General
The Truckee Storage Project was constructed to provide a supplemental supply of irrigation water to approximately 29,000 acres of land in the Truckee Meadows surrounding Reno and Sparks, Nevada. Boca Dam and Reservoir, the major feature of the Truckee Storage Project, was constructed by the United States and is operated by the Washoe County Water Conservation District.
History
Irrigation of lands in the Truckee Meadows began as early as 1858 with diversions from small streams. Settlement and irrigation of the valley progressed on an individual or community effort basis until there were 31 separate diversions in 20 miles along the Truckee River, beginning about 13 miles above Reno. The demand for irrigation water in western Nevada after 1900 resulted in water appropriations in excess of summer flows of the river. Further development of the irrigable area of about 29,000 acres depended upon a supplemental storage supply. This necessity resulted in the construction of a small storage dam prior to 1920 by private parties at a location near the present dam.
Construction
Construction of Boca Dam began April 24, 1937, and was completed before the irrigation season of 1939.
Plan
Supplemental water provided by the Truckee Storage Project is stored in Boca Reservoir on the Little Truckee River and released for better regulation of the Truckee River according to the Truckee River Agreement. The ditch companies which form the Washoe County Water Conservation District divert and deliver irrigation water, while 7 subdistricts maintain control and administration. Boca Dam and Reservoir on the Little Truckee River store water for Truckee River regulation and irrigation of lands on the Truckee Storage and Newlands Projects. The reservoir has an active capacity of 40,900 acre-feet. The dam, completed in 1939, is a zoned earthfill structure 116 feet high, with a crest length of 1,629 feet. The project is operated by the Washoe County Water Conservation District. Storing water in Boca and Lake Tahoe, in the Newlands Project (http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/newlands.html), is regulated in accordance with the provisions of the Truckee River Agreement, to which the United States, the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, the Washoe County Water Conservation District, and the Sierra Pacific Power Company are parties. This agreement was made to stabilize and supplement the natural flow of the Truckee River, for which Donner Lake storage also is available. The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District and the Sierra Pacific Power Company have acquired storage rights in Donner Lake for joint use and Truckee River regulation. Donner Lake on Donner Creek has a capacity of about 9,500 acre-feet. The Truckee River Agreement includes criteria for operating Lake Tahoe and Boca Reservoir to meet flow targets (the Floriston rates) on the Truckee River. Reduced flow targets (reduced Floriston rates) are put in place when the level of Lake Tahoe is low. Lake Tahoe in the Newlands Project (http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/newlands.html) and Boca Reservoir in the Truckee Storage Project are operated to maintain these Floriston rates. Also, under the Truckee River Agreement, up to 25,000 acre-feet of water can be stored in Boca each year under a Newlands Project Truckee River diversion right. Washoe Project (http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/washoe.html) flood control operations are coordinated with flood control operations at Boca Reservoir. Otherwise, the Washoe Project is operated independently of the Truckee Storage Project and the Newlands Project.
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