Truckee River Expected To Experience Minor Flooding

PLACER COUNTY, CA — Minor flooding could be an issue in parts of the Lake Tahoe area this weekend, due to a scheduled dam floodgate release. The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a flood advisory for Placer, Nevada, and Southern Washoe Counties until 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Water management officials increased the flow out of Lake Tahoe on Wednesday. They say the increase in flow will lead to minor flooding along the Truckee River from the Lake Tahoe Dam to Truckee, and abnormally high flows along the river through Reno and Sparks. These high flows will likely continue into early summer.

Minor flooding will cover sections of the Truckee-Tahoe Bike Path along Highway 89 as well as portions of the path through the Reno-Sparks area. Some backyards, basements, and campgrounds along the river near Highway 89 may be inundated by the high flows. Campgrounds in the area are closed.

These high flows will continue for an indefinite amount of time as officials manage the water in the Truckee Reservoir System in anticipation of higher snowmelt flows in May and June. Officials are constantly monitoring the high flows and flood impacts. This will be the highest flow on the Truckee River from the Lake Tahoe Dam to Bear Creek at Alpine Meadows since February of 1999.

Officials warn that the river is powerful, fast, and cold. Please stay clear, as any unanticipated increase in flows could lead to flooding in areas near the river.

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