake. They represent one of the lake’s most damaging invasive species making their nightly swim to surface waters. It’s not fish or Tahoe Tessie, a mysterious creature rumored to live in the depths of the lake; it’s a horde of tiny mysis shrimp, which researchers think have been making the lake murkier since they were introduced in the 1960s. Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is known around the world for its clear blue waters. But these shrimp, introduced by humans into the lake, are endangering that iconic clarity. Allen and his team hope that if they can shrink this shrimp population, they can help the lake gain back some of that clarity. But they’re worried that without some help and buy-in from others in the region, it may not be possible.These shrimp are not what you would find on your plate at a seafood restaurant. Mysis, also known as opossum shrimp, are tiny, translucent creatures that measure less than an inch long at full size. They have a lifespan of one to two years, and they reproduce at a rapid rate, which is why their population has exploded in the lake.-up illustration of a mysis shrimp, which researchers worry are impacting the clarity of Lake Tahoe. (Andrew Le for Capital Public Radio) So how has a creature so tiny managed to have such a big impact on the clarity of Lake Tahoe?

09-18-19 BOARD Agenda Item 15 Press Clips

Page 1 of 83

http://www.capradio.org/news/tahoeland

https://projects.capradio.org/tahoeland-shrimp/#listen

http://www.capradio.org/news/tahoeland/




http://www.capradio.org/news/tahoeland/2019/07/25/you-asked-us-about-lake-tahoes-crowded-beaches-lake-monsters-and-more-heres-what-we-found-out/


Researchers hold a sample jar of mysis shrimp taken from Lake Tahoe.

(Emily Zentner/Capital Public Radio)

Lake Tahoe’s clarity has been declining since the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center began measuring it in 1968. When the group first started taking these measurements, you could see a white disk lowered into the lake more than 100 feet deep. In 2018, you could only see it as deep as about 70 feet. For years, people assumed that was due to the tourism boom that began in the 1960s. But now researchers think that the shrimp, introduced around the same time, also may have played a large role. Starting in the early 1960s, California and Nevada’s departments of Fish and Game (now the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Nevada Department of Wildlife) released mysis shrimp into Lake Tahoe in hopes that they would be a new and abundant food source for the lake’s fish. “The idea was, if you introduce something that fish could eat, fish would get bigger and fishermen would be happier,” said Tahoe Environmental Research Center Director Geoff Schladow. “So what could possibly go wrong with that?” A lot, it turns out. “This is something everybody may have missed,” Schladow said. “I think for a long time.” It’s exactly the things that make the lake special — its depth and clear blue hue — that have helped the shrimp interfere with the lake’s ecosystem. Because of how deep and clear the lake is, the things that wildlife officials hoped would happen when they introduced the shrimp backfired. The biologists who introduced the shrimp didn’t know what the consequences would be, Nevada Department of Wildlife Fisheries Supervisor Kim Tisdale said. “Obviously, if they could go back in time and reevaluate that, they definitely wouldn’t have made that same decision,” Tisdale said. “But we have the luxury of knowing the results today. They didn’t have that luxury then.” Before the shrimp were introduced into Tahoe, zooplankton in the lake ate algae and sediment, clearing the water by doing so. Some fish also ate the zooplankton. Then the states introduced the shrimp, and everything changed. The shrimp hate light, and because Lake Tahoe is so clear, they have to retreat to the depths of the lake during the day to avoid it. Then, each night, they undertake a round-trip migration as long as 2,000 feet to the top of the water to feed. Once the sun rises again, they swim back down. While officials put the shrimp in the lake in the hopes of fish eating them, that hasn’t been the case because of this nightly vertical migration.


Page 2 of 83

JOURNEY TO TAHOE LAND Aug 13, 2019

Lake Tahoe is famous for its pristine blue water, world-class skiing and breathtaking views.

But as the world undergoes dramatic shifts in temperature and weather patterns, what

will happen to the things that define Tahoe?

TahoeLand is a new podcast from Capital Public Radio in Sacramento seeking to answer that question.

Environment Reporter Ezra David Romero, Podcast Producer Sally Schilling and Data Reporter Emily Zentner interviewed Tahoe residents, winter sports athletes and NASA climatologists to learn how the lake is being affected and what it can tell us about the world that’s coming.

“The effects of climate change were impacting that region strongly,” Romero told KNPR's State of Nevada.

Romero explained that climate change is impacting everything from wildfires to lake clarity to the snowpack. He said the region has always been known for variability in weather patterns but now that variability is getting more extreme.

“It could be these huge snow years or extreme drought years, so they’re already seeing some of these effects, even on businesses,” he said.

One of the most dramatic parts of the first podcast is a fictional account of driving to Lake Tahoe in 2099. Romero describes driving through the mountains to the lake and finding no snow - and realizing he hasn't seen snow there in 10 years.

The producers of the show based that part of the podcast on the worst-case scenario outlined in a Vulnerability Climate Assessment created by the Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the Tahoe Conservancy.

“Maybe Tahoe won’t be this ski place that everyone knows it as," Romero said, "It might transition into a longer summer and fall."

While some people are trying to capitalize on that, others are struggling with changing snow patterns, like the man who runs a sleigh ride business who has to find a new way to make a living when there isn't enough snow.

Sally Schilling is a podcast producer for Capital Public Radio. She said the snowpack problem in Tahoe is similar to snowpack problems in other places.


Page 3 of 83


https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/

https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/

https://tahoe.ca.gov/

“We’re seeing some really big snow years like this year in Tahoe was one of the biggest snow years on record but the overall trend in snowpack in Tahoe is a downward trend,” she said, "That’s something that we’re seeing in Tahoe having a huge impact on the people on the ground there and that’s something you see all over the United States.”

Perhaps one of the most visible impacts of climate change on the iconic lake is a change in clarity. Lake Tahoe is known for its stunning clarity. In 1968, the first time it was measured, clarity was at 102.4 feet. This year, it was at 70.9, which is a dramatic improvement from 60.4 feet the year before.

Romero explained that the snowpack feeds the lake but if there is less snow more nutrients will fill the lake.

“When that comes to climate change, the threats are that more and more sediment, pieces, fine particles from the roads, all the tourist that come into the place, will fill the lake up and will make it murkier and cloudier,” he said.

Another problem impacting the clarity of the lake is invasive species, like the Mysis shrimp. According to Capital Public Radio Data Reporter Emily Zentner, the shrimp were introduced to the lake in the 60s as fish food.

But instead of feeding the fish, they eat the zooplankton.

“These microorganisms that the shrimp eat are actually generally eating the dirt and the fine particles and the algae that make the water murkier,” she said.

By removing the shrimp, researchers hope to offset some of the other impacts climate change is having on the lake.

The podcast team has been working on this project for the past 10 months. They've talked to dozens of people from researchers to business owners.

“Everyone I talked to said, 'we get this is happening. It’s real here. The effect of wildfires is happening. The effect on the lake is happening. The snow is happening. Our economy is happening.' For them, it’s real. It’s real life.,” Romero said.

There may be debate among people living in the area about what is causing climate change, he said, but everyone understands it is happening.

“I just hope they understand that this place called Lake Tahoe that we all love and play at and hold in our hearts really is at risk in many ways and that these scientists are spending their due time doing all this research… and these are probabilities that could happen and there are lessons in Lake Tahoe, in the Lake Tahoe Basin, that the rest of the world can learn from,” Romero said.

Guests: Ezra David Romero, Environment Reporter, Capital Public Radio; Sally Schilling, Podcast Producer, Capital Public Radio; Emily Zentner, Data Reporter


Page 4 of 83

https://www.sacbee.com/news/weather-news/article230789619.html

https://www.sacbee.com/news/weather-news/article230789619.html

Security Breach Prompts Inquiry at City Hall August 12, 2019 Bob Conrad

Jars of muddy Swan Lake water brought into the joint goverment meeting last week prompted city officials to launch an inquiry into how the props got into City Council chambers.

The city instituted new safety measures for council meetings on July 24. Citizens must now pass through a security checkpoint.

The checkpoint includes going through a metal detector, and bags are screened to prevent anything from weapons to food and beverages from entering council chambers.

But elected officials enter through different doors. At last week’s meeting about a pipeline project to dewater flooded Swan Lake, Lemmon Valley resident Denise Ross displayed two jars of muddy water.

Commissioner Jeanne Herman.

City Clerk Ashley Turney immediately noted that the jars were not allowed in council chambers, but the meeting continued. That act, however, prompted city officials to launch an inquiry into how the jars made it into the meeting.

It turns out Washoe County Commissioner Jeanne Herman brought the bag with the jars into council chambers.

Herman said she got the jars from Ross in a bathroom at City Hall. She said she offered to carry the bag for Ross because Ross had a large purse.

Others expressed concern about bypassing the city’s new security measures.


Page 5 of 83

https://thisisreno.com/2019/08/

https://thisisreno.com/author/bob/

https://thisisreno.com/2016/02/city-hall-to-look-at-increased-security/

https://thisisreno.com/2019/08/pipeline-project-expected-to-reduce-swan-lake-floodwater/

https://thisisreno.com/2019/08/pipeline-project-expected-to-reduce-swan-lake-floodwater/

Vaughn Hartung.

“We do not condone any action that circumvents the security protocols of another agency,” said Herman’s colleague, Washoe County Commission Chair Vaughn Hartung. “Washoe County takes security protocols extremely seriously and strives to ensure the highest level of safety for staff and the public.”

City spokesperson Jon Humbert said the city’s inquiry did not result in any official action, other than reminding everyone about the city’s new security measures.

“Following the incident at last week’s joint meeting, the City of Reno spoke with our County partners about security protocols and procedures during meetings,” he said. “Safety is our first priority–both for the public and elected officials. We want our safety policies to be clear for everyone.”

The Mayor and Council members have repeatedly expressed concern about citizens bringing in props as part of public comment.

Incidences have included the man who was arrested for drinking what he said was weed-killer at a meeting. He was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and was barred from from having contact with city and county officials.

A Scenic Nevada representative shined a bright light at council members to demonstrate the brightness of digital billboards. And a man once played a song on a boombox in place of what he said was his wife’s public comment.

Humbert said that elected officials and city staff will still be allowed to enter council chambers through their own entrance. He added that city officials will be reviewing last week’s incident with the security contractor hired by the city.


Page 6 of 83

https://www.reno.gov/Home/Components/News/News/19101/576

https://thisisreno.com/2015/11/man-sentenced-for-disrupting-public-meeting/

https://thisisreno.com/2015/11/man-sentenced-for-disrupting-public-meeting/

https://thisisreno.com/2016/02/city-hall-to-look-at-increased-security/

ACWWA leading climate change adaptation effort August 15, 2019 Connections Article, Publications The Atlantic Canada Section of the American Water Works Association (ACWWA) has launched a project to address the impacts of climate change on water and wastewater infrastructure design. The regional project is focused on incorporating climate change adaptation into design guidelines for municipal water and water infrastructure. The project also will train water professionals to apply the guidelines to both immediate and long-term planning and operation of water and wastewater infrastructure.

(Photo credit ACWWA) “Whether it be sea level rise, flooding, drought, or changes to surface water quality and quantity, these issues are critical to include in the design of water and wastewater infrastructure, so it will be climate resilient and meet future challenges,” said Clara Shea, ACWWA Executive Director. Leading the initiative is ACWWA’s Drinking Water Guidelines Committee, with members from Halifax Water, the City of Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, the four Atlantic provinces, and service provider CBCL Limited Consulting Engineers. “With appropriate risk assessment and investment at the design phase, we hope to increase the life-span of infrastructure, decrease overall lifecycle costs and provide robust, resilient infrastructure,” the committee stated. The Government of Canada recently awarded a $318,000 grant to ACWWA over three years to help fund the $645,000 project. The grant was provided through a program of Natural Resources Canada (NRC) called Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE), which partners with provinces to build the capacity of organizations, communities, enterprises and professionals to adapt to climate change. According to NRC, which supports actions to adapt to Canada’s changing climate, knowledge and tools to support climate change adaptation exist, but there is limited capacity to access, use and apply them. The Government of Canada’s BRACE program is building skills and expertise among communities, organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and practitioners, to apply climate change considerations into operations and practice.


Page 7 of 83

https://www.awwa.org/AWWA-Articles/cid/157?Category=connections-article

https://www.awwa.org/AWWA-Articles/cid/41?Category=publications

In addition to ACWWA, other supporters of the project include the governments of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and Labrador; the City of Charlottetown; and Halifax Water. The updated guidelines can be applied in other Canadian regions. According to the ACWWA committee, there are variations in anticipated climate change projections and impacts. The most significant for Atlantic Canada include an increase in temperature and precipitation intensity and rising sea level, contrasted by periods of drought in some regions. In addition to addressing infrastructure design, the project will focus on educating stakeholders so that communities understand and embrace the need for change. Climate change is a growing concern in Atlantic Canada, exemplified by an extended drought in the summer of 2015 that caused many rural wells to run dry. “We are experiencing more algal blooms, higher pH, and higher natural organic carbon concentrations in our source water lakes due to the combined effects of climate change and lake recovery from acidification,” stated ACWWA’s committee. “This is challenging the capabilities of treatment plants that were designed for a very different water quality.

The need for more robust and climate resilient design is paramount.”

ACWWA is working with CBCL Limited to execute the project with guidance from provincial and utility partners. Stakeholders include public works/utility personnel, consulting engineer associations and equipment suppliers. There is more information about the project on ACWWA’s website.


Page 8 of 83

Water & Land

Indy Environment: Utility regulators sign climate framework; federal water managers to release Colorado River forecast August 15th, 2019 - 2:00am Solar panels seen at the Copper Mountain Solar 3 facility near Boulder City on Monday, April 22, 2019. (Jeff Scheid-Nevada Independent) Indy Environment: Utility regulators sign climate framework; federal water managers to release Colorado River forecast

Daniel Rothberg August 15th, 2019 - 2:00am The Indy Environment newsletter breaks down reporting on water, public land and development. Sign-up here to receive it in your inbox. For suggestions or tips, email [email protected]. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada “has come out of its dark ages.” That’s the phrase Rebecca Wagner, a former commissioner, used to describe the panel’s decision this week to join other Western utility regulators in a joint framework aimed at addressing climate change. On Monday, the state’s top utility regulator signed an agreement with California, Oregon and Washington that pledges to consider climate change in its decision-making. According to the memo, the goal of the partnership is “to ensure that investor-owned utilities operate in a manner that protects human health and safety, the environment and ratepayers from risks related to carbon pollution.” Specifically, the memo says that utility regulators in the four states will share information about conservation and look for ways to enhance regional energy markets. The move is a big one for the utilities commission, a quasi-judicial agency that has often found itself in the middle of intense debates over the deployment of renewables. In December 2015, the commission cut the amount that NV Energy paid customer for excess power from rooftop solar arrays, a “net metering” decision that has since been undone but created a perception among many that Nevada was anti-solar. But in the last four years, a lot of that has changed. The commission and the Legislature created rules to restart the solar market. The utility has also made a concerted effort to acquire more solar energy, as the cost of large-scale arrays have trended downward. And perhaps even more importantly, it has been more vocal about telling its customers about it. At the same time, the politics around the issue have shifted. Gov. Steve Sisolak campaigned on climate change — and gave it a shoutout in his State of the State — and a bill to raise the renewable standards glided through the Legislature.


