3 Stories About One Truckee River’s Impact in 2024
Have you heard? At One Truckee River, this past year has been a busy one. We’ve been enthusiastically collaborating with our coalition partners to demonstrate River-Friendly Living practices, doing restorative vegetation management along the Truckee’s riverbanks, improving restroom access downtown, and more.
On a more personal level, we’ve been speaking with community members who’ve been impacted by these key projects – and can’t wait to share their stories with you!
Inspired by the River-Friendly Living Demonstration Garden, Lake Park resident Daniel Moss decided to add new landscaping features to his own front yard. Ian Redinbaugh, Workforce Development Supervisor of our brand-new re-vegetation crew, talks about how providing career training for disadvantaged groups pairs well with removing invasive species. Finally, we took an afternoon to visit Reno City Plaza and hear how our recently-installed public restroom is improving the area.
As 2024 nears to its close, here’s how these three projects are already making a difference in our community:
1. Demonstrating River-Friendly Living at Lake Park
In May, One Truckee River proudly opened the new River-Friendly Living Demonstration Garden at Lake Park, celebrating with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Garden Walking Tour. The afternoon festivities were well-attended and helped us introduce the new garden – which showcases landscaping features that prevent runoff into the Truckee River, maximizing our 8 annual inches of rainfall while providing healthy habitats for local wildlife.
Informational signage in the park explains the significance of River-Friendly gardening features like Rain Gardens and Buffer Strips and identifies recommended native plants. One Truckee River completed the project in partnership with the City of Reno and Friends of Lake Park and with funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.
In designing the Demonstration Garden, our goal was to plant a garden that not only reduced runoff onsite at Lake Park but provided a model and inspiration for residents to implement in their own yards. One resident, Daniel Moss, was especially excited about the garden’s attractive, easy-to-maintain, water-smart features – and set to work.
The feature he chose to add to his home first? A buffer strip – defined as a water-wise perennial planting area between the lawn and sidewalk, designed to capture water and prevent it from running onto the sidewalk and down the storm drain.
The feature he chose to add to his home first? A buffer strip – defined as a water-wise perennial planting area between the lawn and sidewalk, designed to capture water and prevent it from running onto the sidewalk and down the storm drain.
Moss told us “Since moving into my home three years ago, I’ve grown tired of looking at my front yard’s “clean” style, with an expansive lawn that blends seamlessly into my neighbor’s. Inspired by the new River Friendly Garden and informative signs, I dusted off the cobwebs from my shovel and pickaxe and set about putting in my own buffer strip in the front yard.”
Daniel chose to plant his buffer strip along the edge of the driveway, giving himself great views of native plants and flowers from his downstairs windows. He opted for species that bloomed at different times, didn’t have big footprints, and could handle part-time shade – planting purple dome asters, yellow tickseed, daylilies, and coral bells. He re-directed his irrigation system’s sprinkler heads, invited his kids to place the final mulching, and sat back to enjoy the…flowers of his labor.
We applaud Daniel Moss and his family for their accomplishments, and think their front yard is looking fantastic! Just as importantly, we’re excited that planting a simple buffer strip at the edge of Daniel’s driveway will help capture storm runoff, preventing fertilizers and pesticides from flowing into the Truckee River.
2. Launching the Truckee River Urban Trees Workforce Development Program
Access to green urban spaces has been proven, again and again, to improve our physical health, psychological well-being, social interactions, and quality of life. That’s why, this September, One Truckee launched the Truckee River Urban Trees Workforce Development Program. We’re doing restorative vegetation management along the river corridor while creating workforce training opportunities for those who need them most.
We’re also increasing tree canopy in a section of town where there simply isn’t enough. As we increase shade along the Truckee, we’ll cool the pavements nearby and improve recreational access for neighborhood residents.
What does that look like? Along the 2-mile stretch of the Truckee River from Lake Street to Galletti Way, invasive species like Tree of Heaven have been growing unchecked. So, as part of our 3-year project, we’ll be visiting the area repeatedly to both eradicate it and prepare to replant with healthy, native species that benefit our local ecosystem. We’ve partnered with RISE to hire our workforce from the Crossroads substance abuse treatment program.
Leading our 5-member crew is Workforce Development Supervisor Ian Redinbaugh, who’s transformed his lived experiences with homelessness and alcoholism to create a life dedicated towards helping other people make similar changes in themselves. In addition to the project itself, Redinbaugh‘s team is receiving training in landscaping, irrigation, urban forestry, and herbicide/pesticide application, preparing them for certifications and sustainable careers in landscaping. He tells us, “It’s a win for everyone. The workforce crew gets jobs and career training and the community benefits from having sober, employable people, more trees, and a more beautiful river.”
The work along the Truckee River has already begun – and Ian Redinbaugh is excited to share his team’s progress (as well as a bit of his personal journey) with us. Check it out in our latest blog!
Grand opening day of the Portland Loo at John Champion Park in 2023, Credit 2News Nevada
3. Expanding Restroom Access
In June, One Truckee River installed our third public restroom along the Truckee River Corridor, in Reno City Plaza. This addition follows the success of the first two Portland Loos, which we’ve added to Brodhead Memorial and John Champion Parks.
City Plaza Project partners include Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Truckee River Fund, Washoe County Parks and Open Space, Nevada Division of State Parks, City of Reno and Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality.
Increasing the availability of public restrooms is an essential step for protecting water quality, enhancing recreational access, and supporting revitalization. What’s more, the numbers are in, and we’re already seeing the difference these facilities are having! The data shows people are using the Loos, less human waste is needing to be cleaned up in their vicinities, and that the units we selected are standing up to the rigors of public use.
Just as importantly, we recently visited Reno City Plaza to talk to community members about the Portland Loos, and ask if they’ve been using them! Check out their feedback, Loo data, and more in our November blog!