Weekend storm adds more than a foot to the Truckee River’s largest reservoir level, triples river flow

By Brian Bahouth ● Climate, Environment, News ● March 16, 2020

Stampede Reservoir taken on August 9, 2014 when the water level was 60 feet below where it is today - image - Brian Bahouth

Updated March 17, 2020 – The latest winter storm to move through the Tahoe Sierra left behind more than 3 feet of much needed snow in many locations across the region. Stampede Reservoir, the largest reservoir of the 3 on the Truckee River Management System has been in steady decline since the beginning of March, typically a critical month for the region’s water storage balance. The weekend storm and additional precipitation Monday added more than a foot to the level of Stampede Reservoir.

Prosser Reservoir outflow is low. Water level has been on the rise since the beginning of March.

Stampede, Boca, and Prosser reservoirs and Independence and Donner Lakes make up the storage basins on the Truckee River Management System.

The recent storm more than tripled the flow of the Truckee River through Reno.

According to the National Weather Service, more snow is expected on Monday and Tuesday across the Tahoe Sierra, but will taper off later in the week.

Author

Brian Bahouth

Brian has been a public media producer for the better part of 25 years. He has been news director at three public radio stations, KRZA serving Alamosa, Colorado and Taos, New Mexico, KUNR in Reno, KVMR in Nevada City, California, and Brian was a co-founder of KNVC community radio in Carson City, 95.1 FM. He has reported for Capital Public Radio, Nevada Public Radio, and has filed numerous reports for the Pacifica Network News and National Public Radio. He holds a BA in English from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and an MA in English from the University of Nevada Reno. Brian is a veteran of the sea-going US Navy, ‘79-’85. He and his wife have lived in Reno since 1999.