Page 9 of 83

https://www.thenevadaindependent.com/article/indy-environment-utility-regulators-sign-climate-framework-federal-water-managers-to-release-colorado-river-forecast




https://www.thenevadaindependent.com/author/daniel-rothberg


https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001ZO-xS5tluw8hdSbcCIGBpPDFB3qdr5OfvClP5ZNhJ4Oa6v1beUonEUHzWM3_JPS4pEH-E7KsDsUDWlOnz42tQjwslUwXnkGPsf2QzRzDUbk%3D

mailto:[email protected]

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/dec/22/regulators-deal-a-blow-to-rooftop-solar-industry/

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/dec/22/regulators-deal-a-blow-to-rooftop-solar-industry/

In this context, the commission’s decision seems like the next natural step forward. “This is demonstrating that the [utilities commission] has come out of its dark ages and is now looking more broadly at the world with regard to climate and clean energy,” Wagner said in an interview. “I think for so long, you get bogged down on issues like net metering and it distracts you from the bigger picture of what you’re supposed to be doing at the commission.” Wagner said she hoped the framework — and very public acknowledgment of climate change — would help the commission think in longer terms. The commission’s core job is to balance the public interest with the interest of utility shareholders, since the companies it regulates are for-profit but also serve a vital public purpose, the delivery of power. As regulators consider the public interest, Wagner hopes they consider climate change alongside short-term impacts on rates and business operations. The symbolism aside, there are two other areas where this framework could influence energy policy in interesting ways. First: As the West adjusts to a shifting wildfire regime, driven in part by climate change, utilities are being forced to grapple with liability. The framework could help Nevada learn best practices from other states as it develops regulations regarding wildfire. The second: Grid regionalization. Throughout much of the United States, the electric grid is dispersed, with energy resources often contained by state lines. Regulators have introduced a number of acronym-laden policies to help shift this paradigm in recent years, but by and large, utilities operate their own grids. In recent years, there has been a push to integrate the Western grid, in part to make renewables more efficient across state lines. Critics of grid regionalization, especially in California, have often pushed back on the idea as other states lag behind in their clean energy goals. As more states come together around climate change, it will be interesting to watch how it these dynamics change, if at all. Here are some other stories I’m watching… Lake Mead Rises: Federal water managers are expected to release a much-awaited study on the Colorado River today. The August report, known as the 24-month-study, serves as a key benchmark for Southwest water managers. And this year it could carry special significance. Officials from the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency that operates the river’s network of dams and reservoirs, use the report to project whether Lake Mead elevations warrant voluntary cuts from the states in the watershed’s Lower Basin — Arizona, California and Nevada. After a year of heavy precipitation, the study is expected to show Lake Mead starting 2020 at a higher elevation than was predicted last year, a forecast that would avoid an official shortage declaration. Still, the states might be asked to conserve water anyway. That’s because of the new guidelines agreed to in the Drought Contingency Plan, which the seven Colorado River states signed in May. Building off existing rules, the plan requires Arizona, Nevada and Mexico to forgo a fraction of its entitled supply — until wet years come again — when the reservoir is below 1,090 feet above sea level. If the study projects Lake Mead starting the year at an elevation of 1,090, it would trigger those reductions. In practice, there would be zero impact on Las Vegas’ water supply. The Southern


Page 10 of 83

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/sisolak-signs-milestone-bill-increasing-renewable-portfolio-standard-to-50-percent-by-2030

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/to-thwart-wildfire-ignitions-from-power-lines-nv-energy-could-temporarily-cut-power-to-residents

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/7/31/17611288/california-energy-grid-regionalization-caiso-wecc-iso

Nevada Water Authority has already significantly reduced its annual water use from the reservoir, as it incentives conservation and recycles most of its indoor water. In fact, the water authority could leave as much as 75,000 acre-feet in the reservoir this year, about nine times the amount that would be required under the 1,090-foot lake threshold. But the symbolism would be significant. If the reservoir is projected to be below 1,090 feet, “it will be the first time ever for Rule of Law reductions in water use in the Lower Basin or anywhere in the Colorado River,” said Jennifer Pitt, an Audubon Society program director who has worked on Colorado River issues for years. It would also be a recognition that the future of the river is likely one of less — not more — water, given historical overuse, new demands for water and projections from climate change. “Ultimately, demands on the river system have to go down across the board if we are to stabilize the river system and water supplies over the long-term,” said Chris Kuzdas, a project manager for the Environmental Defense Fund’s water program. “The risk of future shortages are still there.” What does “water stress” look like? Last week, a report came out showing global “water stress.” It was picked up by a number of outlets, including The New York Times. And a fellow environmental reporter in San Diego made a thoughtful critique on Twitter that is worth sharing. Studies like this come out frequently, and they lump a number of disparate places together, ranking them in terms of their “water stress,” or how close they are to using their supplies. The thing is that the reality is more complicated and nuanced. And the thread captures, quite well, the misleading way some studies are reported. It’s about Los Angeles, but it resonates across the West. That is not to say… that the Colorado River or the Truckee River don’t face a difficult future. There are likely to be droughts and more of them coming in back-to-back years. It will stress supplies, and it will make it harder to balance the interests of humans and wildlife. As another reporter pointed out on Twitter, the mountains that feed the Colorado River fall within one of the country’s fastest warming areas. In danger of extinction: The Trump administration released a final rule on Monday to roll back regulations for implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973, a bedrock environmental law. Many point to the law as one of the few pieces of federal environmental legislation that can lead to actionable change. It is credited with saving the bald eagle and the grizzly bear. The legislation, passed with near unanimity in the 1970s, remains popular, but it is loathed by developers, who view it as overly restrictive and a proxy to stop projects. On Monday, conservation groups slammed the new rules. At the same time, groups are continuing to fight for protections. On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Las Vegas bearpoppy under the Endangered Species Act, a yellow-flowered Mojave Desert plant that is threatened by grazing, mining and development. Although the plant was included in Clark County’s conservation plan for threatened species, the conservation groups argued that more action is needed to save the species, which has populations in a gypsum mining area and at the Apex Industrial Park.


Page 11 of 83

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/the-colorado-river-equation-the-drought-plan-and-why-things-have-stopped-adding-up

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/06/climate/world-water-stress.html?auth=login-google&login=google

https://twitter.com/ryrivard/status/1159511267448483840

9th Circuit on plutonium suit: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Nevada’s appeal in its ongoing litigation to prevent the Department of Energy’s secret shipment of plutonium last fall. The state filed an injunction in November to enjoin the shipment, after it came to light that the agency could ship a half-metric ton to the state. What the state didn’t know — until it was later revealed as part of the lawsuit — was that the agency had already shipped the material to Nevada. The appellate court said that the timing made an injunction an insufficient remedy, a blow to the state’s legal effort.

In a statement Tuesday, Attorney General Aaron Ford said: “The Department of Energy’s deceitful behavior in handling these shipments demonstrates my office’s need to continue aggressively litigating to hold the Department of Energy to its promises. The health and safety of all Nevadans is of paramount importance to my office, and our dedicated team will continue to pursue all options for ensuring that no further unlawful plutonium shipments reach this State.”

9th Circuit on grazing damages: On Friday, the court upheld a decision that Nevada rancher Wayne Hage’s estate owed the government $587,294 in damages for illegally grazing cattle on public land, E&E News reported. It’s the latest development in a case that began in 2007.

Lake Tahoe, past and future: The annual Lake Tahoe Summit is on Tuesday, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is scheduled to keynote. In the meantime, Tahoe Weekly has been doing a series on the history of Tahoe’s water wars and Capital Public Radio debuted “TahoeLand.”

Fueled by “classic” cars: We’ve all seen it. The “classic” license plate on a supposedly classic car that cannot be classified, by any reasonable definition, as classic. Last week, the Las Vegas

Sun had an outstanding story about how practically any car more than 20-years old can skirt a smog test — and release harmful pollutants — by getting a “classic” license plate. A legislative bill in 2015 created an advisory committee to study the issue. The committee recommended closing the loophole. And guess what happened after that? We still have “classic” plates.


Page 12 of 83

https://twitter.com/LukeRunyon

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/trump-administration-finalizes-rule-to-weaken-endangered-species-act

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/endangered-species-act-protection-sought-las-vegas-bearpoppy-2019-08-14/

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/endangered-species-act-protection-sought-las-vegas-bearpoppy-2019-08-14/

https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2019/08/12/stories/1060931949

https://thetahoeweekly.com/2019/07/lake-tahoe-water-wars-part-i/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tahoeland/id1410506443

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/aug/08/effort-to-make-las-vegas-air-cleaner-puts-a-spotli/

TMWA: Resource Planning for The Future (Video) August 16, 2019 ThisIsReno

Link to video

SPONSORED POST

Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s John Enloe explains how TMWA plans its resources for the future. In this video, he explains:

• Water supplies for population growth • How water-use system-wide has decreased • Population projections for the Truckee Meadows • How new customers get added to the water system • Mixing water resources for the long-term.

Get more information at http://www.smartaboutwater.com/


Page 13 of 83


https://thisisreno.com/author/thisisreno/

https://thisisreno.com/2019/08/tmwa-resource-planning-for-the-future-video/

https://thisisreno.com/2019/08/tmwa-resource-planning-for-the-future-video/

http://thisisreno.com/advertising/sponsored-posts-2/

http://www.smartaboutwater.com/

Preparing California’s Rivers for a Changing Climate Lori Pottinger August 19, 2019

NEVER MISS AN UPDATE! Sign up for our blog alerts to receive insights from our experts. Comments

This is part of a series on issues facing California’s rivers.

California’s rivers and streams have experienced enormous changes over the past 150 years, and a warming climate brings new challenges. We talked to Ted Grantham—a river scientist at UC Berkeley and a member of the PPIC Water Policy Center research network—about the state of the state’s rivers. Grantham was recently appointed as the first PPIC CalTrout Ecosystem Fellow. Thanks to the donors that helped us launch this program: Gary Arabian, the Morgan Family Foundation, Nick Graves, John Osterweis, and the Rosenberg Ach Foundation. PPIC: Talk about the changes affecting California’s rivers and streams. Ted Grantham: California’s rivers and streams have experienced so much change since European settlement that they’re considered “novel ecosystems.” Gold mining and logging brought a massive amount of sediment into rivers. Riparian forests that lined Central Valley rivers and extensive wetlands on the valley floor have mostly been converted to farming. Non-native species have been introduced to most of California’s rivers, lakes, and estuaries, which prey upon or compete with native species. Urban rivers across the state have been channelized. And essentially every major river and stream in the state is impacted by a dam. Dams aren’t just barriers to migratory fish, they also alter downstream flows. We’ve also prevented rivers from being able to move. Rivers are not static features; when given the opportunity, they will dynamically respond to changes in climate. This dynamism is inherent to how rivers work—it’s how habitat is created and maintained for many species. And it’s what makes these systems resilient over time.


Page 14 of 83

https://www.ppic.org/person/lori-pottinger/

https://www.ppic.org/news-and-events/blog/?keyword=california-rivers

https://www.ppic.org/water/staffexperts.asp#ResearchNetwork

Given all these fundamental changes, it’s remarkable that most of the state’s native fish species are still with us, although many are at risk of extinction. PPIC: How are the state’s rivers expected to respond to climate change? TG: The most direct change is increasing temperatures. Our rivers and streams will continue to heat up in a warming climate. Even if average precipitation stays the same, we’ll also experience more extremes, with both drought years and wet years more likely to occur. While increasing floods pose risks to some river ecosystems, it’s drought we’re most concerned about. Drought not only reduces the amount of water available for the environment, it also intensifies competition with other water users, making it harder to protect freshwater ecosystems. Climate change is particularly problematic for cold-water fish such as salmon. In the short term, large dams have the potential to limit warming to some degree because they hold reserves of cold water. For example, Shasta Dam is managed to sustain salmon populations downstream through cold-water releases. But if water gets too warm over time, our ability to sustain cold-water reserves in the reservoir will decline. In the long term, redesigning dams to allow for fish passage or strategically removing dams will give salmon access to cold water in higher elevation streams. PPIC: How can we prepare rivers for a changing climate? TG: There are several promising management strategies that are gaining traction and could help build climate resilience in our rivers. Two important ones are securing environmental flows and restoring floodplains. “Environmental flows” refers to the quantity, quality, and timing of water needed to maintain healthy rivers and ecosystem services that people rely on. In the past, little consideration was given to water needs of the environment. But that is changing and we’re seeing a growing effort to establish legally protected water allocations for environmental benefits. For example, I’m currently involved in the California Environmental Flows Framework, a program to support the development of environmental flow standards in rivers and streams throughout the state. We’re also seeing more interest in multi-benefit approaches to floodplain management. Most of California’s rivers are disconnected from their floodplains, which have been converted to agriculture and urban uses. This has had huge impacts on fish populations and other species. As the likelihood of extreme floods increases with climate change, reconnecting floodplains is a cost-effective way to reduce flood risk. What’s exciting is that floodplain restoration can be compatible with agriculture and can also provide productive habitats. For example, the Yolo Bypass is primarily managed to protect Sacramento from flooding, but it also supports seasonal agriculture and habitat for birds and fish. Bringing water back to our floodplains can even help replenish groundwater, which is a critical water source in drought years.


Page 15 of 83

https://www.ppic.org/blog/saving-native-fishes-from-extinction/

https://www.ppic.org/blog/states-ecosystems-face-a-flood-of-changes/

Climate vulnerability assessment describes daunting challenges for Tahoe Basin Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette JournalPublished 6:00 a.m. PT July 19, 2019 | Updated 10:27 a.m. PT July 19, 2019

Geoffrey Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, describes how climate change is harming Lake Tahoe and what people can do to reduce the damage. Benjamin Spillman/RGJ

Human-caused global warming already changing Tahoe Basin, vulnerability assessment shows how and offers road map for adaptation

• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment is first of kind for Lake Tahoe Basin• Report highlights local consequences for human caused warming of global climate• Warmer climate will stress Tahoe's natural resources and human infrastructure• A survey of local action plans will follow assessment

The Lake Tahoe Basin could get as much as 9 degrees warmer on average in the coming decades due to human-caused global warming. The hotter temperatures will have ramifications for everything from the health of the basin’s namesake lake to effectiveness of critical human infrastructure such as roads and sewers. That’s according to a recently published climate change vulnerability assessment for the basin, which has about 65,000 residents and 10 million visitors annually, mostly from California and Nevada. The report, the first of its kind for the Tahoe Basin, is meant to provide facts to help people make better decisions on how the region can adapt to rapid changes. It’s also a sneak peek into daunting challenges Tahoe-area communities need to overcome if they’re going to prevent environmental and infrastructure collapses that would seriously degrade quality of life. “Frankly, it was kind of depressing,” said Mike Dettinger, a former U.S. Geological Survey scientist from Carson City who worked on the report. “We are really running out of time to make the changes.”

State Route 28 and a new bike path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor flank Lake Tahoe's east shore on Tuesday, June 4. (Photo: Sam Gross and Benjamin Spillman)


Page 16 of 83

http://www.rgj.com/staff/18351/benjamin-spillman/

https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/07/19/depressing-tahoe-climate-report-also-call-action/1761093001/&text=Climate%20%27vulnerability%20assessment%27%20describes%20daunting%20challenges%20for%20Tahoe%20Basin&via=rgj

http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A//www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/07/19/depressing-tahoe-climate-report-also-call-action/1761093001/&mini=true

How scientists modeled Tahoe's climate The report from the California Tahoe Conservancy, a state agency charged with protecting Tahoe's natural resources and recreation opportunities, is the work of more than 15 scientists with expertise in everything from climate to hydrology to economics. Using downscaled climate models, they scrutinized what global warming means for resources in three categories, the lake environment, the surrounding mountains and the built environment. Scientists use downscaled models to look at how global warming will change specific areas such as California or the Sierra Nevada. The model used on the Tahoe study zoomed in to such a degree that scientists could see, for example, how snowpack loss might vary from one part of the basin to another. "This downscaled model is an entirely new look at how all these climate change drivers would affect the Lake Tahoe Basin," said Dan Tormey, the leader of the science and engineering team behind the report.

Lake Tahoe's future climate There are a range of possible global warming outcomes for the Lake Tahoe Basin and the planet as a whole, but they all involve the climate getting hotter. That's because by burning fossil fuels, people have already released enough heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to guarantee continued warming. Some of the changes are already occurring in the form of shrinking glaciers and ice caps, rising seas, disrupted plant and wildlife habitat and deteriorating ocean health. "The temperature rise is a done deal," Dettinger said. "Those temperatures are going to rise." According to the report, by 2100 the average temperature in the basin will be 3.6 to 9 degrees warmer than 2010, depending on the intensity of global warming. Those increases will change the snowpack in the basin, a region that's largely dependent on winter recreation to drive the economy. "We already know it's happening," said Whitney Brennan, senior environmental scientist for the conservancy. "There are a lot of ramifications for the Lake Tahoe Basin." In general, the report says snowfall will become more sporadic, the snowline will rise in elevation and the winter precipitation mix will have a higher percentage of rain.

Mt. Rose Summit near Reno under snow overlooking Lake Tahoe on March 4, 2019. New research indicates wildfires are contributing to earlier snowmelt across the western U.S. (Photo: Benjamin Spillman and Sam Gross)


Page 17 of 83

The result would be changes in the timing of the peak melt, from as little as one to as many as five months. Tormey said the most severe projections show peak snowmelt could come as early in winter as December, which suggests snow melting as it arrives, which would represent a shift from a primarily snow-driven system to one driven by rain. Although the snow-rain mix and snowmelt timing could change dramatically, the overall amount of precipitation is expected to remain about the same. Dettinger said it's about the only projection in the report that isn't gloomy. "It is the same water we have been getting, it is just going to come more intensely and we are going to have to figure out how to deal with that," he said.

What's at risk The report highlights a variety of vulnerabilities, including critical infrastructure. Projected changes in precipitation patterns are likely to result in more frequent extreme flooding. That's additional risk for infrastructure systems, such as the South Tahoe Public Utility District's 550 miles of water and sewer lines. The district's sewer lines, for example, carry waste from toilets on the California side of the basin to a sewage treatment plant. The treated water is then exported by more pipes to neighboring Alpine County. More frequent, intense floods increase the likelihood of the system being overwhelmed and failing, which could be damaging to human and lake health. "Any cracks or holes in our sewer system allow groundwater or stormwater to seep in," said Shelly Thomsen, the district's public affairs and conservation manager. Increased flooding also threatens roads, which is a particular risk at Lake Tahoe because access in and out of the basin is limited to highways over just a few mountain passes. When it comes to fires, the projections are mixed. The model shows drought stress could increase, particularly in the upper reaches of the east side of the basin. Drought stress and tree mortality due to bark beetles can increase fire risk. Although less vegetation can reduce risk as well. That leaves people in the basin to think about how to adapt. "Are we the next Paradise," said Danielle Hughes, capital program manager for the Tahoe Transportation District, a reference to the Northern California community where a wildfire killed 85 people and destroyed nearly 19,000 structures last year. "We know we are a high risk area for wildfire."

