TCID Board Meeting Recap

The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Board of Directors met Jan. 6 for the regular meeting and discussed winter maintenance work and recent high-flow river conditions. The board also approved several administrative and financial items, including the purchase of a new server to support district operations and data management.

District staff reported that winter maintenance is underway across the system, including structure replacement work on L1 and the start of demolition on the AC7 structure, a project expected to continue for several months. Crews are also completing items on the district’s operations and maintenance list and conducting canal cleaning where conditions allow.

Staff noted that the district has taken delivery of a new piece of equipment, but it has not yet been put into service due to holiday scheduling. The board was also told that the district is still seeking a mechanic and has received limited applications to date.

Staff provided a detailed update on Truckee and Carson River conditions, including operational challenges during late-December storm events that caused rapid fluctuations in river flows.

During that period, staff said the Truckee River experienced significant changes in flow over short timeframes, requiring around-the-clock staffing and frequent manual adjustments at Derby Dam when remote operations were unavailable. Board members discussed stage restrictions, limits tied to canal safety and infrastructure, and the importance of remaining within those restrictions to protect public safety and the district from liability.

Current conditions discussed during the meeting indicated above-average snowpack in both the Truckee and Carson River basins as of early January, with staff noting that updated data from recent storms would refine seasonal outlooks. Lahontan Reservoir storage and inflows were also reviewed as part of the regular hydrology update, with the Carson River at Fort Churchill at 744 cfs, Lahontan Reservoir storage reported near 112,000 acre-feet, and inflows around 1,100 cfs. Snowpack indicators discussed during the meeting suggested both the Truckee and Carson basins were running at roughly 114% of median as of early January.

Staff said operations continue to focus on safely managing flows as conditions change through the winter and into the early irrigation planning season.

The board approved several action items, including the fiscal year 2025 audit report and the annual assessment book.

The board also approved the purchase of a new server for $33,485, up from the original estimate of $25,000. Staff explained that the server is necessary to support new technology initiatives, improve reliability of district data, and reduce staff time spent recreating lost information during irrigation operations. The purchase will also support future automation and system upgrades.

In addition to regular business, the board received a 30-year regional water report presentation from Ed James of the Carson Water Subconservancy District, outlining long-term water supply trends, groundwater and surface water interactions, and planning considerations for the upper Carson River watershed. 

See front page for more information.