Case study - the Truckee Canal: a transbasin diversion from the Truckee River Basin to the Carson River Basin
Date
2001-06
Authors
Burns, Joseph I., author
Archer, Michael C., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
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Abstract
The Truckee Canal, which diverts water from the Truckee River basin to the Carson River basin in Nevada, was constructed in 1905 by the Reclamation Service as a part of the Truckee-Carson Project. The Reclamation Service was the predecessor of today's United States Bureau of Reclamation. The development of a water supply for the Truckee-Carson Project and the operation of the Truckee River system and the Truckee Canal have resulted in almost one hundred years of controversy and litigation. The Truckee-Carson Project was one of the first projects authorized by the United States government under the 1902 Reclamation Act. At the time of authorization, it was envisioned that 300,000 acres of desert land could be brought under irrigation with the water supply coming from both the Truckee and Carson Rivers. The attempt to develop a water supply for the Truckee-Carson Project and to satisfy the water rights of users upstream of the Truckee Canal diversion has been extremely controversial. Both of the rivers originate in California and flow into Nevada, introducing interstate issues. To further complicate matters, the Truckee River terminates in Pyramid Lake, the home of the Cui-Ui sucker fish, a federally listed endangered species. Pyramid Lake is fully contained within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation. The Truckee River is the primary water supply source for the cities of Reno and Sparks, two rapidly growing cities. This case study traces the actions taken in the Truckee River basin to meet the Project demand and the resulting impacts on the entire Truckee River system. The demands placed on the Truckee River system have resulted in one of the most litigated and complex operations of any river system in the United States.
Description
Presented at the 2001 USCID water management conference, Transbasin water transfers on June 27-30, 2001 in Denver, Colorado.