DIG DEEPER Lake Tahoe environmental news Lake Tahoe is nearly full (and has been for weeks). That's good news

July 4th visitors leave more than 1,200 pounds of trash at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe's newest hiking and biking trail immerses people in 'magical' landscape

Tahoe clarity recovers from drought followed by extreme rain and snow, but still threatened


Page 18 of 83

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/07/12/lake-tahoe-almost-full-thats-great-news-renos-water-supply/1714801001/?utm_source=oembed&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=storylines&utm_content=news&utm_term=1774249001

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/07/05/south-lake-tahoe-fourth-of-july-trash/1662277001/?utm_source=oembed&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=storylines&utm_content=news&utm_term=1774249001

https://www.rgj.com/story/life/outdoors/2019/06/28/lake-tahoe-newest-hiking-biking-trail-east-shore-immerses-people-magical-landscape/1552242001/?utm_source=oembed&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=storylines&utm_content=news&utm_term=1774249001

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/05/24/lake-tahoe-clarity-bounces-back-but-climate-threat-looms/1222498001/?utm_source=oembed&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=storylines&utm_content=news&utm_term=1774249001

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/05/24/lake-tahoe-clarity-bounces-back-but-climate-threat-looms/1222498001/?utm_source=oembed&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=storylines&utm_content=news&utm_term=1774249001

What's next The vulnerability assessment is the first of two steps by the conservancy to help Tahoe Basin communities endure rapid climate change. The second is a compilation of climate change action plans from local agencies. The second report, expected by the end of the year, will catalog steps communities are already taking. That in turn can help define "what the other things are that aren't yet done," said Chris Carney, spokesperson for the conservancy. By presenting basin-wide vulnerabilities and action plans in a comprehensive package, the conservancy hopes to make better use of funding to help communities become more resilient to change. The primary funding source the report outlines is money through California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Since the legislation passed, the state has spent more than $9 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resiliency.

Buy Photo

Lake Tahoe is seen near the mouth of the Truckee River in Tahoe City on Feb. 26, 2019. (Photo: Jason Bean/RGJ)

The money, however, is typically allocated to individual agencies or departments, which can result in scattershot spending. The conservancy hopes by consolidating vulnerabilities and possible actions across agencies it will create a model for the state to spend adaptation money more efficiently. California's support is particularly important because within the federal government, cabinet-level administrators appointed by President Donald Trump are downplaying or derailing federal efforts to understand or cope with climate change. Trump, who refuses to acknowledge documented evidence of rapid climate change and humans' role in causing it, is pressing for more fossil fuel development which makes the problem worse and sidetracking efforts to offset climate-related damage or help communities adapt to the consequences. "At the national scale, certainly, there are a lot of heads in a lot of sand," Dettinger said. "We’ve had some things that look an awful lot like smoking guns and smell an awful lot like smoking guns and we still aren't seeing a large portion of our political system stepping up to try and deal with those problems."

Benjamin Spillman covers the outdoors and environment in Northern Nevada, from backcountry skiing in the Sierra to the latest from Lake Tahoe's ecosystem. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.


Page 19 of 83

https://www.rgj.com/story/life/outdoors/2019/05/23/caltrans-construction-company-pay-fine-tahoe-pollution/3761948002/?utm_source=oembed&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=storylines&utm_content=news&utm_term=1774249001

Washoe County to file appeal in Lemmon Valley housing project case to the NV Supreme Court by Kristen Edwards Tuesday, August 20th 2019

Washoe County to appeal decision on Lemmon Valley housing project to NV Supreme Court WASHOE COUNTY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — At a special meeting on Tuesday, Washoe County Commissioners voted 3-1 to take the fight over a proposed Lemmon Valley development to the Nevada Supreme Court. The project, the Lakes at Lemmon Valley, would have 98 single family lots and would be located in the area of Military Road and Lemmon Drive. Commissioners denied the developer's application for a tentative subdivision map in May 2018 The developer filed for a judicial review, which was heard by Judge Barry Breslow at the Second Judicial District Court. Breslow ruled in the developer's favor. However, Commissioners voted to appeal the ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court during Tuesday's special meeting.

Financial Implications A representative for the developer noted the financial implications of moving forward with an appeal to the Supreme Court. He said that the County could already be on the hook for $45,000 in attorney's fees and costs incurred during the judicial review. With the new appeal, the County could now be on the hook for up to $100,000 in fees and damages total. The District Attorney's Office estimated that an appeal could take up to a year and a half to two years to be resolved.


Page 20 of 83

Annual Lake Tahoe Summit Attracts Nevada, California Lawmakers Nevada Gov. Sisolak and Sen. Cortez Masto are joining California leaders at the annual Lake Tahoe Summit Tuesday. Wednesday, July 17th 2019, 2:10 PM PDT Updated: Tuesday, August 20th 2019, 5:11 PM PDT

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto joined California leaders at the annual Lake Tahoe Summit Tuesday. The meeting continues the partnership between the two states, geared to keep Lake Tahoe and the surrounding basin healthy. "We have responsibility, we have a duty," Sisolak, D-Nevada said. "It's our obligation to protect this lake and that's what we intend to do together." California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the keynote address at the annual environmental summit hosted this year by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Newsom focused on the effects of climate change and wildfires in the Tahoe Basin at the 23rd gathering at Valhalla Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, California. "The hots are getting hotter, the wets are getting wetter, and the dries are getting dryer," Newsom, D-California said. Newsom touted California's economy and efforts to reduce emissions. He says it is possible to utilize clean energy technologies without hurting the economy. He says fuel efficiency should be set at a high standard. "There's not a greater cause of keeping this lake clear, because it's really a proxy for all of our larger efforts, than addressing those emissions coming out of our tailpipes," Newsom said. Cortez Masto joined many of the other elected leaders in voicing her concern over climate change, including how it could impact wildfire threat. "We have to do more to prevent fires to make our communities more fire resilient and to enable residents to get to safety when fire strikes," Cortez Masto, D-Nevada said. The first summit was held in 1997 when President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore hosted a presidential forum at the alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line. U.S. senators from California and Nevada alternate hosting the event. (The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Governor Sisolak ✔@GovSisolak


Page 21 of 83

Had a great time joining @SenCortezMasto, @SenFeinstein, @GavinNewsom and many more at the 23rd Annual Lake Tahoe Summit to discuss efforts to protect our national treasure. By working together, we’re contributing to a cleaner, more resilient, and more prosperous Lake Tahoe!

157 1:36 PM - Aug 20, 2019 · Lake Tahoe Twitter Ads info and privacy


Page 22 of 83

https://twitter.com/GovSisolak




https://twitter.com/GovSisolak/status/1163912778655997952

https://twitter.com/GovSisolak/status/1163912778655997952

https://twitter.com/SenCortezMasto

https://twitter.com/SenFeinstein

https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom


EPA U S Environmental Protection Agency : U.S. EPA awards over $1.3 million to Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for water quality protection 08/20/2019 | 05:43pm EDT CARSON CITY - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $1,338,000 grant to the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (NDCNR) to reduce polluted runoff and improve the health of Nevada's waterways. Today's announcement coincides with the 23rd annual Lake Tahoe Summit in South Lake Tahoe. 'Improving water quality across the West is a high priority for EPA,' said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. 'EPA is pleased to support projects which reduce pollution and restore Nevada's waters.' 'The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is excited to leverage these grant funds to make important investments in projects that improve water quality for the benefit of all Nevadans,' said Greg Lovato, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. 'We want to thank the EPA for continuing to support our mission to enhance water quality, habitat, and environmental education throughout the Silver State.' The grant is part of the Nonpoint Source (NPS) program under Clean Water Act Section 319. NPS grants are given to states to implement environmental programs that address various sources of nonpoint source pollution to surface water and groundwater in order to achieve and maintain water quality standards. This EPA funding supports state-wide efforts and on-the ground projects that implement a variety of best management practices to reduce pollution, including watershed planning, monitoring, and education and outreach programs. Section 319 funding is used to support water quality improvement projects throughout the state. Examples of projects in the Nevada portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin include: Incline Village Green Infrastructure Project - Washoe County and Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, $150,000 The project reduced stormwater pollutants to Lake Tahoe and helped Washoe County restore Lake Tahoe's clarity by designing and installing green infrastructure in the road right-of-way and adjacent public lands. Mysis Shrimp Control to Recover Lake Clarity - U.C. Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, $60,000 The project is pilot testing a plan to reduce the abundance of Mysis shrimp in Lake Tahoe. The reduction of this invasive species may allow the recovery of native zooplankton species, whose higher grazing rates have been shown to significantly improve water clarity in Emerald Bay. The results from the pilot test will be used to develop a Mysis shrimp reduction plan for Lake Tahoe, which could play a role in decreasing the time to achieve lake clarity and ecosystem restoration. The project is expected to be completed in June 2020.


Page 23 of 83

https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketscreener.com%2Fnews%2FEPA-U-S-Environmental-Protection-Agency-U-S-EPA-awards-over-1-3-million-to-Nevada-Department-of--29092604%2F&text=EPA+U+S+Environmental+Protection+Agency+%3A+U.S.+EPA+awards+over+%241.3+million+to+Nevada+Department+of+Conservation+...

https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketscreener.com%2Fnews%2FEPA-U-S-Environmental-Protection-Agency-U-S-EPA-awards-over-1-3-million-to-Nevada-Department-of--29092604%2F&text=EPA+U+S+Environmental+Protection+Agency+%3A+U.S.+EPA+awards+over+%241.3+million+to+Nevada+Department+of+Conservation+...

http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketscreener.com%2Fnews%2FEPA-U-S-Environmental-Protection-Agency-U-S-EPA-awards-over-1-3-million-to-Nevada-Department-of--29092604%2F

http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketscreener.com%2Fnews%2FEPA-U-S-Environmental-Protection-Agency-U-S-EPA-awards-over-1-3-million-to-Nevada-Department-of--29092604%2F

http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.marketscreener.com/news/EPA-U-S-Environmental-Protection-Agency-U-S-EPA-awards-over-1-3-million-to-Nevada-Department-of--29092604/

http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.marketscreener.com/news/EPA-U-S-Environmental-Protection-Agency-U-S-EPA-awards-over-1-3-million-to-Nevada-Department-of--29092604/

Discover the Waters of Lake Tahoe Children's Activity Book - Project WET Foundation, $75,000 Designed to inspire youth stewardship of Lake Tahoe, the Discover the Waters of Lake Tahoe activity book serves as an engaging outreach tool that focuses on key topics such as nonpoint source pollution, invasive species, watershed education and more. The activity book features science-based information through diverse education methods, content-rich text, interactive games, challenging experiments, and fun exercises. Nonpoint source pollution is caused as water moves over the ground and picks up natural and man-made pollutants, transporting them to lakes, rivers, coastal waters and groundwater. This type of pollution can contribute to problems like harmful algal blooms, erosion, and bacteria contamination of surface and groundwater. Congress enacted Section 319 of the Clean Water Act in 1987 to help states control nonpoint sources of water pollution. This funding is part of EPA's overall effort to ensure that America's waters are clean and safe. This year, EPA is distributing more than $165 million in section 319 grants to states, territories, and tribes to reduce nonpoint source runoff in urban and rural areas, including efforts to reduce excess nutrients that can enter our waters and cause public health and environmental challenges. Over the last two years, states restored over 80 waters and reduced over 17 million pounds of nitrogen, nearly 4 million pounds of phosphorus, and 3.5 million tons of excess sediment through Section 319 projects.

For more information regarding EPA's Nonpoint Source grant program visit: https://www.epa.gov/nps/319-grant-program-states-and-territories

Learn more about EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

###

Attachments

• Original document• Permalink

Disclaimer

EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published this content on 20 August 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 August 2019 21:42:01 UTC


Page 24 of 83

New faces, including some uninvited, shake up Tahoe Summit Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette Journal Published 5:44 p.m. PT Aug. 20, 2019 | Updated 6:05 p.m. PT Aug. 20, 2019

A hungry bear got its own Thanksgiving dinner last week at Rideout Elementary School near Tahoe City, Calif. The bear broke into the school and feasted on red pepper and cocoa in the pantry. North Tahoe fire crews got the cub out unharmed. Provided by North Tahoe Fire Protection District,, and Placer Co. Sheriff's Office

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

A longtime gathering of Lake Tahoe’s staunchest advocates welcomed some fresh faces on Tuesday.

Some of them were even invited.

The most prominent newcomers to the 23rd Tahoe Summit were newly elected governors Steve Sisolak of Nevada and Gavin Newsom of California.

But for at least a portion of the event at Valhalla Tahoe, a group of protesters from Chico, near the site of the deadly 2018 Camp Fire, grabbed the spotlight.

Holding signs about climate change and critical of utility company PG&E, whose equipment was blamed for causing the fire, the protesters stood up and demanded to ask questions of Newsom.

Protesters disrupted speeches at the 23rd Tahoe Summit on August 20, 2019. (Photo: Benjamin Spillman)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., tried unsuccessfully to get the group to sit down as other members of the audience shouted for them to quiet down.

The group persisted, however, until Newsom said he’d talk to them after the event.


Page 25 of 83


https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/08/20/new-faces-including-some-uninvited-shake-up-tahoe-summit/2068058001/&text=New%20faces%2C%20including%20some%20uninvited%2C%20shake%20up%20Tahoe%20Summit&via=rgj

http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A//www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/08/20/new-faces-including-some-uninvited-shake-up-tahoe-summit/2068058001/&mini=true

“This is important to Chico, the entire area has experienced this injustice with PG&E,” said protester Michelle Payne after the event. “We want to have them be held accountable.”

Payne said she was raised in Concow, Calif., one of the communities leveled by the Camp Fire, and had family members who lost homes and property.

She said they spoke out at the Tahoe Summit because it was a chance to get her message to Newsom and others gathered for the high-profile event.

“I think it is the perfect time and place for this,” said Payne. “We need to have more talks about this because it is being ignored.”

Newsom met briefly with the protesters after the event.

They said they asked him to refuse political donations from the utility, which has been widely criticized in recent years for equipment failures that led to destructive fires.

“He squirmed when he said it, but it was a hesitant yes,” protester Steven Marquardt of Chico said of the conversation.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and California Gov. Gavin Newsom stand before reporters at the Tahoe Summit on August 20, 2019. (Photo: Benjamin Spillman)

A spokesman for Newsom said the governor had already stopped taking contributions from PG&E beginning with his election.

But prior to the election, Newsom and other California politicians took heat for accepting donations from the company even after it had been found guilty of felonies arising from a pipeline explosion and related fire that killed eight people and burned 38 homes.

In July, shortly after signing a bill requiring utilities to spend $5 billion in safety improvements and created a $21 billion fund to pay wildfire related claims, Newsom addressed questions similar to those from the protesters.


Page 26 of 83

Researchers find microplastics in Lake Tahoe Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette JournalPublished 7:00 a.m. PT Aug. 22, 2019

Researchers from Desert Research Institute found microplastics in Lake Tahoe and the Sierra snow.Benjamin Spillman, [email protected]

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

The fallout from humanity’s addiction to plastics is showing up in the waters of Lake Tahoe. Now scientists are working to understand what that means for human health and the environment of the Tahoe Basin. A team of researchers from Desert Research Institute detected microplastics at several locations around the lake earlier this year. Microplastics, the term for tiny pieces of plastic that come from everything from water bottles to synthetic fleece sweaters, are ubiquitous around the world, so it’s not surprising to find them in Lake Tahoe. Still, researchers are digging deeper into the issue to learn more about potential ramifications for Nevada. “I don’t think we fully understand the effects of microplastics on the environment,” said Monica Arienzo, who was on the team that found microplastics in Lake Tahoe water and in snow in the Tahoe Basin. The study of microplastics is relatively new but their ubiquity is alarming to scientists. They’ve been found in fish in the oceans and raining down from the sky in the Pyrenees. The work at Lake Tahoe is part of an effort the DRI Foundation funded to learn more about microplastics in Nevada.

Buy Photo

The Tahoe Fund's Amy Berry and the RGJ's Ben Spillman take a ride on the new Tahoe East Shore Trail on June 25, 2019. (Photo: JASON BEAN/RGJ, JASON BEAN/RGJ)


Page 27 of 83


https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/08/22/microplastics-found-scientists-desert-research-institute-nevada/2080122001/&text=Researchers%20find%20microplastics%20in%20Lake%20Tahoe&via=rgj

http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A//www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/08/22/microplastics-found-scientists-desert-research-institute-nevada/2080122001/&mini=true

More: Climate protesters shake up Tahoe Summit “There has been a lot of work done in marine environments and far less in freshwater, and less even in alpine lakes,” said Meghan Collins, education program manager for DRI. In addition to lakes and streams in the Tahoe Basin, they’re also studying the Las Vegas wash in Southern Nevada, which drains into Lake Mead. “These tiny little bits of plastic are in our environment,” Arienzo said. “They can be floating in our water, they can sink in the water, they can be deposited on our snow.”

The team sampled one site in Lake Mead, three in the Las Vegas wash, and six sites in Lake Tahoe, including both low and high traffic areas for boats and at stormwater inflow sites. “We are in the process of identifying what types of plastics those are so we can better identify the sources of those plastics,” Arienzo said. “Synthetic clothing can be a source of plastic, rubber wear and tear can be a source of plastic to the lake,” she said. “Even the breakdown of the nylon rope that you use to tie down your boat is a source of plastic.” More: Removing invasive shrimp could help Lake Tahoe endure climate chaos So little is known about microplastics that there aren't any standards for drinking water, said Andy Gebhardt, director of operations for the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.

"EPA recognizes they do exist but they have not set the criteria for standardization of methodology surrounding an analysis," Gebhadt said. "At the end of the day we meet all local, state and federal guidelines for drinking water and our water is safe to drink." More: Climate 'vulnerability assessment' describes daunting challenges for Tahoe Benjamin Spillman covers the outdoors and environment in Northern Nevada, from backcountry skiing in the Sierra to the latest from Lake Tahoe's ecosystem. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.


