Important Project Facts

Truckee Canal XM EIS

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, the lead federal agency, intends to prepare the Extraordinary Operation and Maintenance (XM) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Truckee Canal (Canal) in Nevada. The XM draft EIS will evaluate opportunities to reduce the risk to public safety from a Canal breach. In January 2008, a portion of the Canal embankment breached near the city of Fernley, Nevada. Canal operations were subsequently restricted due to safety concerns.

Reclamation proposes to take action to evaluate alternatives that will enable the Canal operator—the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID)—to safely operate the Canal and deliver project water, in compliance with operating criteria and procedures for the Newlands Project. Additional stage restrictions on Canal operations may be necessary without making repairs to reduce risk.

The XM draft EIS is being prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 USC § 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality’s Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the NEPA (40 CFR §§ 1500-1508), NEPA Regulations (43 CFR § 46), and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations.

Reclamation is proposing to complete structural improvements of the Canal facilities. This may be achieved using a variety of options, including the following:

  • Improving the earthen embankments

  • Lining portions of the Canal

  • Installing detention or retention ponds or both

  • Installing automated check structures to regulate flow through the Canal

  • Installing passive overflow or wasteway structures or both

  • Reducing the Canal stage or water height levels with no structural improvements

Newlands Project

The Newlands Project was one of the first Reclamation projects. It provides irrigation water from the Truckee and Carson Rivers for about 57,000 acres of cropland in the Lahontan Valley near Fallon and bench lands near Fernley in western Nevada. In addition, water from about 6,000 acres of project land has been transferred to the Lahontan Valley Wetlands near Fallon.

The Newlands Project is made up of two divisions, the Truckee Division and the Carson Division. Lake Tahoe Dam, a small dam at the outlet of Lake Tahoe, the source of the Truckee River, controls releases into the river. Downstream, the Derby Diversion Dam diverts the water into the Truckee Canal and carries it to the Lahontan Reservoir. Principal features include:

  • Lake Tahoe Dam

  • Lahontan Dam, Reservoir, and Power Plant

  • Truckee Canal

  • Carson River Diversion Dam

  • Derby Diversion Dam

  • "T" and "V" Canals and Power Plant

  • Laterals and Drains

Overall, the Newlands Project has 68.5 miles of main canals with a combined diversion capacity of 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). In addition to the primary canals, more than 300 miles of laterals and almost 350 miles of drains have been constructed since work on the first laterals began in 1904. The Bureau of Reclamation has a contract with the TCID to operate and maintain the Newlands Project on behalf of the Federal government.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Truckee Canal XM EIS

Newlands Project

  • For further information, contact: Bureau of Reclamation, Lahontan Basin Area Office, Attn: Newlands Project Division Manager, 705 N. Plaza Street, Room 320, Carson City, NV 89701.

  • Additional information is also available through the Bureau of Reclamation’s Newlands Project website.

Project Overview Map

 
For more information on the XM draft EIS, please contact Laurie Nicholas (775-884-8360, lnicholas@usbr.gov).

To be added or removed from the mailing list, please contact Sean Cottle (775-323-1433, sean.cottle@empsi.com).