One Truckee River

Go ahead, Take a hike! With mild temperatures and stunning fall colors, now is the ideal time to get outside, and the Oxbow Nature Study Area is a true hidden gem for the whole family! The Oxbow Nature Study Area is a 22-acre conservation area along the Truckee River, home to various native Nevadan habitats and wildlife. The one-mile hike/walk is perfect for little ones to get the wiggles out and learn how to preserve and cherish our Truckee River from the informational plaques along the trail. Pack a picnic and get ready to learn and have fun! https://lnkd.in/g2u8U2wF

Plant a Tree and be River-Friendly! We all love trees for their shade and calming effect. We know they reduce air pollution. Yet, did you know they also protect the Truckee River?   A tree has a tree well where water lands, decreasing runoff (water that flows to the river can include pollutants). Fall is the ideal time to plant a tree in the Truckee Meadows. Soil temperatures are still warm, but the hot summer air temperatures are waning, allowing trees to grow new robust root systems that will prepare them for the following summer. Planting a tree is a win-win for the people and the river! They make our cities more excellent places to live and help protect the Truckee River from runoff pollution. To learn more about tree planting efforts in our region, contact ReLeaf Reno: https://lnkd.in/gqnhFkcu  

Congratulations, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, for yet another successful Truckee River Cleanup! On September 21, 562 volunteers cleaned up 13,000+ pounds of trash and 33,000+ pounds of green waste from 21 sites around the Truckee River! One hundred sixty-eight trees were planted, 125 storm drains were stenciled, and these key areas look much more inviting due to everyone’s hard work. Since 2004, KTMB has organized the Truckee River Cleanup Day, during which volunteers unite to keep the Truckee River and its surrounding watershed clean for all to enjoy. Cleanup and beautification projects span from Verdi to Lockwood along the Truckee River Corridor. Projects include storm-drain stenciling, litter pickup, graffiti removal, in-the-river trash removal (by kayakers and flyfishers), weed pulling, and park beautification projects. https://lnkd.in/gdtJHJQj

Reno Food Systems is an urban farm at the corner of Mayberry and McCarren. Its members are farmers, mentors, and advocates who aim to steward the land and share food and resources for the well-being of our earth, community, and future generations. The Reno Food System utilizes regenerative agriculture practices, such as cover cropping, composting, and not tilling the soil, which increase soil health and fertility. These practices minimize soil erosion, reduce chemical runoff, and optimize water use, thereby preventing waterway pollution and helping maintain a healthy Truckee River! The farm grows over 100 different types of vegetables, herbs, fruits, and cut flowers, which it sells to the public or donates to the community. Grab some friends or family and visit the farm goats (June and Oliver) to see where local food is grown. Farm Stand Hours Sundays: 3 pm - 7 pm from April to November-ish https://lnkd.in/gADhBUQu

We wanted to share this message from one of our partners, The Truckee Meadows Water Association. Remember to shorten your sprinkler times as temperatures cool down. When cooler temperatures set in, your landscape will start recovering from the summer’s long days and hot temperatures. One necessary adjustment to make this month is to begin shortening your sprinkler run times. Your lawn and plants will soon need much less water, and you’ll be simultaneously lowering what it costs to irrigate your landscape. How do you know if you’re watering enough? Step on your lawn; if the grass springs back, it doesn’t need water. Applying less water means you will need to mow less, and who doesn’t want to mow less? Fall is also an excellent time to check your system for leaks before shutting it down for the winter. Examine the points where sprinkler heads connect to pipes or hoses. If you see water pooling or if you have large wet areas, you could leak into your system. A leak as small as the tip of a pen (1/32 of an inch) can waste about 6,000 gallons of water per month, according to EPA’s WaterSense. https://lnkd.in/gJWSGea

Wigglers are awesome tiny trash compactors that can help us protect the Truckee River! Red wigglers are a type of worm used for composting, a process called vermiculture. They take food scraps and turn them into worm castings, which you can add to the soil in your yard as an organic source of plant essential nutrients that will slowly become available to your plants. Building healthy soils is one of the principles of River-Friendly Yards because healthy soils with added organic matter, like compost and worm castings, act like natural sponges. They keep water onsite and out of the storm drain. They also help promote healthy plants that attract fewer pests and cycle nutrients more efficiently, reducing your need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Would you be ready to get started with a worm bin? It’s a great way to start composting this fall and get your soils in shape next spring. https://lnkd.in/g32G2t6Q

The Fall Equinox reminds us that things ebb and flow; it is nature's way of returning to balance, like a river. One Truckee River manages a coalition of public and private partners working together to ensure a healthy, thriving, and sustainable river connected to the hearts and minds of its community. Our vision is to work together to realize a Truckee River that flows clear and clean, quenches our thirst, sustains the river’s natural ecology, cultural resources, and wildlife, and connects residents and visitors to unparalleled opportunities for recreation and regeneration. Support our ongoing work with a donation to our greatest need. https://lnkd.in/g5aS--MV

Do you have a pool you need to drain for the winter? Make sure you drain it the River-Friendly way! While it is legal to discharge pool water into the Truckee Meadows storm drain, you must dechlorinate it first. You can get a dechlorination kit at your local pool and spa store. It’s simple, and it protects the Truckee River! Need more information? Visit the Truckee Meadows Stormwater Program website. https://lnkd.in/g4x_g38A

Spread the Word!   Telling your friends, family, and neighbors about the importance of pollinators and what we can do to support them can have a profound impact. Put a sign in your yard, and spread the message! Sign the Bee-Friendly Reno pledge and learn more about what we can do to bring back our pollinator population.  https://lnkd.in/gEXDUCj4