Page 28 of 83

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2019/08/20/new-faces-including-some-uninvited-shake-up-tahoe-summit/2068058001/

https://www.rgj.com/story/life/outdoors/2019/08/02/lake-tahoe-shrimp-global-warming/1890476001/

Less Snow, More Rain: How Tahoe’s Climate Balance Could Be Shifting

• Emily Zentner Thursday, August 22, 2019 | Sacramento, CA

Skiiers and snowboarders at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe get a view of the lake as they head down the mountain. Ezra David Romero / Capital Public Radio

The iconic image of Lake Tahoe is of a clear, blue lake surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains. But that picturesque sight could look very different by the end of the century due to climate change.

Those snowy mountains we’re used to seeing could lose their white tips. And this would mean a major transformation for life in Tahoe and beyond.

It may seem obvious, but for water to fall from the sky as snow, it needs to freeze first. This means that as temperatures warm, more rain will fall than snow in Tahoe, according to a draft climate vulnerability assessment of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

In the past few years, Tahoe has normally received between 40 and 50 percent of its precipitation as snow, according to Tahoe researcher Geoff Schladow. But by the end of the


Page 29 of 83

http://www.capradio.org/about/bios/emily-zentner/

century, it’s possible that number could be cut in half, according to the projections put forth in the vulnerability assessment.

The assessment laid out two scenarios — a less severe where carbon emissions stabilize and a more severe where emissions rise — of what climate consequences Tahoe could see in the next century. Under the less severe, the fraction of water falling as snow would drop to anywhere between 36 and 42 percent, according to data from Schladow and Robert Coats at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Under the more severe, it could drop as low as around 19 percent.

SEE Snow Scenario CHART HERE

Those numbers are for the entire Tahoe Basin, where elevations can top 10,000 feet in some parts, according to Schladow. The percent of precipitation falling as snow at lake level, about 6,200 feet, could be even lower by the end of the century.

This would be a big hit for the region, as snow is a key part of Tahoe’s ecology, economy and recreational value. It’s also an important water resource for the areas surrounding the Sierra Nevada, and the loss of snow could have major consequences for the region.

While the same level of precipitation will fall in Tahoe, not all precipitation is created equal. A move to a rainier ecosystem will affect everything in the region, according to Hatchett.

“Changes in the amount of snow falling really change everything about a mountain environment, from the ecology and the biology of the landscape to the hydrological processes,” Hatchett said.

That will mean less snow for skiers and snowboarders in Tahoe, and also a major water storage issue for the entire region.

Chasing The Snow

One of the groups who will be most hit by this change will be people who rely on Tahoe snow for their livelihoods.

“If you're a professional snowboarder, then it may mean you will be doing your professional snowboarding in other places for large parts of the year,” said Geoff Schladow, one of the researchers who worked on the assessment.

For Olympic skier Maddie Bowman, a gold medalist in women’s halfpipe skiing, this means spending her training season “chasing the snow,” as she calls it.


Page 30 of 83

http://www.capradio.org/news/tahoeland/2019/08/22/less-snow-more-rain-how-tahoes-climate-balance-could-be-shifting/

Olympic skier Maddie Bowman skis at Sierra At Tahoe near South Lake Tahoe.Ezra David Romero / Capital Public Radio

She said it's a problem for many professional skiers, as some have to travel to find good enough snow to ski. It can also mean a loss of the opportunity to ski at all.

“If they don’t have good snow, their events get cancelled, so their source of income is gone,” Bowman said.

Bowman has also had to spend less time in the place she loves because of the changes taking place in Tahoe. It's harder for her to stay in her hometown and get in the training she needs to succeed in her career because of the dwindling snow.

“I can’t train in Tahoe,” she said. “There’s no half pipes here anymore. There used to be half pipes all around the lake.”

Losing A Free Resource

Skiers aren't the only ones who will feel the impact — the whole region surrounding Tahoe would feel the consequences of this change. That's because the move from snow to rain in a mountain area like this would create a major water storage issue.

More than 400,000 downstream residents in Reno and surrounding parts of Nevada rely heavily on Tahoe’s winter snowpack and the lake for their water, according to the draft vulnerability assessment. The snowpack provides a convenient (and free) water storage system for the area.


Page 31 of 83

As it falls, it accumulates and melts throughout the spring to provide a timed release of fresh water.

Storing rainwater isn’t quite so easy. Harnessing the precipitation researchers expect to fall as rain instead of snow will mean reimagining how we store water. And rethinking this system is going to be expensive, according to Schladow.

“The snowpack is an environmental service that's provided now, at no cost to taxpayers,” Schladow said. “Once that disappears and the water runs down in a much shorter period of time, then we're going to have to pay money one way or another to get the same amount of water for our uses.”

This problem isn’t unique to Tahoe either. There will be less snow and more rain throughout the Sierra Nevada. It could leave a good part of the region trying to figure out how to store water to use throughout the year.

Desert Research Institute researchers Dan McEvoy (left) and Ben Hatchett (right) measure the snow at Donner Pass.Ezra David Romero / Capital Public Radio

This extra rainwater and early snowmelt also pose a challenge for officials trying to plan for floods.


Page 32 of 83

“Now what they used to be considering a resource is now having to be managed as a hazard to prevent flooding,” Hatchett said.

Officials have to try to keep reservoirs at just the right level to mitigate this risk, Hatchett said. They have to make sure that if a big rainstorm hits or a big snowmelt event happens, reservoirs don't fill up too fast and cause floods. This, in addition to the water storage issues, could mean a headache for taxpayers and officials.

This is a problem that’s expected to get worse due to something known as the snow albedo feedback, according to Hatchett. Because snow and ice are reflective, they actually help keep the climate cool by bouncing some of the sun’s energy back into space.

As we see less snow on the ground, the temperature will rise even more without the snow’s help rebounding solar energy. And as the temperature rises, there will be less snow to reflect this energy, which will make temperatures rise again, and on and on and on.

It’s a vicious climate cycle, and Schladow and Hatchett said it’s hard to know exactly how fast this downward spiral will happen.

But one thing is for sure: Tahoe’s snow environment is changing. Tahoe may still see extreme snow storms like those in February 2019, but the snowpack is still decreasing.

The lake will adapt, according to Schladow, but it’s going to mean a different life for people and creatures in Tahoe. And it’s only just begun.

Ezra David Romero contributed to this report.


Page 33 of 83

EPISODE 3

Bye, Bye Snow

August 22, 2019

Tahoe’s identity as a winter wonderland is in jeopardy. The climate is warming, and the region’s snowpack is retreating up the mountains. Extreme fluctuations in snow not only have huge ramifications for Tahoe, but also communities across the globe.

Listen to the 25:25 min. radio report—scroll to bottom


Page 34 of 83

http://www.capradio.org/news/tahoeland/2019/08/22/bye-bye-snow/

http://www.capradio.org/news/tahoeland/2019/08/22/less-snow-more-rain-how-tahoes-climate-balance-could-be-shifting/


EPISODE 3

Bye, Bye Snow

August 22, 2019

Tahoe’s identity as a winter wonderland is in jeopardy. The climate is warming, and the region’s snowpack is retreating up the mountains. Extreme fluctuations in snow not only have huge ramifications for Tahoe, but also communities across the globe.

LISTEN

25:33


Page 35 of 83



Western Water August 22, 2019 Gary Pitzer California Water Map Gary Pitzer

HOW PRIVATE CAPITAL IS SPEEDING UP FOREST RESTORATION IN THE SIERRA NEVADA THAT BENEFITS WATERWESTERN WATERSPOTLIGHT: A BOND FUND THAT FRONTS THE MONEY IS EXPEDITING A HEADWATERS RESTORATION PROJECT TO IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY

District Ranger Lon Henderson with Tahoe

National Forest points toward an overgrown section of forest within the North Yuba River watershed project area. (Source: Water

Education Foundation)The majestic beauty of the Sierra Nevada forest is awe-inspiring, but beneath the dazzling

blue sky, there is a problem: A century of fire suppression and logging practices have left trees too close

together. Millions of trees have died, stricken by drought and beetle infestation. Combined with a forest floor

cluttered with dry brush and debris, it’s a wildfire waiting to happen.

Fires devastate the Sierra watersheds upon which millions of Californians depend — scorching the ground,

unleashing a battering ram of debris and turning hillsides into gelatinous, stream-choking mudflows.

Fixing this crisis scenario could take a decade in any watershed. But in the North Yuba River watershed

northeast of Sacramento, the effort has been kicked into high gear thanks to an innovative infusion of public

and private sector dollars that fund forest projects with many benefits — including improved water supply.

“You’ve got communities in fire-prone areas and they’re at risk, and frankly our forest is at risk. You

lose the forest, you essentially lose the soil. The water isn’t going into the ground, it’s just going to

come and go.”

~Tahoe National Forest District Ranger Lon Henderson


Page 36 of 83

https://www.watereducation.org/profile/gary-pitzer

https://www.watereducation.org/maps-posters/california-water-map

https://www.watereducation.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/lightbox/main-images/wef-2019-blue-forest---ng-016-cropped-web-.jpg




“There is a big opportunity to address climate resiliency using money that typically resides in bonds, funds and

markets,” said Nick Wobbrock, co-founder of Blue Forest Conservation, an investment firm that has developed

the Forest Resilience Bond. The bond is a way for investors to direct private money toward forest restoration

work that typically has been slowed by governmental budgetary restrictions or public funds redirected to

firefighting.

Said Wobbrock: “There are way more dollars in our pension funds than in our government budgets.”

The project in the North Yuba River watershed has drawn together federal, state and local agencies, including

the Yuba Water Agency, which expects that a healthier forest means a firmer and more reliable water supply

for the 60,000 acres of irrigated lands it serves in Yuba County.

Step one is thinning an overpopulated landscape to make way for the movement of water. Estimates are that a

fully restored forest landscape can increase the water yields by as much as 10 percent in the North Yuba

watershed.

“If there are less trees per acre, there is less transpiration and more water available for the soil,” said Willie

Whittlesey, the project manager overseeing Yuba Water Agency’s forest initiatives. “That water makes it

through the soil into the small tributaries and larger streams and for us, into the North Yuba River and our

reservoir.”

Willie Whittlesey, forest initiatives project manager with Yuba Water Agency, which has pledged $1.5 million toward the North

Yuba River watershed project. (Source: Water Education Foundation)The Forest Resilience Bond uses private capital to

finance forest restoration activities. Beneficiaries, including the U.S. Forest Service and the California

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, reimburse investors over time. Yuba Water has pledged $1.5

million toward the project and the state of California has committed $2.6 million in grant funding, with

additional funding from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

“The buzz phrase is ‘accelerate the pace and scale,’” said Whittlesey. “Blue Forest and the Forest Resilience

Bond are a catalyst for getting this done. This project was already planned by the U.S. Forest Service. It was

shelf-ready; they just didn’t have the funds to do it.”

Implementation of the project is being led by the National Forest Foundation, a nonprofit partner of the U.S.

Forest Service. Blue Forest Conservation structured the investment and raised $4 million from foundations,

impact investors and an insurance company to help complete the estimated $4.6 million project, according to

Zach Knight, Blue Forest’s co-founder and managing partner.

Accelerating the Timeline

The aim of the first project undertaken by Blue Forest is to focus on 15,000 acres of forestland in the North

Yuba River watershed with tree thinning, meadow restoration, prescribed burning and invasive species

management.


Page 37 of 83

https://www.blueforestconservation.com/bfcthoughts/2019/7/30/more-than-finance-the-non-monetary-benefits-of-the-forest-resilience-bond

https://www.yubawater.org/256/Blue-Forest-Resilience-Bond

https://www.watereducation.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/lightbox/main-images/willie---web---img_4351.jpg

https://www.watereducation.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/lightbox/main-images/willie---web---img_4351.jpg

https://www.fire.ca.gov/

https://www.fire.ca.gov/

https://sierranevada.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/236/attachments/5.16.18ycwa.compilotprojecttostudyimpactsofforestmanagement.pdf

The North Yuba

River watershed project is in where tree thinning, prescribed burning and meadow restoration work will be performed on up to

15,000 acres. (Source: Tahoe National Forest)

The initial 5,000-acre work plan would typically take as long as a decade to complete but is now expected to

be done in three years with the help of Blue Forest, said Lon Henderson, a district ranger with the U.S. Forest

Service’s Yuba River District.

Blue Forest “brings a fantastic way of expediting the whole process,” he said. “They have changed our whole

timeline.”

Typically, projects involve a lag time between contracted work and reimbursement with grant funds. With the

Forest Resilience Bond, “that check is immediately available to be written … so if you are a contractor, you

know you are going to be paid right away,” Henderson said. That, in turn, increases the number of bidders —

boosting competition and lowering the cost.

How It Works • Investors buy into the Forest Resilience Bond

• The money raised is then used to fund restoration activities, including prescribed burns, forest thinning,

invasive species removal and meadow restoration work

• Restoration work funded through the bond is expected to reduce wildfire risk and emissions, improve

water runoff, protect water and air quality, revitalize rural economies through jobs, reduce fire exposure

to insured assets and protect both habitat and recreational values

• Agencies that benefit from the work pay off the bonds, allowing bond holders to recoup their investmentHenderson said the Yuba River watershed is one of the largest undamaged watersheds in the Sierra Nevada.

It’s time to take the necessary actions such as thinning and meadow restoration to protect lives and property,

the forest environment and water supply for those downstream, he said.

“You’ve got communities in fire-prone areas and they’re at risk, and frankly our forest is at risk,” he said.

“You lose the forest, you essentially lose the soil. The water isn’t going into the ground, it’s just going to come

and go.”


Page 38 of 83

https://www.watereducation.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/lightbox/main-images/blue_forest_frb_wef_3.15.jpg




About 80 miles south of the Yuba River watershed, the state Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund through the

California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 is helping to pay for forest thinning as part of an eight-year

project that directly benefits Placer County Water Agency’s hydroelectric power operations and water supply.

Andy Fecko, the water agency’s director of resource development, said averting catastrophic wildfire protects

millions of dollars in hydroelectric infrastructure and protects the water quality of the reservoirs upon which

the agency depends.

Placer County Water Agency has several million dollars and contractors on standby every winter to clear

debris from the American River, said Fecko, adding that sediment from the 2014 King Fire that burned nearly

98,000 acres continues to flow into Ralston Afterbay.

Furthermore, forest thinning boosts the landscape’s ability to act as a sponge for all the moisture it receives.

“The thing that touches both the water and the energy side is if the sponge doesn’t work … we get all the water

in concentrated pulses and are not able to store it and meter it out,” Fecko said.

The Overstocked Forest

The Sierra Nevada’s emerald forest of today looks nothing like it did 100 or 150 years ago, in part because of a

management structure that emphasized fire suppression.

“If you are not from here, you say, ‘Wow, that’s a beautiful forest,’ and it is, but it’s not what’s been here

historically,” said Henderson. “You’d have a greater variety of trees, less homogeneity and quite a few gaps

because of that normal fire-return interval.”

During a 2017 TED talk, Paul Hessburg, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, said the science

behind the need for a new management approach is clear. “If we don’t change a few of our fire management

habits,” he said, “we are going to lose many more of our beloved forests.”

Hotter and drier summers and windier conditions have stretched the fire season by as many as 80 days a year,

Hessburg said. Prescribed burning is needed to thin trees and consume other fuels.

“We need to restore the power of the patchwork,” he said. “We need to put the right kind of fire back into the

system again. It’s how we can resize the severity of many of our future fires.”

Uncontained fires, which have a 1 to 3 percent chance of occurring each year, are devastating in their scale of

destruction. The heat is so intense that an organic vapor from burned vegetation clings to soil particles,

repelling water and resulting in more runoff and less infiltration, said Kathleen Harrison, a principal geologist

with Geosyntec Consultants who spoke June 12 in Los Angeles at a seminar called “Strategizing Against the

Flame: What’s Next for California’s Wildfires?”

“We tell people that when you look at the forest from afar, it’s not going to look much different.

There is just going to be less trees per acre.”

~Willie Whittlesey, Yuba Water Agency

The fallout from California’s recent spate of devastating wildfires and the anticipated effects of climate change

on watersheds are ushering a revamped approach of forest stewardship.


Page 39 of 83

http://www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/about-cci

https://www.pcwa.net/

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2014/9/13/king-fire/

https://www.ted.com/speakers/paul_hessburg

“You lose water with an overstocked forest,” Henderson said. “The moisture doesn’t make it to the ground and

the moisture that does gets pulled up by the overstocked forest.”

A More Resilient Landscape

Chopping down trees can cause an emotive response by the public, but Whittlesey with Yuba Water said it’s

important to keep the bigger picture in mind.

“We tell people that when you look at the forest from afar, it’s not going to look much different,” he said.

“There is just going to be less trees per acre. We are trying to bring forests back to their pre fire-exclusion

condition.”

The short conifers in the

foreground are the type of trees that will be cleared as part of the restoration work in the North Yuba River watershed. (Source:

Water Education Foundation)The goal, he said, is to have a mix of different densities — some open and more

meadow-like and others that are dense. The result is a watershed that more efficiently stores and releases

spring runoff.

“Can we capture and use that water for hydropower generation? Sometime yes, sometimes maybe not,” said

Whittlesey. “It’ll spill and make its way to the Delta, but no matter what, it’s going to provide water for habitat

all the way from the headwaters into the Delta.”

The Forest Resilience Bond works entirely without revenue from timber sales, although if there were to be a

timber sale, that could offset some of the restoration cost, said Wobbrock.

Henderson with the Forest Service said a healthier, more vibrant landscape is the aim.

