Tribune/Debra Reid - Biologist Travis Branzell of JBR Environmental Consulting gently rescues a four pound brown trout during the reconstruction of the Pioneer Dam on Wednesday. Branzell was salvaging fish left stranded after a section of the Truckee River was diverted for the project.
Tribune/Debra Reid - Biologist Travis Branzell and Mark Dunn of Peavine Construction electro-stun and salvage fish stranded in a diverted section of the Truckee River on Wednesday. The river was diverted during reconstruction of the Pioneer Dam.
The Truckee River Fund, created by TMWA in 2004, is used for projects that protect water sources and the river’s watersheds. The fund supplements TMWA dollars by requiring community developers to match 25 percent of their request. In all, $5.3 million is available for 55 qualifying projects and grants range from $5,000 to $500,000.
Tracy Turner, program officer for the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, said a team of nine volunteer advisors with certain expertise in water quality — three from Sparks, three from Reno and three from Washoe County — will review the proposals and ultimately make the decision on who receives the grants.
“The decisions are made by a vote of the fund advisors and they choose the ones that have the most impact for the Truckee River and its tributaries,” Turner said.
The Truckee River Fund website, www.truckeeriverfund.org, states advisors have reviewed 75 proposals, of which the 55 projects were selected.
One such chosen project is the Pioneer Dam modification in Sparks, a $250,000 grant involving the city of Sparks, TMWA, the Nevada Department of Wildlife and other stakeholders to reconstruct the Pioneer ditch diversion adjacent to TMWA’s Glendale Water Treatment Plant. Rock rubble at Pioneer was rebuilt in 2007 prematurely, creating a stronger likelihood of flooding in the area.
The website states that TMWA removed the rubble to prevent flooding and the project will include the building of a permanent structure to maintain regulatory water flow capacity in the Truckee River and improve fishing and recreational boating.
Turner said restoring water quality would not get done without these various projects and the funding for them. The money also goes toward other improvements, including noxious weed abatement to treat weed eradication, which could affect fish and wildlife habitats.
Turner said TMWA offers requests for proposals twice a year.
Submission requirements for proposals can be found at www.nevadafund.org under “Grants and Scholarships.”
Applications are due Sept. 14.
Post a Comment