“I really do want the timber off the landscape, but not for the reason you are going to accuse the Forest Service

of,” he said. “It’s to restore a more resilient landscape and the value of the timber we take off goes a long way

toward financing the restoration work that needs to be done.”

Reach Gary Pitzer: [email protected], Twitter: @gary_wef

Know someone else who wants to stay connected with water in the West? Encourage them to sign up

for Western Water, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

“The higher the burn severity, the more runoff will occur,” she said.

In addition, a thinned forest is important in the Sierra Nevada, where snowpack means everything for the

state’s water supply. Too many trees mean snow lands on treetops and melts before touching the ground.


Page 40 of 83

https://www.watereducation.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/lightbox/main-images/wef-2019-blue-forest---ng-004-web.jpg

https://www.watereducation.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/lightbox/main-images/wef-2019-blue-forest---ng-004-web.jpg

Officials Testing Lake Tahoe for Harmful Blue- Green Algal Bloom after Dog’s Death POSTED 12:19 PM, AUGUST 27, 2019, BY DENNIS SHANAHAN, FOX40 WEB DESK AND CNN WIRE, UPDATED AT 12:18PM, AUGUST 27, 2019

EL DORADO COUNTY -- Officials have tested a portion of the Lake Tahoe shoreline to determine if a toxic form of algae is present. On August 21, a person reported that their dog had died after swimming in the lake near Tallac Historic Site on the South Shore. Kiva Beach near the south shore of Lake Tahoe is a treasure for visitors, both human and canine. "You come out here and usually there's probably 30 or 40 dogs running around, and no problem. They all have fun. It's just a good place to bring your dogs," said visitor Chuck Diana. A North Carolina Woman Took Her Three Dogs to a Pond to Play. Within Hours, Her Pups Had Died from Toxic Algae. Diana and his two playful tennis ball fetchers were among the very few enjoying the dog-friendly beach Tuesday evening. News has been spreading around South Lake Tahoe about a dog that died shortly after swimming at the beach Aug. 18. The death was reported to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, which has jurisdiction in the area. They are now attempting to determine if the dog died from exposure to toxic algae. A board representative told FOX40 staff members investigated the beach and did not see any visible signs of algae. They collected samples for testing and are expecting results this week. The dog has been cremated, so officials will not be able to run those tests. Despite online reports that warning signs have been posted, FOX40 did not see any signs about algae in the parking lot or on the beach. "We've been out here every night for the last four or five nights. So, I have no concerns," Diana said. Diana said he would not bring his dogs to the lake if he knew there was algae. He highly doubts there is and said he will keep visiting. Michele Furia had the same sentiment with her energetic Labrador retriever named Jet. "I've been in the lake a lot myself, swimming lately. It seems really clear and clean to me," Furia said. The lack of visitors at a dog beach that's usually crowded when people get off work is a sign, perhaps, that many are staying away until the test results are in.


Page 41 of 83

https://fox40.com/author/dennis-shanahan/

https://fox40.com/author/fox40-web-desk/

https://fox40.com/author/cnn-wire/

https://fox40.com/2019/08/11/a-north-carolina-woman-took-her-three-dogs-to-a-pond-to-play-within-hours-her-pups-had-died-from-toxic-algae/?utm_source=related_1




Some locals were saying as much on the I Love Lake Tahoe

Facebook page.

A woman who identified as a friend of the dog owner told FOX40 on

Facebook the owner is too distraught to talk about what happened.

The friend did say the dog had been swimming in Lake Tahoe, not the

small pond adjacent to Kiva Beach.

"I'd be concerned with longtime, standing water," Furia said.

Furia looked at Lake Tahoe’s long history of clarity for comfort.

"And I'm just hoping that it's safe," she said.

Toxic algae blooms are more likely to infest bodies of fresh water

when the weather is warm and waters are stagnant, according to

the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

There’s no cure for the poisoning, and exposure nearly always leads

to death in dogs. Drinking from a body of water where blue-green

algae lurks or licking it off fur can kill a dog within 15 minutes of

exposure, according to Blue Cross for Pets, a UK animal charity.

RELATED STORIES

• A North Carolina Woman Took Her Three Dogs to a Pond to Play. Within Hours,Her Pups Had Died from Toxic Algae


Page 42 of 83

https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oee/algae/protect.html

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/blue-green-algae-and-its-dangers-dogs

Water & Land

Environmental groups argue lands bill will exempt Las Vegas pipeline from judicial review; water authority disagrees

By Daniel Rothberg

August 27th, 2019 - 2:00am Homes under construction about two miles north of Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. (Jeff Scheid/The Nevada Independent) Environmental groups argue lands bill will exempt Las Vegas pipeline from judicial review; water authority disagrees Environmental groups are raising concerns over a provision in draft legislation they believe could exempt the Las Vegas pipeline — a proposal to pump eastern Nevada groundwater about 300 miles to Southern Nevada — from further litigation and federal environmental review. The concern stems from Clark County’s recent legislative proposal that aims to resolve issues with the federal land that encircles Las Vegas as the region looks to expand its urban footprint. At issue is a section focused on transmission for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which manages its power portfolios — with other public agencies — through an association separate from NV Energy. The bill requests a right-of-way for power lines on federal public land in Lincoln and Clark counties (rights-of-way are required to develop projects on federal public land). The draft bill says the right-of-way that is granted “shall not be subject to further administrative or judicial review.” But in doing so, it makes reference to an existing federal environmental analysis for the pipeline and related power lines. As a result, groups fear the bill could be used to exempt the pipeline’s environmental analysis, already the subject of litigation, from further review. “[The water authority] is trying to rewrite the laws to allow their destructive pipeline and remove barriers that were enacted to protect Nevadans and their public resources,” Kyle Roerink, the executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, said in a press release last week. When asked whether the lands bill prevented further environmental or judicial review of the pipeline, water authority spokesman Bronson Mack pushed back, saying “the answer is absolutely not.” He said the provision within the proposed bill applied to granting a right-of-way for power lines that will convey renewable energy to comply with Nevada’s increased clean energy rules. Although the power lines might travel within the same corridor — or right-of-way — as a small section of where a future pipeline could be built, the transmission, he said, is a separate project. Mack said the bill exclusively focuses on power lines and would not preempt the process for the pipeline’s environmental analysis, part of which was the subject of a court order in 2017.


Page 43 of 83

https://www.thenevadaindependent.com/article/environmental-groups-argue-lands-bill-will-exempt-las-vegas-pipeline-from-judicial-review-water-authority-disagrees








http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/airquality/Documents/ClarkCountyLandsBill/Clark_draft_legislation_2019May.pdf

https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Document/11581

https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Document/11581

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/08/03/2012-19148/notice-of-availability-of-the-final-environmental-impact-statement-including-a-programmatic

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/08/03/2012-19148/notice-of-availability-of-the-final-environmental-impact-statement-including-a-programmatic


“It already is going through judicial review,” Mack said. “This legislation would not change that.” The water authority first proposed the pipeline in 1989, expecting rapid growth and a shortage of its Colorado River supply heading into the 21st century. The growth came, but the shortage did not. Cities across the West, including Las Vegas, were able to grow on existing supplies, largely due to conservation and more efficient indoor use. Still, the water authority is pursuing state and federal permits for the project, though it is unlikely that the pipeline will be needed for decades. On Friday, several environmental groups sent a letter to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, outlining their concerns with two of the water-related provisions within Clark County’s lands bill. The organizations included the water network, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and the National Parks Conservation Association. In the letter, they wrote “bedrock environmental protections must continue to guide large-scale development proposals that have far-reaching effects on water resources and the environment throughout the region.” In response to that letter, Cortez Masto said in a statement on Monday that her office will “continue to work closely with all local stakeholders to hear their thoughts on proposed lands legislation for Clark County… I’ll continue to meet with and discuss solutions with Nevadans — from local leaders, to conservationists, to our business community and our military.” Last year, a similar issue arose when a federal spending bill aimed to block lawsuits over a final environmental review for a water project under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. In that case, the bill drafters were explicit about their intent. The draft Clark County lands bill is vague.

But Marci Henson, who directs Clark County’s air quality department and is spearheading the comprehensive lands bill, said exempting the pipeline from litigation was not the bill’s “intent.” The disputed provision is only one aspect of the county’s lands bill, which has been developed over about two years. The proposed bill would build on top of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, known as SNPLMA, legislation designating which federal public lands the U.S. Bureau of Land Management was allowed to sell to developers. Most of the proceeds go to conservation projects, with the rest going to the water authority and the state. The bill would expand the amount of public land available for development by about 56,000 acres, potentially opening up the I-15 corridor to more growth. To offset the impact of growth, the bill would designate roughly 297,000 acres of conservation land and about 83,000 acres of wilderness. Those designations could help the county meet its obligations under the Endangered Species Act, Henson said, but she added that the county would still need to meet the requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when new development conflicted with habitat conserved for dozens of species, including the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. Groups like the Center for Biological Diversity, however, remain concerned that the bill could skirt the rules laid out by the wildlife service, the agency responsible for enforcing the Endangered Species Act. The group has argued that creating mitigation through congressional designations could undermine the scientific-based administrative process that the service typically takes. In June last year, the Clark County Commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution outlining the contents of the bill and directing county staff to draft the potential legislation. Although the bill’s broad focus looks at large-scale land planning, the legislation could also resolve smaller day-to-day issues with federal public land used for Clark County schools and public infrastructure.


Page 44 of 83

https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/water-and-drought/delta/article211161939.html

Water costs are rising across the U.S. — heres why By Rachel Layne August 27, 2019 / 3:10 PM / MoneyWatch Water bills are rising every year

• Americans this year will pay an average of $104 per month in water and wastewater bills,up more than 30% in less than a decade.

• Water and sewer bills, which are rising faster than inflation, increased for an eighthconsecutive year in a study of the country's 50 largest metropolitan regions.

• Cities across the country are grappling with aging systems, fewer resources and extremeweather.

Each glass of water, shower or flush costs far more than it did just eight years ago — and your water is bill is likely to go up again in 2019. The average water and sewer bill in 50 cities jumped 3.6% this year, marking the eighth consecutive year of increases, according to a recent annual study from Bluefield Research. Since 2012, water bills have surged 31%, outpacing inflation. This year, the typical household will pay $104 per month for water and wastewater services, the Boston-based company said. That's a faster pace than increases in prices for most groceries or gasoline, based on recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So why are Americans drowning in higher water and sewer bills? For one, cities across the country are grappling with aging infrastructure that's costly to repair. Drinking water is delivered via 1 million miles of pipes across the U.S., much of them laid in the early- to mid-20th century with a lifespan of 75 to 100 years, according to a 2017 report from the the American Society of Civil Engineers. The group gave America's drinking water infrastructure a grade of D. Wastewater systems didn't fare much better, earning a grade of D+. "We've been putting off that investment, we as a country, for decades now," Bluefield Research's Erin Bonney Casey told CBS MoneyWatch. "And so there's a backlog of projects that we need to do, and there isn't enough money to do all of those projects." Failure to adequately manage water systems have led to emergencies in Flint, Michigan and now Newark, New Jersey. On Monday, New Jersey's Essex County said it will issue a $120 million bond to replace the Newark's lead service pipes, which have caused increased lead levels in the city's drinking water. On top of that, climate change is also playing a role because more frequent and stronger storms means higher treatment costs. In some parts of the country, drought has strained water sources to critical levels, making it more expensive for cities and towns to find other sources of water or spend more on purification, for instance.

Increasingly unaffordable While the increases vary between metro areas, rates on average have increased every year since Bluefield began tracking them in 2012. Water is already unaffordable for one of 10 U.S. households, a share that's forecast to triple to more than 30 percent of within five years, according to a 2017 study from Michigan State University. "This is getting more and more expensive, and that always raises the question of affordability for low-income households," Casey noted.


Page 45 of 83

https://www.bluefieldresearch.com/ns/us-water-wastewater-bills-climb/

https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/data/averageretailfoodandenergyprices_usandmidwest_table.htm

https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/glossary/water-infrastructure-finance-innovations-authority-wifia/

https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/cat-item/drinking_water/

https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lead-in-americas-water-systems-is-a-national-problem/

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/08/26/newark-water-emergency-lead-pipe-replacement/

Where rates are surging Of the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas analyzed by Bluefield, 35 raised rates from 2018 to 2019. The rest lowered or kept their rates unchanged.

Down the drain Change in average water and wastewater bills, from 2018 to 2019, in 50 cities. Albuquerque (sorry for the way this copied)

$0.59 Atlanta $0.00 Austin $0.00 Baltimore $26.50 Birmingham $5.63 Boston $3.47 Charlotte $2.55 Chicago $0.00 Cleveland $8.93 Columbus $1.15 Dallas

$-1.49 Denver $1.78 Detroit $3.48 El Paso $33.32 Fairfax $1.08 Fort Worth $0.00 Fresno $3.92 Honolulu $0.00 Houston


Page 46 of 83

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/08/26/newark-water-emergency-lead-pipe-replacement/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-you-prepared-for-unaffordable-water-bills/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-you-prepared-for-unaffordable-water-bills/

$4.18 Indianapolis

$-0.12 Jacksonville $0.00 Las Vegas $0.43 Laurel $3.38 Long Beach $1.81 Los Angeles $4.46 Louisville

$-1.91 Memphis $0.59 Miami $1.81 Milwaukee $0.00 Minneapolis $5.05 Nashville $0.00 New York City $2.25 Oakland $4.60 Oklahoma City $3.66 Omaha $0.17 Philadelphia

$-2.10 Phoenix $0.74 Portland, ME $13.88 Portland, OR $11.15 Raleigh $0.87 Richmond $2.60 Riverside

$-21.96 Sacramento $5.69 San Antonio


Page 47 of 83

$2.95 San Diego $1.60 San Francisco $12.83 San Jose $9.13 Seattle $10.75 Tampa $0.00 Washington $0.00 Chart: Source: Bluefield Research rt: Source: Bluefield Research Take El Paso, Texas, where residents saw the highest increase among the 50 metro areas. Water rates are up 4% for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, while wastewater rates are jumping 8%, according to a report in the El Paso Times. El Paso's rates are rising as it pays for years-long repairs to its infrastructure, according to Bluefield. The city prefers to increase bills by a smaller percentage each year instead of slamming residents with a big one-time jump that they may struggle to manage, the El Paso Times reported, citing a city official.

When customers don't pay Water and wastewater utilities must perform a "balancing act" when it comes to managing water, often a hidden resource from a consumer perspective until the bill shows up, Bluefield's Casey said. For instance, when rates go up, sometimes people just don't pay at all. But the utility is still managing the same — or more — water volume through its systems and needs revenue to pay for the system. Such a scenario can make bills higher for everyone else. "So by raising the rates, the question becomes are you really just pushing more people into defaulting on the bill?" Casey said. There isn't a set billing formula or pattern from utility to utility, Bluefield noted. Bills — and increases — can depend on each city's system for delivery, treatment, need for repair and overhaul of infrastructure, the volume of water used as well as how a customer's bill is calculated, according to the Bluefield report. "More often than not, public utility rates are mercurial and influenced significantly at a political and municipal management level," the report said. Utilities still have to pay for the system even when there's inadequate revenue. That can drive some municipalities to explore a private takeover of their water systems, which can be a controversial move that stirs up fierce local opposition. Others turn to conservation programs. Regardless, the bills often just get higher.


Page 48 of 83

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/01/09/el-paso-water-bills-rising-again-2019/2528389002/

El Paso is far from alone. In recent months, cities from San Diego to Cleveland to Durham, North Carolina and Lowell, Massachusetts each made the news because of higher water and sewer rates.

Income-based water bills Many cities have programs for low-income residents that offer payment plans or assistance of some kind. But some are searching for "more innovative" methods of billing so low-income residents aren't slammed by shutoffs — or decide not to pay their bill at all, Casey noted.

Casey pointed to Philadelphia's program for low-income households as an example. Started two years ago, the program bases water bills on income level, not water use. The Tiered Assistance Program, or TAP, is available to residents with income of less than 150% of the federal poverty level, or about $39,000 for a family of four.

Payments range from 2% to 4% of household income, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Portland, Oregon is another city that's developed a way to help renters with costs tied to rising water and sewer bills. Given the rising cost of water, it's likely these types of income-based programs will become more common throughout the U.S., Casey said.


Page 49 of 83

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/officials-give-update-on-high-water-bills-in-san-diego/509-456cc416-3f63-401a-90d6-beb3d14bc28d

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/02/why-have-cleveland-area-water-sewer-bills-doubled-in-a-decade.html

https://www.cbs17.com/news/durham-customers-getting-answers-following-water-bill-spike/

https://www.cbs17.com/news/durham-customers-getting-answers-following-water-bill-spike/

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/04/02/lowell-utility-bill-wrong-balances-third-party-website/

https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/water-bill-customer-assistance/

https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/water-bill-customer-assistance/

New channels planned for the Upper Truckee River in South Lake Tahoe Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/13/2019 - 9:33pm

• Upper Truckee River Marsh photo provided by CTC

•

•

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy had originally planned to get work started on their $9 million, multi-stage Upper Truckee River project to restore and enhance over 500 acres of floodplain this fall, but that has been postponed until 2020.

They will be redirecting the Upper Truckee River flows to a historical network of channels through the current Marsh while creating new channels for the river in the vicinity of the Silverwood neighborhood. These new channels will capture flow during periods of high water to spread the river throughout the Marsh. The main channel will continue to carry all of the flow during low-water periods.

The restored Marsh will act as a natural pollution filter, removing fine sediments from the water before it reaches Lake Tahoe while also improving water quality and enrich native bird and fish habitat, according to the Conservancy. With a wetter Marsh, it will be more resilient to droughts, flooding, and other climate change impacts. The Conservancy also plans to enhance public access and recreation opportunities in the northwest corner of the Marsh.

The creation of the Tahoe Keys destroyed much of the wetlands in the 1950s and 1960s. The development involved considerable dredging and filling of the area, as well as the channelization of the Upper Truckee River as it nears Lake Tahoe. Prior to the development of the Tahoe Keys, the Marsh covered 1,600 acres, more than three times its current size.

Conservancy staff and consultants are completing the final steps necessary to start constructing the Marsh project. Initial implementation efforts will consist of redirecting high flows into historic channels in the center of the Marsh, converting the “Sailing Lagoon” to functioning wetland, removing fill material, and improving the trail to Cove East Beach.

Once work has been completed with the multiple funding and permitting agencies involved in the project this winter, the Conservancy will update the community with a definitive outlook on the specific plans ahead.


Page 50 of 83

https://www.southtahoenow.com/users/paula

http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/13/2018/2019-project-reroute-upper-truckee-river-through-south-lake-tahoe-marsh

http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/13/2018/2019-project-reroute-upper-truckee-river-through-south-lake-tahoe-marsh

https://www.southtahoenow.com/sites/southtahoenow.com/files/705624-marsh-now.jpg

https://www.southtahoenow.com/story/08/13/2019/new-channels-upper-truckee-river-planned-south-lake-tahoe#slide-0-field_images-705624

https://www.southtahoenow.com/story/08/13/2019/new-channels-upper-truckee-river-planned-south-lake-tahoe#slide-1-field_images-705624

• About Us

• Contact

Supply & Demand

Padre Dam’s demonstration project is evaluating the feasibility of the Advanced Water Purification Program. Since March 2015, the pilot program has produced approximately 100,000 gallons of purified water each day. Photo: Padre Dam MWD

California Moves To Boost Recycled Water August 28, 2019/in News, Supply & Demand /by Ed Joyce A new plan recommends four strategies to advance water reuse in California over the next three decades – an important part of both the state and regional water resilience portfolio. The California WateReuse Action Plan includes a comprehensive set of proposed actions that will more than double the use of water recycling in California and help prepare the state for the impacts of climate change, according to WateReuse California, which released the plan in July. But getting to that goal will require several steps, including: Completing research to advance water recycling and potable reuse; developing and streamlining recycled water regulations and permitting; increasing grant and loan opportunities to expand recycled water infrastructure; and, implementing integrated regional planning. The U.S. EPA is developing a similar plan to advance water reuse nationwide.


Page 51 of 83

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/about-us/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/contact/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/category/news/supply-demand/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/california-moves-boost-recycled-water/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/california-moves-boost-recycled-water/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/category/news/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/category/news/supply-demand/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/author/ejoyce/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/

https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Padre-Dam-Demonstration-Facility-Padre-Dam-MWD-2-WNN.jpg

The California WateReuse Action Plan recommends strategies for increasing water recycling statewide. Graphic: WateReuse California

San Diego water agencies collaborate on plan

Recycled water is expected to be the next major source of local water supply for the San Diego

region – and the region has a long history of working together toward that goal.

The San Diego County Water Authority collaborated with its member agencies to provide feedback

on the plan’s development.

“We appreciate how this new plan aims to increase water supply diversification, including recycled

water,” said Lesley Dobalian, principal water resources specialist with the Water Authority, and a

contributor to the final action plan.

“Within the next 15 years, potable reuse and recycled water is projected to make up more than a

quarter of San Diego County’s supply, but reaching our potential will depend in part on statewide

implementation of the plan’s key findings,” Dobalian said.


Page 52 of 83

Recycled water and potable reuse are forecast to make up 26% of San Diego County’s water supply by 2035. Graphic: San Diego County Water Authority

Water Resilience Portfolio In July, the Water Authority Board endorsed Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-10-19, directing development of a water resilience portfolio approach that meets the needs of California through the 21st century. On July 18, state officials toured San Diego County water infrastructure to see the region’s successful water portfolio approach for supply diversification, as they work to create the statewide water resilience portfolio. In San Diego County, several agencies are developing or expanding water recycling plans, including the City of San Diego, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Helix Water District, the City of Oceanside, and several additional projects in North County.

National water reuse action plan At the national level, EPA is also developing a Water Reuse Action Plan, or WRAP, to advance water reuse. The Water Authority met with its member agencies and submitted comments to the U.S. EPA for the WRAP. A draft WRAP is expected to be released by the federal agency at the national WateReuse Association Symposium September 8-11 in San Diego. “California is widely recognized as a national and world leader in water recycling,” according to the California WateReuse Action Plan. “Recycled water supplies offset approximately 9% of the state’s urban water demands and agricultural reuse provides reliable water supplies for farmers throughout the state.”


Page 53 of 83

Climate change poses threat to snowpack, Lake Tahoe clarity Carson City | August 16, 2019

Justin Scacco [email protected]

The annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report was released earlier this month. Courtesy of Joe Proudman / UC Davis LAKE TAHOE FACTS

•Maximum depth: 1,645 feet, making it one of the deepest lakes in the world and second deepest lake in the United States

•Lake surface area: 191 square miles

•Length: 22 miles

•Width: 12 miles

•Length of shoreline: approximately 75 miles


Page 54 of 83

https://www.nevadaappeal.com/recent-stories/carson-city

•Volume of water: 39 trillion gallons, plus or minus

•Daily evaporation: half a billion gallons, which would meet the daily water needs of 5 million Americans

•Number of algal cells in Lake Tahoe: approximately 30 million trillion

•Number of inflowing streams: 63, the largest being the Upper Truckee River

•Number of large lakes worldwide with annual clarity exceeding Tahoe’s: 0

• Number of outflowing streams: one, the Truckee River, which exits at Tahoe City, flows through Truckee and Reno, and terminates in Pyramid Lake.

•Length of time it would take to refill the lake: about 600 years

•Average elevation of lake surface: 6,225 feet

•Highest peak in basin: Freel Peak, 10,891 feet

Following the annual State of the Lake Report, Dr. Geoffrey Schladow took center stage in Incline Village to discuss the findings from this year’s study.

Among the topics discussed during the roughly hour-long presentation on lake data from 2018 were invasive species, temperature and precipitation, deep water mixing, forest health, and whether Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity can be safeguarded against climate change.

“We all love Tahoe,” said Schladow, director of the University of California, Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. “Tahoe’s beautiful. It’s like no other place on earth, but it is changing.

“Go to the South Shore, the beaches there have a lot of clam shells in them, you’re not just walking on white sand anym ore, you’re walking on clam shells. Metaphyton, these are like these long filamentous, stringy algae, they’re increasingly washing up on the beaches of the South Shore, and when they wash up there they decompose. And there are sand flies and it’s not nice. It’s happening more and more every year.”

“We cannot keep the lake cooler. We cannot stop snow from turning into rain. But maybe we can maintain clarity in the face of all these things.”— Dr. Geoffrey Schladow, University of California, Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center director

FROM SNOW TO RAIN


Page 55 of 83

https://adclick.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjstCQhzhyznpkIu-PczZZTP1xD21-eh3iONn5FBz8sZj_Ct11hMs2CAFCLNnJ4vYNAqxWr2xKuOjzd3I7vy2J3WLKkX55_AKBAK3CDRFaGAL9oF6qmNrsVujPlDuRAfw7Z23WrVzqUMcVP6Wm6WJu_e7qZ5tkdutLM0ZZC5-C27FMN85snz-a1n0QmS0yF9g230qlJO8h2EhckEiYZAgoYvAR5Air17gJhrLRqS_KocQIDunPizr6SwtnYYKzK1e2F10fZjunZ5r2FP43yBFI3-3mt_p&sig=Cg0ArKJSzL2v5YGb_grXEAE&urlfix=1&adurl=http://mastersofillusionlive.com/

https://adclick.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjstCQhzhyznpkIu-PczZZTP1xD21-eh3iONn5FBz8sZj_Ct11hMs2CAFCLNnJ4vYNAqxWr2xKuOjzd3I7vy2J3WLKkX55_AKBAK3CDRFaGAL9oF6qmNrsVujPlDuRAfw7Z23WrVzqUMcVP6Wm6WJu_e7qZ5tkdutLM0ZZC5-C27FMN85snz-a1n0QmS0yF9g230qlJO8h2EhckEiYZAgoYvAR5Air17gJhrLRqS_KocQIDunPizr6SwtnYYKzK1e2F10fZjunZ5r2FP43yBFI3-3mt_p&sig=Cg0ArKJSzL2v5YGb_grXEAE&urlfix=1&adurl=http://mastersofillusionlive.com/

Meteorologically, 2018 was a very uneventful year, according to the report, with air temperatures and precipitation similar to long-term trend lines. The report also noted that the percentage of snow in the total precipitation was 31.5%, which is almost identical to 2017, but down compared to 100 years ago when it was closer to 50%.

During the past 107 years, daily air temperatures measured in Tahoe City have increased. The average daily maximum temperature has risen by 2.25 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average daily minimum temperature has risen by 4.43 degrees. According to the report, the number of days when air temperatures averaged below freezing has declined by about 30 days since 1911, though year-to-year variability is high.

Part of the annual report included projections of what the lake and basin will look like by the end of the century.

The study, which used the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 model (a scenario where not much is done in the future about climate change), predicted yearly average maximum temperatures would rise by 9 degrees Fahrenheit in the basin by the end of the century.

Furthermore, rising temperatures are forecast to change the Tahoe area from a snow-based hydrology to a rain-based hydrology by the final third of the century, moving the time of peak streamflows from June to January.

“When you suddenly don’t have a snowpack storing water, you’re getting rain reaching the stream much sooner, much higher flows, potential for more erosion, potential for bridges to be washed out, and we as engineers can deal with that,” said Schladow. “Think, however, if you’re a fish and your time of year for spawning is when those flows are happening … used to happen in June, now it happens in January. I wish I could tell you what that means.”

While Schladow painted a grim picture for the future of the area as the climate warms, he indicated there is hope to protect the lake’s clarity against warming temperatures.

“We cannot keep the lake cooler,” he said. “We cannot stop snow from turning into rain, but maybe we can maintain clarity in the face of all these things.”

MYSIS INVASION

From 1963-1965, the California and Nevada Departments of Fish and Game introduced non-native Mysis shrimp into Tahoe, believing the population would provide plentiful food supply for lake trout.

Once the shrimp became established, however, they did not successfully supplement the food supply for sport fishes, and instead caused unexpected negative impacts on the lake, damaging clarity levels, and nearly eradicating the native zooplankton, Daphnia and Bosmina, which act as the lake’s natural cleaners.


Page 56 of 83

Then in 2011, Tahoe Environmental Research Center teams observed that all of the Mysis shrimp in Emerald Bay had mysteriously disappeared. Within two years, Daphnia and Bosmina reappeared in large numbers and water clarity in the bay almost doubled. In a five-year study, funded by private donors, researchers confirmed a link between the shrimp and negative impacts on clarity.

When shrimp aren’t present, the Daphnia and Bosmina are able improve the lake’s clarity by consuming fine particles and Cyclotella, an algae, in the water column, turning them in fecal pellets, which sink to the bottom of the lake.

Due to its tiny size, Cyclotella, a natural phytoplankton in the lake, acts just like the fine particles that are at the core cause of clarity decline. Since 2006, researchers have observed an increase in the phytoplankton. This, according to Schladow, is due to lake’s lack of mixing, meaning larger phytoplankton have settled out, leaving the Cyclotella with no competition for resources.

“(Cyclotella’s) been here all along, but there’s just a lot more of it now than there was in the ’80s and ’90s,” said Schladow.

In the following years, the Mysis returned to Emerald Bay, and the clarity has gone back to where it was prior to 2011.

The research center is currently halfway into a two-year pilot project, trawling for the shrimp at night in order to find an effective means of removing enough Mysis to improve lake clarity.

The annual average Secchi depth in 2018 was measured at 70.9 feet, which is a 10.5-foot increase over 2017, and according to researchers, is being attributed to the return of more normal conditions following a five-year drought and the heavy snow year in 2017.

Summer clarity has been declining in the long term at Tahoe, according to the report, and is largely offsetting gains made in winter clarity. Annual winter depth measurements from 1968 to present indicate winter clarity is showing an overall improvement. In 2018, however, clarity decreased by 5.2 feet, which was largely due to the carryover of conditions from 2017’s extremely low clarity. The winter average of 73.5 feet in 2018 was still well above the worst winter, in 1997, when the average was 65.6 feet.

Summer clarity in 2018 averaged 61.7 feet, an increase of 8.2 feet compared to 2017. The cause of improvement, according to researchers, was due to more normal summer conditions.

WATER TEMPERATURES

For 2018, the average surface temperature of the water was 53.2 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the second highest since measurements began in 1968. The maximum daily summer surface water temperature of 77.5 degrees, recorded on Aug. 6, 2018, was one of the highest observed.

The water temperature at a depth of 1,320 feet, according to researchers, is indicative of conditions in the deeper waters of the lake. Since 1970, deep water temperatures have increased


Page 57 of 83

by 1.19 degrees. The increase has been punctuated by several occasional dips in temperatures, which coincide with the lake mixing completely to the bottom, allowing a large amount of heat to escape.

DEEP MIXING

Research indicated that for the seventh straight year, Tahoe didn’t mix all the way to the bottom.

This deep mixing, which typically occurs between February and March, brings nutrients to the surface, where they promote algal growth, and moves oxygen downward, promoting aquatic life throughout the water column.

“As the surface of the lake gets warmer, it gets lighter — less dense, and when it’s less dense and the wind blows over it, it’s harder for it to get mixed in with the rest of the water,” said Schladow. “It’s like oil floating on water.”

MOTHS ON THE ATTACK

Tahoe’s forests recently experienced a drought, and now a new threat has emerged to the health of the forest’s Aspen trees.

The white satin moth has been defoliating (removing leaves) stands of Aspen in parts of the basin, including trees old enough to bear the marks left by Basque sheepherders from the early 1900s.

The moth, which was first detected in the area in 2011, is now defoliating numerous aspen stands, and has recently been detected in the West Shore.

The annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report is produced by the University of California, Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and presents data from 2018 regarding lake clarity, temperature, snowpack, invasive species, algae, nutrient loads, and more in the context of the long-term record.

To view the report, visit tahoe.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4286/files/inline-files/SOTL2019_reduced.pdf.


Page 58 of 83

https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4286/files/inline-files/SOTL2019_reduced.pdf

https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4286/files/inline-files/SOTL2019_reduced.pdf

Volunteers Dismayed at City's New

Liability Plan for Community Meal Services “Disheartened”, “appalled”, “completely dumbfounded” and “outraged” were how some volunteers reacted to a City of Reno Meal Delivery Program form it wants them to sign before serving food to those in need at a yet to be disclosed location. A new meeting to discuss the situation is expected September 9th. In April, local officials indicated volunteer meals would soon no longer be allowed at the downtown Reno shelter, and after delays, the form was the first of the new plan to officially emerge.

Protracted Negotiations Suddenly Gone Wrong

This past Spring, local officials announced volunteer organized meal services for those living on the streets would be moving away from the downtown Reno homeless compound, alleging overcrowding and security issues. At first, a date of May first was given for all the meals to change location, but then that deadline was pushed back giving more time for negotiations.

But now after weeks of discussions, and the sudden release of a new Reno protocol for these meals, the impasse between the city and volunteers has widened. Friday, immediately after receiving the new form, the Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality board of directors issued a statement saying in part, “we cannot sign at this time and await a collaborative solution while we and the other volunteers who serve this community continue to provide lifesaving resources to our neighbors.”

The new protocol would have volunteers be responsible for cleaning the new meal space, including the restrooms, by 8 p.m. nightly, maintaining “order and safety”, ensuring no one is lined up before 5 p.m. and that everyone is gone by 8 p.m., and being responsible for calling law enforcement if needed, among other stipulations.

The We Care Volunteers followed up with their own statement on Saturday, which was very clear in its opposition in the first paragraph: “We are appalled that while for nearly 10 years we have provided over 2500 meals per month, without any City of Reno support—that at this time you would burden our volunteers with the “program roles and responsibilities” of cleaning bathrooms,

disposing of our guests trash, being present hours before we serve to ensure guests don't gather earlier than 5 pm, and have the sole responsibility to "maintain order and safety" by acting as first-responders to contacting medical and police services.”

New Scheduled Meeting but Still No Exact Site Identified


Page 59 of 83

An email sent to volunteers, signed by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy of Operations, Greg Herrera, indicates a new lease has been signed with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, for a site on 4th street, to serve as a new location for the volunteer meals.

“I’m happy to report that the City of Reno has identified and signed a lease with TMWA for an alternative site on 4th Street where your groups will be able to safely provide meals to the homeless population in our area,” he wrote in the email dated August 27th. “I don’t have all the details right now, but we will be coordinating a meeting with you in the next week or two to get you all of the information. “

The “Meal Delivery Release” was sent by Hettie Ploeger, Management Analyst for the City of Reno, on August 30th. “Please keep in mind that each volunteer will need to sign the release,” the email read. “We will be happy to discuss this further at the meeting on September 9th.”

Lacking Proper Spirit

As part of the We Care Volunteers statement, it said the new protocol “would cause undo concern and instead of starting our meal service with a positive spirit of cooperation, it would instead create a menacing atmosphere and further demonize and purport our guests as dangerous, disease ridden, hazardous individuals who may not deserve our service.”

Other volunteers pointed to inconsistencies in how the city is framing the issue. They said the reason the meals were being moved was allegedly for security, but if the volunteers were now responsible for security, they thought it seemed to indicate city officials had no interest in the security of those being helped, since volunteers did not have any of the security resources which are currently used at the Community Assistance Center in downtown Reno.

Angela Handler, who coordinates the 80 or so volunteers with Loka Cares, said she would soon forward them the new protocol, but was initially stopped in her tracks expressing “utter disappointment.”

She said her group served its community meal as it normally does this past Friday at the downtown compound and vowed “to continue to create meals for those in need as food and compassion is an absolute right.”

Saturday, Lisa Lee, a recovery specialist and advocate for those living on the streets, wrote an email to “the compassionate army of volunteers,” stating: “I am appalled at the direction the City of Reno is moving and hope that meal service volunteers will stand in solidarity with RISE and We Care in refusing to sign on to these harmful, denigrating, and outrageous terms. I also hope that each volunteer group will continue to serve our amazing community members, friends, and neighbors facing poverty and homelessness in the radically inclusive spirit you all exhibit


Page 60 of 83

New research targets microplastics detected in Lake Tahoe By Associated Press

September 2, 2019 | 3:00pm | Updated

Freya Mayo (left) and her sister Evie, from London, England, try out a paddle board on Lake Tahoe near South Lake Tahoe, Calif.AP

RENO, Nev. — The fallout from humanity’s addiction to plastics is showing up in the waters of Lake Tahoe.

Scientists detected microplastics at several locations around the lake for the first time this year and they’re working to understand what that means for human health and the environment of the Tahoe Basin.

Microplastics, the term for tiny pieces of plastic that come from everything from water bottles to synthetic fleece sweaters, are ubiquitous, so it’s not surprising to find them in Lake Tahoe, experts told the Reno Gazette Journal. They’ve been found in fish in the oceans and raining down from the sky in the Pyrenees mountains straddling France and Spain.

A team of researchers from the Desert Research Institute is digging deeper into the issue to learn more about potential ramifications for Nevada.


Page 61 of 83

https://nypost.com/2019/09/02/new-research-targets-microplastics-detected-in-lake-tahoe/

https://nypost.com/2019/09/02/new-research-targets-microplastics-detected-in-lake-tahoe/

“I don’t think we fully understand the effects of microplastics on the environment,” said Monica Arienzo, who was on the team that found microplastics in Lake Tahoe water and in snow in the Tahoe Basin.

The work at Lake Tahoe is part of an effort the DRI Foundation funded to learn more about microplastics in Nevada. The researchers are scheduled to present their findings to the American Geophysical Union in December.

“There has been a lot of work done in marine environments and far less in freshwater, and less even in alpine lakes,” said Meghan Collins, education program manager for Desert Research Institute.

In addition to lakes and streams in the Tahoe Basin, the researchers are studying the Las Vegas dry river basin in southern Nevada, which drains into Lake Mead.

“These tiny little bits of plastic are in our environment,” Arienzo said. “They can be floating in our water, they can sink in the water, they can be deposited on our snow.”

The team sampled one site in Lake Mead, three in the Las Vegas dry river basin, and six sites in Lake Tahoe, including both low- and high-traffic areas for boats and at stormwater inflow sites.

“We are in the process of identifying what types of plastics those are so we can better identify the sources of those plastics,” Arienzo said.

“Synthetic clothing can be a source of plastic, rubber wear and tear can be a source of plastic to the lake,” she said. “Even the breakdown of the nylon rope that you use to tie down your boat is a source of plastic.”

So little is known about microplastics that there aren’t any standards for drinking water, said Andy Gebhardt, director of operations for the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.

“EPA recognizes they do exist but they have not set the criteria for standardization of methodology surrounding an analysis,” Gebhadt said. “At the end of the day we meet all local, state and federal guidelines for drinking water and our water is safe to drink.”


Page 62 of 83

Daybreak Development Goes Back to City Council September 2, 2019 Bob Conrad

Daybreak development location. Google Earth image.

This article is content for our subscribers. It will public for two days before going behind our paywall. Subscribers get reduced advertising and full site access. Please support locally owned, independent journalism by subscribing today:https://thisisreno.com/subscribe-for-full-site-access/

The City of Reno and attorneys for the investment firm behind the South Reno Daybreak development have reached an agreement for the project to appear before council again this month.

Newport Pacific Land Company sued the city in February after the Reno City Council denied the development in November of 2018.

The development proposes 4,700 residential units in what project critics are calling the “last available space to store floodwaters and for natural percolation into the soil in the Steamboat Creek watershed.”

Last week, however, it was announced that the developers and the Reno City Attorney’s Office “have reached a mutual understanding regarding modification and remand of the Project


Page 63 of 83



https://thisisreno.com/subscribe-for-full-site-access/

https://thisisreno.com/subscribe-for-full-site-access/

https://thisisreno.com/2019/02/daybreak-developers-sue-city/

https://washoerap.com/2019/09/02/daybreak-strikes-back/



Applications to City Council for possible approval on or before September 23, 2019.” (Read the agreement below.)

Background Daybreak’s developers previously said that denial of their project by the City Council was arbitrary.

Attorney Michael Burke, on behalf of the California-based company, wrote:

“According to the City Council, Daybreak’s applications were denied because the City’s current master plan, Reimagine Reno, prohibits development in a floodplain. There are several problems with this position.

“First, Reimagine Reno does not apply to Daybreak’s applications, because Daybreak’s applications were submitted under Reno’s prior master plan which does not contain any such language.

“Second, denying the applications will not prohibit development in a floodplain, as existing entitlements already allow future development within the floodplain, only without the mitigation proposed by Daybreak.

“Third, portions of the of the Bella Vista and Butler Ranches have already been developed, notwithstanding the factor that these properties are also in the floodplain. And fourth, the City has never applied this interpretation to any other development in the City.”

As a result of the lawsuit, the City Council is now forced to consider the development later this month. It will be a vote to approve the development–or not. Councilmembers cannot place more requirements on the project, according to the court document.

R E L A T E D : City Council, Mayor Chastise RTC Over Virginia Street Project (Subscriber Content)

“In the event City Council approves the Project Applications and Ancillary Agreements, the City shall submit the Master Plan amendment and project of regional significance determination to the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission and Truckee Meadows Regional Governing Board…for a determination that the Project confirms to the Regional Plan,” the agreement noted.

Should council again deny the project, which has been modified as part of the new agreement, the lawsuit will proceed with a court hearing September 27, 2019.

What’s Changed?


Page 64 of 83

https://thisisreno.com/2019/03/city-council-mayor-chastise-rtc-over-virginia-street-project/




Few seem to know what exactly occurred that led to the agreement between the city attorney and Daybreak’s developers.

“I have no idea,” said Coucilmember Naomi Duerr, who opposed the project last year. “I do know what we’ll be finding out in an upcoming staff report before the meeting.”

Steve Wolgast, writing at Washoe Residents for Appropriate Planning, said the agreement raises questions about the role of the council in considering developments.

“Does Reno control development at all?” he asked. “Daybreak is not compliant with the master plan or existing zoning. What entitles them to a special exception for the benefit of their investors?

“This has been a long and tortured process for this massive development.”

Residents oppose the project.

“I am absolutely concerned about this project,” Michelle Bay wrote to the city. “The land proposed for this project is in fact wetlands and will only lead to flooding issues like Lemmon Valley. And the increased traffic is already a concern for Rio Poco (Road) with the addition of the Southeast Connector.”

Brian Bonnenfant, of the University of Nevada’s Center for Regional Studies, said earlier this year, though, that the project meets the region’s identified housing needs.

“I’m sure they had met with (city) staff and thought they had it all in place,” he said. “It’s mostly just a flood issue. I think (the City Council) is using that as a spearpoint to tackle those issues.”

This story may be updated. Burke, a representative for the project, and the city’s communications staff were contacted for additional information.


Page 65 of 83


https://thisisreno.com/2015/02/reno-pub-crawls-how-do-they-impact-the-local-economy-listen-to-our-podcast/

Clay may stop Hesco Barriers from leaking in Lemmon Valleyay Web Weather By Terri Russell | Posted: Tue 6:11 PM, Sep 03, 2019 | Updated: Tue 6:52 PM, Sep 03, 2019

LEMMON VALLEY, NV (KOLO) Pompe Way in Lemmon Valley was not only hit the hardest during the 2017 floods; as if to add insult to injury, the Hesco Barriers designed to keep Swan Lake water from homes here are now leaking and have been for several months.

On Tuesday September 3, 2019 crews began an experiment of sorts.

The county has purchased 12 tons of Bentonite--a clay used to seal ponds and cap wells, and use it to seal leaks in the walls.

“The hope is that the product doing the reduction of seepage is absorbed into the ground and below the Hesco barriers themselves and stays intact,” says Dylan Menes, Washoe County Senior Engineer.

Menes says the clay has been used on Hesco Barriers before in other communities.

The clay is heavier than water, and expands to about two times its size when exposed to moisture.

He says in the next three days he will assess which type of the product, a cat litter consistency or pellet type works best on the leaks.

Crews too are applying the product differently at various sites along the wall to see what method is most effective.

The final word on product type and best application will mean Pompe Way could soon remain dry.

After two years of promises, residents we talked to are understandably skeptical.

“You know about this clay, seems to me there was some water coming under the road down on the south end of Pompe during the late winter early spring time,” says Winn Winsett, a property owner in Lemmon Valley. “The clay may stop something over the top. But, I don't know what it is going to do underneath,” he says.

Menes says another benefit of the clay if it proves effective, water pump maintenance costs could be reduced.

Right now those pumps, located around Lemmon Valley, take leaking water from the barriers off the roadway. Pump usage could be cut which means the county would not have to spend as much money on diesel, upkeep and manpower.


Page 66 of 83

https://www.kolotv.com/content/bios/244031.html

The Phyn Smart Water Assistant Offers DeepInsights Into Your Home’s Water SystemSeptember 5th, 2019 by Kyle Field

The new Phyn Smart Water Assistant believes it can identify water leaks in the home with only a single connection to the water system. The new smart meter can be added to the home with a simple DIY installation under a single sink in the home, from which it is able to identify trends in the home’s water usage including water leaks and water consumption tracking. Once connected to the home water system and a power outlet, the smart device can be connected up to wifi and it’s off to the races. The longer the system is connected to the home, the better it gets at identifying usage anomalies and outliers indicative of a potential water leak.

The Phyn Smart Water Assistant installed under a sink. Image courtesy: Phyn

“At Phyn, we’re passionate about protecting homes from leak damage and providing tools to enable conservation. The Phyn Smart Water Assistant represents an innovative breakthrough that is designed, packaged, and priced to help homeowners understand, appreciate and control their water better, smarter,” said Ryan Kim, CEO of Phyn. “The Smart Water Assistant pairs sophisticated industry leading sensor and AI technology with a consumer friendly design that allows for self installation, making enhanced everyday experiences with water accessible to everyone.”


Page 67 of 83

https://cleantechnica.com/author/redfoxq7/

https://www.phyn.com/smart-water-assistant/

According to the US EPA, “The average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.” We lived this out firsthand after moving into our current rental, discovering a few weeks into the adventure that it had a water leak in a supply line running through the foundation of the home.

The Phyn Smart Water Assistant claims to be able to identify a leak within seconds, providing the owner with push notifications of the issue much faster than would otherwise be possible. This not only has the potential to save water, it has the potential to help owners avoid costly home repairs due to water damage.

As the device gathers more data, homeowners are able to look at not only real-time water usage, but daily and monthly water usage trends, even comparing usage to similar households. The gamification of water usage is a very real possibility with the Phyn Smart Water Assistant, so get out those low flow shower heads and high efficiency toilets folks, because it’s game time.

What really hurts my head in an awesome way is that it not only looks at and trends whole home water usage, which is impressive by itself, but it is able to really get into the details of the home’s usage. From the water connections under a single sink in the home, it is able to provide, “granular, fixture-by-fixture details of how much water showers, sinks, washing machines, irrigation systems, and more are using.”

The unit includes freeze warnings that leverage Phyn’s patented pressure sensing (aka modern magic) to detect ice crystals forming in pipes before they fully freeze. Using this granular, forward looking data, he system is able to alert homeowners of the imminent risk of freezing pipes before any damage has occurred.

For even deeper insights into the home water system, the device comes with a special Plumbing Check diagnostic mode. Just flip off the water at the main and run the check. With no extra “noise” in the system, the device looks for anomalies like bad seals (leaky toilet, I’m looking at you) or pinhole leaks in the home’s water lines. It’s a good way to get some extra piece of mind and maybe even avoid some larger headaches down the road.

As with all the smart home things we’re filling our homes with these days, the Phyn Smart Water Meter is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and features a range of If-This-Then-That (IFTTT) app integrations for homeowners to tap into. It is available for pre-purchase right now on BestBuy.com, Phyn.com and Belkin.com, with availability in store at the end of September 2019.


Page 68 of 83

https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week

https://cleantechnica.com/files/2019/09/phyn-installed-under-sink-residential-smart-water-meter-detection.jpg

Education | IndyBlog

Acting vice president of Desert Research Institute approved as interim president for two years By

Mark Hernandez September 5th, 2019 - 3:14pm Lake Tahoe on Monday, November 26, 2018. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent) Acting vice president of Desert Research Institute approved as interim president for two years

Portrait of Kumud Acharya, interim president of Desert Research Institute, on Aug. 26, 2019 in Las Vegas. (Photo by David Becker / courtesy NSHE)

Water researcher Kumud Acharya has become interim president of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) for the next two years.


Page 69 of 83

https://www.thenevadaindependent.com/article/acting-vice-president-of-desert-research-institute-approved-as-interim-president-for-two-years




https://www.thenevadaindependent.com/author/mark-hernandez





The Board of Regents on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Acharya, who had been acting president, as the next interim head of DRI. He has been at the helm since the resignation of Kristen Averyt on June 30.

“I have had the privilege of being a DRI faculty member for more than a decade, and I’m honored to now serve as interim president,” Acharya said in a statement. “Science is more important than ever as Nevada and our planet faces growing environmental challenges, and I look forward to what the future holds for DRI.”

The Desert Research Institute is the non-profit, environmental research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education that researches natural and human-induced climate change. It has two main campuses, one in Reno and one in Las Vegas, that employ over 400 people.

Before Acharya became acting vice president, he has worked at DRI since 2006, first as an associate research professor and working his way up to executive director of hydrologic sciences. He received his Ph.D. in biology and environmental sciences from Saitama University in Japan in 1999.

Acharya has received four different academic awards, is a member of 10 different professional societies, and has raised over $18 million for the DRI in the 14 years he has been there. In the last 10 years, he has been a part of 95 journal publications.

Averyt is currently working as a research professor at UNLV where she began in July. She became president in 2017 after working as an associate director for science at the Cooperative Institute for Research in environmental sciences from 2012 to July 2017 in Boulder, Colorado.

“The past two years have been very rewarding, and I have enjoyed working with the NSHE team and everyone at DRI,” Averyt said when she announced her departure. “I am proud of the work we’ve done to connect DRI’s mission with society, share the impact of the important research DRI performs across Nevada, and tell the inspiring stories of the remarkable people at DRI.”


Page 70 of 83

https://nshe.nevada.edu/wp-content/uploads/file/BoardOfRegents/Agendas/2019/09-sep-mtgs/BOR0919.pdf

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/dri-president-resigns-after-two-year-tenure-research-institute-to-search-for-replacement

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/dri-president-resigns-after-two-year-tenure-research-institute-to-search-for-replacement

https://nshe.nevada.edu/wp-content/uploads/file/BoardOfRegents/Agendas/2019/09-sep-mtgs/bor-refs/BOR-11a3.pdf

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-averyt-9199015/

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout swims back from extinction; population in the hundreds of thousands Environment | September 6, 2019

Justin Scacco

• Crews from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate a screw trap on the Truckee River. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Crews from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate a screw trap on the Truckee River. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service


Page 71 of 83

https://www.sierrasun.com/recent-stories/environment

https://www.sierrasun.com/profile/justin-scacco/

• A Lahontan Cutthroat Trout caught from Pyramid Lake is shown above. Courtesy of Gregg Rittland

• A Lahontan Cutthroat Trout caught from Pyramid Lake is shown above. Courtesy of Gregg Rittland

More than 150 years ago, the waters of Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake were dominated by a single apex predator.

Due to dams, overfishing, introduction of nonnative fishes, and degraded habitat, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout had disappeared from those native waters by the early 1940s.


Page 72 of 83

Then in the 1970s, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, with their distinguishing red to orange slash mark at the throat, was identified by fish biologist Robert Behnke in a small, remote stream in the Pilot Peak area near the Nevada-Utah border.

“We don’t have any specific information about how they might of ended up in that really isolated small stream. The population in Pyramid Lake, before it disappeared, the state of Nevada had moved them everywhere into the waters in Northern Nevada, but none of those stockings persisted and so the genetics don’t show up in any other populations,” said Lisa Heki, project leader at the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex. “We’ve done extensive genetic analysis in comparison of all populations of LCT, and the Pilot Peak (fish) — through genetic analysis of museum mounts — are the only ones historically related to that original, large size LCT that was found in Tahoe and Pyramid.”

A ‘CONSERVATION STORY’

In the early 2000s, Mary Peacock, a conservation geneticist from the University of Nevada, Reno, confirmed the fish population from Pilot Peak was the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, by extracting DNA samples from museum mounts of the original lake population, which later confirmed a match.

Due to conservation efforts and work done by the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex and other groups, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout now exist in the hundreds of thousands in Pyramid Lake, the Truckee River, and Fallen Leaf Lake.

“It’s a pretty significant conservation story that everyone has been a key player in, from our program, to fishermen, to researchers and other partners — the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe,” said Heki.

The Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex has been stocking the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in Fallen Leaf Lake since 2002 and in Pyramid Lake since 2006. The historic population of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout was known to be long lived, and large in size, reportedly reaching up to 40 pounds and possibly larger. Today, Heki said trout of nearly 30 pounds have been caught.

There are now roughly 900,000 of the fish in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River. The hatchery stocks 30,000 to 35,000 of the fish annually in Fallen Leaf Lake, and about 225,000 in Pyramid Lake, which now has roughly 900,000 fish in it.

The amount of trout that have been migrating from Pyramid Lake up the Truckee River have also increased, going from a few dozen in 2013 to a record set this year of 775 migrating fish. If next year is a good water year, Heki said she expects to see more than 1,000 migrating Pilot Peak Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and possibly up to 2,000 of the fish.

As of now, one of the major obstacles in keeping the fish from their historic migration route from Pyramid up the Truckee River and its tributaries and toward Lake Tahoe is the Derby Dam, located roughly 20 miles east of Reno.

Ground is set to break on the Derby Dam Fish Screen Project next Wednesday, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and will likely be completed the fall of 2020, allowing the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to begin migrating farther upstream to the California-Nevada border. There are several other structures that are fish barriers, according to Heki, between the border and the Lake Tahoe dam.


Page 73 of 83

“The goal in the next five or so years is to have passage all the way from Pyramid to Tahoe,” said Heki.

REESTABLISHING THE ECOYSTEM

“We don’t know a lot about how they historically used these systems, but they would migrate up to where you have perennial cold water for spawning, incubation, and rearing, into those tributaries.”

Currently there are no plans to enable the fish to move beyond Lake Tahoe Dam, something Heki said isn’t a priority for conservationists at this point.

“I don’t think it would be a high priority in the next decade, because you can have populations supported in Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe, which the genetics show historically there were these little subgroups,” she said. “From a conservation standpoint, I don’t think it’s an immediate goal … there’s always hope that you can tweak a system a little bit and make room for a native species, but that’s longer term.”

Among the obstacles facing a naturally reproducing population at Fallen Leaf Lake are nonnative species of rainbow trout, which can hybridize with Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, leading to a loss in population. Recently, a new weir has been installed which will allow for the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex to better manage and protect the trout that are migrating from the lake into Glen Alpine Creek.

“That will hopefully refine our methods for supporting a naturally reproducing population of LCT,” said Heki.

The weirs control access to spawning areas, and act to barricade downstream movement of rainbow trout.

Moving forward, plans are to continue to work with local agencies and fishermen to expand the habitat and grow the population of a fish that once ruled the lakes and streams of the region.

“For Tahoe, for Fallen Leaf Lake, for Pyramid, their historic lake waters, they are the top predator in these systems,” said Heki. “That’s another important component for these ecosystems and reestablishing the health of these ecosystems is putting back the native top predator.”

Justin Scacco is a reporter for the Sierra Sun. Contact him at [email protected].


Page 74 of 83

mailto:[email protected]

Tiny Invasive Shrimp Poses Major Threat to Lake Tahoe’s Water Clarity: Researchers POSTED 5:43 PM, SEPTEMBER 7, 2019, BY LOS ANGELES TIMES

Lake Tahoe's cobalt blue waters are seen on Aug. 31, 2016. (Credit: Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

First it was development runoff. Then it was algae triggered by global warming. Now UC Davis researchers have seized on a new explanation for the continued dinginess of Lake Tahoe’s blue waters — tiny invasive shrimp.

The researchers say that mysis shrimp, introduced in the 1960s to fatten trout, have proliferated to a point that they now pose a major threat to the lake’s clarity. To make Tahoe shrimp-free, the researchers are proposing to remove the crustaceans with trawlers and to mass market Omega-3 fatty acids extracted from the catch.

The novel approach could be self-funding, “climate-proof” and produce “levels of clarity in the lake not seen in decades,” according to Geoffrey Schladow, director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

“Lake Tahoe shrimp contain the purist Omega-3 on earth,” he said in an interview. “They’re filled with it, like little shrimp cocktails.”

Read the full story on LATimes.com.


Page 75 of 83

https://ktla.com/author/los-angeles-times/

https://ktla.com/2019/09/07/tiny-invasive-shrimp-poses-major-threat-to-lake-tahoes-water-clarity-researchers/#thumbnail-modal

Will Lake Tahoe’s invasive shrimp become the next mass-market health supplement?

Brant Allen, staff researcher for the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, pilots a research boat to perform surveys on mysis shrimp in Lake Tahoe, Calif. (Max Whittaker / For The Times) By LOUIS SAHAGUNSTAFF WRITER SEP. 7, 2019 LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — First it was development runoff. Then it was algae triggered by global warming. Now UC Davis researchers have seized on a new explanation for the continued dinginess of Lake Tahoe’s blue waters — tiny invasive shrimp. The researchers say that mysis shrimp, introduced in the 1960s to fatten trout, have proliferated to a point that they now pose a major threat to the lake’s clarity. To make Tahoe shrimp-free, the researchers are proposing to remove the crustaceans with trawlers and to mass market Omega-3 fatty acids extracted from the catch. The novel approach could be self-funding, “climate-proof” and produce “levels of clarity in the lake not seen in decades,” according to Geoffrey Schladow, director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

“Lake Tahoe shrimp contain the purist Omega-3 on earth,” he said in an interview. “They’re filled with it, like little shrimp cocktails.” Yet as UC Davis researchers push ahead with their shrimp-trawling plans, they are coming under fire for acting on unsubstantiated science in a way that could weaken confidence in ongoing efforts to protect the lake’s clarity.

Federal, state and local governments, for instance, are spending millions of dollars on retrofitting storm drains, buying land and developing erosion control and wetlands restoration projects to limit pollution from entering the lake.

Schladow acknowledges that claims about the shrimp’s impact were based on preliminary reviews of data collected midway through an ongoing study at Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. The study ends in May.

He said the shrimp-removal plans, made public in the center’s annual “State of the Lake” report in August, signal an “exciting potential ecological approach” to restoring Tahoe.

Critics have a different view.


Page 76 of 83

https://www.latimes.com/staff/louis-sahagun

Charles Goldman, founder of the UC Davis Tahoe center and a leading researcher at Lake Tahoe since 1958, said he was dismayed that the announcement came before the Emerald Bay study had been completed and critiqued by other scientists working in the same field.

“Unfortunately, it’s based on very little data,” Goldman, 88, said in an interview. “So, it’s hard to believe because we’ve established many other reasons why Lake Tahoe’s water is losing clarity.”

Julie Regan, a spokeswoman for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which was created by California, Nevada and Congress in 1969 to control urbanization of the Tahoe Basin, agreed.

“This could be a promising new strategy,” she said. “And we look forward to the peer- reviewed science on this project when it is complete. But it is not yet complete.”

Doug Smith, an assistant executive officer at the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, which has funded some of the Tahoe research center’s projects, was concerned that Schladow, as he put it, did not “seek approval from us” before making the announcement.

“It was surprising that our agency was not in the loop, given that, historically, we’ve always worked closely together,” he said. “Now, a peer-reviewed analyses will determine whether this is really the panacea Geoffrey is touting.”

Schladow shrugs off that kind of talk with a confident smile.

“If you hear about this ecological solution out of the blue, it sounds improbable,” he said. “But if you think about it, it makes sense — and we wonder why we didn’t think about it sooner.”

That kind of talk has earned Schladow, a civil and hydraulic engineer, a reputation for being an edgy, headstrong administrator who sometimes leaves supporters wondering about his “big ideas.”

When asked whether Schladow’s announcement of a possible ecological solution to Tahoe’s clarity issues was premature, Heather Segale, a spokeswoman for the Tahoe research center, said, “Not at all. He’s really excited about this.”

Encircled by pine forests and peaks rising to 11,000 feet, the scenic 500-square-mile Tahoe Basin straddles the California-Nevada border and is one of the most tightly regulated regions on the planet.


Page 77 of 83

It is also home to decades of disputes and rivalries. Two states, five counties, environmental organizations, research institutions, property owners and developers have long offered conflicting visions of balancing environmental needs with property rights and the region’s tourism industry. Many experts sneer at the notion that trawlers could scoop up enough shrimp to make a difference in the bowl-shaped lake that is 22 miles long, 12 miles wide, 1,655 feet deep and filled with 39 trillion gallons of snow melt. But Schladow contends that UC Davis is devising a realistic plan for reversing what he calls “an unforeseen ecological tragedy.” It all started, he said, in the 1960s, when California wildlife authorities introduced the non-native shrimp Mysis relicta as part of an effort to produce monster trout for anglers.

The dime-sized shrimp would migrate down to the depths of the lake to avoid light during the day, then rise to the surface at night where they consume native zooplankton — the trout’s natural food source.

As a result, the average trout size shrank and native zooplankton, including Daphnia, largely disappeared from the aquatic ecosystem. That process went unnoticed until 2011, when UC Davis researchers resumed the monitoring of shrimp after a break of several years. In Emerald Bay, they discovered that the shrimp had disappeared, and populations of Daphnia had returned in large numbers.

More surprising was a dramatic improvement of clarity in Emerald Bay’s water.

“In 18 months, clarity increased from 40 feet to nearly 80 feet, a phenomenal rate of clarity improvement,” according to the “S tate of the L ake” report.

The researchers theorize that’s because the native zooplankton are prone to ingest small particles, then either use them to fulfill critical nutritional needs or excrete them as fecal pellets. In Lake Tahoe, the small particles they eat include the single-celled algae Cyclotella, which is considered a climate-change induced threat to the clarity of its water.

The preliminary findings raised a fascinating possibility. “Land-use practices and urbanization, which grew rapidly starting in the 1960s,” the report says, “are considered the major cause of clarity decline, and all efforts to restore clarity have been directed at mitigating those impacts.”

However, the introduction of Mysis, which occurred at the same time,” it adds, “has never been seriously considered.”


Page 78 of 83

To fill that gap, the research center in 2016 launched a small-scale pilot program in Emerald Bay funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Using advanced sonar equipment, a research team led by center biologist Brant Allen began locating populations of shrimp in the bay, and then removed them with a trawl net.

The results were highlighted in the “State of the Lake” report.

Could Mysis populations be reduced to a level at which Daphnia could thrive? “With one year of the project remaining,” it says, “the answer appears to be YES!”

Now, the research center is developing a large-scale plan to remove shrimp from throughout lake and subsidize the process with revenue generated by Omega-3 extracted from the catch.

“We’re already in discussions with several companies — and one in particular that could manufacture Omega-3 from the shrimp,” Schladow said in an interview.

But how many trawlers would be needed to ply the lake, in the darkness of night, to significantly knock back the mysis populations? Schladow said those details are still being worked out.

A formal report of the pilot project studywill be submitted to a scientific journal next year, he said.

In the meantime, Allen and Katie Senft, the latter of whom is an assistant professor of biology at the center, are conducting surveys of the lake’s shrimp population as it rises to the surface for midnight meals.

On a recent weekday evening, Allen said, “Hold on tight,” as he placed his hands on the steering wheel of a 30-foot aluminum skiff and peered through the darkness ahead.

He gunned the craft’s two 425-horsepower motors and boomed out under a big sky filled with bats and a dazzle of stars.

About five miles out, he cut the engines. In the light of their headlamps, Allen and Senft maneuvered a large, fine-scale net over the side of the boat and guided its descent to a depth of about 60 feet.


Page 79 of 83

“We’re not suggesting that we’ve discovered a miracle cure for all of Lake Tahoe’s problems,” Allen said. “But we have found a potentially important link between the shrimp population and water clarity.”

Sonar and other technologies, the researcher said, have helped the team gain a new understanding of mysis, a creature that is anything but a delicacy.

Nodding toward a dozen of the ghostly white crustaceans exploring the bottom of a large glass beaker, he smiled and added, “I also happen to know with high level of certainty that Lake Tahoe shrimp taste horrible on crackers.”

Louis Sahagun is a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times. He covers issues ranging from religion, culture and the environment to crime, politics and water. He was on the team of L.A. Times writers that earned the Pulitzer Prize in public service for a series on Latinos in Southern California and the team that was a finalist in 2015 for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news. He is a CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California board member, and author of the book, “Master of the Mysteries: the Life of Manly Palmer Hall.” Show Comments

They were hoping to catch mysis shrimp feasting on zooplankton in conditions as dark as the inside of a suitcase.

It didn’t take long to find what they were looking for.


Page 80 of 83

On Your Side: See the top water users in Reno-Sparks

by Kim Burrows Tuesday, September 10th 2019

Link to article w/ video of #1 User’s landscape: https://mynews4.com/news/local/on-your-side-see-the-top-water-users-in-reno-sparks

Nevada just got out the longest drought in state history -- more than five years. There's always the threat of its return. We live in a desert, and water resources are scarce. News 4 wanted to know how much water our Reno-Sparks community uses -- specifically the top water users. The top users are located throughout Reno. Most are on the west-side of town, and a couple are down south. These properties have lush lawns on sprawling acreage. Four of the top 10 water users live near Mayberry Drive and McCarran Boulevard. The number one user is a property near Manzanita Lane and McCarran Blvd. in Old Southwest Reno. The property soaked up 3.4 million gallons on its large lawn from April through July. That bill was $11,802. For comparison, The Truckee Meadows Water Authority said -- for that same time period -- the average customer uses 13,000 gallons costing $57.32 a month. The big house -- with an even bigger lawn -- was owned by the late William Pennington who owned several casinos and other local properties. Behind the secure gates, there are rolling green hills and a four-hole golf course. The Washoe County Assessor's Office lists the owner now as Transwestern Investments LLC. Andy Gebhardt, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority's Director of Operations, said this property is always a topwater user. "It's always on the list," he said. Gebhardt said he audited the property a few years ago. "With the square footage of grass, the acreage of grass they have, and the amount of water they use, they're actually very efficient," he said. The bigger concern, Gebhardt said, is smaller properties that have water running down the street and sprinklers that over-spray driveways and sidewalks. Reno resident Mike Johnson says he sees that all the time when he jogs early in the morning. "I think you need to be responsible. We're in a growing community. We do have those lean years. I think that you have to be responsible for everything that you do," he said. When News 4 asked TMWA if residents should be using a large amount of water just because they can afford it, Gebhardt said this: "That would be like telling you that you can't drive a big car because it uses more gasoline than a little bitty smart car." News 4 chose not to name the owners or the addresses because they've done nothing wrong. They've not been punished for their high water use and TMWA doesn't deem them water wasters. This is a top ten TMWA list of retail and public water users:

Top 10 Water Users - 201904 to 201907 v1.1 by Anonymous oG2yNlv on Scribd


Page 81 of 83

https://mynews4.com/news/local/on-your-side-see-the-top-water-users-in-reno-sparks

https://mynews4.com/news/local/on-your-side-see-the-top-water-users-in-reno-sparks

COUNTY: Workers Facing Harassment in Lemmon Valley September 10, 2019 Bob Conrad

Government employees and contractors working in Lemmon Valley have been directed not to engage citizens if they face harassment. That was the message interim County Manager Dave Solaro gave today to Washoe Board of County Commissioners.

“I have directed the work crews to stop any work any time they feel unsafe based on the reactions of our citizens,” he said. “One of the things I want to make sure is our work crews go home every night. Safety is very important to Washoe County as a whole.”

Solaro’s comments come in the wake of ongoing flood issues in the area, a source of constant frustration for residents.


Page 82 of 83



https://thisisreno.com/2019/04/washoe-county-reno-discuss-options-to-address-lemmon-valley-flooding/

County Engineer Dwayne Smith in late August announced that road crews — employees and contractors — have been threatened and harassed while working on Swan Lake flooding.

Residents [were] purposefully going out of their lane to hit a puddle and splash their crew with water.”

“This has been a concern of mine, and I’ve also heard it voiced by the City of Reno,” Smith said.

Washoe County staff and contractors working in the area have experienced purposeful speeding up and driving toward them, cursing, yelling and other confrontational behavior, said county spokesperson Amy Ventetuolo.

“Last week our contracted driver reported people speeding up and swerving at him,” she said. “He actually came off the job and called us as he did not feel safe.”

A vendor handling pumping equipment said that “while working on Lemmon Drive, residents [were] purposefully going out of their lane to hit a puddle and splash their crew with water,” Venetuolo added.

A Lemmon Valley resident, commenting online, called Solaro’s statement today disingenuous.

“If there have truly been residents endangering workers safety and lives why are there no police reports?” asked Lori Beach. “From what I understand, it is a citable offense to endanger road crews. If residents are putting workers at risk, then yes, that must stop and those residents cited and held accountable for endangering the lives of the workers.”

Ventetuolo said that the crews “are working through weather and long shifts to have the residents and community treat them this way, [so it] is also impactful to their morale.”

City of Reno spokesperson Rebecca Venis confirmed today that their staff has also received similar reports.

“Road maintenance crews have experienced the following while conducting road and ditch maintenance work on Lemmon Drive: residents speeding up and driving towards them or very close to them, [and] residents cursing, flipping them off, and being confrontational with crews,” Venis said.


Page 83 of 83